Farworld: Air Keep by J. Scott Savage -- Giveaway

Farworld: Air Keep (Book 3)

Author: J. Scott Savage

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: February 26th, 2013

Hardcover: 336 pages

ISBN13: 9781609073251

FTC FYI: I received a hardcover copy from publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads Summary

It’s been six months since Marcus and Kyja obtained the help of the land and water elementals, but before they can secure the help from the mysterious air elementals, the two friends must first be reunited. A task easier said than done.

Master Therapass is worried that trying to pull Marcus to Farworld would put him in danger of the shadow realm, but if Marcus stays on Earth, he’ll be sent back to the Philo T. Justice School for Boys instead of being able to stay on the protected grounds of the monastery.

While attempting to return to Farworld, Marcus finds himself in the Abyss of Time, facing four doors: the Is, the Was, the Will Be, and the Never Was. What he learns in that dangerous place has the potential to change his life—and Kyja’s. But does he have the courage to tell her what he learned?

And in Farworld, a drought, floods, and blizzards have seized the land, hinting that perhaps there is a traitor in the elementals’ midst. The Dark Circle is growing in power, and as Marcus and Kyja desperately search for the air elementals, they must first answer the question “Is there anyone we can trust?”

My Review

In the past few years, it seemed that I asked always Jeff the same question whenever I saw him.  "When is the next Farworld coming out?"  I'm sure he was getting rather sick of me asking, but as a huge fan of the series, how could you blame me?  Naturally, I was ecstatic when I heard the rest of the series was going to be completed.  Air Keep does not disappoint.  It has the same heart and action as the first two books and I really enjoyed how much the characters care about each other.  It has been 6 months since Kyja and Marcus were together.  Kyja and Master Therapass were trying to find a safe way to get Marcus to Farworld.  It was taking too long for Kyja, so she decides to take matter into her own hands.  As you can guess, things don't go quite as planned.  Something happens to Marcus before Kyja is able to reach him, and he sees something that could change things for both kids.

I loved this book.  It felt like I was visiting old friends.  But, these friends are on a very dangerous journey, while I get to come along with them unscathed.

5 out of 5 stars.  Jeff is the author of many fabulous books.  He has been very busy, and has had three releases in the last six months.  Case File 13: Zombie Kid was released in December of 2012, and Dark Memories in January 2013.

Author Links

Goodreads / Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Deseret Book / Seagull Book

I am giving away this whole series! Yes, you read that right.  Water Keep, Land Keep and Air Keep!

Books 1 and 2 are paperback, and Air Keep is hardcover.  Fill out the Rafflecopter below.  US ONLY.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ephraim's Rescue -- Premiere Giveaway

I was invited to a blogger event last week where I was able to hear the T.C. Christensen (director) and Darin Southam (star) of Ephraim's Rescue talk about this new release from Excel Entertainment.  T.C. Christensen also directed 17 Miracles.

Synopsis

From T.C. Christensen, director of the sensational pioneer film, 17 Miracles, comes the heroic true story of a simple man who was called to do the work of angels. Ephraim’s Rescue relates the story of Ephraim Hanks: a rescuer of the Martin Handcart company.

Follow Ephraim as his adventures lead him to join the LDS Church and ultimately to one of the most heroic rescues in American history. With a unique desire to help andstrengthen others, Ephraim learns that each choice we make can prepare us for what lies ahead. He discovers, through it all, that decisions determine destiny.

Director

T.C. Christensen

Producer/ Writer/ Director

T.C. Christensen is one of the brilliant minds behind the camera when it comes to these family favorites:

17 Miracles (Excel Entertainment); Emma Smith: My Story (Morning Dew); Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration (LDS Church); Testaments (LDS Church); The Work & the Glory (Manchester Pictures); Forever Strong (Go Films); Sea Monsters (National Geographic); Roving Mars (Disney); The Buttercreme Gang(Family Films); Rigoletto (Family Films); The Mouths of Babes (VTA); Finding Faith in Christ (LDS Church); Treasure in Heaven: The John Tanner Story (VTA); Only a Stonecutter (VTA).

T.C. has won over 270 national and international awards for his work in directing and photography. In 2010 he was invited to join the American Society of Cinematographers.

Starring

Darin Southam as Ephraim Hanks.

Darin's passion for acting started with a play in his 7th grade drama class and has evolved into a career, with roles that span from indie films, such as Last Man(s) On Earth, to Disney's Halloweentown High, Discovery Channel's I Shouldn't Be Alive, and Fox's 127 Hours. A former student of Playhouse West in North Hollywood (Jeff Goldblum, James Franco, Michelle Pfieffer, etc.)

Darin enjoys the method of digging deep into the characters he portrays. At heart, Darin is a family man with a wife and 3 young children; he hopes his performance as Ephraim Hanks in T.C.'s Ephraim's Rescue will elevate his opportunity to pursue what he truly loves to do - act in film. More info about Darin can be found at darinsoutham.com. Facebook Page.

Links for Ephraim's Rescue

Website / Facebook / Trailer / Trailer 2 / Theater Listings / Paul Cardall Music Video

I am excited to tell you that I have TWO premiere tickets to giveaway.  Contest ends Friday May 17th, at midnight.  The winner will choose which one they can attend.  Please leave a thoughtful comment below with your email.  If no email address is listed, I will pick a new winner.  

Special Screening Choices

Monday, May 20th -- Gateway Salt Lake City 11:00 am
Thursday, May 23rd -- Red Carpet Premiere in Centerville 7:00 pm
Saturday, May 25th -- St. George, Pineview Stadium 3:00 pm
Tuesday, May 28th -- Ogden, The Junction 6:30 pm
Wednesday, May 29th -- Logan, University Stadium 6:30 pm
Wednesday, May 29th -- Orem, Cinemark 6:30 pm

Snow Whyte and the Queen of Mayhem by Melissa Lemon

Snow Whyte and the Queen of Mayhem

Author: Melissa Lemon

Publisher: Sweetwater Books/Cedar Fort

Published: December 11th, 2012

ISBN13: 9781462111459

Hardcover: 288 pages

FTC FYI: Received a PDF from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, then purchased my own copy.

Inside Book Jacket

Katiyana Whyte's world is only as big as the apple orchard she was raised on.  She can never leave the home where she grew up under the careful eye of her uncle Barney.  But when life at the orchard suddenly becomes dangerous and her childhood friend Jeremy begs her to flee, Kat finds refuge in the Fluttering Forest with seven dwarves.

Meanwhile, the queen of Mayhem, an evil sorceress, learns through her magic mirror that the daughter she believed to be dead, still lives.  Enraged, she sends a servant to kill Kat, the princess of Mayhem, but Kat finds protection in a spell that causes snowstorms whenever she is in danger, giving her the nickname Snow Whyte.

In the wonderfully imagined Snow Whyte and the Queen of Mayhem, nobody is quite who they seem.  Full of romance and adventure, this is the magical tale of Snow White as you've never read it.

My Review

4 of out 5 stars.  I was instantly taken with this story.  I loved the narrator (I won't say who he is for spoiler reasons, but you find out early on).  I really enjoyed seeing each character through his eyes.  The Queen was awesomely evil.  She truly was a wicked queen, and written very well.  Queen Radiance (as she made her subjects call her) stole the show.  There are so many twists in this great story, and lots of fun surprises.  Kat is a sweetheart.  I enjoyed how her little dwarf friends loved her , and how she loved them.  Jeremy was an unexpected surprise, and his story is so cool!  Again, many twists that are very enjoyable.

Author Links

Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Seagull Book / Deseret Book

Lost then Found by Heather B. Moore

Lost then Found: An Aliso Creek Novella

Author: Heather B. Moore 

Publisher: Mirror Press, LLC

Published: May 1st, 2013

ebook: 60 pages

FTC FYI: Received a free review copy.

Goodreads Summary

Welcome to the Aliso Creek Novella series

Liz, Gemma, Arie, Jess, and Drew have been best friends since creating “the Five” at Aliso Creek High School. But that was over ten years ago, and each is still trying to find that perfect someone... if perfect is even possible.

Arie, at the top of her career as VP of an established real estate company, discovers that her success has led to a less-than-successful dating life. But she may have just met the ideal man in work-a-holic film producer, Dustin Jacobs. Seeing each other once a week, or even once a month, is no big deal since they are both ambitious… until Arie realizes she wants much, much more.

My Review

As always with Heather's book, I was immediately taken into the story in Lost then Found.  Arie is an instantly likable character.  I also enjoyed that we were able to get to know Valentina a bit in this book, as well.  Valentina is an ex-girlfriend of Drew's that I have been curious about.  I really like the novellas in this series and I have become a huge fan of short stories.  Arie has a lot happen to her in this "short" story and she handles herself well.  Dustin is a high-powered producer who seems taken with her from the start.  Their relationship hits a few snags at the beginning, and one at the end that I didn't see coming, but enjoyed.  Each of these novellas are unique and are fun, fast reads.  They do not need to be read in order, either.

4 out of 5 stars.  Heather is the author of many fabulous books and short stories.  Read more about her awesomeness here.  The last Aliso Creek novella, One Chance, comes out June 1st, 2013.  Heather is also apart of the Timeless series of short stories.  Summer Weddings came out May 3rd.  Five other authors also contributed:  Sarah M. Eden, Annette Lyon, Melanie Jacobson, Julie Wright, Rachael Renee Anderson.  These are books you don't want to miss.

Author Links

Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

The Beginning of Better Days by Sheri Dew and Virginia H. Pearce

The Beginning of Better Days-Divine Instruction to Women from the Prophet Joseph Smith

Author: Sheri Dew & Virginia H. Pearce

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published: July 30, 2012

ISBN13: 9781606418512

FTC FYI: Review copy

Back cover: How important are women in the restored church of Jesus Christ?  We learn something about the answer to that question from a simple historical fact.  In 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith took time to attend several meetings of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo and give personal instruction to the women there.  He did this at a time of great personal turmoil, when persecutions were raging and his responsibilities were heavy.  He did it at a time when society barely acknowledged women as having any kind of status at all.  On six separate occasions, he taught the women personally about their privileges, their opportunities, their obligations, and the blessings the Lord had in store for them in his Kingdom.

The Beginning of Better Days includes Joseph Smith's six timeless sermons to the women of Nauvoo, along with personal essays from Sheri Dew and Virginia H. Pearce that helps us better understand the sermons and their relevance for Latter-day Saint women today.  "We have attempted to share a little about our own processes of discovery regarding the sermons," write the authors.  "This is what worked for us.  What works for you may be similar--or it may be completely different.  The important thing is to dig in."

My Review

This book was amazing.  While I enjoyed reading the sermons from the Prophet Joseph, I also took to heart the beautiful essays from Sheri Dew and Virginia Pearce.  What I took most out of it was being more charitable.  Charity is something that I need to work on.  Also, letting people serve me too.  I am very independent, but I know that I can't do it all alone.  A sister in my ward that I visit teach mentioned that she always signs up for things in our Relief Society binder to serve others.  She has Wednesday afternoons off from work, and finds that when she opens her heart to service, she finds slots available for those days so she is able to help.  I really admire that quality in her, and will take her example in my own life.

My favorite quotes came from the last two pages from Sheri Dew.

"By the very nature of what he chose to teach women, Joseph Smith established expectations for every woman who would have the privilege of living in this great, culminating dispensation--the one foreseen by prophets since the beginning of time, the dispensation of the fulness of times. Our dispensation.  And the first expectation is that we learn how to receive the truths, the spiritual gifts, and the privileges the Lord has offered to his true followers. 

page 78

 If we are willing to become the women the Prophet Joseph admonishes us to become, women who are true followers of Jesus Christ, the encroaching darkness in the world will actually provide our opportunity.  For the women of the world will look to us in increasing numbers and will see in the gospel a better way." page 79

5 out of 5 stars. A beautiful and moving book to add to your library.  Joseph's words to the sisters in 1842, still apply to us today.  Even more so.

Purchase Links

Deseret Book / Seagull Book

Parenting with Spiritual Power by Julie K. Nelson -- Blog Tour

Parenting with Spiritual Power

Author: Julie K. Nelson

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Published: March 12, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-4621-1168-8

Paperback: 192 pages

FTC  FYI: Received a review copy in exchange for an honest review

Backcover

"I wish children came with an instruction manual!"

How many times have we heard this lament by a frustrated or overwhelmed parent?  Perhaps we have said these words ourselves.  There are "how-to" manuals for practically anything:  installing a new faucet, building a remote control car, baking an apple pie, refinishing an antique chair, or assembling a bicycle.  Is there a formula or a perfect manual for raising children?  Yes!  The scriptures.

In Parenting with Spiritual Power, Julie Nelson examines the lives of mothers and fathers in the scriptures (the best instruction manual) and the parenting principles we can learn from them.  Discover powerful parenting examples from Adam and Eve, the brother of Jared, and Captain Moroni, along with suggestions for personal application in this essential book.

My Review

Wow!  This book is exactly what parents need for some wonderfully inspired parenting advice.  While reading I thought to myself, yes, I need to do it this way, or this can make it so there may be less contention, etc.  Some things are so helpful, it is almost common sense.  These are lesson that we all can be doing as parents, especially myself.  I loved how the scripture references were used to support each chapter.  I am far from being perfect parent, ask my kids, but I know with the Lord's help, I can become a better parent.

I took some notes while reading this book that I wanted to share.

1. Our Heavenly Father is never too busy to listen.  His back is never turned.  (page 12)
2. Each child's feelings should be validated.  When resolving conflicts, we need to ask, gather information, and listen, listen, listen.  (page 15)
3. Catch the child being good...  Focus on the positive we see in our children.  Teach doctrine when guiding and correcting children.  (page 21)
4. "Parents are never failures when they do their best to love, teach, pray, and care for their children.  Their faith, prayers, and efforts will be consecrated to the good of their children."  (Elder Robert D. Hales, page 25)

These are just a few of the helpful examples that I found while reading Parenting with Spiritual Power.  You will be lifted up and feel, that even on your worst days, you can do this.  We all need a little help and a spiritual boost.  This book gives you both.

Author Links 

Goodreads / Website

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Books & Things / Deseret Book 

The Newstead Project by Melanie Schultz -- Book Blast

The Newstead Project

Joel Cranston shouldn’t exist. He just doesn’t know that yet. He’s lived a pretty normal life for the last sixteen years. If you consider being almost seven feet tall and good at about every sport you’ve ever played normal. Normal ends the day Newstead shows up with an invitation to come to their school.

the school.

Newstead is a private high school in Central Vermont by the Green Mountains. It’s a great place to hide a few hundred people who shouldn’t exist while you train them to become tomorrow’s rulers, tomorrow’s dictators, tomorrow’s gods.

the unexpected.

Rachel Newell thinks she’s just passing through. She never stays any place more than four months and with Newstead so close to Weston, she has even more reason to make this her shortest stop ever. The last thing she expects is to have a reason to stay.

Together Rachel and Joel uncover the truth behind what is

the newstead project.

Amazon * Amazon Kindle

Book Trailer

Author Melanie Schulz

I live in Upstate New York with my husband and three children, where I’ve pretty much been planted my entire life.  Which is fine, because it’s beautiful here. My only complaint is that most people assume that New York means NYC, which it doesn’t. There. I’ve done my part in exposing the truth. Truth. The truth is I’m not a writer; storyteller maybe, but not a writer. It wasn’t something I spent years dreaming of, or even what I went to school for. I’m a nurse. I love being a nurse. So why write? I don’t know. I do know when it started, though. September 3, 2010. I know this because I nature journal, and on that day Joel made it into my notes. I guess that’s fitting. Someone like him needed to be birthed out in the woods. If you were to meet me, and I hope someday you do, you would not connect me with this story. I’m a wife, a mother, a nurse. The person who wrote this should’ve been a guy, first off, secondly he should be some militaristic strategist; that’s who you’d expect to see if you were to come to a book signing, not me. But I’m there, in every line. So if I don’t have the good fortune to meet you in person, I hope to see you in THE NEWSTEAD PROJECT.

Website * Blog * Facebook

Tour Schedule

Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 5/19/13

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 http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway