Discovering Peace by Jennifer Ann Holt – Countdown to Summer 2014

2 days until summer!

 

Jennifer Holt was raised as a farm girl in Enterprise, Utah. An avid reader since age four, she always enjoys a good book. Jennifer graduated Cum Laude from Brigham Young University, and went against the odds by receiving her diploma before she got married! She currently lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, Shane, and their daughter and two sons. She enjoys wakeboarding and cheering on her children in all of their activities. You can connect with Jennifer on her web site: www.authorjenniferannholt.com .

Visit Jennifer: WEBSITE/BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

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LDSWBR: What book or movie reminds you of summer?

JENNIFER: The first one that comes to mind is the unabridged Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I know that’s a weird summer book, but I read it the summer after I graduated from high school. Everything we did that summer, I had that book with me. I read it on the beach, I read it driving in the car to family reunions, I read it when I was supposed to be weeding the garden…you get the idea. I’m usually a fast reader, but it took me the majority of the summer to make it through all 1463 pages. That book changed the way I thought about lots of things and I realized that everything is not always black or white, that choices truly have consequences, and that our experiences do shape the way we view the world and everything in it. I think about that at the beginning of every summer.

LDSWBR: Do you hike during the summer? If so, where is your favorite place to hike?

JENNIFER: Yes! Since moving to Boise, we’ve had to search out new places to hike. One of our favorites is to hike Table Rock. It’s a bit steep, but when you get to the top, you can see the entire city of Boise. It’s beautiful! We’ve also done some hiking in McCall this year, and that’s been great.

LDSWBR: What is the best book you’ve read so far this year?

JENNIFER: My favorite book that I’ve read so far this year is Popular by Maya Van Wagenen. It’s a memoir of how Maya, an eighth grade self-proclaimed geek, used a 1950s popularity guide to explore what ‘popular’ really means. It was so touching, and Maya’s experiences are applicable to women of every age. When I finished it, I had my daughter (who will be starting junior high this fall) read it as well. She loved it, too!

LDSWBR: Thank you, Jennifer!

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SEAGULL BOOK | BARNES & NOBLE | AMAZON | GOODREADS

Placing her baby girl for adoption isn’t the mistake Ally is running away from, but everyone else seems to think it is. As Ally tries to move forward in her life, her past keeps pulling her back, and she wonders if she will ever find true love again. Only holding onto hope can help Ally find the peace she’s seeking.

Have you read the unabridged version of Les Miserables? What is the longest book you’ve read?

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**To enter the LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2014, leave a thoughtful comment below.**

This is raffle-style drawing where all entries throughout the contest period are entered into the same “hat” for all prizes. Because this is a raffle-style drawing, commenting on each Countdown to Summer 2014 post will give you 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. US only. 18 years and older please. See all contest rules and restrictions below.

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By leaving a comment and entering the Countdown to Summer 2014, you agree to the contest rules below:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY; entrants must be 18 years or older; open to residents of continental US only; giveaway begins June 5, 2014 and all entries must be received by 12:00 Midnight June 30, 2014 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 3, 2014 by use of a sequence generator on random.org; winner will have until July 10, 2014 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 and questions to LDS Women’s Book Review – ldswbr (at) gmail (dot) com; giveaway subject to Utah regulations; VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

**Book Prizes (as of 6/19/14 – more to be added to this list!)**

• Unraveled by Julie Daines (signed paperback)
• Any book by A.L. Sowards (choice of paperback or Kindle version)
• An autographed copy of any one Sarah M. Eden book of the winner’s choice
• Chances Are by Traci Hunter Abramson (signed/personalized paperback)
• Choice of The Inventor’s Secret (hardback or paperback) or The Avatar Battle (hardback or audio CD) by Chad Morris (signed copy)
• Missing Lily by Annette K. Larsen (ebook in .mobi or epub)
• Glimmering Light by Margot Hovley (personalized paperback or Kindle)
• Before the Clock Strikes Thirty by Aubrey Mace (personalized paperback)
• Tulips and Treason by Tristi Pinkston (personalized paperback)
• Luminescence by Braden Bell
• Falling For You by Krista Lynne Jensen (signed paperback)
• Ilana’s Wish by Annette Lyon (paperback copy, personalized if desired)
• Winner’s choice of one of Josi S. Kilpack’s books
• Not Your Average Happy Ending by Chantele Sedgwick (winner’s choice of paperback or ebook)
• Discovering Peace by Jennifer Ann Holt (signed copy)