Surrender The Wind by Rita Gerlach

This is a guest post by Tina L. Scott (formerly Miller). Tina is a freelance photographer from Merrill, Wisconsin with a passion for writing. She can be reached at PhotographyByTina.com


Book
Surrender The Wind

Author
Rita Gerlach

The Review
If you like historical, romance novels, you’ll love Surrender the Wind. Set in the late 1700’s, in both early America and England, you’ll meet Seth Braxton, an American patriot who fought in the Revolutionary War against England; his loyalist grandfather, Benjamin Braxton, who is on his deathbed in England; his sister, Caroline, who went to live with his grandfather in England at the onset of the war—and whom he hasn’t seen since; and Caroline’s best friend, Juleah, the daughter of Sir Charles, a loving and wealthy but somewhat addle-minded English gentleman.

After the Revolutionary War, Seth plans to settle down on his late father’s American estate, clean up the war-torn homestead property, and raise horses. But when he receives word that Benjamin Braxton has named him the heir of his estate in England and his sister, Caroline, needs him, he is torn between his love of America and his plans for his future and his responsibility to Caroline, now alone in England. He has no intention of accepting the inheritance of Ten Width, his grandfather’s estate. But then Seth’s eyes fall upon an image of Juleah in a painting at her uncle’s home in America, and he is suddenly intrigued at the idea of traveling to England to see what may await him there.

Seth reunites with his sister, Caroline, in England to find her grieving over the son she has just lost—a child Seth didn’t even know she had. Something doesn’t feel quite right about the circumstances of the toddler’s death, but Seth can’t put his finger on it.

Then, too, he is enamored of Juleah’s beauty and intent on winning her heart, so Seth puts aside the uneasy feeling, intent on restoring the family estate to make a home for Caroline and helping her deal with all the recent tragedies she’s had to cope with.

But when Seth is waylaid and attacked, a poor young girl found murdered, and the local constable refuses to acknowledge it is a murder, Seth’s suspicions once again arise—and soon it is obvious that someone is conspiring to destroy all that Seth loves.

I hate reading reviews that give away too much of the plot, so I won’t hint of anything more to come, but I will say this. The plot definitely thickens and the pace in this novel quickens and it makes for a fast-paced read that is really enjoyable. Anyone who likes historical novels with action, suspense, and romance, will love Surrender the Wind.

Order Surrender The Wind Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the book to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Hannah Montana Movie

The reviews are mixed when it comes to Miley Cyrus' new film, "Hannah Montana: The Movie". It seems reviewers either love it or hate it, there's no middle ground. Personally, I enjoyed the overall film and found it to be very energetic and uplifting.

However, I did have one problem with the film. My biggest problem with the film is that while Miley is an exceptional singer and can perform comedic antics with the best of them, she lacks what is necessary to carry a more emotional performance. As a somber, sad, and confused teenager, Miley lacks talent and that especially bothered me during the meltdown segment. I so wanted to get teary-eyed. I wanted to feel her pain, but I just couldn’t.

To read my full review, visit The Dabbling Mum.

But before you go, watch a few clips:









Disclosure: I was given a sample to review. This is "my opinion" of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.

The Big 5-0h! the review

This is a guest post by Tina L. Scott (formerly Miller). Tina is a freelance photographer from Merrill, Wisconsin with a passion for writing. She can be reached at PhotographyByTina.com

Book
The Big 5-0h!

Author
Sandra D. Bricker

The Review
Olivia Wallace is on the verge of her 50th birthday and not looking forward to it at all. She is convinced that her birthdays are cursed and merely one more opportunity to be struck down by doom and gloom or tragedy. She cites a list of calamities from getting dumped by a boyfriend on her sweet sixteenth birthday to illnesses, falls, blizzards, and other problems or occurrences on subsequent birthdays to support her case.

So when her best friend and neighbor Hallie insists she take a mini vacation in her mother’s vacant home in Florida to break free from her slump, Olivia finds herself convinced and on a flight to the sunshine state. And her trip really does seem to be changing her outlook, right from the very first. In fact, she meets a handsome gentleman named Jared Hunt on the flight south before she even steps foot off the plane and begins to feel the very first stirrings of interest and attraction she’s experienced since her husband, Robert, died several years earlier from a heart attack. Alas, it is only a momentary encounter, since Olivia loses sight of
him upon disembarking when she has to use the ladies room like something fierce immediately after landing. But that’s pretty much par for the course with Olivia, since she isn’t really expecting anything magical or miraculous at this point in her life—rather, the doom and gloom seems to be her expectation and what she attracts by default. But could this be the beginning of a new outlook for Olivia? One never knows.

Then Olivia arrives at her friend’s home in Florida to find her flatulent dog, Missy Boofer, ready to attack when she enters the home. But Boofer’s gas and her bark are a lot more threatening than her bite, and soon she finds herself drawn to the dog and talking to her as if she is her personal companion. They develop a certain fondness for one another.

As Olivia might have expected, mishaps and strange occurrences do find her even in Florida—from a run-in with an alligator in her pool to tropical storms and trees crashing onto cars. But she also finds a few pleasant surprises she didn’t expect—like a younger man and next-door neighbor who wants to welcome her to the neighborhood and his father, too—and a couple of very unlikely friendships that don’t start off too friendly at all. Don’t worry. I won’t give away any of the good stuff. But let’s just say that Olivia is quite happy with all that Florida has to offer and becomes very reluctant to leave when her vacation time and her leave of absence from work are over and she is supposed to return to the cold weather in snowy Ohio.

This is a time of enlightenment for Olivia in many ways and it could be that her outlook on birthdays will change, as well, by the time this story is through. The Big 5-0h! is a light-hearted read any woman approaching a significant birthday will enjoy! It’s a great reminder that change can be just around the corner for all of us—if we will only open our minds to the possibilities.

Order The Big 5-0h! Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the book to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Buy Handmade

There's a movement out there called, "Buy Handmade". It's all about supporting artists in all genres. I, am fortunate enough to be one of them artists. If you're looking for a fun decorative item for your home or someone on your gift list, you may like these recycled hand painted vases...

Visit me at AlyiceEdrich.net/etsy.htm.

Pete's Dragon

Are you old enough to remember when Pete's Dragon first aired? Do you remember watching the VHS copy, or Sunday special, as a child? Do you hold fond memories of the loveable, clumsy, and particularly wonderful green dragon?

My husband remembers the show in complete detail. I, however, have no recollection--perhsaps I never saw it. I believe I never saw it--until this week, that is.

It's so strange to see how far we've advanced technologically. Sometimes I take for granted that our special effects were always so cool. Pete's Dragon is a reminder that the high-tech special effects we have today had to start somewhere...



While I enjoyed my viewing of Pete's Dragon, I must admit that I got far more enjoyment from the bonus features--a trip down memory lane that's worth buying all on its own.

You can read my full review here: http://thedabblingmum.com/reviews/moviesfamily/family/petesdragon.htm

Or you can simply watch the clip below:


Disclosure: I was given a sample to review. This is "my opinion" of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.

Last Holiday

I Recommend Your purchase supports this site.

If you haven't been to see Last Holiday, the movie, you really need to get out the house, vist your local video store, and rent it! Then you need to pack up a few girl friends (or your girl children), order a pizza, and have a "girls night in".

It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, but most of all it will make you want to get your butt in gear and experience life! Queen Latifah shined in this film. Her acting capabilities were really utilized.

There were so many little moments when you just laughed out loud and in the end you actually felt sorry for the bully...and yes there is one. The plot was simple, but it was a "feel good" movie and sometimes we just need those, you know?

Disclosure: I rented this item to review and was later given a copy as a gift, from a friend. This is "my opinion" of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin

This is a guest post by Tina L. Scott (formerly Miller). Tina is a freelance photographer from Merrill, Wisconsin with a passion for writing. She can be reached at PhotographyByTina.com


Book
The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow

Author
Joyce Magnin

The Review
Agnes Sparrow and her sister, Griselda, grew up—and still live in—a funeral home which was operational until their parents’ sudden death. It’s an unusual setting for an unusual story. Griselda is now the town librarian whose life revolves around her books and caring for her sister. Agnes can’t get around much without a lot of help—on account of she’s so fat. (And yes, I worded that sentence just that way on purpose to try to capture a little flavor from this book which is peppered with quaint and amusing sayings like that which you’d expect to hear from someone’s grandmother, because I found them enjoyable to read. Some of my favorites were “how in jumpin’ blue heck,” “what in tarnation,” “artsy fartsy,” “you’d a thought he had his pants pulled down and his heart ripped out at the same time,” “you’re as welcome as a dandelion in winter,” and “as animated as a pound of slugs in summer.” But I digress.)

Coming in at right around 700 pounds, Agnes really IS fat and doesn’t take comments about her weight too much to heart anymore—not like when she was a child and the taunting and fat jokes drove her to tears.

These days Agnes has made up her mind that—since she’s too fat to do much else—God has called her to pray for folks in their small town of Bright’s Pond—and that she is pretty much called to pray without ceasing. So that’s what she does. Between meals and snacks—it takes a lot of food to sustain a woman that size—Agnes has taken up residence on a large couch in what used to be the viewing room (of the funeral home) where she prays for her friends and neighbors and their specific needs and requests—and she even keeps track of it all in a notebook.

Agnes’ prayers seem to work, too, because there’ve been some pretty miraculous healings, so the locals start coming to Agnes on a regular basis for prayer intercession. And that’s all well and good—until the townspeople start getting a little too proud of Agnes and her prayers and the miracles they seem to produce—and they decide to erect a new town sign proclaiming “Bright’s Pond: Home of Agnes Sparrow” out on the highway.

Agnes and Griselda are against the town erecting the sign, crediting God for the answers to their prayers—not Agnes—but the townspeople just can’t seem to understand and outvote them. The sign is going up. And so word of Agnes’ “miraculous praying powers” begins to spread and draws a stranger to their town—a stranger who says he needs a miracle, though he won’t say what it is. Agnes reminds him that prayers aren’t always answered on the first try, so the stranger decides to stay on in Bright’s Pond and settles in, somewhat integrating himself into the neighborhood, though he’s never quite at peace.

Life goes on pretty much like it will in a small town, with readers getting the opportunity to meet some of Griselda and Agnes’ friends and neighbors—like Doc, Ruth, Vidalia, Zeb, Cora, Stu, Boris, Mildred, Ivy and her little free-spirited dog without a name who delights in “terrorizing the town” as he runs amuck.

But then an unexpected discovery is made in the basement where all the old embalming and body preparation tools still remain and the story takes a new twist.

And then—wthout giving away any of the plot—Bright’s Pond finds itself in a turmoil when another horrible tragedy unfolds—and neighbor turns against neighbor. Even some of Agnes’ most loyal friends start to turn on her. But Agnes has troubles of her own and issues she needs to deal with—troubles that very well may be the key to her self-imposed exile. As the story unfolds, everyone in Bright’s Pond finds they have a lesson to learn.

I enjoyed this novel immensely because it was so different from the norm, with unusual characters and lots of flavor. Reading it was somewhat like watching a movie unfold, only better. But in the end, I most appreciated the overriding lesson—that we are always to remember it is “To God Be The Glory”—and not to elevate any mortal person to higher esteem even if it seems God is working through him or her, because God is still the one answering the prayers and performing the miracles. And no human being is without stain or blemish.

Order The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the book to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Zac Efron Owns 17 Again!

Ever wish you could go back to high school and do your life over? Relive that wish as you follow Mike O’Donnell—a man, dissatisfied with the past 17 years of his life. Watch as he’s transformed into a teenage boy only to realize what he really wants is not a second chance at life but a second chance to save his marriage.



Read my full review at The Dabbling Mum

Disclosure: I was given a sample to review. This is "my opinion" of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.

Delgo, Fantasy Film

I Recommend Your purchase supports this site.

My daughter is a huge fan of history meets sci-fi meets comedy. She especially enjoys films with a slight magical element to them—not witch craft based upon Satanic rituals but natural-born and cultivated special abilities that make life more interesting and fun, like the mythical creatures and mutants. In fact, she has an ever-growing collection of such films. I must admit that I wasn’t always fascinated by such films but the more I watch them with her (gotta make sure they’re age appropriate) the more I find myself enjoying them as well.

Delgo, was no exception. Luckily, however, my daughter is 14 years old because had she been younger, I don’t think I would have let her watch the film. While it’s tame in the sense that you don’t see the actual mutilation of beings, it is still a rather violent cartoon filled with lots of hostility, bitterness, and revenge.

The film seems to be trying to reach two audiences: teens and adults. The cartoon aspect of the film, however, suggests that the original intent was to be a film for young children. The visual elements of the film are breathtaking and fun, often causing me to pause the film just long enough to take in the beauty of it all. The storyline, however, does tend to drag from time to time and some of the jokes seem clichéd and old. Overall, it’s not a bad film and one that has been given a bad rap by many reviewers who seem to think all films of similar nature should follow the likes of Star Wars or other famous sci-fi films.

The story takes place in distant Jhamora between two species: earthbound Lockni who have telechanetic abilities and flying Nohrin. Once a peaceful nation, the Nohrin King’s sister brutally murders the Lockni people in an attempt to take over the land. Once imprisoned, the two species live in harmony until the sister’s secret army stages an attack that pits both sides against one another in a hope become sole ruler of the planet. However, she miscalculated one very important detail, the budding friendship of the king’s daughter, Kyla, and the Lockni teenager, Delgo. Will Delgo be able to save Kyla’s life? And will they be able to prevent the massacre of both their races? Only time will tell…grab a copy of the DVD to find out.





Disclosure: I was given a sample to review. This is "my opinion" of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.

More handpained vases

Have you been to the shop yet? Visit me at AlyiceEdrich.net/etsy.htm.

Breathe by Lisa T. Bergren

This is a guest post by Tina L. Scott (formerly Miller). Tina is a freelance photographer from Merrill, Wisconsin with a passion for writing. She can be reached at PhotographyByTina.com

Book
Breathe

Author
Lisa T. Bergren

The Review
The first book in a new trilogy of novels by Lisa T. Bergren, Breathe is a heartwarming Christian romance set in Colorado Springs in 1883. Breathe introduces readers to Dominic, Moira, and Odessa St. Clair—three siblings who have just journeyed west by train in search of a cure for Odessa and the consumption that has virtually destroyed their family, claiming the lives of their younger siblings and leaving their family distraught. Now also motherless—their mother died giving birth to a baby that did not survive—and without the benefit of their father, who must stay behind in Philadelphia to run the family’s publishing business that is the source of their family’s wealth, Dominic is charged with establishing another avenue for the family’s business in the booming town, providing for Odessa’s care and hopeful recovery at the sanitarium in Colorado Springs, and keeping his youngest sister, Moira, in line, far from the theatre, singing, and beaus their father did not approve of back East.

Dominic feels the weight of the world on his shoulders and seems destined to fail at his unwilling mission, only conceding to the plan because Odessa’s life is in danger and his father has agreed that after a year he can pursue his own plan for his life. The three St. Clairs are barely in town when Moira is attracting the attention of the city’s men and in particular the local sheriff, Reid Bannock, and Dominic is getting into trouble with the law. Meanwhile Odessa is gasping for every breath at the sanitarium, struggling for her very life. With few women to keep her company, Odessa finds herself making friends with two other patients there—the kindly old miner, Sam O’Toole, and his rancher friend and neighbor, Bryce McAllan, both of whom seem to be further along on the road to recovery than she is—to combat her loneliness. Sam’s improving health gives her hope that one day she, too, will recover to lead a normal life.


Then Odessa learns that she will never be able to leave Colorado to return to her beloved Philadelphia—even if she does recover—or the chance of a relapse could threaten her life once more. And as a result, she will probably never see her father again. And just when it seems Sam is making great progress, he dies unexpectedly and Odessa suspects he may have been murdered in the room right next door to hers! When Sam O’Toole’s attorney delivers an unexpected bequest to Bryce and Odessa, Odessa is even more troubled and intrigued—and fearful. Will the bequest put them in danger, as well?


Moira is initially flattered by the male attention she is receiving away from her father’s watchful eye, but before long she is less enamored and more threatened by Sheriff Bannock’s devotion and then obvious manipulation of her affections. His outward attention to her safety and well being seems sincere, but Moira begins to detect there is much more to the sheriff’s intentions than mere infatuation. Still, Moira has a special charm and knows how to handle men even at the young age of nineteen, and she’s determined to use her wiles—and the sheriff’s connections—to become a lady of high society in the growing city and attract the favor of one of the city’s most wealthy benefactors and his family—and to find out more about the new theatre he’s building. Despite her father’s disapproval, Moira loves to sing and entertain, and this connection could be the opportunity she’s been longing for.

Each of the St. Clair siblings face individual challenges in Colorado Springs—and each must work through the difficulties of homesickness, grief, starting over, and building a new life in a new place. Family ties are strong but the desire for a life of their own and the pursuit of their own individual dreams pull at Dominic, Moira, and Odessa, as well, resulting in conflicting emotions and divided loyalties at times.

I love a good trilogy! The conclusion of Breathe was satisfying and wrapped up most of the conflicts introduced in this first novel, yet it left me wanting to learn even more about the St. Clair siblings and their future in Colorado—and with the promise of Sing and Claim to come (the next two novels in the trilogy), I look forward to the opportunity for two more good reads to satisfy my thirst for good Christian historical romance soon!

Order Breathe Today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the book to review.


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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles like this, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

Race To Witch Mountain

Have you seen the newest in the Witch Mountain series? It truly is an action-packed adventure full of promise. The characters are lively, the action fast-paced, the storyline somewhat strong, and the comedic remarks enlightening.

I just finished reviewing Race To Witch Mountain starring AnnaSophia Robb and Dwayne Johnson. Click here to read the review.

Or just watch a few clips below:

The Bloopers


The Original Cast


Disney offers a DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack at an affordable price. I must admit that at first, I was annoyed with the idea of having to buy a Blu-Ray in order to get the DVD version with Disney's latest releases, but now I kind of like the idea.

You see, we have a DVD player in the van and can't play Blu-Ray discs so being able to get both a Blu-Ray and a DVD for one low price, in one convenient package, is perfect for the long trips across state.

Disclosure: I was given a sample to review. This is "my opinion" of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.

How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days

Have you ever seen "How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days"? I just recently had the chance to re-watch it and once again, I fell in love with it.

It's such a fun film. I think this is the only film in which I actually like Matthew McConaughey as the "romantic figure". Usually, the roles he plays are contrite and annoying, but this role, it's perfect!

Now, as for the "Deluxe Edition", I am not too impressed. I found the special features to be a waste of my time. There's a feature on "How to Make A Movie in Two Years" that looks as is if was thrown together at the last minute. There is no meat, no substance, to the feature and while it has a few interesting facts, it left me wishing I never took the time to watch it. I did, however, enjoy the music video by Keith Urban.

View the complete review at The Dabbling Mum.

Disclosure: I watched this film in the theatres when it came out. I later purchased the VHS version of this film. For this review, I was given an updated DVD sample to review. This is "my opinion" of the product. I was not paid to give a positive review.