Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Book Review: Cash Valley: To Bring One Down by Ryan K. Nelson


Cash Valley: To Bring One Down, by Ryan K. Nelson
2018, 220p, Mystery/Suspense
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the author, which did not affect my review in any way



Agent Alex Travis returns to Cache Valley in search of an escaped prisoner, who bears a striking resemblance to one of the gang members Jack killed in the shootout in Green Canyon four years earlier. His instincts are leading him in the right direction, but he continues to be one step behind the man seeking revenge on Jack & Kate, and their young daughter, Emma. By not telling the whole truth of the missing bank money at the time of the recovery, Agent Travis has put them all in jeopardy. He must now decide if he can solve this case on this own, in time to save his friends, or if he risks asking for help from the Bureau and ruining his career in the process, a possibility that could land him in jail as well.

In a race to see who finds who first, the search shifts to nearby Logan Canyon, where Agent Travis will be tested by his own conscience as much as by the man he’s hunting.


I enjoyed the first book in this series, and quite frankly, thought it worked well as a standalone. I was intrigued when the author, Ryan Nelson, contacted me about a sequel and interested to see how it would be accomplished. (Click here to learn more about the first book and read my review.)

I am pleased to say that this book didn't disappoint! It takes place four years after the first book. Agent Alex Travis, Kate, and Jack are surprised to learn about a loose end in the bank robbery case they were all involved in. They are thrown into a situation they weren't prepared for and need to adjust quickly in order to survive.

I loved the pacing! I kept turning the pages quickly to learn what would happen next. This book is just as intense as the first book. The characters have to deal with some tough situations and I wasn't sure how they would get out of some of them. I liked the balance the author struck between making what they went through realistic without making it too difficult to read.

I would recommend both of these books to anyone that enjoys mystery/suspense. The author includes history of the Cache Valley area, which I'm not familiar with, but found interesting. I look forward to reading more of Ryan Nelson's work in the future!


Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Ryan now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. He released his debut novel, Cash Valley, in 2016 to critical acclaim, including earning a spot as a finalist for a RONE award and making the Shortlist in the Chanticleer International Book Awards.

More books are in the works, including the highly anticipated sequel for Cash Valley, due out in early 2018. Visit www.ryanknelson.com or follow Ryan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CashValleyAuthor for updates on his latest projects.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

LDS Film Festival: SCERA Theater in Orem, Utah


The festival has already started, so some of these events have happened, but there are still some great events to check out!

Now in its 17th year, the LDS Film Festival opens this week at the SCERA Theater in Orem, and is open to the public . With an amazing line up of feature and short film categories, music videos, animated short films, and industry panels this year will be one you won't want to miss. Meet many actors, producers, directors, and other industry professionals all week. The festival schedule can be viewed at www.ldsfilmfest.com/schedule

A few events to be sure you don't miss include: 

Monday, February 26th ~ Festival Kickoff
7:00 PM / Not Cinderella's Type ($5.00 tickets)

7:45 PM / We Love You Sally Carmichael (FREE) 





Tuesday, February 27th ~ OPENING NIGHT 
7:00 PM ($8.00 tickets)
“The Other Side of Heaven”
 Opening Celebration: The dramatic retelling of emeritus LDS General Authority Seventy Elder John Groberg’s mission to Tonga became an unlikely hit after its release in late 2001. It was also one of Anne Hathaway’s first feature films. Tongan dancers and singers will be performing and a special announcement will be made by movie director, Mitch Davis. 

Thursday, March 1st ~ Premiere 
7:00 PM ($8.00 dollar tickets)
"Ruling of the Heart" -- a film about a judge who gets trapped in a cafe during a snowstorm, where he is confronted by two people he made judgments against 





Friday, March 2nd ~ CLOSING NIGHT Premiere 
7:30 PM ($8.00 dollar tickets) 
“Trek” -- One of the more buzzed-about LDS films recently, “Trek” has its premiere at the LDS Film Festival. The comedy examines the Mormon tradition of youth handcart treks through the eyes of an LDS teen named Tom. But like all Mormon youth treks, it’s not all fun and games, and the group’s faith gets tested.

Monday, February 26, 2018

Romance is the Air: Bonus $25 Giveaway!!



I hope you have enjoyed the Romance is in the Air Promotion! There are $500 in Giveaways as part of this event. Be sure you have entered all 17 giveaways!

Be on the lookout for our next clean author event "Love in Bloom" which will take place in April.


Links to ALL GIVEAWAYS

Giveaway Details

$25 in Paypal Cash or a $25 Amazon.com eGift Card

Ends 3/13/18

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via PayPal or gift codes via Amazon.com. 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. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the participating authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Friday, February 23, 2018

Romance is the Air: Showcasing Author Kimberley Montpetit





A feisty ballerina with a broken heart. A minister-in-training whose faith can work miracles. Can two strong-willed people find true love and a match made in heaven?

JESSICA & JAMES: A Love Story is a boxed collection of two romances set in Snow Valley, Montana—the saga of rising star ballerina Jessica and the sparks that fly between her and gorgeous James Douglas, the new pastor in town.

This collection includes new chapters, and a Brand New Bonus Wedding novella!

Suffering with a broken heart, Jessica has struggled to forgive herself for that fateful night when her childhood love was killed in a car accident. After staying away from home for years, she finally returns for Christmas and meets James Douglas who is unlike any minister-in-training she’s ever known. James can not only dish back Jessica’s finely tuned sarcasm but understands grief all too well, turning Jessica’s world and her faith upside down. Is she ready to take another risk on love?

Living 2,000 miles apart proves difficult and Jessica and James' love is tested in a myriad of ways, but James can’t get the spitfire Jessica out of his mind. When she comes home to Snow Valley to accept an inheritance with her male ballet partner in tow, James and Jessica's passion for each other takes on a new edge.

Clean romance with heart, and a surprise wedding you won't see coming.




A Great Love Story for everyone!
This was a very moving romance about loss and moving forward with life and forgiveness. It shows how much we can inhibit our growth after a devastating event. Recommend this collection for teens to adults, along with a few Kleenex. Have liked the Snow Valley Series. Wish it was a real place to go and visit for Christmas!

I absolutely loved this book! It is a touching & emotional story about family, friendship, love, and faith. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story of Jessica & James. A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE!!!

All those Happily Ever After lovers out there, this is a story for you to grab, snuggle up with a comfy blanket and get lost in the love story of two characters who are not perfect but growing, healing and learning to love and be loved. Be warned that you might just be sucked into it and not want to set it down or to say goodbye to these characters once the final page has been read. I can't recommend this one enough.









Pastor James Douglas saw the girl sitting in the snow when he glanced up from his computer screen in his church office. Papers and research books were strewn across the oak surface of the old desk, including two different translations of the Bible–open and underlined in red pencil where he was marking various lines for this week’s Sunday School class he was teaching.

James ran a hand through his hair and rubbed his eyes. When he glanced at the clock on the wall, he blinked in surprise. It was already one o’clock. No wonder he was starving.

Leaning forward, he glanced through the window again, curious. It wasn’t often he saw such a striking woman around Snow Valley, which was more known for mud-splattered cowboy boots, wind-blown hair, and chapped cheeks—all definitely had their small-town charm. But this girl—she—

She hadn’t moved an inch in five minutes. James jumped up from his chair, knocking the back of it into the wall. His heart crept into his throat, worry tugging at him. It was only ten degrees out in the church cemetery. Piles of snow lay drifted about the bleak shrubs, turning to slush across the parking lot. Who came to visit the church cemetery just after a snowstorm—in the middle of December? Of course, people came to lay flowers and Christmas wreaths, but they never stayed longer than two minutes before hurrying back to their cars.

She was truly beautiful. Blonde hair flying away from her face in clouds, porcelain skin, a perfectly sculpted body. As a pastor, he wasn’t supposed to notice that, he supposed, but to him she was the picture of perfection. Yet she looked so tragically sad, so lost, so very fragile sitting there, her eyes glued to the headstone. Who was she mourning?

His nose hit the window pane as his eyes glued to her crouched figure. The young woman didn’t look well. He had a sudden irrational fear that she’d actually frozen into place. Should he call the police, or an ambulance? Two seconds later, he was slamming through the door of his office, grabbing his coat and stuffing his hands into gloves. Then he was sprinting through the graveyard gates, hoping he wasn’t too late to save her.




Author Kimberly Montpetit

When she was in Paris, Kimberley Montpetit spent most of her souvenir money at the La Patisserie shops with their beautiful and delicious pastries. She grew up in the fabulous city of San Francisco, loves all things chocolate, and now lives in a small town along the Rio Grande with her engineer husband and three sons.

She once stayed in the haunted tower room at Borthwick Castle in Scotland and didn't sleep a wink, sailed the Seine in Paris, rode a camel in the ancient world wonder of Petra, shopped the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, and spent the night in an old Communist hotel in Bulgaria.

Kimberley also writes Award-winning Middle-Grade novels with Scholastic and epic Young Adult novels with Harpercollins under the name, Kimberley Griffiths Little.








Giveaway Details
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Ends 3/13/18

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. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Thursday, February 22, 2018

Romance is in the Air: Showcasing Author Donna K. Weaver





Against the Magic by Donna K Weaver

Reese Hamilton has big plans to help make the world a better place and a new job lined up to help her do it. Before starting work, she heads to England for a Regency immersive experience. She doesn’t expect her best friend to invite her heart-destroying brother to join them. Two years hasn’t been long enough for Reese to forget him. Then fae magic rips them back to 1850. It’s a time when women have few rights. It’s also a time when a determined woman could make a difference, with the right man at her side. Reese finds she will have to choose between two men and two times.

Jem Taylor messed up big when he walked away from Reese to pursue his dream job. He hasn’t been able to forget her and jumps at his sister’s invitation. Suddenly hurtled into Victorian England, he has the chance to woo Reese again. But to do it, he’ll have to fight the magic that brought her to 1850 and an Earl with the means to keep her there.




"I don't usually like time travel novels but the humor, banter and the attraction kept me enthralled. A great love story with a little history lesson, a happy ending and a hook." ~K.B.

"A magical read" ~ Jennifer Soppe






“And where might you be going, Miss Hamilton?” The Earl surveyed the items stacked behind her.

“To your tenant village, my lord.” When his gaze darted to hers, she arched a brow, daring him to stop her.

“My tenants are none of your business.” His voice had turned hard, unrelenting.

“One visit there showed me they have been none of your business either,” she said sharply before remembering he could stop her efforts right now. “My lord.”

The Earl shot her another of his hard glances. “I shall accompany you then.” He waved to the groom. “In the back.” When the young man had vacated the seat beside her, Gareth took his place. He snapped the whip and the horse surged forward. “I have not visited there in years.”

“That was obvious,” Reese muttered. “Do you have someone handle the management of your estate for you?”

“Yes.” He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “My man of business.”

“You might want to consider hiring a new one then,” she said, “because I’m underwhelmed.”

“Underwhelmed,” the Earl repeated. “I don’t believe I have heard that word before. Is it something you Americans invented?”

“Yankee ingenuity,” she said.

“Yankee arrogance, I would say.”

“Americans don’t have a monopoly on arrogance.” Reese kept her face forward.




Author Donna K. Weaver

Award-winning author, wife, mother, grandmother, Harry Potter geek, Army veteran, karate black belt, and online gamer girl.







Giveaway Details
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Ends 3/12/18

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. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway