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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Saturday, April 28, 2012

Blog Tour Review of Espionage: A World War II Novel by A.L. Sowards


Product Details:

  • Title: Espionage:A World War II Novel
  •  Author: A.L. Sowards
  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc; 1st edition (February 29, 2012)
  • Genre: Historical Fiction
  • ISBN-10: 1608611485
  • ISBN-13: 978-1608611485
  • FTC: FYI I was given a review copy of this book.






Book Description:

France, 1944: Nobody expects Peter Eddy to survive his first commando mission, to retrieve a code book stolen by the Nazis, so his success is rewarded with an even more daunting assignment. Partnered with fellow soldier Jacques Olivier, Eddy must identify which of the three Allied contacts in Calais is a double agent and use the traitor to help implement a strategic Allied diversion that might win the war. Eddy and Olivier secretly cross the English Channel to confront their suspects one at a time, but what appears to be a clean assignment soon turns disastrous, and a shocking betrayal leaves Eddy in the grip of the Gestapo. With the courageous aid of Olivier and his sister, Genevieve, Eddy evades his captors in a highspeed chase through the streets of Calais. But as the Allied invasion approaches, treachery in the least likely places leads to fresh graves in the bloodied European soil, and only the power of loyalty and love can transform tragic endings into new beginnings.


My Review:
You start by noticing what an awesome and haunting cover Espionage has. It shows you what is to come. World War II is at the center of this book. This is not a light, easy read at all. This is a book with a great storyline, but it is about war. If you can't stomach some scenes of bloodshed and torture, you might not like this. If you are a history buff and like to read a well written story, that centers around an American soldier turned spy, you will love this story.

Main character, Peter Eddy, is young, LDS, and angry. His older brother was killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He enlists,to somehow exact some revenge for his brother's death. Little does he know that this isn't exactly a good reason to go to war. He is almost killed in his first mission, a set-up, where he is basically betrayed. This happens at the beginning and throws me for a loop. From there, he recovers from his injuries and then is off onto another mission where he teams up with a French Resistance Leader named Jacques. Along the way there is deception taking place, a little romance and some healing for our main character. This is the author's first book and she does an outstanding job of telling a good story, while educating the reader about the horrors and sacrifices of war. My gratitude for our brave soldiers is always renewed after reading a book like this. 

There is a sequel that has been written by A.L. Sowards and submitted to her editor. I will for sure want to read more about these same characters.




Purchase Links:


Author Bio:
  •  Sowards is a graduate of Moses Lake High School and Brigham Young University. She swam competitively for sixteen years, including while she was in college. She found it more entertaining to think of plot ideas while following the black line up and down the bottom of the pool than having a song in her head that restarted with every flip-turn. Sowards currently lives along the Wasatch front with her amazing husband and her adorable twin toddlers. She loves hearing from readers and can be found on ALSowards.com, Facebook, or Goodreads.


Social Networking Links:


To read other reviews in the blog tour go here

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

The Michael Jackson Book Monument: Have Your Story Published: Contest Information!

Here is a very awesome opportunity if you are a Michael Jackson fan. You could have your memories, of how his music has impacted your life,published in a book. Read all of the details in today's post!

ABOUT DEAR MICHAEL: THE MICHAEL JACKSON BOOK MONUMENT
Description: Michael JacksonThe world today offers unprecedented opportunities for collaboration and co-creation as people across the globe share their views, feelings and personalities online. Now Bungalow Publishing, a specialty publishing house, is tapping this potential to involve people worldwide in a monumental off-line expression of human creativity: the Michael Jackson Book Monument.

For the first time ever, fans will have the opportunity to co-create “a unique monument of historic proportions” to Michael Jackson and his impact on their lives in a personalized work of art celebrating the legendary performer.

The Monument consists of a strictly limited edition of 5,000 copies of a bible-like book, each copy containing 1,000 stories by fans on the impact of Michael’s music and personality on their lives. Each numbered book will feature a cover portrait of Michael created from over 3,000 Swarovski crystals. Each will come with two cases, one made of stone and one made of walnut, which together create a unique way to exhibit the book, as well as a specially designed and numbered MJ medal. In addition to the limited edition, Bungalow Publishing will offer regular editions available to everyone.

All Michael Jackson fans will have a chance to participate through a contest Bungalow Publishing has launched. Visit http://dear-michael.com/participating-is-easy/ to participate in three easy steps:
Sign up, create an account and log in.
Write your personal story to Michael. Save it, preview what it would look like on a page from the book, and share it on Facebook – all at no charge.
Submit your story for $10 USD to be entered in the contest to win one of 1,000 chances to have your story published on a page in both the regular and limited edition of the monument (both editions feature the 1,000 winning stories).
Story submissions must be in English. The 1,000 winners will be chosen by judges selected by Bungalow Publishing.


ABOUT MARISA GARAU
Marisa Garau (SAY Ga-row as in “wow”) is co-founder of Bungalow Publishing. The specialty publishing house is pioneering a new art form with the Michael Jackson Book Monument. The memorial consists of a strictly limited, luxury edition book crafted from wood, stone and crystals that will contain 1,000 personal fan farewells to The King of Pop. Marisa worked for 10 years as a creative director, copywriter and journalist within her Amsterdam-based advertising agency. She is a bestselling author whose books include From Stress To Strength – Enrich your life with the power of mindfulness and ABBA – The Inner Circle Interviews.
Learn more at www.dear-michael.com.

ABOUT ARJAN VAN WOENSEL
Arjan van Woensel (SAY Ar-yan van Woon-sol) is co-founder and creative director of Bungalow Publishing. The specialty publishing house is pioneering a new art form with the Michael Jackson Book Monument. The memorial consists of a strictly limited, luxury edition book crafted from wood, stone and crystals that will contain 1,000 personal fan farewells to The King of Pop. Arjan is an award-winning Creative Entrepreneur, self-proclaimed magazine fetishist, tech aficionado, designer, surf enthusiast and aspiring adventurer.

Learn more at www.dear-michael.com.
 

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Book Reveal for "Taste" by Kate Evangelista



Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
ISBN: TBD
Length: Novel
Publication Date: May 2012
Cover art by: Liliana Sanches
Published by: Crescent Moon Press

Blurb:
At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.


Introducing...Taste, it is a brand new book coming out soon in May. I am so happy to help out the author by spreading the word. Here is the very cool book trailer.

 


To peak your interest even more, here is an excerpt from Taste:


Taste Excerpt

I mentally stomped on the intimidation their perfection brought into my mind and said, “Excuse me.”
The group froze, startled by my words. The girls had their brows raised and the boys stopped mid-speech, mouths agape. They stared at me with eyes the shade of onyx stones.
I smiled and gave them a little wave.
The boy a step ahead of the rest recovered first. His stunning features went from shocked surprise to intense interest. He reminded me of a hawk eyeing its prey. I gulped.
“A Day Student,” he said, his eyes insolent and excited.
Something about the way he said “Day Student” made my stomach flip. “Excuse me?”
They snickered. The boys looked at each other while the girls continued to stare, muffling their laughter by delicate hands. I seemed to be the butt of some joke. 
“You broke the rule.” The boy’s grin turned predatory.
The students formed a loose semi-circle in front of me. My gaze darted from face to face. Hunger filled their eyes. The image of lions about to chase down a gazelle came to mind. I mentally shook my head. I was in the mountains not the Serengeti for crying out loud.
I took a small step back and cleared my throat. “Can any of you give me a ride back to the dorms?”
The boy wagged his forefinger like a metronome. “Ah, that’s unfortunate for you.”
One of the girls pinched the bridge of her nose. “Eli, you can’t possibly—”
“It’s forbidden, Eli,” another boy interrupted, pronouncing the word “forbidden” like a curse.
The nervous murmur at the pit of my stomach grew louder. Six against one. Not good odds. Instinct told me to cut my losses and run. Bad enough I faced expulsion, now it seemed like weird, beautiful people who’d suddenly appeared on campus wanted to beat me up. No, scratch that. Judging from the way they studied me, beating me up wouldn’t satisfy them. Something more primal prowled behind their looks.
I definitely wasn’t going down without a fight. Years of self-defense and hand-to-hand combat classes had me prepared. While other children from rich and important families got bodyguards, I got defense training. But I think my father meant for my skills to go up against potential kidnappers, not against other students who may or may not be crazy. Oh God! Maybe I stepped into a parallel universe or something when I reentered Barinkoff.
“None of the students are supposed to be on campus,” I said. Then, realizing my mistake, I added, “Okay, I know I’m not supposed to be here either. If one of you gives me a ride back to the dorms, I won’t say anything about all this. Let’s pretend this never happened. I didn’t see you, you didn’t see me.”
“We’re not ordinary students,” Eli answered. “We’re the Night Students.”
He’d said “Night Students” like the words were capitalized. I didn’t know Barinkoff held classes at night. What was going on here?
Eli smiled with just one side of his mouth and said to the group, “She’s right, no one will have to know. We’re the only ones here. And it’s been so long, don’t you agree?”
The rest of them nodded reluctantly.
“What’s been so long?” I challenged. I fisted my hands, ready to put them up if any of them so much as twitched my way.
“Since the taste of real flesh passed through my lips,” Eli said. He came forward and took a whiff of me then laughed when I cringed.
“Flesh.” Yep, parallel universe.
“Yes,” he said. “And yours smells so fresh.”
Someone grabbed my shoulders from behind and yanked me back before I could wrap my mind around the meaning behind Eli’s words. In a blink, I found myself behind someone tall. Someone really tall. And quite broad. And very male.
I realized he wore the same clothes Eli and the other boys did. Not good. He was one of them. Although… I cocked my head, raking my gaze over him. He seemed born to wear the uniform, like he was the pattern everyone else was cut from. My eyes wandered to long, layered, blue-black hair tied at the nape by a silk ribbon. Even in dim light, his hair possessed a sheen akin to mercury.
I looked down. The boy’s long fingers were wrapped around my wrist like a cuff. His fevered touch felt hotter than human standards, hot enough to make me sweat like I was standing beside a radiator but not hot enough to burn.
“I must be mistaken, Eli,” the boy who held my arm said in a monotone. “Correct me. Did I hear you say you wanted to taste the flesh of this girl?”
A hush descended on us. It had the hairs at the back of my neck rising. How was it possible for the atmosphere to switch from threatening to dangerous? Unable to help myself, I peeked around the new guy’s bulk. Eli and his friends bowed. They all had their right hands on their chests.
“Demitri, I’m sure you misheard me,” Eli said.
So the guy standing between me and the person who said he’d wanted to taste me was named Demitri. I like the sound of his name. Demitri. So strong, yet rolls off the tongue. Definite yum factor.
“So, you imply I made a mistake?” Demitri demanded.
“No!” Eli lifted his gaze. “I did no such thing. I simply wanted to show the girl the consequences of breaking curfew.”
“Hey!” I yelled. “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here!”
Demitri ignored my protest and continued to address Eli. “So, you threatened to taste her flesh.” His fingers tightened their grip around my wrist. “In the interest of investigating this matter further, I invoke the Silence.”
All six students gasped, passing surprised glances at one another.
Before I could ask about what was going on, Demitri yanked me down the hall toward the library. But why there? Oh, maybe we were getting my things. No, wait, he couldn’t have known about that. Everything was too confusing now.
Eli and the others didn’t try to stop us when we passed them. Demitri’s cold command must have carried power. Handsome and powerful, never a bad combination on a guy.
We reached the heavy double doors in seconds. He jerked one open effortlessly. I’d needed all my strength just to squeeze through that same door earlier. To him, the thick wood might as well have been cardboard. I raised an eyebrow and mentally listed the benefits of going to gym class.
“Why are we here?” I asked after my curiosity overpowered my worry. I’d almost forgotten how frightened I’d been right before Demitri showed up. I wasn’t above accepting help from strangers. Especially from gorgeous dark-haired strangers with hot hands and wide shoulders.
Demitri kept going, tugging me along, snaking his way deeper into the library. I had to take two steps for every stride his legs made. I tried to stay directly behind him, praying we didn’t slam into anything.
He stopped suddenly and I collided with him. It felt like slamming into a wall.
“Hey,” I said, momentarily stunned. “A little warning would be nice!”
He faced me, and I gasped. His eyes resembled a starless night, deep and endless. Their intensity drilled through me without pity, seeming to expose all my secrets. I felt naked and flustered beneath his gaze.
“You could have died back there,” he warned.
A lump of panic rebuilt itself in my throat.


So...there you have it! A new YA Paranormal Romance to put on your to-read list. This looks good, and now you have something else to look forward to reading this summer!






Author Bio:

When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn't going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master's courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing. Today, she has four completed Young Adult novels.

Author Website: www.kateevangelista.com
Twitter: @KateEvangelista
Crescent Moon Press page for Taste: http://crescentmoonpress.com/books/Taste.html

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Blog Tour Review of Shayla Witherwood: A Half-Faerie Tale by Tamra Torero

Product Details:

  • Title: Shayla Witherwood: a half-faerie tale
  • Author: Tamra Norton
  •  Hardcover: 312 pages
  • Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (May 8, 2012)
  • Genre: YA paranormal
  • ISBN-10: 1599559633
  • ISBN-13: 978-1599559636




Book Description:

For Shayla, the switch from home school to high school means having to conceal the fact that she's a half faerie. But she desperately needs to keep a low profile because even her faerie powers might not be enough to protect her from what's coming. Filled with laugh-out-loud sarcasm, surprising twists, and spell-binding romance, this magical tale is perfect for fairytale fans of all ages.
My Review:
 Shayla Witherwood: a half-faerie tale is a fun book. It is also a paranormal book that I would feel comfortable having a tween read. It takes place in high school and has a lot of the typical drama that is found there, except with this fun twist of Shayla being a half-faerie. There is magic in the book, but it is mild. I also truly liked the main character Shayla. She wasn't contrived or trying to be something than what she truly wasn't. I liked the relationships that she formed with others at the school. She could be called a true and loyal friend. That in itself is a super message found in the book. 

Along with the "high-school" side of the story, there is also a good mystery for Shayla to figure out.I wasn't too surprised when things were revealed, but younger readers probably will be. My favorite part though was when Shayla was actually in the faerie world. I wish that more of the story had taken place there. A lot of action takes place here, whereas the character growth took place in the first part of the book. It truly was refreshing to have faeries doing good things and being likable characters. 

I highly recommend this clean, sweet and very likable book to all readers. It would be fun to see a second book in the series.







About the Author:

Tamra Norton, the mother of seven, is the full-time keeper of the peace of her home in Spring, Texas. She enjoys reading in the bathtub, camping in the living room, and dancing in the kitchen.

You can find out more about Tamra at her website: http://www.tamranorton.com



***Please go to the Cedar Fort website for information on other books and tours they are promoting.  I wish to thank Cedar Fort for the review e-copy  that was provided. In no way did this influence the honest review that was given.***


Friday, April 13, 2012

Winner of Caller ID Announced From Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop!!



A winner has been chosen for the giveaway hop. The person who won the copy of Caller ID by Rachelle J. Christensen and the bag of Easter Candy is....

Lauren!!!!

She has been contacted and was so excited to win.I know that she is going to enjoy reading this book.  

Thanks everyone for entering the giveaway and following my blog.
I

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Blog Tour Review of, Hope's Journey, by Stephanie Worlton. Also, See How to Enter to Win a Signed Copy of Hope's Journey!

Product Details:

  • Title: Hope's Journey
  • Author: Stephanie Connelley Worlton
  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Bonneville (July 14, 2011)
  • Genre: YA Contemporary
  • ISBN-10: 1599555069
  • ISBN-13: 978-1599555065


Book Description:

Sydney is a straight-A student heading to college on a scholarship, and Alex is a quiet jock preparing to serve an LDS mission. But their dreams are shattered on the eve of their high school graduation when they find out that Sydney is pregnant. Separated, they must both trust in God as they search for the worth they once found in each other.
  

I am excited to be part of the Spring Blog Tour for Hope's Journey.

As part of the Spring Blog Tour, the author is offering up these prizes:

  • One autographed copy of "Hope's Journey"
  • Two digital copies of "Hope's Journey" (pdf or epub)
And... as a bonus,  if Kreating Krazy gains 100 followers during the course of the tour, she'll add: 
  • A $25 gift card to Amazon! 
 Those are some great prizes to win!  So make sure you go to Stephanie's blog after you read my review.

-Kreating Krazy(the blog, including the back story to Hope's Journey, purchase links, reviews, and the tour giveaway details)
Hope's Journey Book.com (Where you can read the first couple of chapters)


My Review: 
Hope's Journey starts out like any other book of high school seniors living their lives. I liked the group of friends that hang out and appear to know each other very well. Main characters, Syd and Alex, (both active members of the LDS church) are not only best friends, but also boyfriend and girlfriend. Many of the challenges that young people face are intertwined in this story of young love. The issue of morality plays strong in this story. This novel shows that ALL kids, religious or not are tempted when it comes to premarital sex. On the front cover are these words:
"A life changing mistake. A soul-changing journey"

From the back cover we already know that Syd becomes pregnant. This novel explores the heart-ache and trials, that come to both teens, as they decide what to do concerning the baby. I knew ahead of time that this book would bring up many emotions in me. I was adopted as a baby, and my birth mom was only sixteen years old. I have always been so grateful for the gift of life that she gave to me. I have also been happy that she chose adoption because I love my family so much! I also am the Mother of an adopted child. Her birth mom was also a teenager. I know of the struggles teens go through, as they try to decide what happens after they find out they are pregnant. I want to say here, there is no wrong or right answer. All birth parents have to make the choice that is best for them and their baby. I know with God's help they can make the right choice. This is the overall message in the book, along with the blessing of forgiveness that all people can accept and seek after. 

Some of the reactions of ward and family members, towards Syd and her unplanned pregnancy, can be shocking to the reader, especially the actions of Alex's mother. Sadly, I have seen behaviors just like this with people. I hope that all readers will realize that we all sin and need to be careful not to judge others. Some reviewers have said they were troubled by the ending of this book. There is a kind of twist in the last chapter that you don't see coming. I was also surprised, but not troubled. I am also wondering if there will be a 2nd book in this series. I would love to have all of the relationships explored more. 

Hope's Journey is a book that I would happily share with any teenager within my circle of friends and family. The message of hope and forgiveness is something that all of us need to be reminded of.
To purchase Hope's Journey please go to Amazon.com., Deseret BookBarnes and Noble,& Cedar Fort.
About the Author:
Stephanie Connelley Worlton was raised in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, Utah where she developed a love for the arts. She has spent years of service volunteering with the youth in her community - an opportunity that has led her to develop a deep love and fascination for our rising generation. "Hope's Journey", her first publicized work, was inspired by her interactions with youth as well as her own personal experience as a young mother. It has received much acclaim for tackling a difficult subject with grace and tact and is a 2011 Whitney Award Nominee.

As an avid reader herself, Stephanie is committed to producing works of fiction that are both clean and entertaining, but without overlooking the harder, more taboo subjects that are so relevant in real life.

***I received a review copy of Hope's Journey. In no way did this influence the honest review that was given.***
 


Saturday, April 7, 2012

Blog Tour Review of Promises by Carolyn Twede Frank

Product Details:

  • Title: Promises
  • Author: Carolyn Twede Frank
  • Paperback: 212 pages
  • Publisher: August Corp Press (March 24, 2012)
  • Genre: Middle Grade/Historical Fiction
  • ISBN-10: 0985251301
  • ISBN-13: 978-0985251307


Book Description:

Hattie is barely twelve when her pa's business adventures disrupt her family and move them to the new town of Tropic, Utah, nestled in the shadows of old Ebenezer Bryce's Canyon. Her pa views the town as opportunity. Hattie is hopelessly shy and views it with apprehension; she dreads the task of making new friends. More than anything else, Hattie wants to be like her father--not afraid of meeting new people, talking to strangers, and standing up for herself. So it is with trepidation that she accepts her pa's challenge and promises to make new friends. Hattie forms more promises as she struggles to make friends, finding companionship in places she wouldn't have expected and learning that there is a difference between complaining and standing up for one's self. Promises is a heartwarming story of friendship with a touch of mystery and adventure set in the days before Bryce Canyon became a national park. Drawn from the memoirs of early Utah settlers, it is a realistic glimpse into the past and a delightful story for readers ages eight to eighty.



My Review:

Promise, how is it defined? Here is how it is defined on the free online dictionary.
prom·ise  (prms)
n.
1.
a. A declaration assuring that one will or will not do something; a vow.
b. Something promised.
2. Indication of something favorable to come; expectation: a promise of spring in the air.
3. Indication of future excellence or success: a player of great promise.
v. prom·ised, prom·is·ing, prom·is·es
v.tr.
1. To commit oneself by a promise to do or give; pledge: left but promised to return.
2. To afford a basis for expecting: thunderclouds that promise rain.
v.intr.
1. To make a declaration assuring that something will or will not be done.
2. To afford a basis for expectation: an enterprise that promises well.


I have always been proud of the fact that when I promise I will do something, that I do indeed follow through. It wasn't until I was a mother that I had to think twice about using that phrase," I Promise I will..." . I recall telling my kids, "I promise I will play with you as soon as I'm done with the dishes/laundry/paying bills/ etc." I soon realized as I became busy with other things, I wasn't always able to follow through. Then my kids would come back, "But you promised!" It was at that time that I learned to re-phrase what I told my kids. I realized I was giving them a warped sense of what giving a promise meant. I didn't want my kids growing up thinking that making a promise and following through wasn't important. I also didn't want them to think that I didn't keep my promises. From that point on, I always made sure to say things like, "I will do my best to finish ________ and then we can go for a walk." I have also been very careful to follow through whenever I do make a promise to someone. Giving your word to someone should be a priority.


 The book, Promises,by Carolyn Twede Frank, is about a young girl who makes many promises to her family and friends. As she goes on trying to fulfill these promises she finds that it is harder than she thought it would be. This story is set in 1898, Southern Utah. Here is the book trailer for Promises:


This is a great book trailer to give you a good flavor of what the book is about. Even though this is a middle grade/ya novel, I was thoroughly entertained and involved in the storyline. The mystery of Hattie trying to find out about the girl who had previously lived in her house, and left some belongings, kept the story moving forward.I also was moved by the family dynamics in this novel. Hattie belongs to such a wonderful and supportive family. But not everyone she comes in contact with, has a family like this. So Hattie is constantly challenged with making choices, keeping promises and also staying true to who she is. Hattie is a fabulous character that kids and adults will like. She is very timid, and it is quite fulfilling to see how she grows and changes over the course of the novel. 


As a parent, I am always on a constant journey to find books that are clean, no bad language, and also well written. I am so happy to tell you this is a wonderful book that fits the bill of what I'm always looking for. Promises is based on an LDS family and some religion is discussed, but nothing preachy. I love the fact that the characters pray when they need help.  So I highly recommend Promises to you and your children. This is such a wonderful story, which reminds me a lot of the "Little House" series. 


If you want to read more reviews of Promises go to Carolyn's website here.Carolyn is also having a HUGE contest going on along with her blog tour. Please go here to read all of the details, how to enter and see what you could win.


Carolyn's blog tour partner, Cindy Hogan's book was reviewed, here, on my blog a week ago. Go and check out my review of Protected, a YA mystery/suspense.









 About the Author:
Carolyn Twede Frank grew up in Payson, Utah. Ever since elementary school she loved to write. In junior high and high school she was on the newspaper staff. Her senior year she even had her own column: Carolyn’s Corner. While attending USU as a freshman, her journalism teacher—in an effort to “prepare her for the real world of writing”—tore down her work to the point that Carolyn gave up, dropped her minor of journalism, and concentrated on her other love—biology. She graduated with a BS in Horticulture and an MS in Botany and went on to start her own business manufacturing puppets, (go figure), totally forgetting that she once had a passion for writing. Four years ago, after marrying, raising five kids, and growing her business to a point it was viable to sell, she rediscovered her love of writing. She has since sold her manufacturing business, retaining a small division of it that she can operate out of her home, affording her more time to write. Carolyn now lives in Kaysville, Utah. She writes YA/Middle grade historical and speculative fiction.



***I received a review copy of Promises from the author. In no way did this influence the honest review that was given.*** 

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop & Review of Caller ID by Rachelle Christensen (US only)

Welcome to the
Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop
April 6th to 12th
Hoppy Easter everyone! What a great time for a giveaway! I just finished reading a fantastic new mystery/suspense called Caller ID by Rachelle J. Christensen. 

Book Description:

March 13, 2012
When twenty-three-year-old Courtney Beckham is abducted near her home, the search turns up more than just a kidnapping crime. FBI agent Jason Edwards investigates the ten-million-dollar ransom and stumbles upon something he wasn't meant to find. When Courtney catches a glimpse of the caller ID in her kidnapper's home, what she sees turns her world upside down.



Caller ID has a great storyline with a strong female protagonist. Also, one of my favorite characters from Rachelle's book, Wrong Number, is back in this book, FBI agent Jason Edwards. This book will keep you reading and gripping the cover. There are also some wicked twists and turns that will leave you shaking your head. Rachelle is a talented writer and has a great handle on the craft of writing a good mystery/suspense novel. There is also a little bit of romance included that is always nice!

 You can enter to win Caller ID and a package of Rachelle's favorite Easter candy, M&M's or Reese's pieces. The winner will get to choose which one they want. You can enter on the easy Rafflecopter form below. First, I want to share with you an interview I did with the author. Then make sure you check out the other blogs with great giveaways. 


1.What do you love about writing suspense?
I like to look at things from a different angle, to find that twist that will make the story interesting. While brainstorming for Caller ID, I gathered some ideas from a few different news stories I saw. I kept thinking about the story and wondered, What if?
I also like learning new things and that requires research. This doesn’t just happen in suspense, pretty much all novels require research. I did quite a bit, from interviewing police officers, FBI agents, and undercover drug task force members to studying into how to produce certain drugs.


2.How are Wrong Number, your 1st book and Caller ID related?
Caller ID is a spin-off from my first book, taking FBI Agent Jason Edwards and continuing his story. They can be read as a stand-alone because only one character is the same, but I will say that he was a favorite from Wrong Number that people wanted to know more about.

3.How long did it take you to write Caller ID?
About two months, but I got the idea for the story almost a year before and let it percolate. After the first draft, I went on to torture myself with revisions for the next eight months.

4.What are you working on next?
I just finished writing/editing book one of a new “Wedding Planner Mystery” series. I had so much fun writing this novel and getting to know the characters. The title is Diamond Rings are Deadly Things and it’s set in Sun Valley, Idaho near where I grew up. I’m excited for people to meet my new character.

5.What is your favorite Easter candy?
I love those Reese’s pieces bags that look like a carrot, and I wouldn’t turn down lovely pastel peanut M&M’s either.
Thanks for the fun interview, Sheila!

6.Where are the best places on the internet to learn about you?
My website, www.rachellechristensen.com and my blog www.rachellewrites.blogspot.com
Author Rachelle's FB Page http://www.facebook.com/rachellechristensenauthor
Book Trailerhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8ZjvmatwGo&feature=email
www.rachellechristensen.com

Click HERE to see a list of all participating blogs!