18 days until Christmas

 

I was born in Utah, but grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona and St. Louis, Missouri, the fifth of seven children. I attended Southern Virginia University and Brigham Young University, where I studied English and Theater. I now live in Idaho with my husband and four children. I believe there is no substitute for good writing or good chocolate. Fortunately, one often leads to the other.

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

WEBSITE | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+

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

ANNETTE: O Holy Night and Carol of the Bells. I love listening and singing both of those. I love O Holy Night not only for the musicality, but for the message and the emotion it evokes. I love Carol of the Bells for the challenge it presented when I first learned it in choir. Plus, it’s just a fabulous song.

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?

ANNETTE: My favorite group game is Beyond Balderdash. I really enjoy making up random plots for the movie titles section. However, my favorite pastime during the holidays is doing puzzles. If I can complete 3 or 4 500 piece puzzles over the holiday week, then I am a happy camper. My husband doesn’t understand the appeal, but it’s something that’s always been a part of my holiday vacation.

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

ANNETTE: Blackmoore. I really enjoy Julianne’s writing. I think it’s beautiful and she tells a beautiful story. I have a tendency to pick books apart and find things that I would change or rewrite. So finding a book that leaves me completely satisfied is a wonderful thing.

LDSWBR: Thank you, Annette!

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Just Ella

AMAZON | KINDLE | BARNES & NOBLE | NOOK 

Ariella was only looking for a distraction, something to break up the monotony of palace life. What she found was a young man willing to overlook her title and show her a new and vibrant way of life. But when her growing feelings for Gavin spiral out of control and clash with the expectations of her station, she will discover that the consequences of her curiosity are far more severe than she’d imagined.

“I watched in helpless horror as two guards hauled Gavin to his feet and dragged him from the room. My voice was frozen, unable to protest as another guard took hold of my arm, leading me upstairs. From the confines of my room, I stared into the darkness beyond my window, hoping to catch one more glimpse of Gavin. He was gone, and I wondered if he would have been better off if he had never met me.”

 When was the last time you put a puzzle together? How many pieces was the largest puzzle you’ve ever assembled?

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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, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, and Pinterest (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 12/7/13 – more to be added to this list!)**

• Rocky Road by Josi S. Kilpack (personalized copy)
• Shannon’s Hope by Josi S. Kilpack (personalized copy)
• The House at Rose Creek by Jenny Proctor (signed copy)
• Penumbras by Braden Bell (signed copy)
• The Reluctant Blogger by Ryan Rapier (personalized copy)
• Just Ella by Annette K. Larsen (personalized paperback)

 Previous Countdown to Christmas 2013 posts:

• Rocky Road and Shannon’s Hope by Josi S. Kilpack (12/3/13)
• The House at Rose Creek by Jenny Proctor (12/4/13)
• Penumbras by Braden Bell (12/5/13)
• The Reluctant Blogger by Ryan Rapier (12/6/13)