Whitney Awards

This is the third year for the Whitney Awards. To nominate your favorite novels by LDS writers that have been published in 2009, go to the Whitney Award website. There are several fiction categories. Deadline to nominate is December 31, 2009.

LDS Publisher blog keeps a running tally of eligible books. I've posted the list below and bolded the ones that I've read so far!

2009 Fiction by LDS authors


Abish: Faith Among the Lamanites – Brenda Andersen
Actor and the Housewife, The – Shannon Hale
Adventures of Hash Brown Winters, The – Frank Cole
Agent in Old Lace – Tristi Pinkston
Alcatraz vs the Knights of Crystallia – Brandon Sanderson
All the Stars in Heaven – Michele Paige Holmes
Alma – H.B. Moore
Altared Plans – Rebecca Talley
Altered State – Gregg Luke
Alvor – Laura Bingham
Am I Not a Man – Mark L. Shurtleff
Amaranth Enchantment – Julie Berry
Babylon – Wendie L. Edwards
Balls in Her Court, The – Heather Justesen
Best of Times, The – Anita Stansfield
Beyond the Mask – Kae D. Jacobs
Bone Warriors – Bron Bahlmann
Bones of the Dragon – Weis & Hickman
Brass Dragon Codex – Rebeccan Shelley (aka R.D. Henham)
Briana, My Brother and the Blog – Jack Weyland
Bright Blue Miracle – Becca Wilhite
Burning Wild – Christine Feehan
By Love or By Sea – Rachel Rager
Chaosbound – David Farland
Chosen One, The – Carol Lynch Williams
Christmas Jars Reunion – Jason F Wright
Circle of Souls, A – Preetham Grandhi
Clone Betrayal, The – Steven L. Kent
Code of Honor – Betsy Brannon Green
Cold Creek Homecoming, A – RaeAnne Thayne
Counting the Cost – Liz Adair
Crimson Frost, A – Marcia Lynn McClure
Dark Slayer – Christine Feehan
David & the Bear Lake Monster – Linda Weaver Clarke
Dead Wrong – Clair Poulson
Deadly Treasure – Jillayne Clements
Dragon Spear – Jessica Day George
Dragon War Relic, The – Berin L. Stephens
Dragons of the Hourglass Mage – Hickman & Weis
Elena, Woman of Courage – Linda Weaver Clarke
Elfs in a Conquered Land – Anna del C Dye
Eliza's Field of Faith – Rachelle Pace Castor
English Trifle – Josi S Kilpack
Everything Is Fine – Ann Dee Ellis
Execution Dock – Anne Perry
Eyes Like Mine – Julie Wright
Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary – Brandon Mull
Farworld: Land Keep – J Scott Savage
FOB Bible, The – Eric W Jepson, et al
Forest Born – Shannon Hale
Forgotten Warrior, The – Kathi Oram Peterson
Fortune's Woman – RaeAnne Thayne
Freaky Flyday – David Farland
Gathering Storm, The – Brandon Sanderson (Robert Jordan)
Gravity vs the Girl – Riley Noehren
Green Dragon Codex – Clint Johnson (aka RD Henham)
Haunts Haven – Joan Sowards
Having Hope – Terri Ferran
Heart's Desire – Steven D. Nielsen
Heavenly Surrender, The – Marcia Lynn McClure
Hidden Branch, The – G.G. Vandagriff
Hidden Currents – Christine Feehan
High Country – Jennie Hansen
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet – Jamie Ford
Hourglass Door, The – Lisa Mangum
How to Stuff a Wild Zucchini – Heather Horrocks
Hunt for Dark Infinity, The – James Dashner
Hush, Hush – Becca Fitzpatrick
Illuminations of the Heart – Joyce DiPastena
Immortal Sins – Amanda Ashley
In the Company of Angels – David Farland
Just One Wish – Janette Rallison
Last Waltz, The – GG Vandagriff
Lemon Tart – Josi S. Kilpack
Leven Thumps & the Ruins of Alder – Overt Skye
Light Above, The – Jean Holbrook Mathews
Lockdown – Traci Hunter Abramson
Maze Runner, The — James Dashner
Methods of Madness – Stephanie Black
Missing Pieces – Jeni Grossman
Missing – Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
Murder by the Book – Betsy Brannon Green
My Fair Godmother – Janette Rallison
My Fairy Grandmother – Aubrey Mace
Mystic Cipher, The – Dennis Mangrum
Night's Pleasure – Amanda Ashley
No Going Back – Jonathan Langford
On the Jericho Road – K.L. Morgan
One Last Chance – Jerry Borrowman
Phoenix, The: Firestorm - Joseph Allen
Pickup Games – Marcia Mickelson
Previously Engaged – Elodia Strain
Princess and the Bear, The – Mette Ivie Harrison
Princess of the Midnight Ball – Jessica Day George
Princess of the Sword – Lynn Kurland
Pursued – Lynn Gardner
Reiyalindis – Cory Poulson
Return of the Outlaw – Craig Curtis
Rift – Todd Robert Petersen
Right Click – Susan Aylworth
Rise of Zion, The – Chad Daybell
Route, The – Gale Sears
Samaritan Bueno, The – Jack Weyland
Santa Maybe - Aubrey Mace
Saphyre Snow – Marica Lynn McClure
Saving Madeline – Rachel Ann Nunes
Second Chances – Linda Chadwick
Servant of a Dark God – John Brown
Shackles of Honor – Marcia Lynn McClure
Shadow Dragons, The – James A. Owen
Shadow Hunter – Galli & Galli
Shadows of Eden – Timothy F. Bone
Shelter from the Storm – Anita Stansfield
Shudder – Jennie Hansen
Silence of Snow, The – Anita Stansfield
Sister Pact, The – Cami Checketts
Slathbog's Gold – M.L. Forman
Soul Alliance: The Thorn of Gooze – Charles Streams
Taken by Storm – Angela Morrison
Ties That Bind – Kristen McKendry
Till There Was You – Lynn Kurland
Torn Apart – Diony George
Tower of Strength – Annette Lyon
Trail of Storms – Marsha Ward
Tree House, The – Douglas Thayer
Tribunal – Sandra Grey
Trigger – Todd Durrant
Uncut Diamonds – Karen Jones Gowen
Undaunted, The – Gerald N Lund
Under a Lakota Moon – Deborah L. Weikel
Warbreaker – Brandon Sanderson
Winds of Hope – Anita Stansfield
Wings – Aprilynne Pike
Within the Flame – LeeAnne Hanks
Wordsmith 1: The Veil of Heaven – Michael R. Collings
Wordsmith 2: The Thousand Eyes of Flame – Michael R. Collings

Saving Madeline by Rachel Ann Nunes

Saving Madeline

By Rachel Ann Nunes
Shadow Mountain, 2009

Reviewed by Heather Moore

Caitlin McLoughlin is a talented public defender, assigned to cases where she finds herself defending the bad guy over and over. But in her position, she doesn’t mind when she loses a case—because that means the criminals go to prison where they belong.

But then a four year old is abducted from her home and when the police find the kidnapper, it’s the girl’s father, Parker Hathaway. When Caitlin is assigned as his public defender, she is eager to wrap up the case, until she discovers Parker’s motivations.

Saving Madeline has an intriguing plot that follows Caitlin McLoughlin through the twists and turns of the legal system, explaining why some criminals get let off and some don’t, and how the prosecutors and defenders are held to the specifics of procedure.

As Caitlin’s professional life collides with her private life, she uncovers those who are worth having in her life and those who aren’t. She also wrestles with giving love a second chance. She makes every effort to keep her personal feelings out of her current case with Parker, but it proves to be difficult as time is running out for both Parker, and his daughter, Madeline.

An enjoyable, unexpected journey of ethics and love with a dynamic plot that will keep you guessing! I consider Saving Madeline as one of my favorite Nunes book. Readers will be pleased with this new novel and Nunes' fresh endeavor.

Rachel Ann Nunes is the bestselling author of many books. Visit her website here.

Christmas Jars Reunion by Jason F. Wright

Christmas Jars Reunion

By Jason F. Wright
Shadow Mountain, October 2009

Reviewed by Heather Moore

If you haven’t read Christmas Jars, the New York Times bestselling book by Jason F. Wright, you’ve missed out on a classic Christmas story that will change how you view the season of giving. Its sequel, aptly titled Christmas Jars Reunion is reminiscent of the first.

Across the country, a phenomenon has begun to unfold. Since the release of Christmas Jars, hundreds of readers have contacted author Jason Wright and shared their Christmas Jar stories, and thousands of Christmas Jars have been given away across the country. Individuals and families are setting out an empty Mason jar to be filled with spare change throughout the year. Then anonymously, the family gives away the jar around Christmas time to a person in need.

In Christmas Jars Reunion, the story that began in Christmas Jars continues. Yet, this story stands on its own, bringing the reader once again into Hope’s Jensen’s remarkable life. The author includes a quote from a Christmas Jar recipient at the beginning of each chapter. One reads, “I’ve often wondered how a person repays kindness. I know now . . . with a Christmas Jar. As if a year full of blessings wasn’t already enough, God blessed me again tonight. And tomorrow? A new jar begins. –Patricia” (CJR, 60).

But even Hope Jensen needs to learn what the spirit of selfless giving is truly about. When Clark Maxwell re-enters her life, she must decide if she can allow him into her heart once again, and discover that loving someone might just be worth the risk.

Hope sets the lofty goal of distributing 1,001 Christmas Jars in honor of Chuck, deceased owner of Chuck’s diner. But in the process, the importance of the original Christmas Jar is lost.

It will take a stranger, a young girl, and an interview of a lifetime to bring back the true meaning that the Christmas Jar was intended for. Christmas Jars Reunion is a story that will inspire you to look closer at your life and remind you of the significance of selfless giving.

To read personal experiences or share your Christmas Jar story, visit here.

Other books by Jason F. Wright: Penny's Christmas Jar Miracle, The Wednesday Letters and Recovering Charles.

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.

Shudder, by Jennie Hansen

The ending of this book made me mad -- furious, in fact! I'm mad that -- but I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me describe the entire book first.

Shudder, by Jennie Hansen, is a multi-faceted book; it's a suspenseful thriller, but it also features a storyline about abuse, along with themes of friendship and romance. The two main characters, Darcy and Clare, grew up together, and at the beginning of the book, they share an apartment. But while Darcy was always surrounded by a large, loving and supportive family, Clare only had an ill, demanding mother who later died. When Blaine, a young attorney, came into her life, she was flattered by his self-confident personality, and a little relieved to let him take over much of the load of responsbility that she had carried around by herself for many years. But Blaine's personality can also be described as "forceful" in more ways than one, and the book opens with Clare coming home with a broken wrist, which he caused. It's an event that only serves to make Darcy even more suspicious of Blaine; she's never liked him, but now she's starting to see what Clare cannot; that he is abusing her friend both physically and mentally.

Meanwhile, Darcy is having her own problems. When Blaine insists on moving in with Clare even before they're engaged, Darcy feels morally obliged to move out. Unhappy circumstances bring her together with David, a young, single LDS coach at the local high school. David is not only the exact opposite of Blaine, but he also helps Darcy find a new place to live, in the home of a woman, Karlene, who is recovering from a severe car accident. Karlene, however, is convinced that it wasn't an accident and that her car was deliberately forced off the road. Soon after Darcy moves in, the house is almost broken into, then a fire is started directly outside, and finally, the house is blown up deliberately -- fortunately at a time when both women are out. It seems that someone is looking for evidence of a crime that Karlene accidentally captured on film, and they will stop at nothing to find and destroy it. When Karlene goes into hiding, Darcy is the only connection to her that the villains have left.

The story contains many threads that are skillfully intertwined; the thrills, spills and romance of Darcy's storyline are a good balance to the increasingly abusive behavior of Blaine towards Clare. The pacing is fast, but not break-neck, and there's always something that will keep the readers turning the pages to see what happens next. Along the way, the reader also discovers much about the behavioral patterns of abusers -- not in the form of the dreaded info-dump, but carefully woven into the story. Because many of Blaine's actions are described from Clare's point of view, the reader is also shown what she is thinking and feeling, and how she doesn't recognize her relationship at first for what it really is. Clare is so in love, for instance, that it never occurs to her that Blaine deliberately hid her cell phone; she thinks she herself slid it into his briefcase by accident. She believes that he is truly too busy and forgetful to add her name to their "joint" account, and she even takes the blame for many of his aggressive outbursts, chiding herself for not recognizing and avoiding his triggers. I personally liked the way that Jennie Hansen showed us enough of Blaine's unhappy background that we can approximate an understanding of why he acts the way he acts, although I'm sure that the roots of abuse are much more complicated than we mortals can ever know. The best parts of the book, however, show the theme of friendship; how Darcy doesn't give up on Clare despite the obstacles that Blaine throws (sometimes literally) in her way, how friends can be found in unlikely places and with unlikely people, and best of all, how seemingly small acts of friendship can have so many positive outcomes.

All this talk about abuse makes the book sound preachy, but I assure you, it's not; it's entertaining and suspenseful right up to the end, with lots of good action scenes and two delightful romances (one major and one minor.) The scene with the snowmobile and the chase at the beach were particularly tense. And while a spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down, this book is not just syrupy sweetness overcompensating for a bitter pill. The message isn't completely disguised -- it's not supposed to be -- but it is divided into small, easily digestible portions, and wrapped up in a hearty, satisfying meal that will make you glad you ate the whole thing.

Now, as I said at the beginning, the bittersweet ending of this book, or more specifically, of Clare's plotline makes me mad. I'm furious at the fact that it's the victims who have to run and hide, often for the rest of their lives, if they manage to get away at all. I'm mad that the perpetrators are often allowed to go on living as though nothing's happened, free to continue their abusive behavior, when they are the ones who should be forced to live in fear, looking over their shoulders for the rest of their lives and worrying that their pasts will finally catch up with them. It's the sad reality of to-day, but books like this will help raise awareness of the problem so that things can change. I hope that this book in particular will go beyond mere entertainment, that its subtle messages will inspire who are in an abusive relationship to realize what's going on and get help, and inspire others who are outside of those relationships to reach out and give that help in the moment that it's needed.

I'd recommend this book to those readers who want more depth to their thrillers, who want to be entertained and yet left pondering at the same time. I also think this book would be appropriate for older teens.

If you'd like to win a signed copy of Shudder, go to Jennie's blog. She'll be holding two contests during the month of October and all you have to do to enter is make a thoughtful comment on any one of her blog posts during that time.

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.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

The long awaited sequel to The Hunger Games is out and just as terrifying and intriguing as the first. Warning: This is the second in a three book series and you are left hanging just as you were at the end of The Hunger Games.

Book Description:
Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.