Jeremy's Christmas Journey Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Jeremy's Christmas Journey by Scott A. Johnson!

For Jeremy, Christmas is just another reminder that he’ll never be able to enjoy the things that come so easily to other children. Then one night he has a dream that will change everything. Accompanied by stirring music, this story of finding faith and discovering the power of the Master Healer is sure to be cherished at Christmastime and all year long.

Meet the Author:

Scott Johnson spent most of his childhood in Orem, Utah, where he gained a love for creative writing. Recognizing his potential at a young age, his teachers and family encouraged him to explore his developing writing talents.

Scott continued to craft imaginative and original stories through his teenage years and served as a yearbook writer and photographer in High School. He published his first book, Nutrition: A Word of  Wisdom, in 2009, and has published more than 175 editorial pieces in various online publications.

Scott, his wife and four children reside in Utah County where they enjoy the mountains and outdoors. Scott is regularly asked by his children to share an original story, which he gladly obliges.

Review:

Jeremy has had an unfortunate life. Due to a car accident when he was a toddler, Jeremy is no longer able to walk. There is no medical reason why which proves to be even more of a hardship for Jeremy. While his parents have great faith that he will walk again, Jeremy cannot see why they believe this. They cling to their religion while Jeremy questions if Jesus Christ was even real. Then one night he has a dream, one in which he is exposed to some amazing things that will change his beliefs and life forever.

There are two parts of this book that wind together to make an amazing experience. The first is Jeremy's story. I felt bad for Jeremy because I know he had a very difficult life. I don't blame him one bit for having a hard time with something his parents believed in so strongly but that he didn't feel. I think these are normal responses, especially for someone in Jeremy's circumstances. I did think he was a little repetitive in his complaining though. After a bit it came off more whiny than something that made me feel sympathy. Once his dream started this was not a problem at all though. The dream part was handled very well. It was so moving to see all these perspectives and to really get to feel what all these people felt. I thought that was really well done.

The part that wrapped it all together was the music. There are songs for each of the characters in Jeremy's dream that give testimony of the things they saw. The songs were so beautiful. I actually listened to them after I had read the story part, but they still had great impact. I think in the context of the story they'd be even more moving. This is a wonderful combination of story and music that are so touching together. They are able to move this beyond just a story to a great testimony. This would be beautiful to listen to any time of year, but I think it would be of most impact around Christmas and Easter. I really loved the story and music, and I think they will bring a wonderful spirit into your home.

Book provided for review.

Be sure to check out all the stops on the tour. Thanks for visiting!

Epic Tales of a Misfit Hero Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Epic Tales of a Misfit Hero by Matt Peterson!

From passing the sacrament with his fly down to failing miserably at capture the flag, Andrew knows he’ll never be able to fulfill his duties as a deacon. But when tragedy strikes on his Boy Scout backpacking trip, Andrew’s whole troop must become stronger than they ever imagined. This hilarious coming-of-age story is bound to have you rooting for a “misfit” hero!

Meet the Author:

Matt Peterson has been working with Scouts and young men for over ten years. He has lead adventures into deep canyons, up tall mountains, and through raging rivers. Search and Rescue has only been called once.

Matt lives in Mesa, Arizona, with his wife and four kids. He served a mission in São Paulo, Brazil, where he learned Portuguese, how to love the people, and how to walk really fast. In his spare time, he runs a free neighborhood sports league for kids.

Review:

Andrew has a lot of firsts in his life since he turned 12. The next "first" is going camping with his very young Boy Scout troop. Things start out rather damp, and things only go downhill from there. As their leaders continue their trip, Andrew has to deal with a lot of things he is not so great at. However, when something unexpected happens, Andrew and his fellow Scouts must pull together in ways they never expected. It will take everything they've got (plus a little divine help) to get them out of this all in one piece.

I thought this book was too cute! It had me laughing out loud at several points, but non-LDS readers some of that humor will be missed probably. Not only was it hilarious, but it was pretty on point for a young boy that age. The author did a great job of getting in that mindset. Andrew was fairly typical for a 12 year old boy, but he was also capable of much more than he thought he was. This was great to see and a good message to be sent to people of every age.

Of course, for me it was a super fast read. It is age appropriate, and I would think that it could be enjoyed by both boys and girls. I really loved this book. I will be recommending it to everyone I know. It's fun, smart, sweet, and of course very funny. This book is everything that people of all ages will enjoy reading about.

Book provided for review.

Be sure to check out all the stops on the tour. Thanks for stopping by!

Kris Kringle's Magic Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Kris Kringle's Magic by Diane Stringam Tolley!

Kris Kringle is often in trouble for his beliefs. But in a world where elves are slaves, he is determined to make things right, even if it means standing alone. With the help of his friend Rebecca, Kris starts with the children. But can a pile of gifts on Christmas Eve really change anything?

Told from Rebecca’s perspective, Kris Kringle’s Magic is the story of a boy who devotes his life to the service of the poor, hungry, and destitute—and by doing so, becomes the legend of Santa Claus. This instant holiday classic is sure to captivate kids of all ages.

Meet the Author:

Diane Stringam Tolley was born and raised on the great Alberta prairies. Daughter of a ranching family of writers, she inherited her love of writing at a very early age. Trained in Journalism, she has penned countless articles and short stories. She is the author of four e-books and the recent Christmas story,Carving Angels, also by Cedar Fort. She and her husband, Grant, live in Beaumont, Alberta, and are the parents of six children and grandparents of twelve.  To learn more about author Diane Stringam Tolley you can visit her website: www.dianestringamtolley.com/index.html.

Review:

A young elf comes to interview Mrs. Rebecca Kringle, the wife of Kris Kringle. As Rebecca tells her story, the young elf learns that things weren't always good for elves. They were treated as lesser citizens and were basically slaves. Things began to change when Kris Kringle came to town to visit family. Disgusted by the treatment of elves, he begins challenging the long-standing beliefs of the people. He also teaches Rebecca that her preconceived notions may not be correct. Kris Kringle's need to help people eventually leads him to utilize his friendship with the elves to bring gifts and comfort to many children. However, this may all be threatened by the cruelty of others, and this leads Kris and his elf friends to make a drastic decision.

If you're looking for heartwarming stories to get you in the Christmas spirit, look no further. This books takes your typical Kris Kringle origin story and expands upon it in some interesting ways. I love that it dealt with loving others and issues of equality. Kris Kringle took these things very seriously, whether it was elf treatment or taking care of families in need. He did all he could to help him fellow beings. Rebecca made for a great partner in crime (even if she was drug into it to begin with). I like the concept of Kris Kringle not just being some jolly old man bringing toys on Christmas, but really being someone who champions the less fortunate and just wants all children to be happy. That is something that I can really get behind.

This is an excellent book, and it is a super quick read. It would be easy to add reading it to the family as a Christmas-time tradition. There are some deep concepts, but they are treated in a way everyone can understand and bound together by faith and belief. If this book doesn't make you want to get out and help everyone you can, I don't know what will. I really loved this book, and I think it will make an excellent addition to your usual Christmas reading.

Book provided for review.

Be sure to check out all the stops on the tour. Thanks!

For All the Saints Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for the book For All the Saints by Kristen  Smith Daley!

For All the Saints provides an uplifting account of the ways in which the Lord builds his kingdom through ordinary men and women. Set in Boston, Massachusetts and its surrounding areas, the book draws upon the experiences of hundreds of members, ranging from prominent Church leaders to brand new converts. Their collective insights teach powerful lessons about commitment, faith, sacrifice, and leadership that are applicable to us all, no matter our corner of the vineyard.

Drawing upon accounts both humorous and profound, these Saints remind us of the impact one person can have when partnered with the Lord. They also instill a sense of gratitude for the contributions of those who precede us and demonstrate that the Lord’s promises are sure, as we each play a role in a work much larger than our own vantage point might suggest.

Kristen Smith Dayley lives in Issaquah, Washington, with her husband and children. Although she loves the Pacific Northwest, she insists on regular pilgrimages to New England, where her early childhood was nurtured by Make Way for Ducklings and the Freedom Trail. Kristen’s first experience with confession and repentance occurred at the age of five, after she shoved dead leaves and grass through the mail slot of the bishop’s office at Cambridge’s Longfellow Park Chapel. Despite that misdeed, she was allowed to return when she was admitted to Harvard Law School and even served as Relief Society president of the Cambridge University Ward (perhaps as penance). Kristen is a practicing attorney and aspires to develop some hobbies outside of Church and family when time allows.

To learn more about the author and For All the Saints, you can visit the website at: www.forallthesaintsbook.com.

Review:

The LDS church in Boston and surrounding areas has a long history. At times the membership has been quite small, while at other times the numbers threatened to overwhelm the infrastructure they had there. Part of what made things successful in good times and bad were the individual members there. Some were called to be leaders while others managed to serve in smaller capacities. No matter how "small" the calling seemed, true service and love was given, and these things helped to make the church very successful in this area. In the end it was the people that made all the difference.

There were two main components to the book: a history if the church in New England and stories of the people who lived in the area at various times. These two things are intertwined though, so it's not a straight history. More than that, the book uses the examples of the various people's stories to teach a broader lesson about how we are able to serve and contribute within the church. By tying the stories in with the history, it keeps the book from getting too dry or plodding. The story is able to be told in leaps and bounds while still making sense in the big picture. At times trying to keep the names of people straight could seem a bit overwhelming, but in the end the names were less important than the things they did. Those were the main ideas that stuck out to me.

One this I really felt was emphasized was the idea of just serving the best way you can no matter what. We will not all be serving in the "high profile" leadership callings, but that doesn't keep us from being able to perform great acts of service. Learning to offer up whatever you can, no matter how small it may seem, can help people in ways that we cannot even conceive. Another thing that stuck out to me was just the sheer faith these people had. In congregations big or small, they were often called upon to do things they thought might be near impossible. However, they often pressed forth offering all they had and were able to accomplish things they never imagined. I found this book to be very inspiring. It reminded me of a lot of things that I often forget as I get so involved in my day-to-day life, and it led me to renew my commitment to do the best I can in everything I do. It also made me grow to love all of the people who worked so hard to build firm foundations in the New England area. Their good deeds have and will continue to have effects beyond their mortal lives, and we can all have the chance to make that kind of impact on the world around us.

Book provided for review.

Be sure to check out all the books on the tour. Thanks for stopping by!

The Waiting Booth Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for The Waiting Booth by Brinda Berry!

A missing boy, government agents, an interdimensional portal... Mia has one goal for her senior year at Whispering Woods High-find her missing older brother. But when her science project reveals a portal into another dimension, she learns that travelers are moving in and out of her woods in the most alarming way and government agents Regulus and Arizona are policing their immigration. Mia's drawn to the mysterious, aloof Regulus, but it's no time for a crush. She needs to find out what they know about her brother, while the agents fight to save the world from viral contamination. But when Regulus reveals that he knows Mia's secrets, she begins to wonder if there's more going on than she thought...and if she was wrong to trust him...

Buy the book at:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Book Depository

Author Brinda Berry

Brinda Berry lives in the southern US with her family and two spunky cairn terriers. She has a BSE in English and French and a MEd in Learning Systems Technology. She's terribly fond of chocolate, coffee, and books that take her away from reality. She doesn't mind being called a geek or “crazy dog lady”. When she's not working the day job or writing a novel, she's guilty of surfing the internet for no good reason.

Links:

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter 

Goodreads * Youtube * Google+

The Waiting Booth Book Trailer:

Book Blast Giveaway Details:
$100 Amazon Gift Card or $100 PayPal Cash from Author Brinda Berry
Ends 11/1/12
*You need not enter your twitter name for each entry. Simply enter it when you follow Brinda and leave the others blank.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

A Merry Little Christmas Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for A Merry Little Christmas by Anita Higman!

Fall in love with this cozy story about two people from different worlds.

Franny Martin is an Oklahoma farm girl who's preparing to spend the holidays alone...again. Then Charlie Landau shows up one day, all wealth and polish, and offers to buy Franny's farm. Franny has no money to speak of, but she is clever and spirited, and she's more than happy to sell the farm and move to the city.

As Sinatra croons from the radio and Christmas descends upon her charming farm, Franny teaches Charlie the curious and sometimes comical ways of country life. In the process, they unearth some discoveries of the heart-that sometimes love comes when you're least ready for it. Will the holidays bring their most impossible dreams within reach?

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/eyLJH   

Meet Anita:Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She's been a Barnes & Noble "Author of the Month" for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.

Find out more about Anita at http://www.anitahigman.com.

Review:

Franny has always dreamed of leaving her parents farm and moving to the big city. Franny has been taking care of the farm on her own since her parents passed away. When a rich stranger shows up offering to buy the farm, Franny has a chance to live out her dreams. There's only one problem. While helping out the new owner Charlie, she's also developed feelings for him. As they both move forward with their new lives, Charlie and Franny discover that being around each other may be the best new life they could have. Unfortunately it may take a Christmas miracle for this to happen.

I love music and I love Christmas, and I really love Christmas music. This book was like some of the best things about the holidays all wrapped up with a neat bow. It was so sweet, and it even had a chance to remind me of all the people I could help, not just during the holiday season. There were several topics covered in this book, but it never managed to get too heavy. I'll admit I was a bit curious early on what the conflict was going to be, but this book managed to surprise me with a few things. I liked the approach of having these two people from completely different worlds trying to set off on their own doing the things they wanted. They shared a common dream of living theirs lives as they saw fit, and this helped to bring them together. 

Franny was a fun character. She had such a sure sense of principles and justice. I loved that she was not afraid to stand up for what she believed in. I was also very happy that she was able to find someone who could stand for those same things in Charlie. With their differing backgrounds, this was another thing that helped draw them together. Overall this was just a really sweet book that is perfect for those cold days leading up to the holidays. It just makes you want to cozy up and read it through to the end. It's a very quick read, and it will help to remind of you the good you can find in people. 

Book provided for review.

Author Anita Higman invites readers to kick off the season with a spirited holiday tale. Anita is spreading the Christmas cheer by giving away FIFTEEN COPIES of the book. To enter to win A Merry Little Christmas, just head over to THE CONTEST PAGE at Anita's website and fill out the short form. Be sure to put BLOG CONTEST in the Subject Line. That's it. Winners will be announced on the Litfuse blog (and notified by email) on 11/9.


Be sure to check out all the stops on the blog tour! Thanks for stopping by!

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop!

I love this time of year. With all the holidays coming, it gets super busy, but that also means super fun!

In celebration of spooks and scary things, I am offering up my usual:

a $10 Amazon.com gift code or $10 in books from Book Depository!

Please check to ensure that Book Depository delivers to your country.

How do you enter?

Choose one or any or all of the following:

1. Follow on GFC or Linkyfollowers

2.  Follow on Twitter

3. Like on Facebook

4. Friend on Goodreads 

That's all!

Also, if you are in the US, be sure to enter my giveaway for Married at Fourteen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out all the stops on the tour! Thanks for stopping by!