Interview & Giveaway! Melanie Dickerson ~ Author of The Fairest Beauty!

Melanie Dickerson joins us today with an interview and giveaway! *grins* I've read two of her books (The Healer's Apprentice and The Merchant's Daughter) and loved both of them! Definitely recommend! :)

Here's an excerpt from Melanie's first book, The Healer's Apprentice:

The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson, Excerpt

Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Melanie!! Will you tell us a little about yourself?

Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Melanie! (Great name, by the way!)

I am from a small town in Alabama, not far from Harper Lee’s hometown. Now I live near Huntsville, Alabama, also known as Rocket City, as it is the location of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and numerous rocket scientists. I’m married and have two wonderful daughters. I have a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Alabama, which I have put to good use in my new book, The Fairest Beauty. (You’ll see what I mean when you read about my Seven Dwar—well, you’ll see.

What is your new book, The Fairest Beauty, about?

Here’s a short summary my publisher prepared:

In The Fairest Beauty, a fairy tale retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by Melanie Dickerson, a woman arrives in Hagenheim claiming the young woman who is betrothed to the duke’s son, Valten, is still alive. With Valten injured, his younger brother, Gabe, defies his family and travels to find Sophie himself. Meanwhile, Sophie hopes to escape her evil stepmother, believing she will be safe at the Cottage of the Seven. When Gabe arrives at the castle claiming she is to be married to his brother, Sophie must make a choice: try to make it to the cottage alone, or trust the handsome stranger who seems ready to do anything to keep her safe.

What is something the average reader wouldn't know about you?

I was named after Melanie in Gone With the Wind, and my father was named after the western writer, Zane Grey.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

When I was probably around twelve or thirteen, when I started writing stories for my friends to read.

How many books have you written/published and do you have a favorite?

I have written six books, two of which have been published and two soon to be published. I am now working on my seventh and eighth, with plans to write several more! It’s enough to make my poor brain spin. But so far so good, I guess. I could never pick a favorite, though. I love them all. Except maybe my first book, which is not my best.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I have trouble writing my original draft unless I am either sitting in a noisy restaurant, or listening to Andrea Bocelli sing in Italian.

That is really interesting! Where do you like to write?

See above. 

What is the best and/or worst part about being a writer?

The best part is the creation of new stories and characters who become very real to me. And another favorite part is all the writer friends I’ve made. The worst part is just the weirdness of it, I suppose, the marketing myself and my stories, the negative reviews from total strangers who read things into my stories that I never intended. But it’s all part of the business, and one must take the bad with the good.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I am currently addicted to making paper beads and subsequently, making necklaces with said beads. I also have my family I take care of, driving my girls to school and volleyball practice, and I’m very involved in our church.

Is there a place you’d like to visit, but haven’t yet?

I’ve been to Germany, which is where my novel is set, but I’d love to go back and visit more ancient castles and castle ruins. I’d also love to visit England’s castles.

Do you have a favorite song and/or movie?

I love Taylor Swift’s songs and I plotted most of The Fairest Beauty while listening to Enchanted and Love Story. It’s a Wonderful Life is my favorite movie.

I love the song "Love Story"! What is your favorite dessert?

I love anything chocolate.

Do you have a favorite holiday?

I guess I don’t really have a favorite holiday. I like them all.

I'm the same way. Do you have a favorite Bible verse?

One of my favorites is 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.”

Here are a few this-or-that questions:

Snowstorms or Thunderstorms? Since we have a lot of tornadoes here, which is evil and deadly, I’ll have to say snowstorms.

Tea or Coffee? Tea, both iced sweet tea and hot tea, which I learned to love when I lived in Ukraine for one year.

Movie Theater or DVD? DVD. I’m a homebody.

Early-bird or Night-owl? Neither. But I guess I’m more of an early bird than a night owl. I love my eight hours of sleep!

Cats or Dogs? Dogs

Are you currently working on any new novels? If so, could you give us a hint? 

I have a fourth fairy tale retelling, a Cinderella story, and right now I’m working on a Regency, which I love. It’s kind of a hodgepodge of Jane Austen stories. The book started coming to me a couple of years ago when I decided to accept a challenge to read all six of Jane Austen’s novels—or I should say, re-read them, because they are my favorites—in six months. I also watched at least one version of each of the movies versions. I thought it would be fun to try to write a story based on various situations from Jane Austen’s books. So that’s what I’m doing, and I’m loving it.

Both of those books sound great! Thanks so much for being here! Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers and where can we find you on the web?

Please come visit me at www.MelanieDickerson.com and on facebook.

Giveaway!

Enter to win a copy of The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson! Giveaway is only open to residents of the continental US.

Enter via the Rafflecopter below. The mandatory entry is to leave a comment on this blog post, after you do that, the optional entries will become available. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

December Book Discussion! The Messenger by Siri Mitchell!

The book selected was The Messenger by Siri Mitchell!

About the book:

Hannah Sunderland felt content in her embrace of the Quaker faith...until her twin brother joined the Colonial cause and ended up in jail. She longs to bring some measure of comfort to him in the squalid prison, but her faith forbids it. The Friends believe that they are not to take sides, not to take up arms. She is not allowed to visit him, even if she were able to secure a pass.

Jeremiah Jones, a Colonial spy, needs access to the jail to help rescue men important to the cause. Upon meeting Hannah, a plan begins to develop. Who would suspect a pious Quaker visiting a loved one?

But Jeremiah is unprepared for Hannah, for her determination to do right, to not lie. How can one be a spy and not lie? Hannah, in turn, is surprised by Jeremiah...for the way he forces her to confront her own beliefs, for the sensitivity and concern that he shows her despite the wounds he still carries.

In a time of war, can two unlikely heroes find the courage to act?

~ ~

WARNING: if you haven't read the book yet, there will be spoilers below.

Discussion questions:

1. For starters, did you like The Messenger? Did it meet your expectations?

2. Do you have a favorite character (or characters) from the book?

3. Did you find anything in the book surprising?

4. Was there anything about the book that you didn't like?

5. What did you think about Hannah and the fact that she wouldn't lie - even when it meant she might get caught/killed?

6. What did you think about how Jeremiah was able to get John to do the things he wanted (like move Hannah's brother to a different cell, report Captain Cunningham for selling the prisoners' food, etc.)?

My answers:

1. For starters, did you like The Messenger? Did it meet your expectations?

I loved it! The book exceeded my expectations and I look forward to reading more of Siri's books! :)

2. Do you have a favorite character (or characters) from the book?

Yes, Jeremiah and Hannah. I really liked both of them - although Jeremiah a little more. :)

3. Did you find anything in the book surprising?

I was a little surprised that Hannah left the Quaker faith and that she didn't tell Jeremiah her brother had died.

4. Was there anything about the book that you didn't like?

Well, I didn't like the ending. In fact, I was shocked when I read the last page because I had thought there were still a few more pages left. It seemed to end way too soon and I would have at least liked an epilogue... maybe there will be a sequel. ;)

5. What did you think about Hannah and the fact that she wouldn't lie? Even when it meant she might get caught/killed?

To be honest, I got a little frustrated with her. I really liked how she didn't want to lie and strove for truth, but (for instance) on page 72 when Jeremiah said "I'm not asking you to lie. I'm simply asking you not to reveal everything you know. To pretend you're not doing anything wrong." and she said "To pretend is to lie to oneself." Well, that just sorta frustrated me because if she would have said everything she knew (even without being asked), she'd have put the lives of so many in danger. 

6. What did you think about how Jeremiah was able to get John to do the things he wanted (like move Hannah's brother to a different cell, report Captain Cunningham for selling the prisoners' food, etc.)?

I loved how Jeremiah got John to unknowingly help the prisoners escape! I couldn't help smiling during some of those scenes!!

~ ~

So there you have it. Those are just a few starter questions - feel free to post your answers to any/all of them  by leaving a comment(s) below. Additional thoughts and/or questions of your own are more than welcome. Looking forward to discussing The Messenger with you! :)

Beautiful Creatures Movie Posters

Today I thought I'd showcase the Beautiful Creatures posters that have been released as of late. I swear, everything I see about this movie makes me want to see it more and I have got to get to these books. They've jumped to the top of my TBR pile. Anyway, here's the original one:

I love that this one captures the gothic, romantic feel of the old south. That is what made me pick up the very first novel originally and it is one of my favorite things about reading literature from the south. Everything has the old timey feel which is romantic and just a little spooky.

Here's the new book cover on the same backdrop with the cast:

Again, I love how this captures the feel of the book while adding in the movie. I actually think this is a very successful movie cover tie-in.

Here's a large promotional poster featuring the cast:

I saw this beauty hanging up in my movie theater and it was huge! I loved looking at it.

And now here are the individual character posters!

Lena:

I love this because she looks powerful and fierce. We're definitely getting a strong vibe from her and she is still looking girly in her awesome black dress.

Ethan:

Again, they were able to capture this moody background with the moss hanging from the trees. The actor himself isn't as impressive in his regular guy clothes but that is the character he is playing...a regular guy.

Ridley:

Yeah, and here we thought Lena was fierce. This outfit and pose could cut any man or woman down to size in a second. I wouldn't be messing with her any time soon. Gorgeous!

Amma:

This is a great shot and I love hos the sunlight is bursting through her arm which suggests a hint of magic from those hands.

Link:

I think this outfit choice is more interesting than Ethan's because it tells me a lot about the character. He almost looks like he's dressed in an elderly man's outfit. That tagline "friendship is sometimes led astray" has me very curious.

Ms. Lincoln:

She looks like the normal Southern lady but I love that she was put on a dark background with a dark tagline. It lets us know there is some bad stuff brewing just underneath her polished exterior.

Macon:

Again, a well dressed man in light clothing set against a dark background with a menacing tagline. Not all is what it seems!

It looks to me like the makers of this film really anted to do it right. From the posters to the not overly cheesy movie trailer, they are hitting the mark on every front. I'll tell you what, I was excited about the casting choice (based solely on acting chops) before but after seeing everything they are putting out and their attention to detail, I am dying now. This is just awesome!

In case you happened to miss the movie trailer, check it out:



So are you as stoked as I am? Sound off below!

Review: The Irresistible Earl by Regina Scott

The Irresistible Earl by Regina Scott

Love Inspired Historical / 2011

Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book:

If Chase Dearborn, the powerful Earl of Allyndale, found Meredee Price's family in Scarborough, surely he'd continue his quest to challenge Meredee's stepbrother to a duel. Meredee is determined to avoid the earl at all costs. But saving a drowning young lady thwarts Meredee's plans when her act of heroism nets her the attention of the lady's brother and guardian—none other than Chase himself.

Meredee's gentle ways and tranquil beauty touch Chase's guarded heart from the moment he meets her. He's waited a lifetime for a worthy companion—someone he can trust with his deepest secrets. But then he discovers that Meredee has harbored a secret of her own, one that love may not overcome.

My rating:

My thoughts:

The Irresistible Earl is the fourth book I've read by Regina Scott and I really enjoyed it! I really liked the characters and loved seeing them grow. One character in particular surprised me as I had misjudged him and what kind of man he was - I was pleased to find out I was wrong and he was actually a great guy. :)

A little bit of The Irresistible Earl reminded me of Cinderella - Meredee's father had remarried giving her a stepmother and stepbrother. Later, her father dies and Meredee sort of has to serve her stepmother - who isn't evil or anything, just needy.

The romance was very sweet and made The Irresistible Earl even more enjoyable to read. Sir Trevor Fitzwilliam was introduced in this book and I look forward to reading An Honorable Gentleman (Trevor's story) as soon as I can. I recommend The Irresistible Earl if you enjoy historical romance. :)

*I received this book as a gift from the author. I did not have to write a review, but chose to - all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Was my review helpful? If so, please click "yes" on Amazon. Thanks!

In My Mailbox 101

In my mailbox is a weekly meme created by The Story Siren that encourages other book bloggers to share what they bought, won, begged for or borrowed. It is usually held on Sundays!

It feels funny posting two only when I actually have a whole boat load. However, those are wrapped and under the tree for Christmas so they don't technically count.

From Scholastic:

• ARC of The Believing Game by Eireann Corrigan

From Paper Lantern Lit:

• ARC of Notes from Ghost Town by Kate Ellison

I'd like to thank both publishers for making my mailbox bright! I hadn't heard of The Believing Game but it sounds like an awesome thriller! Notes from Ghost Town has been on my radar for a while and I really enjoyed the inventiveness of Ellison's other novel so I was stoked to receive a copy of the newest!

What new books did you get this week?

Sunshine Award!!

I was awarded the Sunshine Award from Lena (Love of a Lifetime)

The rules are:

1. Answer the 8 questions the person who awarded you asked
2. Nominate 8 new people (no tag-backs) and notify them on their blog
3. Ask 8 new questions (or reuse the ones you were asked) for your nominees to answer

Lena's questions:

1.   What's your favorite kind of music?

I don't know if I have a FAVORITE. I mostly listen to Christian music, but the genres vary. I love pop, rock, hip-hop, rap, praise&worship... I guess if I had to choose, I'd pick pop. ;)

2.   What are your favorite party games?

I like card games a lot. I also like various games on the Wii.

3.   What's your favorite holiday drink?

I love sparkling juices.

4.   What would you say is your worst fear?

Don't know if this is my worst fear, but tornadoes/bad weather freak me out. :|

5.   What's your favorite hobby?

Uhhh.... reading! :) I also like crocheting. :D

6.   Who's your favorite author?

Now, this is a tough question! I have so many favorite authors! Robin Parrish, Brandilyn Collins, Colleen Coble, Lisa T. Bergren... I could go on and on, but I won't. I do have a list of some of my favorites, though, if you want to check it out.

7.   Have you ever received any other Blogger awards?

Yes, I have received six other blogs awards - Liebster Blog Award, One Lovely Blog Award, Versatile Blogger Award, Tell Me About Yourself Award, Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award, and Helpful Blogger Award.

8.   What's your favorite climate?

Don't think I have a favorite. I love snow, but I also love when it is really hot (but not humid). Total opposites, I know. ;)

Here are the 8 people I nominate:

1. Abbi ~ Christian Novels
2. Crystal ~ Just Another Book Lovin' Girl
3.  Julie ~ My Favorite Pastime
4. Wendy ~ Wall-to-Wall Books
5. Megan ~ Hardcover Feedback
6. Kara ~ My Thoughts and Book Reviews
7. Brooke ~ i blog 4 books
8. Charity U ~ Austenitis

My 8 questions:

1. What is your favorite TV show?

2. Have you ever read a book based on a friend's recommendation alone? If so, what was it and did you like it?

3. What is your favorite Bible verse?

4. What is your least favorite food?

5. Who is your favorite professional sports team?

6. What is your favorite part about blogging?

7. What is your favorite Christmas song?

8. What are five of your all-time favorite books?

Saturday Discussions: Book Trailers

Heck yeah, I'm bringing Saturday Discussions back because I missed it! So every Saturday, I'm going to proposing a topic and we are going to chat. Now with the reply feature, this will be even better than before.

So this week, I want to talk about book trailers. So my discussion question is:

Do book trailers sell books?

When I first heard about book trailers I thought it was kind of odd but the more I thougut about it, the more I realized that it was actually a natural progression of the times. I mean, why not have a trailer to give the reader a sneak peek at what they are getting themselves into? And if they are done right, they can really be effective.

Here's a list of some of the ones that I think are done exceptionally well:

From Bad to Cursed

I think From Bad to Cursed does this trailer well because it's a sneak peek that is just creepy enough to let my know what I'm getting myself into. It helps that it has a professional actress for the role though because it is acted wonderfully too.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Mara Dyer doesn't really give us much in terms of plot but it's a great trailer to amp you up to read the book. The flashes of scenes with the great song behind it make me want to find out more about the book.

Carnival of Souls

This one sort of isn't fair because they went to a beautiful, foreign location, hired actors and a stunt choreographer and have elaborate costumes but by george, I love it! It gets all the elements right and made me crave for this one to be out.

The Diviners

Holy creepy Batman! The 1920's clothes plus the super creepy song in the background sell this one for me all the way.


Another amazing trailer is Eve by Anna Carey. I love how beautiful the scenery is and it makes me super excited about the novel!
My biggest thing is I'm not really into trailers that just have pictures and words, especially when they are the same words that I can find on the back of the book. I feel like those trailers just aren't doing anything but making the words hard to read by flashing them across the screen when all I need to do is pick up the book and read them.

I'm more into the trailers that try to act out a scenes. Even if they happen to be kind of corny, at least they are trying to do something.

But do book trailers sell me books? I'm going to say, not really. What they can do is get me more excited about a title but a book trailer has never changed my mind about what I will and won't read yet. However, a bad trailer won't keep me from reading a book I'm already excited about. So my final verdict on book trailers are they can be loads of fun and can't hurt anything so keep them coming!

An interesting fact about me: after every book I read, I search for the book trailer on Youtube and end up watching it after finishing the book. It's backwards but you have no idea how giddy I am watching the suckers!

What about you? Have you ever bought a book based on a book trailer? What are some of you favorites?