Catching June by Shannen Crane Camp

 Posted by  Book Reviews
Jan 022015
 

20505003Catching June

Author: Shannen Crane Camp

Publisher: Sugar Coated Press

Published: December 6th, 2014

ISBN13: 9781502805461

Paperback: 284 pages

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

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

June Laurie’s life in the spotlight of Hollywood is anything but normal. Between paparazzi watching her every move, and online fandoms voicing opinions on her relationship with her boyfriend and co-star Ryan Hex, things can get confusing. But June is more than confident that she has her life planned out perfectly, with her childhood friend Joseph Cleveland coming home from a mission soon, and a successful television show under her belt, things seem to be falling into place perfectly. But when jealousies both on set and off start to shake the foundation of perfection that June has tried to build up, she’ll be forced to, once again, assess just how important her deeply seated standards are, and who really fills the empty spaces in her life. With the overbearing threat of popular opinion constantly hanging over her, will June be able to clear the clutter in her life and come to terms with what will bring her true happiness?

My Review

Can I just tell you how much I love this series?  Okay, I will.  I love this series.  June is an absolute doll.  I love, love, love how Shannen writes her.  And isn’t this cover adorable?!?  June handles herself so well when it comes to keeping her head and her standards in Hollywood.  I read this book in a 24 hour period.  I easily fell in love with the characters once again.  As much as I like Ryan, I love Joseph, and I enjoyed the journey that all the characters take.  Benjamin and Candice are still around and have some great one-liners.  But, one of my very favorite characters, who stands in the shadows, is Gran, she is a joy.  She is always there for June to give her enduring advice.  The ending has a fun surprise and I am thrilled!

4 out of 5 stars.  If you are new to the series, I would start with Finding June, then Chasing June.  You will care more about the characters and get to know the beauty that is June.

Author Links

Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Chasing June by Shannen Crane Camp — Blog Tour/Giveaway

 Posted by  Book Reviews
Dec 052013
 

17157643Chasing 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

Blog Tour Banner-1

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Chasing June by Shannen Crane Camp

Chasing June

by Shannen Crane Camp

Giveaway ends December 08, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

 

Finding June by Shannen Crane Camp

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Mar 132013
 

16161787Finding June

Author: Shannen Crane Camp

Pubisher: Sugar Coated Press

Published: December 20th, 2012

ISBN13: 9781480260825

Paperback: 184 pages

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

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

Standing up for what you believe in is hard for any teenager in the battleground known as high school. It’s even harder in the world of Hollywood, which is where sixteen-year-old June Laurie dreams of being. Thanks to the constant training from her agent/grandmother and the support of her best friend Joseph, June is positive she’s ready. But is an innocent little Mormon girl like June ever really ready to be cast as the love interest for the country’s hottest star, Lukas Leighton? When June lands a role in Hollywood’s most popular crime drama, Forensic Faculty, she finds herself caught off-guard by the fast-paced world of tabloids and paparazzi, and swept off her feet by her gorgeous co-star. Now June must decide what she’s willing to give up to achieve the title of Hollywood starlet—or more importantly, what’s too sacred to lose.

My Review

I loved this book.  I thought it was adorable.  I immediately loved June and Joseph.  Gran was a hoot and I loved all of her homemade beauty regimens.  A few times I found myself thinking that I needed to try one of them, too.  As much as I loved the people in June’s life, I also really liked her TV show cast mates.  Especially, Candice, Benjamin, and of course Ryan.  I love a books based on LDS fiction.  The author does of great job of letting reader know our believes without being preachy.  June is a doll, and loved her journey of self discovery.  There were many parts that I was smiling big and many more that made me laugh.  I also really enjoyed the behind the scenes glances of the TV world.  I appreciated how June would stand up for herself, and I loved the ending.  I can’t wait for Chasing June.    


4 out of 5 stars.  Finding June is a 2012 Whitney Aware Finalist.  Her first book, The Breakup Artist, was also a 2011 Whitney Award nominee.  There is a sequel in the works for Finding June.  Chasing June, hopefully, comes out this year. 


Author Links


Blog / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook 


Purchase Links


Amazon / Barnes and Noble 

The Breakup Artist by Shannen Crane Camp – Countdown to Christmas 2011

 Posted by  Countdown to Christmas, Special Features
Dec 032011
 

22 days until Christmas

Want 3 easy entries in the drawing for $50 at Amazon and our huge book give-away?

See the Bonus Entry instructions below! 

 

Shannen Crane Camp was born and raised in Southern California where she developed a love of reading and writing, completing her first (very) short story in the fifth grade. She continued to write throughout junior high and high school before finally deciding that enough was enough; it was time to be an author. She moved to Provo, Utah, to attend Brigham Young University where she attained a bachelor’s degree in Media Arts and a very well received proposal from her fellow California resident Josh Camp. The two are now happily married and living in Provo.

Connect with Shannen: BLOG | WEBSITE | Twitter | Facebook

* * * * *

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

SHANNEN: I’d LOVE to get Christmas pajamas on Christmas eve to wear to bed that night. So many people do that and I just think it’s the cutest thing! Plus it’s an excuse to open a present early to hopefully tide you over until Christmas day :)

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

SHANNEN: “Beautiful Days” by Anna Godbersen. Unfortunately it’s still only in hardback and I want it to match my paperbacks so unless there’s a Christmas miracle it’s not going to happen.

LDSWBR: What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory?

SHANNEN: Driving home from my grandma’s house on Christmas Eve and my brother and I saying we could see Santa flying through the sky any time we saw an airplane.

LDSWBR: Thank you so much, Shannen. Now go buy some PJs to unwrap on Christmas Eve. :)

* * * * *

Buy The Breakup Artist by Shannen Crane Camp

BARNES & NOBLE | AMAZON

Did you have a Christmas Eve pajama tradition when you were a child? What about now?

* * * * *

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.
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  • 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:

  • Not My Type by Melanie Jacobson (new addition to prize list!)
  • Cinder & Ella by Melissa Lemon (ebook)(new addition to prize list!)
  • Pride & Popularity by Jenni James (new addition to prize list!)
  • The Kissing Tree by Prudence Bice (new addition to prize list!)
  • 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!