In the Company of Angels by David Farland

by Guest Reviewer, Robyn Heirtzler

New York Times best-selling author David Farland has done it again, created compelling fiction with unforgettable characters in his newest novel, In the Company of Angels.

Based on the true story of the Willie Handcart Company, Farland has beautifully captured the trials, fears and hope of these pioneers. He seamlessly pieces the thoughts and actions of the feisty Eliza Gadd, Captain James G. Willie and young Baline Mortensen into a compelling story that’s difficult to release. Led by Captain Willie, the company encounters countless tragedies that delays their trip across the plains, eventually resulting in numerous deaths from exposure and starvation.

Indian wars rage as they march across the plains, carrying their sick and injured in handcarts built from scraps of wood. Companies ahead of them report nearly constant threat of the raids and the discovery of corpses along the trail does little to ease their fears.

This heartbreaking account takes the reader to Eliza Gadd’s side as she watches her family collapse around her and culminates as Baline Mortensen gives the ultimate sacrifice…

In the Company of Angels is a story for all faiths and all people. It’s a historical recollection of fact combined in a novel that makes the reader believe he’s walking beside these brave pioneers.
From the prologue: “…Fifteen people are buried there in a circle, laid out toe to toe. In 1856, they tried to cross a continent, hauling all that they owned in handcarts, and were caught in an early storm. Most were men who died struggling to save their families from the brutal blizzard, but others were children, weakened by starvation. They are but a few of those who died along the trail.

“Their story is not a common tragedy. Theirs is a story of courage, hope, and heroism that may be unparalleled in the American West.

“Few have tried to tell their tale. It is not an easy one to tell. Though survivors, and even many of those who died, left biographical accounts, it is an odd tale—a story of revelations, of angelic visitations, of people struggling to find religious freedom in a harsh world.”

David Farland is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author with nearly fifty novels in print. While most of his novels fit into other genres, Dave felt deeply touched by the story of the Willie Handcart Company, and so began to study it with an eye toward writing the tale. He spent two years in the process, reading from numerous biographies, pulling handcarts, and traveling along the Old Mormon Trail.

The novel can be purchased here.

The Hidden Branch by G.G. Vandagriff

The Hidden Branch
By G.G. Vandagriff

Review by Heather Moore

Attention Mystery lovers: The Hidden Branch by GG Vandagriff is the final installment in the Alex and Briggie mystery series—a rollercoaster ride of genealogist sleuthing at its finest.

Meet Alexandra Campbell (Alex) and her sidekick, Briggie, who are hired to solve a mystery in Southern California. Paul Mardian has been murdered, his priceless artifacts stolen, and he's left billions behind in his will to unsuspecting estranged relatives--or are they? Join Alex as she and her cohorts interview various family members, uncover deep family secrets, and find themselves on the wrong side of the law. In The Hidden Branch, Vandagriff has created a wealth of unique characters, a dangerous plot, combined with snatches of humor. Not many authors can do this, but I found the secondary characters as charming as the main characters—Vandagriff certainly has a talent for characterization.

** To be entered into a drawing for a copy of The Hidden Branch, make a comment on this blog post.

After reading this book and having enjoyed GG Vandagriff’s other books, I thought I’d ask her some interview questions to go along with my review. GG graciously agreed to answer my questions. Thank you!

Heather: The Hidden Branch is your last in this mystery series. Tell us what readers can expect to see next from you.

G.G.: At this point all depends on the grace of Deseret Book, however the projects I am working on for 2010 are: a.) Embracing Abundance, a non-fiction gift book about gathering spiritual abundance through a personal relationship with the Savior; b.) another Shadow Mountain offering that I have been working on for about twenty-five years, The Only Bright Thing, about a couple married nearly five years who make the surprising discovery that they don't know each other at all. I call it a "romance within a romance" and hope it will offer readers the same satisfaction as Waltz. c.) We are leaving next week for Florence where I will be researching for the first book of my "Crazy Lady" series about four women in therapy together, all single for different reasons, who decide they can solve all their problems by going to Florence together (a la the movie Enchanted April).

Heather: I've had sneak peaks at these manuscripts, and I'm really excited for all three of them! Back to your newest release--The Hidden Branch. I love the name Briggie--I don't think I've ever heard it before. Tell us where you got this name.
G.G: Briggie is short for Brighamina. My great grandmother was named Johanna Brighamina Poulson, and I've always gotten a kick out of it. Brigham Young was prophet when she was born. Like my fictional Briggie she was a great fisherwoman and I have a newspaper clipping of her holding up a fish as tall as she is. She was also intrepid.

Heather: You've characterized Briggie perfectly in the book. You write in a few different genres. Is your writing process different with each genre, historical fiction vs contemporary mystery vs non-fiction?
G. G.: Yes. a.) Non-fiction comes easiest to me, because you can say what you mean. Also, it never surprises me. I just sit down and write it. I always experience inspiration during the process, and it is very satisfying. b.) Mystery or suspense fiction is the most difficult for me, because it is like getting on a bucking bronco. You have to give your life to it. You daren't let go of the reins, because you'll get thrown off and lose the story. The Arthurian Omen was particularly difficult because it was so tremendously complex. However, looking back, I'm not as satisfied with it as my Briggie and Alex books because I didn't develop the characters as well. My Briggie and Alex series has been fun to write. I have a basic mystery plot in mind, but my characters always surprise me, and things happen that I have no advance notice of. Those books are as character driven as it is possible for them to be, given the restraints of the basic plot. I never, ever intended for Alex to fall in love with Charles, however. That was a complete surprise. c.) My very favorite writing is my "literary" fiction which can be entirely character driven. It is very difficult. It takes me a long, long time. I do many drafts, adding layers and layers to my characters and their relationships. I've lost count of how many times I've rewritten Waltz and The Only Bright Thing. They change completely between drafts, as I dig deeper into personalities. I'm hoping that I can get it right a little sooner with Crazy Ladies. I'm only giving myself a year, hoping that I have developed a little more skill as a writer.

Heather: I think your skills are already developed. But I know what you mean, it seems with each manuscript a writer reaches new depths. Speaking of writing, tell us about your writing day and how you work in normal life and all the promoting with your newest book.
GG: Balancing promoting with writing is extremely difficult, as I'm sure you know. Promoting can be fun and creative, but it takes lots of time and is basically a left-brain activity. It tends to run away with your time, the more ideas you get. I am going to be hiring a "virtual" assistant to do much of the work for me in the future, because writing is more important to me, especially if I keep trying to publish two books a year. Also, I love helping promote my fellow writers and being part of a writing community, but sometimes I have to drop out for a while.

When I'm in the writing phase, I have to start first thing in the morning to get my best "creative time." I don't shower or dress, I just sit down in my p.j.s and write for as long as I can. I learned a long time ago that "first thoughts" are the freshest and most original, so that's why it's so important to write or rewrite early in the day. I sometimes go all day. Most often it's about 4 or 5 hours. By afternoon my brain is usually mush, so I do promoting or blogging or e-mail. My children are long gone, now, but when they were home, I worked during naps and when they were at school. I held that time inviolate, and hired people to clean my house, even if it was just teenagers.

Heather: I love your "first thoughts" advice. Thanks so much GG! To visit her blog, go here.

** Remember--To be entered into a drawing for a copy of The Hidden Branch, make a comment on this blog post.

The Holy Bible and Mormonism

Review by Heather Moore

In his introduction Christopher Mills clearly states that he is not an official representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his work is for the express purpose of explaining to members and non-members how to “understand Latter-day Saint beliefs . . . from a Biblical standpoint.”

What follows is a selection of topics that often come under criticism from those outside of the LDS faith. Most members of the LDS Church know the answers because they have learned them throughout Primary, Sunday School and Gospel Doctrine classes. But I found that putting them into a single volume and walking through the relevant scriptures in the Biblical text brought the message and the explanation of the doctrines to a very manageable level.

Topics such as why the LDS people believe that faith and works are inseparable, and why we are baptized by immersion are clearly outlined. The chapters are compelling and not to be read in one sitting. The chapter on the LDS beliefs about eternal marriage was especially interesting, since I’ve found myself in similar conversations with non-member friends.

The chapters on the Priesthood and the Prophets and Apostles are fervent reminders of the importance of the restoration of the Church in the latter days.

Overall, the tone of the book is diplomatic and matter-of-fact. The author is careful to share both sides of the argument, then explain how LDS doctrine, does indeed, fit into the scriptural text found within the Bible. An interesting compilation and a helpful reference for any student of the gospel.

To order this book, visit Christopher Mill's website.

Review of Christopher Mills' The Holy Bible and Mormonism - Understanding the Mormon Faith

I recently discovered a great little book that deserves to be in every home, LDS or otherwise. The Holy Bible and Mormonism, by Christopher Mills also deserves to be near the top of every Church teacher’s pile of reference books. I'd keep it within easy reach when teaching teenage family home evening discussions, too.

This book does not cause offense to other religions in any way. Neither does it set out to prove anyone right or wrong. However, Christopher Mills does explain in clear and simple terms what members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed LDS or Mormons) believe, using collective verses (as opposed to those taken out of context) from the King James Version of the Holy Bible. He uses the words of Joseph Smith (1938, 121) to explain further:

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into Heaven; and all other things that pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”

Christopher Mills also says, “Critics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints often use the Holy Bible to assert that Mormons are not Biblical Christians by misinterpreting and, in some cases, misquoting scripture. Some critics simply do not understand how Latter-day Saints can use the Bible as a source for spiritual guidance and hold beliefs that other Christian churches do not. Others do not even realize that we use the Holy Bible.”

A few of the subjects covered are as follows: Pre-mortal Existence, Baptism, Baptism for the Dead, Resurrection, Temples, Polygamy, The Nature of God, Priesthood, and False Prophets.

As Christopher says, “Once I discovered the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, I gained a deeper understanding of the Holy Bible and I wanted to share it with others. I have a special interest in sharing the gospel with those who are confused by LDS beliefs. This interest, along with the recent flood of anti-Mormon material, has sparked a number of discussions and an inescapable need to write my first book, The Holy Bible and Mormonism."

It is my opinion that this book is definitely a gem worth reading.

Title: The Holy Bible and Mormonism
Author: Christopher Mills
ISBN: 9781589825215
Publisher and Size: American Book Publishing 232 pages, 5x8 inches
Website: Christopher Mills
Purchase: Bookstore