"Bright Ideas for Young Women Leaders" by Trina Boice

Looking for ideas for your Young Women's organization? Check out Trina Boice's book, Bright Ideas for Young Women Leaders.

Being a Young Women leader requires the eloquence of a Gospel Doctrine teacher, the compassion of a Relief Society president, and the stamina of a Scoutmaster, rolled into one!

On top of that, you are also expected to come up with activity ideas each week. Thankfully, this book provides wonderful ideas on all aspects of the Young Women program. Inside you will find valuable insights on:

• Structuring Personal Progress
• Implementing the Young Women values
• Organizing Girls Camp
• Planning New Beginnings and Young Women in Excellence
• Providing leadership instruction
• Increasing Parental Support
• Seasonal celebrations
• Utilizing Internet resources
• Ideas for Youth Conference
• Plus 20 other topics!

Trina has lots of other great non-fiction titles. Check out her website to learn more.

"An Angel on Main Street" by Kathi Oram Peterson

Every year we see a new crop of Christmas stories that warm the heart and remind us what the season is really about. Kathi Oram Peterson's newest book, An Angel on Main Street is one of those special holiday offerings.

Micah Connors, his mother, and little sister have only been living in Bolton, Idaho for a few weeks, but Christmas, 1953 is not looking to be a happy one. Micah's dad died in the recent war and his mom struggles just to put food on the table. Added to that, they moved to Bolton to get Micah away from some friends who were headed down the wrong road, and his little sister, Annie, is very sick. They've had to sell all of their nice furniture to pay for her medical bills and while Micah could seriously use a new coat and shoes, he's not complaining because he's trying to be the man of the house.

When the sheriff catches Micah in the wrong place at the wrong time, they makes a deal to keep it a secret from Micah's mom. Then a mysterious stable and nativity figures begin to appear in the island at the intersection in front of Micah's building, and he begins a quest to find out who's putting it there.

Through bad choices, bad timing, and a Christmas miracle or two, this book will touch your heart and make you yearn to bring the real reason for the season back into your home. At only 99 pages, this story is just the right length to curl up with for an hour or so of relaxation.

This is the second of Kathi Oram Peterson's books. You can learn more about the author at her website or her blog. Her books are available on Amazon, Seagull Book, Deseret Book, and many, many other stores. Check out one of her sites to see which stops are on her book tour this month!

"How to Stuff a Wild Zucchini" by Heather Horrocks

I've heard great things about this book, but haven't had time to read it yet myself. Here's the blurb:

Sophisticated New York playwright Lori Scott feels like a failure when her producer boyfriend calls it quits on both their relationship and her first play. On a dare, she throws a dart at a map and ends up moving to Brigham City, Utah, where she plans to set aside writing, religion, and men to focus on her new career substituting as The Garden Guru for the local paper. But fate has something else in mind. When she accidentally lights her house on fire, Lori has no idea of the sparks that lie ahead.

Will she be able to resist the charm and persistence of local firefighting hero John Wayne Walker? Will old hurts and fears cause her to turn her back on the best thing that’s ever happened to her? Author Heather Horrocks brings a fresh, fun voice to this delightful contemporary romance about following your heart, finding true love, and wrestling with a basket full of zucchini!

Heather is also the author of Women Who Knew the Mortal Messiah, and Men Who Knew the Mortal Messiah. Check out her website for more information about her books, to learn about her (she lived in the Middle East for a time), and see what else she has up her sleeve.

"Family Home Evening Adventures", by Rebecca Irvine

You may have heard of Rebecca Irvine's first book, Adventures with the Word of God. She's recently followed it up her second book, Family Home Evening Adventures--a guide to help you plan your Family Home Evening activities. Each month you'll find a theme with song suggestions, suggested Friend articles, a game or activity, a thought-provoking quote and a fun treat idea that goes with the theme. The book also contains a sheet and ideas for planning for success for your Monday nights.

This is what the publisher has to say about the book (aka the back-cover blurb):

Take the stress out of family home evening scripture study.
It s Monday night, and you re ready for another fun-filled, family activity. Family Home Evening Adventures is the perfect way to keep your children focused on the scriptures to build their testimonies. Filled with 12 fun seasonal activities, puzzles, questions, and lessons, this book lets you effectively plan for the entire year with a theme for each month.

Your children will learn gospel topics such as

Reverence
Love at Home
The Atonement
Feasting Upon the Word
Preparing for Baptism and others.

With this handy helper, parents can teach children to actively learn from the scriptures and increase their individual testimonies during family home evening.

To learn more, visit Rebecca's blog. This book is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and everywhere else LDS books are sold.

"As Time Goes By" by Jerry Borrowman

As German bombs fall over London and England is drawn into war, members of the Carlyle family are forced to make choices that will deeply affect their lives-and the lives of thousands of others. Family patriarch Philip, a member of the House of Lords and a confidant of Winston Churchill, has been struggling for the esteem of his peers since joining the LDS Church. As he slowly gains acceptance, little does Philip realize there is someone very close to him who would like to see him destroyed-even if it means taking the entire country down with him.

As the Carlyles scatter across three continents, family divisions hewn by supposed political beliefs grow wider than the geographical distance that separates them, and it seems the family will never be together again. In this time when safety is only momentary, for one member of the Carlyle family perhaps the most dangerous enemy is himself.

An unforgettable reading experience, this poignant tale of World War II from acclaimed author Jerry Borrowman is a stirring tribute to the remarkable survival of the human spirit.

Jennie Hansen had this to say in here review (the full thing can be read here). This is a fast-paced, gripping novel, perhaps Borrowman’s best. It is well-researched by researchers on both sides of the ocean and carries powerful messages concerning the value of freedom, family loyalty, duty, and both the strengths and weaknesses of individuals.

This is the third title of four in this series by Borrowman, who now has eight published books. You can learn more about the books, read excerpts, and learn more about the author on his website.

"The Elf and the Princess" by Anna del C. Dye

Monday is YA fantasy day, so here's a book I heard about this week. First, the blurb from the author's website:

Menarm was a well-known and prosperous kingdom. Then a bitter struggle of succession left the kingdom devastated, the people divided.

Now Adren, the last princess of the vanquished realm of Menarm, finds herself alone in a world where women live in the shadow of men. Not only must she battle her enemies, but also a truth that could obliterate her last hope for happiness. On her quest, she finds unlikely allies in a powerful prince and a defiant mercenary, only to be devastated by an ancient elf. Will Adren survive this final assault?

Anna’s in-depth character development makes The Elf and the Princess a brilliant tale of true love, high adventure, and medieval-style warfare. Drawing inspiration from such writers as J.R.R. Tolkien, Anna spins a completely original tale that will leave the reader wanting more.

This is the first in a trilogy which includes Trouble in Elf City and Elfs in a Conquered Realm, all of which are now available for purchase at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. You can learn more about these books and the author at her website.

C.Z. Bezas, "Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers"

The "well" has run dry — I feel so burned out.

Why won't they listen to me?

Am I getting through at all?

Ever had these thoughts? If so, you're not alone! Whether you have been called to work with youth, or are a parent, teaching teens can be a most exhilarating, yet demanding commitment. Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers is a crucial guide to working with today's dynamic youth. Compelling, yet simple, these tips will help you burst beyond fatigue and frustration, launching you toward powerful moments with today's young men and women.

C.S. Bezas has drawn together a variety of preparation tools to help you succeed in your efforts to help the teens under your stewardhip find their spiritual wings. Covering topics like No Throwaway Kids, Spiritual Bumblebees, Dissension in the Classroom, and The Language of the Spirit, this book is filled with thought-provoking essays and reflective questions. Powerful Tips for Powerful Teachers is sure to keep your "well" fresh and full of the living waters of gospel inspiration.

The previous bit was the blurb from the book. I'm thinking with an intro like that, I'm totally going to have to buy it because teaching any age group can be a challenge at times--and my CTR 8s are no exception! The book is available all over the place online. You can check out Cindy's website here to read reviews, learn about her other books, check out her blog and favorite links.