May 8, 2014

Marriage Isn't For You w/ Book Giveaway

2 comments
Book Details
Author: Seth Adam Smith
Release Date: May 2014
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Genre: Self-Help

"What is the best marriage advice you ever received?
For author Seth Adam Smith, it was the advice from his father, who said, "Marriage isn't for you. It's about the person you marry.""

And that advice goes for all of us!


As you can see the book is BEAUTIFULLY put together!

FUN pictures!

AMAZING story of his love for his wife, his fears and anxieties, his wife's love for him that brought him back to a selfless, happier marriage.

I LOVED this thought:

"Marriage isn't for yourself~ you're marrying for a family. Not just for the in-laws and all of that nonsense, but for your FUTURE CHILDREN."



PERFECT to get for yourself or for a wedding gift or for a anniversary gift.

The advice in this book will make ANY relationship stronger!



TOUR GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author
SETH ADAM SMITH was born in Anchorage, Alaska. Since 2004, he has produced videos and articles for businesses, nonprofit organizations, youth groups, artists, and political causes. He is the editor-in-chief of ForwardWalking.com. He and his wife, Kim, live in Florida.

(A review copy was provided, however, all reviews are of my own opinion :)

BEST HISTORICAL FICTION 2013

0 comments


LDStorymakers (pronounced “LDS Story Makers”) started as an online e-mail group, the brainchild of best-selling author Rachel Ann Nunes, designed as a home for published writers particularly those associated with the LDS market. From the comfort of their own homes, our members could offer help and seek advice from each other, polish their writing skills, and socialize with other authors who knew the ropes.

By February 20, 2003, thirteen members had joined, including Josi Kilpack, Tristi Pinkston, and BJ Rowley, who would also play an integral part of directing the course of LDStorymakers.

A Writers Conference was added to the mix in the spring of 2004. Tristi Pinkston became the first Conference Chair, and the event was so successful that it became a sought-after annual event.

In 2007 the Whitney Awards were founded by member Robison Wells to operate as an autonomous subsidiary of LDStorymakers.

The Whitney Awards has rapidly become THE award to receive among novelists in the LDS community.

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BEST HISTORICAL FICTION 2013
went to H. B. Moore for ESTHER THE QUEEN

I have read this one...it is PHENOMENAL!

She is a beautiful young Jewess, content in her life of anonymity.

He is the most powerful king in the world.

When chance brings the two together, the course of history is forever altered.

The glittering court of the Persian Empire serves as the backdrop for one of the most poignant tales of courage in the Bible, brought vividly to life in the pages of bestselling author H.B. Moore’s sweeping saga. And it begins on a dusty road in the Jewish Quarter . . .

An unexpected meeting between Esther and King Xerxes results in an immediate and unmistakable connection. When Esther is summoned to enter the king’s harem—the first step toward becoming his wife—Esther is torn between her desire to be with Xerxes and the knowledge that they will forever be divided by the secret of her Jewish heritage. Encouraged by her family to do what she must to help her people, she deftly navigates her new position in the palace, quickly becoming beloved by all—including Xerxes.

But when a treacherous plan threatens to engulf the kingdom in violence, Esther must choose between love and duty. Is she prepared to sacrifice all that she holds dear in order to save her people from certain annihilation?

Amazon * Deseret Book * GoodReads

Heather and her husband
About the Author
Heather B. Moore is the USA Today bestseller and award-winning author of more than a dozen historical novels which are set in Ancient Arabia and Mesoamerica. She is not old and doesn’t remember the time period, so Google has become a great friend. Although she has spent several years living in the Middle East, she prefers to forget the smells. Heather writes her historicals and thrillers under the pen name H.B. Moore. She also writes women’s fiction, romance, and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, including The Newport Ladies Book Club, the Amazon bestselling anthology series A Timeless Romance Anthology, the Aliso Creek series, and the USA Today bestsellerHeart of the Ocean.

Heather graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in Fashion Merchandising and minor in Business Management–which has absolutely nothing to do with writing novels. But at least she can balance a mean checkbook and color-coordinate her kids’ school clothes.

Website: www.hbmoore.com
Blog: http://mywriterslair.blogspot.com
If you’re an aspiring writer, she also manages the editing company: www.precisioneditinggroup.com

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THE OTHER FINALISTS WERE

Belonging to Heaven by Gale Sears
I read this one too...SO GOOD!

Hawaii. A land of deep tradition and rich culture. A people of family and faith. A paradise on earth.

Jonathan Napela is a descendant of the Hawaiian royal line, and his future is bright with a new wife and a position of influence in the community. As a devout man, he believes in God, but he feels there is something more—something he is missing. When he meets Elder George Q. Cannon and is introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jonathan feels as though he has finally found where he belongs.

Jonathan's friendship with George provides remarkable opportunities for the young Hawaiian to grow in his new faith. His joy in the gospel is tested though, when he is challenged by those he once called friends, and later when he struggles to gather Saints to Laie. And when leprosy threatens to take his beautiful wife, Kitty, from him, Jonathan faces an impossible choice: send his wife to the leper colony of Moloka'i alone, or risk how own life to accompany her. Drawing on his deep reservoirs of faith, Jonathan comes to understand that opening his heart to sacrifice is the purest expression of love.

This novel, based on a true story, is an extraordinary example of a man who chooses to serve God and family when others might have given up.


Safe Passage by Carla Kelly
It’s 1912, the beginning of the Mexican Revolution — and the Mormon colonists must flee to the United States. When his estranged wife is mistakenly left behind, Ammon Hancock goes back to rescue her. But when he finds her, he must coax her to follow him to safety . . . and maybe even love him again. This revolution could be the very thing that ends their war of hearts.




The Mounds Anomaly by Phyllis Gunderson
An ancient gold coin, a mysterious American Indian burial ground, and a Colorado canyon all have something in common—and brilliant archaeologist Mathilda Howard holds the key to solving the puzzle. Warned to keep quiet or lose her job, Mathilda risks her life to expose the truth that could change the entire history of the world in this fascinating mystery.

Amazon * GoodReads








Where the River Once Flowed by Jennie Hansen
I LOVED this book!

New Mexico, 1879 — The Sebastian Hacienda is a lucrative and coveted ranch deep in the fertile wilderness of New Mexico, a property held for generations by the powerful Sebastian family. After the death of his son and heir, proud and formidable Don Sebastian has only one hope for the preservation of his land: his beautiful young granddaughter, Iliana. Desperate, he makes a shocking deal — the property will be sold to Ross Adams, an American cowboy, on the condition that he marry the stunning young Iliana and bequeath the land to her sons. A bargain is struck, but not everyone is pleased with the outcome. Neighboring rancher Ben Purdy has his eye on pretty Iliana — and on ownership of the Sebastian Ranch. In his ruthlessness, Purdy is willing to go to terrible lengths to acquire them both, even if it means destroying everything in his path . . .

Utah Territory, 1891 — Travis Telford was born to be a cowboy. He left his family to chase the dream of someday owning his own ranch, but years of nomadic living as a ranch hand have proven taxing. After several seasons of horse trading with the American owner of the Sebastian Ranch, Travis finds his life dramatically altered by a routine stop at the property. He finds the ranch in chaos and the rancher’s beautiful widow Iliana in the midst of a turbulent land battle. His instinct to protect Iliana is undeniable, and as the danger mounts, only their reliance upon each other has the power to save them.


Check back tomorrow to see who won

~ BEST GENERAL FICTION 2013 ~

May 7, 2014

The Power of Mothers DVD

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"We have a task in restoring confidence in Motherhood!"

"The core element that sustains the people is the mother."

"The impact of the mother on the child is massive."

The above quotes are from the NEW DVD ~ The Power of Mothers

The message is POWERFUL!
The cinematography is BEAUTIFULLY DONE!
The DVD is PHENOMENAL!

3-years in the making ~ there is nothing else in the world like it!


The film moves back and forth between interviews and impromptu thoughts of both leading authorities and everyday ordinary moms.

You see mother's interacting with children and those tender moments that result.

Your heart and testimony will be strengthened towards motherhood.

Motherhood is SO HARD, but yet SO REWARDING and SO IMPORTANT!

You sacrifice, love, endure, hope, and dream.

You are often tired, worn out, and drained.

But you will do nothing else that will bring so much joy in return.

My favorite quote:

"My mother was not strict, she got us to do things by loving us."

And this one too:

"Mothers transform the house into a home." 

Let us celebrate motherhood more than just one day a year.

Let us promote motherhood as an honorable career.



Director: Barry McLerran
Executive Producer: Shelly Locke
Producer: Barry McLerran
Consulting Producer: Joshua MeLarran
Music: Merrill Jenson
Editor: Stuart Heimdal

You can find out more at:

To order your copy, please send your request to:

Also available at Deseret Book

(A review copy was provided, however, all reviews are of my own opinion :)

BEST ROMANCE 2013

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Whitney Award "Loser" photo
For those finalists who DO NOT win the Whitney they have a fun tradition of "drowning their sorrows in cheesecake..."

There is some pretty fine talent in this picture...I think they are ALL WINNERS!
But alas...only ONE can take home the Whitney :)

I have read ALL of the following books! They are truly THE BEST OF THE BEST!

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BEST ROMANCE 2013
went to Julianne Donaldson for BLACKMOORE

Kate Worthington knows her heart and she knows she will never marry. Her plan is to travel to India instead—if only to find peace for her restless spirit and to escape the family she abhors. But Kate's meddlesome mother has other plans. She makes a bargain with Kate: India, yes, but only after Kate has secured—and rejected—three marriage proposals.

Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore determined to fulfill her end of the bargain sooner rather than later and enlists the help of her dearest childhood friend, Henry Delafield. But when it comes to matters of love, bargains are meaningless and plans are changeable. There on the wild lands of Blackmoore, Kate must face the truth that has kept her heart captive. Will the proposal she is determined to reject actually be the one thing that will set her heart free?

Set in Northern England in 1820, Blackmoore is a regency romance that tells the story of a young woman struggling to learn how to follow her heart.


About the Author
Julianne Donaldson grew up as the daughter of a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. She learned how to ski in the Italian Alps, visited East Berlin before the wall came down, and spent three years living next to a 500-year-old castle. After earning a degree in English, she turned her attention to writing about distant times and places. She lives in Utah with her husband and four children.

She gets a lot of people asking her what she is working on right now....

and she says:

"You have all been very patient as I’ve been kind of out of it the last seven months or so. To reward you, I’m giving you a sneak peek of my current work in progress:

It’s a boy!

You can follow Julianne on Facebook / Blog

Julianne's book also took
BEST NOVEL 
OF THE YEAR 2013

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THE OTHER FINALISTS WERE

Hearth Fires by Dorothy Keddington
Mackenzie Graham's ideal assignment - writing an article on storybook homes - takes a dangerous turn when she photographs a clandestine meeting between a prominent judge, a black-market kingpin, and a crooked cop. Rescued from harm's way by a rugged cowboy-attorney, Mackenzie finds her career and life forever changed.

Flying bullets and wild bulls team up with romance and suspense in the classic Keddington tradition. This exciting new novel will warm you on the coldest of nights.






Longing for Home by Sarah M. Eden
Though she was only a child during the darkest days of Ireland’s Great Famine, Katie Macauley feels responsible for the loss of her family’s land and the death of her sister. Now a woman grown, Katie has left Ireland for America and the promise of earning money enough to return home again and plead for her family’s forgiveness. She arrives in Hope Springs, Wyoming Territory, a town sharply divided between the Americans who have settled there, with their deep hatred of the Irish, and the Irish immigrants who have come searching for a place to call home.

Her arrival tips the precarious balance, and the feud erupts anew. Even in the midst of hatred and violence, however, Katie finds reason to hope. Two men, as different as they are intriguing, vie for her heart, turning her thoughts for the first time toward a future away from Ireland. Katie must now make the hardest decision of her life: stay and give her heart a chance at love, or return home and give her soul the possibility of peace.


Second Chances by Melanie Jacobson
After walking out of a thankless job at a prestigious marketing firm, feisty California entrepreneur Louisa Gibson is going into business for herself. Lou’s pioneering venture, The Mormon Bachelor, is a reality dating web series sure to be fabulous advertising for her new marketing firm. And as a bonus, she can solve a problem close to home: while Huntington Beach is crawling with eligible, sun-bronzed Saints, they’ve forgotten the vital skill of dating. Lou hopes the reality show will finally inspire this group of hangout enthusiasts to pair off. But shortly before filming begins, the unthinkable happens—Trentyn, a.k.a. The Bachelor, gets a girlfriend. And Lou needs a new leading man—fast.

Enter Nick, Lou’s devastatingly handsome ex-boy- friend. He’s the stereotypical actor: shallow, self-serving . . . and perfect for the job. A whirlwind of dating ensues, with Nick at the center of it all. Things are going according to plan—that is, until Lou is forced to step in as a substitute bachelorette, becoming an unwitting cast member on her own show. Despite Nick’s attempts to reestablish their friendship and the growing spark between them, Lou is determined to keep her distance. The show must go on—but what’s a girl to do when the Mr. Wrong of the past just may be the Mr. Right of the future?


The Orchard by Krista Lynne Jensen
On the idyllic shores of Flathead Lake, Montana, Alisen Embry finds purpose and comfort tending her late mother’s cherry orchard adjacent to the family’s beloved lake house. Though pained by the loss of her mother and her father’s estrangement, it is Derick Whitney—the man she fell in love with four years earlier—who truly influences Alisen’s view of her future . . .

Derick and Alisen wanted nothing more than to spend eternity together; however, intolerance and secrets forced Alisen to make a shattering choice between her family and the man she loved.

But destiny always has a way of setting things right . . .

Now the Embry family has found themselves hopelessly in debt, and they realize renting the lake house is the only hope of saving the cherished or- chard and family home. When Alisen discovers the new tenants have a connection to her past, her life takes an unexpected turn. Will fate find a way to reconnect what was broken so many years before?



Check back tomorrow to see who won


~ BEST HISTORICAL FICTION 2013 ~

May 6, 2014

BEST MYSTERY/SUSPENSE 2013

2 comments
Julie Peterson, J Scott Savage, Traci Abramson, Janette Rallison


The Whitney Gala is the final event in the weekend adventure of learning about writing put on by the LDS Storymakers

The LDS Storymakers:

*A guild for LDS authors
*Encourage and support
*Strengthen literacy
*Raise the quality of literature by LDS authors

And as you can see the authors are a riot to be around!

I have read ALL the books in this category...and they really are THE BEST OF THE BEST!

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BEST MYSTERY/SUSPENSE 2013
went to Traci Hunter Abramson for DEEP COVER

Twenty-eight-year-old Kelsey Weber is one of the CIA’s finest undercover agents. After two years under deep cover in Salman Nassar’s desert compound, she’s unearthed vital information on the volatile Middle Eastern extremist sect. When her allegiance is called into question, Nassar teaches her a lesson she won’t forget—with a bullet to the leg. Kelsey is whisked out of the field to recuperate in the safety of her missionary parents’ empty Virginia home. But civilian life proves to be more complicated than Kelsey anticipated when she meets FBI agent Noah Cabbott, the handsome neighbor tasked by her parents with safeguarding the family home in their absence. As their relationship deepens, she’s torn by her inability to divulge who—and what—she really is.

In a twist of fate, their separate investigations converge in a horrifying plot that threatens the nation’s security, and Kelsey’s identity is revealed. She and Noah have been assigned as members of a secret task force, united with one common goal: to thwart Nassar’s impending terrorist attack. As the situation grows increasingly dire, she is horrified to learn that there is a traitor in their midst: An agency mole has been leaking information to the enemy. Kelsey’s world is thrown into chaos with the shocking realization that nothing is as it seems, and each step toward the truth draws her deeper into a web of conspiracy more intricate and deadly than she dreamed . . .


About the Author
Originally from Arizona, Traci Hunter Abramson spent much of her childhood exploring the little town of Pinewood. She is a graduate of Brigham Young University and a former employee of the Central Intelligence Agency. Since leaving the CIA, Traci has written multiple novels, including the Undercurrentstrilogy, Royal Target, and the Saint Squad series.

When she’s not writing, Traci enjoys spending time with her husband and their four children. She also enjoys cooking, although she prefers an electric stove to the wood-burning variety. You can follow Traci on Blog / Facebook

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THE OTHER FINALISTS WERE

Rocky Road by Josi S. Kilpack
THE ST. GEORGE SPECTRUM
Dr. Trenton Hendricks was last seen Friday, April 8, when he set out alone on a backpacking trip. Hendricks's Jeep Grand Cherokee was located Tuesday at the Chuckwalla Trailhead, but after six days and thousands of man-hours, the official search has been called off. He is presumed to be deceased.

It was supposed to be a girls' weekend in scenic St. George, Utah, that would included shopping, trying out the local cuisine, and participating in a breast cancer fund-raiser. The fact that one of the organizers of the fund-raising event, a local doctor, had disappeared two months before was not supposed to be Sadie's problem.

When Sadie learns that her friend Caro and Caro's cousin, Tess, have started a grassroots investigation into Dr. Hendrick's disappearance, Sadie graciously refuses to be a part of it. With her wedding to plan and her most recent case still fresh in her mind, Sadie is determined to leave this case to the police—until she meets the ex-wife of the missing man.

How could she not ask a few questions ... that lead to more questions ... that lead to a small town and even more questions? When the local police ask her to be their eyes and ears, Sadie can't help but jump in with both feet. Before she knows it, she is on the rocky road of another investigation, following a convoluted trail of good intentions, hidden motivations, and philanthropy turned big business.


I, Spy by Jordan McCollum
Canada is probably the last place you’d expect to find an American spy. But even idyllic Ottawa has its deadly secrets—and so does CIA operative Talia Reynolds.She can climb through ventilation shafts, blend in at the occasional diplomatic function, even scale buildings (small ones). But there’s one thing she can’t do: tell her aerospace engineer boyfriend Danny about her Top Secret occupation.

It worked for a year, keeping Danny in the dark, keeping him away from danger, keeping her secrets. And then Talia finally catches a hot case: Fyodor Timofeyev. Russian. Aerospace executive. Possible spy?

She can make this work, too—until Danny needs her at the same time her country does. And when Fyodor targets Danny? Suddenly her schedule isn’t the only thing suffering. Now to save her secrets and her country, Talia must sacrifice the man she loves.

I, Spy was also a finalist for BEST NOVEL BY A NEW AUTHOR


Finding Sheba by Heather B. Moore
An ancient legend is reborn . . . One that might prove the Bible false.

For centuries, historians have theorized the Queen of Sheba as only a seductive legend, and scholars have debated over the legitimacy of King David or King Solomon. When undercover Israeli agent, Omar Zagouri, stumbles onto a tomb in Northern Jerusalem he unknowingly finds the final clue that threatens to overthrow government claim to the Holy Land, pits wealthy collectors against one another, and sends ruthless archaeologists scrambling to find the queen's secret burial place. An assassination attempt on the Coptic Pope, His Holiness, Patriarch Stephanus II, is only the first in the chain of lethal crimes. Omar must find a way to prevent the greatest discovery of the century from becoming the most deadly.


Spy for a Spy by Jordan McCollum
Canada is probably the last place you'd expect to find an American spy. And it was the last place CIA operative Talia Reynolds expected to run into fellow operative Brand Copley. AKA her new boss. AKA her ex-boyfriend.

Just the guy every woman wants to face in the middle of planning her wedding. Once again, Talia's lying to the man she loves, but this time, to protect his heart.

After Brand takes over Talia's latest case and steals her newest agent, he assigns her to spy on her old boss—who's suddenly giving her every reason not to trust him. With only weeks until the big day, planning falls by the wayside as she goes into damage control mode. But when Talia discovers Brand's real motives, fighting him is the only option, no matter what the personal and professional cost.


Check back tomorrow to see who won

~ BEST ROMANCE 2013 ~

Prejudice Meets Pride w/ $25 Amazon or PayPal Giveaway

4 comments
Book Details
Author: Rachael Anderson
Release Date: April 2014
Publisher: HEA Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance

A DEFINITE MUST READ!
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE AT ITS FINEST!

SO MANY FUN, WONDERFUL MOMENTS!
DREAMS COMING TRUE!
TENDER ROMANCE ALL AROUND!

Emma is strong and brave, and broke!

But she has two little girls to take care of...they are her nieces and she will do anything for them...

Kevin just found a beat-up car in front of the ill-kept house that sits next door to his.

He hopes they are there only to fix it up and put out the for sale sign.

And now, to top it all off, the woman in front of him with the two unhappy girls just told the cashier she forgot her wallet.

He quickly offers to pay just to get her going so he can make it to the office on time.

Her pride is strong and she runs out...

He recognizes THAT car and follows her home.

She still refuses the groceries...

And now Kevin finds himself wanting more than anything else to help her.

Can Emma swallow her pride...in order to take care of the girls?

SO! SO! SO! GOOD!
AMAZING IMAGERY IN MANY OF THE SCENES!

CAN NOT WAIT FOR BOOKS 2 AND 3!


COMING SOON

TOUR GIVEAWAY
$25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash
ends 5/31

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author
A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can’t sing, doesn’t dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.
(A review copy was provided, however, all reviews are of my own opinion :)

May 5, 2014

Esther the Queen

2 comments
Book Details
Author: Heather B. Moore
Release Date: April 2013
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Genre: Historical Fiction

Heather has an incredible talent for bringing life and depth to scripture stories!
This book is SO. SO. SO. GOOD!
You will LOVE Esther EVEN MORE!

We know Esther was a strong woman.

She had a love of her people.
She had a love for her King and husband.

She was a Jew...He was the most powerful man in all of the kingdom.

When the two meet he cannot think of anyone else.

Having already put one wife away Esther is afraid to tell him who she really is.

"Esther is torn between her desire to be with Xerxes and the knowledge that they will forever be divided by the secret of her Jewish heritage."

But when her people are threatened to be destroyed she risks her own life in pleading for their safety.

This book gives you greater understanding of what took place and how the events unfolded.

Heather brings in a personal feeling of what Esther might have done on a daily basis.

LOVED. LOVED. LOVED. IT.
WHITNEY AWARD WINNER FOR HISTORICAL FICTION.


About the Author
Heather B. Moore is the USA Today bestseller and award-winning author of more than a dozen historical novels which are set in Ancient Arabia and Mesoamerica. She is not old and doesn’t remember the time period, so Google has become a great friend. Although she has spent several years living in the Middle East, she prefers to forget the smells. Heather writes her historicals and thrillers under the pen name H.B. Moore. She also writes women’s fiction, romance, and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, including The Newport Ladies Book Club, the Amazon bestselling anthology series A Timeless Romance Anthology, the Aliso Creek series, and the USA Today bestseller Heart of the Ocean.

Heather graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in Fashion Merchandising and minor in Business Management–which has absolutely nothing to do with writing novels. But at least she can balance a mean checkbook and color-coordinate her kids’ school clothes.

Website: www.hbmoore.com
Blog: http://mywriterslair.blogspot.com
If you’re an aspiring writer, she also manages the editing company: www.precisioneditinggroup.com

(A review copy was provided, however, all reviews are of my own opinion :)

I am BACK with the WINNERS of the WHITNEY AWARDS!

2 comments
Stephanie Black, Annette Lyon, Shauna Wheelwright, Dean Wheelwright 

I am back!
And I had a TON of FUN!

I went to the Whitney Awards Gala...
and came home by way of Paradise Island, Bahamas and Jackson, WY.

The Whitney Award is like an Academy Award for LDS authors.

There are 8 categories... and the readers are the ones who vote for their favorites. 

These books are the BEST of the BEST!

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BEST SPECULATIVE FICTION 2013
went to Jeffrey S. Savage for DARK MEMORIES

I was able to read this one...IT REALLY IS GOOD!

There are things in the darkness--things much worse than the tracks and abandoned pieces of equipment that trip the children up and gash at their feet and legs--things that brush silently past them, touching their faces before disappearing again . . .

1977- In the sleepy town of Twin Falls, Colorado, what starts as a carefree school picnic ends in tragedy when six children disappear into an abandoned gold mine. Six enter the dark void and days later, only five emerge. After an arduous search, the hunt for the last child is called off and the mine entrance is blasted. Little Frankie is left behind, alone in the darkness. He is coming.

2011 - Police Chief Cal Hunt’s investigation into a recent string of bizarre murders in Twin Falls takes a chilling turn when he learns that each of the victims was a survivor of the Seven Stars Mine incident. Cal realizes that they share a dark secret--the truth about what happened to Frankie. To drag them deeper. With time running out for the remaining survivors, Cal must face a killer that defies logical explanation. Because no matter how Cal analyzes the facts, there is only one conclusion: A supernatural force is reaching out from the depths to reclaim those who escaped more than thirty years before. And it will not rest until it takes them all . . . Into the darkness.


About the Author
J Scott Savage is the author of the Farworld middle grade fantasy series and the Case File 13 middle grade monster series. He has been writing and publishing books for over ten years. He has visited over 400 elementary schools, dozens of writers conferences, and taught many writing classes. He has four children and lives with his wife Jennifer and their Border Collie, Pepper in a windy valley of the Rocky Mountains. You can follow Scott on: FACEBOOK \ HIS BLOG

This is a picture of him accepting his award...it was really fun that he brought his wife to the stage with him. 

All the authors talked about how wonderful their spouses were in supporting their efforts of writing.

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THE OTHER FINALISTS WERE 

Echo in Time by C. J. Hill 
After being pulled 400 years into the future, twins Taylor and Sheridan have found some refuge from the government of Traventon, which used the dangerous Time Strainer to yank the girls from the past. Yet the threat of the dangerous technology still looms. Taylor and an ally, Joseph, are selected to go on a mission to destroy the time machine and weapon. But their actions before they do may have major consequences for the future and the past.

Action-packed and romantic, this futuristic sequel to Erasing Time is perfect for fans of dystopian and sci-fi novels such as The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Across the Universe by Beth Revis, and Matched by Ally Condie.


Heart of the Ocean by Heather B. Moore 
A dark secret . . . a grieving ghost . . . a handsome stranger... What more could Eliza Robinson want? Except for maybe her life.

In Heather B. Moore’s enthralling 1840s historical romance, Heart of the Ocean, Eliza Robinson has turned down the very pretentious Mr. Thomas Beesley’s marriage proposal. As a business partner of Eliza’s father, Thomas quickly discredits the family and brings disgrace to the Robinson name. While her father scrambles to restore his good name in New York City, Eliza flees to the remote Puritan town of Maybrook to stay with her Aunt Maeve. Although relieved to be away from all- things-male and unforgiving gossip columns, odd things start to happen to Eliza, and she is plagued by a ghostly voice. Her aunt’s explanation? That Eliza is being haunted by a woman who died of a broken heart twenty years ago. After Aunt Maeve is tragically killed, Eliza's life is put in danger as she tries to uncover the mystery of her aunt's death. She encounters Jonathan Porter in Maybrook, whose presence in the town seems suspicious, yet she finds herself drawn to him. When she discovers that Jonathan’s dark secrets may be the link between the dead woman who haunts her and her aunt’s murderer, Eliza realizes that Jonathan is the one man she should never trust.


The Witnesses by Stephanie Black 
I also read this one...LOVED IT!

Welcome to New America, where patriots are traitors and religion is a crime.

After government agent Daniel Lansbury fakes the executions of three believers on national television, he and the fugitives Alisa Kent, Ian Roshek, and Ian's sister, Jill face the perilous task of outwitting President Amanda Ryce and her power-hungry Council long enough to escape to freedom. While a government reformer is on their side, rigorous new security measures thwart any chance of aid. And Daniel's estranged father, Marcus, an underground terrorist leader, is hatching plans to sabotage the breakable trust between Daniel and Ian and put himself in power at the head of the nation. As faith and loyalties come under fire, the fugitives struggle to stop Marcus and his zealous terrorists and bring to light the wrongs committed against the citizens of this fragile, fledgling nation.



Winter Queen by Amber Argyle
~Becoming a winter queen will make Ilyenna as cold and cruel and deadly as winter itself, but it might be the only way to save her people from a war they have no hope of winning.~ 

Mortally wounded during a raid, seventeen-year-old Ilyenna is healed by winter fairies who present her with a seductive offer: become one of them and share their power over winter. But that power comes with a price. If she accepts, she will become a force of nature, lose her humanity, and abandon her family. Unwilling to pay such a high price, Ilyenna is enslaved by one of the invaders, Darrien. While in captivity, she learns the attack wasn’t just a simple raid but part of a larger plot to overthrow her entire nation. With the enemy stealing over the mountains and Darrien coming to take her to his bed, Ilyenna must decide whether to resurrect the power the fairies left behind. Doing so will allow her to defeat Darrien and the other invaders, but if she embraces winter, she will lose herself to that destroying power—forever.



Check back tomorrow to see who won

~ BEST MYSTERY/SUSPENSE 2013 ~

May 2, 2014

Deserving Mothers Gift of Love

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In honor of the upcoming Mother's Day, Hilary Weeks, Connie Sokol and Shannon Foster would love to send a surprise to some deserving mothers!

They got together, brainstormed and decided that they would really like YOU to nominate some mothers that could really use a little pick-me-up.

They have an idea that they are going to have a REALLY hard time choosing, but they are up for the task!

If chosen the mother will receive the following things:

From Hilary Weeks:
Her latest CD:  Say Love  (A PERFECT music CD to let your mom know you love her!)
Her Billion Clicks Kit  (A kit that has everything you need to start your positive thinking journey.)
From Connie Sokol:
A trio of books, including...
Motherhood Matters  (A wonderful book about the reality and rewards of motherhood.)
Faithful, Fit and Fabulous (A self-help book that inspires and helps to transform your life in 8 key areas in 8 weeks.)
and her Life is Too Short Collection (Put your feet up and laugh as you relate to time-tested tips on being a woman, wife, and mother.)
From Shannon Foster:
A $50 gift card to my download store where she can get all types of study and teaching aids for her family!
To Nominate a Mother...
1.  Email shannon@theredheadedhostess.com and title it "Deserving Mother".
2.  Include the following information:
-  Her name, address and email
-  Your name and relationship with her
- Why you are nominating her
We will accept nominations until Mother's Day, May 11th.  If the mother you nominated is selected then we will email you and let you know.
Thank you in advance!
Hilary (hilaryweeks.com)
Connie  (conniesokol.com)

Book Blast: Prejudice Meets Pride w/ $50 Amazon or PayPal Giveaway

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Prejudice Meets Pride by Rachael Anderson Book Cover
  Book Blast
  Prejudice Meets Pride 
by Rachael Anderson

After years of pinching pennies and struggling to get through art school, Emma Makie’s hard work finally pays off with the offer of a dream job. But when tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to make a cross-country move to Colorado Springs to take temporary custody of her two nieces.

She has no money, no job prospects, and no idea how to be a mother to two little girls, but she isn’t about to let that stop her. Nor is she about to accept the help of Kevin Grantham, her handsome new neighbor, who seems to think she’s incapable of doing anything on her own.

Fun, compelling, and romantic, Prejudice Meets Pride is the story of a guy who thinks he has it all figured out and a girl who isn't afraid to show him that he doesn't.

It’s about learning what it means to trust, figuring out how to give and to take, and realizing that not everyone gets to pick the person they fall in love with.

Sometimes, love picks them.

Coming Soon...
Coming Next in the Meet Your Match Series

RachaelAuthor Rachael Anderson A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.
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      Blast Giveaway 
 $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash 
 Ends 5/25/14 
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 and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

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