In honor of the Sept. 27 release of SLAYERS by CJ Hill, Janette Rallison is giving away a book a day until it’s released. Visit http://cjhillbooks.blogspot.com/ for your chance to win!
Sep 182011
Sep 142011
Pumpkin Roll
Author: Josi Kilpack
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Published: September 7, 2011
Softcover: 374 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1-60908-745-6
FTC FYI: Purchased my own copy
Reviewed by Mindy
Sadie and Pete are in Jamaica Plain, a quant little suburb of Boston. Pete’s son Jared and wife Heather are out of state looking for new housing, while Sadie and Pete babysit their three boys. While in the kitchen discussing the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath, the boys are noticeably quiet. As they hustle to the living room, they see the boys looking out the window at the woman across the street. The oldest Kalan, tells Sadie that he has heard his mother call Mrs. Wapple a witch. She even has the wild hair and pointed hat. Sadie and Pete quickly dismiss the idea that she is witch, but agree to keep their eyes on her. Sadie and her curiosity lead to some ginger cookie deliveries around the neighborhood, of course one of the stops is to Mrs. Wapple’s. Knocking on the front door gets her no where, so Sadie goes to side of house, pokes around, and is startled by a pair of tennis shoes. The owner of the shoes is younger looking then the woman she saw last night, but she introduces herself as Delores Wapple. Sadie notices many differences between the women, but takes her at her word. Sadie also asks if she lives alone and she quietly answers that she does. After some more light conversation, Sadie takes her cue and leaves. More curious then ever.
When it comes to Sadie’s investigating, Pete has given some advice.
- Advice One is about misleading him
- Advice Two is about breaking the law
- Advice Three is about sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong, isn’t needed, or will create more problems then relief
Sadie really takes the advice to heart. Sadie’s son Shawn has been helping her keep up on her investigative work so she is able to come to Boston. He mentions that Jane Seeley could help with some of the load. Sadie dismisses the idea, she is still leery of Jane because of the article she wrote. (see BlackBerry Crumble) Jane calls Sadie a few times, which she ignores, but the calls keep coming, so she picks up. Jane is in New Haven working on a story and offers to help Sadie any way she can.
Sadie’s mind is still on Mrs. Wapple, and some strange occurrences start happening around the house at night. Maybe Delores really is a witch…
I loved this book. Every book in this series gets better and better. Pumpkin Roll is different, while the others have their tense moments, this had me downright nervous and spooked. Lots of creepy stuff happens to Sadie, and I could not stop reading.
5 stars out of 5. During the climax, I kept shaking my head saying, “No way this is happening.” I took the book to pick up my girls at school, and stayed in the car when we got home so I could finish.
Josi is a very talented writer. Along with the Sadie Hoffmiller series, she has written other books. Read more about Josi here. Purchase her books here and here.
Here is what you’ve been scrolling down to find. Leave a comment and enter to win an iPad 2!
In conjunction with the release of Pumpkin Roll the author, Josi S. Kilpack, and the publisher, Shadow Mountain, are sponsoring a contest for a new iPad. To enter, leave a comment in the comment section of this blog before November 1, 2011. Winners will be announced and notified November 3rd 2011.
For additional ways to enter, go to www.josiskilpack.com
Jun 062011
(dis) Abilities and the Gospel: How to Bring People with Special Needs Closer to Christ
Authors: Danyelle Ferguson and Lynn Parsons, M.S.
Published Date: May 2011
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Softcover: 255 pages
Genre: non-fiction
FTC FYI: I received a free review copy that in no way influenced the review that was given.
Book Blurb & Endorsements:
Each day, parents and church leaders struggle to teach individuals with special needs. Using helpful
information, real-life stories, and a touch of humor, (dis)Abilities and the Gospel provides ways for you to effectively teach people of all ages with Autism, Down syndrome,
bipolar disorder, memory loss, and other disabilities.
Inside this useful guide, you’ll find
• Guidance for building strong family relationships• Steps to teaching prayer and scripture study
• Practical and creative teaching tips• Programs to help with transitions, communication barriers, and behaviors
• Techniques to help others feel welcome and valued
Find the answers you need and overcome the challenges of teaching the gospel. (dis)Abilities and the Gospel will help you develop each person’s ability to learn and grow
as you build peace in your home or classroom.
(dis)Abilities and the Gospel is a resource that may be read, re
read, and used many times. . . . The authors have beautifully woven the frustrations
that so many people have experienced into an action-
living plan to help children with special needs.
—Lloyd Kinnison, PhD. Texas Woman’s University, Special Education
Department
This book is an unexpected and very welcome gift to the community of churches and their leaders. It addresses so many of the problems that children, young adults,
and adults with disabilities face in church activities.
—Brenda Winegar, Early Interventionist/Cofounder, Kids on the Move
I was Primary President for four years. During those years I had the opportunity to work with many children, many of those with special needs. There were children in our primary that were autistic and many with ADHD, including my own children. Being a teacher, I felt like I had a little bit of knowledge of how to help these children enjoy their experience at church. There wasn’t a lot of information available to help me and my counselors to know how to help these children at the time. So when I read the book, (dis) Abilities and the Gospel: How to Bring People with Special Needs Closer to Christ, I knew that this book was inspired. As I read the book, I was so excited to see how Danyelle and Lynn have provided so much information for those working with people that have special needs. The wonderful thing about this book is that even though it is written for people in the LDS church, the ideas will work for anyone of any religion.
Listed here are the section titles and a few of the chapter titles that go
with the sections:
GENERAL INFORMATION
-Gospel Views on Children with Special Needs
-Demystifying the Diagnosis
TEACHING STRATEGIES
-A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
-Power Card Strategies
PRIMARY
-Every Star is Different
-The Baptism Dilemma
-We’ll Be Loyal Scouts
YOUNG MEN & YOUNG WOMEN
-Teaching Youth with a Broader Gap in Needs
-The Young Women Connection
-Deacons, Teachers, and More-Oh My!
ADULTS
-Church Callings
-Love One Another
FAMILIES
-Sacrament Meeting Survival
-Scripture Power
-Can I Make It Through Another Day?
-Building Parent-Child Relationships
I AM A CHILD OF GOD
-Expressions of Faith and Love
One other thing that I feel needs to be pointed out. Many of the things talked about in the wonderful book can be applied to all children, not just those with special needs. I was so impressed with the information and ideas that Lynn and Danyelle shared in this book. My hope is that all wards/branches/homes will purchase this book and then use the ideas found in the book. I think that this would be a worthwhile way of using ward budget money, so the books can be given to Primary and Young Men and Young
Women leaders. Just my humble opinion people. I give this book 5 stars!!
Now the exciting thing about this blog tour is a giveaway…
Blog Tour Giveaways:
Enter to win one of two $25 Amazon gift cards! One name will be drawn for a $25 Amazon gift card on June 30th. Another name will be drawn for a $25 Amazon gift card on July 22nd. Winners will be announced onwww.QueenOfTheClan.com There are many ways to enter. You must leave a comment on the reviewer’s blog letting us know what you’ve done. Please include your email address.
1 Point Each:
– Leave a thoughtful comment about the blogger’s review.
– Add the book to your “to-read” list on GoodReads
– Follow the reviewer’s blog
– Follow Danyelle’s blog
– Follow Lynn’s blog
– Follow Danyelle on FB
– Follow Lynn on FB
– Follow Danyelle on Twitter @DanyelleTweets
– Follow Lynn on Twitter @ParsonsLynn
2 Points Each:
– Tell your friends about (dis)Abilities and the Gospel on Facebook with a person links to Danyelle Ferguson & Lynn Parsons
– Tell your friends about (dis)Abilities and the Gospel on Twitter with links to @DanyelleTweets
5 Points:
– Interview Danyelle or Lynn for your blog or write a blog post about why you’re excited about (dis)Abilities and the Gospel. Be sure to leave a direct link to your post in your comment so we can visit and say hello!
Blog Tour Schedule
June 2nd – Christine Bryant @ Day Dreamer
June 7th – Tristi Pinkston
June 9th – Tamera @ 3 Boys & a Dog
June 14th – Ashlee @ Topsy Turvy Cakes
June 17th – Heather Justesen
June 23rd – Rebecca Talley
June 27th – Don Carey
July 6th – Danette @ Everyday Adventures
July 8th – Sheila Staley @ LDS Women’s Book Review and Why Not? Because I Said So!
July 11th – Kathy @ I Am a Reader, Not a Writer
July 13th – Jessica @ Fringies
July 15th – Heather @ Fire and Ice by Little Red Reads
July 18th – Nichole Giles @ Star Crossed Book Reviews
Purchase & Review Links:
Danyelle’s Info:
Website: http://www.DanyelleFerguson.com
Blog: http://www.QueenOfTheClan.com
|
Danyelle Ferguson is a wife, mom, book editor, reviewer, and writer. She keeps busy raising four angels-in-training, the oldest of which has Autism. She and her husband, John, co-founded a non-profit organization, called Friends of GIANT Steps, which raises money to supplement an Autism preschool in Orem, UT. Danyelle has been active in the Autism community for over eight years, during which time she learned that prayer and a sense of humor are the keys to not only enduring but enjoying the special needs journey. Danyelle discovered her love for the written word in elementary school. Her first article she placed runner up in the Pennsylvania School of Excellence for Arts program, specializing in creative writing. Since then, she’s won several awards for her poetry, short stories, articles, and other writings. Her work has been published in newspapers, school journals, and online. Some of her short stories appear in the book ofMormon Mishaps and Mischief: Hilarious Stories for Saints by Cindy Beck and Nichole Giles. Her book, (dis)Abilities and the Gospel, will be published in May 2011 through Cedar Fort Publishing. Danyelle served as Treasurer for the League of Utah Writers – Utah Valley Chapter. She’s a member of Authors Incognito, Super Edits critique group, and meets weekly with her local writers group. She was also a member of the Whitney Awards Committee.
Danyelle grew up surrounded by the beautiful Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania. Then she lived for ten years among the majestic Wasatch Mountains. She is currently experiencing mountain-withdrawal while living in Kansas with her husband and family. She enjoys reading, writing, dancing and singing in the kitchen, and the occasional long bubble bath to relax from the everyday stress of being “Mommy.” |
Lynn’s Info:
Website: http://www.lynndparsons.com/
Blog: http://lynndeniseparsons.blogspot.com/
I am a wife, mother, grandmother, educational diagnostician, and writer. I entered the field of special education because two of my four children had special needs.
My thesis for BYU was titled, “Non-Drug Treatments for Attention Deficit Disorder.” After receiving my Bachelor of Independent Studies degree from BYU, I became certified as a special education teacher, primarily working with students with Autism.
My classes and teaching methods were featured in “District Administration Magazine”, the online magazine “Edutopia”, and several web sites on disabilities including “Positively Autism” and “The Family Center on Technology and Disability“.
My thesis for my master’s degree through Walden University was published by the Council for Exceptional Children. I have also been a community columnist for the “Fort Worth Star-Telegram” and I continue to work on my writing skills. I’m also working on a PhD in Special Education through Northcentral University.
I am an experienced speaker and presenter. I have taught many teacher in-services, given presentations on using technology for learners with special needs, and done presentations about disabilities for the community.
I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, but now call Texas home. I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and needlework. I am currently works as an Educational Diagnostician. I continue to seek out and develop innovative teaching methods for children with special needs.
May 232011
The votes have been cast and the Whitney Award winners have been announced.
The time has come to draw the winners of the $100 Amazon gift card (for Whitney Academy members who completed the challenge) and the $50 Amazon gift card (for those who are not members of the Whitney Academy but still completed the challenge). It’s like getting paid to read great books- how awesome is that?
The winner of the $100 Amazon gift card is-
Heather Justesen
Congratulations, Heather!
The winner of the $50 Amazon gift card is-
Caroline Liedtke
Congratulations, Caroline!
Send an email to ldswbr (at) gmail (dot) com with the email address you want your gift certificate sent to.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the “Read ’em All” 2010 Finalists Challenge and voted for Best Novel of the Year!
Mar 012011
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Shanda’s Teaser:
Hannah leaned her head against the wall as if having heard a death sentence pronounced on her and Beatrice. She saw the young, blond doctor returning from his errands. As soon as he crossed the threshold, she pounced on him. ” Typhoid fever? Is it true?”
Twilight’s Last Gleaming by L.C. Lewis, page 64
Sheila’s Teaser:
She feared that she had fallen in love with him, which was senseless beyond belief, but try as she might, she didn’t seem to be able to tell her heart to keep it’s distance.
Journey of Honor by Jaclyn M. Hawkes, page 63
Mindy’s Teaser:
Sadie winced as she heard it land, all the items inside crashing into each other. Now, instead of a meticulously organized arrangement, her purse would be a mess. So far things were off to a fabulous start.
Key Lime Pie by Josi S. Kilpack, page 163
Does anyone else think it’s interesting that the page numbers we found our teaser quotes on were 64, 63, & 163?
Contest Winners!
So far, twenty people have joined the “Read ’em All” 2010 Finalists Challenge, which means four people who participated in our Kick-Off Contest will win a bookmark! The winners are:
- Susan (Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books)
- Karlene Browning
- Evelyn (Better on a Budget)
- Luann Staheli
Congratulations!
Send an email with your address and which bookmark you prefer in the picture below to ldswbr (at) gmail (dot) com. Thank you for participating in our Kick-Off Contest!
Feb 082011
LDSWBR would like to kick off the “Read ’em All” 2010 Finalists Challenge with another contest.
For every five people who register for the Challenge between now and February 28th, we will draw a name for one of these handy and popular elastic bookmarks. There will be solid silver circles and other more masculine additions (we won’t call them “charms”) for the male participants.
After registering for the Challenge, you can earn extra entries by:
- + 1 /day – Tweeting (include @ldswbr in your tweet so we can see it)
- +5 – Blog about joining the Challenge & linking back to the LDSWBR blog (send us the link to your blog post)
- +2 – Post on Facebook about joining the Challenge (send us the link to your Facebook post)
Please leave a comment letting us know how you entered along with any applicable links, or send an email with the same info to ldswbr (at) gmail (dot) com so we can track all of your entries.
The drawing for the bookmarks will be held on March 1 and winners announced shortly thereafter. We are excited about the “Read ’em All” 2010 Finalists Challenge and hope you are, too. After all, $100 buys a lot of books!
Happy reading and good luck in the Challenge!