Espionage by A.L. Sowards

Title: Espionage
Author: A.L. Sowards
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Date Released: March 2012
Genre: LDS Historical Fiction

Author's Book Description: France, 1944: Nobody expects Peter Eddy to survive his first commando mission—to retrieve a code book stolen by the Nazis—so when he does come back alive, his success is rewarded with an even more daunting assignment. Partnered with French Resistance leader Jacques Olivier, Eddy must identify which of three Allied contacts in Calais is a double agent and use the traitor to help implement a strategic Allied diversion that might win the war. Eddy and Olivier secretly cross the English Channel to confront their suspects one at a time, but what appears to be a clean assignment soon turns disastrous, and a shocking betrayal leaves Eddy in the grip of the Gestapo. With the courageous aid of Olivier and his sister, Genevieve, Eddy evades his captors with a dangerous escape plan. But as the Allied invasion approaches, treachery in the least likely places leads to fresh graves in the bloodied European soil—and only the power of loyalty and love can transform tragic endings into new beginnings.

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Flashback Friday: The Secret Journal of Brett Colton by Kay Lynn Mangum

Genre: LDS Young Adult Fiction

Review: Kathy's brother, Brett, died when she was two. All she knows is that her family talks about him all the time and it's something she wasn't part of and has no memory of. When Kathy turned sixteen (same age Brett was when he died), she was given a gift from Brett -- he left her a journal. Finally, she is able to learn about this young man and brother she never knew. She is able to realize the amazing example he was and why everyone loved him.
At the same time, she is asked to tutor the popular kid in school, the quarterback. On top of all these other strikes against him he was also a Mormon. The two stories are woven together for a wonderful coming of age story of a teenage girl.

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Fighting For Love by Sandy H. Steele

Genre: Fiction/Suspense/LDS

Review: Lisa is an eye-witness in the murder of her brother and is put into protective custody in UT, heart of the LDS church. There, she joins the church and meets the man she wants to spend eternity with. New evidence presents itself and she finds herself on an adventure with a kidnapper to discover the truth of what happened to her brother.

We are all a little hesitant of purchasing self-published books so when Steele asked me to review it I was very excited to have this opportunity. The story was fun and kept me turning the page to find out what would happen next. There were a few errors in it, but not as many as most self-published works contain. There was also a lot of telling and not as much showing in this book. This is excellent for people who just want to get to the heart of the story and learn what happens quickly. There is a lot of content packed into less than eighty pages of book so there are definitely no dry parts in this novella. Enjoy!!

Author: She was born in UT but was raised in California with her three older siblings. After only a year of college at BYU-Idaho she married her sweetheart. She currently resides with her six year old son while earning her English degree at Southern Utah University.

Rating: ** Two Stars

If you are interested in purchasing it, the e-book is available through Amazon or Barnes and Noble. 

I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. :)

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No Time For Love by Nancy Campbell Allen

Genre: LDS Fiction/ Chick-Lit/ Mystery

Author: She has 10 published novels, 3 children, is a freelance editor, and has a degree in elementary education.

Synopsis: Connor O'Brian wants to end his relationship with his fiance but before he is able to she is killed in a car accident. After several break-ins to his home something is discovered that was left by his fiance but no one knows what it is. Liz Saxton, a P.I. and one of Connor's dear friends offers to help Connor solve this mystery. The two of them find themselves traveling all over the world in search of the evidence they need and hope they get it to the proper authorities before a bullet finds them.

Review: Really, I am not a fan of chick-lit, especially LDS Chick-lit. It's normally the same plot line. However, this one was different -- it still had it's fair amount of "cheese" but what chick-lit doesn't? I loved Liz's character. She wasn't wimpy and needy like most female protagonists tend to be. She was resourceful, independent, and knew what she was doing. I loved that! Connor was fun too. He was real and the author allowed the reader to see weaknesses in both of the main characters so they weren't these unrealistic people. It was great and completely clean! :) If anyone is in the mood for a quick, clean chick-lit with a bit of suspense then this is the one. Now, it is LDS but the only thing in it that is LDS is that the main characters are LDS. There are only a few references to it so if you're not LDS the book will still be enjoyable.  

Rating: *** Four Stars

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