Unraveled by Julie Daines

 Posted by  Book Reviews
Mar 262014
 

unraveled_coverUnraveled: A Tale of True Love

Author: Julie Daines

Publisher: Covenant

Published: February 20th, 2014

ISBN13: 978-1-62108-627-7

Paperback: 200 pages

FTC FYI: Received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

“It’s thoroughly researched, expertly crafted, and it will sweep you off your feet with its beauty.” -UCW

When sickness swept through Bronwen’s family, it took the life of her father, brother, and sister, and left her permanently crippled. On the stormy eve of her sixteenth birthday, a faerie-witch gifts her a pair of enchanted shoes. Bronwen slips them on and is healed–but only when the shoes are on her feet. Her grace and beauty catches the eye of the king’s son–Urien, a handsome young man who prides himself on having everything perfect.

When Rhys, an old acquaintance and Captain of the Guard, recognizes Bronwen, he threatens to tell Urien her secret. Desperate to keep her deformity hidden and not to lose the love of handsome Urien, Bronwen quickly finds herself tangled in a web of lies and deceit. After all, she can’t wear the shoes forever.

My Review

Bronwen is a girl who has seen rough times.  After sickness crippled her legs and killed most of her family, all her mother and her had were each other.  We meet Bronwen and her mother on a stormy night where her mother tells her the faerie folks will be out causing mischief.  No sooner does she say that, when the Grey Maiden, the Gwyllion, appears at their door.  They give her shelter from the storm, all while the Gwyllion keeps staring at her crippled legs.  This irritates Bronwen, but she prepares a room for her to sleep.  While she is getting it ready, the Gwyllion comes to her tell her she knows what it is she wants.  Bronwen is surprised by this, but knows that she must watch her while Bronwen is on the swifts.

Before she could leave the room, the Gwyllion spoke again.  Nothing more than a whisper, yet her words filled the room.  “Who would want a crippled wife?”

Bronwen’s head snapped up.  She had never said those words out loud.  Not to anyone.  Not even her mother.  She already knew the answer.  It was why she wept sometimes at night.  Why she hated the boys in the village who looked at her, then looked away.  If she were whole, they would be vying for her favor even though they were all below her station.

She answered the Gwyllion’s question.  “No one.”

“And yet you dream,” the faerie witch said.  “The stars do not shine on dreamers.  They shine on those who see the truth.” (page 6 – 7)

The next morning Bronwen sees that the Grey Maiden is gone, but she has left Bronwen a gift, old shoes.  Her curiosity gets the best of her, and she tries them on.  The pain she experiences nearly knocks her out, but the pain is from her legs healing.  She can stand and walk.    Bronwen and her mother travels to town to present her to the king since she is of age.  She meets the king’s son, Urien, but recognizes Rhys from back home.  She quickly decides to lie about her family name, in hopes that Rhys won’t recognize her.  And what happens next, starts a chain of events that tangle of web of lies that have a hard time being unraveled.  Bronwen gets herself in a mix of trouble, and tries to find her way out, but the only one who can save her is herself.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars.  A fabulous read full of faerie legend and folklore.  It is also a story of a girl who doubts herself and others because of her limitations.  I loved the lessons that Bronwen learns.  Even though it takes something pretty drastic for the truth to finally come out, I love how it all unravels.  Julie did an amazing job with this book.  There is heart, humor, adventure and characters that surprised me.  Very enjoyable read.

Author Links

Website / Twitter /  Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Seagull Book / Deseret Book

 

 

 

The Husband Whisperer by Kevin Hinckley – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Mar 252014
 

TheHusbandWhispererThe Husband Whisperer

Author: Kevin Kinckley

Publisher: CFI/Cedar Fort, Inc.

Published: March 2014

Paperback: 144 pages

Genre: Religious Nonfiction/Marriage

ISBN# 978-1-4621-1384-2

Reviewed by: Shanda

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

Summary

Manipulation, threats, and anger only lead to harm and hurt feelings. Horse whisperers know that the best way to communicate in relationships is with a touch of gentleness. In The Husband Whisperer, Kevin Hinckley (MEd, LPC) shows women how to use their divine nature and to listen to the Spirit in order to bring peace into their marriages.

Review

Horse whispering has always fascinated me. I love watching horse whisperers at work. They have immense amounts of patience (which I don’t have) and a deep understanding of horses (which I also don’t have). They seem to know the animals better than the horses know themselves. They put themselves in the horses’ place, opening their hearts and minds to the needs and fears of some of God’s most beautiful creatures. In order to do what they do, they must love the horses, and put the animals’ concerns and feelings before their own desires to get the job done and get it done quickly.

Read that first paragraph again, substituting the word “husband” or “children” for horses, and you will understand where I was before reading The Husband Whisperer.

While I received encouragement to keep doing what is working in my marriage relationship, I was even more inspired to apply these principles to other relationships in my life, particularly my children–especially my teenagers. In fact, I believe a more appropriate title for this book would be The Family Whisperer, or even The People Whisperer.

When I first started reading The Husband Whisperer, I expected it to be more of a specific and detailed situational how-to book. For example, when your hubby does this, this is what he was thinking, and now you understand him better. In actuality, it is more personal and inspiring to me than that formulaic example. Through an easy-to-read, personable writing style and a touch of humor, the author strives to help women recognize their value and worth. He encourages women to see their divine nature and understand that their role is equally important in marriage as their husband’s role.

I appreciate how he explains, in scriptural context, that the term “preside” as used in The Family: A Proclamation to the World means to “watch over” rather than be the big boss man (my words, not the author’s).  I love his example of a fortress with two leaders of equal rank. One is charged with maintaining the outer defenses and watching for dangers, the other is responsible for the care of the people and supplies inside the fortress. Both stewardships are equal in significance, neither role is less important than the other, each requires a different yet essential set of skills, and they cannot effectively fulfill their assigned roles without each other.

There is so much more here than marital counsel, which felt like a smaller though still important part of the book. The author focuses on spiritual subjects such as heavenly communication, forgiveness, self-image, having convictions, seeking the Spirit, and listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. All of these aspects play an integral role in how we see ourselves and how we interact with others.

The Husband Whisperer is not heavy on marital advice. It certainly isn’t a book on husband manipulation. Instead it encourages women to recognize their spiritual talents, their divine worth, and their immense influence on those around them. By developing the spiritual attributes in which women are physiologically designed to excel, we can exemplify love and strength. We can teach our children with conviction and with the Spirit. We can be husband whisperers, children whisperers, family whisperers, people whisperers.

Find The Husband Whisperer:

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

 

Not Your Average Happy Ending by Chantele Sedgwick

 Posted by  Book Reviews
Mar 252014
 

NotYourAverageHappyEnding_ChantelSedgwick_1000x1500[1]-1Not Your Average Happy Ending

Author: Chantele Sedgwick

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

Published: March 3rd, 2014

Paperback: 257 pages

ASIN: B00IQAERR8

FTC FYI: I received an ePub copy from the author in exchange of an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

When Ash Summerland left the Academy of Magical Beings, he was sure he’d put his troubles behind him. But when his girlfriend, Kendall, is almost killed by an old enemy over something he knows little about, Ash is forced to confront the demons of his past.

With his fairy magic fading and his darker djinn magic more powerful than ever, Ash isn’t sure he can stop the evil from closing in around him. Although Kendall is the only thing keeping him from going over the edge, if he can’t learn to balance out his magic and find a way to defeat his enemies once and for all, both his world, and the girl he loves will be lost forever.

My Review

I LOVED Not Your Average Fairy Tale by Chantele.  Everything about it was magical.  If you are new to this series, I would read Fairy Tale first.  That being said, I was thrilled with the release of Happy Ending, as I knew it would be just as enjoyable as the first.  I was right.  Like the first book, both Ash and Kendall are telling the story from their point of view, rotating chapters.  We find out at the beginning, from Ash, that three months has passed.  Ash has been living in the human world in an apartment near Kendall, while she is in school.  While Ash is getting used to the whole “half djinn/half fairy” thing, Kendall is nearly killed by Dax, Ash’s half brother.  He wants something from Kendall that confuses Ash as to the reasoning behind it.  This starts a chain of events that lead to many battles, healing, dragons, banshees, and many more exciting adventures that lead to more questions for Ash and being lead to those who have been lost.

4 out of 5 stars.  I really enjoyed Happy Ending.  Just like the first book, Chantele did an amazing job with character development and plot.  I was drawn immediately back to Kendall and Ash’s world and what I loved about their relationship in Fairy Tale, was just as fabulous in Happy Ending.  Chantele is not only an amazing author, she is a great friend of mine.  I love her books and can’t wait for more titles from her.

Author Links

Goodreads / Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Publisher

Home Matters (A Ripple Effect Romance Novella, Book 1) by Julie N. Ford-Blog Tour Review

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Mar 212014
 

 

 

Home Matters Updated

 

 

Product Details

 

  • Title: Home Matters ( A Ripple Effect Romance Novella, Book 1)
  • Author: Julie N. Ford
  • Series: Ripple Effect Romance
  • Paperback: 150 pages
  • Publisher: HEA Publishing (February 12, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1941363008
  • FTC, FYI: Received a review Kindle copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Home Matters Book Description 
According to her mother, Olivia Pembroke was born to be a star. But how is she supposed to be famous when she can’t even get a decent acting gig? Her lucky break comes when she lands an audition for a wildly popular home improvement show. Even though she has no design training and has never even held a power tool, she refuses to let that stop her. She’s confident that her destiny is finally within reach. When her affections are torn between her heartthrob co-host and the irritating, yet somehow endearing lead contractor, does she continue to reach for the stars? Or does she design a new happily ever after? One that leads not to the fading lights of fame and fortune, but to a love that will burn forever.
 My Review
This novella was full of humor and romance. I love anything that author Julie N. Ford writes! I always know when I start reading a romance by her that it will have a good story. The plot pretty much played out the way I hoped it would. Main character Olivia is seeking fame and fortune, starts falling for her suave co-star William and another man on set, the hunky contractor, Pete. This love triangle has Olivia confused and her values and dreams are challenged. I was quite pleased at the outcome, but also wished the antagonist had gotten more what was coming to him. It you want a quick read full of clean romance, then you’ll enjoy Home Matters.

Purchase Home Matters Here…

JulieMeet Author Julie N. Ford
Julie is a forty-something, dangerously close to becoming a fifty-something, graduate from San Diego State University with a BA in Political Science. In addition, she has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama, which has only made her better able to recognize the unhealthy, codependent relationship she has with writing. Professionally, she has worked in teaching and as a marriage and family counselor. She is the author of four women’s fiction novels, including Count Down to Love, a 2011 Whitney Award finalist. When she’s not writing, she entertains delusions of being a master gardener, that is, when she’s not killing the unsuspecting plants in her yard with her good intentions. She lives outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, two daughters, a Betta named Bob, and a Scottish fold kitten, Ardweal.

 

 

Updated Ripple Effect

The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series 
  Enjoy this exciting new series of clean novellas by six critically-acclaimed authors. “Like a pebble tossed into calm water, a simple act can ripple outward and have a far-reaching effect on those we meet, perhaps setting a life on a different course—one filled with excitement, adventure, and sometimes even love.” Book 1: Home Matters by Julie N. Ford Book 2: Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin Book 3: Righting A Wrong by Rachael Anderson Book 4: Lost and Found by Karey White Book 5: Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver Book 6: Immersed by Jennifer Griffith

 

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 3/31/14   Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Inspired Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Luminescence (Middle School Magic) by Braden Bell-Blog Tour Review

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Mar 202014
 

 

 

 

 

Product Details

 

  • Title: Luminescence
  • Author: Braden Bell
  • Series: Middle School Magic
  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (March 11, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1462114059
  • FTC FYI: Received a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description
Determined to rescue their favorite teacher, Conner, Lexa, and Melanie confront their worst fears and use their powers in unexpected ways to defeat Lady Nightwing, the treacherous Darkhand leader. But when the trio makes a terrible choice to save Dr. Timberi, their powers may not be enough to keep everyone alive. A thrilling conclusion to the Middle School Magic series!

Summary:

“He’s alive!” she yelled. “He’s alive!”
As Lexa spoke the words, she knew they were true. She knew with total certainty.
“Dr. Timberi’s alive!”

 

When Lady Nightwing kidnapped Dr. Timberi, everyone assumed their teacher had been killed. So when Lexa discovers that he isn’t dead, Conner can’t believe his ears.

 

Determined to rescue their favorite teacher, Conner, Lexa, and Melanie confront their worst fears and use their powers in unexpected ways to defeat Lady Nightshade, the treacherous Darkhand leader. But when the trio makes a terrible choice to save Dr. Timberi, their powers may not be enough to keep everyone alive. A thrilling conclusion to the Middle School Magic series!

 

Your favorite characters return in this satisfying conclusion of the Middle School Magic series! Filled with plenty of twists, humor, and adventure, Luminescence will keep you guessing until the last page.

 

Study hall? Definitely. Substitute Teachers? Absolutely. Rescuing people from brutal villains? Bring it on!

 

My Review
This series has been such a fun one to read. I love the main characters and the relationships that they have. There have been some rocky roads between Connor, Lexa and Melanie, but they work through the many ups and downs.This third and final book in the trilogy is full of action and many exciting things. As I read it, I thought of many of my students that would love to read this book. 
It was great to see the ways the teen’s powers manifested in Luminescence. I also loved to see how they grew into their powers.I also liked the idea that their powers were even more effective when they combined them together. This was a strong message about working together.  The system of light and dark in this world is so creative! I like the way that Braden describes so easily for any reader to understand. 

Speaking of ages, this book/series is a wonderful one to read together as a family. I’m always looking for books that I can enjoy reading with my 16 year old and my almost 12 year old. I do recommend that you read the first two books in the series first.

The ending of this trilogy fills you with so much emotion.There are parts where you laugh, scream and cry. There is the lesson of making sacrifices for friends and family. This theme is one that will let you have a good talk with your kids. I recommend that you read through the discussion questions too. You always know you’ve read a good book when you feel fulfilled when finished. That’s exactly what happened at the end of Luminescence. I’m excited to read what will come next from this talented author.

About the AuthorBraden_Bell

 

During his middle school years, Braden Bell was the least-stable, lowest-achieving student in the history of the world. He shocked every former teacher by graduating from high school and college, and then going on to earn both a Master’s degree as well as a Ph.D. A teacher by day and a parent by night, he is around teenagers 24/7. He teaches music and directs plays at a private school, much like Marion Academy in The Middle School Magic series. Whether he fights evil after hours is something he cannot disclose.

 

Braden Bell holds degrees in theatre from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. from NYU. A committed educator, he has been directing plays and teaching school now for over twenty years. Braden lives with his family on a quiet, tree-lined lot outside of Nashville, TN, where he teaches theatre and choir at a middle school. The author of The Road Show, The Kindling, and Penumbras.

 

Lean More on his website* twitter* facebook* goodreads* publisher

 

Giveaway $25 Amazon giftcard or Paypal cash.

I Am Strong! I Am Smart! and We Are Strong! Mothers and Daughters Stand Together by Fay A. Klingler-Double Blog Tour Reviews

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Mar 182014
 

 

 

 

 

Product Details

 

  • Title: I Am Strong! I Am Smart!
  • Author: Fay A. Klinger
  • Hardcover: 40 pages
  • Publisher: Nutrire Fiducia Productions (February 20, 2014)
  • Genre: Picture book for children ages 8-12
  • ISBN-10: 0989787109
  • FTC FYI: Was given a review PDF copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

Book Description

Luisa May, known to her family and friends as Lu, loves to play games with her grandma. When she’s bullied at school, Grandma has a special puzzle for Lu to help her see how valuable she is—no matter what others say, or how much doubt she feels within herself. Soon after, Grandma has to go to the hospital, and Lu finds out Grandma needs help recovering. Then it’s Lu’s turn to help Grandma see how valuable she is—no matter how much doubt she feels within herself. It’s a beautiful parallel for young and old alike, as each age learns from the other.

 

Written and illustrated with loving hands, this delightful children’s story offers a heartfelt message that unites and bonds generations. From the award-winning pen of Fay A. Klingler, I Am Strong! I Am Smart! provides to women of all ages a reminder of the tremendous gift of “girl power.”

 

My Review
I loved this new children’s book I Am Strong! I Am Smart! The cute story of Luisa May and her Grandmother illustrates the love that they share. Grandma helps Lu learn lessons about loving herself by teaching her that she is smart and important after she has been bullied at school. Then when Grandma has a stroke, Lu turns around and helps Grandma realize how smart she is and how she can reach her goals of recovering from the stroke. This book would be a beautiful gift for a Grandma to give her grandkids or vice-versa. Any book that shares a message that every person is a special child of God and can be strong and courageous, is a winner. I will share this book with my family and those I know.

 

Product Details

 

  • Title: We Are Strong! Mothers and Daughters Stand Together(Fearlessly Living the Young Women Values) 
  • Author: Fay A. Klingler
  • Hardcover: 232 pages
  • Publisher: Brigham Distributing (March 3, 2014)
  • Genre: Non-fiction/religious
  • ISBN-10: 0989787117 
  • FTC-FYI: I received a review PDF copy in exchange for an honest review.         

 Book Description
Every girl needs a mentor, someone she can trust to show her the way home to Heavenly Father. The stakes are high as women of influence, how we live and how we teach Heavenly Father’s daughters will change the course of their lives forever.

Using compelling real-life stories from women of all ages, award-winning author Fay A. Klingler clearly defines how and why we must continue to live and teach the Young Women values. We Are Strong! Beautifully illustrates how powerful a faithful woman’s example can be.

My Review
I really liked the format in which Fay wrote this book. It follows the Young Women’s Values. With the wonderful stories of young and older women learning these principles, there is something for everyone to relate to. I also love how Fay sums up the end of each chapter, by saying: 1)Why do we teach our daughters about the value and then 2) How to teach our daughters about the value. This book is one that every LDS women should read with their daughters or granddaughters. I’m planning on doing this with my 16 year old daughter. 

Here are some of the key points that struck home with me. Actually it was hard not to quote the whole book. I chose some examples from the first few chapters and Young Women Values that were discussed.

 Faith
-Where there is gratitude there is spirituality.
-We always have a choice whether we are going to listen and
obey the Lord.
-We teach our daughters to live by faith because
by faith we receive answers to our prayers.Why do we teach our daughters faith? To give
them hope. We share the key tool that will help them
bring about and recognize miracles in their own lives.

 Divine Nature
 One big difference between physical characteristics and divine
traits is we have the ability to diminish or enhance the divine by
the choices we make.
-As women of all ages, if we are not
watchful, experiences may confuse and entice us away from our
birthright—the beautiful, the sacred, and the divine.

I feel like it was a blessing to read this book. I”m so grateful for the opportunity to review it. I needed the guidance in this book to help me in my parenting as a single mom and to a mother of a young woman. 
Overall, this book is my top choice for gift giving on Mother’s Day.It’s a timely addition considering what’s going on in the world today. This book will change women and remind them who they are. It will lift women up and ingrain in their minds how important they are in God’s plan. 



Meet Author Fay A. Klingler   

I had a happy, memorable childhood, growing up in Mesa and Strawberry, Arizona. On my website, www.fayklingler.com, I’ve included my story of how I became a writer and an illustrator.

I am currently married to an incredible man. Our blended family includes 12 children. We enjoy getting together for family dinners and activities.

My husband and I live in Draper, Utah.
 
I love writing for women and families. I’m excited about the many positive responses I’ve had from my two new books coming out in March 2014–the non-fiction piece for mothers and daughters and a delightful, fiction picture book for girls ages 8 to 12. Both of these new works are heavily endorsed.
I’m on Facebook every week (www.facebook.com/FayKlingler) and love to hear from my readers. Also, I blog to my website (www.fayklingler.com) every week. I deliver by e-mail an author newsletter every quarter. If you would like to receive the newsletter, send me your e-mail address on Facebook. These three locations will soon show giveaways and special book launches for these two exciting, new books.

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