Shanda

2012 LDStorymakers Conference – Part One

Posted by Shanda LDStorymakers & Whitney Awards, Special Features

May 052012

I look forward to LDStorymakers Conference almost as much as Christmas. Maybe more.

Even though I live only 45 minutes away, I book a hotel room and show up Thursday and stay until Sunday. It’s the only time each year my kids get the chance to miss me. Or not. :)

The craziest dinner I’ve ever attended was Thursday’s dinner at La Dolce Vita. There was such a good turn out that we couldn’t hear the person sitting next to us without yelling. Oh yes, we might all be writers, but we are excellent talkers, too.

There were easily 50 or 60 or 75 or more people packed into that large room. See for yourself…

Sheila and I were next to Lisa Mangum and Sheralyn Pratt and we had a great time with these amazing women. I snagged a pic with Lisa, Sheralyn and Julianne Donaldson, author of Edenbrooke (which I loved!)

We also found our sweet friend, Chantele Sedgwick.

There were so many great people at the dinner that we didn’t get a chance to get photos with so we’ll try to fix that over the next two days of the conference.

I’m already looking forward to next year’s dinner. And maybe I’ll bring earplugs, lol.

“Read ’em All” Mini-Challenge #2 Winner!

Posted by Shanda "Read 'em All" 2011 Finalists Challenge, Special Features

Apr 162012

Well done to everyone who completed the “Read ’em All” Mini-Challenge #2!

If you were like me and didn’t quite make it, that’s okay. We still have seven days left before voting closes so KEEP READING!

And now, the winner of the $25 Amazon gift card is….

Karlene B.

Congratulations!

Don’t forget that the $50 Amazon gift card Grand Prize is still up for grabs so get those Whitney finalists read, go vote for Best Novel of the Year, then submit your “Read ’em All” 2011 Finalists Challenge completion form.

Happy reading!

Fall by Jennifer Hurst

Posted by Shanda Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews

Apr 162012

Fall

Author: Jennifer Hurst

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published Date: July 2011

Kindle Edition; 298 pages

Genre: Paranormal Romance (not YA)

ISBN# 978-1463632779

Reviewed by: Shanda

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

Summary

Women and construction shouldn’t mix. At least, that is what the client, Mr. Blackwell, thinks when twenty-one year old Julia D. Halstead is promoted to project manager to convert a turn-of-the-century schoolhouse into a bed and breakfast. However, the schoolhouse contains a dark secret that has been hidden for nearly a hundred years. A secret that will unleash the Furies of Hell and cause the Angels in Heaven to weep as ethereal brothers, Matthew and Nathan, battle over Julia’s very soul.

Review

JD is capable, talented, and feminine construction manager. She likes hot pink animal print accents and heels. She appreciates good-looking men, even if she’s not necessarily looking for a relationship. So when demolitionist Matthew Rigo shows up in a tight black t-shirt pointing out a mistake on her blueprints, she’s both attracted to him and annoyed.

When JD starts investigating the cause of the incorrect measurements of the building she’s renovating, strange noises come from the floor above send her scrambling out to her car. From there the story progresses to a mysterious, dark romance with motorcycle-riding bad boy Matt and feelings that JD just can’t seem to resist. A few steamy kisses and chemistry-filled encounters lead to JD finding herself a pawn involved in forces of good and evil that she never would have imagined.

Set in picturesque Torrey, Utah, Fall is about angels and demons, good vs. evil, and choice and consequence. While certain parts of the story could have used just a bit more polish, I was easily pulled into the story. The characters had depth, and I’m curious to see what will happen next.

If you are a reader who likes paranormal romance with adult characters or are tired of the high school/teenage aspect, then you will most likely enjoy Fall.

Content

I don’t remember any language or graphic violence (it’s been a little while since I read it), though there are some scary incidents of strange noises, etc. Some steamy kisses, but nothing too graphic. At one point, Matt carries JD into the bedroom and while we can guess what happens, no details are given. (This incident proves integral to the story and is not gratuitous.)

The Shaken Earth by Toni Sorenson

Posted by Shanda Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews

Apr 092012

The Shaken Earth

Author: Toni Sorenson

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published Date: October 2011

Softcover; 349 pages

Genre: General Fiction

ISBN# 978-1-60861-279-6

Reviewed by: Shanda

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

Summary

Fragile, twelve-year-old Yolisha is afraid thinking about her first ride on a brightly painted tap-tap. The city is much farther than she has ever been from her small village of Makak, but Yolisha must go. Tomorrow she has an appointment in Port-au-Prince with the doctor who understands her special illness. But she is terrified that she might lose the grasp of her mother’s hand on the clattering, noisy bus crowded with people and livestock. In truth, Yolisha is frightened of anything, or anyone, that might separate her from the only anchor in her life: her mother.

The next day, Yolisha is slammed with the realization that her greatest danger was not in the bus ride at all. When the earth begins violently shaking, the walls of the clinic crumble, and her mother is torn from her, she fears that her innocent wishing game might have caused the devastating earthquake that has just thrown her into a terrifying world of survival. But what if the same game can uncover hidden strength in Yolisha as she searches for her missing mother? Might the elderly man who plucks her from the rubble save her life . . . while the man’s colorful and determined friend saves her soul by introducing her to the gospel?

Review

What drew me in to The Shaken Earth at first was the glimpse into daily life of the Haitian people. That interest carried me through the entire book. I was curious about what was making Yolisha sick, but that question never really gets answered. While Yolisha is a young, naive girl who initially is demanding, lacks patience and whines a lot, she settles as reality sets in and she accepts what her life will be, at least temporarily, in the aftermath of the earthquake.

The people who truly make The Shaken Earth memorable are the side characters. Though we see everything through Yolisha’s point-of-view, it is Webster, Mona, and even Gessy, that make the story. I knew very little about Haiti or it’s history, but I learned along with Yolisha during Webster’s lessons as he cooked. I witnessed the struggles of the people even before the earthquake, and how much worse it became afterward. There was depravity and crime, but there was also strength and resilience. I can honestly say this is a book I won’t soon forget.

The Shaken Earth is well-written, memorable, and eye-opening. While not horribly graphic, there are a number of disturbing details included. If you are one that likes to snack while you read, you may want to reconsider eating while reading this book if you are sensitive to that sort of thing. While there are LDS missionaries and some talk of the gospel, it is not the main theme of the book. If you enjoy reading books about other countries as well as life-changing experiences, then I would recommend The Shaken Earth.

Guest Author Thursday: Angela Eschler

Posted by Shanda Guest Author Thursday, Special Features

Mar 292012

Today’s guest is Angela Eschler, co-author of Christ’s Gifts to Women with Heather Moore. Angela is the owner of Eschler Editing, and one of the coolest people I’ve ever met. She is funny, well-read and an amazingly talented editor. Some of you may have heard this before, but I want to be Angela when I grow up.

Connect with Angela: WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+

Purchase Christ’s Gifts to Women: DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK

Watch Angela and Heather talk about Christ’s Gifts to Women HERE.

* * * * *

I’ve always loved reading and writing, and I was very fortunate to discover an Editing for Publication class in college the semester before I graduated or I might be on the street begging even now; I had no plans for a career before that point. I guess I just hoped I could find a job where I got paid to use my reading or writing skills. It sounds crazy, but I honestly had never even thought of what editors do or if I could get a job like that. I just wanted to read or write.

So far I’ve written nonfiction gift books, mostly for the women’s inspirational category for the LDS market. My current books on the market are Love Letters of Joseph and Emma, and Christ’s Gifts to Women. Both are coffee table art books with inspirational prose. The talented Heather Moore is my co-author on Christ’s Gifts to Women.

In it we look at the women who were friends and associates of Christ during the Meridian of time, and what He taught them personally about their worth and potential and of His love and mercy for them; and then it compares those experiences to the same personalized messages Christ is trying to give us today if we will slow down enough to listen. It’s a very meaningful book for me personally, as the study that went into the project really helped me work through some difficult and ever ongoing trials and helped me come to terms with some damaging lies I believed about myself and my mistakes and potential.

I never go anywhere without a book. I walked my dog, and now my dog and baby, with a book in hand (I tie the dog’s leash to my waist and try not to run into trees). When I can convince my husband to put something on the iPod for me (I’m technologically challenged), I’m less likely to come home with injuries.

I love zillions of topics and writing styles. I really do love speculative fiction though—that visiting-other-worlds thing. I’d be reading my own published novel if only agents were looking for a book on Wales and ancient Egypt by a fourth-grade debut novelist….

* * * * *

Thank you, Angela! And thank you to Julie Bellon who allowed her interview with Angela to serve double duty. To read the full interview with Angela, visit Julie’s blog HERE.

Slayers by C.J. Hill

Posted by Shanda Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews

Mar 262012

Slayers

Author: C.J. Hill

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Published Date: September 2011

Hardcover; 373 pages

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

ISBN# 978-0-312-61414-0

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: checked out from the library

Goodreads Summary:

Dragons exist. They’re ferocious. And they’re smart: Before they were killed off by slayer-knights, they rendered a select group of eggs dormant, so their offspring would survive. Only a handful of people know about this, let alone believe it – these “Slayers” are descended from the original knights, and are now a diverse group of teens that includes Tori, a smart but spoiled senator’s daughter who didn’t sign up to save the world.

The dragon eggs have fallen into the wrong hands. The Slayers must work together to stop the eggs from hatching. They will fight; they will fall in love. But will they survive?

My Review

I knew I was going to like this book, I just didn’t realize I would enjoy it even more than I expected. The characters, the history, the adventure– I liked it all.

Tori was a fascinating character to me for several reasons. She’s spoiled, yes, but not as bad as her sister and their rich friends. On the other hand, compared to the Slayers, she is as pampered as they come. Once Tori arrives at the summer camp for dragon lovers, everyone is questioning her place there, including Tori.

The story easily held my interest. My curiosity about the history of the slayer-knights and their particular talents, wondering what Tori’s talent would be, learning how they train, and then, of course, the climactic confrontation that nobody is quite ready for despite their training kept me turning pages.

There is a twist I suspected was coming, but it didn’t quite go the way I expected. There was emotion involved that pleasantly surprised me. I anxiously await Book 2. I can’t wait to read more about the Slayers, the dragons, and, of course, the romance.

I highly recommend Slayers and plan to purchase my own copy soon.

Content

I don’t remember there being any bad language, there is no sex (a couple of kisses but no explicit descriptions), and some violence (nothing graphic).

Older Entries Newer Entries