Diary of An Angel by Michael Farnsworth-Review

Product Details

• Title: Diary of an Angel
•  Author: Michael M. Farnsworth
• Paperback: 162 pages
• Publisher: Martindale Press (October 9, 2013)
• Genre: Fiction
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615866018
• FTC, FYI: I received a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:
Forenica has never guarded anyone before, let alone been responsible for a soul. All that changes when she joins the ranks of heaven’s angels as a Junior Guardian. Her first assignment seems simple enough; her charge, Angela Higgins, seems too perfect to have any real struggles. She could scarcely have been more mistaken. Forenica learns quickly that helping Angela make it back to heaven is no trivial undertaking. Soon after Forenica’s assignment, Angela’s family suffers an unexpected crisis, which threatens to destroy her marriage and to snuff out her faith. As the situation grows more desperate, Angela also struggles to hold on to her wayward teenage daughter. Feeling powerless to help, Forenica seeks for answers to Angela’s problems in the annals of heaven. There Forenica uncovers secrets that will change both their lives forever. But in the end an unexpected angel will provide Angela the miracle she needs.

My Review:
Let me start my review by saying, I do believe in angels. Before I ever read this book I've felt that angels live among us and help us day by day. So reading this story about Guardians Angels was a true pleasure. The author portrays Heaven exactly as I hope it will be. I loved the idea of people that have passed on being assigned as guardian angels. The story is about one such soul, Forenica, who is not assigned a baby like usual, but is instead assigned a grown woman, Angela, with many troubles in her life. Forenica's assignment is to help her through the struggles of life and to return safely to Heaven one day. 

This story is so touching and heartfelt. It also has a level of angst and suspense as the reader wonders if Forenica will truly be able to help Angela with her problems. There are some sticky moments where Satan's army looks like it will win.The thing that I'll remember most about this book, is that we can receive help from Heaven. We are not struggling here by ourselves. There were so many moments in this book that brought me to tears. You will be drawn to the wonderfully written characters, the angels and the humans on Earth. This sweet story is one that you will want to share with those who need a "pick-me-up" from the drudgery of life. Whatever religion you participate in, if you believe in God and angels, this book will be an inspiring read for you.
  

Author Q&A

Where did you come up with the idea for Diary of an Angel?

I think the idea really began to take shape (ironically) during a re-read of The Screwtape Letters. As I considered the opposite side of that story—heaven’s fight for souls—the whole idea of guardian angels came alive. And the more I thought and pondered on it, the more I felt there was a story that needed to be told. Sadly, C.S. Lewis never tackled that story. So, readers have to settle for mine.

Do you really believe angels are so involved in our lives?

God’s miracles and dealings in our lives are for all who have the eyes to see them. Those who honestly and humbly look for God’s blessings, will see them—more and more. That has been true in my own life. And no more so than when I was writing this story. The real message here is that heaven is involved in the nitty-gritty details of our lives. Whether that involvement comes from actual guardian angels, God’s spirit, the scriptures, a sunrise, a baby’s laugh, or some angelic earthy friend, it doesn’t matter. Because the end-goal is the same.

Do you think heaven is really like you depict in your story?

Yes and no. Yes, because God would surely pattern our world after his own. If you were to build a house for your children, you’d probably build one like your own, wouldn’t you? And No, because I have no doubt that the beauty of heaven will supersede anything that anyone could possibly fathom in mortality. In that regard, I’m not worried about a reader of my book ever approaching me in heaven to tell me I got my depiction of heaven all wrong. Because the real thing will be infinitely better than my vision; no one will care that I got it wrong. The important thing for me is that readers feel heaven as they read. That feeling if far more important that the visual picture painted in the reader’s mind. I obviously took some creative liberties in my depiction. I did this mainly for me, to help me show a fun and interesting heaven—not a puffy white cloud of boredom. Heaven is not boring, I’m confident of that.

Where did the name Forenica come from?

When I first began planning the story, I believed the name had originated from my head. But I've been told that it's actually a real name--a surname, to be precise. I haven't bothered to research into this myself. The name came to me some time before I even conceived any story involving angels. At that time I intended to use the name in a different story. But, I wrote Diary of an Angel first. The name was handy and I liked it, so I decided to use it for my protagonist. Generally speaking, it's not advisable to use unusual names. They can distract the reader from the story. In the case of Forenica, I like to think that the name fits well for the character. My hope is that most readers will form their own image of Forenica's appearance, without being influenced by the Sarah's, Emma's, or Jane's they happen to know. (All three excellent names, by the way.)

Will we see Forenica again?

I hope so. For me, a story has to kind of incessantly ask me to write it. If it doesn’t, my heart won’t be in the story. And that would just not do. I do have a few ideas swimming around in my head, though. Not necessarily involving Forenica, but heaven and her angels. It may be some time, though. So, I plead for patience from my kind readers.


Meet Author Michael M. Farnsworth:

Michael M. Farnsworth holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Texas A&M University. A degree that comes in handy if you're a software engineer, which he is, but not so much if you're a writer. As a native Texan, he should know lots about riding horses and herding cattle--but he doesn't. He does, however, know a good deal about wrangling small children. He has four of them. When he's not wrangling children, writing code or writing books, he's probably building something. He lives with his wife and children in Seattle, WA.


To learn more about Michael and his work find him at Twitter,  Facebook,  and at his Website. 

****His new book Haladras was just released this month! It looks REALLY good!! *****

 

A desert planet. A dangerous secret.

 When Skylar’s enigmatic uncle warns him to stay away from the mysterious winged insects that have been sighted on other planets, he thinks little of it; no one has seen the insects on their own planet of Haladras. His uncle knows more than he’s telling, though. The creatures are not insects, but machines. And they’re hunting for Skylar. Only after Skylar narrowly escapes capture and flees Haladras with his uncle does he learn the whole truth. What his uncle reveals will shatter Skylar’s world and thrust him into a conflict that will force him to become more than a mere boy of fifteen. 

Go check it out on Amazon.com. or visit www.haladras.com

My Review of, The Wedding Letters, by Jason F. Wright Also included, a Video Interview with the Author!

Product Details:

• Title: The Wedding Letters
  
• Author: Jason F. Wright
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing (September 27, 2011)
• Genre: General Fiction
• ISBN-10: 1609080572
• ISBN-13: 978-1609080570

Book Description:

Publication Date: September 27, 2011 | Series: Wednesday Letters

Their remarkable journey began in 2007 with the New York Times bestseller, The Wednesday Letters.

Now comes the next stage of one family's journey to survive their past and forge their own future. With no more secrets...

When Noah Cooper "bumps" into Rachel, he thinks it's love at first sight. Rachel isn't so sure. In time, Noah's charm pays off and he introduces his bride-to-be to a special Cooper family tradition -- the wedding letters. Family and friends of the happy couple are invited to send letters of advice on love, life, and happiness.

However, when a dark secret from Rachel's past surfaces, will Noah, and his parents, Malcolm and Rain, be able to help save the wedding from disaster? And what about the scrapbook of wedding letters that have already been gathered? Could a single letter really provide the answer that will bring Rachel back?

Set against the backdrop of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, The Wedding Letters will remind you that sometimes, no matter the secrets of years past, two hearts can still be one. And by the final page, you might just want to create your own book of wedding letters for someone you love.

Here is the book trailer for The Wedding Letters.

My Review:  

The Wedding Letters is a continuation of the story of the Cooper family that started in The Wednesday Letters. The Wedding Letters can stand on it's own, but it will be a more fulfilling read if you have read The Wednesday Letters first. 

The story centers around the main characters, Noah Cooper and his future bride, Rachel. All of the characters are so wonderfully rich, and colorful. They remind you of your neighbors and family members, so you connect quickly with them. Previous readers of this series remember soon what they loved about the Cooper family, and also what they disliked about some of them. By all means, this is not a story about a perfect family, but I believe they don't exist. That would be boring to read about a family with no flaws. Jason writes his characters with enough flaws, that you root for them as they grow, learn, and sometimes change for the better. 

I enjoyed reading about the concept of "The Wedding Letters". The fun part for me being a single, divorced women, is that I hopefully will get married again. I would love to follow this tradition the next time I get married. You don't have to be in your twenties to have a gift of Wedding Letters done for you. Down below I have a video showing what exactly The Wedding Letters Tradition is.  

The Wedding Letters overall is a short, sweet read that most readers will enjoy.The main themes of love, forgiveness,and moving forward, will make up for some of the predictability in the storyline. This will not take away from the feeling of contentment and resolution felt at the end of the story. I truly love reading stories by Jason Wright.

The Wedding Letters was a 2011 Whitney Award Nominee in the General Fiction category.

You can purchase The Wedding Letters here at Deseret Book, 

or at Amazon.com.

***I was given a review copy of The Wedding Letters by the publisher. In no way did this influence the honest review that was given.***




About the Author:

Jason Wright is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author. He is also a political commentator and the co-founder of http://www.politicalderby.com, a popular website for political junkies.

Articles by Jason have appeared in over 50 newspapers and magazines across the United States including The Washington Times, The Chicago Tribune, and Forbes. He is the author of The James Miracle (2004); Christmas Jars (2005); The Wednesday Letters (2007); Recovering Charles (2008), Christmas Jars Reunion (2009); Penny's Christmas Jar Miracle (2009); The Cross Gardener (2010); The Seventeen Second Miracle (2010); and The Wedding Letters (2011).

Jason is also a popular speaker who speaks on the origin of the Christmas Jar movement, the value of service, the lost art of letter writing and many other topics. You can find out more information about Jason and his books here at his website.

I thought that you might enjoy listening to this interview with Jason Wright about The Wedding Letters.

For added fun today, I included a video that shows you the tradition of The Wedding Letter.

 

Review of No Angel by Theresa Sneed

• Title: No Angel
• Author: Theresa Sneed
• Genre: Theological Fantasy
• Paperback: 283 pages
• Publisher: Brigham Distributing (August 10, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 1935217968

Book Description:

An angel with an attitude...

Jonathan Stewart is not at all happy about having to return to earth
as a guardian angel, but it's required of all post-mortal spirits to
fulfill at least one angel guardianship. Fortunately, on the Guardians
Unlimited application, he had the good sense to request a client
with early-marked-death status, so he believes that while his stay
on earth will be most unpleasant, at least it will be short.
What he doesn't know is that a spirit with EMD status can choose his or
her time of death! Jonathan's client, Celeste Knight, has a mind of
her own and refuses death at every turn, leaving him stuck as her
guardian angel in a place he only wanted to forget.

My Review:

This book is very different from any angel and demon book I have read. The story is centered on the lives of the guardian angels and the demons known as "Sheydims" in this novel. I loved the perspective that we were given on how people's guardian's angels are chosen. I also loved how Heaven was portrayed. It was also equally interesting to see how "hell"; the underworld, where the Sheydim lived, was portrayed. Let's just say, I don't want to end up there!

The main character, Jonathan Stewart, is quite the odd guardian angel. He doesn't want to do this job and so he chooses someone, Celeste with EMD status, who is supposed to have a short life span on earth and will be marked for an early death. Jonathan is not a pleasant angel and he hates Earth. His earthly experience had not been a good one as a human, so he doesn't want to go back at all. Nothing really goes well for Jonathan in this book until he starts changing his bad attitude about everything. Celeste teases him about being "The Grinch". 

Let me tell you, there is A LOT that happens in this book. You will see humor, happy things, scary things (The Sheydim are just down right creepy), and also some very tense moments. There is something that happens at the very end that brought me to tears and left me feeling so good about myself and life in general. It happens in the last two pages, so when you read there, you will know exactly what I mean. 

No Angel will keep you reading and not wanting any interruptions. Theresa does a wonderful job teaching many life lessons, without beating you over the head. Learning to love and to accept love, was my favorite theme. If you have an open heart, you will be greatly enriched by reading No Angel. 

The Author:

Theresa Small Sneed

"I love words! Words teach, uplift, and inspire, or they tear down and destroy. I take words very seriously, and the words that I choose are meant to cause reflection, and to bring hope."

Purchase Links for No Angel

• Amazon
• Deseret Book
• Brigham Distributing
• Latter Day Light Bookstores
• Beehive Bookstores
• Latter Day Light Books

**I was given a review copy of No Angel. In no way did this influence the review that was given. **

Review of Circle of Secrets by Kimberley Griffiths Little

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (October 1, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 054516561X

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Critically acclaimed author Kimberley Griffiths Little weaves a haunting story of friendship and family and the power of faith, once again set against the lush backdrop of the Lousiana bayou.After her mother walked out on Shelby Jayne and her dad, Shelby thought she'd never speak to her mamma again. But with her dad leaving the country for work, it turns out she doesn't have a choice: Shelby has to move back into her mamma's house, deep in the heart of the Louisiana bayou.
Her new classmates tease and torment her, so Shelby's relieved to finally find a friend in Gwen, a mysterious girl who lives alone on the bayou. But Shelby can't help wondering if Gwen has something to do with the puzzling messages she finds hidden in the blue bottle tree behind her house. The only person who might be able to explain is her mamma -- but Shelby's not ready to ask. Not yet. It may take a brush with something from the beyond to help Shelby see that the power to put her own ghosts to rest is within her reach.


My Review: What I Think 


Last year I read one of the most incredible books, called The Healing Spell. It had such charm and substance to the story, and was based in the bayou of Louisiana. The story was full of strong characters and Cajun magic. Kimberley's newest book, Circle of Secrets, is no different. It also has that magical feel to the story; this time it includes ghosts, real and figuratively. Though there is a feeling of awe and mystery concerning the ghost, there is nothing there that would scare someone younger reading this story. 


I love the beautiful words that Kimberley writes. I keep post-it notes by my side as I read. I then mark the passages that really hit me and have meaning. This passage was one of my favorites from Circle of Secrets...  


"Giving a gift or a charm is about both people...the one giving the gift and the one receiving it. A Gift is powerful because of the hearts of the giver and the receiver."


Another aspect I love about Kimberley's writing is how well she brings a scene to life with her colorful words. You forget you are reading a story and see the images played in your mind as a movie. Here is an example...


"And the bridge is starting to move. It's swaying back and forth as the force of the churning, rising water pounds against the pilings. The whole pier shudders from the power of the river...An instant later there's a flash of lightning overhead. A series of yelps and screams comes from the kids and suddenly the entire bridge is jolting up and down and side to side as the group runs for the bank. I turn to run, too, but it's too slippery and I go crashing to my knees, banging my elbows."


Kids and adults will both like this story. Though the main character is 11 year old Shelby, the reader also gets to know Shelby's mother Mirage. Both characters have struggles with reconciling what has happened in the past, and how they need to accept each other in order to have a future together.


Circle of Secrets is beautifully written, with sweet southern charm, and a story of renewed love between a mother and a daughter. 


If you would like to know more about Kimberley and her awesome books, please go to her website here. 


Kimberley won a Whitney Award for her book The Healing Spell. I was there the night that she won a Whitney. I was so happy for her!!

Here is the award she won...




Here I am with Kimberley after I interviewed her about her win. 

Review of "Obsession" by Traci Hunter Abramson

From the Back Cover:


Pop singer Kendra Blake grew up in the spotlight as the daughter of a prominent actor. Now famous in her own right, she’s had enough with bodyguards shadowing her every move. So when a bomb goes off backstage at one of her concerts, she gives in to her urge to flee. In search of the privacy she’s lacked her whole life, Kendra escapes to a remote cabin in Arizona. Little does she know, FBI agent Charlie Whitmore has been assigned to keep her safe and is staying right across the street.

Stranded in severe weather, the two develop a friendship that hovers on the verge of romance—with Charlie frantically trying to keep his personal and work life separate and Kendra enjoying a new-found freedom from her glamorous world. But when law officials discover that there may be a link between a notorious serial killer and Kendra, she has far greater concerns than her independence.

Obsession is another great novel written by Traci Hunter Abramson. This book is more mystery, than action. It also is a novel about relationships and learning to love and trust again.

Some of the things I liked the most in this novel were the main characters Kendra, the pop singer being stalked and Charlie, the FBI agent assigned to protect her.  Both characters have baggage in their past that threatens a possible romance between them. Traci always does a great job with character development. She writes characters that the reader learns to care about quickly. Kendra, even though she is famous, is sweet and vulnerable. Charlie, though deeply hurt in the past from a failed engagement, is caring and willing to open his heart.  Watching Kendra and Charlie interact is not only fun, but you will be cheering them on to connect.

Traci sets up many possible people as the stalker and possible serial killer. Either I am getting better at figuring who the bad guy is, or this one was easier to solve. But I knew over half way in who Kendra’s stalker was. Fellow reviewer, Mindy, told me she had also figured out the stalker early on. The main mystery for me was how he would attack and if Charlie would be able to protect Kendra. There is great action at the end that resolves the novel nicely.

I recommend Obsession to readers that love a novel filled with a blooming romance, mysterious stalkers, FBI agents and finding God again in your life. Nice job to Traci on another well written novel that her fans will not want to miss reading.

***For those of you that are already big fans of Traci, you will be excited to hear this news from her blog...

"I always love getting good news and a couple of weeks ago my editor gave me the news I was waiting for, the news I was hoping for. The manuscript I had submitted has been accepted. Royal Secrets, a spin-off of Royal Target, is expected to come out in February, 2012. Yeah!

I know a lot of people wanted me to write a true sequel to Royal Target, and I did try. But then there were these two other characters, Prince Stefano and Alora DeSanto. 

They're very interesting characters, both in the way they developed as well as the way they hijacked the story. I had planned on them being minor characters, maybe part of a fun subplot. They had other ideas. So needless to say, this story isn't quite what I had planned, which only proves that I shouldn't try to plan what I'm writing. It never turns out the way I expect anyway."

To read more about Traci and her books, go to her website here.

Review of "Bitter Blessings" by Christine Mehring

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

This review copy of Bitter Blessings was supplied by Cedar Fort, Inc. In no way did this influence the review that was given.

My Review of "The Third" by Abel Keogh

Synopsis:

When Ransom Lawe, a recycler in the Pacific Northwest, finds out his wife is pregnant with their third—and therefore illegal—child, he’s forced to choose between the government who proclaims a desire to save the planet and his hope for a place where his family can live in freedom. But with the Census Bureau Sentinels closing in on his wife and unborn child, Ransom’s choice will either save his family or tear them apart forever.

Abel Keogh offers a stark and haunting look at a not-so-distant future in this chilling new novel. Crossing lines between good and evil, freedom and oppression, and political and environmental responsibility, The Third is a gut-wrenching tale of intense loyalty and unconditional love.

The Third is a book about choices. These choices deal with being loyal to your country or your family or yourself. It is also a story about courage and pure love for your family. The main character will sacrifice everything in order to keep his wife and children safe. Abel has a way in this story, of bringing out so many emotions for the reader.You are anxious for the main character and his family, you are appalled that our country allows certain things to happen, and you want desperately for the unborn child to be safe.

One thing that crossed my mind, is that this is a fiction story that could someday be fact. This is not a fantasy story, but more a dystopian style novel. The story takes place in Washington state in 2065. It was fascinating and scary to read about what life MAY be like 54 years from now.

I felt so hopeless as I read The Third. I just couldn't figure out how Ransom was going to save his family, including his unborn child. As you can see, you literally are on the edge of your seats as you read this book. When you read this book make sure that you have plenty of time to finish it. I would have finished it in one sitting if I hadn't started it late at night. I did finish it the next day.

Am I impressed with Abel's writing? Oh yes, he is a great writer! He knows how to write an intense thriller, mixed in with strong characters, good and bad guys, and unique story ideas. This novel also has a great first chapter that will draw you in. Sorry folks, once it does, it will not let you go. I also wanted to let you know, that I gave this book 5 stars on goodreads.com. I don't give out 5 stars very often, but when I do, that book truly deserves it.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Third, follow this link.

I recommend this book to all readers. Regardless of your favorite genre of book, this novel has a little of everything that will appeal to the masses. I think that there will be a sequel coming out. There has to be, just from the way things ended, and the bad guy is still out there looking for Ransom and his family.

You can buy a personalized copy of The Third here at Abel's site.

You can also order The Third at Amazon.com

About Abel Keogh

Abel is the author of the novel The Third and the memoir Room for Two and numerous short stories and poems. For nearly a decade he has worked as a professional copywriter and composed hundreds of print and online pieces of marketing collateral for technology, real estate, health care, and education organiza¬tions—including several Fortune 500 companies. Abel and his wife, Julianna, are the parents of three boys and a girl.

To learn more about Abel and his writing, please visit his website.

Eyes Like Mine By Julie Wright

Eyes Like Mine by Julie Wright

My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is a very heart felt book. The two main characters, the great,great, great,Grandmother and the great, great, great granddaughter (I think I am off a few of the greats!) are very different. Depending upon your own personality you will like the one and be irritated by the other. It also has LDS messages of pioneers and their sacrifices, praying and having faith. This doesn't mean that you still won't enjoy this book if you are not LDS. If you are Christian and believe in God, you will like this novel.

Liz, the granddaughter, is forced into a harsh situation as her parents are divorced and she is forced to be Mother, Father and sister to her younger siblings. I have to say, Julie Wright does an excellent job of portraying a family adjusting to life after a divorce. I have been divorced for a year and felt myself totally relating to the thoughts and feelings of the Mom and the children. I praise Julie, for bringing this hard situation to life. Those who have never experienced divorce in their lives can see the devastating consequences of divorce. Hopefully, the readers will also see how they can be of help, to those families in this situation, and offer much love and support.

This book does have time travel involved without the fantasy aspect. I still really liked how it was all portrayed. It is a book that shows how to love and show gratitude for your ancestors. It also is a book that teaches how wading through trials and hardships requires sacrifices on our part.

I enjoyed reading "Eyes Like Mine". Julie Wright is a very great author that knows how to tell a good story. View all my reviews >>

My Review: Haunts Haven, An LDS Ghost Story by Joan Sowards

"Haunts Haven" includes on it's front cover, "An LDS Ghost Story". You wonder how the LDS and Ghost story can mix? Well, Joan Sowards does it in a very clever and surprising way. I missed the twist that came in the middle, though I should have seen it coming. I am getting ahead of myself here.

Let me give you a brief overview of the story of "Haunts Haven"...

"When Callie Wilford inherits a century-old inn in southern Arizona, locals tell her of a ghost who "guards" the inn. But Callie doesn't believe in ghosts, and she plans to turn the inn into a bed and breakfast. Then things start to happen - strange, spooky things - and she begins to wonder if there is some truth to the ghost stories. If that weren't bad enough, Callie discovers a mysterious grave in the cellar. As she confronts the inn's tragic secrets, she also faces her lonely past and learns to embrace her heritage. But it takes a handsome cowboy and a charming rancher to prove that Callie's long-guarded heart can love again."

This is the first published novel for Joan Sowards and I was very impressed by her wonderful storytelling. I loved the very bright and somewhat colorful characters found in this book. The book seemed to have a nice flow to it, so it is an easy read. I really liked the main character, Callie, who was written so "real" you could relate to her.

I also really liked how Joan was able to weave several smaller stories, into the big story, without it being confusing. I also mentioned earlier about a twist. It is a great twist that simply surprised me and delighted me at the same time. I will not say more because I do not want to give anything away.

I know, if you want to read a different kind of love story filled with mystery and suspense, you will enjoy "Haunts Haven". I look forward to reading more of what Joan writes.

You can purchase this book at Amazon.com and now at Deseret Book.

I want to thank Amy Orton at Walnut Springs Press for the complimentary copy of this book. This one is a keeper and will be read again and again.

Review of "All the Stars in Heaven" by Michele Paige Holmes

"All the Stars in Heaven" is Michele Paige Holmes second published book. Her first book, "Counting Stars" won the first Whitney Award, ever, in the category of Romance. There are many of us that fell in love with "Counting Stars" and Michele's writing. I could see her amazing talent she possessed because she wrote such a captivating story. You often wonder how something as good as an "award winning" first book could ever be topped? Well, I am here to tell you, that this is exactly what Michele has done. She went above and beyond with her writing of "All the Stars in Heaven". It was very evident to see the fabulous growth that Michele has made as a writer.

This story was much more than a romance, but was also a murder mystery/suspense novel. The storyline is very deep and involved with happenings of current times and what happened to main character Sarah Morgan's mother many years ago. The other main character, Jay Kendrich, was first introduced in a smaller role in "Counting Stars". I have to admit, I did not really like Jay that much in the first book. Jay has grown up a lot since the first book and he is more appealing this time around. In fact, I found myself hoping that everything would turn out for him in this book. He also finally finds love in this novel. It is hard to obtain that love, granted, but eventually it comes along.

I really did not expect such a deep storyline when I first picked up this novel, so I was happily surprised when the mystery continued to grow and things became more and more complicated for our main couple. I ended up loving this book. There is a very high angst level, but this fact keeps you glued to the pages.

Here is a picture of Michele,(in the middle) with the women of LDS Womens Book review (Shanda, Hillary and of course me!). Michele joined us to record a podcast right after "Counting Stars" first came out. She will be joining us soon again for another podcast.

I wanted to ask Michele many questions about her new novel as I posted this review. So, here are a few questions and answers for you about, "All the Stars in Heaven."

1. Great job on your new novel Michele! I was very impressed with "All the Stars in Heaven". Did you set out from the beginning to write a mystery/romance?

For whatever reason, Jay and Sarah's story came to me as a suspenseful romance (not to be confused with romantic suspense, where the suspense is the focus of the story). I still wanted the romance to be first and foremost. That said, the storylines were tightly intwined, and it became very apparent, very quickly that I'm not a suspense writer. That element of the plot was more than a little challenging.

2. I could tell as I read your book that your writing has continued to grow and develop by leaps and bounds. Mind you, I loved your writing before, and this story seem so perfectly formed. How do you feel about your own writing progress?

I feel as if the manuscript I completed earlier this year---a YA fairytale written in first person---is probably the best thing I've ever written. I sincerely hope I get better with each book. Making the leap to being able to write in first person was huge for me, as I've tended to be a bit of a "head hopper" :) in the past.

3. Did you outline the story first? There were so many characters and plot lines weaving together throughout the book. I would be surprised if you hadn't done an outline.

I didn't do an outline for All the Stars in Heaven, Counting Stars, or any of my other novels. I do like to print out a calendar of the time I'm writing about and make notes of what events in the story happen on which days.

4.Why did you decide to write your second novel about Jay Kendrich? I thought for sure that you would write the second novel about one of Jane's sisters.

I do have a novel planned for Jane's sister, Caroline, and I am currently writing Tara's (Jane's crazy friend) story. But Jay was a great character who didn't get a happy ending. I wanted readers to see him get his turn at love.

5.I think I recall you saying that there will be one more "stars" book that you will write in this series? If this is so, have you already started writing it or are you currently working on it ?

Caroline's story was supposed to be next, but the editors at Covenant felt Tara's story should come first, so a few months ago I switched gears, set Caroline's manuscript aside, and dove into Tara's world. Tara is a really great character, and I'm having a lot of fun with her story.

During the few years since we've last seen her (wearing a bright orange pant suit and sobbing at Jane's wedding), she's moved to LA and become a big time realtor. But life is lonely, and she hops a plane in late December, hoping to meet up with some girlfriends at a spa in Boulder, Colorado for the holidays. Through a series of misfortunes, she finds her plane rerouted to Salt Lake City, her wallet stolen, her luggage lost. The one man brave enough to come to her rescue is Benjamin Whitmore, a pig farmer from Ohio, and Tara's polar opposite. It isn't long before sparks fly between the two of them as tempers clash. But opposites do attract, and by the end of the story Tara finds out that Ben's ways do have some appeal and her heart might not be in such a different place after all.

6. What other books do you have in the works to write?

I would like to finish Caroline's story and publish that through Covenant. I also have a second (one is completed and unpublished) Scottish historical started. What I'm itching to start on this fall is the sequel to the fairytale I wrote this past year.

7.When is the most perfect time for you to write?

The time I find most productive is when I have no interruptions from my offspring :) My husband is kind enough to take over a couple of Saturdays a month, so I can take my lap top and head to the library for 4-5 hours.

8.What are your favorite books to read? Are there any authors that have inspired you in your own writing?

Favorite books to read is a difficult question. I love reading and am always finding new authors I enjoy. A few of my favorites are Lisa Wingate, Lolly Winston, and Judith McNaught.

9. Who is your greatest supporter/s in your writing? Your husband, your kids or your writing group?


My husband is my greatest supporter. Without him, the books wouldn't happen. My children . . . not so much. Our teenagers want to know why I have to hog the computer so much. My younger children always want me to get off the computer and play with them, feed them, change them etc. My writing group, on the other hand, is awesome. They're amazingly talented and generous. I rely on them to help me get the plots in my head to make sense on paper.




10. Could you give some words of advice to beginning writers?

Join The League of Utah Writers, Romance Writers of America, or any other applicable writing organization you can. Meet other authors. Find a critique group. Attend faithfully. Write often (even if it's just a few sentences a day). Realize rejection is part of the program. Keep at it. Don't give up!

Thanks so much Michele! I look forward to podcasting with you again very soon!

Thanks, Sheila. Hope this is what you had in mind.

Michele

You can purchase "All the Stars in Heaven" here:

-http://deseretbook.com/item/5025386/All_the_Stars_in_Heaven

-http://www.seagullbook.com/lds-products-573061.html

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All's Fair by Julie Coulter Bellon & Last day to enter the drawing

Alls Fair by Julie Coulter Bellon


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed "All's Fair" by Julie Coulter Bellon. There are two story lines to follow in this novel; siblings Kristen, a political campaign expert and Brandon an Army doctor and LDS covert who is stationed in Iraqi.



Kristen leaves her fiance at the altar and the old boyfriend comes into the picture and Brandon finds he is falling for his fellow doctor, Rachel Fields. The two story lines eventually merge, but I found I was drawn more to Brandon and Rachel's story. Their relationship seemed more believable and this was also the more exciting storyline. Granted, the storyline taking place in Iraqi is full of war happenings, kidnappings and terrorists; of course this had more excitement.



Julie is very good at writing suspense. I read this book rather quickly because I had to see if everyone made it out alive. I felt the book had a good ending, though some people have a thing against a "Happy Ever After" type ending. Personally, I don't mind reading a happy ending once in awhile. I have had too much reality in my own life lately and like to be taken away to a happy place when I read.



I look forward to reading more of Julie's books. I am sorry it has taken this long to find out what a great writer she is.


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Remember, today is the last day to enter the drawing to win a copy of "Loyalty's Web" by Joyce DiPastena. If you would still like a chance at winning this book, read the rules in the post below. "Loyalty's Web's" is a great book that I enjoyed very much.