Blog Tour Review of Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan

Product Details:

Title:  Fractured Light
Author:  Rachel McClellan
Publisher:  Cedar Fort
Imprint:  Sweetwater
Pub Date:  02/07/2012
Genre:  Young adult/adult urban fantasy 
ISBN-10: 1599559420 
ISBN-13: 978-1599559421







Book Description:

Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake.

As an Aura, Llona has the ability to manipulate light and harness its energy. This is the power the Vykens are after. This is what the Guardians are trained to protect. Christian has been waiting his whole life for the opportunity to fulfil his destiny as a Guardian, but Llona has other plans for him. Going against everything that she’s been taught and defying the Auran Council, Llona convinces Christian to teach her how to use her power as a weapon. It may be her only hope of survival.

My review:

 



If you haven't watched the video yet, you should before reading my review. This is a fan-made book trailer but it truly captures the feel of the book and the characters. 

I loved Fractured Light. It is one of my top 20 books I've read in 2011. The unique abilities that main character Llona has, truly makes this story original and different from what is out there. As the book description said, Llona has the ability to manipulate light and harness it's energy. As an Aura, she is supposed to only use this "gift" for good and not evil. But with a Vyken after her, wanting her dead like her mother, Llona starts learning ways to protect herself and fight back.



Llona is not a wimpy heroine that needs a man to take care of her. Even though she is drop-dead gorgeous, she is not self-centered where she thinks the world revolves around her. Llona is wanting a normal life, but she and her Uncle have been on the run ever since Llona's parents were killed. You can feel the tension, as you find they have been hiding from the Vykens in order to protect Llona's life. 



The story becomes interesting early on as Llona meets a new, very good looking, kid at her school. Christian is the kind of guy that all of the girls want. The interesting thing is that he only has eyes for Llona. Their relationship is up and down throughout the story. He is also pretty obsessed with protecting her and making sure that she takes care of herself and not do anything risky. You start to wonder who Christian really is and what his intentions are. There are many other key players in the plot that make you question if they are good or bad guys. Even Llona's best friend is strange and has unique abilities of her own.



Fractured Light has fantastic action, a moving storyline, great plot and well written characters. The cover is beautiful and the book does come to somewhat of a conclusion at the end. This first book is truly set up to head right into the second book. There is so much to this world of Auras' and Vykens' that need to be explored. I hope that Rachel in book two expands even more about the history and the interaction between these two races. I of course want more romance between our couple. 

I read this book quickly once I started and had a hard time stopping to sleep. I know you will like this book and I highly recommend Fractured Light. I know that I will be anxiously waiting for book two to come out. The sad part is, book one isn't officially released until Feb. 2012, so I think I have somewhat of a wait in store. I can tell you already though, it will be worth the wait.

Author Details:


Rachel McClellan was born and raised in Idaho, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she's not in her writing lair, she's partying with her husband and four crazy, yet lovable, children. Rachel's love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was...








To learn more about the author and the publisher you can go to one of these many sites.

Author Blog:http://www.blackbirdinmywindow.blogspot.com/
Author Website: http://www.rachelmcclellan.com/
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRachelMcClellan
Book Poster page: http://fracturedlightbook.com/

Publisher Blog http://www.cedarfortbooks.com/

Publisher Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cedarfortbooks

Publisher Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/cedarfortbooks

Publisher GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4202252-cedar-fort

 

 

** I was provided a review e-copy of Fractured Light by Cedar Fort and Netgalley. In no way did this influence the honest review that was given.**

Review of Aglow by Michelle Pennington

Product Details:

• Title: Aglow
• Author: Michelle Pennington
• Genre: Romance
• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (November 1, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 1466499907
• ISBN-13: 978-1466499904

Book Description:

Christmas is only days away when Ashley Wright leaves Utah and college life behind, with nothing to show for the last four years but a bachelor's degree. Her hopes of finding love with a good Mormon boy have eluded her. She believes that a family Christmas at home will lift her spirits and maybe even help her forget the man her heart yearns for. But life has other plans, and soon her lonely heart will be set ... Aglow.

My Review:

If you are still looking for that perfect gift for a reader that you know that loves romance, your search ends here! Aglow is a fun, sweet romance that makes you believe in love at first sight. It also brings out that wonderful feeling of falling in love and all of the joy you feel. Michelle Pennington has written a clean, LDS romance, that will make you smile. I love the main characters, Ashley and her family and the handsome neighbor, Mark. There is a lot of romantic tension in this book to make it exciting and anticipatory. You can't wait to see if Ashley and Mark really get together. 

The overall feel of the book is a relaxed one, full of family love and hopes for the future.  The romance, and the interaction building up to this relationship, is very believable. Nothing happens too quickly, and there is a sense of reality to the happenings in this story. I love the Christmas spirit also found in this book. It really puts you in the mood for Christmas and a little love too.

You can purchase Aglow at Amazon.com in hard copy($9.99) or e-book form($3.99 Kindle edition).

About the Author:

Michelle Pennington has a BA in Liberal Arts from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. To attain this degree, she studied Literature, Rhetoric, History, and Art. She married her sweetheart, Ethan, while still in college and developed a new penchant for skipping class to spend more time with him. Despite this distraction, she still managed to graduate Magna Cum-Laude.

Her love for the written word began at a young age. At four years old, she followed her mother around all day asking how to spell things. Her teen years were spent hiding in trees, on rooftops, and anywhere she could escape her chores for a while to read. Despite this aggravating behavior, her parents always encouraged her love of literature and her dream to write. Michelle is a hopeless romantic and an insatiable people watcher.

Currently she is a stay-at-home mom where she cares for her three children, who are at once adorable and exasperating. In the midst of the domestic whirlwind that is her life, she enjoys crafting, cooking, art, and reading. She is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Due to the rise of ebook publishing, she has decided that the time is right for her to embark on this long awaited journey to become an author. She hopes that her readers will come away from her books feeling uplifted and refreshed from the stresses of their own lives.
 

Aglow is her debut novel, but there is an endless supply of stories constantly playing in her mind, waiting for her to breathe life into them and set them free.Visit Michelle at her blog at...
http://novels-and-novelties.blogspot.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/MichelleLPennington 

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

Review of Faithful, fit and Fabulous by Connie E. Sokol

Product Details:

• Title: Faithful fit and Fabulous
• Author: Connie E. Sokol
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (August 8, 2011)
• Genre: Non-Fiction/Self Help
• ISBN-10: 159955903X
• ISBN-13: 978-1599559032

Book Description:

Filled with humor and I can relate life experiences, Faithful, Fit and Fabulous is the ideal 8-week life boost that will refresh any woman's life. Gospel principles from scriptures, priceless gems from general conference addresses, and more, are shared along with ways to readily apply them in your busy daily life. Establish holy habits, feel fit and fabulous, and get organized. Just one goal a week for eight weeks simple and fun.

My Review:

This was a book that I was meant to read and then study. With all of the fiction that I read, it is good to read a non-fiction book that is so poignant for me at this time of my life. On the front cover of the book it says, "Get Back to Basics and Transform Your Life in Just 8 Weeks". What a wonderful invitation for all of us to start taking care of ourselves again, so we can then take care of our families better.

I love how Connie outlines goals to help readers outline a personal life plan. She presents goals for women, LDS/Christian, to help find success in these areas:

Holy Habits, A Person Life Plan, Being Fit & Fabulous, Your Finances, Joy in Womanhood, Balance in Motherhood, Organization, and Relationships. There are many quotes from LDS church leaders, but not anything that any Christian women wouldn't be able to understand and glean from these words of wisdom. 

The beautiful thing about this book is that you don't need to follow the book chapter by chapter. During the 8 weeks Connie recommends you follow the first two chapters:Establish Holy Habits and Create a Life Plan first, and then you can choose to continue anywhere you want and go from there.The most important thing is to take your time and do the exercises as outlined in the book. After the first two chapters, I went straight to chapter 4:Feel Fit and Fabulous. I have been on a quest to lose weight and become healthy again. I really appreciated the section that discussed "Emotional Triggers" that cause people to over-eat/binge/snack too much etc.  The other section that I have been working on is chapter 6: Getting Organized. Connie talks about how we need to organize our time, space and our family. Every idea was presented in an easy way that families will be able to incorporate into their lives. 

This book is not a typical dry self-help book, but has lots of humor and true stories full of experiences that will motivate readers. This is a perfect book to read and start your New Year off right. Faithful, Fit and Fabulous is a fantastic gift for mothers, sisters, friends, and of course for yourself.  

You can purchase the book here:

Faithful, Fit & Fabulous

Connie E. Sokol

Best Price $7.52
or Buy New $13.22

To read a preview of Faithful, Fit & Fabulous, click here.

 About the Author: 

Connie Sokol is the mother of six, a local and national presenter, and a former TV host, radio host, and columnist for Deseret News. She is the author of Faithful, Fit and Fabulous, Life is Too Short for One Hair Color, Life is Too Short for Sensible Shoes, and Are You Ready for a LIFEChange? as well as numerous talk CDs. Mrs. Sokol marinates in time with her family and eating decadent treats.

You can learn more about the author at her website, 8basics.com  


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

Winner of the Gift Card Giveaway Hop!!

Thanks for all of the entries in the Gift Card Giveaway Hop. It is so awesome to see all of the new followers. I know I enjoyed visiting and joining many blogs. What a great community of bloggers we have out there.

Now, on to the winner of the Amazon.com gift card...

katayoun, who won by being a GFC follower of my blog. Congrats to you! I will be sending you an e-mail and will need to hear back from you within 48 hours or another name will be chosen.

Thanks again everyone for entering. The next giveaway will be the Happy New Year Giveaway Hop starting on January 30th.

Review of The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry

 

 

 

Product Details

• Title: The Next Door Boys
• Author: Jolene B. Perry
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Genre: YA
• Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (October 8, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 1599559102
• ISBN-13: 978-1599559100

Book Description:

With her body still recovering from last year's cancer treatments, Leigh Tressman is determined to be independent. Despite the interference from her overprotective brother, the ever-expanding line of young men ready to fall in love with her--not to mention the physical frustrations and spiritual dilemmas Leigh discovers what it actually means to stand on her own and learns that love can be found in unexpected but comfortable places.

My Review:

The Next Door Boys is really Leigh's story. It is her journey of recovery from cancer and finding herself and finding love. The story does take place on BYU (Brigham Young University) campus, and there are religious aspects, but none that any Christian would not be able to relate to.

The story does not revolve entirely around Leigh's cancer, but it does show how she is recovering and sometimes is struggling. Leigh is a very likable character, and you want good things to happen to her. Some of the characters are a bit full of cliches, like Noah, but since the story is so enjoyable, you can overlook them. This is a very character driven novel and Jolene writes her characters well. One of my favorite characters is Brian, one of The Next Door Boys. He is Leigh's brother, Jaren's, friend. Brian is older, a former military man and divorced with a son. Even with his rough life and background, Brian is someone that you want to like and possibly fall in love with.

Another aspect that I loved, was the relationship between Leigh and her older brother.They are very supportive of each other and there for one another. The interaction between the two siblings is some of the best dialogue in the novel. The feeling of family love is so strong and Leigh also has such wonderful parents. I could also relate to their Mom when she tended to be overprotective of Leigh. Though this bothered Leigh at times, as a Mom I understand.

I recommend this book to older teens and adults. With great characters and such a feel good story, this book is an easy read that many will enjoy.

To purchase The Next Door Boys, go to Amazon.com.

About the Author:

Jolene B. Perry

Jolene Perry grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers. After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible. You can find her at www.jolenesbeenwriting.blogspot.com  ***I received an e-copy of this novel to review from Netgalley and Cedar Fort. In no way did this influence the honest review that was given.***

Review of Miracle of the Christmas Star by Susan Dean Elzey

Product Details:

• Title: Miracle of the Christmas Star
• Author: Susan Dean Elzey
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (September 8, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 1599558629
• ISBN-13: 978-1599558622

Book Description:

Hannah died the night she was born. The new star's light brought her back to life, but left her stricken with palsy. Sariah, Hannah's mother, believes Hannah can be healed, if only she can find the Savior. Miracle of the Christmas Star is a tender story of love, faith and endurance that will touch your heart and remind you why miracles happen.

 

My Review:

Miracle of the Christmas Star is a book that will bring tears to your eyes. Sariah's story is of enduring through many trials, as she hopes for a miracle for her daughter Hannah. The reader will be amazed at the amount of heartbreak Sariah goes through in her life. You wonder how someone experiencing so much heartbreak in their life, can also have so much faith. The author, Susan Dean Elzey, truly knows how to write an emotional story. 

 

The book is only 176 pages long, but this short Christmas story will leave an impact on your heart and your own faith. The main characters in the story, Sariah, her husband Joshua and their daughter, Hannah, are all very relatable and endearing. You want so much for Sariah to have her prayers answered and have her daughter's palsy healed. This story has much of the same feeling of what Job, from the Bible, endured.

The ending of the book is sweet and fulfilling. Without giving anything away, which I hate when reviewers do, readers will be happy and relieved at the outcome.

Miracle of the Christmas Star is a Christmas story that can be read at any time of the year. When you need to read something that will lift your faith, this book is the one to fulfill that need. 

To purchase Miracle of the Christmas Star please go to

Amazon.com,or Barnes and Noble. 

To learn more about author Susan Dean Elzey, go here.

 

 

 

 

 

Gift Card Giveaway Hop!

Welcome to the Gift Card Giveaway Hop! This giveaway hop is organized by Kathy from 

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and from Attack of the Book and runs from December 9th - 13th. There are more than 140 blogs participating, so it's going to be fun!

What can you win this time?

There will be 1 winner who will win a $10.00 Amazon.com Gift Certificate. I love to shop there and I think many of you do also. 

Giveaway Details:

In order to enter the giveaway, you must be a follower of this blog +1, enter your name and email. That's the ONLY mandatory entry.

 
Optional extra entries:
+1 Tweet about the giveaway and leave a direct link.
+1 Follow me on twitter at ssdawn2002.
+1 Post about the giveaway on face book and leave a direct link.

Please leave a comment with your entry/entries and links if applicable. Good luck and have fun with this hop!  

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