12.04.2023

The Prince of Egypt : The Musical // Review & Giveaway


You’ve grown up with this story, and now you can watch the filmed live stage production! Buy or rent The Prince of Egypt digitally starting December 5th! 

 Filmed live at the West End's Dominion Theatre, London, the show features a cast and orchestra of 60 performers, making it one of the biggest musicals ever staged. The Prince of Egypt: The Musical is the must-see event for all fans of musical theatre. Based on the classic DreamWorks Animation film the classic story has been brought to life by Stephen Schwartz’s “miraculous music” (Time Out), including Academy Award®-winning song ‘When You Believe’ and Sean Cheesman’s “astonishing choreography” (The Guardian). This epic, critically acclaimed production tells an inspiring tale of resilience and hope. Journey through the wonders of Ancient Egypt as two young men, raised together as brothers in a kingdom of privilege, find themselves suddenly divided by a secret past. One must rule as Pharaoh, the other must rise up and free his true people; both face a destiny that will change history forever.

Buy or rent The Prince of Egypt on digital starting December 5th! https://www.theprinceofegyptmusical.com/




My Review: 

Watch the story of Moses come to life in a whole new way, in this imaginative west end production of The Prince of Egypt. 

I was blown away by the attention to detail, use of interpretive dance and the set pieces, and the amazing talent of the entire cast. Meticulously put together show, I loved how the stage came alive through the dancers that brought the musical to life in a innovative way, I was riveted to the screen because I didn't want to miss a single thing! 

The actors are all incredibly talented, with strong pitch perfect voices that capture the emotions of the music. This is probably one of the best musicals I have ever seen, and it was easy to become immersed as it all came to life, and I can only imagine that it will be even bigger and better on the big screen. A wonderful experience for the whole family, with strong themes of legacy and faith. Highly recommend!

 #PrinceOfEgyptMIN #PrinceOfEgyptMusical #MomentumInfluencerNetwork 

Many thanks to NBC Universal for providing a sample of the product for this review.  Opinions are 100% my own.



Giveaway: $10 Amazon giftcard 

(Note: This is limited to US winners only).


a Rafflecopter giveaway

12.03.2023

Of Sea and Smoke by Gillian Bronte Adams // Celebrate Lit



About the Book



Book: Of Sea and Smoke

Author: Gillian Bronte Adams

Genre: YA Epic Fantasy

Release Date: November 21, 2023

He rides a seablood, a steed of salt and spray, born to challenge the tides.

Six years ago, the wrong brother survived, and nothing will ever convince Rafi Tetrani otherwise. But he is done running from his past, and from the truth. As civil war threatens Ceridwen’s tenuous rule in Soldonia, Rafi vows to fight the usurper sitting on the imperial throne of Nadaar, even if it means shouldering his brother’s responsibilities as the empire’s lost heir.

The stolen shipload of magical warhorses offers just the edge he needs. But the steeds have been demanded in ransom by the emperor’s ruthless assassin, and if Rafi hopes to raise a band of riders, he must first outwit his brother’s murderer.

Yet when his best efforts end in disaster, and an audacious raid sparks an empire-wide manhunt, even forging an unexpected alliance might not be enough to help Rafi turn the tides, let alone outrace the wave of destruction intent on sweeping them all away.

 

Click here to get your copy!

Review: Picking up in the aftermath of the previous book, more closely following Rafi as he takes up his fallen brother's mantle in the fight against the usurper. 

Engaging, with plenty of new twists that stretch the characters into growth. I loved that we got to see more sides of Rafi, the author does an excellent job of building on the foundation laid down in the first book to develop real growth and complexity in her characters. Ceridwen is a compassionate leader, with a true heart for those she serves, and I admired her for the hard choices that she had to make. 

A gripping addition to the series, with action, suspense, faith, great world building and character development, and a stunner of a cliffhanger ending. It will be exciting to see where it goes in the next book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

About the Author



Gillian Bronte Adams writes epic fantasy novels, including the award- winning Of Fire and Ash and The Songkeeper Chronicles. She loves strong coffee, desert hikes, and trying out new soup recipes on crisp fall nights. Her favorite books are the ones that make your heart ache and soar in turn. When she’s not creating vibrant new worlds or dreaming up stories that ring with the echoes of eternity, she can be found off chasing sunsets with her horse, or her dog, Took.

 

 

 

More from Gillian

One of my favorite things about writing epic fantasy is not actually what you might expect. It’s not the fantastical elements, although I absolutely love creating worlds filled with magical warhorses, sosswyrm tangles, and stone-eye tigers who can paralyze their prey with a glance. It’s not the intensity of the action or the world altering stakes, although there’s nothing quite so thrilling as throwing your characters into a do-or-die situation, and the pulse-pounding, breathtaking, heart-aching battle sequences that follow.

Instead, one of my favorite things about writing such wild and epic stories is the opportunity to ground them in very real, very human characters, with very real, very human emotions, and in the complexity of those characters’ relationships with others. Mentor relationships, deeply loyal friendships, and especially sibling relationships.

I am the second-born of five siblings, and I love and admire each of my siblings. Each one encourages and inspires and awes me in his or her own unique way. But growing up, if you had told me that my older sister had hung the moon, I would have believed you. She was two and a half years older than me—and yes, that half year mattered to both of us, though for opposite reasons; she because it meant she was that much older, me because it meant we were that much closer. Somehow, everything she touched seemed golden, and I wanted to be a part of it too.

She was a force of nature—a foaming ocean tide—and I was caught up in her wake.

She took up horseback riding, and so did I. She picked up books, and I had to read them too, even if it meant sitting beside her in the car with my own book open on my lap, surreptitiously reading hers over her shoulder. (Needless to say, that drove her crazy, and older siblings everywhere can probably commiserate.)

She dove into creative writing, and out of nowhere, I developed a passion for the written word. But always, within her, there was this spark of imagination and creativity that I felt I could only ever aspire to. Whatever I did, she had done first and better.

And I could only hope to one day achieve her level of greatness.

Rafi, one of the main characters in Of Sea and Smoke, also has an older sibling, a brother he has always looked up to. While Rafi and his relationship with his brother is not based on my relationship with my older sister—we’re all four of us wildly different people—there were some aspects of my experience as a second-born that I was able to draw upon. Rafi admires his brother’s strength and confidence. His assurance and rightness. His nobility and leadership. By the time we enter the story, his older brother is no longer around, but Rafi has spent his whole life setting his brother up on a pedestal and then trying to measure up to that ideal.

Is it any wonder, then, that he has always found himself wanting?

Now, Rafi finds himself having to step into the role that should have been his brother’s, and the only way he can contemplate facing that challenge is by stamping out the things he looks down upon in himself—many of them, the things that make him himself—and trying to be his brother instead.

Growing up, I can’t tell you how many times I looked at my older sister and wished that I could be more like her and less like myself. More confident. More brilliant. More vibrant. More her. But it wasn’t until my older sister’s interests began to drift into new additional avenues, while mine stayed mostly the same (horses, books, writing), that I finally began to grow into myself. To recognize my strengths, my unique skills, the things that only I bring to the table, and to acknowledge that even when they are different from hers, they are still good.

These days, my older sister and I are best friends. She was the first person I trusted to read Of Sea and Smoke before it went out into the world. I still look up to her in so many ways, and yes, I think I’ll always feel a bit like she hung the moon. But I have grown to appreciate the beauty of what I can learn from my sister’s strengths, while also recognizing the value of my own. And without revealing any spoilers, I think I can safely say that part of Rafi’s journey in Of Sea and Smoke wraps around learning that too, all while he’s raising a band of rebel fighters, trying to outwit an infamous assassin, and plotting to overthrow the empire’s oppressive rule.

Wild, epic stories, grounded in real, human experiences, and honestly, can reading get any more fun than that?

I hope you enjoy the ride!

Gillian Bronte Adams

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 2

Through the Fire Blogs, December 3 (Author Interview)

Labor Not in Vain, December 3

Texas Book-aholic, December 4

Artistic Nobody, December 5 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 6

Guild Master, December 7 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 8

Blossoms and Blessings, December 9 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, December 10

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 11 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, December 12 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 13 (Author Interview)

By The Book, December 14 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, December 14

Fiction Book Lover, December 15 (Author Interview)

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Gillian is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card and hardcover copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2909e/of-sea-and-smoke-celebration-tour-giveaway

12.01.2023

The Cowgirl's Last Rodeo by Tabitha Bouldin // Review

Lucie's Review: 

An uplifting story of second chances, faith, hard work, and love. 

After her horse goes blind, the one person who can get Callie back in the saddle again is the man whose heart she broke 10 years ago. 

A heartwarming story of second chances, love and hard work. I liked Brody's devotion to his family, and how close he is with them. His little nephew is just so adorable! I liked the interaction between Callie and Brody as they rediscover their friendship and work together with the horses. 

Overall, a heartwarming story filled with hope and horses. I loved getting to know both of their families, and see how they never gave up on the horses. A heartwarming second chance romance, with likable characters and plenty of heart. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 Buy it here: https://amzn.to/3MQZwKQ   *As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases

11.30.2023

Single Today by Ryan Wekenman // Review

My Review: 

Finally a book for singles, written by an actual single person! 

As a pretty much chronically single person, reading this was such a breath of fresh air. I laughed and cried along with Ryan, because he gets it, possibly even more because he's a pastor. It was so nice to read a book about being single, and just relating to the unique situations that others don't understand, as well as just openly saying maybe you'll be single forever and not beating around the bush on that one. 

Honestly, reading this book was so affirming. It was great to have someone acknowledge that things are different for singles, we don't have the same support systems or pushers in our lives, and things can feel stagnant at times. As a fellow introvert, I probably related to this book more than some. 

But while the author acknowledges all of these things, he points to God and how our martial status doesn't stop us from living a life devoted to honoring God whatever it holds. This book doesn't tell you how to get in a relationship, and that's why I loved it. Highly recommend!


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 Buy it here: https://amzn.to/40Y0RVU *As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases

11.29.2023

Anne Dares adapted by Kallie George, and illustrated by Abigail Halpin // Review

My Review: 

Book five in a series of Anne of Green Gables adapted for young readers with accompanying illustrations, Anne Dares finds Anne learning a valuable lesson about taking risks. 

Easy to read, but staying true to the original spirit, this is a charming read that was over far too quickly for me, but I could definitely see how the shorter length is less intimidating for early readers. Highly enjoyable, and with lovely illustrations this series is the perfect way to introduce Anne to the next generation! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 Buy it here: https://amzn.to/47W4A8M *As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases

11.28.2023

The Shift // Movie Review & Giveaway


From Angel Studios (The Chosen, Sound of Freedom) comes The Shift! 

 In The Shift, a dystopian drama and sci-fi thriller, one man is faced with infinite worlds and impossible choices. When Kevin Garner meets a nefarious adversary known as The Benefactor and refuses his offer of wealth and power, he must escape an alternate totalitarian reality. With survival on the line, Kevin fights to make it back to the world he knows and the woman he loves.

 Featuring Sean Astin (The Goonies, Rudy, The Lord of the Rings), Neal McDonough (Band of Brothers), and Elizabeth Tabish (The Chosen), THE SHIFT is a movie you and your friends won’t want to miss! 




Get your tickets to see this movie in theaters starting 12/1! https://www.angel.com/movies/the-shift

You can help pay for other people's tickets to come to the film at angel.com/pay-it forward/the-shift.




 My Review: 

A dystopian thriller about a man who loses it all when he refuses the offer of the malevolent Benefactor, and finds himself living in an alternate reality fighting to get back to his old life, refusing to renounce his faith. 

A fast paced film, tension filled, with plenty of action. It took awhile for me to get oriented, but definitely pulls you in as it progresses. The story draws parallels from the Biblical account of Job, and I admired Kevin for his devotion to his family, as well as his drive to get back to them. 

An action packed thriller, with strong themes of faith family, and fighting for what is right. Probably not for young children due to the violence and more mature themes. But another strong film from Angel studios, that is thought provoking and quality entertainment. 

 #TheShiftMIN #TheShiftFilm #MomentumInfluencerNetwork 

Many thanks to Angel Studios for providing a sample of the product for this review.  Opinions are 100% my own.



Giveaway: 2 tickets to see the film in theaters 

(Note: This is limited to US winners only).


a Rafflecopter giveaway

11.27.2023

The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt // Review

Lucie's Review: 

Emotional and evocative, the author does an amazing job of bringing the horrible realities of WWII to life through the eyes of two amazing sisters. 

Well researched and deeply historical, this book vividly shows the hardships faced by so many living in Poland during the German occupation. Antonina has always seen herself as more meek than her bolder sister, Helena. But the war forces her out of her comfort zone and has her finding her footing in her own act of resistance. While Helena goes to fight with Poland's secret army.

Engaging, and hard to read in a good way, because of how well the time period is brought to life. Poignant, well written tale of love and sacrifice, this is a book that will stick with you long after the last page is turned. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

 Buy it here: https://amzn.to/3R1qf8T

 *As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases

11.26.2023

Steal Fire From the Gods by Clint Hall // Celebrate Lit


                                                      


About the Book

Book: Steal Fire from the Gods

Author: Clint Hall

Genre: Science Fiction

Release Date: November 7, 2023

The Human Alliance knew the war was over when the machines started using magic to cast fire, shake the ground, conjure storms, and part the seas.

We fought back anyway.

22-year-old soldier Gunnar Graves lost his faith and his family when a platoon of AI-driven war machines—led by an android fire mage— destroyed his unit. Forced to live in a machine-controlled village and hiding a dark secret, he spends his days trying to learn elemental power so he can take his revenge. After years of failure, his ability ignites when he least expects it.

On the run and hunted by the war machines, Gunnar discovers that an ancient, life-based strength has awakened to help humanity fight back. Joined by the other life mages, Gunnar is thrust into a mad world of android overlords, cyborg clans, and evil forces bent on his destruction.

To protect his newfound family, Gunnar must discover the truth behind a power he doesn’t understand and wage a war he doesn’t believe they can win.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Review: 

A thrilling futuristic adventure that pits man against machine. 

Engaging from the very beginning, I was pulled into the world of Gunnar Graves, a young man with a secret, on a mission to destroy the machines that took his family. The author does an excellent job spinning a compelling and exciting tale, with magnificent world building that flowed seamlessly into the story. I admired Gunnar for his courage, and how he treated others with respect. 

Great character development, as well as the well woven spiritual aspects of the story that never felt forced. 

Honestly, this book blew past all my expectations and I will definitely be picking up more books by Clint Hall in the future.  Riveting plot, with compelling character development, action and faith in a well built futuristic setting, all well executed. This is not an author you want to sleep on!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

About the Author

Clint Hall is a storyteller, speaker, and podcast host. He has been writing stories since middle school, where he spent most of his time in class creating comic books. (Fortunately, his teacher not only allowed it; she bought every issue.) Known for instilling a sense of hope, wonder, and adventure, Clint’s work has been published across multiple anthologies and magazines. Find him at ClintHall.com or “The Experience: Conversations with Creatives” podcast, available on all major platforms.

 

More from Clint

When I first heard the song See A Victory by Elevation Worship, I assumed the lyrics, “You took what the enemy meant for evil and You turned it for good,” were pulled verbatim (translated, of course) from the Bible, probably one of Paul’s letters.

Despite not knowing exactly from where they came, the words stuck with me. It’s inspiring to believe that God can take the terrible things that have happened to us – or even because of us – and use them to bring about something beautiful.

When I looked them up, I found that the lyrics are actually a derivation of what Joseph said to his brothers years after they sold him into slavery. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20 NIV)

Placing the words within the context of a story makes them even more impactful for me. It’s astounding to think about Joseph’s faith and spiritual maturity to not only offer forgiveness in this moment, but also to recognize the immense benefits that have arisen from such a horrific injustice against him.

It wasn’t until recently that I realized how much this passage is related to my book. That’s the funny thing about writing stories. You often don’t know what they’re about until you’re done.

Steal Fire From The Gods is the most faith-based story I’ve ever written. It’s also the darkest and certainly the weirdest. It’s an action-packed book in which AI has discovered the secrets of elemental magic and used that power to overthrow humanity.

But that’s just the concept. This story isn’t about magic robots. It’s about a person undergoing a crisis of faith. And you could hardly blame him.

Gunnar Graves and his family did everything the right way. They were faithful, devoted, and kind. They prayed, studied God’s Word, and followed His laws. Then, they were decimated. As a result, Gunnar is angry at God and even at his late parents for their blind faith that – from his perspective – ultimately failed them all.

Gunnar spends much of the story trying to harness magic for what he believes is a righteous cause. But despite his altruistic intentions, it eludes him, causing him even more anger and frustration. How could an all-powerful, all-loving God place such an awesome power into the hands of oppressive machines instead of mankind?

To make matters worse, Gunnar and other characters in the story have secrets that I won’t spoil in this blog. Suffice to say there are aspects of who they are and what they have done that would cause most people to cast them out if the truth became known. So instead, they hide themselves from God and other humans. More separation. More shame. More darkness.

It often feels that way for believers. In our weakness, we can simultaneously be angry at God for what we perceive as injustice – getting what we don’t think we deserve, or not getting what we think we do – while also being convinced there is something about us that will prevent us from ever connecting with His love, joy, and peace.

But there is always hope. God often reminds us of His presence by not only saving us from our circumstances but also using our weaknesses as tools to create wonderful outcomes. Paradoxically, good comes about not in spite of evil, but seemingly because of it.

As believers, we understand this is not a function of necessity. To bring about this good, God did not need evil to occur. But He will use it to demonstrate His ability to turn the enemy’s own weapons against him.

These occurrences wouldn’t make sense outside the knowledge that there is an all-powerful, all-loving Father. That reminder of His presence – that He must be with us because otherwise, such good springing from such evil would be impossible – is in many cases a greater blessing than the good itself.

But He will not force these blessings upon us. We are free to choose whether we will trust and accept them. We do so through faith, selflessness, and surrender.

That’s where we find the power. That’s where we find goodness. That’s where we find hope.

That’s what I want readers to take away from this book.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, November 14

Artistic Nobody, November 15 (Author Interview)

Exploring the Written Word, November 15

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, November 16

Guild Master, November 17 (Author Interview)

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 18

Through the Fire Blogs, November 19 (Author Interview)

Wishful Endings, November 20

Beauty in the Binding, November 21 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 23

Simple Harvest Reads, November 24 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, November 24

Blogging With Carol, November 25

Labor Not in Vain, November 26

Fiction Book Lover, November 27 (Author Interview)

Giveaway



To celebrate his tour, Clint is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/29094/steal-fire-from-the-gods-celebration-tour-giveaway

11.24.2023

My Christmas Hero // Great American Pureflix Movie Review & Giveaway




In My Christmas Hero, US Army reservist and orthopedic physician, Nicole  Ramsey (Bure) is dedicated to serving military service members and their families at  the Joint Military Base in Lacey, Washington, home of I Corps and the 62nd Airlift  Wing. This Christmas, with the help of many dedicated heroes, Dr. Ramsey is on a  mission to honor a special fallen soldier and bring much needed healing to her own  family.



Watch My Christmas Hero on Great American Family starting November 24th &  Great American PureFlix starting December 1st!

https://www.greatamericanfamily.com/movie/my-christmas-hero/



My Review: 

A charming Christmas rom-com, with a heartfelt nod to the brave men and women who fight to keep our country safe. 

A sweet romantic comedy set on a military base, charming and even some self aware humor. I loved the military base setting, as well as the strong themes of respect for the troops woven into the movie. It was a cute romance, and I liked that Nicole's parents were supportive and just wanted the best for her. She and Major Ross have a great group of friends that provided great humor and supportive advice. 

A fun, lighthearted Christmas movie, with a sweet clean romance, in a lovely setting, and characters that you can cheer for till the end.

#MyChristmasHeroMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Many thanks to Great American PureFlix for providing a sample of the product for this  review. Opinions are 100% my own.




Giveaway: 3-month subscription to Great American Pure Flix 

(Note: This is limited to US winners only, and only to those who have NOT won a subscription in the last 6 months.)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

11.22.2023

Codes of Courage by A.L. Sowards // Review

Lucie's Review: 
An emotional journey of love, sacrifice, and courage in the face of war. 

A gripping story, that follows the lives of three people as they weather the winds of WWII, in this well done emotional novel, with strong threads of faith. Karl is a brave man who wants to give everything he can to fight the Nazis, I loved his relationship with Millie and how their growing bond is a bright spot in the midst of the war. 

I liked how this book does a great job of realistically looking at both sides of the war, and the courageous people who fought. I could definitely sense the fragility of new love against the backdrop of war. 

A very well written read, well researched and crafted with great considerations to the nuances of the times. Definitely recommend. 


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 Buy it here: https://amzn.to/3STr2eG *As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases