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

 

Sep 042013
 

NotEvenOnceClub CoverThe Not Even Once Club

Author: Wendy Watson Nelson

Illustrator: Brandon Dorman

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published: August 1st, 2013

Hardcover

ISBN-13: 978-1-60907-337-4

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

Reviewed by Mindy

Inside the Book Jacket

The Not Even Once Club is an adorable and appealing way to engage children in a story that will help them choose for themselves to keep the commandments and to never break them.  Not even once.

Children will meet Tyler, an energetic boy who is excited to make new friends in his Primary class.  They have invited Tyler to join their special club, but first he has to pass the test and keep the club promise.

With illustrations from bestselling illustrator Brandon Dorman, The Not Even Once Club is a fun and engaging way for parents to help teach their children the importance of keeping the commandments.  Included in the back of the book are additional teaching helps for parents and leaders.

My Review

What an amazing book this is.  I loved the children in the story.  Great examples of kindness and of children wanting to do their best.  The illustrations are so beautiful, they bring this book to life perfectly.  All of my kids, even my teenagers, thought this book was fun and sweet.  It is a great reminder for us all to promise to do what our Heavenly Father asks.  The last page gives parents and children a wonderful guide that explains the LDS church’s view on the issues in the book.  The Word of Wisdom, modesty, pornography, obedience and repentance.  It also refers to articles and products the church has on these topics.  Even for questions to discuss with your older children.

5 out of  stars.  Enjoy this book with your kids and grandkids and start your own Not Even Once Club!

About the Author

Wendy Watson Nelson holds a Ph.D. in family therapy and gerontology. Prior to her marriage to Elder Russell M. Nelson, she was a professor of marriage and family therapy for twenty-five years. Sister Nelson has served as a stake Relief Society president, stake Primary president, and chaired theBYU Women’s Conference. Currently, she is an institute instructor and visiting teacher. Sister Nelson was born in Raymond, Alberta, Canada, to Leonard David and Laura Byrde McLean Watson.

About the Illustrator

Brandon Dorman is the illustrator of the #1 New York Times bestsellerThe Wizard. He graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho, where he studied fine art and illustration. He and his wife, Emily, have three children and live in Washington, where he enjoys working as a freelance illustrator. His work has appeared in children’s books and on numerous covers, including Pingo, The Candy Shop War, and the Fablehaven series. See more of Brandon Dorman’s artwork at BrandonDorman.com

Purchase Links

Deseret Book / Amazon / Seagull Book 

Sep 032013
 

AugustinaAugustina (Sadie #2)

Author: Rebecca Belliston

Publisher: Gated Publishing

Published Date: August 5, 2013

Paperback: 396 pages

Genre: Romantic Suspense

ISBN# 978-1490453958

Reviewed by: Shanda

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

Summary

Against the odds, Sarah Augustina Dawson (Sadie) survived the wrath of Guillermo. But not without a price. Forced to leave her beloved Montana behind, she and Josh are on the run. Within the warmth of the South, she’s determined to find peace and conquer her past, even if only in her mind.

But Guillermo can’t let go. He’s still orchestrating, hunting, and devising ways to exact his own kind of justice. When the law swings in his favor, he’s ready to end the feud that started the moment Josh walked into Sadie’s life.

Review

Augustina is the sequel to LDS romantic suspense Sadie and continues where that book left off. While technically you could read Augustina without reading Sadie first, I wouldn’t recommend it, not just because of events and characters that are referred to in the second book, but also because Sadie is an enjoyable read.

Augustina has several fast-moving and suspenseful sections. At times the back and forth between the should-we-or-shouldn’t-we decision felt a bit drawn out and overall the story probably could have been trimmed a little, but there is plenty of what’s-going-to-happen-next to keep readers turning pages.

Guillermo is one of those terrifyingly powerful and well-funded bad guys that has the resources to find whoever he wants no matter where they hide. The scenes involving Amy and Katie were intensely written. I appreciated the dedication of the two Marshalls assigned to Josh and Sadie/Augustina. It frustrated me at times that there was so much resistance from Josh and Sadie against the people who were actually trying to help them, though in a stressful situation like that, not knowing who to trust or what the consequences of testifying will be, their indecision is understandable.

All in all, Augustina is a good follow up to Sadie, and readers who like LDS romantic suspense will enjoy both books. I look forward to reading more from Rebecca in the future.

Visit Rebecca:

WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOOGLE+ | GOODREADS

Find Augustina:

AMAZON | KINDLE | BARNES & NOBLE | NOOK | GOODREADS

 

Aug 262013
 

Finding-ShebaFinding Sheba

Author: H.B. Moore

Publisher: StoneHouse Ink

Published Date: August 2013

Kindle: 375 pages

Genre: Mystery-Suspense

Reviewed by: Shanda and Mindy

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

Summary

An ancient legend is reborn . . . One that might prove the Bible false.

For centuries, historians have theorized the Queen of Sheba as only a seductive legend, and scholars have debated over the legitimacy of King David or King Solomon. When undercover Israeli agent, Omar Zagouri, stumbles onto a tomb in Northern Jerusalem he unknowingly finds the final clue that threatens to overthrow government claim to the Holy Land, pits wealthy collectors against one another, and sends ruthless archaeologists scrambling to find the queen’s secret burial place. An assassination attempt on the Coptic Pope, His Holiness, Patriarch Stephanus II, is only the first in the chain of lethal crimes. Omar must find a way to prevent the greatest discovery of the century from becoming the most deadly.

Shanda’s Review

Heather (H.B.) Moore is well-known for her ability to write excellent fictional retellings of the lives and events surrounding Book of Mormon prophets who lived thousands of years ago. Recently she has also written contemporary women’s fiction as part of the Newport Ladies Book Club series, as well as a few romance novellas for the A Timeless Romance Anthology collection.

As much as I have enjoyed Heather’s previous books, I think her venture into international intrigue with Finding Sheba is her best work yet. The story moved quickly and kept me turning pages, and, except for a few chapters in the middle where there was a lot of driving around the desert that slowed things down just a bit for me, the pace of the story kept me engaged and wondering what would happen next.

Each of the main characters were well-written, interesting individuals with depth and history. The story is told from four main points-of-view: Omar, Amel, and Jade in the modern-day setting, and Nicaula, the queen of Sheba, in the historical setting. The way Heather weaved Nicaula’s chapters in with current-day events worked great for me.

While there are several characters that play a large role throughout the entire story, the reader is introduced to them one or two at a time, so it isn’t overwhelming. I did get a little lost with some of the travel back and forth to different cities and countries (mainly because I don’t know Middle East geography very well) but I didn’t worry about that so much and just let the story flow.

Finding Sheba is full of intrigue, suspense, love, sacrifice, loss, and history, with a little bit of politics and religion as well. (Biblical, etc. – as pertains to historical events and plot – this isn’t what some consider “LDS fiction.”) There is a small amount of mild language (heck, dang), some violence (hands being cut off as punishment, battles/fights), and some adult themes (references to wedding nights, inferences about violence against a woman prisoner in historical events).

I really enjoyed Finding Sheba, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good international intrigue. I look forward to reading more like this from Heather. Well done!

Mindy’s Review

I may sound like a broken record when it comes to Heather’s books. Every book from her is solid and engrossing. I thought Finding Sheba is one of her very best (and that says a lot, because I have loved every book I have read of hers). This story is so well-crafted. I could tell that this book took some time for the author. The characters and plots are amazing. I loved all the jumping around from character to character that this book does, too. It really kept me on my toes. I love it when a book challenges me and keeps me guessing and I never know what is going to happen next.

5 out of 5 stars. This book has everything for every reader. Action, suspense, romance, and mystery. You will not be disappointed.

 Visit Heather:

WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

Find Finding Sheba

AMAZON | GOODREADS

 

finding-sheba-tour

Aug 192013
 

facetofaceFace to Face: Seeking a Personal Relationship with God

Author: S. Michael Wilcox

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published Date: August 2013

Hardcover/Kindle/DB Bookshelf: 128 pages

Genre: Religious Nonfiction

ISBN# 978-1-60907-520-0

Reviewed by: Shanda

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

Summary

“And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend” (Exodus 33:11).

Is it possible to talk with God as Moses did—face to face? This is not only what we long for, but what God also ardently desires. For Moses that may have meant an actual physical encounter, but for most of us it is an expression that suggests friendship, open communication, honesty, and the conversations of familiarity. But how is that done? And how can we learn how God speaks to us individually? Bestselling author S. Michael Wilcox explores the scriptural expressions and concepts of “pouring out,” “wrestling,” being “filled with desire,” and “knocking” at the door Jesus promised would open to us— particularly in those times when we deeply need heaven to hear us and to confirm to our souls that more than our words are being received.

Review

In Face to Face: Seeking a Personal Relationship with God, S. Michael Wilcox presents six different methods of communication with Heavenly Father through prayer that build faith, increase understanding of His love for us, and strengthen our bond with Him.

I enjoyed the author’s writing style, and found the book to be a quick yet impactful read. I was most affected by the concept of “pouring out” our hearts to God. I related to the examples given and my heart was touched.

The importance of constantly reaching to become closer to Heavenly Father, both for myself and my posterity, was driven home to me by this quote in the chapter about Jeroboam and the fate of the ten tribes:

“Sometimes when we fail to reach for ourselves, we fail for the thousands who will follow in the culture we create.”   -page 84

I was reassured by the reminder that our God wants to bless us in every way He can, and that all things that come from Him are for our benefit, even if we don’t see it at the time. I gained a new understanding of the word desire as it refers to becoming one with our Father and Savior, rather than a request for something from Them.

When we consult with God in deep, quiet prayer about what we should desire, He will answer us. Through our reaching out to Him in these different forms of prayer and communication, we will become closer to Him than we can in any other way.

“The Spirit reaches down and draws water for us, or rain falls upon our souls and the flowers of faith, devotion, obedience, virtue, courage, adoration, gratitude–and especially love–spring up. God can walk with us in our garden, one that he himself is primarily responsible for having created. But we both are fulfilled, both satisfied with a mutual giving and receiving.”  –page 121

I don’t hesitate to recommend Face to Face: Seeking a Personal Relationship with God to anyone who desires a closer relationship with Heavenly Father. I will be keeping it in a handy place on my bookshelf to revisit often.

Find Face to Face: Seeking a Personal Relationship with God:

AMAZON | DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK | GOODREADS

Aug 152013
 

Longing for HomeLonging for Home

Author: Sarah M. Eden

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: August 6th, 2013

ISBN13: 9781609074616

Paperback: 400 pages

Reviewed by Mindy

FTC FYI: Received a paperback ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Goodreads Summary

Twenty-six-year-old Katie Macauley has placed all her hope in Hope Springs, a small town in the 1870 Wyoming Territory. But if she wants to return home to Ireland to make amends with her estranged family, she’ll need to convince the influential Joseph Archer to hold true to his word and keep her on his payroll as his housekeeper despite her Irish roots. The town is caught in an ongoing feud between the Irish and the “Reds” the frontiersmen who would rather see all the Irish run out of town and the Irish immigrants who are fighting to make a home for themselves in the New World. When Joseph agrees to keep Katie on as his housekeeper, the feud erupts anew, and Katie becomes the reluctant figurehead for the Irish townsfolk. As the violence escalates throughout the town, Katie must choose between the two men who have been vying for her love, though only one might be able to restore hope to her heart.

My Review

Shanda reviewed Longing for Home earlier this week.  Here is the link.

I was thrilled to take part in this blog tour for Longing for Home.  I have long been a fan of Sarah’s books and I knew I was in for a treat.  This book had everything.  Romance, love, humor, tears, disputes, and a heartbreaking past.  I loved how Sarah told the story through not only Katie’s eyes, but with Tavish and Joseph too.  It was the perfect way to see each character properly, how they saw each other.  At first, I wasn’t sure what I thought of Katie.  She was so hard on everyone, mostly herself.  But I enjoyed watching her demeanor soften, and for her to feel she belonged somewhere.  I thought Sarah told her story brilliantly and by the end, well I didn’t want the story to end.  I also loved how Sarah brought Ireland to us.  The language was especially enjoyable and I could hear the accent as I read.  Another favorite was Tavish.  He is an instantly, likable character who tries to charm Katie, also while driving her crazy.

5 out of 5 stars.  Longing for Home is at the top of my list for my favorite reads of the year.

Sarah is having a launch party for this amazing book.  Here are the details:

Event Information

Date:   Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Time:   7:00 PM

Place:   The King’s English Bookshop 1511 South 1500 East Salt Lake City, UT 84105

Event Details:

To celebrate the release of LONGING FOR HOME, we’re throwing a party–Irish Style. Authentic food. A wonderful book. An Irish-themed door prize. And perhaps a touch of blarney. Come celebrate with us!

Places in the signing line are reserved for those who purchase a copy of Longing For Home from The King’s English.

GET YOUR COPY NOW! Pre-order your signed copy of Longing For Home today, by either calling the store at 801-484-9100 or ordering online. Please specify if you will be attending the event and if you want your book personalized.

Facebook Link

Author Links

Goodreads / Website / Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon / Deseret Book / Barnes and Noble / Seagull Book

ONE MORE THING

The digital books are on sale – yes, the e-books! We have Amazon.com specials running for August and September with titles under the “A Proper Romance” brand.

August Promo Pricing:

Longing for Home     $7.99

September Pricing:

Edenbrooke: $1.99
Blackmoore: $7.99