Recent Reviews of Haunts Haven and Missing

Christmas is just around the corner and who doesn't need a great book to curl up with after the busyness of the holidays dies down.

Two of our recent novels, Missing by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen and Haunts Haven by Joan Sowards, would make a great gift for someone on your Christmas list--or for yourself. :)

Below are small snippets of what's being said about these two novels. For full reviews check out the sites.

Why Not? Because I Said So

Missing

Missing is a fantastic first novel. . . . You will find a little bit of everything in this book: Some romance, loads of mystery, humor thrown in throughout the pages and of course the heartbreak associated with Stacie's past experiences and the utter turmoil shown by the parents of the missing girl. . . . I highly recommend this book for readers that love a good mystery, those that enjoy angst in their stories and those that are also looking for a light romance that could/should/may probably does...happen.


Random-Ish by Nichole

Haunts Haven
This is a sweet story written in a similar style to old-fashioned ghost stories told around a campfire. Haunts Haven differs from your average every-day LDS story in that it includes ghosts, which is something I’m not sure has ever been done in the LDS market. Or, at least, not that I’ve seen. . . . Even though I’ve had tons of stuff going on, I finished [it] quickly. Haunts Haven is a short, quick, read through in one sitting type book, and I enjoyed my time spent with Callie, Lizzie, James and Clay.

Missing
The fast paced story kept me reading from beginning to end, and even though I’ve had about a hundred other things to do this past week, I zipped through the entire book because I just had to know what happened next. . . .
Great book, thrilling read all the way to the end. And yes, it was worth taking a break from Dan Brown for a couple days. Missing was much more romantic, less gruesome, and easier to read and understand. I can’t wait to see what Ronda writes next.


My Musical Advent Calendar

Missing
I stayed up way too late reading Missing. I know I should have just used a bookmark and put it down, but I got so involved with the story and the characters. I just had to know what happened. I was reading late at night because I made the mistake of telling my teenage daughter how good the book was before I had a chance to finish reading it. She started reading it after school, while I was still working, and I had to wait until I could get her to stop reading and go to bed before I could get it back again. She couldn't put it down either without some parental intervention.


Ali Cross
Haunts Haven
I don't read a lot of LDS fiction, because it used to be that much of what was out there was, well, less than stellar. But I love ghost stories, and when I saw Haunts Have: An LDS Ghost Story, I just had to check it out.

It's a debut novel by Joan Sowards, and I have to say, Joan? You did great girl!

And not only is this a fine ghost story, but it's a lovely romance too. I'm not sure what I expected, but I definitely got more than I was bargaining for in this wonderful story.

I enjoyed the characters, especially Sid the teenage clerk at the hardware store (he has a lot of silly jokes which I got a kick out of.) The character development was excellent; I was really impressed with Joan's ability to build the characters so well, even those that had smaller "walk-on" roles. Well done!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys LDS stories, and is looking for something a little different.


Gather.com
Haunts Haven

If you like paranormal you should give Joan Soward and this book a try. She will not disappoint you.

Rebecca Talley Writes

Haunts Haven

If you like ghost stories and mysteries mixed with romance, you['ll] enjoy this book.

Queen of the Clan
Missing

Missing is a gripping novel that kept me plastered to my coach, eyes reading as fast as I could, and swatting my kids away to go make PB&J for dinner. I just couldn't put the book down. This is an excellent first book by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen. I hope she'll have another book out soon!

The Christmas Spirit

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, but it can be busy time.

I love these two video messages from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that remind all of us to slow down, to enjoy the simple things, to act more more like the Savior, and to offer him the gift of discipleship.

And isn't that a wonderful Christmas message when the stress and the worry can overshadow the real reason why we celebrate?

New Book and Author Signing

Brooke Parker, R.D., author of Love Your Body: A Diet-Free Balanced Approach to Eating will be signing copies of her book Tonight, December 4th, from 6-10 p.m. at The Book Table, 29 South Main Street, Logan, UT as part of The Book Table's midnight shopping sale.

Feel Good About the Way You Look!

Are you tired of dieting and feeling unsatisfied with your appearance? In this book, registered dietitian Brooke Parker shares secrets for developing a positive body image and creating your own customized eating plan. You’ll also learn how to replace negative thoughts about yourself with positive, motivating thoughts.

With the tools you master in Love Your Body, the scale, the media, and your “skinny jeans” will no longer have the power to determine your mood or your life!

Topics include:
• Finding a New Relationship with Food
• Honoring Your Hunger and Fullness
• Finding Your Own Healthy Balance
• Creating Healthy Expectations
• The Inner Dialogue
• Put an End to Worry
• Your Body Is a Gift
• Eliminating the Physical Triggers
• Destructive Thinking Styles
• Pampering Activities
. . . and many more.

Brooke is a registered dietitian with a degree from Utah State University. Brooke currently works for Utah State University as their dietitian and is considered one of the best body-image counselor in the state of Utah.

What makes Love Your Body different from diet and body-image books out there?

1. In Love Your Body, Brooke enlightens readers as to the reason why deprivation doesn't work by showing that when we focus on foods that we can't have, it actually makes dieting harder. Instead of focusing on what we can't have, Love Your Body shows how to add new and healthy foods to our diet and by doing so increasing our success.
2. Love Your Body teaches the reader to recognize their relationship to food while exploring the emotional reasons for why we eat. Brooke coaches readers on how to recognize the destructive inner voices that sabotage their effort and provides them the tools to overcome them.
3. Many of us overeat because we haven't learned how to recognize the fullness signs that our body is sending. In Love Your Body, Brooke guides readers on how to find balance so that they never lets their body become too hungry or too full.
4. For many, food brings anxiety and guilt. Brooke guides one through tackling that anxiety and guilt and shows them how to set realistic expectations and to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
5. Lastly, Love Your Body provides an LDS perspective that reminds them that their body is a gift and we should treat it as such. Love Your Body provides ways to express gratitude for our body, and reminds us to be happy with the things we can not change, i.e. height, eye color, shoe size, etc.

Radio Interview and Book Signing

Alan and Renita Cassidy, authors of Behind the Smiling Faces: An LDS Perspective on Marriage and Divorce will be doing a Radio interview Thursday, December 10, 2009, on KTMP (Heber City, Utah), from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. Following their radio interview, the Cassidys will be signing copies of their book from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Apple a Day Natural Foods & Bookstore, 464 North Main Street, Heber City, Utah.

Tune in or stop by on December 10 because you'll be in for a real treat if you do!

Contests and Giveaways

Want to win a copy of Missing by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen? Well you are in luck because THREE sites, Anne Bradshaw.blogspot.com, Heather Justesen.blogspot.com , and LDSFiction.blogspot.com are sponsoring giveaways this week.

The giveaway on Anne Bradshaw ends TOMORROW, December 2nd, so start tweeting, blogging and facebooking away.

Heather Justesen is giving away Missing as part of "A week filled with Giveaways." Which gives you ALL week to enter with multiple ways to enter and win.

Missing is the December LDSFiction sponsor which gives you the WHOLE of December to enter. Full details here.