Carribean Crossroads

Carribean Crossroads by Connie Sokol

Here is the lovely Connie Sokol and below is the back cover blurb to entice you to read her romantic book.

New college grad Megan McCormick just got dumped. Hard.

Swearing off men and relationships, Megan is coaxed into performing on a cruise ship where she meets the star performer, Bryant Johnson. Handsome and charismatic, he looks like trouble, but she can't deny the intense attraction between them.

Urged to find a wife and run the family lumber business, Bryant is torn between his family's expectations for his life and his own. However, when he meets spunky, but love-skittish Megan McCormick, settling down doesn't look so bad.

Just when Megan begins to trust again, and Bryant makes some big decisions regarding his future, her former fiance returns with a malicious surprise, taking Megan and Bryant to their own CARIBBEAN CROSSROADS.

Here’s some advance praise for this great summer read:

"Caribbean Crossroads is an entertaining read with a great plot and characters. I loved it! I got hooked from the very beginning...I highly recommend this book to all those looking for a very enjoyable and clean romance novel." Christina Tarbet, Book Reviewer

"Caribbean Crossroads is the perfect summer read. It's a story of love, forgiveness, and following one's heart. There is a lot of humor in the storytelling, and reality in the way relationships work. Connie Sokol captures this perfectly with a great cast of relateable characters who will make you want to keep reading late into the night."

Emily Cushing, Author of One Heart, Many Voices

You can find it on Amazon at

http://www.amazon.com/Caribbean-Crossroads-Connie-E-Sokol/dp/0615651860/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341928539&sr=1-1&keywords=connie+sokol

You can check out her fabulous website
www.8basics.com

Or her Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/8basics

A little bit about Connie Sokol:

Connie Sokol is a mother of seven—a national and local presenter, and a regular speaker at Education Week. She is a monthly TV contributor on KSL’s “Studio 5” and regular blogger for LDSLiving online. She is a former TV and radio host for Bonneville Communications, and columnist for Deseret News and Utah Valley Magazine. Mrs. Sokol is also the author of Motherhood Matters, Faithful, Fit & Fabulous, and Life is Too Short for One Hair Color, as well as talk CDs and podcasts. Mrs. Sokol marinates in time spent with her family and eating decadent treats. Visit her website at www.8basics.com/

Pick up your copy of Connie's delicious book and tell me how you like it.

Reader Q: What's your best read so far this summer?

A Woman's Power

A Woman's Power: Threads That Bind Us to God by Fay A. Klingler

This is the online description at Deseret Book: In today's chaotic world, most women feel like they're hanging on by a single, ever-fraying thread. But the gospel teaches us differently. As daughters of God, we're blessed with lifelines from above. All we have to do is reach up and grab hold of them. The author simply and beautifully illustrates which threads have the strength and power to carry women of virtue to safety, peace, and lasting happiness.This inspiring work will help you hold fast to the divinity within you, as you learn just how powerful a faithful woman can be.

My thoughts: This is an uplifting book and Fay takes you on a personal journey on how you can become a Daughter of God and more importantly the one you were meant to be, the one Heavenly Father knows you can become. My two favorite parts were about setting goals and our sisters. So, I'm a goal setter and like to be able to check things off the list, but that's not what her section is really about. Time to get to work on what's important. As for my sisters, we're not talking about literal sisters, although I have three really awesome ones, but we're talking about those women in your life that really get you, those women you can talk to you about anything, vent to, and cry with, laugh with and can call on whenever you need and they will support you. This is the therapy we require and no offense to the loving adorable men in our lives, but we women need sisters. Enjoy Fay's remarkable words and embrace your divine spirit.

Here's the link to Deseret Book:
http://deseretbook.com/Womans-Power-Threads-Bind-Us-God-Fay-Klingler/i/5077835

What book has inspired you to be a better woman?

Be Brave & Meet the Lorax

Be Brave & Meet the Lorax

So, let's kick off the summer with a few family friendly films. (Nice alliteration huh?)

BRAVE

Disney/Pixar's summer film doesn't disappoint, although the storyline didn't go quiet as I expected. There are alot of bears. Bear, hmm, didn't we do that in Brother Bear. Still, ya gotta love Merida's hair, her sneaky brothers, her hilarious father and loving but strict mum. It's all about being brave enough to be yourself and really isn't that what we are constantly trying to teach our kids. Everything about you is wonderful, but please follow the rules. You're very likely to add this to your DVD collection. And yes, you can take your four year old without emotional scarring. I did. I wonder how many red headed people we'll see walking around now.

Dr. SEUSS'S THE LORAX

So, I had no idea going into this that it was a musical. How fun! I love musicals! And this stuff was well written & performed. Big kudos to the artists for creating such an amazing world of cinematography. State of the art stuff. A great message on doing the right thing and saving the earth, even if you are just trying to impress a girl ,without it being shoved down your throat and leaving behind a bad taste like Happy Feet did. So, I'm big on having the right voices for the cast and I love these actors. I did find it ironic, that with this being a musical and having Zac Efron and Taylor Swift as the man characters neither of them sing. Why couldn't they at least sneak in a quick duet? Still a lovely watch and totally family friendly. Long live the Lorax!

Surrender to Elana Johnson!

So, I'm unofficially tooting Elana Johnson's horn as Surrender, her highly anticipated sequel to Possession, came out this week on June 5th. She has a huge blog tour going and if you want to check it out see her blog at

http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com

This is what the book is about:

The thrilling and seductive sequel to Possession puts love on the line in a dystopian struggle for independent thought. Forbidden love, intoxicating power, and the terror of control…
Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.
All of that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine’s got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can’t. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi’s boyfriend, Zenn.
Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine’s father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. She’s even starting to suspect Vi’s secrets might involve Freedom’s newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque….

You can purchase it online everywhere, but if you like Amazon/Kindle, here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Surrender-Elana-Johnson/dp/1442445688/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339169557&sr=8-1

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Or if you a Nook fan like me, here's the link:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/elana-johnson?keyword=elana+johnson&store=ebook

I read the first two chapters of this as a teaser a couple of months ago and wanted to cry for having to wait to read the rest. Now I can and so can you!

And yes, Dystopia is not my usual beloved genre to read, but for Elana Johnson I will happily always make the exception! Raise a glass to Elana and sit down for a great read!

If you didn't read Possession first, I would. It's the reason I will read Surrender and I have my fingers majorly crossed that when the final book of this trilogy comes out I will have a happily ever after ending and not want to throw the book across the room like at the end of Hunger Games!

So, what is a book you enjoy that's not in your usual genre of reading, but want to tell everyone about?

The Avengers, Thor & Captain America

I had the great fortune to see The Avengers on opening weekend. It was highly entertaining, graphically up to par and very witty (Thank you Iron Man). I give great props to Joss Weedon (the director) for having put together a smashing film and especially for the lab scene where you have the majority of the big name celebrities in one room. So much ego to keep in check and work together. Always happy to see Scar Jo and the actor who plays SHEILD's ambassador. Be prepared to laugh. This is one that should be seen on the big screen. Many others can be viewed on your awesome HD screen with surround sound at home, which is what we do most of the time. It's just too expensive to go out to see a movie. Between the price of the movie and the sitter, we can buy two copies of the movie! So, we often save the money, wait a few months and then buy the movie or check it out on Redbox. I'm a big fan of Redbox.

So, then I had to back track and see Thor. We own both of the Iron Man movies. Can't wait for a third. There is going to be a third right? I wasn't sure what to expect from Thor. He didn't make the biggest impression on me in The Avengers. It was well worth the Redbox to watch it and understand his character and how he tied into everything. And how come in all the previews they never once showed Natalie Portman or Anthony Hopkins (at least not that I remember)? I like Thor's character much better now. A well thought out storyline, excellent graphics, and strong acting. British accents are always welcome in my world. Definitely some surprises and too many unanswered questions! I like loose ends to be nicely tied up when a movie finishes. The biggest surprise was the director - Kenneth Branaugh! It's been quite some time since he's directed (too long in my book) and this was not like his typical stuff (Shakespeare) but certainly up to his usual standard so well done Mr. Branaugh. See this one on Redbox or Netflix for a fun watch.

Last comes Captain America, or should I say first. (Technically I think the Hulk in 2008 with Ed Norton is first, but I don't think the studio had planned out The Avengers series movies then, because he does not reprise his role in Avengers. We have a different actor for Hulk there.) Anyways, I watched this the night after Thor and it's a toss up as to which I like better. I was quite happy to see Chris Evans don another super hero uniform (Fantastic Four - Human Torch). Although I think the first half of the movie his body is CG'd to a near concentration camp like status, especially considering that once he transforms he'd a head and a half taller and completely ripped. Since this film and Fan 4 are the only ones I've seen him in, this one gave him the opportunity to show more depth as an actor. I think that's why these films as a collection work, because even though they're superheroes we get to know them individually and see their vulnerabilities. A bit skeptical at all the historical 'facts' shown in this film. There are some awfully advanced planes and weaponry for WWII. I have long been a fan of Hugo Weaving and Stanley Tucci and was delighted to see both in this film. Hope to see the heroine back in something else. A worthy watch.

Which of the Avengers do you like most? Iron Man? Hulk? Captain America? Black Widow? Thor? Or someone else entirely?

Proper Romances - Edenbrooke & Mr. Darcy's Daughters

SO, I am a lover of Jane Austen and romances written in that style and time. What can I say, I love a clean romance with wonderfully written characters I can get behind and villains I can despise. Also seeing what characters and plot lines I can tie back to Jane's books. These two books did not disappoint on any level.

EDENBROOKE by Julianne Donaldson

This thoughtful, wonderfully written, proper romance has a spirited heroine, a handsome troubled hero and more than enough plot twists to keep you guessing and the book in your hands. Highway men, principals, sisterhood, responsibility, families grieving for lost loved ones, other suitors, etc. are just a few of the obstacles Ms. Donaldson puts in Marianne's and Phillip's paths to keep them apart and yet they are nearly together on every page! That is romance 1000 level stuff. As a romance writer I greatly appreciate the difficulty of accomplishing such an impossible task. If you want a lovely romance to read or just a beautiful book, then pick up Edenbrooke and don't plan to put it down. I'll be reading it again soon.

Mr. Darcy's Daughters by Elizabeth Aston

I am a little wary of novels that perpetuate the story of Elizabeth Bennett's and Fitzwilliam Darcy's family. But I've wanted to read one of Ms. Aston's books for a while now. When I came across this one, I couldn't resist. (Not to mention it was second hand and a great deal!) I'm so glad I picked it up and read it. We find ourselves in London with the Darcy's five daughters who are staying with Colonel Fitzwilliam and his wife Fanny. The two young boys are left back at Pemberley, while The Darcy's are off to Constantinople. These five girls get into a lot of trouble, hi jinks, mixed up engagements, rule breaking and more cause more than their fair share of mayhem in the London scene. We also meet some old friends, the Gardiners, aunt Lydia, Caroline Bingley Warren to name a few. Enjoy this proper romance with a few improper twists and characters to see how it all turns out in the end. It won't be how you expect.

Do you have a good clean romance you can recommend for my next read?

LDStorymakers 2012

If you are a writer, you are in need of a few things.
Ideas to write about.
Something to write them on. (paper to netbook to laptop or anything in between)
A writer's/critique group.
And if you can scrape together the money - a writer's conference to attend
(Agents and publishers are a whole nother blog)

Enter The LDStorymakers 2012 conference review.

Huge thanks to Jamie and Heather. They were the conference chairs and I'm sure gave more hours of their lives than I'll ever know to make it so awesome!

The classes vary from writing basics on character, world building etc. to high end how to publish your own book, query letter writing and more.

The conference is inspiring in every way: ideas you get, polishing your pitch, interacting with other creative intelligent creatures some of which you stand in awe of and never work up the courage to speak to (Elana Johnson, James Dashner, Kevin J. Anderson, Liz Adair, to name a few. Although, I did finally speak to Jeff Savage and Annette Lyon, who turned out to be lovely funny people.), and getting the kick in the pants you need to motivate you to keep writing and journeying to publication in one form or another.

You have the chance to chat with authors you have met before and make acquaintences with new ones. You celebrate with those who have become published authors since you last saw them and cheer on the ones with the most rejections because some agent, some publishing house somewhere will want it and most importantly because the work they have bled and cried over is worth it.

This year I had the opportunity to take my teenage niece and watch her writing world expand exponentially in a matter of three days. When I asked her if she wanted to go back next year she replied, "Absolutely!"

I think that sums it up. Was the LDStorymakers conference worth it? Absolutely!

What have you done to learn more about one of your hobbies?