Pieces of Paris by GG Vandagriff

Pieces of Paris
By GG Vandagriff

Shadow Mountain, September 2010

Review by Heather Moore


Every marriage is a web of complication with many aspects that go into weaving the fine interlocking threads. Our genetic makeup as well as our childhood years and past relationships combine to create the role we play in the give-and-take of a marital relationship.

When we first meet our spouses-to-be, we might be wearing rose-colored glasses so to speak. We might fall in love with the person we “think” they are. We might share our backgrounds, including our past relationships, but none of our personal history matters much to the person we are in love with. We have connected. We have become soul mates. And everything from this point on is just about us, just about our two-person universe, and nothing from the past can ever intrude.

Until the flashbacks start.

Annalisse has been married for several years to Dennis. They have a young boy and another child on the way. When Annalisse first met Dennis, she saw him as her saving anchor to root her into a stable reality, opposite of her previous stormy relationship. She clings to him as a boat in stormy waters relies on its anchor. She wants a change—a massive change, and that includes locking her past away.

Dennis knows he’s met someone unique and special when he is set up with Annalisse. A past relationship has broken his heart, but Annalisse is vastly different. She is stoic, she is trustworthy, and she is everything he needs to heal his heart. There is no question that they are meant to be together, and Annalisse will always be his one and only.

Their relationship collides when Annalisse starts to experience painful flashbacks into her past, crippling her from being content with her current married life. The pain is so intense, it threatens to pull Annalisse from all that she loves. She is too afraid to confide in her husband—sure that it will destroy their relationship. While Dennis is trying to understand his wife’s changed behavior, he is fighting against an industrial firm that is trying to cover up a toxic waste dump.

GG Vandagriff once again explores the intensity of human emotion, delivering a powerful story of second chances, the gift of forgiveness, and the depth of true love. This well-crafted story is absorbing from page one and the characters powerful and relatable.

Pieces of Paris is a literary symphony, a cacophony of words that delves into the hearts of all of us, as Annalisse and Dennis fight to reestablish the rhythm of their marriage. An emotionally-engaging and unforgettable journey.

Pieces of Paris available HERE.

The Stone Traveler by Kathi Oram Peterson

The Stone Traveler
By Kathi Oram Peterson
Covenant Communications, 2010
Review by Heather Moore

Sixteen year old Tag is trying to fit in with a new group of kids at school. Problem is they are troublemakers. When his cousin, Ethan, rats Tag out, he gets in real trouble with his mom and ends up at his Grandpa’s mountain cabin for the summer. Tag immediately makes plans to run away, but a bizarre set of events, including meeting three strangers and discovering a glowing stone, takes him to a new world. The new world turns out to be an ancient world set in Book of Mormon times.

Sabirah is a nineteen-year old militia leader with one goal in mind: to rescue her father and brother. Her father is the scripture legend Samuel the Lamanite, and he’s promised Sabirah that she’ll receive help on her quest in the form of a visitor, a wayfarer.

When Tag’s present collides with Sabirah’s world, he discovers his time travel mission was prophesied, and he is the wayfarer. Tag lands in the middle of a battle, assists Sabirah’s injured companion, and from there he’s caught up in an adventure that threatens his life as he tries to save others.

I was caught up in Tag’s character from the beginning. Despite the poor choices he was making, it was easy to sympathize with him, making his character very relatable. The descriptions and world-building were excellent and brought the various settings to life, whether we were in modern-day or Mesoamerica. The Stone Traveler is a compelling read with plenty of action, intrigue, and most importantly, an ending that will touch your heart.

Website HERE:

For a chance to win a Kindle, visit Kathi’s blog

To purchase online visit Deseret Book

Random Thoughts about The Fourth Nephite

Oh, dear, I came here to post my review of The Fourth Nephite, and I see there's already one up. Well, I'll just call my review Random Thoughts, then, which is probably closer to the truth anyway.

I'll admit it, when I first read the title, I imagined a kid going back in time to the age of the Three Nephites and becoming their young sidekick for a while. I was a bit surprised to find out that the protagonist of this story goes back to the time of Joseph Smith -- but I wasn't disappointed. This book is unique in its premise; instead of having Kaleo Steele go back in time by accident and flounder around until he finds his way home again, he's deliberately sent there with a quest to fulfill before he can return. He's on a journey of faith, trying to gain the knowledge that he needs, and this knowledge, or at least the opportunities of getting it, are symbolized by the parts of the key that he must collect and fit together before he can open the door that leads back to the future.

I really liked the character of Kaleo, the way he's so focused on football at the beginning of the story. Although he goes to seminary, his heart isn't really in it, and he's more inclined to think of the entire Book of Mormon thing as some kind of fantastical fairy tale. He's a good athlete, yet shy around girls, becoming tongue-tied when faced with one close-up. Each chapter starts with some of his wry observations, many of which made me smile. His football skills help him out when he runs into the gang of ruffians that are after Joseph Smith and the golden plates, but he also has weaknesses along with his strengths. I think teenage readers of both sexes will be able to identify with him -- I know I certainly could, even though I'm much older and I don't even like football.

I personally wasn't in much doubt about the ultimate ending, but I certainly enjoyed Kaleo's journey of getting there. I liked the inclusion of Sally Chase and her peepstone, and sinister Alastair Blackburn, both showing the true nature of the forces working against Joseph Smith. Jennie was also a great character, and I think the author showed us an accurate portrait of both Joseph and Hyrum Smith as well.

There was a little Savage-style cliffhanger at the end of each chapter to keep you wanting to read more, and although the book itself was a relatively fast and easy read, I didn't think it was too skimpy when it came to details or characters.

The signs on the walls with different sayings reminded me a little of the library organization system from Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose. Those sayings might seem random now, but I'm sure that there must be some kind of code behind them. But what I really liked was the way that the lights changed as Kaleo went down the tunnels to the wooden door, fluorescent lights giving way to single bulbs and then gas lights. I thought that was a great and subtle touch of showing Kaleo going back in time.

Although the story itself was gripping and expertly done, and I have nothing but praise for it, on further reflection, I find that it's the "set-up" that really interests me. This system of tunnels under Salt Lake City -- who made them, and why? Kaleo sees all kinds of household items from the 1800's, such as handcarts, coins, and butter churns, but would someone else see items from a different time? No, probably not, as the girl is thinking about how long she's studied history and learned about the people who helped restore the gospel. But who is this girl in the tunnels, the one who works with Ladan? What's her backstory and why did Ladan ask her to work for him? Why doesn't she need the door? Will her wish to go through it ever be fulfilled, will she ever be rewarded for her diligence? For that matter, who is Ladan? I don't remember that name from the Book of Mormon, so I'd guess that he isn't one of the original Three Nephites. I've come to consider him as a kind of Faith-Promoting Mastermind here, able to travel through time and space and organize a complicated paper trail for doubters to follow. Actually, this sounds like some kind of program that's been going on for years, with everything all planned out beforehand and scheduled like a military operation. Although, if Ladan is the one going back through time and setting it all up, what exactly does the girl do? I wonder if Brother Mortenson had a similar experience with Ladan and time travel, earlier in his life? I think he must have, and that was how he knew Ladan could help Kaleo. Who will be the friend that Kaleo brings back, the one that needs the door even more than Kaleo did? Is it somebody we've already met in the first chapters of this book, such as Jeff Greene, Crush Carlton, or Terri? Or somebody completely new? I'm already eager to find out, and hopefully, the last line of this book will foreshadow the coming of the next one, making it appear "much sooner than you think."

Thank you for the review copy, Jeff. Getting a free book did not influence my opinion in any way.

The Fourth Nephite by Jeffrey S. Savage

The Fourth Nephite
By Jeffrey S. Savage
Published by Deseret Book, August 2010

Reviewed by Heather Moore

A story of a Mormon teenager, Kaleo Steele, who is about to play the biggest football game of his high school career. College scouts will be in the stands, watching and deciding if Kaleo is good enough for a scholarship. But the night before the game, he gets invited to an after-school party, where some temptations seem too hard to resist. When his seminary teacher catches him doing something that jeopardizes Kaleo’s ability to play in the football game, they strike a bargain--a bargain that will change Kaleo's life in remarkable ways.

The Fourth Nephite gave me a fascinating insight into the life of the prophet Joseph Smith as a young man. When Kaleo enters a time portal and finds himself right in the middle of the controversy surrounding the unearthing of the gold plates, I was caught up in the vibrant word created by Savage. I found myself looking at the life of the prophet through different eyes, and thinking about the incredible courage he had. Some of Kaleo’s questions about the gospel have been mine at one time or another, and I loved the way that Savage unobtrusively guided the learning curve that Kaleo went through. Great research, an exciting plotline, and superb storytelling combine into a book worth every minute. I’m now reading it for a second time with my teens.


**Jeff Savage is the author of the YA Farworld series (under J. Scott Savage), as well as the Shandra Covington mystery series (under Jeffrey S. Savage). Visit his website HERE.

Hanging by a Thread by Donald B. Anderson

Hanging by a Thread

By Donald B. Anderson

Reviewed by Heather Moore

Although this book is plainly a “first book”, I appreciated the passion of the subject matter which clearly comes through the weft and warp of the story.

Hanging by a Thread is a fast-paced action thriller set in modern-day Salt Lake City, Utah. Colton, a young employee at the Utah State Capitol building, inadvertently discovers a top secret document which outlines a major conspiracy that has been operating for more than ten years. The goal of this group: To take over and control the United States. Their name: The Thread.

Colton shows the strange document to his friend who works in security, and it doesn’t take long before they realize that the information is incredibly important—they just don’t know how important yet. As they join forces with a BYU professor and Colton’s uncle, light is shed on the cryptic information. Through a massive infiltration of media and communications systems, Colton and his group are falsely accused of being terrorists. They go on the run, literally for their lives.

The decisions that Colton makes will not only affect lives, but possibly determine whether or not the United States maintains the freedoms it was built upon.

What ensues is a high-action adventure with many twists and turns, brought to life by careful attention to detail of the inner workings of government agencies, the police force, and the massive coordination it takes to prevent catastrophes. The intriguing plot will keep you turning pages quickly and guessing until the last pages, with an ending that has a compelling impact.

Hanging by a Thread can by purchased on Amazon.

Visit the author's website HERE

Imprints by Rachel Ann Nunes

Review by Heather Moore

Autumn Rain is far from normal. She has a dangerous gift, at least one that can bring danger to her. Touching an object that is important to a missing, or even dead, person brings flashes of memories. But sometimes they are too disturbing for even Autumn to handle.

When a woman goes missing, her parents are desperate for help. Autumn gets caught up in the events, even when it means bringing danger to herself and those she loves. Although Autumn has the power to read imprints, she doesn't always rely on those who are the most honest.

Author Rachel Nunes paints an intriguing character in Imprints. A story that deviates from Nunes' usual array, I thoroughly enjoyed the characterization and ambiance of this novel. The plot is far from predictable and takes several surprising turns. Suspense, romance, and a touch of paranormal rolls into one enjoyable read.

Kudos to the publisher, Deseret Book/Shadow Mountain, for printing a paranormal story that it clean and uplifting.

Imprints is available HERE.

Devil's Food Cake by Josi S. Kilpack

Review by Heather Moore

Sadie Hoffmiller is at it again! But of course it's not her fault she just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Bestselling author, and former resident of Sadie's hometown, Thom Mortenson arrives to give a presentation for the library fundraiser. When Thom's manager is mysteriously shot while getting the microphone ready on the stage, Sadie is right there to uncover all of the clues.

No, she didn't actually see the shot blast because she was savoring--eyes closed--a delicious bite of her very own Devil's Food Cake. But that fact would never deter Sadie's spry involvement.

As the whirlwind night unfolds, Sadie is drawn into a complex web of information, each turn more surprising than the next. But the only caveat is that she must follow the trail of clues without the police, which takes a bit of navigation on Sadie's part.

Sadie Hoffmiller is a delightful character, quirky, funny, and never fails to disappoint. Devil's Food Cake is another Kilpack classic, and like the other books in this culinary mystery series, the "whodunit" comes at a surprise.

If you haven't read any of Kilpack's Sadie Hoffmiller series, you need to catch up! Previous volumes are Lemon Tart, and English Trifle, with Key Lime Pie coming Fall 2010. They are fun to read in order but not entirely necessary!

Visit the author's website HERE.