Shanda

The Guardian Duke by Jamie Carie

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Aug 272012
 

The Guardian Duke (Forgotten Castles #1)

Author: Jamie Carie

Publisher: B&H Books

Published Date: February 2012

Paperback & Kindle; 320 pages

Genre: Historical Romance/Adventure

ISBN# 978-1433673221

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: received a galley ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Goodreads Summary

The Guardian Duke is award-winning novelist Jamie Carie’s most exciting story yet, a uniquely arranged Regency-era romantic adventure where hero and heroine know each other through written letters but have yet to meet.

Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.

When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.

First Line

“Heaven could be found in music.”

Review

I love good, clean historical romance. I could read them all day long. Especially if they have Scottish Highland lairds or English Dukes. I know, it’s cliche, but I still love it.

The Guardian Duke begins with Gabriel Ravenwood, Duke of St. Easton, enjoying an opera. He finds peace in the music, away from the pressures of the life of a duke. All of that changes when he receives a letter appointing him guardian of Alexandria Featherstone. Quite suddenly he is overcome with a mysterious malady that renders him unconscious and affects his hearing at various times throughout the book. His ability to hear music and escape from life is gone. He exchanges letters with Alexandria, intrigued by this young woman he has never met and yet seems to understand him so well.

Meanwhile, Lady Alexandria Featherstone decides to defy the King’s orders and search for her missing parents on her own. For me, this is where the book becomes more adventure and a lot less like a romance. If I had read the summary above before starting The Guardian Duke, I wouldn’t have spent so much time anticipating their first meeting. I started to get a little frustrated as Alexandria dodged the Duke again and again and I got closer and closer to the end of the book and they STILL hadn’t met yet. They do eventually meet, briefly. Most of their relationship develops through the letters they exchange. Knowing this ahead of time might have spared me that frustration.

Other than not realizing about the letter-writing, I enjoyed the rest of the story. It felt more like a romantic adventure novel rather than the typical “historical romance.” After Alexandria sets off on her journey, she meets a few additional characters who become her traveling companions and protectors: an older, former soldier, his handsome son, and an Irish giant married to a woman who looks like a fairy and sings like an angel. I found these characters interesting, with depth and stories of their own.

I received an uncorrected galley proof, so there were some formatting and proofing issues which were most likely fixed before publication. The writing was well-done for the most part, and the pacing of the story carried me through without feeling too rushed. I kept wondering when we were going to find out about what was wrong with the Duke, but that question isn’t answered in this book as the doctors are unsure about what is going on. I hope it is something we do find out before the end of the trilogy, though, as otherwise it will feel like a plot device.

There are mentions of God and prayer, but it isn’t preachy at all. There isn’t a big cliffhanger at the end of the book, though I was glad to discover that I had the galley for the second book in the trilogy on my Kindle. (Yes, I’ve read it and yes, I will be reviewing it soon.) If you like clean historical romance with a large dose of adventure, then you will most likely enjoy The Guardian Duke.

Find The Guardian Duke:  GOODREADS | AMAZON

 

Katherine Nelson and The Nashville Tribute Band Concert

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Aug 262012
 

Born Brave

Artist: Katherine Nelson

Producer: Jason Deere

Released by: R Legacy Entertainment

Release Date: July 25, 2012

Format: CD & Digital Album

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: I received a copy of the Born Brave CD and two free tickets to The Nashville Tribute Band concert in the Blogger Bag from the recent LDS Booksellers Association Convention

Review

Last night, my husband and I spent a pleasant evening at the Sandy Amphitheater enjoying the music performed by The Nashville Tribute Band. My husband travels a lot for work which complicates our weekly date night efforts. When I received the tickets to the concert I thought, “Eh, why not? It gets us out of the house.”

Sunset as we waited for the concert to begin.

I vaguely remembered something about a tribute to Joseph Smith a few years back and though I’d never listened to it I figured since I enjoy most country music it might be a nice way to spend the evening. A few days after the LDSBA convention I put in the Born Brave CD from Katherine Nelson. The first song, “Born,” is upbeat and catchy. My first thought was that my fourteen-year-old daughter would probably really like this CD. Then I caught myself tapping my feet to the music. Okay, maybe not just her. (Click through to the blog post to watch the video.)

There are several songs like this on the CD, as well as some softer, more emotional songs. Katherine performed a number of songs from the album last night but “Emma” was the one I remembered most distinctly. It’s quickly becoming a favorite.

After Katherine performed a few of her songs, the rest of the group came on stage. Honestly, I had never heard of any of these people before, but by the end of the concert I was seriously impressed. Top on my post-concert to-do list was to check out the group Due West. While they are all great singers, Tim Gates’ voice singing “God is Good” won me over.

The little Scott girls came on stage to sing a couple of songs and though my hubby wouldn’t admit it to anyone else, he had to blink back tears when those cuties sang “Somewhere There’s a Mountain.” Okay, I did, too. (Note: hubby says that he almost cried. He’s such a guy. It’s okay to cry a little, hon. Right, ladies?)

L to R: One of the Truman Brothers, Ron Saltmarsh, Jason Deere, Katherine Nelson, and Due West, with the little Scott girls front and center. These photos are from my iPhone, so not the greatest, but you get the idea.

The most unexpected part for me was when The Jets came out on stage. I didn’t know that The Jets were LDS until last night. My sister had their record when we were growing up.  (Yes, I said RECORD. They still had some of those around when we were little. Our favorite record was Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”)

The Jets on stage singing one of their new songs.

It was refreshing to attend a concert where the performers openly share their testimonies through words and music. I’m grateful to R Legacy Entertainment for the free concert tickets and CDs from the LDSBA convention, and the chance to enjoy a night of excellent music by some talented musicians. I hope you’ll take the time to follow the links in this post and discover them for yourself.

Some of my favorite songs from last night (follow links to listen to previews on Amazon):

Find BORN BRAVE by Katherine Nelson:

 

Story Problems Mini-Challenge for Utah Book Month

 Posted by  Special Features, Utah Book Month
Aug 232012
 

There’s only one week left in Utah Book Month, which means only one week left to enter the GRAND GIVEAWAY on the Utah Books blog. This mini-challenge will earn you an extra entry!

It’s been a lot of fun participating in Utah Book Month. I was excited for the opportunity to interview blogger Cindi from A Utah Mom’s Life and author Toni Sorenson. Jenny from Alternate Readality interviewed me on her blog HERE. You can read more Author Interviews and Blogger Interviews on the Utah Books blog.

Remember those dreaded story problems in math class? I promise that these are a lot more fun and they should be easier, too. It was fun writing up these story problems based on books by Utah authors.

To get your mini-challenge entry for the GRAND GIVEAWAY on the Utah Books blog, just fill out the mini-challenge form below with your answers, leave a comment on this post telling me that you completed the mini-challenge, then head over and log your entry on the GRAND GIVEAWAY entry form. It’s that easy!

Have fun and don’t forget to leave a comment!

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Jacob’s Journal of Doom by Kenneth Pike and Isaac Stewart

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Aug 212012
 

Jacob’s Journal of Doom

Authors: Kenneth Pike & Isaac Stewart

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published Date: July 2012

Hardcover; 208 pages

Genre: LDS Middle Grade

ISBN# 978-1-60907-016-8

Reviewed by: Shanda and two of her daughters

FTC FYI: review copy in exchange for an honest review

Summary

It’s not easy being eleven. Just ask Jacob Young. He has big plans to create the best video game ever, but between church, Scouts, and his family, Jacob is having a tough time.

Things are rough at school, too. The Beast bullies Jacob at lunch, and Jenny Hayes calls him a baby in front of everyone.

It’s a good thing Jacob still has his best friend, Eric, by his side. But would they still be friends if Jacob invited Eric to Scouts? Or even to church?

Jacob’s Journal of Doom records the ups and downs of Jacob’s life&the good, the bad, and the hilarious.

My Review

I may be thirty-something years old but I found Jacob’s Journal of Doom to be well-written, enjoyable and highly entertaining. I laughed out loud several times, knowing there were probably a few things that my kids were too young to realize were funny. (From before they were born, not maturity level.)

Woven into the story were themes of justice, mercy, forgiveness, missionary work and family unity. These are presented through Jacob’s experiences, frustrations, and lessons learned. I think a lot of children can relate to these things based on their own experiences and see how maybe they can try to handle things differently if  necessary. These themes are subtle and simple, not in-your-face or preachy.

I can’t wait to give a copy to my 12 year old nephew and 9 year old niece. I know they will love it. I highly recommend Jacob’s Journal of Doom to LDS children and their parents. I’m not embarrassed to say I loved it!

11 year old daughter’s review:

“I liked Jacob’s Journal of Doom a lot because it was really funny. I read it really fast. I knew when I saw the cover that it would be funny and I would like it. My favorite thing about the book is the story but I really like the drawings, too. His dad’s jokes made me laugh. Jacob, Amity and Rory are my favorite characters. I keep reading my favorite parts of the book. There are lots of girl characters so girls will like it and not just boys.”

14 year old daughter’s review:

“I read Jacob’s Journal of Doom because I enjoyed Diary of a Wimpy Kid and it looked similar. It was better than I expected because he is a young man who belongs to my same church. It was interesting to see a young man’s point of view about bullying, girls and inviting his friend to church. I love how Jacob always considered himself a ninja and drew pictures of himself as a ninja in his journal. My all-time favorite part is when Jacob is talking about what life will be like when he is a grandpa and he drew a funny comic of his own grandpa as a kid inviting his friends to play with sticks. I think boys, girls, teens and adults will like this book because it’s well written and talks about things kids have to deal with in an entertaining way.”

Find Jacob’s Journal of Doom: 

GOODREADS | KINDLE | DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (see Content Warning)

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Aug 202012
 

The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Publisher: Dutton Books

Published Date: January 2012

Hardcover; 336 pages

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

ISBN# 9780525478812

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: borrowed from my local library

Summary

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs… for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

Review

Though YA is not my usual genre choice, I was very curious about The Fault in Our Stars after reading the summary above. It was a fascinating read for me and provided a glimpse into a world I know absolutely nothing about. The story of Gus, Isaac, Hazel, her parents, and a bitter, alcoholic author named Peter Von Houten pulled me in and kept me reading.

I knew about the emotional aspect ahead of time so I kept the tissues nearby. I used them more than once. The first time was during one of Hazel’s flashbacks with her parents when she was really sick at first and they were getting ready to say goodbye. As a mother, I couldn’t help it.

I wondered why I kept reading when I knew this couldn’t end well (meaning happily ever after, right?) and yet I kept turning pages. Is it worth the read? In the end, it just depends on how the reader feels about what is lost vs. what is gained. Is love worth the agony? Would the reader rather have “painless” ignorance or experience once-in-a-lifetime love that can only end in heartache?

While this is a YA novel, if my 14 year old were to express a desire to read it I would ask her to wait a year or two and then we would discuss the content issues below and decide from there. Some of the LDSWBR adult readers may hesitate if they prefer to keep their reads very clean. The story was strong enough to carry me past the content issues because I really wanted to see how things would end.

I haven’t read any other novels by John Green so I don’t know how this book compares. I will not make any recommendations about who might enjoy this book because it is such an individual choice with stories like these. I don’t know if it is a book I will read again or not at this point, but I do know that it will stick with me for a long time.

Content Warning

Language: Some swearing, there may have been one F-bomb near the end (I’ve read a few books since this one so I can’t say for sure)

Sexual: One instance of premarital sex, no description; one vague, brief mention afterward of a condom problem

Other: The tone of the book is more mature than might be expected considering the age of the main characters; some blunt references to body parts and functions but nothing explicitly coarse.

Defined by Christ by Toni Sorenson

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Aug 192012
 

Defined by Christ: Seeing Yourself Through the Eyes of the Savior

Author: Toni Sorenson

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published Date: August 2010

Hardcover; 147 pages

Genre: Religious Nonfiction

ISBN# 978-1-59811-969-5

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: borrowed from the library

Summary

So many of us stretch our faces with smiles wide enough to mask the pain we hide. So many of us go through the motions, attending church, giving service, nurturing our families, learning and doing, while inside we feel empty, broken, doubtful, and even guilty for the way we feel. We tell ourselves that if we’d only work harder, we would somehow earn the blessings of peace, security, and unconditional love that we hunger for. But are we ever wrong! Simply by the virtue of being a child of God, each of us is already loved beyond comprehension, without boundaries or conditions. Yet sadly, many of us leave this heavenly gift unopened. Using the scriptures, words of prophets, insightful analogies, and stories drawn from poignant personal experiences, author Toni Sorenson illuminates the pathway toward opening this gift of divine love and finding lasting peace even amidst the shadows and storms of life. As we come to focus on God’s goodness rather than our own weakness, we will recognize our own infinite worth, develop confidence in the plan of happiness, strengthen our ability to identify and overcome the lies of Satan, discover the power within us to find wholeness and help others heal, and experience for ourselves how good trumps evil. No matter what our disappointment of failure or loss may be, allowing ourselves to be defined by Christ will lift us out of the darkness and into His light.

Review

Shortly after I started working with my trainer last year, she recommended that I read Defined by Christ. It had changed her life during an incredibly stressful and discouraging time. With all of the books on my to-read list, I never got around to reading it. However, since I was lucky enough to interview Toni Sorenson for Utah Book Month, I moved it to the top of the list.

Too often we place the value of ourselves on things or situations we can’t control and people whose opinions don’t really matter. It’s easy to lose confidence when we allow ourselves to be defined by these things that are changing, unpredictable and flawed. When I was younger I tried so hard to be what I thought everyone else wanted me to be while struggling to remain true to myself. It was an impossible goal and I failed all around. As I grew older and closer to my Savior, I realized many of the truths that Toni shares in Defined by Christ.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

In the Doctrine and Covenants we are told, “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (D&C 18:10). We are not told to learn that the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. We are not told to understand. We are told to remember. That can mean only one thing: at some point we knew our worth in the sight of God. (page 19)

I never thought of that scripture in that way until now.

God would not have sacrificed His Son to save us if these two principles wer not true: (1) We need saving; and (2) We are worth saving. (page 68)

I love this truth!

We cannot trust others to determine our worth. We can’t even trust ourselves to determine our worth. We have to train ourselves to listen, believe, and act on the only voice that matters–Christ’s voice. (page 72)

At 147 pages, Defined by Christ is a fairly quick read, but you’ll want your own copy to highlight and refer back to when you are feeling doubtful or discouraged. When I told my trainer about my interview with Toni Sorenson, she shared with me that she had just dropped off a copy to a friend who needed it.

As a woman, I know that we can be way too hard and critical of ourselves, often doubting our abilities and our worth. While I highly recommend Defined by Christ to all women, anyone would benefit from reading it. I am going to purchase my own copy and let my daughter read it. As a young woman, she is still trying to discover who she is. I want her to never doubt who she is–a precious daughter of our Heavenly Father who loves her and values her more than she can possibly comprehend.

Find Defined by Christ: GOODREADS | AMAZON | KINDLE | DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK

 

 

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