Jun 122014
 

CD2S-2014_300

9 days until summer!

 

aubreymaceAubrey Mace lives in Utah but every winter she considers moving somewhere warmer. She enjoys her job in an infusion center but wishes she had more time to spend with the people in her head– the ones who lure her in with the promise of a good story and never fail to surprise her. When she’s not consorting with them, she likes to hang out with her family and friends– the ones who walk the delicate line between supporting her writing addiction and keeping her grounded in reality. Aubrey has four published novels– Spare Change, My Fairy Grandmother, Santa Maybe, and Before the Clock Strikes Thirty. She also has a novella, The Science of Sentiment, which was included in the Timeless Romance Anthology Spring Vacation Collection.

Visit Aubrey:  WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER 

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LDSWBR: What book or movie reminds you of summer?

AUBREY: My favorite summer book is Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. I was assigned to read it in my sophomore English class and our teacher took us all out on the football field and we walked around barefoot in the grass. Still one of my favorite books ever; I try to read it every summer.

LDSWBR: Do you hike during the summer? If so, where is your favorite place to hike?

AUBREY: I do like to hike but I have to cover up pretty good– I love the sun, but it wants me to suffer! My favorite hike is Calf Creek Falls but I love Bryce Canyon too.

LDSWBR: What is the best book you’ve read so far this year?

AUBREY: The best book I’ve read so far this year is probably The Secret History by Donna Tartt. You already know whodunit on the first page and the story itself unfolds pretty slowly, but the character study is fascinating. Donna Tartt creates some of the most real characters I’ve ever met.

LDSWBR: Thanks, Aubrey!

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

41j73irFEML

With wedding festivities swirling around her, the bride’s fortune-telling aunt transfixes young Shannon Fielding. The gypsy woman foresees love in the girl’s future: before her thirtieth year, Shannon will meet the man of her dreams. The promise of romance is absolutely thrilling it’s almost enough to compensate for the groom’s annoying younger brother . . .

Shannon has remembered, and loathed, Nathan since their childhood meeting at the wedding reception that set her on a never-ending quest to find her Mr. Right. When Nathan steps back into Shannon’s life, she is forced to reconcile her memory of the obnoxious boy he once was with the endearing man he’s become. Nathan quickly becomes the best friend a girl could ask for but when their friendship threatens to develop into something more, can Shannon give up the idea of the mysterious soul mate she’s sought for so long?

What is your most memorable high school read?

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**To enter the LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2014, leave a thoughtful comment below.**

This is raffle-style drawing where all entries throughout the contest period are entered into the same “hat” for all prizes. Because this is a raffle-style drawing, commenting on each Countdown to Summer 2014 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. US only. 18 years and older please. See all contest rules and restrictions below.

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By leaving a comment and entering the Countdown to Summer 2014, 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 June 5, 2014 and all entries must be received by 12:00 Midnight June 30, 2014 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 July 3, 2014 by use of a sequence generator on random.org; winner will have until July 10, 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 6/12/14 – more to be added to this list!)**

  • Unraveled by Julie Daines (signed paperback)
  • Any book by A.L. Sowards (choice of paperback or Kindle version)
  • An autographed copy of any one Sarah M. Eden book of the winner’s choice
  • Chances Are by Traci Hunter Abramson (signed/personalized paperback)
  • Choice of The Inventor’s Secret (hardback or paperback) or The Avatar Battle (hardback or audio CD) by Chad Morris (signed copy)
  • Missing Lily by Annette K. Larsen (ebook in .mobi or epub)
  • Glimmering Light by Margot Hovley (personalized paperback or Kindle)
  • Before the Clock Strikes Thirty by Aubrey Mace (personalized paperback)

 

May 232014
 

41j73irFEMLBefore the Clock Strikes Thirty

Author: Aubrey Mace

Publisher: Covenant Communications 

Published: April 2014

ISBN: 978-1-62108-250-7

Paperback: 193 pages

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

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

With wedding festivities swirling around her, the bride’s fortune-telling aunt transfixes young Shannon Fielding. The gypsy woman foresees love in the girl’s future: before her thirtieth year, Shannon will meet the man of her dreams. The promise of romance is absolutely thrilling it’s almost enough to compensate for the groom’s annoying younger brother . . .
Shannon has remembered, and loathed, Nathan since their childhood meeting at the wedding reception that set her on a never-ending quest to find her Mr. Right. When Nathan steps back into Shannon’s life, she is forced to reconcile her memory of the obnoxious boy he once was with the endearing man he’s become. Nathan quickly becomes the best friend a girl could ask for but when their friendship threatens to develop into something more, can Shannon give up the idea of the mysterious soul mate she’s sought for so long?

My Review

From the first page, I knew this was going to be a fun read.  Aubrey’s humor brightly shined through in writing these fun characters and enjoyable story.  I laughed a lot, smiled a lot and at times, I wanted to smack Shannon.  As fun of a character as she was, she was stubborn and clueless.  But that turned out to be my favorite thing about her.  Her inner voice and the back-and-forth way about her made for a great read.  We first meet Shannon in a closet with her best friend, Nathan, while they are hiding from an interesting situation at a wedding.  The rest of the story is told in flashback, starting when Shannon was younger, and when she first meets Nathan, AKA: Jerkface.  (I’m going to let you figure out why/how he is called that.)  I loved how this story was told.  Very clever and entertaining.  Shannon, of course, stole the show for me.  Darling character who is trying to figure out her life, while trying to figure out who she loves.

4 out of 5 stars.  I know I sound like a broken record, but this is a very fun read that will leave you happy at the end.  The characters are strong and Aubrey’s writing is solid.

Author Links

Blog / Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon / Deseret Book / Barnes and Noble / Seagull Book