Letting Go by Emily Medlock!

At twenty-three years old, Sophie Tyler had always lived, what some would call, a normal life. Growing up in a small Mississippi town, she was popular and beautiful. With plenty of friends and a loving family. Simply breezing through life with nothing to stand in her way. That is, until a tragic accident occurred, leaving her in a position she never thought she would be. Can she now repair her broken life and fill the seemingly bottomless pit in her ever-aching heart? Faced with racism, unwanted religion, new responsibilities, and grief, Sophie must learn to triumph over her hurdles and put her trust in the exact place she's been hiding from.

Review:

5.0 out of 5 starsUnforgettable and life-changing!

By Jill C. on February 23, 2016

Format: Paperback Verified Purchase

With a heartbreaking and riveting first chapter, I was hooked from the beginning. I immediately connected with Sophie and felt whatever she was feeling. I laughed and cried with her. The characters were all real and unforgettable and the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, but the real gift from this story was learning what "letting go" really means and seeing what happened in my life when I did it. Can't wait for more books in this series!

Where you can find Letting Go:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Letting-Go-Springdale-Trilogy-Book/dp/152365712X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456674840&sr=8-1&keywords=letting+go+emily+medlock

Createspace:  https://www.createspace.com/6017004

Interview with Emily:

 

1.  Tell me about your book and why you decided to write it.

A lot of the subjects in this book I have always felt very strongly about. But, for me, I don't sit and think of something to write about. In my mind and in my heart, my characters are real, I just record their stories, not create them.

2.  What is your favorite genre to read?  Who are some of your favorite authors?

I love reading in general, but I have to say that my favorite genre is Christian fiction (particularly romance).
My favorite author is easily Janette Oke. A few others include Beverly Lewis, Tracie Peterson, Chautona Havig, and Lynn Austin. I could go on for hours, because it's hardly fair to compare or pick only a few.

3.  Do you have any works in progress?  What are they?

I do. I'm currently working on the second book in my trilogy, the first I already have published. I'm also writing a medieval fantasy and a historical fiction.

4.  What do you hope to accomplish as an author?

I just want to share what is in my heart and my mind with the world. Even if that involves a bit of controversy, if I touch just one life positively, then it will be 100% worth it.

5.  What would you like your readers to know about you?

I just love writing and I love reading. I'm me and I'm happy with everyone being themself.

6.  If you could give me one piece of advice about life, what would it be?

Be yourself (there's only one you) and accept yourself as well as others, do what you know or feel is right, give and live life fully, and above all, love!

Where you can find Emily:

Facebook:  https://m.facebook.com/phoenix101593/

Amazon:  amazon.com/author/emilymedlock

~Review of Twisted Faith by Victoria Schwimley~

Pastor David Owens came to New Hope Christian church expecting to revive a flailing congregation. What he got instead was just a building filled with grumbling, gossiping people.

Then one night, as he’s locking up to go home, he receives a desperate call from a young woman in the parking lot.

Abigail Stein is seventeen and an unwed mother. Persecuted by religiously fanatical parents, Abby is on the verge of killing herself—along with her baby.

David turns to God for guidance, calling on all his training to save the lives of this young woman and her child. Is it enough? Can David help her see the strength of God’s love before it’s too late?

My Review:  5 Stars!

If you enjoy reading books about Christianity, you will love this story!  It is a beautiful portrayal of the pitfalls and rewards of religion.  It speaks of the unfortunate circumstance of religion used to shame and disgrace but also of the beautiful circumstance of religion used to love and edify.  This is a well thought out story with a carefully crafted plot.  The reader will learn much about love and redemption from this book.

I highly recommend Twisted Faith!  To all adult audiences!  It is heartfelt and knowledgeable regarding the ways of the wayward souls and of the loving souls which are found in humanity. This book is a tear jerker as it explores the profundities of what really matter in life.  For anyone who enjoys pondering upon the human condition, this book is a must read!

Where you can find Twisted Faith:

http://www.amazon.com/Twisted-Faith-Victoria-Schwimley-ebook/dp/B00MLY8OOW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457421315&sr=8-1&keywords=twisted+faith+by+victoria+schwimley

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/twisted-faith-victoria-schwimley/1120136192?ean=9781499248463

Where you can find Victoria:

Website:  http://victoriaschwimley.com

Twitter:   @schwimley

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4952648.Victoria_Schwimley

Interview with Victoria:

1.  What prompted you to write these books?

I wanted to find a way to reach out to kids to show them the love of God without pushing religion on them. I figured the best way to do this would be to approach some of the topics that affect them and approach it from a manner they might accept. I created Pastor David as a character that loves these kids and cares about them and accepts who they are, complete with their faults—someone who wouldn’t judge them, but understand them.

2.  What is your favorite genre to write and why?

I think that depends on my mood. I love my children’s detective series. The two characters in these stories are my granddaughters, and the antics they get into suit their personalities. I love the faith series because it allows me to connect with kids and show them they don’t have to be perfect to have God’s love.

3.  What is an interesting fact about you you'd like to share?

In addition to writing novels, I also write and produce stage plays. I have a passion for live theater and I’m thrilled to see my stories come to life.

4.  Favorites:  food, color, place, activity?

My favorite food is anything with chocolate in it. My favorite color is blue, more specifically Turquoise. My favorite place is San Francisco, and my favorite activity is writing—next to that it would be walking on the beach.

5.  What are your hobbies?

I love to sew things, which I suppose goes along with my creative gene. I also enjoy camping and taking short hikes.

6.  What inspires you?

I’m inspired by life and the events that happen around me. For example, the inspiration for my book Capturing Faith came because I was surrounded daily by teenagers who seemed to survive on caffeine. I saw the effects this had on their lives. They joked about needing the caffeine to stay awake, but I saw it as a problem and addressed it in the story about a young man who takes massive amounts of caffeine until his body responds by crashing. I wrote this first as a stage play that was performed by the youth of my church. They reported on how much they learned about the dangers of caffeine and the need to take better care of their bodies.

7.  If you could give me one piece of advice about life, what would it be?

I have two mottos I live by. “Life’s too short to sit on the bench, so get in there and pitch the game.” And “Always treat others how I’d want them to treat me.”

~Diamonds Fall by Rebecca M. Gibson~

"She noticed as if in a dream, a single diamond hair comb fall to the floor. The sparkling jewels landed face down in the mud." Annabel Maria Hoddington is the epitome of high society. She has everything money can buy and as befits a lady of her station, is engaged to the richest bachelor in England. However, on the day of her eighteenth birthday - her perfect future on the brink of fulfilment - she is abducted and held hostage in an isolated village, where she finds herself entrapped in the harsh world of poverty. Forced to live amongst three mentally scarred siblings, she must adapt to her new, sinister world...or die.

5.0 out of 5 starsGreat Author Debut!

By Megan on June 21, 2015

Format: Paperback

I really loved this book. Annabel, a high class girl living in the Victorian times, is kidnapped and forced to live a harsh live in poverty by her kidnappers. It was a story that gripped me from the beginning and I couldn't stop reading at times. The beginning of the story sure hits you with a punch and from then on, I just want to read what would happen with Annabel next.

Annabel's character changes from this spoiled, wealthy girl to a woman that is selfless and caring for those in need. I loved her transformation. Instead of a girl only thinking about herself, she cares for the children of the man she is kidnapped by, and they all depend on each other for survival. I enjoyed that despite her challenges with her captors, she could still find it in her heart to love someone. And the rest of the characters really grew on me as well. Billy - the stable boy who watched over the horses - is so caring of others and comforts Annabel right from the beginning. And Patsy was so protective and caring over her brothers.

The story was easy to follow. I found myself reading chapter after chapter, telling myself "just one more chapter" and then it's like two hours later. I don't want to give much of the plot away, but I can say it's intense at times. As for other reviewers not thinking many of the historical references were quite accurate, I couldn't really tell myself. I don't read many historical novels, but I truly enjoyed this one. I will be looking out for more by this author.

Recommended for those that enjoy coming of age novels with historical romance thrown in.

Where you can find Diamonds Fall:

http://www.amazon.com/Diamonds-Fall-Volume-Rebecca-Gibson/dp/0993296300/ref=pd_sim_sbs_14_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51rbW3SVZnL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR100%2C160_&refRID=1FVGW96FB1TV64DQPC3N

Where you can find Rebecca:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B011VLBBJ0

https://www.facebook.com/Rebecca-M-Gibson-797166506986803/timeline/

https://twitter.com/TheRGibson

Interview with Rebecca:

1.  Tell me about your books and why you decided to write them.

Wow...where to begin? I tend to write quite emotive stories, drifting onto the darker side of emotion. I have a psychology degree so I love exploring a character's mind and seeing how they handle various situations. 

My most emotive novel is probably 'Rubies Fall' which is set in the First World War and follows Gray, a rich gentleman with romanticised ideas of adventure, as he is thrown into the horror of the trenches. I'm really proud of that novel and just hope everyone else loves it as much as I do. I am incredibly interested in the First World War so I'm praying it does the experiences of all the men who fought justice. 

My debut novel 'Diamonds Fall', the prequel to 'Rubies Fall', follows Annabel Hoddington. Annabel is a rich and spoilt society lady who gets kidnapped and held hostage in a small village. Without her trusty material objects, she must learn about the simple pleasures of life, like friendship and love, in the hope of eventually finding her way home. I wrote 'Diamonds Fall' when I was out with a friend, walking in the forest by my house. The characters quite literally fell into my head. The rest, as they say, is history.

2.  What are your goals as a writer?

My main goal as a writer would be to touch someone with the words I've written and the characters I've created. I want people to feel something when they read my stories that maybe they didn't feel before. I want people to stay awake thinking 'what if?'. Basically, the reactions I have always had to my favorite authors, I would love for other people to have about my books.

Personally, I would also love to keep evolving, keep improving and eventually end up in a physical bookstore!! I want to write in many different genres and create a variety of different characters to keep everyone on their toes!

3.  Who are your favorite authors and why?

My absolute, all time favorite writer is Wilfred Owen. He is a poet who served as an officer in the First World War. His poetry and the letters he wrote during the war are phenomenal. They are a fantastic portrayal of what the war was really like and how it touched people in so many different ways. His poems are not only beautiful but they spoke the truth in a time full of so much pain. If you haven't heard of him (and why not?) go check him out now! I'm also, obviously, a massive fan of JK Rowling, Harry Potter was the narrative to my entire childhood so that will always be close to my heart. I won't go into all my favorite books right now because this would turn into a novel all by itself but I'll pretty much read anything!! 

4.  Where would you go on your dream vacation and who would you bring with you?

Ohh interesting question. My dream holiday....this is hard seen as though 90% of the items on my bucket list consist of travelling. My best friend lives in Australia so I would love to go there again and see her, which I am saving up for now but it's going to take a while. I would also love to explore the corners of Europe in much more detail - Ypres, Bordeaux, Barcelona, Rome...the list is endless. Although, you can never beat a white sandy beach and a turquoise ocean. I think, in answer to your question, I would go anywhere and everywhere with anyone who'd like to come! 

5.  What would you like your readers to know about you?

That I love them all for reading my books. I love hearing from my readers, talking to them about their favourite chapters or where they think the characters will go. Look me up, send me a message, I don't bite! Speaking to my readers about the way my books made them feel is the reason I do what I do. A writer is nothing without someone to read her words!

6.  If you could give me one piece of advice about life, what would it be?

Never give up on your dreams. It's cliche but it's true. I've had countless people tell me I dream too big. People love to say you can't do something because they're too scared to try themselves. Yes, a spot in a bookstore, a movie deal, a following of devoted fans, they're all far fetched but they have to happen to someone. Why not me? Why not you?

The February Lowdown!

Hey everyone!  It's hard to believe, but February has come to an end already!  Two months into 2016!  The time is going fast! I'd like to shout out a big thank you to the talented artists and authors who participated in my blog during the month of February! It was great having you all as guests! May the coming months and year find you happy, healthy and prosperous!  Keep in touch! Cheers!