Aug 072012
 

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

August 8 – 14

Hosted by I’m a Reader, Not a Writer and Reading Teen

 

LDS Women’s Book Review is participating in the Young Adult Giveaway Hop and giving you the chance to win your choice of one of the great young adult books by Utah authors below.

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Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.

He was wrong.

Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.

Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape–his only real hope for survival–may be impossible.

Read our review of VARIANT.

Dragons exist. They’re ferocious. And they’re smart: Before they were killed off by slayer-knights, they rendered a select group of eggs dormant, so their offspring would survive. Only a handful of people know about this, let alone believe it – these “Slayers” are descended from the original knights, and are now a diverse group of teens that includes Tori, a smart but spoiled senator’s daughter who didn’t sign up to save the world.

The dragon eggs have fallen into the wrong hands. The Slayers must work together to stop the eggs from hatching. They will fight; they will fall in love. But will they survive?

Read Shanda’s review of SLAYERS.

 

After bouncing from foster home to foster home, Magdalene Mae is transferred to what should be her last foster home in the tiny town of Silver City, New Mexico. Now that she’s eighteen and has only a year left in high school, she’s determined to stay out of trouble and just be normal.

Agreeing to go to the prom with Bridger O’Connell is a good first step. Fitting in has never been her strong suit, but it’s not for the reasons most people would expect-it all has to do with the deep secret that she is a shape shifter. But even in her new home danger lurks, waiting in the shadows to pounce. They are the Skinwalkers of Navajo legend, who have traded their souls to become the animal whose skin they wear-and Maggie is their next target.

Full of romance, mysticism, and intrigue, this dark take on Navajo legend will haunt readers to the final page.

Find SHIFTING on Goodreads.

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All you need to do to enter is fill out the form below to make it easier for me to find you if you win, and then leave a comment below telling me what book you would choose and why.

***Don’t forget to leave a comment below telling me what book you would choose and why, otherwise your entry is incomplete.***

It is not a requirement to follow LDSWBR, however, if you like good clean reads, consider following us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or subscribing by email at the top of the sidebar. Thanks!

After you enter, be sure to visit I’m a Reader, Not a Writer for a list of participating blogs where you can enter to win even more prizes. Good luck!

Aug 012012
 

Left to Love

Author: Jolene B. Perry

Publisher: Next Door Publishing

Published: June 8, 2012

ISBN13: 9781477548363

286 pages

FTY FYI: Review copy

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary: Leigh’s life is shaping up to be pretty perfect.

She married the father of a little boy she fell in love with. They live in a nice house, on a quiet street, and her hobby of a sewing business is keeping her busier than she ever imagined. She’s back in touch with her brother who she hasn’t seen since she was a child, and her new husband has an “in” for his dream job when he graduates in the spring.

But when her small symptoms begin to lead up to something big – she has to face the shattering realization that her cancer is back.

Leigh struggles with her new marriage, her faith, her desire to adopt the little boy who calls her mom, and the strength to keep fighting for her life.

My Review

I am a huge fan of Jolene’s and her stories.  When I asked to read and review The Next Door Boys last year, I instantly fell in love with the characters.  I was so excited to know that Jolene had written more for Leigh and Brian.

Leigh’s cancer is back, with a vengeance.  So much is different for Leigh this time around, especially her faith.  As Brian struggles to help her, and Leigh struggles with her own feelings of trying to adopt Brian’s sweet son Nathan, while his mom is in jail.  Leigh lets the cancer get the best of her, and finds herself questioning her faith. While dealing with her long absent brother Joseph, and why he left the family so many years before.

There were so many things I loved about this book.  My heart broke for Leigh, but also Brian as he wanted to help her so much, but didn’t know what to do for her.  Nathan was a ray of sunshine in the story, what a sweet kid he is.  I feel that Leigh learned a lot during her cancer treatment, most of it learned from a visit from an old friend.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars.  I cried a lot, but also smiled a lot.  Jolene is such a talented author, and I loved being a part of these amazing stories.

My Forever

Author: Jolene B. Perry

Publisher:

Expected Publish Date: August 3, 2012

ISBN:

178 pages

FTC FYI: Review copy

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary: A novel about finding your place in the world when nothing goes as planned…

Told from the POV of Dani (Danielle), a high school senior.

A companion novel to The Next Door Boys and Left to Love.

My Review

Dani is the daughter of a pastor.  She has a big family, and feels a little lost in all the chaos sometimes.  Right when we meet Dani, she finds out she’s pregnant.  She feels lost, but knows deep down that she shouldn’t be the one to raise the baby.  Not being able to turn to her family, she turns to a boy Michael who shared with her a couple years back that he was adopted.  Dani tells him she is pregnant, and he tells her about LDS Family Services.  Right away she feels that is the path for her.

I loved this book.  I think that it is my favorite from Jolene.  A lot a tragedy happens to Dani, but also a lot of good.  I loved her experiences, and how she learns to have the Holy Ghost be her guide.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

I have an exciting giveaway for you!  Jolene is generously donating her series in eBook, PDF form, to one lucky winner. 

The Next Door Boys, Left to Love, and My Forever.

I am also giving away the paperback copies on my review blog MinReadsandReviews.com if you would prefer that.  You can enter both places.

Please leave a comment below, and you’re entered.  Winner announced August 8th, 2012.

Read more about Jolene and her books on her blog.  Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE

Jul 252012
 

Shanda and Mindy interview Adam Glendon Sidwell, author of the new Middle Grade novel EVERTASTER, during his signing at The Chocolate Dessert Cafe (thechocolatedc.com). Visit the blog (ldswbr.com) to find out how you could win a copy of EVERTASTER. (Giveaway ends August 2, 2012). If you are reading this on the LDSWBR blog, see below for details. Music Attribution: Seeing The Future (Dexter Britain) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

[podcast]http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/shows/2012-07-20/ldswbr_season6_episode3_07-20-12.mp3[/podcast]

Mindy and I had a great time interviewing Adam Glendon Sidwell, author of EVERTASTER, a middle-grade novel about Guster and his quest for the ultimate taste. Adam and his brother, Jarom, are graphic artists who have worked on movies like The Avengers, Avatar and Tron. We hope you have as much fun listening to the podcast as we had recording it. Enjoy!

Watch the EVERTASTER book trailer below (click through to the blog to watch):

What would you eat first from that glorious food table?

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EVERTASTER GIVEAWAY

Enter to win a signed copy of EVERTASTER by listening to the podcast and answering the questions in the form below.

Jan 252012
 

If you haven’t entered to win a copy of Of Grace and Chocolate by Krista Lynne Jensen, what are you waiting for?

Of Grace and Chocolate is one of the best books I’ve read in the last few months. Don’t miss out on your chance to win an autographed copy!

Contest details can be found in this post, so click on over and enter right now.

Happy Reading!