Blog Tour/Review: The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor

The Girl Who Came Home: A Novel of the Titanic, by Hazel Gaynor
2014, 384p, Historical Fiction
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: Received a copy from HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review



A voyage across the ocean becomes the odyssey of a lifetime for a young Irish woman. . . .

Ireland, 1912 . . .

Fourteen members of a small village set sail on RMS Titanic, hoping to find a better life in America. For seventeen-year-old Maggie Murphy, the journey is bittersweet. Though her future lies in an unknown new place, her heart remains in Ireland with Séamus, the sweetheart she left behind. When disaster strikes, Maggie is one of the few passengers in steerage to survive. Waking up alone in a New York hospital, she vows never to speak of the terror and panic of that fateful night again.

Chicago, 1982 . . .

Adrift after the death of her father, Grace Butler struggles to decide what comes next. When her great-grandmother Maggie shares the painful secret about Titanic that she's harbored for almost a lifetime, the revelation gives Grace new direction—and leads both her and Maggie to unexpected reunions with those they thought lost long ago.

Inspired by true events, The Girl Who Came Home poignantly blends fact and fiction to explore the Titanic tragedy's impact and its lasting repercussions on survivors and their descendants.

I'm fascinated with the story of the Titanic, but not obsessed so I haven't read lots of books on it. This is a fictional account inspired by a real group of 14 Irish emigrants who left Ireland to visit relatives in America.

The story focuses on 17-year-old Maggie Murphy. Maggie's parents have both died and her aunt Kathleen has come to Ireland and is taking Maggie back to Chicago with her. While there, others have decided to join them in making the journey. Maggie is sad to be leaving her boyfriend, Seamus, behind. His father is sick so he won't be able to come, but tells her he'll be waiting for her to come home. 

We also get two more stories: "Lucky Harry," and Grace Butler, Maggie's great-granddaughter. Harry is one of the stewards on the ship who Maggie and her friends get to know and who later helps her get into one of the last lifeboats to leave. Grace's story takes place in Illinois in 1982. Grace's life was going well until her father died. She left college and her boyfriend, Jimmy, to help her mother. Maggie starts to help her get her life back, starting with telling her about her journey on the Titanic, a story she has never told anyone. Learning her great-grandmother's story gives Grace the courage to move on with her life.

I loved this book! Most of it is told in flashback so there's a lot of jumping back and forth. I didn't find it to be confusing and actually liked it. Maggie was young and excited to go on the ship, but she was sad to have left Seamus behind. It was interesting to experience the Titanic through her young eyes. Knowing what happened doesn't lessen the impact of the scenes of the tragic night of April 15, 1912. All the talk of the Titanic being unsinkable appeared to have caused confusion and disbelief at what was happening. The author didn't dwell too long on the actual sinking and I liked that. The aftermath is what gets lost sometimes. The journey to the Carpathia in the lifeboats was long and cold. The people waiting to welcome the ship in New York were in shock as they attempted to learn the fate of their loved ones, and even if they didn't see their names on the list of survivors, hoped they would still see them disembark. It's not too surprising that Maggie didn't want to remember and discuss the horror of that night until she was much older.

I also enjoyed Harry and Grace's stories. It was interesting to see what happened to Harry. I thought his ending would be a little different. Grace was able to learn what was important to her and to go for it before it was too late. I also loved Maggie's story and hearing the ending to it. She was able to do something at the end that she'd been wanting to do for a long time and was able to make peace with all that happened.

I like the section at the end where the author shares the story behind the book and tells the parts of the book based on fact. There is also a short Glossary of Irish Terms and Reading Group Discussion Questions. There is a lot to say about this book so it would be great for a book club! This is a clean read. If you enjoy reading about the Titanic, this is a book for you!

You can listen to a sample of the audiobook here.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

 

About Hazel Gaynor

Hazel Gaynor is an author and freelance writer in Ireland and the U.K. and was the recipient of the Cecil Day Lewis Award for Emerging Writers in 2012. Originally from North Yorkshire, England, she now lives in Ireland with her husband, two young children, and an accident-prone cat.

Connect with Hazel on Facebook.

Tour Schedule

Blog Tour/Review: Ravenscliffe by Jane Sanderson

Ravenscliffe, by Jane Sanderson
2014, 544p, Historical Fiction
My Rating=3 Stars
Source: Received a copy from the publisher for an honest review

For fans of Downton Abbey . . . The peaceful beauty of the English countryside belies the turmoil of forbidden love and the apprehension of a changing world for the families of Netherwood.

Yorkshire, 1904. On Netherwood Common, Russian émigré Anna Rabinovich shows her dear friend Eve Williams a gracious Victorian villa—Ravenscliffe—the house Anna wants them to live in. There’s a garden and a yard and room enough for their children to play and grow.
Something about the house speaks to Anna, and you should listen to a house, she believes…Ravenscliffe holds the promise of happiness.

Across the square, Clarissa and her husband, the Earl of Netherwood, are preparing for King Edward’s visit. Clarissa is determined to have everything in top shape at Netherwood Hall—in spite of the indolent heir to the estate, Tobias, and his American bride—and much of it depends on the work going on downstairs as the loyal servants strive to preserve the noble family’s dignity and reputation.

As Anna restores Ravenscliffe to its full grandeur, she strikes up a relationship with hardworking Amos Sykes—who proposed to Eve just one year ago.

But when Eve’s long-lost brother Silas turns up in their close-knit mining community, cracks begin to appear in even the strongest friendships.

As change comes to the small town and society at large, the residents of Netherwood must find their footing or lose their place altogether.

My favorite part of this book was the relationship between Eve and Anna. Their friendship sustained each other through some rough times. I wasn't a fan of Eve's brother, Silas, but I did enjoy his role in helping Eve and Anna secure Ravenscliffe.

Eve's business is booming and she is engaged to be married, which hasn't made her relationship with her son, Seth, any easier. On his twelfth birthday, he signs up to work at the mine since he thinks that's what his father would want him to do. Eve is not happy with his decision but also realizes that he has to figure out on his own if that's really what he wants to do with his life. Her brother Silas has also returned and he is a shady businessman that clashes with her friends.

Anna is as spirited as ever and was determined that they were going to move into Ravenscliffe, a much larger home that they could all spread out in. She's smart and opinionated and I really liked her character. She grows close to Amos, who is now out of the mine and working for the miners' union. 

The Hoyland's are preparing for the king's visit so Clarissa is preparing to give her entire home a makeover. That keeps everyone hopping. Henrietta is still interested in her father's business and does all she can to stay involved. Tobias is chasing after Thea, an American, much to his mother's dismay. 

I was hoping to get to delve more into the personal lives of the women that worked with Eve. We do learn some of their heartaches and especially one woman's tragedy, but then their stories just fizzle out. It also would have been nice to have learned even more about the personal lives of the employees of Netherwood Hall.

I enjoyed the first part of this book and then, about two-thirds of the way in, tragedy strikes one of the families and at that point, I just skimmed through until the end. The book lost some of its charm for me after that as it became more dramatic and changed direction. It marked the end of an era and, while I enjoyed Netherwood and parts of this book were great, too, this will also be the end for me.

Content: Swearing, including three "f" words. Extramarital relationships (no details). Lesbian relationship (with some detail).

About Jane Sanderson

A former BBC radio producer, married to author and journalist Brian Viner, Jane Sanderson has used some of her own family history as background for her first novel.

Find out more about Jane at her website and follow her on Twitter.

Ravenscliffe Tour Stops

Tuesday, January 28th: No More Grumpy Bookseller
Wednesday, January 29th: BookNAround
Thursday, January 30th: Ageless Pages Reviews
Tuesday, February 4th: Mel’s Shelves
Wednesday, February 5th: Bibliophilia, Please
Friday, February 7th: Svetlana’s Reads and Views
Thursday, February 13th: Mom in Love With Fiction

Blog Tour/Review: Netherwood by Jane Sanderson

Netherwood, by Jane Sanderson
464p, 2013, Historical Fiction
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: Received copy from publisher for an honest review



Two remarkably different worlds—one of wealth and privilege, the other of poverty and desperation—are about to collide in one shattering moment in this mesmerizing tale of high drama, forbidden love, and families fighting to hold on to what they have

Upstairs: Lord Netherwood, a coal baron, earns his considerable wealth from the three mines he owns. Supplying a bustling industrial empire with the highest-quality coal keeps his coffers filled—money he needs to run his splendid estate, Netherwood Hall, and to dress his wife and daughters in the latest fashions. And keeping his heir, the charming but feckless Tobias, out of trouble, doesn’t come cheap.

Downstairs: Eve Williams, the wife of one of Lord Netherwood’s most stalwart employees, cleverly manages her family’s well-being on the low wages her hardworking husband earns in the mines. But when her ordered life amid the terraced rows of miners’ houses is brought crashing down by the twin arrivals of tragedy and charity, Eve must look to her own self-sufficiency and talent to provide for her three young children.

And soon the divide between “upstairs” and “downstairs” is about to close . . . and neither world will ever be the same.

This book takes place in the early 1900's in a Yorkshire mining village called Netherwood. It's the story of the people of the town and their interactions with each other. Teddy Hoyland is the current earl and his wife is Clarissa. Teddy inherited the mines so is the town's main employer. He is well liked and respected. Clarissa would like to associate with people in her own class rather than mingling with the villagers. They have three children, Tobias (Toby), Henrietta (Henry) and Isabella.

The story centers around Eve Williams. She is married to Arthur, a coal miner, and they have three children, Seth, Eliza and Ellen. She works hard to keep their home clean and her family happy. One day, though, tragedy strikes and everything changes. She meets Anna during this time and is surprised at how much she begins to lean on her. She also finds strength she didn't know she had and turns out to be quite the businesswoman. 

I enjoyed this book! It was nice to read about a small village and the interactions and relationships that develop among the villagers. It's been compared to Downton Abbey but I don't really see that aspect. There's a reference to the Hoyland family feeling comfortable in the kitchen at Netherwood Hall but Eve didn't work there and the focus is on the town rather than on the relationships between the inhabitants of Netherwood Hall. It started slow for me as the stage was set and the characters introduced but once it started picking up, it was hard to put down. Their accents were kind of hard to read at times, too.

There are friendships formed but there are also enemies that are made. There are villagers I liked and ones that I didn't like. Eve's character shows a lot of growth and determination to keep going in the face of tragedy. She's likable and easily adapts to the situations she's thrown into. Her son, Seth, becomes difficult to deal with and she struggles with how to help him. 

We do also get to know the Hoyland family. Toby can be a jerk and Henrietta is sweet. Henrietta wants to be involved more in her father's business, but being a female, that is frowned on. I enjoyed spending time in Netherwood and look forward to learning more about all of them!

Stay tuned for my review on the sequel, Ravenscliffe (coming Tuesday, February 4).

Content: Two short sex scenes; mild swearing, including two uses of the "f" word.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

About Jane Sanderson

A former BBC radio producer, married to author and journalist Brian Viner, Jane Sanderson has used some of her own family history as background for her first novel.

Find out more about Jane at her website and follow her on Twitter.

 

Netherwood Tour Stops

Tuesday, January 14th: No More Grumpy Bookseller
Wednesday, January 15th: BookNAround
Thursday, January 16th: Drey’s Library
Monday, January 20th: She’s Good Books on Her Mind
Tuesday, January 21st: Ageless Pages Reviews
Wednesday, January 22nd: Bibliophilia, Please
Thursday, January 23rd: Mom in Love With Fiction
Monday, January 27th: Svetlana’s Reads and Views
Monday, January 27th: Mel’s Shelves

Book Review: The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

The Light Between Oceans, by M.L. Stedman
2012, 343p, Fiction
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: Own a Kindle copy
Content: Mild swearing and one random "f" word

After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season and shore leaves are granted every other year at best, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

Tom, whose records as a lighthouse keeper are meticulous and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel has taken the tiny baby to her breast. Against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.

M. L. Stedman’s mesmerizing, beautifully written novel seduces us into accommodating Isabel’s decision to keep this “gift from God.” And we are swept into a story about extraordinarily compelling characters seeking to find their North Star in a world where there is no right answer, where justice for one person is another’s tragic loss.

The Light Between Oceans is exquisite and unforgettable, a deeply moving novel.

As I was catching up on adding some books to Goodreads that I've read during the year, I realized that I never did do a review on this book. It's one of the best books that I've read all year so I decided I needed to remedy that.

As you can tell from the summary, Tom and Isabel live on an island where Tom is a lighthouse keeper. They have plans to start a family but Isabel is having a hard time carrying a baby to full term. She just lost another baby when a boat washes ashore carrying a dead man and a living baby. Tom wants to report the baby but Isabel has other plans. When they head to the mainland a couple of years later, they find out what happened the night their baby, Lucy, washed ashore. Tom is riddled with guilt but Isabel is determined to stick with their original story, no matter what the cost.

It didn't take long to discover that this book wasn't going to have a happy ending for everyone. I have had my own fertility issues in the past so I felt some sympathy towards Isabel for what she had gone through, but was also upset with her for the decision she made. Tom went along with her decision but he was wracked with guilt the entire time. The choices they made had very real and devastating consequences.

I got to the end and was literally sobbing, which then gave me a huge headache. I felt invested in all of the main characters and my heart broke for them and all they went through.

We read this in my book club and it is a great discussion book! The characters are faced with a huge moral dilemma which makes you question what you would do in a similar circumstance. There doesn't seem to be any easy answers but we all did agree that the situation could have been handled better by all parties and would have had a happier outcome. I guess, though, this is ultimately true to life, after all.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

About this Author

M.L. Stedman was born and raised in Western Australia and now lives in London. The Light Between Oceans is her first novel.

Book Review: Beneath by H.B. Moore

Beneath, by H.B. Moore
2013, 26p, Suspense
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: Provided a copy by the author for an honest review

Chalice Stratford's hands won’t stop shaking, and not only is she required to give up her medical practice, but she’s forced to enter the witness protection program since the serial killer who brutally scarred her is still at large. Working in a museum in Bordeaux, France, the last thing she expects is to be abducted in a museum theft gone wrong. Omar Zagouri, the man behind the heist, is not who she expects, and Chalice soon learns he might be the one man who can put her demons to rest.

This book is a very short read but one I really enjoyed! It was a great introduction to Omar and the kind of man he is. We also meet Chalice/Anna. There's plenty of action, suspense and chemistry. I wanted it to keep going and hope to learn more about Chalice/Anna in a future novel. 

It's a prequel to Finding Sheba, which I also loved! You can read more about that book and my review here.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Author Heather B. Moore

Heather B. Moore is the award-winning author of ten novels, two inspirational non-fiction books, and two anthologies, including The Newport Ladies Book Club Series, A Timeless Romance Anthology, and Christ’s Gifts to Women (co-authored by Angela Eschler).

Her historical fiction is published under the pen name H.B. Moore. She is the two-time recipient of Best of State in Literary Fiction, two-time Whitney Award Winner, and two-time Golden Quill Winner for Best Novel. Her most recent historical novel under H.B. Moore is Daughters of Jared (2012 LUW Gold Award of Excellence & 2012 LUW Best Book Trailer).

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter

Blog Tour: The Chronicles of Guiamo Durmius Stolo by Marshall Best

Tour Schedule

On Tour with Prism Book Tours...

The Legendary Tour


As the lighting blazed in a dancing, arcing column to the sky, a voice deep and powerful as thunder said, “My son, today my powers are bestowed upon you.”

This tour goes back to the age of legends. The author has taken a deep dive into rich history, bringing his love of fantasy with him. 

Guiamo Review

We first meet Guiamo as a 10-year-old boy who gets abandoned at the side of the road by his Aunt and Uncle. We later learn that his father died when he was 5 and his mother and older brother died when he was 8. His aunt and uncle reluctantly took him in which is why they have no problem abandoning him. Fortunately, he's near some fishermen and one of them, Calidius, takes him in. After Calidius hears his story, he says, "Work diligently on the nets, and your life will improve. The lot of a fisherman is a life of hard work, but it is honest work, and there is honor in that. We also eat well, and that is one of life's greatest joys." Guiamo learns to fish and begins looking for ways to do it more efficiently.

When he's learned all he can from Calidius and the other fishermen, Calidius sends him to Gabinius, telling him to stay with him for three years and the lessons he learns there will prove valuable to Guiamo. Guiamo is sad to leave what has become his home but quickly adjusts to life with Gabinius and starts making improvements in his new location. He becomes friends with Ursius who trains dogs for the Roman army and their friendship continues throughout the book. He learns more about who he is and develops his gifts and continues to invent new things to make life easier and more efficient for those around him.

This book is the beginning of quite a journey! Guiamo is a character that is easy to love and invest in. I'm fascinated with him and the wisdom he possesses at such a young age. He's quite an inventor, as he's always looking for ways to improve life. He takes life in stride and looks for the good in it, never screaming and shouting that life is unfair or questioning why certain things happen to him. He does seem to have a moment of sadness at what he's left behind but always seems ready for the next adventure.

We also start to get glimpses of even greater things that Guiamo is destined to do in his life. He received a sword which has some amazing history and he learns more about his personal connection to it and how it can help him. There's also a curse that is revealed which gives some foreshadowing into his future. At then end, I was definitely ready to keep reading more!

My Rating=4.5 stars

Cumoro Review

The adventures of Guiamo continue! This book starts with Guiamo landing in Albion with Caesar's ships. He wanted to conduct business there so he went as part of Caesar's army with his good friend Ursius and the dogs. One day, while out with the Roman army, Guiamo became very sick and fainted. In the meantime, the rest of the Romans he was with were ambushed and their bodies were burned. Finding no survivors, Guiamo was presumed dead. We find out he's still alive and is taken before King Eterlam, who gives him a new name (Cumoro). The King is suspicious of Guiamo and ready to put him to death but with the help of his sword, Guiamo's life is spared and he tells the King his story. When the King realizes how powerful Guiamo is, he allows his training to continue but he is not able to return to the Romans.

There's a lot of fighting in this book and Guiamo is able to employ new strategies and gain the respect of the men around him. In one of the battles, something strange happens with his sword and he is able to learn more about the history behind his sword. The book felt like it wrapped up pretty well but the ending definitely left me ready for the next adventure!

These are not quick, light easy reads so they've taken me a while to read and because of that, I've only been able to read the first two. They are so interesting, though, and worth reading for the rich storytelling and history they contain. The author has definitely done his research. I like the way certain details are brought back into the story later on so I feel that every part of the story is significant. I also love what I'm learning from Guiamo's character and how he deals with the situations he finds himself in. This is a time period I'm not familiar with and I'm enjoying learning more about it through such an interesting character.

My only complaint is that I wish there was a Cast of Characters that I could refer to when I forget who someone is. There are lots of unfamiliar names and terms (which there is a Glossary for in the back) and it can take a while for me to figure out what's going on or remember who a certain person is. I plan to read the other two as soon as I can. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is a series that is definitely worth reading!

My Rating=5 Stars

Special Tour Price!!!

$3 off each book through Createspace.

(Click on the cover to take you there.)

   

Use coupon code: GS9D2K7C 

Combining legitimate legends with actual historical events, Marshall Best weaves an epic story that portrays the ancient world as it might have been, a world which the ancient historians recorded as fact; a time when gods ruled the earth and strange creatures dominated the land. It is the era of civilized conquerors exploring distant and primitive new lands. Scant recordings left to us today only touch on the fringe of the fantastic and brutal reality that existed in those distant lands of the west. 


Into this age, young Guiamo enters the world stage as the great game-changer, and by his hand the gods and beasts become destined to disappear into myth and legend.

The Chronicles:


Guiamo

In 60 B.C., ten-year-old Guiamo Durmius Stolo, an exceptionally gifted Roman orphan, is abandoned in Gaul . Left to fend for himself, Guiamo is set onto a path of legend. Recognized by the gods as having world-changing talents, he is given a weapon that changes his destiny and the world’s forever. 

Goodreads * Creatspace * Smashwords

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Excerpt

Cumoro

Guiamo Durmius Stolo sails in 55 B.C. with Rome’s 7th Legion as Julius Caesar invades Britain. But Caesar has not before encountered the Fomori, a dominion of wicked creatures which wage war against the human inhabitants and dominate much of Britain. Armed with his god-made spear, Guiamo joins with the tribal kings against their Fomori foe when Caesar departs. 

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Morlanos

Having destroyed the Fomori in Britain , Guiamo Durmius Stolo decides in 51 B.C. to bring the Cruthin people, once slaves to the Fomori, to Ireland , but encounters the Fomori who reside there as well. Guiamo discovers that the gods venerated by the Druids are unworthy. The gods are displeased with him and begin to work against him.

Goodreads * Creatspace * Smashwords

Amazon * Amazon UK * Barnes & Noble

Inis Emain Ablach

In 50 B.C. Guiamo Durmius Stolo finds himself victor over the detested Fomori whose leader, Cichol, is slain and those few who survived are scattered. Guiamo explores the secret places where Cichol kept his most important secrets and discovers there the treasures of Cichol's master, the goddess Domnu.

Goodreads * Creatspace * Smashwords

Amazon * Amazon UK * Barnes & Noble * Book Depository

The Author:


Marshall Best is an avid reader, father of six and business owner. In the past several years he has found his love of writing as well. What began as a desire to write a story for his children has evolved into a nine book series.

Marshall has done extensive research into the history behind the legends, people and places of England, Scotland and Ireland involved in his books. He loves being able to weave real people and legends into his stories making them come alive. He is definitely a writer that tends to the details often mapping out timetables, calendars, geneologies, etc. that pertain to his book to ensure that it is as realistic as possible. 

Marshall also enjoys putting real life issues into his books, delving into a bit of philosophy while entertaining with orcs, dragons, magic and battles. He is someone who loves a grand adventure but makes sure it's not a shallow one.

Website * Goodreads * Google + * Facebook * Twitter

Tour-Wide Giveaway:


-One print set signed by author – world wide giveaway

-One complete e-book set – codes provided to smashwords

-Two winners: e-book of Cumoro and a $5 Amazon gift card each

-Two winners: e-book of Morlanos and a $5 Amazon gift card each

-Two winners: e-book of Inis Emain Ablach and a $5 Amazon gift card each

Ends 12/20. Please see restrictions on Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the Chronicles of Guiamo as they unfold on...

The Legendary Tour:

11/25: Launch

11/26: My Love for Reading Keeps Growing 

+ Beck Valley Books 

11/27: Cu's Ebook Giveaways 

11/29: Mel's Shelves 

12/1: Life as Leels 

12/2: The Wonderings of One Person 

12/3: Tressa’s Wishful Endings 

12/4: Bookworm Lisa 

12/5: Mythical Books 

12/6: All Fantasy Worlds 

12/8: Pieces of Whimsy 

12/9: Mother Daughter Book Reviews 

12/10: My Devotional Thoughts 

12/11: Mortal Moments 

12/12: It Started With A Click 

12/13: Grande Finale

Sign up to receive invites for upcoming Prism Tours here!

Blog Tour: Follow Me to Zion: Stories from the Willie Handcart Pioneers, by Andrew D. Olsen and Jolene Spendlove Allphin; Art by Julie Boswell Rogers

Follow Me to Zion: Stories from the Willie Handcart Pioneers, by Andrew D. Olsen and Jolene Spendlove Allphin; Art by Julie Boswell Rogers
2013, 272p, LDS Non-fiction
My Rating=5+ Stars
Source: Received copy from publisher for an honest review

James G. Willie knew the trek would be arduous when he left Iowa City in July 1856, leading 500 handcart pioneers on a 1,300-mile journey across the plains.

But he could not have known that his people would run out of food while still hundreds of miles from Salt Lake City nor that the winter of 1856 would begin in the middle of October with prolonged, severe storms. Sixty-nine members of his company would die along the way. Yet from this tragedy emerged triumphant stories of personal endurance, courage, heroism, and unwavering faith.

Follow Me to Zion recounts 20 compelling stories of members of the Willie handcart company and their rescuers. Dozens of full-color images by artist Julie Rogers enrich this keepsake volume, which pays tribute to the men, women, and children who have become enduring witnesses of the power of faith and sacrifice.

Here you will find excerpts from their own accounts of the journey, learn what those faithful pioneers did after reaching the Salt Lake Valley, and read reflections on their lives by descendants.

The simple words “Follow Me to Zion,” cross-stitched onto small pieces of fabric kept in the journal of a handcart pioneer, are an invitation that still calls to us today.

The stories and paintings in this beautiful volume can inspire us to live true to our faith and reach out to help others do likewise.

I've heard many stories of the Willie Handcart pioneers and seen the movie 17 Miracles (I still want to see Ephraim's Rescue) and have always been amazed by the faith the pioneers displayed through all their trials. This book is incredible! First of all, it's absolutely gorgeous with thick pages and beautiful illustrations. Here are examples of some of the pictures and you can view more here. I also love that these stories are compiled into one book which makes them easier to find and read.

This picture represents one of our favorite stories from the movie 17 Miracles so I read this chapter with my children. Ann Jewell Rowley originally came from England. Her husband died before they left England so she started the journey as a single mother with 8 children. In mid-October, the food supply was dangerously low and it appeared they had no food at all. She remembered two hard sea biscuits she had in her trunk which were left over from her sea voyage. She didn't think it was enough to feed her family, but remembered the story of the 5 loaves and 2 fishes and knew that with God nothing was impossible. She put the biscuits in the dutch oven, covered them with water and asked for God's blessing. Then she covered it and put it on the coals. When she took the lid off a little later, she saw that it was full of food. Her family knelt to thank God for this miracle and were able to eat well that night.

I really like this picture because I think it depicts the journey and how they all had to work together to make it, and unfortunately many of them still died along the way. There are so many other wonderful pictures, so be sure to check them out.

This book starts with an introduction to Captain James G. Willie and how he came to be their leader. It also talks about the decision to move forward even though it was so late in the season. It then goes on to highlight other individuals and families who were part of the Willie Handcart Company. We get their story, an Epilogue so we know what happened to them after they reached Salt Lake and Reflections of a Descendant. There are also photographs of some of the landmarks and monuments that are currently found in Wyoming, and other photos related to their stories.

The last chapter is dedicated to their rescue. Salt Lake didn't know they were coming and were stunned when Elder Franklin D. Richards arrived in Salt Lake and told them about two large handcart companies and two wagon companies that were still on the trail. The handcart companies were limited in what they could bring so Salt Lake would send relief teams with fresh supplies to meet the companies halfway. Since they didn't know anyone was coming, those supplies weren't there. Brigham Young realized the urgency of the situation and sent rescue teams out right away. It took another month to get the Willie Handcart Company to Salt Lake. During that time, there were many miracles that occurred and still more heartache to endure. 

This is a great book to read when you need a good cry! I read many of these stories through tears and find myself once again amazed at their faith and strength. None of them complained about their journey and they never criticized anyone for decisions that were made to continue on (they actually knew at the beginning that it could have been just as rough if they had stayed in Florence for the winter, and there are stories about how rough it actually was for those that did stay behind). This is a great book to read when I think I have it so rough. I feel like my problems are small compared to what they endured and am grateful for the strength I feel from their stories which inspire me to be better and carry on! I highly, highly, highly recommend this book!

Deseret Book

About the Authors

Andrew D. Olsen is an editor for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the author of The Price We Paid: The Extraordinary Story of the Willie and Martin Handcart Pioneers. Andrew and his wife, Linda, are the parents of 3 children.

Jolene Spendlove Allphin has a love for the 1856 pioneers and rescuers that continues to grow. She has published nearly 300 biographical sketches of them in Tell My Story, Too. Jolene and her husband, Michael, are the parents of 11 children.

Julie Boswell Rogers is an acclaimed artist who has won many awards. Her art has been featured in Church publications, visitors’ centers, and the Church History Museum. The book Emma, the Elect Lady contains many of her paintings of Joseph and Emma Smith. Julie and her husband, Russell, are the parents of 5 children.

Blog Tour: Finding Sheba by H.B. Moore

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 Finding Sheba by H.B. Moore
 
An ancient legend is reborn . . . One that might prove the Bible false.

For centuries, historians have theorized the Queen of Sheba as only a seductive legend, and scholars have debated over the legitimacy of King David or King Solomon. When undercover Israeli agent, Omar Zagouri, stumbles onto a tomb in Northern Jerusalem he unknowingly finds the final clue that threatens to overthrow government claim to the Holy Land, pits wealthy collectors against one another, and sends ruthless archaeologists scrambling to find the queen’s secret burial place. An assassination attempt on the Coptic Pope, His Holiness, Patriarch Stephanus II, is only the first in the chain of lethal crimes. Omar must find a way to prevent the greatest discovery of the century from becoming the most deadly.

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WOW!! I loved this book! Three different storylines are woven into one. It's basically a race to find the tomb of the Queen of Sheba. We first meet Omar Zabouri, who is an undercover Israeli agent. His story intersects with Mia, his ex-girlfriend, and Alem, who meets Omar in Yemen.

Next we meek Nicaula, the Queen of Sheba, in 964 B.C. in Southern Arabia. We learn her story throughout the book and it's fascinating. (I wish there had been footnotes so I would know what part of her story is factual.)

Finally, we meet Jade, who is in Cairo. She's an intern working with Dr. Lyons, who was actually found dead in his office, so she is now working with the handsome Dr. Lucas Morel, an Egyptian scholar.

The plot is too complicated for me to try to summarize. I thought the book was well written and well researched. There were lots of moving parts and I was confused just a couple of times but it didn't take away from the overall story at all. Omar is angry with his ex-girlfriend, Mia, for breaking up with him and then dating the boss. He is able to learn quite a bit about her and their relationship and realizes that he's more at fault about their breakup than he originally thought. I loved Nicaula's story. It sounds glamorous to be a queen but in reality, it can be lonely and sometimes you have to give up what you want for the good of your people. Her story actually made me quite sad. Jade is trying to prove her worth to her family and she's attracted to Lucas but he might not be the great guy she hoped he was.

I read the author's blog entry about her journey in writing this book and thought it was interesting. If you'd like to check it out, you can do that HERE.

My Rating=5 stars and I highly recommend it!!
Content: Few swear words

Author Heather B. Moore

Heather B. Moore is the award-winning author of ten novels, two inspirational non-fiction books, and two anthologies, including The Newport Ladies Book Club Series, A Timeless Romance Anthology, and Christ’s Gifts to Women (co-authored by Angela Eschler).

Her historical fiction is published under the pen name H.B. Moore. She is the two-time recipient of Best of State in Literary Fiction, two-time Whitney Award Winner, and two-time Golden Quill Winner for Best Novel. Her most recent historical novel under H.B. Moore is Daughters of Jared (2012 LUW Gold Award of Excellence & 2012 LUW Best Book Trailer).

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