Slowing It Down

This past couple of months have been the craziest I've experienced in a long, long time, and at times, I've felt like I might pass out from exhaustion. From traveling back and forth-back and forth from northern Utah to southern Utah for a grand-baby's birth to making trips to the chiropractor because of throwing my back out on my daughter's futon, to being very sick for a few weeks, I haven't been able to write as much as I usually do. But have no fear-I'm still doing all right. As a matter of fact, I'm doing so all right, I will be releasing three ebooks this spring/summer, and I've even started a new book.
Because I'm not recuperating as fast as I had hoped, I have decided to slow things down and give myself a break from writing every few days for a while. As much as my mind is rebelling against it right now, I will not type another word on my book tonight. I'm taking some time to smell the roses. Well . . . not smell the roses, but at least spend an hour with Jack Bauer as he saves the world yet again on 24:-)
So, my thought for the week is take time to slow down and allow life to catch up with you instead of the other way around. I promise ya, it will be worth it.

Be sure to order your copy of my newest LDS contemporary romance ebook Tears of Heaven by clicking on the link to the right!

Imprints

I am very blessed to be able to associate with some great writers and I am continuously in awe over their talent and ability to write book after book and always churn out a hit. Rachel Ann Nunes is one of these writers. And her new book Imprints is one of these hits. The story is fresh and original and another one of my favorites from Rachel.

The Book
Sometimes what you can't see means everything.
A young woman is missing. In desperation, her parents turn to Autumn Rain for help. Autumn reads imprints - emotions mysteriously left behind on certain treasured objects. But will this ability enrich her life or destroy it?

Autumn isn't sure - her life has become far from normal - but for people whose loved ones are missing, her talent might mean the difference between life and death. Even the infuriating Detective Martin has asked for Autumn's help, though at times she feels more like a suspect than a consultant. Too often Autumn find herself retreating to her antiques shop and the company of her best friend, Jake Ryan, to avoid notice.

But soon more than one woman is missing, and Autumn teams up with private eye Ethan McConnell to investigate their disappearance. Ethan's attraction to her is a pleasant change from Jake's frustrating offers of friendship, but once Autumn takes that first step, she sets in motion a series of events that risk not only her own life but the lives of those she cares most about.

This book has it all-mystery, suspense, and of course, romance. It's sure to please any reader.
Imprints is available at your local bookstore, as well as Amazon.com
Be sure to visit Rachel's blog and read about the great contest she has going right now! rachelannnunes.blogspot.com

The Canticle Kingdom

I love a good fantasy that is different from the rest of the pact-one that centers around a world too original for me to imagine. The Canticle Kingdom by Michael Young is such a book.

The Book
When a young blacksmith's apprentice named Johann discovers that his homeland is contained entirely within a small music box, it's up to him to protect the only home he's ever known. With the help of an impossibly ancient knight, his best friend, Brigitta, and his trusty homemade sword, Johann races to find the only people who can who can stop the dark power that threatens to destroy the Canticle Kingdom? An unsuspecting family and an old woodcarver from the outside world? Enter a world full of magic, danger, loyalty and bravery in this exciting debut from Michael Young, and discover that even the most ordinary objects-and people-might be hiding something truly wonderful inside.

This was really an enjoyable read and one that I look forward to my children reading. It even made me teary, which doesn't happen to me with fantasy novels:-)
Get your copy of The Canticle Kingdom by logging on to Amazon.com, Cedarfort.com, or at your local bookstore.

Attention!
This will be the last week The Journey and Place In This World will be available for free downloads. After Sunday, April 18th, they will only be available to order on my website.
So hurry and download your copy of these ebooks today!

A New Commandment

One of my favorite scriptures is John 13:34-35.
"A new commandment I give you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

In a world filled with a great deal of ugliness, there is still so much beauty, and one of the great beauties of this world is our human capacity to love. No matter what happens to us or in our lives, there is a big part of us that will forever love, and that is a gift I pray we will never lose. Because the day we lose it will be the day we literally lose our humanity.

Suggested Reading

Book: I'll Know You By Heart Author: Kimberly Job

The Book
The day Stephanie Roberts met Jared Wakefield, she didn't realize they'd met before. Running from an abusive marriage and trying to safeguard her children, she turns to Jared for support, but he needs more from her than she might be capable of giving. With her abusive husband looming in her past, the difficulties they must overcome to be together seem insurmountable.

Is it possible for love to conquer all? I'll Know You By Heart is a timeless romance that explores the possibility that relationships span the entire realm of eternity. A story about abuse, hardship, and betrayal, it is ultimately a story about the healing power of everlasting true love.

This was another book I couldn't put down, and it really touched me emotionally. So many people deal with subject in their lives and sadly, it only gets worse instead of better. I applaud Kimberly on a job well done (pun intended:-)) in writing this book. She touched on every emotional aspect of abuse in the home and put into words what many victims can't.

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