An Unexpected Role by Leslea Wahl Review + Giveaway

An Unexpected Role by Leslea Wahl



Josie, a clumsy teen and theater nerd, has an abundance of mortifying moments. These moments are unfortunately incorporated into her mother's novels, which are then published for all of her school to see.

Embarrassed and needing to escape, she leaves home to visit her aunt on Coral Island and resolves to spend a perfect summer on the beach where no one she knows can find her. She spends day after day on the beach, becomes best friends with her elderly neighbor, and gets a boyfriend. Everything is going perfectly- until Ryan shows up.

Josie is convinced he is going to ruin her summer. Ryan is a boy from school who seems to follow her everywhere and is annoyingly certain that her boyfriend has something to do with the robberies that are plaguing Coral Island.

As the mystery continues to unfold, tragedy strikes, and Josie must decide if she believes in God, who she stands behind, and who she is.

I loved this book! It was fantastic. Josie was a great character and it was fun to see where the story took her.

Also, we are doing a GIVEAWAY of this book! On the 27th of September, we will put up a post titled "An Unexpected Role Giveaway". If you comment any book you would like us to review on that post, you are automatically entered into the giveaway. The comment section will be closed on the 4th of October and the winner will be announced on the 5th.

One more thing! We are going to be posting a lot more now. If you could email us requests to review a book you like, or if you are an author hoping to get more publicity for your book, that'd be great. Thanks!

-Grace

By the Stars by Lindsay B. Ferguson

By the Stars by Lindsay B. Ferguson

Over the years, I have been asked to review many, many, many books. Because I haven't blogged often in the last couple years, I have mostly ignored email requests for reviews. When Lindsay B. Ferguson emailed me, I had to chuckle. She is my neighbor, and I was aware of her upcoming debut novel, but she didn't realize who I was. :) I told her that I'm a blogging slacker, and we decided not to have my blog be part of her big blog tour. You see...It gets sticky reviewing books for people you know. What if you hate it?

But...I bought the book on my Kindle the day it was released, and I wasn't just pleasantly surprised, I LOVED IT. I love that it is based on a true story, and I can't wait to talk to Lindsay about what exactly is history and what she created. I love the characters. I love the romance. I love it all. And you know what it really made me want to do? Like big time? Go dancing! Can we resurrect dance halls, please?

I know that among my friends, Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson, was extremely well-liked. Edenbrooke was the first in a collection of "Proper Romances". For friends who love Edenbrooke and other clean romance novels, By the Stars should be your next read!

From Amazon: "When Cal finally gets a chance with Kate, the girl he's loved since grade school, their easy friendship quickly blossoms into a meaningful romance. Spirited and independent, Kate keeps a guarded heart due to a painful past, and Cal wants nothing more than to gain her trust. But World War II soon cuts their time far too short, and Cal prepares to part from her - possibly for good. After he's gone, what Kate does next changes everything. 

In the suffocating jungles of the Philippines Cal encounters the chilling life of a soldier and deadly battles of war. With Kate's memory willing him on, Cal must put his trust in God to survive if he hopes to ever return to her. Inspired by a true story, By the Stars is a love story that stands the test of time and the most intense obstacles."

Our Current Reading

I'm usually a One-Book-at-a-Time kinda girl, but at the moment I'm all over the place.

As much of a reader as I've been over the last decade, I feel like my eyes are just beginning to open, and I feel this thirst for more knowledge...and it feels good.

Right now, I'm making my way through...

Non-LDS Books


The Cat of Bubastes by G. A. Henty-There's so much to learn from his historical fiction. Wow! Makes a great read-aloud. Long at times, I admit, but it's quite the adventure. We're all enjoying it.


Les Miserables by Victor Hugo-So great when I read it, but I find myself drawn to other books first.


LDS Books


10 Critical Keys for Highly Effective Mormon Families by William Dyer and Philip Kunz-Interesting look at what successful families do.


The Infinite Atonement by Tad R. Callister-Beautiful. Great insights.


The Temple Experience by Wendy Ulrich-Haven't read much yet, but I'm hoping that it will help me get more out of my temple experiences.



That's it at the moment. What are you reading?

Book Review : Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson

Have you heard of the Fabulous Mrs. Stephanie Nielson of Nie Nie Dialogues fame? Of course you have...or if you haven't, it's time to find out about this amazing and lovely woman.

Did you know that she recently released a book? Well, it's every bit as wonderful as you expect it to be.

Heaven Is Here: An Incredible Story of Hope, Triumph, and Everyday Joy by Stephanie Nielson

Stephanie Aurora Nielson had a fairy-tale life befitting her fairy-tale name and good looks. You know, like "lips to shame the red-red rose" and all that. It was the life she had always dreamed of...the life she imagined through her paper dolls until well past the age when most girls stopped playing paper dolls anymore.

And she was happy. She blogged up her happy life, reveling in the beauty of day-to-day life as a wife and mother.

Mr. Christian Nielson was also following his dreams. He was learning to fly.

But disaster struck. Along with their friend/flight instructor, Doug, they were in a terrible crash. Stephanie came out with burns on 80% of her body, Christian came out a little better off but still badly injured, and Doug didn't come out at all.

Stephanie was in a drug-induced coma for three months. When she awoke, she didn't want to see anyone. At times, she lost all hope and believed she could never be happy again.

But gradually, as she learned to sit up again, and then stand and walk, her personality shone through, and she realized that she still had everything she ever wanted...her family and her faith.

She talks about her life as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints aka Mormons, which I also belong to. This book is a very non-threatening way to find out a little bit about that. It's not written in a preachy way. It's just part of her life (as it is mine).

I enjoy Stephanie Nielson's blog and have read it off and on for several years. I LOVED this book, though. It is about hope, love, joy, faith, and the importance of family. Stephanie shows us how, even in the midst of sore trials, we can find joy in the simple things that matter most (even laundry!)

I highly recommend Heaven is Here to adults and young adults. So inspiring.

Birthmarked and Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien is another dystopian young adult novel that I read recently in an attempt to keep myself awake at night. It worked.

Gaia Stone, a sixteen year old midwife, lives outside the Enclave wall. She is required to give a certain number of delivered babies to the guards at the gate each month. She's never questioned this requirement (or any others for that matter) until now. The government, the very leaders she has always served, imprison her parents, forcing her to rethink everything she has always known.

A brave heroine, Gaia is willing to risk her life to save her parents. In the process, she discovers the secrets of the Enclave. In her fight against the institution, she finds personal strength and romance with a handsome member of the Enclave.

Birthmarked left me hungering for the sequel, which I downloaded to my Kindle immediately. Unfortunately, Prized, while very entertaining, brought up an issue that I wish had been left alone...Abortion. The book could have easily been written without bringing this into it. 

In Prized, Gaia strikes out into the wilderness with her newborn sister in search of a group of rebels. What she finds is a fascinating matriarchal colony in the middle of nowhere. In this colony ten boys are born to every girl, so women are highly prized. Men aren't even allowed to vote...or talk to women or touch them without invitation.

However, due to some unknown cause, everyone who tries to leave the colony gets sick and dies. All Gaia really wants is to keep her sister safe.

Like I said, this book was entertaining. I would have endorsed it (and Birthmarked) whole-heartedly if it had not been for the topic of abortion. 

A minor character in the book who is unmarried asks Gaia to make her miscarry a baby. Gaia wrestles with the idea because of her love of babies and instinct to protect them, but she chooses to help with the miscarriage, deciding that the mother's choice is the most important thing.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

In an attempt to stay awake while nursing in the middle of the night, I've been reading some YA dystopia. Divergent by Veronica Roth is one of them. My intention for these books is that I will only read them while nursing in the night and not during the day....that doesn't work out so well. I mean, the whole point is that the book is enough of a page-turner that I won't put it down and fall asleep. It's hard not to pick them up while nursing during the day.

Anyway, enough rambling. Divergent is an entertaining book. It has a bit more grit to it than some of my favorites, but still, it was a page-turner. 

The Amazon blurb about it says this: 

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the YA scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Divergent has a fair amount of violence, as many of the dystopian books do. I don't think there was any swearing or sexuality, but I was mostly reading it at 3 am.  :) The main characters get tattoos as part of their initiation into their faction, as well.

I'd probably give this book three out of five stars.

Matched by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie

Society is in control of everything. And Cassia has always been okay with that. The officials choose what she'll eat, what she'll do in society, and who she'll marry.

When her best friend comes up as her match at her matching ceremony, she couldn't be happier. After all, the officials know who you are most likely to be happy and successful with.

Later, during some time alone, Cassia puts a chip into her computer that  will tell her more about her match.

And her whole world turns upside down.

A different boy's face appears on the screen. Is it possible that the officials make mistakes? Is her society less than perfect?

As she gets to know the other boy, she starts to wonder if he should be her match.

This is a dystopian novel about learning to make choices and falling in love.

Cassia is a great character, and her internal dialogue brings the reader into her story and into her head.

I can't wait to watch this series build!

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Boy, do I have an exciting (if a bit violent) book to share with you today!

When Thomas wakes up, he finds that he has been placed in the center of a giant maze. He's not alone. About 50 or 60 other boys are there along with him in the Glade. None of the boys remember anything about their lives previous to entering the maze.

For two years, one new boy has been placed in the maze every thirty days, so they were expecting a new arrival when Thomas came through the Box. However, the day after Thomas showed up, a girl comes through the Lift, half dead, and bearing a strange message.

This book will appeal to fans of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, and Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.

As for cleanliness, like I said, this book is a bit violent. You'll probably want to preview it before handing it to your kids. If you've read The Hunger Games or Ender's Game, the violence level is similar to those. There is also a lot of fake swearing. The boys are always using their made-up curses (klunk, shank, slinthead....)

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book...couldn't put it down until I'd read the last word....and now I'm hungry for book 2!

 

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Without fail, when people find out that I review books, and that I particularly enjoy YA Fantasy, the first question they ask is, "Have you read Fablehaven?"

Until now, the answer was no. I know. Many of you are shocked. You might even stop reading my book review blog because 'how could I possibly NOT have read Fablehaven before now?'

Well, I have my excuses, but you don't really need to hear them, so let's get on with the review already.

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

13 year old, Kendra, and her younger brother, Seth, are being shipped off to visit their grandparents, who they hardly know.

Before long, they discover that Grandma and Grandpa's house is much more than it seems. In the forest just past the yard, strange creatures roam.

It's Fablehaven...a preserve for mythical creatures like fairies, witches, trolls, you name it. Seth, who is always ready to explore and break the rules, leads Kendra into all sorts of troublesome adventures.

Fablehaven is the first book in an intensely popular fantasy series. The good news is that the fifth (and final) book was recently released, so if you are just getting into the series (like me), you won't have to wait for the sequels to come out.

Highly recommended for Harry Potter fans looking for another great fantasy series. I can't wait to get a hold of book 2.

For a review of Water Keep, the first book in another one of Brandon Mull's bestselling series, click here.

Book Review: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Book Review by Bobbi Cook from This Little Book Blog


I have to say that I chose to read this book both for its sentimental cover and clever title. I had a feeling that it would be softly romantic, perhaps tragic even. It definitely lived up to my expectations, and I was left quite satisfied for having read it.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is the story of Henry Lee. We meet him as he is rediscovering and remembering his past. He is searching for a long lost object that means as much to him as it did to the sweet girl that he had a crush on when he was in his childhood. His journey takes him back to a time and place that were both turbulent and formative on his young, innocent soul.

At age twelve, Henry lives in Seattle’s Chinatown during the beginning of World War II. His parents are traditional Chinese immigrants who want the best for their only son. They send him to an all white school where he is on a scholarship. There he meets Keiko who is in a similar position, also attending Rainier Elementary. The two become fast friends, sharing an interest in Jazz.

Although Keiko lives just blocks away from Henry, their worlds are very different. She is Japanese American and lives in Nihonmachi. Her family is friendly and open minded, whereas Henry’s family will have nothing to do with the Japanese (his father angrily followed the Japanese invasion of China). Henry and Keiko meet in secret, until their friendship is threatened by the government evacuating her family to an internment camp. He is left to sort out his feelings for Keiko, and to make difficult decisions about his future.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet has been dubbed as a “wartime-era Chinese-Japanese variation on Romeo and Juliet” by The Seattle Times. I can understand the comparison. It is a story of young love, thwarted by societal prejudices, but I thought it was more than that. It made me really think about our history as a country, and the war-time decisions that were made that affected the lives of many thousands of Japanese American citizens. It also renewed my faith in the importance of love and friendship.

Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse by Kaleb Nation

Hey! I'm here on a Sunday for a very special occasion...a blog book tour. A lot has been said about this new series and its author. Hopefully, I'll say something interesting...

In 2003, Kaleb Nation, a fourteen-year-old homeschooler was lying in bed when he had "the idea". (His mom gave him lots of creative writing assignments. PS. Go homeschoolers!) Outoftheblue, he imagined a boy waiting on his roof for a burglar. The vision became the start of his first series.

Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse

Review by me, Emily

When Bran Hambric was six, he was found inside a bank vault without any recollection of his life before. The banker couldn't find out who he belonged to, so according to the law, was stuck with him. Bran was never treated as part of the family. To make matters worse, they live in Dunce, the city that outlawed all magic....which makes Bran a criminal...just for being alive.

As Bran puts together clues about his past, he isn't sure he wants to believe the things he learns about his mother. But they could be true. Afterall, he can't even remember her face.

The blog world is buzzing about the Bran Hambric series because Kaleb Nation is well-known online. He blogs regularly at KalebNation.com and TwilightGuy.com (which receives 10,000 hits/day...and, yes, I have been one of those hits...and, of course, yes...this blog receives that many, too ;) I wish.)

Having said that, I believe this book would have made it out into the world without the author's popularity. It is fun, adventurous, surprisingly fresh (despite being ANOTHER book where a boy finds out he's magic as a young teen), and, yes...deliciously clean.

I recommend this book if you are having Wizard Withdrawals.

PS. Mr. Kaleb Nation. If you are reading this, I'd love to hear how homeschool influenced your journey as a writer.

PSS. Thankyouverymuch. And good luck with your exciting new series.

Here is the enormous blog tour schedule.

Sunday, August 30th
Jenn’s Bookshelf
Homespun Light

Monday, August 31st
StevenTill.com
Dolce Bellezza
Bobbi’s Book Nook

Tuesday, September 1st
The Looking Glass Review
Edward-Cullen.net
Beth Fish Reads
SMS Book Reviews
James Holder’s YouTube Channel

Wednesday, September 2nd
Bookalicio.us
Reading Rumpus
Katie’s Literature Lounge
Ultimate Bookhound

Thursday, September 3rd
Brimful Curiosities
Charlotte’s Library

Friday, September 4th
BriMeetsBooks.com
Bran Hambric by Kaleb Nation

Saturday, September 5th
Library Lounge Lizard
Sarah’s Random Musings
Saulchichas
GreenFyr.com

Sunday, September 6th
Cindy’s Love of Books

Monday, September 7th
Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf
Grasping for the Wind
Life After Twilight vlog channel

Tuesday, September 8th
Shooting Stars Magazine
Mrs. Magoo Reads
Lori Calabrese Writes

Wednesday, September 9th
The Brain Lair
Dulemba.com
The Children’s Book Review
TV Watch Online

Thursday, September 10th
The Friendly Book Nook
Book Journey
Stephanie’s Written Word
Home School Buzz
Spidurmunkey.com

Friday, September 11th
The Inside Scoop With Chandelle
Booking Mama

Saturday, September 12th
Zoe’s Book Reviews
Lit for Kids

Sunday, September 13th
Never Jam Today
A Bibliophile’s Reverie

Monday, September 14th
Café of Dreams
Marta’s Meanderings
Galleysmith.com
A Book Blogger’s Diary
The Reader’s Quill

Tuesday, September 15th
a book in hand
MistiSchindele.com
Not Just for Kids

Wednesday, September 16th
Write for a Reader
CumpulsiveReader.com

Thursday, September 17th
Howling Good Books
The Written World

Friday, September 18th
Always Riddikulus
YA Books Central

Saturday, September 19th
Ms. Bookish
Into the Wardrobe

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King

Review by Elizabeth Marsh

Each fantastic storyline starts with a basic “what if” question. What if … Peter Pan grew up? What if … children of feuding families fell in love? What if … Sherlock Holmes really existed? What would he do after he retired? Can you really picture the best deductive mind in history raising bees? Laurie R. King’s first Beekeeper novel addresses these questions from the eyes of his accidental apprentice, fifteen-year-old Mary Russell, an orphaned, English-American who happens to (quite literally) bump into Holmes shortly after arriving in England.
Holmes takes the orphaned Russell under his wing, teaching her the art of analytical thinking and preparing her for whatever may come. Unfortunately, what comes is a ghost from Holmes' past, and one that he may no longer be able to defeat ... with or without the assistance of his new apprentice.

As an avid fan of anything Sherlock Holmes, I’m shocked it took me so long to find this book. King is a masterful author, fully immersing the reader in the world of Russell and Holmes, while injecting new life into a classic character—without changing the essence of Holmes. She even pokes fun at the Doyle novels through Holmes’ disparaging remarks as to their publication. Thrilling, suspenseful, and good-humored, this has quickly become one of my favorites. Be warned, this is the first in a series of nine. I was reluctant to read the second book, fearing that it couldn’t measure up to the first, but I was pleasantly surprised. What’s more, these books are shockingly clean – something that is becoming more of a rarity than one would suppose.

When We Were Saints by Han Nolan

WHEN WE WERE SAINTS by Han Nolan
Review by Joyce Moyer Hostetter, author

Wow! I scratched my head the whole time I was reading this book. I think I was trying to figure out if it was an allegory. There was such an air of unreality about it.

But perhaps, that is how another person's deeply religious experience always seems to someone else. Turns out this was a novel - the story of Archie Caswell's spiritual journey. Archie is a teen with a guilty conscience. So he's vulnerable. To make matters worse, his best friend moves away. So he's lonely.

Enter Clare, a mysterious girl with a message from God. Archie is captivated with her religious fervor and with the beauty and gentleness that seem to radiate from her. He is willing to try her religious rituals in hopes of overcoming the guilt he feels surrounding his grandfather's death. But he wants more than to be rid of guilt. He wants all that goodness he sees in Clare.

He does have some transcendent moments when he feels that God is with him, in him, and all around him. He has just enough of them to keep him following his new spiritual leader. He sometimes questions her decisions but mostly he sees how selfless she is and chides himself for doubting. And he questions himself, feeling guilty that he does not love God enough.

He wishes he, too, could go without food and devote himself to prayer. But hunger makes him grumpy and that adds to his guilt. There are moments when his relationship with Clare wears thin but she is so singly focused on becoming a saint, so forgiving and kind in response to him, that he always comes back to trusting her.Then eventually he has to make a choice - to listen to and trust the voice of God speaking within him OR to continue blindly follow Clare.

When We Were Saints includes a Reader Chat Page with thought-provoking questions. And readers will likely have many questions of their own as they follow this story. Lots of food for thought here. Lots of lively discussion potential!

A great read for anyone struggling with issues of faith! And for anyone interested in exploring the interplay of psychology and spirituality.

Han Nolan is author of If I Should Die Before I Wake (1994); the National Book Award finalist Send Me Down a Miracle (1996); the National Book Award winner Dancing on the Edge (1997); A Face in Every Window (1999); Born Blue (2001) and A Summer of Kings (2006).