Zion's Call Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Zion's Call by Jeremy Maughan!

 

1830's LDS Historical Fiction

Howard Egan has left his life at sea to try his hand at the new america. A dream of owning land and a better life for himself. More than anything he wants to find a woman to spend this new life together. To his surprise he finds her on his first day on shore. He just didn't expect her to be so beautiful or to be so harsh.

Thrown into the middle of a political firestorm between a Mormon missionary and local business men. Tasked with being the Mormon's Bodyguard Howard has to find a way to secure his love, fulfill his duty and keep himself and the Mormon alive.
 

Amazon

    

Author Jeremy Maughan 

Jeremy Maughan a seventh generation member of the LDS Church, was born February 1978 in Provo Utah. As a young man he had a passion for reading. One of his fondest memories is laying on the back on his parents boat reading for days at Lake Powell. He would spend days reading Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, David Eddings,Terry Pratchett and many of great fantasy writers. He says that the only way he passed English in high school was because his teachers allowed him to turn in book reports as extra credit.

After High School Jeremy attended Devry Institute of Technology and studied to become a programmer. After two semesters he dropped out, having already landed a great programming job. He didn't find the need to continue his education to get a job he already had.

A few short months after dropping out of school he was convinced by a close friend, who was a recent convert to the LDS church, to serve a mission. In May of 1997 he was called to serve in the Oregon Portland mission. He reported to the MTC just 6 weeks after submitting his mission papers. There he gained a deep testimony of the gospel that has stayed with him throughout his life.

Once he returned home from his mission his love of the North West pulled at him and he moved to Seattle to pursue his profession programming career. While attending institute his meet the love of his life and married her for time and all eternity in the Timpanogos Temple. In their 14 years of marriage they have had 5 children. Two boys and three girls. Jeremy’s writing career started with a simple 30 day challenge and the desire to fulfill a item on his bucket list. Wanting to do a challenge to write every day for 30 days he needed something to write about. After days of struggle he was studying the writings C.S. Lewis and was inspired by the story behind The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Jeremy decided to follow in Lewis’s footsteps and write about his own children. A story was hatched and he set out to write a novel for his kids and about his kids.

He caught the writing bug and has written many stories for his family and friends. His most recent work, “Zion’s Call” is a full length historical fiction novel based on one of his ancestors and his conversion to the gospel.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest

Review:

After a stint at sea, Howard Egan finds himself in Salem, Massachusetts. While there he runs into an intriguing young lady and decides his time might be better spent in Salem. Taking a position making ropes, he soon sets forth a great future for himself. Things change though when some Mormon missionaries come to town. Howard becomes the bodyguard for the Mormons, but this puts him in a difficult position. Everything he has carefully planned may be destroyed for some men he hardly knows. Will it all be worth it? 

I love historical fiction, so I was excited to read this book. There was a great story mixed with some real historical things. That made for a really fun story. I did feel a little thrown into things at the beginning though. I feel like the introductions could have been a bit smoother. Once you get to know everyone though and their backgrounds, things fall into place. I thought Howard had a very compelling story. He wanted to make a better life for himself, and he worked very hard to get there. He also was a man of great conscience. He did was he was supposed to, and he did it to the best of his ability. 

Of course in all this there was a love story as well. Howard is immediately taken with a girl, but he has to work to get her for sure. Her name is Tamson, and she's a girl with a sharp tongue and a very clear idea of what she wants. Howard will work just as hard to earn the girl of his dreams as he will for the life of his dreams. Things get a bit complicated with Tamson becomes a believer in the Mormons that Howard has been a bodyguard for. Overall this was a fun story with a lot of good historical context. It was a very good read.

Book provided for review.

 

$25 Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 7/20/15

Open only to those 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 enter for you. 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. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: 3,000 Miles to Eternity

Welcome to the blog tour for 3,000 Miles to Eternity by Duane & Selena Pannell!

Years before online dating became a respectable option, two broken and imperfect souls digitally crossed paths as they tried to find their way back to God. This fascinating true story, told through journals and emails, will have you smiling from start to finish and shedding a few tears along the way. Engaging and entertaining, it’s the perfect reminder of the power of love, redemption, and hope.

About the authors:

DUANE AND SELENA PANNELL “met” online while living in Virginia and Alberta, Canada.  After a complicated long-distance relationship spanning four years, they married and have a son together. Their first book is borne of yet another separation in their lives when Selena was in Alberta for several months in 2013 with her dying father.

Duane was going through their old correspondence because he is a “mushy man” and thought this was a story worth telling.  After some coaxing, he convinced Selena, and with a little help from Google Docs, they began their collaboration on “3,000 Miles To Eternity.”

Today they serve as missionary group leaders in the LDS (Mormon) Addiction Recovery Program where they lead two 12 Step meetings a week.  Duane is putting the final touches on a manuscript addressing addiction recovery while Selena homeschools their son and teaches archery in her spare time.

Review:

As the internet began booming, there were new things being explored all the time. One of these includes online dating. Enter LDS Singles Online, a group where people were looking for love. Or not in the case of Selena. As a divorced mother of 5, Selena decides that studying the men on LDSSO would be an interesting undertaking. One day she begins talking to Duane, a man 3000 miles away. What unfolds becomes an intriguing tale of forgiveness, letting go of the past, and learning to open yourself up to new possibilities.

The story of Duane and Selena begins separately, told through their individual journal entries. Both of the have led lives that are different from many of their fellow congregation members. Duane was a drug addict and alcoholic, married to an equally self-destructive woman. As Duane hit bottom and began the long road to cleaning up his life, his wife was less interested. They eventually divorced. So Duane was left with children and a good sense of humor. Selena meanwhile married a nice man, but someone who was not LDS. This led to some conflict eventually, and she soon began to realize that the love was not there anymore. It was Selena's sense of humor that made Duane message her, while Selena found a willing partner in answering her probing questions about men in general (and LDS men in particular). 

This book was fascinating! I think the circumstance of meeting online allowed Selena and Duane a certain freedom. They both intended on never seeing the other one really. Of course, like many great stories things didn't happen how they planned it. They soon found themselves looking forward to their conversations and talking to each other. They do have some ups and downs like any couple. I appreciate that they were so willing to show everything. There were so many things they they talked about that I found so interesting. This book reads like a romance novel with the satisfaction of knowing that it was in fact real. It was a super fun book to read!

Book provided for review.

Zion's Call Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for Zion's Call by Jeremy Maughan!

1830's LDS Historical Fiction

Howard Egan has left his life at sea to try his hand at the new america. A dream of owning land and a better life for himself. More than anything he wants to find a woman to spend this new life together. To his surprise he finds her on his first day on shore. He just didn't expect her to be so beautiful or to be so harsh.

Thrown into the middle of a political firestorm between a Mormon missionary and local business men. Tasked with being the Mormon's Bodyguard Howard has to find a way to secure his love, fulfill his duty and keep himself and the Mormon alive.

 

Amazon

  

Author Jeremy Maughan

Jeremy Maughan a seventh generation member of the LDS Church, was born February 1978 in Provo Utah. As a young man he had a passion for reading. One of his fondest memories is laying on the back on his parents boat reading for days at Lake Powell. He would spend days reading Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, David Eddings,Terry Pratchett and many of great fantasy writers. He says that the only way he passed English in high school was because his teachers allowed him to turn in book reports as extra credit.

After High School Jeremy attended Devry Institute of Technology and studied to become a programmer. After two semesters he dropped out, having already landed a great programming job. He didn't find the need to continue his education to get a job he already had.

A few short months after dropping out of school he was convinced by a close friend, who was a recent convert to the LDS church, to serve a mission. In May of 1997 he was called to serve in the Oregon Portland mission. He reported to the MTC just 6 weeks after submitting his mission papers. There he gained a deep testimony of the gospel that has stayed with him throughout his life.

Once he returned home from his mission his love of the North West pulled at him and he moved to Seattle to pursue his profession programming career. While attending institute his meet the love of his life and married her for time and all eternity in the Timpanogos Temple. In their 14 years of marriage they have had 5 children. Two boys and three girls.

Jeremy’s writing career started with a simple 30 day challenge and the desire to fulfill a item on his bucket list. Wanting to do a challenge to write every day for 30 days he needed something to write about. After days of struggle he was studying the writings C.S. Lewis and was inspired by the story behind The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Jeremy decided to follow in Lewis’s footsteps and write about his own children. A story was hatched and he set out to write a novel for his kids and about his kids.

He caught the writing bug and has written many stories for his family and friends. His most recent work, “Zion’s Call” is a full length historical fiction novel based on one of his ancestors and his conversion to the gospel.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest

BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 6/30/15

Open only to those 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 enter for you. 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. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway --

The Boxford Stories Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for The Boxford Stories by Kristen Carson!

Welcome to the world of the Runyons and the Feldsteds, two Mormon families in 1970s Maryland. Far from their Western American roots, they cling to each other like exiles clutching a precious box of topsoil from the old country.

In The Boxford Stories you will meet Ada Runyon who always turns to Ruthalin Feldsted when she needs an ear—sharing her deepest confidences, her everyday musings, and her bits of horrified gossip. Yet Ada dies inside whenever Ruthalin’s country-cousin manners poke out in public.

Latham Runyon, a history professor, and Erval Feldsted, a hospital engineer, bond every Sunday night over gooey desserts and vigorous religious discussion, a game their children call Stump the Rabbi. Underneath their balding heads and graying temples, each man desperately seeks a sign that God would choose him as a buddy.

The Feldsted and Runyon children, running breathlessly through each other’s houses and backyards, have long considered each other substitute cousins. However, Ginni Runyon plots to change herself from the girl next door to the girl Marc Feldsted can’t live without.

And when Boxford’s Mormons mix with the rest of the town, everybody could use a field guide to the other species.

Laugh, cry, and shake your head with the Runyons and Feldsteds as they make their way through the decade that brought us leisure suits and urban decay.

AMAZON

 

Author Kristen Carson
Kristen Carson was born in Idaho, the caboose baby in a family of six girls. She studied at Brigham Young University.

Hearing tales of how green the grass was elsewhere, she pledged to move east of the 100th Meridian. Even though she’s never lived in the #1 place on her list (Lexington, Kentucky--have you seen those beautiful bluegrass hills?!), she enjoyed her years in Texas, Illinois and Pennsylvania. She currently lives in Indiana.

Kristen’s stories and articles have appeared in The Indianapolis Star, Chicago Parent, Indianapolis Monthly, Dialogue: a Journal of Mormon Thought and Irreantum.

She and her husband are the parents of four adult children.

She loves her two cats for their affection, their paranoia and their sense of entitlement. She takes long walks wherever she goes, because she thinks the best way to see the world is at 3 miles an hour. She loves cooking. All the chopping, stirring and inhaling lend the perfect capstone to her day.

Kristen is also an avid reader. No doubt she won’t live long enough to finish all the books on her list. Her favorite authors are Herman Wouk, Diana Gabaldon and Tom Wolfe.

Check out her blog, where she writes about whatever she’s reading and cooking.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Review:

In 1970's Maryland, the landscape is rapidly changing. Particularly for transplants from the Western United States. In this collection of short stories, the tales of some Mormon families is shared as they work their way through their own lives. Each family has different things to deal with, but they each have a connecting thread through their faith and the area that they live in. Some things may change, but these families will make sure that they make it through together. 

I have come to have an appreciation for short stories as I've gotten older. They allow for me to get an entire contained story in one sitting. This collection of tales did a great job of that. I felt like they were complete stories in and of themselves, but they also had threads of characters that connected them throughout. I did find the first story a little hard to get in to, but once everything settled down I enjoyed the stories greatly.

I think one of my favorite ones was actually the second story. In it, one man is contemplating the replacement of the current Stake President. Any LDS person knows this is a pretty big deal, and I found this story to be so real. Everything that the characters were doing and saying felt like people I knew. These stories manage to tell a story about certain people in a certain period of time, but they also feel universal at the same time. I greatly enjoyed these stories which I feel were simultaneously a slice of life and a slice of faith. 

Book provided for review. 

 

$25 Blog Tour Giveaway

Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 5/25/15

Open only to those 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 enter for you. 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. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Boxford Stories Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for The Boxford Stories by Kristen Carson!

Welcome to the world of the Runyons and the Feldsteds, two Mormon families in 1970s Maryland. Far from their Western American roots, they cling to each other like exiles clutching a precious box of topsoil from the old country.

In The Boxford Stories you will meet Ada Runyon who always turns to Ruthalin Feldsted when she needs an ear—sharing her deepest confidences, her everyday musings, and her bits of horrified gossip. Yet Ada dies inside whenever Ruthalin’s country-cousin manners poke out in public.

Latham Runyon, a history professor, and Erval Feldsted, a hospital engineer, bond every Sunday night over gooey desserts and vigorous religious discussion, a game their children call Stump the Rabbi. Underneath their balding heads and graying temples, each man desperately seeks a sign that God would choose him as a buddy.

The Feldsted and Runyon children, running breathlessly through each other’s houses and backyards, have long considered each other substitute cousins. However, Ginni Runyon plots to change herself from the girl next door to the girl Marc Feldsted can’t live without.

And when Boxford’s Mormons mix with the rest of the town, everybody could use a field guide to the other species.

Laugh, cry, and shake your head with the Runyons and Feldsteds as they make their way through the decade that brought us leisure suits and urban decay."

AMAZON

 

Author Kristen Carson
Kristen Carson was born in Idaho, the caboose baby in a family of six girls. She studied at Brigham Young University.

Hearing tales of how green the grass was elsewhere, she pledged to move east of the 100th Meridian. Even though she’s never lived in the #1 place on her list (Lexington, Kentucky--have you seen those beautiful bluegrass hills?!), she enjoyed her years in Texas, Illinois and Pennsylvania. She currently lives in Indiana.

Kristen’s stories and articles have appeared in The Indianapolis Star, Chicago Parent, Indianapolis Monthly, Dialogue: a Journal of Mormon Thought and Irreantum.

She and her husband are the parents of four adult children.

She loves her two cats for their affection, their paranoia and their sense of entitlement. She takes long walks wherever she goes, because she thinks the best way to see the world is at 3 miles an hour. She loves cooking. All the chopping, stirring and inhaling lend the perfect capstone to her day.

Kristen is also an avid reader. No doubt she won’t live long enough to finish all the books on her list. Her favorite authors are Herman Wouk, Diana Gabaldon and Tom Wolfe.

Check out her blog, where she writes about whatever she’s reading and cooking

Website * Facebook * Twitter

 

 $50 Blast Giveaway
Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 5/4/15

Open only to those 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 enter for you. 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. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

I Hope They Call Me on a Mission Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for I Hope They Call Me on a Mission by Benjamin Hyrum White and Corey Egbert!

It’s never too young to prepare! This charmingly illustrated picture book teaches children what it’s like to be a missionary, from riding a bike to studying the gospel to having a companion, and everything they can do now to be ready so that when the time comes, they’ll be the best missionaries they can be. Colorful and cute, it’s a perfect gift for baptisms and birthdays.

About the Author:

Ben White is the author of 10 Questions to Answer while Preparing for a Mission. He has been a Seminary Teacher from 2003 to the present. He has a M.A. in Religious Education from BYU, B.S. in Marriage, Family, and Human Development from BYU. He is an EFY speaker and has recorded two talks with the Mormon Channel on their “For the Youth” program.

About the Illustrator:

Corey Egbert has always loved books and art, so when he discovered that he could create both at the same time by being an illustrator, he couldn’t have been happier. His illustrations can be seen in The Niuhi Shark Saga books and the album covers of recording artist Rob Taylor. He lives in Buena Vista, Virginia, with his wife Natalya, son Oliver, and their cat, Rex.

Review:

For young LDS children, hearing about missions starts at a young age. Many questions may arise though. Like what exactly does a missionary do anyway? Why do we go on missions. This book takes these questions and gives straightforward answers. It even tells what children can do to prepare for their mission now. It's bright and colorful pictures and clear explanations are sure to entertain and teach our children what exactly a mission is all about.

Since I have a young son, I love children's books. Especially ones that help teach him. This was a fantastic book in that respect. The pictures are bright and fun. They help to illustrate the points very well. I absolutely loved the different topics touched on in relation to missions. I think my favorite one was actually that missionaries get rejected. What a beautiful way to give realistic expectations yet still teach some important life lessons about being true to oneself. This is definitely a book that so many people will enjoy. It keeps the topic light and fun while still being able to teach on a level that children will understand. 

Book provided for review.

Seek & Find Book of Mormon Stories Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Seek & Find Book of Mormon Stories by Jason Pruett!

Search for Nephi, Moroni, and other hidden prophets and characters from the scriptures in this fun picture game book. Featuring scenes from the Book of Mormon, this book will keep kids entertained as they look for their favorite scripture heroes and hidden objects in the colorful illustrations. Perfect for home, church, or on the go, it makes learning the scriptures fun for everyone.

Jason Pruett has a BFA in Industrial Design from Brigham Young University and an MFA in Illustration from the Academy of Art University. He has created art for games and animation. Jason currently illustrates picture books and the children’s comic book Jimmy Brass, 2nd Grade Detective. He lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife.

Review:

There are books that help teach us the stories in the scriptures. There are stories that let us have fun. This book aims to do both. In the history of classic seek and find books before it, Seek & Find Book of Mormon Stories takes those familiar stories from the Book of Mormon stories and adds a fun new angle. With many things to find in the pictures, this book will be sure to entertain while helping people to remember some of the great Book of Mormon stories.

I was so excited for this book because my son loves these seek and find books. They are a staple of our Sundays. After several Sundays, I can say for sure that this passes the child and parent test. The pictures are bright and busy. Some of the things are relatively easy to find while others required much more searching. There are also bonus things to find in each picture. To be honest we haven't even looked for those because we have so much fun doing the main things in each picture. This is a book that all ages can enjoy. It is Sacrament Meeting quiet tested and approved in this family!

Book provided for review.

Review: Wishing on Baby Dust by Lydia Winters

Title:		Wishing on Baby Dust
Author:		Lydia Winters
Publisher:		Snowflake Press
Pub. Date:		1/8/2015
Pages:		322

Infertility stinks. No one knows that better than Megan. After six years of insanity-inducing hormone drugs and desperate prayers, all she has to show for her efforts are enough negative pregnancy tests to fill a bassinet. All around her women are accidentally getting pregnant—like her star piano student—while Megan remains hopelessly barren. 

Megan’s never felt so alone. But she’s not the only one struggling.

Christina has just entered the world of infertility, made worse by the fact her husband isn’t ready to be a father. Their marriage, already hanging in the balance, is being torn apart. 

Then there’s Kyra, the mother of a precocious three-year-old. She’s shocked to be struggling with secondary infertility. A baby is priceless, but sometimes Kyra feels like she’s being forced to choose which commandment to keep: stay out of debt, or multiply and replenish the earth. 

When Megan and Christina are assigned as Kyra’s visiting teachers, they all realize that what you see isn’t necessarily what’s beneath the surface. Some secrets aren’t worth the cost of keeping them.

(Summary and cover via Goodreads)

              **************************************************

Infertility is a struggle for many women, and this book tells the story of three of them. Megan desperately wants a child, but she is dealing with the effects of PCOS. Christina put off having a child to get her life just perfect. Now it is, but she can't seem to get the one this she wants. Is this her fault for putting it off? Kyra has one child, but she hasn't been able to have another. When Megan, Christine, and Kyra's worlds collide, they soon find that they are not alone. Sometimes having someone who truly understands you makes all the difference in the world.

I was very interested in this book because it's a very difficult subject for many women. I was so pleased with how everything was handled. This book was able to be sensitive to the subject and women involved without every being patronizing or treating them with kid gloves. There was a lot of hurt for these women and with good reason. Each of them really learned to lean on the others to help them through all their trials. Just the mere fact that they are not alone in their struggles seems to relieve a huge part of the burden. I also liked that this book was able to show the different effects infertility could have on the marriages of these women. They all had to work through different things to make their lives better and be prepared for whatever the future holds.

This book also make me really reflect on how we treat other women. The scene where two of them are in Relief Society feeling the pain of feeling like they didn't fit in with a church that stresses family so much was very real to me. While I have never dealt with infertility, I was single for much longer than most LDS women. There were Sundays when I questioned why I even bothered going because I had nothing in common with any of these women. Now, clearly that wasn't true, but I think we all struggle with things at different times. We need to work to be so understand and supportive to our fellow women. How much better would it have been for these characters to have more people to be able to lean on in good times and bad? This book provides a very realistic view of things as well. There are good things that happen as well as bad. Not everyone gets that fairy tale ending. However, every is much better off in the end then they were at the beginning. This was a lovely tale that warmed my heart while managing to break it at some points. It is very moving, and I encourage everyone to take a chance to read it.

Book provided for review.

Teaching Children About Sex Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Teaching Children About Sex: Using the Temple as Your Guide by Cherri Brooks!

It’s time for the talk. Teach your children the truth about sexual intimacy in a world of shifting values and ideas. With expert advice and age-appropriate wording, you learn how to use the temple as a beautiful analogy to discuss with your kids the sacred subject of sex. Timely and clear, this book is a must-read for parents, teachers, and leaders.

About the author:

Cherri H. Brooks grew up in Centerville, Utah and attended Utah State University where she earned her M.S. in Family and Human Development. She is the author of the LDS Living Magazine article, “Talking to Kids about Sex.” Her blog is www.timelesstemples.blogspot.com. She lives in Clarksville, Tennessee, with her husband and three children.

Review:

Ah sex. Talking about it to children is often viewed as trial to be endured. However, it is a very important topic the becomes even more important as the world around us changes. This book uses the temple and temple preparation as an example for a way to discuss everything with your children starting from a young age. It gives straightforward answers from both biological and value viewpoints. By keeping the lines of communication open, you can allow for a truly wonderful experience.

My son isn't old enough that I've had to worry about going into a lot of detail about sex, but I have tried to be honest and truthful about things like where babies come from. I was both excited and a little scared about reading this book. I wasn't sure if it would approach things from a point-of-view that I would agree with. I was so pleased to be surprised. This book is amazing! I love how positive this book was. So many times talking about sex becomes a negative thing because we want them so much to understand the importance of chastity. This is not always the best approach though. We need to find a balance so that children and youth understand how important sex is and why we save it for the appropriate time and place.

I love that this book emphasizes the need for communication on this topic starting from a young age. This book helped me see areas I have done well and areas in which I could use some major improvement. There are questions and answers for each age group that have some great help in them. At the end of there book there is some dealing with "special" topics in this area. They were absolutely full of fantastic information and direction. I wish that everyone would read this book. It manages to be very sex positive while using the temple as a guide to show why chastity is so important to us. This is a book I know I'll reference for years to come. With it's beautiful message and positive tone, it takes what could be a touchy subject and makes it approachable for everyone. 

Book provided for review.

Scripture Puzzlers Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Scripture Puzzlers by MaryAlice Wallis and Charlotte Lindstrom!

Master the scriptures and have fun doing it! Find hidden messages, work through puzzles, and unscramble clues as you learn the essential truths found in scripture mastery passages. Perfect for seminary, Sunday School, family night, personal scripture study, or missionary preparation, this book of puzzles is anything but trivial!

About the authors:

MaryAlice Wallis is the co-author of the award winning LDS Puzzle Pals and LDS Puzzle Pals- Prophets and Apostles. She graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. She is a longtime member of the Golden Quill Writers Group and past member and presenter at American Night Writers Association, Northwest Chapter. She freelance writes children’s literature and Young Adult fiction and is currently writing a homeschooling resource book. MaryAlice and her husband David homeschooled their four children and are experiencing life as half-empty nesters. Their family loves traveling to the beach from their home in the Pacific Northwest.

Charolette Lindstrom is the co-author of two other puzzle books; LDS Puzzle Pals and LDS Puzzle Pals- Prophets and Apostles (under the name C G Lindstrom). She has written many puzzles for The Friend magazine and has stories published in The Friend, The New Era and Cricket magazines. She is an original member of the Golden Quill Writers Group in Southwest Washington. She is also a member of the American Night Writers Association (ANWA). A graduate of Utah State University, she currently teaches 2nd grad in Longview, Washington.

Review:

Sometimes studying the scriptures can be a bit of a chore, and they don't always make a lot of sense. This book helps make scripture studying come alive in a very fun way- puzzles. With word searches, word scrambles, crosswords, and other brain teasers, Scripture Puzzlers helps you to learn the content in new and interesting ways. This book keeps things challenging while still helping you see things in fun new ways.

First of all, I love puzzles. I do them for fun, so this book was right up my alley. I am also not a grand scriptorian. I don't have everything memorized or know where every story is. I fell in love with this book. These puzzles are definitely aimed at older kids and adults. Some are fairly simple while some require quite a bit more thought. I didn't have time to do every puzzle, but the ones I did check out were so much fun. The book is divided into puzzles for each set of scriptures (like Old Testament, New Testament, etc). They really were a lot of fun for me. I can see them as a great addition to Seminary or Sunday School classes. It helps you learn things without it feeling boring or repetitive. I aim to do every one of these puzzles. What a great way to have fun while learning all about the scriptures!

Book provided for review.

What Good Men Do Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for What Good Men Do by David S. Baxter!

From slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce to Olympic gold medalist Eric Liddell, great men throughout history have left an example for us to look to. Elder David S. Baxter takes a closer look at the characteristics and attributes of good men so that you can apply them too. He acknowledges that there are no perfect men, but the works and attributes of good men have profound effects. There is no end to the good that a man can do!

David Baxter was born in Stirling, Scotland, and became a General Authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 2006. He previously worked in senior leadership roles in the telecommunications industry, and on the boards of various UK Government agencies, and holds a BSc degree in economics. In his Church service he has been a bishop, a stake president, a member of a mission presidency, and an Area Seventy. He has served in Church area presidencies in Europe and the Pacific. His early home life was traumatic and disrupted, and in 2009 he underwent surgery to remove two brain tumors. He and his wife, Dianne are the parents of four children and nine grandchildren.

Review:

There are a lot of great examples of good men throughout time. In this book, Elder David S. Baxter gives examples of some very good men and details what helped to make them good men. Their diverse stories give great inspiration and great examples to follow. Elder Baxter also gives some ways to be "good boys" for younger readers. All of this combines to make for a good read for everyone.

I loved a lot of the ideas presented in this book. Several good men were covered. Their stories were told, and then detail was given as to what made them good men. I found this to be very interesting and inspirational. Even though this book was directed at men, I learned a lot too. I even learned some history as there were a couple men that I was unfamiliar with. Their stories often tied in with Elder Baxter's life as well. I particularly enjoyed the chapter written for boys. As the mother of a boy, I liked the guidelines set down to help boys keep themselves on a good track. Overall I think everyone can learn something from this book. It will help keep your eyes lifted and your life good.

Book provided for review.

I Want to Be Baptized Blog Tour

Welcome to the tour for I Want to Be Baptized by Annalisa Hall and Corey Egbert!

Help your little ones recognize the joy, responsibility, and importance of being baptized. I Want to Be Baptized – from the same author and illustrator who brought you The Holy Ghost Is like a Blanket – depicts what baptism really means for children’s lives by comparing it to objects they remember and relate to. Turn to these heartwarming illustrations and meaningful analogies next time a child asks you about baptism.

About the author:

Annalisa Hall was born in Rochester, MI, to Alvin and Judy Holgerson. She received a merit scholarship to the LDS Business College graduating with honors. She transferred to Brigham Young University in Provo and worked in the Harold B. Lee Library and graduated from BYU with a BA in English. She is the author of Garbage Can Graffiti, published September 2010 in the Friend. She currently lives in Poway, CA, with her husband and three children.

Review:

Baptism is an important part of every LDS child's life. This book shows why baptism is so important by using comparisons to everyday life. Full of colorful illustrations, this book will entertain and teach our young ones about the importance of this sacred ordinance. 

I loved this book. I thought it did an amazing job of making comparisons to things that almost any child could understand. The pictures area all bright and interesting. It includes a list of scripture references and Primary song references as well. While the pictures are bright and fun, the words are not too "little kid" for children closer to 8. It's a beautiful book that will really help show why baptism is so important for all of us.

Book provided for review,

Hope After Suicide Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Hope After Suicide by Wendy Parmley!

We all have a story—hidden secrets buried in dark and rocky earth. Our task is to unearth—to release the pain and discover the good, discover the healing, discover the love. Uncovering the darkness makes space for the light.

After her mother took her own life, Wendy Parmley learned firsthand the heartache, despair, and loneliness that accompanies losing a loved one to suicide. At one point she even contemplated taking her own life as well. In this uplifting true narrative, you too can discover how to:

• Forgive yourself and others
• Open your heart
• Seek help when you need it
• Draw closer to the divine

Embrace the light and learn how to heal your soul and overcome loss as you read this touching and tender account of a woman opening her heart years after her mother’s suicide.

Purchase Hope After Suicide: One Woman’s Journey from Darkness to Light at:

Amazon Barnes & Noble Books & Things

Courtesy of Alyse Neibaur at Diamond Eye

Wendy Parmley suffered a disabling bike accident in September 2011.  Unable to return to her 20 year nursing career because of the continued effects of her injuries, Wendy began the slow and painful penning of her angel mother’s story and Wendy’s healing journey following her mom’s suicide death.  Wendy’s mom took her own life when just 31 years old, leaving behind her husband of thirteen years and their five young children.

Wendy has long advocated for suicide prevention and has participated on various professional and community based groups dedicated to that end.  She also recognizes the need to unashamedly support those who must continue to live in the painful aftermath of a loved one’s suicide and passionately lends her voice to that cause.

Prior to her bike accident, Wendy worked in nursing leadership for 14 years, earning her MBA degree from Brigham Young University in 2007.  Despite her continued limitations, Wendy is grateful to spend more time with the love of her life, her husband Mark.  She is ever grateful for his support and the support of their three married sons and their wives, their amazing daughter, and their beautiful two grandchildren who fill their life with sunshine.

www.wendyparmley.com

Like me on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

Review:

Wendy was just 12 years old when she was awoken by the cries of her father. Her life would never be the same. Her very young mother had just died, and Wendy was left as the oldest of 5 children. To make things even more difficult, Wendy soon discovered that her mother had actually taken her own life. It's not until Wendy is an adult that she begins to truly process what happened. As she begins her journey to deal with the pain of her mother's suicide, Wendy manages to discover that a wound she thought would remain raw forever can in fact be healed. Wendy shares her journey in this book.

Suicide and mental illness have been brought to the forefront of public awareness due to the recent suicide of actor Robin Williams. This is a subject that is very difficult for a lot of people to understand. What drives a person to take their own life? The author of this book had to try and figure that out for herself very early in life. This book gives a very realistic and emotional view of what it is like to be the child of someone who must deal with the suicide of a very close loved one. Wendy thought her mother could do virtually no wrong, and yet her mother had demons that she could not escape. However, Wendy manages to find great hope in her religion and beliefs. Unfortunately she must first progress through the pain again first.

Wendy doesn't hide anything in this book, and a lot of her family's skeletons are laid out for all to see. I think this is a good thing though. None of us come from perfect families or ideal situations in life, and the more we see that others have issues too the more we can truly bear each others burdens. This book takes an unflinching look at suicide and loss, but the author manages to keep anyone from looking like a bad guy. She is able to see the good in so many things. While this book wasn't an easy read per se, it was a very interesting read. I couldn't put it down. It helped me to see that even in the darkest of times, we can find hope. That is a very inspiring thing.

Book provided for review.