Book Review- Stuck in the Game by Christopher Keene

*Disclaimer, I was given an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book by the publisher in return for my review

Stuck in the Game by Christopher Keene

I am not sure about this book.  I'll be honest.  It was well written mostly. The descriptions brought the pictures to life in my mind, but I spent most of the book confused.  I am not a gamer so part of my confusion came from not understanding the jargon of "the game".  However, I think my biggest confusion came from the beginning of the book.

 I understood that Noah was stuck in some kind of cyber game, but that came from the description of the book. The description in the book was inadequate for me to truly understand what was happening. I would have liked to see a better description of what happened.  I am not always a fan of prologues, but I think this story could use one to help us understand what is happening with Noah, how he got into the game and why he doesn't want to be there.  Or even to help us understand how the game even works, because that was the most confusing thing for me.

Once I decided to just ignore the reason, or not knowing the reason, Noah is stuck where he is and just read the story as if it were a fantasy adventure/mystery, I began to enjoy the story and the adventure.  The action scenes were fun to read and I enjoyed them. Until the ending. That is where I was pulled back out of the story and my questions of who, why, how, came back.  And then with a miracle all was revealed and it all made sense. Sort of.  Some of those things would have been better if they had been revealed in the beginning or even sprinkled throughout the book instead of all revealed at the end because that made it feel as if the author was not sure how to end the book and just pulled out a surprise ending so he could end the book.

I am not sure whether I would recommend this book or not. If you are wanting a casual read? Probably not. If you are a gamer and want to read a book about gamers? Yes, get this book and read it.

It is available on Amazon nor Kindle now. You can get it here 

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The Watchers Book One Knight of Light

I absolutely loved this book and hate it that I will have to wait for book two because I want more of the story right now. The story is compelling and Auriella is someone that you want to meet and know and spend time with.  Deirdra Eden knows how to write a story that draws you in and holds you captive.  I was seriously upset that I had to put the book down and go to work and do grown up responsible things when all I wanted to do was keep reading.

I will admit that there were a couple of times that I was a little bit confused? or felt as if I had missed something somewhere almost as if I had entered the story in the middle of the action.  I quickly forgave Ms. Eden that, though, because Auriella feels that way throughout most of the story as she is just learning of who/what she is.  I think this is what helped to make me feel drawn to the story and to Auriella and made me want to continue the quest as if she was a real flesh and blood friend and I needed to help her understand as I came to understand Auriella's life, quest, mission.

I say purchase the book, read it, love it, beg for more.

The Watchers Book 1: Knight of Light

In England, 1270 A.D., Auriella (pronounced yurr-ee-ella) flees her village after being accused of witchcraft. Pursued by nightmarish creatures, she struggles to accept the truth about her humanity. Filled with fairies, dwarves, pixies, dragons, and monsters, Knight of Light is an enthralling tale that will capture the imaginations of readers young and old.



The Watchers Series has been described as Braveheart meets Supernatural.

The mythology for the series is based on many theological texts from dozens of sects with correlating themes. Ancient writings include The Dead Sea Scrolls, The Traditional Apocrypha, The Pearl of Great Price, and The Kabbalah.



“The Watchers” are supernatural beings in human form whose duty it is to protect and guard mankind from the armies of darkness.
Unfortunately, as the Book of Enoch mentions, some of these Watchers go bad. Although the mythology is based on these texts, Deirdra Eden’s The Watchers Series is written in a traditional fairytale style with a young girl’s discovery of incredible, but dangerous powers within herself, a cast of humorous side-kicks, a quest for greater self-discovery and purpose, and villains of epic proportions.

Amazon  Barnes and Noble  Facebook  Twitter  Goodreads  Wattpad  Pinterest

About the Author

"My goal in writing is to saturate my books with intrigue, mystery, romance, and plot twists that will keep my readers in suspense. I want to see fingerprints on the front and back covers where readers have gripped the novel with white knuckles!

Aside from writing, I enjoy jousting in arenas, planning invasions, horseback riding through open meadows, swimming in the ocean, hiking up mountains, camping in cool shady woods, climbing trees barefoot, and going on adventures."

-Deirdra Eden



Find Deirdra Eden and The Watchers Series online on Amazon, Deirdra's website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Wattpad, and Pinterest.





a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Rocky Road

From the back of the book:

THE ST. GEORGE SPECTRUM
Dr. Trenton Hendricks was last seen Friday, April 8, when he set out alone on a backpacking trip. Hendricks's Jeep Grand Cherokee was located Tuesday at the Chuckwalla Trailhead, but after six days and thousands of man-hours, the official search has been called off. He is presumed to be deceased.

It was supposed to be a girls' weekend in scenic St. George, Utah, that would included shopping, trying out the local cuisine, and participating in a breast cancer fund-raiser. The fact that one of the organizers of the fund-raising event, alocal doctor, had disappeared two months before was not supposed to be Sadie's problem.

When Sadie learns that her friend Caro and Caro's cousin, Tess, have started a grassroots investigation into Dr. Hendrick's disappearance, Sadie graciously refuses to be a part of it. With her wedding to plan and her most recent case still fresh in her mind, Sadie is determined to leave this case to the police—until she meets the ex-wife of the missing man.

How could she not ask a few questions ... that lead to more questions ... that lead to a small town and even more questions? When the local police ask her to be their eyes and ears, Sadie can't help but jump in with both feet. Before she knows it, she is on the rocky road of another investigation, following a convoluted trail of good intentions, hidden motivations, and philanthropy turned big business.

This is the next installment in the Sadie Hoffmiller series. I love Sadie more and more with each and every book. This adventure was a little bit of a departure for Sadie's normal curiosity driven entanglements. However it doesn't stop Sadie from becoming entangled in things almost beyond her. There is no such thing as a smooth road to a relaxing weekend for Sadie no matter how hard she tries. And she really does try.

This is the second book review this week where things really surprised me in the who, what, where or why categories. There were times I thought I had it figured out but then there would be a twist in the road to the end and I would have to rethink my theory.

Well done, Josi, well done.
disclaimer: I am part of the test kitchen for this series and do get a complimentary book, but know nothing of the story other than the setting before I read the book.

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The Magic Shop

Marcus is a troubled youth. When his grandparents decide it would be good for him to tend the family business, a Magic Shop, Marcus is thrown into a world that he never knew existed. Not only is the family business a front, but Marcus learns that he has been marked as a dead man from the time he was born.

Marcus tries to develop his powers before the Dun-Bahr find him and assimilate the magic he was born with. Will he survive? Will he find his parents? First he must discover the secret his grandparents have been keeping from him all these years. It all comes down to what's hidden at the Magic Shop.

"THE MAGIC SHOP is a Middle Grade / Young Adult / Urban Fantasy novel that takes you on a wild ride filled with magical creatures, curious situations, and questionable choices that will keep you turning pages through the night.


"Visit Justin's blog at JustinSwapp.com
"Follow Justin on twitter at twitter.com/JustinSwapp
"Join Justin on facebook too!

About the Author

Justin was born with an active imagination on a U.S. naval base in Spain, but has spent most of his life in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains of Utah. He is bilingual, and has lived all over the world. He has four children; two boys, and two girls, and one wife. He doesn't have any pets that he's aware of, but his children have been known to hide things under his bed.
In his free time Justin loves to read, write, and play games. He enjoys his close friends, and loves to make people laugh. To learn more about Justin, or his work, you can visit him at justin swapp dot com.


Justin is the author of The Magic Shop. He has also been published in several anthologies, including The Crimson Pact (Volumes 1, 2, and 5), The Memory Eater, and Short Sips: Coffee House Flash Fiction Collection 2.

All of the above I took off of Amazon.  And I need to do a disclaimer here,

 1. Justin is my cousin, his Father and my Mother are brother and sister.

2. He gave me a copy of his book so I could do a review.

3. I really, really liked this book.  I would have liked this book even if 1 and 2 were not true.

4. If you like Percy Jackson, Fable Haven, Maze Runner you will like The Magic Shop

Justin gets us to the action pretty quickly and I appreciate that.  There is a back story but Justin weaves it throughout the story and we discover it at the same time Marcus does.  I appreciate that.  There were times that I was a bit frustrated because I didn't know the back story and so I was confused about what was going on, but so was Marcus so in that aspect Justin was a master at making me feel what the characters were feeling.

There were a couple things that I guessed, but this is a middle grade novel and I am a bit past middle grade.  However there was one HUGE thing that I didn't guess and was as surprised as Marcus.  And then the next thing surprised me even more and I was left hoping that that is a doorway to a next book because I really want there to be a next book.  Is there a next book, Justin? Please say yes because I am waiting for it.

I would recommend this book to you and your children. Go to Amazon and get it now.

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Pumpkin Roll

Just in time for Halloween comes a new book from Josi Kilpack.  I loved this book and I think it is the best so far of the Sadie Hoffmiller series.  In fact, at one point I was reading this at night and had to put it down because it was dark outside and too scary to induce sleep later. Josi just keeps getting better and better.

From the back:
As Halloween approaches, Sadie is looking forward to spending her favorite baking season of the year making delicious New England recipes in boston, Massachusetts, with her favorite leading man, Pete Cunningham, as they babysit his three young grandsons. When the bosy insist that Mrs. Wapple, the woman who lives across the street, is a witch, Sadie and Pete are anxious to distract the boys from such silly ideas.

Josi has outdone herself this time as she serves up a mystery worthy of the spooky season. I usually have the mystery solved pretty early in the book but this time I kept changing my mind about who done it up until almost the end.  I only guessed the real culprit mere pages before it was revieled.

And the recipes in this book are amazing.  As a member of the test kitchen, I should know.  But they are recipes that my children keep asking me to make.  In fact Jacob is disappointed that it has been awhile since I made Baxter's Clam Chowder- but really, when it was 90+ degrees outside I just was not in the mood for a hot soup!  But if fall ever gets here, this is one that will be on the stove frequently.

Get it, read it, love it.
Pumpkin Roll by Josi Kilpack

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Sleight of Hand

When Daniel, a fifty-five-year-old con man, suffers a heart attack and dies, he meets his guardian angel, Jonah, on the other side.  Jonah shows him to a beautiful cabin and tells him this will be his eternal home.  Daniel is sure he was able to scam his way into heaven—he scammed everyone on earth, so why not heaven too?  But as he spends time in his cabin, all alone, he realizes that he’s actually in a wasteland.  Jonah presents him with a way to escape, but will Daniel want to pay the price for his freedom?

I really enjoyed this book. It is another quick read, but the development of Daniel's character is not sleighted at all. At the beginning of the book I really did not like Daniel at all, but as he learned and grew and changed, he became someone I could root for and hope that he would make the necessary changes and realize and learn the things he needed to learn in order to become the person he truly should be. I think the thing that made the changes in Daniel believable to me and not just words on a page, was that Daniel himself did not realize the changes that were taking place in the way he thought and acted, and when the final choice came I think even he was surprised by the actual choice that he does make.

For some reason, as I was reading this book, I was reminded of The Screwtape Letters  by C.S. Lewis. However I cannot figure out why because the books are nothing at all alike, but still, I felt myself wanting to go pick up Mr. Lewis' book and re-read it.

I recieved this book as a PDF for my review, and I will not be deleting it from my laptop. I will keep it and read it again.  

Purchase book here

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All That Was Promised

All That Was Promised
Vickie Hall

From the back of the book:
Ben's expression registered his surprisse. "You're a minister?" he asked, curiously. Richard cleared his throat as a telling grin tweisted his mouth. "Aye, that I am."
Ben nodded and smiled.
Leah returned to the compact parlor and gave the missionary a scant glance. "Do you find that amusin', Mr. Lachlan?"
"No, not at all," he replied sincerely. "People from all walks of life recognize the truth of the gospel."
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An encounter with a Mormon missionary and his unusual message of a "restored gospel" leaves Richard Kenyon, a young Methodist minister, questioning his life's work when he cannot deny a growing testimony of this peculiar American religion. But Richard soon finds himself struggling to recognize the promised blessings of the gospel when violent persecution shakes the fledgling Church in Wales.
Told with passion and heart, All That Was Promised is a riveting tale of the challenges early Welsh Church members faced. This stunning debut by Vickie Hall is guaranteed to uplift and inspire long after the story ends.
**********************************************************************

My thoughts:
All That Was Promised is a quick read. I enjoyed the time I spent with the Kenyon family as they learn about the gospel and then find their way in a community that is not welcoming of this strange, new religion, especially when one of their favorite ministers embraces and joins.

While I enjoyed this story, I do have one issue with the book and I am not sure it is even something Vickie Hall could change if she wanted to- the length of the book.  In this genre of book, publishers like to see a certain length of book, which gives an author a limited amount of space to develop characters and tell their story. I would have liked to have had more time with the characters as they learn and change their life viewpoints. I would have liked to see more of their struggles with change as they explore their own hearts. But I do understand the space limitations of spending the time I would like on each character and the thoughts and feelings that lead them to their own individual results- both the good and the tragic. And there is both in this book.

 If you enjoy LDS historical fiction, you will enjoy this story.

Here is the purchase link for the novel

Here is the author’s site: http://www.vickiehall.com/

Here is the author’s blog: http://www.authorvickiehall.blogspot.com/

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Thursday Book Review-city dog, country frog

I started a new group at school. It is a friendship group. We have a lot of students that are new or just don't appear to have many if any friends. So as a counselor I started a group where we have fun and play games and talk about friendship. And I included some of the leaders in the school. They are all 10th and 11th grader so that next year when the students come back to school there will be someone to say hello to in the halls.

Next week we are having a discussion about  the stages of friendships and what makes a good friend at each stage and what kind of friends fit each stage of our lives.

Something I like to do is read a children's book to the students. I love the books and the students love being read to and it always starts a great discussion.

This week we are reading this book

and can I just say that I love, love, love this book!

In spring, when City Dog runs free in the country for the first time, he spots Country Frog sitting on a rock, waiting for a friend. "You'll do," Frog says, and together they play Country Frog games. In summer, they meet again and play City Dog games. Through the seasons, whenever City Dog visits the country he runs straight for Country Frog's rock. In winter, things change for City Dog and Country Frog. Come spring, friendship blooms again, a little different this time. Mo Willems' spare, poignant text and Jon J Muth's expressive watercolors team up to present a reflection on the natural course of friendship--and life--that will resonate with readers of all ages. (review from here)

By Mo Willems - Hyperion Books for Children (2010) - Hardback - 64 pages - ISBN 1423103009

The illustrations are amazing and the text, while simple, is poignant and speaks volums and lends itself well to discussions of friendship with any age.

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Thursday Book Review- Th1rteen R3easons Why

A novel by Jay Asher

From the official Th1rteen R3asons Why website:

SYNOPSIS

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker--his classmate and crush--who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list. Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.


EXCERPT
A shoebox-sized package is propped against the front door at an angle. Our front door has a tiny slot to shove mail through, but anything thicker than a bar of soap gets left outside. A hurried scribble on the wrapping addresses the package to Clay Jensen, so I pick it up and head inside. I take the package into the kitchen and set it on the counter. I slide open the junk drawer and pull out a pair of scissors. Then I run a scissor blade around the package and lift off its top. Inside the shoebox is a rolled-up tube of bubble-wrap. I unroll that and discover seven loose audiotapes. Each tape has a dark blue number painted in the upper right-hand corner, possibly with nail polish. Each side has its own number. One and two on the first tape, three and four on the next, five and six, and so on. The last tape has a thirteen on one side, but nothing on the back. Who would send me a shoebox full of audiotapes? No one listens to tapes anymore. Do I even have a way to play them? The garage! The stereo on the workbench. My dad bought it at a yard sale for almost nothing. It's old, so he doesn't care if it gets coated with sawdust or splattered with paint. And best of all, it plays tapes. I drag a stool in front of the workbench, drop my backpack to the floor, then sit down. I press Eject on the player. A plastic door eases open and I slide in the first tape.

My feelings:

Wow. Powerful stuff. 

Karlene gave me this book and Tuesday I wasn't feeling very well, so I pulled it out to read. That was about 8 in the morning. I put it down about 6 that evening when I finished it. As a counselor it is a book I feel all counselors should read. In fact, I think everyone that deals with children, or other people for that matter, should read it. Because it is that powerful.

This book deals with the suicide of a high school student and the 13 reasons that she pinpoints as being the catalyst for her ending her life. But at the same time she acknowledges that there is more than those 13 reasons and even she cannot understand it all herself. She asks for help, but no one is able to see or hear her cries for help. Mostly because they are all caught up in their own mini drama of life, like most teens they all believe the world revolves around them. Leaving no one and nothing to revolve around anyone else.

If you want a happy, feel good book this is not the one for you. This book deals with raw emotions and some ugly, real  thoughts and feelings that teens have. It pulls no punches and sometimes the descriptions are a bit on the graphic side. However, I do not feel that those graphic descriptions are gratuitious, but are necessary to the novel and the understanding of Hannah's reasons. And her reasons for remaining silent or unclear in her communications with others.

As a counselor I want Hannah's guidance counselor to ask different questions. The hard questions. The questions he only hints at. Because I never want to be that counselor. The one that is afraid to ask the hard questions. The unspeakable questions. The questions that will make me responsible to deal with it. Because I want to deal with it. And help the students deal with it. Because life for teens is getting harder and harder and the war they are fighting, whether they know it or not, is escalating. And if I am afraid to say it out loud in my office, it will not make it go away. In fact it will just make it harder. And for that reason I am angry at Mr. Porter, the counselor in the book. He blew it.  But in reality, Hannah didn't make it easy, either.

To Mr. Asher I say- Well done. I look forward to more from you in the future.
(and tonight, Tuesday when I am writing this post, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed as a counselor because I just found out that another of our students died during the holiday break. That makes 2 students since August and another 16ish have lost parents since the beginning of the year.)

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Book Review- Hunger Games Series

Don't forget to enter the gingerbread house contest!!

The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins

I first heard about these books a couple of years ago when Rob read Hunger Games and talked about it in a blog post. It sounded interesting and I wanted to read it someday, but you know that whole going to school thing got in the way. But in October I was able to pick up the Hunger Games and begin reading it. The next day when I finished it I hurried to the library at the high school and checked out the next two books because none of my friends had copies I could borrow and I wanted to finish the story right then. In fact, two days later I was done and changed forever. This is a story that once you read it, if you are not changed you, well I am not sure what you are, but I am sure it will change you somehow.

Let's take a look at the book jacket summaries of the books: (if you haven't read the books and think you might want to, you may want to stop reading today)

COULD YOU SURVIVE ON YOUR OWN, IN THE WILD, WITH EVERYONE FIGHTING AGAINST YOU?
Look inside The Hunger Games
Twenty-four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives.
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death – televised for all of Panem to see.

Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love.


Look inside Catching Fire

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Suzanne Collins continues the amazing story of Katniss Everdeen in Catching Fire, the second novel of the phenomenal Hunger Games trilogy.


Mocking Jay:
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

So now for my opinion:

I absolutely loved these books. There are some disturbing things in this story. Things like a government taking children and forcing them to fight to the death and using it as control by fear couched in entertainment. But without that, there is no story. Without Prim being chosen so Katniss can take her place, there is no story.

But the questions this story brings up are endless and were catalyst for many discussions between Ethan and I, because he read them almost before I could close the back cover.

So tell me, what exactly would you do to survive?

Would you take your sister's place?  Break the law to get food for you mom and sister? Fight to the death?

And if you did, would it be ethical?

What would you absolutely under no circumstances not do to survive?

Let's discuss these questions as well as what you liked and didn't like about the books.

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Previously Engaged

Annabelle Pleasanton has just been given the chance of a lifetime: A $50,000 Dream Wedding. The only problem? She s not technically, 100 percent, all-the-way engaged. Her best friend has seen the ring, and her boyfriend has been dropping all kinds of hints but something seems to be keeping him from popping the question. With interference from all sides, including exciting new job opportunities, eccentric relatives, and ex-high-school-sweethearts, Annabelle begins to wonder if she ll ever get married. In this hilarious sequel to Icing on the Cake Annabelle navigates the crazy, often chaotic twists of life and love and learns some very important lessons along the way about what really matters most.

This is Elodia's second book about Annabelle. I haven't read the first one, The Icing on the Cake but that is ok, because you can read Previously Engaged and not be lost because the story stands on its own. But after reading this story, I will be getting Icing soon.

Now let me tell you what I absolutely loved about Previously Engaged.
This book is one of the funnest, funniest, laugh out loud books I have read in a long time. It reads like a conversation or blog with one of you good friends. The story is told in first person and Annabelle tries to show herself in a good light, but she always fesses up to us, the reader, about what really happened.

Like the time she and her sister were having a "discussion" in the kitchen that involved flying food.

Or the time Annabelle went with her mother best friend to try on wedding dresses and the diva bride in the next dressing room was hogging the perfect dress.

Or the time Isaac's best friend came into town unexpectedly and joined Annabelle and Isaac on their date.

Or...
I had better stop or I will end up telling you the entire book and I don't want to do that. I want you to read it and experience it for yourself.

I will tell you that her high school sweet heart shows up to complicate everything by vying for her hand as well and Annabelle has some choices to make regarding which man she really wants to marry. There were times I rooted for Isaac and times I rooted for Alex and times I hoped I was rooting for the right guy.

My favorite part of the story? Annabelle's pink notes- these are notes she keeps in a little notebook she carries around with her. When she comes across someone that touches or inspires her, she makes a note about them in her notebook to remind her of the important things in life.

My verdict- get the book, read it, laugh, rinse, repeat again and again.


About the Author
Elodia was born in Alaska, and grew up in California. She graduated cum laude from Brigham Young University where she majored in advertising and minored in English. She currently resides in Spokane, Washington, with her husband, Jacob. When she s not writing, she enjoys reading, doing yoga, playing the piano, and listening to her husband play guitar. She firmly believes that laughter is the best medicine, and in this world of troubles and trials, she hopes to bring laughter to readers through her writing.

Purchase book here

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Secret Sisters

Secret Sisters
Tristi Pinkston

Ida Mae Babbitt, president of the Omni 2nd Ward Relief Society, didn't mean to become a spy. But when visiting teaching stats are low, and shw learns that one family under her care is in financial trouble, she'll do whatever it takes to make sure they have what they need. If that includes planting surveillance cameras in their home and watching them from a parked car in the woods... well, isn't that what any caring Relief Society president would do?

With the help of her counselors, Arlette and Tansy, Ida Mae soon learns that there's more to the situation than meets the eye.

But it's all in a days work for the Relief Society.

The first thing I love about this book is its size. It is small enough to tuck right into a purse without adding bulk and weight. And that is a good thing because once I started reading, I didn't want to stop so being able to take it with me as I shuttled kiddos around was a good thing.

The second thing I love about Secret Sisters is the laugh out loud story.

Ida Mae, Tansy, and Arlette really have no choice when it comes to spying. Think of the babies. Without milk. What else is there to do?

Throw in an unknown guy in a suit in a strange car coming and going at odd hours, envelopes of money- too much for a first day on a new job- an endless supply of hot chocolate, an electronics whiz nephew, and a cute unattached granddaughter and things begin to take on a life of their own.

Oh, and don't forget a sherrif that refuses to believe something is going on in his sleepy little town. Really, if he had just listened to begin with Ida Mae and gang would not have had to do anything more than take in a pan of cheesy potatoes.

Now, the one thing I didn't like- it was really hard to stifle my need to laugh outloud when I was reading in public.

If you want a fun and funny read, pick up Secret Sisters today. You won't be sorry.

Product Details
Hardcover: 260 pages
Publisher: Valor Publishing Group; 1st edition (March 16, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1935546090
ISBN-13: 978-1935546092

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I'll Know You By Heart

I'll Know You By Heart
Kimberly Job

The day Stephanie Roberts met Jared Wakefield, she didn't realize they'd met before. Running from an abusive marriage and trying to safeguard her children, she turns to Jared for support, but he needs more from her than she might be capable of giving. With her abusive husband looming in her past, the difficulties they must overcome to be together seem insurmountable.

Is it possible for love to conquer all? I'll Know You By Heart is a timeless romance that explores the possibility that relationships span the entire realm of eternity. A story about abuse, hardship, and betrayal, it is ultimately a story about the healing power of everlasting true love.

I knew before I had finished the third page that this would not be an easy read for me. And I was right. Not because it was a poorly crafted story- no that was not the problem here. The problem came because Stephanie's story could easily have been my story. And that made it hard to read.

But the things that made it hard to read for me are the very things that make this story real. Kimberly did a great job in capturing the emotions, feelings and thoughts that abused women feel. There were times that I cried thinking about lost time, times I felt validated knowing someone else had the same thoughts- even if that person was a fictional character.

Now having gotten that out of the way, on to the story. Stephanie's husband, Mark, was really a jerk. I think Kimberly got his need for control just right, she was not heavy handed in her treatment of him, but allowed us to see his mood swings and the abuse cycle. There was one place in the book that I was holding my breath as Stephanie gave Mark a bit of trust regarding their children. I wanted to scream- NO, Don't do it!! knowing full well the reasons why she was and had to.

It was nice to see Stephanie's transformation as well. I am glad this was not a book where the woman is abused on page one, leaves on page 15 and is whole and emotionally healthy by page 30 with no residual thoughts or feelings haunting her every move.

I would have liked to see more of the progression of the development of Stephanie and Jared's relationship, but overall this was a very true to life story. If you know someone that has experienced some form of domestic abuse (and it comes in more forms than hitting) I would recommend reading this story- it might help you understand just a bit more.

Order Here

Product Information
Paperback: 275 pages
Publisher: Valor Publishing Group; 1st edition (March 16, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1935546139
ISBN-13: 978-1935546139

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Summer in Paris

Kenzie Williams feels like she has it all; wealth, friends, popularity and talent. But when her father tells her that he has declared bankruptcy, her whole world in New York City turns upside down. Her parents' solution while they sort through their financial and marital problems is to send Kenzie to live with her relatives in Paris...Idaho!

Feeling like she's been sentenced to three months in Hickville Prison, Kenzie arrives in Idaho feeling like a square peg with name brand clothes, in a round, horribly podunk, hole.


Leaving everything she loves behind, Kenzie is forced to get up at the crack of dawn, do chores, and hang out with her cousin's loser friends. She feels like she's about to die until she meets Adam White, the town outcast, who's been accused of killing his best friend and is being blamed for some trouble that's been happening around town.


Not only is Adam the best-looking guy she's ever seen, but he's also the most fascinating guy she's ever met and Kenzie is determined to get to know him and find out his secret. But, the longer she stays in Paris, the more she realizes, Adam isn't the only one keeping secrets.
 
Overall, I enjoyed this story. Michele Ashman Bell is skilled at telling a story. At the beginning of the story I was really irritated with Kenzie and her attitude. I enjoyed her journey of change. It was fun to experience a country summer with Kenzie and her relatives.
 
Early morning weeding, working in the garden, summer picnics and watching the sun set, those are favorite memories of summer and reliving them with Kenzie was great.
 
One thing I did not understand, however, was Kenzie's fascination with Adam confused me. I just didn't get it. Perhaps I am too far past 16 to remember being this fascinated with a boy, especially when I have not even talked to him.
 
But it is a small thing in an otherwise cute story.
 
 
Purchase book Here
 
Author website Here

Product Details
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Valor Publishing Group; 1st edition (March 16, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1935546171
ISBN-13: 978-1935546177

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Indeed.

An Angel on MainStreet

An Angel On Main Street

Kathi Oram Peterson

Micah Connors promised his mother he would be bood in their new town. But with Christmas only three days away, being escorted home by the sheriff does not bode well. Can the towering officer be trusted not to tell what happened? Perhaps the ramshackle stable that has appeared on Main Street will sidetrack him from spilling the day's events-- or maybe his interest in Micah's widowed mother will do the trick. The last thing Dawn Connors needs is to hear her son is in trouble. She has enough to worry about with her husband gone and her daughter, Annie, ill.

Even though Micah has told his sister the rustic structure in the middle of town is simply part of the town's holiday decorations, Annie is sure that unseen angels are building the crude stable-- which means baby Jesus is coming, and He can make her better. Terrified that his little sister might die, Micah vows to find the baby Jesus for Annie, even if it is only a plastic doll. But as Micah gets nearer to his goal he finds that angels are closer than he ever would have believed.

It snowed yesterday and with it came the urge to play Christmas music. I resisted. It was hard. And it was made harder knowing I would be writing this review today. I should have written it when I finished the book and it was 75* outside.

If I had just a few short sentences to tell you about this book I would say something like- It is the perfect Christmas read- not too long, not too short. It has all the requisite features of a feel good Christmas story- the rascal brother, trying to scrape by mother, sick sister, down on his luck towns person, crotchedy store keeper, mischeveous friends, skipping school, snow, local law enforcement and your Christmas miracle complete with angels and a manger. And I loved every minute of it.

Kathi has a way of writing that draws you into the story even when you are sure you know what is coming next. Though I will admit I never guessed who it really was that was building the manger in the center of town. Nor did I guess the rest of his secrets or how he would play an even bigger part in the miracle ending of the story. In any other story I would be cynical about it and say "not in real life, that is so contrived" but in this story it works and works well. In fact, I cannot imagine any other ending to this story.

If you are looking for a good story this Christmas season, I have two recommendations for you. The second recommendation you are going to have to wait for, but this is the other one. Get it, read it, love it.

Now for all the details and a contest:

Kathi is holding a contest. She says: I'm holding a contest called An Angel in Your Life Contest. Here's the lowdown on it. The contest runs from now until December 15th. Anyone can enter by simply emailing me at kathiorampeterso@yahoo.com and writing about an experience you have had with someone who became an angel in your life. The winner will be announced on my blog (http://www.blogger.com/www.kathiswritingnook.com). A gift certificate from either Seagull Book or Deseret Book will be given to the winner and an "Angel" in his/her life. This contest celebrates the selfless, kind acts performed daily, many times unnoticed. If you are like me, many people have helped you through times of trouble. Let's face it, life is tough and the small acts of kindness shown to us by others needs to be remembered and celebrated especially during the holidays. Christmas brings out the best in people and I wanted to give others the opportunity to thank those who have touched their lives in a profound way. Hopefully this contest will remind us of the angels in our lives.

Purchase the book here

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Indeed.

Am I Not A Man?

An Illiterate slave, Dred Scott trusted in an all-white, slave-owning jury to declare him free. But after briefly experiencing the glory of freedom and manhood, a new state Supreme Court ordered the cold steel of the shackles to be closed again around his wrists and ankles. Falling to his knees, Dred cried, “Ain’t I a man?” Dred answered his own question by rising and taking his fight to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Dred ultimately lost his epic battle when the Chief Justice declared that a black man was so inferior that he had “no rights a white man was bound to respect.”
Dred died not knowing that his undying courage led directly to the election of President Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation.
Dred Scott’s inspiring and compelling true story of adventure, courage, love, hatred, and friendship parallels the history of this nation from the long night of slavery to the narrow crack in the door that would ultimately lead to freedom and equality for all men.

I got the priviledge of receiving an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC)of Mark L. Shurtleff's new novel, "Am I Not A Man? The Dred Scott Story" I love history and love historical fiction. Now the thing about ARCs is this, they are books that have not had the final edit done, so there are mistakes. I did find mistakes, mostly punctuation errors. One big error was a wrong date that threw me for a couple of pages until I remembered that I was reading an ARC.

If you think back to your US History class from junior high or senior high school, you will remember that the Dred Scott case was one of the most famous cases in history. It was also one of the most pivital cases in the freeing of slaves. And a very interesting case. Dred lived his life as a free man for 2 years before his case was overturned and he was once again taken into slavery. He died as a piece of property, owned by another and he never ever knew the big part he would play in history. In my family history. In the ability for me to have Brandi as a daughter. Someday I will thank him for that.

As I write this review, I have not finished the entire book, but I am closer to the end than I am the beginning. This is not a quick read book, but it is a book that you want to read. Everytime I have to put the book down, I find myself reluctant to do so.

I started reading the book as I sat and waited for the drum line boys so I could take them to Marching Band practice. I was not happy when school was out and the boys got in the car. However, the story does not follow in a linear fashion. Mr. Shurtleff goes back and forth along the timeline of Dred's life. At first this was confusing, even though he does use dates to identify the time period. Once I got into the rhythm of the writing, though, it was ok, but a timeline, family trees or something like it would have been a big help to keep people straight. I will admit that there was a lot about history that I either didn't know or forgot. The parts of the story that were back story or history to set the scene sometimes were as slow moving as the mighty Mississippi. But when Mr. Shurtleff was telling Dred's story it moved along quite well and was very entertaining.

I was once again amazed at what our forefathers went through and what they did to procure freedom for us. And what Brandi's ancestors went through to procure freedom for her and the ability for her to someday live a life as my daughter and not my servant.(though I am sure when I am nagging her about chores...) This story is not all light and happiness, there is no sugar coated fluff in this book, so there are parts that are hard to read simply because life for the black man was hard and oft times not fair or right.

The research is amazing. The story is equally amazing and fascinating. And Dred was an amazing man and I wish I had known him. Through Mark L. Shurtleff's book, I can.

And you can too.

Discussion questions here

Learn about the author here

Purchase Am I Not a Man? The Dred Scott Story now.
Price: $24.95Publisher: Valor Publishing Group, LLC (November 3, 2009)Fiction: Historical NovelBinding: HardboundLanguage: EnglishISBN-13: 978-1-935546-00-9Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 inches

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Indeed.

My Fair Godmother

My Fair Godmother
Janette Rallison

"All right, what's your heart's desire?"
I sat down on my bed, suddenly miserable. I wasn't happy and couldn't even think of a way to change my life so I would be.
Chrissy checked her watch. "Is this going to take a long time? I hate to rush you, but I have a shopping trip planned with some mall pixies."
"I just wish that somehow my life could be like a fair tale. You knowk, with a handsome prince waiting for me at the ball, and that somehow when I meet him, everything will work out happily ever after."
"Okay, great. One Cinderella coming up."
Before I could say another work-- and I had planned to say, "Wait, that wasn't my wish!"-- white sparks surrounded me. The next moment I found myself in a cold, dark room.

After her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah Delano wishes she could find a true prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar: Savannah’s gum-chewing, cell phone–carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Showing why she’s only Fair—because she’s not a very good fairy student—Chrissy mistakenly sends Savannah back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White. Finally she sends Tristan, a boy in Savannah’s class, back instead to turn him into her prom-worthy prince. When Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to save Tristan, they must team up to defeat a troll, a dragon, and the mysterious and undeniably sexy Black Knight. Laughs abound in this clever fairy tale twist from a master of romantic comedy.

Can I just say buy it and read it and laugh right out loud over and over and never ever look at a fairtale the same again.

Really.

And not only that, but you will find out why Cinderella's Prince was really not that charming. Or why the dwarfs are really named Sleepy, Happy, Dopey, Grumpy, Sneezy, Bashful and Doc. And the true identity of The Black Knight.

Oh, and just go ahead and try to remember who can pass what magic spell to whom and what it will do when you do. Or how. Go ahead and try. I dare you.

And why exactly is Chrissy never around when Savannah needs her? Or does she really need her? Or will Savannah be stuck in the middle ages forever. And what does a true prince really look like? Would you know one if you came face to face with him? Will Savannah?

Let's just hope she figures it out before it is too late.

Janette's homepage
Janette's blog

Buy My Fair Godmother here
(along with the rest of Janette's hilarious, wonderful books)

Product details:
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (January 6, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802797806
ISBN-13: 978-0802797803
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches

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Indeed.

Alma

Alma



H.B. Moore



King Noah is thundering with rage. The former high priest Alma has vanished from the city of Nephi, and every night more of his believers manage to escape. The king blames Amulon and threatens certain punishment unless Amulon recaptures Alma—a seemingly impossible task. But Amulon has a plan. An equally valuable prisoner is at his fingertips: Noah’s wife, Maia, whose newfound faith means bitter humiliation for the king and an opportunity for Amulon to seize power. Amulon’s disavowed daughter Raquel has plans of her own. Despite her grief, she is determined to begin a new life in the colony Alma and his followers are building. When Lamanites plunder and burn her settlement, Raquel and her young son are forced to flee to the waters of Mormon. Drama and danger escalate as Alma the Elder organizes the Lord’s Church and baptizes its members, bringing an outpouring of divine grace and power. But even as they rejoice, the believers have profound and perilous trials to face, from the outward threat of Amulon’s treachery to the inward threat of pride and disobedience.



Ok, because I have read The Book of Mormon more than once, and attend Sunday School class with regularity, and I even graduated from Seminary, I knew the ending of this story before I ever opened the book. But I wanted to read it anyway. I was dissapointed when I missed commenting on Heather's blog in time to get a review copy of the book.



Heather is a really sweet person, in addition to being a great writer, and she sent me a book anyway. But that has nothing to do with the fact that I am going to say good things about this book.



So, back to the fact that I knew the ending of the story at the beginning. I just didn't know the route Heather would take to get there. It was a great trip with beautiful scenery and only a few sidetrips.



Amulon- what a horrible person he is and Moore does a perfect job of showing us just how horrible and evil he is. I never want to meet him and feel sorry for the daughters of the Lamanites. Showing us the possible way he manipulated and schemed his way into the good graces of the Lamanites and into power.



Alma- used to be best friends with Amulon and sunk to deepest, darkest place of his life before he chose to leave King Noah's court in Moore's earlier book, Abinadi. (but you don't have to read it to understand Alma)

He is now a prophet and leader and at odds with Amulon, who later becomes leader of Alma and his people.



I would have liked to see more of Alma's transformation from repentent man to humble servant of God and less of the match making of Raquel's and Helam's mothers.



I loved the story that Heather has weaved around and with this familiar scripture passage. I love the way she makes the familiar names become real people. I love the way she has imagined and portrayed all the what ifs and whys and maybes that are left out of the scriptures and they feel real as if that is the way it could have happened.



Heather's next book will be about Alma's son, a newborn in this book, Alma the Younger. I am looking forward to the journey she will take us on with him.



Buy the book here



Product details

Linda Curley Christensen, artist

6” X 9”

336 pages

ISBN 978-1-59811-864-3

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Indeed.

The Way He Lived

The Way He Lived
Emily Wing Smith

There wasn't enough water on the hike.
Joel didn't drink enough water to survive.

Those facts alone mean nothing...except that maybe Joel let himself die. Maybe he was trapped and couldn't figure any other way out.

That's how you get when you're trapped: desperate.

Another book from Authorpalooza in August.
From the inside cover

Sometimes being true to yourself means sacrificing everything.
Joel Espen could never be who he really was in the small town of Haven. Still, there was always something different about him. Sixteen years old. Green eyes that could see right into your heart. A slefless need to save people. Even the way he died reflected the way he lived: helping others. But suddenly losing your brother....your best friend....your first love?

As the six teens who were closest to Joel try to find the meaning behind his death, they begin to realize that tragedy can sometimes set you free-- by revealing who you truly are.

Another book that will go on my shelf in my office at work. Another author that captures the teen world so well. I read this book in August and have already pulled from it this school year as I deal with students and their issues, real and percieved.

Each section of this book is told from the perspective of someone else that knew Joel. Each section is titled by a line from the children's poem:
Monday's child is fair of face
Tuesday's child is full of grace (just an aside- I am a Tuesday's child)
Wednesday's child is full of woe
Thursday's child has far to go
Friday's child is loving and giving
Saturday's child must work hard for a living
But the child that's born on the Sabbath day
Is fair and wise and good and gay.

Joel is a Sunday's child. And everyone loves/ed him. But why did he have to die? Did he want to? Was it a loving sacrafice on his part? or a way to leave an unbearable existence? Questions we will never have the answer to, but questions that allow his family and friends to explore their own lives and where they want to go from here.



Buy the book here

Product details:

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Flux (November 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0738714046
ISBN-13: 978-0738714042
Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches

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Indeed.

life in the fat lane

life in the fat lane
Cherie Bennett

Lara Ardeche, a voice in my head said to me, you are not a quitter. You can change this. And you don't need anyone's help. All you have to do is stop eating. Totally. No matter how hungry you get, or how bad that is, it can't be as bad as this is.
Yes. That was what I would do. I'd just stop eating.
One of two things would happen.
I would get thin again. Or I would die.
Either way, I would win.

I attended Authorpalooza with Karlene back in August. Cherie was one of the authors there with this book. I picked it up and thought it looked interesting. I also thought that it might be a good book to have as a counselor.

Or at least a quick and momentary diversion from home/housework.

I am so glad I bought this book that night.

Lara is homecoming queen. Beauty pagent winner. Thin and beautiful. Until she gets sick (a ficticious disease) and gets fat. And her friends leave. Her family falls apart. Her entire world crumbles. Just like a crumb cake without a glass of milk. And nothing will ever be the same again.

My favorite scene came twice in the book. Both scenes involve a skinny girl and a fat girl and dieting advice. And they bring the book full circle.

Lara's mom and dad? I could just slap them. I deal with these kinds of parents all. day. long. and I just always want to say, "Excuse me! Do you not realize that if you would just grow up your child would not be having these problems? Get over yourself already, people!" But of course I don't. But I sure want to.

Scott, her brother, I want to reach out and help. I deal with the Scotts of the world all day long as well. But for them I have tools to help him learn and deal and cope. And I have hope. Despite his parents.

Cherie has done an amazing job of getting inside the head of teens and voicing their thoughts and feelings. This is a book that I will take to my office and use and recommend to other counselors, parents and teens. And probably administrators as well.

Buy it here

Product details:

Product Details
Pub. Date: July 1999
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 272pp
Age Range: Young Adult
ISBN-13: 9780440220299

Get it
Read it

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Indeed.