Yale University Press Sale!

There is a sale on Yale University Press books right now over at One Kings Lane, so be sure to check it out! The sale ends some time Saturday - or whenever they sell out (which they often do) - so check it out soon.

One Kings Lane offers $15 off $30 purchase when you join thru 

THIS LINK.

I have been following sales on One Kings Lane for a while now. Most frequently, they offer closeouts of designer brand housewares and furnishings at a percentage of the original cost. They also have a clearance section with some really great steals, though it is on hiatus for the holiday shopping season and has been replaced with the Gifts sales:

If you are looking for a classy gift for someone, the section of gifts under $50 has some really pretty serving ware and candles for a good price. This sale ends some time Friday, and shipping is guaranteed by Christmas.

To Win Her Heart

To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0757-0
347 Pages


Synopsis:
Levi Grant leaves prison a changed man, sorry for his unintentional crime and embracing his re-found religion. He hopes to make a new start in a new place, and Spencer needs a new blacksmith. When Eden Spencer came to town five years ago, she was hoping for a new start of her own. One without the hindrance of a man. She spends her days running the local library and attending Ladies Aid meetings, and has no time for or interest in relationships. Can the new blacksmith change her heart, and when she learns about his past, will it be broken again?

My Thoughts:

To Win Her Heart is a touching story of unexpected love. The author paints a perfect picture of a peaceful little town in old time Texas. She uses images of vibrantly colored fields of wildflowers and dusty streets to help the readers to imagine themselves walking throughout the town and the outlying areas.

The characters are well thought out and each has a memorable personality. The reader is easily able to empathize with Levi and Eden in their plights, to feel the sting of hurt and indignation brought on by the closed minded inhabitants of Spencer, and to find a place in their heart for the scruffy stray Ornery.

The story progresses at a good pace and avoids the cliches in many romance novels. There are distinct moments where events affect the the characters and make them come to terms with their feelings without the frequent lustful encounters so often found in such books. For a romance novel, To Win Her Heart is quite tame. It shows that you can have a good book without all of the sex.

To Win Her Heart is clearly written from a Christian perspective - not only determined by the lack of lustful imaginings and sex scenes, but by every element of the writing. The main characters are sure in their faith and are set to live their lives by it. This does not deter from the romance in any way, but adds to it. It lets you know that their feelings are pure and true. It puts the assurance in your heart that this relationship is strong. You can close your eyes and see these characters still together 40 years down the line, rather than like many modern couples who change partners every year. That makes it all the sweeter.

Overall, To Win Her Heart is a great read. It has a solid plot and an endearing story. It has it's few "action" moments to keep you from getting bored, and it teaches respectful values. If you are a fan of romance novel and want to avoid all the smut, this is a good book.

I was contacted by Bethany House publishers and given a free copy of To Win Her Heart in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Parent's Guide:
To Win Her Heart is a perfect romance novel for young readers. I would highly recommend this book to preteens and teens who like sweet stories. It displays healthy values - i.e. no girls wanting to die because their guy doesn't want them around, or other foolishness like that. It does not use foul language or inappropriate actions. There are one or two minor violent encounters, none of which are really graphic or gory. To Win Her Heart is a nice, safe read for young ones.

Agent of Artifice Winner!

The winner of the signed copy of Agent of Artifice is:

Jessica Peeling

Congratulations on your win! Your book will go out as soon as I receive an email with the details on where to send it.

Thank you to everyone who entered, and be on the lookout for the next giveaway!

Last day to enter giveaway!

I hope that everyone out there had a good turkey day yesterday. Even though the holiday is over, remember to be thankful for your blessings every day. And be safe if you are out there shopping this morning. There are a bunch of crazies out there I'll bet.

I am sorry the Agent of Artifice review came so late. Last week I got really sick, and as soon as I got meds for it, my DH and daughter got a stomach bug. So I was drugged up for a sinus thing and still trying to take care of them (sounds fun, huh?) and didn't get all the posts in I intended.

It is up though! So remember to check it out and comment for the giveaway, which ends at midnight tonight! There is still a low number of entries, so anyone has a good chance! Remember, you get one entry for each giveaway post or Townsend review post you comment on, as well as for following on FB or GFC, and for tweeting!

I will be away from internet at the renaissance festival all weekend, so the winner will be posted Monday! Good luck to everyone!

Agent of Artifice

Agent of Artifice by S. Evan Townsend
ISBN: 978-1937593186
302 Pages
Available in Paperback and on Kindle


Synopsis:
In this sequel to Hammer of Thor, the story of the adepts continues as told by Michael Vaughan. On the surface, Michael Vaughan looks like an ordinary guy - he has lots of money and loves chasing women. Appearances can be deceiving though. In reality, Michael is a rouge adept sent on a mission to assassinate Fidel and Raul Castro in Havana. Using spells, he is able to infiltrate the enemy bases but things don't go according to plan and he is caught. His talisman is stolen from him, leaving him in a weakened state, fighting for his freedom and to reclaim his life.

My Thoughts:

Agent of Artifice has an abundance of colorful Cuban imagery and historical insight. It paints a picture of life on the streets of Havana in the mid 1950s. As with Hammer of Thor, the historical images are greatly detailed, but there is a good balance of fantasy as well, so the "non-fiction" elements aren't really overbearing.

The main character is an everyday Joe, so to speak. He shows his flaws in a manner that makes him seem more human and likable. In fact, all of the characters have their own well developed personality and traits.You get a feeling for who the characters are and the interactions between them are believable.

This book is a non-stop action movie in text format. Vaughan takes you on a trek from Cuba to the US and back again, with never a dull stop along the way. There are plenty of well written battles and a ton of other action packed scenes involving poker games and character relations.

One thing that was noticeably different in this sequel was how the time line of the events was handled. In the first book in the series, everything was done in a linear fashion, while in Agent of Artifice, the story jumped around, having "flashback" moments and then coming back to the present. Often, this can be confusing, but I think it was handled well. There were very few moments where I got confused with the order of events or which characters were present in the current time and place.

Overall, I thought that this was a great story. Agent of Artifice is an exciting adventure that you will not want to put down until the end. It is a worthy sequel to Hammer of Thor, with plenty of action and intrigue to keep you on the edge of your seat. I can't wait to see what is next for this series.

I was contacted by the writer and given a free copy of Agent of Artifice in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Parent's Guide:
Agent of Artifice, like it's predecessor, is an excellent read for the older youths, like high school and college students. It is a good clean book - full of action but devoid of graphic violence and foul language. The writing is complex and younger kids would find themselves lost in the detail and historical descriptions and probably be bored easily.

Agent of Artifice Giveaway!

Look what came in the mail yesterday! This is the prize for the Agent of Artifice giveaway. A signed copy of the book, which just came out this Tuesday. Not sure if you can see the signature with the glare on the photo.

You may notice that the review for Agent of Artifice is not up yet. I have been fighting with sick, and after getting a shot at the doctor's office this afternoon, I came home and slept all day. Still not 100%, but I wanted to update so everyone knew what was going on. The review will be posted by tomorrow afternoon.

What this means is I am extending the contest deadline to next Friday. That's right! Another week to enter. I could end it earlier in the week, but with the Thanksgiving holiday, I don't see a lot happening on the postal front. So, remember to enter by next Friday for a chance to win this great book.

Ways to enter:
1 entry - Be a follower on gfc (Google Friend Connect)
1 entry - Like Paperback Goddess Blogs on Facebook
3 entries - Tweet about the reviews and the giveaway. Tag @PB_Goddess in tweet.
2 entries - Comment on the reviews for Hammer of Thor and Agent of Artifice
2 entries - Comment on the 2 other giveaway related posts (this one and this one)

That is a NINE possible chances to win the book! Good luck.

Hammer of Thor

Hammer of Thor by S. Evan Townsend
ISBN: 978-1937593049
380 Pages
Available in Paperback and on Kindle


Synopsis:
The humans like to think they are in control, while really, they are manipulated and controlled by magic users who live among them, known as adepts. The adepts see the rest of humanity as below them. No government can control them and no authority can stop them. Some adepts are good, while others are evil. All are powerful. Many adepts use ancient relics called talismans to increase their power. The most powerful talisman in the world is The Hammer of Thor. When Hitler steals it from its rightful owners, the Valkyrie, an American adept called Francis Kader is reluctantly drawn into the effort to retrieve the Hammer from the Nazis. He sets out on a journey that leads him to a confrontation with Thor himself. What can this adept do to defeat an immortal god?

My Thoughts:

Hammer of Thor is a treasure of historical and cultural insight. It brings forth images of life in America and Europe during World War II. It gives intelligent and well researched descriptions of the technology that was available at that time, in a serious yet somewhat humerous manner. The historical images are greatly detailed, but there is a good balance of fantasy as well, so the "non-fiction" elements aren't really overbearing.

The characters are interesting and make you want to like them - even some of the bad guys. To be honest, I was rooting for Morgan. Each character had it's own well developed personality and traits. Often in books with as many characters as this one has, they become a blur at a point and you forget who is who beyond the main three or four. This was not the case here. Each character had enough distinct and memorable traits that it was easy to distinguish who they were when they returned after several chapters' absence.

There is a plethora of action to keep you on your toes. Kader hops from continent to continent throughout the book and never seems to see an uneventful moment. The battle scenes are well written, and you can imagine the actions unfolding in front of you, like you are watching a movie. Even the less eventful scenes are detailed in such a manner that you feel involved.

Hammer of Thor is a non-stop adventure from beginning to end. It sets the bar high and does not disappoint. There is action and intrigue, and it always leaves the reader guessing. With many books, I figure out the ending long before I get there, but with Hammer of Thor this was not the case. Every turn was a surprise.

I was contacted by the writer and given a free copy of Hammer of Thor in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Parent's Guide:
Hammer of Thor is an excellent read for the older youths, like high school and college students. It is a good clean book - full of action but devoid of graphic violence and foul language. The writing is complex and younger kids would find themselves lost in the detail and historical descriptions and probably be bored easily.