Secrets of the Red Box by Vickie Hall

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Nov 142012
 

Secrets of the Red Box

Author: Vickie Hall

Publisher: self

Published: September 15th, 2012

ISBN13: 978-1479330546

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

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary:

Bonnie has secrets to keep – secrets with the potential to destroy lives, including her own. Running from her destructive and pain filled past, she recreates herself, believing she has escaped the damning evidence hidden in the red box. When her former life is revealed by a cruel twist of fate, Bonnie faces losing everything, including Glen, the only man she’s ever loved. But is Bonnie the woman he thinks she is? Set against the backdrop of the 1940s, Secrets of the Red Box is filled with intrigue and suspense – sure to keep you guessing to the very end!

My Review

3 out of 5 stars.  I did enjoy reading Secrets of the Red Box.  There were times, however, when I thought it was a little slow.  I thought there were some things that didn’t need to be in there.  It is a clean read, which I appreciated, and the author did a great job of developing characters.  I really liked the ending, and thought it was perfect for what the secrets were in the red box.

Tour Giveaway
  • $25 Amazon Gift Card or $25 PayPal Cash from Author Vickie Hall + copy of Secrets of the Red Box (US – Paperback, Kindle ebook – International)
  • Paperback copy of Secrets of the Red Box (US only)
  • Kindle Ebook copy of Secrets of the Red Box (International)
Ends 11/25/2012
Author Vickie Hall
Vickie is a native of Utah, but growing up, lived in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Nebraska. When she’s not writing, she’s composing music, or shopping with her sister. She loves animals of all kinds and camping with her family. Her favorite pastime is watching old movies on TCM, and unashamedly has a crush on Cary Grant.

Links: Blog * Website * Facebook * Goodreads

Secrets of the Red Box
Bonnie has secrets to keep – secrets with the potential to destroy lives, including her own. Running from her destructive and pain filled past, she recreates herself, believing she has escaped the damning evidence hidden in the red box. When her former life is revealed by a cruel twist of fate, Bonnie faces losing everything, including Glen, the only man she’s ever loved. But is Bonnie the woman he thinks she is? Set against the backdrop of the 1940s, Secrets of the Red Box is filled with intrigue and suspense – sure to keep you guessing to the very end!

Purchase Link: Amazon 
Link for the Book Blast.

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Jeremy’s Christmas Journey by Scott A. Johnson – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Nov 122012
 

Jeremy’s Christmas Journey

Author: Scott A. Johnson

Publisher: Sweetwater Books/CFI

Published Date: October 2012

Hardcover; 120 pages

ISBN# 978-1-4621-1122-0

Genre: Religious Fiction

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

Summary

For Jeremy, Christmas is just another reminder that he’ll never be able to enjoy the things that come so easily to other children. Then one night he has a dream that will change everything. Accompanied by stirring music, this story of finding faith and discovering the power of the Master Healer is sure to be cherished at Christmastime and all year long.

Review

The story opens with Jeremy, a young boy crippled due to a car accident when he was a toddler, watching the neighborhood children play in the snow on Christmas Eve. He’s feeling sorry for himself and his situation, causing him to doubt his belief in the Savior.

After dinner with his family, Jeremy goes off to be alone and think. He soon finds himself in an experience that will change him forever. In an ancient courtroom, various witnesses of Christ’s ministry on the earth are called to testify to His purpose and divinity.

While Jeremy listens to the testimonies of each person his heart is touched by the Spirit and he experiences his own Christmas miracle.

As I read it was easy to picture Jeremy’s Christmas Journey as a musical production. It will surely become a yearly Christmas tradition for many families.

Most kids from early readers to teens will be able to relate to Jeremy. I was never certain about Jeremy’s age because although he watches the other children with envy and receives a football video game as a gift, later in the story his thoughts contain words and phrases that an adult or mature teenager would be more likely to use. The story is told mostly from Jeremy’s point-of-view, though it occasionally slips into a more omniscient or narrator point-of-view.

Those who appreciate music may enjoy the many songs used to help share the testimonies of each “witness” who knew Christ. The sheet music for these songs is included in the back of the book as well. If you have musical talent and the ambition, a family production of this could even make a good Christmas Family Home Evening.

Click HERE to listen to samples of the music and watch the book trailer for Jeremy’s Christmas Journey.

Find Scott online:

WEBSITE | GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Find Jeremy’s Christmas Journey:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | GOODREADS

Cover Reveal for Heart of the Ocean by Heather B. Moore

 Posted by  Book News, Mindy's Reviews, News
Nov 072012
 


Author Heather B. Moore

Heather B. Moore is the award-winning author of ten novels, two inspirational non-fiction books, and two anthologies, including The Newport Ladies Book Club Series, A Timeless Romance Anthology, and Christ’s Gifts to Women (co-authored by Angela Eschler).

Her historical fiction is published under the pen name H.B. Moore. She is the two-time recipient of Best of State in Literary Fiction, two-time Whitney Award Winner, and two-time Golden Quill Winner for Best Novel. Her most recent historical novel under H.B. Moore is Daughters of Jared (2012 LUW Gold Award of Excellence & 2012 LUW Best Book Trailer).



Links:

Author Website:

www.hbmoore.com

Author Blog:

http://mywriterslair.blogspot.com

Timeless Romance Anthologies Blog:

http://timelessromanceanthologies.blogspot.com/

Heather B. Moore Amazon Page:

http://www.amazon.com/Heather-B.-Moore/e/B007HLYZ6A/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_2

H.B. Moore Amazon Page:

http://www.amazon.com/H.-B.-Moore/e/B001K8942Q/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1351275833&sr=1-2-ent

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/heather.b.moore.3

Facebook “Fans of H.B. Moore” page:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/37783537691/?fref=ts

Twitter:

@heatherbmoore

Book Summary:

Heart of the Ocean

by Heather B. Moore

A dark secret . . . a grieving ghost  . . . a handsome stranger  . . .

What more could Eliza Robinson want?

Except for maybe her life.

In Heather B. Moore’s enthralling 1840’s historical romance, Heart of the Ocean, Eliza Robinson has turned down the very pretentious Mr. Thomas Beesley’s marriage proposal. As a business partner of Eliza’s father, Thomas quickly discredits the family and brings disgrace to the Robinson name.

While her father scrambles to restore his good name in New York City, Eliza flees to the remote Puritan town of Maybrook to stay with her Aunt Maeve. Although relieved to be away from all- things-male and unforgiving gossip columns, odd things start to happen to Eliza, and she is plagued by a ghostly voice. Her aunt’s explanation? That Eliza is being haunted by a woman who died of a broken heart twenty years ago.

After Aunt Maeve is tragically killed, Eliza’s life is put in danger as she tries to uncover the mystery of her aunt’s death. She encounters Jonathan Porter in Maybrook, whose presence in the town seems suspicious, yet she finds herself drawn to him. When she discovers that Jonathan’s dark secrets may be the link between the dead woman who haunts her and her aunt’s murderer, Eliza realizes that Jonathan is the one man she should never trust.

Cover Reveal:



Once Upon a Baby by Shari Guess — Blog Tour/Combined Review

 Posted by  Combined Reviews, Mindy's Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Nov 072012
 

Once Upon a Baby: A Tale of Adoption

Author: Shari Guess

Publisher: Narrow Trail Publishing

Published: 2012

Paperback: 28 pages

ISBN13: 9780985859008

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

Reviewed by Mindy and Sheila

Goodreads Summary: A heartwarming tale of LDS adoption. Follow a child’s journey from the Pre-existence to his family’s home on Earth.  The divine guidance of the Savior, along with the prayers of both birth and adoptive parents are gently and lovingly portrayed in this tender story of the ultimate “happily every after”.

Mindy’s Review

I was very excited to be a part of this blog tour.  November is National Adoption Month.  I have many friends who have been blessed by adoption.  This book is a sweet telling of that very thing.  This story is the journey of a family starting their life together in heaven, and the way they end of together here on earth.  They soon realize that they need some help. Once Upon a Baby is also a beautifully illustrated story. It is a great story for all families.  My favorite quote from the book talked about how much our Heavenly Father loves us.

The mommy and daddy said more than a few prayers and asked Heavenly Father and Jesus to help them keep their promise to the baby. Because Heavenly Father and Jesus loves mommies and daddies and children too, Jesus answered their prayers. He would help the child come down from Heaven as a baby to his family’s home on earth.

Once Upon a Baby is a perfect book that will help a child understand where they came from, and that their “tummy mommy” loved them too.

Sheila’s Review

Once Upon a Baby is such a sweet book. I wish I would have had this book 14 1/2 years ago when I brought home my sweet baby girl. We were blessed with her through the gift of adoption. I also came to my family through adoption as a baby.
This darling LDS picture book tells such a wonderful story of how babies can come to families through the help of a “tummy mommy”. This book is perfect for young kids. It is simply told in words that they can understand. This story is written as if the author were talking right to the child reading the book. The pictures were drawn to look like they were colored with crayons, something little ones will like and relate to. My favorite page had these lines:
Because Heavenly Father and Jesus love you, they helped your Tummy Mommy bring you to our family.  Because they love our family, they made temples so that one day we all be together in Heaven again.
Wow it brought tears to my eyes!!
 
This is such a perfect book for a family who has been blessed with children through adoption. As one of those families, I can say, this book is very needed and will be well liked and accepted.

Find out more about the Shari on her website .

Purchase Link:

AMAZON

Bio from her Goodreads page:

SHARI GUESS is a proud, first-time children’s book author and lives in rural North Texas where she is “Mom” to her beloved 9-year-old adopted son, Garrett. Happily married to her husband Walter for going on 13 years they share their cabin-in-the-woods with a small herd of Great Danes and farm animals. Shari is currently a part-time real estate agent and property manager and prior to marriage worked for over a decade in the music business, spanning from Los Angeles to Nashville. She wore many hats as a journalist and publicist representing multiple recording artists, magazines and music publishing companies, along with being a part-time performing artist and songwriter. Her hobbies include choral, Americana and rock music, martial arts, photography, travel and anything in the mountains.


There is a giveaway going on for this book.  Fill out the Rafflecopter form below.a Rafflecopter giveaway

Everbound by Brodi Ashton

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Nov 062012
 

Everbound (Everneath #2)

Author: Brodi Ashton

Publisher: Balzer + Bray/Harper Collins

Published Date: January 2013

Softcover ARC; 368 pages

Genre: YA Paranormal

ISBN# 978-0-06-207116-3

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: read a softcover ARC which was then passed on to another reviewer

****Summary contains possible spoilers for Everneath. Read at your own risk.****

Summary

Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.

Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.

Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.

In this enthralling sequel to Everneath, Brodi Ashton tests the bonds of destiny and explores the lengths we’ll go to for the ones we love.

Review

Nikki is struggling. She puts on a good front, doing what she’s expected to, but her heart’s not in it. She’s desperately looking for Cole, the Everliving who fed off of her for a hundred years. He has the answers she needs. He knows how to help her. She doesn’t think he will, but she’s got to try.

Then Cole is there, standing right behind her, speaking her name. From that point on I was hooked, anxious to see what would happen, sure there was no way this would end well yet knowing there must be a way or what would be the point of these 300+ pages.

I loved Everbound. I was sucked into the story, surprised more than once by twists I didn’t see coming. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I’m glad to be part of the Everbound ARC tour, but now I’ve put myself in a torturous situation. Reading Everbound almost four months before it’s released to the public means that I have to wait that much longer, in suspense, for book three. Why do I do this to myself?

Well done, Brodi. P.S.- Type faster.

Content

Language- some swearing (no f-bombs)

Sexual- kissing, nothing graphic; no sex

Violence- some fighting; a few events that were a little disturbing but I didn’t find them excessively graphic

Drug Use- no illicit drug use; we learn one character had been drinking prior to the scene

Find Everbound:

GOODREADS | AMAZON (Pre-order) | KINDLE (Pre-order)

 

 

 

 

 

Paint Me True by E.M. Tippetts

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Nov 052012
 

Paint Me True

Author: E.M. Tippetts

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services/CreateSpace

Published Date: November 2011

Kindle/Paperback; 300 pages

ISBN# 978-1468002515

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Reviewed by: Shanda

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

Summary

Eliza Dunmar is about to turn thirty-one and fears her best days are behind her. Soon she’ll be too old to attend church in a singles ward, her career as a painter is no longer considered cool, and she feels too old to use the excuse that she’s “just starting out” to explain why she still can’t pay the bills. The only man interested in her is a scruffy, video game addicted nerd who is the first to admit that they are all wrong for each other.

When her beloved Aunt Nora calls from England and begs her to visit, Eliza leaps at the chance. Even better? Nora had the perfect romance with her late husband and is eager to share the tale. As Eliza sets out to immortalize this courtship in a series of paintings, she learns a lesson that will change her outlook on life and love forevermore.

First Line

“Six months isn’t a long relationship for normal people, but Len and I weren’t normal people.”

Review

Paint Me True is a story of people and situations that are not what they first seem. Not in a suspenseful, mysterious way, but in a perspective-changing, now-I-see-the-whole-picture kind of way.

Despite her reservations and intentions otherwise, Eliza somehow remains in relationship with her best friend’s nerdy, scruffy, video game-loving cousin Len for six months. The story opens as they arrive at a very nice steakhouse on a big date. Eliza expects to be turning down a marriage proposal and is instead dumped by Len.

Eliza is a talented religious artist who has watched all of her female family members but one waste away and lose their battles with cancer. She has a special relationship with her Aunt Nora, and doesn’t hesitate to hop on a plane to England when her aunt needs her help to recover from a fall, especially after the disastrous break-up date she had just experienced.

In England, Eliza meets handsome nurse Colin. They hit it off and start dating. During her stay with Aunt Nora, she agrees to paint several memories her aunt has with her deceased husband that are not recorded by photographs. Through her interactions with her late uncle’s family and some unexpected discoveries, Eliza learns that things are not always what they appear to be.

What I enjoyed most was experiencing Eliza and Len’s relationship through flashbacks as she painted. I was pleasantly surprised as I got to know Len better through her memories. He was still annoying in some ways, and I didn’t care for the video-game obsession, but I soon realized first impressions are often wrong.

I’m not going to give away any more of the story, but I will say that Eliza suffers heartbreak more than once and things are not easy for her. She has a lot to make up for and pays the price for her selfishness. She needed a wake-up call and she got it.

While Paint Me True started a bit slow for me, by the end I was involved in the story and stayed up after my family went to bed to find out how things would turn out for Eliza. I liked the ending and think that those who enjoy clean, LDS romance will like it, too.

Find Paint Me True: 

GOODREADS | AMAZON | KINDLE

 

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