We are excited to announce the winner of an autographed copy of EVERTASTER by Adam Glendon Sidwell.
And the winner is…..
Lynne Clark!
Congratulations! Send your mailing address to ldswbr (at) gmail (dot) com and we’ll get your prize out to you.
A Glimpse of Heaven
Author: JoAnna Oblander
Publisher: Sweetwater Books/Cedar Fort
Published Date: January 2012
Softcover/Kindle; 111 pages
Genre: Religious Non-fiction
ISBN# 978-1-59955-976-6
Reviewed by: Shanda
FTC FYI: free review copy in exchange for an honest review
Summary
Through both personal and spiritual experiences, JoAnna Lynn Oblander guides us to a deeper understanding of our heavenly home. Shared within the covers of this book are experiences and insights that will convince you of God’s great love for each of His children, His desire to be a daily part of our lives, and that each of us has come to earth to fulfill a unique and important purpose.
First Line
“At day’s end I sat on my bed overcome with convulsive tears.”
Review
A Glimpse of Heaven opens with the author, in the depths of despair, praying her last prayer after planning to commit suicide the next day. That night, as she slept, an angel came to her. She followed the angel and the experience that followed affected her greatly. She still struggled, felt pain and suffered with depression, however her perspective of the purpose of her life was forever changed.
As I read A Glimpse of Heaven, several of my own experiences were confirmed to me. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believe in personal revelation. JoAnna shares her experiences with personal revelation in regard to her children, her husband’s career, and her physical and mental health.
More than anything else, the author’s message in A Glimpse of Heaven is of Heavenly Father’s unconditional love and support of each one of His children. Below are some quotes from the book that I really liked:
“Eternal truth is just that — eternal. It never goes away, and it never changes.”
“God is unwavering in His sameness ad His adherence to eternal truth. Put simply, this means that God’s laws will never change. It also means that He will always continue to know us, love us, and succor us — and He will always do it perfectly.”
“We were of infinite value and were loved unconditionally there, and we are of infinite value and are loved unconditionally here. In my Supreme Father’s eyes, my value does not hinge on my pocketbook or possessions. I am loved without reservation regardless of my choices, failures, or successes. (Note that we are loved unconditionally; we are not blessed unconditionally.)” (pages 100, 101)
I like that last line. Too often I think we attach love to perceived blessings, and if things don’t go our way we or we don’t get the blessings we think we deserve that Heavenly Father must not love us.
The last week or so, the necessity of FAITH has been made apparent to me in several ways. A Glimpse of Heaven carries a clear message of the importance of FAITH in Heavenly Father’s plan and love for us. I was brought to tears more than once, especially near the end of the book.
This book is not about whether or not you believe the author experienced what she shares with readers, it’s about believing in our divinity, our purpose here on earth, and immeasurable worth to our Father in Heaven. At just over 100 pages long, A Glimpse of Heaven is a fast read and one you will want to reach for whenever you are struggling and need a reminder that you are a valuable and irreplaceable child of God.
Find A Glimpse of Heaven on: GOODREADS | AMAZON | KINDLE | SEAGULL BOOK
Murder By the Way
Author: Betsy Brannon Green
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Published Date: June 2012
Paperback; 280 pages
Genre: Mystery-Suspense
ISBN# 978-1-62108-123-4
Reviewed by: Shanda & Sheila
FTC FYI: review copy in exchange for an honest review
Summary
As Kennedy Killingsworth prepares to step into the next phase of her life alongside her soon-to-be husband, Luke, the past reemerges and interrupts with full force. Luke is suddenly called away to testify at a Marine Corps trial and is forced to leave Kennedy soon after they are declared husband and wife. Then an old business associate, Drake Langston, announces he is returning to Midway to finish renovating the town and needs Kennedy’s help to smooth things over with the locals. Kennedy jumps on board to distract herself from Luke’s absence. Little does she know that there will soon be plenty to distract her. After an unexplainable prison van accident leaves a woman dead and three prisoners missing, the town feels rattled and worried. As Kennedy (and her ex-husband, Cade) gets involved in investigating the crash, more and more mysterious events unfold, and if she’s not careful, she could be the next murder by the way.
First Line
“My second wedding day was off to a perfect start.”
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Shanda’s Review
I really enjoyed the first two books in this series (Murder By the Book and Murder By Design) so I was excited to receive Murder By the Way for review. The beginning of the story was more “tell” than the rest as Kennedy reviews the events of the last little while, but the writing is good. Once things got going, it didn’t take long for me to find the rhythm of the story.
While Kennedy is an interesting character to me, and I’ve enjoyed seeing a bit of her toughness soften with her love for Luke, it is Luke that is my favorite character. Due to a sudden military trial, their wedding is rushed and Luke must leave to testify immediately after the reception. This means that he is “physically” gone for a large portion of the story, but with phone calls and texts to Kennedy he remains peripherally involved.
Another favorite character is Sloan. He is a former FBI agent, and I liked not knowing if he was a good guy or a bad guy. His actions could lead either way, and it isn’t until the end that the reader learns whether he is good or bad. (I’m not saying!)
One thing I was glad to see was that Cade, Kennedy’s ex-husband, steps up and we get to see the better side of him. He has a hunch and follows through, setting the mystery in motion.
Several of the well-known characters from Betsy’s previous novels are back, as frustrating as ever. And what would a Betsy Brannon Green mystery be without Miss Eugenia?
I enjoyed the story and was happy to be surprised by the twist at the end. It played out differently than I thought it would and I was satisfied with how the story ended. The last few pages of the book are recipes and I can’t wait to try Miss Eugenia’s S’more Cookies. All in all, a great third installment of the Kennedy Killingsworth series.
Sheila’s Review
Murder By the Way is the third book in the Kennedy Killingsworth series. It is just as good as the first two books in the series. I love the inclusion of the familiar and comfortable characters that Betsy Brannon Green’s readers have come to know and love. Some examples are Miss Eugena, Miss Ida Jean, Winston, Mark and Kate. These are characters from The Haggerty Series that I absolutely love!
Once again Betsy’s books are full of mystery, intrigue, humor, and of course a lot of good food that the characters are cooking and eating. Recipes are always included at the end of the book. One that I want to try the most is, Miss Eugenia’s S’More Cookies. In the book she deep fries them, but I think I will bake them the normal way. I also want to try, Miss Iris’s Lemon Chicken, which is a little bit healthier than the cookies.
I really like Kennedy in this book, but I wish that there had been more of her new husband, Luke. He has become one of my favorite characters. There wasn’t as much action as there had been in book two, but there was plenty of “interaction” with the characters. The characters had more opportunities to figure out things mentally this time around. The ending played out almost how I have been figuring it would, but with some added twists and turns. I wasn’t disappointed in the end, and it just made me look forward to the next book in the series. At least I hope that there is more to come. I am adding this book to my list of quick, summer reads. You can read this alone, but I highly suggest that you read book one and two in the series first. I give this book 4 stars.
Shanda and Mindy interview Adam Glendon Sidwell, author of the new Middle Grade novel EVERTASTER, during his signing at The Chocolate Dessert Cafe (thechocolatedc.com). Visit the blog (ldswbr.com) to find out how you could win a copy of EVERTASTER. (Giveaway ends August 2, 2012). If you are reading this on the LDSWBR blog, see below for details. Music Attribution: Seeing The Future (Dexter Britain) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
[podcast]http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/shows/2012-07-20/ldswbr_season6_episode3_07-20-12.mp3[/podcast]
Mindy and I had a great time interviewing Adam Glendon Sidwell, author of EVERTASTER, a middle-grade novel about Guster and his quest for the ultimate taste. Adam and his brother, Jarom, are graphic artists who have worked on movies like The Avengers, Avatar and Tron. We hope you have as much fun listening to the podcast as we had recording it. Enjoy!
Watch the EVERTASTER book trailer below (click through to the blog to watch):
What would you eat first from that glorious food table?
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EVERTASTER GIVEAWAY
Enter to win a signed copy of EVERTASTER by listening to the podcast and answering the questions in the form below.
Adam Sidwell, author of the fun new middle-grade book, EVERTASTER, is in Utah this weekend for two book signing events. The first is July 20, this Friday night at The Chocolate Dessert Cafe in West Jordan from 5 to 8 PM. Desserts are 10% off with the purchase of a book.
Click for larger view.
The second signing will be Saturday morning at the Provo Farmers Market from 9 AM to 2 PM at the Waffle Love Truck, which sounds like a delicious way to start the day. Purchase a copy of EVERTASTER and get a free waffle topping.
Click for larger view.
Book signings and yummy food – don’t miss it!
The Eleventh Plague
Author: Jeff Hirsch
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Published Date: September 2011
Hardcover; 278 pages
Genre: YA Dystopian
ISBN# 978-0-545-29014-2
Reviewed by: Shanda
FTC FYI: free review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Goodreads Summary
In the aftermath of a war, America’s landscape has been ravaged and two-thirds of the population left dead from a vicious strain of influenza. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to trade. But when Stephen’s grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler’s Landing, a community that seems too good to be true. Then Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. And when they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler’s Landing–and their lives–forever.
First Line
“I was sitting at the edge of the clearing, trying not to stare at the body on the ground in front of me.”
My Review
The Eleventh Plague intrigued me from page one. Stephen and his father bury his grandfather, the man who didn’t hesitate to punish the slightest mistake with his fists yet kept them alive after the Collapse following an attack from China and the release of P11, also know as the Eleventh Plague. Stephen is conflicted, not sure how to feel about being free of the man who knew how to survive but made his life so miserable.
Stephen’s world is one full of danger and uncertainty, of struggling and salvaging to survive. Before he has the chance to adjust to life without his grandfather’s beatings, his father falls and Stephen is suddenly shouldered with the responsibility of caring for his injured father and finding a way to keep them alive. When they are discovered by a group of men, Stephen agrees to let them bring his father with them to their “city” to be cared for by their doctor.
I was fascinated reading about Stephen’s reactions to being inside a house for the first time, his struggle to adjust to life in a community, and his curiosity about Jenny, a Chinese girl who insists on rebelling against everyone and everything. I liked Stephen, but Jenny takes getting used to. She is blunt, bitter, and a fighter. When Jenny and Stephen play a prank on the leader of the town, there is a misunderstanding and the citizens find themselves at war.
The Eleventh Plague is a well-written, page-turning story that is disturbingly believable. I haven’t read much YA Dystopian, so I don’t know how it compares to others in the genre. I liked that the book didn’t end the way I thought it would. I find myself wanting to know more about this city and other areas in the United States after the Collapse. I don’t know if it is part of a series, but I would definitely read a sequel. I think that 14-16 year-old boys would probably really like this book.
Content
A few swear words; no sex (just kissing & not much at that); some violence (a battle); one scene in which the teens drink home brew around a lake and the main character takes a sip then declines offers of more.
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