Book Review for: Forever Liesl #bookreview #soundofmusic

 Forever Liesel Review

Written by: Charmian Carr with Jean A.S. Strauss

eISBN: 978-0-140-29840-6

Published by: Penguin Books

3.5 Stars

Reviewer’s Note: I discovered the Sound of Music in 1987. I was 21 and stationed in Germany at the time.  (I was active duty, US Army.) The movie really struck a chord in me. It embodied love, hope, and me believe anything was possible with faith. I visited Salzburg on leave and fell in love with the city. It still looked as it did during filming.

I loved the character of Liesel. Charmian hit all the right notes with her character.  Hope. Disappointment. A willingness to learn. 16 going on 17 was my favorite song.

When I heard Charmian Carr passed away on 17 September 2016, due to complications from a rare form of dementia, a part of me realized how important her character had become to the fabric of my outlook on life. I went searching on Amazon to see if there were any books I could about Charmian and her career. What a treat that I found “Forever Liesel.” Her prologue to the book sums up what I feel when it comes to the movie and how “Liesel” made a deep impression on those who watched the movie.

REVIEW:

Charmian Carr shares her life experiences filming the “Sound of Music” and how those experience impacted her life with “Forever Liesel.” Charmian comes from a complicated home, but possesses a natural talent to entertain. This talent brings her to the attention of Saul Chaplin, a producer for the “Sound of the Music.” After several auditions, Charmian is hired.

Her story is like a fairytale for many readers. Carr shares the highs and lows of being recognized as “Liesel” throughout her life, along with intimate tidbits that occurred while filming the movie.

Written in a charming voice and an intimate style which is easy to read, one can hear Carr’s voice in their head as they  turn the pages.  If you’re a fan of the movie, you will enjoy Carr’s story which is “Forever Liesel.” 

Question for you:  Who was your favorite character in "The Sound of Music?" 

Snippet Sunday: 99 cents Christmas romance: Gifts #wewriwa

Hi all, I'm participating in the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday. This month, I'll be taking snippets from my Christmas romance, Gifts. You can find the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday list at:

About this snippet:  Famke meets her new ice skating partner.


ENJOY THIS SNIPPET:

Chris had always been tall, but slim, with a wild haircut and a very pale complexion. He was still tall, but now he filled out his clothes well with his muscular frame and broad shoulders. His hair was golden- yellow, but he'd found a cut that framed his face to perfection. She spied a scar on his temple, and despite the imperfection, it gave him a very masculine appearance. Oh, dear. Christian Jansen had become a very handsome man.

He approached, his gait emphasizing the force of his thighs and the slimness of his hips. She prayed a man that good looking wasn't vain and self-absorbed. She couldn't work with anyone who was like that.

Christian stopped and held out his box, "Hi. I bought you a gift." 
She pointed to her chest, a bit surprised, "For me?"

GIFTS: 

BLURB:  

Figure skating is in Christian Jansen's blood. When he trips on uneven ice and drops his partner, Chris breaks his arm. Now he's looking for a second chance.

Famke deVries lost her skating coach four months ago. Needing to connect with her roots, she returns to Amsterdam and agrees to be Christian's new skating partner.

Christian and Famke connect on a deep level, understanding each other's losses, but will their chemistry off the ice interfere with their goal to go to the Olympics? 

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON:   http://a.co/6oQwA7j

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gifts-stephanie-burkhart/1119887259?ean=2940046043990

Smashwords :https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/452577

iBooks:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/gifts/id894235912?mt=11

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18271548-gifts

REVIEWS:

5 Stars, Joy Cagil, Amazon Reviewer:  "This love story is a joy to read."

5 stars, Delores Goodrick Beggs, Amazon Reviewer: "The touches of Old World Christmas combined with Olympic ice skating make this well-written story a special read I couldn't put down."

5 Stars, Diana Amper, Amazon Reviewer: "Excellent Short Story." 

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Happy Thanksgiving 2016!!

Happy Thanksgiving 2016!!

It's been a very busy year for me this year, but I wanted to wish my friends, family, and readers a very Happy Thanksgiving!  I'm thankful for turkey, pies, football and sharing quality time with my family. Here's an update on my year: 

I continue to be busy. I'm now teaching 5^th grade religious education for my church. I'm using a facilitated style which the kids enjoy. I recently became Cubmaster of Pack 40. It was very unexpected and I'm looking forward to leading the scouts in a great year of scouting. While I was able to start 2 stories, I haven't had the time to finish them and I hope to do so next year. I bowl with the boys in the parent/child league. 

Wishing you all a happy holiday season! I know the holidays will be busy but take a minute or two for yourself and relax. Here's a snippet from my steampunk romance, A Princess is Always Right, released in SEP 2015.

BLURB: Sophia's torn between her duty to England and her heart when she's tasked to travel through time to stop Jonas from mucking with history.

ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:

She wrinkled her brow. What did she want? To go home and train horses and pray the press leave her alone? To support charities? Sure, the task was noble, but not...fulfilling. Would she be dispatched through Great Britain as a goodwill ambassador? Did she want to seek higher schooling like Richard had? Was there a balance to be found between her personal life and her royal obligations? Richard and Alice seemed to find that balance, but Sophia felt almost rudderless in this moment. Did she want to remain a princess or enjoy the anonymity that Edmund possessed? 

She ran a hand over her hair. She'd never felt so directionless before. Why was that? Because she wanted Jax in her life? They had discussed visiting each other using the time machine before Augustus' uncle passed away, but Sophia believed travel wouldn't be approved just for dating. 

"You're a Windsor. Duty first. Love second. That's what I did and the nation benefited because of it." Liz's voice filled with pride. 

"I had no idea it was such a thought provoking question." He kept his voice light in an effort to put her at ease.

BUY LINKS:

PUBLISHER:http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/the-windsor-diaries-book-four-a-princess-is-always-right-epub/

AMAZON: http://a.co/fLXTuFo

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-princess-is-always-right-stephanie-burkhart/1122644143?ean=2940150862906


5 Stars, Liz Gavin, Amazon Reviewer:As usual, Stephanie Buckhart delivered a great book. ‘A Princess is always right’ is a very well-written story with likeable characters and lots of adventure. I recommend it for fans of fantasy and/or good books.