A Casual Reader's Blog: November 2011

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Review: Book of Mormon Christmas by Michelle Kendall

Title:		A Book of Mormon Christmas
Author:		Michelle Kendall
Publisher:		Cedar Fort Books
Imprint:		C F I Distribution
Pub. Date:		09/08/2011
ISBN:		1599555085 (ISBN13: 9781599555089)
Pages:		32

Relive the first Nephite Christmas with pictures, scriptures, and family-favorite Christmas carols. Bring the Savior and His birth into your home through the stories told in the Book of Mormon. A Book Of Mormon Christmas is perfect for family home evenings, primary programs, or any family gathering. Invite the Spirit to touch your family as you begin a new, heartfelt holiday tradition.

(Summary and cover via Goodreads)

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This is a beautiful book. Using pictures and music, it goes through the Christmas story using the New Testament and Book of Mormon scriptures. It has beautiful illustrations as well. Each verse goes with a picture and song. This would make a wonderful Home Evening or special Christmas devotional. The songs are traditional Christmas carols so they should be familiar to most people. I think this will definitely be a wonderful new tradition to start with my family, and a beautiful way to remember the birth of Jesus Christ.

Book provided for review.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Virtual Book Tour- Marian's Christmas Wish

Welcome to the virtual book tour for Marian's Christmas Wish by Carla Kelly!

Miss Marian Wynswich is a rather unconventional young lady. She plays chess, reads Greek, and is as educated as any young man. And she s certain falling in love is a ridiculous endeavor and vows never to do such a thing. But everything changes when she receives a Christmas visit from someone unexpected--- a young and handsome English lord.

For more information about the book, see the webpage or Goodreads page.

For more information about the author, check out her blog and Facebook page.

Also, don't forget to support Cedar Fort at their blog, Facebook page, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Review:

Marian Wynswich and her family are in a bad way. Their father recently died, leaving them with debts they cannot pay. When Marian's older brother comes with a potential suitor for her older sister, Marian takes it upon herself to keep her sister out of a marriage just for money. What Marian doesn't realize is her life is about to take a new turn in the form of a friend her older brother brought home. He's able to see past Marian's eccentricities, and Marian might be falling for him. If only she could fall for him and solve her family's many issues all at once.

I was so charmed by this book. I found myself staying up late just to see what happened next. Marian was one of those sweet, sincere characters that you just can't help but love. Marian's family was unconventional for the times, but very entertaining for me. Of course I also loved the romantic side of this story too. One thing in particular I thought was awesome was Marian's ability to be a strong young woman and just happen to fall in love at the same time. Marian was so smart, and she knew how to use her brain. She took care of things when she needed to. For Marian to find someone who could appreciate all the different aspects of her personality was great. This is the kind of romance I would want my daughters reading- a young woman who is capable, smart, and able to take care of herself while still falling for a handsome, sweet, and fun young man who completely respects her.

This book was a period book written with modern sensibility, so that we as readers can still relate to the story. It's also full of Christmas cheer, and it made me want to snuggle up under a warm blanket and just enjoy this book. There were some twists and turns I did not see coming at all, and those just added to the love I had for this book. By the end of the book I was ready to read it again. This is one of those books I can see myself reading every year around the holiday season to just bask in the joy of it all. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes period novels, light romance, fun heroines, and a lot of holiday cheer!

Galley provided for review.

Friday, November 18, 2011

The Vincent Boys Blog Tour-Review and Giveaway

Welcome to The Vincent Boys blog tour!

Being the good girl isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Ashton Gray has grown weary of playing the part to please her parents, and to be worthy of the town’s prince charming, Sawyer Vincent. Maybe That’s why she’s found herself spending time with Sawyer’s cousin, Beau, while he’s away for the summer camping with his family. Beau is nothing like her perfect boyfriend. He’s the sexiest guy she’s ever seen, dangerous in ways she’s only day dreamed about, and the one guy she should stay away from.

Beau never envied Sawyer his loving parents, his big nice home, or his position as quarterback. He loves him like a brother. Which is why he's tried everything in his power to keep his distance from Sawyer’s girlfriend. Even if he has loved her since the age of five, Ashton is Sawyer’s girl, so therefore she’s off limits. But when Sawyer leaves for the summer, Ashton, the one girl Beau would move Heaven and Earth for, decides she wants to get into trouble. Stabbing the one person who’s always accepted him and stood by him in the back, is the cost of finally holding Ashton Gray in his arms. Is she worth losing his cousin over?.... Hell Yeah.

(Summary and cover via Goodreads)

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Ashston has got a life others would dream of. She's got the boy everyone in town wants, her family is respected by everyone, and things are going great. Ash is missing something though. When her boyfriend Sawyer goes out of town, Ash reconnects with her childhood friend (and her boyfriend's cousin) Beau. In a big way. Suddenly things aren't as clear as Ash thought they were. Beau sees Sawyer as the brother he never had, but he's also been jealous of Sawyer's perfect life. Beau can't help but be pleased when Ash starts paying more attention to him. Ash and Beau are forced to reconcile their feelings for each other with their feelings for Sawyer.

This was most definitely a Southern soap opera. Ashton and Beau were attached at the hip as children, but had grown apart as they got older. Especially when Ash started dating Sawyer. I think a lot of people will really enjoy the romance in this book. Personally, I have never understood the appeal of the "bad boy," and that's what Beau is made out to be. I think that Beau was given some characterization beyond the bad boy vibe as the book went on, so this helped a lot. There were also some twists in the plot that added some depth to the story.

The author did a fantastic job of creating atmosphere. You really got a feel for life in the South, and you could feel the pull between Ashton and Sawyer. This was also a very quick read. I almost read it in one sitting. Lovers of romance, especially those that like bad boys will love this book for sure.

Book provided for review.

Check out the giveaway info after the break!

Gratitude Giveaways Blog Hop

Welcome to the Gratitude Giveaways Blog Hop!

This blog hop is a little different from other hops, because it's a chance for us to show gratitude to you all for reading our reviews, participating in our giveaways, and making blogging so much fun.

I will be giving away my usual of a $10 Amazon gift card

or a book worth $10 or less from Book Depository.

This giveaway is open internationally, and it will run from November 17th to November 27th. The only mandatory entry is to enter your information into the Rafflecopter widget.

Entry is after the page break.

Thanks to all of you for stopping by my blog. Be sure to check out all the other blogs in the hop, and good luck!

Virtual Book Tour- Legacy: The Niteclif Evolutions Guest Post, Review, and Giveaway

Welcome to the book tour for Legacy: The Niteclif Evolutions by Denise Tompkins!

I have a guest post, review, and giveaway today. First, a little about the book!

When Fate makes you her bitch, accept it and adapt. Or die.

Looking back on the wish she made on Midsummer’s Eve, Maddy Niteclif should have been more specific. She only wanted to escape the shadowy nightmares that plagued her nights, not to be thrust into a completely altered reality.

If a strangely familiar, sexy dragon-shifter named Bahlin, who causes a never-to-be-mentioned-again fainting spell, isn’t enough to make her question her sanity, his insistence she’s the Niteclif ought to do the job. Prophesied super-sleuth of the supernatural world—a world that desperately needs her help—isn’t a job she’s remotely qualified for no matter what her family tree says.

Catapulted into a very different London ruled by dark mythology, mystery and murder, Maddy makes a few startling discoveries. Paranormal creatures exist. Getting shot really sucks. And her body responds remarkably well to dragon magic—in more ways than simple wound healing.

But in this kill-or-be-killed world, reality bites. And Maddy must choose to go back to what she knows…or stay and fight for the man she knows she can’t live without.

Warning: This book contains a shape-shifting dragon with a Scottish accent, modern and archaic weapons, global inter-species politics that make democracy seem mild, some very steamy sex underground, a severed head, murder, and…oh yeah…a woman caught in the middle of it all.

Time becomes irrelevant to the immortal.

But to one human woman, every second counts.

Legacy: The Niteclif Evolutions, Book 1
Author: Denise Tompkins
Genre: Fiction – Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Published by: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (October 18, 2011)
Age Recommendation: 18+ For Mature Content & Explicit Sexuality
Format: eBook
ASIN: B005IZUXZE
Number of pages: N/A

Today we have a guest post about how the author speaks to her characters.

During the middle of any given project, this might be me. I walk around almost dazed, often talking to myself under my breath to the consternation of those to whom I should be talking. Admittedly, I’ll get a lot of stares and concerned comments about how I work too hard and take my writing too seriously, but no one’s brave enough to tell me to quit. Why? It’s not so much that I can’t, though that’s surely part of the problem, but more realistically? It’s that I won’t.

When I get caught up in a story, I lose myself to the characters and the world and the nuances of personality. I spend oodles of time getting to know my characters—their likes and dislikes, habits and nervous tics. How? I talk to them.

This may seem odd to someone who doesn’t write, or to someone who writes but doesn’t write character-driven fiction. But to those of us who run a borderline obsession with our stories and characters, this isn’t that farfetched or exceptionally odd. To do otherwise would be the stranger habit.

Sometimes a conversation is simply about something that’s just happened on the page, and a character’s given reaction to that. I discuss with myself the way Bahlin might feel of Maddy’s most recent choice, or I consider how Maddy might feel over her most recent disagreement with her lover. I talk out options and preferences, actions and avoidances as if the characters were like interactive people on a living storyboard. Then there are the times the, uh, stranger conversations occur.

A perfect example happened the other day. I was down at the market looking for a nice brisket to bring home. I’m wandering the meat department when Bahlin pops into my head.
“Ever wonder what it would take to feed a dragon, love?” he asks, congenial since he got his way on the page yesterday.
My eyes dart around and I whisper, “No. I’m not talking to you here.”
“But this is the perfect place to think over the quid it would take to keep a growing drago in meat! Don’t tell me you’d expect me to exist on vegetables and free range cattle.” He snorts and lets a small tendril of smoke curl out his nose. “I’d be right fashed with you, Denise.”
I pick up the largest roast I can find and look at the price, choking. This opens the entire question of how does a dragon family keep meat on their table in modern times if they aren’t ranchers or butcher shop owners. And this is where my pastor finds me, standing slack-jawed with a hunk of raw meat in my hands, staring into space. When he greets me and I respond with a Scottish accent, he adds me to the church’s prayer list but never utters another word. After all, he knows I’m a writer.

Denise Tompkins lives in the heart of the South where the neighbors still know your name, all food forms are considered fry-able and bugs die only to be reincarnated in aggressive, blood-craving triplicate. Thrilled to finally live somewhere that can boast 3 ½ seasons (winter’s only noticeable because the trees are naked), her favorite season is definitely fall. It’s the time of year when the gardens are just about to pass into winter’s brief silence, and the leaves are out to prove that nature is the most brilliant artist of all.

Denise is married to the love of her life. Both she and her husband are owned by two dogs and three opinionated parrots who keep her in stitches — literally and figuratively. One bird hates broccoli, one scared the pizza man to death upon delivery, and one bird loves to call out and invite stranger to “Come on in!” The birds thoroughly enjoy scolding the dogs. One dog, the mutt, has turned a deaf ear. The Bullmastiff, however, probably needs emotionally reconstructive therapy.

A life-long voracious reader, Denise has three favorite authors. Why three? Because favorite authors are like chips: a person can’t have just one. Her little house was so overrun with books last year that her darling husband bought her an e-reader out of self-preservation. He was (legitimately) afraid she might begin throwing out pots and pans to make room for more books, and he didn’t want to starve.

Along with reading, Denise loves travel, is obsessed with the British Isles, practices photography, enjoys cooking and looks forward to Christmas as an excuse to bake.

Her debut novel, Legacy, is the first book in The Niteclif Evolutions and will be available in both e-book and later, in print, from Samhain Publishing.

Check out the tour page for more information on how to find Denise and her book!

Review and giveaway are after the break!

Geek Girl Virtual Book Tour

Welcome to the virtual book tour for Geek Girl by Cindy C. Bennett!

Jen's life of partying and sneaking out has grown stale. So on a whim, Jen makes a bet to turn Trevor, a goody-two-shoes geek, into a "bad boy." As she hangs out with Trevor, however, she finds it's actually kinda fun being a geek. But when Trevor finds out about the bet, Jen must fight for the things she's discovered matter most: friendship, family, and, above all, love.

Learn more about the book on Facebook.

Learn all about the author on at the author's website, blog, Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.

Learn about the publisher, Cedar Fort, on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.

Review:

Jen has had a rough life. Now in foster care, she's learned that she can't trust anyone. She has a new foster family, but she knows it won't last long. Jen bets her friends that she can turn a good-boy bad. Picking the geek Trevor, Jen makes her moves and everything is going according to plan. Well, almost. Jen discovers that hanging out with Trevor can actually be fun. More than that, she's learning that there really are some good people in this world. Jen's perspective on life is changing, but is that changing who she really is? Jen must discover what she wants out of life and decide if that life is a little more geek than she thought it would be.

This book immediately jumps into the story and draws you in. I think the author showed particular skill with the character of Jen. Jen could have easily seemed either sad and whiny or just like a try-hard rebel, both of which would have made her seem fairly unsympathetic. Instead, she was very easy to like. While she had self-doubt, she never wallowed in it. Now, maybe I'm a little biased because I married my own geek, but Trevor was definitely a dreamboat. He was smart and super sweet, but he also avoided being too much of a pushover. He was just confident in who he was.

This book was adorable, but it also conveyed some great messages. I loved that Jen was able to discover who she truly was and get a sense of what she wanted from life separate from her boy issues. Even though I longed for a happy ending, I knew that Jen would be okay regardless. She was able to build a support system and gain those feeling of love and family that she had been lacking. She also was able to have that sense of hope; that no matter how hard her life had been up to that point, she could overcome and make a good life for herself. She even learned to dream a bit.

I absolutely loved this book. It was a very fast and fun read. I didn't want to put it down. It's smart, witty, charming, and very enjoyable. I highly recommend this book. If you are looking for a sweet romance that fills you with joy, this is definitely the book for you.

Book provided for review.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Hope's Journey Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Hope's Journey by Stephanie Worlton!

Sydney is a straight-A student heading to college on a scholarship, and Alex is a quiet jock preparing to serve an LDS mission. But their dreams are shattered on the eve of their high school graduation when they find out that Sydney is pregnant. Separated, they must both trust in God as they search for the worth they once found in each other.

Read a sample at the book's website.

Stephanie Connelley Worlton pursued a degree in Architecture before turning her creative energy towards other forms of artistic expression including writing. Through her many associations with youth, Stephanie felt prompted to channel her own experience as a teenage mother into a work that might open the eyes of understanding, break down stereotypes, cause youth to reevaluate their relationships, and ultimately provide hope for those in the trenches of an unplanned pregnancy. Aside from the busy schedule she keeps as a wife and mother of four, Stephanie enjoys interior design, gardening, carpentry, painting, and being involved with the youth of our rising generation.

Learn more about Stephanie at Kreating Krazy.

Review:

Sydney and Alex have their lives all planned out, and things are running smooth. Mostly. Everything changes when Sydney discovers she's pregnant. They both have to deal with their own struggles of seeing their dreams shattered. Sydney and Alex must figure out their paths separately, something they never thought would happen. In doing this, they must also figure out if their futures involve each other. The only sure thing is that nothing will be as they planned it to be.

I'm going to get the little bit of negative out of the way first. This is a book with very introspective characters. Sometimes it was a bit too introspective to me. However, some people will really love this aspect of the book. I just got overwhelmed with the emotion of it all sometimes. My other minor issue was with the ending. I don't want to spoil anything, but I did feel like it was wrapped up a bit too neatly.

That being said, what this book did well it did very, very well. This book did a brilliant job in portraying an unexpected teen pregnancy, especially as it pertains to LDS members. Having known females and males in Sydney and Alex's positions, the things they went through and feelings they felt were spot on. The way Sydney got negative treatment from members of her ward was so heartbreaking, yet so accurate. It can be a very harsh world for a single pregnant young lady within the church. I also really felt for both Sydney and Alex. Their struggles with self-worth and forgiveness were hard to read at times, and I wanted to be able to reach into the page and help them.

I think the most important thing this book did was emphasize that so many times the mistakes we make in life can be tied into our feelings of self-worth. This is applicable to both young and not-as-young women. I think that this book really gives an amazingly accurate look into the lives of two people who find themselves in the position of becoming parents at a less than desirable time in their lives. I think a lot of people would benefit from reading this book. Hopefully it can raise awareness on the feelings of young mothers and fathers and the empathy we have for their situations. Everything is handled in such a way that even younger people can read it comfortably. This book can certainly open up avenues of conversation. Overall this book did a wonderful job of telling a difficult story in a wonderful way.

Book provided for review.

Stephanie is holding a fabulous giveaway, so here's the details:

Hope's Journey Giveaway:

As part of Hope's Journey's blog tour, we will be giving away an autographed copy of Hope's Journey to one lucky winner. To enter, simply visit the author’s blog (stephanieworlton.blogspot.com) and leave a comment on the BLOG TOUR page. Plus, for a few bonus entries, “like” Hope's Journey on Facebook or become a follower of Stephanie’s blog. It's that easy!

Contest is limited to those within the continental US. Each person is eligible for up to three (3) entries. Contest closes at 11:59pm November 14,2011. Winner will be selected by random.org then notified via email and listed at stephanieworlton.blogspot.com on November 15, 2011.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Virtual Book Tour- Under the Neon Sky: A Las Vegas Doorman's Story

Welcome to the virtual book tour for Under the Neon Sky: A Las Vegas Doorman's Story by Jay Rankin!

Today I have a guest post by the author, a review, and a giveaway.

Under The Neon Sky: A Las Vegas Doorman’s Story by Jay Rankin

Under The Neon Sky is a gripping, true story about a Las Vegas doorman who works the graveyard shift at one of the major hotels on the Strip. The sights, smells, and page popping characters are unforgettable as we take a journey that will transform how we used to envision the city that never sleeps. We watch as this doorman begins to emotionally break and wonder if he will become broken seeing his friends, his wife, hotel guests, and himself cross too many boundaries in this riveting, page turning story.

The National Best Books 2010 Award Finalist in the Memoir category
Indie Excellence Book Award Finalist in the Memoir category
2011 International Book Award Finalist-Autobiography/Memoir category

Read Chapter 1 – Under The Neon Sky: A Las Vegas Doorman’s Story by Jay Rankin

Under The Neon Sky: A Las Vegas Doorman’s Story

Author: Jay Rankin

Genre: Non-Fiction – Autobiography/Memoir

Published by: Jay Rankin (October 10, 2009)

Age Recommendation: 15+ For Mild Sexual Content & Mature Language

Format: Hardcover, Perfect Paperback & eBook

ISBN13: 978-0984210916Number of pages: 268

For his guest post, I asked Jay Rankin to tell us a little

something about why he wrote this book.

I think my background has a lot to do with why I felt the need to write this book. I was a pretty wild kid and it took me a long time to shed my ways as an adult. I worked in a country & western nightclub as a bouncer, was a probation officer for Los Angeles County. In time, I decided to try and find out why it was difficult for me to mature so I did what a lot of people do and took psychology in college looking for some answers. I loved the study of human behavior. I even figured out some inner questions. In time, I received my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. Years later I got the job as doorman at the MGM. Working in the middle of the night at the biggest hotel in the world, on the Las Vegas Strip was like working an intergalactic party on planet Azor located 13, 000 light years from our galaxy. The sights, sounds, smells, and behaviors weren’t addressed in any of my psych. books so I decided to write my own. I knew I had a story to tell.

Jay Rankin, author of Under The Neon Sky: A Las Vegas Doorman’s Story

Jay Rankin was born in Los Angeles, but he grew up in Hollywood, Ca. He held some amazing jobs. He worked his way through college inside the locked unit of a psychiatric hospital, was a Los Angeles County Probation Officer, worked at several detention camps, was a bouncer at a country and western nightclub in Los Angeles and built custom homes in Connecticut and Las Vegas. Jay studied and received a Master’s degree in clinical psychology. He now lives in Los Angeles and where he is raising his 9 year old son.

Find and follow Jay Rankin:

Author Website
Twitter – Under the Neon Sky & Jay Rankin
Goodreads
Facebook Page

Buy the book at:

Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk
Barnes & Noble

Check out the review and giveaway after the break!

Blog Tour- The Kissing Tree

Welcome to the blog tour for The Kissing Tree by Prudence Bice!

After five long years, Georgiana McLaughlin returns to the only place she’s ever considered home—the same place she stole a kiss from Ridge Carson under the community “kissing tree.” But this time he’s a man, and reconciling their past is just the beginning. You’ll find yourself applauding each new chapter filled with fun, romance, and adventure in this captivating, heartfelt tale of love, friendship, and finding your way back.

Books's Official Page- http://kissingtreebook.com/

Cedar Fort- http://www.cedarfortbooks.com/

Cedar Fort Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/cedarfortbooks

Cedar Fort Twitter- https://twitter.com/#!/cedarfortbooks

Review:

Georgie was dared by her friend to steal a kiss from their friend Ridge while under the "kissing tree." Georgie got her kiss, but soon she left town to move to New York City. After five years Georgie has returned home to help her grandfather on his ranch. Now that she's back, she has to face a grown-up Ridge. Georgie feels a lingering attraction to Ridge, but she also has a devoted suitor from New York. Georgie will have to decide what she wants from her life...and who she wants a life with.

This was a very sweet romance. There aren't really any surprises or anything, but that doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the book. Georgie and Ridge were fun characters. It was cute to watch their childhood feelings slowly develop and change into more adult ones. Of course, Georgie also had to deal with all the reasons she had to leave in the first place and the consequences of that move. She discovers some things she didn't know before as secrets and mysteries were uncovered. There's even a hint of adventure.

This book does what it is supposed to and does it well. There are characters you root fore and outcomes you are dying to see come true. One negative I did have was that I hard a hard time reading the dialect of some of the characters, but overall this wasn't too bad. I just found myself re-reading some lines to understand what the characters had said. That wasn't a major deal for me though, so overall I enjoyed this book. It is soft and sweet and full of love and affection.

Galley provided for review.

Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the tour!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Many, many winners!

Ok, so I had 4 giveaways end yesterday. So let's get to it!

The winner of the Earth e-book was:

Kerry-Ann!

The winner of the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop was:

Darlene!

The winner of the Monster Mash & Bash was:

Brunette Librarian!

The winner of The Next 15 Minutes was:

Emily T.!

And finally, an old giveaway...

The winner of Gabby, God's Little Angel was:

Karin!

Thanks to everyone who entered all of these, and stay tuned for even more giveaways!

Blog Tour- The Baker's Wife Review

Welcome to the blog tour for The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy!

To save her husband and son, Audrey Bofinger must rescue her enemy.

The Bofinger family has lost their church ministry in a scandal exposed by Officer Jack Mansfield. Hoping to heal and to restore their reputation, Audrey, Geoff, and their son Ed take over a failing bakery in the small community.

Driving to the bakery one morning, blinded by fog, Audrey hits a motor scooter owned by Jack’s wife, Julie. The mangled scooter is crushed and bloody. But Julie is nowhere to be found. Her disappearance coincides with a sudden illness that nearly cripples Audrey.

Jack believes the Bofingers have hurt Julie to take revenge on him, but the evidence dries up and her trail goes cold. At a breaking point, Jack takes the tiny bakery and its patrons hostage, issuing only one demand: Audrey has six hours to return Julie to him, or lose Geoff and Ed forever.

With only an excruciating and intuitive gift, an ex-con, and Julie’s estranged daughter to help search for clues, Audrey starts the search of her life for a woman who has vanished like the fog.

Read an excerpt here.

Well-known to critics and reviewers, Erin Healy has established herself as an award-winning editor and a best-selling co-author with Ted Dekker. Healy received wide acclaim for her two debut novels Never Let You Go and The Promises She Keeps. Her work focuses on the psychological and spiritual, driven by high moral stakes. She lives and writes in Colorado with her family.

For more information please visit www.erinhealy.com.

Buy the book here!

REVIEW:

Audrey was the pastor's wife, and after a scandal she is adjusting to her new life as a baker's wife. After an car accident, Audrey is left in a bizarre situation. There is tons of blood but no body. The scooter Audrey hit also happens to belong to the wife of the man who got Audrey's husband removed from the parsonage, Jack Mansfield. When Jack determines to take things in his own hands, he takes everyone in the bakery hostage until Audrey can produce his wife. Audrey will have to rely on her special connection with people to try and figure out what happened to Julie Mansfield and save her loved ones.

Oh wow, this book was amazing. There were so many twists and turns, some of which I guessed and some of which kept me guessing. More than that though, it was just an amazing story. Audrey struggles with her ability to feel what others are feeling in a very literal sense. There were so many wonderful threads involving compassion, consequences, and second chances. The author was able to paint an amazing sense of atmosphere. I could feel the tension, and I think my heart even began to race at times because I was nervous for the characters.

I did find Miralee to be a bit difficult to sympathize with. However, she did show enough growth that I almost liked her in the end. All the other characters (with the obvious exception of Jack) showed a wonderful balance in their personalities. Another thing I really enjoyed were the two different perspectives of religion. It was used to help people by some, and twisted into something horrible to justify their actions by others. Overall, I would say this is a must read! I did not want to stop reading, and I highly recommend this book.

Book provided for review.

Let the flour fly! Beginning October 24th, Erin's celebrating the release of her latest page turner, The Baker's Wife, with an outstanding KitchenAid baking prize package giveaway that includes a brand new KitchenAid Mixer, cook books, and all you need to whip up some fabulous bread or sweets! Then and on November 10th she'll be wrapping up the release of The Baker's Wife with an Author Book Chat Party on Facebook! Don't miss a minute of the fun!

One grand prize winner will receive:

Empire Red 4.5 QT Ultra Power KitchenAid Stand Mixer
Black & White Kitschy Apron
Black Silicone Oven Mitt
Black OXO Rolling Pin
Wilton 9X5 loaf pan
At My Grandmother's Knee Cookbook by Faye Porter
Second Helpings with Johnnie Gabriel Cookbook
The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 9th. Winner will be announced at The Baker's Wife Author Book Chat Facebok Party. Erin will be wrapping up the The Baker's Wife celebration with a book club chat and giving away a bunch of "sweet treats"! So grab your copy of The Baker's Wife (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might win one!) and join Erin on the evening of November 10th for a book chat, some "baking" trivia and lots of "sweet" giveaways (books, and Amazon, iTunes & Starbucks gift certificates)!