A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell

This new offering, A Modest Proposal, by Michele is one of my favorites. Michele really knows her stuff and she brings the modesty issue where it needs to be. I really like how she brings this Butterfly Box into the mix.

The story is centered around 6 close friends in high school and the tragic accident that brings them even closer and allows them to get together once a year to celebrate their friendship and what matters most in life. Since this is the first in a series, we follow Lauryn in her dreams of becoming a designer of modest evening gowns for the every woman. We find how ruthless and cutthroat the fashion design business can be, but in being true to her ideals, how successful she can be.

I really liked how Michele worked with the romantic aspect of the story and implemented a top notch fashion show with her YW and used her co-workers to help. Helping her young step-sister to realize her dreams and to set righteous goals was great. I look forward to the next installment in The Butterfly Box. And, I agree, Modest Is Hottest!!!!

I will leave you with the backliner:

All my life I had dreamed of changing the ordinary girl's world of fashion by designing modest formal gowns — ones that you'd actually want to wear. With my super-hero stitching I would save you mothers and daughters crying in dressing rooms over yet another "the straps are just too small" prom dress. Don't worry, I even thought of a catchy tagline for my brand: "Modest Is Hottest." I told you I was good!

So I moved to New York and am finally living that dream . . . well, almost. I am at one of the top fashion companies, and my designs are definitely modest — but let's face it, when it comes to outerwear, would you want to buy a skimpy trench coat? Didn't think so.

Even though I don't have my dream job, my family is a mess, and my love life stinks, I have a feeling things are going to change. I mean, they have to soon, or I'll be forced to marry Jace. I did promise to become his wife only if I turned thirty and was still single, but I honestly didn't think it was possible. Now twenty-nine, I'm cutting it way too close. Right now I'm flying back to Utah for our Butterfly Girls reunion. And since it is the Mormon Mecca, I might find myself a modest proposal. Utah engagements can take mere weeks. Never mind, I'm not that desperate. Really.

But maybe the girls can help. We've been best friends since high school. We Butterfly Girls are not the typical Pink Ladies, although we've definitely had our share of drama. We'll laugh and cry over memories, from pageant glory to tragic endings, but the ones stored inside our butterfly box will surprise you most. We only open it when we're all together, and our lives never seem the same after.

Until next time,
Teri

Forever Friends Rating: 5 Stars By Teri

Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Covenant
ISBN: 139789781598116375

Purchase A Modest Proposal here.

Angel Falling Softly by Eugene Woodbury

I had read two chapters of Eugene Woodbury's Pathway of Dreams two years ago and couldn't get through the rest for all the graphic sex, but was still willing to give this new slant on the vampire tale a chance and was very disappointed. The blurb on the back of Angel Falling Softly tells of a female vampire falling, but it leads you to believe she is seeking a new life by redeeming herself in an LDS Community. This is so far from what we're thought to believe.

An LDS bishop's wife has lost her faith and is willing to sell her soul to save her young daughter, who's in a coma in Deseret Children's Hospital with Leukemia. There are several sexual encounters that Milada goes into in order to get blood. One of these encounters is a lesbian encounter, which left me nauseous. The publisher and others are saying this is NOT LDS Fiction, but everyone I talk to say otherwise. If this is NOT LDS Fiction, then why do we see and hear about "Fast offerings", Relief Society, Scouting in a Sandy suburb where my hubby and I used to live? I feel our faith and God were mocked and shown disrespect.

I would've liked to have seen Milada change her ways and life and gotten forgiveness and embraced the Gospel and a different miracle occur than having the young daughter leading a condemned life, living forever as a vampire.

We have felt deceived by what has been portrayed in this novel, also that Some people seem to be misinformed that vampires and sex go hand in hand. Mary Shelly, who created Dracula, did not portray Dracula as a sexual character. I was an absolutely avid fan of Dark Shadows and there was not an ounce of sex in that show.

I feel Eugene is a great writer, but he needs to write for a mainstram audience and not list on his bio that he served a mission for The Church of Jesus CHrist of Latter-day Saints. Also, I have read many LDS novels that have had far less mention of LDS in them than Angel Falling Softly. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

Paperback: 236 pages
Publisher: Zarahemla Books (June 30, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0978797167
ISBN-13: 978-0978797164
Average Customer Review:

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Amazon.com Sales Rank: #775,316 in Books

Purchase Angel Falling Softly here.

Recovering Charles by Jason Wright

I got a rough draft of Recovering Charles from Jason Wright a few months ago, but when I started to read it the other evening, I found out that my ISP program had crashed and lost half my saved folders, so was able to get a new final copy to read on my computer. WOW!!!! Jason has done it again, but with New Orleans and the aftermath of Katrina the setting for Jason's newest masterpiece, has really brought forgiveness, redemption and faith together. The beauty of this story and the images we can visualize, bring home to life this horrifyingly true tragedy.

The story is about a man who is asked to come to New Orleans to recover his father, who has gone missing. He meets the last friends his father knew while in New Orleans and learns more about his father than he ever knew before. The going back and forth in Luke's life as a boy are so filled with nostalgia. Jason seems to be the only one who can bring on the floodgates with each book he puts his hand to. Everyone should read this book!!! The people of New Orleans would be proud!!!!!

From the backliner:

Luke Millward is a man who does not know he is lost.

His girlfriend loves him; his career is going well; and every night he falls asleep knowing that his life is good and meaningful.

Only when the past reveals its twisted smile in a phone call and the disconnected voice asks him to come find his father in post-Katrina New Orleans is Luke compelled to find out what kind of man he truly is.

Recovering Charles is for every family who’s had it’s share of tough times, for anyone who regrets the things you’ve never said, for everyone who needs to know their life has a second verse.

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Shadow Mountain (September 16, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1590389646
ISBN-13: 978-1590389645
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,191,537 in Books

Purchase Recovering Charles here. Pre-orders are available.

All's Fair by Julie Bellon

In Julie Coulter Bellon's new offering, she sets the suspense tone quite well. I learned more about the inner workings of a political campaign than I knew before. This story takes place in Iraq, where Brandon Shepherd and Rachel Fielding, doctors in the US Army, are kidnapped and Brandon's best friend Ryan Jameson, Brandon's sister Kristen and their military father, spearhead a rescue operation. By reading this gripping novel, we learn just how much we should value our freedoms and the Iraqui's freedom. With what is going on in Iraq, it's very difficult to determine who to trust in our war on terror. I highly recommend this fast-paced novel.

And from the backliner:

Political campaign expert Kristen Shepherd excels at staying cool under pressure, but this time she’s in over her head. After leaving her high-profile fiancé at the altar, she uncovers the shocking truth about the man she nearly married — truth that could ruin her life. With the press on her tail, the only person she can trust is Ryan Jameson, her political opponent and former boyfriend.

Army doctor and LDS convert Brandon Shepherd shares his sister Kristen’s talent for keeping a level head, and his newfound faith gives him steady strength during times of turmoil. But when he and fellow doctor Rachel Fields are seized as Iraqi prisoners of war, he faces a crisis of personal integrity that may cost him his life.

In this gripping tale of unlikely heroes and unexpected romance, two siblings must risk everything for freedom. And in the heat and sand of enemy territory, they discover that all’s fair in love, even if not in war.

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Release Date: July 2008
Size: 6x9, softcover
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Purchase All's Fair here.

Keeping Keller by Tracy Winegar

I learned that through love, humor and understanding, you can be a good parent to a special needs child, especially an autistic child who has no comprehension of right or wrong. Keller was a bright beacon of joy. Since I have good friends with three grandchildren with autism, I have a lot of empathy for Jeff, our former bishop's second oldest son. This is my second novel about autism and I loved both books. I love books like this that tug at the heartstrings.Bravo Keller!!! Since this story trook place in the 50's, we didn't know much about mental illness and it was sad how people were so ignorant and showed little understanding like we do today. I've worked with mentally challenged children and found them a joy to work with. With love and understanding, we can move mountains with how we relate to our family members and to everyone around us.

From Amazon's Editorial Comments: "Keller is a force to be reckoned with! The year is 1955, and few people understand or tolerate mental handicaps. For Beverly and Warren Vance, the daily struggle to live with their handicapped son, Keller, is taking its toll. Keller is large for his age and often aggressive, prone to throwing tantrums and breaking everything in sight. Beverly and Warren have been encouraged to institutionalize him, or at least keep him out of public view. But they decided long ago that trying to teach and raise him was a better option - at least until now. When a shocking development and a disastrous incident complicate their decision, the lines between right and wrong become increasingly blurred. Yet in the end, through their own choices they come to understand that the most important thing in life is family."

Paperback: Trade Paperback, 218 pages
Publisher: Cedar Fort Inc. (March 10, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599551152
ISBN-13: 978-1599551159
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,302,616 in Books

Purchase Keeping Keller here.