Booktalk & More

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Oh Rumple...

Look what showed up on Pinterest...Rumple! (Excuse me while I swoon...)

Rumple, I miss you...

Remember how much I loved the three-part Zen series on Masterpiece Mystery last year? No (WHERE WERE YOU)? Well, you're in luck because PBS will be encoring the all-too-short-lived show starting June 10th (check local listings, PBS will most likely stream the episodes online, and the DVDs are available -- LOTS OF OPTIONS!). :)

What does an honest cop do when his bosses are on the side of the lawbreakers? Outwitting prosecutors, politicians, mobsters and run-of-the-mill kidnappers and killers, Detective Aurelio Zen brings justice to modern-day Italy, whether the authorities want it or not, on Zen, a trio of spellbinding cases based on the bestselling novels of by British crime writer Michael Dibdin, airing on Masterpiece July 17-31, 2011.

Rufus Sewell (Middlemarch) stars as Zen, a Roman police detective hailing from Venice, where "Zen" is a local shortening of the name Zeno. Separated from his wife and living with his mother, he is too frazzled by his job to think about romance. That is, until he meets Tania Moretti (Caterina Murino), his chief's new secretary.

Three encore episodes airing in 2012, Vendetta (June 10), Cabal (June 17) and Ratking (June 24), showcase an international cast including Ed Stoppard (Upstairs Downstairs), Ben Miles (The Forsyte Saga), Stanley Townsend (Sherlock) and Greg Wise (Return to Cranford).

I still find it incredibly depressing that the BBC canceled this series after only three episodes. But if you're in need of a Rufus Sewell fix this is about the best thing going. *wink* Here are the links to my episode reviews:

I also put together a massive series review for Femnista's Nov/Dec 2011 "Favorite Sleuths" issue -- you can read that issue here -- my article is on pages 18-19.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Once Upon a Time: Show Opening Supercut

I'm having serious Once Upon a Time withdrawals, can you tell?

Where I am published elsewhere...

Remember how much I loved Stacey Kade's The Ghost and the Goth trilogy? (Especially books one and three?) :) I approached last week about writing a "series" review for BreakPoint.org, and it was posted late yesterday! I'm so thrilled about this opportunity! You can read my series review here.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Glamorous Illusions - Free E-book!

This week, publisher David C. Cook is giving away the free e-book version of Lisa T. Bergren's latest release, Glamorous Illusions. This is a limited-time promotion, so snag your copy while the deal is available! Here's a bit about the story:

When Cora Kensington learns she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king, her life changes forever. Even as she explores Europe with her new family, she discovers that the most valuable journey is within. The first book in the Grand Tour series takes you from the farms of Montana through England and France on an adventure of forgiveness, spiritual awakening, and self-discovery.

And here's the book trailer:

And here are the links to download Glamorous Illusions for Kindle and Nook. Remember to confirm the "free" price before completing your purchase. Book tour stop for this novel coming to the blog later this month!

Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Harvest of Rubies River North; New Edition edition (May 1, 2012) by Tessa Afshar
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

TESSA AFSHAR was voted "New Author of the Year" by the Family Fiction sponsored Reader's Choice Award 2011 for her novel Pearl in the Sand. She was born in Iran, and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She moved to England where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale University where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She has spent the last thirteen years in full-time Christian work.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Remarkable Talent Threatens to Cloud a Life

The prophet Nehemiah’s cousin can speak several languages, keep complex accounts, write on tablets of clay, and solve mysteries. Her accomplishments catapult her into the center of the Persian court – working long hours, rubbing elbows with royalty, and becoming the queen’s favorite scribe.

Not bad for a woman living in a man’s world: so why does Sarah feel like a failure?

A devastating past has left Sarah with two conclusions: that God does not love her, and that her achievements are the measure of her worth – a measure she can never quite live up to.

Darius Pasargadae is accustomed to having his way. A wealthy and admired aristocrat, the last thing he expects is a wife who scorns him.

Can two such different people help one another overcome the idols that bind them?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Harvest of Rubies, go HERE.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Femnista: Literary Women

Click to launch the full edition in a new window
Self Publishing with YUDU

The latest issue of Femnista from Charity's Place is now available, and this issue's theme is Literary Women!

Behind every great man is a great woman... and literature is full of them. Join us as we explore some of literature's finest females: Hermione Granger, Bella Swan, Katniss Everdeen, the women of Rebecca, Elizabeth Gaskell's Ruth, Harper Lee & Scout, Elinor Dashwood, Juliet Capulet, Margaurite Blakeney, Kendra, Anne Elliot, L.M. Montgomery's Emily, Christy Huddleston, Nancy Drew, Margaret Hale, Sara Crew, and Anne Shirley.

My contribution to this issue is an article on Marguerite Blakeney from one of my all-time favorite classic novels, The Scarlet Pimpernel (found on pg. 16-17)! I do hope you'll check out the issue and perhaps rediscover a classic or meet a new literary acquaintance. Happy reading! :)