Blog Tour and Giveaway for Kisses in the Rain

We are halfway through a blog tour for Kisses in the Rain, and I have to say, I'm feeling the love. I've never done this before so I was curious to see how it would work. My publisher organized the tour and found all of these book bloggers who were willing to read my story and tell the world how they feel about it. Which, you know, is somewhat terrifying but part of the biz.

Have a look, and while you're browsing, enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of Kisses in the Rain! And stay tuned, because I'm following up the blog tour with a little tour of my own. I've been able to track down some perfect images of Camano and the surrounding areas from scenes in the book!

Thank you to all of the book bloggers for sharing your reviews!


Blog Tour Schedule

*June 15th:

http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/,http://www.wishfulendings.com/, http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/

*June 16th:

http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/, http://heidi-reads.blogspot.com/, http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/

*June 17th: 

http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/, http://mybookaday.blogspot.com,http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/,http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/

*June 18th: 

http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/, http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/,http://rachellewrites.blogspot.com/, http://www.bonnieharris.blogspot.com/

*June 19th: 

http://littlelightdesigncollective.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/

Release News for Kisses in the Rain

News! I have news news news all over the place.

"I'm just looking out for her," he said.
And fate laughed.

Georgie Tate is a survivor. She survived an abusive relationship. She survived the car accident that took the life of her controlling fiancé. Now she just needs to survive the memories that haunt her. Escaping to her aunts’ cozy home on a tiny island outside of Seattle, Georgie finds just the change of pace she needs to pick up the pieces of her life. Taking a job at a local seafood restaurant is the first step in reclaiming her sense of self, but she is completely unprepared for the battle that awaits her there.
Jace Lowe has loved and lost, and he’s determined that it will never happen again. Hardened by heartbreak, he stays focused on his work as sous chef at one of the island’s top seafood restaurants. When beautiful Georgie takes her place on the restaurant’s staff, Jace is resolved to keep her at arm’s length, and his downright rudeness her first week goes a long way in achieving that goal. Georgie, on the other hand, doesn’t want anything to do with Jace anyway and prickles against his abrasive behavior. As the combative pair comes together on a joint project for the restaurant, they find their distaste for one another dwindling. The connection is undeniable— and it terrifies them both. Can two people jaded by the past be softened by the promise of once-in-a-lifetime love, or is this just another recipe for disaster?

1. Kisses in the Rain should be making appearances in bookstores this and next week! Orders have been sent, so shelves should be stocked with a few copies soon. I would love to see this for myself, so if you happen to snap a pic of you and my book on a bookshelf somewhere, send it to me on Facebook and you'll be put in a drawing for something fabulous of which I have not yet decided! Click on the links to learn more: Seagull Books, Deseret Books in store and online, and Amazon for paper and Kindle versions. Oh! Also, Barnes & Noble and Nook. Which I may or may not have known about until just now...

2. A blog tour! My publisher has set up a blogger book tour with giveaways and excerpts and reviews of Kisses. I've never experienced one of these before, so I'm curious and excited. The blog tour happens June 15-19, with 18 participants. That's a lot of participants. Whew. Now I'm kind of nervous...

3. A Book Launch and Signing at Far West Books in my home town of Kennewick, Washington! This event takes place on Saturday, June 13th, 1:30-3:30. I'll be hoping most of the graduation festivities will be just about done by then. *crosses fingers* But I will be there with a smile and a pen and probably some sort of treat of which I have not yet decided.

8508 W Gage Blvd #C-103
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509)735-1402

Store Hours
Monday - Saturday: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Closed Sunday

Keep up to date on all--well most--of my latest book news by following my Facebook author page here. I promise, I don't bite. But it's the easiest, fastest way to learn about things like the blog tour and contests.

On a more personal note, we'll be hearing any day now from our adoption agency about our travel date to go get our little boy from China. It's happening so quickly! I could have left a month ago. So lots of exciting events happening. Another crazy year for the Jensens.

This is Will. I need to go get him.

Thursday Authorial: BUMPY LANDINGS Blog Tour

I have been fortunate in reading some enjoyable books lately in several different genres. I like to mix it up and mood has a lot to do with it. So, what does one read after a psych-thriller?
Something sweet, tropical and fun, sprinkled with cringe-worthy coming-of-age awkwardities and challenges. There I go making up words again.

I recently finished Donald J. Carey's novel, BUMPY LANDINGS. I met Don, after already being Twitter friends, at The Book Academy writers conference back in October and it turned out we attended most of the same classes, AND we were both new authors expecting our first books out soon. I am pleased to be part of Don's blog tour and am happy to review his book.

I immediately felt compassion for Jordan MacDonald, the main character, as he is just trying so hard to be a man, to do the right thing, to follow his heart. But obstacle after big Hawaiian obstacle is clonked in his way. To build up his courage, Jordan tells himself he's changed because of his mission, that he's a man now. And then he goes and does very naive and sweetly sophomoric things. Often with disastrous results. What makes him loveable is his heart is always in the right place, despite his over-bearing, exasperating mother, a rather large bully, and a surprise girlfriend who, after all the making out, has no interest in Jordan's dreams. I wanted Jordan to succeed.

Jordan dreams of flying. And figuring a way to make Kehau, the lovely elusive Hawaiian girl, fall in love, real love, with him. Watching Jordan deal with blow after blow, hitting some hard life lessons, was a pleasure, because I got to see him grow, bit by bit. It was a bonus, to watch him grow in the lush surroundings of the Hawaiian Islands. The author does not leave the reader wanting in scenery, and I was submerged in sights, sounds, and scents. And tastes!

One of the dishes mentioned several times in the story is panipopo. I asked Don for the RECIPE and today I made panipopo. I was in desperate need of Island music. I hummed the Hukilau song. I also took some pictures.

Pouring the coconut pudding over the raised rolls.

Baked to bubbly perfection.

The 12 year old couldn't wait. This was right out of the oven.

I didn't even ask how many the 15 year old ate. They were a hit with everyone!

It was a lovely vacation, Don! Thank you!

Reading Again. You? Thursday Authorial

After so much editing, activities, and the holidays, it has been wonderful to snuggle into the sofa and READ. I've come across a few gems and thought I'd give them a shout out. I'm not done with my "to read" pile at all, and that is just fine with me. I find as I read, the desire to write awakens and develops like yeast in warm sugar water.

Yes, I know it's a bacterial process. I've been baking a lot. The end product is delicious.

Now, for the reviews:

Fantasy, All ages.
The Thorn is a beautiful fantasy story of hope, faith, and miracles set in an earth-like world with two suns and three moons, and an ancient messianic prophesy. The characters drew me in and I wanted to know more. There were a few times when I wished the story to move along and that Jonathan had a bit more to do, but I appreciated Fraley's world-building and practiced my patience. I loved Pekah. These are characters and a land worth cheering for.

Fairytale, YA
This was a delightful read! Everything you could want in an original fairy tale. Adventure, magic, romance, a really quirky bad guy. Well done, Cheri Chesley!

Fantasy Adventure Romance, YA
I really enjoyed the unfolding of this story and the depth of the characters. The science drew me in and I wanted to know more about the mechanics of things and how they affected the main characters. I laughed when I found myself relieved there were no vampires involved. The romance was well written, enough tension and suspense to keep me turning pages and hoping. I can't wait to read The Golden Spiral!

Mockingjay

I began waiting for Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins, as soon as I finished Catching Fire, which I read immediately after reading Hunger Games. You can read my review of the first two books in this YA series here and here.
I stayed up until 4 a.m. reading, needing to see how Katniss was going to teach the Capitol a lesson. To see who would survive. To see the heart-stopping finish and declaration of a new day...
I knew characters would die.
I knew love would be defined.
I knew things would get violent.
The first two books taught me that. My expectations were in line with what had already been told. I wanted to be engulfed in flames and emerge triumphant.

I felt on the verge of that throughout the entire book. On the verge of ignition. I felt the story leading me, twisting, guessing, fulfilling its promises... despite the glaring amount of narrative.

At this point in the review, I originally aired opinions with spoilers galore. I've reluctantly chosen to save those for later, after more of you have had time to read it. I will just say that I thought some of it was brilliant, and some of it was a let-down, especially concerning the narrative of almost the entire last chapter. I couldn't help but feel that Collins had written a full-blown ending, and then had to rein it in for word count. Severely. On the verge of ignition, but not ignited.

But I did really like the last few lines before the epilogue. They brought me back to the beginning, which is a good thing, in my opinion. After all, the jaw-dropping roller-coaster of unbelievable reality that was Hunger Games made the reader ask, "Real? Or not real?"

Engulfed.

Cold As Ice, by Stephanie Black

Through a drawing on Six LDS Writers and a Frog, I won a chance to review Cold As Ice, by Stephanie Black, winner of two Whitney Awards. 

Thank you, Stephanie.

I've had this song in my head for the last few days (lyrics by Lou Gramm and Mick Jones, performed by Foreigner): 

You're digging for gold, you're throwing away
(Aaah-aaah) A fortune in feelings, but someday you'll pay

You're as cold as ice
You're willing to sacrifice our love

You want paradise
But someday you'll pay the price, I know...

Cold (cold cold) as (as as) ICE!!!!! That song was huge back when I was playing Barbies, testing out my first pair of roller skates, and Star Wars became the most awesome thing I'd seen IN MY WHOLE LIFE.

So, having the song in my head as I read Stephanie Black's COLD AS ICE was not a bad thing at all. In fact, it was perfect. The song lyrics couldn't be more appropriate, and the villain(s) in this thriller mystery made me shiver in the summer heat.

As Black introduced each distinct character and laid the foundation of the plot, then gradually built on entanglement after entanglement, and even though I had an idea of "who dunnit" early on, I found myself cringing as if I were watching an old Hitchcock movie and shouting to the hero(es), "Don't open that door! Get out of there! Don't say that! DON'T TRUST ANYONE! AAAAaaak!"
It was a lot of fun.

From the back of the book:

After five patient years, Abigail Wyatt’s sisterly care is finally paying off: her younger brother, Derek, is abandoning his self-destructive lifestyle and seeking his parents’ forgiveness, thus ending the painful estrangement that wounded the whole family. But just as the pieces are falling into place for the prodigal’s return, a woman is murdered in a local park—and police name Derek as the prime suspect. Rather than standing firm and cementing the positive changes in his life, Derek succumbs to his cynical fears and runs from the law, leaving Abigail with her hands tied. Literally.

Derek’s raw panic convinces everyone that he’s the killer—everyone except Abigail, who doggedly maintains her brother’s innocence. With the help of Kyle, a friend she might be falling for, Abigail digs deep into the murdered woman's troubled past in hopes of clearing Derek’s name. But as she uncovers a sinister plot of greed, envy, and vengeance, this loyal sister must face the painful truth that things—and people—are not always as they seem.

What I liked best:
Karen Brodie and Derek Wyatt were my favorite characters; a really great balance between caricature and realism for both. As much as I hated Karen, I wanted to warn her. As much as I wanted Derek to act differently, I completely understood how he saw things. Wonderful play, piling on the tension.

Great job, Stephanie Black!

Cold (cold cold) as (as as) ICE. You're as cold as ice to me!
Watch the video (warning: very 70's, will get in your head)

Book Review: Heroes of the Fallen

I've slowed down on the book reviews lately, not because I haven't been reading, but because I usually just post what I think over on my Goodreads page and leave it at that so I can move on to other things. But I finally read my friend, David J. West's book, Heroes of the Fallen, and after this fun interview we did a while back, I had to post my review here on my blog.
Thanks, David!

David J. West weaves an intricate tale full of adventure, color, and intrigue. His fantasy-laced story of an ancient American civilization turns and surprises, brings out the odd chuckle, and has you beating your fist, slapping your forehead, or holding your breath.
I was continually impressed by David's imagination and penchant for detail, using his knowledge of historical fact and artifact and mixing it with his love of epic fantasy.

This is David's first published novel, and I know his story-telling skills will get even better. A fun, thrilling beginning that left me wanting the next book. Now.

In unrelated, but still exciting news, the winners have been drawn for my 50 Followers contest! Congratulations to:

Melissa Nielsen- Maple Syrup gift box
Tamara Heart Reiner- Cherries gift box

I have contacted the winners and I want to thank you all for playing! I think I'll be holding more of these contests as I get the hang of them. Thank you, followers!

Thursday Authorial: H.B. Moore, Book Review

I grabbed this book as we headed out the door to drive an hour to my nephew's baptism. My husband, who was driving, kept asking questions. "Did you see the map?" "And the character chart?" "I like how she put scriptures at the start of every chapter." "I think that's one of my favorite scripture stories." "At what point does she start the story?"
I looked at him. "Would you like to read it next?"
He nodded his head vigorously.
I must add that my husband isn't really all that animated. Mr. Cool.
Five minutes of intense reading later I hear, "Is it a good book?"

Moore brings the story of Alma the Younger to life in answer to the question, "How could the son of a revered high priest go so bad and lead so many astray?" Her take formed an intriguing answer.  

Before I read H.B. Moore's ALMA THE YOUNGER, I hoped she wouldn't glaze over things, that she would portray the fall of this would-be High Priest as significant enough to bring the intercession of an angel from God. From the first page I was drawn in, wanting to find out more, wanting to know these characters and where their paths led. It was especially compelling to have the opening scene show just how wicked the main character, Alma, the son of the High Priest, had become, and then the next chapter jump back only 3 months earlier. My mind reeled at how such a change could happen in such a short time, and I really wanted to know how the author approached that.

I both loved Alma and cringed at him and kept turning pages, putting myself in Moore's Zarahemla, asking myself, "Where would I stand?" Moore keeps him real and doesn't sugar-coat his falling away, but shows the fine silken cords the adversary uses to draw those he would need to further his purposes. She succeeds in portraying Alma's sins without being gratuitous. Moore tempts the reader to believe Alma might be right, justified, because he believes it so fervently. Because he is, quintessentially, a hero.
 
Cassia is sweet and sincere, and the sons of Mosiah charming and loyal, Ammon a leader in his own right.
Moore's portrayal of the king and the government had me considering righteous dominion. 

As I read, I wasn't sure I could swallow the change I knew was to take place in Alma the Younger, but as a reader, I wanted it, and Moore made it believable. Yes, he would be changed. His redemption is all the more meaningful considering where his path of destruction was taking him and those who followed.

Alma's redemption is not a fix-all, but that reflects real life. The struggles that come will now be accompanied with peace and strength from a higher power.

I'll certainly never read the scripture story the same way again.
 
And, the scripture references at the beginning of each chapter kept reminding me of God's hand in all things, even when they seemed bleak.

If I have any disappointments with this book, it is that it ended too soon. I'm looking forward to reading the next book. Ammon, anyone?

Here, hon, you can read it now. And yes, it was a very good book.

The Best Books Club: 2nd Quarter 2010

Welcome! If you missed our 2nd quarter meeting, or if you are just looking for some titles to read, we picked some fun books to explore.

Princess of the Midnight Ball, by Jessica Day George 
A tale of twelve princesses doomed to dance until dawn…

Galen is a young soldier returning from war; Rose is one of twelve princesses condemned to dance each night for the King Under Stone. Together Galen and Rose will search for a way to break the curse that forces the princesses to dance at the midnight balls. All they need is one invisibility cloak, a black wool chain knit with enchanted silver needles, and that most critical ingredient of all—true love—to conquer their foes in the dark halls below. But malevolent forces are working against them above ground as well, and as cruel as the King Under Stone has seemed, his wrath is mere irritation compared to the evil that awaits Galen and Rose in the brighter world above.
Captivating from start to finish, Jessica Day George’s take on the Grimms’ tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses demonstrates yet again her mastery at spinning something entirely fresh out of a story you thought you knew.

Confessions of a Shopaholic, by Sophie Consella
If you've ever paid off one credit card with another, thrown out a bill before opening it, or convinced yourself that buying at a two-for-one sale is like making money, then this silly, appealing novel is for you. In the opening pages of Confessions of a Shopaholic, recent college graduate Rebecca Bloomwood is offered a hefty line of credit by a London bank. Within a few months, Sophie Kinsella's heroine has exceeded the limits of this generous offer, and begins furtively to scan her credit-card bills at work, certain that she couldn't have spent the reported sums.
In theory anyway, the world of finance shouldn't be a mystery to Rebecca, since she writes for a magazine called Successful Saving. Struggling with her spendthrift impulses, she tries to heed the advice of an expert and appreciate life's cheaper pleasures: parks, museums, and so forth. Yet her first Saturday at the Victoria and Albert Museum strikes her as a waste. Why? There's not a price tag in sight.
Eventually, Rebecca's uncontrollable shopping and her "imaginative" solutions to her debt attract the attention not only of her bank manager but of handsome Luke Brandon--a multimillionaire PR representative for a finance group frequently covered in Successful Saving. Unlike her opposite number in Bridget Jones's Diary, however, Rebecca actually seems too scattered and spacey to reel in such a successful man. Maybe it's her Denny and George scarf. In any case, Kinsella's debut makes excellent fantasy reading for the long stretches between white sales and appliance specials. --Regina Marler
*there is some strong language

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Anne Shaffer and Annie Barrows
“ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

The Best Books Club: 1st Quarter 2010

We had a really nice turnout for our first meeting of the year. It was decided we would meet quarterly, assigning three books to each quarter. This way we can take turns reading the books so difficult to find here in our little town, and in case you did not get to one, you still have something to discuss when you come to the next quarterly meeting.
We discussed the books we read over the holidays and then turned our attention to the dozen books spread out in front of us on the table. I appreciated the guidance I had in choosing our selection from the many readers and reviewers at Goodreads.com.

For our first quarter, we will be reading:

THE GOOSE GIRL, by Shannon Hale.
She can whisper to horses and communicate with birds, but the crown princess Ani has a difficult time finding her place in the royal family and measuring up to her imperial mother. When she is shipped off to a neighboring kingdom as a bride, her scheming entourage mounts a bloody mutiny to replace her with a jealous lady-in-waiting, Selia, and to allow an inner circle of guards more power in the new land. Barely escaping with her life, Ani disguises herself as a goose girl and wanders on the royal estate. Does she have the pluck to reclaim her rightful place? Get ready for a fine adventure tale full of danger, suspense, surprising twists, and a satisfying conclusion. The engaging plot can certainly carry the tale, but Hale's likable, introspective heroine makes this also a book about courage and justice in the face of overwhelming odds. The richly rendered, medieval folkloric setting adds to the charm. Anne O'Malley
Copyright © American Library Association.

THE ROAD, by Cormac McCarthy.
Cormac McCarthy sets his new novel, The Road, in a post-apocalyptic blight of gray skies that drizzle ash, a world in which all matter of wildlife is extinct, starvation is not only prevalent but nearly all-encompassing, and marauding bands of cannibals roam the environment with pieces of human flesh stuck between their teeth. If this sounds oppressive and dispiriting, it is. McCarthy may have just set to paper the definitive vision of the world after nuclear war, and in this recent age of relentless saber-rattling by the global powers, it's not much of a leap to feel his vision could be not far off the mark nor, sadly, right around the corner. Stealing across this horrific (and that's the only word for it) landscape are an unnamed man and his emaciated son, a boy probably around the age of ten. It is the love the father feels for his son, a love as deep and acute as his grief, that could surprise readers of McCarthy's previous work. McCarthy's Gnostic impressions of mankind have left very little place for love. In fact that greatest love affair in any of his novels, I would argue, occurs between the Billy Parham and the wolf in The Crossing. But here the love of a desperate father for his sickly son transcends all else. McCarthy has always written about the battle between light and darkness; the darkness usually comprises 99.9% of the world, while any illumination is the weak shaft thrown by a penlight running low on batteries. In The Road, those batteries are almost out--the entire world is, quite literally, dying--so the final affirmation of hope in the novel's closing pages is all the more shocking and maybe all the more enduring as the boy takes all of his father's (and McCarthy's) rage at the hopeless folly of man and lays it down, lifting up, in its place, the oddest of all things: faith. --Dennis Lehane 

And our non-fiction selection, any food book by Michael Pollan.
Michael Pollan's last book , The Omnivore's Dilemma, launched a national conversation about the American way of eating; now In Defense of Food shows us how to change it, one meal at a time. Pollan proposes a new answer to the question of what we should eat that comes down to seven simple but liberating words: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. Pollan's bracing and eloquent manifesto shows us how we can start making thoughtful food choices that will enrich our lives, enlarge our sense of what it means to be healthy, and bring pleasure back to eating.



Speaking of food, we enjoyed some treats of the non-written kind, as well. Click on the links to find the recipes for Bacon Maui and Roasted Red Pepper & Cheddar Dip.

As always, you can check here for comments on the books we are reading, and are welcome to leave your own!
Thank you for participating!

RUN

James Dashner's Maze Runner has been mentioned so many times in my internet browzing, I had to read it for myself. So, after I bought it for my son for Christmas (I'm pretty sure he doesn't check this blog), and before I hid it to be wrapped, I read it.
I am so excited to give it to him.
If you haven't read the opening scene on Dashner's website, and you want to read an example of how to draw a reader into a story, go now and read it... but then come back here because I have a little more to say.
Underdog heroes,twists and turns, tranport into another reality, second guesses, grappling mental and physical challenges... this is a book that moves.
I loved the hidden potential, the discovery of how strong we might be. And we're not done. Not at all.
I could not embrace one of the main characters introduced later in the book, but I wonder if I am not meant to yet. It is one of the reasons I will be looking for the second book. The other reasons are that I want to see evil overcome, I want to see characters avenged, I want to know how the others were tested.
We shall see!

The Best Books Club- December Selection

The Art of Civilized Conversation, by Margaret Shepherd
In our fast-paced, electronic society, the most basic social interaction (talking face-to-face) can be a challenge for even the most educated and self-assured individuals. And yet making conversation is a highly practical skill: those who do it well shine at networking parties, interviews, and business lunches. Good conversation also opens doors to a happier love life, warmer friendships, and more rewarding time with family.

For those intimidated by the complexity of personal interaction, or those simply looking to polish their speaking skills, The Art of Civilized Conversation is a powerful guide to communicating in an endearing way. In its pages, author Margaret Shepherd offers opening lines, graceful apologies, thoughtful questions, and, ultimately, the confidence to take conversations beyond hello. From the basics (first impressions, appropriate subject matter, and graceful exits) to finding the right words for difficult situations and an insightful discussion of body language, Shepherd uses her skilled eye and humorous anecdotes to teach readers how to turn a plain conversation into an engaging encounter.

Filled with common sense and fresh insight, The Art of Civilized Conversation is the perfect inspiration not only for what to say but for how to say it with style.

Now Hosting "The Best Books Club"

Welcome to the new and tentative home of the Best Books Club, a book club taking up where Cody 3rd Ward Enrichment book club left off.
If you read October's selection, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, please feel free to leave a comment or email me your comments and I will post them here. I know not many of you were able to get your hands on a copy.
Synopsis:

Be prepared to meet three unforgettable women: Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone. Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken. Minny, Aibileen’s best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody’s business, but she can’t mind her tongue, so she’s lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own. Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed. In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women—mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends—view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don’t.

Click HERE for study questions about The Help.

November's Selection Choices are:

These Is My Words, by Nancy F. Turner: Based on the real-life exploits of the author's great-grandmother, this fictionalized diary vividly details one woman's struggles with life and love in frontier Arizona at the end of the last century. When she begins recording her life, Sarah Prine is an intelligent, headstrong 18-year-old capable of holding her own on her family's settlement near Tucson. Her skill with a rifle fends off a constant barrage of Indian attacks and outlaw assaults. It also attracts a handsome Army captain named Jack Elliot. By the time she's 21, Sarah has recorded her loveless marriage to a family friend, the establishment of a profitable ranch, the birth of her first child?and the death of her husband. The love between Jack and Sarah, which dominates the rest of the tale, has begun to blossom. Fragmented and disjointed in its early chapters, with poor spelling and grammar, Sarah's journal gradually gains in clarity and eloquence as she matures. While this device may frustrate some readers at first, Taylor's deft progression produces the intended reward: she not only tells of her heroine's growth, but she shows it through Sarah's writing and insights. The result is a compelling portrait of an enduring love, the rough old West and a memorable pioneer. First serial to Good Housekeeping; author tour; Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club selections. (Feb.) FYI: Selected as the March 1998 Good Housekeeping "Novel of the Month."
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The Wednesday Letters, by Jason F. Wright, is the story of Jack and Laurel. Married 39 years, the Coopers lived a good life and appear to have had a near-perfect relationship. Then one night, with his wife cradled in his arms, and before Jack takes his last breath, he scribbles his final "Wednesday Letter."

When their three adult children arrive to arrange the funeral, they discover boxes and boxes full of love letters that their father wrote to their mother on every single Wednesday. As they begin to open and read the letters, the children uncover unimaginable adventures and the shocking truth about their past.

The Wednesday Letters has a powerful message about redemption and forgiveness. And it just might inspire you to begin writing your own Wednesday Letters. A New York Times Bestseller. Jason F. Wright is the LDS author of Christmas Jars.

Google either of these titles for more information on the stories and authors. Enjoy, and I look forward to hearing from you!

The Last Waltz

"Reading makes immigrants of us all. It takes us away from home, but, most important, it finds homes for us everywhere." -Hazel Rochman

I started The Last Waltz, A Novel of Love and War, by G.G. Vandagriff, yesterday at 11:00 am, after my chores were done. I read until 2:00 this morning, and stayed up another hour thinking.
Historical novels, when done well, draw you in, make you forget where and when you are, teach you about the time almost interactively, and have you loving, fighting, struggling and triumphing with the characters.
After reading all the research and life G.G. Vandagriff put into this novel (it was twenty years in the making), I had to put it on my reading list. I wanted to see what this well educated, enduring woman could do with her knowledge and experience.
And I had just studied this era, 1913-1938, through WWI and II, last semester. Most of what I knew about Austria came from Sound of Music. I have Austrian blood, as does my husband, a descendant of the Strasser line, the famous singers of Gruber's Silent Night... my mother-in-law's maiden name is Strasser, and yes, she has a lovely singing voice, as do her six brothers and sisters. So, as I read, I found myself keenly aware of my connection, my ancestry, roaming the streets of Vienna and Salzburg in the background. When house help was mentioned, I pictured my great grandmother, leaving Austria with her sister for America before the German Anschluss. I was carried away.
For a closer look at this novel of love and war, click here.
G.G. Vandagriff is The Writer in the Cranberry Tower, linked here and below, right. She is currently in Italy, luckily researching her latest novel. I love her posts.
Thank you, G.G. I feel like I just sought out of the best books (Doctrine & Covenants 88:118). And it is still on my mind.

Hungry?

Just finished reading The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. I was glued to it for a day and a half. Now my kids will be. It left me feeling slightly woozy, and wanting more... like a really good roller coaster ride. I couldn't help but think of Lois Lowry's The Giver, or George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-four. Only there is more fight, more grip. Of course, I am looking at sentence structure and pacing while I read. I guess that is a side-effect to writing. I read the first few pages of the sequel, Catching Fire, at Amazon, and I am pretty sure we'll be adding it to our bookshelves. I am anxious for Katniss, Peeta, and Gale. I am anxious for me to get the next book.