Category: LDS Fiction

New releases by LDS authors.

Shades of Gray by Pamela Carrington Reid


Title: Shades of Gray

Author: Pamela Carrington Reid

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.

Release Date: 2008

ISBN:

Size: 6×9 paperback

Genre: Romance

Fighting her way through the chaos of her family’s dysfunction, Samara Danes has immersed herself in a promising photography career. She sees no need to love or be loved. Then Adam Russell arrives in Samara’s hometown on Australia’s Gold Coast. Years ago, it was Adam who introduced her to the art of photography and opened her eyes to the wonder of the world. She in turn opened his heart to the truths of the gospel. Now can the older man’s kindness, wisdom, and strength help save a family that teeters on the brink of dissolution? Are Samara’s strong feelings for Adam more than just friendship and gratitude?

With tender insight, gifted LDS author Pamela Carrington Reid explores the dynamics that stretch fragile relationships nearly to the breaking point. Shades of Gray is a richly crafted novel, genuinely moving and compelling–a tribute to the healing power of the gospel, where the lines of love are never blurred.

Master by Toni Sorenson


Title: Master*

Author: Toni Sorenson**

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.

Release Date: 2008

ISBN:

Size: Hardback

Genre: Historical

My name will mean nothing to you, but my story is a retelling of the greatest story ever told and should mean everything to everyone.

If you interpret my words as fiction and fiction only, you will miss out on truths that are both historical and spiritual. Search the scriptures. There you will find evidence of my existence recorded in ancient sacred writ, overlooked for millennia. My story comes forth now because now is the promised day when satanic doubt spreads like black ink, threatening to blot out His very name, to reduce Him to nothing more than a teacher, to erase the eternal truths He taught and lived. That cannot happen. Jesus was who He said He was. I know because I was there in the shadows of His holy footsteps. His miracles were real. I know because I am one of those miracles.

**The front of the book lists author as Toni Sorenson; online she’s listed as Toni Sorenson Brown.

Freefall by Traci Hunter Abramson


Title: Freefall

Author: Traci Hunter Abramson

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.

Release Date: February 2008

ISBN: 978-1-59811-510-9

Size: 6×9 paperback; 242 pgs

Genre: Suspense, Thriller

Lieutenant Brent Miller arrived in the Middle East with one objective — get seven hostages out of a hostile country. The plan almost worked. But now he has been left behind — with one of the hostages. It’s up to Brent to get Amy Whitmore, an LDS Senator’s daughter, across miles of desert to safety. What he doesn’t know is that to survive, he needs her as much as she needs him.

Bound on Earth by Angela Hallstrom


Title: Bound on Earth

Author: Angela Hallstrom

Publisher: Parables (Bentley Enterprises)

Release Date: February 1, 2008

ISBN: 978-0-961-4960-9-8

Size: 6×9; 212 pages

Genre: Literary

“In this novel, Angela Hallstrom demonstrates an admirable mastery of the art of fiction. In essence, it is the history of an extended Mormon family. Composed of vignettes–some of which have been published as stories–the novel advances from the present into the future, retreats momentarily to the past, or works laterally to include nearly simultaneous episodes. The point of view shifts deftly among a widowed grandmother, her son and daughter-in-law, their three daughters and their husbands. The style is strong and functional, unerring in its cadence and nicely balanced between the formal and the colloquial.

“The subtle background to this novel is the Mormon world view, established without preaching or assumptions of superiority. But it presents a far from idealized vision of reality. By moments the members of this extended family writhe with conflict, tension, depression, self-pity, and misbehavior. The attempts of the strong willed mother to guide and intervene often disrupt rather than heal. Her husband nearly succumbs to the veiled allurement of a seductive sister in their ward. A teen aged daughter conceives a baby out of wedlock. Another daughter is distraught by the birth of a fourth son, deeply disappointed that she has not at last borne a daughter. Yet another daughter marries–and determines to stay with–a bi-polar husband who periodically lapses into abuse. Yet ultimately their underlying bond with one another–their willingness to affirm whoever claims a place among them–triumphs. Though bound on earth, this is a family that will endure in eternity.

“If there’s a lesson to be learned from this novel, it’s that the pain and endurance required to create a family are worth it. In the final vignette, the dying matriarch of the family attends the celebration of the wedding anniversary of her son and daughter-in-law. She is greatly comforted just to be there, watching while “wives turn to husbands, fathers to children, and life keeps spinning forward, loose and free as a ribbon off a spool.” In heaven, she concludes, “there will be children there, and music, and cake, and husbands and wives and daughters and sons.” That is a picture of eternity that she can accept. —Levi Peterson, author of The Backslider and editor of Dialogue magazine



The Unvalentine by Sam Beeson and Jesse Draper (Illus)


Title: The Unvalentine*

Author: Sam Beeson

Illustrator: Jesse Draper

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Release Date: January 8 2008

ISBN: 978-1590388433

Size: 6×7; 32 pages

Genre: Children’s picture book, Teens & Adults

“Exactly mid-way through the frigid month of February A day is celebrated by the dumb and ordinary. And all around me, notes are passed by idiots and stupids– Packed tight with sugar-mottoed hearts and naked pudgy cupids. This ritual, conducted under heart-shaped, crimson flag, Does absolutely nothing for me, but to make me gag!”

This tongue-in-cheek, rhymed story is a hilarious gift for young single adults. Features UnValentine cards in the back of the book!

This book is not eligible for a Whitney Award.

Chase McKay Didn’t Get Up Today by Cindy R. Williams


Title: Chase McKay Didn’t Get Up Today

Author: Cindy R. Williams

Illustrator: Donald Jenny

Publisher: Goodfellow Publishing Services

Release Date: February 1, 2008

ISBN: 978-0981581408

Size: 56 pages, softcover

Genre: Picture Book

Chase McKay would not get up,
so Mama made his bed.
She straightened the covers and pulled them,
right over his head.
Chase McKay cannot play,
He didn’t get out of bed today.

Heaven Scent by Rebecca Cornish Talley


Title: Heaven Scent

Author: Rebecca Cornish Talley

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Release Date: February 2008*

ISBN: 978-1-59955-100-5

Size: 5.5×8.5; 236 pages

Genre: YA

“She’d wanted her father to pay more attention to her, and she’d wanted her family to be like it used to be. She hadn’t wanted everything to change so drastically that she may not even survive it.”

As Liza proves herself a basketball star, everyone – from college basketball recruiters to the gorgeous Kyle Reynolds – seems to take note of her. Everyone, that is, except her own father. While her father is busy at his law practice, Liza learns about a strange new religion from Kyle. Could Kyle’s religion help her family? Or is it already too late for her father to make amends?

When yet another broken promise finally leads to tragedy, Liza doesn’t know if she will ever be able to forgive her father. It will take a good friend, a new belief, and a miracle straight from heaven to help Liza see that she still has a choice. The compelling story of a high school basketball star, this is a novel every girl will want, and none will be able to put down!

*Author website says release in March; publisher’s site says February and it’s listed for sale now.

Caleb’s Quest by Christopher Esseltine


Title: Caleb’s Quest

Author: Christopher Esseltine

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Release Date: January 2008

ISBN: 978-1-59955-104-3

Size: 5.5×8.5; 178 pages

Genre: Middle Grade/Teen, Choose your own adventure

Every choice we make puts us on one path or another. Thirteen-year-old Caleb has some tough choices ahead, but he’s not alone — you’re there to guide him! When Caleb’s father is called to go to battle against the Lamanites, Caleb realizes it’s up to him to find his father and get him home safely. Caleb’s father isn’t the only one in danger, though; Caleb will need to be quick, careful, and clever if he wants to succeed in his mission. One wrong choice could mean an end to his adventure — and maybe even his life.

This choose-your-own-adventure begins when you open this book and enter Nephite lands and Book of Mormon times, but only you can decide how it ends!

Dead Perfect by Amanda Ashley


Title: Dead Perfect

Author: Amanda Ashley

Publisher: Zebra

Release Date: January 29, 2008

ISBN: 978-0821780619

Size: 4×7 Mass Market paperback; 384 pagers

Genre: Speculative Romance

When Shannah, dying of an obscure, incurable disease, passes out on the stoop of Ronan, who is a vampire, two birds are killed with one stone: Ronan moonlights as a romance author and needs a woman to pretend to be him on tours (especially during the daylight hours); Shannah needs Ronan’s blood to stay alive. As he coaches her to impersonate him and feeds her, Ronan falls more and more in love. And with each passing day, Shannah’s body grows weaker, but she resists being turned into a vampire because she doesn’t want to lose her humanity entirely. It’s the age-old vampire-human dilemma, given a clever and funny turn by Night’s Touch author Ashley.”

Promise of Zion by Anita Stansfield

Title: Promise of Zion (Barrington Family Saga, vol. 4)

Author: Anita Stansfield

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.

Release Date: January 2008

ISBN: 978-1598115163

Size: 6×9;

Genre: Romance

Series: Sequel to In Search of Heaven (vol. 1), A Quiet Promise (vol. 2), At Heaven’s Door (vol. 3)

Nothing has prepared Casey Harrison for the emotional and spiritual storms that lie ahead as he anticipates a future with Iris Barrington, whose wounded heart and spirit threaten to rob them both of their eternal destiny. This is a story of love, miracles, and redemption. Savor the superb storytelling skills of author Anita Stansfield in this triumphant finale of the Barrington family saga. Journey with the Barringtons as they continue to claim the promises God has made to them — not the least of which is the Promise of Zion.

This is a story of love, miracles, and redemption. It is a story of sacrifice, obedience, and courage-of faith as firm as the mountains toward which the Barringtons travel. Savor once again the superb storytelling skills of acclaimed LDS author Anita Stansfield in this triumphant epic of the Barrington family saga. Journey with the Barringtons as they continue to claim the promises God has made to them-not the least of which is the promise of Zion.

Traitor by Sandra Grey


Title: Traitor

Author: Sandra Grey

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.

Release Date: January 2008

ISBN: 978-1598113587

Size: 6×9;

Genre: Historical Romance

Read the review.

With war raging in Europe, the only way Marie can be with Felix is to join the Allied forces. However, as Marie parachutes into France to join the Résistance, she not only lands into the arms of her fiancé, but also drops into the hands of the enemy.

Major Rolf Schulmann has been struggling between personal convictions and his duty to the German Fatherhood. Now he must decide what to do with the captured fiancée of the man who gave him a new chance at life — a man he once loved as a brother. The Gestapo will do whatever it takes to dispose of Marie. If Rolf helps her escape he will have enemies on all sides — is it a sacrifice he is willing to make? Can Marie possibly trust her life to a man torn between two masters?

Make Me a Home by Tamra Norton


Title: Make Me a Home

Author: Tamra Norton

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Release Date: January 2008

ISBN: 978-1-59955-113-5

Size: 5×8; 168 pages

Genre: Middle Grade

Allie Claybrook has spent the better part of her sixth-grade year as the “new kid” at Edna Elementary School—a title she is eager to shed. When Ivy Peterson moves to town, Allie quickly becomes her friend. It doesn’t hurt that Ivy’s older brother, Ty, is the best-looking boy in the seventh grade. But it doesn’t help that Celeste—the most popular girl in Allie’s class—shares Allie’s views about Ty. As Allie deals with her father’s deployment to Iraq and Ivy deals with her parents’ divorce, the girls discover the importance of friendship and a place to call home.

As Always, Dave by Jack Weyland


Title: As Always, Dave

Author: Jack Weyland

Publisher: Deseret Book

Release Date: January 9, 2008

ISBN: 978-1590388495

Size: 6×9 paperback; 320 pages

Genre: Romance

When Dave leaves on his mission, he assumes that Abbie, his highschool sweetheart, will wait for him and that they’ll eventually marry. But by the time he gets home, Abbie has a new boyfriend and is now living in New York. Can Dave win Abbie back? Is she the right one? And what about Camille, a new friend he’s met in his New York young single adult ward? Weyland fans will enjoy this new young adult novel about relationships, romance, and finding true love.

Do No Harm by Gregg Luke


Title: Do No Harm

Author: Gregg Luke

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.

Release Date: January 2008

ISBN: 9781598115062

Size: 6×9;

Genre: Medical Thriller

Paul Randall needs to start over, and Crescent Cove looks like the ideal place for the widowed pharmacist to begin again. What could be more perfect than running an old-fashioned pharmacy in an idyllic small town on the coast of northern California?

But soon after purchasing the charming drugstore, Paul discovers it will be anything but business as usual in his new locale. Although Crescent Cove seems prosperous, there is also something about it that feels dangerous — a fact that becomes disturbingly obvious when Paul finds Bria Georgopolis cowering on the side of the freeway. She unveils an eerie truth about a nearby hospital that places corporate profits above the price of human life.

As the pieces of the conspiracy come together, Paul and Bria realize that it’s up to them to expose the monstrous evil — before their new beginnings lead to a very dead end.

Red Dragon Codex by R.D. Henham


Title: Red Dragon Codex

Author: R.D. Henham (Rebecca Shelley)

Publisher: Mirrorstone

Release Date: January 8, 2008

ISBN: 978-0786949250

Size: Trade hardcover; 256 pages

Genre: Middle Grade Speculative

Dear Reader,

In my cozy library alcove, I never realized the peril that could befall a traveler in the mountains — or even a quiet villager, minding her own business. Then I read Sindri Suncatcher’s A Practical Guide to Dragons and I just had to find out more about dragonkind.

In my research, I discovered this true tale of an evil red dragon who plots revenge, kidnaps a seer, and sets a young boy named Mudd on a rescue mission. I hope you find as much thrilling enjoyment from it as I did.

Your humble servant,
R.D. Henham
Scribe in the Great Library of Palanthas

The Dragon Codices chronicle adventures with each of ten dragons of Krynn. From the fiery, evil red dragon to the playful copper, each dragon’s tale is unique. Sindri Suncatcher, narrator of A Practical Guide to Dragons, shared these tales from his travels with library scribe R.D. Henham.

Mudd lives a peaceful life in his small town, tinkering with the mill and any mechanical devices that he can find. But his peaceful life soon changes when, out of nowhere, a red dragon attacks, burning the town and kidnapping Shemnara, the village seer. Only one clue is left behind–a cryptic note telling Mudd, “Seek the silver dragon.”

About the Author
R.D. Henham is a scribe in the great library of Palanthas. In the course of transcribing stories of legendary dragons, the author felt a gap existed in the story of the everydragon: ordinary dragons who end up doing extraordinary things. With the help of fellow scribes, R.D. had filled that gap with the Dragon Codices.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George


Title: Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow

Author: Jessica Day George

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books

Release Date: January 8, 2008

ISBN: 978-1599901091

Size: Hardback; 336 pages

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Blessed—or cursed—with an ability to understand animals, the Lass has always felt estranged from her family, who struggle to make a living in the windswept north. So when an isbjorn (polar bear) seeks her out and promises that her family will be provided for if she accompanies him to his castle, she doesn’t hesitate. But the great white bear is not what he seems, nor is his castle. Slowly the Lass unravels the mystery of the bear’s enchantment and the spell connecting him with the strange symbols carved in the castle’s icy walls. But on a journey to a place where the four winds fear to travel, the true horror of the bear’s spell is revealed, and the Lass’s courage—and love—will be tested.

Based on the Nordic legend East of the Sun, West of the Moon, this richly reimagined tale is perfect for fans of Shannon Hale and Donna Jo Napoli.

The Search for the Red Dragon by James A. Owen


Title: The Search for the Red Dragon

Author: James A. Owen

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing

Release Date: January 1, 2008

ISBN: 978-1416948506

Size: 9 x 6; 384 pages

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Series: Sequel to Here There Be Dragons

It has been nine years since John, Jack, and Charles had their great adventure in the Archipelago of Dreams and became the Caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica. Now they have been brought together again to solve a mystery: Someone is kidnapping the children of the Archipelago. And their only clue is a mysterious message delivered by a strange girl with artificial wings: “The Crusade has begun.” Worse, they discover that all of the legendary Dragonships have disappeared as well.

The only chance they have to save the world from a centuries-old plot is to seek out the last of the Dragonships—the Red Dragon—in a spectacular journey that takes them from Sir James Barrie’s Kensington Gardens to the Underneath of the Greek Titans of myth. With friends both familiar and new, they will travel through an extraordinary landscape where history, myth, and fable blend together to tell the oldest story in the world. And along the way, the Caretakers of the Geographica will discover that great deeds alone do not make heroes, and that growing up may be unavoidable…but growing old doesn’t have to be.

The Mage’s Daughter by Lynn Kurland


Title: The Mage’s Daughter

Author: Lynn Kurland

Publisher: Berkley Sensation

Release Date: January 2, 2008

ISBN: 978-0425219164

Size: 5.5×8 paperback; 384 pages

Genre: Speculative

In the kingdom of Neroche, nightmarish creatures have been unleashed as weapons in a war of evil. Morgan the mercenary, daughter of a treacherous black mage, must fight against them-as well as for her very life. Miach of Neroche would risk his own life to save Morgan’s, but he must do so at the peril of the realm, forcing dangerous choices in the deadliest of quests.

2007 Books Eligible for Whitney Awards

This is last year’s book list. I may or may not get around to giving them their own post.

Spires of Stone by Annette Lyon


Title: Spires of Stone

Author: Annette Lyon

Publisher: Covenant Communication, Inc.

Release Date: 2007

ISBN: 978-1598114487

Size: 6×9

Genre: Historical Romance

Bethany Hansen wasn’t sure when or if she would ever see Benjamin Adams again. She also told herself that it didn’t matter. But when Ben and his two brothers come home after more than two years of serving a mission to the Eastern states, her feelings of heartache and anger also return— fiercer than ever. And so do Ben’s feelings for her.

Good-naturedly, Ben’s brothers attempt to reunite the two, even as they separately vie for Bethany’s younger sister, Hannah. What follows is a charming historical romance complete with wonderful characters and witty dialogue that explores the redemption and power of finding—and rediscovering—true love.

The Well of Ascension by by Brandon Sanderson


Title: The Well of Ascension

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Publisher: TOR Books

Release Date: August 21, 2007

ISBN: 978-0765316882

Size: 6×9; 592 pages

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Sequel to Mistborn: The Final Empire

The impossible has been accomplished. The Lord Ruler—the man who claimed to be god incarnate and brutally ruled the world for a thousand years—has been vanquished. But Kelsier, the hero who masterminded that triumph, is dead too, and now the awesome task of building a new world has been left to his young protg, Vin, the former street urchin who is now the most powerful Mistborn in the land, and to the idealistic young nobleman she loves.

As Kelsier’s protg and slayer of the Lord Ruler she is now venerated by a budding new religion, a distinction that makes her intensely uncomfortable. Even more worrying, the mists have begun behaving strangely since the Lord Ruler died, and seem to harbor a strange vaporous entity that haunts her.

Stopping assassins may keep Vin’s Mistborn skills sharp, but it’s the least of her problems. Luthadel, the largest city of the former empire, doesn’t run itself, and Vin and the other members of Kelsier’s crew, who lead the revolution, must learn a whole new set of practical and political skills to help. It certainly won’t get easier with three armies—one of them composed of ferocious giants—now vying to conquer the city, and no sign of the Lord Ruler’s hidden cache of atium, the rarest and most powerful allomantic metal.

As the siege of Luthadel tightens, an ancient legend seems to offer a glimmer of hope. But even if it really exists, no one knows where to find the Well of Ascension or what manner of power it bestows.

The Lights of Mahonri Moriancumer by Phyllis Gunderson


Title: The Lights of Mahonri Moriancumer

Author: Phyllis Gunderson

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Release Date: January 1, 2007

ISBN: 978-1599550190

Size: 5.5×8; 180 pages

Genre: Speculative Fiction

A monk with a secret… A light that never dies… A legend that could change history…

There is an ancient legend about shining stones. About lights that never dim, never die. And the stones are old. Very old. Archaeologist Mathilda Howard believes in solid scientific fact and proven history. Not mythical stories about shining stones or prehistoric advanced civilizations. But when an old Tibetan monk shares his experience of the “lights that do not die,” Matt knows she has to find out more.

Then, when at an archaeological dig a student gives Matt a little black book that contains a story about shining stones—a story that happens to match a local legend—she finds herself on a journey to uncover the truth.

From a sacred mountain in China to a lost civilization in Brazil, Matt finds that she is digging up more than just archaeological artifacts. Her search for the shining stones leads her to some startling discoveries, as well as to a new religion. The LDS church may have the answers she has been looking for, but it may also cost her all that she values in life—her career, her prestige, and her family.

As evidence of the shining stones mounts, Matt is faced with a decision she never thought she’d have to make: does she ignore the stones and agree what is scientifically acceptable, or does speak out against the established norms and tell the truth? There are people who are desperate to keep the stones a secret. How much is Matt willing to sacrifice for the lost stones of the Jaradites?

Hunting Gideon by Jessica Draper


Title: Hunting Gideon

Author: Jessica Draper

Publisher: Zarahemla Books

Release Date: August 13, 2007

ISBN: 978-0978797140

Size: 5×8.5; 184 pages

Genre: Speculative Thriller

Tracking hackers and crackers for the FBI’s National Infrastructure Protection Center looks like a vivid video game to an outsider, but the outcome of the play is deadly serious. Through her online feline avatar, Sekhmet, Sue Anne Jones stalks the V-Net, the ultimate virtual-reality interface, in pursuit of evil in all its online forms. Her partner, ex-cracker Loren Hunter, provides cynical commentary along with his expertise in the V-Net’s shadier alleys.

Their days of busting routine identity thieves and insidious corporate spies end when they get a new assignment: Hunt down a cyber-terrorist calling himself Gideon, who has infiltrated the financial system, rerouted supply lines, and murdered the supervisor of an automated factory. Now Gideon is sending taunting messages, quoting scripture, and warning Sue that she must join his crusade or suffer—along with the rest of the virtual world—when he takes total control of the V-Net.

Written by the author of the Last Days adventure trilogy, Hunting Gideon is a near-future cyberpunk novel with an optimistic Mormon twist. Incorporating elements from the hard-boiled detective novel, film noir, and postmodernist prose, much of the novel’s action takes place online in cyberspace, blurring the border between actual and virtual reality. Hunting Gideon sends Sue and Loren on a wild chase as they scramble to avert the ultimate online disaster.