My Rock and Refuge: A Review and Giveaway

 

Rachel Kovaciny has released another novel in the Once upon a Western series! It's a completely reimagined take on Beauty & The Beast, and it utelizes all the required tropes but has enough depth and character to stand on it's own as well. 

Beauty and the Beast... re-imagined

Marta knows she shouldn't feel this way toward Mr. Wendell. She needs to keep her job as his servant, especially because her family back in Germany depends on the money she and her brother Jakob send home. Marta's new feelings can't be as important as helping her family save their bakery, can they?

Marta doesn't want to believe the rumors that Mr. Wendell profited from another's tragedy to gain his wealth. Although his face bears terrible scars, she sees past them to his kind and generous heart. Still, she wonders why he never leaves his big house high in the Colorado mountains. Does he hide himself away because of his disfigured face, or because he has a guilty conscience?

While Marta tries to push away her questions, others are determined to find answers. Their efforts lead to a fresh tragedy that threatens Marta's hope of finding happiness with Mr. Wendell. Will Marta fail her family and her new friends, or will God bless her efforts to build a happy future for them all?

. . . 

My review

My Rock and Refuge is a sweet and poignant take on Beauty & the Beast. It flips some of the more tired and well-used tropes and turns what is usually somewhat of a toxic relationship into an applaudable romance. There's a certain maturity to the characters, that I haven’t seen in other adaptations. 

Marta is a delight. A sweet but strong character, who is determined to stand on her own. Her love of baking and unbreakable spirit won me over immediately. I like how her being an immigrant and unable to read is handled, and how it also afforded her traits that are usually attributed to the beast role. An interesting subversion I wasn’t expecting. I love the dynamic it created. 

I was commissioned to do the character art. Hope you like them!!

Arthur is far less abrasive and off-putting than the usual takes I’ve seen. He’s guarded and standoffish, but by all accounts, a gentleman if not a misunderstood one. His quiet nature is a good match to Marta’s exuberant one. I also like how they bond through the isolation they both feel due to their different situations. 

I personally prefer my characters more flawed, and at times found it a bit preachy
but despite that, I enjoyed this story immensely. The characters are so vibrant and their chemistry leaps off the page. If you're looking for a clean, well-written romance, this is the one.

It’s super cozy as well, it has all the trappings of a Ghibli film. Will have you craving fresh bread and apple pie. I recommended baking before you read.

(I received an arc with no obligation to post a review)

Giveaway

You can enter the giveaway here

This giveaway is open to US mailing addresses ONLY. It begins Tuesday, November 8, andends Sunday, November13. Two winners will be chosen on November 14, one for the FairyTale pack and one for the Old West pack.

If your not eligable for the giveaway there's also goodies if you buy the book at any point this month. 

Make sure you check out  Rachel's blog 

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Ink Blotted Beka// Blog Tour: Art Spotlight and Giveaway

I'm taking part in a blog tour this week. Unlike the other blog tours I've taken part in, this one isn't for a book. It's for art.

You can imagine my excitement at finding another artist. I'm always looking for fellow artists to follow and support. Beka is extremely talented and I'm glad she is sharing her gifts. Her art style is so whimsical and I adore it.

Here are some of her peices I really enjoyed.

Isn't she brilliant! I suppose I should introduce you to the beautiful artist.

Beka hails from the Great White North (aka Canada), where she reads, dreams, and doodles away. She loves bringing characters from the written page to the visual eye, and dabbles in pencil and coloured pencil and the occasional watercolor. Her dream is to one day get into digital art and save some trees.

You can find her here.

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She's Canadian that explains it. We are a talented bunch. 

Anyway, she is taking commissions now. So her next piece could be one of your characters. She is also hosting a giveaway and the prize is a free character drawing! I know a lot of you would be interested in that, so don't forget to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a44877ea10/?

You can check out the rest of the tour. For some interviews with Beka and posts like this one, that will probably be far better in fact I can almost guarantee it!

Oct. 1

Anne Louise Twitchell - Spotlight

Tammy Lash - Spotlight

Savannah J. - Spotlight

Oct. 2

Jenelle Schmidt - Spotlight

Bryn Schutt - Spotlight

Oct. 3

Skye - Spotlight

Katie Hanna - Spotlight

Oct. 4

Rebkah DeVall - Spotlight

Elizabeth Brown - Interview

Oct. 5

Penny Wood - Interview

Fran Laniado - Interview

Oct 6.

W.R. Gingell - Spotlight

Grace Mullins - Spotlight

Oct. 7

Rachel Rossano - Interview

Sarah - Spotlight

Oct. 8

Anna Willis - Spotlight

Grace Maples - Spotlight

Liv. K Fisher - Spotlight

Ann Marie Pavese - Spotlight

Dancing and Doughnuts Blog Tour: A Review and Giveaway

I been waiting for this one for awhile, guys. Rachel Kovaciny twists your favorite fairy tales into westerns. She is amazingly good at it to boot. You can find the rest of the tour here.

  https://hamlette.blogspot.com/p/dancing-doughnuts-blog-tour.html


I was so excited to get an arc of this story! I loved Man on the Buckskin Horse.Which I highly recommend!

The Review

This is a Twelve Dancing Princesses retelling, which I think the world needs more of. I would recommend having some snacks on hand as you read this. Doughnuts, if you can get them. It will make you incredibly hungry. Rachel has a way of describing food that makes your mouth water, especially the doughnuts.

The descriptions in this story are top notch and paint such vivid pictures. I love the Dance Hall most of all and the unique way she brought in the silver and gold trees, from the original story. The way she incorporated all the elements of the story was brilliant, actually. It was a thrill to read.

The main highlight for me was the characters.

Jedediah Jones is one of those honest and witty characters, with a heart of gold. I love how blunt he is and the way he views the world, he doesn't waste words and it makes him admirable character. He was a fun protagonist and made me laugh a lot. I loved his humorous take on all the shenanigans that ensue.

I love all the girls too! It's hard to utilize such a large cast in a short story, but it worked out fine.
They all were so different and even if I couldn't remember all their names. (Neither could Jed, so I don't feel bad) I did enjoy their differing personalities. Alice stands out the most of course, because of Jedediah interest in her. I enjoyed their banter. She's not a damsel in distress, but she's not one of those overly pushy girls either.

The mystery was well done too. Usually I can sort things out quickly, but this one evaded me. It was a great twist.

I also liked how well rounded all the characters were, even Mayor Gatz who play's more of a villainous role, wasn't a cliched, mustache twisting baddie. I always enjoy character's who don't seem like caricatures, they seem like people you've met or could meet. Which is what made all of the ones in this story so enjoyable.

All in all, a delightful take on a classic story!

I tried to think of one negative thing and I have nothing. If you like doughnuts, the old west, a good story, and shenanigans. I recommend this book!


The Author

Born only a few miles from where Jesse James robbed his first train, Rachel Kovaciny has loved the Old West all her life. She now lives in Virginia with her husband and their three homeschooled children. In her free time, Rachel writes for the magazines "Femnista" and "Prairie Times," reads, bakes, blogs, watches movies, and daydreams.

Her book "Cloaked" was a 2018 Peacemaker Awards finalist for Best Western YA/Children's Fiction.


Don't forget to follow her! She's as sweet as the doughnuts, she writes about.

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The Giveaway

You can enter here-  http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2b4f811754/

It ends September 9th.

The winner will receive an autographed copy of Dancing and Doughnuts, a copy of Log Cabin Cooking, and a Once Upon a Western tote bag that measures 15"x 18"x 6" with 22" handles.  You can enter in a variety of ways, including by visiting different tour stops each day.