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Showing posts from February, 2014

Living in the Eleventh Hour by Robert L. Millet, LDS Blog Tour

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Product Description Just as the scriptures teach us that the Second Coming of the Lord will be "at midnight" (Matthew 25:6), so the signs of the times teach us that "midnight" is close at hand. In  Living in the Eleventh Hour,  author Robert L. Millet points our minds and hearts toward the future—to the glorious day that lies ahead. This encouraging work not only assists us a Latter-day Saints to recognize and better understand the signs of the times but also reminds us of our individual responsibilities as we prepare ourselves and the world for the much-anticipated return of Jesus Christ. Filled with uplifting quotations from Church leaders, insightful scriptural texts, and engaging personal experiences, this timely book inspires us to live today as if He were coming tomorrow. Brother Millet's faith-building message is clear: Steadfastly doing the small things that allow us to live each day with faith, rather than fear, builds our trust that the Sav

Time Out Classics LDS Blog Tour

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Habits of Happiness  – Wendy Ulrich When happiness doesn’t enter our days automatically, and when life isn’t going as planned, sometimes we are quick to equivocally gauge our overall happiness in life. In this book, filled with scientific research, practical advice and engaging anecdotes, Dr. Wendy Ulrich invites readers to look at happiness in a new way. Habits of Happiness Review: This is a short book but it packs a powerful punch! Habits of Happiness is an easy to read book that anyone, even the busiest of people can find time to read. Ulrich speaks in a straight forward and easy to understand manner. She helps the reader see how changing small things in your life, even just changing the way you think about certain things, can make you happier. There are exercises throughout the book so you can evaluate yourself in certain areas. The chapter about recognizing your strengths instead of focusing on your weaknesses was my favorite. If you are looking for ways to improve your

The Orphan and the Thief Book Blast

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Tour Schedule   The Orphan and the Thief An adventure that will keep you and your kids spellbound. Toad thought it’d be easy to steal from Mr. Edward P. Owl. Unfortunately for Toad, he isn’t the best of thieves. Caught in the act, he’s in more trouble than ever before. Now to save his hide, Toad must track down five rare potion ingredients for Mr. Owl. Or else.All Melena Snead wants is her family back, but after the Miggens Street Fire, that isn’t very likely. Orphaned and miserable, forced to work in an apothecary, she’s determined to find Milo, her missing brother. No matter what. When Melena finds Toad ransacking her apothecary, Toad gets a nasty shock: apothecaries don’t carry Mr. Owl’s ingredients. Luckily, Melena’s willing to help, for a price. With Melena’s pet Spit-Fire dragon and Toad’s enchanted talking beer mug, they embark on a fantastical journey, traveling the country in search of the potion ingredients. But can they gather all of them in time, what with monst

Dangerous by Shannon Hale, Book Review

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Award-winning, bestselling author Shannon Hale's new teen science fiction novel, which  New York Times  bestselling author of  The Maze Runner  James Dashner calls, "One of the best books I've ever read. Ever." How far would you go to save the ones you love? And how far would you go to save everyone else? Maisie Danger Brown just wanted to get away from home for a bit and see something new. She never intended to fall in love with a boy at space camp. And she certainly never intended to stumble into a frightening plot that just might destroy everything and everyone she cares about. But now there's no going back—Maisie's the only thing standing between danger and annihilation. She must become the hero the world needs, before she loses her heart . . . and her life. Equal parts romance and action-adventure, this explosive story is sure to leave both longtime Shannon fans and avid sci-fi readers completely breathless. Since the publication of her first

Touching Sky by Stephanie Boyd, LDS CD Blog Tour

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Touching Sky With a fresh and energizing sound, Stephanie Boyd’s debut album Touching Sky will put a smile on your face and a skip in your step. Unique lyrics, heartfelt vocals and top quality production will inspire and uplift you. With brand new original songs and a novel take on some favorite hymns, this CD will stay with you every day of the week. Amazon * Google Play * iTunes * Deseret Book     Music Video About Stephanie Growing up in New York, Stephanie was drawn to the power of music from a young age. While she was originally trained in classical singing, Stephanie always gravitated towards more upbeat and modern music. With her debut album, Touching Sky, Stephanie combines her love of traditional messages with fresh music. Since moving to Utah, Stephanie has worked closely with well-known artists including Jenny Phillips, Tyler Castleton, and Michael McLean. She was also featured soloist with Sally DeFord. She has a master’s degree in environmental scienc

In Tune by Gerald Lund, LDS Blog Tour

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Product Description In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are all teachers. Not only do we have a glorious mandate to "teach all nations" the gospel (Matthew 28:19), we also have numerous charges to "teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom" (D&C 88:77). In formal and informal settings, as parents or leaders or friends, we are constantly teaching and learning. Not only has the Lord commanded us to teach, but He has taught us what we are to teach and how we are to do it: diligently and by the power of the Spirit. But how do we know if we're "doing it right"? What signs can we watch for that the Spirit is actually present in a teaching setting? In this insightful companion volume to  Hearing the Voice of the Lord,  bestselling author Gerald N. Lund brings his decades of experience working in the Church Educational System to the topic of teaching and learning by the Spirit. He discusses common misconceptions, importa

The Broken Path by Cami Checketts, Book Review

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Blurb: Involved in a debilitating accident at age six, Ethan Searle believes women eye him with a mixture of pity and disdain. He's tried love before. He won't again. Autumn Reader escaped her abusive marriage with her daughter, a stack of debt, and fear. Autumn's precocious two-year old becomes enraptured by Ethan. Autumn is on the path to following her daughter's example when her ex-husband reappears. My Review: Checketts has a gift for writing stories that draws my attention in quickly and has me page turning to find out what will happen next.  Autumn, who is a single mother meets Ethan, who is handicapped from an accident on the way into the church building. It seems that from the first moment that Ethan misunderstands everything that Autumn says and does and vice versa.  I actually started to feel frustrated and sorry for both of them because they seem to assume what the other one is thinking instead of just talking about it!  Brittan who is Autumn'

Paris Cravings by Kimberley Montpetit Book Blast!

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  Paris Cravings Can life really turn on a dime, a missed bus— or a stuck pastry shop door? Chloe Dillard’s life has always been complicated. Her mother is a neurotic romance novelist and her boyfriend, Mathew, has been pressuring her to go “all the way”. But after The Worst Night of Her Life, Chloe escapes on her Senior Class trip to the swoon-worthy city of Paris which takes her mind off her troubles—temporarily. On the final leg of her dream trip, Chloe squeezes in one final run for a last-minute box of decadent pastries. Add a stuck door, subtract a broken four-inch heel from her cute strappy sandals, and Chloe ends up one stuck girl on the bakery shop floor with a sprained ankle. Rescued by the shop owner’s dreamy son with chocolate-syrup eyes, the beautiful city of Paris suddenly becomes Chloe’s personal secret adventure. And even though Jean-Paul, the oh-so-kind La Patisserie shop boy is the gentlemanly guy Chloe has always dreamed of, even he has a girlfriend. The p

Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck, Book Review

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Blurb: Regina Beswick never dreamed of faraway places. She’s happy with her life as a classic car mechanic and owner of a restoration shop. But an unexpected visitor and the discovery of a fairytale, drawn by her great-grandma, causes Regina to wonder if she might be destined for something more. Tanner Burkhardt, Minister of Culture for the Grand Duchy of Hessenberg, must convince the strong-willed Southerner, Miss Beswick, that she is his country’s long-lost princess. Failure could destroy his reputation and change his nation forever. As Regina and Tanner face the challenges before them, neither are prepared for love to invade their hearts and change every thing they believe about themselves. However, when a royal opponent nearly destroys Regina’s future, she must lean into God and trust He has sovereignly brought her to her true and final destiny. My Review: I fell in love with the cover of this book immediately.  A gorgeous dress and a tiara too, who wouldn't

Third Daughter by Susan Kaye Quinn Book Blast!

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  "Susan Kaye Quinn writes characters that leap off the page... Incredibly well written, the vivid setting was crisp in my mind... As the plot raced on, I was cursing real life for not letting me just sit glued to my kindle, punching the touch screen to get to the next page." - Tiffany on Goodreads Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Book Depository Excerpt A lone two-wheeled surrey ambled out of the shadows of the Samirian embassy and headed toward her dark corner of the Queen’s estate. Aniri held her breath and silently cursed the full two-moon night. If the carriage came much closer, the occupants would surely see her clinging to the side of the palace like a spider on her thread. The six-hooved beast pulling the surrey slowed as it neared the giant stone statue of Devkasera. The mother goddess of ancient Dharia loomed larger-than-life, threatening the carriage with a sword and a scroll—the powers of destruction and creation—clasped in two of her six hands.

Romance is in the Air Giveaway Blog Hop!!!

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A big thank you to hosts I Am A Reader Not A Writer and Rachael Anderson!!!  Enter to win one of five ebooks (gifted through Amazon or Barnes and Noble) of Love at First Date by Susan Hatler! This series is amazing and one of my personal favorites! I would like to thank Susan for her generous donation of these ebooks for the prizes! Here is the gorgeous cover and the blurb from the book! Happy hopping!!! Blurb: Better Date than Never Series, Book 1 Ellen’s figured out that finding the right guy is all about compatibility. That’s why she’s signed up for Detailed Dating—the local online dating scene in Sacramento. Learning men’s preferences up front, plus a few weeks of email correspondence, has resulted in two candidates she’s excited to meet in person. When Ellen’s best friend asks her to baby-sit her beloved pooch, dog-sitting leads to disaster and Ellen ends up at the local vet where she meets a man she can’t stop thinking about. Henry isn’t a logical cho

In Wisdom & Order by Boyd K. Packer, LDS Book Review

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Blurb: The timeless counsel King Benjamin lovingly presented to his people includes this simple and thoughtful caution: "See that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order" (Mosiah 4:27). In this new collection of addresses, President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reiterates an ancient prophet's call to do all things "in wisdom and order." These twenty-eight chapters—selected from President Packer's conference addresses, mission presidents' seminars, and other speeches given over the past five decades—will instruct and inspire parents, youth, teachers, priesthood leaders, indeed, anyone who desires to learn at the feet of an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. In this book you will find classic discussions on—

The Newport Ladies Book Club: Athena by Heather B. Moore, Book Review

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Blurb: Athena is a self-proclaimed bachelorette—it’s better that way—no one gets hurt. But when tragedy strikes, Athena realizes friendship and love is the only way she can pull through, and she must, for the first time in her life, risk opening her heart. The Newport Ladies Book Club series is unique in that each Newport book is written from the point of view of a different woman in the book club. The first 4 books cover the same time period and the same book club meetings. But only with reading all 4 books, will you learn the whole story of each of the women and her full character journey. Think of it as a parallel series, not as a forward-moving series. My Review: This is my first read from the Newport Ladies Book Club Series and I loved it!  In fact, I am going to purchase the other books if Heather Moore's is any indication of the quality of the others!  Moore really connects the reader to Athena's character.  We get to see her grow in her independence, learn

License to Date by Susan Hatler

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Blurb: After discovering her fiancĂ© cheated on her, Kaitlin is focused on two things: remodeling her new home and avoiding men at all costs. But her friends insist she get back in the driver’s seat and date again. They strike a hard bargain and agree to paint her house if she goes on five dates.  Anxious to get the paint job started, Kaitlin schedules five dates in five days, but her plan falls to pieces when a sexy bartender at her venue-of-choice makes her swoon. Even though he observes each of the dates from afar, she can’t help but want him to come a little closer.  The last person she should fall for is a mysterious bartender with a sinful smile, but Paul makes her want to take risks again. Will the charming man with electric blue eyes break her heart or will he prove to her that a license to date is what makes life worth the drive? My Review: I LOVE Susan Hatler's Better Date than Never Series!  Each book is fun, romantic and full of familiar characters that I

The Afterlife of Lizzie Monroe by Kelly Martin Blog Tour & Giveaway!

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I'm nearing the end of my LIZZIE MONROE blog tour and I'm very happy to be here today! I'm so excited to be here talking about my new book, THE AFTERLIFE OF LIZZIE MONROE, and to answer three reader questions. I recently asked on facebook for any questions my readers had for me... they had a LOT! I was surprised actually. And they are really great questions! Some of the blogs on the tour have the questions and answers.  Deep breath... Three Questions with Kelly Martin 1.        Which author do you aspire to be like (if any)? I’d love to write like Colleen Coble. She writes Christian/Inspirational novels, but they aren’t preachy. They are just good stories with faith woven in. That’s how I want to write.  Also Ted Dekker. He write some pretty freaky stuff but with faith woven in. That's my favorite thing to do. 2.        If you could go on vacation with any literary character who would you go with and why? Sherlock Holmes. Because that seems like it would