"Tidewater Inn (A Hope Beach Novel)" by Colleen Coble: Book Review & Getaway Weekend Contest Facebook Party

ISBN: 9781595547811

About the book: 
Welcome to Hope Beach. A place of intoxicating beauty . . . where trouble hits with the force of a hurricane.

Inheriting a beautiful old hotel on the Outer Banks could be a dream come true for Libby. The inn cries out for her restorer’s talent and love of history. She’s delighted to learn of the family she never knew she had. And the handsome Coast Guard lieutenant she’s met there on the island could definitely be the man of her dreams.

But Libby soon realizes that the only way she can afford the upkeep on the inn is to sell it to developers who are stalking the island. The father who willed her the inn has died before she could meet him, and her newfound brother and sister are convinced she’s there to steal their birthright. Worst of all, her best friend and business partner has been kidnapped before her eyes, and Libby’s under suspicion for the crime.

Libby’s dream come true is becoming a nightmare. Her only option is to find her friend and prove her innocence, or lose everything on the shores of Hope Island.

My thoughts: 

Although Colleen Coble is an established writer with an assortment of books to her credit, Tidewater Inn is the first book by her that I recall reading.  Friends, I don't think it will be the last one, though.  When given the opportunity to review Tidewater Inn, I thought, "Now this should be interesting to see how she treats my beloved North Carolina shore line and its people."  You see, I'm a North Carolina native and was raised in Wilmington which is the southernmost tip of the state whereas the Outer Banks is the upper shoreline of our ragged coastline.  So I wasn't reading it as one who has never seen the ocean roil or the wind guest.  Nor seen the gulls at play along the sand dunes and foaming waters of the Atlantic.  No, I'd played in that surf and swam in the calm inland waters as well as the mighty ocean swells. So what did I find that Ms. Coble had to say and how she positioned her characters?

I had trouble "finding" Hope Island, but we do give writers a bit of license with some details.  I could "see" the island because there is much off the coast of North Carolina in the way of broken shore lines and bits and pieces of land.  Her description of the ocean and the troubles of a category 1 hurricane hitting at high tide are "right on." 

But the story is not just about the shores of North Carolina, it is a story of people.  Of danger.  Of greed.  Of kindness and of anger.  Of discovery and of secrets.  Of faith and reconciliation.  It is a gentle love story.  It is a story of triumph over evil and deception.

Our main characters are Libby and Alex.  Libby is a historical architect looking at property on Hope Island with her business partner Nicole.  Alex is a Hope island resident fisherman and Coast Guard officer. 

The story opens with Libby preparing for her trip to Hope Island when her world is shattered as her business partner and friend, Nicole is kidnapped in view of a cam camera and Libby just happens to see it via her computer.  From that point on, the story runs.  So hold your breath, sit tight, and get ready for a twisting, turning, tantalizing story that will keep you guessing who, what, and when until the very end.

About the author:    Best-selling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, ACFW Book of the Year, RWA’s RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.

Visit her website at www.colleencoble.com. Twitter @colleencoble.

    


DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy of Tidewater Inn by Litfuse Publicity Group on behalf of Thomas Nelson Publishers and the author, Colleen Coble in exchange for a review expressing my honest opinion.  All opinions expressed are my own and no requirement for a positive review was required.

Lethal Legacy-Guardians of Justice by Irene Hannon: Book Review

About the book: 

        A determined daughter . . . .
        A skeptical detective . . . .
        A deadly secret . . . 
The police say her father's death was suicide. Kelly Warren says it was murder--and she has new evidence to prove it. Detective Cole Taylor doesn't put much credence in her claim, and nothing in the case history review suggests foul play. But when he digs deeper  and discovers startling information linking her to a long-buried secret, the danger escalates. Is history repeating itself? And who wants Kelly silenced?

My thoughts:  WOW!  A closed case with new information brought to light that leads to further unsettling incidences and coincidences.  Skepticism gives way to tenacity as they probe deeper and deeper into the case.

Detective Cole Taylor takes a call from Kelly Warren whose father's death was ruled a suicide by the department.  Kelly has new information that she believes confirms her intuitive opinion that her father absolutely did not commit suicide. Out of courtesy to a grieving only relative of the deceased man, Kelly who is stunningly beautiful,  detective Taylor investigates.  They further pursue a re-do of the scene of the death - her father's home.

Events turn deadly when Kelly reacts to her deadly peanut allergy at a location where there should not have been any peanut allergens.  Fast forward....... things begin to enliven and move at a quicker pace as the killer tries to take the killing to a newer level.

A beautiful lady who is in harms way.  A determined detective who sees her as a potential romantic interest.  An effort to maintain true professionalism during the investigation.  A chilling and calculating murderer.  A crime of the past that bleeds into the present.  All this makes for a sit-down-and-finish-it-now read!

About the author:  Irene Hannon is the author of more than 35 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, a Carol Award, a HOLT Medallion, a Daphne du Maurier Award, and two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. Booklist also included one of her novels in its "Top 10 Inspirational Fiction" list for 2011.  For more information about her and her books, Irene invites you to visit her website at www.irenehannon.com.

DISCLOSURE:  I received a complimentary review copy from Revell a Division of Baker Publishing Group on behalf of the author for the purpose of rendering my honest review.   Available for purchase August 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.  Price: $14.99  ISBN:  978-0-8007-3458-9  Number of pages: 352

The Calabash Tales by Penny P. Abrams

ISBN:  978-1-4349-1169-8

About the book:  The Calabash Tales is the story of an exciting time in the young life of Greenie the iguana. During his first visit to a nearby beach, Greenie also experiences his first hurricane. With the help of Old Fred, his wise iguana companion, and the other animals in the community, Greenie builds a shelter to weather the storm. Though the hurricane is destructive to the landscape, it also helps Greenie meet new friends and discover the true meaning of family.

My thoughts:  The Calabash Tales follows a young iguana as he ventures from his home to discover new worlds - the world of the beach.  He learns that he can swim and does so in the ocean.  He learns to survive during a hurricane by making preparations for survival.  He learns that there are others in the world different from himself and with different attitudes.  He learns to be kind.  He also learns that families are made of those who care for one another.

For a "picture" book the text is lengthy.  It has chapter divisions and can be read to a young pre-reader or may be read as an early chapter book by a child with strong vocabulary.  The story provides an opportunity for a child to learn some facts about iguanas and preparation and survival during a hurricane.

About the author:  Penny P. Abrams moved to the Virgin Islands with her husband where they lived for 20 years after raising their family. While there, she made many friends including an iguana who sat on her foot as she read on the beach and then swam with her when she went into the water. When Ms. Abrams' grandchildren visited, they would collect bags of hibiscus blossoms to feed the big, old iguanas who lived at nearby Limetree Beach. Now living in Southwest Florida she seldom sees iguanas but does live in a bird preserve. She has another book, An Other Time, which may be purchased on her website, PennyPAbramssupportprose.com.

About the Illustrator:  Millicent Nigrosh known professionally as "Mikki" is a well known artist working in multiple art forms, including sculpting, painting, and photography as well as jewelry design and manufacture. Her work as a silversmith and goldsmith has been sold nation wide as well as her fabric designs and paintings. Her success as a book illustrator has earned her name in the Library of Congress.
DISCLOSURE:  I was provided a complimentary copy of     The Calabash Talesn by Dorrance Publishers so that I could render an honest review.  Opinions expressed are my own.  The book may be purchased at:  http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?dorrance+7XZRvv+index.html 

"Travelers Rest" by Ann Tatlock: Book Review

ISBN:  978-0-7642-0810-2
$14.99

This is a story of lives intertwined in unusual ways and the interactions and emotional turmoil of shattered lives, gut wrenching decisions, social injustices, tragedies of war, and journey to faith.  It is a story of coping with severe handicaps and facing the emotion and physical toil those handicaps place on the individual as well as those in their emotional circle.

Seth and Jane are the young couple about which this story is basically written.  But the journey they are taking is not the one which they had planned so excitedly prior to Seth's deployment to the battlefield.  He has returned home physically and emotionally  a broken man.  Jane is determined to marry him as planned and care for him.  Seth, realistically, says, "No." 

Other players on the stage of this journey-play, are Truman, a retired doctor who grew up in the old Jim Crow South as a black man; and John Paul, who is a young attorney who plays the piano beautifully and who faces his difficulties with grace.  (Watch out for the piano player!)

There are really three stories being played out here; and as I said, they are tightly intertwined.  But understanding the title requires  getting into the story a bit - Travelers Rest.  You see, they are all journeying through life and it is a true journey.  When you travel you must rest.  But rest is hard to come by sometimes.

In the book Travelers Rest is actually a town.  The characters have connections to the town and to each other that are revealed as the story progresses.  Let's just say, that rest for the travelers is ultimately found in Travelers Rest

This is a first read for me of Ann Tatlock's works.  I found it enjoyable in writing style and plot.  I did find it somewhat emotionally draining because of the heavy burdens the characters faced and no hope of recourse.  But I did find rest in the composure and grace of Truman and John Paul.

I encourage you to get a copy and read Travelers Rest.

About the author:  Ann Tatlock is the author of the Christy Award-winning novel All the Way Home. She has also won the Midwest Independent Publishers Association "Book of the Year" in fiction for both All the Way Home and I'll Watch the Moon. Her novel Things We Once Held Dear received a starred review from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly calls her "one of Christian fiction's better wordsmiths, and her lovely prose reminds readers why it is a joy to savor her stories." Ann lives with her husband and daughter in Asheville, North Carolina. Visit www.anntatlock.com

DISCLOSURE:  I was provided a complimentary copy of Travelers Rest by Bethany House a Division of Baker Publishing Group on behalf of the author, Ann Tatlock,  in order to render my honest review.  I was under no obligation to give a positive review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

"Dolphin Baby!" by Nicola Davies & Illustrated by Brita Granstrom: Book Review & Giveaway

This is the second book I've reviewed written by Nicola Davies.  See "Just Ducks." As with "Just Ducks" Ms. Davies has included snippets of factual information tucked onto the pages of Brita Granstrom's beautiful and artful illustrations.  Such as.....

Dolphins are mammals like you and  me, so although they live all their lives in the sea, they must come to the surface to breathe air.

Children ages 3 to 8 will enjoy this beautifully told and illustrated story of the birth and development of a dolphin baby.  The illustrations gently, beautifully, and with bold strokes illustrate the sea world of the dolphin and will draw the child into an appreciation for art.  Isn't it grand when we learn to appreciate something fine without even being told we're being taught?

Baby dolphin is born tail first and immediately swims to the surface to breath.  Then the baby dolphin hangs tight with his mother nursing, being fed fish by mother, and learning the special whistles with which dolphins communicate.  He learns his own name which is a special whistle that is all his very own.  The story of baby dolphin's development is told with brief sentences on each double page spread which artfully illustrates that particular developmental stage.  The front and end pages, double spreads, are beautiful depictions of the coastal area where dolphins live.  The book concludes with an afterword about species with a reminder that one must take care of our oceans to ensure dolphin survival.

I recommend this delightful book for the home library, public and school libraries or for gifting to that special child on your list.  Dolphin Baby! is a Junior Library guild Selection.

GIVEAWAY:  Candlewick Press will mail 1 of Chat With Vera's readers their very own copy of  DOLPHIN BABY!. Open USA only.  Easy entries:  Begins JULY 27 and ENDS August 12 at 12:00 Noon EDT.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me what child or children you would enjoy reading this book with.  Leave a comment with your email contact information.

Extra entry:  Tweet this post using the Tweet button at the end of the post and include the following: @Candlewick #GIVEAWAY.  Leave a comment with the Tweet link and your email contact information.  You may do this DAILY for more entries.

Extra entry:  Share this post on other social media and backlink to this post.  Leave your social media share URL or link information in a comment.  Leave your email contact information, too.
Extra entry:  "Follow" Chat With Vera via at least one of the options in right sidebar: networked blogs, GFC, or email subscriber.  Leave A comment with email saying which you have done.  (Already follow? Just say so with your name)

DISCLOSURE:  I was provided a complimentary copy of Dolphin Baby! in order to render a review with my honest opinion.  I was not required to give a positive review. 

• ISBN-13: 9780763655488
• Publisher: Candlewick Press
• Publication: 4/10/2012

"Arthur's Dream Boat" by Polly Dunbar: Book Review & Giveaway

ISBN:  9780763658670
$15.99

When you first pick up this children's picture book, you are immediately impressed with the soft, intuitively gentle art that is done using various mediums.  The colors speak loudly of dreamy, amazing, childhood - blues, reds, greens basic browns and black but overtly soft.

When Arthur awakens, he has had a dream of a small boat it is green and pink and has a sail.  No one listens when he tells of his amazing dream.  He keeps on trying to gain their attention, but they are so busy and are not listening to him.  Yet on his head is perched the boat from his dream and it is amazing.  It keeps getting added to - polka dots on the sail, stripes on the mast, a gold flag, a figurehead. And it is growing!

Arthur shouts, "Listen to me," and at that time, Arthur and the sea catch their attention. 

This is a dreamy tale of exaggeration and of a boy who has a dream and whose telling of the dream grows with the telling.  The lively and whimsical illustrations are a delight to behold and tell the story from start to finish with beauty and boldness.  Though the art is bold, it is also soft like a child and will appeal wonderfully to the child in your life as you read about Arthur's amazing dream!

GIVEAWAY:  Candlewick Press will mail 1 of Chat With Vera's readers their very own copy of ARTHUR'S DREAM BOAT. Open USA only.  Easy entries:  Begins JULY 24 and ENDS August 10 at 12:00 Noon EDT.

Enter using ALL the choices or as few as you wish.  The choice is yours - but the more you enter, the greater the possibility that you will be chosen as winner. 
Winner chosen using www.random.org.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me what child or children you would enjoy reading this book with.  Leave a comment with your email contact information.

Extra entry:  Tweet this post using the Tweet button at the end of the post and include the following: @Candlewick #GIVEAWAY.  Leave a comment with the Tweet link and your email contact information.  You may do this one DAILY for more entries.

Extra entry:  Share this post on other social media and backlink to this post.  Leave your social media share URL or link information in a comment.  Leave your email contact information, too.
Extra entry:  Visit Candlewick's Facebook Page, like it, leave a comment saying, "I am visiting from http://ChatWithVera.blogspot.com." Leave a comment with email here on this post saying you have done so.

Extra entry:  "Follow" Chat With Vera via at least one of the options in right sidebar: networked blogs, GFC, or email subscriber.  Leave comment with email saying which you have done.  (Already follow? Just say so with your name)

About the author/illustrator:  In addition to creating children's books, Polly Dunbar works as a freelance illustrator in London.  Polly Dunbar is the award-winning author-illustrator of Penguin and Dog Blue, as well as the Tilly and Friends series. She is also the illustrator of Here's a Little Poem by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, My Dad's a Birdman by David Almond, and Shoe Baby, written by her mother, Joyce Dunbar. Polly Dunbar lives and works in Brighton, England.

DISCLOSURE:  I received a complimentary copy of Arthur's Dream Boat from Candlewick Press in order to render a review.  Opinions expressed are my own.  The Giveaway copy for one of Chat With Vera's readers is also provided by Candlewick Press.

"Broken Ladders" by Michelle Isenhoff (Divided Decade Triology)

My thoughts: Michelle Isenhoff brings us book 2 in the Divided Decade Trilogy.  Book 1 was The Candle Star.  Click here to read my review.  In "Broken Ladders" Ms. Isenhoff  introduces us to the Wallace family in Wayland, Michigan - not quite the wilderness it once was but still a fast-filling frontier.  The Civil War has not actually come to their back yard, but it is impacting their family, their farm, and their town drastically.  Hannah Wallace, the 12-year-old daughter of the house, moans the fact that her Pa and older brother have left to fight.  This leaves Hannah's mother, her older brother Joel, and her younger brother Justin, and herself to fight the daily battles of running the farm alone.

There is a loan that Pa has taken out on the farm in order to have seed and other items needed.  It must be paid.  But Hannah doesn't want to stay and farm.  She wants to be a boy and be able to fight.  But there aren't many dangers around which leaves Hannah's fertile imagination to run rampant along with that of Justin and her friend, Wes.  Every free opportunity they, as children are wont to do, run off and fight their pretend war against the South.

The battle is not always on the battleground or field.  It is very often fought in the homes and on the farms.  That is the case here.  No shots are fired.  No lives lost.  But they are fighting a mighty battle.  To save the farm.  The determination of Hannah, Joel, and Justin to do just this is inspiring and telling of the character of the pioneers of this great country that is the United States of America.

One of my daughters is a special education teacher and has taught middle and high school students.  Here are some comments regarding this author's writing and this book which she shared with me:

1. The author has beautiful use of figurative language.
2. Children can relate to the dialogue of these lively characters.
3. Parents will love the liberal sprinkling of historical facts throughout the books.

Another book by Michelle Isenhoff that I have reviewed is The Color of Freedom.  Click here to read this review of an exceptional book!

The author's books are written for the 9 to 15 year old market and she promises adventure.  She also promises to protect the innocence of children in her writing.