Dec 172011
 

8 days until Christmas

 

Tristi Pinkston is the mother of four, the author of eight, the wife of one, and the taker of really long naps. She works as a freelance editor and virtual book tour coordinator, and she is a popular presenter at writers conferences all over the Intermountain West. She has a number of new books coming out in 2012, from fiction to nonfiction to self-help, and she’s excited about all of them.

Connect with Tristi: WEBSITE | BLOG | Twitter | Facebook

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LDSWBR: What Christmas-related activity would you like to do this year that you have never done before?

TRISTI: I want to go reindeer wrangling. I’ve heard it’s tricky because they run really fast and they fly, but I bet I could do it. You never know until you try.

LDSWBR: If you could find one book under the tree this year, what would it be?

TRISTI: Hmmm … you know, that’s a hard one. There are so many authors that I love, and I’d be delighted by any of them. Let’s say something new by Dee Henderson, Elizabeth Peters, Jessica Day George, or Shannon Hale. Yep, any of those would be awesome. And if any of them happen to be reading this and want to make a donation to a very good cause, Merry Christmas to me!

LDSWBR: What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory?

TRISTI: The best Christmas I ever had was the year my mom found a refurbished manual typewriter at the thrift store and got it for me. I was ten years old, and I was so excited. I started learning how to type right away, and because the machine was manual, my pinkie fingers got really sore, really fast. I wonder if my mom knew what she was starting with that gift – from there, I’ve graduated to more … sophisticated … forms of word processing, but since I was ten, I’ve spent quite a lot of time every day on a keyboard of some kind.

LDSWBR: Reindeer wrangling – lol – I would SO pay to see that! Thanks, Tristi. Merry Christmas!

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Buy Hang ’em High by Tristi Pinkston

AMAZON | SECRET SISTERS (Bk 1) | DEARLY DEPARTED (Bk 2)

Read our Combined review of Hang ’em High.

Have you ever typed up a document on a manual typewriter? If so, did it have a white-out ribbon or did you have to make corrections by hand?

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To enter the Countdown to Christmas 2011 contest, complete the following and then tell us what you did:

  • **Required entry (+1) – Leave a thoughtful comment on this post. (More than just “Great contest!” please.) You must leave a comment on this post for your other entries to count. If you are reading this post through email or an RSS reader, please click through to leave a comment.
  • Bonus entry (+1 total) – Follow Tristi on her blog, Twitter or Facebook and send an email to ldswbr (at) gmail (dot) com telling us how you follow Tristi.
  • Additional entries (one time +1 entry each) – 1) Subscribe to LDSWBR through email 2) Follow @LDSWBR on Twitter 3) Like LDS Women’s Book Review on Facebook (all found at the the top of the right sidebar on the LDSWBR blog). NOTE: If you already subscribe through email, follow us on Twitter, or Like us on Facebook you must tell us in a comment for the extra entries to count.
  • By leaving a comment and entering the Countdown to Christmas 2011, you agree to the contest information found here.

 

***If you haven’t read the contest rules and info, read them here.***

 

Book prizes donated by their authors:

  • Winners choice of  Divinely Designed, Luck of the Draw, or Minor Adjustments by Rachael Renee Anderson (new addition to the prize list!)
  • Winner’s choice of Secret Sisters, Dearly Departed, or Hang ’em High by Tristi Pinkston (new addition to the prize list!)
  • Montana Summer by Jeanette Miller
  • Ribbon of Darkness by Julie Coulter Bellon
  • Not My Type by Melanie Jacobson
  • Cinder & Ella by Melissa Lemon (ebook)
  • Pride & Popularity by Jenni James
  • The Kissing Tree by Prudence Bice
  • Rearview Mirror by Stephanie Black (paperback or Kindle)
  • The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry
  • Winner’s choice of one of the books in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series by Josi S. Kilpack (including Banana Split which will be released in February 2012)
  • Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden
  • Obsession by Traci Hunter Abramson
  • Circle of Secrets by Kimberley Griffiths Little
  • Indelible by Lani Woodland and a swag bag!
  • Identity by Betsy Love
  • The Hainan Incident by D.M. Coffman (autographed copy)
  • Count Down to Love by Julie N. Ford
  • Geek Girl by Cindy C. Bennett
  • The Breakup Artist by Shannen Crane Camp
  • Seers by Heather Frost
Don’t forget to comment! Merry Christmas and happy reading!
Sep 272011
 

Hang ’em High (Secret Sisters #3)

Author: Tristi Pinkston

Publisher: Walnut Springs Press

Published: July 2011

Softcover; 258 pages

Genre: Mystery-Suspense

ISBN# 978-1-59992-800-5

Reviewed by: Shanda, Sheila & Mindy

FTC FYI: free review copy for honest review except for Mindy who purchased hers :)

***Tristi’s giving away a free manuscript evaluation! Read on for details.***

Shanda’s Review

In Hang ’em High, we meet Keith, Ida Mae’s long-time estranged son. Keith invites Ida Mae up to visit his dude ranch in Montana in the middle of winter and welcomes Arlette and Tansy as well. When Keith’s prize stud is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Ida Mae convinces her son to let her do some investigating.

The Secret Sisters are soon joined by Eden, Kevin and Ida Mae’s beau, George. What follows is an entertaining tale layered with hilarious adventure, mystery, rebuilding family connections, and a hint of romance.

While I knew I would like the Secret Sisters series, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I do. I’m surprised at how much I’ve come to care about and appreciate these three older ladies, their quirky personalities and crazy antics. I know that when I sit down to read a Secret Sisters mystery, I am guaranteed an entertaining story, intriguing mystery, and a good laugh or two.

I give Hang ’em High 4 stars out of 5 for helping me see that you’re never too old to learn and change, for making me smile, and for leaving me excited for the next book in the series.

Mindy’s Review

Hang ’em High had me smiling and laughing from the start, and for that I knew I was going to love this book. Ida Mae and her grown kids are estranged, have been for years. Arlette secretly wrote to Keith and Kim to tell them about Ida Mae’s accidents (see Dearly Departed). Keith was the only one that responded; he was thrilled and invited Ida Mae to his dude ranch for a visit. Ida Mae couldn’t be happier, there has been some unresolved issues with her kids and she was glad that she could try to clear the air with one of them. Ida Mae gets her courage and calls Keith to see if the offer was still there for her to come see him in Montana. At a shopping spree in Walmart, Ida Mae invites Tansy and Arlette to come along too. They make it to Montana just in time to beat the big snow storm knocking at the door, and just in time for a mystery involving some breeding horses at the ranch.

I loved this book. Every page had something witty and funny. Tristi’s writing is so consistent, and her characters are so full of heart and humor. Ida Mae is my favorite, but I love how all the characters are written in their own unique and special way. I won’t give away too much, but my favorite part is when the ladies are trying to break in a window. Laugh out loud funny.

4 stars out of 5. Hang ’em High is a fast paced, quick read. Very funny. I finished fast and it left me hungry for the next one. Luckily I don’t have to wait long. Targets in Ties comes out in January of next year!

Sheila’s Review can be found her personal blog: Why Not? Because I Said So!

Hang ’em High is available for purchase from Deseret Book and Amazon.

Visit Tristi’s website: http://www.tristipinkston.com and blog: http://www.tristipinkston.blogspot.com

Contest Info!

To celebrate the release of Tristi’s eighth book, she’s holding a contest! If you leave a comment on this review, you will be entered into a drawing for a free manuscript evaluation, done by Tristi Pinkston Editing http://www.tristipinkstonediting.blogspot.com. In fact, you can leave comments on all the blogs participating in this virtual book tour! Go to Tristi Pinkston’s blog at http://www.tristipinkston.blogspot.com for a list. The deadline is October 5th at midnight MST. If you win and you’re not a writer, you can give this evaluation to a friend.

Have you read any of the Secret Sisters Mysteries yet? If so, do you have a favorite character?