Review: The Color of Snow by Brenda Stanley

The Color of Snow by Brenda Stanley

*** I received this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon Product Description:
When a beautiful 16-year-old girl named Sophie is found sequestered in a cage-like room in a rundown house in the desolate hills of Arbon Valley, Idaho, the entire community is shocked to learn she is the legendary Callidora--a baby girl who was kidnapped from her crib almost seventeen years ago and canonized in missing posters with portraits of what the fabled girl might resemble. Authorities soon learn that the cage was there to protect people from Sophie, because her biological father believes she is cursed.

Sophie is discovered after the man she knows as Papa, shoots and injures Damien, a young man who is trying to rescue her. Now, unsocialized and thrust into the world, and into a family she has never met, Sophie must decide whether she should accept her Papa’s claims that she is cursed and he was only trying to protect others, or trust the new people in her life who have their own agendas. Guided by a wise cousin, Sophie realizes that her most heartbreaking challenge is to decide if her love for Damien will destroy him like her Papa claims, or free her from past demons that haunt her mind.


My thoughts:
Twisted, heartbreaking... this is the story of a girl who has lived her life believing in everything that her father has told her, but realizes that it is not reality.  It is a story of what lengths people go to in the name of faith or their personal belief system.


Brenda Stanley has created a world where a father has gone over the edge in his effort to save his child.  Her characters are tragic and believable.  All the characters are firmly embedded in a world where they live and breathe their beliefs - right or wrong.  


The plot is sad and disturbing  - but not hopeless.  The tragedy that is the lives of the characters since the start is wrong on many levels.  Although the story is intriguing and well written, I found myself wishing for just one positive person or circumstance.  I found that person in Sophie's cousin, Stephanie.


In the end - - - I liked the story a lot.  It is beautifully written.  I found it hard to put down.  I truly loved the ending, it is filled with hope and the opportunity to change.

Blog Tour: The Color of Snow by Brenda Stanley

This virtual book tour is presented by Tribute books.

The Color of Snow web site:
http://the-color-of-snow.blogspot.com/

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.

It is my pleasure to feature:

Brenda Stanley and The Color of Snow.

Brenda Stanley's Bio:

Brenda Stanley is the former news anchor at her NBC affiliate KPVI in Eastern Iadho. Her writing has been recognized by the Scripps Howard Foundation, the Hearst Journalism Awards, the Idaho Press Club and the Society for Professional Journalists. She is a graduate of Dixie College in St. George, Utah, and the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Brenda lived for two years in Ballard, Utah, within the Fort Duchesne reservation where the novel is set. She and her husband live on a small ranch near the Snake River with their horses and dogs.

Brenda Stanley's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/brenda.baumgartnerstanleyBrenda Stanley's Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/myauthorlifeBrenda Stanley's Website:
http://www.brendastanleybooks.net/Brenda Stanley's GoodReads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4086376.Brenda_Stanley

The Color of Snow Summary

Can a troubled young girl reenter society after living in isolation?

When a beautiful 16-year-old girl named Sophie is found sequestered in a cage-like room in a rundown house in the desolate hills of Arbon Valley, Idaho, the entire community is shocked to learn she is the legendary Callidora--a baby girl who was kidnapped from her crib almost seventeen years ago and canonized in missing posters with portraits of what the fabled girl might resemble. Authorities soon learn that the cage was there to protect people from Sophie, because her biological father believes she is cursed.

Sophie is discovered after the man she knows as Papa, shoots and injures Damien, a young man who is trying to rescue her. Now, unsocialized and thrust into the world, and into a family she has never met, Sophie must decide whether she should accept her Papa’s claims that she is cursed and he was only trying to protect others, or trust the new people in her life who have their own agendas. Guided by a wise cousin, Sophie realizes that her most heartbreaking challenge is to decide if her love for Damien will destroy him like her Papa claims, or free her from past demons that haunt her mind.

...a guest post from the author!

Guest Post by Brenda Stanley
The Color of Snow has been described as dark or mysterious.  I feel most of my writing fits this description because I enjoy looking at the strange and unusual things in life.  My novel will definitely make some people uncomfortable.  I like to look at situations and issues and try to figure out how people will react.  For years I was a crime reporter, so I enjoy investigating stories and learning about the parts of life most people try to hide.  When I wrote The Color of Snow, I was working on a story about a young girl who went missing years ago and has never been found.  I started thinking about what would happen if she were to suddenly show up now.  I loved putting myself in Sophie’s shoes and seeing things for the first time.

Sophie’s relationship with Damien is both intense and tempered.  Her father has raised her to believe that she will destroy anyone who truly loves her, so she is torn between her love for Damien and her fear of causing him harm.

The story changes between what is going on with Sophie and what happened in her parent’s past that brought her to where she is.  I wanted readers to experience the often isolated feeling of living in a vast rural area, but also the mental confinement of a small town.

Mental illness, teen pregnancy, religious intolerance, and racism are all big parts of The Color of Snow.  I like my characters to face challenges and see them grow from them.  It is not only the conflicts with the other characters that keeps the story going, but also those within the person’s own mind.

I wanted Sophie to be unusually beautiful so that people treated her strangely and therefore made her feel even more alien when she is first discovered.  She has transformed from a tragic kidnapping victim to a mythical ghost from the past and this makes her transition into her new life even more difficult.

My ties to the Mormon Church go back to my great-great grandparents.  I was raised in the teachings of the Mormon religion and even though I am no longer a member, I have many friends and family who are still very active in the church.  My descriptions of the Mormon culture are how I view it and how I feel someone who has never been exposed to it might see it.  I think there are a lot of people who are curious about the Mormon religion and have misconceptions.  I feel I’ve been both candid and fair in my portrayal.

The Color of Snow Twitter hashtag:

#TheColorOfSnowThe Color of Snow GoodReads page:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13456512-the-color-of-snowTribute Books Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Archbald-PA/Tribute-Books/171628704176

Tribute Books Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/TributeBooks

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186
  Kindle buy link - $2.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00873ASTK?tag=tributebooks-20

Nook buy link - $4.95
http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=dcSBhG3Rj8w&subid=&offerid=239662.1&type=10&tmpid=8432&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Fthe-color-of-snow-brenda-stanley%252F1111297400%253Fean%253D2940014382007iBookstore buy link - $4.99
http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=dcSBhG3Rj8w&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fbook%252Fthe-color-of-snow%252Fid531375973%253Fmt%253D11%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30Google buy link - $3.79
http://books.google.com/books?printsec=frontcover&id=u6m2hVzQxi4C#v=onepage&q&f=false

Smashwords buy link - $4.99
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/166734?ref=tributebooks
PDF buy link - $4.95
https://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=1600173

My review will post live on August 16, 2012!  Stop back and check it out.

Blog Tour: Subversive by Rebecca Royce (author giveaway)

This virtual book tour is presented by Goddess Fish Promotions.

The tour schedule is HERE.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.

It is my pleasure to feature Rebecca Royce and Subversive.

I hope you enjoy the interview:

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

When I was very little. I wrote my first book in fourth grade.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

Law, Teaching, Real Estate Sales Person. Now, I’m also a Mom and a writer.

? How long does it take you to write a book?

If I’m left alone to do it, not very long. I can write 3000 words a day when all is well.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I open up a page on Word. I save it.  I double space it and I write until I’ve reached 13 pages. All chapters in my first draft are 13 pages.

? Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?

I’m always in the right frame of mind. LOL

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

I have no idea.  I never do. I’m just glad it happens.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

I keep a list of ideas and what order I should be writing in.

? What books have most influenced your life?

Christine Feehan made me want to write Paranormal Romance.  Nalini Singh is brilliant too. She makes me want to be a better writer.

? What is the first book you remember reading by yourself?

I’m sure I read books before this, but I really remember just devouring the Nate The Great books. 

? What are you reading right now?

I just finished Maya Banks’ newest KGI book

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Broadway shows, movies, travelling, dancing alone in my room

? What is your favorite comfort food?

Nachos.

? What do you think makes a good story?

Love, Action, Suspense

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

Oh wow. I can’t answer that. I have about a million.

? What book, if any, do you read over and over again?

I read the Psy/Changeling series by Nalini Singh for comfort when I need it. Over and over again.

Fun random questions: 

• dogs or cats? Both.  Right now, Dogs
• Coffee or tea? Coffee
• Dark or milk chocolate? Dark Chocolate
• Rocks or flowers? Flowers
• Night or day? Night
• Favorite color? Purple
• Crayons or markers? Markers
• Pens or pencils? Pens

More about Rebecca Royce ~ author bio:

As a teenager, Rebecca Royce would hide in her room to read her favorite romance novels when she was supposed to be doing her homework. She hopes, these days, that her parents think it was well worth it.

Rebecca is the mother of three adorable boys and is fortunate to be married to her best friend. They live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months.

She's in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and tries to use all of these elements in her writing. She's been told she's a little bloodthirsty so she hopes that when you read her work you'll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. Rebecca loves to write series because she loves to see characters develop over time and it always makes her happy to see her favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.

In Rebecca Royce's world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.     Author Link:  www.rebeccaroyce.com

Current and Upcoming Works:

The Outsiders     Love Beyond Time     Love Beyond Sanity     Love Beyond Loyalty     Love Beyond Sight

Westervelt Wolves     Her Wolf     Summer’s Wolf     Wolf Reborn     Wolf’s Valentine     Wolf’s Magic     Alpha Wolf  Angel’s Wolf     Darkest Wolf     The Warrior     Initiation     Driven     The Conditioned     Eye Contact     Embraced     

Sexy Superheroes     Screwing the Superhero     Banging the Superhero

Other Works:

Behind The Scenes          First Dimension          Yes, Captain          Return to the Sea

One Night With A Wolf     Another Chance     Light Me Up          I’ll Be Mated For Christmas

Subversive: The Warrior Book 3

by Rebecca Royce

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Rachel Clancy has been through a lot. She’s been sent to fight vampires, lost two boyfriends—one to a vampire and one because of his daddy issues—and now she is trying to lead a secret revolution that could change Genesis, her home, forever. Her confidence is shot, her hands are shaking, and she hasn’t felt a real emotion, except for anger, in a long time.

But Rachel should never be counted out. She sees things others can’t, even if her ideas are considered downright traitorous. There is an important life for Rachel to lead in the world, even if its filed with vampires and werewolves instead of romance and flowers. Rachel has always had to fight, she’s good at it, and the evil that has stalked her hasn’t forgotten her name. 

Giveaway!

Rebecca will be awarding a $50 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour and a digital copy of Initiation: The Warrior Book 1 to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.  One randomly drawn host will win a $50 Amazon GC.

Review: Subversive by Rebecca Royce

Subversive by Rebecca Royce

Amazon Product Description:
Rachel Clancy has been through a lot. With a mission to fight vampires, while losing two boyfriends—one to a vampire and one because of his daddy issues—she is in charge of a secret revolution that could change Genesis, her home, forever. Her confidence is shot, her hands are shaking, and she hasn’t felt a real emotion, except for anger, in a long time.

But Rachel should never be counted out. She sees things others can’t, even if her ideas are considered downright traitorous. The life destined for Rachel is to lead in the world, filled with vampires and werewolves instead of romance and flowers—always forced to fight to stay alive and vanquish any threat to her friends and family. But no matter how many times she’s won, the evil that has stalked her never forgets her name….

Life is a continuous battle that never ends….

My thoughts:

Engaging, entertaining, enthralling.  Subversive grabs you at the beginning of the story, holds you tight with passionate characters and doesn't let go through the twists and turns of an imaginative and twisting plot.

The world that Rebecca Royce has created is dark and dangerous.  The mind-blowing reality of the world that Rachel lives in is cold and calculated.  The story is about betrayal and loss, love and the idea of doing the right thing for what is at that time the right reason.  

I would have a hard time choosing between the story and the characters if I had to say which was more compelling to me as a reader.  The story is creative, clever and fresh.  The characters are a wide variety of personalities, but each elicits an emotional response.  Rachel is a strong female lead.  She is charismatic, tough and driven.  I feared yet another love triangle for a bit as I wasn't sure about her boyfriend issues, but they become clear at the end.  My favorite character is Deacon.  He is the not-so-silent type, but left me feeling throughout the story that he was the "real deal" as far as the boys in Rachel's life went. 

I was sad to see the story end and am hoping for more to come in this series.

Blog Tour: Fallenmore by Lucy Swing

Click HERE to go to Lucy Swing's site!

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour!

It is my pleasure to feature Lucy Swing and Fallenmore.

Lucy Swing lives in sunny Florida with her husband and two children.
She is a YA Paranormal/ Romance writer, whose works include: Feathermore (Feathermore Trilogy, #1), Bloody Valentine, the novella, and is currently working on Fallenmore (Feathemore Trilogy, #2) which will be released in June 2012.
She is an absolute book hoarder and must always have a book at arms distance. Music is her muse, and there is always a soundtrack that plays along her life.

Lucy has granted us an exclusive excerpt from Fallenmore 

~ enjoy!

Fallenmore Excerpt

By Lucy Swing

“The park was dark and eerie. None of the overhead lamps were on at this time of the night as the park was closed. The crescent moon above me was being kept hidden by thin, ghost like clouds. I walked through the thin pathway around the park and took a seat by the playground. Lilith hadn't really been specific as to where we were meeting, as this park was pretty big. Surely she would be able to find me.

Although the park was deserted, it gave me some kind of solace to be somewhere where, during the waking hours, was filled with children’s laughter. I checked the time again. Lilith was late. I tucked my hands under my legs. The night had grown noticeably colder in just a couple of hours.

There was a rustle in the leaves behind me, causing me to shoot to my feet. Holding my breath, I listened intently, a soft breeze that caressed everything on its path was all there was. The leaves fell motionless again.

Probably an animal.

Taking a step back, my muscles relaxed. Somewhat. My eyes were still glued to the newly unmoving bushes. The hair in the back of my neck stood on end- something was out there. I could feel it. There was a crash on the playground behind me and I turned to face the noise. Crumpled on the sand next to the slide like a rag doll, was Lilith. I ran to her and pulled her onto her back on the sandbox. There was a small cut on her forehead that was bleeding and her eyes were closed.

“Lilith?” I whispered softly. What the hell had happened to her? My eyes darted around us, watching out for anyone that would attack us. “Lilith, can you hear me?” Her eyes flutered behind her closed lids and she moaned. Assesing the rest of her, I found her dress had been torn on her abdomen, and the skirt that always bilowed behind her, laid limp against the sand, ripped into nothing more than shreds.

In the distance I heard a couple different footsteps, two coming from the left and one from the right. Whoever had attacked her was here. If they found me, I may end up like her- or worse.”

Thank you Bev, for hosting me here today! You rock!

BLURB:

When darkness consumes you; will it be hard to find the light?

After Jade's world was torn apart, she is unsure of where she belongs, if anywhere at all. Deceived by those she trusted the most, she must now accept her fate and the life that lays before her.
The voices are back but this time, they are trying to lure her into the darkness. But could they be telling her the truth? That the only person she has been able to trust since the death of her boyfriend, Avan, is lying to her too? If the voices are right... Could she really trust him? 

In Fallenmore, the second book in the Feathermore Trilogy, Jade will embark in a quest through the pits of Hell. The question now is: once she is in, will they ever let her out?

AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Feathermore-ebook/dp/B007G73HGO/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3

PAPERBACK: http://www.amazon.com/Feathermore-Volume-1-Lucy-Swing/dp/1470020874/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334236152&sr=1-3

SIGNED PAPERBACK: http://www.lucyswing.com/p/my-work.html

BARNES&NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/feathermore-lucy-swing/1109296706

SMASHWORDS: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/138272

I am proud to be a huge Lucy Swing fan~one of:

Click HERE to see an interview with Lucy Swing. 

Click HERE to see my review of book one: Feathermore.

When the one thing you live for is denied to you, do you let it go or do you fall?

Jade, like any other student at Brushwood High, awaits the start of the school year with a certain measure of dread. Worse, she is being threatened by a voice that only she can hear—a voice that lurks at the edges of her awareness, haunting her and warning her of something unknown. She has always been able to count on her two best friends, Claire and Nate, but can she confide in them now? About this? Would they even believe her?

Life takes a turn for the better when she meets Avan, a darkly handsome new student who, somehow, seems to drown out the voice and make her feel at ease.

But Jade soon comes to realize that good things don’t last forever. When everything spirals out of control, she is shattered by something she never saw coming. Dazed and despairing, she must now overcome tragedy and embrace her true existence and a new but dangerous love. Will she be able to save herself and those she loves, before it’s too late? Or will she let the surrounding darkness consume her?

Click HERE to get the kindle version for free!

Click HERE to buy a copy of Fallenmore.

Blog Tour: Quest, Inc. by Justin Cohen

This virtual book tour is presented by Tribute Books.

Click HERE to get to the tour blog.

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.

It is my pleasure to feature Quest Inc.

The World’s #1 Personal Development Agency . . . has to prove it. What if you brought together five top personal development experts—equipped with virtually everything we know about unleashing human potential—and gave them some lives to change? Could they really coach anyone to lose fifty pounds, fix a broken relationship, or get rich? What would they do for a homeless person, or a pro-golfer trailing at the back of her league? How about taking the racism out of a racist, or turning a hellish employee into a ray of sunshine? Welcome to Quest, Inc. They say they can change your life. Now, as they’re followed by an investigative journalist from one of the world’s leading news publications, they have to prove it—or be damned as charlatans. Based on real life peak performance and transformational strategies, you’ll see the highs and lows everyone faces on the road to self-realization—especially the experts. Get ready for breakthrough . . . or breakdown.

Check out the book trailer:



You can buy a copy by clicking here.

Author Justin Cohen
Bio:
Justin Cohen is the author of four books and seven audiobooks. He produced and hosted a television talk show in which he interviewed some of the world’s top experts on success. As a leading authority on personal development, with an honors degree in Psychology, Justin speaks, trains and writes in the fields of motivation, sales, service and leadership. Having spoken professionally for nearly fourteen years, Justin has presented in twelve different countries, and in virtually every industry, to an average of ten thousand people annually.


My thoughts:
Self-help books are not usually my gig, but thought I would take a chance on this one.  So very glad I did!

This book is well written, filled with wonderfully done characters and a plot that keeps you reading.  Truly a unique and fresh  look for self-help books.  It is inspirational and motivating.  Reading this book gives you the idea and desire to take hold of becoming the person you have always wanted to be.