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 

Bitter Blessings by Christine Mehring

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Aug 262011
 

Title: Bitter Blessings

Author: Christine Mehring

Published Date: July 2011

Publisher: Bonneville Books, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.

Softcover: 192 pages

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

ISBN# 978-1-59955-523-2

Reviewed by: Sheila

FTC FYI: Free review copy

Megan has the perfect life, but when her mother dies in an accident, everything spins out of control. With the rest of her family falling apart, Megan must confront her past to uncover the truths that will keep everyone together. Thought-provoking and heartfelt, this book shows that even in times of trial, you can often find blessings.

Bitter Blessings starts with a very normal setting of a family getting ready to sit down for dinner. You turn the page, and the world of this family collapses down around them with their doorbell ringing. On the other side of the door is a policeman, who informs them that the Mother of the girls has died in a car accident. The reality of this piece of fiction is, anyone’s world can change in a moment.

The novel’s main character, Megan, is thrown into the role of taking care of her younger sisters and her grandmother. The reader is taken into her mind where we experience the grief, guilt and stress of Megan as she is coping with her mother’s death. Along with dealing with her sick grandmother, a spoiled middle sister and a baby sister looking for stability and love, an old family secret comes to light.

Bitter blessings is such a great read because:
-Megan is likable and relatable. You want her to find out the family secret and you want to see some relief and happiness given back to the family.
-Good supporting characters are written throughout the story. Her best friend Adam and his father, Megan’s lawyer, add the support and relief that the readers need amongst the sadness in this story.
-There is also a surprise twist where her friends’ Mormon religion is identified, and it hits close to home for Megan.
-You will experience a satisfying ending at the end of the story.

Bitter Blessings is a great story written by a first time author. It is a quick read at 183 pages. I love what it says on the back of the book, “Thought-provoking and heartfelt, this debut novel shows that the power of love brings the best blessings even during the bitterest trials.”

I recommend this book to young adult and adult readers. I gave this book 4 stars on goodreads.com.

To learn more about the author Christine Mehring, go to www.bitterblessings.com
or www.cedarfort.com



My Double Life by Janette Rallison

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews
Feb 252011
 

  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Hardcover: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (May 13, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0399252622
Her whole life, Alexia Garcia has been told that she looks just like pop star Kari Kingsley, and one day when Alexia’s photo filters through the Internet, she is offered a job to be Kari’s double. This would seem like the opportunity of a lifetime, but Alexia’s mother has always warned her against celebrities.

Rebelliously, Alexia flies off to L.A. and gets immersed in a celebrity life. Not only does she have to get used to getting anything she wants, she romances the hottest lead singer on the charts, and finds out that her own father is a singing legend. Through it all, Alexia must stay true to herself, which is hard to do when you are pretending to be somebody else.


Once again Janette Rallison has delivered a book that all ages will love. My Double Life is a story of a teenage girl who has grown up with very little. Alexia has always been on the “outside” wanting just a little piece of feeling like she fits in. When she is offered the job to be the double for a famous singer, she jumps on it. The underlying story has to do with Alexia not knowing who her father is. Some of the events in the story you could see coming, such as to the identity of her father. The fun part is how this information comes out.

Alexia, the main character, is so easy to like. She is not whiny or self-centered. She is always trying to do the right thing. I recall finishing this book and thinking how I would not hesitate at all to have my daughter read this book. This cannot be said of all books written for teens. One of the main themes learned in My Double Life is that you should be grateful for the life you have. Other people’s lives may seem wonderful and perfect, but behind closed doors everyone has problems.

So, the main things I liked about this book was the humor, life lessons that are there, but not blatantly shoved down your throat, and likable characters. Readers that have read other books
by Janette Rallison will love this one. Those of you that have never read any of her books this is a good one to start with. My favorite book written by Janette is still Just One Wish so check out that one next.


If you would like to learn more about Janette Rallison, go visit her at her website here.

BIO:Janette lives in Chandler, Arizona with her husband, five children and enough cats to classify her as “an eccentric cat lady.” She did not do this on purpose. (The cats, that is; she had the children on purpose.) Every single one of the felines showed up on its own and refuses to leave. Not even the family’s fearless little Westie dog can drive them off.

Since Janette has five children and deadlines to write books, she doesn’t have much time left over for hobbies. But since this is the internet and you can’t actually check up to see if anything on this site is true, let’s just say she enjoys dancing, scuba diving, horse back riding and long talks with Orlando Bloom.

Growing Up Gracie by Maggie Fechner

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Jan 132011
 

Growing up Gracie

Author: Maggie Fechner

Publisher: Bonneville Books

Published: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-59955-453-2

FTC FYI: borrowed from the library

Growing up Gracie is the story of Gracie Fremont, her ups and downs and the ups and downs of loved ones around her from around age five to her twenties. It’s a story of friendship and love, life decisions and some heart ache. Throughout it all, faith in her Father in Heaven gets her through many trials. Gracie is a strong girl, who truly desires to do good, help those around her, and be there for others when she can.

In high school she is challenged by her missionary brother to not rely on the testimony of her parents, but to find out for herself what she believes. I appreciated that part of the book the most. She had to work for it, and have the faith she needed.

Gracie’s best friends are Liza and Chelsea. They have been there for each other since they were young. One makes mistakes. Gracie, at times, is frustrated by her friend’s choices, but helps her no matter what. In high school, she meets Quentin, a shy loner in need of a friend. Gracie invites him over for FHE and… well, things develop from there.

I was really impressed with this book, it is the author’s first. The characters were developed well, and it was well written. Since the story is told through a long period of time, I liked how time passed without too much detail needed.

Four stars out of five.

The Fourth Nephite by Jeffrey S. Savage

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews, Uncategorized
Oct 252010
 

  • Title: The Fourth Nephite
  • Author: Jeffrey S. Savage
  • Hardcover: 261 pages
  • Publisher: Deseret Book (2010)
  • ASIN: B003V2CKG6



Busted. Football star Kaleo Steele is caught under the high school bleachers with the wrong group of friends. Even worse, he’s caught by his seminary teacher, Brother Mortensen. If Kaleo gets turned in, he’ll be in jeopardy of missing the regional championship game.

It doesn’t help that Kaleo has been cutting seminary class. But what’s the point? Mumbo jumbo stories about angels and gold plates and Joseph Smith? Brother Mortensen decides Kaleo is ready for an extraordinary “field trip” – one that could alter the course of his life and his heart.

Reluctantly, Kaleo meets with Ladan – a mysterious old blind man – and unknowingly begins a quest through time, landing in Palmyra, New York, in the fall of 1827.

Soon, Kaleo and a nineteenth-century girl named Jennie are caught up in a battle between treasure seekers – led by Alistair Blackburn, a necromancer hired to steal the gold plates – and the young Joseph Smith, who has sworn to keep them safe.

In his quest to find a key that will send him back to his own time, Kaleo will have to decide for himself what to believe and who to trust. Before it’s too late.


This is a great new book from Jeffrey S. Savage. LDS teens and their parents will love this book and so will adults who love YA books. I love the concept of going back in time, especially to meet the Prophet Joseph. This will be another wonderful series by Jeff. (At least I think this is going to be a series. If I am incorrect Jeff, let everyone know. It just seems to be something that would make a great series.)

I always read his books so quickly. He is an such an awesome writer. He knows how to create fantastic and realistic characters that you love to care about. The main character,Kaleo, learns a lot on his adventure. At first you think he is another sassy kid that just doesn’t “get it”. By the end of the book, his testimony grows and yours can’t help but be strengthened by what Kaleo learns from The Prophet Joseph Smith. This is a book I will be sharing with my own children and my nieces and nephews.

Another note, I loved reading the author notes at the end of the book. They are so awesome! You will get a feel of what Jeff is really like; besides being a fantastic author,he is a really great guy with a super sense of humor. Just don’t read the author notes first! You have been warned.

I bought my copy of this book at the Book Academy Writers Conference and had it signed there by the author.