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Thursday, June 30, 2016

Blog Tour: A Date with Danger by Kari Iroz

Reviews * Giveaway


A Date with Danger by Kari Iroz

Book Description:

She just wanted to shake up her love life. Jacklyn (Jack) Wyatt is the typical twenty-five-year-old living the typical Provo single life with the typical bad luck— at least until the FBI recruits her for a completely different type of dating.

A young woman has gone missing, and all signs point to her online dating profile as the kidnapper’s operating ground. But when suspects who crossed paths with the missing girl begin contacting Jack, the FBI sees its opportunity for an inside man—er, woman.

Now Jack will have to play the field, dating each of the men in an attempt to weed out the kidnapper. But with such an unusual array of characters vying for her attention, pinpointing the culprit may prove even harder than finding Mr. Right. And as more young women disappear, will Jack stay professional and objective, even with the handsome Special Agent Damon Wade just a whisper in her hidden microphone away?

Andrea's Review:

THIS. BOOK. IS. HILARIOUS.

I have not laughed out loud so hard for as long as I can remember. This book was seriously hilarious. My daughter was concerned, and it was hard to stop laughing long enough to read some funny parts to her. Quite a few of the laughs may have come from situations stemming from LDS culture, but I think those not familiar with the culture would still be entertained.

The Sandra Bullock look-alike on the cover was very distracting. I put the book face down whenever I had to attend to life (although that wasn't often-this was really good and I just wanted to read and avoid those pesky details of real life). If covers are your thing, and this isn't the cover for you, ignore it and give the book a try. It is such a good read! I can't wait to read it again.

I liked the characters, and the regular citizen being pulled into helping the FBI made for such a fun story. There were intense moments broken up with great laughs. The online dating scene added so much to this story.

Kari Iroz is an author to watch for.

Rorie's Review:

I was a bit put off for the first chapter or two by Jack's...witticisms (I'm pretty sure that's not a word, but I can't think of what else to call it.) Thankfully, I either got used to it really fast, or it lessened a bit because it didn't take me too long  to become completely engrossed in the story, and it turned out to be a "put everything else on the back burner so I can finish this book in one day" kind of story.

Jack is a very socially awkward person, one that I can kind of relate to. Damon is pretty much the exact opposite, so it was very interesting to see their relationship grow from not really liking him at all, to friendship, to something even more.

The story line is interesting - online dating has always been interesting to me, but not in a "Hmm, that might be fun" kind of way, more of a "How do you know he won't turn out to be a sadistic killer?" kind of way. It was amusing to see the different kind of dates that Jack had to endure while they were trying to flush out the kidnapper.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Jack and Damon.  He starts out so stiff and serious, but I really came to like him as the story progressed. I also really appreciated how the author didn't make him all of a sudden resolve his religion issues. That actually might have ruined the story if that had been the case.

Definitely a good story that I highly recommend. A good mystery, some suspense, some good romance, lots of humor. It's all there.

Tarah's Review:

Okay, so I just have to start with the cover, because I'm a cover snob, and I kind of feel like this one is false advertising :) It totally looks like Sandra Bullock on the cover of this book, and with the title A Date with Danger it makes me think that this is going to be like the movie The Net (do you remember that movie? Wow, that was a long time ago). In all reality though, if I was keeping with Sandra Bullock movie themes, I would compare this book more to Miss Congeniality than The Net. It has laughs and humor and some suspense and mystery, but it's not a serious book. It's LDS fluff, and I love me some fluff. Especially funny fluff.

Okay, now on to the good stuff. I loved this book. When it came in the mail I wasn't excited to read it because of the cover, but I opened it up just to see really quick what I was in for...and I just kept reading. My family would look at me funny when I'd burst out laughing, but I just couldn't help myself.

I love how Jack said what she thought. Never in a rude way, though. It was more self-deprecating humor. While I think her dates might have been a little over the top (but really, I didn't date much so maybe that is pretty typical) it was entertaining to read.

I liked the mystery part, and was kept guessing till the very end. I also really appreciated how Damon did just all of a sudden decide to believe because of her, but that it was a work in progress.

I've already recommended this to my book friends, and I've gone back and reread my favorite parts. This will be a book I will reread again and again.


Blog Tour Schedule:

July 1sthttp://mybookaday.blogspot.com/http://littlelightdesigncollective.com/http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/http://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/

Tour Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: A Date with Danger
Author: Kari iroz
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Published: June 2016

ASIN: B01GW4DNME
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for honest reviews. 

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Blog Tour: The Make-Ahead Kitchen by Annalise Thomas

The Make-Ahead Kitchen by Annalise Thomas

Book Description:

Skip the hassle of last-minute meals and leftovers and replace them with simple, healthy, delicious, and easy-to-prepare make-ahead dishes! Your family will love these comfortable meals, new favorites, cozy drinks, and tantalizing desserts—all of them prepared ahead of time so you don’t have to worry! Enjoy simple, soul-filling foods without the chaos of preparing them at the last minute.

Rorie's Review:

I was able to try several of these recipes, and was happy with all of them.

Green smoothies are a staple in my house, since that's the only way I can get most of my kids to ingest anything green. I admit, the recipe for the Not-So-Green Smoothie is very similar to what I usually make, but I was intrigued by the use of cinnamon and salt. End result was 4 out of 4 thumbs up. I really liked the hint of cinnamon in the smoothie, so I plan on using that on a regular basis from now on.

Next, I made the Mediterranean-Style Hummus. I have always wanted to try making my own hummus, but for some reason it has always intimidated me. Now I wonder why, because this recipe was so easy and quick to make, and the end result was delicious. I think I like this better than the store-bought stuff that I usually get. I do wish that I had halved the recipe though, because it makes a whole lot and no one else in my family will eat it.

The next recipe I tried was the Rosemary Chicken Pot Pie. I'm not a huge fan of rosemary, so I considered leaving it out, but I ended up using it. It wasn't an overpowering flavor, so I was happy about that. The pot pie was delicious and almost everyone in the family ate it, which doesn't happen very often (I have a few really picky kids.) My only two complaints about this recipe are: 1) the recipe calls for bacon but never tells you what to do with it. I just ended up adding it at the same time as the chicken, and 2) this recipe takes FOREVER to make. Active prep time was 1 1/2 hours, and then another hour or so to bake it. I am more of a 5 ingredients or less, hurry and get it over with type of cook, so I was not at all happy with how long I ended up being in the kitchen for this meal. I'm very glad that it turned out as delicious as it did, but I don't know if I'd make it again, simply due to the amount of time it takes to make.

Finally, my oldest made the Butterscotch Chocolate Blondies. I really like blondies and my family really likes chocolate...and butterscotch...so we were all looking forward to trying this. It did not disappoint, and was very tasty, although maybe a bit too sweet (I never thought I'd say that.) I do prefer the texture of regular blondies better - this was more cake-like, but it was easy enough for my 10-year-old to make, and he was able to get it mixed up and in the oven in the amount of time it took to let the pot pie sit before eating dinner.

All in all, I'm glad I had the chance to try some of these recipes and look forward to trying some of the other ones in this book - probably not the ones that take several hours though.

Andrea's Review:

I was pretty excited about this recipe book when I first heard about it. I work outside of my home, and many nights when it's almost time to eat I'm trying to figure out what to make. Of course this problem could easily be eliminated if I was a consistent meal planner, but I haven't been able to stay in that habit. Anyway, in my mind The Make Ahead Kitchen was going to help me turn around my last- minute problem.

My bad habit hasn't been turned around quite yet, although I did find the recipes I tried to be fairly easy to put together. So many of the recipes sound delicious-although some of them didn't appeal to me based on the amount of time to put them together. I had in mind that this was a save time book, so the multi-step, many hour recipes didn't call to me.

I made the pumpkin pie slow cooker oatmeal. I actually didn't have this cooking overnight, but made it during the day to have ready for my family to heat up throughout the week. It was fast and easy to throw together, and made my house smell great. My daughter really liked it, and although my son made faces when I made him try it, I think he actually liked it (in the past he has said he doesn't like pumpkin, but that seems to be in his mind-I didn't tell him that's what was in it). If I make it again I will try my steel cut oats (I much prefer their texture over regular rolled oats), and I'll try some maple syrup instead of the brown sugar. It's wasn't overly sweet, but I'd feel better about the health content if it had the natural syrup instead.

Since I had pumpkin puree leftover from the oatmeal, I made the Sour Cream Pumpkin Bread. This was another easy recipe. It didn't take any more or any less time than your standard sweet bread. I liked the consistency and my husband and daughter downed it. We didn't end up freezing any to save for later, so I'm not sure how it is thawed, but I would make this recipe again.

The last recipe I tried was the Slow Cooker Pineapple Coconut Chicken Curry. I have a recipe for Coconut Curry Chicken that we love, and I thought it'd be fun to give this new recipe a try. It didn't take too long to get in the crockpot, although I didn't have Sriracha Sauce (and didn't see any in my grocery store). I'm not sure what difference those two teaspoons would have made, but it ended up being a little bland. We couldn't taste the pineapple like I expected, although that makes sense given the strong flavors of curry and garam masala. I went on the low end of the red paper flakes and perhaps I should have added more. Or, the lack of flavor could have been that I didn't thicken the sauce. I'm not sure that I'd try this recipe again. I'll see how the leftovers turn out.

I loved that the recipe book has full color photos of the completed dishes-an absolute must in my recipe book requirements. The desserts look really good. I'm trying to eat healthier, so I avoided those, but I imagine I'll give several of those recipes a try.

About the Author:

Annalise Thomas is a big city girl married to a small town boy. Every day is a joy and a challenge as she learns to live and love this small town life. Annalise is a foodie with a deep passion for everything edible and for sharing what she loves with others. Annalise is a wife and mom, a baker, a cook, and a blogger. She and her family live a very real life and eat as much real food as possible.

Blog Tour Schedule:

June 14: Utah Deal Diva
June 15: What’s Cooking with Kids | That Artsy Reader Girl | Batch of Books
June 16: Shrinking Momster | Saving for My Family
June 17: Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt | Danyelle Ferguson
June 18: Singing Librarian Books | Katie’s Clean Book Collection | Breezy & Co.
June 19: Storeybook Reviews | Reidhead Random-ness
June 20: Pink Cake Plate | For What It’s Worth | My Little Sunshines
Bookworm Lisa
June 21: Kindle and Me | Vintage Mixer | Preparedness Mama
Food Above Gold
June 22: The Unlikely Baker | Chocolate with Grace
June 23: Karen’s Kitchen Stories | Jodi Woody
June 24: Cookistry | Every Free Chance
June 25: Eccentric Eclectic Woman | Kaisy Daisy’s Corner
June 26: The Gingered Whisk
June 27: Bab’s Book Bistro | Rockin’ Book Reviews | My Book a Day
June 28: Wishful Endings | Brooklyn Berry | My Blessed Life
Literary Time Out
June 29: Jewhungry | My Life One Story at a Time | Inklings and Notions
The Road Goes Ever On
June 30: Barefeet in the Kitchen | Paranormal & Romantic Suspense Reviews
The Baking ChocolaTess | Cooking with Libby

Purchase:

Monday, June 27, 2016

Blog Tour: Beyond the Rising Tide by Sarah Beard

Review * Giveaway
Beyond the Rising Tide by Sarah Beard

Book Description:

Kai was seventeen when he died saving Avery’s life, though he didn’t really have much to live for. After spending half his life being shipped around to different families, the only place he felt at home was on a street corner with his guitar. Now, it’s been six months since his death. Six months adapting to a new kind of existence where instead of making music, he uses his new healing powers to save lives. But in his off hours, he watches helplessly as Avery’s life is unraveled by his death.

Avery doesn’t know that it was Kai who saved her life in the ocean, because her rescuer’s body was never found. Wracked with guilt, the ocean she once loved is now her tormentor. As her surfboards collect dust in the garage, the weight of her grief destroys her relationships and stretches her to a breaking point.

Always willing to break rules for those he loves, Kai steals a ring that temporarily gives his body substance. With limited time, he does all he can to restore her life to the way it was before his tragic death, but Kai’s half-baked plans rarely turn out the way he thinks they will.


Review:

Wow, this story pulled me in right from the beginning! I knew I shouldn't have started reading it so late at night. If I hadn't had to work the next morning I would have read it straight through. As it was I read it during my morning treadmill workout and finished reading as soon as I got home from work.

I was really curious about how things would work out. I wanted Kai and Avery to be together but I just didn't see how it could work given that he was dead.

It was a very creative story with touching moments (yes, tears were shed). I have read both of Sarah Beard's published books, and they are full of emotion. You can't help but become invested in the story and the characters. She is such a talented author, and I hope she continues writing.

Beyond the Rising Tide is a clean, fast read. If you love books that are very engaging, and books that have a roller coaster of emotions, do not miss this.

Book Trailer:


Praise for the Beyond the Rising Tide:

“Vividly imagined, this novel is the perfect mix of modern love story and literary fiction. One brimming with genuine emotion that had me re-reading passages simply because they were too beautifully written to experience just once.” --Julie N. Ford, author of With No Regrets

“This book is not only an engaging and satisfying supernatural romance, but also a beautiful story about life, death, and the gray places in between.” --E.B. Wheeler, author of The Haunting of Springett Hall

"This is one of those stories that stays with you long after the closing scene. It was beautifully imagined and vividly written and I absolutely loved it!” --Teresa Richards, author of Emerald Bound

About the Author:

Sarah Beard is the author of YA novels Porcelain Keys and Beyond the Rising Tide. She earned a degree in communications from the University of Utah and is currently pursuing an MFA in writing from VCFA. When she's not writing, she referees wrestling matches between her three boys and listens to audiobooks while folding self-replicating piles of laundry. She is a breast cancer survivor, a baker of sweets, a seeker of good love stories, a composer of melancholy music, and a traveler who wishes her travel budget was much bigger. She lives with her husband and children in the shadow of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains.

Blog Tour Schedule:

June 14: Singing Librarian Books | Emmy Mom | Compass Book Ratings
June 15: Katie’s Clean Book Collection | Cindy Bennett
Sweetly Made | Sorcery in the Bookshelves
June 16: Rockin’ Book Reviews | Geo Librarian
June 17: Heidi Reads | Kindle and Me
June 18: Fire and Ice
June 19: Inklings and Notions
June 20: My Book a Day
June 21: Bookworm Lisa | Min Reads and Reviews | LDS Women’s Book Review
June 22: Robyn Echols Books | Fantasy World | The Write Path
June 23: Wishful Endings | Getting Your Read On | Batch of Books
June 24: Mylissa’s Reviews and Book Thoughts | Maybe Books Will Be Our Always
June 25: Charmed Haven Book Reviews | Just Commonly
June 26: Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews
June 27: Literary Time Out | Book by Book
June 28: That Artsy Reader Girl | The Real Housewives of Riverton
June 29: Mel’s Shelves
June 30: Books Are Sanity | Fictionally | Read Headed Book Lady

Tour Giveaway:

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Title: Beyond the Rising Tide
Author: Sarah Beard
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Published: June 2014
ISBN: 1462118747
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for a review.

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble

Friday, June 17, 2016

Blog Tour: Willowkeep by Julie Daines

Reviews * Giveaway


Willowkeep by Julie Daines

Book Description:

Charlotte Darby’s ship is sinking. Penniless and alone, she is struggling to care for herself and her young sister in the harsh seaport town of Kingston upon Hull. When a solicitor from London brings news that she is the heir to a vast estate in Kent, it seems her days of rough seas are over. Willowkeep is prosperous and grand, far too much for a shipping merchant’s daughter to manage, and she quickly comes to rely on the help of Henry Morland, the estate’s kind and handsome steward.

Henry has worked hard his entire life, but all the money he’s saved won’t be enough to get his father out of debtor’s prison. Henry’s fondness for Charlotte and her sister is only another reminder of his low status and lack of money. Though he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep Charlotte happy and looked after, as the county’s wealthiest lady, she can never be his.

Courted by a charming man of the ton, threatened by those desperate to get their hands on her money, and determined to keep her sister safe from the same fate that cost her the rest of her family, Charlotte turns to the ghost of the beheaded queen, Anne Boleyn, for help. But no matter the size of the fortune, life—and love—are never smooth sailing.

Andrea's Review:

Willowkeep is an excellent novel. It was sort of My Fair Lady meets a Jane Austin novel (but with deeper issues), and it was a great combination. I read it very quickly and would definitely read it again.

My heartstrings were pulled at by Charlotte's situation. I don't recall characters in other Regency novels having special needs, and I really enjoyed the inclusion of this attribute in Charlotte's sister Susie. Charlotte was one of a kind, especially in her dedication to Susie. Even though she'd lost the rest of her family, she didn't give up. Her inheritance came at the perfect time (even though it came with challenges).

I also loved Henry's character. Susie's attachment to him was endearing, and his efforts to pay off his father's debts really demonstrated his high moral character. He and Charlotte were perfect for each other.

The letters were a great addition to this story. I loved that Henry was able to know Charlotte's true feelings (even though some important details weren't completely spelled out-you can't give everything away in a story and still have a story). :)

If you are looking for a sweet and touching romance, give Willowkeep a try.

Rorie's Review:

I've always been drawn to books where the main character is like a fish out of water - kind of the underdog. This book is like that, and it was very hard to put down.

This is the second book I've read where one of the supporting characters had special needs, although this book focused a lot more on that character. I loved reading about Charlotte's love towards Susie, and how her mama-bear instincts always came out whenever she felt like her sister was being threatened.

Henry was my favorite character by far. Friendly, smart, compassionate, caring, devoted to his family. He was a very brave man to continue to eat Jane's cooking day after day!

This is definitely a book that I would recommend to anyone looking for a good, clean Regency romance.


Tarah's Review:

I devoured this book in no time at all. I loved how Charlotte is a little different then other main female characters, in that she's pretty rough around the edges.  Other characters are strong leads (which Charlotte is too) but they are more refined and proper, and it was refreshing to see a slightly different take.

Henry is awesome. His patience and kindness are the best type of character...that and his continually eating his sisters cooking even though she can't cook at all :) That made for some fun times in their house!

I will definitely be reading this again, and recommending it to my Regency book loving friends. This was a winner from Julie Daines.


Tour Schedule:

June 17thhttp://booksaresanity.blogspot.com/http://thethingsilovemost.com/http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/https://atransparentmom.com/http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/


Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Follow Author Julie Daines:

Title: Willowkeep Julie Daines
Author: Julie Daines
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: June 2016
ISBN: 1524400408
Source: We received copies from the publisher in exchange for a review.

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle | Deseret Book

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Blog Tour: Loving Roxie by G.G. Vandagriff

Book Description: 

Roxie Castro comes to Florence, Italy to help her friend Georgia heal after the death of her husband. While there she decides to chase her dream of being an author, collaborating with the gorgeous Professor Stefano Nae in researching the murder of Princess Isabela di Medici. However, when they begin to delve into her history, strange things start happening to Roxie: panic attacks, the resurfacing of buried memories, and a fear that something from her past has come forward to haunt her future.

The professor's help triggers her powerful attraction to him, and this in turn worsens the attacks.The closer they get to solving the mystery surrounding her past, the more tangled her emotions become. Will discovering Roxie’s secret finally free them to explore their newfound feelings or will it snatch away the one chance they have for a lasting love?

Book Review: 

I've never read anything from G.G. Vandagriff before, even though I've heard she's a great Regency author. So, when I saw she was trying out a contemporary romance novel I thought I'd give it a go.

I definitely wasn't expecting it to deal with such heavy topics (the reasons for Roxie's panic attacks, and the behavior of Stefano's dead wife). I was expecting a light fluffy read, and this wasn't it.

I also had to laugh a little about how concerned Roxie is about her looks and how she judges Stefano for his.  I can relate very little to this concern of hers, so I had a hard time with that. Plus, it mentioned in almost every chapter about her wearing jeans to look less attractive. Jeans....really? The baggy sweatshirts I understood, but the jeans? Sexy people wear jeans too, so I'm not sure what that was really accomplishing there.

I struggled a little with the phrasing of conversations. It almost seemed like it was trying to be contemporary, but kept coming out as Regency. I don't know how to describe it, it was just weird. By the end of the book Roxie is phrasing everything like the Italians, and she'd only been there for a little bit of time, didn't speak the language, and didn't spend all her time immersed with the language. It just kept holding me up, and I'd have to go back and reread somethings to make sure I was understanding it right.


 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Loving Roxie
 Title: Loving Roxie
Author: G.G. Vandagriff
Publisher: Orson Whitney Press
Published: May 2016
ASIN: B01FV75J3O
Source: I received a eCopy in exchange for a review. 

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Blog Tour: On the Edge by Stuart Edge


On the Edge: How My Crappy Job Changed My Life
by Stuart Edge

Book Description:

“I think my video just went viral.”

Stuart Edge had a crappy run of things, including his parents’ divorce, anxiety, moving to Mexico and not speaking the language, and a job cleaning porta-potties. But instead of slowing him down, these struggles gave him the inspiration he needed to pursue his daydream—creating videos.

Now a YouTube sensation, Stuart shares his secrets to success and reveals his conversion from self-conscious to confident. For Stuart, being true to his beliefs has made all the difference.

Review:

In the interest of full disclosure, I'm not a YouTuber. I don't recall having ever subscribed to a YouTube channel. Sure, I'll spend some time watching YouTube clips from Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show, but the bulk of my entertainment comes from reading. Honestly, when I was offered a chance to review On the Edge I wondered if I should know who Stuart Edge is. I've never been accused of being up on pop culture, but I thought I'd give the book a try.

I found Stuart's book to be very personable. As one who much prefers fiction over non-fiction, I was happy that On the Edge wasn't a chore to read. It is basically the autobiography of 27-year-old YouTube celebrity Stuart Edge. He shares experiences he has had that lead him to making viral YouTube videos. It was a quick read (accompanied by pictures-always a bonus). I enjoyed that the book isn't just focused on how great Stuart and his videos are. He makes a point of sharing how his focus got a bit off track for awhile, but now he's trying to make a difference and do positive videos that aren't just catering to what his audience wants. I thought the final chapter held some great advice, and I liked how Stuart wasn't afraid to include the role faith has played in his journey.

And, it turns out that I have seen at least one of his viral videos before (and now others as well since I couldn't help but check out Stuart's YouTube channel after reading the book).

About Stuart Edge:


Title: On the Edge: How My Crappy Job Changed My Life
Author: Stuart Edge
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Published: May 2016
ISBN: 1462118542
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for a review.

Purchase: Amazon

Friday, June 10, 2016

Book Tour: Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd

Dawn at Emberwilde (Treasures of Surrey, #2)

Book Description:

Isabel Creston never dared to dream that love could be hers. Now, at the edge of a forest filled with dark secrets, she faces a fateful choice between love and duty.

For as long as she can remember, beautiful and free-spirited Isabel has strained against the rules and rigidity of the Fellsworth School in the rolling English countryside. No longer a student, Isabel set her sights on a steady yet unexciting role as a teacher at the school, a safe yet stifling establishment that would provide her a steady environment to care for her younger sister Lizzie, who was left in her care after her father’s death.

The unexpected arrival of a striking stranger with news of unknown relatives turns Isabel’s small, predictable world upside down, sweeping her and her young charge into a labyrinth of intrigue and hidden motives.

At her new family’s invitation, Isabel and Lizzie relocate to Emberwilde, a sprawling estate adjacent to a vast, mysterious wood rife with mysterious rumors and ominous folklore—along with whispers of something far more sinister. And perhaps even more startling, two handsome men begin pursuing Isabel, forcing her to learn the delicate dance between attraction, the intricate rules of courtship, and the hopes of her heart.

At Emberwilde, Isabel will discover that the key to unlocking the mystery of her past may also open the door to her future and security. But first she must find it—in the depths of Emberwilde Forest.


Book Review:

I'm not sure how to review this book. I liked it, it was a good read, and Colin is a great leading male, but it was a little slow. There wasn't a lot of action going on, which I kind of expected because the first book in the series has a lot going on. But the suspense and mystery kind of plodded on and as a reader there isn't much that we see to the mystery being solved. I had mentioned the previous novel, but you definitely don't need to read it to understand what's going on. You won't be confused or anything if you read it out of turn.

Because the forest was in the title, and on the cover, and because the mystery is based around it, I kind of expected more from the forest. ...it's supposed to be dark and menacing, and very little actually takes place there, especially from Isabel, who is drawn to it, but only goes in once.

While I normally love rags to riches stories, this was a little weird to me because it happened to Isabel twice, and I couldn't help think that one: that seems a little excessive, and two: what are the girls at her school thinking about all this?
 
As a Christian novel, there really isn't much in the way of spirituality. A few scriptures are read, and that's about it. It's clean though, so that's always a big plus. I will admit to wanting a little more from the romance area. Not anything steamy or anything, but they characters barely knew each other and had limited interactions. Lots of thinking about each other, but hardly any real interactions, and when they did they were short and not really about each other.

This is definitely a book that I don't mind having read, and I will keep reading more from this author, but my over all feelings are that for a mystery and for a romance, it's all a little slow.
 
Dawn at Emberwilde (Treasures of Surrey, #2) 
Title: Dawn at Emberwilde
Author:
Sarah E. Ladd
Publisher:
Thomas Nelson
Published:
May 2016
ISBN:
0718011813 
Source: I received a copy from the publisher and Litfuse in exchange for a review.


Thursday, June 9, 2016

Blog Tour: In-Laws, Outlaws and Everyone In Between by Kathryn Jenkins Gordon




 


Book Description:

The truth is often stranger than fiction, and it can certainly be more interesting than the history books let on. To prove it, bestselling author Kathryn Jenkins Gordon blows the dust off the past to reveal the exploits of some lesser-known figures in Church history. From the hilarious to the heroic and the zany to the downright villainous, these tales highlight the action-packed lives of some of the Church’s most notorious members.

Witness the attempted rise of the self-appointed “King of the Mormons.”

Experience the heart-pounding plight of a Latter-day Saint girl enslaved by a bloodthirsty Apache tribe.

Read the thrilling tale of a stake president caught in a mobster brawl at stake conference.
Just when you thought you knew everything worth knowing about the early Saints, this quirky cast of characters confirms that there’s always more to the story. Get ready for a rip-roarin’ ride through history as you discover the truth about In-Laws, Outlaws, and Everyone in Between!

Review:

I enjoy learning about history, as long as it is presented in an entertaining, non-textbook sort of way. This book definitely does that. I don't think I had ever heard of most of these stories before reading this book. The one about the soldiers building a chapel in Italy using their cigarette rations during WWII was fascinating. So was the story about William Hooper Young, although the first story was uplifting and inspiring and the second was just downright sad and disturbing.

Tour Schedule:


Giveaway: 

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https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51YvOOr0V5L._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
 Title: In-Laws, Outlaws and Everyone In Between
Author: Kathryn Jenkins Gordon
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Published: May 2016
ISBN: 1524400505
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for a review. 

Purchase: Amazon Deseret Book

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Book Review: How 4 Feet of Plywood Saved the Grand Canyon by Jerry Borrowman

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Book Description:

History turns on small points. From the world's most catastrophic game of chicken to the nail-biting success story at the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River, discover fascinating events you've probably never heard of. In this collection of eight true stories from the forgotten pages of history, learn about disasters caused by human error as well as calamities avoided by quick and clever thinking—the lawsuit that launched Abraham Lincoln's political career, the collapse of the Teton Dam, the invention that revolutionized the world of sound, and more. This book is truly love at first sight for lovers of history.

Rorie's Review:

Since I live in the boonies, Media Mail tends to be hit or miss out here, and this time it was a miss. I'm pretty sure this book came to me via horse and cart by how long it took to get to me. At any rate, I've only been able to read about half of it so far.
The description of the book intrigued me - I've always been interested in history, especially the quirky parts of history that you won't really find in a history textbook. Not to mention the title. How could you not want to read more to find out what that's all about?

The first story was about the Halifax explosion, and it captured my attention right away. I had never heard of this terrible tragedy before, but boy, was it a big one! The next few stories kind of slowed down for me though and I found myself having to re-read parts a time or two before I understood what the author was explaining. The stories are interesting, but I think the author put a little too much detail in there, making it a bit on the dry side.

I am still interested in finishing the book - after all, I still haven't found out how a piece of plywood saved the Grand Canyon!

Tarah's Review: 

I'll admit I struggled with this book. I love history, but I like it to read more like a human interest piece rather than an academic paper, and while parts in this book were what I was looking for, I felt that too much of it was bogged down with a lot of details that the lay person wouldn't understand.

The stories themselves were really interesting, and it made me wonder how the author chose which stories to write about since they were all over the place, from dams to volcanos, to floods, to Bose speakers.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51v4d%2B1NqgL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg  
Title: How 4 Feet of Plywood Saved the Grand Canyon
Author: Jerry Borrowman
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Published: May 2016
ISBN: 1524400289 
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for a review. 

Purchase: Amazon Deseret Book