LDS Women's Book Review

When you first pick up "the Route", the cover is very deceiving. You see a beautiful, middle age woman, with a happy smile on her face; but don't let that carefree smile fool you. Little do you know, as the reader, there is a wonderful journey to be taken within these 184 pages. It is not always a happy, carefree journey either; but one that has it's ups and downs. I can tell you from the first page until the last, it is a fulfilling trip.

Here is a little blurb from the back cover of "The Route...

Zipping along life's highway . . .
Fifty makes you think. Thirty makes you morose, and forty makes you panic, but fifty makes you think. Half a century, and what is my life? Does it resemble anything I dreamed at sixteen, or expected at twenty, or hoped at twenty-five? What am I doing here? . . . I thought of climbing to the top of a high mountain in Tibet to consult a wise man, but I like vacations where there is indoor plumbing and vegetation. Since I already attended church, I thought perhaps I could pay closer attention. Maybe I'd been missing a great fundamental truth. Well, come to find out, I had been missing something. . . . Carol, a middle-aged wife and mother, is pondering the meaning of life. On a trip to the grocery store to find some energizing dark chocolate, she sees a sign asking for volunteers to deliver meals to the elderly. When Carol decides to take a chance and help out, she's in for a life-changing and route-altering experience.


This book made me think about my life, the present and the past. I have always loved older people, especially my own grandparents and neighbors. I was raised to show love and respect for my elders. I know how my life has been enriched from knowing and loving older people. The main character, Carol, also has this same experience. As she meets and serves the elderly assigned to her, she begins to find new things about herself. There were many things Carol learned, that I marked along the way as I read. Some readers may think of these things as "preachy", but I saw them as things I needed to remember in my life. Here are some examples:

-"Don't compare yourself to others because you'll always come out better or behind. Better will make yourself feel superior and entrap you in pride- behind will make you feel inferior and entrap you in doubt. Big philosophy."

After Carol sees how a selfish daughter cares more for her personal possessions than her own Mother, this is what she is thinking,..."I scold myself for judging a situation I know only a little about. As my dad would say, Take care of your own lawn before you mow the neighbor's."

This novel has a way to make you laugh and cry in the same chapter. As Carol visits her elderly friends, their lives are not always easy and she is there to witness the pain, suffering and loneliness they are living through. This next part made me question myself and how much I do for others.

"Life is suffering. What I don't understand is why some people have to deal with so much suffering. Are these weary wounded just not receiving the care and kindness they need because the rest of us aren't doing our jobs? Are we lost in television or computer games, caught up in money and material possessions, too busy with schemes and aggrandizement? I wonder what message the prophets. Buddha , the Man from Galilee. or Mohammed would bring to us in the twenty-first century? Probably the same message they preached thousand of years ago. The route hasn't changed, only the walkers."

After reading this wonderful book I wanted to interview Gale Sears. Here are the things I asked her about and her great answers.

"In those homely sayings was couched the collective wisdom of generations". As I read, I kept bookmarking pages of my favorite lines/quotes said in the book. There were so many lessons for the readers to learn in the book. Was this part of the reason you wrote, "the Route"?

I think it was part of it. I didn't start out to intentionally write a book laced with philosophy, it's just that these wonderful older folks had so much wisdom to share that it just kept seeping into the story.

5. One of my favorite quotes in the book was, "Life is life, and we have the choice to ignore, endure, influence,bemoan, or enlighten the process. Our choices make the route apparent." That was just so meaningful for me.

Thank you, Sheila. It does have a lot to do with the approach we take to life, doesn't it?

6. Why do you write? Have you always wanted to be a writer?

I've always liked to tell stories. I was kind of renowned in my neighborhood in Lake Tahoe for making up some pretty far fetched whoopers. I guess I figured I'd just write some of them down. I read the tall tales to my mom, and she always made a big deal out of my meager efforts. Her positive response made me think that someday I might aspire to a little bit of greatness. (Moms can do that, ya know.)

7. What are your writing dreams for the future?

I've just had a children's picture book published...Christmas for a Dollar. The illustrations are by Ben Sowards. He's a fabulous illustrator, and I was so captivated by the wonder created by combining words and art! I would love to do another children's picture book.

8.Do you have some favorite authors and books?

I seriously love many of the fine LDS authors we have now-a-days. I love the Cadfael series by British author, Ellis Peters. I love Amy Tan. I love the Mitford series by Christian writer, Jan Karon.

9. Share some good advice for aspiring writers. What can they do to get published some day?

Don't write to be published. Write because you love to tell a story. Make that story shine by rewriting it and polishing it. And I know aspiring writers hear this a lot, but I'm going to say it any way because it's true...READ. The more you expose yourself to words, and how other writers manipulate words to make them talk, the better you'll be at analyzing your own writing.

Gale, I truly loved this book. Thank you for letting me review it.

Thank you so much, Sheila for the interview. I admire the work you three do at LDS Womens Book Review. I'm so glad you liked The Route. It was such a joy for me to be able to round-up these characters into the pages of a book. I learned so much from their exquisite lives.

I want to end this blog post with one more quote from the book that I needed to hear right now in my life. I felt like this book came along right at a time in my life when I needed this wisdom the most.

"A lot of people, when they think of God, see him as a serious purveyor of commandments. Mary and I see him as a loving father who gives us rules to keep us safe, and then places beauty and comedy along the rough road to keep us smiling. The key is to look up and see the beauty and comedy and not just down at our feet trudging along the rough road."

If you would like to know more about Gale and her work, go to her website at

www.galesears.com

((This book was published in 2009 by Walnut Springs Press, who were kind enough to provide a free copy of this book for my review.)

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.

I had the privilege of receiving and reading Anne Bradshaw's new book called, "Famous Family Nights". On the front cover it says, "Stories to make you smile, and inspire you to see the humor in our Monday night tradition from Mormons you know and love."

I don't know about you, but some Monday nights and trying to have a decent Family Home Evening, are a big joke. I was so grateful to start reading this book for some super ideas to make Monday nights better at our house. I think you will be well pleased, as I was, at what you will find in this book.

The main thing I learned from this book, is that we all are in the same boat. It is hard sometimes, for all families to have well structured, reverent and quality Family Home Evenings every Monday Night. Maybe your family is the exception, but I think most of us struggle with the "quality" part of Family Home Evening.

Anne, interviewed many famous LDS people, asking them to send her their best ideas and favorite memories of Family Home Evenings. I can assure you , with the wide variety of people sharing ideas, you will be able to find something to fit your family's needs.

I have to say, one of my favorite sections was written by one of my favorite author friends, Josi Kilpack, called "Healthy Bodies, Healthy Spirits". It made me crack up! Josi has the best sense of humor and it shows in her contribution to this book! :) Then I really appreciated the section by, Shannon Hoffman. She also is a single parent like me. It was good to see how to have FHE's when you are having to fly solo and keeping things running in your family. I also really loved Eric Dodge, a country music singer, and his chapter called, "Nothing as Valuable as Family". I have to admit here, I could go through this whole book and tell you what I liked about each chapter. I found something worthwhile to be used with my own little family, from every contributor.

I highly recommend this book to every family out there! It doesn't matter what kind of family you are, there is something for you in this great book that Anne Bradshaw compiled. With Christmas heading our way quickly, this book would be a fabulous gift for family members.


I always love to interview authors and find out more about them and why they wrote their books. I enjoyed reading Anne's answers and I know that you will also.


1.Where did the idea for "Famous Family Nights" come from?

Several years ago, I kept hearing of families who no longer held home evening, or who never even started, so I began a small monthly post for a colleague's blog, highlighting various LDS authors' home evenings. From there, I had the idea to turn the project into a book, expanding to include prominent LDS people from the USA and other countries. I hoped these fascinating anecdotal stories and ideas would encourage others to follow the prophetic plea to embrace our families through this weekly activity.

2.How did you decide who to include in your book? There is a great mix of people that contributed to the book.

I first sent emails to every contact I could find on the website Famous Mormons.com. If there was no email given, then I researched every avenue to find some other way of communicating - websites, Facebook, TV, and movie agencies - even friends and work associates. I also sent many letters containing stamped, addressed envelopes, but none of these ever returned to me. I wanted to include many talented people who were less well known and struggling to make their way in their chosen profession, to help them become more recognized. I love anything that is a win/win situation, and this book is just that - participants, readers, publisher, author - we all win. The entries are not only from entertainers and artists, but also from achievers in the world of sports, business, and service to the community.

3.What is your favorite FHE memory? You shared a few of them in the book. Would you share one of them with my readers?

It’s not easy to pinpoint a favorite. We had our share of disasters, of course, and those now blur in with all the others. I think pre-Christmas family nights invoked the most tender feelings that still linger in my memory. In addition to sharing the Christmas story each year, we had a “Christmas Mints” tradition. I loved the closeness and laughter we shared as the children helped make chocolate covered mint sweets (candies), which we delivered to friends and neighbors. Two of our sons still tease about being “made” to play the trumpet and violin while the rest of us sang carols. Those were fun times.

4.Why do you feel FHE's are important?

I feel they are a vital safe haven in today’s dangerous world. Nothing can replace the good feeling that settles in a child’s heart knowing someone cares enough to make time for family home evening. Children may not always recognize the benefits at the time, but later in life most have fond and grateful memories.

5.What is your favorite time to write? How long are your writing sessions?

I begin my writing day at 5:30 AM, and often continue until 5:00 PM with short breaks in between. I know several hours non-stop at the computer isn’t good for bones and joints, but sometimes, when an idea is boiling, time simply flies.

6.What are you working on now?

I’m currently marketing “Famous Family Nights.” I plan on taking a break early 2010, and then want to begin something completely different. A few ideas are in my head, but I haven’t yet decided which to follow.

7.What is your favorite thing you have written? Maybe you still hope to write your dream book some day?

Like most things, writing is a skill that grows with practice, and so I feel my best work is yet to come. I cringe now when reading my first book, “Terracotta Summer.” But we all have to start somewhere, and I hope my work is improving with each new project as I continue to learn more about the craft. I think my favorite so far is the book of short stories, “Please, No Zits.” I really enjoyed the creative process involved, and tackling the many problems facing today’s youth was a meaty challenge.

8.What are your best words of advice for aspiring writers or even established writers?

They are familiar words that will always be relevant – read, read, read, and write, write, write. I would add that reading how-to books about writing, and attending writing conferences are equally important for any aspiring writer who wants to get published.

Thank you Anne! I hope many people will buy this book to include it in their family library.

Go visit Anne at her blog. She always has such fun games and contests going on there; besides wonderful book reviews.

http://www.annebradshaw.blogspot.com/

and at her website here:

http://www.annebradshaw.com/index.html

If you would like to purchase this book go to:

http://www.amazon.com/

http://www.cedarfort.com

http://deseretbook.com

We have a winner of the latest contest. The winner of a copy of "Illuminations of the Heart" written by Joyce DiPastena is...Shirley Bahlmann. Congratulations Shirley and thanks for entering the contest.You will be receiving a copy of this great Historical Romance novel. I know that you will enjoy it! I will get your address and get your book sent out to you! Thanks for everyone who left a comment on both blogs and participated in the contest. There will be another contest coming soon for another chance to win a book.

I'm so excited to announce that the LDSWBR website has undergone an amazing makeover! We've changed things up a little bit in the past, but that was nothing compared to this latest update. I've had a great time adding fun little widgets & features to the sidebar, and the new categories and tags will make looking for book titles and authors in podcasts & posts a lot easier.

It will take a little bit of time for me to get links to the podcasts moved over and tags added, but I'll do my best to get everything current as fast as possible. Please go check it out and let me know what you think. I'm always open to suggestions, so be honest (but nice :) ).

Thanks and happy reading!

Shanda :)

"Clothilde." He spoke her name on a breath like a prayer. Then he lowered his head and kissed her.

What a perfect scene! It truly belongs in a romance novel. The only problem is, the women being kissed is not Clothilde, her name is Siriol De Calendri. Triston, the hero in the novel, is still full of guilt because of the death of his late wife, Clothilde. Siri greatly resembles Triston's late wife, but is very different from her in personality and spirit. This is where the Historical novel begins. Can Siri win Triston's heart and help him heal from the past? Will Triston be able to keep Siri safe from the many enemies that threaten he and Siri's future together? You will need to read "Illuminations of the Heart" to have these questions answered.

I enjoy reading Joyce DiPastena's books. They are known for being "clean" romances. Now days, the idea of a clean romance is a very rare thing. This is not to say that you won't be swept away in the growing romance between Triston and Siri and the heat felt between them. They are clearly attracted to each other and their shared kisses made me yearn for a "Triston" in my life. You can safely read this book, as well as your teen-age daughter, and know that no sex will be spattered throughout the pages.

As for historical fiction lovers, this book will greatly appeal to you. Joyce does incredible research into this time period. I always feel like I learn new things when I read one of Joyce's books. She has a "Glossary of Medieval Terms" at the back of the book. For example, do you know what "Crenellated" means? What does "Fealty" mean? Do you know what a "Hauberk" is? I found this Glossary very helpful as I read the book.

This sweet romance from Joyce is 425 pages long. It is well worth your time to read it. Hide away in a room, pull out the chocolate or popcorn, get comfortable and escape to the medieval times. I enjoyed getting lost in the romance and suspense that is interwoven in "Illuminations of the Heart."

If you would like to win your own copy of this new novel here are a few ways to enter:

-Look up one of the meanings to one of the medieval words I mentioned in this blog post. Tell me the definition to the word/s and that will count as one entry.


-Post a comment telling me what is your favorite kind of Romance novel. What era appeals to you the most. This will be another entry for you.


-The third thing you can do, is to become a follower of one of my blogs, here at LDS Women's Book Review at "Why Not Because I Said So" and it will count as two entries.

One winner will be chosen from entries posted at both blogs. So start posting to win your own copy of this wonderful romance. You have one week to enter the contest. It will end next Monday night, Sept. 21st and the winner will be announced the next day.


Learn more about Joyce, her writing and research at:
http://walnutspringspress.blogspot.com/

http://www.joyce-dipastena.com/

http://jdp-news.blogspot.com/

http://medievalresearch.blogspot.com/

http://medievalvignettes.blogspot.com/

You can purchase "Illuminations of the Heart" here at....
Amazon.com and DeseretBook.com

During the "Recent Reads" section of LDSWBR Podcast Episode #36, I shared a review of Rachel Ann Nunes' latest novel, Saving Madeline, due to be released mid-September. If you don't currently have plans to visit a book store before the end of September I highly suggest you make some plans and add Saving Madeline to the top of your list. Rachel addresses a tough issue that most people aren't fully aware of- or at least I wasn't until reading her book.

Parker has a tough decision to make: continue to allow his daughter, Madeline, to remain with her drug-using mother or do something to protect her from Dakota's negligence. Parker makes his decision and must face the consequences of his actions, unless proof of Dakota's drug abuse & negligence can be found. Caitlin McLoughlin has become tired of defending petty criminals she knows are guilty, but the rare opportunities of helping someone who is truly innocent keep her from leaving her job. That, and her obligation to her special-needs sister, Amy. When she considers taking Parker's case as a favor to a friend, Caitlin quickly learns that while he is technically guilty of the crimes he is accused of, the reasons behind it are valid- if only they could find the evidence they're looking for. Caitlin begins to love little Madeline, and her feelings for Parker start to grow as well.

Rachel has done an excellent job of writing about difficult choices, troubled circumstances, and situations that blur the line between the black & white of the law. The chemistry between Caitlin and Parker is touching and romantic. Rachel has written believable, endearing characters- not just the hero & heroine, but minor characters as well- who are comfortable and natural within the setting of the story.

Saving Madeline gets 5 stars and a Whitney nomination from me. Well done, Rachel!

Sheila, Hillary & I were thrilled to have authors Josi Kilpack & Michele Paige Holmes join us once again on the podcast! These beautiful and talented ladies are always fun to talk with and Episode 36 was no exception.

Josi's latest novel, English Trifle, is the sequel to her very successful book, Lemon Tart. During the podcast, Josi spoke about the next book in her culinary mystery series, Devil's Food Cake, as well as giving us a glimpse into the future of the series. Josi's writing style for her mysteries is fun and unique- she let us know that even she doesn't know the culprit until she writes the end- and if the story keeps the author guessing until the end, it's definitely going to keep the reader guessing, too! English Trifle takes place in a castle in England as Sadie and her daughter visit Breanna's fiance, Liam, over the Christmas break. While taking a "turn about the room" on the last day of their visit, Sadie & Breanna make a gruesome discovery- a man, run through with a fireplace poker & pinned to the wall behind a curtain. When the body disappears and the people of the house start doubting Sadie & Breanna, Sadie's determined to prove they aren't making up what they saw. What follows is an adventure where everyone has something to hide and Sadie is determined to uncover the truth. English Trifle is a fast-moving, thoroughly delicious mystery and just like any good dessert, you'll savor every bite!

Sheila reviewed Michele Paige Holmes' All the Stars in Heaven a few posts ago (go check it out), however, I wanted to add my thoughts to hers. Michele has a powerful way of making the reader invested in the story she writes, caring about and rooting for the "good guys" as well as evoking strong feelings toward the "bad guys." She can even help the reader feel a certain amount of sympathy for the "bad guy" without lessening the incorrectness of the choices he made. All the Stars in Heaven is ultimately a romance, with some good mystery-suspense as well. It's a moving story of growth & change, contrasts and unexpected commonalities, courage and forgiveness. Michele is currently working on her third book in the Stars series called My Lucky Stars. Michele calls it a romantic comedy. She told us a little about the premise of My Lucky Stars during the podcast and it sounds like a lot of fun!

Thanks again, Josi & Michele, for taking the time to come visit with us and for entertaining us with your wonderful stories!

On one final note, for all of the DOROTHY KEDDINGTON fans out there, Dorothy let me know that her new manuscript, The Fairy Thorn, has been accepted and is scheduled for an October release through Granite Publishing. All of you who have been leaving comments and waiting and wondering- the wait is over!! There is even talk of re-releasing her older novels as well! As soon as I know more I will post updates on the blog, so check back often. Congratulations, Dorothy!

I am finally on the blog. It has only taken 500 invitations from Shanda, her hubby helping me set up the account crap and come to find out, the hardest part is trying to figure out what to type. Go figure.

Sheila & I spent a pleasant afternoon with authors Annette Lyon & Heather Moore recording Episode 35 of the LDSWBR podcast. Annette's most recent novel, Tower of Strength, was released this past spring. Heather's newest book, Alma, a continuation of her previous book, Abinadi, will be released this fall. Annette & Heather are two of the sweetest ladies you'll ever meet. While Heather is dark-haired & quiet and Annette is blonde & bit more outspoken, their friendship is apparent in the way the support and encourage each other.

During the podcast, we spoke about the different experiences they've had researching their historical novels. Heather & Annette are both thorough in their research as well as sincere about telling an inspiring, uplifting story.

Heather Moore spent several years in the Holy Land, and was baptized in the Red Sea. Her book, Alma, tells the story of one of the wicked priests of King Noah after his conversion, covering the gathering of believers at the Waters of Mormon and beyond, and what events may have transpired during that time. I was thrilled to be asked to read and review Alma. As much as I liked Abinadi, I enjoyed Alma even more! Heather tells the story of Raquel & Maia, as well as Alma & Helam, in such a personal & unforgettable way that it was quite easy to imagine myself there. I can't wait to see what Heather has in store for the future!

When Annette Lyon wrote her first Temple novel, House on the Hill, she had no idea it was only the first in a series. Tower of Strength, book four of the Temple Series, is set during the construction of the Manti temple. Tabitha and Samuel have both suffered difficult losses. As a single parent far from family, Tabitha has had to be strong to take care of herself and her son, Will. Samuel arrives in Manti from London & accepts work in a stable full of unpleasant and unfamiliar tasks involving cleaning up after farm animals. His frustration and loneliness lead him to question why he needed to come to Zion at all, especially after losing the one person he wanted to be with in Zion. You can watch a trailer for Tower of Strength here.

Annette also recently released a wonderful resource- There, Their, They're: A No-Tears Guide to Grammar From the Word Nerd, available through Amazon, Lyfe Books, & Create Space.

Tower of Strength and Alma come highly recommended from LDSWBR. Thanks to Heather and Annette for all the hard work and research, as well as the good conversation! Listen to Episode 35 and enjoy!

Happy Reading!