Sheila

Good Clean Romances

 Posted by  Book News, News
Feb 122010
 

With it being Valentines weekend, I wanted to post something having to do with romance. Since I have no romance in my life right now, I can always find romance in a good book. If you are wondering where to find some good clean romances, I want to share a resource with you.

On Goodreads.com, one of my favorite authors, Joyce DiPastena, is the moderator of a group called, “Clean Romances”. Here is the reason they give for having this group:
“This group is dedicated to building a up a list of clean romance books. Not “Christian” or “Inspirational” (there are other groups for those), but good old fashioned love stories, without the sex scenes. They’re hard to find these days, but not impossible. If you have written such a romance, or have read romances that fall within this category, past or present, you are invited to join this group. Please feel free to add your favorite “clean romances” to our group bookshelf, so that all interested readers may benefit from authors they may be unfamiliar with!”


I am a member of this group and I have found many good book suggestions here. Anyone can join this group and it is free.

Joyce found a quote that defines the group she said, “I just found the perfect quote for our Clean Romance Group! Of course, the fact that it’s from a medieval poet in no way prejudiced me to choose it. ;-) “


“Through their kisses and caresses they experienced a joy and wonder the equal of which has never been known or heard of. But I shall be silent…; for the rarest and most delectable pleasures are those which are hinted at, but never told.” Chrétien de Troyes



Other things I love about this site is there are lists for.....
-Suggestions for good Young Adult Books
-Review Sites for Clean Romances
-All Time Favorite Clean Romances
-List of Clean Romances on Goodreads.com

So, if you are interested in reading some clean romances and are a member of goodreads.com, come join the group. We are 241 strong at this point.

Enjoy your Valentines weekend; even if it means spending it with a good clean romance.
–



Whitney Finalists Announced!!

 Posted by  Book News, LDStorymakers & Whitney Awards, News, Special Features
Feb 052010
 



The announcement came out early this morning around 7:15. Here is the official press release….

SALT LAKE CITY, UT—FEBRUARY 5, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Robison Wells, President, Whitney Awards

robisonwells@whitneyawards.com

801-691-9115

WHITNEY AWARD FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

SALT LAKE CITY, UT: The Whitney Awards committee today announced the finalists for the 2009 Whitney Awards, a program which honors the best novels by Latter-day Saint writers.

To be eligible for consideration, a book must have received at least five nominations from its fans. More than one hundred works by new and established authors in both the LDS and national markets met the preliminary criteria. Once a book is nominated, juries of authors and critics narrow the nominees down to five finalists per category.

This year’s nominees are listed below in alphabetical order by author:

BEST ROMANCE: Counting the Cost, by Liz Adair; Illuminations of the Heart, by Joyce DiPastena; All the Stars in Heaven, by Michele Paige Holmes; Santa Maybe, by Aubrey Mace; Previously Engaged, by Elodia Strain.

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE: Lockdown, by Traci Hunter Abramson; Methods of Madness, by Stephanie Black; Murder by the Book, by Betsy Brannon Green; Lemon Tart, by Josi Kilpack; Altered State, by Gregg Luke.

YOUTH FICTION: Princess of the Midnight Ball, by Jessica Day George; Fablehaven IV: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, by Brandon Mull; My Fair Godmother, by Janette Rallison; Bright Blue Miracle, by Becca Wilhite; The Chosen One, by Carol Lynch Williams.

SPECULATIVE: Servant of a Dark God, by John Brown; The Maze Runner, by James Dashner; Wings, by Aprilynne Pike; Warbreaker, by Brandon Sanderson; I Am Not A Serial Killer, by Dan Wells.

HISTORICAL: Tribunal, by Sandra Grey; The Undaunted, by Gerald Lund; Alma, by H.B. Moore; The Last Waltz, by G.G. Vandagriff; In the Company of Angels, by Dave Wolverton.

GENERAL FICTION: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford; No Going Back, by Jonathon Langford; Gravity vs. The Girl, by Riley Noehren; The Route, by Gale Sears; Eyes Like Mine, by Julie Wright.

This ballot now goes out to members of the voting academy, a select group of LDS publishers; bookstore owners, managers, and employees; LDS authors; print and online magazine publishers; reviewers; and others working in the field of LDS literature.

Unlike previous voting, this year the academy can choose from any of the thirty finalists for the overall award, Best Novel of the Year. Similarly, any of the finalists who meet the eligibility requirements can be chosen for Best Novel by a New Author. (Those eligible this year: John Brown, Jamie Ford, Jonathon Langford, Riley Noehren, Aprilynne Pike, Dan Wells, and Becca Wilhite.)

Winners will be announced at a gala banquet on Saturday, April 24 at the Marriott Hotel in Provo, Utah. Tickets are now on sale at www.WhitneyAwards.com.

Special awards will also be presented that night to two persons whose bodies of works and tireless efforts have made a significant impact on the field of LDS popular fiction. Gerald Lund will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, and Dave Wolverton will receive an Outstanding Achievement Award.

For more information on the Whitney Awards, visit www.whitneyawards.com.


For a more colorful view of the nominees/books you need to go to www.WhitneyAwards.com

I am thrilled that I have already read 18 of the books that are nominated. I only have 12 more to read. I also want to add, I think that this years group of nominees are the best we have ever seen! Every category has excellent books. The final voting is going to be so hard.

I want to congratulate all of the nominees for this years Whitney Awards. I can’t wait for April 24th, when the winners will be announced. If you have never been before to the Gala, you need to be there this year. There is nothing else like it, to be able to rub shoulders with some of your favorite authors. The food is really also very good and it is fun to dress up for the evening.

Once again, check out the list of nominees and get reading. I promise you that you won’t be disappointed.





Of One Heart: Being Single in the LDS World by Valerie J. Steimle

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jan 292010
 


I have been reading one of the most fantastic books! It is on being single and gets to the heart of what it is like. The author of this book is Valerie J. Steimle. She has lived the hard life of being a single Mom, after her husband died in his sleep, and left her to raise their nine children by herself. After reading that in the first chapter, it made my burden feel so light, in that I am only single parenting two children instead of nine.


Here is a good synopsis for the book found on the back of the book.

“In the LDS world (or the world of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) most adults are married with children. It has only been in the last ten years that bein
g single in the church has become much more common. Unfortunately, marriages are failing everywhere and there are now one third of the adults at church who are single.

Whether by divorce, death of a spouse or never married at all, there are challenges to being single in a predominately married wo

rld. Challenges I had never realized until I became single myself when my husband of 25 years suddenly passed away leaving me with nine children at my charge. A daunting task to say the least.

This book was written to help all those who are single, all those who have single friends and all those priesthood leaders with single members under their jurisdiction. I have written this book to help others understand what it is like to be single and included writings from other singles on how they feel about being single. “


From the beginning of this book I felt like…Valerie “gets it”. Another thing I want to say, is that this book was not published by the big companies that normally publish LDS books. This is a good thing, because I feel that Valerie was able to be more open and honest than if this book had been published by one of them. For example, she writes one whole chapter on “A Note to the Priesthood”. Basically, she outlines for Priesthood leaders things they should know and how they should learn to understand their role in helping the singles in their ward. This is done respectively, but bluntly. The number one things that most people don’t understand is this point she brings out, “Understand that many worthy single adults feel uncomfortable at Sunday meetings because of their situation.” I still feel this way at times. I was once a part of a couple and now I am alone sitting there with my children. The weekends they are with their Dad, I feel even more uncomfortable sitting there. I have appreciated those who have put forth the effort to make me feel wanted and sat by me or asked me to come sit with them and their family.

Another aspect that I needed to read and sink into my heart was this advice. It is about how to cope with being single.

-Make sure to pray and have scripture /reading study. We must keep the spirit with us always regardless of our circumstances.

-Attend your church meetings every Sunday. Valerie says,”Even if you just sit and feel the Spirit, that time helps you for the rest of the week and it will refill your emotional cup.”

-Church Service: Ask your priesthood leader if you want a calling and do not have one yet. It does feel good to serve others and this takes your mind off or your own problems.

-Support the singles program: this is something that I should do more of. Truthfuly, I just haven’t had much time to do many things besides parenting, teaching full-time and reading. ;)

-Keep a Song in Your Heart. I just love what Valerie said here,”When experiencing great tribulations and having to take one day at a time, it is so very difficult to have joy; in fact many times it is painful. Whenever you can: remember that Heavenly Father loves you. There are many looking down on you that love you and want you to keep a song in your heart.”

I feel that every member of the church, male and female should read this book. This book was written for those church members, who are single and over thirty years old. It was also written for those wanting to know how to help their friends and family members who are single. She has included as much information as possible, to help others understand, life from the single perspective. I also liked how Valerie pointed out one more reason all members should read this book.

“As my stake president so wisely counseled: ‘Everyone will eventually be single sometime in their life.’ Whether you are taken and leave a spouse behind or your spouse is taken and you are left behind; whether you have never had the chance to marry, or find yourself divorced:Everyone will be single.”

I wish that I could share more from this book because it has given me such strength to carry on in my single life. Valerie list many resources, helpful websites, articles and books about coping with single life and single parenting. This book was needed in my life. It speaks to the world in ways, we singles would like to but sometimes can’t express, but gives us a voice to share our lives and struggles with others.

I am grateful for Valerie listening to promptings of the Spirit that she should write this book. This book needed to be out there. I appreciate her sending me a copy to review; but I am more grateful for her sending the book to lift me up and increase my faith and not lose hope.
This book is available at Amazon.com. I recommend that every Priesthood & Relief Society leader in the church read this book. If you know someone in your family who is single, buy this book for them. (Read it first though, so you understand how you can help them through this trial.) If you are single, especially raising children on your own, you must have this book in your life. I promise you, that it will bring amazing light and knowledge in your life and you will not feel so alone in your journey.

I also highly recommend you visit Valerie’s website here. It is called, “Strengthen Your Home” and you can read about another wonderful book she has written called, “Home is Where The Heart Is”. This book gives you 60 articles about the strength of the family. There are many aspects of life that affect the family and Valerie J. Steimle touches on the strengths and distractions of what is so great about your family.

Have you ever asked yourself what is missing in your life? There is much commotion in the world and people are looking for fulfillment. Families are so important. They are what stabilizes us. We become so distracted with finances, work, entertainment and government that we don’t pay attention to what is really important: our families.






The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jan 222010
 
I have just discovered, along with my almost 12 year old daughter a new series. It is called “Percy Jackson & The Olympians” The first book is called, “The Lightning Thief” and it has been made into a movie which will be out this February 12th. I went to the website of the film company that made the move to watch the long trailer. The movie looks phenomenal!! (go here to watch the long trailer.)

Here is a synopsis of the first book…

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school . . . again. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t seem to stay out of trouble. But can he really be expected to stand by and watch while a bully picks on his scrawny best friend? Or not defend himself against his pre-algebra teacher when she turns into a monster and tries to kill him? Of course, no one believes Percy about the monster incident; he’s not even sure he believes himself.

Until the Minotaur chases him to summer camp.

Suddenly, mythical creatures seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy’s Greek mythology textbook and into his life. The gods of Mount Olympus, he’s coming to realize, are very much alive in the twenty-first century. And worse, he’s angered a few of them: Zeus’s master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy has just ten days to find and return Zeus’s stolen property, and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. On a daring road trip from their summer camp in New York to the gates of the Underworld in Los Angeles, Percy and his friends–one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena–will face a host of enemies determined to stop them. To succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of failure and betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

The first book in the series first came out in 2005. The good thing is that book 5 was released last Spring so if you pick up the series now, you won’t have to wait for more of the books to come out to finish the series.

The appeal of these books is Greek Mythology. My daughter has been fascinated with Greek Mythology for quite some time now. For Christmas, a friend gave her a great book that she
Cover Image loves called, ” Mythology” a part of the “ology” books for example, “Dragonology, Monsterology, Pirateology etc. We love these books at our house.

Getting back to the main subject,( I hate when I interrupt myself) my daughter was looking for new books to read and she found The Lightning Thief. She read this book so fast! This series will appeal to readers ages 9-16…or adults like me that love a good YA fantasy.

Many people have compared this series to Harry Potter; they both are about “half-blood” kids that go to a special school and find out that they have special powers. From there, it is different to me and you have a very fast-paced, action filled adventure starting with chapter one. If you have a reluctant reader, especially a boy, you must get these books for him. Like I said, these books do not only appeal to boys, because my daughter and her friends also love them.

If you plan on reading the book before you see the movie, get moving and reading. Move over Harry Potter, there is a new kid in town…Percy Jackson!

Haunts Haven by Joan Sowards

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jan 142010
 



“Haunts Haven” includes on it’s front cover, “An LDS Ghost Story”. You wonder how the LDS and Ghost story can mix? Well, Joan Sowards does it in a very clever and surprising way. I missed the twist that came in the middle, though I should have seen it coming. I am getting ahead of myself here.

Let me give you a brief overview of the story of “Haunts Haven”…

“When Callie Wilford inherits a century-old inn in southern Arizona, locals tell her of a ghost who “guards” the inn. But Callie doesn’t believe in ghosts, and she plans to turn the inn into a bed and breakfast. Then things start to happen – strange, spooky things – and she begins to wonder if there is some truth to the ghost stories. If that weren’t bad enough, Callie discovers a mysterious grave in the cellar. As she confronts the inn’s tragic secrets, she also faces her lonely past and learns to embrace her heritage. But it takes a handsome cowboy and a charming rancher to prove that Callie’s long-guarded heart can love again.”

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This is the first published novel for Joan Sowards and I was very impressed by her wonderful storytelling. I loved the very bright and somewhat colorful characters found in this book. The book seemed to have a nice flow to it, so it is an easy read. I really liked the main character, Callie, who was written so “real” you could relate to her.

I also really liked how Joan was able to weave several smaller stories, into the big story, without it being confusing. I also mentioned earlier about a twist. It is a great twist that simply surprised me and delighted me at the same time. I will not say more because I do not want to give anything away.

I know, if you want to read a different kind of love story filled with mystery and suspense, you will enjoy “Haunts Haven”. I look forward to reading more of what Joan writes.

You can purchase this book at Amazon.com and now at Deseret Book.

I want to thank Amy Orton at Walnut Springs Press for the complimentary copy of this book. This one is a keeper and will be read again and again.

The Biggest Loser: Simple Swaps

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jan 082010
 

biggest loser simple swaps book
Simple Swaps, the latest book from The Biggest Loser.

It is that time of year again when we all think about losing a little weight. Some of us think about losing more than a little weight. The reasons for losing weight have changed for me through the years. Yes, I still want to look nice and fit into cute clothes. The main reason though, is that I want to be healthy.This is the message I always get from reading the Biggest Loser books.
The newest book from the series of The Biggest Loser books is called, “Simple Swaps: 100 Easy Changes to Start Living a Healthier Lifestyle”. I love what it says on Amazon.com to promote this book….
“The road to a healthier lifestyle starts with small decisions and better choices. Now, with The Biggest Loser Simple Swaps, you can get healthy by simply swapping your old food, habit, and lifestyle choices for healthier versions every day. With 100 simple swaps that cut calories, save money, and provide better nutrition as well as more than 30 mouthwatering recipes that put these swaps into action, getting fit and healthy has never been easier”


Some of the chapter titles are basic things that we should all know, but we don’t.


They are:
–Calories: You Can Count on Them
-Planning Regular Meals and Snacks
-Eat Your Vegetables
-The Power of Protein
-Don’t Go Against The Grain
-Fat Can Help You Get Thin
-No More White Stuff
-Eat, Don’t Drink, Your Calories
-Moving Right Along
-Creating A Game Plan For Life




The thing that I like the most about these books are the simplicity of the layouts. They are easy to read. If you only have five minutes to read something while you are eating your breakfast, this is your book. This book is like having many short little articles revolving around one main subject. I also really like how every Biggest Loser book gleans from the knowledge of former contestants: the Winners and The Losers; who frankly are all winners.


Simple Swaps not only gives the reader the ideas about what should be done, but it also lays out the plan on how to accomplish and meet your goals. I also really appreciate the fact that these are real people, like me, that are and have struggled with their weight for a long time. It is so motivating to see people actually “Doing It”…losing the weight and keeping it off.


I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to live a healthier and more fulfilling life.



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