CHRISTMAS JARS REUNION by JASON WRIGHT

About the book:

The New York Times bestseller Christmas Jars has sold nearly 500,000 copies. Thousands of people across the country have emailed the author at ChristmasJars.com about how the Christmas Jars tradition has touched their lives— either by receiving a jar or by giving one.
Hope Jensen’s story continues in Christmas Jars Reunion. It’s been two years since Hope was reunited with her biological mother on Christmas Eve at Chuck’s Chicken ’n’ Biscuits. Hope has never felt more complete. She’s writing full-time for a family magazine and, with the help of her mother, Marianne, leading the Christmas Jars Ministry out of Chuck’s quirky restaurant. To top it off, she’s dating a marketing executive in a comfortable long-distance relationship. Her life is right where she wants it to be — a state of organized chaos — as another Christmas rolls around.
Then her world changes forever over Thanksgiving weekend.
The Maxwells hire a nephew to take over the family furniture restoration business. Someone that Hope can’t stop thinking about. Then an out-of-town stranger shows up at the diner asking to help in the ministry — a stranger whose motives are yet unclear.
Before the sun sets on Christmas Day, two men will try to change Hope’s life forever. In the process, Hope will be reminded of the immense power of a single jar, and the healing that sometimes comes only with forgiveness.
I originally read the book Christmas Jars a few years ago with a book club. That year I tried to do a Christmas Jar of my own. I ended up using the money for school supplies for a child in need and never made it to Christmas.
Christmas Jars Reunion is a continuation of the original story.  It starts out at the funeral of Chuck, owner of Chuck's Chicken and Biscuits. Chuck's is the headquarters of The Christmas Jars Mission. Hope, who was found abandoned as an infant at Chuck's wants to collect and distribute 1000 jars by Christmas Eve.
Christmas Jars Reunion is an inspirational story. There is some suspense, wondering if the mysterious stranger is a good guy or a con artist, will Hope fall for the Maxwell's nephew, will they meet the goal of 1000 jars?
A few places in this story brought tears, and there were parts that brought smiles. It also gave me a desire to fill a Christmas Jar for next Christmas.
I would recommend this book to anyone. You can find it at www.deseretbook.com and www.amazon.com.  It is available in hard covered, paper back and Kindle.
To learn more about Jason Wright CLICK HERE.

REARVIEW MIRROR BY STEPHANIE BLACK

from the back of the book:

Fiona Claridge, a smart and stylish New England college professor, strives to pull herself together after a car crash kills her roommate, Mia Hardy. Yet Fiona’s guilt and grief come flooding back after opening a gift-wrapped box left outside her office that contains car keys and a malicious note.
Shaken, Fiona travels to her hometown to attend a funeral but is followed by vivid nightmares as well as her unknown enemy, who leaves another sinister gift on her doorstep. She assumes the stalker is Kimberly Bailey, a disgruntled former student, and enlists the help of fellow professor James Hampton. But when Fiona encounters an old flame at the funeral, it’s clear her student isn’t the only one with an eye for revenge. Soon, through the maneuverings of her unknown enemy, Fiona faces criminal charges as well as continuing threats. As past and present become horribly entangled, Fiona unravels the truth about a determined killer — and finds herself on the wrong end of a knife.
Rearview Mirror by Stephanie Black's new thriller and it's her best book yet. It is full of suspense, emotion and numerous twists and turns in the plot. I read it while I was working, which was my mistake, because I didn't want to put it down and answer the phone.
I had the mystery of who the stalker was solved at least a half dozen times and I was surprised at who it really was.
I would recommend Rearview Mirror to anyone who likes a good mystery/suspense, or who just needs to get their heart started.
You can find Rearview Mirror by Stephanie Black at www.deseretbook.com, www.seagullbook.com, www.amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle. As always you can check inter library.CLICK HERE to visit Stephanie Black's website.

This book was provided by the author, but that didn't influence my opinion in any way.

HANG 'EM HIGH by TRISTI PINKSTON

FROM THE BACK OF THE BOOK:                                                      When Ida Mae Babbitt receives an invitation to visit her son Keith's dude ranch in Montana, she's excited to mend their broken relationship, but not so excited about spending time with cows. Arlette and Tansy go along with her, ready to take a vacation that does not involve dead bodies or mysteries of any sort - one must have a break from time to time. But it seems a no-good scoundrel has moseyed into Dodge City and is bent on causing all sorts of trouble for the ranch. Unable to keep her curiosity in check - especially when it seems her own son is the most likely culprit - Ida Mae decides to investigate. Can she lasso the varmint and get him to the sheriff in time? 

Hang 'Em High by Tristi Pinkston is is the third book in the Secret Sister's Mysteries, and possibly the best one yet.

The Secret Sisters mysteries are light and humorous. I laughed all the way through the book.

In Hang 'Em High Ida Mae, Tansy and Arlette go to a dude ranch in Montana, during the winter, to visit Ida Mae's son.

Ida Mae is looking forward to a nice quiet visit with her son, whom she hasn't seen in many years. But as always where ever Ida Mae and the girls go a mystery follows. The imagery  in this book still has me giggling when I think about it.

I recommend this book for anyone, especially if you like mystery and like to laugh.

You can find Hang 'em High by Tristi Pinkston at www.amazon.com and www.deseretbook.com. You can also check with your local library for inter library loan.

To learn more about Tristi Pinkston

CLICK HERE,

BLESS YOUR HEART by TRISTI PINKSTON

About the book:
Bless Your Heart: Low-sodium Recipes for a Heart-healthy Lifestyle (Volume 1)
Tired of bland, boring low-sodium recipes? Tristi Pinkston brings some spice back into the kitchen with this huge collection of recipes designed to show your heart, and your taste buds, some love.
My past experience with low sodium food has been that pencil erasers and cardboard taste as good as anything I have tried.
In Bless Your Heart Tristi Pinkston answers concerns, about cost, time and flavor. She has even included a list of some lower sodium fast food choices.
 Muffins, Chicken with Creamy Chive Sauce, Taco Seasoning, Pizza, Brownies, salad dressings and much more all with less than 400 mgs of sodium.
My only complaint about this book is there are no pictures. I would have liked to see some of the yummy foods included in Bless Your Heart.
I would recommend this book to everyone. It is never too early to start cooking using healthy recipes.
Bless Your Heart is available at www.amazon.com. It is a great gift idea and Amazon is selling it on their buy 3 get 1 free deal.

EMERINE'S NIGHTMARE by ANNA DEL C. DYE

ABOUT THE BOOK:

What would you do if one night, life as you know it changes and you are left alone in despair? That is how Emerine’s nightmare starts and now all he does is run.

His family lived at the edge of the forest until dark shadows killed them all. Now they want him, and so does a magic tree. He has never seen dark shadows or enchanted trees before. Emerine has to get to the heart of Red Forest, to the fairy people. Only then he will be safe. Safe? He has never heard of fairies before and once he gets there what?

Emerine's Nightmare b Anna Del C. Dye is a fantasy for 4th-8th grade readers. Even though it is for middle grade readers, I really liked the story and the message it delivers.
Emerine is a 12 year old boy, who has seen both parents killed by dark shadows. He knows the dark shadows want him, but he has never heard of dark shadows. He has also never heard of enchanted trees, fairies and magic.

This is a story of good vs evil with Emerine and his untapped reserve of magic as the ultimate prize.

I would recommend this for middle grade readers and their parents.

Emerine's Nightmare by Anna Del C. Dye is available in Ebook form from www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com.

To learn more about Anna Del C Dye and her other books

  CLICK HERE.

 I received a copy of Emerine's Nightmare from the author, but it didn't influence my review.

NO ANGEL by THERESA SNEED

From the back of the book:
An angel with an attitude. Jonathan Stewart is not at all happy about having to return to earth as a guardian angel, but it's required of all post-mortal spirits to fulfill at least one angel guardianship. Fortunately, on the Guardians Unlimited application, he had the good sense to request a client with early-marked-death status, so he believes that while his stay on earth will be most unpleasant, at least it will be short. What he doesn't know is that a spirit with EMD status can choose his or her time of death! Jonathan's client, Celeste Knight, has a mind of her own and refuses death at every turn, leaving him stuck as her guardian angel - in a place he only wanted to forget. 
 No Angel by Theresa Sneed is a fun fast read. I had a hard time putting it down. 
Jonathan Stewart is assigned to be a guardian angel for a baby girl, marked for early death. He reluctantly accepts the assignment, thinking it will be short term. Jonathan is surly, arrogant and certainly reluctant to learn from the other guardian angels also assigned to the family. As time goes on and Jonathan's back story starts to be revealed, I started having warm fuzzy feelings towards him. 
A trip to the underworld, and being separated from the child he is guardian for, teaches him a lot about trusting in God,  praying, love and duty.
I liked the idea that we all have guardian angels assigned to us throughout our lives, to help and encourage us.
I would recommend this book to everyone, LDS and Non LDS alike. 
No Angel by Theresa Sneed is available at www.deseretbook.com and www.amazon.com and as always you can check out inter library loan.
 CLICK HERE to learn more about Theresa Sneed and No Angel.

IDENTITY by Betsy Love

FROM THE BACK OF THE BOOK:
A tropical vacation turns into a deadly puzzle where happily-ever-after and the family fortune hang on who solves it first. Betsy Love’s first novel will keep you guessing until the last page is turned.

While vacationing in Mexico, two similar-looking young women find themselves caught in a chain reaction of mistaken identities. Amelia is a wealthy heiress and business owner, and Savannah is a sweet Mormon girl deciding whether or not to serve a mission. When they end up on the same flight to Phoenix, Savannah and Amelia unravel the sequence of events that wreaked havoc on their trips, and they make plans to resolve the subsequent misunderstandings. But their flight is cut short when the plane crashes, killing one of the young women and plunging the other into a world of intrigue and deceit where identity means everything.
Identity is Betsy Love's 1st published novel. It is  fast moving, full of adventure and suspense. The characters and the plot are well developed and there are enough twists to keep the reader wondering which girl really survived the plane crash, and just who the too good to be true boy friend really is.
I loved this story, I didn't want to put it down. The Kindle version does have some serious formatting issues, but the story made it worth ignoring them.
I recommend Identity to anyone that likes suspense.
Identity is available at www.amazon.com, in paper and Kindle, www.barnesandnoble.com for Nook and www.deseretbook.com, or as always you can check your local library for inter library loan,
To learn more about Betsy

CLICK HERE.