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Friday, November 01, 2019
Beyond the Books: The Forgotten Carols (With a Giveaway!)
7:32 PM
Now that Halloween is over, it's time to focus on what's really important—Christmas. Just kidding! I love Thanksgiving and would never skip over it. Even when my family begs to start decorating early, I refuse to put up my Christmas tree before Thanksgiving is over. It's not too early, however, to start planning holiday outings, which is why I agreed to post about The Forgotten Carols today.I'd never heard of The Forgotten Carols until 1994, when my college boyfriend (now husband) organized a trip to see the production in Provo, Utah. At the time, the show was only a few years old, and most of the parts were played by Michael McLean, the well-known musician who developed the presentation. The two of us, along with a group of our friends, had a great time watching The Forgotten Carols together. While I don't remember the details of the show now, I do recall enjoying the experience and feeling a sweet spirit of friendship and holiday cheer that added to the joy of the Christmas season for all of us that year. A couple decades later, the show is in its 28th year of consecutive performances. According to a press release, The Forgotten Carols has been "reimagined" this year. In it, McLean is quoted as saying, "Fans will hear the same songs, see the same characters, but experience the story in a completely new way!"

Needless to say, when I was offered complimentary tickets to an upcoming performance of The Forgotten Carols here in Arizona in exchange for posting this promotional piece, I jumped at the chance. I can't wait to re-experience the show and all the nostalgia that I'm sure will be part of it.
If you haven't heard of The Forgotten Carols, it's a warm, inspiring musical stage presentation that tells the story of Connie Lou, a hardened nurse who hasn't laughed or cried in three decades. When she begins working with an elderly homeless man who's struggling with dementia, her life begins to change. She is especially intrigued when the man, Uncle John, begins telling her the Christmas story through the eyes of his "friends"—the innkeeper, Handel, a shepherd, etc. Although Uncle John can't possibly have been alive for over 2000 years, Connie Lou finds herself reluctantly caught up in his tale. As she listens to him, her heart—and her life—is changed as the old man reminds her what Christmas is really about.If you live in Utah, Idaho, or Arizona and are looking for a fun, family-friendly activity to touch your own heart, definitely consider attending a performance near you. Click here for show and ticketing information.
Would you prefer to attend the show for free? Of course you would! Enter to win four tickets to the performance by using the Rafflecopter widget below. Maybe I'll see you at the Tempe show on December 13 :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Monday, October 28, 2019
Shivery Sophomore Novel A Liked-It-Didn't-Love-It Halloween Read
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
A year after his wife died in childbirth, Gabriel Stone is still wracked with grief. Desperate to make a new start away from the memories that haunt his every step in Massachusetts, he accepts a position as a minister in the small town of Pale Harbor, Maine. Hiding his own secrets, Gabriel soon becomes acquainted with the village's biggest mystery—Sophronia Carver. The young widow, who's rumored to be everything from a witch to a heartless murderer, hides away in creepy Castle Carver, with only a gruff spinster housekeeper for company. Intrigued by the sinister stories surrounding her, Gabriel seeks out Sophronia, who surprises him with her kindness, beauty, and intelligence.
When strange things start happening in Pale Harbor, the townspeople know immediately who's at fault—Widow Carver. Gabriel doesn't believe it for a second. Someone else is scaring people with Edgar Allen Poe-ish tricks. Gabriel must find out who before all of Pale Harbor comes for Sophronia with pitchforks and torches. They don't know her like he does, or do they? What is the widow hiding? And who is really behind the macabre doings in town? Gabriel won't stop digging until he finds the truth.
I loved Hester Fox's debut novel, The Witch of Willow Hall, so when I was offered an early copy of her sophomore book to review, I accepted eagerly. While The Widow of Pale Harbor shares many elements with its predecessor—a shivery, atmospheric setting; strong, creepy Gothic vibes; and a cast of interesting, sympathetic characters—I didn't enjoy it nearly as much. I'm not sure why, but Fox's second effort just didn't impress me like her first did. I still liked The Widow of Pale Harbor, I just didn't love it.
(Readalikes: The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox and The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Widow of Pale Harbor from the generous folks at HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Halloween Horror Novel a Shivery, Spine-Tingling Read
7:20 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After a traumatic childhood under the chaotic care of his flighty, hippie-dippy mother, Will Conner flees his hometown with no intention of ever returning. When she falls down a flight of stairs, however, he's forced to take a leave of absence from his job as an English professor in New York City to care for her. As soon as Will arrives in Cape Ann—a small village north of Boston—the inherent strangeness of the place overwhelms him, flooding him with memories of the night one of his mother's spirit circle rituals went horribly wrong, leaving one man dead. At five years old, Will didn't understand what was happening. He still doesn't. All he knows is something sinister was released that night almost thirty years ago, a malevolent presence that still has Will in its clutches. If anyone can help him get rid of it, it's the witchy women of Cape Ann.
Despite constant warnings from the townspeople to go back to the city, Will can't leave his childhood home without getting some answers. He's desperate to know what really happened the night the ritual went wrong, frantic to free himself from the presence that haunts him. Answers lie with the original members of his mother's spirit circle, many of whom have died mysterious deaths over the ensuing decades, but no one's willing to talk. With the help of Samantha "Sam" Hall, his odd childhood pal, Will is determined to get the answers he seeks. He's been warned that digging into old secrets could cause even more danger and pain, but he will not stop, no matter what new horrors he unleashes in the tiny, cursed town of Cape Ann, Massachusetts ...
There's nothing super original about Before the Devil Fell by Neil Olson, but it's a solid horror novel that would make for a shivery, spine-tingling Halloween read. The atmospheric setting gives the book an appropriately spooky backdrop. The tale also features interesting characters, a compelling plotline, and capable prose. While I can't think of any real stand-out elements that make Before the Devil Fell unique or really memorable, it definitely kept me turning pages. In the end, I liked it well enough, but I didn't love it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of House of Echoes by Brendan Duffy)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a handful of F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Before the Devil Fell from the generous folks at Hanover Square Press (a division of Harlequin) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Historical Romance Engrossing and Faith-Promoting
8:05 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When Ingrid Chastain decides to accompany her physician father on a mission to deliver smallpox vaccinations to a suffering village in Montana Territory, she has no idea the journey will change her life completely. After their wagon crashes on an icy hill, Ingrid is left injured and alone in the middle of nowhere. Her remote location plus the frigid winter weather makes rescue unlikely. Not only is Ingrid in danger of dying herself, but without a miracle, the vials of precious medicine with which she's traveling will never make it to the town that needs it so desperately.
Ingrid's miracle comes in the form of a gruff mountain man named Micah Bradley. Still grieving the loss of the wife and daughter he couldn't save from smallpox, he left his medical career five years ago. When Micah comes across Ingrid's broken body, he's forced to call on his long-dormant doctoring skills to save her life.
Despite her own precarious condition, Ingrid is frantic to get the vaccine to the people who need it. When she finally convinces Micah to set out on their own mad mission, the pair embark on a journey that will test them both physically and spiritually. Can they make it across the treacherous mountains in weather that worsens by the day? Will they get the vaccine vials where they need to go? Most importantly, will Micah re-discover the faith he lost five years ago or will God let him fail once again?
Christian fiction can be a hard sell for me, but I ended up quite enjoying Hope's Highest Mountain, the first book in a new series by Misty M. Beller. The novel starts with a bang and keeps the action going at a steady pace. While that kept me turning pages, the story really isn't about the characters' physical journeys, but about their spiritual ones. Faith—both firm and fledgling—is at the heart of this uplifting tale. That comes across loud and clear, but not in an irritating or preachy way. My only real complaint about Hope's Highest Mountain has to do with character development. Ingrid and Micah are both nice, likable characters but they're a little too nice, a little too perfect. I would have liked more personality from both of them as well as some imperfections to help them feel more authentic. In addition, I really wanted Ingrid to act like a heroine. She had good intentions, but she never really did anything. I would have liked to see more backbone and more risk-taking from her. Overall, though, I enjoyed this clean, faith-promoting romance. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment in the series.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Hope's Highest Mountain from the generous folks at Bethany House via those at Celebrate Lit in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
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