Rocky Road and Shannon’s Hope by Josi S. Kilpack – Countdown to Christmas 2013

 Posted by  Countdown to Christmas
Dec 032013
 

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22 days until Christmas

 

josiheadshot 5_5_12Josi began her first novel in 1998 and hasn’t stopped. Her novel, Sheep’s Clothing won the Whitney Award 2007 for Mystery/Suspense and was the Best In State winner for fiction in 2012. Book eleven in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series, Fortune Cookie, will be released in February 2014. Josi currently lives in Willard Utah with her family.

Please take a minute to visit Josi at one of the links below:  

WEBSITE | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+ | PINTEREST

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LDSWBR: What is your favorite Christmas song/hymn? Does it have special meaning to you?

JOSI: O Holy Night is my favorite Christmas song, it just captures what I want Christmas to be but which I struggle to truly hold on to. I love it, though.

LDSWBR: Do you get together with friends/family to play board games on Christmas or New Year’s? What games do you like to play? Do you have a favorite game from your childhood?

JOSI: I’m not a big game player, other than the mind games I play to try and get my kids to clean their rooms :-) Our family does enjoy Settlers of Catan and Apples to Apples, or I should say those are the ones I like. I’d rather watch movies when it comes right down to it.

LDSWBR: If you could recommend only one book from those you read this year, what would it be and why?

JOSI: “Three Little Words” by Ashley Rhodes-Courter. It’s an autobiography of a girl who got lost in the foster care system of Florida in the 80’s. My husband and I read it as part of our training to become Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for children involved in DCFS cases. The book is a symbol of this new opportunity my husband and I are embarking upon but was both shocking, informative, and inspiring. It’s the most powerful thing I read this year.

LDSWBR: Thank you, Josi!

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Rocky Road (Sadie Hoffmiller #10)

AMAZON | KINDLE | BARNES & NOBLE | NOOK | DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK 

Rocky Road.f

THE ST. GEORGE SPECTRUM
Dr. Trenton Hendricks was last seen Friday, April 8, when he set out alone on a backpacking trip. Hendricks’s Jeep Grand Cherokee was located Tuesday at the Chuckwalla Trailhead, but after six days and thousands of man-hours, the official search has been called off. He is presumed to be deceased.

It was supposed to be a girls’ weekend in scenic St. George, Utah, that would included shopping, trying out the local cuisine, and participating in a breast cancer fund-raiser. The fact that one of the organizers of the fund-raising event, a local doctor, had disappeared two months before was not supposed to be Sadie’s problem.

When Sadie learns that her friend Caro and Caro’s cousin, Tess, have started a grassroots investigation into Dr. Hendrick’s disappearance, Sadie graciously refuses to be a part of it. With her wedding to plan and her most recent case still fresh in her mind, Sadie is determined to leave this case to the police—until she meets the ex-wife of the missing man.

How could she not ask a few questions … that lead to more questions … that lead to a small town and even more questions? When the local police ask her to be their eyes and ears, Sadie can’t help but jump in with both feet. Before she knows it, she is on the rocky road of another investigation, following a convoluted trail of good intentions, hidden motivations, and philanthropy turned big business.

Shannon’s Hope (The Newport Ladies Book Club)

AMAZON | KINDLE | NOOK | DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK

shannonshope

When Shannon’s step-daughter moves in following another failed stint in rehab, Shannon puts everything she has into helping Keisha any way she can. Her attempts to help soon turn into covering up Keisha’s failures, and Shannon finds herself risking everything good in her life. Through the love and guidance of her Aunt Ruby, and growing connections to some of the women at the Newport Ladies Book Club, Shannon begins to identify the missing pieces of her own life that she’s tried to fill the wrong way.

 Have you played Apples to Apples? Or is Settlers more your style?

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**To enter the LDSWBR Countdown to Christmas 2013, leave a thoughtful comment below.**

Because this is a raffle-style drawing, commenting on each Countdown to Christmas 2013 post will give you more chances to win. Please click through to the website as only comments submitted directly on this post will be accepted.

Prizes include a $50 Amazon gift card and the author-donated books listed below. This is raffle-style drawing where all entries throughout the contest period are entered into the same “hat” for all prizes. US only. 18 years and older please. See all contest rules and restrictions below.

Following LDSWBR is not required but you may want to consider doing so during the contest so you don’t miss any posts or chances to enter the drawing. You can follow us through email, on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, and Pinterest (find the links in our sidebar.)

If one of our LDSWBR reviews has ever helped you find a book you enjoyed, please consider helping us spread the word about the LDSWBR Countdown to Christmas 2013. A link posted to your friends and family either in email or on your favorite social network would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

By leaving a comment and entering the Countdown to Christmas 2013, you agree to the contest rules below:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY; entrants must be 18 years or older; open to residents of continental US only; giveaway begins December 3, 2013 and all entries must be received by 12:00 Midnight December 23, 2013 Mountain Time; to enter, complete the required entry on each post and any additional entries of your choice if listed; LDS Women’s Book Review reserves the right to determine what is considered a thoughtful comment as per each post’s required entry; giveaway prizes include a $50 Amazon gift card and a variety of book prizes donated by featured authors; the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning; LDS Women’s Book Review is not liable for technical problems which may affect entry into the giveaway; winner identity will be verified by email address; winner will be selected December 28, 2013 by use of a sequence generator on random.org; winner will have until January 4, 2014 to claim their prize; if any prize winner forfeits or does not claim prize, prize will be re-awarded to next winner in sequence; all prizes will be awarded; limit of two prizes per entrant; this contest/giveaway is not associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other entity unless otherwise specified; by entering the giveaway you give LDS Women’s Book Review the right to publicize your name on the LDS Women’s Book Review blog; winner agrees to release LDS Women’s Book Review from any liability as a result of winning; email comments and questions to LDS Women’s Book Review – ldswbr (at) gmail (dot) com; giveaway subject to Utah regulations; VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

**Book Prizes (as of 12/3/13 – more to be added to this list!)**

  • Rocky Road by Josi S. Kilpack (personalized copy)
  • Shannon’s Hope by Josi S. Kilpack (personalized copy)

 

November Nomination Challenge: Enter to win one of two $25 Amazon Gift Cards!

 Posted by  Contests
Nov 142013
 

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Nominate a Whitney and be entered to win
one of two $25 Amazon Gift Cards!

2013 is winding down and it’s time to get those last minute Whitney Award nominations in! Because we at NewLDSFiction.com and at LDSWomensBookReview.com love and support LDS fiction authors and the Whitney Awards, we’ve put together a fun little November Nomination Challenge to encourage everyone to nominate a qualifying book for a Whitney Award before the holidays get into full swing.

What’s a Whitney Award? It’s an annual award for novels written by LDS authors. Awards are given in eight different genre categories, plus three Best Novel categories. To be considered for an award, a book must be nominated by five readers.

Who can nominate a book for a Whitney Award? Almost anyone. You must be over 12 years old, have read the book, and not have any financial stake in the success of the book. (Example: Authors and publishers cannot nominate their own books, but their mothers can.)

Then what happens? Any book that receives five nominations is added to the genre list. Those books are read by a group of Whitney judges. The judges narrow the list down to five finalists, which are voted on by the entire Whitney Academy.

Are there other qualifications for the books? Nominees must be fiction, written by LDS authors, and published in 2013. (See the official Whitney Award fine print here and their FAQs page here.)

Looking for books that are qualified? Browse NewLDSFiction.com or click here for a list by author.

Here’s how the November Nomination Challenge works:

  • Nominations must be made November 15–30, 2013.
  • You must have read the book yourself and honestly believe it deserves a 4 or 5 star review to nominate it. This is NOT a “nominate your friends” contest. (We’re on the honor code here. Remember, we’re LDS and we believe in being honest…)
  • Click here to nominate the book. Then come back and enter the information in the Rafflecopter form below. One entry per title, limit six titles.
  • Earn extra entries by helping to spread the word. (You can do this once a day.)
    Use http://bit.ly/1iefolv to send friends to LDS Women’s Book Review
    Use http://bit.ly/1brxc69 to send friends to New LDS Fiction
    (Note: You must nominate at least one Whitney to unlock the Spread the Word entries.
  • Winners will be chosen at random the first week of December and announced on both sites.
  • The Rafflecopter form is the same on both sites, so you only need to input your entries at one site.
  •  See fine print and disclaimer for this contest below the Rafflecopter form

 

NovemberNominationChallenge

To win this card, enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*We will verify that a qualifying nomination was made before awarding the prizes, however, your privacy regarding what book(s) you nominated will be protected.

Disclaimer: As avid readers of LDS fiction, Karlene, Shanda, Sheila, Mindy and Hillary have votes on the Whitney Academy. However, this is our personal contribution to an organization we support. We have not been asked by the Whitney Awards to run this contest, nor have any prizes been provided for us. It’s all done on our time and our dime.

***NO PURCHASE NECESSARY; entrants must be 18 years or older; open to residents of continental US only; giveaway begins November 15, 2013 and all entries must be received by 12:00 Midnight November 30, 2013 Mountain Time; to enter, read a book by an LDS author published in 2013 and, if you consider it a four or five star book worthy of Whitney Award consideration, nominate it using the nomination form on whitneyawards.com/wordpress, then return to either www.ldswomensbookreview.com orwww.newldsfiction.com and enter using the Rafflecopter form; additional entries may be allowed as per the Rafflecopter form; giveaway prizes are two (2) Amazon gift cards valued at $25 each; the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning; LDS Women’s Book Review and NewLDSFiction.com are not liable for technical problems which may affect entry into the giveaway; winner identity will be verified by email address; winners will be selected the first week of December 2013 by use of rafflecopter.com; winner will have until December 15, 2013 to claim their prize; if prize winner forfeits or does not claim prize, prize will be re-awarded to next winner selected; all prizes will be awarded; by entering the giveaway you give LDS Women’s Book Review and NewLDSFiction.com the right to publicize your name on the LDS Women’s Book Review blog and the NewLDSFiction.com blog; winner agrees to release LDS Women’s Book Review and NewLDSFiction.com from any liability as a result of winning; email comments & questions to LDS Women’s Book Review – ldswbr (at) gmail (dot) com; giveaway subject to Utah regulations; VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.***

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Nov 112013
 

Rent_CollectorThe Rent Collector

Author: Camron Wright

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published Date: August 2012/October 2013 (Paperback)

Hardcover/Paperback/Audible/Kindle/Nook: 304 pages

Genre: General Fiction

ISBN# 978-1609071226

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: received a softcover ARC in exchange for an honest review

Summary (Goodreads)

Survival for Ki Lim and Sang Ly is a daily battle at Stung Meanchey, the largest municipal waste dump in all of Cambodia. They make their living scavenging recyclables from the trash. Life would be hard enough without the worry for their chronically ill child, Nisay, and the added expense of medicines that are not working. Just when things seem worst, Sang Ly learns a secret about the bad-tempered rent collector who comes demanding money–a secret that sets in motion a tide that will change the life of everyone it sweeps past. The Rent Collector is a story of hope, of one woman’s journey to save her son and another woman’s chance at redemption.

Review

The Rent Collector is a humbling read that taught me a little about Cambodian history and a lot about human nature, hope, sacrifice, and love.

I can honestly say I’ve never read a book quite like The Rent Collector. It is a fascinating glimpse into the life of a young woman, Sang Ly, and her husband, Ki Lim, who support their little family by picking through the garbage at the dump to find recyclable items they can exchange for enough money for food to eat that day.

Sang Ly strongly dislikes Sopeap Sin, the woman they call the Rent Collector, because she is harsh and angry. But when she comes to collect rent one day, her reaction to a book Ki Lim found and brought home for their son causes Sang Ly to realize that the woman she hates could be the one to help her give her son a better life–if she agrees to teach Sang Ly how to read.

The events that follow Sang Ly’s request result in her seeing Sopeap in a way she never could before. She learns that Sopeap used to be a teacher of literature, and that she suffered something horrible in her past that causes her to drink so much rice wine. When Sang Ly is ready to move beyond basics and begin studying literature, Sopeap agrees to continue their lessons. It is then that Sang Ly’s education truly begins.

Whether we like it or not, hope is written so deeply into our hearts that we just can’t help ourselves, no matter how hard we try otherwise.  –page 125

I truly enjoyed reading The Rent Collector. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I was soon caught up in the story and couldn’t put it down. As Sang Ly’s heart changed regarding the calloused and angry woman some called the Cow, I found my heart changing as well. I was reminded that everyone has a story. I liked Sang Ly’s personality and voice, and loved watching her grow as a character.

As I sit on my comfortable couch, pausing to eat a filling and balanced meal, clean drinking water only a few steps away, I have no way of knowing what the type of life Sang Ly lives would be like. Yet she is able to find happiness living her simple life, and feels privileged to have gained the ability to read with hope for a better future for her son.

The Rent Collector is a memorable read, one that will stay with me for a long time. It’s a perfect choice for book groups, providing plenty of discussion material. I highly recommend The Rent Collector to everyone.

Visit Camron:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

Find The Rent Collector:

DESERET BOOK | SEAGULL BOOK | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | GOODREADS

 

A Light in Dark Places by Jennifer Graves and Emily Clawson- Blog Tour Review

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Sheila's Reviews
Nov 082013
 

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light in darkProduct Details:

  • Title: A Light in Dark Places
  • Author: Jennifer Graves and Emily Clawson
  • Genre: Non-fiction
  • Paperback: 202 pages
  • Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 12, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1490426116
  • FTC;FYI: I was given a review pdf in exchange for an honest review.
  • Reviewed by: Sheila

 
 

 
Book Description:
 In December, 2009, Susan Cox Powell was reported missing from her home in West Valley City, Utah. As law enforcement tried to piece together what had happened to Susan, her husband, Josh Powell, became the only person of interest in the case. For Jennifer Graves, Josh’s sister, the nightmare started long before Susan’s disappearance. From her experiences growing up in the Powell family to the terrifying moment when she first started to believe her brother was a killer, she relied on her faith to stay strong. She devoted herself to the safety of Susan’s boys, Charlie and Braden, whom she hoped to be able to raise as her own. When the boys were murdered by their father in February, 2012, Jennifer was more than devastated, but she had to believe there was a reason for it all—including the deaths of her beloved nephews. In A Light In Dark Places, Jennifer shares her struggles and her triumphs. In coming to terms with such tragedy she finally was able to embrace the truth that we all have the power to choose our own path—and there is always hope, no matter how dark things may seem.

 Excerpt:

This one is from when I went to my dad’s house to confront both him and Josh and try to get them to confess to Susan’s murder. I went in wired with police backup- at my request. They invited us into dinner when we unexpectedly showed up at their door in WA.

We finished dinner, and Alina started to clear the dishes. Josh stood up. The time had come. I looked at Kirk and nodded. He understood and gave me a brief nod in return. I lifted Braden off my lap and stood up, moving to Josh’s side. I took his arm.
“I wanted to talk to you for a minute. Let’s go in the other room.” Josh didn’t act terribly surprised by the question, but my palms were slick with sweat. I wiped them on my jeans as we walked to the front of the house and went into my dad’s music room. Kirk stayed in the family room with the boys and tried to keep everyone else’s attention focused on him.
The music room was filled with an electric piano, a guitar, a number of microphones, and some recording equipment. It was cluttered with books and papers covering the desk and the bookshelves. The door was glass and framed by windows on either side. I closed the door behind us and glanced around the room, then forced myself to go forward. Josh leaned against one wall, where he could look out the window and down the hall toward the family room. I sat in the chair at the desk and cleared my throat.
“I’ve just been worried. I’ve been hearing rumors. You know, rumors about you that say you’re going to be arrested soon.”
There was the slightest bit of a flicker, and then Josh turned off the emotion again and was cold and calm.
“Where did you hear those rumors?”
“Oh, from reporters and stuff.”
Josh’s eyes were blue, but right then they appeared black. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but it looked like they were nothing but pupils, no color at all.
I continued trying soft ways of getting him to talk. Prodding here and there and watching his eyes all the time.
“Please, I’m your sister. Confide in me. I want to believe you. If you would only give me something to go on.”
There was no reaction. That first startle was his only hint of emotion.
“Don’t make me listen to rumors, tell me your side of the story.”
Nothing.
“If you don’t give me anything else to go on, you give me no choice. I’m starting to doubt your story. I don’t believe you anymore.”
“Well, I’m sorry you feel that way.”
Michael came down the hall, opened the door and stepped inside. “Are you ready to go pick up the party stuff for tomorrow?” he asked. Had my dad sent him to intervene? I didn’t care. I had to keep trying.
“There has to be something more you can tell me. You know something.” His dark pupils made him look like a stranger. I rubbed my arms against a sudden chill. “Come on, Josh. I can see it in your eyes.”
He pushed away from the wall. “We need to go get the cake,” he said, nodding to Michael. It was a convenient excuse, and they left the room without looking back at me. I followed behind them more slowly.
I’d come all this way, endured all the stress and worry and expense for one purpose—to get a confession out of Josh. I couldn’t give up now. Josh was standing in the family room near the bathroom door, waiting for Michael to get his coat. I grabbed Josh’s arm and half-yanked, half-pushed him into the dark bathroom. Everyone else was still talking, and the boys were playing loudly. It was too much to hope that no one noticed what was going on.
“Josh, let’s just cut the crap. Tell me what really happened. Did you actually go camping? What did you do that night?”
Josh tried to squirm away, but I held on tighter to his arm and blocked the door. “My lawyer told me not to talk about it,” he said.
“That’s crap! I’m your sister. Don’t pull that lawyer thing with me. Just tell me what happened. Tell me where her body is. We want to have a funeral and have some closure here. Just tell me where you put her.” I half expected him to hit me, but instead there was still no emotion. He didn’t respond in anger. He didn’t respond at all. He shrugged his arm out of my grasp and pushed past me.
I stayed in the bathroom for a minute and tried to calm my breathing. My heart was racing, and adrenaline was pumping through my limbs, but it started to fade all too soon, leaving only disappointment and shaky weakness in its wake. I heard Josh, John, and Michael leave the house, heard the front door close. I knew that I wasn’t going to get any information out of him, but I also knew he was guilty. If someone had accused me of hurting my husband or my children, I would have punched them at the very least and kicked them out of my house or something. His lack of emotion was as telling as a confession to me.
My Review: 
Even though I followed this story as it was happening, I was still so emotionally moved as I read, A Light in Dark Places. My heart hurt so much for Jennifer as I read the story of her life. I also felt such empathy for the people who loved Susan Cox Powell and her two boys. So much heartbreak revolves around this true story. A Light in Dark Places is written well and a very compelling read. Even though I knew the outcome of this sad story, it was good to hear Jennifer’s side of the story and how her love and faith carried her through this great trial of losing her beloved sister-in-law and her precious nephews. It was also very intriguing to hear many facts that hadn’t been shared with the public about the case.
 Personally, I remember hoping and praying so long that Susan would be found. We kept seeing her beautiful smiling face on TV radiating with brightness and joy. It was nice to hear in Jennifer’s words what a special person Susan really was. This book is a wonderful tribute to Susan and her boys, Braden and Charlie. I really thought I would be totally depressed reading this book. I was so surprised that even though Susan and Jennifer’s life stories tugged at my heart, I was left with a feeling of peace and hope that Susan is now with her precious boys in Heaven. Thank you Jennifer for sharing yours and Susan’s story. 
 

Praise for A Light in Dark Places:
  I just finished reading “A Light in Dark Places” By Jennifer Graves and Emily Gray Clawson. I was impressed with how well written the book was. The descriptions are such that I felt I was part of the story. I was grateful that the message was one of hope and peace in tragedy. The book does tell the tale of Susan Powell, her boys and their demise but doesn’t dwell on it. It was nice to see inside the life experiences of someone so close to them and to see things from Jennifer’s perspective rather than what you see on the media. I highly recommend this book. It doesn’t disappoint! – T. Hyde I love true accounts of people overcoming challenges and helping others with the lessons learned from them. This story of Jennifer’s experiences throughout her abusive childhood, and later the disappearance of Susan and the murder of her two sweet nephews is just that. She shares how she felt God’s hand in her life, guiding her to make better choices than the rest of her family did. Though the book had so many sad details, it ended with hope, courage and love. ~D. Raymond I had followed the story of Susan Powell very closely so I wasn’t sure if the book was going to tell me something I didn’t already know…but it sure did. Jennifer was very brave in writing this book and all she had done in support for Susan. I highly recommend the book it sheds a light on the whole situation that helps make things more clear. ~ Carolyn This was a very informative read. I lived in Utah at the time of Susan’s disappearance and followed the news every day. This book answered many questions that the news did not. Although it was very sad and I already knew the outcome it was a good read. I admire Jennifer for her part in the whole story and I am glad she had the fortitude to write this book to honor her sister in law. ~Katie O. To finally read about details that were never shared brought closure for me about this insidious crime. While the book was an easy read, the message shared about breaking the cycle of abusive relationships is invaluable. It truly does take someone removing themselves from their abusive family’s presence to stop the cycle. Praises to the author for sharing her perspectives. ~Arlene   add to goodreads   JenandEmAuthorphoto1 
Meet the Authors:
Jennifer Graves is the mother of 5 beautiful children, 2 girls and 3 boys. She and her husband have been happily married for 19 years and together have been active in their community and church. Jennifer is the sister of Josh Powell who killed his 2 sons, Charlie and Braden, as well as himself in February of 2012, and is also believed to have killed his wife, Susan Cox Powell, in December of 2009. She is the recipient of the 2013 ChainBreaker of the year Award, given for breaking the chain of abuse and violence in her family. She enjoys homeschooling their children and mentoring in classes for the commonwealth school they attend. She also loves reading, playing card and board games, and learning new things. Most of all she loves to spend time with her husband and children. They currently reside in West Jordan, UT.

♦ ♦ ♦

Emily Clawson is an author, a mother and a mentor. She traditionally writes inspirational fiction. This book has been a life changing experience for her and she is grateful to have been a part of telling this story. She resides in Taylorsville with her husband and four children where they run their leadership mentoring programs for youth.

Written on Our Hearts by Emily Freeman – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Oct 282013
 

WrittenOnOurHeartsWritten on Our Hearts: Invitations from the Old Testament

Author: Emily Freeman

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published Date: September 2013

Hardcover: 180 pages

Genre: Religious Nonfiction

ISBN# 978-1-60907-595-8

Reviewed by: Shanda

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

Summary (from jacket)

If you have ever found the Old Testament intimidating, you’re not alone. The less-familiar history, themes, and language, coupled with the length of the book, make it a difficult read for many. But author Emily Freeman loves the Old Testament, and as she shares some of the wonderful things she has learned in her study of this book of scripture, you will find yourself coming to love it too.

Written on Our Hearts is not a commentary or an intensive doctrinal study. Instead, Emily writes about the stories of the Old Testament, stories of trusting and overcoming and enduring and believing. Within these stories are all kinds of applications for the challenges we face today.

“There will come a moment in your life,” the author says, “when you or someone you love will struggle with a challenge so great you will wonder how you will make it through. In that moment you will long to better understand the Savior’s role as the Deliverer, and to do that you must go to the book of scripture that describes that role the best—the Old Testament.”

Discover the delivering power of the Lord yourself in the pages of this book—and experience the scriptures in a new, more personal way!

Review

Written on Our Hearts is full of spiritual messages and questions that pierce the heart. Emily shares her talent for inspiring others through her heartfelt words and lovely artwork in this thought-provoking book.

Each section is only a few pages long, and these sections are grouped by books of the Old Testament. The size of each section is perfect for a personal morning devotional, family home evening, or revisit during a tough day when seeking inspiration or reassurance. There are beautiful sketches depicting Old Testament scenes sprinkled throughout.

Every single section of this book offers something that touches my soul and fuels my desire to become a better person and to draw closer to Christ. It’s difficult to single out a favorite section, but I will list some that really stood out to me personally:

  • “Empty Your Sack”
  • “My Whole Soul”
  • “That Which Doth Cost Me Nothing”
  • “I Will Heal Thee”
  • “Filling the Empty Places”
  • “Hope in Thine End”

I have always been overwhelmed at the thought of an in-depth study of the Old Testament. Written on Our Hearts has shown me that there are wonderful things to be learned from such a study. I highly recommend it, both as an addition to your personal library, and as a gift as well. After all, Christmas is just around the corner.

Find Written on Our Hearts:

DESERET BOOK | DB BOOKSHELF EBOOK | KINDLE | GOODREADS

 

Friends and Traitors (Slayers #2) by C.J. Hill – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Oct 232013
 

Slayers2Friends and Traitors (Slayers #2)

Author: C. J. Hill

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Published Date: October 15, 2013

Hardcover: 400 pages

Genre: YA Contemporary Fantasy

ISBN# 978-1-250-02461-9

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: received a free softcover ARC in exchange for an honest review

Summary (Back Cover)

In C.J. Hill’s action-packed sequel to Slayers, the group of teens known as Slayers have been betrayed—but they won’t give up without a fight.

Tori’s got a problem. She thought she’d have one more summer to train as a dragon Slayer, but time has run out. When Tori hears the horrifying sound of dragon eggs hatching, she knows the Slayers are in trouble. In less than a year, the dragons will be fully grown and completely lethal. The Slayers are well-prepared, but their group is still not complete, and Tori is determined to track down Ryker—the mysterious missing Slayer.

What Tori doesn’t bargain for, however, is the surprising truth about her powers. She isn’t just a Slayer, she’s part Dragon Lord, too. How can Tori fight to save her friends when half of her is programmed to protect dragons? And with a possible traitor in their midst, the Slayers will be divided in more ways than they ever imagined.

Review

I loved reading Slayers, so it was great revisiting these characters again in Friends and Traitors. After a key member of the Slayers’ team is revealed as a traitor, two new dragon slayers join the team. Adventures are had, battles are fought, and relationships are forever altered.

I haven’t read a lot of YA involving dragons (only the Slayers series, the Dragon Slippers series by Jessica Day George and the first book in the Firelight series by Sophie Jordan), but it’s interesting to see different aspects of dragon lore portrayed in various ways in each one. If you like dragons, you will probably enjoy all three of these series.

The Slayers series is a lot of fun. I appreciate reading about a strong yet feminine lead character, as well as a group of teens working together as a team for the good of society. Both young men and young women, as well as their parents, will enjoy Slayers and it’s sequel, Friends and Traitors.

Visit C. J. Hill:

BLOG | WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

Find Friends and Traitors:

AMAZON | KINDLE | BARNES & NOBLE | NOOK | GOODREADS

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 For the full Friends and Traitors Blog Tour schedule, visit the Fire and Ice blog.

CJHillBioPhotoAbout the Author: CJ Hill is a pen name for a YA author who is best known for writing romantic comedies. (Slayers will be her 18th published book.) Her writing has shifted away from the romantic comedy genre, so her editor thought a pen name would be a good idea. (New books will include: dangerous dragons, time travel to dystopian worlds, and flesh-eating beetles.) Since the publisher refused to let her have the pseudonym : The Artist Formerly Referred to as Princess, she chose a name to honor her mother. CJ Hill was her mother’s pen name, or at least it would have been if her mother had published. Her mother wrote a few children’s books and a middle grade novel but was taken by cancer before she had fully learned the craft.

(Most writers’ first novels aren’t publishable. CJ Junior’s first novel wasn’t, but somehow was published anyway. Now, even though it is out of print, it remains forever available on Amazon, where it taunts her with its badness. This was another good reason to use a pen name.)

CJ Hill has five children, three of whom like her on any given day depending on who is in trouble. She has lived in Arizona for the last half of her life, but is still in desert denial and hopes that one day her garden will grow silver bells and cockle shells or maybe just tomatoes.

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