I want to be Baptized/Annalisa Hall/Corey Egbert

Synopsis:

    "Depicts what baptism really means for children's lives by comparing it to objects they remember and relate to. Turn to these heartwarming illustrations and meaningful analogies next time a child asks you about baptism."

Review:

    Need help explaining baptism to your children? Look no further. This book highlights the importance of being baptized. It helps the child understand the steps they need to take before, and the steps they need to take after baptism, to keep the Holy Ghost with them.
    I honestly wish I had this book a couple of years ago when my niece asked me to give a talk at her own baptism. Now that I have this book, it will definitely be available for the rest of my family when the time comes for them to be baptized.
    The book is well written and well illustrated. Towards the end of the book they have the different stepping stones with some additional information such as Scriptures and Hymn numbers. Check out the other book they have out called "The Holy Ghost is like a Blanket".
   

Softly Falling/Carla Kelly

Synopsis:

    "Fresh off the train from New York City, Lily Carteret arrives in picturesque Wyoming only to discover that her wayward father has lost his cattle ranch to a lowly cowboy in a card game!

    Determined not to let her father’s folly ruin her life, Lily becomes a teacher on the ranch. There she learns that the handsome cowboy, Jack Sinclair, has some wild predictions about the upcoming winter—that it will be unlike anything Wyoming has ever seen. Lily must either cast off her skepticism to work with Jack or risk losing everything she holds dear."

Review:

    I love the dynamic between Lily's world and Jacks world. Lily really takes the changes in her life in stride.  With this change I think she grows into the women she could see from a distance but was never before able to grasp. Enter Jack and his take charge attitude and things fall softly into place.
    This is a great sit on your couch in front of a roaring fire kind of read. Trust me when I say you will want to stay nice and warm.
    This book is a little over four hundred pages long, but I am sure it will grab a hold of you to where you don't even notice the page numbers and it will have ended before you know it, leaving you wanting more!
    I would love to find out what happens to some of the other characters. I can see them having their own stories. One can only hope! Carla nailed it again. Sit down and relax with some hot cocoa and enter a world with Romance, drama, comedy, and tragedy, this book has it all.

Christmas in Snow Valley/Various Author's

Synopsis:

    "An Unexpected Kiss by Cindy Roland Anderson
Lucy Phillips doesn’t want to spend her Christmas vacation dodging her ex-boyfriend, so when he turns up at the airport to give her a ride home, Lucy panics and asks a complete stranger to kiss her. Although the kiss is incredible, Lucy never expects to see the guy again. Is it bad luck or destiny when Lucy comes down with a sore throat and the new doctor in Snow Valley is none other than the guy she kissed at the airport?

    Feels Like Love by Jeanette Lewis
Christmas in Snow Valley is the perfect way for April Winston to introduce her city slicker fiancé, Scott Mecham, to life on a farm. If only Wade Hadley, hometown boy and high school sweetheart, will cooperate! But Wade has no intention of letting April go without a fight. This Christmas, Wade is determined to overcome their painful past and show April that she already has what she’s been seeking all along.

    Full Court Devotion by Cami Checketts
Kazlyn is too busy with her schooling and future plans to enjoy life, let alone fall in love with a man who has heartbreak written all over him. Tyrese Hamilton, a college basketball star and major heartthrob, is intrigued when Kazlyn doesn’t pursue him or even seem interested. Ty’s career is in jeopardy, and he needs a miracle and Kazlyn to save him.

​    The Christmas Eve Kiss by Taylor Hart
When Molly O’Hare gets a prediction that she will kiss her true love on Christmas Eve, she thinks it’s utterly ridiculous. But when she gets teamed up with Kevin Snow, aka her ex-boyfriend, to decorate a Christmas tree, things start to change. Too bad getting over the past is hard and seeing him kiss another girl is even harder. Now Molly is left with a choice—run away from home and heartbreak or let Christmas work out a miracle all of its own.

    Risking it all for Love by Kimberley Montpetit
Succumbing to family pressure, Jessica Mason reluctantly comes home for Christmas. Ever since her high school boyfriend’s death from a car accident three years earlier, Jessica and religion have not been compatible. So, when she visits Michael’s grave, she’s surprised to meet the handsome James Douglas, Pastor John’s nephew, who’s studying for the ministry. James can not only dish back Jessica’s finely-tuned sarcasm but understands grief all too well, turning Jessica’s world upside down. Is she ready to take another risk on love?

    Blue Christmas by Lucy McConnell (Christina Dymock)​
As head of Snow Valley hospital’s fundraising effort, Paisley Hackett barely has time to organize the craft show, cookie decorating party, and the annual Christmas Ball. What she doesn’t have time for is falling in love with Clay Jett, the incredibly handsome bass player who sweeps into town. She’s been burned by a tourist romance before and, with everything going on, Paisley will have to work overtime to protect her heart from Clay and his swoon-worthy ballads." 

Review: 

    A well put together team of writers that get your imagination flowing. I loved how one common thread through out each book was Pastor John and the notorious "fire".
    Most of the stories deal with girls who left Snow Valley because they needed to get away or they were running from their past. But something, or someone pulled them back, sometimes against their wishes. Life catches up to them and they need to determine whether they should embrace what is handed to them, or move on, either with joy or pain.
    A few of them I was more enthralled with and captivated by, but they all have what every reader enjoys, and that happens to be a happily ever after. Romance, Drama, Comedy are just some of the genres you will cross in all six of these sweet and enduring novella's. 

Links to the Novella's: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Snow-Valley-Cindy-Anderson-ebook/dp/B00NRC5ZT4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1411597983&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=christmas+in+snow+valley">Amazon</a> * <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id922636729">iTunes</a> * <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-in-snow-valley-cami-checketts/1120404057?ean=2940046248463&amp;itm=1&amp;usri=2940046248463">B&amp;N</a> *&nbsp;<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/480358">Smashwords</a> * <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/christmas-in-snow-valley">

Secrets after Dark/Marie Higgins

Synopsis:

    "Residing at Thornton Manor under the premise of courting Jonathan Thornton,
Hannah Forester intends to find out who murdered her father and why. After
all, Jonathan’s brother Morgan was the last person to visit Peter Forester
before his demise. But upon her arrival at Thornton Manor, Hannah is
informed that Morgan perished the previous year in a house fire. She soon
learns the manor is full of secrets: a ghost haunting the East Wing, a white
wolf that roams the grounds by night, and the story of a curse-protected
treasure on the neighboring island. Most disturbingly, Hannah discovers that
numerous young women have visited the manor only to vanish without a trace.

    When a hooded, deep-voiced man visits Hannah’s bedroom late at night,
warning her to leave the manor for her own safety, she realizes he must be
Morgan Thornton. But why does he hide in the East Wing, and why does his
family insist he is but a ghost? As Hannah falls in love with the handsome
older brother, she must continue to court Jonathan in order to remain at the
estate. Can she convince Morgan where her true loyalties lie? And will she
uncover the Thornton’s secrets quickly enough to solve her father’s murder
before she loses her own life?"

Review:

    I decided since it is October I would post a fun and haunting book. I read this book about a year ago and enjoyed the mystery inside its pages. Things are just weird in the Thornton house hold and Hannah didn't pick the best time to come for a visit, But without her everything would remain a mystery and we cant have that!
    Great characters and plot. Romance, Drama, and some Spookiness all wrapped up in one book. Keep a look out for more books from Marie, she has a variety of enthralling novels and I am always excited to see what she comes out with.

Old West Collection/Various Authors

Synopsis:

    "In BREAK A LEG, a charming story by two-time Rita Award winner Carla Kelly, hospital steward Colm Callahan is ready to move away from army life at Fort Laramie. His only regret is leaving behind exotic Ozzie Washington, easily the prettiest woman on the post. As a maid to the lieutenant colonel's wife, Ozzie is no wilting flower when it comes to hard work. When the post surgeon leaves for an extended week, Colm must handle several medical emergencies on his own. He pleads for Ozzie's help at the hospital. While they spend long days and nights working together, Colm, a shy man, realizes he can't hide the truth of his feelings for Ozzie. He needs a little help, though. Enter from stage left, Lysander Locke, Shakespeare tragedian on his way to Deadwood.

    THE SOLDIER'S HEART, an enchanting novella by Sarah M. Eden, follows Gregory Reeves has fallen in love with a woman he’s never met. Her brother’s dying wish is that Gregory checks on his family, and after the war, Gregory is only too happy to meet the woman he’s been dreaming about. Helene mistakes him for a hired hand and sets him to work immediately. As time passes, Gregory finds it more and more difficult to reveal his true connection to her family, fearing that a woman who loathes liars will turn her disapproval on him.

    HIDDEN SPRING is an enthralling novella by Liz Adair, in which Susannah Brown is just getting her life back together after becoming a widow. She still misses Wesley with a fierce longing, but when she meets his half-brother, Douglas, she learns her heart is not completely dormant. Over the next several weeks, Douglas helps Susannah with repairs on her small ranch in exchange for supper. The exchange becomes more and more meaningful as Susannah realizes that Douglas might be the one to finally heal her heart.

    In Annette Lyon’s delightful story, THE SWEETEST TASTE, Della Stafford hates being a farm girl in the tiny town of Shelley, Idaho. She’ll do anything to live in a big city and experience real city life. Her only regret is that she’d have to leave Joseph behind, the young man who makes her heart flutter. But she's convinced that moving away is for the best; her dreams and Joseph's dreams are too dissimilar. Then Della takes a job as a maid in Los Angeles and must face the truth that what she thought would make her happy and what really will are totally different things.

    THE SILVER MINE BACHELOR, by Heather B. Moore, is a sweet romance between an unlikely pair. Lydia Stone has a checklist for men who qualify as the eligible bachelors in the mining town of Leadville, Colorado. Her new boss, Mr. Erik Dawson, is about to be struck off the list when she sees him coming out of the town brothel. Lydia doesn’t know that Erik Dawson’s sister has been living the brothel lifestyle for years, and he’s set on redeeming her soul. When Lydia discovers Erik’s secrets, she learns that life is not as black and white as she thinks.

    In the captivating novella, FAITH AND THE FOREMAN by Marsha Ward, Faith Bannister is forced to travel west to earn a living as a school mistress in Arizona Territory. Faith soon learns that living the frontier lifestyle of a single woman has many harsh challenges. But when she meets Slim McHenry, she discovers that life doesn’t have to be so lonely. Unfortunately the dangerous Rance Hunter stands between her and Slim, and she must act with courage before everything is lost."

Review:

    I have to say that in every one of these Anthologies the men are beyond belief. Now a days women can only hope that they can find and end up with men like the six portrayed in these novella's. I also enjoyed the women who, when they set there mind to the tasks or struggles, they came face to face with who they were destined to be.
    I couldn't pick a favorite because they all had so much to give and different scenarios weaved in to each back story. If you like to be taken back into the old west with romance, mystery, danger, and bits of laughter, then you will love the stories these Authors have dreamed up.
    Keep an eye out for other Anthologies by these Authors, and others. The Summer Collection just came out in July.

A Safe Space/E.M. Tippetts

Synopsis:

    "Everyone needs a safe space.

    For Lizzie Warner, that space has always been in front of the camera on her hit show, or on stage to a sold out concert arena. Since before she can remember, she’s been a star, but that may be about to change.

    She’s nineteen. Her show has been cancelled and now she’s going to play the lead in a new prime time drama series, but is the world ready to take her seriously, or will she be typecast as the cute tween queen forever?

    Her network has decided to be aggressive and has invested millions of dollars in an ad campaign for her show, money she’s not sure she can earn back. Her co-star can’t stand her, and the writing for the show turns out to be poor at best. The only reason Lizzie didn’t walk away from the job offer to begin with is because she’s broke, the victim of a decade of bad money management.

    Then there’s Devon, the personal trainer at her gym. Arrogant and abrasive, he’s the last guy she should ever find attractive, but she has a hopeless crush on him anyway, and he doesn’t seem entirely disinterested either. In fact, sometimes he’s downright sweet to her. If only he weren’t an untamable bad boy who uses and dumps women like they’re nothing. Though Lizzie’s friends warn her to stay away, he’s the only person who can create what she needs: a safe space. But is there any way she can break him of his years' long habit of being a user?"

Review: 

    Lizzie (19) tends to do what the script say's even though she is uncomfortable with most of the situations she is put in. She does them because everyone around her is counting on her to make the show work and stay at the top of the ratings. Devon (26) just happens to be there when she needs someone to bring her back down to the real world.........and some much needed practice for an area in her life she is much lacking. (Kissing of course).
    Both Lizzie and Devon need each other, even though one seems to be pushing away the other, for reasons they think are justified. Being friends is a better option....or is it?
    This book has romance, heartbreak, and drama. I loved the surprise about Devon. Usually I can figure stuff like that out before its made known, but you got me that time Emily! I think that at least once in everyone's life they feel lost and we just need to find our places in this world. Emily does a great job at building her characters and moving them in the direction they need to go, not just for the characters sake but for the readers to stay involved. 
    If you enjoyed her other books in her Somebody Else's Fairytale series and spin-off, this is definitely down your ally. If you read this before any of her other books that is just fine, just make sure you don't miss out on any of her other novels, She has a variety in which you could enjoy!

Seeds of Faith/Dan Barker

Synopsis:

    "In Sunday School, we learn about the remarkable miracles of early converts. But what about their lives before they became spiritual giants? Dan Barker, author of Little-Known Stories about the Doctrine and Covenants, compiles conversion stories full of visions, persecutions, and miracles. Our ancestors' paths to the gospel will strengthen your testimony as you live your own conversion story."

Review:

    It was enlightening getting to read of people's conversion stories back when the restored gospel was first placed back on the Earth. The outlook from those who became a member and those who looked from the outside in. Some short accounts, some longer. Men and Women.
    You get a better look at how Joseph Smith lived and the persecution of the Saints, which some of the accounts explain why they hadn't yet joined the church for fear of this said persecution. I noticed that some of the people in particular came around to the gospel only after denying it for so long. A lot of the accounts had a similar trend in that they wouldn't join any church until they knew it was the right one for them.
    Missionary work was very important back then as it is now. Parley P. Pratt was one said missionary that was in a lot of the accounts having baptized a lot of people. How blessed is he!
    This book is full of some amazing conversion stories!