Our Opinions on Books

April 8th, Eyes of an Angel by Dan Yates

2009-04-08T17:57:00.000-07:00

This book was a quick, easy read. Allison Barker gets to be a guardian angel for her husband, Ivan. Ivan has some serious trials to over come. Allison gets special permission to allow Ivan to see her. At first he thinks he's gone crazy, but then comes to believe her. This story involves kidnappings, an unsolved murder, ransom money, being framed for a murder and many other things. I liked his style of writing.

Dan Yates is a former Bishop and high councilor. He likes to write about angels. Here's what some of his previous novels are:
Angels Don't Knock
Just Call Me an Angel
Angels to the Rescue
An Angel in the Family
It Takes an Angel
An Angel's Christmas
An Angel on Vacation
An Angel in Time

I look forward to reading more of his books.

Finished

2009-04-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

I finished the series. The Great & the Terrible, Vol. 5, From the end of Heaven & The Great and the Terrible, Vol. 6, Clear as the Moon.

I would recommend this series to everyone. I think I already said that. I loved it!

The Great and the Terrible

2009-03-24T15:19:00.003-07:00

The Great and the Terrible, Vol. 4, Fury & Light, Chris Stewart

Still LOVING this series! I don't want to say much because I don't want to ruin anything.

Fields of Home-Rachel Ann Nunes

2009-03-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

This book is about a women who is deeply in love with a man when she is younger and he abandons her and then she finds out she is pregnant with his baby. She marries someone else and is happy yet is still in love with this other man. He returns many years later and that is what the book is about. I am one the fence about this one. First because typically this author writes LDS fiction, and this book had nothing about the church in it- although it was clean and it did talk about religion and God, which was okay but not LDS fiction to me. Second is was a bit predictable and like other books of this nature a little untrue to real life... that said it was an okay read for me.

Toss the Guilt and Catch the Joy

2009-03-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

This book is by Merrilee Boyack. It is about how to feel less guilty about the things we feel guilt over in our lives, and how to be happier. I really enjoyed this book, in fact I bought it because I intend to refer back to it as necessary. It was nice to "learn" how to let go of feeling guilty and have more joy and be happier. The author is LDS, and she is a very good writer and this was a enjoyable, great read. I highly recommend it.

Fablehaven 1- Brandon Mull

2009-03-17T20:53:00.000-07:00

I've been reading Fablehaven with my 10 year old son every night. We just finished the book tonight. I was surprised at how much I liked it. It's not my usual liking, but it kept my attention. I look forward to reading the 2nd book with him. This is a good one to read with your kids.

Book 3....

2009-03-17T17:09:00.001-07:00

The Great and the Terrible, Vol. 3, The Second Sun, Chris Stewart

Love it! Not much more to say....I wouldn't want to ruin anything by giving stuff away. You just must read this series...=)

I'm addicted.....

2009-03-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, just finished book 2 of The Great and the Terrible, Where Angels Fall by Chris Stewart. I'm halfway through book 3, The Second Sun. I am totally into this series and would recommend it to all. (Just ask my hubby when at 2am he awakes and looks at me like I'm crazy and tells me to turn the lamp off and go to sleep! And then tells me that lights should be out at a 11pm...I say you bet, except when I'm in the middle of a series, to which he replies, is always. He got me there.=)

Enjoy!

A few books I've read and liked

2009-03-07T16:21:00.001-08:00

So I've totally slacked on posting the good books I have read. I put them on my blog then forget to put them here. So here's what I've read since Jan. 1st, 2009. I will put little side notes next to them.

The Great and the Terrible, Volume 1 Prolouge The Brothers by Chris Stewart I started this series 2 nights ago and already have read this book and half of book 2. I can't put them down. It gets you thinking. I think you'll either love them or hate them. It's written simply, easy to follow, easy to read.
It's Okay to Take a Nap, Debra Sansing Woods
A Candle at the Window, Michele Bell Another sweet short story from Deseret Book.
Winds of Hope, Anita Stansfield This is the next book in the Jason Wolfe saga. It has hope in the title for a reason. It for sure helps make up for all the things that happened in book 2. Book one is The Sound of Rain, 2 is A Distant Thunder and Winds of Hope is #3. Book 4 should be coming out soon...the final book...can't wait!
Recovering Charles, Jason F. Wright The story was based around hurricane Katrina, a son who wants nothing to do with his dead beat Dad, and all that the son learns while trying to recover Charles, his Dad. It was ok to read once for me.
Eyes of a Stranger, Rachel Ann Nunes This was interesting....I liked it.
Promises to Keep: Diane's Story, Dean Hughes A good one to read once.
Beloved Emma, Lori E Woodland I loved this book. I love anything about Joseph Smith, but this gave a little more insight to what Emma had to go through being the wife of the prophet. What an AMAZING woman. It did have details of Joseph...because they were so close. I recommend this book to everyone.
It's Okay to Take a Nap, Debra Sansing Woods As you can see, I've read this one twice. It's an easy reader, filled with helps from getting good sleep, teaching our children, and taking care of ourselves. I enjoyed it.
A Candle at the Window, Michele Bell This is a short book from Deseret Book that came out at Christmas time. It was a simple, cute story.

The Mother in Me: Real-World Reflections on Growing Into Motherhood,by Kathryn Lynard Soper

2008-10-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

This book was a compilation of essays and poems written by LDS woman on different stages of motherhood. I must be honest and say that I skipped over most of the poems because they've never made much sense to me. I really enjoyed reading the essays, I use essay because most of the women who wrote them have degrees in English and one can tell they are well thought out....planned, anyway not like this post (I am definitely NOT a writer) but the spirit of what they were saying came through and the book was uplifting and edifying. It is good for a young mom to read at any stage.

The Sound of Rain, by Anita Stansfield

2008-08-26T11:30:00.000-07:00

My favorite author has always been, and still is, Anita Stansfield. I've had several opportunities to meet her and have her sign my books. They are simple reads, usually with twists and turns you don't see coming.

The Sound of Rain is the 1st book in a trilogy. Of course, I wish I could wait to read this one because now I can't wait for the next 2 books to come out!(It's a trilogy series) I don't know if the library has copies of this yet. I always purchase all of Anita's books, with my 25% coupon and platinum membership at Deseret Book and get her books for around $7-9.

The Sound of Rain is about Jayson Wolfe who is an incredibly talented musician. He moves to Oregon with his Mom and Brother, meets his best friend, of course a girl, and expands his talent in music. This book had me laughing out loud, crying, anxious and many other emotions. I couldn't put it down. I totally recommend it! Below is a link to Anita's website where there is a complete list of all the books she's written. The library carries most of them.

http://www.anitastansfield.com/

The Host, by Stephenie Meyer

2008-08-13T22:12:00.000-07:00

I finished reading the Host and LOVED it. Which shocks me, since I didn't know how I'd feel about aliens using humans as their host bodies. However, I fell in love with Melanie....and some others that I won't name so I don't ruin it for anyone. And the aliens are actually a very pleasant, happy, non violent group. The Host gripped me and I read it in a few days (staying up until the wee hours of the morning). In the beginning I did have to kind of see through the sci-fi part and focus on the story, and then it took off for me.

I hadn't heard great things about this book, so it made me even more skeptical. I'm happy to say that I totally loved it, will read it again and totally recommend it.

Now on to Breaking Dawn.....my poor, neglected family and house and everything!

Cara

Breaking Dawn

2008-08-12T18:31:00.000-07:00

So minutes ago I finished Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer, and without giving anything away I wanted to say that I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a nice end to the series.

August 4th, Fool Me Twice, Stephanie Black

2008-08-04T23:46:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Fool Me Twice by Stephanie Black.

It's about twin girls, one twin, Megan doing anything for the approval of her sister Kristine. Megan is a sweet, innocent, would do anything for anyone kind of girl. Kristine is a cold hearted, manipulating, dishonest, worldly girlie. The story is full of suspense. I couldn't put it down. There are some events that happen that you can see coming, but others that surprised me. Overall I thought it was a good read. Very simple reading. I totally recommend it.

(Funny note for those who know Michael Drake....his name is used as the Dad of Rachel Drake and I couldn't help but picture Angie's Michael Drake every time his name was written!)

Book of a Thousand Days

2008-07-30T13:43:00.000-07:00

I just read this book by Shannon Hale called Book of a Thousand Days. It was a great book. It was a quick and easy read and enjoyable. I highly recommend it.

PS- I just put all the books by Shannon Guymon on hold at the library. I am excited for a new author!

Author: Shannon Guymon

2008-07-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

Cara said: Shannon Guymon is my new favorite author (for the minute). I've just finished all of her books (at least that are at the library.) They are easy reading, great stories, very easy to follow and easy to relate to all the characters. I totally recommend her books!

Soul Searching
A Trusting Heart
Justifiable Means
Makeover

Mindi said: I read Makeover a few months back and found it to be a good read. The book is about a girl who gets dumped by her missionary shortly after he returns home, and about some of the ways she with the aide of her friend get revenge. The plot was different than I thought it would be, and it makes for a quick, nice read.

Welcome

2008-07-21T16:42:00.000-07:00

So here it is, what do you think? Cara had come up with a really great suggestion for a name for this blog (whatareyoureading.) but other's had already taken it in every way. Wah! So I fell back on what I had originally come up with, and that's "our book opinions". It is my hope that this little blog will become a great resource among us as friends to share our opinions on the books we read, and that in turn we may find great reads from other's opinions. Please leave a comment if you would like to leave posts, and I will e-mail the necessary information.