Sheila's Books Read

Sheila's bookshelf: read

The Best Intentions
Scotland's Melody
The Secret Society of Salzburg
Secret of the Sonnets
20-40-60-Minute Dinners: Meals to Match the Time You Have
Through the Wilderness: My Journey of Redemption and Healing in the American Wild
Secret Santa Claus Club: A Tool to Help Parents Unwrap the Secret of Santa
Mr. Pudgins
Revenge Never Rests
The Best Mistake
Meriden Park
More Inspirational Stories for Young Women
The Great Tree: A Christmas Fable
To Capture His Heart
The Call of the Sea
Esperance
Livvy and the Enchanted Woodland
Come, Gentle Night
The Bad Boy Theory
Guide To Smart Wedding Planning: What You want to know and everything you haven't thought of yet.


Sheila's favorite books »

2024 Goodreads Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge
Sheila has read 4 books toward her goal of 100 books.
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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Whitney Award Nominations End on December 31st

It is that time again, when you must get your nominations in by Thursday, December 31st 2009, to nominate your favorite novel for a Whitney Award. The Whitney Awards are given to outstanding LDS authors, who have written fiction novels. This will be the third year that the "Whitneys" have been awarded.

Every year, the Whitneys have gotten bigger and bigger and more prestigious. If you would like to see a list of books, written by LDS authors that have been catalogued, go to this site LDS Publisher.blogspot. This site is not officially connected with the Whitney awards. On occasion, you may find a book listed there that does not qualify as a Whitney nominee. Before nominating a book, check the official rules for Whitney Award eligibility.

I know that that many of you have read a lot of books this past year. If you really liked something that you read, please nominate the book and author. Spread the word to your family and friends about the Whitney Awards. You can also attend the Whitney Awards Ceremony in April. It is a fun evening to dress up, eat a fabulous dinner and mingle with your favorite LDS authors. Go to the official Whitney Awards website to find more information about getting tickets to the dinner/ceremony. You can e-mail someone there that could help you. I look forward to the Gala all year long!!

PLEASE remember that you only have a few more days to nominate your favorite books,before midnight on the 31st, so don't forget!

books1.jpg


I hope that all of you are enjoying yourselves and getting some great reading done. I know I have done a lot of reading the past several weeks, so I will have more things to blog about in the future.

Thank you for supporting me and my blog this past year of 2009. If you haven't done so yet, please become a follower of my blog.

Also, if you are an author or publisher that would like me to read and review your books, please contact me here. I love to promote good fiction and non-fiction that is being published. By our good example of reading and writing, we will help our children and grandchildren to become proficient at these skills and gain a love of reading.


Thursday, December 17, 2009

My Review of Farworld: Landkeep by J. Scott Savage

Farworld, Book Two: Land Keep Farworld, Book Two: Land Keep by J. Scott Savage

My rating:
5 of 5 stars

What a fantastic second book in the Farworld series! Landkeep added a new dimension to Farworld and it's characters. I was once again amazed at the unique and wild creatures that J.Scott Savage continues to create in Farworld.

The story line is deeper and richer in this second book. There is added tension in the relationship between the two friends, Marcus and Kyja. They both are changing and growing as they mature and learn new things about each other.

The best scene in the whole book takes place at the very end. Wow! It is so well written, that you feel like you are watching a scene from a movie and forget that you are reading a book.

Landkeep is the second book in a five book series. You have to wonder how he can write anything better than Landkeep? I know, that J.Scott Savage will write an equally great book in the third book of the Farworld series, as Marcus and Kyja continue in their quest to save Earth and Farworld. View all my reviews >>

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The Worldwide Ward Cookbook: Christmas Crunch

I am sharing with you today another recipe from The Worldwide Ward Cookbook by Deanna Buxton. Today I chose something a little sweeter...Christmas Crunch. This recipe was submitted by Charlee Farr, Riverton 2nd Ward, Riverton Summerhill Stake, Riverton, Utah.

This recipe would be a fun thing to make with your children or grandchildren. You can take this to parties or give as part of a Christmas Treat tray.


Christmas Crunch
8 C. square corn or rice cereal
6 C. square graham cereal
2 C. flaked coconut
1 C. almonds. slivered or sliced
1 C. light corn syrup
1 C. sugar
3/4 C. butter
1 tsp. vanilla

In a large bowl, combine cereals, coconut and almonds. Set aside. In a medium saucepan combine corn syrup, sugar and butter. Bring to boil on medium-high heat and boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour over dry ingredients and mix well until all cereal is coated. Pour mixture out onto a buttered surface or waxed paper; let cool for about 1 hour. Break apart and place in an airtight container. Warning! Highly addictive!

Well there you go! Another fun recipe from the Worldwide Ward Cookbook. Remember that you can purchase this book at Deseret Book and Seagull Book. I also saw it for a good price at Walmart. The Worldwide Ward Christmas Cookbook is also available for purchase.


Monday, December 14, 2009

My review of "Missing: An LDS Mystery Novel" by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen




Missing




"Missing: An LDS Mystery Novel" is Ronda's first published novel. Missing is a book you need to set some time aside to read. Once you start reading it, you will have a hard time setting it down and will feel compelled to finish as quickly as possible. Here is a synopsis of what Missing is all about.

"A BYU-Idaho choir tour in British Columbia turns out to be anything but ordinary when soloist Stacie Cox spots a kidnapped child from Rexburg during a performance. Before Stacie can alert the authorities, the little girl disappears. Stacie vows to find and rescue her, a choice that forces her to deal with her guilt-ridden past and another little girl that haunts her dreams. When the handsome Matt Brennan helps Stacie in her search, she tries to resist the attraction she feels for him. Yet as he gains her friendship and trust, her resolve to never fall in love begins to crumble. And after a series of harrowing events, Stacie must decide if she is willing to sacrifice her life — and a possible future with Matt — to save a stranger."
Missing is a fantastic first novel. I continue to be surprised by authors getting their first books published. There is such terrific talent out there. Ronda is no exception, she does such a great job with this novel. You will find a little bit of everything in this book: Some romance, loads of mystery, humor thrown in throughout the pages and of course the heartbreak associated with Stacie's past experiences and the utter turmoil shown by the parents of the missing girl. I felt like I had a lot in common with the main character Stacie. I am a singer who also sang with a choir while attending "Ricks"...(Yes that dates me)...many years ago and I am originally from Idaho. Now granted, I never took off in the middle of a concert, but given the chance to help someone find a missing child, I probably would have. LOL! Stacie also wears her heart on her sleeve and let's her emotions and impressions lead her. This in the long run, IS a good thing, but I know this also tends to get you in trouble with authority.

Now, since this novel was more of a mystery than a romance, I secretly wished that we could have seen more romance developing between our two main characters Stacie and Matt. Though in the end...Well I do not want to give it away, you need to read this yourself.

I highly recommend this book for readers that love a good mystery, those that enjoy angst in their stories and those that are also looking for a light romance that could/should/may probably does...happen. I am NOT telling, it is a secret. This would make a wonderful Christmas present for teen girls, and older girls. ;)

If you would like to learn more about Ronda go to her blog here at http://thewriteblocks.blogspot.com/

You can purchase this book at Amazon.com or Deseret Book

I want to thank Walnut Springs Press for sending me this free review copy of Missing.


Sunday, December 13, 2009

The Worldwide Ward Cookbook: Breakfast Cake

I have recently been reading and using a new cookbook, called, The Worldwide Ward Cookbook
by Deanna Buxton.

There is also another cookbook, by the same author, called The Worldwide Ward Christmas Cookbook. I would love to get the Christmas cookbook.

These books are huge, with many recipes and great illustrations. The thing I like most, are the stories from church members around the world, that have been included with many of the recipes. I wanted to start highlighting some of the recipes that may be of interest to you. Deanna gave me permission to share many of these recipes with my readers.

The first recipe that I wanted to share is called, Breakfast Cake, submitted by Stephanie Driscoll, Lakeview Ward, American Falls Stake, Aberdeen, Idaho. This recipe looked like a perfect one to make for those busy December mornings or even to make on Christmas morning.

Breakfast Cake:
1/2 C. shortening
3/4 C. sugar
1 egg
1 C. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 C. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
Sugar-cinnamon mixture

Cream together shortening and sugar. Add the egg, then the sour cream and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Pour into 9x13-inch pan. Sprinkle sugar-cinnamon mixture on cake. Bake at 325 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

Deanna, can be reached at worldwidewardcookbook.blogspot.com About the Author
Deanna has written many other cookbooks that you might be interested in. This book was published by Covenant Communications and can be purchased at Deseret Book or Seagull book.

There will be other recipes shared again here soon.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Living with an Author: My interview with Jen Savage, wife of J.Scott Savage




Many of you that read this blog are either authors, aspiring authors or readers. So this blog truly pertains to all of you in some respects. I wanted to introduce you to a great lady, Jen Savage. Jen is married to J. Scott (Jeff) Savage, the author of the young adult Farworld series. His latest book in the series,
Farworld: Landkeep, came out this fall. I am reading it right now and it is fantastic! It has even more excitement and mystery than the first book.

I wanted to see who was behind Jeff's great success. He will freely admit that he could not do everything he does without his wife's help. Last year, Jeff was in charge of the LDS Storymaker's conference. It was a fabulous writers conference! I noticed though, quietly behind the scene, was a woman who was working and getting a lot done: that would have been Jen. She was helping in every area to make the conference run smoothly. Jen, in the red, is there putting together things to give to the conference participants.

What does it take to be a spouse to a writer? From what I have seen, it is an incredible amount of patience and encouragement that is needed. While the author is out there in the spotlight doing book signings, book tours and locking themselves away from the world in order to write, the spouse is quietly holding everything else together.

I first met Jen ,when she came with Jeff, when he recorded a podcast with us... the women of LDS Womens Book Review. She sat back and listened with a smile, but then we were able to get her speaking a little after James Dashner left. We had a great time with the Savages.

When I interviewed Jen, I asked her for a picture of the two of them together. She said she didn't have one, but I found one from the conference last year.

Without anymore discussion from me, here is my interview with Jen. I hope that you enjoy her answers as much as I did. Warning...Jen has quite the sense of humor and you will be able to tell this from her answers.






1. What is it like being married to an author?

It's exactly like being married to a normal person, except for the imaginary people he thinks about all the time. And the writer's block. Can you imagine an accountant going to his client and telling him that their tax forms "just aren't working"? Or a doctor having trouble "getting into the flow"?



2. What has been the best way to support your spouse as he is pursuing his writing dreams?

Every relationship is different, and what has worked for us isn't necessarily going to work for other people. But I try to run interference for him so he can devote blocks of time to writing without having to talk on the phone or handle stuff that can wait. I read everything he writes and give him honest and specific feedback. And I try remember that talking things through helps him with his story, even when we're having a romantic dinner.


3. How do you feel that you have contributed to his success?

You mean, other than booking his school visits, going with him on his school visits, and being his first and last editor?

He would die without me. I tell him every day. He wouldn't bother to eat. His commas would be all wrong. Chaos would ensue.


4. What has been the hardest part of having your spouse pursue his writing career?

Getting paid every six months is difficult. Trying to keep track of which manuscript pages can be thrown away is even harder.


5. What would be your best advice for others who are married to an author or an aspiring author?

Learn from your spouse what he or she would like from you in the way of support. Not everybody wants to be critiqued by a spouse, and not every spouse feels comfortable giving honest feedback, so you have to be able to find a balance that works for you. Some authors want suggestions, others feel like you're a back-seat driver if you give input.

Also, keep a calendar and write down important things. Sticky notes are useful, because they can be put on a monitor. Big ones. In the middle of the screen.


6. What has been the most exciting part of Jeff’s writing career so far?

We've had the opportunity to visit a lot of schools, and the best thing in the world

is when a parent comes up to you to thank you for getting their child excited about a book, or a teacher e-mails you to tell you that a students started spontaneously writing stories for fun, or a student tells you that you've inspired them to discover their own magic.


7. What are your hopes and dreams for Jeff in the coming years?

I want him to succeed at a level where he can keep doing what he loves doing, which is writing cool and exciting stories, and getting kids excited about reading and writing.. Having a "normal" life is so overrated!


Thanks so much Jen for talking to me and my readers. I hope that continued success is in your futures, you and Jeffs!

If you have not read any of Jeff's books yet, get to it! His Farworld books make great Christmas gifts for kids ages 8-15..or above, I love them!! Jeff has also written mystery books for adults; The Shandra Covington series. They are also great books. I especially love, "Dead on Arrival" in the series.

You can find Jeff/J.Scott here at his blog:

His website: about Farworld

You can buy his books here at Amazon.com or Seagull Book

Sunday, December 6, 2009

"School House Rock" Really does Rock!!


Ok, taking time out to blog about one of my kids favorite DVDs...All right I admit, it also is one of my favorites! School House Rock really does rock!!

In the mid-70s, ABC TV aired these short cartoons, which taught a generation about government, history, grammar, science, and math. I think most of us that watched them in the 70's still remember many of the lyrics. I know they all came back to me as we have watched them over and over again.

The other thing that struck me funny was, guess what? We really DID learn great things from these short little cartoons with jazzy tunes.

"As your body grows bigger
Your mind grows flowered
It's great to learn
'Cause knowledge is power!

It's Schoolhouse Rocky
That chip off the block
of your favorite schoolhouse"

Here is one of my favorite School House Rocks Videos: "Conjunction Junction"


Here is a website where all of the lyrics for all of the songs are listed.

Maybe it is time for you to share these with your kids and grandkids and travel down memory lane.
We have the Special 30th Anniversary Edition of School House Rock. We ordered ours at Amazon.com

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Countdown to Christmas Contest at LDSWBR Blog


I wanted all of my readers here to know about a fun contest going on over at the other blog I post at. As you know, I am a member of LDS Womens Book Review. Throughout the month of December, the LDSWBR blog will feature Holiday Posts by different LDS authors every day until Christmas. Each author will share their holiday traditions, what books are on their Christmas wish lists and what books they've purchased as gifts for their loved ones. We've got some great authors lined up and we'll be sure to include links where you can purchase their books as gifts for those on your Christmas list, or for yourself- you deserve it!


***Countdown to Christmas Contest***

LDSWBR will hold a drawing on Christmas Day for a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors that will be featured on the blog. Simply post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Christmas author posts to enter. Here are the rules:

  • LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a "thoughtful" comment.
  • Only one comment per person per "Countdown to Christmas" author post will be entered into the drawing. This allows the potential for 24 entries per person at the end of the contest. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you'd like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.
  • Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MST on December 31, 2009 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.
Books that have been generously donated by the author for drawing prizes:
  • Loyalty's Web by Joyce DiPastena
  • Hidden Branch by G.G. Vandagriff
  • Altared Plans by Rebecca Talley
  • A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell (includes a bonus copy of Michele's Christmas booklet, A Candle in the Window)
I hope that you will go visit the LDSWBR blog throughout the month of December and have your chance to win some fun prizes. Here is the link...http://ldswbr.blogspot.com/