Behind the Scenes of Burning Rose by Hope Ann

The week we have all been waiting for. (*cough* you've been waiting for this week as much as me, right? *cough*) Yes, as I was saying... Burning Rose is here! You heard me fanbling about this book a little while ago, and today's the official release date! I am SO excited to get my hands on my own copy of Burning Rose!

A war, founded in ancient legends, changes the lives of those it touches forever.

Elissa, a villager from the northern mountains, attempts to save her brother and ends up trapped

in a hidden valley with a strange host and a treacherous enemy.

Evrard, the Wingmaster of the Prince’s army, races against his own weakening powers to

discover the location of his twin and save her from deadly mistbenders.

Haydn, a pardoned rebel from Tauscher’s army, confronts shadows of myth and former

comrades in his struggle to keep his sister safe and find the stolen Stormestone.

BONUS

Before the war, before the legends, before the Separation, there was a man who started it all.

There was a curse, a promise, and a sacrifice. There was the Oathkeeper.

Fairy tales retold as you have never heard them before.

ROSE OF THE OATH: Beauty and the Beast

SONG OF THE SWORD: Rapunzel

SHADOWS OF THE HERSWEALD: Hansel and Gretel

and

ROSE OF THE NIGHT: a Rose of the Oath prequel

Order Burning Rose now!

Read on to see my review of this lovely book... but first, here's a bit o' behind the scenes of Burning Rose by Hope Ann. It's on the music inspiration for Rose of the Oath, and if you wish to see more about it, make sure to visit Hope's web sight here.

I enjoy music. I find it hard to write without listening to soft soundtracks, though loud siblings might have something to do with that. But not only do I enjoy listening to music as I write, I also love finding songs for my characters. Sometimes I can find them, sometimes I can’t. Sometimes they are perfect and sometimes they are only close. The song for Adrian, from Rose of the Oath, is pretty close. It is Love Feels Like by TobyMac: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73CNoOoMdxo 

Read Adrian’s full story in my new paperback collection, Burning Rose!

My review of Burning Rose: ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩
Did I just put six stars? YES! I could give it more, seeing as it's four five star-worthy stories. 😁
I really, really liked Burning Rose. The four stories in it are written in such a fresh, inspiring, and beautiful way. I found out about them from being personal friends with the author so I read the first for that reason, but after that, I was simply hooked! I've never read any other fairy tale retellings and I'm not really into fairy tales, but I do love fantasy and adventures, and these stories are amazing. Everyone takes you on an on-the-edge-of-your-seat thrilling journey. The ingredients for a book being likable for me is, either tale of simple ordinary life or an exciting adventure, lovable and relatable characters, and an encouraging message that's perfectly seeped into the story line without saying it right out. For me, Burning Rose was perfect.

Adventure- Every story keeps you flipping pages as you follow along with Elissa, Evrard, and Haydn to find answers to questions in their personal lives, and what the sacrifice of the Prince can do for them. Their different stories happen before the war, during the war, and after the war. There's action and swords and all that exciting stuff. 😉 There's a sort of mysterious feel to the beginning of all the stories as various backstory events are hinted at here and there. The endings were all very satisfying with all of the loose threads tied up. All of the plots develope brilliantly.
Characters- I must admit that the people in the stories are usually my favorite part of reading any book. And these characters--wow! I saw so much of myself in them. I found myself so involved with them. I felt their joy, pain, surprise, and triumphs. Everyone has wonderful character arcs that I loved reading.
Theme- Every story has a different fruit of  the spirit theme. I learned a lot from them, but we are never told flatly out the message. Instead, we learn by the experiences of the characters. Elissa learns what love really is. So do we. Evrard learns the true source of joy. So do we. Haydn learns to let peace into his life, and we see how we can, too.

I'm so happy to see these four wonderful stories finally put together in one book that I can hold. Hope has a magical touch with writing; so gripping and moving. I am very much looking forward to reading what she writes next.

Alright. I'm done for now. All of you people who read all of the way to the end, I highly recommend you considering buying this book. It will be well worth it. :) 

Make Today Count

"We shall have all eternity to celebrate the victories, but only a few hours before sunset to win them." ~Amy Carmichael

 We only have one life. And believe me, it may go faster than most of us expect. If we aren't aware of what is going on around us, we will suddenly realise that the time has swiftly gone from sunrise to sunset.

 How can we make today count? How do we wish to live our lives? What do we want to exchange our days for?

"Through this toilsome world, alas!

Once and only once I pass;

If a kindness I may show,

If a good deed I may do

To a suffering fellow man,

Let me do it while I can.

No delay, for it is plain,

I shall not pass this way again."

~ Unknown

That one day. That one chance to do good and help another along. We must take the chances "for it is plain, I shall not pass this way again."

Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone's burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

~Will L. Thompson 

When the sunsets everyday, we should ask ourselves "have I done any good?" And the more you think on it, the more you'll realise how many chances you have to help others, whether you took them or not was your choice.

 
This is a lesson the Lord is teaching me more and more everyday. I have to decide what I'm going to do, who I'm going to serve, how I'm going to live. It's a choice we all are making all the time.

". . .Choose you this day whom ye will serve. . .but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

~ Joshua 24:15 (KJV)

 I wanted to share this message with you all because it's SO IMPORTANT! Life is happening no matter what. And the encouragement I'd like to share is that any good deed that you did in a day makes it a golden day to treasure forever. Every day is worth living because every day the Lord provides ways for you to succeed and grow. He is with you every hour of your life.

While I'm on the subject of how we spend our days, I'd like to let you all know that, despite my lack of posts and comments and emails and whatever else, I'm still here. Blogging has slipped farther down on my list of priorities, but be assured that you friendship has not. I often think of my wonderful Blog friends as I go throughout my day and I wonder how you're doing and hope all is going well. And so, while I do take a long time to reply sometimes, I have not left. :)

I hope all has been going splendidly in all you have been doing this year!

 Your friend,
S. F.

Note: All pictures in this post be me and my sisters.