Blog Tour: The Anniversary Waltz

 

Title: The Anniversary Waltz
Author: Darrel Nelson
Publisher: Realms
My Rating: 4 Stars
Buy the Book: -HERE-


"At their sixtieth anniversary party, Adam Carlson asks his wife, Elizabeth, for their customary waltz.  After the dance they gather the family and share their story -- a story of love and courage overcoming adversity and thriving in the face of overwhelming odds.

It's the summer of 1946, and Adam has just returned from the war to his home in Reunion, Montana.  At a town festival he meets Elizabeth Baxter, a young woman going steady with his former high school rival and now influential banker, Nathan Roberts.

When Adam and Elizabeth share a waltz in a deserted pavilion one evening, their feelings begin to grow, and they embark on a journey, and a dance, that will last a lifetime."

 

When I first received an email from Glass Road Publishers asking if I would care to join in on this blog tour, I wasn't sure I would be able to commit fully with my busy schedule.  Yet, as soon as I had read the title and description of the book, I found myself responding back with a hearty 'yes'.  The first thing to catch my attention was the fact that this is Mr. Darrel Nelson's first published book.  As an aspiring writer myself, I love taking opportunities to encourage and cheer on new authors.  The second thing to catch my attention was the title itself.  With a growing passion for dance, my curiosity was piqued.  

The moment The Anniversary Waltz was taken out of its package, I began to devour it.  A lovely romance began to unfold in front of my eyes.  As the official description of the book suggests, there are many adversities and odds Adam and Elizabeth must overcome to develop their relationship.  I particularly loved the scene in which they partook in their first waltz, away from everyone's prying eyes.  It is a simple but elegant dance and paralleled nicely with the two characters new-found affection for each other. 

The writing in this book was not overly flowery or too simple for enjoyment.  While I found the pacing in a few sections to either be too long or too short, I do feel that it was planned out well for the most part.  The characters were also developed and grew throughout the course of the novel.  It can be difficult to make a romance story not seem overly focused on just the romance, but Mr. Nelson was able to build a strong case for both the couple together and the couple as individual people.  We not only were able to enjoy Adam and Elizabeth together, but as individual characters as well.  Kudos on a great book!  I will be eagerly awaiting next Spring when his new book, The Return of Cassandra Todd, hits bookshelves.

I recommend this book to women aged fifteen and up who are looking for a nice romantic love story.

I received this book for free from Glass Road  Publishers in exchange for posting a review about it. I am not required to post a positive review. Any opinions expressed are my own.

Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark: Book Review

Title: Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark
Author: Ridley Pearson
Publisher: Disney Editions
My Rating: 4 Stars
Buy The Book:
-HERE-

"In this fantastical thriller, five young teens tapped as models for theme park “guides” find themselves pitted against Disney villains and witches that threaten both the future of Walt Disney World and the stability of the world outside its walls. Using a cutting-edge technology called DHI–which stands for both Disney Host Interactive and Daylight Hologram Imaging–Finn Whitman, an Orlando teen, and four other kids are transformed into hologram projections that guide guests through the park. The new technology turns out, however, to have unexpected effects that are both thrilling and scary. Soon Finn finds himself transported in his DHI form into the Magic Kingdom at night. Is it real? Is he dreaming?

Finn’s confusion only increases when he encounters Wayne, an elderly Imagineer who tells him that the park is in grave danger. Led by the scheming witch, Maleficent, a mysterious group of characters called the Overtakers is plotting to destroy Disney’s beloved realm, and maybe more."

I've never been to Disney World, can you imagine that? As if a vital part of my childhood is somehow missing, I still am eager to visit the magical land that has enchanted fans for years. Though I can not pick off of personal experience from the park, I can try to picture it in my mind through others, movies and books, correct? I picked up Ridley Pearson's Kingdom Keepers book on Kindle to help me do just that. While these books are geared more towards kids much younger than I, a college girl, I still was able to enjoy the books immensely!

As the description above tells us, the main character of our story is Finn Whitman, among four other teens, is a new DHI (Disney Host Interactive) to Disney World. These holographic images of the kids guide tourists around the parks, spitting out information about different rides. Though they are hailed as celebrities to the parks, the children soon wish their choice had been different. For when they sleep, they enter into the parks, after dark, as their DHI selves. Upon meeting a mysterious figure named Wayne, they are told a fantastical tale about a group called the Overtakers. But who might these beings be? The animatronic pirates are the first of these creatures the children will meet, but someone else bigger than that awaits them. Maleficent, the evil sorceress from Sleeping Beauty. These Overtakers seek to take over the parks, but ultimately, they want to take over more. Through the mission that Wayne has given the five children, they are expected to search for things that Walt Disney himself has left behind to help stop the Overtakers from prevailing. But will they complete this mission in time, or will they be caught in the act?

I really did enjoy the story. At first, I was a bit hesitant, mainly because the writing wasn't as high quality as I am used to. I put on my realistic cap, though, and remembered that these were geared toward pre and younger teens. As a college sophomore, though, I really did end up quite liking the story! A few complaints was that the beginning seemed to drag on a bit and there were a few grammatical/punctuational mistakes that occurred. It wasn't enough to cause me to put the book down, however. The book turned out to be a great adventure and I very much enjoyed following the children along their dangerous paths. In fact, I've already purchased the second book on my Kindle and am waiting to read it!

I recommend these books to pre-teens on up who enjoy a good modern-day based adventure tale!

What's Coming Up Next?

The Skeleton Key, by Anthony Horowitz

Torrent, by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Life Support, by Robert Whitlow

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J.K. Rowling

Love on the Line, by Deeanne Gist

Kingdom Keepers: Disney at Dawn, by Ridley Pearson

The Horse and His Boy: Book Review

Title: The Horse and His Boy
Author: C.S. Lewis
Publisher: HarperTrophy
My Rating: 4 Stars
Buy The Book:
-HERE-


"Narnia...where horses talk and hermits like company, where evil men turn into donkeys, where boys go into battle...and where the adventure begins.

During the Golden Age of Narnia, when Peter is High Kind, a boy named Shasta discovers he is not the son of Arsheesh, the Calormene fisherman, and decides to run far away to the North--to Narnia. When he is mistaken for another runaway, Shasta is led to discover who he really is and even finds his real father."

Before Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy returned back to England, they lived many wonderful years in Narnia. The Horse and His Boy brings us back to those glorious days, except viewed through the eyes of four others; two humans and two talking horses. Shasta and Aravis run away from their terrible circumstances to find Narnia with their two talking horses, Bree and Hwin. As they travel, they encounter several obstacles that guard their way. Yet through these obstacles, they discover a plot of a surprise attack on Narnia and Archenland. They must race the clock to help save these two great places from unsuspecting terror.

How great it is to return to Narnia again and again! C.S. Lewis has given us another masterful tale filled with the great wonders of Narnia and the lands surrounding it. The adventure is just as thrilling, the characters just as realistic and the writing just as unique.

I love C.S. Lewis' style of writing. He has a very unique, yet simple way to present his story to all. It is just as enjoyable for adults to read as it is for children. Not only is it his writing that draws me into his books, but the original plotlines and characters. Every story has an incredible ring and an unforgettable journey.

The Narnia series will forever hold a special place in my heart. :)

What's Coming Up Next?

The Skeleton Key, by Anthony Horowitz
Torrent, by Lisa T. Bergren
Life Support, by Robert Whitlow
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J.K. Rowling
Love on the Line, by Deeanne Gist