Diary of An Angel by Michael Farnsworth-Review

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jul 172014
 

 

 

Product Details

 

  • Title: Diary of an Angel
  •  Author: Michael M. Farnsworth
  • Paperback: 162 pages
  • Publisher: Martindale Press (October 9, 2013)
  • Genre: Fiction
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0615866018
  • FTC, FYI: I received a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:
Forenica has never guarded anyone before, let alone been responsible for a soul. All that changes when she joins the ranks of heaven’s angels as a Junior Guardian. Her first assignment seems simple enough; her charge, Angela Higgins, seems too perfect to have any real struggles. She could scarcely have been more mistaken. Forenica learns quickly that helping Angela make it back to heaven is no trivial undertaking. Soon after Forenica’s assignment, Angela’s family suffers an unexpected crisis, which threatens to destroy her marriage and to snuff out her faith. As the situation grows more desperate, Angela also struggles to hold on to her wayward teenage daughter. Feeling powerless to help, Forenica seeks for answers to Angela’s problems in the annals of heaven. There Forenica uncovers secrets that will change both their lives forever. But in the end an unexpected angel will provide Angela the miracle she needs.

My Review:
Let me start my review by saying, I do believe in angels. Before I ever read this book I’ve felt that angels live among us and help us day by day. So reading this story about Guardians Angels was a true pleasure. The author portrays Heaven exactly as I hope it will be. I loved the idea of people that have passed on being assigned as guardian angels. The story is about one such soul, Forenica, who is not assigned a baby like usual, but is instead assigned a grown woman, Angela, with many troubles in her life. Forenica’s assignment is to help her through the struggles of life and to return safely to Heaven one day. 

This story is so touching and heartfelt. It also has a level of angst and suspense as the reader wonders if Forenica will truly be able to help Angela with her problems. There are some sticky moments where Satan’s army looks like it will win.The thing that I’ll remember most about this book, is that we can receive help from Heaven. We are not struggling here by ourselves. There were so many moments in this book that brought me to tears. You will be drawn to the wonderfully written characters, the angels and the humans on Earth. This sweet story is one that you will want to share with those who need a “pick-me-up” from the drudgery of life. Whatever religion you participate in, if you believe in God and angels, this book will be an inspiring read for you.
  

Author Q&A

 

Where did you come up with the idea for Diary of an Angel?

I think the idea really began to take shape (ironically) during a re-read of The Screwtape Letters. As I considered the opposite side of that story—heaven’s fight for souls—the whole idea of guardian angels came alive. And the more I thought and pondered on it, the more I felt there was a story that needed to be told. Sadly, C.S. Lewis never tackled that story. So, readers have to settle for mine.

 

 

Do you really believe angels are so involved in our lives?

God’s miracles and dealings in our lives are for all who have the eyes to see them. Those who honestly and humbly look for God’s blessings, will see them—more and more. That has been true in my own life. And no more so than when I was writing this story. The real message here is that heaven is involved in the nitty-gritty details of our lives. Whether that involvement comes from actual guardian angels, God’s spirit, the scriptures, a sunrise, a baby’s laugh, or some angelic earthy friend, it doesn’t matter. Because the end-goal is the same.

Do you think heaven is really like you depict in your story?

Yes and no. Yes, because God would surely pattern our world after his own. If you were to build a house for your children, you’d probably build one like your own, wouldn’t you? And No, because I have no doubt that the beauty of heaven will supersede anything that anyone could possibly fathom in mortality. In that regard, I’m not worried about a reader of my book ever approaching me in heaven to tell me I got my depiction of heaven all wrong. Because the real thing will be infinitely better than my vision; no one will care that I got it wrong. The important thing for me is that readers feel heaven as they read. That feeling if far more important that the visual picture painted in the reader’s mind. I obviously took some creative liberties in my depiction. I did this mainly for me, to help me show a fun and interesting heaven—not a puffy white cloud of boredom. Heaven is not boring, I’m confident of that.

 

 

Where did the name Forenica come from?

When I first began planning the story, I believed the name had originated from my head. But I’ve been told that it’s actually a real name–a surname, to be precise. I haven’t bothered to research into this myself. The name came to me some time before I even conceived any story involving angels. At that time I intended to use the name in a different story. But, I wrote Diary of an Angel first. The name was handy and I liked it, so I decided to use it for my protagonist. Generally speaking, it’s not advisable to use unusual names. They can distract the reader from the story. In the case of Forenica, I like to think that the name fits well for the character. My hope is that most readers will form their own image of Forenica’s appearance, without being influenced by the Sarah’s, Emma’s, or Jane’s they happen to know. (All three excellent names, by the way.)

 

 

Will we see Forenica again?

I hope so. For me, a story has to kind of incessantly ask me to write it. If it doesn’t, my heart won’t be in the story. And that would just not do. I do have a few ideas swimming around in my head, though. Not necessarily involving Forenica, but heaven and her angels. It may be some time, though. So, I plead for patience from my kind readers.

Meet Author Michael M. Farnsworth:


Michael M. Farnsworth holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Texas A&M University. A degree that comes in handy if you’re a software engineer, which he is, but not so much if you’re a writer. As a native Texan, he should know lots about riding horses and herding cattle–but he doesn’t. He does, however, know a good deal about wrangling small children. He has four of them. When he’s not wrangling children, writing code or writing books, he’s probably building something. He lives with his wife and children in Seattle, WA.

To learn more about Michael and his work find him at Twitter,  Facebook,  and at his Website. 

****His new book Haladras was just released this month! It looks REALLY good!! *****

 

 

 

 

A desert planet. A dangerous secret.

 

 

 When Skylar’s enigmatic uncle warns him to stay away from the mysterious winged insects that have been sighted on other planets, he thinks little of it; no one has seen the insects on their own planet of Haladras. His uncle knows more than he’s telling, though. The creatures are not insects, but machines. And they’re hunting for Skylar. Only after Skylar narrowly escapes capture and flees Haladras with his uncle does he learn the whole truth. What his uncle reveals will shatter Skylar’s world and thrust him into a conflict that will force him to become more than a mere boy of fifteen. 

Go check it out on Amazon.com. or visit www.haladras.com

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.

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

Paranoia by J.R. Johansson Will Soon Be Out! New Interview and Giveaway-Enter Today!

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews, Special Features
Jun 062014
 

With Every Night of Blissful Sleep Darkness Grows Inside Him.

 

 

Product Details

 

  • Title: Paranoia (Book 2 The Night Walkers Series)
  • Author: J.R. Johansson
  • Age Range: 12 and up
  • Series: The Night Walkers (Book 2)
  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Flux (June 8, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0738740187
  •  FTC: FYI  Received a review e-copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

 

Book Description from Goodreads:
In the aftermath of the events that nearly killed him, Parker Chipp is trying to learn to cope better with life as a Watcher. And it seems to be working…until he wakes up in jail with a hangover and 12 hours of missing time. Darkness has somehow taken control and Parker doesn’t have a clue how to stop him. He finds an unlikely ally in Jack, the mysterious guy in the motorcycle jacket who offers to help Parker master his abilities as a Watcher. But even as they practice, the darkness inside Parker is getting more and more powerful, taking over Parker’s body and doing everything he can to destroy Parker’s life.

When Jack reveals that there is another kind of Night Walker, known as a Taker, Parker starts to wonder if the strange things happening in Oakville are more than just a coincidence. After all, people are more than just sleepwalking. They’re emptying their savings accounts with no memory of doing so, wandering into strange parts of town and disappearing, they’re even killing other people–all in their sleep. If Parker wants to find out what’s happening or have any hope of seeing his father again, he’ll have to defy Jack and put his own life in danger…because the more he learns about these other Night Walkers, the more certain he becomes that his life isn’t the only one that could be lost.

 

I reviewed this book in March and loved it! Here is my review:

It was so exciting to get the chance to read Paranoia early before it’s release. Insomnia was one of my favorite reads last year. I was completely taken in to the world of the Night Walkers. Parker’s journey in Paranoia is just as crazy and intense as it was Insomnia. You will find that there is no “2nd book in the series” let down here. There is more creepiness and wild happenings as Darkness takes over Parker’s life. There are more shocking twists and turns as readers learn more about the world of The Night Walkers and their enemies. In Paranoia we also get to know more about Finn, Addie, Mia and surprisingly enough, Parker’s father. Every character in this story is so well developed that it’s hard to pick a favorite. I do have to say that I was intrigued by the character Jack. I was THRILLED to see what the author is doing with this character.


If you are a fan of Insomnia (Book one in the series) I can assure you that you’ll not be disappointed in Paranoia. In fact, you may be liking this second book even better!

 

Here is the fantastic interview with J.R. Johansson:

 

-How did you come up with the title of Paranoia? 

I’m not even sure, to be honest. I think I just started thinking of names that fit well with Insomnia and it fit perfectly and it was done. I’m not even sure if there was a discussion about it. I think everyone just said, “Yep, that’s it.” And it was over. 

 

-Have you been surprised at the success of this series? Why?

I’ve been very happily surprised by how well the Night Walkers Series has done. Everything about this series has caught me off guard–from the fact that it sold overseas first to the fact that it was the bestselling title for my publisher last year–so I shouldn’t let it surprise me anymore, but somehow it still does. I’ve been very lucky and I am thrilled it has found such devoted readers. 

 

-What’s the hardest part about writing a character like Parker?

The hardest part would have to be making him walk that line between right and wrong, and yet striving to still keep him like-able. It’s also one of the things that makes him so fun to write. I really enjoy writing Parker and Darkness. It’s been a true challenge and I’ve loved it. He does things that main characters generally can’t get away with, that kind of freedom was very liberating. He truly wants to be good, he just doesn’t always achieve it. Too many characters are perfect. I don’t want perfection, I love flaws. They’re very humanizing.

 

-What are you most excited about your next book coming out?

SO MANY THINGS! I love CUT ME FREE. It’s that book that I really poured so much of my heart into and I can’t wait for it to be out in the world…but I’m also terrified for it to come out. It’s a very mixed-up kind of anticipation that I’m feeling, but it’s coming whether I’m ready or not. :) Guess I better get ready.

 

-What is the best part about being a writer?

There are so many great things…I think my favorite part is seeing how words and worlds that I create have an ability to make people feel things. Sometimes it’s fear, sometimes it’s anticipation and excitement. Either way, something I made up in my head created real emotion in another person and that’s a very special and unique thing. I love being a part of that kind of creation.

 

 

Meet Author J.R. JOHANSSON…is a young adult thriller author. Her books INSOMNIA, PARANOIA (June 2014), and a third untitled book (June 2015) are with Flux Books. CUT ME FREE (Winter 2015) and another untitled book (Winter 2016) will be coming out with FSG/Macmillan.  She has a B.S. degree in public relations and a background in marketing. She credits her abnormal psychology minor with inspiring many of her characters. When she’s not writing, she loves reading, playing board games, and sitting in her hot tub. Her dream is that someday she can do all three at the same time. She has two young sons and a wonderful husband. In fact, other than her cat, Cleo, she’s nearly drowning in testosterone.

 

Jenn’s Links –

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JennJohansson

Blog: http://www.jennjohansson.blogspot.com/

Site: http://www.jrjohansson.com

Tumblr: http://jrjohansson.tumblr.com/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJRJohansson

J.R. Johansson on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5100095.J_R_Johansson

PARANOIA on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12260608-insomnia

 

 

Pre-order Links –Order Your Copy Today!

The Book Depository – http://www.bookdepository.com/Paranoia-Johansson/9780738740188

Indiebound – http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780738740188

Books A Million – http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Paranoia/J-R-Johansson/9780738740188?id=5529587671279

Barnes & Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paranoia-j-r-johansson/1117011365?ean=9780738740188

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Paranoia-The-Night-Walkers-Johansson/dp/0738740187

 

****You now get to enter this unbelievable giveaway that Jenn has made available to all of you! 10 books to 10 winners(either INSOMNIA or PARANOIA, winner’s choice)****

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The Hitler Dilemma: A Mormon Boy in the German Army by Carolyn Twede Frank-Blog Tour Review

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jun 052014
 

 

 

 

 

Product Details

  • Title: The Hitler Dilemma: A Mormon Boy in the German Army
  • Author: Carolyn Twede Frank
  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc. (May 5, 2014)
  • Genre: A novel based on true events
  • ISBN-10: 1621081613
  • FTC, FYI: I received a review PDF in exchange for an honest review.

 

Book Description:

“We’re Nazis, Max. Everybody in Germany is Nazi—if they want to be safe.” Papa pulled up a chair and sat down, crumpling the newspaper in his hand. “We don’t have to think like them, son, but we’ve got to act like them—at least on the outside. Try to remember that. Okay?” 

Saarbrücken, Germany—1938 Change is in the air in Max Adams’ small village: The censorship of classic literature, the elimination of math and science courses, the addition of extra physical education classes. Along with thousands of other young men, he is forced into the Hitler Youth and is being groomed to become the next generation of Nazi soldiers. But as a faithful Latter-day Saint, how can Max serve the villain who destroyed his younger brother in his effort to create a Master Race—a man who is bent on tearing apart not only a single nation, but also the entire world? 

From the horrors of battle and the sorrow of separation from family to the privations of a prisoner of war, Carolyn Twede Frank’s groundbreaking novel The Hitler Dilemma is a poignant chronicle of one remarkable young man’s struggle to reconcile his sense of duty with his staunch opposition to the evil tyrant destroying the country he loves.

 

 

 

Max Adam, the main character in The Hitler Dilemma:A Mormon Boy in the German Army

My Review:
 This novel is based on the life of Max Adam, a German, Latter-Day-Saint boy. It tells the story of WWII (World War 2) from the view of a teen living in Germany during this great war. I’ve read many stories of WWII from the American soldier or the Jewish survivor perspective. There are very few that I’ve read from the German viewpoint, and especially one of a teen that didn’t support Hitler. The story is told in such a moving way that you feel such sorrow and angst for Max and his family. His own precious, younger brother was a casualty of the war. This family had to do whatever it took to survive. It was hard to openly fight against the Nazis and stay alive. I agonized along with Max as he was forced to join the Hitler Youth group, and then was sent away from home for a year to work on a farm for the government. Then to have to serve on the battlefront and end up a prisoner of war really makes this novel heart-wrenching. 

 Knowing from the start that this novel was based on true events made me look at everything differently. Author Carolyn Twede Frank heard about Max Adam from his daughter-in-law. Once hearing about him and his life, she knew she had to write a story about him and the struggles he lived through.

This book will give tweens and teens (and adults) a great look at the other side of life during WWII. It will strongly show that not all Germans supported Adolf Hitler and what he was doing to the Jews and those who did not perfectly fit into his Master Race.I know that any reader will go away with a new sense of being less judgmental until you’ve heard the other side. It should also make people more thankful for the blessings and freedoms that we have in our country.

 I read and reviewed Carolyn’s other books, Promises, and The Big Debate and I really liked them. This new book shows how she has continually grown in her writing.The Hitler Dilemma is a crowning jewel for Carolyn!

******Purchase The Hitler Dilemma  HERE:

 

Meet Author Carolyn Twede Frank:
Carolyn grew up in Utah and went to school at USU. She always wanted to write, but dropped it when a teacher tore her down to the point that she gave it up. She instead majored in Biology and started her own company. Now that she has raised her family and has been successful in her business, she has rediscovered her love for writing and writes YA/Middle grade historical fiction and speculative fiction.  
 Visit her at her website.

The Hitler Dilemma Blog Tour Stops
May 24th. www.franklycreative.blogspot.com
May 25th: annadelc.com/blog
May 26th  http://www.fayklingler.com/
May 27th: lindzeearmstrong.blogspot.com
May 28th: sueysbooks.blogspot.com
May 29th: themusingsofabookaddict.com
May 30th: ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com
May 31sth: http://www.tarynataylor.com/
June 1st: Julielcasey.com/blog
June 2nd: renaewritespot.blogspot.com
June 3rd: thewriteblocks.blogspot.com
June 4th: maryanndennis.blogspot.com
June 5th: whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com
June 6th: donnakweaver.com
June 7th: lisaswinton.blogspot.com

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