How precious are Your thoughts to me, O LORD ... how vast is the sum of them!

Thursday, June 1, 2017

The Secret Slipper Blog Tour

Welcome to June, everyone! Today I’m excited to be a part of the blog tour for Amanda Tero’s latest release, The Secret Slipper. I’ve been following Amanda’s releases for a while now (and reading as many of them as I can!), and I was particularly excited about The Secret Slipper, as it’s a retelling of my favorite fairy tale, Cinderella.



About the Book

Being a cripple is only the beginning of Lia’s troubles. It seems as if Bioti’s goal in life is to make Lia as miserable as possible. If Lia’s purpose is to be a slave, then why did God make her a cripple? How can He make something beautiful out of her deformity?

Raoul never questioned the death of his daughter until someone reports her whereabouts. If Ellia is still alive, how has she survived these ten years with her deformity? When Raoul doesn’t know who to trust, can he trust God to keep Ellia safe when evidence reveals Bioti’s dangerous character?

As time brings more hindrances, will Raoul find Ellia, or will she forever be lost to the father she doesn’t even know is searching for her?


Purchase HERE.

My Review

As I mentioned, Cinderella is my favorite fairy tale. The Secret Slipper is Cinderella with an intriguing twist it appears no one has ever written before: What if Cinderella’s father is the one who is looking for her? This creative turn of character made for a unique story that was able to focus on the yearning for family and belonging instead of the overdone romance, and, most importantly, how God turns out everything to work for the good of His children.

The story is fast-paced and the plot is tight and well written. I read it in two sittings – I did not want to put it down. I found all the characters interesting, but I did feel I wanted a bit more character development among the major characters and differentiation among the more minor characters. But that’s just me! 


I really appreciated the spiritual lessons that Lia and Raoul (Lord Kiralyn) learned, especially Raoul’s conviction about not leaning on his own understanding and instead praying and listening to God’s leading. That was something I needed to be reminded of, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since I read it; it’s really helped me over the past several days of life circumstances. It’s a very meaningful lesson to discover alongside Raoul.


Another twist I was not expecting was in Lia’s character. She is the “Cinderella,” but she wasn’t the tale’s typical angelic maiden; instead, she had a lot of bitterness, which was actually more realistic. Although this was important to the storyline, I was a little disappointed that my normal favorite in the Cinderella tale was not more likeable to me. As it was, I was drawn to her mainly because she had my sympathy for her crippled foot. But her depth of darkness does allow God’s work to shine forth. 


Although The Secret Slipper is the sequel to Befriending the Beast, I haven’t yet read the latter. However, I found The Secret Slipper reads fine as a stand-alone . . . except that it completely whets my appetite for Befriending the Beast


In short, this novella immersed me in an intriguing story that was hard to put down and that truly spoke to my heart.

(I purchased this book and was under no obligation to write a positive review.)


About the Author

Amanda Tero is a homeschool graduate who desires to provide God-honoring, family-friendly reading material. She has enjoyed writing since before ten years old, but it has only been since 2013 that she began seriously pursuing writing again – starting with some short stories that she wrote for her sisters as a gift. Her mom encouraged her to try selling the stories she published, and since then, she has begun actively writing short stories, novellas, and novels. If something she has written draws an individual into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, it is worth it!

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

Connect with Amanda

Email: amandaterobooks@gmail.com
Website: http://amandatero.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandaterobooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandateroauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amandaruthtero/
Blog: www.withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/AmandaTero
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/amandatero


Also Touring with The Secret Slipper
(note that there's a giveaway going on!)
 
May 25, 2017
Amanda @ With a Joyful Noise | Release Day, Giveaway
Leila @ Leila Tualla's Bookshelf | Spotlight
Faith @ Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections | Review, Giveaway
Leona @ Great Books for God's Girls | Review, Interview

May 26
Emily @ Zerina Blossom’s Books | Interview
Kendra @ Knitted By God's Plan (Spotlight) and O'Scarlett Reviews (Review) | Spotlight, Review
Alicia @ A Brighter Destiny | Review, Giveaway

May 27
Anika @ This Journey Called Life | Spotlight, Review, Giveaway
Katie @ His Princess Warrior | Review, Giveaway
Sarah @ The Destiny of One | Spotlight
Heather @ Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen | Spotlight, Interview, Giveaway

May 29
Kate @ Once Upon an Ordinary | Review, Interview
Sarah @ Penumbra Reviews | Review
Dary @ Peculiar Miss Darcy | Character Interview
Julia @ My Joyful Journey with Jesus | Interview

May 30
Kenzi @ Honey Rock Hills | Review, Giveaway
Anita @ Christian Author: A.M. Heath  | Review
Judith @ JudithWNicholson  | Interview

May 31
Jesseca @ Whimsical Writings for His glory  | Spotlight, Review
Raechel @ God’s Peculiar Treasure Rae  | Spotlight, Review
Esther @ Purposeful Learning | Review, Interview, Giveaway

June 1
Kellyn @ Reveries Reviews  | Review
Victoria @ Victoria Minks Blog  | Spotlight, Review
Kelsey @ Kelsey’s Notebook | Spotlight

June 2
Hanne @ RockandMinerals4Him | Spotlight, Review, Giveaway
Erica @ Roxbury Books Blog | Spotlight
Janell @ Views from the Window Friend  | Review
Crystal @ Crystal’s Adventures for Christ  | Spotlight, Review, Interview

June 3
Alexa @ Verbosity Reviews  | Spotlight
Faith @ Chosen Vessels  | Review
Melissa @ Clothed with Scarlet | Review, Interview, Giveaway

 


4 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for your great (and helpful!) review -- and for being a part of my blog tour! :) I'm glad you enjoyed it despite the lack of an angelic "Cinderella" (me writing an angelic character...now THAT has yet to be seen if it could even happen! ;) ). Truly, I appreciate your review! :)

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    1. You are so welcome! My pleasure. I'm glad I got to read it in time. All week I've been thinking about Raoul and how he learned to rely on God's leading instead of on his own understanding. I needed that reminder at this time.
      Thanks for your comment! Keep writing these stories!!

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    2. I love reading stories that lessons "stick with me." What a blessing to know that one of my stories did that for someone else! <3

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