The Battle for Princess Madeline

By Kirstin Pulioff

Have you been to the Kingdom of Soron yet?  I have, and I met King Theodore and his twin children, Prince Braden and Princess Madeline.  I met the Knight Daniel who won the Princess'  heart and Elias her wizard uncle in his brilliant green robes who returns from exile to teach her the ways of magic.  What a delightful adventure I found between the pages of The Battle for Princess Madeline.

This book is written for middle grade students and I think the author hit the mark, with just the right amount of action without gratuitous bloodshed.  The romance is handled without too much gush!  Your child will either giggle at the gentle little shows of affection, or maybe, like my 10-year old, Sierra, they’ll blush and say, “Eww gross!” while secretly being delighted. 

This is the second book in a series.  I’ve read the first book The Escape of Princess Madeline and was delighted to see that Madeline has done some growing up, and gives some thought to her actions and their consequences.  Madeline has become a thoughtful young lady, who thinks about her Kingdom first, not just her own happiness.  She is still a lil' stubborn, but in a good way.  She's learned to listen to advice and weigh it, but to still follow her heart. 

I feel like the author's voice strengthened in her second book, which delights me to no end, as there are more adventures waiting for Madeline and Daniel.  The writing keeps getting better, with more "show" and less "tell".  Psst!  I believe we’ll be encountering dragons soon!  Squee!  Kirstin is writing the third book now, with a release date of late 2013/early 2014!  Yay, Sierra and I have another adventure to look forward to.

When I review, I don't like to rehash the synopsis too much.  You can get a good idea of what the book is all about at Amazon, and I've provided a link so you can do just that, I also provided the books blurb below for your perusal.  I'm guessing you just want to know whether I liked it or not.  I would highly recommend  The Battle for Princess Madeline for the 4^th-8^th Grader in your life.

Synopsis:  The Kingdom of Soron bustled with activity as preparations for the Fall Festival began. Lively merchants, hardworking farmers, and musicians eagerly awaited this event of harvest and joy. This year’s festival was even more important, as they celebrated Princess Madeline’s betrothal to her knight champion, Daniel
.
Celebration quickly turns to disaster as Prince Paulsen returns with curious demands, either Princess Madeline will be his, or no ones. Rejection turns to obsession and battle is declared.

In a tense struggle to decide her future, Princess Madeline must choose where to put her trust… in the king’s tried and true plan, the wizard’s cryptic messages and maps, or her own sense of bravery. Follow Princess Madeline on this adventure as she battles evil in an attempt to create a future of love and magic.

Click here for the amazon link to purchase.

 

 

Kirstin Pulioff is a storyteller at heart. Born and raised in Southern California, she moved to the Pacific Northwest to follow her dreams and graduated from Oregon State University (Go Beavs!) with a degree in Forest Management. Happily married and a mother of two, she lives in Oregon, and enjoys being a stay at home mom. When she's not writing, she is busy with her kids, church and the family business.

I love to hear from my readers and fans. Please connect with me at any of these sites:
Webpage: www.kirstinpulioff.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kirstinpulioffauthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KirstinPulioff
Goodreads:www.goodreads.com/author/show/6558842.Kirstin_Pulioff

Millie's WeWriWa#3 Or, The Coming of the Big Red Beasties

It's that day of the week when we share snippets again. Never tried a snippet? You should. They're so delicious and come in many savory flavors; adventure, romance, fantasy, mystery-why the menu is endless. Join these clever literary chefs at WeWriWa , read their tasty morsels, and set your reading buds tingling! First, check out my little appetizer. Love to hear what you think.

Since so many folks enjoyed last week, I am sharing the next eight sentences today. If you remember, the ladies were sipping tea, when Ronan spied the dragons outside his wee cabin which put him in a bit of a panic. Ravyn, giggling, asked if the dragons were red...(you can find last week's eight Here).

Ronan nodded, “Aye, monstrous beasties they are, and redder than a rose, the both of ‘em.”

A humungous roar blasted the air, the thatched roof shivered against the mighty onslaught, raining straw and dust down on their heads.

Ravyn stood and brushed herself off, “Well, let me tell them we don’t need rescuing before they tear your house apart. Or set it on fire.”

She stepped around Ronan and opened the door. Ena, the large red dragon Ravyn had befriended four years before, sat on her back haunches, her serpentine tail lashing back and forth against the walls of the little cabin. Boom, boom, boom. Smoke billowed from her nostrils and she growled low in her throat.



I'm not going to directly toot my own horn, but, this coming week is the Blogger Book Fair, (of which I am a participant)! My first book Return of the Crown will be reviewed by a couple folks, and Zelera will give an interview, and there are tons of authors also participating that are worth checking out (I'm actually not sure of the exact tonnage of all authors and bloggers combined, 'cause it'd just be rude to ask for everybody's weight--but I'm sure we'd be tons and tons and tons). The link to check out the site is just off to the right on my blog. I hear there will be contests with giveaways and such! Make some time next week to travel the BBF, I'm sure you will have a fabulous time!

WeWriWa #2

So, welcome to my second time participating in WeWriWa. I should have been here last week as well, but what can I say...I wasn't. This week, I'm going to share some more from my WIP (it's Fantasy, Good old-fashioned quest style). Ravyn and Lareina are in a cabin on an island with some Selkie men (two new characters) and they are soon joined by Dragons! If you read my last little snippet...well, this has nothing to do with that. If you didn't read it, but are dying to...it's right here...WeWriWa#1 Love to hear what you think : )



Ronan reached the window and peeked outside. “Ravyn, no,” he screamed, slamming himself against the door and knocking her backwards onto her bottom. “There’s two bloody dragons out there, they’ll eat ye alive!”
Ravyn glanced over at Lareina who had taken a seat by the fire and sat sipping tea. They both burst out laughing.
Ronan crouched down and reached a tentative hand out toward Ravyn’s head, “Ah bless me, did I knock ye so hard that ye hit yer head? Dragon’s are naught to laugh at.”
Ravyn shook her head, still giggling, “Are they both huge and red?”


Should you desire to join in on the fun, or peek at other eight line snippets...just click here WeWriWa!

Nineteen!

Nineteen years ago today this wonderful amazing baby girl was born to my husband and I. She came a'squallering into this world, and what lungs she did possess! After a few awkward months of dealing with colic... she turned into a delightful...little girl.

Time it passed and she grew and grew. The beauty the lives inside her heart blossomed full when she became a big sis, instead of being the little sis.

And today, a prouder mother you will not find. I love you my darling Ram Sam Sam!

Weekend Writing Warriors

My first WeWriWa post. How thrilling. Without much further ado, I will share eight sentences of my WIP with you (Fantasy genre). The protagonist, Ravyn and her mother Lareina have come to the rescue...but is it too late?

"Connor, can you hear me," Ravyn reached over and tapped him on the chest.
His eyes were open wide, but he didn't respond.
Lareina sank to the floor, head in her hands.
Deadly silence infused the room. Ravyn looked to Josh, "Get my father, please," she whispered.
Magda lay on her side. Her soft gray hair fell about her face wise with wrinkles. Her lips turned up in a small smile. Ravyn leaned over to trace a gentle kiss across Magada's forehead, "Blessings of the Light upon you," she murmured.

Okay, so there they are. Love to hear what you think. If you'd like to join in the snippets o' fun, just click the button below.

'Cause it makes us feel good

Would you like to do something for no reason other than it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy cool and comfortable?

My sister-in-law posted a link in her facebook account about a dad who could use your help. Here's the glorious thing...it doesn't cost you a dime, just a click of your mouse and then a second click. A vote. A Sacramento area HVAC company is offering to give a free AC unit to people who could really use it, but might not be able to afford it. Take a moment, read this dad's story (Paul StGeme Option H), and click the button to vote for him and his family. Or if you're short on time, just go to the site and vote for him. Sounds like this guy could use a helping hand, and he sounds like the kind of person who actually deserves it!

I don't personally know this man, but his son is my nephew's best bud.

Just click here...Bonney Plumbing and A/C

Have a great weekend!!!

I miss you Merbles!

Merbles, dear momma, I miss you. I know you are at peace and looking down from high above, keeping a watchful eye on our family. I hope we continue to make you proud! Every year on this day, I get to feeling selfish and a tiny bit angry, because I just want to talk to you one more time. To sit on your lap again and have you brush back my hair and give me one of those amazing forehead kisses.

I love you!