It's Party Time! (Katie)

This week marks the release of The Rebel Princess, book 2 in my princess series. To celebrate, I'm throwing a book release party right here on Lands Uncharted! The best part? You're all invited!

First, we must have snacks! Have a few, and don't forget to grab a drink!

Now that we're all prepared with yummy goodies, let's talk books! Fairy tale retellings are some of my favorite types of books. I love all stories of princesses, adventures, and mysteries. Here are a few that inspired me to write my own, as well as a few I've read since!

(Where have I seen that author's name before?! *wink wink*)

The Dreamworld Duology, which I devoured!

All books by my dear and talented friend Melanie Dickerson!

Oldies but goodies, and oh so good at that!

I'm thinking The Selection was the first book I read that introduced me to this world of nontraditional princess stories!

Brimming with mystery and palaces!

The best part about these books is that none of them are exactly new, and most can be found in your local library. You'll have to let me know if you've read any of these or if you've added any to your TBR pile.

DRUM ROLE PLEASE!

Now let's talk about our guest of honor, The Rebel Princess! Here's where you can learn all about her online!

Goodreads

Instagram @KatieClarkBooks

Facebook @KatieClarkBooks

www.katieclarkwrites.com  

Amazon

A traitor. A future king. A doomed love story.

Merry Stern has never been a spy, but when she's offered asylum in exchange for her help uncovering remaining rebel bands, she accepts in hopes of freeing her father.

Working with the royals is no easy feat, especially considering that Prince Gregory Hamilton considers her untrustworthy and duplicitous. As she and the prince navigate their uncomfortable relationship, Merry is introduced to questions she did not know she possessed; questions of light and darkness, good and evil.

Princess Roanna is finally engaged to Prince Benjamin of Lox, only the marriage seems stalled, and she cannot determine at whose hand. The Dawsons won't let her out of their sight, Chester's Wake is focusing all efforts on finding their lost princess, and Lox refuses to acknowledge her position entirely.

Truth and lies are brought to light as those who seek to control and destroy are finally uncovered in The Rebel Princess.

I'm so excited to introduce Merry and Gregory's story to the world! I hope you've enjoyed my little virtual celebration, and if you happen to read The Rebel Princess I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by, and happy reading!

Weekend Reads (Katie): Until June and the TBR Pile

Weekend Reads (Katie)

Until June by Barbara Britton

Hi fellow explorers (of Lands Uncharted...get it? No? Oh. Sure. Let's move on...)! Today I want to talk about the book I just finished reading as well as two books on my TBR pile that I'm about to start (yes, I sometimes read more than one book at a time).

When seventeen-year-old seamstress, Josephine Nimetz, agrees to take care of a WWI amputee in a remote Alaskan lodge, there's enough friction to melt the Mendenhall Glacier. Her position is only until June, and it pays well enough to overlook the hardship of managing a rustic home and a shell-shocked veteran.

Geoff Chambers makes it clear that he isn't too fond of the runt sent to take care of his needs, nor of her painful mistakes. Dealing with a depressed and addicted veteran pushes Josephine to the brink of leaving, if not for the money her salary brings.

But Josephine is a perfectionist, determined to get Geoff back on his feet—figuratively...Although, sending a rich, handsome veteran back into society may cost Josephine the man she has grown to love.

My Thoughts

I absolutely loved this book! When I first read the description , I was immediately interested for the mere fact that it's set in Alaska and my family happens to have a trip booked there in 2021.

Within the first couple pages, though, I knew I had made a good choice in picking up this book, and by the halfway point I was hopelessly devoted and couldn't put it down.

The story is beautiful. The characters are real, and their problems are real--but the entire story is handled with such HOPE. I loved it, start to finish.

Until June gets two big thumbs up from me.

You can find it on Goodreads here!

On To the TBR Pile!

The Story Peddler by Lindsay Franklin                        

This book isn't new, but it's one I've wanted to read for a long time and haven't gotten around to it. So, I'm excited to dive in!

Here's the description:

Tanwen doesn’t just tell stories—she weaves them into crystallized sculptures that sell for more than a few bits. But the only way to escape the control of her cruel mentor and claw her way from poverty is to set her sights on something grander: becoming Royal Storyteller to the king.

During her final story peddling tour, a tale of treason spills from her hands, threatening the king himself. Tanwen goes from peddler to prey as the king’s guard hunts her down . . . and they’re not known for their mercy. As Tanwen flees for her life, she unearths long-buried secrets and discovers she’s not the only outlaw in the empire. There’s a rebel group of weavers . . . and they’re after her too.

Magician's Rivalry, Book 1 in the Spellsmith & Carver Series by H.L. Burke

I've been reading lots of H.L. Burke books lately (and loving them!). I've already started into this one and I can't wait to keep going! Here's a little more about it:

An estranged son. An adopted heir. A magical attack that forces them to work together.

The disappearance of Auric Spellsmith’s mother has strained his relationship with his father to the breaking point. Now, after five years away at the Magicians’ Academy, Auric returns home, determined to prove himself to his father and claim his birthright.

Apprentice Jericho Carver has held Spellsmith Manor together in Auric’s absence. Now his master’s son is back, and if he can’t get rid of Auric, Jericho will forfeit his career and lose all hope of wooing the master’s enchanting daughter.

Neither man intends to back down.

But then Master Spellsmith vanishes into the mysterious Fey Lands. With Fey magic threatening the mortal realm, Auric and Jericho must work together to save the man they both see as father.

So, what about you? Have you read any of these books? What have you been reading?

Weekend Reads: The Mapmaker's Daughter (Katie)

Weekend Reads (Katie) and a vlog!

Hi everyone! I'm excited to bring you another vlog from Katie's Thoughtful Spot, (1-2 minute videos where I talk about books!), in which I'm featuring a book for St. Patrick's Day.

You can see which book I'm referencing below, and I hope you'll check out my vlog to hear my thoughts about it!

The Mapmaker's Daughter by Joanna Emerson

A Steampunk Novel
Winner of the 2018 Realm Makers Award for YA Fiction

The Potato Famine is almost a decade behind young airship builder, Paddy O'Brien, but its effects still haunt him.

Then he finds his mother dead in the garden. But he has no time to investigate her murder, because a refugee falls from a strange airship, practically into his arms.

How did a gorgeous Asian woman ended up on the south coast of Ireland? Under usual circumstances, her company would be more than welcome. But she's being pursued by pirates, and Paddy's been drafted into a militia. These are anything but usual circumstances.


***Please let me know how I can pray for you during this stressful time. I am more than happy to do so, and I'll be checking in throughout the week. {{{HUGS}}}

Top 3 Reading Nooks (Katie)

Top 3 Reading Nooks (Katie)

One of my first memories of reading is being at a library as a young child. I can picture the children's reading room and being grouped with other small kids on a large rug. I remember the color yellow, though I can't remember what exactly was yellow (the rug? the walls?). While I do remember always having a love of the library, today it isn't one of my favorite reading spots. I do, however, have a few spots I really love to cozy up with a good book. Today I'm going to chat about those, and I hope you'll give me your ideas, too, because I'd love to do a follow up post with all of your great ideas!

 #3 The Front Porch Swing

We have this view off our front porch that's perfect for quiet relaxation. There are trees, open pastures, and cows, along with lots of birds and a creek in the distance. It really is the bestest.

We have two porch swings (one on each side), and when the weather is nice I love curling up with a great books and swinging to the sounds of nature.

#2 The Bathtub 

(No, these are not my toes!)

OK, so maybe this one is a bit weird for some people. There is water involved, and also books. Maybe not such a great combo! But, I typically read on my Kindle, and when it comes to the bathtub I slip it into a gallon sized Ziploc to keep it air tight.                                                             

#1 The Recliner

Nothing exciting here. My favorite place to read is curled up in the recliner in my living room, underneath the warmth of my weighted blanket. Add a cup of hot tea or cocoa, and I'm really in Heaven.

What about you? Do you read in bed? A hammock? Do you prefer audiobooks? Tell me all about it!

Top 3's (Katie)

Top 3 Books I've Read in 2019 (Katie)

Fall is in full swing, even if it doesn't feel like it everywhere (where I live, and as I'm writing this, it is 92 degrees). I've been thinking about the books I've read so far this year, and there's quite the stack. Some have been amazing, some not good at all, and others somewhere in the middle. For today, I'd like to highlight my top 3 (so far!) for the year.

#3 Within These Lines

Within These Lines by Stephanie Morrill is a YA historical fiction set in California during WWII. I have never read a Stephanie Morrill book that I haven't fallen in love with, and this was no different. By the way, I saw on her Facebook page this week that she has new book contract news she'll be sharing soon, so yay!

#2 Flight of the Raven

Flight of the Raven by Morgan Busse is book 2 in the series (you can learn about the series on Goodreads here). This series is gripping, fascinating, emotional, and powerful. I can hardly wait for book 3!

#1 The Electrical Menagerie

The Electrical Menagerie by Mollie Reeder was, I admit, a surprising hit out of the ballpark. Not that I was expecting to NOT like it. Not at all. Only that I had never met or heard of Mollie or her writings before, so I wasn't sure what to expect at all. I read it after seeing a post on this blog about it (Laurie's post here).

This book made me cry, and this may be because I felt an emotionally personal connection starting in chapter 1, but I also think it's because the book is fabulous. It's full of mystery, adventure, real and raw characters, and a whole bunch of awesome gadgets. I definitely recommend it!

*Read any good books this year? Please share, because I'm always looking for new stuff to try!*

What We're Reading (Katie)

What We're Reading (Katie)

OK, so I have a confession to make. I haven't read any fantasy or sci-fi this month. I HAVE been reading though. Lots and lots of historical suspense and romance. Does that count? Anyone want to hear about those books? I have a theory as to why I love historical so much, when fantasy and Sci-Fi are my "thing." Want to hear about it?

Historical fiction is so far removed from our way of life today that it might as well be fantasy or sci-fi. 

That's the long and short of it. Hee hee! Seriously, though, I like being transported to a place I can't see or visit in "real life," and historical fiction does the job. I do love great historical fiction, and for whatever reason it is exactly what held me captive all month. Here are a few of the books I read!

The Baron's Blunder by Susan Baganz

The Virtuous Viscount by Susan Baganz

Now, these were historical romance but they were clean. There was also some suspense in there, though it wasn't a huge part of the plot. These were part of a longer series (see the series here on Goodreads!), and they're considered Regency Era, which is the early 1800's in England.

I also read:

Rebellious Heart by Jody Hedlund

The Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund

Together Forever by Jody Hedlund

The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund

Some of these were romantic suspense while others were more like straight up historical romance, and they are considered clean (things do get a little steamier than I'd prefer, but still clean). Also, I liked some of them better than others. Rebellious Heart and The Noble Groom had more suspense, and I liked them better. The others were still OK, though. They were set in all different historical time periods, and all in America.

So, that's it for me. What have you been reading? Do you like historical fiction? Tell me all about it!

What We're Reading (Katie)

What We’re Reading: Affinity by Dianne Wilson (Katie)

Hi everyone! I am thrilled to be a part of Lands Uncharted! I’ve been lurking here for a couple years now, and I’ve met a few of my co-bloggers in person at various writerly events. When I was asked if I’d like to join the blog, well, it was a no-brainer.

I thought I’d tell you a little about me before I jump into what I’ve been reading. A “getting to know you,” you could say!

I’m a Christian wife and mom who loves writing, reading, gardening, and traveling. Sometimes people ask about the gardening thing. I always say growing things is sort of like a super power, right? I’m currently finishing up a Bachelor’s of Religious Education, with a focus on elementary education.

When it comes to reading, I read in all genres. I love a good story! When it comes to writing, I typically prefer YA speculative genres, like fantasy or sci fi. However, I’ve also had close to a dozen nonfiction children’s books published in the educational realm, and I have two inspirational romances out in the adult world. (Grown ups. *shudder*.)

My teen books are with Pelican Book Group, and my latest novel released in May.

What I’m Reading!

Now let’s get to the good stuff! I’ve been reading a lot this month. Have you ever heard of Swagbucks? It’s an online platform that let’s you take surveys for small payments (and you can also get paid for other stuff like shopping through their app, etc.). I try to make $1 a day, and I use that money to buy…drumroll…books! It’s a great way to get all the great stories I crave.

Anywho, this month I read:

Affinity by Dianne Wilson

 Flight of the Raven by Morgan Busse

The Electrical Menagerie by Mollie Reeder

Nyssa Glass by H.L. Burke

Today I’m going to focus on Affinity by Dianne Wilson. This book was very different than I expected! The back cover blurb painted one picture, but the first two chapters of the book painted a different picture. This trend continued throughout the book, so that every time I thought I had solved the mystery and figured things out another twist would hit and I would realize I wasn’t quite so clever (hee hee!).

Eventually, I did begin to understand exactly what was going on in the story. When everything pulled together I was totally wowed. A very cool plot!

I don’t want to get into too much detail, because the mystery throughout the story is what keeps you going. Suffice it to say it’s a great read for people who really like supernatural or paranormal stories with a Christian overtone. Here’s the back cover copy from the book!

Kai was born with the ability to see brokenness and to fix it. But when a freak accident leaves him trapped in the spiritual realm, he discovers a sinister side to being gifted—much darker than he'd ever imagined. With Affinity Recruiters hunting him down, Kai has to learn how to stay alive, use his gift to save his friends, and stop the flood of evil threatening the world. Can he do it before time runs out?

***What have you been reading?! I’d love to know because I am always looking for new stories to read!***

Conquering the TBR Mountain (Laurie)

I always have to laugh whenever someone makes a reference to their TBR pile. Because if the books accumulating on my Kindle, plus the books I want to read but haven't acquired yet, all materialized in my house, I'm positive a simple pile wouldn't suffice. More like a mountain. And it grows every day! Just this past Tuesday, five of my author friends / acquaintances released new books. FIVE! I really wish the mountain visual were an exaggeration...

Most of my reading these days has some kind of deadline attached. The author is expecting feedback, I'm writing an endorsement, I'm supposed to review by a certain date, or I want to be able to participate in a book club discussion or other event. But once in a while, I catch up on my "scheduled" reading and take a peek down at the precarious book mountain I'm perched on. Where do I even start??

Which leads to my question for YOU for today! If you have a towering TBR pile (or a mountain like me!), how do you decide which book to read next? Is it based on a library due date, what a friend is reading, or is there something about the book itself that causes it to rise to the top? And if you have any other strategies for conquering your TBR mountain, please share!


Thanks for reading!
Laurie