Belonging to Heaven by Gale Sears – Countdown to Summer 2013

 

Gale Sears delights in being an average person. She has her strengths and weaknesses, her good days and her bad, her abilities and lack thereof. She was born in Placerville, California and early on migrated to South Lake Tahoe where she was blessed to grow up amid some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. She and her mother lived several years in Honolulu Hawaii where she graduated from high school. Gale went on to college, eventually receiving a master’s degree in Theater Arts from the University of Minnesota.During her college years she met and married George Sears, and, after more than 40 years of marriage, he is still her sweetheart. They have two children—a son Shawn and a daughter Chandler. She has 7 published novels as well as 2 children’s picture books. Her last novel, Belonging to Heaven was published by Deseret book and came out in April of 2013.

Visit Gale:  WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

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LDSWBR:  What books do you plan/hope to read this summer?

GALE:  In the Company of Others by Jan Karon, U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton, Biography and Family Record of Lorenzo Snow by Eliza R. Snow Smith

LDSWBR: Did you ever go to summer camp, and/or what is your most memorable camping experience?

GALE:  I did go to summer camp! It was a girl scout camp near Meeks Bay, Lake Tahoe, California. The name of the camp was Camp Wasu and it afforded many wonderful experiences: hiking in the beautiful Sierra mountains, learning how to make camp fires, and singing goofy camp songs which I remember to this day.

LDSWBR:  If you could have a summer home anywhere in the world, where would it be?

GALE:  Lake Tahoe.

LDSWBR:  Thank you, Gale!

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Find Belonging to Heaven

AMAZON (Hardcover & Kindle) | DESERET BOOK (Hardcover, ebook & audio/MP3) | SEAGULL BOOK | GOODREADS

Descended from the Hawaiian royal line, Jonathan Napela became one of the first—and most influential—converts to the Church in Hawaii. A man of intelligence, social status, and wealth, he used his considerable position to further the gospel in his native land. He developed a lifelong bond of brotherhood with Elder George Q. Cannon, helping to translate the Book of Mormon into Hawaiian and establish a gathering place for the Hawaiian saints in Laie, Oahu. But when his beloved wife, Kitty, was stricken with leprosy, Jonathan made the defining decision of his life. He would leave his life of privilege to become her caretaker and spend the rest of his life on Molokai, the island of lepers. To those who suffered similar heartbreak and banishment, Jonathan’s self-sacrifice became their lifeline. Based on true story, this is an extraordinary novel of a man who chose love in the face of death.

Have you ever been to Lake Tahoe or the Sierra Mountains? I’ve never been but I’ve seen pictures and it looks beautiful!

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To enter the LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2013, leave a thoughtful comment below.

Comment on each Countdown to Summer 2013 post for more chances to win. Please click through to the website as only comments submitted directly on this post will be accepted.

Prizes include a $50 Amazon gift card and the author-donated books listed below. This is raffle-style drawing where all entries throughout the contest period are entered into the same “hat” for all prizes. US only. 18 years and older please. See all contest rules and restrictions HERE.

If you don’t already follow LDSWBR through email, Facebook or Twitter (those cute little book buttons on the sidebar) you may want to consider doing so during the contest so you don’t miss any posts or chances to enter the drawing. Following LDSWBR is not required but it is nice to know that our book reviews are useful to other readers.

If one of our LDSWBR reviews has ever helped you find a book you enjoyed, perhaps you would consider helping us spread the word about the LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2013. A link posted to your friends and family either in email or on your favorite social network would be so greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Book prizes generously donated by the authors as of 6/17/2013 (more added throughout the countdown!):

• A Blind Eye by Julie Daines (signed), a bookmark AND a Mind the Gap temporary tattoo
• I, Spy by Jordan McCollum (choice of paperback or ebook)
• Sworn Enemy by A.L. Sowards (choice of paperback or ebook)
• Glimmer of Hope by Sarah M. Eden
• A Change of Plans by Donna K. Weaver
• Fairy Godmothers, Inc. by Jenniffer Wardell (signed paperback)
• Esther the Queen by H.B. Moore (Kindle or Nook)
• Belonging to Heaven by Gale Sears (or winner’s choice of another book by Gale)

By commenting and participating in the Countdown to Summer 2013 you agree to the following:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY; entrants must be 18 years or older; open to residents of continental US only; giveaway begins June 10, 2013 and all entries must be received by 12:00 Midnight June 30, 2012 Mountain Time; to enter, complete the required entry on each post and any additional entries of your choice if listed; LDS Women’s Book Review reserves the right to determine what is considered a thoughtful comment as per each post’s required entry; giveaway prizes include a $50 Amazon gift card and a variety of book prizes donated by featured authors; the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning; LDS Women’s Book Review is not liable for technical problems which may affect entry into the giveaway; winner identity will be verified by email address; winner will be selected July 2, 2013 by use of a sequence generator on random.org; winners will have until July 10, 2013 to claim their prize; if any prize winner forfeits or does not claim prize, prize will be re-awarded to next winner in sequence; all prizes will be awarded; limit of two prizes per entrant; this contest/giveaway is not associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other entity unless otherwise specified; by entering the giveaway you give LDS Women’s Book Review the right to publicize your name on the LDS Women’s Book Review blog; winner agrees to release LDS Women’s Book Review from any liability as a result of winning; email comments & questions to LDS Women’s Book Review – ldswbr (at) gmail (dot) com; giveaway subject to Utah regulations; VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.