Turning Pages by Tristi Pinkston

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Nov 202012
 

Turning Pages

Author: Tristi Pinkston

Publisher: Inkberry Press

Published Date: July 2012

Paperback/Kindle; 240 pages

Genre: New Adult Romance

ISBN13: 978-0-9838293-6-2

Reviewed by: Shanda

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

Summary

With his pride and her prejudice, what could possibly go wrong?

When the arrogant Blake Hansen steals Addie Preston’s promotion at the library, he pretty much rubs her nose in it. But Addie, who dreams of being a full-fledged librarian, decides to stick it out. She loves surrounding herself with books and keeping her father’s memory alive in the building where they spent so much time together.

Soon, Addie learns that her beloved library will be torn down to make room for a larger facility, and she has to make a choice. Fight, or let go?

To complicate things, she finds herself attracted to Blake, who is engaged to someone else. Will Blake and Addie ever resolve their differences?

Review

Turning Pages is a cute story about Addie Preston, a college student who works at the local library. She hasn’t had the easiest life, which is probably why she finds such comfort in the books she loves.

Addie and her family are dealing with the recent death of her father in a car accident that also injured her step-mother. Addie’s own mother died when she was little, and Addie, her younger siblings, and her step-mom have to face the reality that they can’t afford to stay in their home. She was passed over for a promotion that was promised to her, and the city just announced it’s going to tear down her beloved old library and replace it with an expensive new building. Addie gets rejected by a boy she’s liked forever, she and her best friend have a falling out, and to top things off, the guy that was hired for her promised position is a bit of a jerk.

While Addie fights to save the library, she realizes that change always comes. She learns to hold tight to what is most important, to let go of things she can’t control and that some things (and people) are not as bad as they first seem.

I enjoyed Turning Pages as a clean read with good themes that I would happily hand to my 15-year-old to read. I liked Addie and related to her love of books and her beloved library. It was a good reminder that change is the only constant and people are what matter most.

Visit Tristi:

WEBSITE | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

Find Turning Pages:

GOODREADS | AMAZON | KINDLE

 

A Candlelight Courting by Joyce DiPastena

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Nov 192012
 

A Candlelight Courting: A Short Christmas Romance

Author: Joyce DiPastena

Publisher: self-published

Published Date: October 2012

Kindle/Ebook; 46 pages

ISBN# 9781301290888

Genre: Historical Romance

Reviewed by: Shanda

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

Summary

When Burthred comes courting on Christmas Eve, Meg rejects his advances. She has her heart set on becoming a nun and insists that he call her Christina, the spiritual name she has chosen for herself. She tries to make him swear on her box of holy relics that he will not pursue her, but he carefully words his oath to allow him to stay in her candlelit chamber and try to change her mind.

What Meg does not confess is that her reliquary box holds a secret.

Burthred needs a wife, and no one will satisfy him except Meg. He swore on his father’s deathbed that he would marry her. But Burthred has a secret, too. When they come together before the Yule fire, their shared revelations will either join their hearts together or tear them apart.

Review

I am convinced that Joyce DiPastena can write no wrong. I have loved everything I’ve read from her, and A Candlelight Courting is no exception.

In the past I confess that I haven’t been a big fan of short stories, preferring instead to read longer, more detailed novels. A Candlelight Courting proved to me that short stories can be well-written, include characters with depth, and keep readers turning pages.

I loved both Meg/Christina and Burthred. I found myself rooting for them right away. I was torn when I realized that the possibility of things working out for them looked pretty bleak. How could there be a “happily ever after” if what each wanted most would leave the other ultimately miserable and unfulfilled?

I devoured A Candlelight Courting, anxious to see how things would turn out. I felt for Burthred and yet respected Meg/Christina’s determination to follow her desire to become a nun. I did not expect the turn of events near the end.

I happily recommend A Candlelight Courting to anyone who enjoys a good, clean romance. I look forward to reading it every year at Christmastime, and maybe a few times in between.

Visit Joyce DiPastena:

WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | PINTEREST

Find A Candlelight Courting:

KINDLE | SMASHWORDS | GOODREADS

 

 

 

Combined Review of The 13th Day of Christmas by Jason F. Wright

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Nov 182012
 

Product Details:

  • Title: The 13th Day of Christmas
  • Author: Jason F. Wright
  • Hardcover: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Shadow Mountain (October 9, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1609071778
  • ISBN-13: 978-1609071776
  • FTC FYI: We were given a review copies in exchange for an honest review.
  • Reviews by: Sheila and Mindy


 

 
Book Description:

Publication Date: October 9, 2012
Marva Ferguson has a very personal Christmas tradition
that happens every December 26. As an aging widow, the tradition means
more to her now than it ever has. Her newest neighbor, nine-year-old
Charlee, loves Christmas too. But her family has fallen on hard times
and things get worse when Charlee becomes critically ill. Then, on
December 12, Charlee makes a wonderful discovery. A mysterious note is
delivered that promises twelve days of gifts and stories that will
reveal the truth behind the beloved Christmas carol The Twelve Days of
Christmas. As the days go by, the gifts hint at a possible lost lyric.
Was there once a 13th day of Christmas? And if so, could its magic
change or save a life? If Marva knows something about the letters from
the Elves, she s not telling. However, you don t live as long as Marva
Ferguson and not have a secret or two including a whole lot of faith in
your apron pocket. Filled with laughter, tenderness, and hope, The 13th
Day of Christmas invites us to see how an old Christmas favorite can
turn into a true Christmas miracle.
Sheila’s Review: 
If you have never read any of Jason Wright’s books you are in for a treat. His books will always leave you with a good feeling and some life lesson learned. This life lesson will enhance your life for the better. The 13th Day of Christmas follows this same pattern as the other books written by Jason; such as The Christmas Jars, The Wednesday Letters, and The Cross Gardener.

 

 

The 13th Day of Christmas has two of the most memorable characters that I have “met” in a long time. Miss Marva, the older lively widow, and sweet nine year old Charlee. These two unlikely friends soon become the world to each other.With Charlee’s family having fallen on hard times, Marva turns her loneliness into taking care of this family. When Charlee becomes ill, Marva is there to lift up Charlee’s family and give hope to Charlee. This novel is centered around the holidays and Miss Marva’s Christmas tradition of using her advent calendar through the 26th of December. With Charlee in the hospital, someone soon is sending her notes and presents doing The 12 Days of Christmas tradition. This story has so much reality interlaced in it’s pages your heart will hurt for the characters; job loss, death of a child, loss of a spouse, cancer and marital problems. With Jason’s unique writing style that brings his characters to life, you will be wrapped up in Charlee’s fight to live and Marva’s intensity to give of herself and her love for this young girl. Be prepared to shed a few tears before you read the last page of this book. The 13th Day of Christmas will become a new favorite classic read during the Christmas season and beyond. With the message that we should not only celebrate Jesus Christ’s life one day a year, but to celebrate his life by also living like him the other 364 days; this will stay in your heart for a long time. Thank you Jason for another heart warming book!

 

Mindy’s Review

Jason does such an amazing job of instantly pulling me into his books with his well-written plots and wonderful characters.  I immediately loved Miss Marva and Charlee.  Marva collects aprons, and she changes them a few times a day depending on her mood.  Charlee’s family has come on hard times, and moves into the trailer park owned by Marva and her late husband.  Charlee is out looking for a something to do, when she see Marva hanging clothes on the line. Marva calls Charlee over, and they become fast friends. There is a lot going on at Charlee’s house.  Her father recently lost his business, and her brother Zack was kicked out of school.  Life at their house is hard.  The only ray of sunshine was Charlee.  Miss Marva invites the family to Thanksgiving dinner.  It is an all day event with all the trimmings.  Then the worst happens, Charlee get dizzy, faints, and her loved ones rush to the hospital, only to hear the news no family wants to hear.

One warning, have a box of Kleenex handy when you are reading this book.  As with all of Jason’s stories I’ve read, I cried.  A lot.  The 13th Day of Christmas is full strong characters, and lots of heart.  I loved the message that this book sends, think of others before youself.  Service is the way to bring you closer to Christ. When I was a kid, we would pick a family in our neighborhood to do the 12 Days of Christmas for. One year, my dad tried to disguise his voice and ended up scaring their young daughter.  Luckily, he apologized and all was well. :)

5 out of 5 stars. I loved this book. So full of heart and love of two friends. It is a fast read, but I wanted to know what happens to these great characters, so I couldn’t put it down. Just remember what I said about the Kleenex, but also this book has a great ending that will leave you satisfied, but possibly crying happy tears.

 

Author Links
Website
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter

Purchase Links
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Deseret Book


About The Author:

Jason Wright is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USAToday bestselling author.

He is the author of The James Miracle (2004); Christmas Jars (2005); The
Wednesday Letters (2007); Recovering Charles (2008), Christmas Jars
Reunion (2009); Penny’s Christmas Jar Miracle (2009); The Cross Gardener
(2010); The Seventeen Second Miracle (2010); The Wedding Letters
(2011); and The 13th Day of Christmas (2012).

Articles by Jason have appeared in over 50 newspapers and magazines across the United
States including The Washington Times, The Chicago Tribune, and Forbes.
He has been seen on FoxNews, CNN, CSPAN and on many local and national
radio shows.

Jason is also a popular speaker who speaks to over
100,000 annually on topics ranging from the value of service, the joy of
failure, the lost art of letter writing and many other topics.

He lives with his wife, Kodi, and their four children in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Review of A Night on Moon Hill by Tanya Parker Mills

 Posted by  Sheila's Reviews
Nov 172012
 

Product Details:

  • Title: A Night on Moon Hill
  • Author: Tanya Parker Mills
  • Paperback: 301 pages
  • Publisher: Walnut Springs Press. (September 20, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 159992868X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1599928685
  • FTC FYI: I was given a review copy from Walnut Springs in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:

Publication Date: September 20, 2012
Swimming is Daphne’s one refuge until the night she finds a body in her pool.University professor and renowned author Daphne Lessing has never felt at ease in
society. But a disturbing occurrence in her once calm and controlled
existence suddenly unearths events from her past and thrusts an unusual
child into her life.

Ten-year-old Eric has Asperger’s syndrome
and is obsessed with fishing and angels. Soon, Daphne finds herself
attached to him and faced with a choice: Does she leave him and return
to her solitary, ordered life, trusting others to do right by him, or
does she allow this bright child to draw her into the world she has
tried to shun? And what about the man that came into Daphne’s life with
Eric? Will she be able to shut him out as well?

My Review:
I picked up A Night on Moon Hill and was immediately surprised about how fast I was pulled into this story.The novel starts with a bang and a big mystery about the body that Daphne finds floating in her swimming pool. Though Daphne seems to be a hard to relate to character, she is very intriguing. As her story and life unfolds, you can’t stop reading because you want to know more. 

The story becomes even more interesting when 10 year old Eric, a precocious young boy with Aspergers Syndrome, enters her life. Daphne is drawn to this intelligent child and finds that they have so much in common. I loved Eric as he reminds me of several children that I have taught in the past that fall somewhere along the ASD Spectrum.Here is some information if you don’t know a lot about ASD.

What are Autism Spectrum Disorders?

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental
disabilities which affect behavior, communication and
social interaction. Most children with ASDs appear to develop
relatively normally until the ages of 18 to 36 months.
During this window parents or professionals begin to notice
developmental delays. Mild forms of Autism Spectrum Disorder
may resemble a learning disability while more severe forms may
involve substantial impairment of communication, learning
and social abilities, abnormal responses to sensory stimuli and
sometimes self-injurious behavior. Individuals with Autism
may have one or two skill areas which exceed age-matched peers’
skill levels. These skills frequently appear in the areas
of mathematical computation, music, art or memory. Children with
milder forms of ASD may be diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental
Disorder (PDD) or with Asperger’s Disorder.

I wanted to point out that I read the first 100 pages so fast it shocked me! I looked down and there was page “100”. This story is so well written, and with characters that bring you into the story so deeply, you will have this novel read in no time. What will you find in this novel? A great combination of suspense, angst, romance and relationships that will truly make you think. You will also look at life and people a little differently. I love the respect and care that Tanya has given to the tender subjects found within the pages of this novel. For all of this, I’m giving this book 5 stars!


Tanya Parker Mills…

Best Price $11.87
or Buy New $13.49

 

About the Author:

Tanya Parker Mills grew up overseas in some pretty volatile
areas and, as a result, likes to write fiction that builds understanding
between people and cultures. She graduated from Brigham Young University in Broadcast Journalism
with a minor in Political Science and worked for Sunset Magazine for a couple
of years as an Assistant Editor for Trade Publications. Her first novel, THE RECKONING, was a 2008 Whitney
Finalist, the 2009 Indie Book Award Winner for Multicultural Fiction, and the
2010 Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Award Winner for
Mainstream/Literary Fiction. Her new novel, A
NIGHT ON MOON HILL, just came out in September and was inspired by her son,
Jason, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at age six.You can reach Tanya here at her website http://www.tanyaparkermills.com/ 

Blog Tour Review of Nightingale by David Farland

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Nov 162012
 

Product Details:

  • Title: Nightingale
  • Author: David Farland
  • Hardcover: 496 pages
  • Publisher: East India Press (March 14, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1614757879
  • ASIN: B008SMUL2E
  • Review by: Sheila

 

 

 

Book Description:

Publication Date: March 14, 2012
Some people sing at night to drive
back the darkness.  Others sing to summon it. . . .Bron Jones was abandoned at birth. Thrown into foster care, he was rejected by
one family after another, until he met Olivia, a gifted and devoted high-school
teacher who recognized him for what he really was–what her people call a
“nightingale.”

But Bron isn’t ready to learn the truth. There are secrets that have been
hidden from mankind for hundreds of thousands of years, secrets that should
remain hidden. Some things are too dangerous to know.  Bron’s secret may
be the most dangerous of all.In his remarkable young adult fantasy debut, David Farland shows why critics
have called his work “compelling,” “engrossing,”
“powerful,” “profound,” and “ultimately
life-changing.”

My Review:
Nightingale is a great read. Though the main character Bron is a teenager, don’t think this book was just written for teens. The action and storyline creates enough interest in Bron and his powers and the mysterious group of people, called the Masaak, who are more powerful than the human species. We find out soon that Bron’s real father is after him and his powers.This is where the real suspense and action starts when the Masaak hunters, the Draghoul, come after him. This book is action packed, full of great characters and mystery. I loved how the first book builds up this story that will be continued in books to come. I’m so excited to read the next book in the series. If you have never read David Farland’s writing, you are in for a real treat. He is a master at his craft and it shows in all of his books. I highly recommend Nightingale for teens and adult readers.

The multi-award winning novel, Nightingale by best-selling author, David Farland is available in hardback, ebook, and now in a special iPad enhanced version. This young-adult
fantasy novel has already been turning heads.

Grand Prize Winner of the Hollywood Book Festival,
placed first in all genres, all categories.Winner of the 2012 International Book Award for Best Young Adult Novel of the
Year!

Finalist in the Global Ebook Awards

.


“Superb worldbuilding, strong characters, and
Dave’s characteristic excellent prose.  –Brandon Sanderson, #1
New York Times Bestselling Author

“A wonderful tale of a young man trying to find his humanity, even
though he’s not quite human.  One of Farland’s very best!”–#1
International Bestseller Kevin J. Anderson

The enhanced version creates an amazing reading experience complete with
illustrations from several talented artists and a sample of a
soundtrack that coincides with the story. Published by East India Press a publishing company that takes e-books
in a whole new direction with enhanced multimedia–soundtracks, movie
clips, author interviews and more. From the site: “East India embraces
emerging technologies and new distribution methods, producing every
novel in three forms:  as an enhanced multimedia experience, as a
standard e-book, and as a limited edition hardcover.”

Farland has plans for three more books in the series: Dream Assassin, Draghoul, and Shadow Lord.

About the author: 

David Farland has written and edited fifty published books.
These include novels for adults, young adults, anthologies, middle-grade
readers, and picture books. He often teaches writing workshops, and has trained
a number of people who went on to become international bestselling
authors—people like Brandon Sanderson in fantasy, Brandon Mull in middle-grade
fiction, and Stephenie Meyer in young adult fiction.

As part of his dedication to helping other writers, David
writes the David Farland’s Daily Kick in the Pants, an email bulletin for
writers or those who would be writers. Many authors rave about how it has
helped them. Out of devotion, he provides the Daily Kick free. You can register
to receive it at http://www.davidfarland.com/.

 

You can learn more about Dave and his books/writing seminars here:

FB:http://www.facebook.com/david.farland1

Twitter
handle @DavidFarland
Websites:
www.nightingalenovel.com
http://www.davidfarland.com/
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/83308.David_Farland

David Farland Amazon Page

 

 Blog Tour Schedule for Nightingale 
by David Farland 2012

Sept 28- http://www.christydorrity.com/2012/09/nightingale-book-tour.html

Sept 28- http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/09/book-giveaway-nightingale-by-david.html

Oct 1- http://www.stinalindenblatt.com/2012/10/bringing-scenes-to-life-guest-post.html
Oct 3- Donna Weaver- http://weavingataleortwo.blogspot.com/
Oct 4- http://www.rashelleworkman.com/

  Oct 9 –  http://www.ilikethesebooks.com/

Oct 12-http://www.debbiesinkspectations.blogspot.com/
Oct 16- http://moniquebucheger.blogspot.com/

Oct 17- http://peggyeddleman.blogspot.com/ 

Oct 18- http://www.dorinewhite.blogspot.com/

Oct 19- http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/

Oct 23- http://www.karen-hoover.blogspot.com/

Oct 24-http://www.tanyaparkermills.com/

Oct 25- http://davidpowersking.blogspot.com/  

 Oct 26- http://rachellewrites.blogspot.com/

Oct 29- http://writersally.blogspot.com/

Oct 30-  www.franklycreative.blogspot.com

Nov 2- http://1000wrongs.blogspot.com/

Nov 5- http://www.ja-bennett.com/

Nov 5- http://astorybookworld.blogspot.com/

Nov 6- http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/

Nov 7- http://starcrossedbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Nov 14- http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/



Nov 16-  http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/

Nov 16- http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/wordpress/

Nov 19- http://christinebryant.blogspot.com/

Nov 20- http://cindybennett.blogspot.com/

Nov 21- http://writersally.blogspot.com/

Nov 26- http://cindymhogan.blogspot.com/

Nov 27-http://www.alicross.com/

Nov 28-http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/

Nov 29- http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/

Nov 30- www.blogginboutbooks.com

Dec 3- http://rebeccablevinswrites.blogspot.com/ 

Dec 7- http://kbrebes.blogspot.com/ 

Dec 14 – author@jlloydmorgan.com

All Fall Down by Julie Coulter Bellon – Blog Tour – Combined Review

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Nov 152012
 

All Fall Down

Author: Julie Coulter Bellon

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Published: September 2012

Paperback/Kindle; 225 pages

ISBN13: 9781479264858

Genre: Romantic Suspense/International Intrigue

FTC FYI: Received a PDF copy in exchange for an honest review

Reviewed by: Mindy and Shanda

***Julie is holding a giveaway with several different prizes. See details below on how to enter!***

Backcover Summary: 

Ring around the rosy, a pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes we all fall down . . .

That simple rhyme turns negotiator Claire Michaels’ current hostage situation into an international incident. Claire just wants to help get everyone out safely, but as the crisis escalates she realizes she’s dealing with an al-Qaeda operative who has the means to become another bin Laden—with the potential to attack America. Claire has her own personal reasons for wanting to stop al-Qaeda, but time is slipping away as negotiations break down. Can she overcome her scars of the past in order to get the hostage out alive and possibly stop an assault on U.S. national security?

Navy SEAL Rafe Kelly is on leave to recover from a knee injury he suffered during his tour in Afghanistan and he doesn’t expect to be fighting terrorists on his home turf. But when he is taken hostage and his brother is kidnapped, Rafe teams up with a hostage negotiator in order to stay alive and get his brother back. The terrorist is always one step ahead of them, however, and the situation quickly turns from desperate to deadly. Will Rafe be able to save himself and his country without anyone he loves getting caught in the crossfire?

Mindy’s Review

Julie Bellon has written an awesome book with the perfect amount of suspense, mixed with romantic tension and great chemistry between the main characters. I was taken immediately into the story, and only out of sheer fatigue would I stop reading. I read this really fast, so luckily I only had to wait one night in between.  I loved the point of view changes. Chapters would end with such great cliffhangers, but the next chapter was a different character. I really enjoy that “author trick” as I call it, and it kept me reading, and reading, and reading …

I really liked the main characters. I love a strong female lead, with a touch of vulnerability. Claire was perfect for that role. She was smart and knew her job well, but when it came to Rafe, she developed a soft spot. Rafe was great too. By the end of this book, he is put through the ringer. I kept thinking, what else can happen to this poor guy. They both were great characters and written well.

4 out of 5 stars. From now on, I will be forever creeped out by the nursery rhyme, “Ring Around the Rosy.”  

Shanda’s Review

All Fall Down is a quick moving story with suspense, betrayal, action and a bit of romance. Julie doesn’t wait to throw the reader right into the action.

The opening hostage scene on the roof was intense. For me it was the most suspenseful part of the story. I really liked both Claire and Rafe. They go through so much and I wondered if they were ever going to catch a break. I saw one twist coming, but I wasn’t sure how it would play out. One of my favorite parts was the first time Rafe meets Clair’s father.

Those who like clean and suspenseful international intrigue, especially fans of Julie Bellon’s other books, will enjoy All Fall Down.

During the blog tour, Julie is offering both the paperback and Kindle versions of All Fall Down at a discounted price.

Giveaway Details (from blog tour host The Book Bug)

Julie is generously offering 7, yes 7 awesome giveaways for the tour!! (I want to win them myself!) That means you have 7 chances at winning! (Pretty good odds, huh?!)

The prizes include:

(2) “Book Lovers'” baskets which include a copy of All Fall Down, a hand tied lap blanket, Julie’s favorite hot chocolate mix, and a copy of Janice Sperry’s Christmas novella, The Candy Cane Queen

(3) Print copies of All Fall Down

(2) Ebook copies of All Fall Down

To enter to win these prizes, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form provided. (Each tour stop will have the same Rafflecopter form).

Open from November 12 to December 7. Must be 13+ years of age to enter. US mailing addresses only.

Earn entries by doing any/all of the following:

-Leaving a blog post comment

-Liking Julie’s Facebook page

-Following Julie on Twitter

-Becoming a fan of Julie on Goodreads

-Tweeting about the giveaway (once per day)

-Subscribing to Julie’s blog

Author Links

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Smashwords

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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