Author: Cindy

(Review & Tour) Stones for my Father (part 2)

Posted on by Cindy


Title: Stones for my Father
Author: Trilby Kent
Publisher: Tundra Books
Pages: 170
Pub date: March 2011

Source: I received a copy of this book from Tundra Books to read and review.

About the book:
The Boer War was disastrous for the British: 22,000 of them died. Close to 7,000 Boers died. Nobody knows how many Africans lost their lives, but the number is estimated to be around 20,000. This tragic, and little remembered, chapter in history is the backdrop for Trilby Kent’s powerful novel.

Corlie Roux’s father has always told her that God gave Africa to the Boers. Her life growing up on a farm in South Africa is not easy: it is beautiful, but it is also a harsh place where the heat can be so intense that the very raindrops sizzle. When her beloved father dies, she is left in the care of a cold, stern mother who clearly favors her two younger brothers. But she finds solace with her African maitie, Sipho, and in Africa itself.

Corlie’s world is about to vanish: the British are invading and driving Boers from their farms. The families who do not surrender escape to hidden laagers in the bush to help fight off the British. When Corlie’s laager is discovered, she and the others are sent to an internment camp.

Corlie is strong and can draw on her knowledge of the land she loves, but is that enough to help her survive the starvation, disease, and loss that befalls her in the camp?

Today I am lucky enough to be one of the host on the tour for Stones for my Father. You can check out the other blogs who have toured the book so far and read their reviews and interviews with the author Trilby Kent. Thanks Tundra Books and Slyvia for allowing me to be a part of this tour.

In 2009, I got to read and review Trilby’s debut YA novel called Medina Hill and really enjoyed it so when I was given this chance to review Stones for my Father I couldn’t resist.

Stones for my Father is completely different from Medina Hill. The story is set during the Boer War in South Africa.

If you are a regular reader of my blog you know that I don’t read historical fiction or anything on wars but I am always willing to make the exception when it comes to an author I have read in the past and enjoyed. I do remember learning about the Boer Wars briefly in history class when I was in high school but sadly history wasn’t my strong point so needless to say as I started to read the book little bites and pieces would surface and I would say “Oh yea I remember that now.”

I think had they made history a little bit more fun I think I would have enjoyed it more and thankfully thanks to blogging it has given me the chance to experience and enjoy books that I would normal not pick up and read.

Once I started to read about Corlie (a twelve year old girl) I quickly became engrossed in the story and managed to read it in one sitting. The story isn’t just about the Boer War but one girls struggle to survive when it seems like the odds were stacked up against her.

There was times that I wished I could have jumped in the book and stood up for Corlie when it was evident her mother was mean and nasty towards this little girl. I think living in this siutation forced Corlie to grow up sooner that she needed too. Her mother was a real piece of work and you could see through out the story that she favored Corlie’s brothers over her.

When the family has to leave because the British are coming they take what little they can and head to meet up with the others at the laagers. Shortly after meeting up at the laagers they are invade and the women and children are sent to the internment camp.

Life at the internment camp isn’t all that perfect, people are dying from dieases and starvation. Food and water is rationed and if you are lucky you will get food but barely enough to survive. Thankfully Corlie and her family are able to get food but Corlie manages to help out the other women of the camp to get some extra food. Things are going good until Corlie makes a mistake and does the wrong thing. Before she knows it she is being called a thief and is kick out of the tent by her mother.

Will she survive on her own? Or will someone come to her rescue?

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(Author Interview) Stones for my Father (part 1)

Posted on by Cindy

Today I am honored to have the chance to interview Trilby Kent the young adult author of Medina Hill and her newest ya book Stones for my Father. Come back tomorrow for my review of this book.

About the author:
Trilby was born in Toro
nto and grew up in London, Miami and Boston. A graduate of Oxford University and the LSE, she has worked as a rare books specialist at a leading auction house, a freelance journalist contributing investigative, arts and feature writing to the Canadian national press and publications in America and Europe, an academic editor, and a creative writing tutor with one of the UK’s leading distance learning schools.

Trilby, I just wanted to say that I truly appreciate you taking the time out of your very busy schedule to sit down and answer my questions. Thank you so much.

Cindy: Having lived in Canada and now in the UK, what is the one thing you
miss about Canada?

Trilby: My family.

Cindy: What was the inspiration behind Stones for my Father?

Trilby: The remarkable and heartbreaking story of the Anglo-Boer War, and the people on all sides who were touched by it (including some of my own ancestors).

Cindy: For a reader reading Stones For my Father, what one thing would
they be surprised to discover?

Trilby: That the depth of inter-racial/linguistic/cultural tensions in South Africa go back far beyond the institutionalization of apartheid in 1948.

Cindy: When you’re not writing what else do you like to do?

Trilby: Read; hang out in museums; watch movies; shoot hoops. I’ll also admit to a fair amount of procrastinating online…

Cindy: I wish I would have asked what are you reading right now but I didn’t get the chance perhaps if you read this you could let us know. I think we all do alot of procrastinating online at least i know I do. LOL If you main character, Corlie, had a theme song what would it be and why?

Trilby: That’s an interesting one! I guess ‘Gimme Shelter’ by the Rolling Stones is a little obvious. Likewise ‘Imagine’. A less anachronistic choice might be ‘Sarie Marais’, which is a song from the period. It’s all about the Boers’ fear of being sent into exile abroad and a yearning to return to ‘the old Transvaal’.

Cindy: I am not sure if this is the right song but I hope it is:

Thanks again Trilby. Check back tomorrow for my review of Stones for my Father.


A huge Thank you to Trilby for sending me this link for the above version of the song.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(Review) Across The Universe

Posted on by Cindy


Title: Across The Universe
Author: Beth Revis
Pub Date: January 2011
Pages: 416

Source: I received a finished copy from the lovely Vimala at Penguin Canada. Thanks so much Vimala.

About the book:
A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn’t do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed’s hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there’s only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

When I first heard about the book I was super excited and wanted to read it because it sounded really good and I have to admit that I love the cover of the book. Although I have to say that I was a little worried because its a fantasy/sci fi kind of book and that is a genre I could never get into but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised because not only was it fantasy/sci fi but there was also a bit of a mystery thrown in as well. I made it a point not to rush in reading the book although there was times I had a hard time to put it down.

This is Beth Revis debut novel and apparently it will be a three book series. I can’t wait to read the others now.

The book is narrated by Amy, who is the teenage girl who goes into a frozen sleep and is scheduled to wake up three hundred years later but is awaken fifty years too soon. The other narrator is Elder who is also an teenager but soon to be leader on the Godspeed ship. He is being trained by Eldest who will hand over the ship to him when the time is right.

The opening chapter is about Amy and her tough decision if she should follow her parents that are going to be frozen so that they can be a part of a new planet because they are essentials to this mission because of the skills they have that will allow them to form this new planet in three hundred years. Her mother goes first, Amy thinks she will go next but her father goes next but tells her that she can go with them or she can remain on planet Earth. Staying on Earth will allow her to be with the rest of her family, her boyfriend and life will be like it was. Amy is torn but in the end decides to go with her parents.

With just fifty years left into the trip Amy is unplugged and is unfrozen quickly and almost dies from it. The mystery around this is that they have no idea who could have done this. Who could have unplugged Amy before her time and why?

Amy begins to realize that everyone on the ship is alike (dark skin, dark hair and eyes) with her being the different one (red hair, pale skinned and opinionated). They are all non-ethic. Everyone on the ship is controlled because they all know there places, roles and its all peace, love and happiness there. (This was my impression of the ship)

Elder who was born on the ship doesn’t know about anything outside the ship like Amy does. He believes what he has been told and we soon realize that everything about the outside world has been alterated to the Eldests liking. So what Elder thinks he knows isn’t the truth.

Eldest makes sure to keep Amy away from everyone because he knows that she will be trouble and warns the ship that she is different and to stay away. Amy is forced to live in the hospital with everyone else that is labelled different such as the artists and musicians.

Before long more of the frozen bodies are being unplugged and no one can figure out why and who would be doing this. Amy and Elder take it upon themselves to figure out who the person is that is slowly unplugging people and allowing them to die. With the list of suspects slowly narrowing down could Amy and Elder’s life be in jeapordy?

One of my favorite things about the book is the cover because if you flip it over you get to see what the ship looks like and it comes in handy with when reading the book because you can see exactly where the locations are.

As I was getting ready to write my review I was on Beth Revis site and discovered that Across The Universe has a website site devoted to the book where there is an interactive map of the ship and so much more.

If you are looking for something to read then I have to suggest this book. You will not be disappointed. I know I wasn’t and I am so glad I was given the chance to review this.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Happy Easter

Posted on by Cindy

Happy Easter Everyone.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Happy Birthday

Posted on by Cindy

Its hard to believe that my little munchkin is 8 years old today.

Happy Birthday Michael.

(This is Michael thinking about what to wish for.)

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

(Review & Tour & Give Away) Beside Still Waters

Posted on by Cindy


Title: Beside Still Waters
Author: Tricia Goyer
Publisher: BH Publishing Group
Pages: 258
Pub Date: April 2011

Source: I received this book from Litfuse on behalf of BH Publishing for my honest review.

About the book:Marianna Sommer believes she knows where her life is headed. Nineteen years old and Amish, her plan is to get baptized into the church, marry Aaron Zook, and live in the only community she’s ever known.

When Marianna’s family moves from Indiana to Montana she discovers life and faith will never be the same. As she builds an easy friendship with local guy, Ben Stone, Ben not only draws her heart, he also gets her thinking about what loving God and living in community is all about.

As Marianna struggles to find “home”, she also encounters God in intimate ways.

One of my favorite genres of books is the Amish Fiction. I have always been fascinated with the Amish and their way of life. Reading this book it makes you realize that even though we are different in many ways be still feel the same way and care about people the same way.

Growing up Marianna knows that no matter what she does she will never replace her two dead sisters that died in a tragic buggy accident but she tries her best to remain on the right path.

Marianna and her family live in a strict Amish community in Indiana. Marianna has always thought that her life would be in that community married to Aaron Zook and raising her family. When Marianna’s brother Levi decides that he doesn’t want to lead the Amish life he leaves his family and decides to live with the English.

Marianna’s father fears that his other children will follow the lead of their big brother so he decides to move the family to Montana. Thinking that if they are away they will remain faithful to the Amish way of life. This news upsets Marianna because she fears that if she leaves Aaron will choose another to marry. Of course Marianna doesn’t have to leave she can live with family but feels as though she is obligated to go with the family.

Will Marianna be able to remain true to her Amish up bringing when an English boy catches her eye? When given the chance will Marianna return to her old Amish community to be with Aaron or is it too late?

I really enjoyed the book and honestly I managed to read this in one sitting. before I started the book I went to the author’s site and realized that there would be a book two and after reading this one I am super excited to read the next one because I have so many questions that I hope will get answered.

Another thing I loved about the book was the few recipes that were included in the back of the book such as: haystacks, oatmeal butter crisps, and a few others.

Link to buy the book: http://triciagoyer.com/contemporaryfiction.html#BesideStillWaters

Give Away
To celebrate the release of the first book in the Big Sky Amish series Tricia is giving away 10 copies of Beside Still Waters and a pair of super cute antique Amish salt & pepper shakers.

Details at Tricia’s blog, It’s Real Life: http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2011/04/beside-still-waters-giveaway.html

BONUS! Each person who enters the giveaway will receive a FABULOUS Montana Amish Calendar. Hurry, it’s only available while supplies last! I just checked and the calendars are no longer available.

About the Author:

Tricia Goyer is the author of twenty-six books including Songbird Under a German Moon, The Swiss Courier, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference in 2003. Tricia’s book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like MomSense and Thriving Family.

Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife. Visit Tricia Goyer for more info.

The next book in the series scheduled to be released in October 2011 is:

Here is where the book will be stopping by today:

Sheri at The Shades of Pink
JHS at Colloquium
Carol at Books Before Food
Kat at Reviews From The Heart
Lynetta at Open Book
Melissa at Book Reviews
Alexia at The Mommy Rambles

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Reviewing Opportunity

Posted on by Cindy

Recently I was given the opportunity to do some posts for EdenFantasys. You might think of them as an adult site but when you look around you will see that they have so much more then just that.

Some of the great stuff they have is:

Illume the 23 Collectioncandle is a high-quality soy wax with lead-free wicks, burns cleanly and evenly. Currently they only have Valencia Orange which is a sunny, bright, and uplifting scent in stock. This seems like the perfect candle for me to be burning right about now with all the gloomy weather we have been having lately.


Here is another item that caught my eye its called Chemistry Bubble Bath Set. Each 5 1/2″ long tube is full of colorful bubble bath in one of four scents; relaxing lavender, romantic rose, stimulating lemon mint and sensual pomegranate.

I am going to admit that I am a huge candle and bath product person. If I spot a candle(s) I like, I will buy it even though in reality I don’t need it and the same goes for bath products. My bathroom cupboard is over filled with all kinds of bath stuff. I love being able to fill the tub with a great bath product and getting in and relaxing. I am looking forward to picking up these two products to add to my routine.

So just remember they have a wide assortment of products so be sure to check them out.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.