Posts Categorized: Shadow Mountain

Wedding Cake by Josi S. Kilpack~ Tour & Giveaway

23 Jan, 2015 by in adult, blog tour, culinary mystery, josi s kilpack, Shadow Mountain Leave a comment

 

Wedding-Cake-1

Blog Tour Schedule

1471748Wedding Cake by Josi Kilpack

After years of mysteries, murder, and mayhem, the big day has arrived, and Sadie wants nothing more than for her wedding to Pete to be completely uneventful. When she receives a threatening, anonymous text message just days before the ceremony, she’s determined not to let it interfere with the celebration she has carefully planned for months. But as the threat escalates from a distant fear to a frightening reality, Sadie realizes just how much she’s underestimated the situation. Desperate to put an end to the games, lies, and manipulation that has shadowed her life, Sadie, her fiance, Pete, and her children pull out all the stops. What they don’t know, however, is just how far Sadie’s nemesis is willing to go to make good on the thread she made to Sadie three years ago.

Will the wedding go off without a hitch, or will “’til death do us part” come far too soon? There’s no turning back for anyone in the riveting conclusion to this twelve-volume culinary mystery series.

Amazon * Deseret Book * Barnes & Noble

Josi culinary

The Culinary Mystery Series

Goodreads

Excerpt

            At the top of the stairs, Shawn knocked on the door and then put his ear against it, listening for any movement on the other side. Sadie was frozen just like Shawn for ten seconds until he pulled back. Shawn knocked again, paused again, and then tried the knob. It didn’t move in his hand. He looked down the stairs and shook his head at Sadie, obviously disappointed. He headed back down the steps and Sadie, in turn, started up them. They met at about the halfway point.

“I’ll play lookout for you,” Shawn said, his expression showing his reluctance to step out of the center ring. “I’ll call your phone with any alerts so make sure you answer it.”

Sadie nodded, then stepped ahead of him and continued up the narrow stairs while wondering where Jane was if she weren’t home. She’d hacked Sadie’s email less than an hour ago, where had she done it from? Or could she have been here when she’d done the hacking and then left in order to execute the next devious plan on her list? What that might be reminded Sadie of everything Jane had already done and the resulting fresh wave of anger helped solidify her motivation for being here.

At the top of the stairs Sadie pulled out her pick set and got to work. Apparently, picking a lock wasn’t as much like riding a bike as one might think; Sadie felt as though she were all thumbs and the summer heat didn’t help as the sun at her back made her increasingly uncomfortable. She finally got the lock on the doorknob undone but then let out a breath of frustration when she realized the deadbolt was engaged as well.

Deadbolts were already the hardest type of lock to pick, but this one was particularly tricky since it was rather old. The pins were either rusted or just stiff—Sadie doubted the landlord changed the locks between tenants, which was simply an unsafe practice, not to mention creating great difficulty for her attempts to break in. She wished she’d thought to grab her WD-40 from home. It wasn’t the best product to use in a lock—it got sticky as it dried and would probably ruin the lock entirely given a few weeks to pick up dirt, dust, and metal shavings from inside the casing—but it would work for the immediate situation and Sadie didn’t keep liquid graphite on hand like she should.

Finally, with sweat dripping from her hairline and down her back, she got the last pin to pull back and the lock opened. She looked down at Shawn as she turned the knob, surprised he hadn’t come up to help her. Not that he knew anything about picking locks, but simply because of the time it took her and the increasing anxiety that each second cost them both. He just nodded and waved her inside.

Sadie pushed the door open on well-oiled hinges—not a squeak or a grind to be heard—and then shut it quickly as she blinked in order to help her eyes adjust to the darkened interior. The mini-blinds had been twisted closed, muting the daylight that could otherwise filter in but also hiding her from anyone who might see her or notice the lights on. She flipped the light switch next to the door and took in the apartment. Calling this a second floor apartment was generous; she would refer to it as an attic space since both walls sloped with the roofline.

About the Author

Josi-300x199

Josi S. Kilpack hated to read until her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and accredits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began writing her first novel in 1998 and never stopped. Her novel, Sheep’s Clothing won the Whitney Award 2007 for Mystery/Suspense. Lemon Tart, the first book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series was a finalist in 2009. Josi currently lives in Willard Utah with her husband, children and super-cute cat.

Website * Twitter * Blog

 

The Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 2/10/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Remake by Ilima Todd ~ Review

09 Dec, 2014 by in dystopian, ilima todd, Shadow Mountain, ya, young adult fiction 1 comment

I received this book for free from Shadow Mountain in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Remake by Ilima Todd ~ Review

Remake

by Ilima Todd
Published by Shadow Mountain on October 14th 2014
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult
Pages: 304
Format: Hardcover
four-stars
Source: Shadow Mountain
Buy the BookGoodreads
Nine is the ninth female born in her batch of ten females and ten males. By design, her life in Freedom Province is without complications or consequences. However, such freedom comes with a price. The Prime Maker is determined to keep that price a secret from the new batches of citizens that are born, nurtured, and raised androgynously.

But Nine isn't like every other batcher. She harbors indecision
and worries about her upcoming Remake Day -- her seventeenth birthday, the age when batchers fly to the Remake facility and have the freedom to choose who and what they'll be.

When Nine discovers the truth about life outside of Freedom
Province, including the secret plan of the Prime Maker, she is
pulled between two worlds and two lives. Her decisions will test
her courage, her heart, and her beliefs. Who can she trust? Who does she love? And most importantly, who will she decide to be?

First thing I have to say is that the cover is gorgeous and absolutely fits the plot and character featured. Nine is a teen waiting for her 17th birthday when she will pick her trade and be “remade” as either a male of female. She is free to choose her physical features and ultimately the trajectory of her life according to her society’s laws. But what she does not understand is that there is a whole other reality out there that involves family, fertility and love. This book tested the limits of conventionally accepted values and the turn our society is taking towards gender less definition of youth at the same time. It openly discusses sex, gender, and God but is set in a futuristic dystopian society much like The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld or Divergent by Veronica Roth. I personally would not let my children read it until they are older and had been well exposed to both sex and gender issues. However, as an adult who has read a wide range of similar YA dystopian books, I enjoyed Remake as a fresh take on what could very well be in our near future. The themes are freedom of choice, family, seeking truth and government oppression.

I wish there would have been a bit more character development, especially with the two boys she has to choose between. And, I am hoping there is a sequel ( this was announced as a two book deal) There are a lot of open ends at the conclusion of Remake. Would I recommend it? Yes. Moms and dads, please pre read before passing it on. Adults, this is thought provoking and extremely timely. Well done Ilima. You’ve asked and introduced some very important questions.

about_ the_author
ilima toddIlima Todd was born and raised on the north shore of Oahu and currently resides in the Rocky Mountains. She never wanted to be a writer even though she loves books and reading. She earned a degree in physics instead. But the characters in her head refused to be ignored, and now she spends her time writing science fiction for teens. When she is not writing, Ilima loves to spend time with her husband and four children.

Find her on Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Pinterest * Email

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The Peter Potential Blog Tour & Review

21 Jul, 2014 by in adult, david butler, emily freeman, Shadow Mountain Leave a comment

I received this book for free from Ensign Peak in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Peter Potential Blog Tour & Review

The Peter Potential

by David Butler, Emily Freeman
Published by Ensign Peak on July 8, 2014
Genres: Adult, Inspirational, LDS
Pages: 111
Format: Hardcover
four-half-stars
Source: Ensign Peak
Buy the BookGoodreads
Have you ever wondered if God has greater things in store for you? The Bible is clear that though Peter saw himself as only a fisherman, the Lord saw him as a fisher of men, a leader among men, the rock upon which His Church would be built. Divinity gave Him the insight to extend the invitations that would help Peter discover the life he was meant to live. This full-color gift book is profound in its simplicity as the authors take the reader through the invitations the Lord extended to Peter. Journey with Peter and the Savior as you begin to understand the potential the Lord sees in you.

Simon Peter is a man we know about from the Bible. A man who was asked to cast his net and then leave behind his life as a fisherman to follow Christ. In The Peter Potential, we learn even more about this story and the many others that came throughout the ministry. We are asked to apply the teaching to the multitude, the personal invitations to cast out a little form the shore and then into the deep. Through nautical photos, graphics, quotes, scripture and text, the authors challenge the reader to a higher level of discipleship, a trial of faith and the ship overflowing with blessings when we take a challenge from the Lord. This is a book I’m going to have to read several times to pick up on the layers and lessons. I’ve been through it twice and it’s left me pondering how I can become more like Peter.

The only drawback with the flow of the book, is that I wish the authors would have separated Peter’s distinct experiences and stories by a small break or chapter. There are several vignettes rolled into one book, which made it a bit hard to know where one ended and the other began. Overall, an uplifting and though provoking gift quality read that holds hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. Beautiful.

heather

My Favorite Quotes

To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy of that moment finds them unprepared and unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour- Winston Churchill p.20

The Lord is completely aware of you, He has miracles in store for you, and He knows what He is about to do. Give Him all that you have to offer. He will bless it. He will make it more.” p.64

About the Authors

Emily Belle Freeman is a coach’s wife, a mother of four, an author of the bestselling A Christ-Centered Christmas, and a sought after inspirational speaker. She finds great joy in studying both the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. She coauthors a blog that is a stopping place for hearts seeking all that is good: www.multiplygoodness.com.

David Butler is a high school religious educator, sharing his love for the scriptures and his belief that there is an innate power for good in every human soul. He is also a motivational speaker and writer. He and his wife, Jenny, live with their five children amid the snowcapped peaks of the Mountain West.

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Saints and Soldiers: The Void ~ Movie Trailer & Giveaway

06 Jun, 2014 by in movie, Shadow Mountain Leave a comment

saints and soldiers the void

Saints and Soldiers: The Void Coming to theaters August 15th

Germany, May 1945, the twilight of WWII. On a final mission deep in the Harz mountains a U.S. tank crew discovers a platoon of Germans, including three infamous Panzer tanks, preparing to ambush allied supply trucks.

Before the war, private Jesse Owens, was a product of segregation and racial discrimination. Forced by law to ride in the back of the bus and disenfranchised from the political process. Now, Owens fights the greatest tyrant in history, knowing the tyranny of racism will be waiting for him back home if he can survive the war.

With a deadly game of cat and mouse quickly unfolding, Owens and his predominantly white tank crew find themselves out-gunned and out-manned by the German Panzer tanks. Several in Owens’ crew are reluctant to put their faith in a black tank driver despite their dire circumstances. As the German tanks bear down on his unit, Owens has to fight for freedom on two fronts. With tension and fear beginning to manifest Owens knows they must put aside their differences to stop the enemy from their deadly plan. Knowing that a victory over the Nazis means a victory for racial justice, Owens and his men find a way to work together to save hundreds of lives in a desperate battle against the greatest odds they have ever faced.

 

Trailer

The Giveaway

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: Marriage Isn’t For You by Seth Adam Smith

16 May, 2014 by in blog tour, Shadow Mountain 1 comment

I received this book for free from Shadow Mountain in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Marriage Isn’t For You by Seth Adam Smith

Marriage Isn't for You: It's for the One You Love

by Seth Adam Smith
Published by Shadow Mountain on June 3, 2014
Genres: Adult, Non- Fiction
Pages: 48
Format: Hardcover
five-stars
Source: Shadow Mountain
Buy the BookGoodreads
What is the best wedding advice you ever received? For author Seth Adam Smith, it was the advice from his father who said, Marriage is not for you. It is about the person you marry. These few words completely changed the way Seth looked at his relationship with his wife-to-be. Because at that moment he realized that an expression of love is not about the person expressing it. Rather, it is about the person they choose to be with. It is about making the person you marry feel loved. Seth's blog post on the subject was viewed by more than twenty-seven million people, and he has been featured on several national TV programs including The Today Show. Now released as a hardcover book, these sage words make the perfect gift for newly married couples, those who have been around the block a few times, or anyone who wants to learn how to make their relationships stronger.

Short, powerful, beautiful, to the point. Author Adam Smith affirms marriage is not for you, it’s for the one you love, for your future children. Taken from his viral blog post, this gift book is wonderful for newlyweds or nearly deads, to remind them what marriage is all about. Marriage Isn’t For You is chock full of photos, great graphics and perfect fatherly advice. Five stars. I loved it. Sometimes the message hits home when it is compact and tastefully presented. Perfect.

heatherAuthor Bio From His Websiteseth-adam-smith

My name is Seth Adam Smith. I was born in Alaska and raised in the American West. My travels have taken me all over the world—from the Arizona desert to the Siberian wilderness—only to lead me back home, to marry Kim, the girl of my dreams.

Strangely enough, you might already know me as a direct result of my marriage to Kim. In November 2013, I wrote an article called “Marriage Isn’t For You.” It was a simple blogpost that shared some advice my dad had given me prior to getting engaged to Kim. 30 million views (and dozens of translations later), Kim and I are still shocked (and humbled) by it’s world-wide success.

That article has launched my literary career. Now I’m on a “literal” odyssey to publish and market three books—this year. Two of my books have already been accepted for publication (one through Berrett-Koehler Publishers, and another through Shadow Mountain Publishing). Authoring a book is something that I’ve wanted to do since I was ten, so the fact that it’s all happening is almost unbelievable. But I’m just a lover of literature and I’m constantly amazed by the power of words and the ability they have to shape and heal our souls.

As part of that, I created TheAlaskanMuse.com to share “the Northern Lights of Literature.” I also love being able to tell stories through video. Since 2004, I’ve produced hundreds of videos and articles for businesses, non-profits, artists, and political causes.

I’m a Mormon and have a great interest in religious history, symbolism, and spirituality. Please do not misconstrue my interest in these things (and frequent postings on these subjects) as some type of zealotry or as an attempt to appear pious. It’s a hobby of mine. I’m a deeply flawed and imperfect Mormon and I’ve often used my faith as a way to help me cope with my struggles. Spirituality is the way in which I best understand the world—it’s the way my mind makes sense of life.

I’m also the Editor-in-Chief of ForwardWalking.com, a website dedicated to helping people move forward in life.  Throughout my life, I have struggled with depression, culminating in a suicide attempt in 2006. Since working as a TrailWalker at the ANASAZI Foundation, I have come to know the healing power of walking “the path of WE,” that is, reaching out to others. Truly, walking “the path of WE” is what saved my life—and what has made life worth living.

With that in mind, my primary focus in all that I do is to promote good things. Winston Churchill said it best when he said: “What is the use of living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone?…I avow my faith that we are marching towards better days. Humanity will not be cast down.  We are going on swinging bravely forward along the grand high road and already behind the distant mountains is the promise of the sun.” Winston S. Churchill (Dundee, Scotland, on 10 October 1908)

Learn more on Shadow Mountain Facebook * twitter 
Seth’s facebook * twitter * website

 The Giveaway

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Christmas From Heaven Blog Tour and Review

26 Nov, 2013 by in book review, children's, Shadow Mountain Leave a comment

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Christmas From Heaven Blog Tour and Review

Christmas from Heaven: The True Story of the Berlin Candybomber

by Robert T Barrett, Tom Brokaw
Published by Shadow Mountain on October 15th 2013
Genres: Children's, Non- Fiction
Pages: 32
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
"From little things come big things," Gail Halvorsen remembered his father saying. As a twenty-seven-year-old American pilot, Brother Halvorsen's job was to airdrop much-needed food and supplies to the people of West Berlin in the aftermath of World War II. But it was his simple gift of two sticks of gum that launched an extraordinary humanitarian endeavor and earned him the nickname "The Candy Bomber." Each day as hundreds of small white parachutes delivered treats to the children of West Germany, the wounds of war began to heal. "Operation Little Vittles" captured the imagination of people everywhere, bringing the spirit of Christmas to a world in need of peace and hope.

Famed broadcast journalist and author Tom Brokaw brings this remarkable true story to life in a stunning live performance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, captured on the accompanying DVD. Also included in the book is a template and directions for creating your own "Candy Bomber" parachutes.

Review: Last night as our family gathered to talk about the things we are thankful for we read Christmas From Heaven out loud. It’s the trued story of “Hal” a WWII veteran, better known as the “candy bomber” who felt inspired to share all that he had with the children behind barbed wire fences…two sticks of gum. From this small thing, came big things. The idea to rain candy down form heaven in tiny parachutes made form hankerchiefs. His friends donated their candy and chocolate rations, he promised the children he would return and “wiggle his wings” as a symbol that his plane was ready to drop treats. Before long word got out, the press ate up the story and Hal’s general approved. 18 tones were shipped plus three more tons donated from private donors to the vittle delivery soldiers who dropped the treats to villagers below.

My children were all fascinated by this idea and for once they paid attention both to what we were reading and to the deeper message. Be gratetful for your freedom, give all that you have, no matter how small. They each wanted a turn looking at the photos of the actual children, the letters written and drawn in crayon and the beautiful illustrations. The book comes with a DVD which is a portion of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Christmas concert and Tom Brokaw reading aloud from Christmas from Heaven.

Mom, he is reading it word for word my 9 year old cried as he grabbed the book to follow along and read in his own voice. What a wonderful gift Christmas From Heaven:The True Story of the Berlin Candybomber was for my own family, and what a wonderful feeling it brought into our home. It literally made our day.

Thanks so much to Shadow Mountain for once again teaching us through media the true spirit of the season.

5

heather

 

About the Author

Tom Browaw

Thomas John Brokaw is an American television journalist and author, previously working on regularly scheduled news documentaries for the NBC television network, and is the former NBC News anchorman and managing editor of the program NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. His last broadcast as anchorman was on December 1, 2004, succeeded by Brian Williams in a carefully planned transition. In the later part of Tom Brokaw’s tenure, NBC Nightly News became the most watched cable or broadcast news program in the United States. Brokaw also hosted, wrote, and moderated special programs on a wide range of topics. Throughout his career, he has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors.

Brokaw serves on the Howard University School of Communications Board of Visitors and on the boards of trustees of the University of South Dakota, the Norton Simon Museum, the American Museum of Natural History and the International Rescue Committee. As well as his television journalism, he has written for periodicals and has authored books. He still works at NBC as a Special Correspondent.

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The Romney Family Table by Ann Romney Blog Tour and Review

24 Oct, 2013 by in review, Shadow Mountain, The Romney Family Table 1 comment

The Romney Family Table
Sharing Home-Cooked Recipes and Favorite Traditions
by Ann Romney
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published October 1st 2013
by Shadow Mountain
ISBN 1609076761
Cookbook
Book Source: publisher
5 stars

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

Home is where good things happen–and for the Romney family, the heart of the home is the kitchen. In The Romney Family Table, Ann Romney, wife of former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney, reflects on her many years as a mom, shares family recipes, and describes some of her favorite and not-so-favorite moments of raising a family. Woven together with personal memories and traditions are Romney family favorite recipes such as Peppered Pork Chops with Peach-Vinegar Glaze, Welsh Skillet Cakes, Honey Wheat Bread (which Ann made regularly for five growing sons), and Mimi’s Buttermilk Pancakes, which she and Mitt shared with their Secret Service detail at the end of his presidential campaign.

This unique blend of heartwarming and humorous stories told in Ann’s warm, welcoming style, candid family photos spanning four decades, and more than 125 fabulous recipes will inspire your own traditions and family dinners for years to come.

Includes: • more than 80 family recipes • mouthwatering photographs and menu ideas • family snapshots spanning more than four decades


Review: What a gorgeous cookbook! I admit, that as a mother of five I am constantly on the look out for easy to prepare meals. I appreciate recipes that don’t have a lot of ingredients and aren’t over the top. Ann Romney seems to understand that! Her suggestions are simple yet yummy Mango Salad, monkey bread and cheesy noodles among some of the mouth watering creations. Not only are there recipes, there are pages full of heritage, tradition, family photos and tender moments.

I may have become a little jealous hearing of their Michigan summers at a beach cottage and the fun Fourth of July’s. But I know how hard she and husband Mitt worked to grow a family of all boys in the midst of a political career!  This cookbook is so much more than just recipes, it is a glimpse into the Romney household. My own mother used to receive Christmas cared form the Romney as a thank you for her long hours put in for their campaign. While I’ve never met the Romney’s she and my grandmother cherish their photos with them. And, now that my mom has passed, we cherish them too, as a memory of what my mother loved and stood for.


Heartily recommend The Romney Family Table to gourmet chefs and ordinary moms like me. 


Thanks to Deseret Book and publisher Shadow Mountain for inviting us to be a part of the blog tour.


FTC Disclosure:  I was offered a free book in return for this honest and non-biased review.


About the Author: Ann Romney places primary importance on her role as a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. As First Lady of Massachusetts, she worked to focus attention on the challenges facing at-risk youth and served as the Governor’s Liaison to the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998, she has volunteered much of her time to raise awareness of the disease. She and her husband, Mitt, celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary this year. They have five sons, five daughters-in-law, and twenty-two grandchildren.

Learn more at Deseret Book/ Goodreads

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Guest Post from Tyler Whitesides, Author of the Janitors Series

24 Sep, 2013 by in Shadow Mountain, tyler whitesides 1 comment

We are so excited to have bestselling author Tyler Whitesides here with us at Fire and Ice to share this exclusive guest post as part of the official Shadow Mountain Janitors blog tour. Today he explains just how the Janitors series took shape:



“I always try to draw inspiration from everyday occurrences and real life experiences. The idea to write a series about janitors came when I worked part time to clean a middle school. I had a few friends that worked the night shift with me, and I’m sure we were much more effective cleaning alone than we were on those mischievous nights that we went to work together. Perhaps the following story will show you what I mean. 

It was a late night, easily past midnight, when we got to the school to start cleaning. The task of emptying 300-plus trash cans was exhausting before we even began. About an hour into the work, it became clear that we needed a little something to energize us. 


Two of us let ourselves into the front office and used the school intercom to call our other friend who was sweeping in the gym. By the time he arrived, we had discovered a CD player next to the intercom. There was already a CD in the device and all we had to do was press play, and turn on the intercom. 

Pleased with our discovery, we went back to work, now enjoying a variety of songs playing in every classroom via the intercom. It was nearing two o’clock in the morning, and we were about three songs into the mix, when our boss arrived abruptly, pajama-clad, in the middle of the hallway. 

We waved and asked him what he was doing at the school so late. But he didn’t look too happy. He raced past us and turned off the music and intercom as quickly as he could. He shared a few choice words with us and trudged off down the hallway. 

You see, apparently the school was equipped with several sets of speakers OUTSIDE the building. And while we had been enjoying “The Entertainer” at work, the neighbors in their beds… not so much. 

The next day, I apologized profusely to the boss. He was good-natured and merely replied with, “at least you were playing music I liked! That was Scott Joplin, wasn’t it?” 

I didn’t listen to music after that. I worked quickly and quietly. But each night, as I wielded my mop down the hallway, I let my imagination roam. And there, in the dusty, grimy corners of that middle school, the JANITORS series took shape.”

Thanks so much Tyler! 

We caught up with him in NYC this year at BEA playing the “cans” 


 

And don’t miss Book three of his series, which is hot off the press!


Janitors, Book 3: Curse of the Broomstaff  on sale now for $7.99 in ebook format

 A secret society of Janitors with wizard-like powers continue their battle, and now, the stakes are even higher. The Bureau of Educational Maintenance is after Alan Zumbro and this time they mean business, deadly business. Spencer, Daisy, and their little team of rebels must find the source of all magical Glop and destroy it before it can destroy the world as we know it. No small task with the BEM and their monster toxites at their heels. It s a wild and dangerous ride as they follow the trail of clues all the way to the hiding place of the mysterious aurans: guardians of a secret landfill. What they discover there will change the way Spencer sees himself, not to mention the fate of the rebels.

About the Author: Tyler Whitesides worked as a janitor at an elementary school to put himself through college. He graduated from Utah State University with a degree in music. In addition to writing novels, Tyler is an avid composer and arranger of instrumental music. He and his wife, Connie, who teaches third grade, live in northern Utah.

Learn more on Goodreads/ Author website/ Deseret Book

Purchase while they are all ON SALE 🙂

Curse of the Broomstaff by Tyler Whitesides Blog Tour and Special Book Sale

20 Sep, 2013 by in Shadow Mountain, tyler whitesides 2 comments

Fire and Ice is happy to be today’s stop on the official Shadow Mountain blog tour for Curse of the Broomstaff by Tyler Whitesides, book three in the Janitor’s series. For a limited time, all of Tyler’s ebooks are on sale!
Janitors Book One is just 99 cents
No one takes Spencer Zumbro seriously when he tried to warn his classmates about the mysterious things prowling the halls and classrooms of Welcher Elementary School. But when he sees Marv, the janitor, going after one of the creatures with a vacuum, he knows he’s not the only one who can see them.

With the help of his new friends, Daisy, Spencer has to find out what the janitors know. The children’s search uncovers the magic taking place behind the scenes of their seemingly ordinary school, where a battle is being waged for the minds of the students. Who can be trusted – and can Spencer and Daisy protect their school and possibly the world?




Janitors, Book 2: Secrets of New Forest Academy is $1.99

No one takes Spencer Zumbro seriously when he tries to warn his classmates about the mysterious things prowling the halls and classrooms of Welcher Elementary School. But when he sees Marv, the janitor, going after one of the creatures with a vacuum, he knows he’s not the only one who can see them. With the help of his new friend, Daisy, Spencer has to find out what the janitors know. The children’s search uncovers the magic taking place behind the scenes of their seemingly ordinary school, where a battle is being waged for the minds of the students. Who can be trusted – and can Spencer and Daisy protect their school and possibly the world?



Janitors, Book 3: Curse of the Broomstaffis on sale now for $7.99 in ebook format

 A secret society of Janitors with wizard-like powers continue their battle, and now, the stakes are even higher. The Bureau of Educational Maintenance is after Alan Zumbro and this time they mean business, deadly business. Spencer, Daisy, and their little team of rebels must find the source of all magical Glop and destroy it before it can destroy the world as we know it. No small task with the BEM and their monster toxites at their heels. It s a wild and dangerous ride as they follow the trail of clues all the way to the hiding place of the mysterious aurans: guardians of a secret landfill. What they discover there will change the way Spencer sees himself, not to mention the fate of the rebels.

ENJOY!


About the Author: Tyler Whitesides worked as a janitor at an elementary school to put himself through college. He graduated from Utah State University with a degree in music. In addition to writing novels, Tyler is an avid composer and arranger of instrumental music. He and his wife, Connie, who teaches third grade, live in northern Utah.

Learn more on Goodreads/ Author website/ Deseret Book



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Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson- Shadow Mountain Blog Tour and Review

10 Sep, 2013 by in proper romance, review, Shadow Mountain 2 comments

Fire and Ice is today’s stop on the official blog tour for Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson hosted by Shadow Mountain.

Blackmoore
by Julianne Donaldson
276 pages
Published September 9, 2013
by Shadow Mountain
Genre:  Regency Romance
Book Brand: A Proper Romance
Book Source: Publisher
5 stars

 Kate Worthington knows she can never have her heart’s desire and so believes she will never marry. But Kate’s meddlesome mother has other plans. Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore on the cliffs above the seashore, where she must face the truth and the man that has kept her heart captive.

Set in northern England, Blackmoore is a Regency romance that tells the story of a young woman struggling to learn to follow her heart. With hints of Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters, Blackmoore is a page-turning tale of romance, intrigue and devotion.

Review: An absolutely stunning second novel by Julianne Donaldson. This book is a treasure that will remain forever on my shelves and be shared through generations. Julianne has taken Jane Austen’s style and period and crafted a novel that is poetic, deep, haunting and classically romantic.  I re-read Blackmoore in preparation for my post, and those who know me well will know that I have only read a handful of books twice through. I think I can honestly say it was better the second time than the first. There is just so much to be discovered and unfurled. There are so many levels of symbolism, sentiment and character development that one could safely read and re read Blackmooore over and over again.

Kate Worthington is a voice we can all relate to, a women on a quest to discover who she really is and how to escape her cultural traps. She feels misunderstood and misplaced within her family of ill behaved women. When a series of revelations about her mother and her childhood friend Henry lead her on a path of change, she decides it is time to lock up her heart for good. Her deepest desire is to visit Blackmoore, the summer estate of Henry’s family and to make a trip to India with her Aunt Charlotte. Her dreams are almost dashed when she rejects the unwelcome arrangements of her mother, but Kate has a plan…one that just might break the heart of her admirer and break the chains of her entrapment.


The Gothic tone and mysterious setting of the moors next to the sea make this a wonderful Fall or rainy day read. Written in Kate’s first person point of view with flashbacks from the past, the story line moves swiftly and I admit I read it all in one day. It is amazingly well written and I will recommend it to all my friends. Thanks to Julianne for helping me out of a reading funk and for keeping me on the road of Regency Romance with clean content.


Highlight with your cursor to reveal parental content information in the next sentence. Content: Clean language, no sex or swearing. Hinting of extramarital affairs, one mention of skinny dipping and swim shorts being “swung low on the hips.

About The Author: Julianne Donaldson grew up as the daughter of a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. She learned how to ski in the Italian Alps, visited East Berlin before the wall came down, and spent three years living next to a 500-year-old castle. After earning a degree in English, she turned her attention to writing about distant times and places. She lives in Utah with her husband and four children.

Learn more on Facebook/ Twitter/ Deseret Book

Join us tonight for the launch part of Blackmoore at 7 PM at The King’s English in Salt Lake City! Julianne has promised Regency Era Dress and some fun surprises.

Shadow Mountain is offering special pricing on Blackmoore at $7.99 in Kindle form and $1.99 for Edenbrooke, Julianne’s first book!

You really do not want to miss these prices or the books. Click the images to purchase…