Posts Categorized: Uncategorized

Shades of Avalon by Carol Oates~ Cover Reveal

25 Mar, 2014 by in carol oates, Cover Reveal-, Omnific, Uncategorized Leave a comment

Many of you may remember that we reviewed and loved Irish author Carol Oates’ book Shades of Atlantis here in 2010. It received a reboot of its cover image and book two Shades of Avalon has a cover reveal today!

Shades of Atlantis synopsis

Since the death of their parents, Triona Pryor and her brother, Ben, have lived with their aunt and uncle in Camden, Maine. Now in her senior year of high school, Triona loves her family and friends, but she has always felt that she didn’t quite fit in…in Camden, or anywhere else.

Enter Caleb Wallace, the devilishly handsome man who has recently moved to Triona’s small town.

While their attraction to each other is instantaneous, it also proves to be dangerous…and deadly. When tragedy strikes, Triona flees to London for solace and to start her life anew. It’s there she discovers from an unlikely source that her family has been keeping secrets from her – secrets about not only her birthright, but her ultimate destiny as well.

Armed with this knowledge, Triona finds herself thrown into a whole new world and into a battle to save the lives of everyone she loves.

 

shades of avalonShades of Avalon synopsis

Ben Pryor grew up as an average kid in Camden, Maine, unaware of the supernatural storm brewing in his Celtic blood. However, at nineteen, as the last born in the royal line of the beings that once ruled Atlantis, Ben has eagerly embraced his newfound abilities and birthright.

When Caleb, his sister’s mate, goes missing under suspicious circumstances, the prime suspect is the last remaining member of the overthrown corrupt Guardian Council.

With the discovery that an old acquaintance has been keeping secrets and the future Ben was so sure of shifting before his eyes, the situation becomes more complicated, the ransom for Caleb too high.

In the sequel to Shades of Atlantis, Ben will delve deeper than he ever imagined into the magical old ways of the Guardians, the secrets of Excalibur, and the truth behind the legend of King Arthur

Author Bio

Carol Oates came into the world on Christmas morning, in an elevator. Raised just across the street from the childhood home of Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, it was only a matter of time before Carol’s love of all things supernatural would emerge.
She began experimenting with fiction at school and keeps the notebook containing her first unpublished novel in her desk drawer. Over three decades later, all her stories still begin life scrawled on paper.
When not writing, Carol can be found exploring history with her son. Luckily, he shares her love of old buildings, castles, and tombs.

Author website Shades of Atlantis *Amazon * Shades of Avalon

The Giveaway

Omnific is giving away one ePack of Shades of Atlantis. Comment on this post to enter. International ends April 7, 2014.

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Blog Tour: The Lost Teachings of Jesus by Alonzo Gaskill

20 Mar, 2014 by in Uncategorized 1 comment

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

Blog Tour: The Lost Teachings of Jesus by Alonzo Gaskill

The Lost Teachings of Jesus

by Alonzo L. Gaskill
Published by Cedar Fort on March 11th 2014
Genres: Adult, Non- Fiction
Pages: 128
Format: eBook
four-stars
Source: Cedar Fort
Buy the BookGoodreads
The wife and the mother are the inappreciable treasures given unto you by God. They are the fairest ornaments of existence, and of them shall be born all the inhabitants of the world.” This extra-biblical text, thought to be the words of Christ, is presented and explained by Alonzo Gaskill where he expounds the divine role of women in the gospel and family. This book will help you learn how to better appreciate and respect women and their part in God’s plan.
Lost-Teachings-of-Jesus-blog-tour

 

Wow! Such an interesting premise presented by Alonzo Gaskill that some of Christ’s direct words and teachings were hidden. Later to be discovered in a monastery in India. Nicholas Notovitch, a scholar finds and records these as verse shared in  a discourse and expounded upon by the author.

The teachings are empowering and powerful reminders of the importance of women and mothers. They teach respect, reverence, support and protection within families. I especially enjoyed the teachings by my ancestor Matthew Cowley. This would be a wonderful Mother’s Day present to be re-read over and over again. It made me realize once again what a vital role women have in today’s world and that we are supported by the gospel of Christ.

About the AuthorAlonzo-Gaskill

Alonzo L. Gaskill is a professor of Church history and doctrine. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, a master’s in theology, and a Ph.D in biblical studies. Brother Gaskill has taught at Brigham Young University since 2003. Prior to coming to BYU he served in a variety of assignments within the church Educational System— most recently as the director of the LDS Institute of Religion at Stanford University (1995–2003).
Find Alonzo Gaskill  on his blog * facebook * twitter *publisher page
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Luminescence by Braden Bell Blog Tour Kick Off and $25 Giveaway

11 Mar, 2014 by in Uncategorized 2 comments

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

Luminescence by Braden Bell Blog Tour Kick Off and $25 Giveaway

Luminescence

by Braden Bell
Published by Cedar Fort on March 11, 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade
Pages: 320
Format: eARC
Source: Cedar Fort
Buy the BookGoodreads
“He’s alive!” she yelled. “He’s alive!”
As Lexa spoke the words, she knew they were true. She knew with total certainty.
“Dr. Timberi’s alive!”

When Lady Nightwing kidnapped Dr. Timberi, everyone assumed their teacher had been killed. So when Lexa discovers that he isn’t dead, Conner can’t believe his ears.

Determined to rescue their favorite teacher, Conner, Lexa, and Melanie confront their worst fears and use their powers in unexpected ways to defeat Lady Nightshade, the treacherous Darkhand leader. But when the trio makes a terrible choice to save Dr. Timberi, their powers may not be enough to keep everyone alive. A thrilling conclusion to the Middle School Magic series!

Your favorite characters return in this satisfying conclusion of the Middle School Magic series! Filled with plenty of twists, humor, and adventure, Luminescence will keep you guessing until the last page.

Study hall? Definitely. Substitute Teachers? Absolutely. Rescuing people from brutal villains? Bring it on!
Luminscense_blog_tour

Fire and Ice is honored to announce and host the blog tour for Luminescence by Braden Bell!

In this thrilling conclusion to the Middle Grade Magic series, Dr. Timberi has been kidnapped, assumed dead. But Lexa knows better, and she is determined to save him. She must find a way to put aside her guilt and jealousy to work together with her brother and best friend Melanie.

The three of them have the potential to form a powerful force against evil… if they can overcome what it weighing them down to use their newly kindled powers. Luminescence packs wisdom about guilt, healing, the loyalty of love and soaring above your trials of the past. Readers will no doubt feel a wide range of emotions as they see their favorite series come to a close! It’s non-stop action with your favorite prep school students turned magi.

If you’ve never picked up Braden’s series, I would highly recommend it for older teens and adults. Mr. Bell has a way of adding valuable truths into his story while offering an awesome MG trilogy with a whole lot of adventure.

Content: (highlight to reveal) there are some themes that are a bit mature like abuse and bullying, moderate violence.

View the Trailer

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Tour Schedule

Tue Mar 11- Fire and Ice
Wed Mar 12- Lisa Swinton Queen of Random
Thurs Mar 13- The Hungry Family
Fri Mar 14- Literary Time Out
Mon Mar 17- Queen of the Clan
Tues Mar 18- I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
Thurs Mar 20- Why Not? Because I Said So!
Fri Mar 21- BrooklynBerry Designs
Thurs Mar 27- Getting Your Read On

About the AuthorBraden_Bell

During his middle school years, Braden Bell was the least-stable, lowest-achieving student in the history of the world. He shocked every former teacher by graduating from high school and college, and then going on to earn both a Master’s degree as well as a Ph.D. A teacher by day and a parent by night, he is around teenagers 24/7. He teaches music and directs plays at a private school, much like Marion Academy in The Middle School Magic series. Whether he fights evil after hours is something he cannot disclose. Braden Bell holds degrees in theatre from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. from NYU. A committed educator, he has been directing plays and teaching school now for over twenty years. Braden lives with his family on a quiet, tree-lined lot outside of Nashville, TN, where he teaches theatre and choir at a middle school. The author of The Road Show, The Kindling, and Penumbras.

Learn More on his website* twitter* facebook* goodreads* publisher  

 

The Giveaway

$25 Amazon giftcard or Paypal cash. a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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Wolf Legend Blog Tour and Giveaway

10 Mar, 2014 by in Uncategorized 5 comments

WOLF LEGEND (Legends Trilogy #2)

by Florence Witkop

Release Date: January 6, 2014               

Genre: Fantasy, Urban fantasy/ magical realism/ modern fantasy

Formats to buy: Kindle, epub and smashwords formats

Jane, who dislikes wolves because they kill livestock, takes Buck Portman, wolf researcher and wildlife professor at the nearby college to an island for a week to seek out the huge wolves legend says have been seen in the area. She’s skeptical until a huge wolf runs through their camp… and mentally connects with Jane. Both woman and wolf are startled by their mental connection. The wolf invites Jane to follow so they can sort out what’s between them. Jane takes off after the wolf in the dark, followed by the confused professor. She follows the wolf through a cave and into another world, one populated by larger-than-life, dangerous animals, including the wolves of the legend. Her mental connection to the alpha she-wolf is all that saves their lives in that dangerous place. Days later, when they return to their world, at the request of the alpha wolf they take her wolf pup with a broken leg so it can be healed. Problem is that wild wolves are not allowed as pets in our world so the professor must technically care for the wolf with Jane’s help. But he has reservations. The huge dire wolf pup is in the wrong world. As it grows, will it remain a pet or become a dangerous predator? As the attraction between Jane and the professor grows, so do the problems inherent in having a huge prehistoric wolf in today’s world. 

PURCHASE

AMAZON

B&N

SMASHWORDS

Excerpt

I set the cup on the ground beside me to save the one last cold swallow for later when I turned in for the night.  Buck, watching, hooked his own empty cup over his belt and prepared to do the same.

As my cup touched the ground, the largest wolf I’d ever seen ran through our campsite.  Two hundred pounds at least, possibly three hundred, with black velvet, silver-tipped fur and yellow eyes that shone in the night.

It was beautiful.  Awesome.  And it tore through the camp as if we weren’t there, scattering plates and silverware every which way and making short work of the tent just because it happened to be in its path.  “Oh my God!”  My mouth dropped open because the wolf couldn’t exist.  Not here, not anywhere on earth.  But it did.

The wolf heard.  Stopped.  Turned towards me.  Scared the crap out of me because it was larger than me, double the size of any wolf I’d ever heard of and a predator.  Tipped its head to one side and looked straight at me.  Stared.

Our looks met.  Connected.  My fear disappeared because it wasn’t looking for food.  It was on its way home and in a hurry to get there.  The pups missed their mom, the rest of the pack was good, they took care of the pups, but they couldn’t take the place of a real mother.  It should hurry home.

 I blinked.  Tried to wrap my mind around what was happening and failed completely.  I couldn’t know what it was thinking.  I couldn’t be reading its mind.  Of course not, it was impossible to know what another human being was thinking, let alone a wolf.  Wolves were a whole other species.

Except that I did.  I was doing precisely what I couldn’t do, what no one could do.  I was reading its mind and was pretty sure it was reading mine and was just as surprised at being able to read my mind as I was to know what it was thinking.  We stared at each other, adjusting to this new reality.  Shock kept us both immobile for what seemed like minutes and was probably seconds.

Then the wolf turned away and disappeared into the night because she had a family and responsibilities and couldn’t stay to chat, not even for a conversation as mind-blowing as ours.  Two separate species were communicating for the first time ever.  But she had things to do and places to go, a pack to care for and pups to feed.  So she left.

But as she ran into the growing dark, the silver fur blending into the black of the forest, she left a thought behind.  “Want to follow me?  Want to come for a visit?  Maybe we can figure this out.”

It was an invitation.  One I couldn’t turn down.  So I rose and followed the wolf.

About the Author

Florence’s stories begin as simple tales of contemporary life, often in small towns or the wilderness she knows so well. 

Where they go from there is what makes them special. There is always a strong sense of place. Sometimes they cross genres and contain paranormal, sci/fi, or fantasy elements. There is usually a romance and there are always characters her readers like and would enjoy having as friends.

Most of all, there is a story because what Florence does best is tell stories. Well plotted stories that carry the characters towards a logical conclusion that always includes a happy ending.  Stories that shine light on the human condition while they celebrate the world we live in.  Stories that her readers relate to and remember long after the reading is over.

She writes about people who are as normal as apple pie (most of them, anyway) who unexpectedly find themselves in the middle of situations ranging from the heartwarming through the difficult and all the way to the horrendous. ButFlorence’s characters choose to act instead of running away. In the process, they survive, thrive, overcome whatever obstacles large or small are thrown in front of them, and while they are at it, they find time to fall in love.

Florence was born in the city and has lived in the suburbs, small towns, the country and the wilderness area of northern Minnesota, where she still lives with her husband and a cowardly cat named Smoke.

At various times in her writing career she’s been a confession writer, a copywriter, a ghost writer and an editor. She writes short stories, novellas and novels. Her work has been categorized as romance, science-fiction, fantasy, mainstream and eco-fiction, to name a few genres that it fits so beautifully into.

FIND HER AT: http://florencewitkop.com/

Other Books by Florence:

(press on the cover to go to Goodreads)

  

Giveaway

– 2 winners

– International

Prizes: An ecopy of Wolf Legend and a $10 Amazon GC

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Unraveled by Julie Daines Book Blitz and Giveaway

24 Feb, 2014 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

unraveledAbout UNRAVELED

Release date: February 2014
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Genre: YA Fantasy/Farytale
ISBN: 9781621086277

When sickness swept through Bronwen’s family, it took the life of her father, brother, and sister, and left her permanently crippled. On the stormy eve of her sixteenth birthday, a faerie-witch gifts her a pair of enchanted shoes. Bronwen slips them on and is healed–but only when the shoes are on her feet. Her grace and beauty catches the eye of the king’s son–Urien, a handsome young man who prides himself on having everything perfect.

When Rhys, an old acquaintance and Captain of the Guard, recognizes Bronwen, he threatens to tell Urien her secret. Desperate to keep her deformity hidden and not to lose the love of handsome Urien, Bronwen quickly finds herself tangled in a web of lies and deceit.

Purchase Links

Amazon/ B&N (audiobook)/ Covenant Communications

Ten’s List

Ten tunes you have on your (Music) Ipod, etc..

Simple Song (The Shins)
Unbelievers (Vampire Weekend)
Breathing Underwater (Metric)
Turn Off This Song and Go Outside (The Lonely Forest)
Forest Whitaker (Bad Books)
Mercy (OneRepublic)
Don’t Carry It All (The Decemberists)
The Mother We Share edited version (CHVRCHES)
Dead Hearts (Stars)
Quiet Little Voices (We Were Promised Jetpacks)

About Julie Dainesunnamed (1)

Julie Daines was born in Concord, Massachusetts, and was raised in Utah. She spent eighteen months living in London, where she studied and fell in love with English literature, sticky toffee pudding, and the mysterious guy who ran the kebab store around the corner.

She loves reading, writing, and watching movies—anything that transports her to another world. She picks Captain Wentworth over Mr. Darcy, firmly believes in second breakfast, and never leaves home without her verveine.

Twitter * Facebook * Blog * Goodreads

The Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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Touching Sky by Stephanie Boyd~ CD Review and $25 Giveaway

16 Feb, 2014 by in Uncategorized 1 comment

Touching Sky

Touching Sky

With a fresh and energizing sound, Stephanie Boyd’s debut album Touching Sky will put a smile on your face and a skip in your step. Unique lyrics, heartfelt vocals and top quality production will inspire and uplift you. With brand new original songs and a novel take on some favorite hymns, this CD will stay with you every day of the week.

Review

Stephanie Boyd’s debut CD offers a mix between artists Hilary Weeks and Mindy Gledhill. Her contemporary Christian sound has uplifting, clean lyrics and mixes that hold appeal for both teens and adults. I loved hearing Scatter Sunshine, a popular hymn accented by folk undertones as well as a sax. We listened to Touching Sky on repeat play during a road trip and found each time we heard the songs we enjoyed them and found familiar nuances in the melodies that blend church music with popular tunes you would find on your radio stations.

The message through out the playlist is one of confidence in who you are– a child of God. One of my favorite picks from the album, Good for the Soul reminds us to take time out to be quiet and still. This is a great music pick as a gift for music lovers and the tween or teen in your family. Thanks so much to Stephanie and Deseret Book for helping us add another wonderful CD to our family playlist.

Amazon * Google Play * iTunes * Deseret Book

 

Music Video

StephanieAbout Stephanie

Growing up in New York, Stephanie was drawn to the power of music from a young age. While she was originally trained in classical singing, Stephanie always gravitated towards more upbeat and modern music. With her debut album, Touching Sky, Stephanie combines her love of traditional messages with fresh music. Since moving to Utah, Stephanie has worked closely with well-known artists including Jenny Phillips, Tyler Castleton, and Michael McLean. She was also featured soloist with Sally DeFord. She has a master’s degree in environmental science she and her husband have enjoyed building and selling businesses together. Stephanie is married with four children (and one on the way!) and likes to read, garden, run and bake fun birthday cakes.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Instagram

 

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 3/9/14

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, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Scintillate Blog Tour and Giveaway

12 Feb, 2014 by in blog tour, book giveaway, Uncategorized 1 comment

scintillate_banner

Fire and Ice is so excited to have author Tracy Clark here today as part of the Scintillate tour hosted by Rock Star Book Tours!

About the Book

COVERTitle: SCINTILLATE
Author: Tracy Clark
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 304
Pub. Date: February 4, 2014

Find it: Goodreads/ Amazon/ Barnes & Noble

A mighty flame follows a tiny spark Cora Sandoval’s mother disappeared when she was five and they were living in Ireland. Since then, her dad has been more than overprotective, and Cora is beginning to chafe under his confines. But even more troubling is the colorful light she suddenly sees around people. Everyone, that is, except herself—instead, she glows a brilliant, sparkling silver.

As she realizes the danger associated with these strange auras, Cora is inexplicably drawn to Finn, a gorgeous Irish exchange student who makes her feel safe. Their attraction is instant, magnetic, and primal—but her father disapproves, and Finn’s mother orders him home to Ireland upon hearing he’s fallen in love. After a fight with her father, Cora flees to Ireland, both to follow Finn and to look for her missing mother.

There she meets another silver-haloed person and discovers the meaning of her newfound powers and their role in a conspiracy spanning centuries—one that could change mankind forever…and end her life.

Author Q & A

Do you have a playlist for your book?

I have to write in silence, mostly because I love lyrics and will find myself listening to the words of the songs rather than the words in my own head. But there are a few songs that I would listen to before I wrote a scene to get in the mood.

Top ten books you’ve ever read?

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho

Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy by Laini Taylor

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick

The Infernal Devices series by Cassie Clare

Favorite treat when writing?

Lately, I’ve been addicted to those dark chocolate covered pomegranate balls of goodness. I

don’t even know what’s really under the chocolate and I don’t care. When I need salt, it’s chips

and salsa all the way.

Highlight of your writing career thus far?

Had this question been posed a couple of months ago, I’d say that getting “the call” with a book offer was the highlight. Or even having drinks at one table with Jay Asher, Laurie Halse

Anderson and Stephen Chbosky during a conference in August. But honestly, recent reviews from actual readers saying they LOVED the book and couldn’t put it down and that it made them feel, that’s really my dream come true.

What do you do when you are in-between books?

I feel like being a writer is such a big part of who I am, that it would be odd to have long periods of downtime. I’ve always tried to start something new immediately after finishing another project. As I get busier, I see the importance of having fallow seasons where you let your mind rest a bit, even if a “season” is just a few days! (See, I’m addicted.) I realized that as we head into 2014, that I’ll be writing book 3, editing book 2, promoting SCINTILLATE and working on an unrelated project I’m really excited about. It’s a YA psychological thriller.

Where is your favorite place to read/write?

I am so easily distracted that I can’t write or read very well in public places. I find myself too drawn to people-watching and eavesdropping. Inspiration is everywhere! I love to write in my home office and read in bed.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

Read SCINTILLATE to immerse yourself in the mystical play of energy between people, and to discover the mysterious secret that’s been kept from Cora and the rest of humanity.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

Harry Potter, hands down. Camp Hogwarts, anyone?

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?

Rumor has it that I taught myself to read. I remember loving to escape into books from a very early age. As a small child, I had a book called Timmy Mouse that I adored. I still have it! From there, I recall reading Disney versions of classics like Robin Hood and Cinderella. Judy Blume books were definitely part of my growing up! As a teen, I must admit to being a Flowers in the Attic fan. Then, my love of metaphysics! That was the phase of reading about reincarnation, auras, and energy, which inspired much of SCINTILLATE.

About Tracyunnamed (1)

Tracy Clark is a young-adult writer because she believes teens deserve to know how much they matter and that regardless of what they’re going through, they aren’t alone. In other words, she writes books for her teen self.

She grew up a “Valley Girl” in Southern California but now lives in her home state of Nevada, in a small town at the base of the Sierra Foothills. Her two children teach her the art of distraction and are a continuous source of great dialogue. She’s an unapologetic dog person who is currently owned by a cat.

Tracy was the recipient of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Work in Progress Grant. A two-time participant in the prestigious Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program where she was lucky enough to be mentored by bestselling author, Ellen Hopkins, who taught her so much about the art of writing and cured her of her ellipsis addiction.

Her debut novel was inspired by her enchantment with metaphysics as a teen, seeing it as the real magic in life. Tracy is a part-time college student, a private pilot, and an irredeemable dreamer.

Website/Blog/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Giveaway Detailsnecklace_giveaway

1 Prize pack of a key necklace and a signed copy of Scintillate. US ONLY
3 paperbacks of Scintillate US Only.
3 eBooks of Scintillate International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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In Tune by Gerald N. Lund Blog Tour

10 Feb, 2014 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

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

In Tune by Gerald N. Lund Blog Tour

In Tune

by Gerald N. Lund
on December 1st 2013
Pages: 182
Format: Hardcover
five-stars
Source: Deseret Book
Buy the BookGoodreads
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are all teachers. Not only do we have a glorious mandate to "teach all nations" the gospel (Matthew 28:19), we also have numerous charges to "teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom" (D&C 88:77). In formal and informal settings, as parents or leaders or friends, we are constantly teaching and learning.

Not only has the Lord commanded us to teach, but He has taught us what we are to teach and how we are to do it: diligently and by the power of the Spirit. But how do we know if we're "doing it right"? What signs can we watch for that the Spirit is actually present in a teaching setting?

In this insightful companion volume to Hearing the Voice of the Lord, bestselling author Gerald N. Lund brings his decades of experience working in the Church Educational System to the topic of teaching and learning by the Spirit. He discusses common misconceptions, important questions we should ask about our teaching, and the role of the Holy Ghost in the process.

"The Lord has given the responsibility to save His children to teachers," writes Elder Lund. "The charge is clear. It is specific. It is inspiring. And, gratefully, the Lord blesses us greatly when we strive to carry out His will."

As a mother and teacher, I am always looking for ways to better carry the message I’m teaching to the hearts of those I love and In Tune by Gerald N. Lund has the answers. He describes the roles and methods of the Holy Ghost, the best way to both teach and preach, and how to edify those around us. His simple but deep written message is punctuated by scripture and stories that clarify each point.

In particular I loved the myths he dispels about how we know when we’ve taught and been taught by the Spirit. This is one of those books I think each church instructor and any person trying to better understand the role of the Holy Ghost should read. I’m thrilled Deseret Book gave me such a valuable tool to help me be a more humble and more wise Relief Society instructor. I will be using In Tune often for ready reference. My favorite quote…

Please notice how the power of the Spirit carries the message unto but not necessarily into the heart. A teacher can explain, demonstrate, persuade, and testify, and do so much with great spiritual power and effectiveness. Ultimately, however, the content of a message and the witness of the Holy Ghost penetrate into the heart only if a receiver allows them to enter.” – David A. Bednar, Seek Learning By Faith as quoted on page 43 of In Tune: The Role of the Spirit in Teaching and Learning by Gerald N. Lund.

heatherAbout the Author

Elder Gerald N. Lund received his B.A. and M.S. degrees in sociology from Brigham Young University. He also did extensive graduate work in New Testament studies at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, California, and studies Hebrew at the University of Judaism in Hollywood, California.

During his thirty-five years in the Church Educational System, the author served as a seminary teacher, an institute teacher and director, a curriculum writer, director of college curriculum, and zone administrator. His Church callings have included serving as stake president, bishop, and teacher. Elder Lund served as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy from 2002 to 2008.

Elder Lund is a prolific author; his novels include the Work and the Glory series, the Kingdom and the Crown trilogy, Fire of the Covenant, and The Undaunted. He has also written several books on gospel topics, including Hearing the Voice of the Lord and Divine Signatures.

He and his wife, Lynn, are the parents of seven children.

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