choices – LDS Women's Book Review

Remake by Ilima Todd — Blog Tour

Posted by Mindy Book Reviews

Oct 212014

Remake

Author: Ilima Todd

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: October 14th, 2014

ISBN13: 978-1-60907-924-6

Hardcover: 291 pages

FTC FYI: Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

Nine is the ninth female born in her batch of ten females and ten males. By design, her life in Freedom Province is without complications or consequences. However, such freedom comes with a price. The Prime Maker is determined to keep that price a secret from the new batches of citizens that are born, nurtured, and raised androgynously.

But Nine isn’t like every other batcher. She harbors indecision and worries about her upcoming Remake Day — her seventeenth birthday, the age when batchers fly to the Remake facility and have the freedom to choose who and what they’ll be.

When Nine discovers the truth about life outside of Freedom Province, including the secret plan of the Prime Maker, she is pulled between two worlds and two lives. Her decisions will test her courage, her heart, and her beliefs. Who can she trust? Who does she love? And most importantly, who will she decide to be?

My Review

Nine was picked on for being different in her batch of 20, but she always had Theron around to stick up for her. Something happens that forces them apart, and Nine has to learn how to survive without him and learn how to live a life she has never known. I know that doesn’t make any sense now, but I don’t want to summarize anymore than that, every page is so important, especially when Nine meets with the Prime Maker. What I thought was interesting was each batch member is waiting to be Remade when they are 17, they could even chose a different gender if they wanted. Nine really struggles with what her life should become, until life chooses for her. Those who live in Freedom think they are free to choose, but are so wrong.

This book is very cool and intriguing. I wasn’t sure what to think of Nine and her life in Freedom when I started reading, but I really ended up caring about what happened to her and those around her, especially when the story takes a different, but enjoyable, turn. I loved how the author threw this new situation in for her (again, can’t tell, sorry). I loved the characters that she meets in her new life and LOVED the ending. Also, what really was happening in Freedom is mind-blowing and creepy.

4 out of 5 stars. I was excited to learn from the author that there will be two more books!

Author Links

Website / Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon / Deseret Book / Barnes and Noble

Chasing June by Shannen Crane Camp — Blog Tour/Giveaway

Posted by Mindy Book Reviews

Dec 052013

Chasing June

Author: Shannen Crane Camp

Publisher: Sugar Coated Press

Publish Date: December 14th, 2013

ISBN13: 9781484191262

Genre: YA contemporary

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

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

June Laurie has it all—a budding career on the hit crime drama Forensic Faculty, a supportive and perfect boyfriend in her best friend Joseph Cleveland, and hopes of transferring her acting skills to the stage at college. But in a series of plot twists as dramatic as any Hollywood storyline, June’s dreams dim with a heavy dose of grown-up reality. Once she starts school at BYU, June’s days become filled with classes and the new challenge of dealing with jealous theatre majors who seem determined to give her the cold shoulder. Her happy plans for a future with “the one” take a turn, too, when Joseph dumps her to focus on preparing for his two-year LDS mission. Casting directors and the siren call of stardom beckon her back to California, while an old co-star appears on the scene to confuse things even more. Caught up in the drama of life—the type that has more intrigue, subplots, and unexpected romance than a murder mystery game—June starts to wonder if maybe her life’s script might end with a grand finale she never saw coming.

My Review

June is an absolute doll. She is an easy character to love and cheer for. June is quirky and fun. Joseph is a doll too, but things are different between them this time around. June and Joseph do love each other, but Joseph is going to leave on his mission soon and doesn’t want to hold June back. This confuses June because she sees him flirting and hanging out with other girls at school. Not only does it confuse her, she’s not happy about it. She tries making friends with her vain roommates, but there isn’t really a friendship connection there. Her friends from Forensic Faculty pay her a visit and Ryan especially is happy to see her. Which makes things even more complicated between June and Joseph.

4 out of 5 stars. Another great book from Shannen. I can always count on her books to be funny, clean, and well-written. Shannen’s writing is fun and solid, and I can see the darling gal she is in the stories she writes. I really liked the relationship between Ryan and June. It really conflicts me, because I love Joseph, but Ryan is likable and a great guy, too. But, he’s not LDS and June has told him he wants to marry in the temple. Joseph does go on his mission, and June’s career takes off as does Ryan’s. The ending definitely sets up another book, which I can’t wait to read!

Shannen is the author of many fabulous books. Her book Finding June, was a Whitney Award finalist in 2012.

Shannen is having a Facebook launch party for Chasing June.

Author Links

Goodreads / Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Purchase Links (will be available when book is officially for sale, will update)

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Chasing June

by Shannen Crane Camp

Giveaway ends December 08, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Drawing Out the Dragons by James A. Owen

Posted by Mindy Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews

Apr 032013

Drawing Out the Dragons: A Meditation on Art, Destiny, and the Power of Choice

Author: James A. Owen

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: March 5, 2013 (originally published March 2011)

Hardcover: 112 pages

ISBN13: 9781609073688

FTC FYI: Received a hardcover copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy

Inside Book Jacket

“I believe in you. You have a great destiny. You are meant for great things. And it’s possible to live a wonderful, extraordinary life.”

That is the promise offered by bestselling author and illustrator James A. Owen in this remarkable and inspirational meditation. In Drawing Out the Dragons, James shares personal stories and the deep truths he learned while navigating past obstacles and adversity toward a life of lasting belief and joy.

We all have a grand destiny, but sometimes we feel we lack the power to achieve it. But we always have the power to choose. “Every drawing, every life, is nothing but a series of choices and actions. Make your lines. Make your choices…. What you create from there is entirely up to you.”

Drawing Out the Dragons has the power to uplift, inspire, and change your life.

My Review

That summary pretty much sums up how I felt about this book. I agree 100% with what the author said. I was done reading this book, I felt like a better person. That I could inspire my husband, daughters, friends, to be better people themselves. I loved this book. I was so touched by the author’s stories. His life is amazing, he is an amazing person. We all can be, if we but choose it.

There are so many phrases that I loved while reading.

You have to put in the effort to do quality work, because that’s what will matter most. Because if the quality is there, no one will care how old you are. (page 42)

Nothing–nothing–you really want to make happen is over until you decide to stop. And if you really want to make it happen, no reason, no excuse, will ever be big enough to make you stop. (page 79)

Never, ever sacrifice what you want the most, for what you want the most at that moment. (page 102)

With no regret and no fear, there’s nothing left but possibility, and joy. And the realization that it is a wonderful world we live in, after all. (page 114)

Aren’t those awesome. But these two were my favorites.

I believe in you. And I will not let you fail (page 122)

Magic is real. And worth looking for. (page 126)

I honestly could quote this whole book. There is nothing more inspiring then reading about how someone failed at a few things, but was successful in many things. James A. Owen has had an amazing life full of heart ache, let downs, financial trouble, but in my opinion they made him who he was. One of the best moments in the book was a blessing he received from his grandpa when they were both sick and in different hospitals when James was a kid. His grandpa told him, “You have a greater destiny then this. You are meant for greatest things then this. And if you want to beat this, to overcome whatever it is you’re grappling with, you are strong enough to do it. And if that’s the choice you make, it’s possible to live a wonderful, extraordinary life.” (page 27) I think those words were what made James the man is today.

5 out of 5 stars. James has accomplished so much, I loved reading about his choices. I’m excited to read his Here, There Be Dragons series. One word of advice, read this book with kleenex. The ending got me.

Author Links

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Purchase Links

Deseret Book / Amazon / Barnes and Noble