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Rosalie Valentine

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January 25, 2016

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Darkened Hope Cover Reveal

Happy Monday, ~~peasants~~ my dear followers!

Today I have the pleasure of participating in the cover reveal for Darkened Hope by J.L. Mbewe. Some of you may remember that I said it is one of the speculative fiction releases for 2016 that I’m most excited about, and let me tell you, this cover gets me even more jazzed!

So, I’ll quit blabbing and give you the good stuff!

Note: If you don’t know much about the Hidden Dagger Trilogy, go here to read up about the first book in the series, Secrets Kept.

The Blurb:

Ayianna is a cursed half-elf betrothed to Desmond, but her heart belongs to another. After discovering the cure for the Sorceress’s curse, she and her companions embark on a dangerous quest to retrieve the ingredients.

When dragons descend upon their party, Ayianna realizes the Sorceress is searching not just for the corrupted dagger, but a human sacrifice that will open a portal to the underworld. Battling deadly creatures and natural disasters, Ayianna is forced more and more to confront her insecurities and conflicted heart.

Now she must decide whether to be true to her family or true to herself. As the nations rally for war, betrayal threatens to destroy them all, and it’s a race against time to return before the curse devastates the plains people.

The Cover:

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000026_00038]

Coming May 2016

About the Author:

jennette headshot Writing as J. L. Mbewe, Jennette is an author, artist, mother, wife, but not always in that order. Born and raised in Minnesota, she now braves the heat of Texas, but pines for the Northern Lights and the lakes of home every autumn. She loves trying to capture the abstract and make it concrete. She is currently living her second childhood with a wonderful husband and two precious children who don’t seem to mind her eclectic collections of rocks, shells, and swords, among other things. Here, between reality and dreams, you will find her busily creating worlds inhabited by all sorts of fantasy creatures and characters, all questing about and discovering true love amid lots of peril. She has two short stories published in The Clockwork Dragon anthology, and four short stories set in the world of Nälu. Her debut novel, Secrets Kept, was nominated for the 2014 Clive Staples Award, and its sequel, Darkened Hope is coming May 2016.

Stay up-to-date with all things Nälu and her journey as a writer mama at JLMbewe.com. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Pinterest.

And as if that wasn’t cool enough, the Kindle version of Secrets Kept, the first in the series, is only $0.99 on Amazon right now!

This is an adventure that fantasy lovers won’t want to miss.

But wait. There’s more. One of the short stories that goes along with the Hidden Dagger Trilogy, A Princess No More, is free on Amazon right now. Free! FREE!

Out of all the short stories, I think this one might be my favorite. (This short story is tragic, so be sure you have some chocolate. Lots of chocolate. Just go get a bag of Doves. Maybe two bags. Yeah, probably two bags. You’re welcome.)

So, hop on over to Amazon to pick up your Kindle copies of this gripping stories!

Have a fantastic week!

P.S. – if you go over to J.L Mbewe’s website and sign up for her newsletter, you get an exclusive deleted scene from Secrets Kept so… go do that too. :)

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Rosalie Valentine

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September 28, 2015

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A Time to Speak Review (5/5)

* I received a free copy of A Time to Speak from the wonderful Nadine Brandes in exchange for my honest review. *

*****************WARNING!!!!! If you have NOT read A Time to Die, read no further! If you HAVE read A Time to Die, read without fear of spoilers!!**********************

“I’ve been robbed of my death. A date was set, a coffin prepared, and a grave dug in the earth, yet I breathe against my own will as my brother is lowered six feet down. The smooth wood coffin displays the best of Father’s carpentry skills. Did he originally carve it for me?”

Parvin Blackwater was supposed to die. She was ready to die. She wanted to die. But she didn’t. The clock she shared with her twin zeroed out, and he died while she survived – much to the chagrin of just about everyone. While battling grief, Parvin tries to protect Willow, schemes of how to rescue Elm, and tries to adjust to the strange place her home has become. And the faith and God Who carried her through the West seem hard to reach with Reid and Jude dead, Jude’s clock-matching invention in the hands of the Council, and Elm starving inside the Wall. When her situation goes from bad to worse, Parvin is called to lead, but how can she lead if no one wants to follow?

I literally had no words when I finished A Time to Speak at 1:30 in the morning. I just stared at my Kindle questioning my existence. I’m not even kidding.

When I began reading, I drank up the first lines slowly, appreciating the rich detail and sinking slowly back into the world of A Time to Die. But I couldn’t go slowly for long, for peril was quick to rear its heart-pounding head, and I was soon swimming through pages as quickly as possible. It was as if I was getting reacquainted with the old friends who I had come to love in A Time to Die.

I had liked A Time to Die Parvin, but I loved A Time to Speak Parvin. She was amazing, and it wasn’t because she was so brave or always made the right choice. I loved that she moving forward and making progress in every aspect. Her character arc continues in a beautiful way, and I can’t wait to see where it ends! Also, the reader gets to meet several new characters who add adversity or encouragement to the story while Ms. Brandes continues to flesh out the veterans from the first book.

Next to strike me was Solomon Hawke, Jude’s brother. I just… I mean…wow. He’s simply amazing. I was so glad to get to know him better than I had in A Time to Die, but I can’t quite put my finger on why I like him so much! He’s kind, gentle, and wise! Just… read the book and find out for yourself. I can’t tell anymore coherently and without spoilers.

One part of this book that gripped me was actually fairly small. It was the relationship between Parvin and her brother’s widow, Tawny. It was fragmented and difficult; it was real. Family isn’t all flowers, and Parvin’s family is no exception.

Ms. Brandes continued to build on her expansive world in new and exciting ways! While the technology was intuitive and interesting, the landscapes that she paints are stunning! I wish I could say more, but I’d give spoilers! :(

Now, A Time to Die wasn’t a walk in the park and neither is A Time to Speak. It’s intense. The characters suffer a lot, and the body count is pretty high. However, Ms. Brandes doesn’t go into much gross detail; she shows enough for the reader to think, “Oh, wow. Oh, no. No, no, that can’t be good.” or “No, no, don’t do that! That’ll make it worse!”

Also, the stakes are much higher than they were in A Time to Die, but Ms. Brandes weaves in enough humor that the tension doesn’t kill the reader. I’m alive as a testament.

All of this was incredible. I love the style. I love the characters. I love the story. I love the conflict. I love the world. I love the detail. But it’s the fierce message that I love the most. A Time to Speak is about taking a leap of faith, stepping out, speaking for those with no voice, and trusting God with a wild faith.

It’s the idea that drawing near to God won’t solve problems, but that when you draw near to God, He carries you through the trials of life, fueling you as you do His will. I’ve been a Christian for almost twelve years now, and I’ve been told that very thing again and again all my life. But it never came home until I was reading about a girl with one hand who is so physically weak but called on God with faith that He would provide in His perfect will. Blast you, spoilers! I want to say more! I’ll just say that though Parvin has never existed beyond the imaginations and hearts of Nadine Brandes and her readers, the message she bears and the example she gives is clearer and more tangible to me than most deep spiritual discussions and complicated explanations.

When I finished A Time to Speak, I was exhausted but not from lack of sleep. I was exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster. I was exhausted from the strain of the story. I was exhausted from the spiritual hammer that continues ringing in my head.

A Time to Speak is the evidence that books can affect change in the reader. It carries an important message, and part of why it’s so impactful is that it’s wrapped in a well-written, witty, exquisite package. Therefore, I give A Time to Speak five out five wonderstruck, sleepless stars and a PG-13 rating.

Find it on Amazon and Goodreads!

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Rosalie Valentine

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August 15, 2015

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A Wish Made of Glass Review (5/5)

I received a free copy of A Wish Made of Glass by Ashlee Willis in exchange for my honest review.

“When I was a child, I danced with the fey folk.”

The kinship of the fey is the fabric of Isidore’s childhood, but when her mother dies, Isidore’s grief drives her away from the fey. An unlikely friendship with her new stepsister, Blessing, carries her along until she begins to realize that Blessing is everything that she’s tried and failed to be. As jealousy grips Isidore, she looks to the fey, desperately hoping to have her sole wish ranted, but wishes, like hearts, are easily broken. Will she manage to obtain the one thing she wants above all else without destroying what she needs most?

A Wish Made of Glass is beautifully written, and it tells a hauntingly familiar story – a life riddled with mistakes and highlighted with pain – the story of fallen man. Isidore is far from perfect. She’s jealous and bitter, selfish and angry. Though a fairytale, A Wish Made of Glass wanders into reality by painting a vivid picture of how dwelling on wrongs leads, inevitably, to bitterness and pain. But it also shows how love can cover a multitude of wrongs if we simply choose to abandon ourselves and love.

As in her previous work, The Word Changers, Ms. Willis’ description is breathtaking. I continue to be floored by her skill and elegance, and I am in awe of how she writes raw characters so true to life that it’s sometimes painful to watch them grow. The pacing is comfortable, and the tender touch of romance woven throughout is both sweet and powerful.

But all of the intricacies of writing pale in comparison to the way this story explores human emotion – both the lovely and the ugly. This exquisite Cinderella retelling is achingly true, and the image that crystallizes by the end is hopeful and beautiful. Therefore, I give A Wish Made of Glass five out of five wonderstruck stars and a PG rating.

Find it on Amazon or Goodreads. :)

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Rosalie Valentine

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June 25, 2015

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DRAVEN’S LIGHT Review (5/5)

I received a free copy of Draven’s Light in exchange for my honest review.

“Before he could catch his breath, a certain silvery voice fell upon their ears: the liquid song of a morning thrush in the branches above their heads.” Draven’s Light is the second Novella of Goldstone Wood which are little inserts in the series Tales of Goldstone Wood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. I have been reading Stengl’s books for years now, and I am always floored by her skill and the stories she tells. Draven’s Light did not disappoint. He was supposed to kill that prisoner in cold blood before the men of his tribe in order to gain his man’s name and leave his boy’s name behind. He could have very easily dispatched the prisoner, for as is often remarked, he was a bear of a man, but just as he was about to deliver the fatal stroke, he realized that he was no killer. Despite the shame and disgrace that he knew would fall upon him, he let the prisoner live. Instead of a man’s name, he was deemed Draven, “Coward”.

Draven has a crippled sister, Ita, and I thoroughly enjoyed the brother sister relationship that they shared. Though she is crippled, Ita is fierce, and though his huge, Draven is meek. They complement each other sharply, and Stengl portrays a beautifully deep bond based on respect and love. This element alone could make the book as it was fleshed out nicely, but there’s also some romance, peril, and suspense. The romance was tasteful but thrilling, and it fits the noble style of Stengl’s writing and the characters.

Now, Draven’s Light was kind of dark, but I think when the premise is a guy becoming an outcast because he doesn’t kill someone in cold blood, the reader should be able to gather that this isn’t going to be all singing thrushes and gleaming moonlight. The violence is portrayed as a truly ugly thing. Part of why I like this story so much is that it’s not just like “killing bad” or “death sad”, it’s saying killing is gruesome, and death is a tragedy.

Stengl was masterful in creating suspense. Draven and the reader are told early on, “Don’t cross the river”, and it’s not a blaring thing throughout the book. What makes it so suspenseful is that it’s always niggling in the back of the reader’s mind as the story marches forward and we imagine all sorts of things that could possibly be across the river. (Also, Goldstone Wood groupies, the Brothers Ashiun are in Draven’s Light. That’s right. We learn a little more about Etanun and Akilun, and it ends up making what we already know all the more painful. *fangirling* And remember Gutta from Starflower, well…)

In conclusion, Draven’s Light is a powerful story despite its brevity. If you have read any other Tales of Goldstone Wood books, this is a thrilling addition as Stengl expands her fabulously diverse world. If you haven’t read any of Stengl’s, books this is still a gripping story well worth reading. This is complete with strong characters, superb pacing, a solid but twisting plot, and a satisfying ending. In this story, we see the true meaning of courage. Again and again, Draven thinks he’s a coward, but we see that it’s not really weakness. If he was a coward, he would have killed that prisoner instead of face the shame of letting him live. Fear doesn’t make you a coward, and when you push on despite of fear, that’s courage.

Therefore, I give Draven’s Light five out of five satisfied stars and a PG-13 rating. You can find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads. :)

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Rosalie Valentine

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October 6, 2014

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A Time to Die Review – 5/5 Stars

“There was once a time when only God knew the day you’d die.
At least that’s what they tell me. I wasn’t alive then — back when life bore adventure and death held surprise. I guess God decided to share the coveted knowledge. Either that, or we stole it from Him. Personally, I think He just gave the world what it thought it wanted: control.
My thin rectangular Clock sits on the carved shelf across the room, clicking its red digital numbers — red like blood. Today marks the first day of my last year alive.
000.364.07.05.16
Three hundred sixty-four days, seven hours, five minutes, and sixteen — no, fifteen — seconds to live. I’ve always thought it cruel they include the seconds. But people want absolutes. They demand fine lines in a fuzzy world.”

Parvin Blackwater believes she has wasted her life. At only seventeen, she has one year left according to the Clock by her bedside. In a last-ditch effort to make a difference, she tries to rescue Radicals from the government’s crooked justice system. But when the authorities find out about her illegal activity, they cast her through the Wall to the perilous and mysterious West— her people’s death sentence. What she finds on the other side about the world, about eternity, and about herself changes Parvin forever and might just save her people. But her Clock is running out. And there is no certainty that she can survive long enough to use what she has discovered at such a harrowing cost. Will Parvin find a way to make her last bit of life meaningful before she zeroes-out? And how far is she willing to go? How much is she willing to lose? Can good really come out of a broken shalom?

Parvin is… human and a girl. She’s a little selfish and immature with a good dose of weakness mixed in and some fear and anger too, just for good measure. But she’s also sympathetic with a hidden streak of bravery. At the beginning and through the first bit of the book, that was all she had going for her. One of the things that I love (love, love, love) about this book is that she didn’t stay that way (for those of you who have read some of my other reviews, character development is kind of big deal for me). While she remains thoroughly human and a girl (that is to say, she’s not perfect), her bravery grows. She comes to know God and that is what really changed her from a feeble child to a courageous young woman. As I mentioned before, Parvin is weak and immature. After getting to know God, she begins to accept her weaknesses and rely on God instead of herself. ‘But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’ – 2 Corinthians 12:9 became her mindset. While she still has her immature moments, she displays subtle wisdom and supernatural peace as she learns.

Jude is dangerous, unpredictable, arrogant, and… mysterious. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Jude. He proves to be strong, loyal, smart, brave, and… still mysterious. I can’t stand heroes who act like boys and not men, but Jude was a breath of fresh air because he acts like a man – a real man. Honestly, I didn’t see as much change in Jude as I did in Parvin. Part of it was he didn’t need to grow as much as she did. His development was more of a softening or thawing that crept in quietly and inconspicuously, and that is exactly what makes him believable. Like Parvin, Jude is far from perfect, but he is thoroughly likeable and good at heart.

The dystopian world of A Time to Die is intriguing and seemingly limitless. Incredible technology paired with a tyrannical government gives it a flavor akin to The Hunger Games, but I find that that is the only resemblance. The Hunger Games showed the reader a chillingly godless and truly hopeless world (the version of hope in The Hunger Games is sad, unfulfilling, and lacking any sort of eternal dimension) while A Time to Die offers a brave hope merely in acknowledging the existence of God. With creative gadgets, diverse cultures, and an interesting landscape, the world of A Time to Die is well-built and intriguing.

What I appreciate most about this book is that God is not an afterthought thrown in to have “Christian” added to the label. God and the path to a meaningful life are the primary focus. Ms. Brandes flawlessly depicted Parvin’s interactions with God so that they were real and honest. They didn’t seem forced or clichéd at all.

I was hooked right at the beginning, but there were a few times I wish I had been shown more and told less in the first 70ish pages. Honestly, I would have cried, but this book simply shocked me to pieces. By the end my emotional state was that of a bubble. Now, I’m not saying these things to keep you from reading this book, rather, the opposite. But I’m trying to convey that this is not a fluff book. Ms. Brandes successfully carried out an exquisite ending, excellent characters, eloquent themes, an exciting world, and an engaging writing style.

Therefore, I give A Time to Die five out of five throwing, sleepless stars and a PG-13 rating.

Amazon and Goodreads