Replacing Gentry Book Blast + Giveaway

Replacing Gentry

When Marlie agrees to attend a cadaver ball at Vanderbilt Medical School, she did not expect to actually see any cadavers. Or, that a strange apparition would issue her a chilling message.

Despite the cadaver’s warning, Marlie is married a year later to Tennessee State Senator, Daniel Cannon, and living in a plantation-style mansion with two step sons. Add to the mix her growing suspicion that something is amiss with the death of Daniel’s first wife, Gentry; and newlywed Marlie is definitely in over her pretty Yankee head.

What begins as an innocent inquiry into her new husband’s clouded past, ends with Marlie in the midst of a dangerous conspiracy.

A modern twist on the classic Gothic romance novels of Rebecca and Jane Eyre, Replacing Gentry follows Marlie’s precarious journey as she learns the truth about the man she married.

Grab a copy!

Replacing Gentry is just $1.99 on Amazon

Author Julie N. Ford

Julie N. Ford graduated from San Diego State University with a BA in Political Science and a minor in English Literature. In addition, she has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama. Professionally, she has worked in teaching and as a Marriage & Family Counselor. She is the author of two women’s fiction novels, The Woman He Married and No Holly for Christmas, published in 2011. In addition, she wrote a romance/chick-lit novel, Count Down to Love, also published in 2011. Count Down to Love was a 2011 Whitney Award finalist. Her next novel, Replacing Gentry, is due for release April 9th, 2013.

Currently, she lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, two daughters and one hedgehog.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Tour Schedule

BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 4/30/13

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One of my most embarrassing gifts received ever

Today, one of my Korean friends invited me for a dinner out. I accepted his invitation and we met in a mall in Makati around 4 PM. We dined in Kimpura, a fine dining Japanese restaurant. While eating, he presented me with a gift. “What’s the occassion?”, I asked him with a frown on my face while attacking my tempura. “You’re welcome. Can’t I give a gift without a special reason?”, he answered with his Korean accent. I left it at that. Then curiosity kicked in and I opened the paperbag only to be surprised with what I saw.

Seriously?

In my country, one must think through if he/she will have a perfume as a gift. Some are so sensitive as to be offended receiving that as a present. Questions like “Do I really need this?” and “Do I stink?” appear to mind. As for me, it is okay if someone will give me a perfume as long as it does not smell strongly. I love powdery scent and my favorite is D&G in light blue. Currently, I’m using my nth bottle of that along with Very Irresistable Givenchy. If receiving a perfume is acceptable, then why am I embarrassed? First, the signature line of the perfume. Sex and the City. I haven’t read nor watch the series and don’t have plan to remedy that in the future. Not my cup of tea. Not to mention the scent.

Lust, seriously? If you are a man, will you give it to a female friend? Even if we are dating or already a couple, I’ll still feel uncomfortable receiving that perfume. I know what you’re thinking: “She’s so ungrateful! What’s there to complain about?”. You may call me a conservative old hag, but I really think that the gift is inappropriate. If only I don’t respect my Korean friend’s feeling, I might have returned the present to him. Sorry for this rant, folks. I just want to share this with you. I would appreciate it if you could let me know your opinions, too. For what its worth, Lust smells powdery. ^_^

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Sprung Book Blast + Giveaway

Sprung (Book 2 of the Witchbound Series):

Since she discovered magic, seventeen-year-old Skye Jackson’s life is almost perfect. Almost. Even perfect has its glitches.

What happens when the one with all the power makes the biggest mistakes? Welcome to my life.

Four months ago, I couldn’t have been happier. When my parents got divorced, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. Especially when Mom married a guy half her age. But then I found out I wasn’t the average Joana. Discovering magic existed and, best of all, I could use it, made everything easier to deal with. That is until I got a little too spell happy. But what girl wouldn’t defend her best friend against a world-class creep? Now I’m stuck in a nightmare, forced to make life and death decisions I never dreamed I’d face.

Love the magic, hate the responsibility.

Amazon

Book Trailer

 

Roots

Seventeen-year-old Baltimore Land just wants to be normal, but magic has other plans.

I don’t consider myself a witch, that’s my parents’ thing. I’ve never really believed in magic either. Sure, I tried it a few times. Fell for the whole “magic happens” thing. But it didn’t happen to me. No amount of rhyming stopped my parents from moving me halfway across the country. Not one spell stopped me from being labeled the town freak.

And worst of all, no matter how many times I begged the Universe to bring my twin back, I was ignored. Until now.

He’s back all right. And in a magical bind of his own. Not the magic-won’t-work-for-me kind either. In fact, it’s working a little too well. Too dark. Too deep.

It turns out our entire family’s magical roots run just as deep and my brother didn’t end up where he is by accident. So I’m going to help him. But magic isn’t really on my side. Nope. Once I finally get the craft under control, I’m expected to abandon the one person in the world who’s closest to me, just to save myself

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Praise for Roots (Book 1):

“I truly enjoyed this story.” Jessica, Goodreads

“…a great start to a promising series.” Kaylee, Goodreads

“I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. Sprung is already on my “to read” list now!” Stacy, Goodreads

“…the first novel I’ve read by Kelbian Noel but it sure won’t be the last.” BellaReadz, Goodreads

“This book was great. It showed a different view of witches.” Kristy, Amazon

“A refreshing take on a classic theme.” looks and literature, Amazon

Author Kelbian Noel

Kelbian Noel is the author of the Witchbound Series and a blogger at Diverse Pages. She lives in Toronto, Ontario with her two children.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Book Blast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 4/21/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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March 2013 Wrap-up

March 2013 Wrap-up

Books Read: 13

I didn’t expect I would still have a more than ten book read at the end of the month. Luckily, there’s the lent holiday from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday so that’s something to be thankful for as Catholic. Aside from praying and reflecting, I had free time to read more books! It’s like book marathon all over again.

An update on my 2013 Goodreads Reading Challenge. When 2013 started, I decided to sign up for 50 books in a year. However, with the rate I am going, I would certainly finish the challenge before April ends. Currently, I have read 45 books. I then decided to up the challenge to 75. I really have this feeling that I won’t have too much time to read books in the later part of the year so I can’t make it to a hundred. Still, I am not closing doors on anything. I might make it a hundred if I reached my new goal before my birthday.

Anyhow, enough of my intro. Here are the thirteen books I read for the month of March.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Rating: 5/5

I think I have read this book when I was younger though for the life of me, I can’t remember it. It is partly with this reason that I picked up this book and re-read it…and found myself in such a wonderful world. This was wonderfully written and is meant to be read by all people from all walks of life. I can’t wait to be fluent in French so I can read the original version.

Shadows (Lux 0.5) by Jennifer Armentrout

Rating: 4/5

I have read this book after reading the first three books of the series. While waiting for the fourth book, I happened to see this prequel and thought to read it. I wasn’t disappointed. It gave a background story of Dawson and Bethany and explained why Daemon acts the way he does. It seems that I couldn’t get enough of that handsome alien that I have to read the prequel, too!

Warm Bodies (Warm Bodies #1) by Isaac Marion

Rating: 3/5

Before watching the movie, I vowed to read the book first. Of course. It was kinda nice to read something light from a zombie book, but I expected more from it. I wasn’t satisfied with the story either. It seems there are many things lacking in it though I can’t actually put a finger on them. To top it off, I really don’t like how this book ended. If it is true that it is a series, then the ending should be a good transition for the second installment. Sadly, it wasn’t that way.

For the Roses by Julie Garwood

Rating: 3/5

The story is not something new and refreshing. Instead, I can easily write the storyline in my head. There are many instances where I have successfully guessed what would happen. It was not exciting. Thankfully, the author has a way with words. In some scenes, I felt myself smiled and swooned a bit with the romance.

For Now, Forever by Nora Roberts

Rating: 2/5

Finally! A story about the MacGregor patriarch. I was excited when I got a copy of this book. Only to be disappointed later. The story started with the present, only to be brought to the past, and back. It gave a nice background, but I wasn’t satisfied. I was waiting for the result of the introduction, only to be side swept with the past.

Intimate Deception by Laura Landon

Rating: 2/5

This has been sitting in my TBR pile for quite some time. After the disappointment of a Nora Roberts novel listed just above this one, I tried another one with the same genre only to be disappointed twice!

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Rating: 5/5

Wow! I was glad to pick up another Perkins novel. After Anna and the French Kiss, I was looking for another novel with the same quality. Imagine my happiness when I found this book written by the same author. I was ecstatic! She never failed my expectations. It is very sweet and nice to read something like this, and I hope that I can have this kind of love story if I can’t have that of Etienne and Anna’s.

Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 5/5

This is my most awaited novel of 2013 before House of Hades. Along with my bff, I impatiently waited for the release of this installment which will end the prequel series of Mortal Instruments. I had mixed emotions for this one, actually. I am happy that I will finally read it, but sad at the same time. No more shadowhunters.

As for the review, I can’t quite dig a word that will completely describe my feelings about Clare’s writing on this one. She simply outdid herself. One blogger told me about speculations of what would happen in this book, but no one could be prepared with how the story turned out. It was simply well-written and thought of. If I could give her a standing ovation, I would.

The only thing that I dislike while reading this book (take note that I did not say “in this book”) was the fact that it made me cry more than when Cedric Diggory died in Goblet of Fire or when  Nicholas went back to sixteenth century and could not be with Dougless. Even before halfway through the book, the tears did not stop falling. 75% through, I have trouble breathing and reading because the tears blocked the letters. It was very emotional. I was very emotional. Good thing Clare ended it with a beautiful and satisfying twist in the end.

Mortality by Kellie Sheridan

Rating: 4/5

This is a refreshing take on zombies. I received a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. To read my comments on this novel, please feel free to check my blog post about this book here.

The Gatekeeper’s Daughter by Eva Pohler

Rating: 4/5

Like Mortality, I received a copy of this for review. I am soon to post my thoughts on this one here in my blog, but for this wrap-up, I’d like to say that Pohler followed through the series. I love mythology and I like the way the author played with the characters and personalities of the gods and goddesses and made them an integral part of the story. And oh, I also felt proud that our Boracay Island was featured in this book. The gods and the goddesses saw this one as a paradise and coming from the deities, that is such a huge thing. More of this soon!

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Rating: 5/5

I have seen this book in the stores and Goodreads shelves for quite some time now. The title is catchy, but I honestly thought it was a non-fiction. I am not that interested reading that kind of genre, so I nearly did not give this novel a chance. After reading a blurb of it somewhere, I changed my mind. It was a YA novel!

Now, I’ll start gushing about it. I so looove this novel. I adore it. It is cute, fun, and entertaining. Most importantly, it is very much realistic that it could happen to anyone we know. There’s hurt, loss, and romance in this novel that I felt like riding a rollercoaster while reading this one. I cried some, too.

I don’t know if I’ll be annoyed, but because of this book, I feel like hoping to be someone from GB. The accent will be one of the top reasons!

In addition, I can’t stop myself from including this quote from the book:

“It’s not the changes that will break your heart; it’s that tug of familiarity.”

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Rating: 5/5

At first, I thought Jordan was a guy. The name and the fascination for football say it all. It was shocking to know that after some pages of the first chapter, I learned that the QB was in fact, a girl! And nope, she’s no lesbian. I was like, “Now, this is interesting.” I immediately got absorbed with the story about a girl struggling to maintain control of her life and passions without being discriminated due to her gender. It was also nice to see a friendship-turned relationship kind of thing here!

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Rating: 4/5

This is another unexpected novel. I was thinking it will turn out to be a two- or three- star novel, but was surprised that I rated it four in the end. I think I can say that this is a bit dystopian, but did not have all the qualities of a dystopian novel. Am I making sense here? The social classes that we have now are also highlighted in this novel, though in a higher scale. It’s like caste system all over again and I like it in a way. Anyhow, I like the premise of this book. It’s all about love and how people struggle with it. Fans of The Bachelor will definitely love this book and since I am not, this made me cancel one star to make it perfect.

Related post:

February Monthly Wrap-up

January Monthly Wrap-up

2012 Monthly Reviews

As I kiss blogging goodbye…

Last year, I was nursing a broken heart when a colleague introduced me to blogging. It could be an outlet of my emotions, voice of my thoughts, medium of my personality, bla bla. If a sales lady talks me of buying a new can opener with her melodious voice, I know for a fact that I will purchase one even if I don’t really need it. That is why it didn’t take long for my friend to persuade me to create a free account in this platform and write a mandatory introductory post.

I struggled for the first few months. I did not have any experience maintaining a blog and it takes a lot of patience learning most of the things here in WordPress. I think I posted a lot of nonsense topics which earned one or two likes and no comment at all. I feel somewhat depressed. I know that I opened the site just for my personal use, but it would please my ego to know that at least other people are reading what I wrote. So I worked hard. I tried thinking of more interesting topics to write about instead of posting lyrics of Korean songs and their translation. Haha. After a few more months, I got noticed. I slowly received a growing number of likers. commenters, and followers. When I received my first blog award, I felt like being in school again. I am an achiever and it feels nice to receive recognition again. Oh, how happy I was at that time!

After that milestone, I continued what I was doing. I was polite to all the people visiting my blog. I read their works as they read mine. Quid pro quo. I gained some friends, too. Some even went as far as to extend the acquaintance personally. Now, I have virtual-turned-real friends. And just because of blogging! I was having fun. I didn’t expect I could gain a lot just by blogging.

However, they say that all good things must come to an end.

I am happy blogging about my thoughts to all the world to see. My life became an open book as I share my stories to you and I appreciate the way you accept them. I celebrated my first blog anniversary with a bang. But there were days when I feel incompetent. I feel that some of my posts are Dumpster-worthy. Not worth reading. A waste of time. And what hurts is the fact that you guys continue to read my trashy thoughts and even like and share an opinion or two. People continue to follow my site. For whatever reason? To read rubbish things written by me?

I feel guilty. I have this urge to give more to you. More than what you deserve. No matter how much I tried to squeeze out all my creative juices, I always come out with nothing. It ends up me polluting the cyber sphere with second-rate writings.

It is then that I decided to stop blogging. I don’t know if this will be a temporary hiatus or for good. I am not closing doors to anything and don’t want to see myself eating my words in the future. For now, I feel like getting a breather. Find my muse. Catch some inspiration. Whatever it takes to give you, my readers, what you deserve.

It has been a pleasure being with you on this momentous journey of my life. I did not know that I could write more than a hundred different topics. It’s a bonus that others read, like, and comment on them. I am glad that I was lucky enough to meet such wonderful and creative people from all over the world. Rest assured that if and when I come back, I will reward you with thought-provoking posts according to your liking.

It is at this point that I would like to end this post by saying a single statement which I would like to impart to you my dear readers:

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS’ DAY!

Related post:

April Fools’ Day (만우절)

The Lucky Ones (and I’m envious)

For almost two weeks, we have participated in The Pope’s Stone Book Tour. Aside from reading the reviews made by the hosts and learning more about the author from the interview we had with him, we were also gifted by the ever generous Marc Kuhn with four paperback copies of his book as well as four elegant journals where we can write our life’s journey like that of the characters in his book.

Four lucky winners will receive this package

Now, the giveaway finally ends. Guess what’s next?

On behalf of the author and the entire tour hosts, I would like to express our collective gratitude to each and every one of you for involving yourself in this novel. We are happy to be able to share to you such a wonderfully written historical fiction. It is quite flattering to know that because of us, some of you found your next love with the historical genre. That is why it was not surprising when Marc extended his generosity by offering a two-day Kindle free download of his book available to everyone last weekend. Did you grab this chance? Are you currently reading the book now?

It seems my preamble is getting lengthy now and I don’t want you to skip more of my writing just to see what’s written below. Without further much ado, here is the list of the winners for both US and International giveaways of The Pope’s Stone.

US WINNERS

Soo Clark

Followed Marc Kuhn’s Blog (Entry #43)

Ashley Rogers

Followed Nazninazeez’ Blog (Entry #34)

INTERNATIONAL WINNERS

Lana Khnkoyan

Followed Love of Book’s Blog (Entry #105)

Suad Yassin

Became a fan of Marc Kuhn in Goodreads (Entry #36)

Congratulations! I’ll be sending you guys an email informing the same good news in here. Do let me know your preferred postal address.

Once again, thank you everyone for joining such activities here in my blog. I am hoping to see you here real soon! Just browse over my Recent Posts widget and check my ongoing giveaways for more chances of winning.

Cheers,

Mortality by Kellie Sheridan: Review + Giveaway

Title: Mortality (The Hitchhiker Strain #1)

Author: Kellie Sheridan

Published: March 19, 2013 by Snarky Books

Pages: 271 (Paperback)

Mortality on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16149748-mortality

Book Blurb:

After surviving a deadly plague outbreak, sixteen-year-old Savannah thought she had lived through the very worst of human history. There was no way to know that the miracle vaccine would put everyone at risk for a fate worse than un-death.

Now, two very different kinds of infected walk the Earth, intent on nothing but feeding and destroying what little remains of civilization. When the inoculated are bitten, infection means watching on in silent horror as self-control disappears and the idea of feasting on loved ones becomes increasingly hard to ignore.

Starving and forced to live inside of the abandoned high school, all Savannah wants is the chance to fight back. When a strange boy arrives with a plan to set everything right, she gets her chance. Meeting Cole changes everything. Mere survival will never be enough.

Purchase links: Amazon.com * Amazon.co.uk * Barnes&Noble * Kobo  * iTunes

 

THE REVIEW

It seems zombie is the next big thing. After reading and watching Warm Bodies starring handsome Nicholas Hoult and learning that World War Z will make it to the big screen, I found myself introduced to many zombie-themed novels sprouting in bookstores like mushroom. It is challenging to pick which are edible and good for the palate.

Mortality by Kellie Sheridan offers nothing much different than post-apocalyptic Z novels. Many zombies are lurking in the neighborhood, people were forced to evacuate to a safer place, some courageous teenagers wanting to play heroes, etc. I can read all of these in other Z novels. So what makes reading this book bearable?

First, the author has an excellent way of writing. The words flow effortlessly like being narrated by someone. No big words or deep idioms to impress. I like the simplicity of it – to express. The scene transitions are also good – not abruptly cut or overly described. The POVs shifting is something that I looked forward to instead of being annoyed at. She wrote few “chapters” or scene shifts before changing POV which made me less confused in reading.

Second, the characters are teenagers and I like that the author personified them appropriately. They acted in their age. Maturity can be achieved in a younger age, I know, but I feel uncomfortable when I read younger characters acting all grown up. It makes the story unrealistic. In Mortality, the author created the characters with flaws. And when I used the plural form, I meant it. Sheridan created a lot of faults in personalities and errors in decisions and I like it. Teenagers are susceptible having and doing just that, right?

Finally, what I like best in this book is the fresh idea the author introduced. It is not new that being a zombie could be caused by a virus, but what about having two kinds of zombies? The first one infected with the virus, and the second one vaccinated with the miracle drug. The latter will also be infected, but will still preserve the person’s instincts and strengths. Imagine smart and running zombies!

Rating: 4/5

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

**This review is also available in Goodreads and Amazon.

About the Author:

I have been in love with stories in all of their forms for as long as I can remember. Admittedly, sometimes that means falling into places like Stars Hollow and Sunnydale, but books have always been my true love. In early 2011 I began writing a book blog in order to share my favorite reads with book lovers. From there, the bookish community encouraged me to stop sitting on my own stories and share them instead. Since then I’ve been madly devouring everything I can about digital publishing.

For the past two years I have been mainly obsessed with young adult books, but my favorite stories still come from the adult fantasy genre. As far as I’m concerned, Briggs, Bishop, Vincent and Vaughn are all must reads.

I spent part of my twenties living in Galway, Ireland and swooning after various lilting accents but am now back home in Ontario, Canada. My family includes two Glen of Imaal Terriers and a Green Cheek Conure.

Contact the Author:

Website* Twitter * Goodreads

THE GIVEAWAY

The author is offering one of you guys an e-copy of Mortality’s prequel, End Dayz. To know more about this book, kindly click here to be directed to its Goodreads page. This is open for international participants. The ebook will be available in the winner’s choice of format. Giveaway ends on April 5. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email to claim her book. To join, please click the link below.

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Author Interview with Marc Kuhn + Giveaway/Freebie

Two weeks ago, I hosted a tour for The Pope’s Stone, a historical fiction revolving around the lives of two descendants a century apart. I have rated the book 4 out of 5 stars and if you want to read my thoughts on this novel, you may click here. Aside from the review, I also hosted an international giveaway. Four lucky winners will be electronically drawn using rafflecopter and will receive a paperback copy of the book plus a simple journal.

Four lucky winners will receive this package

At this point I would like to give the spotlight to the person behind the brilliantly written and wonderfully weaved story. Aren’t you curious to know some things about the man who wrote The Pope’s Stone? I was lucky enough to steal some of his sleeping time by agreeing to have this interview. Hope you enjoy getting to know Marc Kuhn.

THE INTERVIEW

Me: Thank you for giving us the honor to chat with you. May you please tell us something about yourself?

I am currently retired from a career in broadcasting.  I worked in radio most of my life.  i was on the air, but just a little bit.  Mainly, I worked “behind the scenes” in the news and programming departments.  I rose to Program Director and did that for several radio stations.  The PD is in charge of everything on the air—the announcers, the materials they use, and the music they play.  I also got to be the producer for the broadcasts of professional football games for two very popular teams.  My career was very exciting at times, but also very busy and lots of stress!  Meanwhile, I married the girl I took to the high school prom!  We dated all through college.  Afterwards we got married…45 years ago!  We have two children and 8 grandkids, including dear Monica, our adopted granddaughter on the other side of the world, as I call her.

Me: What inspired you to write this book?

 I have always written in my career, either newscasts or promotional copy, but not books like I am today.  I always wanted to write a book but I never had any ideas.  Then one day I sat down and wrote some fun poems for children.  It turned into a book.  Then I wrote a few more.  Last year I read a story about the building of the Washington Monument and found a little known item very interesting.  It gave me an idea and the next thing I knew—bang!—I wrote a book about it.  Then I started looking for other ideas and found another one. It got me thinking about another book, the one I am currently writing.  It’s lots of fun, once you get into it.

Me: Is being a writer your dream profession?

If I had my life to do over, I may have become a columnist for a newspaper.  I would probably have written a piece several times a week like my current blog.  It would be about different things going on in real life, or just crazy stuff like we all think about from time to time.

Me: Tell us your most rewarding experience as a published writer.

The most rewarding thing is the first time you see your work actually in the form of a published book that you can hold in your hands.  Next, was the recent review tour that Monica produced.  It was quite humbling to read how people who were complete strangers read my book and expressed such enjoyment over it.

Me: Tell us in few sentences why we must read your book.

I’m not sure it is a “must” since you should read for enjoyment which means you can pick and choose what you like.  I like the story I wrote.  It was my first big effort and I know others t hat follow will be written better.  But for a first book I think it is an interesting concept and it is full of actually history lessons that are not “pushed” onto the reader, but simply work their way into the story.  So, if you like books and a good story…and maybe a little history…then you should find this book enjoyable.

Me: What were the challenges that you faced in creating this novel, The Pope’s Stone?

Getting the history right.  I insisted that every detail about events and places in the book that are real be very accurate and correct.  That took a lot of work.  The best compliment I got was from a marvelous lady who lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, a primary location in the book.  She could not believe me when I told her I had never physically visited the town.  All my descriptions and details were based on my reading and research…and a lot of help from Google Satellite!

Me: Why did you get interested writing this genre?

I have always had an interest in American history.  And I admire the writing of novelist James Michener and American historian/author David McCullough.

Me: What book did you wish you had written yourself?

I am happy that I have had one or two original ideas and have pursued them, transforming them into manuscripts.  I could as not ask more of myself.  I am sure other authors feel the same way about their efforts.  There are other books I admire and respect, but i do not necessarily wish that I had written them—I only wish I could write as well as some of them…and be as successful!

Me: If you could be a literary character who would you be and why?

It would have to be a “good guy” – I could not be a ruthless villain!  Maybe Atticus from To Kill a Mockingbird.

Me: Have u ever had a writer’s block? If so, how did you overcome it?

Many times.  I just stop and go get involved in something else for awhile.  Then I slap myself in the face, get a cup of good coffee, sit down and think in my thinking chair and then start writing.

Me: What are the books currently in your nightstand?

One called CONTAGIOUS by Jonah Berger which just came out.  It’s about topics/items becoming “viral” and why some become talked about and spread all over while others dwell on the bottom.  I have another young adult book called WONDER b y RJ Palacio that is very popular now…and I am almost finished a book called INTO THE LANDS OF SNOW written by a fellow indie-publisher and blogger, Ellis Nelson.

Me: Any current/future projects?

Yes, very much so.  I am heavy into writing another historical/mystery novel.  I hope to have it published by the end of the year.  The first draft is just about done, then there will be lots of editing and rewriting to do.  I am very excited about it…and all the lessons I learned from writing THE POPE’S STONE have been useful in writing this book.

Me: What can you advice to those aspiring writers?

Don’t be shy.  If you have a need to  express yourself, whether it is in writing, art, photography, whatever…just do it.  And build your skills constantly.

JUST FOR FUN

What do you on your free time?

I have a really nice camera and I am trying to learn what every gizmo on it does.

If someone will write you a biography, what would be its title?

Marc.

If you have won the lottery, what will be the first thing you will buy?

A really nice cruise for my wife so she and I could lounge around on deckchairs figuring out the best uses for your new fortune!

Where is your favorite place to travel?

Alaska was great, but I went when it wasn’t cold.  I hate the cold.  My favorite place on earth is the Chesapeake Bay, especially the area around Annapolis, Maryland (guess where my new novel takes place!).  Washington, D.C. is also a favorite.  Someday I hope to make it to Europe, Paris especially.

Any pet peeves?

Arrogance.  I don’t like arrogant people. 

CONTACT THE AUTHOR

Website * Blog * Goodreads

 ***

Now, the tour is finally over. The giveaway ends few hours ago and we will soon announce the names of those selected. On behalf of all the participants of The Pope’s Stone Tour, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for supporting me and my friends in this endeavor. I especially would like to transfer the spotlight to those who expressed their opinions about the novel and the routine of keeping a journal. Of course, we are very much overwhelmed by those likes, comments, and follows made by you. Some even went as far as declaring themselves as fans!

Words are not enough to express our sincerest gratitude to all of you. That is why the author, Marc Kuhn, decided to give thanks by showering you guys with free copies of his novel. You heard (read) that right! Starting today, March 23, until tomorrow The Pope’s Stone will be AVAILABLE FOR FREE in Amazon. Isn’t that wonderful news?

For those of you who have a Kindle or Kindle application, kindly to this link and you will be directed to the free download.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Popes-Stone-ebook/dp/B009H8XALM/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1364022182&sr=8-1

Don’t have a Kindle or a Kindle app? No worries! You may download and install the application by following the link below. Once done, you may go the link above.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=dig_arl_box?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

I hope that this will be the perfect gift to show our appreciation to all of you. For those who have yet to read the novel, what are you guys waiting for? The book is free only for two days so let’s get the most out of it! Share the news to your family, friends, colleagues, and pets if they can read. Will you enjoy it? Find it not your cup of tea? Let the author know! Feel free to write even a one-liner review of the book in Goodreads, Amazon, blog, tissue paper, or anywhere you want.

Once again, thank you everyone! Will announce the four lucky winners of the giveaway in the next few days. Stay tuned!

My Top 7 Most Awaited Movie Adaptations for 2013

Nothing will beat the experience of reading. The tasty words, rollercoaster plots, lovable characters, quotable quotes, traumatic emotions, and vivid descriptions are most of the things that make this leisure pursuit as pleasurable as it can be. No wonder I spend a minimum of two hours a day with books. It is also not surprising to meet a lot of people who share the same feeling towards the world’s most perfect hobby.

But Man is not contented to end it just that. Films are created and soon enough, we are overwhelmed to see a lot of our read stories being shown in the big screen. It piques our curiosity and we’ll find ourselves seating in theatres to check if our own imagined characters and sceneries will be captured visually by the filmmakers. More often than not, we will go home with a disappointed (and sometimes angry) look on our faces as the films did not do justice to the novels.

I know how it feels. To be frustrated and annoyed that your most loved books were murdered in the silver screen. To get unsatisfied with the techniques of swaying non-readers by awing them with tons of CGI and other visual effects. However, what we readers can’t tolerate is the inconsistency of the movie to the story in the book. The wrong characters and their appearances, edited lines, and cut scenes! Argh!

But why are they still making a lot of adaptations? Let’s admit. No matter how much frustrated and disappointed we got with the past movie we watched, we still hope that the next ones will get better. Well, I am hoping so.

So as of March 2013, here are some of the movie adaptations that I am excited to watch.

1. Catching Fire (Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins [November 22, 2013]

I finished reading the trilogy in less than a week. Yes, that’s how interesting and fast-paced the books were. Hunger Games Book 1 is a 3-star movie for me, but I am hoping that the Quarter Quell will be put to justice in the next movie installment.

2. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald [May 10, 2013]

Now who wouldn’t want to watch this classic by F. Scott Fitzgerald? The book is one of my top favorites and I am very excited to watch the film. It stars Leonado DiCarpio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan among others. What also added to my anticipation is the fact that Baz Luhrmann directed this movie! I love his movie, Romeo + Juliet, which also starred Leo. Funny.

3. City of Bones (Mortal Instruments 1) by Cassandra Clare [August 23, 2013]

I remembered reading this first book way back in university. The first book was so addicting that I hurried to get copies of the succeeding novels. I am now waiting for the copy of Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices 3) which is the last of the prequels for the Mortal Instruments series.

4. Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2) by Rick Riordan [August 16, 2013]

Riordan is the reason I became fascinated with mythology again. I read Lightning Thief when I was sophomore in university and from then, I followed Percy’s journey being a demigod. The series is still ongoing with the Heroes of Olympus saga and I am waiting for The House of Hades which will be released later this year. I admit that the first book adaptation, Lightning Thief, was really unsatisfactory. I am hoping that they will make it more consistent this time though.

5. World War Z by Max Brooks [June 21 2013]

I haven’t read this book, but have watched the theatrical trailer already. The Zombie war looks interesting and I would like to have something serious after enjoying the romantic-comedy Warm Bodies (Warm Bodies #1) by Isaac Marion.

6. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card [November 1, 2013]

This is another book which I haven’t read, but will definitely get into it soon. I have read a lot of positive reviews for this novel and hopefully, I will get a copy of the book before the movie starts. Is stars Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield among others.

7. Carrie by Stephen King [October 18, 2013]

I want to watch another Stephen King movie! My closest friends know I love watching horror, gore, and morbid stories haha. This is a remake which will follow the plot more closely, which is a relief. It stars Chloë Grace Moretz  and Julianne Moore.

I think those are the most interesting book to film adaptations that I am aware of as of the moment. Some of the movies I am still waiting for won’t be released until 2014 and 2015. Some of them are included in the poll below.

What film adaptation are you most looking forward to watch for this year? Would you like to recommend other adaptations I am not currently aware of? I’d like to hear from you!

Don’t forget to join my current giveaway here.

First Blog Anniversary Winner + another giveaway

I would like to thank everyone for participating in my first blog anniversary giveaway. Until now, I am very much overwhelmed by your support. I hope that I will be able to continue giving you interesting and thought-provoking posts. I will try my very best to maintain writing here so as not to disappoint you guys.

Together, let’s have more years of blogging! Please feel free to let me know your comments and suggestions on how I can improve my site. Do you think I should do tutorials just like one visitor suggested? That sounds refreshing though I am at lost as to what I will tutor you guys about. Are there things you want me to write about? Topics you want me to focus on? Do let me know by commenting below.

In celebration of my first anniversary, Sincerely Sweet Boutique is kind enough to offer one of my readers a $30 Gift Certificate to be used in their shop. I have shown you guys some items to be purchased from their online store and I am sure every one of us wishes to win.

Using Rafflecopter, I randomly picked the winner and the name drawn from the hat is…

Congratulations, Rebecca Scaglione of Love at First Book who posted a comment!

Kindly reply from this announcement to claim your prize. I will be in touch with you after to know your preferred email address where the GC will be sent.  Again, congratulations!

Did not win in this giveaway? Don’t frown! I still have an ongoing giveaway for The Pope’s Stone paperback copy and journal. This time, there will not only be one, but FOUR winners to be chosen! Giveaway is open both for US and international participants.

Please click the link below to be directed to the giveaway post. Good luck!

The Pope’s Stone Giveaway – International

White Day 화이트데이 (3.14.13)

Today, I woke up with several messages waiting in my Kakao Talk. I read three messages from a close friend:

 

Then I remembered. Aha! Today is White Day! Girls Day!

 

I learned about White Day in my Nihongo class in university. Our sensei educated us not only with the language, but also with the culture of the country. According to her, during February 14, Valentine’s Day, Japanese girls show their affection to boys by presenting them with candies and chocolate gifts. Exactly a month after, March 14, White Day (ホワイトデ), the opposite happens. Japanese boys are supposed to return the favor by giving girls presents thrice the amount (三倍返し) of the gift received on Valentine’s Day.

 

White Day is celebrated in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. It started in 1978 by a Japanese confectionary industry as an “answer day” to those girls who showed their feelings during Valentine’s. Now, isn’t that thoughtful? This way, men can reciprocate the gesture.

Here are some photos I grabbed in the Internet for you guys:

 

Now, who wouldn’t want to be like this girl?

 

How about in your country? Do you also have a counterpart for Valentine’s Day? If you are living in Japan, South Korea, or Taiwan, did your significant other gave you the “required” White Day candy? Please feel free to share to us your experience!

Happy White Day everyone~

Related post:

http://gongjumonica.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/post-valentine-gimmick-and-a-canine-gift/

http://gongjumonica.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/my-fictional-valentine-date/

http://gongjumonica.wordpress.com/2012/11/11/happy-pepero-day/

Note: Please join my giveaways!

Learning foreign languages through music

Aside from reading, one of my other hobbies is learning foreign languages. You may say that it is also one of my passions. I love studying how to speak in foreign tongues. If there’s a manual on how to parseltongue like in Harry Potter, perhaps I would like to get my hands on that, too. There’s something fascinating in learning another country’s language. More importantly, it is challenging to try sounding like a native.

My native language is Filipino. Since I was a baby, I was trained to speak English. I have studied Japanese and Mandarin Chinese in my university. My friends studied French so I can also understand some. Then I started to have gazillion of Korean friends which demanded a need to study their language. Too many? Not really. I still thirst for more. I am thinking of studying Spanish or Italian next. And polishing my Korean and French. And practicing my rusty Japanese. Argh.

Few weeks ago, I watched Letters to Juliet starring Amanda Seyfried, Gael Garcia Bernal, and Chris Egan. The romantic drama was set in Verona, Italy. The story was good, acting above average, but what caught my attention was the music. They are very much appropriate.

Some of the songs I like are: Sono Bugiarda (I’m a believer) by Caterina Caselli, Un Giorno Cosi by 883, and Sospesa by Malika Ayane and Pacifico. These have a certain appeal that made me want to study Italian language in order to fully understand and feel the songs. But what captured my ears and heart the most is Per Dimenticare by Zero Assoluto.

Click the Soundcloud widget below to listen to this song.

Per Dimenticare

Allora quindi è vero
È vero che ti sposerai
Ti faccio tanti, tanti cari auguri
E se non vengo capirai

E se la scelta è questa
È giusta lo sai solo tu
È lui l’uomo perfetto che volevi
E che non vuoi cambiare più

Ti senti pronta
A cambiare vita
A cambiare casa
A fare la spesa e fare i conti a fine mese
Alla casa al mare
Ad avere un figlio, un cane
Ed affrontare suocera, cognato, nipoti, parenti
Tombole a Natale, mal di testa ricorrente
E tutto questo… per amore

E forse partirò
Per dimenticare, per dimenticarti
E forse partirò
Per dimenticare, per dimenticarmi
Di te… di te… di te…

E grazie per l’invito
Ma proprio non ce la farò
Ho proprio tanti, tanti, troppi impegni
E credo forse partirò

Se avessi più coraggio
Quello che io ti direi
Che quell’uomo perfetto che volevi
Tu non l’hai capito mai

Io sarei pronto
A cambiare vita
A cambiare casa
A fare la spesa e fare i conti a fine mese
Alla casa al mare
Ad avere un figlio, un cane
Ed affrontare suocera, cognato, nipoti, parenti
Tombole a Natale, mal di testa ricorrente
E tutto questo… per amore

E forse partirò
Per dimenticare, per dimenticarti
E forse partirò
Per dimenticare, per dimenticarmi
Di te… di te… di te…

Per dimenticare, per dimenticarmi
Di te… di te… di te…

In order to forget you

So it’s true
it’s true that you’ll get married
I wish you all the best
if I don’t come, you’ll understand
And if this is your choice
only you know if it’s the right one
Is he the perfect man you were wishing for
and the man you don’t want to change anymore.
Do you feel ready to change your life
to move out
to do the shopping
to cash up at the end of the month
to live at the beach house
to have a son, a dog.
And to face the mother-in-law, the brother-in-law
the nephews, the relatives
the Christmas lottery
the recurrent headache
and all this
for love.

And maybe I’ll leave
in order to forget
in order to forget you.

And maybe I’ll leave
in order to forget
in order to forget…about you, about you, about you.

And thank you for the invitation
but I really won’t be able to make it
I really have so many, so many, too many things to do
I think maybe I’ll leave
if I had more courage
I would tell you that
the perfect man
you wanted, you never understood him.
I would be ready to change my life
to change my home
to do the shopping
to cash up at the end of the month
to have the beach house
to have a son and a dog.
nipoti, parenti,
tombola a Natale,
mal di testa ricorrente
e tutto questo
per amore.

And maybe I’ll leave
in order to forget
in order to forget you.

And maybe I’ll leave
in order to forget
in order to forget…about you, about you, about you.
In order to forget, in order to forget about you, about you, about you.

***

Per dimenticare is a song from Zero Assoluto, an Italian RnB and pop duo.

The song is upbeat with a husky and sexy voice by the singers. It was on a repeat in my playlist for days. I felt happy when I listened to the song. Imagine my surprise when I tried to google it and found the English translation. It was supposed to be a sad song…

This only made me want to study the Italian language. After listening to other Zero Assoluto songs, I got curious about the meaning of those lovely words coming from the duo. I want to understand them. Am I getting crazy? I don’t think so. My Korean language skill is continuously improving thanks to my Korean friends and my love for Korean music, dramas, and movies. I think that with the same interest, I could learn Italian, too. What do you think guys?

Learning foreign languages is something very interesting for me. With the aid of music, I can grasp some words here and there. But of course, it must not stop there. Meeting the language through music can be a stepping stone, but I can improve by studying the language itself. Who’s with me studying Italian or any other foreign language?

Related post:

https://gongjumonica.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/30-day-blogging-challenge-day-19-a-talent-of-yours/

https://gongjumonica.wordpress.com/category/everything-korean/korean-songs/

Join my current giveaways here and here.

Grazie!

 

Starseed Book Blast + Giveaway

Starseed

Author: Liz Gruder

ISBN: 978-1937178291

Publisher: WiDo Publishing

Published: February 2013

SUMMARY

Kaila Guidry has always known she is different. When she meets Jordyn Stryker at school, she finds out just how different.

Jordyn was born and raised far from Earth, a starseed, one of six new students sent to Louisiana’s Bush High to learn human ways. But Jordyn didn’t count on meeting someone like Kaila.

When Kaila is pushed to her limit by high school bullying and cruelty, Jordyn awakens her to a new reality—and to love. But to prove herself, Kaila must look the other way as the real purposes of the starseeds unfold.

As the horrific plan behind the starseed visit to Earth moves inexorably forward, Kaila and Jordan, caught in an impossible love, must determine where their true loyalties lie.

Praise

“You know from the opening paragraph that something very strange is going on… We see Kaila try to live the life of a normal teen, and we see her “otherness” pull her back into an increasingly tangled web of questions, deceit, and hidden intentions. Liz really shines as a writer, lining the closets and drawers of everyday life with spine-chilling suspense that springs out at you when you least expect it. Starseed is an entertaining read. I highly recommend.”

–Patricia B. Smith. Author “What the Animals Tell Me” and “Fifty Shades of Santa” (clean romance fiction)

“Liz Gruder’s characters come alive through youthful, spunky narrative, and her headstrong heroine, Kaila Guidry, elicits a reader’s encouragement from the first page. Fans of Amanda Hocking will find themselves similarly transported into Gruder’s exploration of the dark sides of faith, love, higher dimensions, and, of course, high school.” –Jadie Jones, young-adult fantasy author

Purchase

Publisher * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Amazon Kindle

Author Liz Gruder

As a youth, Liz Gruder saw a series of UFOs with her best friend while riding bikes. Ever since, she’s held a fascination for the stars. An avid reader, she used to hide under her covers and read with a flashlight. She has degrees in English and Psychology from Tulane University, a nursing license and a yoga certification. After going through Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Liz realized how short life is and is now slowly fulfilling her bucket list: she’s been to the Egyptian pyramids (totally awesome and thought provoking) and is now teaching yoga and writing speculative fiction. Starseed is her debut novel.

Goodreads * Twitter * Website * Blog * Facebook

Tour Schedule

Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 4/7/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Join my other giveaways here and here.

Join my current giveaways!

Don’t forget to join my first blogiversary giveaway. Who knows? You might win the $30 gift certificate from Sincerely Sweet Boutique. Now, hurry up and join. This will be ending soon!

 

Click the link below to be directed to my blog anniversary post with the giveaway.

My first blog anniversary giveaway

On another note, I have another giveaway going on in my site. Want to win a free paperback and a journal? Then join the giveaway and get yourself be included in the draw. Four winners will be chosen to win the combo package. Open internationally.

Click the link below to be directed to my review and giveaway post of The Pope’s Stone.

The Pope’s Stone by Marc Kuhn review and giveaway

Have a great week ahead everyone!

To see more giveaways, kindly go to my Giveaways tab to join.

The Pope’s Stone by Marc Kuhn: Review + huge giveaway

Title: The Pope’s Stone

Author: Marc Kuhn

Published: October 9, 2012

Paperback: 242 pages

Kindle Edition: 229 pages

ISBN: 1479185299

Purchase links: Amazon Kindle * Amazon Paperback * Barnes and Noble

Book blurb:

THE POPE’S STONE is a fascinating historical novel that follows the lives of Nathaniel and Nicholas, descendants of the Barrington family of Virginia. Each young man keeps life-long journals which eventually reveal their parallel lives; lives that are mirrored by similar events and experiences, similar relationships and consequences. The two, however, lived a century apart. The only connections between them are their family heritage, their journals…and the Pope’s Stone.

The Pope’s Stone was a slab of engraved marble given to America in 1854 by Pope Pius IX. It was to be embedded within the walls of the Washington Monument, then under construction in the nation’s capital. John Henry Barrington, a stonemason working at the Monument site, was persuaded to assist a small party of anti-Catholic activists in stealing the Pope’s Stone, smashing it to pieces and tossing them into the Potomac River. The Pope’s Stone was never to be seen again, except for a fragment that John Henry secretly kept for himself. This small piece of the stone passes down through generations of Barringtons, leaving a path of hardship and unexpected tragedy for those who possess it. Coincidence? Bad karma, as Cousin Sarah calls it? Or is it more than that? And, what role does the stone play in the lives of Nathaniel and Nicholas? These are some of the questions you’ll be asking…discover the answers in THE POPE’S STONE.

The Pope’s Stone Website

THE REVIEW

They say everything starts with a cover, so let me begin my review with that. The increasing font used for the three words of the title is appropriate; it gave more emphasis on the stone. Judging from the book blurb, one can know that the Stone has an important role in the story. However, I think that the Washington monument was featured a bit smaller, thus decreasing its towering height. I don’t know if there is another reason for its size in the cover other than the slab of Stone and an opened journal are intended to appear bigger and more prominent.

The story began in the 1850s, with the first chapter titled with date and place. It was a descriptive introduction fitting to be a foundation of the story. The history was established, actions were executed, and conflict was introduced. All of these were done in just a single chapter, six pages in all. There was brevity and creativity in the author’s art of implanting this very first part of the book in the reader’s mind.  It was a nice move, actually. My attention was immediately captured by the pace of the story. A well-described and explained intro can be the make or break of a book and this novel has given its successful teaser.

The second chapter started the same way – with title, date, and place. The date was 25 years after the first and the place different. In here, the story started with Nathaniel Henry Barrington, a boy who just celebrated his 14^th birthday. He is a smart and inquisitive young man and his friend, Elizabeth, supported his likes and hobbies by giving him an elegant leather notebook. The third chapter, 106 years after, Nicholas Henry Barrington also had his 14^th birthday highlighted with a leather bound journal gift from his neighbor friend, Jennifer.

On POVs and writing

The succeeding chapters became a continuation of the second and third chapters. When I started the fourth one, I realized the importance of the chapter headings with the different dates and places. They were to guide me about the generation I was reading. It is a smart trick, that. I appreciate the way the author wanted to make his chapters more understandable to his readers.

The chapters were, more often than not, kept on changing perspectives. One chapter it would be Nathaniel (the older) narrating, then Nicholas (the younger) next. Right now, it is worth noting that the author has an uncanny skill in living with the times. When the perspective is with Nathaniel, the characters during that time possess the appropriate personalities that people at that period have. I especially like the way they speak, all so formal and courteous. When the perspective shifts with Nicholas, the atmosphere became different. It became lighter, more freely. Or is it because it’s my generation? Anyway, I commend the author for being able to naturally capture two generations more than a century apart. It makes the story more realistic and believable.

Though it proved to be a good writing strategy, I somehow did not like the frequent shift of POVs. Occasionally is okay, but it was done every other paragraph. There were times I felt like Nathaniel and Nicholas were playing tennis due to their alternate chapter POVs. It was dizzying. In addition, there were many similarities between the two, and that’s honestly okay, but narrating an occurrence in Nathaniel’s time only to be echoed in Nicholas’ in the immediate succeeding chapter was a bit frustrating. I can assume the reason for this though. The author wanted to point out that Nathaniel experienced this situation a century ago and Nicholas had the same. He wanted to show how utterly similar their lives became. Perhaps the author did not want the readers to forget what happened in Nathaniel’s life so he immediately followed Nicholas’ turn. That’s actually acceptable, but personally speaking, perhaps three chapters of Nathaniel’s life then Nicholas’ would be better. This way, the readers can be challenged to remember what happened in Nathaniel’s life and soon, they’ll have the “Aha” moment.

Another thing which I did not approve of is the number of tragedy and deaths in the story. There were a lot. Yes, they were all essential in the story, but still. I am speaking in personal experience and I prefer fewer deaths because I tend to get quickly attached to a character. I’m weird. So shoot me.

Lastly, I was waiting to read more about the Pope’s Stone in general. When it got thrown in the Potomac, did everyone really stop there? I was looking for more story and drama regarding the stone per se, but I also realized that the book wasn’t pertaining about the rock, but to something that it symbolizes.

Well-researched.

But if there are low points, there are also flying ones. What I like best in this novel is the rich history it presented. I am not an American, but the author did not make me feel like an outsider. I could easily grasp the story of the states. And what’s more interesting? The foundation story and other parts of this novel are true! The geeky part of me made a research especially about The Pope’s Stone and was surprised to learn that it actually existed! I am not sure if it’s common knowledge since I didn’t have American History class, but I was amazed just the same. There were other stories that really happened in there – the Oklahoma Territory of 1889, crews died in Khe Sanh, Vietnam, the confederates’ cemetery, etc. This novel is very well researched! It is such a commendable practice of being a historical fiction author.

Based on research, the author extracted his creative juices and weaved an imaginative story with his characters. I used weaved because the lives of the two main characters were beautifully interlinked until the end. Both lives were interesting enough to keep my fingers continuously leafing the pages of the book. It was very fascinating and thought-provoking.  I even created my own Barrington family tree to guide me while reading. Like Nicholas, I slowly figured out his genealogy. If what I did isn’t a proof of how stimulating and entertaining this book is, I don’t know what is.

Summary

Overall, this book is an enjoyable read. Fans of historical fiction will definitely love this one. For others, they’ll find their first love of history in this book. There are some rooms for improvement, but they are small things that I am sure the author can work with. The book ended in an open plot and I wonder if the author is planning to have a sequel. Whatever the case may be, I will be looking forward to read more adult novels by Marc Kuhn.

Rating: 4/5 – Will definitely recommend it.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

**This review is also available in Goodreads and Amazon.

About the Author

Author Marc Kuhn has worked in radio broadcasting most of his life as a journalist, a program director and a marketing executive. He has held positions at major radio stations in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Miami.

Now retired, he has turned his attention to writing. His first book, NEVER GOOSE A MOOSE! is a collection of whimsical verse for young children.
ABOUT A FARM is his second children’s book. It features lessons in life beyond the barnyard.

A third book, THE POPE’S STONE, is Kuhn’s first adult novel. It is a fascinating historical novel about two descendants of the same family who live parallel lives, but a century apart!

Kuhn lives in South Florida with his wife, Rosemarie, and seven grandchildren.

Contact the Author

Website * Blog * Goodreads * Twitter

THE GIVEAWAY

Marc Kuhn, the author of the historical novel The Pope’s Stone, is very generous to offer a combo prize package of a signed paperback of his book plus a simple black journal. To sweeten the deal, four winners can totally get this awesome gift. Awesome? Two US residents and two international participants will be chosen by an electronic raffle after the giveaway ends. So what are you guys waiting for? Kindly check the rafflecopter links below. The first one is for International giveaway and the next is for US only.

Hop into the fun!

International Giveaway 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

US Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: Both giveaways are open until Friday, March 22. All entries will be checked for validity. On or before March 25, two international and two US residents will be randomly chosen by Rafflecopter. These four winners will be announced in this blog and they will have 48 hours to respond/comment on the announcement post.

FOLLOW THE REST OF THE TOUR

The Pope’s Stone Tour Schedule (March 8-19)

March 8 – Impressions of a Princess

March 10 – YA Big BOOKworm

March 11- Book Adoration

March 12 – For the Love of Books

March 13 – Nazninazeez

March 14 – Amidst Books

March 15 – Lollipops and Rainbows

March 16 – Emma Snow

March 17 – Prisailurophile Blog

March 18 – Pretty Little Dreamer

March 19 – Edge of Jade