Hope Rising

A review copy was provided

Book Details

Author: Stacy Henrie

Release Date: December 2014

Publisher: Forever

Genre: Historical Romance

This series is AMAZING!

FANTASTIC writing!

Stories that wrap around your heart and never let go...they are SO GOOD!

This story is set in France during World War I about an American nurse named Evelyn.

During this period of time...

"The United States Army Nurse Corps, ...had more than 10,000 nurses serving overseas. though they did not receive military rank until after the war, these nurses were an incredible force for good. An Army Nurse Corps nurse who married or became pregnant--married or not--was honorably discharged."

And so it was that Evelyn found herself being with child.

Though it was not planned, the father of the baby readily agreed to marry Evelyn at the very next opportunity.

But that opportunity was cut short by the war.

"Evelyn is determined to carry on--not just for herself and her country, but for her unborn child."

Corporal Joel Campbell wants nothing more than for the war to be over so he can return home and raise a large family on his farm.

His dreams are also cut short by the war and the injuries he has sustained.

While at the hospital Joel meets Evelyn and quickly puts together that this is the Evelyn his best friend used to talk about and the last name on his friend's lips before he died.

Joel is now torn between wanting to take care of his best friend's girl, but now finds he is falling for his best friend's girl, not something a best friend would do. But what if that best friend is not able to be there...(see the conflict? SO GOOD)

Evelyn comes up with a crazy idea that will give her a husband she so desperately needs AND a family that Joel so desperately wants.

Will this just be a marriage of convenience OR 
could HOPE be RISING?

Surprising twists await!

SO. SO. SO. GOOD!

COULD NOT PUT THIS ONE DOWN!

AMAZON | GOODREADS

OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

About the Author

Stacy Henrie has always had an avid appetite for history, fiction and chocolate. She earned her B.A. in public relations from Brigham Young University and worked in communications before turning her attentions to raising a family and writing inspirational historical romances.

Wife of an entrepreneur husband and a stay-at-home mom to three, Stacy loves the chance to live out history through her fictional characters, while enjoying the modern conveniences of life in the 21st century. In addition to author, she is a reader, a road trip enthusiast and a novice interior decorator. She and her family currently reside in Utah.

Stacy is represented by Jessica Alvarez of Book Ends, LLC.

Shauna's Walking Record

I am hosting a
FEBRUARY WALKING CHALLENGE
to join me see the rules below

This is my record of how far I walked each day:

Feb 1 - 1.45 miles

Feb 2 - 1.40 miles

Feb 3 - 4.43 miles

Feb 4 - 4.34 miles

Feb 5 - 3.52 miles

Feb 6 - .75 miles

Feb 7 - 4.87 miles

Feb 8 - 1.55 miles

Feb 9 - 5.77 miles

Feb 10 - 2.99 miles

Feb 11 - 4.5 miles

Feb 12 - 1.88 miles

Feb 13 - 1.06 miles

Feb 14 - 3.26 miles

Feb 15 - 1.25 miles

Feb 16 - 4.35 miles

Feb 17 - 1.52 miles

Feb 18 - 3.15 miles

Feb 19 - 2.91 miles

Feb 20 - 3.75 miles

Feb 21 - 2.94 miles

Feb 22 - 1.16 miles

Feb 23 - 3.51 miles

Feb 24 - 2.97 miles

Feb 25 - 4.34 miles

Feb 26 - 4.64 miles

Feb 27 - 4.8 miles

Feb 28 - 2.73 miles

---------
Total 85.79 miles

Rules:

1. Create a blog post using the I Love Walking image above.

2. Paste this SimplyLinked HTML code onto the bottom of your post so everyone's link will show on everyone's page.
(<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.simply-linked.com/listwidget.aspx?l=E9213202-CC06-4F6B-ACC9-A342365A08CD" ></script>)

3. Add your link in the SimplyLinked box below.

4. Record how many miles you walk from Feb 1 - Feb 28 on your blog post. (Record your miles daily, weekly, or at the end :)

5. Invite your friends to join in the fun.

6. Person who walks the farthest gets a $10 Amazon Gift Card

Of Love & Magic

Five intriguing romances wrapped in love and magic 

Angel in a Black Fedora, by Sherry Gammon
Ciel Björk died a tragic death...but she got over it. Now she works as an undercover angel, answering people's prayers. She's sent to the sleepy little town of Port Fare, New York to help turn Chloe's dreams into a reality. As secrets are revealed, Ciel soon learns that things are not as simple as they seem.

A Wish in Her Hand, by Amberlee Day
Professor Miri Keeler's life is perfect, and she knows just the sort of man she wants to share it with. When she meets a genie who's willing to grant her a favor, she uses her wish to get the attention of her crush, poet Jamison Arbor. But has the genie's magic missed its target? Miri suddenly has the attention of not only Jamison, but also of Alex, an attractive maintenance man. How will she know which is the right match for her, or what's real and what's magic?

Reality Ever After, by Cami Checketts
Pregnant at eighteen, Sydney Richland's happily ever after is in serious peril. Her grandmother's ghost can work miracles, but she also might ruin Sydney's chances with the man of her dreams.

Prom Diaries, by Taylor Hart
Sixteen-year-old Lacy O'Donnell discovers her best friend has cast a spell, putting everyone in a time loop, forcing them to relive the same four days before prom over and over. The good thing--Lacy doesn't remember the loop. The bad thing--Drake Davis, the guy she's been stalking, does. Only true love's kiss can break the spell, but true love's kiss has to happen at a precise moment. It's not exact science...it's exact magic.

What If Wish, by Lucy McConnell
Morana is doomed to a life cataloging spells deep below the palace unless she can make her magic bloom. If her deepest wish comes true, it would open up all sorts of possibilities. The whispers that she was a fluke of nature would hush. The King would stop stalking her. Her parents would no longer live under a cloud of shame. And, Adam could look at her as more than a friend. Despite the promises magic holds, Morana will quickly learn that the thing she wishes for most, could quickly be her undoing.

AMAZON * B&N * KOBO* iTUNES * GOODREADS

In honor of the angels in Of Love & Magic, Christina Dymock with Hungry Family has created an amazing chocolate angel cake recipe. 

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup egg whites (10-12 large eggs)
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup flour
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 ounces milk chocolate, shredded
2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions
Place the egg whites and cream of tartar in a metal mixing bowl. Beat until stiff peaks form and the whites are glossy. Add the vanilla and beat well.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, powdered sugar, cocoa, baking soda, salt, and shredded chocolate. Fold 1/2 cup of the powdered mixture into the egg whites. Repeat until all the flour mixture is incorporated into the eggs.

Pour batter into a non-stick angel food cake or bunt cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 -35 minutes or until cake springs back. Run a knife around the edge of the pan and invert the pan onto a funnel or cup and allow to cool for 2 hours. Remove the cake from the pan and serve with fresh whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Keeping Kate

A review copy was provided

Book Details

Author: Lauren Winder Farnsworth
Release Date: January 2015
Publisher: Bonneville Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance

WHAT A FUN BOOK!

Kate Evans lost her parents at an early age and was sent to live with an aunt and uncle.

Life was not easy and now that Kate is an adult she is determined to prove that she can make it on her own.

So when a job opportunity comes to be a nanny for a cute little girl named Addie on a Utah ranch, Kate jumps at the chance.

She is curious that her employer, Tyler, spends most of the year away from Addie working in New York.

When she finds out the real reason Tyler is gone so much Kate is filled with conflicting emotions.

To complicate things further Tyler's friend, Jonathan comes into the picture.

Through it all, Kate will have reasons to finally face her past...

And she will be forced to make hard decisions that will shape her future.

This romantic twist is filled with sparks, humor, romance, and a Jane Eyre feel.

LOVED IT!
A WONDERFUL read!

AMAZON | GOODREADS

About the Author

Lauren Winder Farnsworth was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is an avid reader, a chocolate enthusiast, a musicophile and a CPA…who somehow also finds time to indulge in her real obsession—writing. She obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from the University of Utah, and the only entity that holds more of her heart than her alma mater is her husband, Bryan. Lauren currently lives in South Jordan, Utah, where she spends entirely too time watching Gilmore Girls and looking for excuses not to clean.

Irreplaceable

An inspirational song to girls and women everywhere that no matter how hard life may be, or how down you may feel that you are, in fact, Irreplaceable.

Madilyn Paige lived in Japan as a young child and has taken up singing since moving back to the U.S. She loves making music videos and short films with her friends and has performed in various local competitions. She has graduated from “The Voice” and is now gearing up to release her first EP on Tuesday, February 3rd.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Drums of Desolation

A review copy was provided

Book Details

Author: Chris Heimerdinger

Release Date: October 2014

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Genre: Historical Fiction

Book Synopsis

AT THE PRECIPICE OF BATTLEON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION ON THE SLOPES OF CUMORAH

Join our time-traveling heroes from the Tennis Shoes Adventure Series as they stand ready to take part in one of the most intense, supercharged, and harrowing contests in all of Book of Mormon history. Surrounded by more than a million Lamanites and Gadianton robbers, Joshua, Harry, Apollus, Meagan, Garth, Steffanie, and many other favorite Tennis Shoes characters brace themselves with the Nephite nation for the promised day of violence and thunder. For four long years, the prophet Mormon has guided his people into making the Hill Cumorah an impregnable fortress against any adversary, but conflict and corruption among the Nephites threaten to undermine all of Mormon’s efforts and make everyone—including our characters—vulnerable for disaster.

Drums of Desolation is a novel of herculean ambition, serving as a sequel not only for Tennis Shoes Book 11: Sorcerers and Seers but also for Passage to Zarahemla and Escape from Zarahemla, combining characters and struggles from both of Chris Heimerdinger’s epic series.

Featuring nail-biting suspense and nonstop action, Drums of Desolation stands as one of the most important fictional studies ever undertaken of the most climactic and ¬heart-breaking episode in the Book of Mormon. Fasten up for the thrill ride of your life—an adventure that will carry you from the depths of despair to the heights of glorious triumph in the midst of one of the most complex and sinister centuries ever experienced in the New World.

DESTRUCTION IS UNAVOIDABLE!

SURVIVAL IS PARAMOUNT!

My Review

I have been following this series since the first printing in 1989. The series continues to thrill and entertain many readers including my family. I LOVE that it brings the scriptures alive and helps my mind grasp the stories so much better. I also LOVE the time travel aspect. How fun and intriguing it would be to travel back to Nephite times.

The adventures continue in this EPIC tale as you travel through rifts in time and space into the land of the Nephites and the Lamanites....beware of the Gadianton Robbers!

As the synopsis states this book combines characters from both the Tennis Shoes series and the Zarahemla series. I highly suggest you read at least a few of the Tennis Shoes books and at least the first book in the Zarahemla series BEFORE you read this book.

You will also find "chapter notes" explaining more details...which I really appreciate.

I absolutely recommend this series for the entire family!

AMAZON | GOODREADS

About the Author

Chris Heimerdinger's first novel,Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites, first appeared in August of 1989. With the twelfth installment, Drums of Desolation, the Tennis Shoes Adventure series has sold over a million and half copies on book and audio. Chris is the author of the novel Passage to Zarahemla and producer/director of the feature film of the same name, as well as its book sequel, Escape from Zarahemla, which are now officially part of the Tennis Shoes universe. He is also the producer/songwriter on the album Whispered Visions. WithDrums of Desolation, Chris presents the twentieth novel of his writing career a creative span of more than a quarter century.

He is married to Emily and has eleven children, the youngest being Hunter Helaman. Chris lives with his family in Providence, Utah.

TENNIS SHOES AMONG THE NEPHITES SERIES

ZARAHEMLA SERIES

PASSAGE TO ZARAHEMLA ON DVD

Leslie Sansone's Walking DVD's

AMAZON

You have learned that I LOVE to walk

But walking outdoors isn't always optimal and walking in a mall isn't always convenient~

How happy am I that I discovered Leslie Sansone's Walking DVD's.

Easy enough for the beginner but experts can bump it up a bit for a harder workout.

My husband and I do these together.

You walk/march/kick right in the comfort of your own temperature-controlled home.

Two of my favorite DVD's are:

AMAZON

Walk Away the Pounds where you incorporate lifting weights

and Walk By Faith Series where you walk to "inspirational music that will keep your body and soul motivated as you explore the powerful union of fitness and faith."

Leslie has LOTS of DVD's to choose from.

Are you a walker like me?

Leave a comment of where and how you get your walk in :)

OTHER LESLIE SANSONE DVD'S

(Click on DVD cover to read details)

JOIN ME FOR A
FEBRUARY WALKING CHALLENGE

February Walking Challenge

JOIN ME IN A WALKING CHALLENGE

Rules:

1. Create a blog post using the I Love Walking image above.

2. Paste this SimplyLinked HTML code onto the bottom of your post so everyone's link will show on everyone's page.
(<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.simply-linked.com/listwidget.aspx?l=E9213202-CC06-4F6B-ACC9-A342365A08CD" ></script>)

3. Add your link in the SimplyLinked box below.

4. Record how many miles you walk from Feb 1 - Feb 28 on your blog post. (Record your miles daily, weekly, or at the end :)

5. Invite your friends to join in the fun.

6. Person who walks the farthest gets a $10 Amazon Gift Card

Embark!

Audio CD Details
Speaker: John Bytheway
Release Date: January 2015

Oh how we LOVE John Bytheway and his unique way of teaching and testifying....

This year's Youth theme is D&C 4:2

"Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day."

Using humor and stories and supporting scriptures John will break this particular scripture down into sections:

* What does embark mean?

* How do you serve Him with all your heart/desires?

* How do you serve Him with all your might/determination?

* How do you serve Him with all your mind/intelligence?

* How do you serve Him with all your strength/energy?

* That you may be able to stand blameless at the Last Day~

This CD will instill a desire to help you "get on board" and stay on board for many people and things will persuade you to dis-embark.

GREAT TALK for EVERYONE! 

AMAZON

JOHN BYTHEWAY served a mission to the Philippines and later graduated from Brigham Young University. He has a master’s degree in religious education and is a part-time instructor at the BYU Salt Lake Center. John is the author of many bestselling books, audio talks, and DVDs, including How to Be an Extraordinary Teenager; Life Rocks; and his first children’s picture book, The Sacrament. He and his wife, Kimberly, have six children.

52 Weeks to Fortify Your Family

A review copy was provided

Book Details

Author: Nicole Carpenter
Release Date: January 2015
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Genre: Family Scripture Helps

I picked up this book thinking it would be a weekly scripture study help...

And it is... But it is also SO MUCH MORE!

Every week you do have a theme, but then it goes on to give you a daily dose of scriptures, quotes, thoughtful questions, and even General Conference talks surrounding that weekly theme.

Each day you are given truly amazing helps to have personal or family scripture study...and it only takes a few minutes.

We can all spare a few minutes to fortify ourselves and our families!

I will admit that I was tempted to rush-read through this book...

But then I realized what a GIFT I had in my hand!

We need DAILY nourishment from the scriptures...this is IT!

There are VALUE LESSONS like:
* Kindness
* Charity
* Happiness
* and MORE

There are LIFE LESSONS like:
* Talents
* Adversity
* Judgment
* and MORE

There are GOSPEL LESSON like:
* Faith
* Repentance
* Power in Prayer
* and MORE

And also included are HOLIDAY LESSONS for:
* Love and Valentine's Week
* The Atonement, The Resurrections and Easter
* Nation and Independence Day
* Fear and Halloween
* Gratitude and Thanksgiving
* The Nativity and Christmas

Study it from front to back OR bounce around choosing a theme that is needed in your life right now.

AN AMAZING BOOK!
EVERY PERSON and/or EVERY FAMILY NEEDS THIS BOOK!
BLESSINGS ARE PROMISED if we read the scriptures daily!

PURCHASE | ADD TO GOODREADS

About the Author

Nicole Carpenter is an advocate for strong families. She believes in focusing first on strengthening mothers so they can fortify their children. Nicole is a mentor, speaker and founder of MOMentity.com, a blog and online community for mothers, reaching out to moms in over 7 different countries. She is the creator of the Define Your Time™ time-management e-course and the Mothers of Magnitude Academy. Nicole’s parenting column publishes regularly on KSL.com and has been syndicated in several other online news sources. Nicole graduated with a B.A. degree in Public Relations from Weber State University, where she also met her husband, Marty. They reside in Syracuse, Utah and are raising four incredible children, including a set of identical twins. And — to make it all happen — she may or may not rely on Diet Dr Pepper and chocolate-covered toffee hidden in the fridge.

Scripture Puzzlers

A review copy was provided

Book Details

Author: MaryAlice Wallis, Charlotte Lindstrom
Release Date: January 2015
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Genre: Activity Book

This book is filled with fun, original

"Crosswords, Word Searches, and Other Brain Teasers"

Specifically designed to help you study the Scripture Mastery verses plus multiple other puzzles 'that pertain to keywords or the application of the principles taught in the scriptures.'

And just simply FUN TO DO!

I LOVE what I call ~pencil puzzles~ and I especially love it if they are scripture based.

This book is WONDERFUL!

There is a section for:

OLD TESTAMENT

NEW TESTAMENT

BOOK OF MORMON

DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS

Also included are tips for solving, references and hints, and an answer key.

PERFECT for personal study, students, missionaries, and anyone who loves these kinds of puzzles.

Let your mind be active and let your spirit be enriched~

PURCHASE | ADD TO GOODREADS

Sample Puzzles

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.

Charlotte Lindstrom is the co-author of two other puzzle books; LDS Puzzle Pals andLDS 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.

Ruth and Naomi

A review copy was provided

Book Details

Author: Toni Sorenson

Release Date: October 2014

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Genre: Historical Fiction

I LOVE books like this that breathe extra life into the stories from the scriptures!

Added details and emotions and relationships just bring so much more understanding to my mind.

I have been taught about Ruth and Naomi from the time I was a little girl, but the focus has always been on Ruth and her decision to convert and stay with her mother-in-law.

I have never really thought about Naomi...until now...

WOW! I have such a GREAT LOVE for Naomi!

Naomi lived in a time of famine and false idol-worshiping...

Read as Toni Sorenson weaves in extra details about Naomi's husband, Elimelech, and his decision to follow his heart to move his family in hopes of giving them a better life.

Watch as Naomi has to leave everything behind...her family, her friends, her home, her way of life.

Learn that the one thing Naomi holds strong to is her faith.

Hope with Naomi as she watches her family being fully immersed in the ways of the Moabites, even going so far as her sons choosing Orpah and Ruth as wives.

Mourn with Naomi as she looses her husband AND her sons...

Know that the Lord is mindful of Ruth and Naomi and will provide a way for them to be taken care of...just as he is mindful of us today.

The story of Naomi and Ruth will endear your heart to them and bring you comfort as you travel this path we call life.

A BOOK WORTH READING!

LOVED. LOVED. LOVED. IT!

PURCHASE | ADD TO GOODREADS

About the Author

Toni Sorenson was in fourth grade when she won her first writing award. The Salt Lake Tribune named her an "Aspiring Author." In seventh grade she won top honors as Utah's Young Author in creative fiction. In college she was named one of America's most promising writers and the Nashville Songwriters new-song-of-the-year winner for lyrics she penned.

Her nationally published works have sold more than a half million copies. Her alliance with Covenant Communications has yielded more than twenty published works, including Master and Messiah, accounts of the life of Christ. She won the prestigious Association of Mormon Letters novel-of-the-hear award for Redemption Road. In 2013 Covenant honored Toni with the Making-A-Difference award.

Toni is the mother of six. She spends her time writing, traveling, public speaking, hiking, and just "hanging out" with her children, grandchildren, and friends.