Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Book Review: Perilous by Tamara Hart Heiner


Four teenage girls go to the mall, expecting just to hang out and have a good time. When they're ready to leave, they call a parent to come get them, but that parent gets caught in traffic and is late.  While they're waiting, the girls witness a crime, and suddenly find themselves kidnapped, shoved in the back of a van, and have no way of knowing if they're going to survive.

This is how Tamara Hart Heiner's new novel, "Perilous," begins. From the start, the reader is taken on a heart-thumping journey as the girls learn the identity of their kidnappers and then try to escape.  Not all of them will make it.  Not all of them will come out unscathed.  They must all learn to rely on each other and to trust their own instincts as they fight their way back home.

Tamara's writing is crisp and clear, painting evocative word pictures and creating a movie in the reader's mind.   You'll be reading on the edge of your eyelids as you race to the end, eager to see how it all plays out. There is a sequel in the works, and I'm very eager to check it out. 

Here's the trailer for the book:


Purchase the e-book here.


And ... there's a contest in conjunction with this book release! Tamara says: 


Book giveaway: The winner of this contest will be randomly chosen. Every person who comments on any post during the blog tour will be entered into a random drawing for a book. Which I can autograph, if they want. The contest begins on Nov. 16 and ends on Dec. 15.

Kindle giveaway: This contest is point-based and begins Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 15. Whoever has the most points wins the Kindle. There will only be one Kindle given away. Here are the points:

1 point: blog comment (can comment on all the blogs, multiple times, on the tour)
1 point: follow my blog
1 point: retweet
2 points: blog about the blog tour
5 points: purchase the book (ebook or paperback, must email me the confirmation email) if they actually buy the book in the store they can mail me a copy of the receipt.

Have them add up all their points as well as their proof (links, etc) and email it to me at the end of the blog tour. People can earn an infinite number of points!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Book Review: Winning Mr. Wrong by Marie Higgins

We've all been there - getting such a crazy crush on a guy that we turn into blabbering idiots every time they come around, do stupid things and forget how to walk, and then realize that we had lipstick on our teeth the whole time.  Yeah, you know that sounds familiar.  That's why "Winning Mr. Wrong" hit such a chord with me.  I remember doing silly things to get a guy's attention.  Although, I have to say, I've never done anything quite as crazy as Charley does in Marie Higgin's new novel.

Charley has been looking for the right man her entire life, but her luck always seems to turn bad.  She wants a man who will love her forever, take her to the temple, and create an eternal family unit.  Of course, if he happens to make her heart go pitty-pat, all the better, right?  But when another relationship fails, she's left feeling as though it will never happen for her.  Most women are married by now, and she wonders if she's doomed to be alone.

It doesn't help that her sexy Italian next-door neighbor has a string of women coming and going from his life.  Why can a guy go out and get all the dates he wants, but a woman has to just sit and wait around for things to happen to her?

When Charley reads an article on the Internet about how to snag your man, she decides to give it a try.  The advice seems pretty decent at first - give him chocolate, compliment him, spend time with him - but, being Charley, she has to have a few adventures along the way.  Her chosen subject for the experiment turns out to be allergic to chocolate, and everything goes downhill from there.  But one trip to the emergency room isn't enough to put her off her game - she's going to keep trying until she lands her man.

I chuckled right out loud several times as I read this novel - read it in one sitting, might I add.  It was a perfect light read for a quiet evening, and I think you'll enjoy it just as much as I did.

Now you can win a copy of this delightful novel.  Just leave a comment in the trail and tell me, what is the silliest thing you've ever done to get a guy's (or a girl's - I know I have male readers too) attention?  You will be entered in a drawing, which will take place on Thanksgiving night at 10 p.m. MST.  So leave your comment before then, and maybe you'll be thankful to win a new book!

I was given a copy of this novel by the publisher for my review, but that did not influence my comments at all.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Making Friends Monday


Good morning, and welcome to Making Friends Monday!  I’m sorry I didn’t post a new MFM blog last Monday … it was a crazy day.  It had something to do with my getting a new publishing contract with Walnut Springs or something like that.  But I’m back now to introduce you to three new friends.

Our first blogger today is a lady I’ve known for a number of years.  Rebecca Talley is a tall, beautiful woman with really gorgeous hair.  (No, this is not me being jealous.  I promise. Well, maybe a little.) She has been blogging for about three years and she says, “I blog about life, my big, crazy family, being a city girl on a farm, current events, things I’m passionate about, and the insanity of trying to write books while raising kids.”  That sounds like a pretty well-rounded blog to me!

She also says, “I’m the mother of ten kids, I have a donkey named Starla, I’m the author of a children’s picture book and three novels, and I have a son with Down syndrome.  I eat too much chocolate, hate ironing, and love to swim in the ocean.  My favorite color is turquoise.”

I wonder if that’s her favorite color because it reminds her of the ocean.

Rebecca has a novel coming out in January called “The Upside of Down.”  Be sure to go meet her – you’ll be glad you did.


Next is Debs Willson.  I forget exactly how we met.  We just sort of gravitated toward each other on Facebook and now we happily message each other back and forth across the pond. That’s right – she’s from England, which makes it convenient when I’m up in the middle of the night and want someone to annoy.

She says, “I have been blogging for about ten years now, not one of them consistent, but that’s how I roll sometimes.  I generally blog about family, religion, day-to-day rambles and anything that is homemaking/craftsy that I think is worth yapping about.

“I work on two blogs (well, there’s more, but these are the main two!) my personal waffle and the new homemaking diary.

“I wear odd socks and odd gloves.  Makes them more fun to wear.  I love books.  I buy them and then look at them for hours—okay, not hours, but I do keep glancing at them in admiration. I’m a wannabe writer.  I will do anything for a jaffa cake and/or a donut.  Anything.  I have no shame.

“And I’m cool.  I think I am cool.  I hope I am cool.  Sheesh, AM I cool?!!

“I don’t do much in life without humor. It’s my coping mechanism through anything.

“I do love to make friends.  Shame that the best ones are overseas!

Other Random Facts:

Debs says she’s a geek and a nerd, and she loves that about herself.  She loves to share the gospel and learn about other people, believers and nonbelievers. And she never goes to sleep until she has completed at least three crosswords.

Now that is dedication.

Our last blogger for today is new to Blogland, so let’s give her a huge shout-out and make her feel really welcome.  It’s like having someone new move in to the neighborhood!  Her name is Maria Hoagland, and she blogs mainly about running (which she does) and type-one diabetes (which she has).  She’s an author, too, so her blog will also talk about writing.  Her first novel, “Nourish and Strengthen,” is LDS women’s fiction and is currently seeking a home, while she’s busy working on her second novel.

As I’m over here checking out her blog, I can see that she’s figured out how to get it up and running—it looks great.  I love the colors she chose.  I’m also vastly impressed by her accounts of running (I don’t run, ever—unless one of my children is dashing across a parking lot in front of a moving car, and then I tend to fall flat on my face … true story) and her accounts of learning to live life to its fullest with diabetes.  It’s really a very inspirational blog and I think you should all head over there. Right. This. Minute.

Thanks again for joining me today.  Next Monday will be our last Making Friends Monday installment for a little while.  You can still sign up to play, but I won’t be posting them until January.  Why, do you ask? I will tell you!  Because the whole entire month of December will be devoted to the biggest, baddest, most brilliant blog contest ever in the universe!  You’ve just gotta hang out with me every day all December long for your chance at dragging home the loot.  Talk to ya later. 

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Book Review: Finding Rose by Stephanie Humpheys

I do enjoy a good historical fiction novel, and if it comes packaged up with a heart-touching romance, all the better.  That's why I enjoyed Stephanie Humphreys' first novel, "Finding Rose."

Rose and her family live in Logan, Utah, and have created a lovely home for themselves.  The persecutions of the Saints in Missouri and Nauvoo seem but a distant memory for the people of the community, who have been working hard to build up the state of Utah and live the gospel as they choose, far away from those who oppressed them.

When Rose's father is called to take his family to Canada to help build irrigation canals, Rose doesn't want to go.  She feels secure in her town and is deeply rooted to her home.  But her father, a bishop, takes his responsibility seriously, and has taken steps to sell the farm and move the family.

Miles Crandall is a young doctor, just graduated from medical school.  He takes a trip to Utah to visit the elder who converted him to the gospel - Elder Sean Sterling, Rose's brother.  When he first meets Rose, their mutual attraction is instant, but is quickly replaced by irritation as their relationship does not get off to a smooth start.  Meanwhile, Rose, determined not to go to Canada, decides to encourage the romantic attentions of a local boy in hopes that he'll propose and she'll get to stay in Logan.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot, because I want you to read the book, but I will say that this book is a great blending of history and romance.  The author sets the tone of the era instantly without using info dumps or other contrived means to work the history into the story.  The characters' emotions are portrayed realistically, and the writing is very polished.  Although this is a first novel, the skill level of the author is quite advanced, and I can tell that Stephanie has spent time studying the craft.

I highly recommend this novel and encourage you to pick one up for yourself for Christmas this year.  You do give yourself Christmas presents, right?  Well, you should!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my review.  This did not influence my opinion of the book. In fact, I had the chance to read it before it was published, and I enjoyed it a great deal then, too. 

And now, a note from the publisher:



It's blog tour time for Whitney Nominee
Finding Rose by Stephanie Humphreys
.

We're excited because we've got some fabulous reviewers on board,
not to mention that we'll be giving away THREE copies!
The tour runs from November 22-December 3.



Want to win a copy of Finding Rose? It's easy. Check out the fabulous reviews and leave a comment letting us know why you're excited to read Finding Rose. Remember to include your email address. If you tweet about the blog tour, or post about it on your blog or Facebook, leave the link in the comments section, and you'll receive an additional entry.

****
Will Rose honor her father's last wish?

Rose stood and dropped her father's hand. "You're tired, Papa." She pulled the quilt over his thin shoulders and kissed him on the cheek.

"Think about what I said." He gently squeezed her hand. "I wish you would consider giving Miles a chance."

"Miles! I wish Sean had never brought him here. He's so serious. In all the time he's been here, he's hardly ever smiled. . . . He annoys me and I wish he would go home." Still, Rose couldn't help but think of his gentleness when he cared for her father.

On his deathbed, Rose Sterling's father asks her to consider Miles Crandall as a suitor. Then Rose is sent to live with an uncle in Spring Creek, Montana, far from her carefree life with her family in Utah. Miles is
returning to his hometown of Spring Creek to set up a medical practice, so Rose is certain her being sent there is a setup. Yet Miles doesn't seem interested in her, and after Rose falls ill in Montana, he seems content to act as her physician and friend. When Rose captures the attention of Miles's younger, flamboyant brother as well as the town sheriff, Miles retreats even further from any attempt at courtship.

How can Rose honor her father's last wish if Miles doesn¹t even try to court her? Will she have the courage to put her heart on the line and fight for the one she really loves?

November 22
Tristi Pinkston--Tristi Pinkston

November 23
Alison Palmer--Tangled Words and
Dreams


November 24
Taffy Lovell--Taffy's Writing

November 29
Jenn Wilks--Jenn Wilks
Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen--The
Write Blocks


November 30
Amanda Thomson--Maybe Mandi

December 1
Sheila Staley--Why Not?
Because I Said So


December 2
Valerie Ipson--Valerie Ipson

December 3
Christine Bryant--Day
Dreamer

Friday, November 19, 2010

A Little Bit of This, a Little Bit of That ...

I've been so busy this year that blogging has taken somewhat of a back seat.  I haven't stopped blogging ... in fact, I've been setting up more blogs than ever.  I shall demonstrate:

Tristi Pinkston, Editing

Tristi Pinkston, Virtual Book Tours

Tristi Pinkston, Writing Instruction

Families.com

It's just that with all this blogging, I haven't been blogging very much.  :)

Things continue on as ever in the Pinkston household.  The kids are great, the hubby's great, and I'm a raving lunatic.  Yeah, that sounds pretty normal for us.

This last week, I've been working like crazy to set up a fantastic blog contest that will run through the entire month of December.  Stay tuned for the official announcement, which will be posted on Monday.  I've also been editing for clients, trying to work on NaNo but getting stuck in the middle of my plot, and completely ignoring my housework.  Trust me - that takes a lot of time.

One additional thing - as I send out my newsletter, I'm going to start including writing tips.  If you would like to sign up for my newsletter, please send an e-mail to pinkstonnewsletter@gmail.com and it shall be granted you.

Take care ... and I'll talk to you soon.

Book Review: Mother Had a Secret by Tiffany Fletcher

We've all got skeletons in our closet, things we don't want others to know about us.  Some are small little collections of bones, barely worth the embarrassment, and others are huge, rattling things that haunt our dreams and affect our lives.  In "Mother Had a Secret," author Tiffany Fletcher tells the story of the skeletons in her closet, and how they could have destroyed the entire family.

Vickie, Tiffany's mother, had been severely abused as a child, physically and sexually, by her father.  Her mother not only knew, but stood by and did nothing about it.  In order to cope with the trauma, Vickie developed other personalities who would take the brunt of it for her.  It was the only way she could handle the life she was being forced to live.

As Tiffany grew up, she knew her mother had "moods." Sometimes Vickie was sweet and loving, but other times, she was angry and violent.  Her family never knew what would trigger one of her outbursts.  They learned to tiptoe around her.  But after a car accident, when she was forced to undergo medical treatment, the truth came out - she was dealing with different personalities.  This condition today is called "dissociative identity disorder," while in the past, it was just said that a person had a split personality.

Now Tiffany and her siblings knew why their mother was the way she was.  In some ways, it made their lives easier - having an explanation can make all the difference.  Yet in some ways, it was harder.  Little by little, they began to chip away at the mystery that was their mother.  They spoke to her different personalities, learned their names, and discovered what role they each played in their mother's life, from that of protector to that of scared little child, just wanting love.

This book is different from others you might read on the same topic.  Others tend to focus on the nature of the abuse that led to the splitting of the personalities, often going into gruesome detail.  This narrative, on the other hand, focuses on the effect the experience had on Vickie's family and how they learned to cope, achieve forgiveness, and find a path toward healing.  We know what caused Vickie's condition, but only on a surface level as we instead seek the light and hope in the situation.

I will confess, the bulk of what I knew ... or thought I knew ... about this condition came from my mother's soap opera addiction when I was a child.  I was intrigued by this story told by a person who had really experienced this in their family, so I could learn the true nature of the condition and come to a better understanding of what these people, and their families, suffer.  I applaud the author for having the courage to bring those skeletons out of the closet and use her experiences to help others in her situation find hope, and to help those of us who are bystanders to be more compassionate about things we may not fully understand.

This book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for my review, which did not influence my opinion.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Book Review: Trespass by Sandra Grey

Let me tell you a little story.

A few years back, I had the opportunity to spend the weekend down in Arizona as a guest speaker for the ANWA conference.  That was one of the most fun weekends of my life.  The ANWA ladies are beyond awesome, I got to hang out with Kerry Blair and Kathy Jenkins, and we just enjoyed every minute together.  In fact, you can read more about it here.Oh, and here. And here. And here's good, too.  Anyway, I digress ... suffice it to say, I had a ton of fun.

The afternoon of the conference, Kathy took me over to meet one of the authors who was in attendance.  I forget her exact words, but they were something like, "You have to meet this author.  Her book is one of the best I've ever read in my life."  That author was Sandra Grey, and with a recommendation like that, I had to buy the book. It also helped that Sandra is an extremely nice person.

I brought it home, I opened to the first page, and got sucked into language so rich, I had to stop and go back, starting again, so I could really digest it.  I felt like I'd taken a bite of a succulent roast beef sandwich and I wanted to savor it.  You can read my review of that book, "Traitor," here. I cheered very loudly when Sandra took home the Whitney Award that year.

When the sequel, "Tribunal," came out, I was honored and more than a little smug to be asked to endorse the back cover.  I believe I screamed like a girl, which isn't all that odd, considering that I am a girl.

Then, last month, my honor was doubled when I was asked to endorse the third book in the series, "Trespass."  I shall now launch into a glowing review of said book.

Natalie Allred, American nurse, is being held in the Soviet Union against her will.  Lieutenant Viktor Rostov, Soviet MGB agent, has paperwork stating that she was born as a Soviet and therefore, should live there the remainder of her life, but she wants nothing more than to return home to America.  Well, and to be reunited with Hans Brenner, the handsome freedom fighter she met and fell in love with a short time before.  But Viktor has her under his thumb.  He finds her an apartment, he finds her a job, and he makes no secret of the fact that he's in love with her.  But Natalie wants no part of the kind of love Viktor can give her.

In the meantime, Viktor's young daughter, Lucya, is being held in a Siberian camp.  Only seventeen, she struggles to understand why she's been imprisoned, and dreams of the day when her father will come for her.  But Viktor doesn't know where she is, and he has no idea how to even begin to rescue her.

Rolf, our hero from the first novel in the series, is now living in London, but has kept his finger on the pulse of activity behind the Iron Curtain.  He is now the only one who can come in and set things right, calling on his contacts and making deals with those in authority.  His goal: to get Natalie and Hans out of the Soviet Union.  To do this, he must give Viktor something he wants even more than Natalie - the safety of his daughter.  The conclusion of this novel will leave you breathless as you watch men and women give everything they have for the protection of those they love most.

I loved reading about an era of history that is largely overlooked - when the war ended officially, it was still being fought in people's hearts and minds, and we need to understand how the changes in their political worlds affected them emotionally and spiritually. I also appreciated the look into the Soviet Union in the 1940s.  My blog readers know I have been fascinated by Russia my entire life.

I read "Trespass" eagerly, my only complaint being that it was over too soon. Once again, Sandra Grey writes a story that grabs you by the throat and holds you in its grip until it's good and done with you.

I received this book as a gift from the author, but chose to review it all on my own. The gift did not sway my review in the slightest. 

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Announcement from Tristi

Ever since March 16th, the day when Secret Sisters was released, I have received roughly ten e-mails or IMs per week asking me when the sequel will be published.  Up until now, I've had no idea what to say.  But now, my dear readers, I have an answer to your question.

Secret Sisters #2 will be released in early January.  That's right - you have roughly six weeks to wait.  I just signed the contract with Walnut Springs today, and they are putting a rush on the procedure in order to bring it out at the first of the year. As soon as I have a picture of the cover, I'll post it, and keep you apprised of the progress.

In the meantime, we are partying over here at the Pinkstons!

And that means it's a party for you, too.  Keep a close eye on this blog as I announce contests, drawings, giveaways, opportunities for madness and mayhem, and much, much more!

Let's kick this off right:


Nothing says happy like Snoopy + bunnies.

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Book Review: "The Fourth Nephite" by Jeffrey S. Savage

In Jeffrey S. Savage's new book, "The Fourth Nephite," we meet Kaleo Steele, who's in a jam.  He's the star of his high school's football team, but his seminary teacher just caught him with a bunch of his friends, holding a beer can.  He hadn't taken a sip, but his teacher is duty bound to report him, and he won't get to play in the big game.  Kaleo is more than frustrated by this turn of events - he's the star. He should be in that game.  But Brother Mortensen, his seminary teacher, has other plans, and sends Kaleo on a quest that will be more mind-blowing than anything Kaleo could have ever imagined.

Sent back in time to meet the Prophet Joseph Smith, Kaleo begins to understand that the stories he hears in seminary aren't just mumbo-jumbo, but real events in the lives of real people.  As he comes to care for the Prophet, he's stunned to learn of a plot to steal the gold plates from Joseph Smith, and he must decide how to act.  Oh, and there's a girl.  Of course there has to be a girl, or there's not really a story ...

Jeff Savage is a remarkably talented author who has the ability to reach out and grab his readers, whether it be through his tech thrillers, his think pieces, his fantasy novels (written under the name J. Scott Savage) and now in this LDS Young Adult adventure.  He knows what his readers want, and he knows how to give it to them.  This results in highly addictive storytelling, and in the case of "The Fourth Nephite," you or your teen reader will also learn about the era of Joseph Smith while you read.

If you're looking for an exciting, clean, faith-promoting book that will take you on a thrilling journey, well, you just found it.

I was provided with an ARC of this novel for review purposes, but that didn't influence my review.  Jeff influenced my review by writing a dang good book.

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Book Review: "True Miracles with Genealogy" by Anne Bradshaw

In the Old Testament, book of Malachi, 4:5-6, we read:

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse

We are seeing this prophecy fulfilled as every day, men and women all over the world are feeling compelled to seek out their ancestors and compile their family histories.  It doesn't seem to matter what religious affiliation the searcher belongs to - the yearning to know where one came from is the same.  

Author and avid genealogist Anne Bradshaw addresses this yearning in her new book, "True Miracles with Genealogy: Help from Beyond the Veil."  A compilation of stories submitted by people all over the country and around the world, this book speaks to the heart of every genealogist and all those who have ever felt a stirring from the other side, a knowledge that we are not alone when our loved ones pass on, but we are still connected through those family ties. 

In this book you'll read stories of people who found their ancestors in the most miraculous ways.  A chance phone call, stumbling upon an old, nearly buried tombstone in a cemetery, the urging to look just one more time - these events yielded not only names and dates, but newfound love of the journey for the researcher, and feelings of eternal connections. 

Whether you've been doing your family history for years, or have just started, or just enjoy reading about the process, you'll find something to delight and inspire you in this remarkable work.

I received a free copy of this book for review purposes.  This did not influence my thoughts in any way.

Monday, November 01, 2010

Making Friends Monday


Welcome to this week’s installment of Making Friends Monday!  Shake off that sugar-induced coma and come meet some fantastic new bloggers.

First is Jessica, who comes to us from Put It on Paper.  She’s been blogging just since February of this year, and began blogging as a way of tracking progress on the revisions she was making on her novel, Imprisoned.  She blogs about the ups and downs she faces as a writer, and right now, she’s going through the querying process.  She’s also working on two other manuscripts.  She writes YA fiction, mostly contemporary romance and dystopian, but she’s been having science fiction ideas too.  Sounds like she’s got a lot of stuff percolating in that brain!

She’s a junior in college, studying English with an emphasis in Creative Writing.  She has a minor in French and sometimes uses it on her blog.  She eats peanut butter and Nutella together by the spoonful, she drinks about a gallon of milk a day (probably to get the sticky stuff off the roof of her mouth) and she never gets enough sleep. Jessica, sleep is overrated.  Take it from me.  It stunts creativity and all kinds of stuff like that.


Next is Paulette, who goes by the ultra-mysterious name of Pendragon.  I first met her at a writers conference years ago, and instantly liked her.  You can’t not like her.  Not humanly possible.  She does things like help her friends kill off their characters.  And once she made me laugh and I choked my drink into my book bag.  Good times …

She’s been blogging since 2007.  You can find her writing journey here, and her newest blog, about her adventures cooking for her husband, here.  They’re both awesome. 

She’s also a black belt in Haidong and she’s working toward her second black belt in Kung Fu.  She uses her experiences in her books.  I wonder if she’ll use her Kung Fu skills to chop up a chicken for her cooking blog.

Our last guest for today is Angela, who is a poet and posts her work on her blog, My Poetry and Prose Place.  She also posts work by other writers, and it’s fun to go there and read the pieces and feel the brain expanding just a bit, out of the everyday box and think about things in a new way.  I love good poetry for that reason.  It breaks the mold and I feel uplifted afterward.

She also has a sister-in-law with a way awesome name.  Tristan.  Isn’t that the most awesome name?  I think it rocks. In major ways.  This name is so awesome that I can overlook my desire to shudder over the fact that she used to like to eat peanut butter and cheese sandwiches.  But then, who am I to say … maybe that’s how she fed her muse, and if it works, keep it up.

Thanks for joining me today! If you would like to participate in Making Friends Monday, just click here to learn more.  And be sure to stop back every day this week.  I’m featuring a different book review Tuesday through Saturday, and you’ll want to stay tuned. 
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