The Mark of a Giant Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for The Mark of a Giant by Ted Stewart!

Throughout the course of history, civilization has been blessed by strong-minded men and women who have impacted our world in extraordinary ways. Their imprint upon humanity is beyond dispute. And many would contend that they were no less than the result of Divine Providence—a gift of God to the human race. Who are these individuals? What is it about these few that make them different? Were they merely in the right place at the right time? Or were they somehow chosen? The Mark of a Giant examines the lives and contributions of seven men and women who changed the world: Abraham of Ur, Pericles, the Apostle Paul, Sir Isaac Newton, Marie Curie, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mother Teresa.

About the Author

Ted Stewart was appointed as a United States District Court Judge in 1999 by President Bill Clinton. Prior to that, he served as chief of staff to Governor Michael O. Leavitt, as executive director of the State Department of Natural Resources, as a member and chairman of the Public Service Commission, and as chief of staff to Congressman Jim Hansen. He has been a visiting professor at two state universities, teaching courses in law and public policy. He is the New York Times bestselling author of The Miracle of Freedom: 7 Tipping Points that Saved the World.

Review:

Throughout the course of time, there have been those people who have helped to change the world for the better. This book looks at seven men and women who made amazing contributions to society, some with their intellect and wisdom and some just with their love. By looking at the lives and life-changing actions of these people, we can learn about how wonderful things came about and how sometimes small things can make huge differences.

This book was quite inspiring to me. There is so much fantastic information about these people who have done so many amazing things. Of course, I'm not sure how the author was able to keep it to only seven people. There are some people that I would love to have seen in there, but I can't argue with any of the people included for sure. Some made amazing scientific contributions and some just made contributions with the way they lived their lives. It's amazing to see how they were able to accomplish so much good. Sometimes I think they weren't even aware of how their lives would affect so many others. This is a great example to us to keep trying our best as we never know how it will help someone else.

I enjoyed all of the life stories in this book, but I found Marie Curie to be of particular interest for me. She really lived an amazing life, and her contributions to the world have allowed for amazing medical advancements. I think that this book made me really want to just try to be the best I can be. That's really all these people were doing. Trying to make life better in a way that they could. Luckily for us they were able to make amazing things happen. I think families would benefit from learning about all of these people and looking for ways they can change their own little worlds. Definitely check this book out to be inspired and ready to take on anything!

Book provided for review.

Heaven's Just a Prayer Away Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for Heaven's Just a Prayer Away by Diony George!

Before we came to earth, we lived in heavenly realms. We knew our Heavenly Father. We walked and talked with Him. We heard His voice. We felt His love. In Heaven’s Just a Prayer Away, beloved author Diony George teaches us how to reestablish that relationship with Him here on earth. With the help of this book you will:     

• Learn that nothing is too small or unimportant to discuss with Heavenly Father   
• Find peace and contentment through daily communication with God   
• Gain a better understanding of why some prayers seem to go unanswered   
• Develop a greater knowledge of the power of prayer   

The inspirational and enlightening experiences found within these pages will change your life forever by strengthening your relationship with God and filling your life with peace, teaching us that heaven really is just a prayer away.   

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Author Diony George

Diony George is a wife, full-time mom of seven, grandmother of three, and a published author of uplifting women’s fiction and inspiring nonfiction. She is also a regular contributing writer for Deseret Connect and FamilyHow. Originally from Alaska, she currently lives in Salt Lake City with her family. Besides writing she loves to read, especially romantic suspense, bake, sew and craft. Her current fiction WIP, Inside the Heart, is based around the kidnapping and disappearance of four-year-old Emma. Her newest nonfiction book, Heaven’s Just a Prayer Away was just released by Cedar Fort, Inc.  

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Goodreads * Amazon

 

BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 8/1/13
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, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Motive for Murder Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Motive for Murder by Marlene Bateman!

Meet Erica Coleman—a gifted and quirky private investigator with an OCD-like passion for neatness and symmetry, a penchant for cooking, (ten terrific recipes are included), and a weakness for chocolate.

Erica imagined that her trip to Florida would be a slice of heaven—a chance to get away from it all and catch up with her best friend, Wendy. But one day into her vacation, all hope of fun in the sun is dashed when she stumbles, literally, over a dead man on Wendy’s driveway. With police closing in on her friend as their main suspect, Erica must find the real killer before Wendy ends up behind bars.

With Erica’s skill, solving the mystery should be a piece of cake but then a second homicide-attempt hits close to home and generates a whole new list of suspects. There’s no way to sugarcoat it, a murderer is on the prowl, and no one is above suspicion.

As the plot thickens, it appears Erica may have bitten off more than she can chew, but she forges on, sifting through mounting evidence until she hones in on the killer who has a surprising motive for murder. With a dash of romance and some surprising twists, this thrilling mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

Find the book online at Seagull Book, Deseret Books, and Amazon. Also available on CD.

Praise from Traci Abramson and Betsy Brannon Green:  

Motive for Murder is fresh, captivating, and cleverly written. The colorful cast of characters will enthrall readers as they try to navigate the clever twists and turns of this captivating mystery. Intriguing, memorable characters, and a skillfully written mystery make Motive for Murder Marlene Bateman's finest work yet—a must read!  -Traci Abramson

With a fresh, crisp writing style, Marlene Bateman introduces readers to a fascinating cast of characters and skillfully unravels an intricate plot full of twists and surprises!  I loved Motive for Murder and you will too!  -Betsy Brannon Green

Excerpt

“As she drove back to Wendy’s house, the headlights cleaved the darkness and the rain, which was falling harder now. Erica had to park across the street and was nearly to Wendy’s door when she stopped suddenly, catching herself as she nearly fell over something.

It was the still figure of a man lying face down on the driveway. He was strangely unmoving. The light from the porch illuminated a puddle alongside him, which was growing bigger by the second. A chill shivered down Erica’s spine as she noticed that the puddle was streaked by dark red threads that ran and merged with rivulets of rain.”

Biography

Marlene Bateman Sullivan was born in Salt Lake City, Utah.  She graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in English. She is married to Kelly R. Sullivan and they are the parents of seven children.  

Her hobbies are gardening, camping, and reading.  Marlene has been published extensively in magazines and newspapers and has written a number of non-fiction books, including:  Latter-day Saint Heroes and Heroines, And There Were Angels Among Them, Visit’s From Beyond the Veil, By the Ministering of Angels, and Brigham’s Boys. Marlene also wrote the best-selling novel, Light on Fire Island.

A busy writer, Marlene is set to have three books published this year. Gaze Into Heaven, a fascinating collection of over 50 documented near-death experiences in early church history, was published earlier this year. Next is Motive for Murder, the first in a mystery series featuring the quirky Erica Coleman. In July, Heroes of Faith, a collection of stories about people who risked their life for the gospel, will be released by Cedar Fort Inc.

For more info on Marlene Bateman Sullivan, check out her website. 

Hope you enjoyed learning a little more about this book. Looks interesting (and a bit scary)! Be sure to check it out, and thanks for reading!

Angels Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Angels, Agents of Light, Love, and Power by Donald W. Parry!

Stories are told around the world of persons who have received help or comfort from someone they couldn't see—an angel or spirit who guided them or in some other way gave them assistance from beyond the veil.

But just who are these angels? Are they even real?

Although angels are a vital part of Latter-day Saint history and doctrine, their roles and purposes are often misunderstood. In this inspiring volume, author Donald W. Parry discusses in a clear and understandable way what we can learn from the scriptures and from modern prophets and apostles about angels and their missions.

Here you will find answers to such questions as the following:

• What are angels?
• What powers and abilities are angels given?
• How do angels communicate with mortals?
• What are the assigned missions and roles of angels?
• How do angels reveal truth and teach the doctrines of the gospel?
• How do angels minister to and comfort mortals?
• What is the role of guardian angels in the modern world?

When just the thought of someone watching out for us can give us hope in challenging times, to realize that angels minister light, love, and power to us, whether we are aware of them or not, gives us unparalleled understanding, comfort, and peace.

Find the book at Deseret Books.

Donald W. Parry, a professor of the Hebrew Bible at Brigham Young University holds the Abraham O. Smoot Professorship. For nearly twenty years he has served as a member of the prestigious international team of translators of the Dead Sea Scrolls and is the author or coauthor of more than thirty books and numerous articles on the Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls. He has coauthored with his brother, Jay A. Parry, several books for Latter-day Saints, including Understanding Isaiah, Understanding the Signs of the Times, and most recently, Symbols and Shadows: Unlocking a Deeper Understanding of the Atonement. Brother Parry, who has served in the Church as a bishop, a temple worker, and high councilor, is a popular speaker at BYU Education Week. He and his wife, Camille Parry, are the parents of six children.

Review:

Angels have long been a source of interest to mortals. Their images have been depicted in art for thousands of years. They have been included in songs and other writings for just as long. This book takes the chance to separate the myths from the facts by using scripture and other accounts of interactions with angels to teach some very interesting truths. It's an interesting chance to learn what you do and do not know about something we have all heard so much about.

I loved the approach this book took. Each chapter was a fact about angels, and then the evidence was laid out in very clear fashion. A lot of the evidence is based on scripture with some more recent statements from LDS leaders added in. There are also other accounts, usually from early church leaders, to help give a fuller picture. Because everything is sourced so well, it's easy to figure out exactly where everything is coming from. This helps to give the reader a chance to search and ponder the things in the book. 

There were a lot of things to learn from this book, and I found it to be very entertaining while still being informative. Two things really stuck out with me while reading this. The first was it seems like many of us may have had interactions with angels unawares. How cool is that thought? It made me want to be nicer to everyone I meet as you just never know who you are talking to. The other thought was how loved we are. We are never left alone on the Earth. There are always so many people trying to help us get through this life, and this book offered some concrete proof of that. This is a book that I think many people will enjoy and feel lighter for having read it.

Book provided for review.

Rising Sun, Falling Star Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for Rising Sun, Falling Star!

Different eyes and skin Mock me from the mirror’s light Enemy am I. Dec 7, 1941 Today my life changed forever . . . I am no longer considered American, but by shear heritage I am now the hated enemy . . . The lives of Kenji and Aiko Onishi and their American-born children are about to unravel when the United States is thrust into war with Japan. Confronted by insurmountable prejudice and fear, the family is ripped from their California home without just cause by the American government and sent to an assembly center “for their own protection.” Forced to live in deplorable circumstances, every aspect of their lives regulated and controlled, the Onishi’s freedoms are stripped from their grasp as they struggle to survive behind barbed wire. It isn’t long before the mind-numbing confinement and feelings of helplessness begin to pit the family against one another. When sent to a relocation camp in the center of the Utah desert, they’re beset by ever increasing emotional and physical challenges, and Aiko is faced with her greatest yet: to mend the broken spirits of her family, or risk losing them forever. Based on true and tragic events that transpired during World War II, Rising Sun, Falling Star is a heart-rending story of one family’s struggle to survive uncalculated loss and emotional destruction.

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Tour Schedule

   

Author Vickie Hall

Vickie is a native of Utah, but growing up, lived in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Nebraska. When she’s not writing, she’s composing music, or shopping with her sister. She loves animals of all kinds and camping with her family. Her favorite pastime is watching old movies on TCM, and unashamedly has a crush on Cary Grant.

Links:

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  BookBlast Giveaway
 $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
 Ends 8/2/13

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Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop!

It's the middle of the summer, and that means hot temperatures and trying to keep cool. What better way to do that than reading? Come enter and get you a surefire way to escape the heat!

I'm offering up my usual of:

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!

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Be sure to check out all the other blogs on the hop. Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

Review: Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

Title:		Scent of Magic
Author:		Maria V. Snyder
Publisher:		Harlequin MIRA
Pub. Date:		12/18/2012
ISBN:		0778314189 (ISBN13: 9780778314189)
Pages:		414

Hunted, Killed—Survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.

(Summary and cover via Goodreads)
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Review:

Avry survived her first run-in with the evil King Tohon. Well, kind of. Technically she died, but was saved by a plant that may be way more important than she though. She also managed to fall for Kerrick, her traveling partner. However, things are not looking good for the good guys, so Avry and Kerrick part ways for the better good. Avry goes undercover in the army of her sort of ally Estrid while Kerrick goes home to get the aid of his kingdom that he kind of abandoned. Both of them will run into peril and surprises around every corner. If they can manage to stay alive, they might be able to just might be able to figure out how to win this war.

I was really excited to read this book because I loved the first one in this series. I found the beginning to be a little clunky though. I know it's hard to write enough so that a new reader knows what's going on while still moving the story forward, but this seemed a bit awkward. Luckily things smooth out fairly quickly, and once the story gets past the introduction it hums along at a fairly quick clip. There are two main stories here when Avry and Kerrick split up at the beginning. They are both full of peril, and there are plenty of twists and turns for both of them. I really enjoyed the surprises. There were several I did not see coming, so that was really fun. Avry was still a capable and awesome character. She is very determined and wants to make sure she takes care of as many people as possible. Kerrick's parts of the story were fairly short, so I didn't feel that I knew him quite as well. It was still an interesting addition to the overall story.

I guess by nature of being a middle book, it was very dark for the most part. There weren't a lot of happy points, but that helped make the few bright spots even better. Overall the book kept my interest throughout, but the ending was killer. I hate cliffhangers though, and this was a big one. Did it pique my interest for the next book though? Absolutely. Mission accomplished there. This is a great fantasy book, and I really can't wait to read the next one in the series.