First Look at Death's Touch

You know how you're doing the dishes, thinking deep thoughts, and BLAM! it hits you? Well, several months ago I was doing just that, and I suddenly had a thought for a story. A story with a very deep meaning. Death. But not specifically death, not just death itself, but also what happens after death. And how death can happen to anyone, no matter your age. I felt like it was a story that was placed on my heart for a reason. So I wrote a little about it, and put it in my to-be-written stories. Recently, this story has come to my attention again. It will not be a novel, but more of a short story, or novella. It won't be my biggest project, and I'm not even sure if it would be a story I would sell, or if it would be one I published online, so that it might help others. Right now I don't know. But I thought you guys might like to hear a little bit about it, and I'm even going to share with you the first bit of the story.

 I've never done a story like this. And the style of writing is different as well. I hope you will enjoy it anyway. :)

 Enjoy.

For some death is a doorway. For some it comes to soon. But it must come, for all. For it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this, the judgement.

 

The clock strikes eleven. There is an empty silence felt. It is real- more real than anything felt. It is a heavy silence. A silence that can mean only one thing. Death has arrived.

  If you stood in the empty hall of this Victorian-era home, you would stare at the varnished grandfather clock standing like a sentry in the corner. You would note the time that Margaret Dale passed from this life, and you would remember.

 If you were Margaret’s daughter, Louisa, you would have walked into the second room on the left, and watched her departure. You would have gripped her hand, and begged her not to go, even if ninety-three was a nice long life.

 But you are not Louisa, and if you were, you would be brought to the understanding that all have a time appointed to them, and your mother’s time is up.

 She looks at the ceiling, her face glowing with a joy you may have never witnessed. Louisa holds her hand even tighter. She is not willing to let go. You want to go to her, but you are a spectator. You cannot be part of the scene. No one is aware of your presence. You are here to learn.

 “I see the angels,” Margaret breathes, the lines around her eyes- once so shrouded, now clear- turning into a smile. “They are singing.”

 Louisa strokes her mother’s white hair, once a deep shade of chestnut. “Mother, oh mother, I’m not ready.”

 If you looked around the room, you would notice something immediately. Not the large four-poster bed, or the colorful carpet of red and gold, or the antique bureau. No, you would feel, see, the complete emptiness of the room. There is no one at the bedside, or in the entire house, but Margaret and her loving daughter.

The Fifty Followers Mini Giveaway!

 Today's the day! I searched in stores, on etsy and in the discard of my library to come up with today's giveaway. Actually, I'm offering two mini giveaways, since I happened upon two great books. 

Giveaway One: 

Sorry for the strange tilt of the photo. This giveaway contains Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and a four pack of Princess pens. Yes, they're princess pens. Let's just go back to childhood, and appreciate them, kay? Besides, they're gel pens!

Giveaway Two:

 This giveaway contains A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and another pack of gel pens. Additionally, it also contains a lovely, lovely journal donated by The Sassy Planet Boutique on Etsy. 

                    

                                   

 The Jane Eyre giveaway will have it's own special prize. ;) Enter below. First is Jane Eyre, second is A Little Princess.

 I'm sorry for taking so long to get this up. There were some technical difficulties involved, but it all seems to be ironed out now. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Sorry this is a bit late. But tomorrow my official post will be up because tomorrow is giveaway day! So be sure to check back and enter! You can start by becoming a member of the site- that is the first way to earn points. See you tomorrow!

~ a rambling author

The Sassy Planet Boutique!

 In our upcoming Mini-Giveaway we are having a beautiful journal donated to us by the Sassy Planet Boutique on Etsy!

 They offer many neat things including the journal.

 

 Isn't it pretty? It's the perfect companion for any writer, or anyone that just wants to jot down thoughts about life. I encourage everyone to check out the shop for themselves. And check back in a few days to a week for the giveaway! :)

~ a rambling author

It's Complicated: A Book Review

Hello everyone! Today you get another review! Today I'm reviewing It's Complicated by the sweet author Laura L. Smith.

Book description:

Follow four college roommates, Claire, Palmer, Hannah and Kat as they maneuver crushes, confusion, and the crisis when pushy boys go too far. Complicated as it is, these four friends will pull through, guided by the strength of their friendship and the power of God’s love.

  There's a reason Facebook has the status, It's Complicated.

~

 I enjoyed this book. Laura has a very engrossing style of writing that kept me reading, wondering what was going to happen to the characters. Since the story is split up between four girls, sometimes it would jerk you out of a tense moment in one character's life, and put you in another girl's. I would want to see what was going to happen to the first girl, but pretty soon I'd be taken in with the second girl's world.

 Mrs. Smith writes very real, truthful, hard-hitting books. She puts these girls in real life situations, with real life emotions. Though I may not approve of some of the girl's dating decisions, or other decisions they make in the book, she's woven a story that is very true to most teenagers these days.

 I appreciated the faith element in the story, and how God was telling the girl's to lean on Him. Sometimes we have to be strong enough to let things go, and let God have His way.

 This book is under Young Adult as far as I'm aware, though I will warn younger readers: There is some very mature issues addressed, things that some girls have had to go through. If I had to pick an age group for this book, I would actually say fifteen and up. Maybe it's just because I never read anything with such mature issues when I was fourteen and younger, or something else. I just feel that this is a story for older teens who aren't uncomfortable getting into the nitty gritty part of life that many girls have to navigate.

 In the end, I thought It's Complicated was a well written book. It's a good story, with characters girls can relate to. I also loved the references in the novel, like Les Miserables. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel.
~

I received this book from the author as a member of the Playlist Street Team. Playlist is a new line of ebook novels for young adults. There are many talented author's involved, and I encourage you to check it out!

About the author:

Laura L. Smith is the author of the new Status Updates series. Her first book in this series is It's Complicated. She loves God, her husband, her four children, writing and speaking. She writes real stories for real young women. Her previous books include Skinny, Hot, and Angry. She is a featured columnist at Choose Now Ministries  http://nicoleodell.com/laura-l-smith-on-true-beauty/ and speaks at schools, churches and campuses around the country. Smith lives in the college town of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. www.laurasmithauthor.com

 

Rock Harbor Search and Rescue: A Book Review

 Today, I have the great pleasure of reviewing Rock Harbor Search and Rescue by Colleen Coble and Robin Carrol. I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. (Isn't that a sweet cover? )

From the back cover:
In Rock Harbor Search and Rescue, a middle grade fiction novel based on Colleen Coble’s bestselling Rock Harbor series for adults, kids will enjoy the mixture of pets, adventure, suspense, and a mystery. 
Emily O’Reilly is obsessed with all things Search and Rescue. She volunteers with the team and goes on rescue missions with her stepmom. She is even selling homemade jewelry to save up for her own Search and Rescue puppy. But when an expensive necklace is stolen from a renowned jewelry artist at Rock Harbor’s fall festival and Emily is accused of the crime, it looks like she’ll never get her puppy and be able to join the Rock Harbor Search and Rescue team.
Emily isn’t willing to give up on her Search and Rescue dreams that easily, and she sets out to find the real culprit and to restore her reputation. With a few suspects in mind, Emily is determined to uncover the truth, but she isn’t prepared for the secrets she and the Search and Rescue dogs sniff out in the process. This exciting mystery is filled with twists and turns that will keep readers on the edge of their seats and have them pining after a Search and Rescue puppy of their own!

 I was a little behind on getting this review out, due to being very busy with life. But I'm a fan of Colleen Coble, so to have the opportunity to read this through Team Novel Teen was great. On to the review!

 There were a lot of things I liked about this book, though, as in all things, some bits I didn't quite agree with.

 It was neat to see in the world of search and rescue, something I've never given much thought of. It was very interesting, and seems like something that would be really fun, and fulfilling to be a part of.

I've never read Mrs. Coble's Rock Harbor series, so I wasn't familiar with the setting, or the characters. Even so, I found myself drawn into the story, caring about the characters, and trying to solve the mystery along with Emily.

 Emily is a heroine girls can identify with. She's filled with complexity, fears, and blushes a lot. But even when she's afraid- happens several times throughout the novel- she comes through and remembers that God can take care of her, and her fear. She was very real.

 I liked most of the other characters as well. Emily's younger brothers, Timmy and Matthew were just adorable as anything, Bree and Naomi were cool, but one character I just couldn't understand. It annoyed me that Emily's dad doubted her innocence at the beginning of the story, especially since she was a Christian, and he even said later she had never lied to him. It was that character, and another, the classic mean girl that aggravated me a bit. But I guess it all goes for good conflict in the story, eh?

 In the end, Mrs. Coble and Mrs. Caroll wrapped the story up nicely. They gave this book a satisfactory conclusion, but left the door open for more adventures- and possible scares in the future. I don't know how much of the story both of these author's wrote, but they both did a great job. This story is written for younger readers, and I can tell that with the style of writing, but that doesn't mean us teens- and older folks- can't enjoy it as well.

 I've read several of Colleen Coble's books, and I have to say she made the transition from adult to middle-grade quite smoothly.

 Get your own copy here.

 I rate this four stars. ****

Book Nook 4 You • Blooming with Books • Christian Bookshelf Reviews • CTF Devourer • Jill Williamson • The Ramblings of a Young Author • Realm of Hearts • Terri Harr • Worthy2Read

Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other posts about Rock Harbor Search & Rescue by Coble & Caroll by clicking on the links above, and click here for more information about Team Novel Teen.

~ Bethany, a rambling author
  

And the Go Teen Writer's Winnner is...

 Sarah Elizabeth! Congratulations. You've won the copy of Go Teen Writers: How to Turn Your First Draft into a Published Novel. Check you email for more information.

 ~a rambling author

Updates!!!!!

 Hello readers! Here are a few updates from yours truly!

 Both Baby, It's Cold Outside, and The Prince's Quest are *this* close to being finished! Yay! I'm so excited! I'm going to do my very best to finish them this month.

 I've gotten books, and a few other items for my giveaway, so keep your eyes open for that!

Soon I'll be reviewing Swept Away by Mary Connealy, Rock Harbor Rescue by Coleen Coble, Storm by Evan Angler, and Captives by Jill Williamson! Lots of awesome stuff there! :D

 I blog on a modest fashion blog every Monday, and right now an awesome giveaway is being hosted! I'm even offering a prize! Check it out: http://www.apinchofclassy.blogspot.com/http://www.apinchofclassy.blogspot.com/