Sheila

Sep 212013
 

 

 

Product Description:
Title: Wanted

Author: Kathi Oram Peterson

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.

Published: May 2013

ISBN: 978-1-62108-415-0

FTC FYI: Received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

Book Description:

Rodeo veterinarian Jo Powers is accustomed to operating under pressure—but nothing could have prepared her for the shocking discovery of the armed and bleeding escaped convict hiding in her truck. Even more disconcerting is the fact that Jo knows the man in the prison jumpsuit. Jo’s split-second decision to use her medical skill to save this man’s life is just the beginning, because now he needs her help to uncover the truth. Seven years ago, Branson Faulkner was accused of a murder he claims he didn’t commit. With the hope of finding new evidence to prove his innocence, he’s risked everything to clear his name and reclaim his life—but he can’t do it alone. Jo agrees to help, even though she isn’t completely sure Faulkner is innocent. Now, as Faulkner and Jo conduct their investigation, they discover an alarming connection between a string of homicides, and one truth is clear: there’s a murderer on the loose who will stop at nothing to cover his tracks.

 

 

 My Review:

Wanted is another phenomenal book written by Author Kathi Oram Peterson. I have never been disappointed with anything I have read from this author. She knows how to immediately draw you into the story and never lets the storyline drag. You are hooked and trying so hard to figure out who the bad guys are. Readers will get twisted and turned into so many directions that everyone looks a little bit guilty. 

She writes such great characters whether they are the good or bad guys. I loved Jo Powers and her strong spirit and determination to do the right thing. I also couldn’t help but fall for convicted murderer and Jo’s ex-husband Branson Faulkner. There is something about him that makes you want to believe in his innocence. There are many characters, Lance, Denny, Edward and even the Sheriff, that the author leads you to believe could be involved in several murders. I had ideas of who could have been involved, but I was still surprised at the end by who was involved and why.

I loved the western flavor found in this book, along with veterinarian Jo’s love for the many animals(A wolf, deer, and skunk to name a few) that she has saved. I also loved the rich descriptions of the gorgeous Idaho wilderness. With the unending suspense, the romantic tension and the realistic telling of Idaho country life, this book is a true winner.  

As I was visiting Kathi’s blog, I was so excited to find that she had posted pictures from where her book is based in Idaho. I’m an Idaho gal myself and love the beauty that can be found in that state. I wanted to share the pictures and what Kathi had to say about visiting the places where you base your novel.

“Last week I had the good fortune to find myself standing on the north bank of the Snake River beneath Table Rock Mountain. Isn’t it beautiful? This is one of my favorite spots in the world, and where I set some scenes in my novel, Wanted.

 

 

Here’s another view of the mountain from across the river. In Wanted, Jo, one of the main characters, rides her horse to the top of the mountain and looks down at the river and valley below as she tries to find answers to her father’s untimely death.

Standing beneath the mountain last week, I longed to be on top looking down just like Jo did.

But I wasn’t there for research or to recreate my novel. I was there for a family reunion. See my mother was born across the river from Table Rock Mountain. I have visited the area many times and  know it pretty well. 

 

 

 

As I stood there taking in the scenery, smelling river grass and hearing tree leaves flutter in the breeze overhead, I wished that my readers could have been there with me. I tried my best to paint the scene with words, but it’s not the same as being there.

The Snake River is as wild and impressive as I remembered. It looks shallow here because the water is so clear, but farther out there are sinkholes and rapids that are scary even in a boat.

(Side note: My mother and her brothers and sisters had to row across that river twice a day to go to school. When I was a kid and complained about walking a couple of blocks, Mom would remind me that it could be worse.)

There are many advantages to setting scenes in your novel in places you’ve been and know well.

 

  1. Your descriptions come alive.
  2. You’re able to feel emotions your characters would have from their surroundings.
  3. And you can give attention to details that will add authenticity to your story.

I’m sure there are other reasons.

Why do you think setting a novel in places you’ve been can be a good thing?

Don’t get me wrong. I do believe an author can write amazing stories without actually visiting where they have set their books. The reason they can do that is they have done extensive research. However, visiting the actual setting makes writing about it much easier. Take it from a writer who has done both.”

 

 Such wonderful advice from such an amazing author!

Purchase Wanted @: Amazon | Deseret Book | Seagull Book

Meet the Author: Kathi Oram Peterson

Raised in southeastern Idaho, Kathi Oram Peterson developed a love for the Snake River that winds through much of the region. She spent many happy adventures with family and friends swimming, boating, and fishing on the river. Though she now resides in Salt Lake City, she returns to the Snake River Valley often for vacations. When her children finished school, Kathi finished her English degree at the University of Utah. She worked for several years, writing and editing children’s books for a curriculum publisher. Upon leaving the workforce, she turned her attention to writing novels. Setting a romantic-suspense novel in Idaho with the river she loves came naturally.

Go visit Kathi here:
 

Photobucket 

 

Sep 062013
 

The Experiment by Jeffery Moore,Sherry Gammon, and Cindy Bennett-Blog Tour Review and Guest Post

 

 

Blog tour banner
The Experiment, a new novel from the imaginations of Cindy C Bennett, Sherry Gammon, and Jeffery Moore!  

Product Details

  • File Size: 527 KB
  • Print Length: 338 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Publisher: Prose by Design (July 10, 2013)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00DVTLKRY
  • FTC. FYI: I received a review PDF in exchange for an honest review.
BLURB:
Time is running out for the Collaborative’s oppressive rule of the remote world Senca One. The government attempts to suppress the escalating riots, even while seeking to further their experiments. When their parents are taken, triplets Juliet, Cilla, and Emiah Tripp set out to locate them, and soon discover they are at the center of a hunt to capture them.
Evading the Collaborative across Senca One’s harsh terrain, they’re confronted with the trials of survival. They also discover something that changes the very core of their reality: they’re morphs. Struggling to adapt to the strange new ability, they question what they really are . . . and why. Are the rumors of experiments done on children true? Did their scientist parents have anything to do with it?
Their quest brings them to the capitol city of Brighton, which is on the verge of revolt. While searching for information about their parents, the Tripps align themselves with the very people fueling the rebellion. They unwittingly spark the revolution they want no part of and discover something more dangerous than they suspected.

 My Review:
 I was so excited to read this book,especially because of it being written by three different authors. This intrigued me so much. I’ve read books written by Cindy and Sherry, but this was the first book I’d read from Jeffery. This was a fun YA book that is Speculative Fiction. There is plenty of action on this new world. The triplets are the main characters and have such different personalities, as it would truly be in real life. The authors did a great job of increasing the suspense the first several chapters as the reader isn’t quite sure what is truly going on. Altogether, this book is a fun ride for YA readers, whether they are teens or adults. The fast pace of the story keeps you fully engaged. I would definitely read anther book written by these three authors. They have a good thing going on here. You need to read the guest post down below to see how truly hard this project was. Kudos to them for doing such a great job in writing such a fantastic story full of romance, mystery and suspense. 

Warnings: Some swearing and nakedness due to the morphing that takes place by some characters. Nothing too alarming though.  

Guest Post: by Jeffery Moore
 I wanted to know about the writing process of this book. This post gives you all of the details.

Jeffery Moore: The project is like one of those things that begins as an idea (maybe a flippant idea) and morphs until coming to fruition. When I look back I think, “How did this really start?” It’s like a butterfly’s wing flapping escalating into a hurricane. Sherry and Cindy are attributing the inception of the project to me, but quite honestly, I don’t remember being the one that said, “Hey, let’s write a book together.” The story is my genre, but the audience (YA) is aligned to Cindy and Sherry. This had its own small challenges. One example is that I wrote a butcher shop scene and let’s just say the story took one of those ‘Pulp Fiction’ turns that needed to be undone.
Once we all said “Heck yeah, writing a story together sounds like fun!” I loosely developed character profiles for each of us. The adventure revolves around three siblings: one who is a leader, one who has the beauty, and one who has the brains. Once we had our profiles and the back story (and mystery) of why the parents were taken away, I crafted the outline and the first chapter to kickoff our writing adventure. Here are some of the biggest challenges I thought we experienced.
Challenge One: The story was in my element (fantasy) and I’m somewhat of a purist when it comes to fantasy. What I mean by this is that when the setting is on another planet I don’t expect it to be a replica of Earth (of course unless the story had a terra-forming element, which it doesn’t). We do make comparisons to Earth’s fauna and flora, but I found I had to really reign in the ‘world building’ aspect of fantasy.
Challenge Two: We needed to write the chapters serially. We each wrote from a single sibling’s POV, so that means I wrote every third chapter from Emiah’s POV. Because I kept to the script (outline) I quickly discovered I couldn’t write my chapters before Sherry and Cindy. Each of our characters tugged and pushed the story in off-script directions, meeting different people and encountering different obstacles.
Challenge Three: Keep the outline fluid and up to date. Because the story evolved with each chapter, it became important to keep the outline updated so that we each knew the story’s direction. I remember at one point something got goofed up and I think it was Cindy that wrote a chapter based off an old outline—oops!
Finally, I’ll add that writing with Cindy and Sherry was extremely fun and rewarding. If you try this with a writing buddy, don’t set deadlines and be willing to compromise on the elements of the story, and then just go with the journey your heroes take you on.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Jeffery Moore
Moore was born in Germany. As a military brat, much of his childhood was spent abroad, growing up in Germany on military installations. He subsequently enlisted in the military and served for ten years as an army pilot. While in the military, he lived in Italy and South Korea and deployed to many European countries. He has traveled to Australia, Japan, Singapore and most European countries. His experiences and contact with many different cultures helps form some of the elements in his stories. He currently works for a global IT company and lives in Massachusetts.
Find more about Jeffery and his work at http://www.jefferyemoore.com
Sherry Gammon
Unlovable was Gammon’s debut novel and quickly rose to many top seller lists on Amazon. She is pleased to announce that Unlovable is currently being made into a movie. She has added two more novels to her body of work. Not so Easy, book one of the Souls in Peril series, is the poignant story of Max Sanchez who is on a journey to help the struggling JD Miller survive high school, and Pete & Tink, a fun, light-hearted novella of a manga-loving geek and a five-and-a-half inch fairy. Gammon and her husband, along with their children and a couple of crazy dogs, call Upstate New York home. It is where she spends her nights writing instead of sleeping.
Find more about Sherry and her work at http://www.wordpaintingsunlimited.com
Cindy C Bennett
Bennett is the YA author of several books, including Geek Girl, Rapunzel Untangled, Enchanted Fairytales, and Heart on a Chain. She lives in Utah and has six kids (two of which are daughters in-law). She loves gooey cookies, dark chocolate, and cheese popcorn. She hates housework and cooking, and has no plans to become a domestic goddess. She occasionally co-hosts a geek podcast with her son, called Geek Revolution Radio. Her favorite pastime is riding her Harley.
Find more about Cindy and her work at http://www.cindycbennett.com
Read an excerpt here.
Read More on The Experiment Blog or on The Experiment Facebook PageAvailable Now at These Retailers:
Amazon Barnes & Noble Smashwords CreateSpace Kobo

 

Jul 182013
 

 

 

 Product Description

  • Title: Heaven’s Just a Prayer Away
  • Author: Diony George
  • Paperback: 112 pages
  • Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (July 9, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1462111890
  • FTC, FYI: I was given a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

 
Book Description
Before we came to earth, we lived in heavenly realms. We knew our Heavenly Father. We walked and talked with Him. We heard His voice. We felt His love. In Heaven’s Just a Prayer Away, beloved author Diony George teaches us how to reestablish that relationship with Him here on earth. 

With the help of this book you will…
• Learn that nothing is too small or unimportant to discuss with Heavenly Father
• Find peace and contentment through daily communication with God
• Gain a better understanding of why some prayers seem to go unanswered
• Develop a greater knowledge of the power of prayer
 
The inspirational and enlightening experiences found within these pages will change your life forever by strengthening your relationship with God and filling your life with peace, teaching us that heaven really is just a prayer away.

Excerpt:

Repeatedly through prayer I’ve received wisdom to handle situations in my life I wasn’t dealing well with on my own, especially in my role as a Mother.

 

My bedroom was quiet, and warm from the afternoon sun, but I didn’t find it comforting as I shut the door behind me. I was exhausted, filled with so much frustration I wanted to scream. I started to cry instead.

 

My son had lied to me again.

 

I had tried to do everything I knew how to get him to stop. Nothing worked. Not losing friends, video games or television. Not writing sentences, or doing dishes for a week. And none of the many talks or family home evening lessons we’d had about honesty. My discouragement ran deep and I had run out of ideas. How could I get him to understand the immense value of this principle? How could I believe anything he told me?

 

I’d prayed about it many times, at least I thought I had, in a general way, but the problem persisted and my discouragement and feelings of helplessness to change it increased.

 

I knelt down by my bed. The filtered rays of sunshine coming through the bedroom window warmed my back and I started another prayer. I felt tired, sad, and at a loss of where to go next. “Father in Heaven, I don’t know what to do. Please help me…”

 

I told him all of my concerns until my knees were sore. When I finished, I opened my eyes and grabbed a Kleenex to wipe the tears off my face. I got up and sat on the edge of my bed. Releasing the emotions helped lighten my heavy heart, but I still didn’t know what to do.

 

It wasn’t long before a thought entered my mind.

 

Really, Heavenly Father, I questioned. You want me to do that? How can that possibly work? What about the next time and the next time he tells me something?

 

I was to tell my son I was not going to look back anymore at the times he’d been dishonest, the times he’d covered the truth with excuses or denials. That was over and done with. From then on, I would believe he was telling me the truth. I was going to trust him.

 

I called my son to my bedroom so we could talk and I told him right then I was drawing a line, separating the past from the future. I watched his eyes grow bigger as he listened. With parted lips, he searched my face.

 

 “Unless you do or say something to break my trust, I am now giving it to you completely.” Heavenly Father are you sure, I questioned again, feeling afraid.

 

His answer was a warm feeling of peace.

 

My son’s eyes watered and he hugged me. “Thanks Mom, I love you.” He turned and left the room.

 

My tears fell again.

 

 Over the next several months I saw my son change. The first few times I asked if he was sure he was being honest or telling the truth, there was hesitation. Occasionally he changed his answers. As time passed the hesitations disappeared and his responses were strong and firm.

 

I would never have thought to handle that situation the way I did, on my own. That inspiration and guidance came directly from Heavenly Father as an answer to my prayers.

 

 

 

My Review

 

 

This is one of the most beautiful books I have read about prayer. I loved reading the simple stories of Diony’s life showing how prayer can bring peace to our lives.

I loved this message from the book…

Modern day leaders of the Church have also taught us to pray always.
        
      ‘Carry…the spirit of prayer throughout every duty that we have to perform in life.’

We can pray when we are seeking safety or facing temptation, when we need guidance and inspiration-anytime we need help with anything.”

This really brings so much comfort to our souls knowing that we can pray in any situation. Some of the chapters in the book are entitled:

  • Pray Always
  • Pleadings for Peace
  • How He Answers
  • His Timing, Not Ours
  • Draw Near Unto Him
  • Prayer Changes Things

 These are only a few of the thirteen chapters included in this uplifting book about prayer. If you want any questions answered about prayer, you will find those answers in this book. If you want to improve your quality of prayers that you give, you will find scriptures giving you answers of how to make your prayers more meaningful. Regardless of where you are spiritually right now in your life, Heaven’s Just a Prayer Away will give you strength and encouragement, and help you draw closer to Father in Heaven by remembering to pray several times a day. He is there and listening waiting for you to call out to him. Thank you Diony for writing another book that will influence many people for the good.


Meet Author Diony George   
Diony George is a wife, full-time mom of seven, grandmother of three, and a published author of uplifting women’s fiction and inspiring nonfiction. She is also a regular contributing writer for Deseret Connect and FamilyHow. Originally from Alaska, she currently lives in Salt Lake City with her family. Besides writing she loves to read, especially romantic suspense, bake, sew and craft.
Her current fiction WIP, Inside the Heart, is based around the kidnapping and disappearance of four-year-old Emma. Her newest nonfiction book, Heaven’s Just a Prayer Away was just released by Cedar Fort, Inc.

 

 

Jul 122013
 

 


Product Description

  •  Title:Ashes Ashes (Hostage Negotiation Team series #2)
  • Author: Julie Coulter Bellon
  • Paperback: 218 pages
  • Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (May 7, 2013)
  • Genre: Romantic Thriller
  • ISBN-10: 1484886402
  • FTC FYI: I received a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

Book Description
Are you ever really innocent until proven guilty?

Sophia Naziri is wanted for questioning in the murder of a U.S. senator. She’s worried the police will show up on her doorstep any moment, but when Detective Colby Black appears, it’s to help her put out a kitchen fire, not take her in. Yet. His easy smile and persistence in getting to know her pushes all her troubles to the back of her mind, until a hit man tracks her down. Getting arrested becomes the least of her worries and the handsome detective could be her only way out—if she tells him the truth.

Colby Black’s sniper skills have been a blessing and a curse to him. As a member of a Hostage Negotiation Team, he can use them to save people, but sometimes he can’t protect the innocent despite his best efforts. When a hostage situation goes bad, he tries to put it behind him by helping out his mysterious next-door neighbor, Sophia Naziri. But she pulls Colby into a web of lies and conspiracy that will force him to use every skill he has in order to survive. Faced with the moment of truth, can he trust anyone around him—including the woman at the center of it all?

 Excerpt from Chapter One…

“The suspect isn’t making demands, he’s not talking, and he’s already shot four people today.  He’s a convicted felon and isn’t going to come quietly.  Negotiation isn’t an option, so we’re going with the entry team.  Colby, if you get the shot, take it because he won’t hesitate to take our guys down and kill the hostages.”

 

Adrenaline ran through Colby at his captain’s words.  No matter how long he’d been in the business, he never liked hearing that.  But if it could save an innocent life, he would do what he could.  He got ready and he didn’t have to wait long.  The man was holding out his arm, pointing the gun at the woman.  “Suspect is holding gun on hostage, he looks ready to shoot.”

 

He heard the flash bang at the back of the house.  Colby knew it was coming and he drew in a deep breath, then expelled it in increments until his lungs were nearly empty.  With the wife still held in front of him, the only shot Colby could take would be a head shot and that was always risky, but he didn’t have a choice.  He could hear the yelling as the entry team came in and, as expected, the hostage-taker opened fire on them. “I have the shot,” he said with his last breath.  He held his empty lungs and everything stopped.  There was no sound, nothing to take away his focus, until he felt the trigger on the rifle release.

 

In the half a second it took to squeeze the trigger, the suspect moved his head forward and Colby knew instinctively that he hadn’t killed the man, only wounded him.  “Suspect is wounded but not down.”

 

His words seemed drowned out by the gunshots from inside the house.  One resonated with Colby.  It’d come from a semi-automatic .40 caliber handgun¾he would bet his life on it. Another one followed soon after, but then all he could hear was the team yelling for him to put it down.  Closing his eyes for a millisecond, he steeled himself for what he would see when he opened them and looked through the scope.

 

 

 

My Review
 This is the second book in the Hostage Negotiation Team series. I reviewed the first book, All Fall Down, and loved it! Here’s what I said about that book, All Fall Down is packed with fast-paced action, tense moments that will raise your blood pressure, and a little bit of sweet romance.”

You always wonder, can the next book even compare with the first in the series? I’m happy to say Yes! Ashes Ashes does it’s job and creates a fast paced thriller that is hard to put down. I took my kids to see a movie, but I brought along my ipad. Yes, I was sitting there, before the movie started, reading as much as I could before the lights went down.It was so tempting to pull out the ipad during the movie because I really,really wanted to see what was happening in the story. 

Colby Black is the hero in this story.He is a man I would like to take home.Colby cleans, bakes, is loyal, brave and kind. Sophia, who is on the run from the bad guys, is lucky to end up with him on her side. The attraction between the two characters is there from the start. But Julie knows how to perfectly blend the action, mystery and romance. Everything happens at a good pace and never feels forced. Once again there is a heart stopping finish. This happens every time I read one of Julie Bellon’s books. The action and suspense is so intense I can’t read fast enough to make sure things end like I want them to. I’m literally shaking when I think things have ended and everything is OK, then something/someone else pops up. Yipes!!

With a great plot, wonderful characters, (the good and the bad guys) explosive action,and just the right touch of romance, Ashes Ashes will leave you wanting to read more from this talented author. 

Purchase here: 

Ashes Ashes
Ashes Ashes by Julie Coulter Bellon (Paperback – May 7, 2013)
$13.99 $12.22 Prime
In Stock
Also $6.99 on Kindle
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 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Julie Coulter Bellon loves to write international romantic suspense novels because she gets to travel to distant lands to research and add an authentic feel to all of her books. Her favorite cities so far are Athens, Paris, Ottawa, and London. She taught journalism at BYU for fourteen years and that kept her on the cutting edge of current events and world news—which is where she gets her story ideas.

Julie offers writing and publishing tips, as well as her take on life on her blog http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com You can also find out about all her upcoming projects at her website www.juliebellon.com or you can follow her on Twitter @juliebellon   

  Giveaway Details 
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 7/24/13
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jun 272013
 

 

 

Product Description:

Title: There, Their, They’re A No-Tears Guide to Grammar From The Word Nerd: 2nd Edition
Author: Annette Lyon

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2 edition (April 30, 2013)
Genre: Non-Fiction
ISBN:-10 1484820665
FTC, FYI: I was given a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:
It’s here: clear and easy answers to your most common grammar, usage, and punctuation questions. In this second edition, you’ll find more than sixty new and expanded entries in this much-used resource used by professional editors, novelists, students preparing for the ACT, and those who simply want to master grammar once and for all. The Word Nerd once again cuts through the convoluted terminology by explaining things in a way even the most frustrated writer can understand.

 My Review:
I reviewed the first edition of this book a few years ago. (Go HERE to read that review.) The 2nd edition is bigger and has many more great ideas. This book was written to help anyone, but will especially benefit writers. As an aspiring author this book has always sat by my side for quick reference. It is chock full of things to help a writer produce the best work possible. 

The chapters in this book include:
-punctuation
-grammar gapples
-style issues
-capitalization

So many people have a problem with commas, (Yes I do!) apostrophes, when to use lie or lay,etc. I love that, when and how to use “passive voice”, is included in this edition. Another reason I love this book is that Annette writes in an easy to read/use writing style. Some grammar books are so complicated that you just throw them aside because it takes too much energy to decipher it. For example, I read excerpts from this book to teach my 2nd graders. Annette gives fun examples that make this an entertaining book to read. Who knew that a reference book could be fun?

If you already own the 1st edition, I highly recommend that you also purchase the 2nd edition.With 60 new and expanded entries there is more valuable information you won’t find in the 1st edition. So if you are grammatically challenged and need that extra help, this book is a must have.   

More About the Author

 

 

 

Biography

 

Annette Lyon is a Whitney Award winner, the recipient of Utah’s Best of State medal for fiction and the author of nine novels, a cookbook, and a grammar guide as well as over a hundred magazine articles. She’s a senior editor at Precision Editing Group and a cum laude graduate from BYU with a degree in English. When she’s not writing, editing, knitting, or eating chocolate, she can be found mothering and avoiding the spots on the kitchen floor. Find her online at blog.annettelyon.com and on Twitter: @AnnetteLyon
Jun 152013
 

 

 

above rubies tour

 

 

 

above rubies

 

Product Details

 

  • Title: Above Rubies
  • Author: Jaclyn M. Hawkes
  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Genre: LDS fiction/romance
  • Publisher: Spirit Dance Books (April 22, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0985164824
  • FTC FYI: I was given a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Description for Above Rubies

His chivalry was strangling her. He thought he was helping her—and in truth, he was. She was in desperate straits. But as honorable as he was, he was also breaking her heart. Her attraction was drowning him. When World Champion rodeo cowboy Rossen Rockland and his friends rescue a young runaway who has been abused by her foster father and take her home to his parents’ ranch, he expects her to turn out to be a pain in the neck. And sometimes she is. It doesn’t take him long to figure out that she has way more than her allotment of troubles—and far more than her share of gifts. Lovely, talented, and ravingly brilliant, Kit Star is too young, unbelievably humble, and oh, so lovable. Knowing that she needs his protection and time to grow into her potential, Rossen also figures out that what she really is, is a pain in the heart. Watch for more of the Rockland Ranch Series!

 

My Review:
 I have loved every book that this author has written. I know that I will always read a stirring story, great characters and a sigh worthy romance. Above Rubies was no exception to what I have previously read. Main character Rossen Rockland is one of those men that all women would love to end up with. He is charming, kind and caring, but stubborn. The main female character is young and has gone through so much already in her life. She wants things to work out with the handsome Rossen, but it seems many things keep standing in the way- including Rossen.
 

This is an LDS fiction book so there are references to the LDS faith. If you like reading Christian romance then you will enjoy this book. The storyline moves quickly so that you don’t want to put it down. There is a mystery element included in the storyline that I also loved. The only thing I wished for was more story. It ended all too quickly for me. This book is the second book in the Rockland Ranch Romance series. This book is a clean romance that any age can read and enjoy.


Praise for Above Rubies:

I absolutely could not put this book down. It had me laughing, crying, angry and pretty much every other emotion. I can not wait for the next one in the series to come out. Keep them coming!!! ~Addicted to Books This is the second book in the Rockland Ranch Romance Series. It can be read as a stand alone or copies of Peace River can be supplied if you would also like to review it.

 

peace riverPeace River (Book 1)

The police didn’t understand the danger, but she did. Her father had always been abusive, but now, with a ten million dollar Thoroughbred farm on the line, and a powerful bookie leaning on him, her father had become out of control. But how do you get away and take a world famous stallion with you? Carrie was getting desperate when a handsome and honorable but thoroughly cynical rodeo cowboy from Wyoming happened to show up with a horse trailer. He didn’t ride a white horse, but he was definitely a knight in shining armor. He’ll protect her from the mob, but can she survive falling in love with a bull rider?

Praise for Peace River

“Give me a clean romance, humor and a good looking cowboy and I’m a happy girl. LDS fiction isn’t always my favorite but I really enjoyed the characters and adventure in this book.” ~Carol – Goodreads “There was plenty of action, adventure and danger to keep me guessing just how everything was going to turn out. I didn’t want to put it down until I finished! Jaclyn Hawkes is one of my favorite LDS romance authors. You really can’t go wrong with any of her books that you pick up!” ~Cathy -Goodreads

jaclynAuthor Jaclyn M. Hawkes

Jaclyn M. Hawkes grew up in Utah with 6 sisters, 4 brothers and any number of pets. (It was never boring!) She got a bachelor’s degree, had a career and traveled extensively before settling down to her life’s work of being the mother of four magnificent and sometimes challenging children. She loves shellfish, the out of doors, the youth and hearing her children laugh. She and her fine husband, their family, and their sometimes very large pets, now live in a mountain valley in northern Utah, where it smells like heaven and kids still move sprinkler pipe.