Roseanna White - Roseanna M. White

Thoughtful About . . . My Week

by Roseanna White | Oct 28, 2010 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized

First, today’s my best friend Stephanie Morrill‘s birthday, so all you mutual acquaintances should go wish her a happy 27th. =)

Now as to my oh-so-broad topic for the day.

It’s been a busy week. Last Saturday was Xoe’s 5th birthday, which of course means that last Friday was spent making her cake. For those who tuned in last Thursday and saw my picture of “this is what I’m going to make, hopefully it’ll turn out,” here’s a picture of how it actually DID turn out. Not too shabby, eh? Xoe was tickled with it, which is what matters. =)

Her party went well–the kids played it up at Chick-Fil-A, and Mommy didn’t have to worry with the cake crumbs. Awesome.

Sunday I finally cleared out my closet and dresser, a task I have been putting off since MAY. Oh boy, can I ever procrastinate! Yesterday I carted off the three garbage bags of clothes I no longer wear.

There was a “supposed to” this week that involved a trip to North Carolina, which I am rather glad didn’t happen. I won’t get into the details of this impromptu vacation, the idea of which stressed me to the max, but we’ve all been a little under the weather (changing seasons–argh), so it was just impossible. Shucks. Really. (Though I could have done without the stuffy nose and headaches . . .)

Yesterday I got the full cover for Jewel of Persia, and the back is just as awesome as the front, as usual. I’m posting it below so you can see the awesomeness of the bracelet. =)

This Saturday my church is taking a trip into Pennsylvania to visit our parent church. Tomorrow I’m making a pumpkin flavored cake–no jack o’ lantern faces on this one, LOL–for the lunch following. The kids are staying here with the designated babysitter (my sister dear), and then that evening is trick or treating. Should be fun!

Thrilling, I know. I intended to have deeper thoughts today, but alas. Getting a book cover just totally consumes me, LOL, and I can’t think anything deeper than “Ooooooo! Aaaaahhhhh!” 😉

Remember When . . . Ben Franklin Inspired the Masses?

by Roseanna White | Oct 27, 2010 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized

In my historical about Annapolis, I’ve decided to have a secondary character who is a bit obsessed with Poor Richard’s Almanac and all the wisdom Ben Franklin shares within it. So I thought I’d share a few of the gems with you too. Some of these things I hadn’t realized originated with good ol’ Ben–others are just hilarious. =) And some were quoted so frequently that they often get confused with scripture, LOL.

Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

What is serving God?

Tis doing good to man.

God helps those who help themselves.

The poor have little,

Beggars none;

The rich too much,

Enough not one.

After crosses and losses, men grow humbler and wiser.

If you would not be forgotten
As soon as you are dead and rotten,
Either write things worthy reading,
Or do things worth the writing. (My personal favorite.)

Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards. (LOL)

Work as if you were to live a hundred years,
Pray as if you were to die tomorrow.

One good Husband is worth two good Wives; for the scarcer things are, the more they’re valued. (LOL again)

There are tons more of these, and I mean tons. But that should be enough to get you through your Wednesday. =)

Story Time . . . WHERE HEARTS ARE FREE by Golden Keyes Parsons

by Roseanna White | Oct 26, 2010 | Uncategorized

I read with great delight the first two novels in the Darkness to Light Series centered around the Huguenots’ plight in 17th century France, so I was really looking forward to this final installment about the son of the first two’s heroine. Where Hearts Are Free travels to the New World and takes up residence in Pennsylvania–and in the reader’s heart.

Philippe Clavelle, once French royalty, is forced to become an indentured servant to help pay for his family’s passage from France when their money is all stolen on the ship. He’s lucky–he ends up with a kind family on a plantation outside Philadelphia. His brother Charles doesn’t fare so well and is bound to a cruel master in the city.

Bridget Barrington’s perfect childhood is marred by a scene she witnessed years ago, a terrible murder that has haunted her. The only person she ever dared tell about it is their groom, Philippe. There’s something about the young Frenchman. Something that, as she grows up, makes her heart blossom in love. She doesn’t care that he is a servant and she an heiress–she sees the nobility in him, the honor. But he cannot see past her Catholicism, and her parents arrange instead an engagement to a man more of her station. But Edward Moorehead isn’t what he seems, and when Philippe realizes the danger she is in, his own heart comes into focus.

Where Hearts Are Free is a story of romance, danger, and faith. Both characters struggle with where heart and duty collide, with being true to their heritage versus being true to themselves. I adored the sweet strength of Bridget–loved how it could lead her either to rebellion or obedience, depending on what seemed necessary at the time. And Philippe! Ah, now there’s a hero. He combines a characters of nobility with an integrity that has embraces the value of hard work–and he must work for everything. For his freedom, for his brother, for the woman he loves, and for his family’s approval where she is concerned. But my favorite part, aside from the beautiful love story, was watching the faith of the characters deepen through the pages of the book.

While there were wonderful glimpses into the lives of the Clavells we loved from the first two books as they took up farming, it never overwhelmed the main story of Philippe and Bridget, which makes this story stand on its own feet quite solidly.

Those who have read the other Darkness to Light novels definitely won’t want to miss this final book. And those who haven’t, but love historical romance, should pick this one up anyway. It combines Old World charm with the basic longings we all feel–that need to be free, both in our persons and our hearts. Where Hearts Are Free is a fabulous novel that will enrich you as it entertains you. I can’t recommend it enough!

*This book was a complimentary copy given to me for review purposes.

Modern . . . Not So Very

by Roseanna White | Oct 25, 2010 | Uncategorized

So, knowing it was going to be a fairly crazy weekend, given my daughter’s 5th birthday party, when I chose a book to read on Friday, I went for something I knew would be light, quick, and interesting–I picked up a Nora Roberts my mom had lent me. I don’t read mainstream fiction all that much anymore, so it feels like a break from the norm when I do.

This one has made me grin in several places. It’s contemporary, as almost all of Nora Roberts’ books are. Only, this contemporary was written some 17 years ago. It’s kind of funny. And hammers home the little ways a manuscript can get dated when we try our darnedest not to let it happen. The biggest of the key items . . .

1.) Fashion – obviously when we’re describing our characters and how gorgeous they look in their this or that, we touch on what the this and that is. Never imagining that nearly two decades later someone will be reading our book going “A silver jumpsuit?? Really?” and “A short-sleeved sweatshirt? Oh, wow, dude. That’s, um . . . something.”

2.) Technology – do you remember the world before cell phones? When it was cutting-edge to have a car phone? When there were phone booths on every corner? That’s the world this book is written in. Obviously an author has no choice but to work with the technology available, but it’s still funny to think how now we have to go out of our way to explain a lack of cell phone if we want out characters cut off and vulnerable.

Anyone else have any fun examples of ways contemporaries can suddenly strike you as being not-so-very-contemporary? Not that these detract from the story, mind you. But they’ve given me a few grins.