Special Features – Page 20 – LDS Women's Book Review

250 Great Movies for Latter-day Families by Jonathan Decker – Blog Tour

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

Sep 232013

250 Great Movies for Latter-day Families

Author: Jonathan Decker

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Published Date: September 10, 2013

Paperback/Kindle: 256 pages

Genre: Religious Nonfiction

ISBN# 978-1462112180

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free digital review copy in exchange for an honest review

Summary

For the first time, Latter-day Saints looking for family-friendly movies have an easy reference at their fingertips! Jonathan Decker (of Meridian Magazine, mormonmovieguy.com, and The KJZZ Movie Show) combines his love for the restored gospel with his passion for cinema in this one-of-a-kind volume, with films selected based on artistic quality and compatibility with LDS media standards.

Readers will find synopses, reviews, and discussion guides (based on the scriptures and teachings of Church leaders) for 250 excellent films from the silent era to the present. With a foreword by acclaimed director T.C. Christensen (17 Miracles, Ephraim’s Rescue), indexes by genre and gospel topic, and thought-provoking chapters on Mormon doctrine regarding media, 250 GREAT MOVIES FOR LATTER-DAY FAMILIES is the perfect film-finder (and conversation-starter) for family home evenings, dates, youth activities, and get-togethers.

Review

It is more difficult every day to find movies without objectionable material. Author Jonathan Decker has set out to make the decision of “What to watch?” easier for us. His book, 250 Great Movies for Latter-day Families, is a useful resource for those who are looking for clean, enjoyable movies they can watch with their families.

An insight shared by the author had significant impact on me and the way I view certain content in media. In the “What Makes a Good Movie?” section, Jonathan explains that he used to feel every instance of media he watched should comply to the letter of the law, and any amount of violence or language or innuendo that he saw made him feel guilty. His eyes were opened after hearing President Monson refer to uplifting themes in the musical Camelot during a talk, the same play that made Jonathan feel uncomfortable during one of the songs where Lancelot sings of his love for Guinevere, a married woman. The author then recalls a BYU film professor’s words: “The portrayal of something is not the same thing as condoning it.”

Jonathan goes on to say something I consider profound:

“I realized that, in art and entertainment, sometimes darkness must be portrayed in order to contrast it with the light. There is no good without evil, and both must be depicted for righteousness to be promoted.” –page 9

Jonathan does not use this truth as an excuse to disregard standards, however. He includes content information in every movie review so that the reader can decide for his/herself what they are comfortable viewing and what they want to avoid. I love that he does this. I also enjoy his concise but informative reviews and his grading system.

I appreciate the “Messages to Discuss” as much as the “Content Overviews” in each review. Included here are the scriptural themes, with scripture references and quotes from Church leaders, that can be found in each film. Not only is this a great way to start family discussion in general, but when you need to plan a last minute Family Home Evening, the scriptures and quotes provided keep it spiritual.

As I flipped through the pages and read his reviews, I came across a number of movies I hadn’t seen, some I had never heard of, as well as some long-time favorites. The classics appear alongside more modern films. The three indexes at the end (organized by Genre, Gospel Topic, and Rating) are incredibly handy.

I think 250 Great Movies for Latter-day Families will become a staple in many LDS homes. I look forward to referring to it many times in the future when choosing movies for my family. I hope Jonathan is already working on the next installment.

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Janitors: Curse of the Broomstaff (#3) by Tyler Whitesides – Blog Tour – Combined Review

Posted by Shanda Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Combined Reviews, Shanda's Reviews, Sheila's Reviews

Sep 162013

Janitors: Curse of the Broomstaff (#3)

Author: Tyler Whitesides

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published Date: September 10, 2013

Hardcover/Kindle/CD/Audible/DB Bookshelf: 343 pages

Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy

ISBN# 978-1609076054

Reviewed by: Shanda & Sheila

FTC FYI: free digital review copy in exchange for an honest review

Summary

A secret society of Janitors with wizard-like powers continue their battle, and now, the stakes are even higher. The Bureau of Educational Maintenance is after Alan Zumbro and this time they mean business – deadly business. Spencer, Daisy, and their little team of rebels must find the source of all magical Glop and destroy it before it can destroy the world as we know it. No small task with the BEM and their monster toxites at their heels. It’s a wild and dangerous ride as they follow the trail of clues all the way to the hiding place of the mysterious aurans: guardians of a secret landfill. What they discover there will change the way Spencer sees himself, not to mention the fate of the rebels.

Shanda’s Review

In the Janitors series, Tyler Whitesides has created a magical, adventure-filled world that middle-grade boys and girls will enjoy visiting again and again. With humor and lots of Glopified action, Spencer and Daisy continue to battle threats to education and learn to use even more magical cleaning supplies as they form new alliances and new enemies.

Germaphobe Spencer must deal with an increased level of gross in order to overcome the new challenges facing him and Daisy as they battle the BEM. From a week at an exclusive school to trekking through an expansive landfill, it seems that Spencer and Daisy will never defeat the BEM and find what they seek. They don’t know who to trust when betrayal follows betrayal.

Though this third book is over 300 pages, it reads quickly. The Janitors series is great for 8-12 year olds who love adventure and magic, but parents might enjoy it just as much. There is a fair amount of disgusting (they deal with a lot of garbage after all), and readers are introduced to a fun character who takes trash-obsession to a whole new level.

Spencer experiences some self-discovery about his abilities, as well as learning what Daisy is capable of beyond her sweet, somewhat gullible personality. Even Dez’s character experiences a little growth. I was concerned that in Book 2 (I have the ARC, so this might be different in the final version), Dez bullies Spencer in front of Spencer’s mother (both emotionally and physically by pinching him) and she says nothing while he and Daisy sit there and take it. I wouldn’t want kids to think that if they are bullied and their parents don’t notice or say anything that they should just accept it. There are times, though, that Spencer does stand up to Dez. In Curse of the Broomstaff, Spencer is learning to stand up to Dez more often, and even shows some maturity when he is concerned for Dez’s welfare without subjecting himself to more bullying.

Fans of the first two Janitors books will enjoy Curse of the Broomstaff. I’m curious about how many books are planned for the series, because the story definitely isn’t finished yet. I suspect many young readers are happy to know that there are more Janitors books to come.

Sheila’s Review

Janitors has become one of my favorite Middle Grade series. As a teacher, I’m often asked by students and parents what books/series I recommend they read. Janitors is one that I highly recommend and often do.

There is so much to love about this third book. (I also strongly advise you read the first two books in the series because it will make your read so much more enjoyable.) The main characters, sixth-graders Spencer and Daisy, have grown into their roles as true heroes and rebel fighters. They prove over and over again how much they have learned, and save the day quite often in this book. They are awesome using their magical weapons/tools: flying brooms, Glopified mops,and plungers. The action escalates in book three and is as messy as ever. (This is in reference to the world’s greatest school cafeteria food fight!)

What is truly funny is the message from the author at the beginning of the book.

“Dear Reader,

Here it is: the third installment in the JANITORS series. And I must admit, this is definitely the trashiest book I’ve ever written. No, literally. This book is full of garbage.

This time, our young heroes must venture deep into an enchanted landfill. They will battle heaps of living garbage and hike through distorted trashscapes as they discover a mysterious group of kids living among the refuse, harboring a centuries-old secret that could save the future of education. As you can see, I take garbage very seriously.”

It is so true! Poor Spencer who hates germs and getting dirty has his hands full. I loved all of the new characters and creatures that were introduced. Tyler really hiked up the intensity of the action and suspense. It was also a plus to see more interaction between Spencer and his father Alan. I think they both learned a lot in this adventure about themselves and each other.

As with the other books, the ending leaves you wanting more with Spencer’s new title and mission. What is that title and new mission? I’m not saying anything, except that you need to read Janitors Book 3: Curse of the Broomstaff to find the answer. With engaging and bright characters, beefed-up energy and action, and written especially for elementary age kids, (even though teens and adults will love the books too!) the Janitors series needs to be put on your children’s to-read list today.

Visit Tyler Whitesides:

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Shadows of Valor by Elsie Park – Blog Tour

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

Sep 102013

Shadows of Valor

Author: Elsie Park

Publisher: Jolly Fish Press

Published Date: September 7, 2013

Hardcover/Paperback/Kindle/Nook: 252 pages

Genre: Historical/Medieval Romance

(PB) ISBN# 978-1-939967-07-7

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free digital uncorrected galley in exchange for an honest review

Summary

On the surface, Graywall is content and booming. Lord Shaufton, who presides over the city, is a fine ruler. The poor are well-cared for, the area is popular, and morale is high—but within Graywall’s roots, something dark is stirring. This darkness threatens to overpower the once-peaceful town, until a mysterious figure appears: The Shadow. 

As much a figure of fear to the unruly as legend to the innocent, The Shadow is an enforcer of justice and aid to the King. Due to an outrageous export tax set by King Edward, smuggling has tainted the kingdom, so The Shadow is sent to hunt the smugglers down. Contrary to legend, The Shadow is simply a man known as Sir Calan who, although talented and just, struggles to keep his dark thoughts of revenge from becoming ruthless action.  

Due to sheer coincidence, The Shadow learns of a deadly plot against Lord Shaufton on a journey to Graywall. Now, he must enter a pseudo courtship with Lord Shaufton’s daughter under his original guise of Sir Calan, all while old emotions are stirred by the lovely Elsbeth, Lord Shaufton’s niece. Elsbeth, it seems, is the only woman who can heal his troubled soul, but she has a story of her own. What transpires is a glorious tale full of deceit, greed, inner struggles, betrayal, and most of all—love.

Review

Shadows of Valor is a story of ladies and knights, including one with a secret identity, in a tale of intrigue, valor, adventure, and seemingly unrequited love. Sometimes I’m in the mood for a light romantic read that isn’t heavy on historically accurate dialogue and doesn’t shy away from what some consider romance novel cliché. Shadows of Valor fit this mood for me, and I was pleasantly entertained reading about Elsbeth and her dealings with The Shadow and Sir Calan.

The pace of the story kept things moving well and the writing was enjoyable. There were a few things I noticed in the uncorrected proof that I hope were caught before final publication, ie., “had to of” instead of “had to have”, as well as a few phrases that felt too modern for the story. The intrigue and all of the “bad guys” are easy to figure out almost from the beginning (which could be intentional), yet Shadows of Valor is still a fun, quick read that many readers who like historical/medieval romance will enjoy.

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Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson – Blog Tour

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

Sep 092013

Blackmoore

Author: Julianne Donaldson

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published Date: September 9, 2013

Paperback/Kindle/CD/DB Bookshelf: 320 pages

Genre: Regency Romance

ISBN# 978-1-60907-460-9

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free digital uncorrected proof from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

**Visit The King’s English Bookshop page for details on Blackmoore‘s Launch Party on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013 at 7 PM!**

Summary

Kate Worthington knows her heart and she knows she will never marry. Her plan is to travel to India instead—if only to find peace for her restless spirit and to escape the family she abhors. But Kate’s meddlesome mother has other plans. She makes a bargain with Kate: India, yes, but only after Kate has secured—and rejected—three marriage proposals.

Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore determined to fulfill her end of the bargain and enlists the help of her dearest childhood friend, Henry Delafield. But when it comes to matters of love, bargains are meaningless and plans are changeable. There on the wild lands of Blackmoore, Kate must face the truth that has kept her heart captive. Will the proposal she is determined to reject actually be the one thing that will set her heart free?

Set in Northern England in 1820, Blackmoore is a Regency romance that tells the story of a young woman struggling to learn how to follow her heart. It is Wuthering Heights meets Little Women with a delicious must-read twist.

Review

Blackmoore is an enthralling, heart-twisting romance with a depth that I greatly appreciated. There were highs and lows throughout as well a heart-pounding-yet-clean chemistry that carried me through the darker elements of the story. I kept turning pages, needing to know how things would turn out for Kate because somehow they must, even though she was determined to stay unmarried and travel to India with her aunt.

The details were expertly done, not too heavy, but enough to picture Blackmoore in my mind with minimal effort. The descriptions of the stark beauty of the moors and Robin Hood’s Bay had me pulling up Google so I could see the area for myself. When Kate hears a woodlark’s song for the first time I was so moved by the scene that I again searched online so I could hear what she was hearing.

The characters were interesting and dimensional, even those that made a minimal appearance in the story. I loved every scene with Henry. My heart broke for him in a way that I did not expect. I ached for Kate and what she felt she must endure. I loathed Kate’s mother. I wanted to know more about Henry’s grandfather, and Herr Spohr, and even the townspeople.

I was easily swept into the story, setting, and emotion of Blackmoore. I experienced elation, anticipation, disappointment, frustration, yearning and freedom right along with Kate. I wanted everything for her. I love they way Julianne writes the hero so that the reader knows exactly what he is feeling without being in his head. It is subtle yet so very effective.

Though Blackmoore carries a bit darker and more serious tone than Edenbrooke, it is a well-written and memorable love story that fans of clean-but-still-toe-curling romance will enjoy. I highly recommend it.

Visit Julianne Donaldson:

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***Special pricing in September for Kindle versions of Blackmoore and Edenbrooke!!***

The Experiment by Jeffery Moore,Sherry Gammon, and Cindy Bennett-Blog Tour Review and Guest Post

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

Sep 062013

The Experiment by Jeffery Moore,Sherry Gammon, and Cindy Bennett-Blog Tour Review and Guest Post

The Experiment, a new novel from the imaginations of Cindy C Bennett, Sherry Gammon, and Jeffery Moore!

Product Details

File Size: 527 KB
Print Length: 338 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Prose by Design (July 10, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00DVTLKRY
FTC. FYI: I received a review PDF in exchange for an honest review.

BLURB:

Time is running out for the Collaborative’s oppressive rule of the remote world Senca One. The government attempts to suppress the escalating riots, even while seeking to further their experiments. When their parents are taken, triplets Juliet, Cilla, and Emiah Tripp set out to locate them, and soon discover they are at the center of a hunt to capture them.

Evading the Collaborative across Senca One’s harsh terrain, they’re confronted with the trials of survival. They also discover something that changes the very core of their reality: they’re morphs. Struggling to adapt to the strange new ability, they question what they really are . . . and why. Are the rumors of experiments done on children true? Did their scientist parents have anything to do with it?

Their quest brings them to the capitol city of Brighton, which is on the verge of revolt. While searching for information about their parents, the Tripps align themselves with the very people fueling the rebellion. They unwittingly spark the revolution they want no part of and discover something more dangerous than they suspected.

My Review:
I was so excited to read this book,especially because of it being written by three different authors. This intrigued me so much. I’ve read books written by Cindy and Sherry, but this was the first book I’d read from Jeffery. This was a fun YA book that is Speculative Fiction. There is plenty of action on this new world. The triplets are the main characters and have such different personalities, as it would truly be in real life. The authors did a great job of increasing the suspense the first several chapters as the reader isn’t quite sure what is truly going on. Altogether, this book is a fun ride for YA readers, whether they are teens or adults. The fast pace of the story keeps you fully engaged. I would definitely read anther book written by these three authors. They have a good thing going on here. You need to read the guest post down below to see how truly hard this project was. Kudos to them for doing such a great job in writing such a fantastic story full of romance, mystery and suspense.

Warnings: Some swearing and nakedness due to the morphing that takes place by some characters. Nothing too alarming though.

Guest Post: by Jeffery Moore
I wanted to know about the writing process of this book. This post gives you all of the details.

Jeffery Moore: The project is like one of those things that begins as an idea (maybe a flippant idea) and morphs until coming to fruition. When I look back I think, “How did this really start?” It’s like a butterfly’s wing flapping escalating into a hurricane. Sherry and Cindy are attributing the inception of the project to me, but quite honestly, I don’t remember being the one that said, “Hey, let’s write a book together.” The story is my genre, but the audience (YA) is aligned to Cindy and Sherry. This had its own small challenges. One example is that I wrote a butcher shop scene and let’s just say the story took one of those ‘Pulp Fiction’ turns that needed to be undone.

Once we all said “Heck yeah, writing a story together sounds like fun!” I loosely developed character profiles for each of us. The adventure revolves around three siblings: one who is a leader, one who has the beauty, and one who has the brains. Once we had our profiles and the back story (and mystery) of why the parents were taken away, I crafted the outline and the first chapter to kickoff our writing adventure. Here are some of the biggest challenges I thought we experienced.

Challenge One: The story was in my element (fantasy) and I’m somewhat of a purist when it comes to fantasy. What I mean by this is that when the setting is on another planet I don’t expect it to be a replica of Earth (of course unless the story had a terra-forming element, which it doesn’t). We do make comparisons to Earth’s fauna and flora, but I found I had to really reign in the ‘world building’ aspect of fantasy.

Challenge Two: We needed to write the chapters serially. We each wrote from a single sibling’s POV, so that means I wrote every third chapter from Emiah’s POV. Because I kept to the script (outline) I quickly discovered I couldn’t write my chapters before Sherry and Cindy. Each of our characters tugged and pushed the story in off-script directions, meeting different people and encountering different obstacles.

Challenge Three: Keep the outline fluid and up to date. Because the story evolved with each chapter, it became important to keep the outline updated so that we each knew the story’s direction. I remember at one point something got goofed up and I think it was Cindy that wrote a chapter based off an old outline—oops!

Finally, I’ll add that writing with Cindy and Sherry was extremely fun and rewarding. If you try this with a writing buddy, don’t set deadlines and be willing to compromise on the elements of the story, and then just go with the journey your heroes take you on.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Jeffery Moore

Moore was born in Germany. As a military brat, much of his childhood was spent abroad, growing up in Germany on military installations. He subsequently enlisted in the military and served for ten years as an army pilot. While in the military, he lived in Italy and South Korea and deployed to many European countries. He has traveled to Australia, Japan, Singapore and most European countries. His experiences and contact with many different cultures helps form some of the elements in his stories. He currently works for a global IT company and lives in Massachusetts.

Find more about Jeffery and his work at http://www.jefferyemoore.com

Sherry Gammon

Unlovable was Gammon’s debut novel and quickly rose to many top seller lists on Amazon. She is pleased to announce that Unlovable is currently being made into a movie. She has added two more novels to her body of work. Not so Easy, book one of the Souls in Peril series, is the poignant story of Max Sanchez who is on a journey to help the struggling JD Miller survive high school, and Pete & Tink, a fun, light-hearted novella of a manga-loving geek and a five-and-a-half inch fairy. Gammon and her husband, along with their children and a couple of crazy dogs, call Upstate New York home. It is where she spends her nights writing instead of sleeping.

Find more about Sherry and her work at http://www.wordpaintingsunlimited.com

Cindy C Bennett

Bennett is the YA author of several books, including Geek Girl, Rapunzel Untangled, Enchanted Fairytales, and Heart on a Chain. She lives in Utah and has six kids (two of which are daughters in-law). She loves gooey cookies, dark chocolate, and cheese popcorn. She hates housework and cooking, and has no plans to become a domestic goddess. She occasionally co-hosts a geek podcast with her son, called Geek Revolution Radio. Her favorite pastime is riding her Harley.

Find more about Cindy and her work at http://www.cindycbennett.com

Read an excerpt here.

Read More on The Experiment Blog or on The Experiment Facebook PageAvailable Now at These Retailers:

Face to Face: Seeking a Personal Relationship with God by S. Michael Wilcox – Blog Tour

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

Aug 192013

Face to Face: Seeking a Personal Relationship with God

Author: S. Michael Wilcox

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published Date: August 2013

Hardcover/Kindle/DB Bookshelf: 128 pages

Genre: Religious Nonfiction

ISBN# 978-1-60907-520-0

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free hardcover review copy in exchange for an honest review

Summary

“And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend” (Exodus 33:11).

Is it possible to talk with God as Moses did—face to face? This is not only what we long for, but what God also ardently desires. For Moses that may have meant an actual physical encounter, but for most of us it is an expression that suggests friendship, open communication, honesty, and the conversations of familiarity. But how is that done? And how can we learn how God speaks to us individually? Bestselling author S. Michael Wilcox explores the scriptural expressions and concepts of “pouring out,” “wrestling,” being “filled with desire,” and “knocking” at the door Jesus promised would open to us— particularly in those times when we deeply need heaven to hear us and to confirm to our souls that more than our words are being received.

Review

In Face to Face: Seeking a Personal Relationship with God, S. Michael Wilcox presents six different methods of communication with Heavenly Father through prayer that build faith, increase understanding of His love for us, and strengthen our bond with Him.

I enjoyed the author’s writing style, and found the book to be a quick yet impactful read. I was most affected by the concept of “pouring out” our hearts to God. I related to the examples given and my heart was touched.

The importance of constantly reaching to become closer to Heavenly Father, both for myself and my posterity, was driven home to me by this quote in the chapter about Jeroboam and the fate of the ten tribes:

“Sometimes when we fail to reach for ourselves, we fail for the thousands who will follow in the culture we create.” -page 84

I was reassured by the reminder that our God wants to bless us in every way He can, and that all things that come from Him are for our benefit, even if we don’t see it at the time. I gained a new understanding of the word desire as it refers to becoming one with our Father and Savior, rather than a request for something from Them.

When we consult with God in deep, quiet prayer about what we should desire, He will answer us. Through our reaching out to Him in these different forms of prayer and communication, we will become closer to Him than we can in any other way.

“The Spirit reaches down and draws water for us, or rain falls upon our souls and the flowers of faith, devotion, obedience, virtue, courage, adoration, gratitude–and especially love–spring up. God can walk with us in our garden, one that he himself is primarily responsible for having created. But we both are fulfilled, both satisfied with a mutual giving and receiving.” –page 121

I don’t hesitate to recommend Face to Face: Seeking a Personal Relationship with God to anyone who desires a closer relationship with Heavenly Father. I will be keeping it in a handy place on my bookshelf to revisit often.

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