Royal Target by Traci Hunter Abramson

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really loved this story. It is every girl's fairy tale come true with a happy ending...with a lot of angst before the happy ending. Traci Hunter Abramson does a fantastic job with this novel; with just the right mixture of romance and suspense to target every book lover out there.

This is Traci's second book that came out in 2008. This is also the second book of hers that is nominated for a Whitney Award this year. It says a lot about Traci that she has two books that were nominated in the same year. She has become one of my favorite authors the past few years.

She also has a new book that was just released on March 2nd, called Lockdown. I have not read it yet, as I am still making my way through all of the Whitney Award Nominee books. As soon as I am done reading all of these books, Lockdown, will be one of the first books I will pick up. Here is what Lockdown is about, courtesy of Goodreads:

Only twice had she set foot inside the building since the massacre. The first time had been just a month after the tragedy .. . . The second time she had returned to the scene of the crime had been two days ago when she forced herself to enter the building to check on the temporary office for the SEAL team. The counselor she had seen in the months after the shooting had encouraged her to face her fears, but now . . . Riley wasn’t sure she was ready to face them after all. Caught up in a hostage situation that is hauntingly familiar, Riley Palmetta once more finds her life hanging in the balance. What starts out as a well-organized and highly intensive training course for the prevention of random acts of terror quickly turns into a real-life nightmare of suspense and intrigue that will test the faith and finely honed skills of Tristan Crowther and his elite group of LDS Navy SEALS. For Tristan, this is not only a race to save lives; it is a deeply personal mission that moves relentlessly toward an irreversible crisis. And life—as well as love—is on the line. Seasoned LDS author Traci Hunter-Abramson once again displays her skills and expertise in this fast-paced, suspense-filled novel. It is a story loaded with action and real-life parallels— guarateed to leave you both breathless.

It looks like it will be another exciting read brought to you by Traci; one that I look forward to immensely. View all my reviews.

CONTEST - Win Copy of Annette Lyon's Latest Novel, Tower of Strength

At Anne Bradshaw's blog, Not Entirely British, you can enter to win a copy of Annette Lyon's new novel, Tower of Strength. You need to go to Anne's blog to read details of how to enter.



To quote from Annette’s Blog :
Tower of Strength . . . is set in 1884 Manti, a few years before the temple there was complete. Much of the story centers around events (both real and fictional) that took place in and around the city's Temple Hill . . . I love the title (the publisher) picked; Tower of Strength can refer to both the temple (the towers are under construction during the story) as well as the heroine. Tabitha really is a tower of strength, and that plays a huge role in the story.

If you have not read any of Annette's other books in this series, you have missed some great novels. This is her fourth historical novel centered around the old Utah temples. Annette writes great characters and you get deeply involved in her stories from the very beginning. This is her sixth published novel.

So go check out Anne's blog for more information about this contest.(http://annebradshaw.blogspot.com/2009/03/contest-win-copy-of-annette-lyons.html)

While you are at it, also go read Annette's blog. I read her blog often and she has had some very entertaining blogs. http://blog.annettelyon.com/

Thrilling Reads

I have been getting such good reading in lately. I have been enjoying reading the many books that are Whitney Award Nominees. I have also been sneaking in other books that aren't on the list.

I am in the middle of some mystery thrillers/romance novels. The first is called, Freefall, by Traci Hunter Abramson. The lowdown about this book is:"Lieutenant Brent Miller arrived in the Middle East with one objective--get seven hostages out of a hostile country. The plan almost worked. But now he has been left behind--with one of the hostages. It's up to Brent to get Amy Whitmore, a US Senator's daughter, across miles of desert to safety. What he doesn't know is that to survive, he needs her as much as she needs him."

The book is very exciting! I was pulled in from the first chapter. I love books that make me want to keep reading and feel pained if I have to put them down. I really liked the main characters Amy and Brent. Many times, characters have qualities that irk me, not so here. They felt "real" to me and how they behaved with one another. Another plus for me, is that there are characters in this book that we have seen before in previous books that Traci has written.

The next book I am reading is called, Traitor, by Sandra Grey. This book is based on one of my favorite historical time periods I enjoy reading about: WW II. "With war raging in Europe, the only way Marie can be with Felix is to join the Allied forces. However, as Marie parachutes into France to join the Résistance, she not only lands into the arms of her fiancé, but also drops into the hands of the enemy. Major Rolf Schulmann has been struggling between personal convictions and his duty to the German Fatherland. Now he must decide what to do with the captured fiancee of the man who gave him a new chance at life-a man he once loved as a brother. The Gestapo will do whatever it takes to dispose of Marie. If Rolf helps her escape he will have enemies on all sides-is it a sacrifice he is willing to make? Can Marie possibly trust her life to a man torn between two masters?

I will admit, this book was hard to get into at first. It took several chapters for me to final get hooked. Once I was hooked, I had to keep reading. Maybe it took me that long to start caring about the characters, but it felt like watching a really thrilling movie. The history in this book seems very accurate and you can tell she did fantastic research. The emotional pull, that haunts Marie and Rolf is clearly felt. They both have their own own set of problems, but this doesn't stop them from getting involved with one another. I can't wait to see how this all ends.I told you I am reading both of these books currently and have not finished either one yet. This doesn't stop me from recommending both of these books to you.


Another book I finished a few days ago was "Fields of Home" , by Rachel Ann Nunes. This book took me on an emotional roller coaster ride.

Here is a synopsis:...:"After fighting her way through a bitter and hurtful past, Mercedes Johnson has painstakingly carved out a life of quiet contentment on a Wyoming farm with her husband, Wayne, and their three boys. But all that changes when the birth father of her oldest child returns to Riverton. Brandon Rhodes has plans for his son, threatening the carefully balanced life Mercedes and Wayne have created. But just how far is he willing to go? Fields of Home is a novel about the deepest kind of ties and the true meaning of love."


It was hard to count how many times my heart went out to these fictional characters. The thing is, there are so many trials that many of us have gone through in life. As we read about these trials in fiction, how do we relate them to our own experiences? How realistically does the author write these trials? Rachel does a fabulous job of making feelings come out in her readers as they read her writing. Be prepared to cry and "feel" as you read Fields of Home.

Just wanted you to know that all three of these books are nominees for a Whitney Award this year. I hope that you have gone to www.whitneyawards.com. to look at all of this years fabulous nominees. Write down those that are of interest to you and join the fun and get reading.

The Sound of Rain

Here is another book that is a nominee, in the Best Romance Category, for a 2008 Whitney Award.

The Sound of Rain by Anita Stansfield

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I loved the Sound of Rain. It was so different from anything else that Anita Stansfield has written. I could so closely relate to the characters because of my strong music background. This is a very heartfelt and emotionally charged book. I was able to grow close to the main characters from the first chapter. This was a book that I did not want to end. I am recommending this one to all of you; just have the tissues ready. I can't wait to read the other books in this series.


View all my reviews.

So Little Time and SO Much to Read!

I am up to my neck in report cards and getting things ready for parent-teacher conferences this week. You have to realize how excruciatingly painful this is for me, while all I want to be doing currently is reading. The finalists for the Whitney Awards were announced recently, giving me a boatload of books I need to read before I send in my final votes for the awards. What I have read so far, it is going to be very difficult when I go to place my final votes. There are so many outstanding books that are finalists this year. My advice to you is head over to the Whitney Awards website(http://www.whitneyawards.com/) and make a list of books for your reading list. There are many categories, so I know that all of you will be able to find something there that you would like.

I just recently finished a book called, "Taking Chances" by Shannon Guymon, which is a finalist in the Romance Category. This is not your typical LDS romance, it is a a story of finding love, learning to forgive, and of course, letting your guard down and taking a chance on love. I was immediately drawn to the characters in the story, not only because of their engaging personalities, but because of the thought provoking back storyline involving sexual abuse. It was presented in a way that really touches your heart and helps you have such compassion for anyone that has ever endured this trial in their life.






Another story I am reading is called, "Do No Harm" by Gregg Luke. This book is one of the finalist in the Best Mystery Suspense category. How badly did I want to read this book today? Well it accidently traveled to church with me and hopped out onto my lap in between Sunday School and Relief Society. I hate when this happens, I have no control over the books. I didn't get much read because of people wanting to talk to me about what I was reading. I knew I should have run away to an empty classroom somewhere. Just kidding! Just a little "book-aholic" humor there! Seriously though, if you have ever read any medical thrillers before, this is right up your alley. The suspense keeps building and building to the point you don't want to put the book down...all except for those pesky report cards staring at me waiting to be finished. **sigh** Gregg Luke has written a very exciting book that I just can't wait to finish.

There are many more books that I need to read before I vote, but what a pleasure to read such fantastic work that is out there by LDS authors. Again, go take a look at the finalists and either go to your library or nearest book store to start reading some outstanding books.

The Virgin Queen's Daughter and The Last Lecture

Thank goodness for the power of books to take us away. I have had a very hard two weeks with observing my son's birthday who passed away 10 years ago, due to a stillbirth at 35 weeks. Then on Tuesday, we had to make the terrible choice, to put our dog down due to incidents of old age and an accident. Through all of the emotional uproar these events produced, I found solace in my reading.

I am reporting back today, on the second book I read for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. I read a book called, "The Virgin Queen's Daughter A Novel" by Ella March Chase. (Crown Publishers 2008) This is a fabulous read! It is so well written and the story moves along at a wonderful pace. It has a strong plot and intriguing characters. This book centers around Queen Elizabeth I and whether or not she ever had a child. To quote the book cover, "Ella March Chase's vivid storytelling gives due credence to a daughter who might have been and a mother who never was." Queen Elizabeth 's colorful court is brought to life through Nell de Lacey's story and her experience as a Lady -in- Waiting. The intrigue is heart stopping as you wonder the fate of many characters in the story. I could not put this one down. You may think I always have this problem, but I don't. There are many books I have a hard time finishing, but I usually do finish the book. The only problem I had with this book was having to put it down to fix dinner or go to sleep. Another indicator of how much I liked this book, I will be purchasing this book for my own collection. I always enjoy a book that has a good combination of romance, mystery and history. If you like the same thing don't miss reading "The Virgin Queen's Daughter A Novel".

Another book I read that made me truly think about my life was "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. Many of you probably saw Randy last year on Oprah or on 20/20. Randy was dying from pancreatic cancer and was asked to give his final lecture at Carnegie Mellon University, in Sept. 2007, where he was a Professor. I want to quote from the website,

www.thelastlecture.com............

"On September 18, 2007, computer science professor Randy Pausch stepped in front of an audience of 400 people at Carnegie Mellon University to deliver a last lecture called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” With slides of his CT scans beaming out to the audience, Randy told his audience about the cancer that is devouring his pancreas and that will claim his life in a matter of months. On the stage that day, Randy was youthful, energetic, handsome, often cheerfully, darkly funny. He seemed invincible. But this was a brief moment, as he himself acknowledged.

Randy’s lecture has become a phenomenon, as has the book he wrote based on the same principles, celebrating the dreams we all strive to make realities. Sadly, Randy lost his battle to pancreatic cancer on July 25th, 2008, but his legacy will continue to inspire us all, for generations to come."

As I describe this book to others the word that comes to mind first is...Inspiring. After reading this book you realize, yes I can do anything I want to achieve. You also look at yourself and plan how to make this world a better place for you and your children and their children to come. Whether you are in your 20's, 40's or 60's, you realize that dreams can become a reality. How amazing that this man, knowing he was dying, left this kind of message to the world. Some people have asked me if this book is depressing... not in the least!! I felt so uplifted after reading this book I felt like I could and will conquer the world. He teaches in this book about living well and making every day matter. It's not important how long you live, but how you live your life.

The ultimate test for me again, would I buy this book? Most definitely yes! This is a book that must be a part of my collection and I would suggest you make it part of yours. To end today, you must watch this news report about Randy Pausch, made by Wall Street Journal.com that I found on youtube.com. It is so worth four minutes of your time, believe me, you will be inspired.

I haven't been blogging...I have been reading, a lot!

It has been a month since I have last blogged. Yes, life has been extremely crazy, but my better excuse is that I have been doing a lot of reading. I have to say it made the dreary month of January pass by quickly.

First: I read my book for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. After much agony over which book I would read, I finally chose a book I have been wanting to read for a very long time. I read the book, The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. I have always loved to read fiction and non-fiction accounts from the Tudor England era. I do have to admit, even though it makes fascinating reading, I would never have wanted to live at that time.

I enjoyed this book from Mary Boleyn's perspective. It was refreshing to read of her side of the story, as I have read other accounts from Anne's perspective before. Gregory is a very good writer that keeps the story interesting and moving. I know, having read other peoples review of this book, that true historians feel that the truth is stretched greatly in this version of Mary and Anne's stories. I say, get over yourself and just enjoy the story. I love history like other history fanatics, I took 40 hours of history classes when I went to college. The measure of a book to me is I had a hard time putting it down. This book went everywhere with me, to school, at home, to bed and to piano lessons. If a book is by my side and I can't put it down, then that is a good book. It is a long book and it does have frank sex talk at times; considering the subject, Mary being the mistress of King Henry the VIII, it would have been hard to avoid such additions. Would I recommend this book to others? Most definitely if you are interested in the Tudors and want a great read.

Now, my big mistake, as soon as I finished the book I wanted to watch the movie that was made from the book. I was so disappointed in the movie because it was more about Anne than Mary. If you were just watching the movie without just having read the book, it would have been very enjoyable. Who doesn't love staring at Eric Bana who played King Henry the VIII? I would not read the book and watch the movies in succession.

I am happy to say that I have already chosen and I am half way through my February challenge book. I found this book at the library with the new arrivals called, The Virgin Queen's Daughter a novel by Ella March Chase. I will give a full review when finished with the book, but to give you an indication of what I think about it? I started it yesterday, I am almost on page 200 and it is sitting right here by me waiting for me to finish writing my blog.

I was planning on telling you about all of the books that I have read this past month, but to do justice to many of them, I will blog in further detail about them at another time. I will list them though so you can see I was really reading and just not being too lazy to blog....

-Princess at the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

-The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

-Pillage by Obert Skye

-Heaven Scent by Rebecca Talley

-Freshman for President by Ally Condie

-Journey of the Heart by David Free

-The Forgotten Warrior by Kathi Oram Peterson

-The Loser's Guide to Life and Love by A.E. Cannon

-Reunion by Allyson Condie

-Alcatraz vs. The Scrivener's Bones by Brandon Sanderson

Just to note, many of these books were short, easy read books, not like the 544 pages found with the Other Boleyn Girl. More reviews will be coming about many of the books I just mentioned. So until next time, take time to read a good book and give yourself a few minutes of "you" time. It is so refreshing and good stress relief.

To Have Or to Hold: by Josi S. Kilpack

To Have or to Hold by Josi S. Kilpack



This was such a good read! I needed to read a romance that wasn't cookie cutter sweet and that had a lot of angst. It still is a good LDS romance, but it had a kick that many LDS Romances are not brave enough to attempt! Good job Josi Kilpack on this novel.

This was a hard one to put down.I have to admit reading it during my lunchtime and avoiding eating in the faculty lounge so I could finish this book and not have to talk to anyone. I get a little weird when I really want to read a book, so I take advantage of any spare time I can get.

I will warn you, the main character is not the most likable character I have ever "met", but you grow to love her and care about her each chapter you read. As for the main male character, well what can I say, I really liked him.

Now Josi has several books that she has written, but I wanted to tell you about her last two books that made me shake in my boots and think hard about two facts: internet predators and identity theft.

With Sheep's Clothing, Josi wrote a novel that every parent, especially those of teenagers, should read with their children. The main character is an almost 16 year old girl, the oldest of six children, that is feeling neglected and misunderstood. She soon meets a "friend" on the internet who introduces her to her "cousin" and they become friends. Jess becomes too involved with her "friend' and soon disappears and all is not as it seemed. That is all I will tell you, but know this, it struck great fear in me for all children out there who peruse the internet daily. Many parents are naive about what and whom is really out there threatening our children. It is up to us to always know the sites that our children visit and who they may be chatting with. Josi was honored last year at the Whitney Awards for this well written book, and was given the award for best book in Suspense/ Mystery.



This year, Josi released another book that makes you think, called, " Her Good Name" about identity theft. Before I read the book I wondered if anything could keep up with Sheep's Clothing. I breathlessly read this new book, awestruck at how easy it is for ones identity to be stolen. Other emotions that came from reading this book, upset stomach, heart palpitations, and my head spinning (not literally folks!) Josi has written another must read book for both men and women. OK guys, yes there is a mildly disguised romance behind this novel, but the crux of the novel is how easy it is to become a victim and how hard it is to get your good name back. This novel will really make you think twice before using a credit/debit card and never letting that card out of your sight at any time.





I hope that you will also go read Josi's website and blog. She is a wonderful writer and an amazing person. I hope that she continues to write great novels for a very long time. Every book of hers that I have read so far, and she has written 8 novels, I have read quickly and had a hard time putting them down; hence me becoming a social hermit when one of her books is in my hand. OK, now what are you waiting for...get reading!


http://www.josiskilpack.com

Why Can't I Decide?

It was on January 1st that I happily declared that I was participating in the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. I have been looking at many other sites to see what people have decided to read for the challenge. I have had a few suggestions from people and I have started to make my list. Why then am I still sitting here, six days later still trying to decide what I am going to read for the challenge? This isn't a life altering decision that must be made... but these days it sure feels like it!

Most decisions I make during the day directly affect my children or the children I teach. Now, as I must make a decision that should bring great enjoyment into my life, I am sitting frozen in place. I am not sure whether to read the books in the Royal Twist or the Twilight Twist...books that inspired the Twilight series. **sigh** How sad that I am dragging my feet on making a decision that should be relatively easy, but the mole hill is turning into a mountain.

So instead of announcing my picks for the challenge, I now am shamelessly reporting back to you that I don't have a clue what I will be reading. I still have 24 days to make a decision and get the book read in order to fulfill the first month's requirement. I also will freely admit that it doesn't help that I am in the process of reading 6-7 other books right now and this may be distracting me just a bit.

Feel free to give me feedback, suggestions or if you want to commiserate with me that would be helpful too! Thanks for reading.

The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

I am so excited that I will be participating in my first "official" reading challenge. This challenge will be a Historical Fiction reading Challenge. It is being hosted by the women over at Royal Reviews (http://theroyalreviews.blogspot.com/2008/12/historical-fiction-reading-challenge.html)


So this is how it's going to work:

• Read 3 historical fiction books in 3 months from 1st Jan 09 - 31st March 09.
• Historical fiction will be counted as anything set or written prior to World War II. This will include classic novels, time travel novels or anything you feel fits the genre.

For an extra bit of fun, you can choose to participate in one of the following themes:

• The Royal Twist - Read 3 based on or inspired by 3 different royals. Emperors, Queens, Kings whatever inspires you!
• The Twilight Twist - Read a selection of 3 of the classic novels that inspired the Twilight Saga. There's Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte or A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare.

I have not yet decided which twist I will be choosing, because I love both themes. I will let you know once I have decided which 3 books I will be choosing to read and review. I hope that there are some Historical Fiction readers out there that will want to participate with me. You know who you are!!

Also, if you have some good suggestions for me of books that would fall under the "Royal Twist" theme, please leave them in the comments suggestion under this post.

Remember, this challenge only last from January 1st 2009-March 31st 2009, so if you are going to read Historical Fiction with me, let me know!