Rave Reviews and Internet News - 28 April 2011

Here's our Internet News and Rave Reviews for this week - Some Back List, Some New List. Use these to enhance the content on your websites and use in email marketing . . .

1.  WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE? by Nora Leone; Brigham Distributing.

Nora Leone's What Do You Suppose? is an absolutely charming children's book for the entire family, asking and humorously answering "If animals wore clothes, how would they look, do you suppose?" It is filled with colorful and whimsical illustrations that entertain and captivate young readers with each new outfit and animal, answering the question posed with comical and witty rhyme that is positively delightful . . . What Do You Suppose? Book Review by GettingBookReviews.com

2.  DEFINED BY CHRIST by Toni Sorenson; Covenant Communications.

In spite of outward smiles, many people go through the motions -- attending church, giving service and nurturing families -- while feeling empty, broken, doubtful and even guilty. They tell themselves if they only work harder, they'll somehow earn the blessings of peace, security and unconditional love they hunger for . . . . Cricket & Seagull Review by Steven Kapp Perry done for the Mormon Times


3.  Mormon Times combines reviews of 7 products that would be wonderful for Mother's Day.  Check them out -- 

Mormon Times Article: Books about moms and for mothers

Here is a quick look at the 7 products:

WOMEN OF CHARACTER: PROFILES OF 100 PROMINENT LDS WOMEN, by Susan Easton Black and Mary Jane Woodger; Covenant Communications.

With this book we celebrate noble women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with one hundred inspiring biographies of LDS women who have accomplished the extraordinary, leaving an indelible mark on history.  Includes biographies of Majorie Pay Hinckley, Olene S. Walker, Gladys Knight, Ann Romney, Liz Lemon Swindle, Emma Hale Smith, Jane Clayson Johnson, Anita Stansfield, Marie Osmond, Eliza R Snow, and ninety more inspiring LDS women. 

CONVERSATIONS WITH A MOONFLOWER, by Christine T. Hall; Cedar Fort.
In Conversations with a Moonflower, author Christine T. Hall tells a simple yet profound story, which is likely to send many readers in search of a moonflower.

She begins with a journey to the family farm in Cattaraugus County, N.Y., following the death of her grandmother. The trip is a practical one: to sort a lifetime of memories and get the house ready to sell. However, the sorting, divvying up and discarding of Grandma’s belongings is just a prelude to the heart of the book  -- the moonflower. 

Pssssst -- This review is absolutely right -- look here is my first moonflower plant just starting to peek up out of the soil - look hard and you'll see the tiny little green leaves just coming up --  I circled it in white to help you find it.  It's too little to talk yet, but I'm talking words of encouragement to it to help it grow.  

Just had to share with my friends :O)

THE MOTHER'S MITE: Why Even Our Smallest Efforts Matter, by DeAnne Flynn: Deseret Book.

Like the New Testament story of the widow's mite in Mark 12, many times the quiet  and unselfish offerings of mothers may seem small or insignificant. The stories all share how a woman, using her own talents or ingenuity, made a joyful difference in the life of at least one of her family members, whether it was through shiny pennies or watching a child walk down the street to the bus stop.

WOMEN OF HOPE: Giving Voice to Your Heart, various artists; Shadow Mountain Records; Deseret Book

LDS musicians, including Hilary Weeks, Cheri Call and Mercy River, share their talents on a new CD for women — "Women of Hope." The dozen original songs include "By Our Love" by Katherine Nelson, "Light of Hope" by Mercy River, "My Favorite Dream" by Cherie Call. Women of Hope, which was produced by Tyler Castleton with Kurt Bestor, comes from part of the same team that produced the Women of Destiny albums 10 years ago.

ABISH: Mother of Faith, by K.C. Grant, Covenant Communications.

Those who enjoy fiction based on the Book of Mormon and the development of characters from the Book of Mormon will thoroughly enjoy K.C. Grant’s newest novel, Abish: Mother of Faith.  The story line surrounds the actual Lamanite woman, Abish, who is mentioned in Alma 19, and is a continuation of the author’s first novel in the series, Abish, Daughter of God.  The book is driven by rich character development. The writing encourages the reader to become invested in the direction of the characters lives throughout the narrative.

THE UPSIDE OF DOWN, by Rebecca Cornish Talley; Bonneville Books, Cedar Fort.

Natalie Drake certainly has her hands full raising a large family.  Just when things seem to be going smoothly, she finds out another unexpected surprise--she's going to have a baby. Faced with so many challenges, Natalie must learn to trust in a plan that isn't what she imagined and discover that every situation has an upside.

Rebecca Talley once again carefully crafts together a touching and heartfelt story that is sure to inspire you. With true-to-life characters and situations, The Upside of Down will reignite your faith and remind you of the importance of family.  

MOTHER HAD A SECRET, by Tiffany Fletcher; Covenant Communications.

Mother Had a Secret shares author Tiffany Fletcher's difficult, and sometimes painful, journey in dealing with the mental illness of a parent, but it also teaches that love can rise above even the most challenging situations. Through love she was able to find healing and peace.

The book is about a mother's love for her children she is striving to protect, the love of a husband who is trying to care for his ailing wife, and the love of a daughter for her mother and all 15 of her mother's personalities.

4.  Mormon Times combines reviews of 3 products.  Check them out --
  
Mormon Times Article: Three books for Easter offer nonfiction and fiction

While Easter is past for this year, enrich the content on your website.  Here's a quick look at the 3:

GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD: The Final Days of the Savior’s Life , by Eric D. Huntsman; Deseret Book

A cover portraying a crown of thorns is a simple but powerful image, and simple but powerful also describes the message of the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection, celebrated each year at Easter time. . . .BYU ancient scripture professor Eric Huntsman sets out, in an organized, beautiful and scholarly fashion, to outline why and how Mormon families can celebrate the entire Easter week. . . .

In addition, here's a You Tube for GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

THE TOMB BUILDER, by James Harrison; Cedar Fort.

The Tomb Builder is an intriguing tale, based on historical facts, and there are not many about Joseph of Arimethea. He is only mentioned briefly in the New Testament (Matthew 27:57; Luke 23:50-51 and John 19:38) as the man who begged the body of Christ from Pilate, and who used his own tomb to bury it.

Joseph has been secretly listening to and meeting with Jesus of Nazareth often late at night. He is a well-to-do, hardworking, God-fearing, self-made merchant who is respected in the highest circles of Jewish society. . . .

MY REDEEMER LIVES!, by RIchard Neitzel Holzapfel (Editor), Kent P. Jackson (Editor); Deseret Book.

Building and maintaining a testimony of the Savior can be a challenging thing for many people to do. The authors and editors of My Redeemer Lives!, published by Deseret Book, hope the essays presented in the book will strengthen the conviction of its readers and add, if even only a little, to their overall testimonies of Jesus Christ.

My Redeemer Lives! is a collection of essays centered on the Savior and presented as speeches at two recent Easter Conferences at Brigham Young University. Each of the six addresses in the book provides  tremendous insight into the Savior’s life and presents thought-provoking subject matter. . . .