Back with a New Layout!

I hope you like the new look as much as I do! Wow, 2010 went by very fast especially after my son started Kindergarten. 2011 is beginning to look much the same. We've had tons of minor crises to attend to but we're still here, alive and kicking (well...that would be my son doing the kicking). In my time away from this blog, I've read The Road to Shanhasson by Joely Sue Burkhart and found that I was unable to write a review for it. That wasn't because I didn't like it, in fact I loved it with the exception of a portion of her book that broke my heart into tiny little pieces. Obviously I won't tell you how that occurred so if you want to know, you'll have to read it yourself.

My other potential review was for Anna Kashina's Ivan and Marya. I want to review this book. The few chapters I've read are attention capturing. What's not is the format of the ebook I have. I've tried several different apps for pdf reading for my iPod Touch and none of them I've liked. Having to zoom in and out plus scrolling from side to side makes reading one page utilizing one of the pdf apps a pain! I have a possible solution now. Hubby got the new iPad 2 and guess who got his old iPad? Me! Yay! I'll give the pdf reader one more try, this time on the iPad with its much larger screen. If that doesn't work....well I'm just going to bite the bullet and buy it in Kindle format.

It's been a while! New Reads for Future Reviews

Wow, my life has been quite busy busy busy. My little boy is about to turn 5 and thus begins his public school adventures in August. And then came a little gem of an e-mail to my mailbox which sparked my interest. Anna Kashina has written a book entitled Ivan and Marya, published by Drollerie Press. She has asked me to review it and after reading her excerpt, I eagerly agreed. It's been a while since something new caught my eye and I'm looking forward to reading her book.

Anna Kashina's Ivan and Marya

I'm also re-reading Joely Sue Burkhart's The Rose of Shanhasson in preparation for reading the next in her series, The Road to Shanhasson. I still think of Gregar, wishing I knew his face and doubly wishing I had that Gregar doll I proclaimed my desire for when I reviewed the first of Mrs. Burkhart's series. I hope she remembers because I heard that she was actively looking for "Gregar". If she ever finds him and subsequently delivers to the world a Gregar doll, I will be first in line.

Joely Sue Burkhart's The Road to Shanhasson

For those of you who haven't read Rose, here is the link:

Joely Sue Burkhart's The Rose of Shanhasson

I've also been reading of Mrs. Burkhart's other books as well, including a few new releases however those will have to come another day.

The Rose of Shanhasson Review

Wonderfully Wicked!

Those are just two words to describe “The Rose of Shanhasson” by Joely Sue Burkhart. Joely expertly blends Fantasy and Romance in a novel that will make your heart thump thump thump as mine did. She produces characters that pull at your heart-strings and you’ll ache just as they ache. They are well put together and absolutely magnificent.

Shannari is the Rose of Shanhasson destined to wear the Rose Crown and rule as High Queen of the Green Lands. She is betrothed to Prince Theo, a vile man who intends to rule the Green Lands alone. However, the Blessed Lady has her own plans that she has already set in motion. Betrayed and heart-broken, Shannari’s magic is crippled and that magic is the key to saving her home, the Green Lands. Shannari has her own plans though and they do not revolve around the use of her magic to save her lands.

Shannari’s plans, however, are put on hold when the Sha’Kae al’Dan attack Dalden Bay. Rhaekhar, Khul of the Nine Camps, his nine Blood and his warriors defeat Shannari’s soldiers in battle. In victory, Rhaekhar claims Shannari, sparing her soldiers. Shannari refuses to let any of her soldiers take her place because that would wound her sense of duty. She surrenders and allows the Khul takes her home to his Plains. Rhaekhar is convinced he has found his Rose, given to him in a vision from the Great Wind Stallion. The Khul showers her with his love but Shannari rebels unwilling to love another.

Among Rhaekhar’s nine Blood, there is Varne, who dislikes this outlander chosen by his Khul. Calling to Shannari’s own shadows is Gregar, the Khul’s Shadowed Blood. Between the honorable Rhaekhar and the dark shadows of Gregar, Shannari’s destiny grows more complicated by the minute. Will she choose to love again or will she choose to give herself in marriage to the Dark Prince of the Green Lands.

I absolutely loved Gregar and Rhaekhar however I do have to claim Gregar as my favorite because of his darkness. His character is so tantalizing, the former assassin who’s shadows call to Shannari’s. He’s absolutely heart breaking at times and fearsome at others. The whole culture of the Sha’Kae al’Dan drew me in and wouldn’t let me go as Joely wove her tale around Shannari’s destiny. Her time with Rhaekhar is full of passion, desire, honor, battle, blood and choice. I have only a few words of closing and these are particularly for Joely Sue Burkhart.

I want more! ….and a Gregar doll.

Christine Kringle Review

I did this review back in November of 2007:

Get ready to enter a world of Christmas you never knew existed! Lynn Brittney breathes new life into the tradition of Santa Claus with her book featuring Christine Kringle, part of the next generation of Gift Bringers. Join the Kringle family as they attend the Yule conference intent on seeking a way for Christine Kringle to become Kriss Kringle's successor as Gift Bringer to the USA. Complete with awkward teenage moments, interesting inventions, and politics, this book is quite a fun read.

The book begins with the Kringle family trip to Finland for this year's Yule Conference. Their purpose is to propose that Christine Kringle become the successor of Kriss Kringle for the position of Gift Bringer in the USA. The trouble is that the Yule Dynasty is very old and hence their rules of operations are very old - only male descendants can succeed the previous gift bringer. Once they arrive and Kriss Kringle gives his proposal, there is much opposition. A news report interrupts the debate to inform that a small town named Plinkbury has banned Christmas!

A plan emerges with good probability of success. Christine and her new friends Nick, Little K and his new invention travel to the town of Plinkbury to save Christmas. Together with the help of a red Ferrari, elves Zazu and Egan, Operation Save Christmas is underway. Meanwhile, Ma and The Sisterhood create chaos in the Council to give Christine and the boys the time they need to make their plan a success. Christine and her friends must work quickly because the Council won't be distracted for long!

Christine Kringle is a book for everyone, young and old alike. Teenager in every sense of the word, Christine charms us with her playfulness one moment and her budding sense of responsibility in another. She is a lovable character that strives to prove herself more than just a teenage girl. You won’t want to put this book down, I certainly didn’t. This book will certainly be one that I will read every year during the Christmas season.

Welcome to Reviews by Clarissa

I've created this blog because I'm reviewing more books lately. This little space on the internet will help me keep my reviews in order. The number of reviews I do tends to be on the low end as I try to provide a service while managing my job, my family and the inevitable housework.