LDS Women's Book Review

Hey Kids!

Sorry I didn't get this up last week. As Shanda said, it was a nutsy week for the three of us. So, today I am going to chat with you about "Crossfire", Traci Hunter Abramson's new book.

I found out a a year or two back when we read "Undercurrents." After reading it I found that I really enjoyed Traci's style of writing, quality and likeability of the characters, and plus I have a crazy fascination with the secret service. I think it's cause it's a secret. What made her writing even more intriguing was the fact that she worked for the secret service, and because it's a secret. again:) It also didn't hurt that she threw in a group of Navy SEALS, which in my head and in her writing, are quite good looking. (What is it about a guy in uniform?)

Speaking of our hubba hubba SEALS, this one happens to be about Seth. If you've read "Lockdown" or "Freefall" you will know the stories of a couple of the "Saint Squad." Crossfire takes place in the Caribbean (I like to say it CaribBEan- how do you say it?) and it involves Vanessa Lauton, a CIA agent deep undercover with a powerful and dangerous crime family. She gets a bit of a surprise when her long ago love (Seth) resurfaces after a six year hiatus to help get her out of the country when things get a bit dangerous. Instead of a quick pull-out, they get pulled in deeper and as a result a whole lot of action and suspense ensues.

I love that the book is fast paces, action packed and has the romance. It has been a lot of fun reading the love stories of the "Saint Squad." I love how though the places and the circumstances are unlikely, Traci is successful in making the stories believeable, and entertaining all at once. I love the close calls the characters get into, and the quick thinking and intelligence that they all possess. I especially love that none of the main female characters are weak. They have weaknesses, just like anyone else, but they themselves are not weak. They keep up with the men and refuse to be left to be behind waiting to see what happens. LOVE THAT!

My favorite part of the book is that Vanessa had learned how to fly planes, just not land them. Can't help being reminded of one of my favorite action heroes, good ol' Indiana Jones.(If you remember "The Last Crusade"- one of my favorite movies of all time) As they are riding off into the sunset...

"I like being Indiana" (he says to his father)

"We named the dog Indiana" (father says)

"I've got a lot of fond memories of that dog" (Indiana says)


okay- enough of a tangent. If I were to give this book a down side, it would be that in some situations, the realistic factor does tread close to "would that really happen", but like I said, the way she writes it, even if I'm thinking that, I am quickly seeing the next turn. Overall, Traci hits another one out of the park with this book. I highly recommend it!




ftc-fyi- publisher produced copy

Traci Hunter Abramson is the author six novels, including her most recent release, Lockdown (March 2009). Traci has two novels scheduled to be released next year- Crossfire in January 2010 and Backlash in September 2010.



Traci's books are available for purchase at Deseret Book.


Learn more about Traci on her website: www.tracihunterabramson.com and her blog: Traci Hunter Abramson, Author.


LDSWBR: Traci, what favorite holiday traditions do you and your family participate in every year? Will you be starting any new traditions this year?

TRACI: We start out the month with the kids debating who gets to put the ornament up on the advent calendar first and then we try to squeeze some time into our schedule on a family home evening night to put up the Christmas tree. My children's stockings are insanely large (thanks to my sometimes favorite sister) so when Santa arrives he typically fits all of his gifts into the kids' stockings. Of course we bake cookies for Santa, sugar cookies in the shapes of trees, candy canes and ornaments...and occasionally an Easter rabbit. My creative children ice them in red, blue and green followed by too many sprinkles. I typically sit by and hope for failures that I can dispose of properly.

Years ago I baked date nut rolls as gifts for my neighbors. These same neighbors have all informed me that this tradition WILL continue whether I have time to bake them or not. According to them, the recipe that my stepmom handed down to me simply doesn't work the same in their kitchens. I have my suspicions that they aren't really complimenting my cooking, but rather buttering me up to ensure my contribution to their own holiday traditions. I have to admit, it really is cute to see my kids load the foil-wrapped concoctions into their red wagon and deliver them to everyone on the cul de sac.

For Christmas Eve, we always have a nice quiet meal of grand proportions like my mom used to make when I was a kid (basically a mini-Thanksgiving dinner). Following dinner, my husband reads us the Christmas story and then everyone opens one present to hold us off until the main event on Christmas morning. As for Christmas morning, the children have already been warned not to wake us up until after 7 AM. Translated, this means that at 6 AM my teenagers will send my five-year-old into my room to ask us what time it is. He still has the cuteness factor that protects him from all those dire consequences we warn the older kids about. The good news is that we always have plenty of leftovers from Christmas Eve dinner so I don't have to cook at all on Christmas Day.


LDSWBR: What books are on your Christmas wish list this year?

TRACI: Any! All! Okay, if I had to actually name specific titles, here are my top three:

Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington: This is one of my favorite books, but I keep buying the economy version of it and then end up giving it away. My latest purchase seems to have disappeared again.

An unabridged dictionary...and no, I don't just want this because I'm an author. My family loves to play Boggle and my dictionary is seriously outdated. I'm hoping that a new dictionary might help me have an even chance against my husband and my sister (the same sister that gifted those insanely huge stockings to my children).

Surround Yourself with Greatness by Chad Lewis - What can I say? I love football.


LDSWBR: What books have you purchased/will you purchase as gifts for loved ones this year? (Unless sharing would ruin the surprise!)

TRACI: I actually bought multiple copies of one book for several of my friends and family but I'm afraid that information still falls into the "Top Secret" category.


LDSWBR: Thanks for taking the time to share with us, Traci. Have a great Christmas!


Luckily for Mom and Dad, our kids have been known to sleep until 9 AM on Christmas morning. However, my dad liked to drag us kids out of bed early, sometimes 5 or 6 AM (he was more excited than we were!). What time do your kids usually wake you up? What's the earliest they've tried to get you out of bed to open presents? If you don't have kids, how early were you up on Christmas morning as a child?

Don't forget to nominate your favorite 2009 books by LDS authors for Whitney Awards by December 31! Can't remember what you read? Visit the LDS Publisher blog for a list of books published by LDS authors in 2009.

***Countdown to Christmas Contest***

LDSWBR will hold a drawing on Christmas Day for a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors that will be featured on the blog. Simply post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Christmas author posts to enter. Here are the rules:

• LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a "thoughtful" comment.

• Only one comment per person per "Countdown to Christmas" author post will be entered into the drawing. This allows the potential for 24 entries per person at the end of the contest. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you'd like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.

• Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MST on December 24, 2009. Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MST on December 31, 2009 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.
  

• Book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.

Books that have been generously donated by the author for drawing prizes:

• Loyalty's Web by Joyce DiPastena
• Hidden Branch by G.G. Vandagriff
• Altared Plans by Rebecca Talley
• A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell (includes a bonus copy of Michele's Christmas booklet, A Candle in the Window)
• Her Good Name by Josi Kilpack
• MISSING by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
• Famous Family Nights by Anne Bradshaw
• Love Letters of Joseph and Emma (autographed copy) by Angela Eschler
• Family Home Evening Adventures by Rebecca Irvine
• Counting the Cost by Liz Adair
• Shudder by Jennie Hansen
• Mormon Mishaps & Mischief by D. N. Giles & C. L. Beck
• Dawn's Early Light by Laurie (L.C.) Lewis
• The Fairy Thorn (brand new release!) by Dorothy Keddington
• Torn Apart (signed copy) by Diony George
• Pursued: A Maggie McKenzie Mystery by Lynn Gardner
  

Thank you so much!

News & Events Post from www.ldswomensbookreview.com--

The Maze Runner, long-awaited novel from author James Dashner, is days away from it's big release. You can find James' book signing schedule HERE.

Janette Rallison is holding a teen writing workshop on Oct. 8. For more information, visit her BLOG.

Josi Kilpack and Julie Wright will be on the road in November, taking a book tour road trip through the western states. To find out when they'll be in your area and where you can see them, visit Josi's website.

Traci Hunter Abramson's upcoming novel, Crossfire, has a cover! Click HERE to take a peek!

The first book in James Dashner's The 13th Reality series, The Journal of Curious Letters, is being released in paperback. Visit James' BLOG to see the cover!

Trapped author, Ronda Hinrichsen, posted the new cover of her next book, Missing, HERE.

Jennie Hansen reviewed five novels for Meridian Magazine, including Clair Poulson's Dead Wrong, on Meridian's website.

Speaking of Jennie Hansen, author Michele Ashman Bell interviewed Jennie on her BLOG, where you can also see the cover and read a summary of Jennie's new novel, Shudder.