The Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah M. Eden – Countdown to Summer 2011

 Posted by  Countdown to Summer, Special Features
Jun 032011
 

18 days until summer!

Sarah M. Eden is the author of multiple historical romances, which her mother thinks are fabulous and her 10-year-old son thinks are too kissy. A few of these fabulously kissy novels are 2008 Whitney Award finalist Seeking Persephone, 2010 Whitney Award finalist Courting Miss Lancaster and The Kiss of a Stranger, released in 2011. When not researching, writing or talking to the voices in her head, Sarah spends her days avoiding housework, admiring the growing mountain of laundry and pretending she knows what to make for dinner. Visit her at www.SarahMEden.com.

Sarah has written several books. Two are currently available, with 8 out-of-print, and Seeking Persephone is slated for re-release this fall!

Follow Sarah on Facebook: Sarah M. Eden and Twitter: @SarahMEden.

LDSWBR: If you had an entire day to read (on the beach, at the lake, by the pool, etc.), what book(s) or genre would you reach for first?

SARAH: Romance. Hello! Preferably Historical Romance, but as long as it’s a love story with a happy ending and a good “clean” read, sign me up!

LDSWBR: What book(s) do you look forward to reading the most this summer?

SARAH: I have so many books on my to-be-read pile. Sheesh! I’m particularly excited about Captive Heart by Michele Paige Holmes, The List by Melanie Jacobson and Mark of Royalty by Jennifer K. Clark and Stephonie K. Williams

LDSWBR: What is your favorite outdoor cooking recipe? (Can be grill, campfire, Dutch oven, etc.)

SARAH: Outdoor Dinner of Champions

1 super puffy, jumbo-sized marshmallow
1 rectangular graham cracker, broken in half so it’s more like a square (unless you wanna really live it up and make it a super skinny rectangle (let me know how that works out, ’cause I’ve never tried it))
an entire milk chocolate candy bar

Cook the marshmallow over a campfire until it’s a bit swollen and golden. Put a couple pieces of the candy bar on one half of the graham cracker. Put the swollen, golden marshmallow on the chocolate & graham cracker. Put the other half of the graham cracker on top of it all. Eat. Enjoy. Repeat as needed.

What? You have extra chocolate? You’d better eat it, my friend. Can’t let good chocolate go to waste. And no matter what anyone says, this is a meal. An actual, counts as dinner, meal.

LDSWBR: Wonderful, Sarah. Thank you!

The Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah M. Eden (Deseret Book; January 2011) is available for purchase from Deseret Book and Amazon.

What is your best memory associated with S’mores? Have you tried the new square-shaped S’mores marshmallows?

***

***Countdown to Summer 2011 Contest***

LDSWBR will hold a drawing on June 25, 2011 for a $50 Amazon gift card, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors featured in the Countdown. This will be a raffle-type drawing, so more entries means more chances to win. There are several ways to enter the Countdown to Summer 2011 contest. See details below.

Book prizes generously donated by the authors:

  • The Upside of Down by Rebecca Talley
  • Gifted by Karey White
  • Bumpy Landings by Donald J. Carey
  • Captive Heart by Michele Paige Holmes
  • The Perfect Fit by  Michele Ashman Bell
  • River Whispers by Kathi Oram Perterson
  • Hazzardous Universe by Julie Wright & Kevin Wasden
  • Hearts Through Time by Marie Higgins
  • Double Deceit by Stephanie Humphreys
  • The List by Melanie Jacobson
  • The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum
  • The Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah M. Eden
  • Blackberry Crumble by Josi S. Kilpack
  • **Bonus Prize** An autographed copy of BLOODBORNE by Gregg Luke (released August 2011)

Do ANY of the following to enter:

  • Post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Summer 2011 author posts. Comments can be added on any of the author posts anytime during the contest period (June 1, 2011 through June 24, 2011). Only one comment per person per Countdown to Summer author post will be entered into the drawing. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you’d like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.
  • Send LDSWBR an email to ldswbr AT gmail DOT com telling us which of the following you have completed. If you already do these things, email us and let us know. Each item gets you 1 entry.
  1. Follow LDS Women’s Book Review on Facebook
  2. Follow @LDSWBR on Twitter
  3. Subscribe to LDSWBR by email (see top right sidebar on website)
  4. Follow LDSWBR with Google Friend Connect (right sidebar beneath “Follow LDSWBR”)
  • On each Countdown to Summer author post, leave a comment telling us which of the following you completed or already do. Each item gets you 1 entry.
  1. Follow the author’s blog (if they have one)
  2. Follow the author on Twitter (if they tweet)
  3. Follow the author on Facebook (if they have a Facebook page)
  • Tweet this message each day. One entry per day. Just copy and paste into your twitter message window to send it (LDSWBR must be able to see the tweet): LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2011 – Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card & great summer reads! http://bit.ly/kZ5jXw @ldswbr
  • Blog about this contest on your blog then send us the link to your specific blog post. You can find the Countdown graphic badge/button to include in your blog post here. (5 entries)
  • Post the following on your Facebook page (3 entries) then send us an email (ldswbr AT gmail DOT com) telling us that you did: LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2011 – Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card & great summer reads! http://bit.ly/kZ5jXw

Here are the rules:

  • Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MDT on June 24, 2011.
  • Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MDT on July 2, 2011 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.
  • LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a “thoughtful” comment.

Let’s keep counting down to summer with some great reads!

Captive Heart by Michele Paige Holmes

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
May 232011
 

Captive Heart

Author: Michele Paige Holmes

Published Date: April 2011

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Softcover: 255 pages

Genre: Historical Romance

FTC FYI: I received a free review copy from the author that did not affect my review.

From the back cover:

Emmalyne Madsen sends a desperate plea heavenward as a band of lawless men makes their way up the aisle of the railcar. When one hauls her roughly from the seat, threatening and cursing, Emmalyne fears her adventure out West has just turned into a nightmare.

Thayne Kendrich has an urgent need for a school teacher, and he’s not above doing whatever it takes to get one-including forcing her at gunpoint across the scorching prairie. But the teacher he chooses turns out to be a little tougher-and softer-than he anticipated, and before long he finds himself battling emotions he vowed to never feel again.

Michele begins Captive Heart by pulling the reader in from the first page, during the kidnapping of Emmalyne from the train. She is on her way to teach in Sterling, but the bandit who takes her has different plans.

The action doesn’t stop once they’re off the train. Emmalyne isn’t about to be hauled off without putting up a fight, sometimes getting herself into worse trouble because of it. It doesn’t take long for her to realize, though, that her kidnapper is much more than he appears.

Thayne found what he was looking for: a plain-looking school teacher. He didn’t expect that she’d be so much trouble. Circumstances drove him to desperate action, and he joined the Martin gang to carry out his plan. He has a feeling that they won’t let his sudden disappearance simply slide. He needs to get himself and this surprising woman to the Black Hills before the Martin gang finds them.

Both Emmalyne and Thayne are written with depth and purpose. During the course of the story, especially the first half, I empathized with Emmalyne and her resentment of being forced into going somewhere she doesn’t want to go. As the story developed I started feeling for Thayne and what was driving him to do what he was doing. I really enjoyed the twist of having the initial “bad buy” become the “good guy” in the end.

I was swept along in the story not just because of the well-written action, but the natural way Emmalyne and Thayne’s relationship developed. It never felt forced, contrived or unbelievable. And their first kiss – woohoowee! Good stuff.

One of the things Michele and I have in common is that we love a good romance novel. We are also particular about what we consider a good romance novel. I know this care and passion for good writing is why I enjoy Michele’s books so much. Captive Heart is going up on my shelf of favorite romance novels, next to Courting Miss Lancaster and Cross My Heart. I’m already looking forward to reading it again. Maybe tonight…

Rating: 4.5 stars

Recommended: to anyone who loves a good story and a great romance

Content:

Sexual- kisses, no inappropriate touching or sex

Language- none

Violence- mild

Drugs & Alcohol- none

Journey of Honor: A Love Story by Jaclyn M. Hawkes – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews, Special Features
Mar 042011
 

  • Paperback: 214 pages
  • Publisher: Granite Publishing & Distribution (August 3, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1599360594
Disowned, she came to America anyway. Attacked and left pregnant by a vicious mob, she still pressed on. Finally, in spite of being accused of theft by the vilest of her attackers, Giselle tries to remain as upbeat and uncomplaining as a prairie wildflower as she travels on to Zion.Thoroughly disillusioned with the ugliness and cruelty of slavery in the South, Trace Grayson leaves his young medical career to go west, hoping to leave bigotry and hatred behind. He begins taking goods by teamster train to sell in the territories. However, this fourth time across, in July of 1848, he’s stuck in St. Joseph, Missouri, waiting for enough wagons to join the train so that they can leave.Knowing that if they don’t start west soon, they’ll be caught by snow in the mountains, Trace is thrilled when the final wagon signs on. Then, when the beautiful, young Dutch girl traveling with the last wagon is falsely accused of stealing and is detained, the whole trip is jeopardized. Thrown together by circumstance, Trace and Giselle team up to begin to figure out just how to make this epic journey across a continent a success.With a deep sense of honor and an equally strong sense of humor, together they learn to deal with everything except the one trial that neither of them can overcome.

This book is not your typical pioneer story. Even though this is a story based on pioneers heading to Zion and crossing the plains, the book deals more with the characters and their own personal struggles. There are many other facets included in this novel, along with a love story a little bit juicier than those published by the big LDS publishers. Though nothing is vulgar, there is more kissing and snuggling/spooning that a married couple share. There are also some scenes with violent situations.

With the struggles associated with pioneers and their journeys across the plains, there are deaths and struggles portrayed. Along with this, there are many uplifting spiritual experiences that the characters have along the way. LDS principles are discussed and those not familiar with them may be a little lost. I still recommend this book. I truly loved the two main characters Giselle, a member of the LDS church and Trace a non-member. Though they both are proud and don’t always discuss their feelings with each other, they do share a strong love. Both of them are very likable and this story mainly focuses on them and getting to know each other. I also loved Trace’s adopted brother Mose and Giselle’s Grandparents Josiah and Petja. There is a very humorous ongoing sub-story about a Native American brave who “wants” Giselle. I don’t want to tell you more for fear of ruining the plot here.

For those wanting a true historical novel of pioneer journeys may not like this book as much. I classify this book as a romance novel with an LDS historical background. So, you romance lovers will find a great read in Journey of Honor.

Here is the purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Honor-Jaclyn-M-Hawkes/dp/1599360594/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1298932933&sr=8-2
I was given a review copy of this book by the publisher. In no way did this influence the review that was given.


Rekindled by Tamera Alexander

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Feb 212011
 

Rekindled (Fountain Creek Chronicles, Book 1)

Author: Tamera Alexander

Publisher: Bethany House

Published Date: 2006

Softcover; 334 pages

Genre: Christian Fiction/Romance

ISBN# 978-0-7642-0108-0

FTC FYI: library copy

“At a different time, in a different place, under different circumstances… could two people fall in love once again?”

Ten years ago Kathryn Jennings made a vow. For better or worse. And that promise still holds true, even though her marriage has not turned out as she expected. When her husband fails to return home one stormy winter night, she struggles to keep their ranch, but her efforts are blocked at every turn. After a shocking glimpse into her husband’s past, Kathryn uncovers a hidden truth. What she wouldn’t give to turn back time and be able to love her husband for the man that he was, not for the man she always wanted him to be.

Larson Jennings has spent his entire life running from a broken past, unable to trust, reluctant to try again. One fateful night, his life takes an unexpected twist, and soon he is forced to make a choice. Whatever he chooses, his decision may cost him his life.

Though Larson and Kathryn’s many years of marriage have been happy, hard times and the inability to conceive have added to the growing tension in their relationship. Both Larson and Kathryn realize that something is missing, though neither is sure what it is or what to do about it.

Larson rides out to take care of some business matters and stops in a ravine for the night where he is attacked. While trying to get away, Larson takes shelter in a nearby shack. Too late, he realizes it is full of explosives. The explosion and subsequent burning nearly take Larson’s life.

When Larson fails to return, Kathryn does her best to keep the ranch up and running. Most of the ranch hands quit, believing Larson died after becoming lost in a storm. An accident reveals that Larson and Kathryn’s last night together resulted in a long-awaited pregnancy. After a series of devastating events, the ranch goes into foreclosure and Kathryn moves into Willow Springs to work. Week after week she hopes for her husband’s return while facing the realization that something terrible has happened and he will never see their child. A grisly discovery in a ravine confirms what everyone has long suspected. Larson is dead.

After several months in the care of an unlikely yet loving couple, Larson regains his strength and returns to his ranch to find it abandoned. Reaching Willow Springs, he sees a small group gathered around an open grave. He recognizes Kathryn and notices she is with child. The realization that she has been with another man since he left cuts deeply. He is surprised to find the grave is marked with his name. Realizing that his scars have made him unrecognizable, that he has no money to save his ranch and believing he has nothing left to give Kathryn, Larson takes a new identity as “Jacob.”

Despite wanting to give Kathryn the chance at a new life, Larson can’t stay away from her. When he sees her coming and going from the back door of the town brothel, he mistakenly believes he understands how she became with child. After Kathryn gets a job as a housekeeper at Casaroja, the ranch owned by a man who has long desired Larson’s land, he gets hired on as a stable manager so he can keep an eye on her. Larson’s feelings swing between the love he feels for the woman he now realizes he never fully appreciated and the hurt he feels by her supposed betrayal, evidenced by the growing child within her. Despite everything, Larson still needs Kathryn to want him.

The longer Kathryn is without her husband, the more she realizes that she didn’t truly appreciate the man he was. She deeply mourns the loss of her husband, but something about the gentle Jacob keeps drawing Kathryn’s attention. She wishes she could go back and accept her husband for the man he was instead of trying to make him into the man she wanted. She fights her growing attraction to quiet and genuine Jacob but he still finds a way in to her heart.

Rekindled is a good story that I enjoyed for many reasons. It is different than most other romance-type novels because it’s about a married couple, something that I don’t come across often. I found it to be a mature (intellectually, not inappropriately) and relatable story. Like a lot of Christian fiction, the book is clean and there are several scriptural references but nothing too preachy. As is typical with Christian fiction as well, the characters are put through several horrible events, nearly losing all hope, before their hearts are turned to Christ.

The story did drag a little at times, but my interest in seeing how things would end up kept me turning the pages. The conclusion is full of action and suspense. I wasn’t quite sure how I wanted the big “reveal” to go, and I liked the way things played out. I found the interactions between Larson/Jacob and Kathryn interesting and the conclusion of their story quite satisfying. I reread Rekindled before writing this review and enjoyed it just as much the second time through.

My Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Would I-

  • read it again? I hope to read it again someday, but I’d like to read the next two books in the series first
  • recommend it? Yes, especially to married women who enjoy a good historical romance set in the West
  • read more by this author? Definitely. Tamera Alexander has another series as well that I would like to read.

Counting the Cost by Liz Adair

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Hillary's Reviews
Apr 072010
 


Howdy friends- It’s me Hillary-

Another serious book to tell you about today. A bit unusual for me to do :)

I read “Counting the Cost” by Liz Adair. If her name rings a bell, it is because she has written a few other books including, “The Spider Latham Mystery” series, which we reviewed in our debut year of podcasts.

Liz’s dedication page gives a little bit of insight of where the story idea comes from, which looks like it is based on a true story. The story tells of Heck, a hard-working, salt-of-the-Earth cowboy, who meets and falls in love with the then married, East coast socialite, Ruth Reynolds.

The story starts off really quite slow. In areas that I found interesting, they were down played such as when Heck was struck by lightening. Though Heck’s brother gets that moment to tell his brother how much he loves him, it really isn’t that pivotal to the story. So I say either leave it out, or make it more interesting. What was expounded upon was the daily duties of a cowhand, which quite honestly was a bit boring. I did see how there was value in doing it- as it showed the love Heck had for the country, his life style, and his overall character, but it could have been shortened a bit.

The real crux of the story is about the trouble caused by Ruth leaving her husband for Heck. She is still legally married when she is assaulted by her husband, and Heck literally whisks her away. Remembering that this is the 20’s, beating your wife, though frowned upon, wasn’t prosecuted, or even in some cases cause of divorce. Heck saw it differently and the two left together for a new life. Once she was free from her husband, the two were married. But that is not the end of the story.

Though I really enjoyed watching the two of them really get to know each other, I was saddened by how important it was to Heck to obstain from consumating the relationship before they were legally married, only to let it go so easily. He didn’t even really try to refrain. Others I have spoken with are also disappointed with this. Though there is no detail of the act, it is still disappointing when Heck hardly hesitates. I still had moments of frustration in what I would consider pivotal points down played in the book, *SPOILER ALERT* when he finds out she is barren. Though there is clearly love between the two, it is really hard to watch such huge barriers in communication. I also had some frustration with how much I liked Ruth at the beginning and by the end, I really didn’t like her much.

The book ends very strange for me. Not that I need everything tied neatly up and everyone happy, but it felt like it just ended abruptly, with no apparent reason for the ending. Just loose ends…

As a whole, I would say the book is thought provoking, and unique, however I was just not terribly fond of it. Shanda put it perfectly when she told me “It’s the kind of book you pick up when you’re visiting someone on a farm, who doesn’t own a t.v., so you start purusing the book shelf and you come across it.” Me personally, I would say read it if you like a non-traditional, non-conforming romance, then give it a read. Otherwise, it may not be your “cup of tea.”

ps- Shanda did have a different opinion of this book. You can find her review on this blog.

Until next week-

HIllary

FTC_FYI – purchased

Counting the Cost by Liz Adair – Book Review

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Jan 252010
 

Title: Counting the Cost

Author: Liz Adair

Publisher: Inglestone Publishing

Published Date: 2009

ISBN#: 978-0-9778814-6-8

From the cover: “A love story as poignant as it is beautiful.”
Liz Adair, author of The Spider Latham Mystery series and The Mist of Quarry Harbor, has written a memorable story, inspired by her own family history, about two people willing to give up what they know for love.

Counting the Cost is a fitting title at the beginning of the book, and even more so by the end. It is the story of Heck and Ruth, their lives and their love.

Heck Benham’s simple and steady cowboy life is disrupted by the arrival of the lovely Mrs. Ruth Reynolds. Heck does his best to stay out of her way, but after a violent incident involving her husband, Ruth leaves with Heck, both of them knowing that their actions will cause them to be shunned and outcast. After the death of Ruth’s husband, she and Heck marry and live happily until circumstances make each of them aware of what they have given up to be together, and what more they will have to sacrifice to stay together.

Liz has told an endearing, honest story. Her characters have depth and feeling, and are easy to care about. The tale flows in a natural, believable course through the characters’ lives, including the full spectrum of events from the mundane to the blissful and tragic. The reader learns about the history and geography of the New Mexican locales through conversation and description that never feels forced or lecturing.

While I didn’t find Counting the Cost to be an intense page-turner, I looked forward to picking the book up again every time I had to put it down.

Well done, Liz.


What worked for me: I loved Heck right away with his laid-back cowboy style and thoughtful ways. All of the characters were well written, including the minor characters that were present for short times throughout the story. Sometimes I wished Ruth didn’t want so much, but having experienced a more “advanced” lifestyle I could understand her desire to have certain things in her life. Sometimes I wished Heck wouldn’t sacrifice so much of himself, but I could understand how much he loved Ruth and what it is to have someone love you that much. I cried twice; and not just a tear or two, either.

What didn’t work for me: I almost wish there was a short epilogue or summary at the end of the story so I could know a little more about how things ended up in the future.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (definitely left an impression on me)
Would I read it again? Eventually, once I feel like my heart could take it
Would I recommend it? Yes, just keep a couple of tissues handy
Would I read more of Liz Adair’s books? Yes. I thought her Spider Latham Mystery series was enjoyable, too
FTC FYI: The copy of Counting the Cost that I reviewed was borrowed from my local library.
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