A Sisterhood of Strength Blog Tour

Today I'm participating in Diony George's A Sisterhood of Strength Blog Tour. What's the book about?

Back Cover Blurb:President Monson has repeatedly expressed that even in our busy, bustling lives, “it’s the service that counts.” and no one knows that better than the quiet, humble women of the relief society. Working together, faithful women form a sisterhood of service, selflessness, and ultimately strength to share with each other and with the entire world.

Experience for your self the pure love that gives birth to such service in this inspiring collection of true stories from the lives of ordinary women who have given and accepted service in an extraordinary manner. On each page of this remarkable book, you’ll find words of wisdom and beauty that are sure to encourage and uplift you, whether it’s your turn to serve or to be served. Told with heartwarming sincerity, A Sisterhood of Strength will have women everywhere rejoicing in the friendship of their own dear, loving sisters.

This book is written about the experiences of real life LDS women in their association with each other in the Relief Society. It's about women taking time out of their busy lives and reaching out to each other. Sometimes it's a huge effort as in the case of the woman who stepped up to help another who was dealing with a debilitating pregnancy. The service spanned months and was even offered for a subsequent pregnancy. Other experiences are simpler but needed--and oh, so appreciated--nonetheless. The stories are told on the part of the recipients of the service.

Anyone who knows me, knows I love stories about people who step up and reach out, who show their true (heroic) nature under stress. I have no patience for pettiness or vindictiveness. I believe true heroes walk among us every day, giving of themselves through their kind words and tender ministrations and, in the process, making the world a better place. I'm married to a man like that.

I think, perhaps, that I love the stories like this because I wish I was more like these women. I admire people who see opportunities to help others because I tend to go through life with blinders on. I do reach out and provide succor or inspiration--and am happy to do so--but someone usually has bring the need to my attention. People like my husband and the women in this book see it on their own.

This book made me want to be a better person and even showed me examples of how to do it.

Tristi Pinkston's Women of Strength

This has been some month for book releases.

Tristi Pinkston is quite the genre hopper--which means she's my hero. She's written cozy mysteries (her hilarious Secret Sisters series), a book on women and finances, a cookbook, romantic suspense, and historical fiction to name a few. You can click here for a complete list.

Today I'm talking about her new book Women of Strength, a book for spiritual book targeted to LDS women.


The need for courageous, faithful women has never been greater than it is today. As we draw nearer to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, we are faced with temptations on every side. But we can prevail as we gain true strength from living the gospel.

In Women of Strength, Tristi Pinkston shares inspiring stories, as well as insightful quotes from Church leaders, to demonstrate the power and influence of righteous women. This book invites women everywhere to deepen their relationship with the Savior, rely on the guidance of the Holy Ghost, and learn what it really means to be strong.

I found this book to be encouraging even as it warned women of the challenges that can come to us as women today. Women have always expected a lot of themselves, but it seems that society has added to that burden. You have to be smart. You have to be beautiful. You have to be clever. You have to be talented. It's easy to see, in today's fast paced world, women who appear to be able to do it all.

And you can't. You're tired. You're cranky. You're overwhelmed. You wonder why you're such a failure.

Quotes from Women of Strength:

"Think about it for a minute. When a woman feels bad about herself, she finds it hard to reach out to others, and she doesn't dream she has the power to change lives. But once she catches a glimmer of the phenomenal celestial being she truly is, she goes out and shares her love with others, and that's something the adversary can't have at any cost."

". . . Be strong for yourself and your family. Just making it through today is enough, and then tomorrow, do it again. Your diligence and faith make you a heroine, even when you may doubt it. But our Heavenly  Father has no doubt. He knows who you are, and He knows you can do it."

Ebook Giveaway - "The Most Important Catch" by Jaclyn M. Hawkes

Book Description:
Run or die!

She knew too much, and she'd seen too much.

And the police refused to help.

Knowing that she was to be the next scheduled death, Kelly Campbell hid under head to toe black leather and a tinted motorcycle helmet and ran for her life. When the weather turned cold, she turned south. She ended up in North Carolina, home to one of the most famed and eligible NFL football stars in the whole league; only she didn't know that. She thought he was a businessman. Not being a huge fan, all she knew was that he was incredibly attractive, kind, generous, and that she was safe with him.

Or was she? His brand of fame proved to be all but deadly, but his fame wasn't nearly as lethal as his attraction. He kept her safe and protected. All except for her heart.
This book is definitely targeted for the LDS market, so there are religious references. If they don't bother you, I think you'll enjoy it.

I loved the development of the two characters, Kelly and Robby, as they got to know each other. My favorite parts were the scenes where they just worked together fixing up his house and learned to care for each other. I loved how comfortable they were together and how comfortable that made me feel. Their similar senses of humor made me smile, and I felt like I would like to know both of them--even if they were both gorgeous. Hawkes kept giving me enough references to how much Kelly missed her family so it was believable and the snippets about the bad guys still hunting her maintained the suspense.

There's a point where my heart just broke for both Kelly and Robby. We're told as writers to hurt our characters and then hurt them some more. And then some more. If you want them to have a happily ever after, they're going to have to earn it.

I've read three of Hawkes' books now, and each one gets better than the last.

So, I'm going to be giving away an ebook copy. It's simple and painless. All you have to do is (1) note in the comment section that you're interested; and (2) include your email address.  I'll let random.org choose the winner first thing on Friday morning.

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