Hang ’em High by Tristi Pinkston – Combined Review – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Combined Reviews, Special Features
Sep 272011
 

Hang ’em High (Secret Sisters #3)

Author: Tristi Pinkston

Publisher: Walnut Springs Press

Published: July 2011

Softcover; 258 pages

Genre: Mystery-Suspense

ISBN# 978-1-59992-800-5

Reviewed by: Shanda, Sheila & Mindy

FTC FYI: free review copy for honest review except for Mindy who purchased hers :)

***Tristi’s giving away a free manuscript evaluation! Read on for details.***

Shanda’s Review

In Hang ’em High, we meet Keith, Ida Mae’s long-time estranged son. Keith invites Ida Mae up to visit his dude ranch in Montana in the middle of winter and welcomes Arlette and Tansy as well. When Keith’s prize stud is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Ida Mae convinces her son to let her do some investigating.

The Secret Sisters are soon joined by Eden, Kevin and Ida Mae’s beau, George. What follows is an entertaining tale layered with hilarious adventure, mystery, rebuilding family connections, and a hint of romance.

While I knew I would like the Secret Sisters series, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I do. I’m surprised at how much I’ve come to care about and appreciate these three older ladies, their quirky personalities and crazy antics. I know that when I sit down to read a Secret Sisters mystery, I am guaranteed an entertaining story, intriguing mystery, and a good laugh or two.

I give Hang ’em High 4 stars out of 5 for helping me see that you’re never too old to learn and change, for making me smile, and for leaving me excited for the next book in the series.

Mindy’s Review

Hang ’em High had me smiling and laughing from the start, and for that I knew I was going to love this book. Ida Mae and her grown kids are estranged, have been for years. Arlette secretly wrote to Keith and Kim to tell them about Ida Mae’s accidents (see Dearly Departed). Keith was the only one that responded; he was thrilled and invited Ida Mae to his dude ranch for a visit. Ida Mae couldn’t be happier, there has been some unresolved issues with her kids and she was glad that she could try to clear the air with one of them. Ida Mae gets her courage and calls Keith to see if the offer was still there for her to come see him in Montana. At a shopping spree in Walmart, Ida Mae invites Tansy and Arlette to come along too. They make it to Montana just in time to beat the big snow storm knocking at the door, and just in time for a mystery involving some breeding horses at the ranch.

I loved this book. Every page had something witty and funny. Tristi’s writing is so consistent, and her characters are so full of heart and humor. Ida Mae is my favorite, but I love how all the characters are written in their own unique and special way. I won’t give away too much, but my favorite part is when the ladies are trying to break in a window. Laugh out loud funny.

4 stars out of 5. Hang ’em High is a fast paced, quick read. Very funny. I finished fast and it left me hungry for the next one. Luckily I don’t have to wait long. Targets in Ties comes out in January of next year!

Sheila’s Review can be found her personal blog: Why Not? Because I Said So!

Hang ’em High is available for purchase from Deseret Book and Amazon.

Visit Tristi’s website: http://www.tristipinkston.com and blog: http://www.tristipinkston.blogspot.com

Contest Info!

To celebrate the release of Tristi’s eighth book, she’s holding a contest! If you leave a comment on this review, you will be entered into a drawing for a free manuscript evaluation, done by Tristi Pinkston Editing http://www.tristipinkstonediting.blogspot.com. In fact, you can leave comments on all the blogs participating in this virtual book tour! Go to Tristi Pinkston’s blog at http://www.tristipinkston.blogspot.com for a list. The deadline is October 5th at midnight MST. If you win and you’re not a writer, you can give this evaluation to a friend.

Have you read any of the Secret Sisters Mysteries yet? If so, do you have a favorite character?

Seers by Heather Frost — Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Sep 212011
 

Seers

Heather Frost

Publisher: Cedar Fort

To Be Published: October 2011

Hardcover: 330 pages

ISBN13: 9781599557922

FTC FYI: I received a free copy from publisher/Netgallery

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads summary: “For Kate Bennet, surviving the car wreck that killed her parents means big changes and even bigger problems. As she begins to see auras and invisible people, Kate must learn to trust Patrick O’Donnell, a handsome Guardian, or risk her life being overrun with Demons. She soon realizes that both she and her heart are in big-time trouble.”

I was really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Seers.  For those of you that read my reviews, I really enjoy a great YA fantasy, this book definitely fits that category.

Kate is just getting back to school after a devastating car wreck.  She is having a hard time getting back to normal.  Her boyfriend, Aaron, tries to do all he can.  But she just doesn’t feel normal.  The only person she can really talk to is her best friend Lee.  Kate has told her that since the accident she has become psychic, and can see people’s auras.  Every day Kate picks up Lee to go to school, after they drop off Kate’s twin sisters.  Every day is the same until Kate suddenly slams on the brakes, and almost hits a young hispanic kid.  There is something off about him, he has a slight silver aura, and most importantly, Lee doesn’t see him.  Great, now she is seeing ghosts.   At school, a new student arrives.  Patrick O’Donnell, but he has a silver aura too.  What does this mean for Kate and her new ability?  She can’t help wondering if she is in danger…

I thought this book was great, and well written.  This is the author’s first book, and I was very impressed.  Find out more about Heather here.  The characters were well written, and enjoyable.  My favorites were Toni and Kate’s Grandpa Henry.  Toni had some really funny things to say, and at times I even laughed out loud.  Grandpa even has some surprises of his own.  Kate too is a great character.  As she gets to know Patrick, she is torn between her feelings for him and Aaron.  It was hard for me as well, because Aaron is a great guy too.  Sometimes in books, the current boyfriend is a jerk.  This time he wasn’t, resulting in a tough choice for Kate.  I was happy with the end result though.

4 stars out of 5.  I am excited for book 2!

I would like to thank the author of Seers, Heather Frost, for doing a quick interview with me:

How long did it take to write ‘Seers’?

The first draft was completed in the space of two weeks: seven days spent researching, another seven to crank out 300 pages. It was an awesome writing experience.

I really enjoyed your book, how many are in the series?

There will be three in the Seers series. I’m planning for the second book, “Demons”, to come out sometime next year.

What was your inspiration with seers and guardian angels?

I love creating puzzles to solve in my writing, and before I’d even thought about writing Seers I wondered about immortal people, and how I could write a unique take on YA immortality. (i.e. no vampires, werewolves, etc.) I mulled the dilemma over, and eventually got the inspiration for Guardians and Demons. But then, I needed a way to introduce them in the story, and I developed the idea of Seers. That way I could pull in the reader while I was pulling my protagonist (Kate) into the fray as well. And it’s really as anticlimactic as that.

I loved Toni, will he be around a lot in the next book?

Toni is one of my favorites as well. :) I’m always trying to stick him in more places, just because I never quite know what outrageous thing he’ll say or do next! I’m happy to report that he’ll get a bit more attention in the next book, and he’s going to have some killer lines for us.

Do u have any Irish relatives?

Not that I’m aware of. My family is more English and Dutch. But I love Ireland all the same, and Irish accents . . . Don’t even get me started!

Did you ever think because of your age, it would of been harder to be published?

Certainly. The publishing world is very competitive, and intimidating enough without adding the fact that I’m younger than most authors. I was worried that my youth would be a red flag that screamed: inexperienced! Luckily, I’ve been extremely blessed, and my hard work has paid off.

Click on these links for more blog tour information.

Seers Book Cedar Fort Books Follow Cedar Fort on Facebook


Bloodborne by Gregg Luke – Combined Review – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Combined Reviews, Special Features
Sep 072011
 

Bloodborne

Author: Gregg Luke

Publisher: Covenant

Published Date: August 2011

Softcover; 325 pages

Genre: Mystery-Suspense

ISBN# 978-1-60861-366-3

Reviewed by: Shanda, Sheila & Mindy

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

Shanda’s Review

Bloodborne has everything that makes a suspense novel great. The threat is terrifyingly believable. The protagonists are imperfect and relatable. Close calls and unknown elements keep the reader turning pages. There is the black and white of right and wrong along with plenty of gray in between.

While the story is told mainly from Erin and Sean’s viewpoints, the reader experiences a significant amount through the villains’ points-of-view as well. The story carries smoothly between each character. I love that the reader gets to know one of the nicest characters in the book through the eyes of the main bad guy, who isn’t quite as unfeeling as one might expect.

Because suspense novels are very plot-based, I was not expecting the depth with which Gregg wrote Erin and Sean. Don’t get me wrong, Gregg is great at writing 3-dimensional, believable characters (if you’ve read Blink of an Eye, you know what I’m talking about). Bloodborne went well beyond my expectations, not just with characterization, but with the interaction between the two main characters as well. Erin and Sean’s relationship (don’t assume I mean romance here) is multi-faceted and complex.

I give Bloodborne 5 stars. I’m headed straight over to the Whitney Award website to nominate it for the Mystery-Suspense category. Well done, Gregg!

Sheila’s Review

My first thought after reading Gregg Luke’s Bloodborne was, “Move over Dan Brown, Gregg Luke is in the house!!” Gregg has written a novel that plays out like a movie in your head. At times I forgot I was reading a book. The action is great, the suspense is high and the characters keep you wondering who they really are and how they fit into the big picture.

The many storylines in the book seem at first to be disconnected, but soon you can see how all of the pieces start fitting together. The other amazing thing is that the whole story takes place over a period of only four days. There is A LOT that happens in those four days.

Some of the things that intrigued me in Bloodborne were the research done by Dr. Erin Cross, the main female character, the bad guys being members of the Order of Benjamin’s Blood with a Grand Illuminate at the head, and the strange background of the hero, former special ops agent Sean Flannery. Mosquitoes also play a huge part in this story (They also got front cover status!) I didn’t like these insects before and I hate them even more now. My skin kept itching every time I read about Jacob, the “Mad Scientist” breeding his deadly bio-weapon bugs.

I have read most of Gregg’s books and I feel that this book is his best!! He was on fire when he wrote Bloodborne. The storyline is so compelling that you cannot put this book down. I know that you hear this often from reviewers, but it is 100% true when you read Bloodborne. I stayed up late so I could finish this book. I really wanted it to continue and not end. I am wondering if Gregg could get more from this storyline and these characters. I am always impressed with the extensive research Gregg does for his novels. This book is no exception. You can tell he spent a lot of time gathering information.

Nice job, Gregg!! I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads.

Mindy’s Review

I was very excited to read this book after talking with Gregg about it at Storymakers. Right away, I was drawn in by the cover. Unfortunately, mosquitos love me. With my red hair and fair skin, I am always the first to get bit. I was very excited to see where this book would take me.

Bloodborne grabbed my attention from the first page. Dr. Erin Cross is at a deli when she receives a threatening text message telling her she is about to die. She looks around the deli wondering if someone there was playing a sick joke. Erin views the number and it is all zero’s, untraceable. Then, another one comes through, and another. She looks around and sees a middle aged, good looking guy, texting. Erin runs over and immediately accuses him of being the guilty sender. At that same moment, a man runs in the deli, guns drawn and shoots up the place. When confronted by Sean, the texter, he pulls out a knife, says some Latin phrases and stabs himself in the neck. Why does someone want to kill her? Eric is a scientist. Recently, she had a disastrous H1N1 trial, so she has been trying lie low since then. Could this have something to do with that?

See what I mean by “grabbed my attention?” I love Gregg’s writing style, and I really love his shorter chapters. They have a sneaky way of making me read just one more chapter. Before I know it, it’s midnight and I have finished a lot more then just one more chapter.

Bloodborne blew me away. I loved it. I read most of it with my mouth wide open. 4 1/2 stars out of 5. Excellent job, Gregg!

All Diets Work by Jen Brewer, RD – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews, Special Features
Aug 222011
 

All Diets Work, That’s the Problem

Author: Jen Brewer, RD

Published Date: 2011

Publisher: Petersen Press

Softcover; 132 pages

Genre: Non-Fiction

ISBN# 978-0-9835140-7-7

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free review copy in exchange for honest review

First Things First

I really like this cover. I’m not sure if you can see it, but the words are photos of different food textures. The clean white space, colorful words and directly-stated title worked to catch my attention. So did the subtitle:

25 tools to help you stop dieting and start losing weight for good.

As someone who has struggled with weight issues most of my life and health issues more recently, I was very interested in what the author had to say. Over the years, I have come to several realizations about dieting and fitness in relation to myself and I was grateful to find that the information in All Diets Work validated several of these things. It also helped me see the areas I still need to work on.

The Format

All Diets Work is divided into five sections: The Diet Dilemma, Principles, Tools, and What’s in Your Toolbox, followed by an Appendix full of good information about nutrition as well as printable forms to help the reader on their health journey. The entire basis of the book is that “the best weight-loss solution for you is the one you build yourself” and “if you can find an eating program that you can maintain indefinitely, you can manage your weight effectively — for the rest of your life.”

This books serves as support and encouragement for the reader’s efforts. Not only is it a quick read at only 130+ pages, it is to the point — a definite plus for those with limited time. Jen focuses on tried-and-true principles of success, then proceeds to offer several tools that the reader can pick and choose from to set their own personal goals. I found the Appendix to be educational and useful. I will be using several of the forms as I move forward.

Those who like to read about others and their weight-loss successes using a variety of methods will enjoy the seven stories included in All Diets Work. The only endorsement here is for the find-what-works-for-you-and-do-it method.

Summary

I found All Diets Work to be a refreshing change from other health and fitness reading I have done. My copy has several underlined sections and a number of sticky notes peeking out to mark useful charts and information. I give it 4 out of 5 stars for being to the point as well as offering encouragement and focusing on the principles of successful weight loss.

More Info

Learn more about All Diets Work on the website All-Diets-Work.com.

All Diets Work is available for purchase in paperback and Kindle editions from Amazon.

You can read more reviews of All Diets Work by following the blog tour schedule below:

August 22nd: Shanda Cottam   http://www.ldswbr.com

August 24th: Sabine Berlin   http://www.writinginberlin.blogspot.com/

August 25th: Heidi Durant   http://ldwmagazine.com/

August 26th: Cheri Crane   http://crane-ium.blogspot.com/

August 29th: Michelle Jeffries   http://cmichellejefferies.blogspot.com/

August 30th: Karen Clark   http://overbackyardfence.blogspot.com/

August 31st: Alan Barnes   http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com

September 1st: Deanne Blackhurst    http://www.deanneblackhurst.blogspot.com

September 6th: Debbie Davis    http://debbiesinkspectations.blogspot.com/

September 9th: Maria Hoagland   mariahoagland.blogspot.com

September 12th: Shanna Blythe    http://www.writing4me2.blogspot.com/

September 16th: Rebecca Blevins    http://www.rebeccablevinswrites.blogspot.com/

Watched by Cindy Hogan – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews, Special Features
Jul 202011
 
Today is the last day to comment on
The 2011 Book Blogger’s Cookbook post to enter to win a Kindle!

***

Watched

Author: Cindy M. Hogan

Published: CreateSpace

Published Date: April 2011

Softcover & Kindle: 348 pages

Genre: YA Suspense

ISBN# 978-1453899151

FTC FYI: Free ARC from the author that did not affect my review

From the back cover:

It takes more than a school trip to Washingotn, D.C. to change fifteen-year-old Christy’s life. It takes murder.

A witness to the brutal slaying of a Senator’s aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot boys.

She discovers that if she can’t help the FBI, who want to protect her, it will cost her and her new friends their lives.

I started reading Watched a few hours before bedtime. I made it through the first few chapters before deciding to continue in the morning because I wanted to be able to sleep without nightmares. Cindy opens Watched with a group of teens in front of a creepy hotel. It’s late night in Washington, D.C., and they are wandering unsupervised around the city after sneaking out of their hotel.

“I plastered a smile on my face, trying in vain to stop the shiver that traveled with slow determination up my spine.” (Watched, page 1, first line.)

Watched is told from the point-of-view of Christy, an inexperienced and insecure 15-year-old whose parents sent her off with a “see you in two weeks” and not much else. Not very popular in her high school, Christy is determined to be accepted by her tour’s mini-group of older and richer teens. She finds it more difficult than she expected to leave behind her “brainy” and “goody-goody” tendencies that she is convinced caused her to be so unpopular back home.

After witnessing a brutal murder, the group is forced to decide what they should do about it. They know they are dealing with professional and scary people who wouldn’t hesitate to hurt them or their families. The experience binds them together despite their decision not to talk about it after discovering a clever way to contact the FBI. The group continues on as normally as possible despite Christy’s suspicion that they are being watched.

The suspense carried well throughout the story, with only a few teen-angst-y parts distracting from it. I read the book quickly and only felt pulled from the story a few times. The writing style and voice felt consistent for an older YA audience (15+) though there were a few rough spots that could have been polished for the final version (I was reading an uncorrected proof).

Watched, as a suspense-novel, is more plot-based, and Cindy did a good job on the storyline. I do find myself wishing for a little more depth in the secondary characters close to Christy, but that could be because I am a character-driven reader and often find myself wishing for mystery-suspense characters with a little more depth.

I was relieved to see that Watched is part of a series because I was left feeling like I wanted just a little bit more after finishing the book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I think Cindy Hogan has great potential and is definitely an author to watch.

Watched is available for Kindle and Nook (only $2.99) as well as in paperback at Amazon and Brigham Distributing.

Cindy is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card for commenting on her blog and telling her which blog sent you there. Don’t forget to follow Cindy’s blog while you’re there.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Age: 15+

Content:

  • Language: none that I can remember
  • Sexual: one boy pressures Christy to come to his room but she resists; kissing w/little description
  • Drugs & Alcohol: others drink around Christy at a club and she “pretends” at one point but does not drink
  • Violence: three specific incidences of violence including a beheading and people being shot

Follow the Watched blog tour:

July 18th

July 19th

July 20th

July 21st

July 22nd

All That Was Promised by Vickie Hall – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Jul 182011
 

All That was Promised

Author: Vickie Hall

Publisher: Bonneville Books

Published: 2011

Softcover: 231 pages

FTC FYI: I received a free copy from the publisher which did not affect my review.

“If there was one thing that made Leah Kenyon proud, it was her husband.  She stood dutifully beside him, her arm linked through his.  A polite smile crossed her oval face as members of his congregation departed the old Methodist church.” (page 1)

Richard and Leah Kenyon are happy in Cardiff.  Their beautiful homeland with its lush green valleys, and craggy mountains.  Richard is a Methodist minister.  His brother Robert also lives in town with his petty wife Abigail and daughter Amelia.  The family business is Kenyon & Sons, the local tea shop.  Robert is already bitter with Richard because he chose to leave the business to be a minister.  He doesn’t understand how anyone could devote their time that way.  One day, while Richard was walking to the store he sees a man on top of a shipping crate with a book in his hand.  Richard is intrigued.  He hears the man speaking about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and how two personages visited a young boy named Joseph Smith.  Richard feels a power coming from that man, and his message of the Prophet Joseph.  When the man is struck by a rock, Richard takes him home to help bandage the wound.  His name is Ben, and he is missionary from the Church of Jesus Christ, and Richard is very interested in what he has to say.  Ben stays for hours, Richard asks him back the next day, and by then is ready to be baptized.  Leah is skeptical.

There are many in the town who want nothing more then to get rid of the Mormons in town.  Many will stop at nothing, even killing.  Possibly Richard’s own family.  Many wonderful things happen to Richard on his journey of learning in the Mormon church.  One of my favorites was Richard’s wife, Leah.  She had doubts and truly took her time in deciding what she wanted to do with this new religion.  This book isn’t just about Richard and Leah.  Many townspeople are affected by the Mormons, and have very different reactions.

I was very impressed with this book, especially the writing.  This is Vickie Hall’s debut novel.  You can learn more about her here and here.

I would give this book 4 stars out 5.  The book was well written and characters well developed.  I did think it was a bit violent at times, but that did not change my opinion of the book.

Here is link to purchase All That was Promised.

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