Humorous suspense in "Wake Me When It's Over" by Robison Wells

Robison Wells is one of the funniest guys I know (virtually), so there was no question when I picked up his books that I would be entertained. Rob published three books, then decided he needed to feed his family on a regular basis and returned to school to earn his MBA, just in time for him to graduate last spring after the economy tanked and jobs disappeared like a mirage. The good news is that unemployment has given him plenty of time to start writing again, so we look forward to yet more entertaining books. He seems to be managing to squeeze in writing with his family, blogging, and being president of the Whitney Awards committee again.

His second book, Wake Me When It's Over is a humorous suspense--the first of a three-book series whose back cover blurb follows:

It took months for Eric to work up the courage to ask Rebekah Hughes out, and now the woman of his recent dreams is gone. Kidnapped! At least that's what Eric believes. It's difficult to clearly recall recent events when you're lying semi-conscious, bleeding in the snow. Now it's up to Eric to rescue his new girlfriend--well, his almost-girlfriend. In the great teeter-totter of love, Rebekah has been sitting solidly on the ground, casually ignoring the fact that Eric is dangling four feet above the sandbox. So far, his brilliant, passive approach to winning Rebekah's love hasn't worked--now, perhaps, his unusually daring heroics will sway her. It's worth the trip to find out in this seriously funny, full-throttle ride into the human heart.

"Hire a babysitter, order up a pizza, and take the phone off the hook. Because once you pick up Wake me When It's Over, this book won't leave your hands until you've read it straight through to the last page." --Kerry Blair, author of This Just In.

You can find this book and the second in the series, The Counterfeit, at Amazon.com. you can read their first chapters on Rob's website. To read funny tidbits about Rob's life and writing experiences, check out the blog link at the top of the post.

"Alma" by H.B. Moore

Heather B. Moore is a two-time Whitney Award winner **for her historical fiction, who doubtless would have garnered far more Whitney's for her previous work, if the award had been around that long. Though she wrote for several years before she began work on her Out of Jerusalem series about Nephi's family, she has found her niche in the LDS market doing just that.

Alma is the second in a series of three stories which started with Abinadi, and is expected to end with Alma the Younger, which she is diligently working on right now.

New York Times Best-selling author Jason F. Wright said this about the book. "Alma has it all: vibrant characters, danger, spiritual challenges, and bittersweet joy. Moore has created an epic tale that's simply impossible to put down."

Heather's currently in the middle of her blog tour for the book, and has a list in the sidebar of her blog with links to the various reviews. Some of the bloggers have been giving away copies, so there may still be a chance to enter to win one. You can also check out her website to see the first three chapters of her books here.

I look forward to reading Heather's latest masterpiece myself.

**Don't know what a Whitney Award is? Check it out here.

Laura Bingham's YA fantasy, "Alvor"

I recently had a chance to sit with Laura Bingham at an event for local school librarians (local to me, not to her--she drove a long way to be there). I would say I signed with her but, well, I didn't have copies of my book yet. Her book, Alvor, the first in a series of G-rated YA fantasies sounds like a great book, which is now on my very lengthy to-read list. It is geared for kids about fourth grade through high school. Here's the back cover blurb:

Erin and her twin brother, Bain, never expected to find that the cabin in the woods near their home is actually a secret entrance to a magical world. Surrounded by pegasi, dragons, and fairies, they discover new powers within themselves and a secret they have unknowingly been preparing for: they are training to become elves. Now they are faced with the decision to stay in this dream world or return home to the life they knew.

A spellbinding tale of fantasy and fairy tale, Älvor draws you into an enchanting world of all things magical.

Laura is the mother of five and teaches clogging--how she finds time to write and do so much publicity I'll never know. Her hard work in getting the word out is paying off however, as I understand her bok has already gone back for a third printing--and it's only been out for a few months.

You can read a review of the book here. Check out Laura's website here, (which has a first chapter posted) or for regular updates through her blog, check her out here. She's currently giving away a copy of her book--in celebration of one year since she got her contract. If you check out her blog and leave a comment on Wednesday, September 23rd's post before October 17th, you could be the lucky winner.

Mother and Daughter Teach how to Enjoy the Journey

On Sundays I'm going to try to highlight uplifting reads, which means they will mostly be nonfiction, though I may find a piece of fiction here and there that will qualify too. Today I thought we'd start with "Enjoying the Journey: Steps to Finding Joy Now" by Jaime Theler and her mother Deborah Talmadge. I won this book at a conference last spring and it's a great read that can be taken in little bites or in an afternoon.

As Latter-day Saints we strive for joy in eternal life -- but many struggle to find joy during the journey there. Let this book help you learn to rejoice and find more joy right here, right now. Clearing away the clutter, staying in touch, and living with purpose are only a few of the many tips this book provides to help you enjoy your journey through life. Specific steps in each chapter will guide you through important principles and help you apply them to your feelings, thoughts, and actions. Reach for your full potential as a child of God and find the joy the Lord intends for each of us during our journey back to His presence. Enjoying the Journey is a delightful and heartwarming message for any who need a lift.

You can read an excerpt of her book at Jaime's website, or check out her blog to find out what Jaime is up to now. Deborah's website can be found here. Both women's websites have lists and blurbs of their other publications as well.

Cami Checketts "The Sister Pact"

Cami Checketts' third book, "The Sister Pact" was recently released. It's a romantic suspense that's full of mysteries. the back cover blurb reads:

Savanna Compton is devastated when her sister and best friend, Allison, falls into a coma after a tragic accident. Or was it an accident? Even with a charming and handsome detective at her side, it seems Savannah may never discover the truth. But if she doesn’t her family could be in even more danger. And Savannah’s past holds its own secrets that could change everything.

Now she must prove her innocence to the one person who is beginning to matter most. Join Savannah as she struggles to summon hope and rely on faith even in the darkest of circumstances, and learn how the bond between sisters can overcome anything.

A review I posted to the Facebook group is found here. Cami's website which has an excerpt of the book can be found here, and her blog which has other reviews, her upcoming signings, and other great information about the author can be found here. This books is available at Amazon.com, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Deseret Book, and anywhere else LDS books are sold.