The Practical Prepper by Kylene and Jonathan Jones – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Jul 142014
 

thepracticalprepperThe Practical Prepper: A Common-Sense Guide to Preparing for Emergencies

Authors: Kylene and Jonathan Jones

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Published: May 2014

Paperback/Kindle: 368 pages

Genre: Nonfiction/Emergency Preparedness

ISBN# 978-1462113828

Reviewed by: Shanda

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

Summary (Goodreads)

Earthquakes, hurricanes, civil unrest, economic challenges – no one knows when disaster may strike. Will you be ready? The Practical Prepper is a common-sense guide to emergency preparedness and survival written for real people with real lives. This must-have reference book walks the reader through each step of emergency preparedness covering everything from cooking in a crisis, to home security and protection, to emergency water disinfection. You can be prepared for the challenges the future holds. The Practical Prepper will show you how.

Review

The Practical Prepper accomplishes its goal of presenting practical ways to achieve a higher level of preparedness in a varying number of living situations. It begins with the basics then expands into more in-depth methods for long-term or extreme circumstances, providing a “line upon line” style progression for readers to consider and implement as they continue on their preparedness journey. There are several pages of sources in the “Notes” section at the end of the book for those who would like to read more on the subjects addressed in each chapter.

The authors are thorough and flexible in their coverage of needs and options to fulfill those needs. They respect each other’s different opinions on what is “enough” yet still consider the other’s requirements for feeling secure.They have experimented with several of the products, circumstances, and methods they discuss in their book. They are honest about their results as well, which I appreciate. They also link to several resources on their blog to help readers become more prepared for emergencies.

What you won’t find here are detailed lists of exactly what to store. The authors do give general recommendations and offer sources of where to find more information, but they know that there isn’t one perfect food storage or preparedness plan that will fit everyone. They aren’t rigid in their recommendations or forceful in their opinions. They are, however, emphatic about safety and doing whatever works best for the reader.

A first I felt a little overwhelmed and depressed at the long list of disasters that could happen and the direness of what my circumstances would be if any of them happened today. I know my family is far from prepared to survive for long if the worst were to happen.

However, as I continued reading The Practical Prepper, I started to feel more empowered to take steps to change that. I may not ever be as self-sustaining as someone who lives on a farm with a root cellar and a huge garden, but I don’t need to be to improve my family’s chances of survival.

I read this book cover to cover, curious about the suggestions the authors presented for each circumstance. I was inspired, shocked, and entertained by some of the examples given of how other people have planned for emergencies. (The Chunky soup and rice idea sure makes it easy to knock out at least one or two dinners a week in my emergency menu plan, though!)

I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who wants to be more prepared for an emergency. It’s a resource I think “preppers” of all levels will find useful. I am definitely more inspired to get my preparedness show on the road, and I thank Kylene and Jonathan for their efforts to educate others on how to not just survive, but thrive, in an emergency.

Visit Kylene and Jonathan:

BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOOGLE+ | PINTEREST 

Find The Practical Prepper:

BARNES & NOBLE | AMAZON | KINDLE | GOODREADS

Practical-Prepper-blog-tour

Fractured Light Series by Rachel McClellan

 Posted by  Book Reviews
Jul 092014
 

12812539 16235831Fractured TruthFractured Light, Fractured Soul, Fractured Truth

Author: Rachel McClellan

Publisher: Sweetwater Books/Cedar Fort

ISBN13: 9781599559421, 9781462111800, 9781462113927

Goodreads Book Summaries

Fractured Light

I’m dying, I thought. This was unexpected and not at all how I envisioned my death. I was supposed to die gardening in a flowerbed as a hundred-year-old woman, not as a seventeen-year-old trapped in a lake beneath inches of ice.

Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake.

As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she’s caught in something even bigger than she can understand, with a power she can’t wield, and no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger.

In this breathtaking and romantic adventure, Rachel McClellan delivers a truly mesmerizing story that will keep you guessing to the very end.

Purchase Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Fractured Soul

Llona will do whatever it takes to protect her new found friends and home, but the dark plot that is threatening Lucent Academy, a school that’s supposed to be a safe place for Auras, may be too powerful for even Llona to defeat. This fast-paced tale of love, loyalty, and overcoming the darkness will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page!

Purchase Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Fractured Truth

Llona is determined to end the fight with the Vykens once and for all. All she needs is to find and destroy the Shadow—the ultimate source of dark power. But when she makes a startling discovery about someone she loves, Llona has to fight the toughest battle yet in this exciting conclusion to the Fractured Light series.

Purchase Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

My Review

I have been wanting to read this series for quite some time.  I am so glad I finally made the time to read it.  The Fractured Light series is full of action, romance, suspense, very cool magic, and of course amazing characters.  Llona is one tough cookie.  Although, when we first meet her in Fractured Light, she is shy, but aware of the fact that she is an Aura.  She can manipulate light, but has never been taught how to use it.  She shies away from people and doesn’t want to use her light to help others.  Mysterious things start happening to her and they also involve her friend May, who also shows signs of powers.  She meets Christian and it turns out he has secrets of his own.  As the book progresses, she starts to realize the need to learn how to use her powers.  Devastating events take place and she is forced to learn things quickly about herself and who the Auras really are.

As much as I enjoyed the first book, the next two were even more entertaining.  They all are so full of surprises and twists, that I had to go back and read many scenes to relive it all.  There is action at every turn and so many twists.  One I saw coming, but others were so surprising.  I loved how the author grew her characters, especially Llona.  She is awesome.  Start with Book 1 when you read this series and keep going until the end!

Author Links 

Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Twitter

Torn Canvas by Donna K. Weaver-Blog Tour Review

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jun 192014
 

 

Title: TORN CANVAS(Safe Harbors, #2)

Author: Donna K. Weaver

Release Date: May 28, 2014

Pages: 376

Find it: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

Genre: Fiction | Adventure | Contemporary Romance

Modern-day pirates took more than Jori Virtanen’s friends; they stole his face. Not only does the twenty-four-year-old former model have to confront months of reconstructive surgery, he discovers his previous life was as superficial as his looks. Jori struggles to make a new life for himself as an artist while evading the press. They expect a hero, but he knows the truth. His beauty masks a beast. Olivia Howard’s given up a normal life for her job, and the sacrifices are finally paying off. The twenty-six-year-old talk-show host’s ratings are heading to the top of the charts. Her dream is to make a difference in people’s lives, but the studio wants mind fluff—like interviewing hot model Jori Virtanen. When Olivia learns the guy helped rescue passengers on a cruise excursion from kidnappers, she knows this is the story she needs to make her case. The only problem is the hero was injured, and now he’s disappeared. The more Olivia learns about the man behind the scar, the more intrigued she becomes. But Jori is no girl’s happily ever after. Once she finds him, Olivia has to free his heart and heal the beast.

Donna K. Weaver is a Navy brat who joined the Army and has lived in Asia and Europe. Because she sailed the Pacific three times as a child, she loves cruising and wishes she could accrue enough vacation time to do more of it with her husband.  Donna and her husband have six children and eight grandchildren who live all over the world.  At fifty, Donna decided to study karate and earned her black belt in Shorei Kempo.  After recording city council minutes for twenty years, Donna decided to write something a little longer and with a lot more emotion–and kissing.

Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Website   Pinterest | YouTube | Google+

 

 

June 16th – Sweetly Clean Romance– Review/Excerpt  June 16th –Gamila’s Review  – Review  June 16h – Cindy M. Hogan– Review/Playlist  June 17th –Peering Into– Review  June 17th – Krista Wayment– Guest Post  June 17th – Laura D. Bastian – Review  June 17th – Christy Dorrity Author – Interview  June 18th – Leigh Covington– Interview/Highlight  June 18th – Canda’s Ink Blast – Review  June 18th – Diann T. Read– Spotlight  June 18th – Meetings With My Muse– Spotlight  June 18th –Medeia Sharif– Top Ten/ Spotlight  June 18th – Bookish – Playlist/Top Ten  June 19th – Lucinda Whitney – Review/Interview  June 19th – YA Author Elana Johnson– Interview  June 19th – Why Not? Because I Said So – Review  June 19th – Jordan McCollum – Spotlight/GP  June 20th – Feather Pens, Tartan Dreams – Review/Guest Post  June 20th – Lindzee Armstrong/Lydia Winters– Review  June 20th – Author Brooke Williams– GP/Spotlight  June 20th – Wordpaintings Unlimited– Spotlight  June 20th – Mins Reads and Reviews– Review  June 20th –Meredith Mansfield – Review

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My Review:

I really liked the first book in this series called, A Change of Plans. There was a little of everything, adventure, romance, and angst. Torn Canvas has all of that too. Right now I want to say, please read the first book in the series. This second book will make so much more sense. Also, it will help the reader understand why main character, Jori, is going through what he is. It also was great to have a bond with the characters because of reading the first book.

 

I was happy to get to know Jori better. In the first book he sometimes came across as a shallow, ladies man. There is so much more to his character than that. It was great to go along on this journey of physical and emotional renewal with Jori. Donna does a wonderful job with her characters. I also loved getting to know Olivia. There was so much more depth to her as the story went along. 

 

Torn Canvas will take you on an emotional journey where you will feel the satisfaction of seeing people grow and learn to love. I recommend this story to lovers of romance.

The Rebel Princess by Janice Sperry — Blog Tour

 Posted by  Book Reviews
Jun 182014
 

Rebel-Princess-2x3-WEBThe Rebel Princess

Author: Janice Sperry

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Published: June 10th, 2014

ISBN13: 9781462114306

Paperback: 192 pages

Genre: Middle grade fantasy

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

Goodreads Summary

Meet the upside-down fairy-tale princess! Raven Perilous is not nice because nice princesses get locked in towers. When Prince Charming shows up, Raven—who is not in distress—decides to show him who’s boss. This enchanting adventure, filled with magic forests and mystical creatures, will captivate fans of fairy tales everywhere!

My Review

This book is an absolute joy.  I loved Raven instantly.  Her humor and disdain for being a princess is what kept me reading eagerly.  I loved how the author incorporated many different fairytales in this enjoyable story.  I also loved the idea of Raven’s parents and how they came to our world.  Raven is a twin, and he, Edgar, is an evil sorcerer.  He was also a favorite character.  Raven’s only friend is Amy (even though everyone loves her and thinks she’s darling because she’s a princess, which she can’t stand).  But, she has secrets of her own.  Raven’s world get turned even more upside down when Eric Charming comes to her school.  Together they are forced on a quest that is full of adventure and fun.  

4 out of 5 stars.  This is Janice’s first book and I am eagerly waiting to see if there will be second one.  This book is a great middle grade fantasy that is just as enjoyable for adults as kids.

Author Links

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Rebel-Princess-blog-tour

 

Body Image Breakthrough: Learning to See Your Body and Your Beauty in a Whole New Light by Jaci Wightman-Blog Tour Review

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jun 132014
 

 

 

 

 

Product Details

 

  • Title: Body Image Breakthrough: Learning to See Your Body and Your Beauty in a Whole New Light
  •  Author: Jaci Wightman
  • Paperback: 144 pages
  • Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (June 10, 2014)
  • Genre Non-Fiction/Self Help
  • ISBN-10: 1462114385
  • FTC, FYI: Received a pdf copy in exchange for an honest review. 
  • Review by Sheila

Book Description:
Stop sacrificing to the idol of the perfect woman. Body Image Breakthrough cuts through the fad diets and pop psychology to find the root of women’s body image issues. Free yourself from negative body image and live each day as Heavenly Father intended, wrapped in the soul-healing beauty of the Lord.

My Review:
 I’ve been reading several books about body image lately, and frankly I’ve needed this. From the very beginning of chapter one I knew that this book would have the messages I needed to hear. Jaci’s voice is friendly and personal. You feel like you are talking to your best friend. One of the best things I loved about this book is the “Additional Study” information that reviews what the chapter talked about and gives you a small assignment to look up additional scriptures in the Bible, Book of Mormon and other scripture. I really liked this time to reflect more on what the scriptures had to say about beauty and image.

 Here are more of the highlights from the book that will stay with me.

 

 

“It all comes down to this: if we’re trying to glorify ourselves
through our outward appearance, we’re walking a dead-end road
that will only lead to more emptiness and heartache. Truth is,
there’s only One who can fill our hearts with the acceptance and
love we’ve been longing for. There’s only One who can offer us
the satisfying and abundant fruit of the tree of life. It’s a kind of
nourishment that the world can’t even begin to imitate. But we
can only partake of this fruit if we quit looking to other people to
fill us and devote ourselves instead to seeking the acceptance and
affirmation of the Lord.”

 

 

 

“Could it be the adversary has convinced us that the only way
to feel “secure, affirmed, and valuable” is to gain the acceptance of
our peers? Could it be that we dress for the eyes of others in order
to “fill a hole”? Maybe it’s time for us to learn where our true value
comes from. Maybe it’s time to turn our backs on the seductive
voices coming from the great and spacious building.”

 

 

 

 
“Deep down, I knew there had to be a way to find balance.
There had to be a way to honor my God-given desire for beauty
without bowing down before the image of the world. Walking
away from the image couldn’t mean walking away from physical
attractiveness altogether. Instead, the answer had to involve learning
and internalizing how the Lord understood outward—not just
inward—beauty. I knew Christ didn’t view a woman’s appearance
through the lens of the world, but I certainly did. For the most
part, what the world saw as beautiful, I saw as beautiful, and what
the world shunned, I shunned. What I needed most was a body
image breakthrough. A radical change of heart. I needed the Lord
to completely re-frame the way I looked at physical beauty.”

 
 Here is one of my favorite things that Jaci said is her book…

” Please believe me when I say that if you’ll simply allow the
Lord to lead you through the transformation process, you’ll discover
a new place to live—a place where you’ll actually rejoice in
your physical body. It’s a place where you’ll find the ability to
master your appetite; where your weight will settle in at a healthy
level; and where all obsessive thinking will finally cease. Best of all,
it’s a place where you’ll come to know the beauty and splendor of
Christ, and how it applies to your individual body. I promise, it’s a
place unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.”

 How I wish I could share more with you, but as you can see, this book will truly change the way you think about yourself in many respects. I hope that all LDS women and teens will read this book. I know that lives will be changed, as minds and hearts assimilate this message of letting the Lord and his words help with their body image breakthrough. 

 Purchase at…

 

 

 

  Meet Author Jaci Wightman:

 

A first-time author, Jaci Green Wightman (pronounced JAY-see) was raised in five different states before meeting her husband, Greg, during her freshman year of college. Together, they’re now enjoying the daunting task of raising seven children born in just eight years. In 2012, Jaci finally graduated from BYU-Idaho with a degree in University Studies, 21 years after postponing her schooling to start a family. Underneath all her outward busyness, however, Jaci is simply an ordinary woman who discovered an extraordinary Savior. Her greatest joy lies in teaching and testifying of the One who not only changed her heart, but radically transformed her entire life.
Go HERE to learn more about Jaci and her book.

Ilana’s Wish (A Newport Ladies Book Club Novel) by Annette Lyon-Review

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jun 072014
 

 

 

 

Product Details

 

  • Title:  Ilana’s Wish
  • Author: Annette Lyon
  • Paperback: 244 pages
  • Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc. (April 1, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1621084639
  • FTC,FYI: I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:
On the surface, Ilana Goldstein leads an enviable life: a thriving career and a happy marriage to a handsome doctor. All that’s missing is a baby, an emptiness that will surely be filled with time . . .
Then, in an instant, her life falls apart. Now, beneath Ilana’s once flawless exterior hides a dark secret that may destroy the woman who seemed to have it all. Following a rapid succession of crushing trials, Ilana turns to prescription medications to take the edge off her agony both the ache of her body and the anguish of her soul. But when her desperation to dull the pain leads to the downward spiral of addiction, her friends in the Newport Ladies Book Club must do whatever it takes to save one of their own. Will Ilana’s devastating losses bring about her own self-destruction, or will the loving determination of friends and family lend her the strength to overcome?

My Review
I have loved and supported this series from the first book I read. Every book in the Newport Ladies Book Club Series has been different and unique. Even though we are following the lives of these women in all of the books, we see things from each woman’s viewpoint. 

Ilana was hard to peg in the other books. She seemed very secretive, unsocial and frankly not very friendly to the other women. In this book we find out why. Ilana after major surgery and an accident a few weeks later, becomes addicted to pain killers. This portrayal of an addict was sad, scary, and so heart breaking. If you have ever been addicted to something you may cry a lot through this novel. This very real and gritty novel shows how hard it is to battle a drug addiction. After reading other peoples reviews of Ilana’s Wish, I could see many of them had a hard time reading this book. I say do not miss out on this novel. This is some of the best writing Annette Lyon has done! She gets to the heart and soul of this deeply broken woman. I almost read this book in one sitting. I so wanted to see her get the help she needed. The outcome is one of hope. Readers will feel strengthened by the courage, friendship and love shown in this book. In my opinion, this is another winner in the series.

Purchase Ilana’s Wish HERE!

 Meet Author Annette Lyon:



Annette Lyon is a Whitney Award winner, a two-time 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

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