Happy Fourth of July!!!

I'd like to wish

all my fellow American bloggers

a wonderful holiday,

full of great food, great

patriotic parades,

fun with your loved ones,

and of course....

with gorgeous fireworks galore!!

And now I present..... 

Two great fiction Fourth of July Reads!!!

Shelf Candy Saturday #155: Tattered Heart, by Annie Jackson:

Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!

This is my weekly feature

showcasing beautiful covers!

It also provides information, if available,

on their very talented creators!

For more information

about Shelf Candy Saturday,

simply go HERE.

Here's my choice for this week!

Tattered Heart
(Princess Kingdom, Book 1)
Annie Jackson
Trade Paperback, 340 pages
Numinous Productions
March 17, 2014
Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retellings, 
Young Adult Fiction

My Thoughts About This Cover

Although the image on this cover is full of light, and has a feeling of fairy magic about it, there's also a feeling of mystery. Who is this young girl in the lovely green dress? Why does she hide her face behind all that luscious red hair? (My own hair is styled in much the same way, except that you can see my face, lol.)

I love that dress, and wish it were mine! I especially love those long, trailing sleeves....so magical! The dress is in perfect harmony with the forest surroundings, and I know this young woman must be a fairy princess.... 

Red and green are complementary colors, too, so her bright red hair makes it easy for the reader/viewer to focus in on her.

This cover image is basically a photo with a superimposed flowery, abstract design at the bottom, and some sprinklings of pixie dust in the background. The total effect is very striking  indeed, and I know I must own this book soon!

The font is just perfect, too! It's basically a classic one, with some Art Nouveau flourishes added to the letters. Brilliant!

According to the Amazon reader, the cover photo is by Kadri Umbleja, and the cover design is by the author herself! I suppose she was the one who added the abstract overlay, as well as the font. Well, this was a great partnership, indeed!

Umbleja is a digital artist and photographer from Estonia who is very proficient in Photoshop techniques. She does photo manipulations, CD and book covers, and web design.

 Kadri Umbleja Online Links

DeviantArt

DeviantArt Gallery

Bio 

Facebook

 

What do you think of this 
week's cover?
Please leave a comment 
and let me know!

Feature & Follow Friday #5: The First Book You Ever Read

Welcome to Feature & Follow Friday!!

This weekly hop is hosted by  

Rachel @ Parajunkee's View, and 

Alison @ Alison Can Read!!

You can find the rules at the links above.

Join in the fun and make new blogging friends!

Every week, 1 or 2 new blogs 
are featured!

Today's Featured Blogs!!

Laura's Bunny Tales
 
and

Here is this week's question:

What is the first book you
remember reading?

Contributed by
Bookish Findings

The Prince and the Pauper

Mark Twain

(Spanish-language edition)

I really don't remember the very first book I ever read. However, this was one of the first books I do remember reading, around the age of 8 or 9. It's a condensed, Spanish-language edition of Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper. I can recall getting totally immersed in this story of two English boys, from opposite ends of the social scale, who switch places, and the comedy of errors that results when this is discovered! Government officials try to determine who is the real prince, as both boys look so much alike, they could be twins.

The cover above is the exact one of the book I still own. I was thrilled to discover it online! Since Spanish was my first language, this was the first version of the novel I read. The book was published in Spain, and it's somewhere in my collection. I have since read the original English version, but would like to read it again.

The cover depicts the moment when Edward, the real prince, dressed as a pauper, is hiding the Great Seal of England, while Tom Canty, the real pauper, urges him to hurry.

Below is the cover of an English-language edition I might buy, as I really like the cover!

  

Next Week's Question

You can only eat one cuisine type 
for the rest of your life. 
Which would you choose?
(e.g. Italian, French, Greek,
Mexican, Chinese, Indian, etc....)

Contributed by

These are my follow preferences.
The links are in my sidebar.

 Be sure to visit the rest of the
participating blogs!!

The Book Lover's Den #22: Books I Want to Re-Read (Part I)

Welcome to my Friday feature!

In each weekly post, I will be exploring 

my thoughts on several 

book-related topics.

When one has been a reader for several years, there are inevitably some books that become beloved treasures -- because of the characters, plot, and writing. In this post, I'd like to mention some of my favorites that I would like to revisit. 

So here's a list of great books that I definitely want to dive into again, for the pure pleasure of doing so!

To find out more about these, just click on the titles at the end of this post, and you will be able to access the information at each book's Goodreads page, in a separate tab. Hope you all enjoy!

I read this great SF novel in my early twenties, and it has definitely left a lasting impression on me! The story of Valentine Michael Smith, a human boy born and raised on Mars, who then comes to Earth to teach people how to 'grok' each other, is an immensely appealing one! I should make some time for this one soon! 

This is a very beautiful, touching love story I read several years ago. It's about a young, innocent Amish girl, Susan Peachey, who meets Alan Wilde, a jaded Hollywood director. The two fall madly in love, and, of course, there are obstacles to their relationship. How the author resolves these obstacles makes for some very poignant, moving moments, and I would love to experience this novel again! I also love the fact that it was written by a husband and wife team. The cover is especially beautiful, as well. It even looks, and feels, three-dimensional!

This is another novel I read in my early twenties, when I was reading more adult books, as well as  serious literature. It's a fascinating combination of things: travelogue, lessons on motorcycle maintenance, plus various and sundry Zen-based philosophical ruminations made by the narrator, Phaedrus, as he travels across the country (US) with his young son, and a married couple. I don't remember much about the philosophical aspect of this autobiographical novel, but I do remember that the author discussed the concept of Quality throughout the book. I am very eager to go back and reacquaint myself with this intellectual masterpiece!

This is another wonderful and poignant love story, based on a combination of The Phantom of the Opera, and Beauty and the Beast. The male protagonist is named 'Erik', just like the character in the book and musical. The female protagonist, however, is named Marissa. The magic in the title is very much in evidence here; Erik goes out only at night, for he is hideous to look at. A brilliant pianist and excellent singer, he's also much older than Marissa. Erik brings her to his home studio every night, unbeknownst to Marissa's widowed father. The two eventually marry, and the author follows them across decades of marriage. This is a beautiful, beautiful story I would like to enjoy again!

The haunting story of this literary masterpiece has stayed with me for years, and I am really yearning to read it again! Atticus Finch is an admirable man, someone who calmly and firmly holds on to his principles. His daughter, nicknamed "Scout", is the friend I wish I had had as I was growing up. This novel is a combination social justice manifesto, coming-of-age story, and magical tale of human relationships, all rolled into one. I'd love to get to it again before I plunge into Lee's prequel, Go Set A Watchman!

I know I've mentioned this novel before, but I must do so again. This is such a luminous, beautiful novel, dealing with the struggle of every artist -- how to remain true to one's art, in the midst of social or even religious opposition. Asher Lev is an enormously gifted young Jewish man, and his vocation is opposed by his Orthodox parents. This is a tale of great emotional drama and profound philosophical truths, as well as of the truths to be found in great art. 

Here's the stunning Alan Lee edition of The Lord of the Rings, slipcased in three volumes. Yes, I do own this treasure! And I want to re-read these wonderful books, immersing myself once more in the magical adventures of Frodo, Aragorn, Gandalf, and the rest of the Fellowship of the Ring! I want to cross the portals of these books into the mystical, wonderful land of Middle-Earth once more. Perhaps this time, I'll be able to stay there forever!

Such a beautiful cover, and the story is set in Paris! Although it might seem to have something in common with the Twilight books, the hero in this YA paranormal romance  novel is a revenant, not a vampire, but he does fall in love with a young human girl. A revenant is a sort of zombie, except that Vincent, the hero, spends his life saving people, not eating them. This love story is luscious in the extreme, the action is awesome, and Vincent is one of my book boyfriends, right along with Edward and Jacob!

The only book I've ever read by Joseph Conrad is this one, and I don't remember much of the plot, except for the fact that I recognized it as a masterpiece when I first read it, several years ago. I do remember that it's a love story full of psychological insights, and the writing was just luscious! I would like to immerse myself in this novel again, especially since there appear to be some mental and emotional issues involved. Axel Heyst, the male protagonist, is trying to remain detached from people, while the young English girl he loves tries to break the spell of his solitude. They live on an island, too, which is another reason I want to re-read this novel! And I want this particular edition, as I don't know what happened to the one I used to own....

I saw the movie adaptation of this great novel on Netflix some time back, and it was not as satisfying as the book. Hollywood doesn't always get things right, and, in this case, they totally changed the character of Marcellus, the main protagonist. This novel is a richly-imagined tale of the last day in the life of Jesus, and how it affects a worldly, wealthy, young Roman. Fictional characters are interspersed with Biblical ones, and there's a very vividly described psychological/emotional conflict, as well. The author, Lloyd C. Douglas, was a Christian minister, and this novel is an absolute masterpiece!

I was totally enchanted and thrilled with the plot of this YA paranormal romance, which features a very believable werewolf world, a conflict with evil witches, and a strong female protagonist named Calla Tor. I loved the conflict, the realistically depicted characters -- especially Ren and Shay -- and the masterful plot, with its many twists and turns. This is the first book of a trilogy, and my absolute favorite, because this is the one in which Calla and Shay meet, under very unusual circumstances. Last but definitely not least, that cover is absolutely gorgeous!

I can't believe I was able to read this very moving novel, since it involves book-burning.....but read it I did, and was carried away with Bradbury's lyrical, elegant prose style, as well as the vividly-drawn characters and very realistic dystopian world. This novel is a must-read for everyone who loves and treasures books. It's about what books represent and contain -- the very best of the human mind and spirit. It's about the sacredness of these living objects. It's about how books must be allowed to effect their transformative magic unimpeded by petty political objectives. It's about so many more profound things, and a re-read is just around the corner for me!

Goodreads Pages

Stranger In A Strange Land

Robert Heinlein

Sunshine and Shadow

Sharon and Tom Curtis

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Robert Pirsig

Night Magic

Charlotte Vale Allen

To Kill A Mockingbird

Harper Lee

My Name Is Asher Lev

Chaim Potok

The Lord of the Rings

J.R.R. Tolkien

Die For Me

Amy Plum

Victory

Joseph Conrad

The Robe

Lloyd C. Douglas

Nightshade

Andrea Cremer

Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury

  

Have you read any of 

these books?

What books would you 

like to re-read?

Leave me a comment 

and let me know!

Book Review: Celtic Moon, by Jan DeLima

Celtic Moon

Jan DeLima
Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages
Ace Books
September 23, 2013
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchased from Amazon


Book Synopsis:  Sophie Thibodeau has been on the run from the father of her son for more than fifteen years. Now her son, Joshua, is changing, and her greatest fears are about to be realized. He’s going to end up being just like his father—a man who can change into a wolf.

Dylan Black has been hunting for Sophie since the night she ran from him—an obsession he cannot afford in the midst of an impending war. Dylan controls Rhuddin Village, an isolated town in Maine where he lives with an ancient Celtic tribe. One of the few of his clan who can still shift into a wolf, he must protect his people from the Guardians, vicious warriors who seek to destroy them.

When Sophie and Dylan come together for the sake of their son, their reunion reignites the fierce passion they once shared. For the first time in years, Dylan’s lost family is within his grasp. But will he lose them all over again? Are Joshua and Sophie strong enough to fight alongside Dylan in battle? Nothing less than the fate of his tribe depends on it…

 

I love to read great paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels. This particular one looked very promising, and indeed, I loved the story, for the most part. I also liked the book's cover; the female hero certainly looks as if she won't be intimidated, and I admire such female characters! However, I'm disappointed to say that there were a few things in the story that have left me with some mixed feelings about this book, in spite of its compelling characters, nice writing style, and great plot containing a mix of action and romance. 

 
As I began  reading, I definitely enjoyed how smoothly the author helped me suspend my disbelief. I immediately became immersed in the world she had so expertly created. This world is based entirely on Celtic mythology, which, I must admit, I don't know much about, except that it does have some connection to the Arthurian legends, and these I have loved for a long time. I especially liked how DeLima was able to create a magical atmosphere here in the U.S., which almost made me believe I was actually in a mythical forest somewhere in the British isles.

The werewolf mythology was very well-handled. DeLima has a very  original take on this paranormal world, and it was so attractive to read about I fiercely began to wish Rhuddin Village actually existed!

I totally loved the characters! Sophie Thibodeau, the main female protagonist, is very sensitive and passionate, as well as resourceful and brave. It was very gutsy of her to leave Dylan when she did -- all alone, with no help. Her reason for taking  this extreme course of action was one any feminist (which she certainly is) can relate to -- Dylan had become extremely controlling. As an alpha and leader of his people, he had his reasons for doing this, but Sophie was appalled at how far he was willing to go in order to make sure secrecy was maintained. So she did the only thing she could do -- she ran.

I also liked Dylan. Although he is the leader of his people, and a very strong and disciplined one, at that, he really doesn't come across as a bully. It's true that he is very stubborn, but still, throughout the story, it's clear that he really has no wish to dominate Sophie. He merely thinks that she, as a human, does not clearly understand his reasons for exerting what to her seems to be excessive control. Besides, he truly loves her as much as she loves him, although she won't admit this to herself, at first. As the story progresses, he woos her with tenderness and patience, even though, at the beginning of the novel, they do have some arguments.

In fact, one of the nicest aspects of this novel is the romance. Dylan and Sophie don't quite see eye to eye on certain things, but their mutual passion is undeniable. It's so sweet, too, that they have been faithful to each other throughout the years. Dylan has always thought of Sophie as his mate, while Sophie herself has always felt the same way toward him, in spite of her protests to the contrary. As the saying goes, "where there's smoke, there's fire". I really enjoyed watching the fire smolder, and then gather full strength!

Joshua, Sophie and Dylan's son,  is also a very appealing character. He and his mother have a very tight bond, due to Sophie's fierce protectiveness of him. Now that he's met his father, Joshua is eager to be as much like him as possible, and they start to bond, as well. I adored Joshua's gentle, even innocent, personality, which was molded by his mother. I also looked forward to his bonding with his father, which would complete his growth process, turning him into a man who, like Dylan, would be able to love as well as rule.

Another character I really liked was Francine, Sophie's mother. She steadfastly supported her daughter in her decision to return to Dylan. She, too, is a very strong character, one who is never afraid to speak her mind. Besides all this, she has a great relationship with Joshua.

It's apparent, from the above, that this novel has some very compelling, rather poignant family dynamics.There's the love between the two main characters, and there's also family love. DeLima deftly meshes one with the other, thus making her characters, and their world even more attractive.

As I stated above, Celtic Moon does have some darker aspects that made me pretty uncomfortable. So, in spite of the fact that I love this story, I had to be honest and mention the bothersome parts, as well.

Something I found very disturbing was the mention of a powerful weapon given to Sophie by a man named Taliesin.

The weapon referred to above is  a metallic rope in the shape of a snake, and it has serrated edges. It requires a 'small blood donation' -- the owner must prick his/her finger and place a drop of blood in a small receptacle located near the serpent's head. This is the only way the serpent will recognize its rightful owner. This was way too creepy and sinister for me!

This metallic rope also communicates telepathically with Sophie in a hissing voice, and  gives her headaches and nightmares.

Snakes are recognized in some cultures as a symbol of evil.  So why did Taliesin give Sophie such an evil  weapon to defend herself with?

As if all this weren't enough, the reader later discovers that this weapon had previously been used to decapitate an enemy right in front of two children. Witnessing such an event would traumatize a child for life! I found this to be very disturbing, as well as unrealistic. 

To put the cap on the things mentioned above, there's a certain type of pretty graphic sex act toward the end of the book, and one of the participants is decapitated (with the serpent weapon) in the middle of it. I was sickened and horrified....  I found this scene to be excessively violent, horribly unpleasant, and totally unnecessary. Had I known it was part of the plot, I certainly wouldn't have bought and read the book.

It's too bad that these unpleasant elements were present in a novel that was otherwise such an engaging read... I would have definitely included it among my favorites! Also, I fully intended to read the entire trilogy. I am very hesitant to do so now. I'm not ruling it out entirely, though; the following two books might not include such objectionable things. And I do love the world, as well as the characters, created by this author. So I do have to give this some thought.


MY RATING: