Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The Promise of Deer Run Book Review

The Story Behind the Story: 
How The Deer Run Saga Was Birthed
By Elaine Marie Cooper
 
When I was young and first heard that one of my grandfathers had been a Redcoat during the Revolutionary War, I was somewhat embarrassed. Growing up in Massachusetts had made me proud of our country’s heritage. But instead of finding zealous patriots in my bloodline, my DNA was from an enemy soldier named Daniel Prince!
 
Calmer reasoning prevailed, however, as I thought about the reality of his story. Living conditions in Colonial times were difficult, to say the least. It was a frightening period of our history for both Americans and the British. And in the midst of our nation struggling to be birthed, two people on opposing sides in a bloody war met and fell in love.
 
This story from my family’s history was transformed in my thinking into an inspiring one of romance, unhindered by the politics of the day. It became, purely and simply, a love story.
 
And so was birthed the idea to create a fictional account of actual events. Since the story is from my imagination, I opted to change last names, the names of the communities, and many other details of the time. However, many of the historical events are documented facts.
 
The particular information on Daniel Prince’s military background was discovered thanks to the diligent work of Betty Thomson, independent researcher at The National Archives, Kew, in England. 
 
In book one, The Road to Deer Run and now in the sequel, The Promise of Deer Run, I made every effort to stay true to the colonial times. Descriptions of food, homes, clothing, farming, worship practices, medical care, etc. are the result of extensive research.
 
It has been a personally inspiring experience to write these novels. While the times have changed since the 18th century, the same struggles of their day are our own. Forgiveness, fear, pain, illness, despair, the pain of having a family member at war, the death of a loved one—these are all the battles we contend with in the 21st century. But we also share faith, laughter, love, the excitement of that first kiss, the wonder of looking at a newborn. These are the same joys that we share with our ancestors who are so much a part of who we are.
 
Their journeys are interwoven with our own.
 
My Review:
I read The Promise of Deer Run, by Elaine Marie Cooper, book two of the Deer Run Saga, in about two days. That is saying alot, since I am a mother of two toddlers and a full time student, reading is not something I have a lot of time for. When I agreed to read this to review on my blog, I was a little hesitant, as I am not a big fan of historical fiction, and I haven't read book one. The book, however, sucked me in! The writing in the book takes you back to a different time, a time when ladies were ladies, men were gentlemen, worked hard to put food on the table, and provide. Providing then was a bit different than providing now. If you didn't grow it or shoot it, you more than likely didn't eat it. There was no such thing as welfare, foodstamps or Medicare, and school was a luxury for many, rather than a requirement. This book took me back to this time, and was a quick read. I loved the writing as well as the storyline, and I absolutely can't wait to read book three! I would add this to your must-read list.

About the Author:
Elaine Marie Cooper grew up in Massachusetts but now lives in the Midwest with her husband, her three dogs and one huge cat. She has two married sons and triplet grandchildren who are now one years old. The Promise of Deer Run is dedicated to the triplets and to veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.



This book was received in exchange for reviewing the product. In no way was other compensation received, or did the compensator require a positive review.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Juppy: The Only Baby Walker that Fits in Your Purse!



I received a Juppy for review quite a while ago. I have been so busy, that getting this post done, as well as others, keeps getting put off. It was a joy to receive however, and while it does take some getting used to, it is a great product. I love the size, first of all. It is made of cloth, and comes in a pretty little pouch that the whole thing folds into. It is small enough to fit in a purse, diaper bag, or the back of your car, and is comfortable for baby to wear. If you have ever gone anywhere with baby that you wish you could have taken their walker or swing, this is for you.



The juppy is sooo much safer than a walker. Walkers have already been outlawed in Canada, and there is much negative publicity regarding them in the U.S. I never used them for my children, because of the harm they can cause. The juppy, because it is cloth and fits similar to a diaper does not cause the damage a walker can. And because you are holding it and walking with your child, there is not the danger of the child falling down stairs or something similar while in a walker.

So you heard why its so great for baby, but what do you get out of it, besides being able to carry it with you?  Well, as you can see in the picture above, it is a back saver!  If you have ever walked around holding your baby's hands, you know how it can strain your back.  With the juppy, the straps are adjustable to fit anyone, so your baby and you can go for a walk without throwing your back out of whack!

The only complaint I heard when letting my friends try it out, was it does take some getting used to, but as they say, practice makes perfect!

The juppy is a wonderful product, and I highly recommend it. For more information, or to purchase, please visit their website thejuppy.com