The Only Way to Paradise by GG Vandagriff

The Only Way to Paradise by G.G. Vandagriff
O. W. Press, 2011
Amazon Purchase Link

Reviewed by Heather Moore

My Review:

Author G.G. Vandagriff returns to women’s fiction with a flourish by the release of her new series, The Crazy Ladies of Oakwood (2011). With several notable and award-winning works credited to Vandagriff’s name, readers will relish this first volume, as they escape alongside the characters and indulge in all things Italian. Every writer would love to travel to the destination of their novel, and G.G. has done just that, enabling her to integrate the hum of Italian life as few others have. Spending months in Florence over a period of a couple of years, she crafted The Only Way to Paradise, a thought-provoking novel that follows four women as they try to make sense of their failing group therapy.

Each of the four women has their own dark valley to cross, but they have one thing in common—their therapy group has become toxic in more ways than one. Dissatisfied with the non-results, they band together in an unprecedented move, and decide to travel to Florence together. Using Enchanted April as inspiration, Roxie asks her friends, “If Italy is so healing and therapeutic what are we doing in Ohio?”

Mother-figure, Georgia, embraces the idea and encourages the women to seek solace in Florence—to lose themselves in all things Florence—in order to discover what path to take in each of their twisting lives.

Florence might seem the ideal location for any woman to rejuvenate her soul, but some of the women have haunting ties connected to the vibrant city. Reservations have to be overcome as the four women form endearing friendships, serendipitously calling themselves, “The Crazy Ladies of Oakwood.”

Georgia fights her own battles as she reminisces about the recent passing of her husband until she reunites with a man from the past who wants to fill the corners of her future.

MacKenzie might be viewed as running from her two rebellious teenagers and failed marriage, but in truth, she is faced head on with all that she has neglected as both wife and mother.

Sara, a woman who gave up her most precious talents to follow the path her parents set, discovers that love might be a possibility for her after all.

And Roxie, emboldened by the vivacious culture surrounding her, finally lets down her guard, only to be funneled back in to the nightmares of her childhood.

As each of these women immerse themselves in their own Italian Renaissance, their lives become intertwined with the local people, new loves, and fresh possibilities. True to her nature, Vandagriff has a way of weaving a story rich with details, emotion, and quotable prose that makes for an enriching read beyond the average novel.

The Only Way to Paradise is a deeply layered book with characters that will touch your life and stay with you long after you turn the final page.

The List by Melanie Jacobson

The List by Melanie Jacobson
Covenant Communications, 2011
Amazon Purchase Link
Reviewed by Heather Moore


My Review:
A light-hearted read on the surface with more serious underlying issues that the main characters try to work through as they develop a relationship.


From the cover:
Ashley Barrett doesn’t want to get married. At least, not anytime soon. She doesn’t care how many of her friends and family members and fellow churchgoers had weddings before they finished college—the last thing she needs in her fun-loving twenties is the dead-weight of some guy. And that’s why she created The List. By the time she completes all twenty-five goals—from learning a language to skydiving to perfecting the art of making sushi—she’ll be more ready to settle down. Maybe.

This summer in California is a prime time for Ashley to cross two items off the list: learn to surf (#13) and have a summer romance (#17). And Matt Gibson, the best surf instructor in Huntington Beach and the most wanted guy in the singles ward, is the perfect man for the job. Ashley hatches a plan to love him and leave him before heading off to grad school in the fall (#4, get a master’s degree). But when Matt decides he doesn’t like the "leaving" part, Ashley’s carefully laid plans are turned sideways. Now Ashley faces an unexpected dilemma: should she stick to the safety of The List, or risk everything for a love that may tie her down—or might set her free?

Hazzardous Universe by Julie Wright & Kevin Wasden

Hazzardous Universe
Written by Julie Wright & Illustrated by Kevin Wasden
Covenant Communications, 2011
Amazon Purchase Link

Reviewed by Heather Moore

My review:

A high-action, fast-paced sci-fi story for middle-grade kids. Illustrations for every chapter make this an even bigger treat. Entertaining all the way around.


From the cover:

A guy who works in his grandfather's magic shop expects weird things to happen. But Hap Hazzard has never had a day like this. First, a freaky old man in a cape who calls himself "Torval" visits the shop and somehow makes a trash can explode. Then Torval delivers an ominous message to Hap's grandfather, upsetting the old man so badly that he yells at Hap for the first time ever. Next, this girl Tara shows up to apply for a job, and for reasons Hap can't understand, his cool magic tricks send her away in tears. But that's nothing compared to what happens next. Under orders to apologize to Tara, Hap searches for the girl. But he can barely say he's sorry before three spaceships appear, the biggest of the three looking like a burnt slice of pizza.

The weirdness only ramps up as Hap and Tara soon find themselves aboard the pizza-shaped ship piloted by a pair of aliens. Even though they were accidentally abducted, the two humans are now forced to join an out-of-this-world mission that includes razor-toothed multilingual beetles, a psychic queen bee, manic ape frogs, a coveted crystal, and a hundred other bizarre things that just might make sense-if Hap could only remember and understand Torval's cryptic message. Join Hap and Tara as they begin a fantastic journey into the far reaches of the universe.

The Seventeen Second Miracle

Review by Heather Moore

The Seventeen Second Miracle is a book I’ve already recommended to many people. As with all Jason Wright novels, I walked away having learned something and more determined to be a better person. If you doubt that small acts of service have a lasting effect on a person’s life, you need to read this book.

Just today, I was at a movie theater and in the bathroom I found an over-sized gaudy ring that is popular among teens—worth maybe $5.00. I thought about leaving it on the counter, with the chance that someone might come looking for it. But then I thought about what Rex Conner (or his son, Cole) might have done. I took the extra time, even though it meant missing more of my movie, and delivered it to the manager of the theater. Perhaps it will sit in lost and found forever, or perhaps it will be recovered by a grateful teenager. But taking the extra time, be it 17 seconds or several minutes, to do something that might make a difference to someone else, helps me become a more compassionate person.

In The Seventeen Second Miracle, Rex Connor leaves behind a legacy—a legacy that began when he made the worst mistake of his life—one that forever changed him. His son, Cole, is determined to continue sharing the life lessons he learned from his father by holding Discussions with groups of high school teenagers.

Each year, the local high school principle selects teens to become part of the Discussion group. This year, only three are selected, but it proves to be the most impactful group yet as they struggle to face the realities of life and make the right choices despite significant roadblocks.

The Seventeen Second Miracle is one of those books that make you think about all aspects of your life. Its insightfulness touches the heart and delivers a message that is simple, yet profound. A message that is universal and essential in order for us to co-exist in harmony and has the power to literally change lives.

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.