A Bit of Perplexing Trivia...

About a week or two ago, I was browsing through the Sunday newpaper, and I happened upon the "Books and Authors" supplemental section with book reviews provided by members of the Associated Press and other special correspondents.  The cover of one of the books immediately grabbed my attention because it was almost identical to the cover of Nancy Moser's An Unlikely Suitor, a spring release that I am eagerly anticipating.  But, it was not  An Unlikely Suitor, and because I was preparing for work, I set the paper aside with plans to look at the review more closely later. And as things usually go, the work week was busy, more time passed... and the paper was accidentally recycled!  Now, it is really bugging me because I want to figure out the title of the other book.  I would assume it was historical fiction, but it may be nonfiction.  I have tried searching the Internet and newpaper archives with no luck!  I am fairly certain that it was the same picture of the lady climbing the stairs, but I believe the man was absent from the right-hand side. 
Can anyone help me solve this puzzle?

Jane Eyre: A New Favorite

Jane Eyre, Masterpiece Theater 2006
Our Rating: 5 Stars

We have been convinced for the past few years that we would never find a movie that grasped us as strongly as Elizabeth Gaskells's North & South, but this adaptation of Jane Eyre proved us wrong.  Although Jane Eyre is a classic, with several movie adaptations, we have avoided the movie, perceiving the plot as too dark and melancholy.  While the story features such elements, we found the movie compelling and the characters emotions were portrayed with a raw and riveting quality that allowed us to be sympathetic to both Jane and Mr. Rochester.

Yet another adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's classic is due out in March 2011.  We look forward to possibly watching it, but we doubt it will surpass the 2006 Masterpiece version, at least in our eyes.

Just Between You and Me, Jenny B. Jones

Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis from www.cbd.com: Maggie lives life on the edge, seemingly unafraid of anything. But the image she so carefully constructed is coming undone.

Maggie's job as a videographer takes her around the world. She tells people's stories, especially those of impoverished children. That's when she feels most alive, like she's making the world better.
 
But when a secret from her past resurfaces, Maggie gets a call that sends her home. Her dad desperately needs her help. Her estranged sister has run off, leaving 8-year-old Riley in his care. She returns reluctantly, hoping to help her niece. There she reconnects with Cooper--a once awkward and shy, now handsome, veterinarian. Her feelings skyrocket when she's with him, but she's afraid if she shows him her true self, he'll reject her. 
 
An honest, hilarious journey that will transform Maggie--if she just learns to trust more and fear less.

B Squared's Review: My sister and I recently discovered Jenny B. Jones' work, and she has quickly become one of our new favorite authors.  Just Between You and Me whetted my appetite for reading more books by Ms. Jones, even the young adult titles that my sister mentioned in her review of Save the Date.

The cover of Just Between You and Me notes that it is "A novel of losing fear and finding God." That statement tidily sums up the main premise of the story, which teaches readers important lessons about life and faith, while maintaining a refreshing since of realism and humor.  I generally gravitate to the historical Christian fiction genre because I often find modern fiction unrelatable and at times too heavy on sarcasm and too light on inspiration.  Although Just Between You and Me contains sarcastic banter between the characters, I found it enjoyable and engaging.  I immediately connected with the main character Maggie.  Since the story is written in first person, I found it easy to understand Maggie's fears, struggles, and personality quirks.

Siri Mitchell's The Cubicle Next Door is responsible for drawing me into modern Christian fiction, and Jenny B. Jones' novels Just Between You and Me and Save the Date have just earned spots right next door in my book collection. Just Between You and Me is a novel that I highly recommend to fellow readers, and I am adding Jenny B. Jones to my favorite author list right now...

Book Giveaway Contest!

Win a Free Copy of Hearts Awakening,

Courtesy of B Squared!

Contest ends February 15, 2011.

Here is the product description from http://www.cbd.com/:

With no means to support herself, Ellie Kilmer agrees to work as a housekeeper for the young widower who lives on Dillon Island, hopeful she can obtain a proper reference. But Jackson Smith quickly realizes that Ellie's presence may solve his own problems--both the rearing of his young boys and the scandal that surrounds his first marriage. When a marriage of convenience is offered, Ellie is initially humiliated. Though she is past the age most women marry, she has more pride than to agree to his outlandish suggestion. Yet what options does she have? To marry would mean a home and stability. So despite the rumors circling Jackson and his first wife, Ellie accepts this unlikely proposal.

To enter our contest for a chance to win Hearts Awakening:

Leave a comment with your email address. Restrictions apply.*   

* Entries without email addresses are not valid.

* Due to shipping costs, this contest is only valid for persons with a mailing address in the contiguous United States.

Bonus Entries:

If you are a current or new follower and indicate this in your comment, you will receive one bonus entry. 

Contest Deadline:

The contest ends on February 15, 2011 at 11:59 pm EST.  Comments left after the close of the contest will not be valid. 

The winner will be announced on February 16, 2011 and notified via email.

Disclosures:

We are not responsible for lost or damaged items.  Books are conveyed “as-is.” 

Chances of winning are based on the number of entries received by the deadline.  Each entry will be assigned a number based on the order in which it is received.  A number will be drawn randomly at the conclusion of the contest.

Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones

Rating: 5 stars

What would you do if someone asked you to pose as their fiancee?  Depending on the situation, that may be a tough, or an easy, question for you to answer.  In Save the Date, Lucy Wiltshire is faced with that decision when she meets Alex Sinclair, a former professional football player and high school classmate.  He is running for a seat in Congress and needs to present an image that proves to voters he is settling down and embracing family values.  Despite Lucy's dislike of Charleston's wealthy, upper-crust society and Alex's arrogant attitude, she cannot deny that she relies on them to support the non-profit home for young women that she runs.

Facing the loss of Saving Grace, her home for girls, Lucy accepts Alex's offer, and the sparks begin to fly.  Lucy and Alex belong to two separate worlds, and she is determined that she will be immune to Alex's charms.  By spending so much time together, Lucy soon begins to see a different side to Alex. Will the cost of posing as a fake fiancee include her heart?

Save the Date is a fun and light-hearted read that I highly recommend!  When I read contemporary inspirational fiction, I sometimes feel that I lack a connection to the main characters, but Jenny B. Jones' writing has that magical "IT" factor for me.  She masterfully infuses Save the Date with just the right mixture of sarcasm, quirkiness, and serious moments that gives the story depth and keeps you turning the pages for more.  The characters are like real people, with flaws and weaknesses.  I could relate to some of Lucy's insecurities, and I was emotionally pulled into the story as she worked to resolve issues that she faced from her past and present.  The supporting characters add life and dimension to the story, and I especially loved Clare, a matriarch of Charleston society, and her assistant Julian. Reading Save the Date was like watching a fun romantic comedy that makes you want to watch it again.  In this case, Save the Date has a secure place on my shelf so I can re-visit Lucy and Alex. 

I am eagerly anticipating Jenny B. Jones' next novel.  I recently read Just Between You and Me, which is another five-star read, that I highly recommend as well.  Although I usually do not read many young adult fiction stories,  I plan to check out her Carol Award-winning young adult series in the near future (So Not Happening, I'm So Sure, and So Over My Head).

I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookSneeze through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”