Starflower by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (The Goldwood Tales) Review #2

Yes Dear Readers, 

I am posting TWO reviews of Starflower! This book is so good that it was in both of my main book review groups. That means, you don't want to miss it! I'll give you a list of links to her other books here in a min, and my other review for Starflower as well. But first, let me tell you this is a great stand alone book. You could read it first with out having read the others in this series. If you have read the others in this series, then this book only enriches the series more. 
Eanrin, the Poet. Earnin the Bard. Earnin the Cheif Poet and Bard of  Rudiobus. Ahhh, Eanrin! The man who is a cat and one of the immortal fairy folk, but who is also a self-centered selfish wreck! Earnin's character touches me deeply because I have had someone special to me in my life for quite a while who calls himself a cat. In many ways he is very like Earnin. I don't want to ruin any plots or anything for anyone, but in this group we often delve deeper into a book to discuss things in our review. If that worries you go read my other reviews and skip this one down to the links to my other reviews of this book and this series. If that interests you, read on. :) 
By page 225 things get really good, not that they weren't good before, but that this is what I had been waiting for. I love The Hound, and the appearances of  Lumil Eliasul. I have to share a quote from the book too.... "To love is to empty one's Self, " said the Dragon. "To love is to surrender. To love is to lose."  Don't we all know people like this??? I do! It breaks my heart and I wonder, if they could but have eyes to see and read this would they finally understand? 
I so felt for the Black Dogs. I couldn't help but feel for those monsters like Starflower did. The mercy and love that just flows out when you look deeply. I felt sorry for their creation and though evil from birth like us all, that they could have a different purpose and out come if they only reached out enough.
Starflower's silence - her inability to speak as others, such a curse placed on her from her birth. But oh! Isn't that a plan of the Enemy of our souls for all women!? To take our voices, to keep us beat down, hurt and in submission so that we don't speak and our voices aren't heard. This just made me all the more determined to follow some of the paths laid before me that I am behind on traveling! 
I did have a hard time feeling too much empathy for the Dragonwitch, the fallen Queen. It was sad that she couldn't weep, and what she had done and wrought in her life, but her heart was so cold and so turned that I tended to feel that she had walked past the point of her ever turning and reaching for redemption. It made her quite strange to me, in her lost tangled up mind. I hope that Anne will one day tell us why she made the choices she did to become what she is now, and why she can't break free and return to her former form. That really did make me wonder about that. 
Already I am waiting for the next book from Anne Elisabeth Stengl. I am grateful to get to read them, and review them, and thankful that she is writing! I would urge those who are at all interested in good stories, fairy tails, or books that could change and influence in a life to read them! 
Carol :) 
Starflower first review: http://carolkeen.blogspot.com/2012/11/starflower-by-anne-elisabeth-stengl.html Moonblood: http://carolkeen.blogspot.com/2012/04/moonblood-by-anne-elisabeth-stengl.html Veiled Rose: http://carolkeen.blogspot.com/2011/07/veiled-rose-by-anne-elisabeth-stengl.html Heartless: http://carolkeen.blogspot.com/2010/07/heartless-by-anne-elisabeth-stengl.html
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she enjoys her profession as an art teacher, giving private lessons from her personal studio, and teaching group classes at the Apex Learning Center. She is married to the handsome man she met at fencing class and lives with him and a gaggle of cats. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. Heartless is her debut novel.

Anne Elisabeth is also the author of the Tales of Goldstone Wood, a series of fantasy adventure novels told in the classic Fairy Tale style.


ABOUT THE BOOK

The Black Dogs Are on the Hunt, But Who Is Their Prey?

When a cursed dragon-witch kidnaps fairest Lady Gleamdren, the Bard Eanrin sets boldly forth on a rescue mission...and a race against his rival for Gleamdren's favor. Intent upon his quest, the last thing the immortal Faerie needs is to become mixed up with the troubles of an insignificant mortal. 

But when he stumbles upon a maiden trapped in an enchanted sleep, he cannot leave her alone in the dangerous Wood Between. One waking kiss later, Eanrin suddenly finds his story entangled with that of young Starflower. A strange link exists between this mortal girl and the dragon-witch. Will Starflower prove the key to Lady Gleamdren's rescue? Or will the dark power from which she flees destroy both her and her rescuer? 

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

Author Website - http://anneelisabethstengl.blogspot.com/ 

Author Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anne-Elisabeth-Stengl/120543861335559?ref=ts&fref=ts

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764210262 

Those of us posting during this book tour with our reviews are as follows:

Gillian Adams
Beckie Burnham
Nikole Hahn
Bruce Hennigan
Janeen Ippolito
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Anna Mittower
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Dona Watson
Shane Werlinger
Phyllis Wheeler

Free copy for Kindle of White As Snow by Donna Westover Gallup!!!

Just in time for Christmas, we are delighted to announce the release of one last book for this year: The Crimson River by Donna Westover Gallup. It is the 4^th and final book in the Mysterious Ways series of novels, set in 1872 Colorado Territory & 2010 Denver, Colorado. After Charlie Smith comes of age, finds his fortune, and learns who to trust in the first 3 books, the story now fast forwards to 21st-Century Denver, with Charlie Smith's descendent as a main character, and with flashbacks to Charlie’s continued story. The plot involves a hunt for buried treasure based on clues found in Charlie's diary. Beloved characters from the first three books enter the picture and struggle against greedy antagonists and their own conflicted motives. Plot twists provide suspense and intrigue as well as romance and inspiration.

"I loved the history in this novel and the back and forth between ancestor Charlie and current events. Gallup intertwines the two stories with perfect balance coming to a perfect end.... If there is a book lover on your list this would make a great Christmas gift!" ~ Lindsey, IE Mommy blog review crew

"The twists and turns, the sharing of emotions, and the conclusion of the story will surprise and delight the reader.... I thoroughly enjoyed this series and recommend it to anyone who likes a good story. Each book in this series made me want to curl up in front of a fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate and travel back in time to the Colorado old west. "

~ Susan Bulanda, Examiner online

Paperback: 288 pgs / $12.99

Buy from Amazon.com or BN.com

e-Book: Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook

As a gift to you, we are offering the first book of the series, White As Snow: A Christmas Story, FREE on Kindle through Saturday, Dec. 8.

Check out the list of blogs featuring The Crimson River at www.cladach.com.

Donna Westover Gallup has dedicated much of her time to writing; but in her free time, she likes to golf, go boating, and explore the colorful state of Colorado. Her desire is to convey God's love through her writing. If you live near Pueblo, Colorado, you can meet Donna face-to-face at Barnes & Noble on Dec. 22 from 2-4pm during her book signing.

And a big thank you to Dan Young, the Colorado artist whose beautiful paintings were used for these book covers!

The Crimson River by Donna Westover Gallup

Today we have book four in the series, The Mysterious Ways, The Crimson River! 

It is a wonderful close to the series, and we hope to have more from this author later on with a new series! 

Carol 

PRESENTS:

.	THE CRIMSON RIVER A Frontier Novel Book #4 of the	********
	Set in1872 Colorado Territory & 2010 Denver, Colorado
	BOOK DESCRIPTION: The first three books of the Mysterious Ways series followed the adventures of Charlie Smith in the late 1800s, as he came of age, sought - and sometimes fought for - his fortune, and learned who to trust and who not to trust. Now, The Crimson River fast forwards to 21st-Century Denver, with Charlie Smith's descendant as a main character, and with flashbacks to the late 19th Century. The plot involves a hunt for buried treasure based on clues found in Charlie's diary. Beloved characters from the first three books enter the picture again. They struggle against greedy antagonists and their own conflicted motives. The reader is kept guessing with plot twists that provide suspense and intrigue as well as romance and inspiration.
	Paperback: 288 pgs / 5.25" x 7.5" / $12.99Buy from Amazon.com or BN.com e-Book: Amazon Kindle / B&N Nook
	ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Donna says she is "the mother of three grown daughters, the mother-in-law of two wonderful men, and the grandmother of three of the world's sweetest boys." She and her husband, Don, live in Pueblo, Colorado with their boxer, Cheyenne. Donna enjoys living in the area where "Charlie lived." She has dedicated her time to her writing ministry; but in her free time, she likes to golf, go boating, and explore the colorful state of Colorado. Her desire is to convey God's love through her writing.
	READ AN EXCERPT HERE. http://cladach.com/Crimson-excerpt.html
	OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES: #3: IN GREEN PASTURES: A FRONTIER NOVEL #2: ROCK OF REFUGE: A FRONTIER NOVEL #1: WHITE AS SNOW: A CHRISTMAS STORY As a gift to readers, the publisher is offering White As Snow: A Christmas Story FREE on Kindle Dec. 4-8 !

Mysterious Ways TRAILER:

An interview with Donna Westover Gallup, author of the Frontier Fiction Series: 1. When did you decide to become a writer? Donna: I dabbled in creative writing in high school where I wrote several short stories that were published in our high school magazine. I also played the guitar and wrote several songs, mostly ballads and country gospel. Then when I married and started raising my family, I put the guitar and the pen down and dedicated myself to my family. Years later, when the girls were grown and on their own, a little story popped into my head. I heard loud and clear the simple message from the Lord: "Write!" 2. How did you think up the story of Charlie, the main character in your Mysterious Ways series? When you started out, did you plan to write only one book or did you plan a series from the beginning? Donna: When that story popped into my head, it was a thought about a boy who meets someone very special at Christmas time. That boy was Charlie Smith, the main character in the series. I was only going to write one book; but as I started to write the chapters, I realized it needed to be a series. 3. Your characters are so believable, and the plots flow so naturally, that the writing must come easily to you. Is that true? Donna: Some of it was easy, and often therapeutic for me; but some of it was a real struggle. I don't write from an outline; I write from my heart. If the words flow well, if they clearly reveal the emotions of the characters, if they touch anyone's heart at all, it is because God was touching me. 4. What year or time period in history would you have liked to live? Why? Donna: I often say I was born 150 years too late. I love the Old West…cowboys, horses, ranches, log cabins … and did I say horses? As a small child, I only wanted to play with the plastic cowboys and Indians. I had a bouncy horse that I rode so hard it would come inches off the ground (scared my mother to death). I was most comfortable in jeans and a cowboy hat. 5. What is your favorite Christmas tradition? Donna: Caroling! I especially love caroling in the snow. I love being in a large group of singers, holding candles, bundled to the Nth degree, and harmonizing together ... then topping it off with hot chocolate! 6. Are you still writing? Donna: Besides recently completing the manuscript for the 4th and final book of the Mysterious Ways series (The Crimson River), I do have a couple other stories running through my head. Both are fictitious with historical/biblical truths. 7. Where on the Internet can we find you? Donna: You can find me on my website: www.northstarstories.com andwww.cladach.com/Westover-Gallup.html