Mindy

Not Your Average Happy Ending by Chantele Sedgwick

Posted by Mindy Book Reviews

Mar 252014

Not Your Average Happy Ending

Author: Chantele Sedgwick

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

Published: March 3rd, 2014

Paperback: 257 pages

ASIN: B00IQAERR8

FTC FYI: I received an ePub copy from the author in exchange of an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

When Ash Summerland left the Academy of Magical Beings, he was sure he’d put his troubles behind him. But when his girlfriend, Kendall, is almost killed by an old enemy over something he knows little about, Ash is forced to confront the demons of his past.

With his fairy magic fading and his darker djinn magic more powerful than ever, Ash isn’t sure he can stop the evil from closing in around him. Although Kendall is the only thing keeping him from going over the edge, if he can’t learn to balance out his magic and find a way to defeat his enemies once and for all, both his world, and the girl he loves will be lost forever.

My Review

I LOVED Not Your Average Fairy Tale by Chantele. Everything about it was magical. If you are new to this series, I would read Fairy Tale first. That being said, I was thrilled with the release of Happy Ending, as I knew it would be just as enjoyable as the first. I was right. Like the first book, both Ash and Kendall are telling the story from their point of view, rotating chapters. We find out at the beginning, from Ash, that three months has passed. Ash has been living in the human world in an apartment near Kendall, while she is in school. While Ash is getting used to the whole “half djinn/half fairy” thing, Kendall is nearly killed by Dax, Ash’s half brother. He wants something from Kendall that confuses Ash as to the reasoning behind it. This starts a chain of events that lead to many battles, healing, dragons, banshees, and many more exciting adventures that lead to more questions for Ash and being lead to those who have been lost.

4 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed Happy Ending. Just like the first book, Chantele did an amazing job with character development and plot. I was drawn immediately back to Kendall and Ash’s world and what I loved about their relationship in Fairy Tale, was just as fabulous in Happy Ending. Chantele is not only an amazing author, she is a great friend of mine. I love her books and can’t wait for more titles from her.

Author Links

Goodreads / Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Publisher

Cragbridge Hall: The Avatar Battle by Chad Morris

Posted by Mindy Book Reviews

Mar 132014

Cragbridge Hall: The Avatar Battle

Author: Chad Morris

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: March 4th, 2014

ISBN13: 9781609078096

Hardcover: 352 pages

FTC FYI: Received a hardcover copy from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

The adventure continues when Abby and Derick begin second semester at Cragbridge Hall, the most prestigious secondary school in the world. But when Grandpa Cragbridge admits them to the Council of Keys–a secret group of people who have keys to travel back in time–strange things begin to happen. One by one, members are found unconscious and unable to wake, their keys stolen. Now Abby and Derick must scramble to figure out who is behind the attacks before they become the next victims, which would give their enemy the power to change the past forever.

A page-turning, time-travel adventure that teaches powerful lessons about choice and consequence, believing you can do hard things, and valuing history.

Author Video by Chad Morris.

My Review

The Avatar Battle is another reason why I love, love, love Middle Grade books. Chad Morris has got himself a hit with this series. The Avatar Battle is even better than The Inventor’s Secret. The action hits you right at first, and develops a great mystery that had me guessing until the end, which I love! There are very fun twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting that kept me turning pages fast!

One of the things I liked the most was the conflict Abby was having with herself. She doubts how great she is because of her grades. I can relate to that in my own family with one of my daughters. After some challenges and set backs, Abby starts to realize that she is needed and important. Derick also tested with challenges to overcome. He wants to join a club at school and feels he will never be good enough either. The twins probably don’t even realize they have this in common. Abby also asks her grandfather an important question as to what is happening on the Bridge and adds to this exciting adventure as Abby, Derick, and Carol race to figure out the threat to Cragbridge Hall.

5 out of 5 stars. If you are new to this series, definitely start with the first book, The Inventor’s Secret.

Author Links

Twitter / Website

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Deseret Book / Seagull Book

Discovering Peace by Jennifer Ann Holt — Blog Tour

Posted by Mindy Book Reviews

Mar 122014

Discovering Peace

Author: Jennifer Ann Holt

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Published: March 11th, 2014

Paperback: 240 pages

ISBN13: 9781462114139

FTC FYI: I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

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.

My Review

Discovering Peace is another triumph for Jennifer Ann Holt. In reading this book, I enjoyed seeing the other side of adoption. What happens after the mother gives her child to strangers to raise and love as their own. I really enjoyed the alternating points of view from Ally and Livy. While I was reading, I found that Livy amazed me. She is a great character and what she does for someone in this story brought tears to my eyes. I couldn’t put this book down at times. It is usually not too often that I will stay up way too late to read, but I easily slipped into Ally and Livy’s world because they are such easy characters to love. While reading their stories, I found that they weren’t the only ones that needed peace, others did too. Hope, love and peace can be found through Christ and the Atonement.

5 out of 5 stars. If you are just finding out about Jennifer and her books, I would start with the first one, Delivering Hope. It is $.99 on Kindle!

Author Links

Goodreads / Blog / Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Power to Become by David A. Bednar — Spotlight

Posted by Mindy Book Reviews

Mar 112014

Power to Become

Author: David A. Bednar

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published: March 1st, 2014

ISBN13: 9781609078591

Hardcover: 208 pages

FTC FYI: Received a hardcover copy.

Book Summary

In Power to Become, Elder David A. Bednar explores how the Savior makes possible His divine commission, “Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect” (3 Nephi 12:48).

Chapters in this thought-provoking book highlight the importance of the Atonement, the spiritual gift of personal peace, the importance of priesthood ordinances, and the responsibility we have to obey willingly and endure valiantly.

“As we increase in learning about the Savior and His gospel,” Elder Bednar writes, “as we strive with ever greater consistency to act in His doctrine, ordinances, and covenants, then we are blessed with power through His Atonement to increasingly become like Him.” Power to Become introduces vital tools we all can use to invite these eternally significant blessings into our lives.

About the Author

ELDER DAVID A. BEDNAR was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2004. Prior to his call, he had served as an Area Seventy, regional representative, stake president, and bishop. He served a mission to southern Germany and then attended Brigham Young University, where he received bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He received a PhD in organizational behavior from Purdue University and was a professor of business management at Texas Tech University and the University of Arkansas. Elder Bednar served as the president of BYU-Idaho from 1997 to 2004. His previously published books include the bestsellers Increase in Learning and Act in Doctrine. He and his wife, Susan, are the parents of three sons.

Link for group discussions: http://seek.deseretbook.com/lds-power-become/t

Purchase Links

Deseret Book / Seagull Book / Amazon / Barnes and Noble

One Little Match by Thomas S. Monson

Posted by Mindy Book Reviews

Mar 052014

One Little Match

President Thomas S. Monson

Illustrated by Dan Burr

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Excepted publication: March 3rd, 2014

ISBN13: 978-1-60907-868-3

Hardcover: 32 pages

Reviewed by Mindy

Inside Book Jacket

Thomas S. Monson loved spending summers at his family’s cabin in Utah’s Vivian Park. One summer day, he and his best friend, Danny, decided to clear a field so they could gather with their friends and have a campfire that night. The tall, stubborn weeds would not pull easily. So Tommy had the idea to burn them up instead.

He knew he shouldn’t use matches without permission from his parents. But he ignored the feeling that warned him of the danger and raided the matchbox in the cabin. Back in the field, he lit one little match and prepared to set the parched June grass ablaze…

Readers of all ages will resonate with the wonderful true story that demonstrates the blessings of obedience and “the dangers that can come from something as small as one little match.”

My Review

I loved this talk from Pres. Monson when he gave it at conference. I also love that some stories from conference are later made into books that can be shared often. The illustrations in this book are amazing and the beautifully drawn pages depict so well the story being told. I love the story of the one little match, because I believe we all can relate to it. Hopefully not with the setting of fires, but showing the fact how something in our lives could be set off so quickly by something small. If we but stay obedient to gospel principles and listen to the words of the prophets, we will be blessed.

About the Author

President Thomas S. Monson has served as the sixteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder-day Saints since 2008. He was called as an Apostle in October 1963 at the age of thirty-six. After serving as second counselor to President Ezra Taft Benson and then President Howard W. Hunter, he served as first counselor to President Gordon B. Hinckley from 1995-2008.

Thomas Spencer Monson was born to G. Spencer and Gladys Condie Monson on August 21st, 1927, in Salt Lake City. Following his service in the U.S. Navy near the close of World War II, he graduated cum laude from the University of Utah and earned an MBA from Brigham Young University. He had a distinguished career in the publishing industry.

He served as president of the Canadian Mission from 1959 to 1962 and was a member of several general Church committees before becoming an Apostle.

He married Francis Beverly Johnson in the Salt Lake Temple in 1948. They are the parent of two sons and one daughter. They have eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

About the Illustrator

Dan Burr earned his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the Utah State University and a master’s degree from Syracuse University. He and his wife, Patti, are raising their two children and numerous farm animals on twelve acres of river-bottom land in Tetonia, Idaho. Dan is a well-known Christian illustrator who also specializes in wildlife renderings. A few of the books Dan has illustrated are The Miracle of Wooden Shoes, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, and The Mansion.

Purchase Links

Deseret Book / Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Seagull Book

A is for Abinadi by Heidi Poleman

Posted by Mindy Book Reviews

Feb 262014

A is for Abinadi

Author: Heidi Poelman

Illustrator: Jason Pruett

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Published: February 11, 2014

Hardcover: 36 pages

ISBN: 978-1-4621-1369-9

Reviewed by Mindy

FTC FYI: Received a hardcover copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Backcover

In this adorably illustrated alphabet book, children will discover stories of the amazing men and women in the scriptures. Each page features a letter from the alphabet that corresponds to a hero from the Bible or Book of Mormon. For added fun, readers can search for hidden objects that start with that letter too.

Use this book to teach your children powerful examples of courage, obedience, faith, and friendship. Your children will love learning about spiritual heroes from Abinadi to Zoram, while practicing their ABCs.

My Review

This book is so cute! I loved the descriptions of each letter for its particular scripture hero. The illustrations were darling! They were very well done. Each scene is depicted carefully, while expressing the message from scriptures, it makes it fun for kids to read and enjoy too. My favorite was D is for Daniel. He looked like he was having fun with those lions. This is great tool for Family Home Evening and getting your child acquainted with the Bible and the Book of Mormon characters. It will also be fun for them to look through during Sacrament meeting.

Author Links

Facebook / Website

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Seagull Book / Deseret Book

Older Entries Newer Entries