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Young Chefs by Christina Dymock – Blog Tour

Posted by Shanda Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews

Jun 132013

Young Chefs

Author: Christina Dymock

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Published Date: June 2013

Paperback: 128 pages

Genre: Children’s Nonfiction/Cookbook

ISBN# 978-1462111954

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: received a free digital review copy in exchange for an honest review

Summary (from Cedar Fort)

Kids in the kitchen don’t have to make a mess—as long as they know what they’re doing! Teaching your children how to cook can be daunting, especially when you don’t know where to start. Wipe away your worries with this cookbook made specifically for kids.

Inside you’ll find tips for a variety of cooking techniques, a glossary for common cooking terms, and a book boiling over with recipes written for children such as Peanut Butter Morning Cake, Bobby’s Pork Chops, Pirate Eggs, and Banana Tacos. Along with interesting trivia and a section for needed tools, each recipe outlines which stages require adult help, and each process is broken down into simple, easy-to-follow steps.

Author of 101 Things to Do with Popcorn, Christina Dymock knows the adventures kids can find in the kitchen. Spending cooking time together can only help family relationships. So teach your children the skills found in Young Chefs, and be amazed that your new favorite meals came from the smallest hands.

Review

There is so much to like about Young Chefs by Christina Dymock. The simple recipes appeal to kids and what they like to eat. Cute icons at the top of each recipe tell kids and parents what tools are required so you can know at a glance if your child will need your help. Brightly colored lettering and accents give the book a fun look and help spotlight each recipe.

As a mom of four kids who love to eat, I encourage them to make their own lunches and snacks when possible, but they always fall back on the same stuff. If I’m tired of seeing them eat the same things, I know they must be tired of eating the same things. While there are several recipes to choose from in each section, it is not an overwhelming amount, offering just enough variety that even picky eaters can find something they will like.

Included in the front of the book are tips for young first-time cooks and their parents, a glossary of basic cooking terms, as well as a How-To section with pictures so kids can see how to crack an egg, use a knife, measure ingredients, etc. There are six main recipe sections:

Breakfast: a variety of smoothie, juice, pastry and egg recipes.

Lunch: easy to put together finger foods, roll-ups, and sandwiches, most of which don’t require much cooking. There are a few (like Meatless Lasagna Rolls) that take a little longer and use the oven, something an older child ready to expand their skills might be interested in preparing.

Snacks: range in taste from sweet (Vanilla Mango Pops) to simple (Blonde Trail Mix) to savory (Pig Skins).

Dinner: a delicious selection of recipes like French Bread Pizza, Best Nachos Ever, Slow Cookin’ Taco Soup, and Creamy Dreamy Alfredo Sauce.

Sides: salads, gelatin, and a variety of vegetable selections.

Desserts: includes the good ol’ standby when I was growing up, Frosting Sandwiches, as well as cookies, bars and more.

Young Chefs would make a great summer project, giving kids and parents something to both keep kids occupied and feed them at the same time. With simple ingredients kids recognize and clearly outlined preparation steps, there might just be some some new favorites that your kids will be happy to make for themselves again and again.

Visit Christina Dymock:

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Find Young Chefs:

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Click on the banner above to see the Young Chefs Blog Tour schedule.

Sworn Enemy by A.L. Sowards – Countdown to Summer 2013

Posted by Shanda Countdown to Christmas

Jun 122013

A.L. Sowards grew up in Moses Lake, Washington, then came to Utah to attend BYU and ended up staying. She wrote most of her latest release while her twin toddlers were sleeping and did most of the revisions while they were supposed to be sleeping, but were really using their crib mattresses as trampolines.

Visit A.L.: WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

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

A.L.: Last year I realized I’d been spending so much time on research books that I hadn’t read much fiction, so this year my goal is to read at least one novel a month. (That sounds really lame, doesn’t it?) I want to read The Grecian Princess, by N.C. Allen, because I liked the first two books in the Isabelle Webb series, then there are a few national market WWII books I’d like to read, and my siblings keep suggesting I read something by Brandon Sanderson, so maybe I’ll try the Mistborn series this summer.

I have some WWII research to keep up on too, including The Day of Battle by Rick Atkinson, about the campaign in Italy, and two books about WWII spies: Between Silk and Cyanide, by Leo Marks, and Flames in the Field, by Rita Kramer. I’m also in the goodreads WWII readers group and I’ll probably read something for their upcoming group reads. Right now I’m reading Combat Crew, by John Comer, as part of their WWII aviation month.

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

A.L.: I went to church camp when I was in Young Women. I was part of a huge ward, and we’d stay up late playing Encore (a game with two teams, and you go back and forth singing parts of songs with a specific word in the lyrics until the losing team runs out of songs). The other wards weren’t thrilled by our enthusiastic singing late into the night, but we had fun.

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

A.L.: Part of me wants to say somewhere in Europe, but then it would be too expensive to actually visit the home, so I’ll settle for somewhere along the US Pacific coast, so I could drive there, and lie on the beach while planning out my next scenes, then type while listening to the waves.

LDSWBR: Thank you so much!

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Find Sworn Enemy:

AMAZON (Paperback & Kindle) | DESERET BOOK (Paperback, eBook & Audio/MP3) | GOODREADS

June 1944. As World War II rages, the people of Eastern Europe are hopelessly trapped between two formidable forces: Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s Soviet Union. In their midst, a band of heroes works to defend against the inevitable Communist takeover.

After narrowly escaping her Nazi captors, French Resistance worker Genevieve Olivier has fled to Allied territory with the help of American Lieutenant Peter Eddy. Their connection is undeniable, forged in the crucible of danger. But despite their blossoming feelings for each other, they must both finish the work they began . . .

In the safety of England, Genevieve hopes to find purpose as a nurse—all the while unaware that the Gestapo still seeks the woman who slipped through their grasp. When she is called upon to resume a life of danger as a French spy, will her desire to prove herself be her downfall?

Recruited by an elite special-ops team intent on thwarting the Nazis, Peter finds himself engaged in a personal battle as well—there is a traitor among his comrades. Deep in the Carpathian Mountains, Peter combats an unknown foe. The stakes are high as he fights to save the lives of his teammates.

They are miles apart, yet as Genevieve and Peter fight for their own survival, they find a common well of strength in their faith—and their determination to be reunited.

What singing games did/do you play while camping?

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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 6/12/2013 (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)

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.

I, Spy by Jordan McCollum – Countdown to Summer 2013

Posted by Shanda Countdown to Summer

Jun 112013

An award-winning author, Jordan McCollum can’t resist a story where good defeats evil and true love conquers all. In her day job, she coerces people to do things they don’t want to, elicits information and generally manipulates the people she loves most–she’s a mom.

Jordan holds a degree in American Studies and Linguistics from Brigham Young University. When she catches a spare minute, her hobbies include reading, knitting and music. Originally from North Carolina, she now lives with her husband and four children in Utah.

Visit Jordan: BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

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

JORDAN: The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman, Shadowed by Stephanie Black, Broken Harbor by Tana French, A Way Back to You by Emily Gray Clawson, Ashes Ashes by Julie Coulter Bellon, Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter

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

JORDAN: I went to Girls’ Camp four years. Tough to pick a camping experience: the time I caught a terrible cold and kept my whole family up all night with my moaning, the year Girls’ Camp was flooded out and we had to take a number of girls’ stuff to the laundromat and spend the last night in the Stake Center, or the year where every day was >100 degrees and 100% humidity and I couldn’t go in the lake . . .

Is it any surprise I hate camping?

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

JORDAN: Somewhere along the North Carolina coast!

LDSWBR: Thanks, Jordan!

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Find I, Spy:

Canada is probably the last place you’d expect to find an American spy. But even idyllic Ottawa has its deadly secrets–and so does CIA operative Talia Reynolds. She can climb through ventilation shafts, blend in at the occasional diplomatic function, even scale buildings (small ones). But there’s one thing she can’t do: tell her aerospace engineer boyfriend Danny about her Top Secret occupation.

It worked for a year, keeping Danny in the dark, keeping him away from danger, keeping her secrets. And then Talia finally catches a hot case: Fyodor Timofeyev. Russian. Aerospace executive. Possible spy?

She can make this work, too–until Danny needs her at the same time her country does. And when Fyodor targets Danny? Suddenly her schedule isn’t the only thing suffering. Now to save her country and her secrets, Talia must sacrifice the man she loves.

Do you love to camp or hate to camp?

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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.

Book prizes generously donated by the authors as of 6/11/2013 (more added throughout the contest!):

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)

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

A Blind Eye by Julie Daines – Countdown to Summer 2013

Posted by Shanda Countdown to Summer

Jun 102013

Julie Daines was born in Massachusetts and raised in Utah. She spent eighteen months living in London, where she studied and fell in love with English literature, sticky toffee pudding, and the mysterious guy who ran the kebab store around the corner.

She loves reading, writing, and watching movies—anything that transports her to another world. She picks Captain Wentworth over Mr. Darcy, firmly believes in second breakfast, and never leaves home without her vervain.

She is the author of A Blind Eye (February 2013), and has won several awards for her writing.

Visit Julie: BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | GOODREADS

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

JULIE: Chime by Franny Billingsley, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, and the two new Sarah M. Eden books coming out this summer. That should be a good start!

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

JULIE: When I was in college, I went snow camping with my cross country ski class. I know this post is supposed to be all about summertime, but this is my most memorable camping experience. We carved tent spaces out of the snow–which was about 6 feet deep–and told wonderful stories by the fire. Everything was going fine until I had to go to the bathroom. Of course there were no facilities, we were in the middle of nowhere. The procedure for relieving yourself was basically put your skis on–because the snow was way to deep to walk on–and find a private tree.

Well, I don’t want to get into too much gruesome detail, but, let’s just say that when you squat with your pants down on skis, it’s possible the skis will head downhill at a very inopportune moment.

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

JULIE: Oh my gosh I’m the worst at picking favorites. I guess I’d have to say a little cottage somewhere in the English countryside. Or in New Zealand. Or a cabin in Alaska … or Montana.

LDSWBR: Thank you, Julie!

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Find A Blind Eye:

Seventeen-year-old Christian Morris decides the only way to save himself from his father’s neglect is to run away from home. On his way out of town, he finds a stowaway hiding in his car—Scarlett, who has been kidnapped from London. Blind since birth, Scarlett has developed a sixth sense: she dreams about someone’s death before it happens. And now, she has dreamed about her own.

Christian’s attempt to leave home turns into a race to save Scarlett from death by scientific experimentation. His growing relationship with the girl helps him to look past his own blindness and confront the truth about his father. But first, he must find the kidnappers before they can get to Scarlett.

Read Shanda’s review of A Blind Eye | Watch the BOOK TRAILER

Have you ever camped in the snow like Julie?

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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.

Book prizes generously donated by the authors as of 6/10/2013 (more added throughout the contest!):

A Blind Eye by Julie Daines (signed), a bookmark AND a Mind the Gap temporary tattoo

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

A Way Back to You by Emily Gray Clawson – Blog Tour

Posted by Shanda Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews

Jun 102013

A Way Back to You

Author: Emily Gray Clawson

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published Date: 2013

Paperback/ebook: 208 pages

Genre: Romance

ISBN# 978-1609075217

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: received a temporary digital review copy that will be removed from my device after a short period of time

Summary

What would you do if you were given a second chance?

Annabelle, whom nearly everyone calls Anne, has been stuck in the past for two years. Numbed by grief over her husband’s unexpected death and overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising their three young children alone, Anne agrees to let a friend take the kids for the weekend while she tries to get some much-needed rest at her parent’s home.

But when Anne wakes up the next morning, she is suddenly sixteen again. And it just happens to be the worst day she spent as a teenager.

High school the second time around brings unforeseen changes and frustrations, but remembering that her future husband, Mitch, has just returned from a mission and is living on the other side of town gives Anne hope. Getting Mitch’s attention (for the second time) is more complicated than she could have imagined, but Anne discovers she is stronger than she believed possible—and there just might be a future for her after all.

Review

I can honestly say I’ve never read a book quite like this one. As a reviewer, I love to discover books that surprise me. A Way Back to You did so more than once.

The book starts out on a more serious note with Annie, a mother of three young children and a widow of three years, struggling through one of the hardest days of her life since losing her husband. Instead of coming across as depressing or overly heavy, though, it was an intriguing and relatable opening, at least as far as the hard mothering days. By midway through the second chapter I was emotionally invested in Anne’s story, even blinking back a few tears as I read.

It had been a while since I read the summary for A Way Back to You, so I was pleasantly surprised when Anne awoke as a teenager. I enjoy time travel books, but don’t read many where the character travels back to a time in their own life. The clothing descriptions took me back to my own high school years. The frequent tears and mood swings experienced by Anne as her 38-year-old intellect dealt with frustrating teenage hormones made me grateful I would never be a teenager again.

The romance aspect of the story embraced both the more mature love of married adults as well as the teenage crush-turned-love experiences. I was satisfied with the romantic resolution and glad for Annie, though I could see how some might consider it a little too convenient. My romantic heart was happy with the ending, though, and I think other readers who enjoy a good clean romance will like it, too. I definitely look forward to reading more from Emily.

Visit Emily:

BLOG | FACEBOOK | GOOGLE + | TWITTER

Find A Way Back to You:

DESERET BOOK | DB BOOKSHELF | KINDLE | GOODREADS

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Are We Special? by Jeffrey S. Reber and Steven P. Moody – Blog Tour

Posted by Shanda Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews

Jun 032013

Are We Special? The Truth and the Lie about God’s Chosen People

Authors: Jeffrey S. Reber, PhD, and Stephen P. Moody, MSW

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published Date: 2013

Softcover/DB Bookshelf ebook: 266 pages

Genre: Religious Nonfiction

ISBN# 978-1609075163

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: received a temporary digital review copy that will be removed from my device by the publisher after a short time

Summary

Have you ever felt you might be special?

Where does that feeling come from—and what does it really mean?

The truth is that we are special, because we are all beloved children of our Heavenly Father, and we enjoyed a special, personal relationship with Him before coming to earth. Having left His presence, we feel a void, a homesickness that reminds us that we are more than mortal beings and inclines us toward our Father and His love.

But we are sometimes persuaded by the lie that we are more special than others. The lie lifts us above others, creates feelings of entitlement, and convinces us that the void we feel signifies our personal destiny for glory. It inclines us to seek fame, prestige, or wealth as proof of our superiority over others.

Each of us is constantly enticed by this truth and this lie, and we respond to both using four strategies to manage our acceptance or denial, each with its defining feature of pride, despair, selfishness, or true discipleship. In Are We Special? authors Jeffrey Reber and Steven Moody show us how to increase our acceptance of the truth and denial of the lie in order to become true disciples of Jesus Christ.

Review

I love a clean cover with lots of white space and simple, eye-catching art. With a question for a title and the dichotomy of the subtitle, I was intrigued from the start. How can our being “special” be both a truth AND a lie? It definitely urged me to read on and find out how it all fit together.

Being told all throughout childhood that we were a special generation that would lead the way into the millennium, etc., unintentionally encouraged me to have a somewhat inflated attitude regarding myself and those of my generation in the Church.There is an emphasis in my generation’s culture about feeling special and making sure your kids feel special. I have always felt like there was something wrong with that but couldn’t quite explain why. Now I understand that it isn’t recognizing that we are special that’s the problem, it’s feeling MORE special than someone else that is the real issue.

The authors state that being separated from our Father in Heaven during our time in mortality creates a void that Satan takes advantage of, tempting us to follow selfish, denigrating interests to fill what only a close relationship with our Father can only ever truly fill. It is that strong and special bond we enjoyed before this life that we miss and often end up trying to replace with empty, meaningless and even harmful pursuits.

They go on to explain the TRUTH and the LIE: While we, as children of God, are indeed special to Him, as members of the Church, we might mistakenly consider ourselves of more worth to Heavenly Father than His other children. We ARE special to our Heavenly Father, but we are not MORE special to Him.

“We can believe the adversary’s lie and try to fill our void with the false belief that we are better than others rather than lowly and humble servants of all.” –Are We Special?

The chapter examining the Pharisees had the most impact on me. I am guilty of sitting in Sunday School, answering “No” to the question, “Are you like the Pharisees of old?” After reading this section, I have learned there is a subtlety to these Pharisaical characteristics that, at one time or another, I have indeed been guilty of possessing.

Another section that really stood out to me was entitled “Sin and Perfection.” I have had issues with perfectionism most of my life, and there was one sentence that opened my eyes in a way that nothing else has previously. The authors explain that the root of the word translated into “perfect” in certain scriptures of the Bible means “whole” or “complete,” which I had previously known but had never considered in the context of my current relationship with my Savior:

“Perfection, understood relationally, is not a property of the individual; it is a quality of relationship with the divine.” –Are We Special?

The authors don’t just focus on the ways we struggle with being self-centered, modern-day Pharisees. They also discuss how we can be true disciples of Christ, submitting our will to His and accepting the fullness of His love so that we can truly love others.

He delighted in the happiness of others, the happiness He could bring them. –Are We Special?

They encourage readers to take time to meditate and reflect, staying mindful about activities and if they are helping to develop a closer relationship with Christ. Each chapter and section is full of layers and depth that I did not expect and that have changed so much about the way I view myself and others, including my Savior and Father in Heaven. Everything relates back to the Savior and His Atonement for us, as well as the immense and incomprehensible Love that He and Heavenly Father have for every one of us.

Without hesitation, I recommend this book to everyone. There is wisdom and insight in this book to which my review cannot do justice. I will be purchasing copies of Are We Special? for myself and several loved ones. Visit the links below to learn more about Are We Special?, the authors, and how to purchase a copy for yourself.

Find Are We Special?:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

Purchase Are We Special?:

DESERET BOOK | DB BOOKSHELF

Click the banner above to see the Are We Special? Blog Tour schedule.

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 6/16/13

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