Feb 062013
 

The Daisy Chain (An Aliso Creek Novella)

Author: Heather B. Moore

Publisher: Mirror Press

Published: January 31st, 2013

ebook: 65 pages

ASIN: B00B9HHPQU

FTC FYI: I received a free ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary 

Welcome to the Aliso Creek Novella Series
Liz, Gemma, Arie, Jess, and Drew have been best friends since creating “the Five” at Aliso Creek High School. But that was over ten years ago, and each is still trying to find that perfect someone… if perfect is even possible.

Actually, Jess Giles does find her perfect match, but since Charlie’s several years older than she, they never have a moment of harmony from his adult kids who protest the marriage. When Charlie dies in a tragic accident, his kids add insult to injury and sue Jess for her share of the inheritance. The only person Jess trusts for financial advice is Charlie’s financial planner, Preston Michaels. Just talking to Preston on the phone makes Jess feel flustered, yet strangely comfortable at the same time, so she puts off meeting him for as long as possible. When Jess has to attend the formal hearing, she’s about to find out if the man she’s been talking to over the phone for several months lives up to the voice that she’s grown attached to.

My Review

Right away I was taken into Jess’s story.  We meet her on the first anniversary of her husband’s death.  She is sad and having a hard time coping.  Some members of “the Five” come to visit her to cheer her up, but Arie knows there is more to her sadness then what Jess is saying.  Even though Jess’s husband Charlie was older then her, she truly loved him and misses him.  To make matters worse, Charlie’s son and daughter are suing Jess for the money that he left her.  Her only salvation has been Preston Michaels, Jess’s financial planner.  They have never met in person, and Preston is asking Jess to come to a scheduled court date.  Jess needs to gather all the courage she can to try to be strong to move on with her life.

5 out of 5 stars.  I am loving this series from Heather B. Moore.  Her writing is so strong and I am immediately taken into the story.  Her characters are always likable and I care about what happens to them.  I can’t wait for the next installment.

A Timeless Romance Anthology (Spring Vacation Collection) is out now.  Arie’s story is told in this book.  Like the Winter Romance Anthology, there are also five other authors that are part of the collection.  Josi S. Kilpack, Annette Lyon, Heather Justesen, Sarah M. Eden, and Aubrey Mace.  I know I will enjoy this!

Author Links

Website / Fans of H.B. Moore on Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Smashwords

Feb 052013
 

Table Talk

Authors: John and Tina Bushman

Publisher: Plain Sight Publishing/Cedar Fort, Inc.

Published Date: February 12, 2013

Softcover; 210 pages

Genre: Nonfiction

ISBN# 978-1-4621-1146-6

Reviewed by: Shanda

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

Summary

Nothing has a greater or more lasting impact on children than their parents, yet our society tries to weaken that influence. Talking and teaching are two things best done at home. Using hundreds of fun questions and quotes from this book, watch as your family comes together to discuss the most important issues of life—patriotism, values, fun, faith, and more.

Review

Dinnertime in my family often includes passing around the “conversation jar,” an old glass peanut butter jar full of strips of paper with questions and trivia designed to start family discussion. When the opportunity came to review Table Talk, I jumped at the chance, curious to see how the questions compared to our usual verbal dinnertime fare.

I was delighted to find a wide variety of subjects covered, from civil issues and practical matters (like emergency preparedness) to more personal and spiritual questions designed to explore deeper issues. I like the related quotes on each page, some of which are humorous. The day I received the review PDF I presented some of the new material to my family. The second question in the book (“Have you ever had someone close to you die?”) as well as the follow-up questions (“What were your feelings at the time? What do you believe happens to a person’s soul when they die?”) gave my husband and I the opportunity to check in with our children and discuss how they were feeling about Grandma passing away now that some time has gone by. We had a great conversation with our older daughters that went beyond the scope of those initial three questions.

The next night’s question (“My most embarrassing moment was when _______.”) provided a welcome change from the heavy discussion of the night before. My older kids had a good laugh at my expense. And, no, I’m not going to share my most embarrassing moment in this post. Let’s just say both my pride and my hands and knees were bruised that night.

I appreciate the open-ended format, especially about topics that I hadn’t considered asking my kids. “What responsibilities do individual states have?” and “If you could ask God one question, what would your question be?” are just two examples. With some questions I will have to do some research online beforehand, especially in regard to the more political and academic subjects. (Hey, it’s been a while since high school AP Government class. I’m a little rusty.)

I am excited to continue our nightly dinnertime conversations with Table Talk. I highly recommend it to families of all shapes and sizes.

Find Table Talk:  AMAZON | BARNS & NOBLE | DESERET BOOK | GOODREADS

 

 

 

Feb 012013
 

Product Details

  • Title: Fractured Soul
  • Author:Rachel McClellan
  • Hardcover: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (February 12, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1462111807
  • ISBN-13: 978-1462111800
  • FTC: FYI: I was given a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description

Publication Date: February 12, 2013
Llona will do whatever it takes to protect her newfound 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!
 
My Review
This is the second book in the series. I was blown away by the first book. If you didn’t read the first book, here is a synopsis of what happened…
About Fractured Light

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.

I loved Fractured Light, and I started reading Fractured Soul cautiously. You know about the “2nd book curse” in a series right? Many times they are never as good as the first book. Well…you are NOT going to find that to be the case with this book.It is just as good or better than the first book! Many reviewers rate books by stars,I rate my books by what I’m doing while I’m reading a book. If I’m having a hard time staying awake and can easily put a book down to go to sleep, well…you get the picture. With Fractured Soul…I didn’t EVER want to put this book down, even when I could hardly keep my eyes open. I also was jumping in my seat, and exclaiming things out-loud; such as, “I can’t believe she just did that!”, “Oh no!!”, and, “Run!!”. Yes, people have told me I’m very annoying while reading a book like this or very entertaining.
There are so many things I loved about this book! The action is so consistent and very little down time. Main character, Llona is still a beautiful, independent, kick-butt girl. There really isn’t a love triangle in this book. Llona loves one guy, but there are things keeping them apart. Once again there is a mystery in this second book that keeps you guessing until the end. Speaking of the end….explosive!! You can finally breathe at the very end of the book, because you will be holding your breath in tense excitement. This YA Paranormal thriller is a must read for teens and adults. Rachel has created a story that you will love reading from beginning to the end.
You have a chance to win a copy of Fractured Soul here at my blog, Why Not? Because I Said So! I’m so excited that the publisher is offering you a chance to win a copy!  Also, because I have over 1000 followers, this is opened Internationally! You can enter in the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!
Author Bio  

Rachel McClellan was born and raised in Idaho, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she’s not in her writing lair, she’s partying with her husband and four crazy, yet lovable, children. Rachel’s love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was…
Find Rachel
Facebook  |   Blog   |   Website   |   Twitter   |   Goodreads  |  Book Trailer
Buy Fractured Light
Buy Fractured Soul

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Jan 282013
 

Adversarius (Shadow of the Rose)

Author: M.L. Chesley

Publisher: Hellfire Publishing

Published: December, 2012

ASIN: B00AJA967O

ebook

FTC FYI: We received an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy and Sheila

Goodreads Summary

Two kingdoms, two goals.

The king of Relavia is determined to wipe out his warring neighbors in Paridzule, a worthy adversary for over five hundred years. News of an arranged marriage between his son and the daughter of his lifelong enemy has fueled the temper of Relavia’s tyrannical king. What he doesn’t realize is the true measure of his son’s honor and how far he is willing to go to gain peace.

Mindy’s Review

Shadow of the Rose, is a very enjoyable story.  However, at times in the beginning, I struggled with names I couldn’t pronounce, phrases repeating, and too much introduced all at once, but I liked the characters and the story is engaging once I read further and got into it more.  There are many characters to keep track of, but the two I enjoyed the most were Black Rose, and Nightshadow.  They were both very intriguing and Nightshadow especially, was awesome.  She was raised as an assassin, and the events of the book have her changing her mind about her upbringing.  I also thought  Farrehn was a great character, for a half-ogre.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars.  The different story lines did keep my interest, and the book reads at a quick pace.  There is a cliff-hanger ending, and I’m excited to see what happens next.

Sheila’s Review

Adversarius: Shadow of the Rose(Book One) is a High Fantasy novel with a lot of action and a lot of characters. At first, I had a hard time keeping track of all of the many different characters and their names. After that was figured out, it was more of a smooth read for me. There are many characters that would vie for status as “main” characters because you have several story-lines going on in this novel. Some of my favorites would have to be Nightshadow, the woman assassin, and the priest named Rose( there is nothing feminine about him!) They had some of the best lines and plots in the book.  Of course the evil villain, the King of Relavia, Li’endrin,is about as bad as bad gets. I didn’t see any goodness in him at all. Anyone that did what he did, to his own children, is an awful creature. Speaking of creatures, there were many different kinds in the story, including dragons and ogres.I really did like the half-ogre, Farrehn. He made me laugh a lot, and really did have a good heart. 
There is a lot to like about this first novel, by Author M.L. Chesley. If you don’t get distracted by the strange names and the many characters, you will find a good fantasy that will keep you involved. Be ready for a cliff-hanger at the end,which will leave you itching for book #2 in the series.
Jan 252013
 

Blog Tour Review and Giveaway For, Create a Powerful Life Plan! 3 Simple Steps to Your Ideal Life

 

Product Details

  • Title: Create a Powerful Life Plan! 3 Simple Steps to Your Ideal Life
  • Author: Connie E. Sokol
  • File Size: 251 KB
  • Print Length: 96 pages
  • Publisher: Sokol Publishing; 1 edition (January 7, 2013)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00AY7P6M6
  • FTC;FYI: I received a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
  • Reviewed by : Sheila

 

 

Book Description:
Ready to jumpstart your life, but not sure how?

Years ago I was fat, unfulfilled, and unfocused. Then I got serious about making changes, writing an achievable life vision and goals. Starting with weight, I lost twenty-five pounds and gained great energy. This motivated me to organize my home and time, rediscover the joy in parenting, and speak professionally part-time to share with others what I had learned.
That was my ideal life change, what’s yours?
Create a Powerful Life Plan: 3 Simple Steps to Your Ideal Life! will help you achieve life changes in three stress-free steps. You’ll learn how to create a clear vision of your ideal life. Then, how to set and achieve simple, enjoyable goals to make that vision a reality. And finally, what to do when you become stuck, fearful, or frustrated.
You’ll also read the real-life experiences of five women who put their Life Plan into action. And receive online support through podcasts, video segments, blog posts and more at www.conniesokol.com.
Now is the best time to become the person you want to be, and live the life you yearn to live. No gimmicks, no hoopla, just solid, time-tested principles and practices that will help you achieve your dreams and goals, and enjoy the process.

So, are you ready to create your powerful Life Plan?

My Review:

I want to state from the beginning of this review that this review may be an ongoing one. This book is one that I have not read all the way through because it is a work in progress. As I have been reading this, I have also had my little composition notebook by my side. As author Connie Sokol has suggested things to think about or write down, I have done exactly that. For example, at the beginning of the book here was the first thing/assignment I chose to do…

 

“Life Plan. Specifically, it’s a paragraph comprised of four to six sentences that describe your ideal self and life—a written reminder of what you want your ideal life to be, feel, and look like.”
Create A Powerful Life Plan is basically this…
The three simple steps to creating your Life Plan are as follows: Create a Life Vision, Choose a Life Focus, Set ONE weekly to achieve it!”
As I have been reading this book the one thought that has been going through my mind is, “I can do this!” The way that this is set up, in smaller steps, I have not felt overwhelmed. I’m so excited to try follow the steps and advice that Connie has laid out for readers. It has left me with a feeling of great empowerment. I have been feeling so overwhelmed lately in my life, but this book has breathed new life into me. I look forward to checking in with readers of this blog to let you know how things are going with my Life Plan.

Connie is such an inspiration to me and I know that she will be able to do the same for you!

You have a chance to win a copy of this wonderful book, or a 30 minute CoachCast with Connie Sokul on Fit and Fabulous, by entering with the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post.  


Endorsements:

“I love your book!! I read it once last week and now I’m reading it again and marking it. I can see it making a difference in my life. I’m realizing that I don’t have to do it all at once.” Jodi Anderson
“Before I started this [book], I wanted to break down my goals into weekly accomplishments in a goal setting program. I can’t believe it, this is exactly what I have been looking for!” Brea Mefford
“I love this program. It really helps me to be accountable, and more importantly, to see progress. I increased my weekly income by better than half. I paid off two credit cards and my overdraft. My husband was able to pay off his car, and I have completely revamped my business goals and direction. Thank you!” Andrea Johnson

Social Media Links:
www.facebook.com/8basics
www.conniesokol.com
www.8basics.com
http://pinterest.com/conniesokol
http://www.amazon.com/Connie-E.-Sokol/e/B00530YEVI/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5032389.Connie_E_Sokol
www.youtube.com/My8Basics

Biography:

Connie Sokol is a mother of seven, a sought after local and national presenter, and a regular speaker at Education Week. She is a monthly TV contributor on KSL’s “Studio 5” and regular blogger for KSL’s “Motherhood Matters.” She is a former columnist for Deseret News and Utah Valley Magazine, and TV and radio host for Bonneville Communications. Mrs. Sokol is the author of several books including the award-nominated Caribbean Crossroads, Faithful, Fit & Fabulous, and Life is Too Short for One Hair Color Series, as well as the creator of talk CDs, podcasts and the “8-week Challenge.” Mrs. Sokol marinates in time spent with her family and eating decadent treats. For more, visit www.conniesokol.com.

Blog Tour Schedule for Create A Powerful Life Plan! 3 Simple Steps to Your Ideal Life by Connie Sokol

January 2013–
1/16/2013    http://rachelannnunes.blogspot.com/
1/17/2013   http://thebookbug-hogan.blogspot.com/
1/18/2013    http://www.christydorrity.com/
1/21/2013    http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/
1/22/2013    http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/
1/24/2013    http://lisaswinton.blogspot.com/
1/25/2013    http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/
1/25/2013    http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/wordpress/
1/28/2013    http://rachellewrites.blogspot.com/
  2/1/2013    http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/
 2/8/2013    http://ordinaryhappilyeverafter.co

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Jan 232013
 

The Guy Next Door

Author: Kate Palmer

Publisher: Covenant

Published: September 2012

Paperback: 235 pages

ISBN: 9781608612

FTC FYI: I received a paperback copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

On the surface, Eva Black’s life seems practically perfect. The small-town kindergarten teacher is set to wed ambitious lawyer Sean Langley, and their plans for a dream wedding are well underway. Eva accepts that she will soon live life in the spotlight as a member of the prestigious Langley family, but can she overlook her fiancé’s tendency to dominate the details of her life and push the limits of her standards?

Mere weeks before the wedding, Eva is thrown into a traumatic, life-changing event that changes her view of family commitment and creates a sharp contrast between her ideals and Sean’s. With her engagement to Sean in jeopardy, Eva finds herself relying on the support and encouragement of Peter, her kind and attentive next-door neighbor. Faced with a choice between her penitent fiancé and the increasingly mysterious Peter, Eva is unprepared for the consequences—and peril—that come with her decision.

My Review — Possible Spoiler

I really enjoyed this book.  I would say my one complaint was Sean.  He was such a jerk.  Some very tragic events occur in Eva’s life, and what she has to cope with is big and life changing.  Sean treats her poorly, and she doesn’t see it as first.  Only when Peter comes into her life, is when things start to change with their relationship.  However, Peter has some secrets of his own.  Although I didn’t like that one character, I really liked Eva, Peter, and the other supporting characters.  Through the time when Peter and Eva were getting to know each other, while he was away for work, Peter would send Eva notes.  I really liked how he saw her and the way their relationship developed.  Eva goes through a lot in the book, and I really enjoyed what she learned about herself, too.

3 1/2 stars.  I was on the edge of my seat at times, wondering what would happen to these characters.  The Guy Next Door is well written and an enjoyable, fast read.

Author Links

Website / Facebook / Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Seagull / Deseret Book