Paige by Annette Lyon

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Sep 112012
 

Paige

Author: Annette Lyon

Publisher: Covenant

Published: August 2012

ISBN-13: 978-1-60861-946-7

Genre: general fiction

Paperback: 238 pages

FTC FYI: Review copy, which did not affect my review

Reviewed by Mindy

Backcover Summary: After a bitter divorce from her unfaithful husband, Paige moves from Utah to California with her two little boys and vows to make a fresh start.  She finds a job at a dental practice that helps her get back on her feet, but it’s the friends she makes at her new book club who help her realize how strong she is and who give her support to carry on as she faces the challenges of being a single mom.  She also meets Derryl, a wonderful, kind, attentive man who treats her right–something her ex never did.  Yet, Paige struggles to figure out who she is a s woman rather than a wife, how to help  her boys adjust to a broken home, and whether she can ever trust a man or love again.  As Paige leans on the book club ladies and Derryl’s ever present care, one thing becomes clear:  healing from the past requires more than a change of address.

My Review

Paige is another strong offering from Annette Lyon and for The Newport Ladies Book Club.  From Olivia, and Daisy I was able to catch a glimpse of the woman that Paige was, and I really liked her then.  Reading her own story made me appreciate her even more, and also the other ladies through Paige’s eyes.  At the first book club meeting there is always the first impressions of each character.  I love going back to those meetings through a different character’s view point, to see what she thought of someone that first night, and after that.  It shows each of their journeys, and it helps me appreciate each character more.

Paige was hesitant to go to book club.  One of my favorite quotes from her is on page 20:

For years, I’d pretty much lived in the bubble of being Doug’s wife.  I hadn’t met any new friend in–I couldn’t remember how long.  Since the divorce, I’d turned that bubble into a cocoon.  And here I was, forcing myself out of it.  Meeting new people would be good for me.  I knew this on an intellectual level;  however, emotionally, the idea made me want to drive right back home.

Each of the ladies from the book club came to book club for different reasons, but they seem to have one in common, to find a friend.

There are some fun things that happen to Paige, some sad, and heart wrenching.  Christmas was hard for her.  I was able to really see what a loving character she was during the times with her sons.  She’s a great mom, and Paige finds she may need to make some difficult choices.

4 out of 5 stars.  Annette is an amazing writer.  She recently wrote a blog post about the series, and how each author would write their characters, or how the others gals would write it for them.  I laughed a lot.  Check it out.  Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, her blog, and The Newport Ladies Book Club.  The next book in the series is Athena by Heather Moore.  It comes out in November.

AMAZON / DESERET BOOK / SEAGULL BOOK

Annette Lyon- LDSWBR Countdown to Christmas 2009 Author Post

 Posted by  Countdown to Christmas, Special Features
Dec 012009
 

24 Days until Christmas!

Time for our first Countdown to Christmas 2009 author post!


Annette Lyon is the author of six novels and one self-published grammar book. Her most recently published works are: Tower of Strength (March 2009), There, Their, They’re: A No-Tears Guide to Grammar from the Word Nerd (May 2009), and All is Bright: A Compilation of True Christmas Short Stories (available NOW).


Annette’s upcoming releases include: Band of Sisters (coming March 2010) and a chocolate cookbook, as yet untitled, to be released in 2010. To learn more about Annette, visit her website: http://annettelyon.com and her blog: The Lyon’s Tale.

To purchase Annette’s books, click on the titles or book covers above.


LDSWBR: Annette, what favorite holiday traditions do you and/or your family participate in every year, and will you be starting any new traditions this year?

ANNETTE: My mother is Finnish, and my family lived in Finland when I was 10-13, so Finland is very dear to my heart. I grew up with a traditional Finnish sweet bread as part of our family’s Christmas season, and I’ve carried that on with my children. It’s called pulla, and it’s flavored with cardamom. (Just the smell of the spice is enough to make my eyes glaze over.)

The great part is that for my children, it’s not Christmas season until we’ve made pulla braids. They love making them AND eating them!

Another big tradition is playing Bing Crosby music and watching the movie White Christmas. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not Christmas until I hear Bing singing. He’s from my dad’s generation, and when I hear his voice, I can hear my dad singing along in my head.

LDSWBR: What books are on your Christmas wish list?

ANNETTE: For years, I’ve been meaning to finish reading the trilogy about the black Saints. I’ve read the first two of the Standing on the Promises Series, but I’d love to get The Last Mile of the Way, by Young and Gray. The first two in the series were excellent.


I’m also an OED (Oxford English Dictionary) nut, and I’ve heard that Reading the OED by Ammon Shea is a great read.

I read tons of LDS fiction all the time, so for the most part, there isn’t a lot of that on my wish list right now–I’ve already gotten that taken care of pretty well!

LDSWBR: What books do you plan on purchasing/have you purchased as gifts for loved ones this Christmas? (Unless sharing would ruin the surprise for someone- we wouldn’t want that to happen!)
ANNETTE: Another tradition we have in our family is always giving the kids a book from Mom and Dad on Christmas Eve, so they’ll each get one from us. I’m assuming they won’t be reading this . . .

My son has asked for the next Alex Rider book Alligator Tears, by Anthony Horowitz, which was just released. (Alex Rider is sort of a teenage James Bond–my son loves those books.)

My 12-yr-old daughter will be getting Shannon Hales’ Book of a Thousand Days (which I LOVED).

Next daughter down requested the one Dear Dumb Diary book she doesn’t own yet.

And I haven’t quite decided what book my youngest (age 7) will get.

I’m sure I’ll buy more books for loved ones, but that’s what’s on the list so far!


LDSWBR: Thank you so much, Annette!

Listen to our podcast with Annette Lyon on www.ldswomensbookreview.com!

Annette’s pulla braids look delicious! My family enjoys my mom’s Cinnamon Pull-Aparts every Christmas morning. What traditional breads do you make every Christmas?


***Countdown to Christmas Contest***


LDSWBR will hold a drawing on Christmas Day for a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors that will be featured on the blog. Simply post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Christmas author posts to enter. Here are the rules:

  • LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a “thoughtful” comment.
  • Only one comment per person per “Countdown to Christmas” author post will be entered into the drawing. This allows the potential for 24 entries per person at the end of the contest. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you’d like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.
  • Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MST on December 24, 2009. Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MST on December 31, 2009 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.
  • Book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.

Books that have been generously donated by the author for drawing prizes:

  • Loyalty’s Web by Joyce DiPastena
  • Hidden Branch by G.G. Vandagriff
  • Altared Plans by Rebecca Talley
  • A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell (includes a bonus copy of Michele’s Christmas booklet, A Candle in the Window)
  • Her Good Name by Josi Kilpack
  • MISSING by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
  • Famous Family Nights by Anne Bradshaw
  • Love Letters of Joseph and Emma (autographed copy) by Angela Eschler
  • Family Home Evening Adventures by Rebecca Irvine
  • Counting the Cost by Liz Adair
  • Shudder by Jennie Hansen
  • Mormon Mishaps and Mischief by D.N. Giles & C.L. Beck
  • Dawn’s Early Light by Laurie (L.C.) Lewis
  • The Fairy Thorn (brand new release!) by Dorothy Keddington

Thank you so much!

Annette Lyon and Heather Moore – Episode 35

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Aug 122009
 

Sheila and I spent a pleasant afternoon with authors Annette Lyon & Heather Moore recording Episode 35 of the LDSWBR podcast. Annette’s most recent novel, Tower of Strength, was released this past spring. Heather’s newest book, Alma, a continuation of her previous book, Abinadi, will be released this fall. Annette & Heather are two of the sweetest ladies you’ll ever meet. While Heather is dark-haired and quiet and Annette is blonde and bit more outspoken, their friendship is apparent in the way the support and encourage each other.

During the podcast, we spoke about the different experiences they’ve had researching their historical novels. Heather and Annette are both thorough in their research as well as sincere about telling an inspiring, uplifting story.

Heather Moore spent several years in the Holy Land, and was baptized in the Red Sea. Her book, Alma, tells the story of one of the wicked priests of King Noah after his conversion, covering the gathering of believers at the Waters of Mormon and beyond, and what events may have transpired during that time. I was thrilled to be asked to read and review Alma. As much as I liked Abinadi, I enjoyed Alma even more. Heather tells the story of Raquel and Maia, as well as Alma and Helam, in such a personal and unforgettable way that it was quite easy to imagine myself there. I can’t wait to see what Heather has in store for the future.

When Annette Lyon wrote her first Temple novel, House on the Hill, she had no idea it was only the first in a series. Tower of Strength, book four of the Temple Series, is set during the construction of the Manti temple. Tabitha and Samuel have both suffered difficult losses. As a single parent far from family, Tabitha has had to be strong to take care of herself and her son, Will. Samuel arrives in Manti from London and accepts work in a stable full of unpleasant and unfamiliar tasks involving cleaning up after farm animals. His frustration and loneliness lead him to question why he needed to come to Zion at all, especially after losing the one person he wanted to be with in Zion. You can watch a trailer for Tower of Strength here.

Annette also recently released a wonderful resource- There, Their, They’re: A No-Tears Guide to Grammar From the Word Nerd, available through Amazon, Lyfe Books, and Create Space.

Tower of Strength and Alma come highly recommended from LDSWBR. Thanks to Heather and Annette for all the hard work and research, as well as the good conversation! Listen to Episode 35 and enjoy!

Happy Reading!

Episode 35- Interview with Authors Annette Lyon and Heather (H.B.) Moore

 Posted by  2009 Podcasts, Podcasts
Jul 092009
 
Podcast for July 9, 2009
Episode 35

Authors Annette Lyon and Heather Moore delighted us with their presence in Episode 35!  These two talented women have published several novels and have more on the way.  Don’t miss this episode!

[podcast]http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/shows/2009-07-09/ldswbr_episode35_07-09-09.mp3[/podcast]

cover_tos_180Annette_Cover[1]AbinadiAlma_COVER Crop

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