Sarah Anne's Expedient Marriage
By Cathy Lynn Bryant & Jessica M. Dorman
Book reviews, author interviews, thoughtful commentary with Lisa Lickel and friends
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
CrossReads Book Blast with Cathy Lynn Bryant & Jessica Dorman
Friday, March 6, 2015
Matta's Art
Last summer, August 2014, my family was blessed with a special trip to Athens. I had arranged for a local tour guide through Dopios.com, not knowing for sure what we'd get. It turned out to be Matta. What a gift. Since then we've been pleased to send two other friends to her care to tour Athens and Greece.
I now invite you to visit her business, MATTA Eco Global, her hand-made art.
What is MATTA Eco Global?
MATTA Eco is a global initiative that fuses
unique hand-made artwork, ecological consciousness, global networking, and
cultural entrepreneurship. Based out of the Netherlands and spanning countries
in Europe, South America and the U.S., MATTA Eco runs on the fuel of principles
and values of our common future, such as recycling, artistic creativity, global
collaboration and the rising of all boats!
The mission of Matta Eco Global team is to
spread Matta’s Eco Art and to encourage other Greeks and entrepreneurs around
the world in their creative projects regardless of circumstances. The profits
of Matta’s Eco Art go directly to the creator, Matta, and in part, to support
other Greek entrepreneurial and artistic initiatives. Matta Eco Global
represents to the world the future image of entrepreneurship, one which is not
solely focused on the bottom-line, rather on economic justice, eco
sustainability and global collaboration.
The MATTA Eco Global Team: South America,
Africa, U.S.A., Europe
Matta the Person. Behind the “Unique, and conscious
ECO Art” is Matta Koulouridi, the Greek artist who is also a retired French
teacher, a world traveler, and a lover of Life and all living things. Now in
her late 60s, Matta has been fortunate to have traveled to many parts of the
world and has friends all over the world. Those who know Matta are not
surprised to learn that she is caring for the latest abandoned street kitten,
opening her home to an immigrant in Athens, or proudly giving tours of the
ancient Greek ruins in her country to the friend of a friend of a friend.
As all Greeks, Matta has been deeply affected
by the economic downturn. Although Matta made diligent plans for her retirement
through teaching and artwork, she now faces financial difficulties due mainly
to irresponsible political policies and economic fluctuations. Although her new
economic restraints no longer allowed her to purchase expensive materials to
create her art, she began to use what was available: from colored glass washed
up on the sea shores of Greece, to beautifully printed plastic bags, to scrap
pieces of silk and lace
.
She also opened her simple artist studio and apartment in Athens, Greece as a Bed & Breakfast to tourists. Matta’s can-do attitude and perseverance to continue her work in spite of the circumstances has been recognized by people around the world who had been helped by Matta at various point in their lives. Inspired by her unique artwork and her positive attitude, they decided to help her by creating a global ‘echo’ to spread Matta Eco Art around the world. MATTA Eco Global was thus born.
The Product: MATTA Eco Art
.
She also opened her simple artist studio and apartment in Athens, Greece as a Bed & Breakfast to tourists. Matta’s can-do attitude and perseverance to continue her work in spite of the circumstances has been recognized by people around the world who had been helped by Matta at various point in their lives. Inspired by her unique artwork and her positive attitude, they decided to help her by creating a global ‘echo’ to spread Matta Eco Art around the world. MATTA Eco Global was thus born.
The Product: MATTA Eco Art
Each piece of MATTA Eco art is hand crafted
and made with the utmost loving care. Matta’s work is a collection of limited
production, resulting in one-of-a-kind product. Matta loves to work with all
sorts of mediums; however, materials most used include silver (925), brass,
copper, glass (usually gleaned from the shore of the seas), wood, lace and
durable rubber and plastic; also recycled items such as pieces of antique
jewelry or ancient stones of all kinds.
To view Matta’s art online: www.mattaeco.com
Browse her store: Http://www.etsy.com/shop/MattaEco
Friday, February 27, 2015
New Book in the Sweet Briar series by Carol Heilman
Summer's steamy haze coats North
Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, but feisty Agnes Marie Hopper discovers the
heat isn't the only thing causing her blood to boil. After a kitchen fire
destroys her home, Agnes moves in with her daughter, Betty Jo. Three months
later they come to an understanding: neither can tolerate living with the
other. So on a sultry August morning, Betty Jo drives Agnes and her few
belongings to Sweetbrier Manor, a local retirement home and former house of ill
repute.
With no intention of staying, Agnes devises a scheme to sneak out of the Manor
and find another place to live. Before she can make her exit, she runs into her
best friend from high school, along with some other quirky characters. With a
nose for trouble, Agnes learns some of the residents are being robbed,
over-medicated, and denied basic cable and Internet access. Armed with nothing
more than seventy-one years of common sense and a knack for pushing people's
buttons, Agnes sets out to expose the unscrupulous administrator, protect her
new friends, and restore Sweetbriar Manor's reputation as a "rewarding and
enriching lifestyle. But the real moment of truth comes when Agnes is forced to
choose between her feisty self-reliance and the self-sacrifice that comes from
caring for others.
Buy from:
Amazon print
Kindle
Barnes & Noble
Apple iStore
Amazon print
Kindle
Barnes & Noble
Apple iStore
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Book Review - Remember Me by Lara Van Hulzen
Remember Me, by Lara Van Hulzen
October 2014
Book one in the Men of Honor series
ISBN: 1502450062
Ebook $3.99
Print: $9.99
Inspirational romantic suspense
From the Publisher:
Detective Ben Russo is in trouble.
He just can’t remember why.
When a car accident lands Ben in the hospital, he can’t recall anything about his life. What he does know is he’s enchanted by a tiny nurse named Tess, but can’t shake the feeling they’re both in danger.
He just can’t remember why.
When a car accident lands Ben in the hospital, he can’t recall anything about his life. What he does know is he’s enchanted by a tiny nurse named Tess, but can’t shake the feeling they’re both in danger.
After being left at the altar, Tess Jansenn moves to a new town and starts over. When her ex-fiancĂ©, Ben, shows up in the ER where she works with no memory of her, she must decide – tell Ben who he is or let him remember on his own.
Can Tess forgive and forget what drove them apart, and when Ben remembers, will the consequences of his choices make it too late for love?
My Review:
How long can love really last? If it’s real, love forgives
all things…even when those things don’t make sense and potentially involve
another woman.
Van Hulzen’s story of a man who wakes up with
no memory and as the patient of the woman he left at the altar six months
previously, is a sweetly dramatic tale of everything that can go wrong when
priorities get tangled up.
Tess gets the shock of her life when she meets
her new patient – Ben, her former fiancĂ© who’s supposed to be off finding
himself in Europe after the tragic death of his parents, and the week before he
commits himself to Tess.
All the man in the hospital bed knows is that
he was in an accident and can’t seem to remember much about his life, not his
name or residence. Strange puzzle pieces pop into his mind here and there, and
odd abilities, like how to handle a gun, and a high level of peace when he’s
with Tess, confuse him.
Tess decides not to tell him she knows him and
let him regain his memory on his own. Both are troubled when his wallet is
recovered, identifying him as a man neither of them feel comfortable about. But
when the puzzle suddenly, terrifyingly, comes together, the picture reveals
danger.
With the help of faith, family and friends, Ben
and Tess remember that even though love is never a problem, but together
they’re stronger when they trust each other.
I found myself eager to keep reading. Van
Hulzen’s characters are likeable and the journey toward the conclusion
enjoyable with some twists. Set in southern California, I enjoyed a nice trip
away from Wisconsin, virtual surfing and sand between my toes. Told from Tess
and Ben, and occasional secondary character, points of view, this story is a
fun read for those who enjoy romantic suspense.
Lara Van Hulzen received her Bachelor of Arts degree in
Journalism from Point Loma Nazarene University. She lives with her husband and
three children in Northern California.
Monday, February 23, 2015
How Checking E-mail Leads to House Fires
Distracted Cooking and Other Catastrophes
I recently wrote a guest post on a day in the life of a writer. It was filled with really cool and important things I'd done that particularly attractive day for the romantic illusion of a working writer.
But having just experienced another one of those smoke-filled burning heavy-duty aluminum moments reminding me that I had been boiling water, I figured I'd tell blog readers about the other, less romantic side of working at home. What distracts you?
Top Ten Things Not to Do While Cooking
10. Cut hair - Am I the only one who would even think of this? It's really hard to give myself a bad haircut, so when I decided the night before to whack off a few inches, the next morning I got all ready, put the pot on the stove, skipped into the bathroom and starting snipping away. It might not be a bad haircut, but I always forget the floor is uneven, so one side is juuuuust a leeetle shorter...Maybe it's my ears that are crooked. I always forget.
9. Leave the Kitchen - But, but, but...It'll only take a second to go get that thing I was looking for.
8. Feed the birds - I mean, really, I can see the feeders out the window and it will only take a minute to fill them from the huge bag of sunflower seeds. Of course while I'm out there I might as well pull a couple of weeds, or shoo the neighbor's dog, or watch the turkey tracks in the snow...
7. Vacuum. Seriously, the kitchen and living room are not that big. It takes four minutes for water to boil. I don't actually have to get underneath the furniture this time. I'll just reach for that one dust bunny under my desk. And flip a cushion or two.
6. Think of another blog post - Who'd a thought thinking could be so distracting?
5. Start the Laundry - Like, it's only the two of us left at home, how long could it take to empty pockets and check for stains to pre-treat?
4. Read One More Page - I can even stand there in front of the stove and finish the paragraph. The page. The chapter.
3. Get the Mail - Right now we have a short driveway. It's thirty steps. Past the floating piece of trash, a couple of weeds, the garage door, the empty bird feeders.
2. Make an errands/shopping list - Don't start looking in the refrigerator. Trying to remember how long stuff has been sitting around and whether you'll have enough time to cook and what you might need is thoroughly distracting.
1. Check E-mail - Truly the Number One reason I leave pots boiling over on the stove. I only want to look at the message list, but find myself opening some, and of course needing to respond. Until the smell of burned aluminum reminds me I left something on the stove. At least I caught it before the smoke alarm went off this time. Now, if only I could remember what I was cooking.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Book Review: Uncharted Redemption by Keely Brooke Keith
Uncharted Redemption
book 2 of the Uncharted series
Keely Brooke Keith
Edenbrooke Press
Feb 24, 2015
Kindle $3.99
Religious fiction, near future
Available February 24. Buy on Amazon
From the Publisher:
Levi Colburn, resentful of his father, haunted by his
mother’s tragic death, and pained by his love for the unattainable Mandy
Foster, breaks from the Land’s tradition and begins to build a life of his own.
When rebels tear through the village of Good Springs, Levi vows to deliver
justice and restore the woman he loves. As tradition stands in the way of
redemption and threats from the outside world begin to appear, Levi must learn
his greatest battles cannot be fought with his fists. Romantic, suspenseful,
and filled with adventure, Uncharted Redemption weaves dramatic new layers into
life in the Land.
My review:
Keith’s dedication helps the
reader understand the theme of book two in the Uncharted series- “For every
girl who ever felt ruined.” Societal dictates aside, the people of the Land,
descendants of a mysterious island settled by those desiring a peaceful
civilization during the American Civil War, have created a near-Paradise
generations later. Untroubled by the outside world, they work the land,
practice the arts, have some pre-industrial manufacturing, and live a life of
mostly tranquility. Naturally there must come evil in the form of a family who
felt cheated and passed down this resentment from father to son on the Land,
culminating in this episode.
While this book
stands alone, readers new to the series may at first have some difficulty
keeping the characters identified. A family tree would perhaps be beneficial.
The novel focuses on one of several communities on this large island, Good
Springs, where the settlers first came ashore. The village overseer, Samuel Colburn,
also serves as the preacher and justice of the peace, in modern terms. His son,
Levi, is expected to take his place, but chooses not to follow tradition and
become a carpenter. Spurned years earlier by the neighbor girl he loves, Mandy,
as well as long-held resentment from the death of his mother, Levi carries an
enormous chip on his shoulder. When his sister Bethany, and Mandy, are
attacked, and Mandy kidnapped, Levi must choose to grow past his resentment and
take his place in society as a man. He finds Mandy, who has managed to slip
away from her captors, and stays by her side during her recovery. But Mandy has
kept a secret for many years that also defies Land traditions and keeps her
locked in a cage of self-denial and bondage.
The story of their journey
to personal freedom and united commitment makes for a joyous read.
The “meanwhile” part
of the story flashes to a parallel event taking place in the outside world, one
which will eventually challenge everything held dear.
Some readers may
find the acts of violence in this book disturbing, though they show the depth
of necessary action in this community that has virtually no experience with
criminal disobedience.
Readers of near future and paranormal fiction
will enjoy this series. Occasionally sloggy sections are easily dismissed, in
my opinion. This author, I’m sure, will continue to grow her obvious
story-telling skill.
About the Author:
Keely Brooke Keith, author of the Uncharted series, is a
bass guitarist and frequently performs and tours with her husband,
singer/songwriter John Martin Keith. When she isn't writing stories or playing
bass, Keely enjoys dancing, having coffee with friends, and sifting through
vintage books at antique stores. Keely resides on a hilltop south of Nashville,
Tennessee with her husband and their daughter, Rachel.
Connect with Keely:
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8475319.Keely_Brooke_Keith
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Keely-Brooke-Keith/745210588824158
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Keely_keith
Website/blog: http://www.keelybrookekeith.com/
Connect with Keely:
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8475319.Keely_Brooke_Keith
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Keely-Brooke-Keith/745210588824158
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Keely_keith
Website/blog: http://www.keelybrookekeith.com/
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Special Valentine's Day giveaway on Goodreads
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Meander Scar
by Lisa J. Lickel
Giveaway ends February 20, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
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