Womanhood Rocks!

I've done posts in the past on the importance of being a woman, but this past week it has freshly dawned on me how truly marvelous we are. Whether you are a stay-at-home mother, a working mother, a mother-to-be, a woman with no children, or a single woman, we are all daughters of God, and we have a purpose in this life. We can, and do, accomplish great things. And let's face it, where would men be without us?:-)
I found some really neat quotes on womanhood and would like to share them with you.

A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.
Diane Mariechild

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.
Eleanor Roosevelt

A woman is like a teabag. It's only when she's in hot water that you realize how strong she is.
Nancy Reagan

I am convinced that the influence of an army of godly women will be incalculable--in our homes, our churches, and our culture. Will you be one of those women?
Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Beautiful woman,
let your brilliance shine through,
your eyes speak of true inner beauty.
Fion Lin

Suggested Reading

Book: Women of the Book of Mormon: Insights and Inspirations
Author: Heather B. Moore

The Book
Explore the lives, circumstances, and choices of women in the Book of Mormon in this uplifting and inspirational volume that illustrates the parallels between the lives of the women of the Book of Mormon and LDS women today. With new insights on practically every page, author Heather B. Moore explores the written and unwritten stories of the prominent women in the Book of Mormon — taking familiar material and providing vivid details about family dynamics, domestic practices, and other aspects of daily life. By applying historical and cultural contexts to the situations of women like Sariah, Abish, Eve, Mary, and the faithful mothers of the striplings warriors, you will peek beneath the surface of the scriptural accounts to better understand both the righteous women of the Book of Mormon — and the women who didn’t use their agency wisely.

I read this whole book in one sitting. Like all of Heather's books, she takes the stories of these women and gives them depth, makes them real, and helps us to understand them, both the righteous and unrighteous. This book also helps to reiterate the importance of choice and the consequences that come with those choices.
A very inspiring read and the perfect gift for the important women in your life.

The Cleansing of America

I really love books that warn us about what is going on in the world and give us guidance on how we can prepare. I've also been a great fan of the late W. Cleon Skousen's writings and talks. His new book The Cleansing of America will definitely be an eye opener for those who don't truly understand the negative changes that have come over our country.

The Book
Dr. W. Cleon Skousen spent the majority of his life researching the gospel, the U.S. Constitution, the founding of America and writing numerous books and articles on the topic. He is also one of the most well-known, respected defenders of America and the gospel the world has ever known. At the time of his passing in 2006, his work was not yet finished. His book The Cleansing of America, written in 1994 and given into the care and keeping of his sons, is now being brought forth for the first time ever.

Included in these pages are the events and stages the Lord has predicted, through his servants, the winding-up scenes of this world. It helps the reader understand: the nature of prophecy, the known chronology of prophetic events, and the importance of staying close to the Lord and his prophets during the difficult and challenging years prior to the Second Coming. We are fast approaching those prophetic events. Some are upon us even now.

If we are prepared and obedient, we need not fear these events, but rather embrace them for the blessings they portend.

To order your copy of The Cleansing of America, log onto http://www.amazon.com/Cleansing-America-W-Cleon-Skousen/dp/193554621X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268428647&sr=1-1

A Little Humor - A Lot of Truth

I found a neat little quote by George Carlin, one of my favorite people.

"I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as the get older; then it dawned on me-they're cramming for their final exam."

I chuckled as I read this because in a way, it is so true. Sometimes we forget how short this life really is, and how important it is to constantly stay close to God. Life is an unending education and we should be taking full advantage of each and every opportunity to increase our knowledge of what it's all about.

Suggested Reading

Book: The Thorn: Book One- The Chronicles of Gan
Author: Daron D. Fraley

The Book
Three tribes are at war on the planet Gan, unaware that the sign of Christ's birth on an unknown world - Earth - is about to appear in the heavens.

During a bloody skirmish with Gideonite troops, Jonathan of Daniel spares Pekah, a young enemy soldier, gaining his trust forever. These two distant brothers from estranged tribes covenant with each other to end the war being waged by a self-proclaimed emperor, and soon discover the intentions of a far more dangerous foe named Rezon - a sinister general bent on ruling those he can bring into subjection and destroying all others.

In the end, Pekah's selfless bravery is the means by which all the tribes are united. But there are dissenters, and Rezon escapes a well-deserved fate. When the promised heavenly signs appear, will there be peace at last, or will the malefactors once again threaten the safety of them all?

Thorn will be available to purchase on March 16th. To learm more about Daron and his book, log on to daronfraley.com

New Ebook ! Tears of Heaven: A Love Story

Well, I'm still at my daughter's place waiting for my grand baby. It's being a little stubborn, well actually, very stubborn since she's two and a half weeks late. This kid doesn't know what its putting its grandparents through. On the upside, I've been able to use this waiting time to finish up some projects I've been working on.
Bookwise, this is going to be a great year for me because I'll have three new ebook releases this year. Two are LDS contemporary romances and one is a children's reader.

The first of the books is Tears of Heaven: A Love Story and is available to order now from my website.

About the Book

Escaping from an abusive relationship, Heaven Gundersen flees to the safety of her grandparent's home and begins a new life in Sweden, praying the past is behind her. When she accepts the housekeeping job arranged by her grandparents, she has no idea how much it will change his life. Her boss, Sergei Petrenko, is a retired hockey player, and definitely not what she had expected.

No matter how hard she tries to guard her heart, Sergei's kindness makes it impossible to do and she once again opens up to love. But leaving the past behind isn't as easy as she hoped it would be, and the peace she has found in her new life is about to be shattered by the nightmare she thought she'd escaped.

Tears of Heaven is the new emotionally charged novella that will touch your heart and make you cheer the endurance of the human spirit.

Order Tears of Heaven and receive a free copy of the young adult romance ebook For Love of Angel!
Tears of Heaven is only $3.95 a copy. To order, log on to jadamsnovels.com
Get your copy today!

Behind The Columns

I've been a slacker for the past couple of weeks and things have been pretty crazy at my house, but now I'm in the snowy town of Cedar City, waiting for my daughter to go into labor and have our grandchild, and I now have a moment to get back on track.

Today I'm happy to feature Behind the Columns, a historical romance by Arlette Gaffrey. The story is about two star crossed lovers and is one of power, deception.

The Book
The year is 1846. Désirée Bordeaux is a beautiful Créole belle living with her aging grandfather, a heavy drinker and gambler who has accrued huge debts. When he dies suddenly, Désirée learns that her beautiful New Orleans plantation, Chêne Vue, is to be put on the auction block.

Désirée finds herself being wooed by Philippe Jaunet, a cruel man who lusts after Chêne Vue and strikes fear in Désirée’s heart. She is also being courted by the handsome and wealthy New Yorker, Lance Van Buren, but her heart belongs to another—the man who broke her heart and married someone else. Désirée is pulled in different directions, her life complicated by circumstances, misunderstandings, lies, and betrayal—and the workings of her own turbulent heart. Will love eventually win out for this southern belle? Power, passion, and deception rule in Arlette Gaffrey’s latest novel, Behind the Columns.

I was pulled right into this book and there was never a dull moment, and, just as in her previous novel A World of His Own, there is a great deal of historic info on the Creoles. I loved this story.
I asked Arlette how she came up with the story. This is her answer.

"To be truthful I really don't know. After I wrote A World Of His Own-In The Land Of The Creoles, and I saw how well it was received, I thought it might be a nice thing to write about New Orleans at a later date, (1846). And like my first book the story just started to form in my mind, and after awhile it demanded to be written down.

Then I wondered how many people knew about the Patroon system in New York, so I thought it would be interesting to move the story from one end of the country to the other. From the Deep South to the Far North. So of course I had to find a way to bring someone from New York to New Orleans, hence Lance Van Buren.

Once these pictures began to form in my mind, I could hardly wait to get them written down and then sit back and see what happened. Because that's the exciting thing about the way I write. I never know how the story is going to go or even turn out any more than the reader. I just let the story and the characters take over and do their own thing, and for me it seems to work. I think that's why I love writing so much. I've always been a "free spirit" and I hate to be tied down, but in life we are tied down to our lives, but in my stories I can just let loose and go with the flow.

Behind the Columns is available on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, as well as B&N and Borders bookstores. To learn more about Arlette, visit her website at arlettegaffrey.com

The Important Things

With each day, week, month, and year that passes, I find my mind more and more fixed on the important things.
I learned a lot so far on this journey we call life, and I know there are a million more things I need to learn, but I'm ready for the lessons because each one will be for my good. I know they will.
Over the years I have learned:

Not to judge. You never know what is going on in the lives of others.

To forgive. How can I expect to be forgiven of others if I choose to hold on to things and not forgive, myself?

To love unconditionally. God loves me and He asks me to do the same in return.

Be positive. It takes so much more energy to be negative.

Look for the good. In a world that is as troubled as ours has become, this can be a hard thing to do, but it can be done.

Be grateful. No matter what I am going through, I try to remind myself that things can always be worse.

A little over a week ago I had the opportunity to speak to a group of women who are overcoming drug addiction, and it was one of the most meaningful things I have ever been privileged to do. What a marvelous opportunity that was! What an amazing group of women! They varied in ages and ethnic background, but I understood them, because I was once where they are, and though they have all been through many things and I can't possibly understand how they feel personally, I can definitely relate and empathize. Visiting with these beautiful women helped to renew my surety that it is never too late to change, and with God's help, we can overcome anything. It also strengthened my conviction that we are here to live the best we can and be happy. We don't judge one another, we help one another.

This life is so short. I see that now more than I ever could before, and eternal things are ringing more true. I guess that's what comes with hitting the middle age years. The world is moving at a faster pace. I see my children growing up and moving on before I can blink. I see a few more lines around my eyes when I smile and a few more gray hairs highlighting the black. But you know what? It's okay. This is the way things are supposed to be. And I wouldn't change any of it.
I love this life that God has given me. I hope you can see the good in yours as well, and I hope we can all remember to fix our minds on the important things.

For the month of February if you purchase a printed copy of my young-adult fantasy The Journey, you get a second copy free!
Don't miss this opportunity to share this inspiring story with those you love. To order, log on to jadamsnovels.com

The Journey audio book is now available on Itunes and Audible.com
Download your copy today!

No Going Back by Jonathan Langford

Every parent knows how painful it is to watch your child make poor choices, and it is especially hard when they give in to temptations and trials and make choices that could jeopardize their future. Sometimes they choose paths that bring heartache to both them and the family. But then again sometimes they face weaknesses that they honestly fight to overcome, and it becomes a day-to-day struggle for them. You ache for them immensely, but you can't shelter them from the pain that could strengthen them and help them to grow.

I had the opportunity to read No Going Back by Jonathan Langford. It is the story of a Mormon teenager dealing with the issue of same-sex attraction. I was deeply touched by the story and I read the whole book in a day.

The Book
A gay teenage Mormon growing up in western Oregon in 2003. His straight best friend. Their parents. A typical LDS ward, a high-school club about tolerance for gays, and a proposed anti-gay-marriage amendment to the state constitution. In No Going Back, these elements combine in a coming-of-age story about faithfulness and friendship, temptation and redemption, tough choices and conflicting loyalties.

I will warn you that there is some language, mostly at the beginning, but none of it is explicit. Despite that, I was completely drawn in to the story and it stayed with me long after I finished the book.