You Ask: Rathelm

 It's been a while since I've done a "You Ask." So today, I'm going to introduce you to King Rathelm.

I don't own this image.

King Rathelm is the father of Elric, who you've already met. He is the King of Linaeus, and a bit of a grouch. And when I say he's a grouch, I mean he's sentenced a lot of people to death. Some think that his mind is going. But no one dares to speak their suspicions. He shows obvious favor to his youngest son, Aren, who is much like his oldest son who died. He thinks of Elric's book learning as rubbish, and doesn't have a very good opinion of his oldest surviving son. But it's your turn to ask the questions, because I don't want to spoil anything. Enjoy!

~ a rambling author

Lord of the Rings

 Since I missed yesterdays post again... ERGH... I'm going to post Friday as well. Today I'm just going to do a book showcase. Lord of the Rings! Which is one of the books I'm about to read for the summer. Whoot whoot.

Through the urgings of the enigmatic wizard Gandalf, young hobbit Frodo Baggins embarks on an urgent, incredibly treacherous journey to destroy the One Ring. This ring -- created and then lost by the Dark Lord, Sauron, centuries earlier -- is a weapon of evil, one that Sauron desperately wants returned to him. With the power of the ring once again his own, the Dark Lord will unleash his wrath upon all of Middle-earth. The only way to prevent this horrible fate from becoming reality is to return the Ring to Mordor, the only place it can be destroyed. Unfortunately for our heroes, Mordor is also Sauron's lair. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is essential reading not only for fans of fantasy but for lovers of classic literature as well...






~ a rambling author

Echoes of Mercy: A Book Review

 So, I have gotten a lot of review books lately, and in my rush to review them all, I just realized there are a couple I've read that I haven't reviewed yet. Wow! So tonight I'm going to review Echoes of Mercy by Kim Vogel Sawyer.

Back cover: Sometimes a secret must be kept for the truth to be revealed.

When a suspicious accident occurs at the famous Dinsmore Chocolate Factory in Sinclair, Kansas, Caroline Lang goes undercover as a factory worker to investigate the circumstances surrounding the event and how the factory treats its youngest employees—the child workers. Caroline’s fervent faith, her difficult childhood, and compassionate heart drove her to her job as an investigator for the Labor Commission and she is compelled to see children freed from such heavy adult responsibilities, to allow them to pursue an education.  

Oliver Dinsmore, heir to the Dinsmore candy dynasty, has his own investigation to conduct. Posing as a common worker known as “Ollie Moore,” he aims to find out all he can about the family business before he takes over for his father. Caroline and Oliver become fast friends, but tension mounts when the two find themselves at odds about the roles of child workers. Hiding their identities becomes even more difficult when fate brings them together over three children in desperate need. When all is revealed, will the truth destroy the love starting to grow between them?

 

 

 

  First of all, I love the title. Second of all... I love chocolate. Third... I really like Kim Vogel Sawyer.

 I volunteered to read this book because of all of these reasons. I've been in two different shows of Willy Wonka the musical, so chocolate kind of has a special place in my heart. Also, mysteries, and children in trouble made me intrigued.

 The characters were awesome! I found something to love about all of them. Spunky Carrie was so cool, and Ollie so sweet, even if they disagreed. Then there were slightly smaller characters like Kesia that really livened up the cast. I loved each character, and the book would lack something without each of them.

 I enjoyed the plot. A possible murder always shakes things up and makes you wonder if the same is going to happen again. I enjoyed reading about the hiring methods, and how a factory works, and the subplot about the three children Carrie is trying to help out.

 This book is a fine excursion into pre child labor law history. Sawyer did not disappoint, and I really enjoyed reading this, and look forward to more books by this author.

~ a rambling author

Five Enchanted Roses Sneak Peek

 I've decided to participate in the Five Enchanted Roses contest. I love Beauty and the Beast, so... Anyway, I've been working on a plot for my story. I have no name yet, but here is a little bit of what is to come...

Grace shoved her way through the briars scratching at her arms. The sounds of the forest surrounded her, making her push faster. How foolish. She shouldn’t have thought she could go into the forest alone after dark no matter the circumstances. She wished one of her sisters had come with her, or that she hadn’t shattered her lantern at the sound of a wolf’s howl.

 “Father!” she called, breaking through the briars. She looked around, paling. He was nowhere in sight. She gathered her cloak close around her and went over her options. She could push on, or head back home, and hope her father was home in the morning.

 With dread coiling in her stomach, she continued walking. “Father!”

 What would Dreslot do without its most prestigious citizen?

 As she passed a stand of oaks, a most peculiar feeling washed over her. She yawned. Perhaps she should rest. The trees looked safe enough. She could climb one and nap in a branch. Nobody would see the unladylike act.

 Feeling heavier by the second she found a toehold in the first oak, and began to climb, her tunic rubbing against her leggings. At last she reached a high enough branch, eyes drooping, and settled herself against the trunk.

 *****

 Swaying like the rocking of a baby’s cradle.  Grace cracked her eyelids. Was the tree… moving?

 “Is it dead?” The gruff voice came from below her.

 “Naw. Just sleeping.”

 “Well, wake it up!” Came the impatient command.

 Grace closed her eyes tighter. She didn’t know the intentions of these men, and it was always best to pretend unconsciousness in strange situations.

 Her body lurched in protest when icy liquid assaulted her. She screeched, sitting up and banging her head against a higher limb.

 “Don’t move!”

Graduation Parties and Whatnot

Wow! God is good, and some exciting stuff has been happening lately. I'm in that exciting (and scary) time of change. I guess I won't really understand it completely till I'm standing on the steps of my college... or ever. The fact that I'm graduating... class of 2014... is surreal. I feel the same as I always did. People keep asking me, "How does it feel to be an adult, how does it feel to be graduated?" Etc. And really... I don't know. Things feel the same. And I'm dreading the entrance exam of my college even if it is only to see where I place on the learning scale.

A fraction of my graduation party attendees.

 And I even wonder about college. There are so many different voices trying to tell me what I need to do for me and for my future. Some encourage me to go to college, to have a career path ready... others say I should follow my dreams, or learn other valuable skills you won't learn in a college. But I don't know. I feel so uncertain. But I know God holds the answer, and I'm praying for His insight in this matter and all matters.

 I had a graduation party in May for my theater friends. We had such a fantastic time eating, singing karaoke (because we're theater kids. Duh.) and playing mafia. It was just a lot of fun to spend time with some of my favorite people on my special day. I'm so grateful for the friends God has placed in my life.

 I've been able to attend a couple of other graduation parties which were a blast. Like I said, I have the best friends.

Argh. I'm a pirate.

 I've also been in Tarzan, as you know. We opened last weekend to a smashing success, and have one weekend left. It is such a bittersweet feeling because this is my brother's last show probably. He's been with me since Joseph back in 2011, and it feels so weird to think we won't be in another show together. Well, with this particular theater program at least. I'll probably talk more about it next week, but I'm probably going to cry buckets. Ugh. Emotions.

Anyway... yes. My life is crazy. But it's good. God is so wonderful to me, and has blessed me so much. Without Him I would be nothing. Thank the Lord for His grace and mercy.

~ a rambling author

The Heart's Pursuit: A Book Review (And Tarzan.)

  Hey ya’ll! I guess it’s obvious that I haven’t been posting this week. Know why? It’s tech week for Tarzan! In this show I get to walk around on my knuckles and make ape noises. It’s very physically challenging but super fun and I’m having a fantastic time. We open tomorrow night! WHOO! 

 So I’m going to review The Heart’s Pursuit by Robin Lee Hatcher. I received this book through BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

 

A jilted bride desperate to save her family from ruin.
A bounty hunter seeking vengeance for a ravaged past.
An arduous trek toward justice--or redemption.

Silver Matlock and Jared Newman know traveling together is a bad idea. Bad for Silver's already tarnished reputation in her small Colorado town. Bad for bounty hunter Jared's secret, single-minded mission for revenge. But Silver is determined to track down the rogue who left her at the altar and stole the last remnant of her father's fortune. And Jared's in a hurry to hunt down the murderer who destroyed his family--even if Silver is too distractingly beautiful for comfort.

The pair takes off over mountain and desert, past bleak homesteads and raw mining towns, hot on the trail of the two villains who took what wasn't theirs to take. Soon supplies dwindle, secrets emerge, and suspicion leave Silver and Jared at odds when they need each other most. To confront an enemy deadlier than desert rattlesnakes and rocky cliffs, Silver and Jared must learn to forgive and trust and face the question they haven't dared voice: What happens next?

I liked this book. It was a Western, which I’ve only read a few of, and it was pretty good. The characters were cool. I love the name Silver. Silver herself was an opinionated woman with a strong desire to help her family not go into poverty. She had some admirable qualities even if she could be stubborn at times. Jared was also interesting. Imagine hunting for someone for years, and only having that on your mind… With a mission for revenge he soon finds that some other things might be more important. There was a good supporting cast as well, some appearing for a chapter, others many more.They all played their part well, and some I may have liked to see more of. 

 The plot was pretty good. There were times I wish more would have happened concerning certain situations, but over all it turned out pretty good. There were some things involving saloons I wasn't a big fan of, but such is a novel. Overall it was pretty good. I wish there were a little more to the plot and characters, but it was satisfactory. 

Mrs. Hatcher managed to write an intriguing Western that caused me to stay up a bit too late a couple of times. You can purchase the book on Amazon or many other places.

~ a rambling author

Five Enchanted Roses

 Guys, I feel like such a failure. I just can't get it into my head to remember that I write blog posts on Tuesdays! Hello! Yikes. I suppose in my defense, yesterday was a crazy day and I didn't get home to near nine in the evening. But still. I shouldn't have an excuse. I'm going to have to post reminders for myself. Who knew it would be this hard to get back into the swing of things after not being able to post? Oh well. Today is for writing.

 And I'm going to announce something! Remember the "Five Glass Slippers" contest I entered earlier this year/late last year? Well, over on Anne Elisabeth Stengl's blog, she just announced a new contest! Five Enchanted Roses. It is a Beauty and the Beast retelling contest, and I love that story, so of course I must enter! The problem? I'm still working on figuring out a suitable plot. But hopefully it will come, and I will have a new story. It's pretty exciting!

 Are you entering?

~ a rambling author