Shanda

All I Want by Jolene Perry, Kaylee Baldwin and Rachael Anderson – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Dec 032012
 

All I Want: Three couples. Three stories. One Holiday.

Authors: Jolene Perry, Kaylee Baldwin, Rachael Anderson

Publisher: HEA Publishing

Published Date: October 2012

Paperback/Kindle; 225 pages

Genre: Contemporary Holiday Romance

ISBN# 978-1480115231

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free Kindle copy in exchange for an honest review

***See below for summaries of each story and giveaway details.***

Review

I love Christmas romances. As soon as Thanksgiving is over I start looking forward to all of the holiday romance movies on the Hallmark channel. I know, but I can’t help myself.

I was so excited to take part in the All I Want blog tour. Three Christmas romances written by three authors whose past books I’ve read and loved? Count me in!

I read All I Want straight through. All three stories are enjoyable and well-written. It was fun reading and recognizing the style of each author. These women are talented storytellers and I appreciated the toe-curling yet clean romance in each story.

I loved each hero. I couldn’t begin to pick a favorite. I really liked the heroines, too. While Pretty Near Perfect, Six Days of Christmas, and Twist of Fate are all novellas, they were so well done that at the end of each I felt as if I’d read a full-length novel.

I highly recommend All I Want to anyone who enjoys a good romance. It’s a bargain at $2.99 on Kindle. I am adding All I Want to my list of Favorite Christmas Reads, though I’m definitely not waiting until next Christmas to read them again.

Tour Schedule

 

ALL I WANT

THREE COUPLES. THREE STORIES. ONE HOLIDAY

Pretty Near Perfect

by Jolene Perry

The last thing Norah needs is to be attracted to anyone – especially in her deceased fiancé’s parents’ home. Collin’s starting a new career, and has no business getting involved – especially while staying with his roommate’s family, who very kindly offered to take him in for the holidays. Unfortunately, you just don’t always pick the most convenient time and place to fall for someone.

Six Days of Christmas

by Kaylee Baldwin

When Natalie goes home with her best friend for Christmas, she expects plenty of quiet time to work on a winning ad so she can turn her dream internship into her dream job. Instead, she gets time-consuming Christmas festivities, a house full of children, and Jimmy, her best friend’s brother – someone who makes her question everything she’s always thought she wanted.

Twist of Fate

by Rachael Anderson

When a postcard meant for Kenzie winds up in Ty’s mailbox, Ty’s faced with a decision. Should he tell her that her fiancé is breaking up with her and let it ruin her favorite holiday, or should he do what he’s wanted to do since he met her – make a move and hope that he can win her over before she discovers there won’t be a wedding after all.

Purchase All I Want

 Kindle Ebook * Paperback

 

Author Jolene Perry

Jolene Perry is an enigmatic figure. She is most often seen behind her laptop, staring at the words flying onto the screen with reckless abandon.

She survived growing up in rural Alaska, driving like a lunatic, and her husband’s careers in the military, as a perpetual student, and an Alaska State Prosecutor. She also survived as a middle school math teacher using her degree of Political Science and French.

One day Jolene was playing her guitar (probably some-thing juvenile for her kids) when she wondered what it would be like to write a song for a rockstar, and her first book was born. (that book is shelved)

She now lives a very glamorous life as a stay at home mom, elbow deep in dirty dishes and peanut butter sandwiches. She doesn’t even attempt to keep up with the laundry because non-writing time is precious, and her family is sorta awesome.

Links:

Website * Twitter * Blog * Facebook

 

Author Rachael Anderson

Rachael Anderson is the author of four contemporary romances: Divinely Designed, Luck of the Draw, Minor Adjustments, and The Reluctant Bachelorette. She’s the mother of four, can’t sing, doesn’t dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

Links:

Facebook * Website * Twitter

 

Author Kaylee Baldwin

I grew up in Mesa, Arizona, and graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in English literature.

I currently live in southern Arizona with my husband, Jeremy, and our three children. When I am not writing, I enjoy reading, starting new craft projects, and spending time with my family.

Links:

Facebook * Website * Twitter

 

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card

Ends 12/24/12


Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com
Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase
necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent’s permission. The winner will be chosen
by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new
winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any
other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of
winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


A Rafflecopter Giveaway
 

Official All I Want Blog Tour Schedule

LDSWBR Countdown to Christmas 2012!

 Posted by  Countdown to Christmas, Special Features
Dec 022012
 

We are so excited to be putting together our fourth Countdown to Christmas. This month also marks LDS Women’s Book Review’s 7th anniversary. We can hardly believe that we have been reviewing books and interviewing authors for seven years. We love what we do and hope that we can continue for many years to come.

We have an amazing group of authors and books to spotlight in the coming weeks. You won’t want to miss out on any chances to enter the Countdown to Christmas 2012 drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card and some great book prizes. If you haven’t already, consider signing up to have LDSWBR posts sent directly to your email. The place to do that is on the upper right side bar on the LDS Women’s Book Review home page.

We love and appreciate all of you. We wish you and your loved ones a happy and safe Holiday Season. Merry Christmas and happy reading!

Sincerely, your LDSWBR reviewers,

Shanda, Sheila, and Mindy

 

To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Nov 282012
 

To Win Her Heart

Author: Karen Witemeyer

Publisher: Bethany House

Published Date: May 2011

Softcover; 347 pages

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

ISBN13: 9780764207570

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: borrowed from my local library

Summary

Having completed his sentence for the unintentional crime that derailed his youthful plans for fame and fortune, Levi Grant looks to start over in the town of Spencer, Texas. Spencer needs a blacksmith, a trade he learned at his father’s knee, and he needs a place where no one knows his past. But small towns leave little room for secrets…

Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs. When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she steels herself against the attraction he provokes. His halting speech and hesitant manner leave her doubting his intelligence. Yet as the mysteries of the town’s new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in him that tempt her heart.

Levi’s renewed commitment to his faith leads Eden to believe she’s finally found a man of honor and integrity, a man worthy of her love. But when the truth about his prodigal past comes to light, can this tarnished hero find a way to win back the librarian’s affections?

Opening Lines

“After two years, they’d finally cut him loose. Gave him a new suit of clothes and everything. Funny, though. The shame of the convict stripes still clung to him, as if tattooed horizontally across his skin.”

Review

I’m a sucker for historical romance. When I see books like this on my library shelf, I can’t resist picking them up. To Win Her Heart is like a lot of other Christian historical romance I’ve read, which is good because I enjoy most Christian historical romance, the exception being those that preach the reader to death. This book was not overly preachy at all, with simple messages of repentance, forgiveness and acceptance.

I really liked the hero, Levi. As a youth he struggled with a lisp and was teased a lot, leading to fights in the schoolyard. As an adult, he abandoned working with his father and brother as blacksmiths and became a prize fighter, enjoying the fame, popularity and money that came with it. That is until he unintentionally killed his opponent with a solid blow, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to two years in prison.

When Levi is released he heads for Spencer, Texas, to work as a blacksmith and try to get back on his feet. He works to establish his place in the community before the townspeople inevitably learn about his past, hoping that will help them be more accepting of him when the truth comes out.

Eden Spencer’s father owns most of the town. She has such a large collection of books that she opens her personal library up to the town and lets them check books out to read. She loves pressing flowers and creating artwork with them as well as reading to the town’s children every week. When she meets Levi, her first impression is that he is slow, due to his hesitant speech.

As she listens to him speak and use certain words only an intelligent, well-read man would use, she starts paying attention and realizes he’s avoiding certain sounds. Soon she and Levi are exchanging letters, using the excuse of “borrowed” and “returned” library books as a way to pass these letters back and forth to each other secretly.

I found the concept of exchanging letters hidden inside library books even though they saw each other often to be romantic and intimate. Levi was my favorite character. I liked that he envisioned a life with Eden despite feeling unworthy, determined to give things a try and see if she could love him in return.

Eden took a a little while to grow on me. Sometimes she felt like a more mature woman, one who had been practically left at the altar and had gained some worldly wisdom. Other times she seemed more closed-minded and prudish. I liked her more by the end of the book.

I thought the other characters in the book, including Eden’s father, were well-written though the sheriff felt a bit flat to me. I never really believed he was as much of a threat or villain as he could have been. Other than the part he played in the climax, he was more annoying than anything.

Overall I enjoyed To Win Her Heart and look forward to reading more by Kate Witemeyer, particularly Short-Straw Bride. Readers who like clean historical romance will enjoy To Win Her Heart.

Visit Kate Witemeyer online:

GOODREADS | WEBSITE

Find To Win Her Heart:

GOODREADS | KINDLE | BARNES & NOBLE | NOOK

 

Season 6 Episode 5: What makes you stop reading a book?

 Posted by  2012 Podcasts, Podcasts
Nov 272012
 

In Season 6 Episode 5 of the LDSWBR Podcast, Shanda, Sheila and Mindy ask the question “What makes you stop reading a book?” They discuss what issues bother them enough to stop reading and share answers from followers posted on the LDSWBR Facebook page and Twitter. At only 20 minutes long, it’s one of the shorter LDSWBR podcasts. Look forward to more of these quick episodes in the future, including our 2012 Favorite Reads and Holiday Gift Guide. Thank you for listening. Enjoy!

Music Attribution: Seeing The Future (Dexter Britain) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

[podcast]http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/shows/2012-11-27/ldswbr_season6episode5_11-27-2012.mp3[/podcast]

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The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Nov 262012
 

The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns #1)

Author: Rae Carson

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Published Date: September 2011

Hardcover; 424 pages

Genre: YA Fantasy

ISBN# 978-0-06-202648-4

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: borrowed from my local library

Summary

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

Review

The Girl of Fire and Thorns was not quite what I expected. It was even better. I soon found myself swept up in the story of Elisa, the second daughter, princess, and Godstone-bearer who was coddled and ate as many honeyed pastries as she wanted.

The book opens as Elisa is getting ready to be married to King Alejandro from a neighboring kingdom. They have never met and she is nervous about leaving all she has ever known to travel to a strange land. Elisa isn’t sure why she was chosen and not her older, prettier sister. She is self-conscious about her appearance, knows she is inexperienced about what it takes to rule a kingdom and doubts her ability and worthiness to be the first Godstone bearer from her country in over a hundred years.

Over the next several months, Elisa sees and experiences things she could never have imagined. These series of events change her, physically and emotionally, into a young woman of strength, character and confidence. She discovers power within herself she never knew existed, not just in regard to the Godstone, but in her ability to lead others and overcome tragedy.

I really enjoyed The Girl of Fire and Thorns. The characters were memorable, with depth and the ability to change and grow as the story progressed. The story dragged a bit for me in spots, but my interest in how Elisa was evolving and the relationships she was forming with those around her kept me reading.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns is written in first-person present-tense, which I love, though some people have a hard time reading it. I was drawn into what was happening to Elisa, her new kingdom, the war, her discoveries about the Godstone, as well as her relationships with Ximena, Cosme, Humberto and King Alejandro. At one point I was floored by an unexpected event and felt all of the emotion that Elisa was experiencing in the story.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns is a bit of magic, romance, adventure, suspense, loss, and discovery all woven together to create a memorable story that I can easily recommend to others. I am anxious to read The Crown of Embers, book two in the Fire and Thorns series. If it’s as good as the first, I’ll be adding this series to the top of my shopping list.

Content

Language: not that I can remember, though it’s been a couple of weeks since I finished it

Sex: a few kisses, no detail, no sex

Violence: some violence, it takes place during wartime

Drug Use: none that I recall

Visit Rae Carson online:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS

Find The Girl of Fire and Thorns:

GOODREADS | AMAZON | KINDLE | BARNES & NOBLE | NOOK

 

Turning Pages by Tristi Pinkston

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Nov 202012
 

Turning Pages

Author: Tristi Pinkston

Publisher: Inkberry Press

Published Date: July 2012

Paperback/Kindle; 240 pages

Genre: New Adult Romance

ISBN13: 978-0-9838293-6-2

Reviewed by: Shanda

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

Summary

With his pride and her prejudice, what could possibly go wrong?

When the arrogant Blake Hansen steals Addie Preston’s promotion at the library, he pretty much rubs her nose in it. But Addie, who dreams of being a full-fledged librarian, decides to stick it out. She loves surrounding herself with books and keeping her father’s memory alive in the building where they spent so much time together.

Soon, Addie learns that her beloved library will be torn down to make room for a larger facility, and she has to make a choice. Fight, or let go?

To complicate things, she finds herself attracted to Blake, who is engaged to someone else. Will Blake and Addie ever resolve their differences?

Review

Turning Pages is a cute story about Addie Preston, a college student who works at the local library. She hasn’t had the easiest life, which is probably why she finds such comfort in the books she loves.

Addie and her family are dealing with the recent death of her father in a car accident that also injured her step-mother. Addie’s own mother died when she was little, and Addie, her younger siblings, and her step-mom have to face the reality that they can’t afford to stay in their home. She was passed over for a promotion that was promised to her, and the city just announced it’s going to tear down her beloved old library and replace it with an expensive new building. Addie gets rejected by a boy she’s liked forever, she and her best friend have a falling out, and to top things off, the guy that was hired for her promised position is a bit of a jerk.

While Addie fights to save the library, she realizes that change always comes. She learns to hold tight to what is most important, to let go of things she can’t control and that some things (and people) are not as bad as they first seem.

I enjoyed Turning Pages as a clean read with good themes that I would happily hand to my 15-year-old to read. I liked Addie and related to her love of books and her beloved library. It was a good reminder that change is the only constant and people are what matter most.

Visit Tristi:

WEBSITE | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

Find Turning Pages:

GOODREADS | AMAZON | KINDLE

 

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