Julia & Everett from A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears

I just finished reading A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears!  This is her debut novel and I’m already excited to see what stories she’ll share with the world next.

The concept for the story isn’t anything new; it’s a romance starting with a marriage of convenience so you already know the story is going to be about how the characters fall in love.  No matter how heart-wrenching and emotional the story gets, as a reader, there’s safety in knowing it will all work out in the end.  Melissa does not disappoint, and makes the journey well worth the read.  She’s taken a familiar concept and made it her own.

With this kind of story I seem to have a habit of reading compulsively, not wanting to put the book down, almost as if the faster I read, the sooner the characters will fall in love and work out their problems.  I loved both the main characters from the start, Everett who’s had the unlucky fortune of losing 3 mail order brides before Julia, and Julia who’s lived a life of privilege financially but been mistreated physically and emotionally.  They were both very sympathetic characters and I was routing for them all the way.  Sometimes I get frustrated when characters take this long to work out their problems, but Everett and Julia’s issues were really brought to life, so that although they did take their sweet time to warm up to each other, it didn’t seem like things were happening too slow.  Their emotions were never contrived and always seemed natural which, I think is Melissa’s writing strength.

I usually try to not do any of my drawings from the end of a book, but since even the title implies the characters will be together in the end, I don’t feel bad about making a spoiler drawing for a change.  I wanted to do the opposite from the cover and have the characters facing each other, so the inspiration for this drawing comes from the last scene before the epilogue.  I didn’t give it a background, but the scene takes place in the barn, and Julia is in her nightgown!

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and I thank Melissa for telling me about it so I could get a review copy from her publisher for this feature!  Check out her website:  http://melissajagears.com/

-Monica

Rules of Murder- Sketches

Since DeAnna asked, I'm going to share with you a few extra sketches I did while thinking about her book, Rules of Murder.  I'll also give you a little peak into the workings of my brain as I share my thoughts about each one.

The one above is Drew finding the secret passage behind the file cabinet.  My cat walked on it with muddy paws... good thing I'm too old for homework assignments, or they'd all end up looking like this!  If I were going to finalize this I'd be a lot more specific with the background, and shrink Drew's head slightly to make him look more mature- the proportion is a little off.

For the sketches I did of Madeline's party dress I was inspired by this image from a vintage pattern.  This was just one way she could have looked.  I drew her with her hair up here, just because it looked good with the pose.  I recently got a book on Art Deco Fashions which inspired said pose.

Here's a couple closeups.  I'm not sure they are quiet right.  I felt like drawing a cloche on Madeline, just because I like them, although they wouldn't have been as popular in the 1930's.  As for Drew... maybe this would actually be a good look for Nick instead of Drew?  I think Drew's features need to be more solid.  I can't wait to read the next books in the series, so I'll share more sketches with you when I do!

Drew Fathering from Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering

Since Halloween was this week, reviewing a mystery story seems appropriate.

The setting is England, and the murders are happening right on the grounds of Drew Fathering’s estate.  Drew starts out as a bored aristocrat, but if murder can’t shake a person up, who knows what can? 

Frustrated with the local law enforcement’s investigation, Drew and his best friend Nick start poking about.  There’s a house full of the usual suspects, but there’s some safety in knowing that the love interest, Madeline Parker (an American related to Drew’s stepfather) is with Drew during the first murder so there’s no fear of betrayal when it comes to her character.  And of course, as a certain Father Knox stipulates, “The detective must not himself commit the crime.”

Right off, I love the title: Rules of Murder.  Makes a person think, hmm… are there any rules to murder?  Father Knox seemed to think so.  He was a writer in late 1920s who laid out a set of rules for detective stories.  As Drew Fathering mucks about trying to solve this murder mystery, he and Nick have a running banter on Knox’s rules.  In her afterward, the author admits that her inspiration came from a desire to bend and break Knox’s rules, all in good fun, of course.  My favorite rule is this one:

“The stupid friend of the detective, the Watson, must not conceal any thoughts which pass through his mind; his intelligence must be slightly, but very slightly, below that of the average reader.”

Inspired by the party scene in the begining.

Sorry Nick, I guess that makes you the stupid friend!  Wait… does that make me the stupid reader?  You can read the rest of the rules here:  http://www.thrillingdetective.com/trivia/triv186.html

I haven’t read a lot of murder mysteries but I’ve always loved watching the BBC shows based off them like Sherlock Holmes, Poirot, Miss Marple, etc.  I like that Drew is young, handsome, and follows his instincts as he investigates.  By the end of the novel his character has grown a lot, but he’s still just a fledgling detective.  I’m excited to keep reading the series to see how he grows even more.  I didn’t mention Madeline much; she could use her own post because she’s a great female lead.  I love that she had a strong, unwavering faith.

You can read “Rules of Murder” now, the next in the series “Death by the Book” will be available in Spring of 2014!  http://juliannadeering.com/

-Monica

I was provided a copy from the author for this review.  Thanks Julianna, if that is your real name... lol

Eve from Sweet Mercy by Ann Tatlock

“Sweet Mercy” is a thoroughly good story.  The 1930’s is a fascinating era to read about, and if you’re lucky enough, a fascinating one to be told first-hand accounts about.  My Grandmother was born in the 30’s and has told me more than once how her mother served the out-of-work men at a picnic bench on the lawn.  Her house was right by the railroad tracks and was one marked for hospitality.  With this bit of family history of my own, it was endearing to me that “Sweet Mercy” started out with Eve as a Grandmother, reminiscing of her youth during this time to her grandson.

Throughout the book, Eve’s thoughts make the story personal, and the activity of her family and life at the lodge they run lead to some exciting plot twists.  When something happens that causes her to never look at life the same again, it’s engrossing to follow along as she deals with her new perspective on life.

As she’s reflecting, trying to make sense of the world, she remembers a time when Al Capone, Public Enemy Number One, showed her kindness and acted as her guardian angel by tending a skinned knee.  It illustrates the question, how can someone be a good person yet do bad things?  It was this scene that inspired the image below. 

In addition to the pondering questions, there’s also some romance, of course!  Usually when there’s romance involved I’m a pretty good guesser on who the main love interest is, usually it’s rather obvious, but this one kept me wondering for a good portion of the story.  I really liked that because it brought me back to the way I felt as a teen when life was so full of uncertainty and possibilities.  Any of the young men in Eve’s life could have been a match, but happily, she ended up with the one I was routing for.  Due to Ann’s skillful writing, I’m sure that was no coincidence.

-Monica




 

I was provided a review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my two-bits!

An Artful Weekend

This weekend I was a part of an Art Studio Tour here in Wisconsin.  It's an annual event that takes place every October where artists from my region all open their studios on the same day and offer a free map for visitors to come on a self-guided tour.  This was my second year participating, although the weather was bad on Saturday, Sunday was absolutely beautiful!  Here's a link to the tour, mark it on your calendar for next year if you're in the area!  http://www.fallingleavesarttour.com/

My studio is just across from the house in an old grainery.  It's still a work in progress, but the goal is to make it a fully functional studio space!

I had fun displaying some of the illustrations from the blog in the front room, and in the back I had some artwork for sale.

If you'd like, you can check out more photos on my facebook page.

Post by Monica Bruenjes, Artist, Animator.

Maggie from Maggie’s Journey by Lena Nelson Dooley

 

Today I’m excited to post about, “Maggie’s Journey” by Lena Nelson Dooley.  Lena has kindly offered me review copies of all three stories in her McKenna’s Daughters series so I can share about them with you!  As the series suggests, each story focuses on a different sister however, the fun part is, they’re not just sisters they’re triplets!

“Maggie’s Journey” is a sweet coming of age tale set on America’s west coast in 1885.  Much of the story concerns Maggie’s relationship with her mother, but there’s also tender moments with her Grandmother and a little romance with a certain gentleman as well.  Having the heart of an artist, she aspires to be a dress designer like her Grandmother, but her mother isn’t so sure.  When Maggie finds out about her adoption, her already strained relationship with her mother worsens, but as the title implies, she soon sets out on a life-changing journey.  Accompanied by her widowed aunt, her father’s debonair new business partner, and her tumultuous feelings, Maggie sets off to visit her Grandmother several states away.

By the end of the story her trip has taken her on a spiritual journey as well as physical, and I love that Maggie isn’t the only character with personal growth.  Charles, the main love interest, and both Maggie’s mother and father, all experience spiritual growth and come to have a deeper faith in God.  “Maggie’s Journey” was a good read, one that can be enjoyed by teens as well as adults.

Like Maggie, I have a passion for outfits, but personally I’ve never thought of becoming a fashion designer.  In the story, Maggie finds a dress made for her mother by her grandmother and decides to wear it for her birthday party.  Because it was worn by her mother, I think it would be an 1860’s style evening dress.  It could look something like the one above.

One of my favorite parts takes place on Maggie’s train trip home.  She sketches Charles while he’s not looking.  Ah the artist in love!

I’ll be featuring the next two stories soon! 

-Monica 

Free kindle book: Sept. 25th-29th

The children's book I illustrated is free on kindle today through Sunday. It covers a bit of a heavy topic, but is a touching story with a good message.

 Get it for free here:
 When My Daddy Died, I... (Things I Miss About My Dad)

-Monica