Havenlight sells Christian & LDS art, paintings of Jesus Christ, LDS Temple paintings, prints, & photography. Havenlight is having a VIP inventory blowout sale at their warehouse in American Fork, UT! Starting September 3rd at 10:00 AM, you can save up to 90% on framed and unframed temple portraits at the Labor Day scratch and dent warehouse sale! Simply RSVP here and download your voucher at the link below:
Come and browse through some of the most well known, beautiful photographs of the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
This sale ends September 5th at 5:00 PM!
For those of you not in Utah Valley, we would love to give you the opportunity to win a 24x36 temple print of your choosing! Please enter the giveaway below:
Law student Brooke Sherman leads an enviable life, with an impressive
education, a prestigious internship, and an ambitious boyfriend who any
girl on campus would love to date. But one phone call shatters
everything: her father, the optimistic man who insists on buying lottery
tickets and dreaming big, has terminal cancer. Desperate to get home
and predictably unable to rely on her boyfriend, Brooke finds an
unlikely hero in the form of her classmate.
Jason Ramsey has had a
crush on his study partner Brooke for months, but he’d never encroach
on someone else’s girlfriend—even if the guy doesn’t treat her the way
she deserves. But when he learns of Brooke’s father’s diagnosis, Jason
steps up to help however he can. In the weeks and months following,
Jason is Brooke’s rock, and after Brooke’s breakup, Jason becomes much
more than just a friend. But even as they plan for a future together,
things get complicated: Brooke’s father had a dying wish, that his
daughter buy one last lottery ticket. She never dreamed that fulfilling
that wish would jeopardize a future with the man she loves.
Author Interview
Life Is What It's Called - Why did you decide to write a new
contemporary romance novel vs. another action/spy thriller?
Traci Hunter Abramson - When I first started writing,
contemporary romance was what I read the most. This particular story has been
floating around in my head for literally decades, and it finally took shape a
couple years ago.
The first contemporary romance I wrote,
Chances Are, was a complete accident. Every time I tried to write a
suspense scene, my sense of humor got in the way, and it turned into a romance.
At that time I discovered a secret. When I need a fun break from suspense, or
when I need to get a book out quickly without dealing with the CIA’s review
process, writing a romance is a refreshing change.
Life Is What It's Called - How does the writing process of
contemporary romance vs. action/spy thriller differ?
Traci Hunter Abramson - The biggest differences are the
pacing and the complexity of the plot. The pacing for a romance develops so
much slower that I often have to rewrite my romances to get the timing down
right. I also love that in a romance, I don’t have to juggle so many complex
subplots as I do in my thrillers. Instead, I’m able to enjoy the characters
without worrying someone may try to kill them.
Life Is What It's Called - What have you pulled into this
story from your own life?
Traci Hunter Abramson - The idea for a A Change of Fortune stems from spending my teenage years living with my dad after my
parents split up. My father started buying a lottery ticket every week, and he
would talk about all the things he would do when he won. Eight years ago, he
passed away after a short battle with cancer, so I drew from my emotions from that
experience, as well as from my dad’s earlier dreams, to create the main
character’s father. Their small farm is also reminiscent of the little farm I
lived on when I was a teenager, only I lived in small town Arizona rather than
Delaware.
Paul, the godfather in the story, is
based on my real godfather, who is also named Paul. A lot of my Uncle Sam’s
wisdom and life lessons have also seeped into this book, right down to the
Mickey Mouse watch my uncle wore to remind him not to let life get too serious.
Life Is What It's Called - Are there more contemporary
romances in your future?
Traci Hunter Abramson - Absolutely. I have one which has
already been accepted for publication next year, as well as a novella that will
come out in the spring of 2021. I expect going forward, I will write two
suspense/thrillers each year and one contemporary romance.
Life Is What It's Called - What do you hope fans will gain
from this story?
Traci Hunter Abramson - I hope people will enjoy riding
along with me as they explore some of the life lessons and values that the
important people in my life have shared with me over the years. Helping others,
working hard to make your dreams come true, and always being true to yourself
top the list.
Life Is What It's Called - How long does it take for
you to write a book?
Traci Hunter Abramson - That’s a loaded question. It can
take me anywhere from a month to six months to write a book depending on how
many projects I’m working on at the same time. My average is around two to
three months.
Life Is What It's Called - What was your favorite scene from
this book to write?
Traci Hunter Abramson - I think my favorite scene to write
was actually the one when Jason comes home to his apartment and finds his
roommate packing. It was a simple glimpse of college/graduate school life, and
it was the scene where I discovered who Jason was and what he wanted in life.
When I first started writing,
contemporary romance was what I read the most. This particular story has been
floating around in my head for literally decades, and it finally took shape a
couple years ago.
The first contemporary romance I wrote,
Chances Are, was a complete accident. Every time I tried to write a
suspense scene, my sense of humor got in the way, and it turned into a romance.
At that time I discovered a secret. When I need a fun break from suspense, or
when I need to get a book out quickly without dealing with the CIA’s review
process, writing a romance is a refreshing change.
Review
A Change of Fortune was a fun summer read. I enjoyed the characters' blossoming romance. It was interesting to see how the different characters reacted to the idea of fortunes, greed, and money. The theme seemed to run rampant in the book and you could see it from many different viewpoints. The lottery topic was well researched. It was interesting to see how Brooke reacted to her change in fortune and how she had to take most of it on by herself. The romance was light and interesting. The only part that felt like a reach for me was how easy and fast it was for the characters to get a job with a law firm. The law firm didn't ask for a record of their grades or resumes. It seemed unrealistic to me. Otherwise, the book was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to contemporary romance fans. It's a clean, wholesome read. Learn more about A Change of Fortune by clicking here.
Enter to win a copy below and/or check out Covenant Communication's Instagram for a chance to win a copy of the book and other fun prizes by clicking here.
Please note that I received an book for free, however, this is my
honest opinion. Please also note that there are affiliate links in this
post.The giveaway is run by the publisher.
Years ago, Mary Margaret Sullivan changed her name, boxed up her previous life, moved into the Eagle Gate Apartments, and hid her painful
memories in her chicken-wire storage unit in the basement. But secrets have an inconvenient way of surfacing when least expected.
Three weeks before Christmas, an elegant man in a penthouse, a young woman named Carly—homeless and ill with pneumonia—and two calculating
thieves invade Maggie's carefully reconstructed life, and in different ways, each is connected to Maggie's difficult past. As Maggie and
friends nurse Carly back to health, hearts begin to heal with a hope for the future. But all is not as it seems. When faced with the shocking
truth, Maggie must rely on her wits, her friends, and her own strength as never before.
Review: Maggie's Place takes places during the holidays. It's not the traditional holiday read, but I liked the message that it had for the holidays. The story reminded me of a modern day Oliver Twist and had several
themes that it explored: homelessness, forgiveness, love, fraud, death and friendship.
It's interesting to see the lives of three strangers intersect and to see how they are connected. The secrets of their lives are connected make the story interesting and compelling to read. The only downside of the story is that Annette Haws gives a very vague description of some of the places in Salt Lake City and if a reader isn't familiar with the area it might be hard for them to picture the setting. She also gives a light description of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the book and it seemed like if she was going to put it in she should have added more depth or left it out altogether. This is an interesting read and would be great for a discussion in a book club. To learn more, click here. To learn more about the author, click here.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links and by using the links you help support this blog. The giveaway is run and managed by the publishing company. Please also note that I received a free electronic copy of this book to review, however this is my honest opinion.
I love reading and my children do too. We are constantly putting new books on hold at our local library. Besides secular books, I also like to check out books by members of my religion, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sometimes it's hard to discover new books. I have done searches by publisher, but sometimes the local library doesn't have anything recent. I've recently started requesting that my library purchase books that we're interested in reading. Most libraries have an online request form that patrons can use. You can also request books via interlibary loan. I like checking books out at the library before buying to see if it's something my family will love. Here are some books published by Cedar Fort Publishing, many of the authors are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that you might be interested in reading:
Children's Books
Lehi, Lehi, What Do You See? by Sandra Meaders, Published 2018, ISBN-1462122426, $12.99
250 Fascinating Facts about LDS Temples by Rebekah Pitts, Published 2018, ISBN-462122973, $13.99
250 Fascinating Facts about Latter-day Saints by Rebekah Pitts, Published 2019, ISBN-1462123147, $13.99
The Atonement of Jesus Christ is For Me by Sierra Wilson, Published 2018, ISBN-1462121942, $14.99
Series: Love Inspires Suspense
Genre: Christian, Inspirational, Romance, Suspense
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication date: September 1, 2019
She was framed! Or was she?
If only she could remember...
Border patrol agent Jocelyn Walker has no memory of how she turned up unconscious with a cache of drugs—or why a gang is dead set on killing her. With evidence stacking up against her, Joss takes refuge with driven DEA agent Dylan Murphy, who guards—and suspects— her. But will finally trusting each other lead them into a trap they’ll never escape?
Tanya Stowe is an author of Christian Fiction with an unexpected edge. She fills her stories with the unusual…mysteries and exotic adventures, even a murder or two. No matter where Tanya takes you…on a trip to foreign lands or a suspenseful journey filled with danger…be prepared for the extraordinary.
Life Is What It's Called - What inspired you to write this book?
Tanya
Stowe - My husband and I are full time RV’ers. During the winter months
we live in southern Arizona near where the book takes place. I’ve
fallen in love with this land, it’s unique characteristics and its
history. I just had to create a suspense novel set there.
Life Is What It's Called - What music would you pick as a playlist for this book?
Tanya
Stowe - I have a playlist of nouveau flamenco that I play while writing
this story. Ottma Liebert created haunting atmospheric music that can
be romantic and mysterious so it helps me get in the mood.
Life Is What It's Called - What actors would you pick to play the part of your characters in a movie?
Tanya
Stowe - That’s a tough one. The heroine is easy. Anne Hathaway. But the
hero is tougher. I think maybe a young Mathew McConnaughey. That fits.
Review
Fatal Memories begins
with the heroine, Jocelyn, losing her memory. Dylan Murphy's, a DEA
agent, job is to determine her innocence while trying to find dangerous
drug traffickers. The story is interesting and fun as the characters try
to help Jocelyn unlock her memories and unravel clues. I didn't always
agree with some of Murphy's decisions, but otherwise the story was an
interesting suspenseful read. It's a quick easy read that would be fun
to take on a road trip or camping trip.
Winter 1839. LIBERTY, MISSOURI. Local jailer, Samuel Tillery (Jasen Wade) is tasked with watching Missouri's most wanted men as they await their upcoming hearing. Caught between the local Missourians' increased drive to remove the prisoners, and the prisoners' desperate efforts to survive, Tillery is pushed beyond what any lawman can endure. Based on
actual recorded accounts, Out of Liberty is an intense, evocative western, with an outcome you have to see to believe. Check out the trailer below and learn more here. This movie will be available to select movie theaters in Utah starting September 13th.
Q&A with Director Garrett Batty
1. Where did the concept come from for Out of Liberty?
I love a good Western, and I've wanted to do one for a while. The events at Liberty
Jail involve a triangle of conflict between the jailer, the mob and the
prisoners. It seemed like an intriguing plot to explore. Amidst some
of the better known occurances were attempted jailbreaks, repeated
appeals to the legal system and an impromptu court hearing. With 1830’s
Missouri as a setting, it’s the perfect backdrop for a powerful
western.
2. What were some high points during the creative process?
Working
in independent film is extremely difficult. It requires a lot of
talented, passionate creative individuals to make things come together.
Stephen Dethloff brought in the first several drafts of the script, and
it was a high point to see that there was a cinematic story in Liberty
Jail. Then, to be able to cast Jasen Wade, Brandon Ray Olive and
Corbin Allred (who came back to acting after a 5 year hiatus just for
this role) was a dream come true. Another high point was getting to see
the set of the jail. We built 2 different sets, to cover interiors and
exteriors. To step onto each set after they were completely prepped
for filming made everything feel real.
3. What was your favorite scene on set?
The
entire shoot was extremely cold, and the pressure to get everything
just right probably impeded me from being able to feel like I had a favorite scene
during the shoot. But now that the film is done, I can look back at
some of the scenes and more accurately choose favorites. There’s a lot
of recorded stories about the friendship between Joseph (Brandon Ray
Olive) and Porter (Corbin Allred.) The scenes in which we tried to
portray that friendship have become some of my favorites. Also, the
jailer, Samuel Tillery (Jasen Wade) has a classic western stand-off with
one of the characters. I’ve loved that scene from the moment it was in
the script, through the final edit.
4. Any learning moments you want to share?
Any
film presents opportunities for learning moments. Whether in the
research phase, fundraising phase, production, post, or distribution,
I’m always learning more and more about the process. One lesson that
relates specifically to OUT OF LIBERTY
was learning to respect the humanness of whom the story is about.
Often I read historical accounts, but fail to recognize that they are
written about real people, who deal with the same human hopes, dreams,
faith and fears that I go through. So I learned to not only show their
actions, but to help the audience understand the human emotion that was
driving their actions. So in a moment of weakness, when Sydney Rigdon
(Brock Roberts) doesn’t live up to my expectations, appreciating his
humanness helps me to be more understanding of his actions.
5. What is the inspiration behind the story? OUT OF LIBERTY is based on the true events that happened at Liberty
Jail in 1839. Mob rule and public opinion collided with religious
liberties and expressions of faith. It lead to a conflict that
escalated beyond what either side wanted. Today, with ever-present
social media and opinionated commentators stirring up reactions and
attacks toward any differing belief, the similarities felt very
relevant. Fortunately, we see in both cases, that principled
individuals, dedicated to the good of society, can make a difference.
6. What advice would you give to aspiring filmmakers?
Stop aspiring, start doing. We need great storytellers!
7. If you had to summarize the film in one line what would it be? OUT OF LIBERTY is a western drama about a jailer caught between his civic job to keep
Missouris’s most wanted men held for trial, and his personal duty to
protect them from those who want them dead.
8. What do you hope people take away from this film?
When audiences go to the theater to see OUT OF LIBERTY,
I hope they come away thinking “Wow, that was an awesome film! Let’s
see it again.” It’s really a cool story, and to see it in theaters
brings it to life in a way that no other format can.
9. What most surprised you in the making of this film?
One
of the surprises along they way was how dedicated and committed the
cast and crew were to telling this story. One example of this is with
the character of Caleb Baldwin played by Adam Johnson. I’ve been
friends with Adam Johnson for years, and have loved watching him in
everything from CHARLY to The Outpost on The CW. He was gracious
enough to come do this movie as a favor for me. I anticipated he would
show up, deliver a good performance, keep the set fun, and be on to the
next project. But Adam surprised me. He brought a performance that
gave a level of humanity and depth that turned Caleb Baldwin into a real
person for me. It was humbling, inspiring, and it has stuck with me.
Every actor gave their all, and it shows on screen. It was really
quite a nice surprise to have that caliber of talent on this film.
10. What scene was the most difficult to film?
Each
scene had its own set of challenges, but for this project I’d have to
say the first day of shooting was the hardest. The film is dedicated to
my mother-in-law, who unexpectedly passed away only two days before
filming began. With this personal tragedy very much on my mind, it was
difficult to try to focus on the film. I was grateful to be surrounded
by a supportive cast and crew, and a wonderful family. One message of
the film deals with enduring extremely difficult circumstances, so that
inspired me throughout the shoot.
11. What other films have you directed? OUT OF LIBERTY is my fourth feature film. Other features I’ve written and directed are THE SARATOV APPROACH, FREETOWN and SCOUT CAMP.
12. How long did it take to film your movie?
We filmed OUT OF LIBERTY in November, 2018.
One fun story - I was holding auditions, and was surprised when Jasen Wade showed up to audition. We had never worked together, and it was an honor to have him audition. He read for a role and did a great job. But I felt I should ask him to read the part of the jailer, Samuel Tillery. He looked a little disheartened, but agreed to read for the
part. He was perfect for it! About a week later, we offered him the part and he graciously accepted. I asked him to make some time for a
call so that we could discuss his approach to the character. As we discussed the character, he paused for a minute, then said “Wait a
minute… I’m just playing the jailer, right?” He was shocked to find out that the jailer was the protagonist of the film. He was expecting it to be just a small supporting role.
Fast-forward seven years, and Jeremy is back in Charlottesville with an infant son and years of regrets. When his niece, Lili, lands on his doorstep in need of a place to stay, Jeremy needs help—and fast.
An internship opening finally presents Natalie a chance at her dream job, but she needs a second income to work around it—and the only offer available is Jeremy’s. They could be the solutions to one another’s problems, provided they don’t kill each other in the process. When they join forces, sparks fly. But they both know there’s a thin line between love and hate . . . and that love will turn out to be the best decision—or the biggest mistake—of all.
Praise for the Book
“A stunning debut . . . This tale of love and redemption will stay with you long after you've closed the book. A must-read.” —Rachel Hauck, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Dress
“Witty. Charming. Heartfelt. I could go on and on about Jessica Kate’s debut novel. From its highly relatable characters to its pitch-perfect dialogue, Love and Other Mistakes is a delightful, romantic read filled with just the right amount of sass. I lost count of the number of times I laughed out loud as I watched Natalie and Jem navigate their relationships, careers, and faith. Definitely one of the most enjoyable books I've read lately, and I can't wait to see what’s next from Jessica Kate!” —Melissa Tagg, Carol Award–winning author of Now and Then and Always and the Walker Family series
“Love and Other Mistakes wraps a poignant and warm look at relationships within a smart, sly, and knowing comedic voice. Readers of Sally Thorne and Bethany Turner will be immediately at home with Natalie: an all-too-real heroine who balances whip-smart agency with an endearing vulnerability and whose intersection with long-lost Jeremy helps her forge a path to confidence and discover the woman she was always meant to be. Kate’s unputdownable debut recognizes that all human relationships—familial, friendship, romantic—are worth the keen eye and clever insight of her talented pen.” —Rachel McMillan, author of the Van Buren and DeLuca Mysteries
“If you’re looking for a story with sass on top of style, or a fresh voice pumped full of fun, you need to read Love and Other Mistakes. Then after you’ve enjoyed this—and I’m confident you will—make a date with whatever this exciting new author writes next!” —David Rawlings, author of The Baggage Handler
Australian author Jessica Kate is obsessed with sassy romances.
She packs her novels with love, hate, and everything in between—and then nerds out over her favorite books, movies and TV in the StoryNerds podcast. When she’s not writing or discussing fiction, she’s hunting the world for the greatest pasta in existence.
Her debut novel Love and Other Mistakes releases July 2019, while A Girl’s Guide to the Outback hits shelves in January 2020.
Receive her sassy short The Kiss Dare FREE when you sign up for her newsletter at jessicakatewriting.com. StoryNerds podcast is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and at www.storynerds.podbean.com.
Love and Other Mistakes shares the stories of several characters that weave together. The characters' lives are filled with drama and dealing with hurt and pain from others' mistakes. With the pain, several of the characters learn the power of forgiveness. It was an interesting read. I wouldn't call it "hilarious" or a "light-hearted" read. It was dramatic narrative interwoven with romance, forgiveness and sense of family. It was interesting to read about the challenges in Natalie, Jem and Lilli's lives and how they overcome their hardships and past. I would recommend reading it.
Author Question and Answer
Life Is What It's Called - What inspired your characters?
Jessica Kate - I’ve written above about what inspired the emotional journeys of Natalie and Lili, so I’ll share some of my fictional inspiration for the plot. Movies like Sweet Home Alabama and The Proposal are huge influences on my writing. I adore the love/hate dynamic, and in Sweet Home Alabama I love how it has a complicated family situation and real texture in the setting. The Proposal was also a fabulous example of a really fun trope, the fake relationship.Admission is an underrated romcom that also has love, hate, comedy and complicated families.
I did a homeschool preschool lesson with kids using my book, Lehi, Lehi, What Do You See?. I read the whole book to my kids and then flipped back to the pages about Jacob seeing bees. I explained to my kids about how Jacob and his family were commanded by the Lord to go into the wilderness and travel to the promised land. I further explained that it was hard for them to travel in the wilderness, live in a tent and sometimes go without food. I went on to explain that Jacob's family continued to do what the Lord commanded and eventually were blessed by reaching a land that they called Bountiful. The land had many fruits and bees that produced honey. I told them that sometimes we go through hard times and the Lord blesses us for our efforts. After the mini-scripture story lesson, we did some activities related to bees. Here's what we did:
1. I created a B for Bees Tracing Page. My 4-year old traced the letters on the page and worked on practicing coloring in the lines. For my 2-year old, I pointed to the letter B and made the B sound. She then colored the paper.
2. I created a finish the pattern sheet. My 4-year old practiced cutting out the pattern pieces and glued them on. With my 2-year old, I stated the pattern and helped her figure out what went next. She glued on the pieces by herself.
3. I created a sheet with six beehives on it. My 4-year old and 2-year old put bee stickers on the hives that corresponded with the number on the hive. I purchased the bee stickers on Amazon and you can find them here.
4. I created different colored beehives and bees. My kids worked on matching the colored bees to the corresponding beehive. This helps them work on sorting skills and understanding their colors.
5. We worked on placing beehives in order by size from biggest to smallest.
6. I cut out a hive shape, bee shape, bee wings, stripes for the hive, door for the hive, stripes for bee via construction paper. I cut a straight line a few inches of a blank construction paper. My kids glued the hive to the blank construction paper. My kids then assembled and glued a bee together and glued it onto a Popsicle stick. The bee on the stick could then be placed in the slit in the construction paper and "buzz" around the hive.
You can download a free printable pack of the bee learning activities that we did by clicking here. This also includes a pre-writing/cutting page and a hive that you can laminate to create a lacing card.
Please
note that there are Amazon Affiliate links on this post. As an
Amazon Associate I earn from qualified purchases that help in running
this blog.
In the small town of Heber, Utah, a strange 911 call occurs concerning the murder of a former resident of a woman. Her body is found in Rhett Ketchum's barn and Rhett becomes the prime suspect of a police investigation. Rhett hires Short Investigations to find the real murderer and help him prove his innocence.
Max and Patches Fisher are the father-daughter team behind the PI agency, Short Investigations. As they work together to clear Rhett's name, Patches becomes more and more attracted to Rhett. As Rhett becomes a target, the team must work together to discover the truth before things turn deadly.
Short Investigations is a fast-paced suspense novel. The suspense in the novel has twists and turns that keep the reader interested and guessing on who did the crime. The romance in the novel seemed a little underdeveloped in my taste and a little unnecessary. I could easily see Short Investigations becoming a series and having multiple crimes to solve. It was a fun summer read. To learn more about Short Investigations, click here.
Please note that I received a free copy of this book to facilitate
this review. The giveaway prize and selection of the winner is handled
by the publisher. Please
note that there are also Amazon Affiliate links on this post. As an
Amazon Associate I earn from qualified purchases that help in running
this blog.
Publisher: Cedar Fort Publication date: June 12, 2018
Francesca Haversham is eighteen years old and about to step into a
glittering future – all she has to do is secure her wealth with an
advantageous marriage. Then she learns the truth:her entire identity is a
lie. Now Francesca faces a horrible choice. Will she give up all she
knows or continue to lie about her past and risk everything, including
her heart?
Julie Matern is a resident of Utah. She attended the University of
Exeter in Exeter, England, and graduated with a double major in French
and Education. She was born and raised in England, moving to America
after her marriage and is the mother of six children. She has served in
the PTA for over 20 years, taught tap dance, and enjoys amateur
photography. She is the author of ‘British War Children’ ( for which she
received a “Recommended Read” award from the League of Utah Writers)
and ‘British War Children 2: An Enemy Among Us’.
Hometown: Highland, UT
Francesca stopped breathing as Mr.
Ashbourne gently took her gloved hand in his and expertly spun her
around the room, leaving her former partner spluttering at the lack of
manners, in the center of the dance floor. She became dizzy at the
realization that Mr. Ashbourne was actually dancing with her. After
several turns, he lowered his head and whispered into her ear, his nose
tickling her skin and sending a thrill up her spine, causing a delicious
sensation in her midriff. “Are you unwell?” he asked. “You look faint.”
She recovered herself and observed that he had a playful smile on his
lips, fully aware of the power his presence had on young ladies. Not
wanting to appear as inexperienced as she really was, she blurted out,
“Oh no, you merely surprised me, that is all.” “Then I shall take
pleasure in surprising you whenever I can as it only serves to heighten
your beauty!” Francesca’s cheeks burned under his scrutiny and she bent
her neck to avoid his piercing gaze and gather her confused thoughts.
Review
The Secret of Haversham was an interesting and a worthwhile read. It's a book that I will definitely reread again in the future and I look forward to reading more books by this author. The writing style of the author reminded me of classical 19th century writers that wrote fictional short stories and novels of Americans visiting and touring Europe. I am not sure if that was the writing style the author was going for, but it seemed to have an older quality to it. The story was driven more by actions and secrets then the characters dialogue or development. The story was in constant motion and with each chapter I felt like I was peeling away layer after layer. I highly suggest checking out this book and reading it. To learn more, click here.
Author Interview
Life Is What It's Called - What's your inspiration for this book?
Julie Matern - Social class. It is still alive and well in England but not to the extent it was in this period. One day I wondered what would happen to a person who discovered that they were actually from a much lower class. Would it change the way friends and family treated them? I decided it would and thus a main character with a secret past was born.
Life Is What It's Called -What do you hope the readers get out of the book?
Julie Matern - I hope they are transported back in time and escape into this glittering world of privilege. I also hope they root for Francesca and Phillip and that other characters evoke strong negative emotions in them. If they come to examine their own prejudices that would be icing on the cake.
Life Is What It's Called - Who/What was your inspiration behind the characters?
Julie Matern -Francesca and Annabelle are such good girls - young and naive, just as they should be after their sheltered upbringings. I needed some villains to contrast with them and we all love to hate diabolical literary characters. Matt Bomer (White Collar) was my inspiration for Langley, physically. He is so classically handsome and pleasant to look at and that was what I needed Langley to be. As for his character, Langley is a combination of many selfish and narcissistic traits all rolled into one individual.
My inspiration for Lady Augusta was Lady Catherine DeBourgh. She is so haughty but I needed Augusta to be conniving and malicious as well. I would love to see these two characters meet at a soiree!
As for Phillip, physically I used James Norton (Grantchester and Death Comes to Pemberley) as my inspiration but he is very like my husband in his personality.
Please note that I received a free copy of this book to facilitate
this review. The giveaway prize and selection of the winner is handled
by Singing Librarian. Please
note that there are also Amazon Affiliate links on this post. As an
Amazon Associate I earn from qualified purchases that help in running
this blog.
My kids (ages 2 and 4) love playing games and reading. They really enjoy it when we combine the two. We read Lehi, Lehi, What Do You See? and played a color game.
Each time we read about the color or object that a prophet saw I asked them to go and find an object around the house that was the same color. My kids loved hunting around the house looking for colored objects or toys. It was easy for my 4 year old and a little tricky for my 2 year old. They asked to play the game again and again.
You could also adjust the game to make it harder for kids by associating a number with the color objects to find i.e. find two red things, three yellow things, etc.
To make the game easier for kids, you can gather colored objects or toys and set them next to you as you read the book and have the kids point to the object that matches the color that you're reading.
Playing the game while reading the book will help kids learn their colors and have some fun. This is a great activity for toddlers and preschoolers.
To learn more about, Lehi, Lehi, What Do You See?, click here.
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memories in her chicken-wire storage unit in the basement. But secrets have an inconvenient way of surfacing when least expected.
You See?