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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Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Book Blast for True Colors by Krysten Lindsay Hager

True Colors Cover
True Colors Book Description...
Landry Albright enters a modeling competition with her two best friends, but runs into jealousy when she advances to the next level without them. Enter the gorgeous Devon, who also makes the first cut of the modeling contest. Devon seems like the perfect new best friend, but can their friendship survive the competition? Throw in a new boy, jealousy and loyalty issues, and insults from hair stylists. How’s a girl to deal? 


Excerpt
The competition was for girls between the ages of thirteen and seventeen, but it felt like Ericka, Tori, and I were the youngest ones there. I only saw a couple of girls from school, and the lineup looked more like something you’d see on a music video set. All the girls were gorgeous, and they had these curvy womanly bodies. I looked like a skinny little kid next to them. The first girl walked out, and I heard the judges say she “owned the runway,” and, “walked like a gazelle.” I was starting to feel ill. I wasn’t sure which way it was going to come, but I knew I had to find a bathroom — fast. I started to get out of line when Ericka grabbed my wrist. “It’s almost time,” she said. A tiny bit of spit flew out of her mouth and hit my cheek. I wasn’t sure why she was so intent on me going through with it, but she had a death grip on my arm, so I didn’t have much of a choice. Her number was called and she walked out to the stage. One of the other girls said she walked like a kid with sand bucket stilts on her feet, but she came back with a smirk on her face like she knew she’d get chosen. “They said they had never seen such long legs,” she said. Tori was next. “She walks like a gorilla at feeding time,” said the girl behind me. I went next, and I tried to focus on not tripping over my feet. My mom’s pumps had a rubber sole on the bottom, which probably wasn’t the brightest idea seeing as my shoes were making squeaking noises as I walked. I was so nervous I couldn’t stop smiling as I walked. I looked like the plastic clown who blows up balloons with its mouth at the Pizza Palace. When I got to the end of the runway, I tried to cross my feet to turn like the other girls had, but I over rotated and ended up doing a full spin which made my kilt fan out and gave the mall walkers a view of my blue underpants. I tried to act like it was intentional and did an extra turn. One of the judges put her hand up to stop me, and I held my breath as she started to speak. 

Book Trailer
  add to goodreads   Krysten LAuthor Biography
 Krysten Lindsay Hager is an author and book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and also writes middle grade, YA, humor essays, and adult fiction. Her debut novel, TRUE COLORS, will be out June 17th from Astraea Press. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in South Dakota, Portugal, and currently resides in Southern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing when she’s not catching up on her favorite shows.
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$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 8/8/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, June 20, 2014

Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop...enter to win an Amazon Gift Card!

I'm so glad that Summertime is almost here!
I don't know about you, but that always means
more time for me to read. There are so many great
books that have just been released. That's why
I'm giving away a $12.00 gift card to Amazon so one lucky
winner can go and buy a new book or several new
e-books just in time for vacation.
All you need to do is fill out the Rafflecopter
form! There are going to be many more exciting give-aways
for you to enter on this hop! 
Don't miss out on visiting all of them. 
This hop is open to everyone, US and International.
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Thursday, June 19, 2014

Torn Canvas by Donna K. Weaver-Blog Tour Review


Title: TORN CANVAS (Safe Harbors, #2)
Author: Donna K. Weaver
Release Date: May 28, 2014
Pages: 376
Find it: Amazon | B&NGoodreads
Genre: Fiction | Adventure | Contemporary Romance
Modern-day pirates took more than Jori Virtanen’s friends; they stole his face. Not only does the twenty-four-year-old former model have to confront months of reconstructive surgery, he discovers his previous life was as superficial as his looks. Jori struggles to make a new life for himself as an artist while evading the press. They expect a hero, but he knows the truth. His beauty masks a beast. Olivia Howard’s given up a normal life for her job, and the sacrifices are finally paying off. The twenty-six-year-old talk-show host’s ratings are heading to the top of the charts. Her dream is to make a difference in people’s lives, but the studio wants mind fluff—like interviewing hot model Jori Virtanen. When Olivia learns the guy helped rescue passengers on a cruise excursion from kidnappers, she knows this is the story she needs to make her case. The only problem is the hero was injured, and now he’s disappeared. The more Olivia learns about the man behind the scar, the more intrigued she becomes. But Jori is no girl’s happily ever after. Once she finds him, Olivia has to free his heart and heal the beast.
Donna K. Weaver is a Navy brat who joined the Army and has lived in Asia and Europe. Because she sailed the Pacific three times as a child, she loves cruising and wishes she could accrue enough vacation time to do more of it with her husband.  Donna and her husband have six children and eight grandchildren who live all over the world.  At fifty, Donna decided to study karate and earned her black belt in Shorei Kempo.   After recording city council minutes for twenty years, Donna decided to write something a little longer and with a lot more emotion--and kissing.
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June 16th Sweetly Clean Romance – Review/Excerpt  June 16th Gamila's Review  – Review  June 16hCindy M. Hogan – Review/Playlist  June 17th Peering Into – Review  June 17th Krista Wayment – Guest Post  June 17thLaura D. Bastian  – Review  June 17thChristy Dorrity Author – Interview  June 18thLeigh Covington – Interview/Highlight  June 18thCanda's Ink Blast – Review  June 18thDiann T. Read – Spotlight  June 18thMeetings With My Muse – Spotlight  June 18th Medeia Sharif – Top Ten/ Spotlight  June 18thBookish – Playlist/Top Ten  June 19thLucinda Whitney – Review/Interview  June 19thYA Author Elana Johnson – Interview  June 19thWhy Not? Because I Said So – Review  June 19thJordan McCollum – Spotlight/GP  June 20thFeather Pens, Tartan Dreams  – Review/Guest Post  June 20thLindzee Armstrong/Lydia Winters – Review  June 20thAuthor Brooke Williams – GP/Spotlight  June 20thWordpaintings Unlimited – Spotlight  June 20thMins Reads and Reviews – Review  June 20th Meredith Mansfield – Review
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My Review:
I really liked the first book in this series called, A Change of Plans. There was a little of everything, adventure, romance, and angst. Torn Canvas has all of that too. Right now I want to say, please read the first book in the series. This second book will make so much more sense. Also, it will help the reader understand why main character, Jori, is going through what he is. It also was great to have a bond with the characters because of reading the first book.

I was happy to get to know Jori better. In the first book he sometimes came across as a shallow, ladies man. There is so much more to his character than that. It was great to go along on this journey of physical and emotional renewal with Jori. Donna does a wonderful job with her characters. I also loved getting to know Olivia. There was so much more depth to her as the story went along. 

Torn Canvas will take you on an emotional journey where you will feel the satisfaction of seeing people grow and learn to love. I recommend this story to lovers of romance.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Counting Candles by Dustin Bradshaw-Blog Tour Review





Product Details

  • Title: Counting Candles
  • Author: Dustin W. Bradshaw
  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (June 10, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1462114334
  • FTC, FYI: Received a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.





Book Description: As accountant James Smith approaches his 40th birthday, he concludes that his life is tedious, ho-hum, dull, and, well . . . mediocre. He can’t image the vast ways that those around him are affected by his simple, caring acts. This tale of the extraordinary impact of ordinary lives is sure to touch your heart.


My Review: 

Anyone that reads my blog knows that I read A LOT of books! I read books that entertain me, books that enrich me and then there are books that are life-changing. Counting Candles is life changing. The message that readers will gain from reading this book, I can ensure you, will change the way that you view your own life. There is NO way that this book won't change your heart. 

I know I needed to read this book right now. I have been going through some of what the main character, James Smith, has. James is turning 40 and wondering if his life has been meaningful. Has anything he's done made a difference at all? I think all of us wonder this at some point, regardless of what we have done with our life's work. This novel looks into the people that James loves, knows, doesn't know well and with whom he associates with. James is a good man, very average, married and a good father. As he looks around him,it seems like everyone else has been more successful and productive than him in life. This novel has an "It's a Wonderful Life" flavor to it; not exactly the same storyline, but the same idea. I don't want to give too much of the story away, because this is a book that you must experience on your own. Here are the best reasons why I think everyone should read this book:

-It will change your mind and heart.
-It will give you an attitude adjustment.
-It will bring you to tears several times as you read.
-There are fabulous characters in this story. This is one of the best things in the story...great characterization!!
- You will see how the small things in life, a smile, a thank you, a small deed of service, can mean the world to someone else.

I know that there is some controversy about how many books are getting 5 star reviews these days. But honestly, with all my heart, this books deserves 6 stars!! This book needs to be nominated for a Whitney Award and that is exactly what I'll be doing. I highly recommend Counting Candles for everyone!! Thank you Dustin for writing a book that I will read again and again. I needed this mind and attitude adjustment and I'll forever be grateful for this gift.

Purchase this book at Amazon. 

Meet Author Dustin Bradshaw:


Being raised in a small farming community, Dustin Bradshaw thrives on adventure and challenge. Dustin lives by the theme, “If you want to accomplish something, do it!” It was with this attitude that Dustin penned his first book in third grade and, as a senior in high school, entered and won a literary scholarship that he was told no male had ever won. This same adventurous nature has helped Dustin achieve many of his life's goals, including forming that country boy into a accomplished leader. Dustin is now a Foreign Service Officer for the United States Department of State. He and his wife, Hiva, are now posted in Manila, Philippines. 

Goodreads  ||  Website

"Counting Candles” blog tour schedule:


June 9: Katie’s Clean Book Collection 
June 10: New LDS Fiction • The Author’s Hideaway
June 11: I Love to Read and Review Books
June 12:
June 13: Readalot
June 14:
June 15: I Am a Reader
June 16: Getting Your Read On
June 17: Why Not? Because I Said SoLDS Women’s Book Review
June 18: Closed the Cover
June 19: Mel’s Shelves
June 20: Books and Benches
June 21: Jinky is Reading
June 22: Citizen Judie

Monday, June 16, 2014

The Rebel Princess by Janice Sperry-Blog Tour Review




Product Details

  • Title:  The Rebel Princess
  • Author: Janice Sperry
  • Paperback: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (June 10, 2014)
  • Genre: Middle-Grade Urban Fantasy/Fractured Fairy Tales
  • ISBN-10: 146211430X
  • FTC, FYI:  Received a review PDF in exchange for an honest review.




Book Description: 

This damsel is NOT in distress!

"I was born to be evil.
 
Nice is NOT in my blood.
 
Besides, nice girls get locked in towers.". 
 
Raven Perilous is like any other middle school girl--if middle school girls are usually evil princesses. The daughter of a gentle princess and evil sorcerer, Raven spends most of her time being as wicked as possible to avoid being stuck in a tower.  So when Prince Charming shows up at her school.  Raven knows she has met her nemesis.

In The Rebel Princess, loyalty, heroism, and a pinch of enchantment are perfect for conjuring up an adventure that you'll never forget.
 
 This enchanting adventure, filled with magic forests and mystical creatures, will captivate fans of fairy tales everywhere!

 My Review:
With cute and witty dialogue, this story is always fun. Many fairy tales are mixed up in this novel with some strange and quirky fairy tale characters. Raven sees herself as an evil princess, but soon finds many interesting things about herself in The Enchanted Kingdom. When Prince Charming shows up, he finds that he's 14 years too late to save the princess from her tower. The story is full of humor that both you and your kids/teens will enjoy reading. Just when you think you've figured out how this tale should end, you'll be surprised by the many twists and turns that hopefully will lead to a fairy tale ending.


Meet The Author

About Janice:
Janice Sperry lives in Utah with her husband and three children and evil cat. She enjoys volunteering at the local elementary school and is exceptionally good at finding missing shoes, unless they are her own. You can follow her blog here.
- See more at: http://www.cherrymischievous.com/2014/06/the-rebel-princess-blog-tour.html#sthash.wiHtOzir.dpuf
Meet Author: Janice Sperry  
Janice Sperry lives in Utah with her husband and three children and evil cat.  She enjoys volunteering at the local elementary school and is exceptionally good at finding missing shoes, unless they are her own. You can follow her blog here.

Put it on your TBR list at Goodreads HERE!
Purchase HERE!
blog | twitter | facebook | facebook author page | pinterest | goodreads - See more at: http://www.cherrymischievous.com/2014/06/the-rebel-princess-blog-tour.html#sthash.lyfUurPf.dpuf

Meet The Author

About Janice:
Janice Sperry lives in Utah with her husband and three children and evil cat. She enjoys volunteering at the local elementary school and is exceptionally good at finding missing shoes, unless they are her own. You can follow her blog here.
- See more at: http://www.cherrymischievous.com/2014/06/the-rebel-princess-blog-tour.html#sthash.wiHtOzir.dpuf
Meet The Author

About Janice:
Janice Sperry lives in Utah with her husband and three children and evil cat. She enjoys volunteering at the local elementary school and is exceptionally good at finding missing shoes, unless they are her own. You can follow her blog here.
- See more at: http://www.cherrymischievous.com/2014/06/the-rebel-princess-blog-tour.html#sthash.wiHtOzir.dpuf
“The Rebel Princess” blog tour schedule:
June 15: Cherry Mischievous
June 16: Why Not? Because I Said So! • I Love to Read and Review Books
June 17: J.J. Bennett • Bookworm Lisa • Getting Your Read On
June 18: LDS Women’s Book ReviewReadalot • Christa Marie Wayment Crane-ium
June 19: Debra’s Windows Into Writing • Tressa’s Wishful Endings
June 20: Katie’s Clean Book Collection
June 23: New LDS Fiction
June 24: Anna Jones Buttimore • Mel’s Shelves
June 25: Princess Delight
June 26: V-Formation • Nathan Barra
June 27: Blooming With Books • A Backwards Story
June 28: LDS and Lovin’ It
June 29: Hope to Read
June 30: Meridian Magazine • Laura D. Bastian


The Hunt For Tomorrow: An On-Line Scavenger Hunt- $50 Blast Giveaway

Huntfortomorrow
 
THE HUNT FOR TOMORROW 22 AUTHORS. 3 DYSTOPIAN BOXED SETS. 1 MASSIVE EVENT. A virtual scavenger hunt through twenty-two fictional dystopias. Friday, July 18 at 6:00pm (EST) - Sunday, July 20 at 6:00pm (EST). 
 Join THE HUNT FOR TOMORROW, an on-line scavenger hunt, and embark on a virtual odyssey through twenty-two dystopian futures. Become an intrepid scavenger and solve clues at each of the dystopian author stops as you navigate your way to the finish line where you’ll be entered into a random draw for the Grand Prize. For each correct answer collected along the way you’ll get an additional chance to win. During The Hunt, the authors will offer up their own exclusive material, sneak peeks, contests, and giveaways at their individual stops on The Hunt, giving all scavengers multiple chances to win bonus prizes. The twenty-two participating indie authors include best-selling, award-winning and emerging writers from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom who all have books included in three dystopian boxed sets - - What Tomorrow May Bring, A Taste Of Tomorrow, and Shattered Worlds. In a unique collaboration of story-telling, nineteen of the authors will write a progressive short story over nineteen days following The Hunt. The Grand Prize Winner of The Hunt For Tomorrow will name characters and contribute the title for this dystopian world, and all participants in The Hunt will receive an advance copy of the story for an exclusive period before it is made available as a free download. The Grand Prize also includes a signed copy of books included in the boxed sets, an ebook of all the boxed sets, and the first copy of this one-of-a-kind progressive story. 

 THE HUNT FOR TOMORROW begins at http://huntfortomorrow.blogspot.com on Friday, July 18 at 6:00pm (EST) and ends on Sunday, July 20 at 6:00pm (EST). The Hunt is on for one weekend only, although there is no time-limit for completing the course. The Hunt is open to scavengers around the world; there is no cost to enter and one grand prize winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries.

 Go to THE HUNT FOR TOMORROW for details and the full list of participating authors. JOIN THE HUNT. JULY 18-20.  
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$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 7/20/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, June 13, 2014

Body Image Breakthrough: Learning to See Your Body and Your Beauty in a Whole New Light by Jaci Wightman-Blog Tour Review

Product Details

  • Title: Body Image Breakthrough: Learning to See Your Body and Your Beauty in a Whole New Light
  •  Author: Jaci Wightman
  • Paperback: 144 pages
  • Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (June 10, 2014)
  • Genre Non-Fiction/Self Help
  • ISBN-10: 1462114385
  • FTC, FYI: Received a pdf copy in exchange for an honest review. 






Book Description:
Stop sacrificing to the idol of the perfect woman. Body Image Breakthrough cuts through the fad diets and pop psychology to find the root of women's body image issues. Free yourself from negative body image and live each day as Heavenly Father intended, wrapped in the soul-healing beauty of the Lord.

My Review:
 I've been reading several books about body image lately, and frankly I've needed this. From the very beginning of chapter one I knew that this book would have the messages I needed to hear. Jaci's voice is friendly and personal. You feel like you are talking to your best friend. One of the best things I loved about this book is the "Additional Study" information that reviews what the chapter talked about and gives you a small assignment to look up additional scriptures in the Bible, Book of Mormon and other scripture. I really liked this time to reflect more on what the scriptures had to say about beauty and image.

Here are more of the highlights from the book that will stay with me.

"It all comes down to this: if we’re trying to glorify ourselves
through our outward appearance, we’re walking a dead-end road
that will only lead to more emptiness and heartache. Truth is,
there’s only One who can fill our hearts with the acceptance and
love we’ve been longing for. There’s only One who can offer us
the satisfying and abundant fruit of the tree of life. It’s a kind of
nourishment that the world can’t even begin to imitate. But we
can only partake of this fruit if we quit looking to other people to
fill us and devote ourselves instead to seeking the acceptance and
affirmation of the Lord."


"Could it be the adversary has convinced us that the only way
to feel “secure, affirmed, and valuable” is to gain the acceptance of
our peers? Could it be that we dress for the eyes of others in order
to “fill a hole”? Maybe it’s time for us to learn where our true value
comes from. Maybe it’s time to turn our backs on the seductive
voices coming from the great and spacious building."

 
 
"Deep down, I knew there had to be a way to find balance.
There had to be a way to honor my God-given desire for beauty
without bowing down before the image of the world. Walking
away from the image couldn’t mean walking away from physical
attractiveness altogether. Instead, the answer had to involve learning
and internalizing how the Lord understood outward—not just
inward—beauty. I knew Christ didn’t view a woman’s appearance
through the lens of the world, but I certainly did. For the most
part, what the world saw as beautiful, I saw as beautiful, and what
the world shunned, I shunned. What I needed most was a body
image breakthrough. A radical change of heart. I needed the Lord
to completely re-frame the way I looked at physical beauty."


 Here is one of my favorite things that Jaci said is her book...
" Please believe me when I say that if you’ll simply allow the
Lord to lead you through the transformation process, you’ll discover
a new place to live—a place where you’ll actually rejoice in
your physical body. It’s a place where you’ll find the ability to
master your appetite; where your weight will settle in at a healthy
level; and where all obsessive thinking will finally cease. Best of all,
it’s a place where you’ll come to know the beauty and splendor of
Christ, and how it applies to your individual body. I promise, it’s a
place unlike anything you’ve ever experienced."


 How I wish I could share more with you, but as you can see, this book will truly change the way you think about yourself in many respects. I hope that all LDS women and teens will read this book. I know that lives will be changed, as minds and hearts assimilate this message of letting the Lord and his words help with their body image breakthrough. 

 Purchase at...
  Meet Author Jaci Wightman:
A first-time author, Jaci Green Wightman (pronounced JAY-see) was raised in five different states before meeting her husband, Greg, during her freshman year of college. Together, they’re now enjoying the daunting task of raising seven children born in just eight years. In 2012, Jaci finally graduated from BYU-Idaho with a degree in University Studies, 21 years after postponing her schooling to start a family. Underneath all her outward busyness, however, Jaci is simply an ordinary woman who discovered an extraordinary Savior. Her greatest joy lies in teaching and testifying of the One who not only changed her heart, but radically transformed her entire life.
Go HERE to learn more about Jaci and her book.