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Tuesday, September 25, 2018
LDS Hollywood Romance Upbeat and Real (with a Giveaway!)
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When Evie Jennings eloped with her boyfriend two years ago, she thought she was making a fresh start with the man she loved. Then he abandoned her, divorcing her through the mail. Evie hasn't seen Q since their hurried nuptials. Her friends and family urge her to move on, but to what? It's humiliating enough to be a 24-year-old divorceé, let alone living with her parents and attending a Young Single Adult (YSA) ward. She's enrolled at UCAL, but she's not even sure what she wants to be when she grows up. Evie's confused—about past mistakes, present decisions, and what kind of future she could possibly have when she's so messed up and broken.
After receiving scathing reviews on his forthcoming movie, Hollywood golden boy Ridge Dashly is starting to worry about his future, too. With his career on the line, he reluctantly agrees to an image re-boot, which includes enrolling at UCAL. Surrounded by starry-eyed co-eds, Ridge longs for someone who can see past his Hollywood heartthrob image and appreciate his true self. A chance encounter with Evie Jennings convinces him that she could be a true friend, if not a whole lot more. Soon, the two are exchanging flirty texts, swapping secrets, and stirring up enough gossip in their singles ward that even the paparazzi takes notice.
It took me a minute to realize that Love Unscripted—Tiffany Odekirk's sophomore novel—is actually a companion novel to her debut, Love On Pointe. It's not a sequel but a story concerning the same family, just a different member. With Emmy Jennings' HEA on the horizon, it's her twin's turn to find love. Although Evie's constant wallowing bugs, she's a sympathetic heroine and likeable enough that I wanted a happy ending for her as well. Ridge is a little too perfect, but it's also easy to desire good things for him. Their story has a fun premise, unoriginal and predictable though it may be. The tale's got religious undertones, but it's not overly preachy or sappy which makes it an appealing read for anyone who enjoys clean, upbeat contemporary romance. What I appreciate most about Odekirk is that she presents members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a realistic way. Her characters make mistakes, treat each other in ways that aren't always kind, have doubts, struggle with their testimonies, question their Church leaders ... in short, they reflect real LDS people. Her story people—like IRL Mormons—are imperfect people striving to be better. Overall, then, I enjoyed Love Unscripted and will certainly read Odekirk's next effort (which I'm hoping will concern the mysterious Drew Jennings).
(Readalikes: Love On Pointe by Tiffany Odekirk; also reminds me of contemporary romances by Melanie Jacobson [especially Perfect Set], Brittany Larsen, and Jenny Proctor)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for discussions of subjects (pornography, spousal abandonment, premarital sex, etc.) that may not be appropriate for readers under 12
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Love Unscripted from Covenant in exchange for an honest review to be posted during the book's blog tour. Thank you!
--
Interested in more opinions of Love Unscripted? Follow along on the blog tour by clicking the links below:
*Sept. 24th: http://mybookaday.com/
*Sept. 25th: http://fireandicereads.com/, https://brightlystreet.com/, https://www.rockinbookreviews. com/, http://www.blogginboutbooks. com/, http:// gettingyourreadonaimeebrown. blogspot.com/
*Sept. 26th: http://thoroughlyhere. blogspot.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot. com/, http://lisaisabookworm. blogspot.com/, http://lifeiswhatitscalled. blogspot.com/
*Sept. 27th: http:// katiescleanbookcollection. blogspot.com/, https://www.wishfulendings. com/, https://www. singinglibrarianbooks.com/
*Sept. 28th: https://whynotbecauseisaidso. blogspot.com/, http://booksaresanity. blogspot.com/, http://literarytimeout. blogspot.com/
Want to win a copy of Love Unscripted for your very own? Or a $25 Amazon gift card? How about both? Enter to win this awesome prize using the Rafflecopter widget below:
Friday, September 21, 2018
Light, Funny MG Story Not Without a Lesson or Two
5:42 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Living like a pioneer is not quite what 13-year-old Genevieve Welsh had in mind for her summer break. Trudging around the prairie in a long dress (and petticoats!), growing her own food, slaving away at chores that can easily be done by machine, living with her family in a tiny, rustic cabin—nothing about Frontier Family History Camp sounds like a vacation at all. What are her parents thinking? Living without modern distractions might bring her family closer, but it's also going to make Gen completely insane.
Camp isn't completely awful, especially considering there's a cute boy to practice her flirting skills on. Still, Gen finds plenty of drama to rant about in the texts she sends to her friends on the forbidden cell phone she snuck into camp. When Gen's pals turn her messages into a blog and that blog goes viral, attracting national media attention to her plight in the Wyoming wilderness, Gen starts to wonder just what she's done. Has she managed to ruin what's turning out to be the best worst summer she's ever experienced?
Little Blog on the Prairie, a middle grade novel by Cathleen Davitt Bell, tells a cute, uplifting story about learning to appreciate the simpler things in life. It's an easy read that's funny, upbeat, and entertaining, albeit totally predictable. While it feels contrived and far-fetched at times, it's still a fast, fun read that will appeal to anyone looking for a light, laugh-filled story that's not without a lesson or two. I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scary images
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
TTT: FALLing for Autumn Reads
5:58 PM
It's been some time since I've participated in Top Ten Tuesday, my favorite weekly meme, but I couldn't resist this week's topic. The seasonal TBR posts are the ones I look forward to most, so I couldn't miss out. You shouldn't either. Join in the fun by heading over to That Artsy Reader Girl to read a few guidelines then making and sharing a list of your own. After that, all you have to do is hop around the book blogosphere and load up your TBR list with even more great recommendations. It's a good time, I promise!
Here we go with the Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR List:
1. A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult (available October 2)—I'm a big Picoult fan and I'm excited to read her newest, even though it deals with a subject on which I have strong opinions: abortion. The novel begins when a shooter walks through the doors of a women's reproductive health services clinic and goes from there. Should be a compelling read that will no doubt be interesting and discussion-worthy.
2. The Winters by Lisa Gabriele (available October 16)—This haunting thriller about a recently married woman whose posh new lifestyle is not all it appears to be sounds intriguing.
3. Leave No Trace by Mindy Mejia (available now)—This novel, about a boy who's been raised in the Minnesota wilderness and the therapist who's trying to help him, sounds intriguing.
4. Love Unscripted by Tiffany Odekirk (available now)—On the lighter side, this is the sophomore novel by a delightful author whom I've had the privilege to meet. I enjoyed her debut, so I'm excited to see what Odekirk does with this romance about a woman who meets a Hollywood heartthrob in need of her help.
5. Squint by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown (available October 2)—I loved Mustaches for Maddie, so I'm excited to read the duo's newest, Squint. The middle grade book is about a young comic book artist who's frantically trying to finish a piece he wants to enter in a big competition before he completely loses his eyesight due to a damaged cornea. He's bullied at school, but one girl reaches inside of herself to find the courage to get to know him ...
6. The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason (available now)—This historical novel, about a young medical student who enlists in WWI and finds himself trying to make a difference at a frozen, forgotten makeshift hospital in the Carpathian Mountains, sounds intriguing.
7. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris (available now)—Another historical, this one is based on the true story of a captured Jew who is put to work tattooing numbers on the arms of his fellow prisoners. A love story and a survival story, it sounds excellent.
8. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty (available November 6)—After loving several of Moriarty's novels, I found her last one to be a big flop. I'm hoping Nine Perfect Strangers, a novel about a group of women stuck together at a resort that may be more damaging than healing, is as entertaining as some of her earlier books.
9. Go To My Grave by Catriona McPherson (available October 23)—I love a mystery/thriller featuring an old house hiding juicy secrets. This one, about a group that gathers at a bed and breakfast where something horrible happened years before, sounds like a perfect Fall read!
10. The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White (available now)—This dual-timeline novel features a dramatic story set on the doomed ocean liner RMS Lusitania. I'm in.
There you have it, ten of my most anticipated reads for Fall. Do we have any in common? What are you looking forward to reading in the months ahead? I'd love to know. Please leave a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor.
Happy TTT!
Here we go with the Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR List:
1. A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult (available October 2)—I'm a big Picoult fan and I'm excited to read her newest, even though it deals with a subject on which I have strong opinions: abortion. The novel begins when a shooter walks through the doors of a women's reproductive health services clinic and goes from there. Should be a compelling read that will no doubt be interesting and discussion-worthy.
2. The Winters by Lisa Gabriele (available October 16)—This haunting thriller about a recently married woman whose posh new lifestyle is not all it appears to be sounds intriguing.
3. Leave No Trace by Mindy Mejia (available now)—This novel, about a boy who's been raised in the Minnesota wilderness and the therapist who's trying to help him, sounds intriguing.
4. Love Unscripted by Tiffany Odekirk (available now)—On the lighter side, this is the sophomore novel by a delightful author whom I've had the privilege to meet. I enjoyed her debut, so I'm excited to see what Odekirk does with this romance about a woman who meets a Hollywood heartthrob in need of her help.
5. Squint by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown (available October 2)—I loved Mustaches for Maddie, so I'm excited to read the duo's newest, Squint. The middle grade book is about a young comic book artist who's frantically trying to finish a piece he wants to enter in a big competition before he completely loses his eyesight due to a damaged cornea. He's bullied at school, but one girl reaches inside of herself to find the courage to get to know him ...
6. The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason (available now)—This historical novel, about a young medical student who enlists in WWI and finds himself trying to make a difference at a frozen, forgotten makeshift hospital in the Carpathian Mountains, sounds intriguing.
7. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris (available now)—Another historical, this one is based on the true story of a captured Jew who is put to work tattooing numbers on the arms of his fellow prisoners. A love story and a survival story, it sounds excellent.
8. Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty (available November 6)—After loving several of Moriarty's novels, I found her last one to be a big flop. I'm hoping Nine Perfect Strangers, a novel about a group of women stuck together at a resort that may be more damaging than healing, is as entertaining as some of her earlier books.
9. Go To My Grave by Catriona McPherson (available October 23)—I love a mystery/thriller featuring an old house hiding juicy secrets. This one, about a group that gathers at a bed and breakfast where something horrible happened years before, sounds like a perfect Fall read!
10. The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White (available now)—This dual-timeline novel features a dramatic story set on the doomed ocean liner RMS Lusitania. I'm in.
There you have it, ten of my most anticipated reads for Fall. Do we have any in common? What are you looking forward to reading in the months ahead? I'd love to know. Please leave a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor.
Happy TTT!
Monday, September 17, 2018
Easy Copycat Recipes Bring Favorite Restaurant Dishes Home
3:09 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
I've long been a fan of Six Sisters' Stuff, a website that features family-friendly recipes, crafts, product reviews, and more. Maintained by—you guessed it!—six sisters, the site offers a lot of great, free content. Because I love SSS so much, I get especially excited every time they come out with a new cookbook. I own most of these glossy, colorful treasure troves, and have enjoyed everything I've made from them. No lie. I've never made a SSS recipe that didn't turn out well.
Their newest offering, Copycat Cooking, just might be their best. It contains over 100 recipes for popular dishes from restaurants like Cafe Rio, The Cheesecake Factory, Panera, and Applebee's (even Disneyland) that you can make at home, including many of my personal favorites. With only a couple exceptions, the recipes require fewer than ten ingredients and don't take a whole lot of time to prepare. With bright, mouth-watering photos and clear, easy instructions, Copycat Cooking makes it easy to enjoy the restaurant food you love without having to leave your house.
I don't like to review a cookbook without trying a recipe or two. In this case, I couldn't resist—I picked three! Actually, my kids chose them since my oldest daughter's favorite appetizer is Panda Express's cream cheese rangoons, my son's #1 fast food meal is orange chicken (also from Panda's) and my youngest can't get enough of the lava cake at Chili's. Thus, our dinner/dessert menu was born. Because my 9-year-old just could not wait to bake, we worked on dessert first. Although the prep was a little messy (probably because said 9yo wanted as little supervision as possible), our lava cakes turned out divine. My husband said they tasted just like the Chili's version. I actually think they're better since they're smaller and not quite as rich. Next, came the rangoons. My 16-year-old Panda's lover made these herself. Although the wrapping and frying was a little time-consuming, her rangoons turned out really well. Again, we thought the copycat recipe better than the original since ours tasted more flavorful. The orange chicken also took more time than I thought it would, but it came out well. All of us thought Panda's was better, but we agreed that the SSS version was a fine substitute. Like I said, I've never had a Six Sisters' Stuff recipe not turn out and these were no exception—even with kid cooks. There are a bunch more scrumptious-looking dishes in Coycat Cooking I can't wait to try.
I'm not going to lie, most (perhaps all) of the recipes in Copycat Cooking are available for free on the Six Sisters' Stuff website. However, this is a great cookbook to have in your kitchen or to give away as a gift (believe it or not, Christmas is coming up fast). It's sturdy, fun to look through, and convenient to have on hand. At around $20 (it's only $15.50 on Amazon right now), it's totally worth the buy. I love it already!
(Readalikes: Other Six Sisters' Stuff cookbooks, including Celebrate Every Season; Dinner Made Easy; A Year with Six Sisters' Stuff; Sweets & Treats; etc.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Copycat Cooking from the generous folks at Shadow Mountain in exchange for an honest review as part of the book's blog tour. Thank you!
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