Crater Lake: Battle for Wizard Island by Steve Westover – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Mindy's Reviews
Feb 222012
 

 Crater Lake: Battle for Wizard Island

Author: Steve Westover

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Published: March 13, 2012

Hardcover: 256 pages

FTC FYI: I received a PDF copy in exchange for an honest review

Genre: Middle grade fiction

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary:  While visiting his crazy Uncle Bart at Crater Lake National Park, thirteen-year-old Ethan’s world collapses when all the adults at Crater Lake disappear, including his parents. Now Ethan must rally his new friends and decipher the legends of Crater Lake to find the key to rescuing his parents from their earthen prison before he’s captured too and their captivity becomes permanent.

Ethan is visiting Crater Lake with his parents and sister.  After they get the “rules” and story about the legend of Crater Lake from “crazy” Uncle Bart, they decide to go on a walk along the trails.  A young couple, a boy scout troop, and another family with a daughter Ethan thinks is pretty, are doing the same thing. Suddenly vines trap the young couple, make them disappear, and the ground sucks up Ethan’s and Allie’s parents.  Leaving all the kids younger then 16 alone.  Including two of the boys, Jacob and Brady, from the boy scout troop.  After, they are approached by Che-tan a magical being who tells them he needs their help to keep an ancient, evil spirit captive.  He also can help them free their parents and the other’s trapped.

I really enjoyed this book.  It is a great adventure story that I can suggest to my daughters without any hesitation.  I also think adults will like this as much as I did.  I loved how the kids work together.  Jacob was a favorite.  Always thinking quickly to help in tough situations.  There are a lot of twists and turns everyone will enjoy.

4 out of 5 stars. Learn more about the author here.  This book will be available soon!

BARNES AND NOBLE / AMAZON

 

 

Intrinsical by Lani Woodland

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
May 112011
 

Intrinsical

Author: Lani Woodland

Publisher: Pendrell Publishing

Hardcover: 304 pages

ISBN: 9780982729700

FTC FYI: I purchased my own copy

“Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something slide past me.  Curious, I turned to find something shimmering in the air, almost like a fine mist–but it was unlike any mist I had ever seen.  Instead of a transparent white, it was a deep charcoal gray, almost black.  It brought to mind a dark rain cloud, one that promised a terrible storm… The mist wound around one student, then another, releasing each before moving on, still searching.  Then, abruptly, it paused, circling tightly around a boy with sable hair.” Intrinsical pages 1-2

Yara Silva knows that ghosts are around her.  In fact, she is a Waker.  Being a Waker she can see and communicate with ghosts.  Yara’s grandmother was also one, but she was taunted by her ability.  Yara didn’t want that for herself.  When she starts school at Pendrell Academy, Yara was hoping just to attend school, and not have her ability be “awakened”.  Little did Yara know, Pendrell Academy is surrounded by mystery.  Yara grandmother encourages her to attend, even though Pendrell has been loosing students to suicide.  So, right away, she realizes her ability has been lying dormant all this time, until she is needed in a moments notice.

I really enjoyed this book.  Something huge happens to Yara, earlier then I was excepting, and I really love what the author did with it.  There are so many cools twists and turns that Yara takes, and where she ends up at the end is impressive.  There are so many likable characters in this book too.  Besides Yara, Brent was my favorite, a guy who has many of his own complications.

I recently met Lani Woodland at a book club discussion and instantly loved her.  She is so fun and sweet.  Lani got the idea for Intrinsical by doing a fan fiction story for her favorite show The X Files–it’s a cool story.  I also got to spend time with her at last weekend’s LDStorymakers Conference.  In a podcast interview that Sheila and I had with her, I was excited to learn that book two, Indelible will be released later this year.  Find out more about Lani here.

4 stars out of 5.  Great story, I will even let my teenage daughter read this, and I haven’t been saying that very often.  I will definitely read Book 2, and will read Intrinsical again.

Haunts Haven by Joan Sowards

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Jan 142010
 



“Haunts Haven” includes on it’s front cover, “An LDS Ghost Story”. You wonder how the LDS and Ghost story can mix? Well, Joan Sowards does it in a very clever and surprising way. I missed the twist that came in the middle, though I should have seen it coming. I am getting ahead of myself here.

Let me give you a brief overview of the story of “Haunts Haven”…

“When Callie Wilford inherits a century-old inn in southern Arizona, locals tell her of a ghost who “guards” the inn. But Callie doesn’t believe in ghosts, and she plans to turn the inn into a bed and breakfast. Then things start to happen – strange, spooky things – and she begins to wonder if there is some truth to the ghost stories. If that weren’t bad enough, Callie discovers a mysterious grave in the cellar. As she confronts the inn’s tragic secrets, she also faces her lonely past and learns to embrace her heritage. But it takes a handsome cowboy and a charming rancher to prove that Callie’s long-guarded heart can love again.”

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This is the first published novel for Joan Sowards and I was very impressed by her wonderful storytelling. I loved the very bright and somewhat colorful characters found in this book. The book seemed to have a nice flow to it, so it is an easy read. I really liked the main character, Callie, who was written so “real” you could relate to her.

I also really liked how Joan was able to weave several smaller stories, into the big story, without it being confusing. I also mentioned earlier about a twist. It is a great twist that simply surprised me and delighted me at the same time. I will not say more because I do not want to give anything away.

I know, if you want to read a different kind of love story filled with mystery and suspense, you will enjoy “Haunts Haven”. I look forward to reading more of what Joan writes.

You can purchase this book at Amazon.com and now at Deseret Book.

I want to thank Amy Orton at Walnut Springs Press for the complimentary copy of this book. This one is a keeper and will be read again and again.