About the Book: The Man from Shenandoah

Carl Owen returns from the Civil War to find the family farm destroyed, his favorite brother dead, food scarce, and his father determined to leave the Shenandoah Valley to build a cattle empire in Colorado Territory. Crossing the continent, Carl falls in love with his brother's fiance' while set to wed another girl, but he might lose everything if the murderous outlaw Berto Acosta has his way. Carl battles a band of outlaws, a prairie fire, blizzards, a trackless waterless desert, and his own brother—all for the hand of feisty Ellen Bates.

Genre: Fiction - Western

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A Western That is Truly West, March 5, 2003
By D. Davis (PAYSON, AZ USA)

I had nearly given up on reading Westerns as the newer ones I have read present such modern morals and language. Ms. Ward uses the language of the class & region, which makes The Man from Shenandoah so pleasing. Ms. Ward gives us joyous times but doesn't pass lightly over the hardships either. The author draws a character in such human warmth and depth that you have no trouble remembering who is whom. I don't know how a woman can write so well from a man's viewpoint; but, as she illustrates so well, men didn't understand women in the old West any better than they do now, but we women are another story!

Marsha Ward has a way with dialogue that eases us into familiarity with Carl Owen, the book's main character. His thoughts and words flow so clearly that we come to know him as a common man with a sense of humor. Carl is not given to flowery speeches. He can be a complex man who at times makes some pretty funny mistakes, and he doesn't like to apologize for them. Carl's values and his honor cause him no end of conflict with his family and others throughout his story. Often a western (especially one with romance included) lacks a deep feeling of family. I liked this one because the main character was not the 'loner with no family to teach him love and values' hero. The better part of the characters in this novel were members of warm, loving, laughing and arguing families. It was a joy to get to know them.

Ms. Ward paints vivid night skies, warm sun on your face and makes you wish you could lie down to contemplate the clouds in a meadow surrounded by quakies (Aspen trees to those not native to the Rockies). Colorado, Nevada, Utah and of course Arizona have been my playgrounds all my life and the journey into past memories was achingly sweet. A young girl threw her arms up over her head and whirled around in a meadow full of wildflowers and cried "I love you, Colorado, you're beautiful." This Colorado girl was so homesick she cried too - tears.

Ms. Ward's characters worked `danged hard' and they went down to the 'crick' to get water. Arizonan's give me such strange looks when I talk about the dry cricks here.

Well, human nature being what it is, there were people I loved and people I could do without but loved to hate. I was also a bit humbled by the women and yes, I would wish to be more like Ellen Bates myself. Now give us our sequel - it's so hard to wait!

I can't leave you without also mentioning that the cover is to die for. Yummy!

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Paperback: 246 pages
Publisher: IUniverse (January 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0595263089
ISBN-13: 978-0595263080
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #561,584 in Books

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About the Book: Altared Plans

The perfect day. The perfect marriage. The perfect groom. What could go wrong?

Caitlyn has been preparing for her perfect wedding all her life. But when her fiance' abandons her at the altar, Caitlyn vows she ll never love again. Going to BYU doesn t make that easy, however, and avoiding all social contact can only last so long. When her bishop calls her to be the mom of her family home evening group, Caitlyn is suddenly thrust into surprising circumstances that leave her flustered the attention of two unwanted suitors.

Travis, the FHE dad, has plans to woo Caitlyn by using his cowboy charms while Chase has his own ideas for dating her. Will Travis or Chase change her mind about love? Or will it be deja vu?

Follow Caitlyn through all the flirtatious looks, dates, ex-girlfriends, and unexpected surprises. A Window Opens is a light-hearted romance that is sure to please.

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Great Read!, September 9, 2009
By S. Marie Lundeen "Luv2Read"

My husband, who never reads book, read this book before I got a chance to even pick it up. I knew it had to be good if he couldn't put it down long enough for me to read it too.

"Altared Plans" is about a young woman by the name of Caitlyn, who arrived at the Temple on the day of her wedding to find out that the love of her life was on an airplane to be with someone else. Devastated and torn apart she vowed she would never fall in love.

Upon returning to BYU, she is called to be the mom of her FHE group where she meets the father, Travis. Refusing to let herself fall in love again, she tags Travis as "annoying" but finds that she can't keep her mind off him and concentrate on her studies. Can her roommate, Brittany, help her to see that Travis is not like her first love? In order to find out, you need to read this book.

Out of 5 stars, I give this book a 6!

Paperback: 250 pages
Publisher: Bonneville Books; 1 edition (June 15, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599552809
ISBN-13: 978-1599552804
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #222,966 in Books

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About the Book: The Journey

The war between good and evil is as old as time itself so is the absolute truth that each choice is accompanied by a consequence. Ciran is about to be faced with both. Two roads lie ahead. Only one leads home. Which will she choose?

Genre: Fiction - Fantasy

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Reading a J. Adams novel is like catching a ride on a cloud. Her writing is so beautiful, her prose so enchanting, you literally forget you are reading a book. I was captivated. --J. Scott Savage, author of Farworld

The Journey will make you think about the paths we choose, who we are, and the nobility that is in all of us. --Janette Rallison, author of Revenge of the Cheerleaders.

This is a great story, as old as time, that will keep you entranced until you turn the last page. The story is strong and compelling. I picked it up last night and didn't put it down until I was done. J. Adams has a unique way of telling a story that pulls you in, creating a clear and distinct picture in your mind as the story moves forward. This is a must read and a book I will recommend to everyone. --Candace Salima, author of Forged In The Refiner's Fire

Paperback: 181 pages
Publisher: Jewel of the West Publishing; 1st edition (July 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0615202071
ISBN-13: 978-0615202075
Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,722,488

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About the Book: Counting the Cost

For handsome, hard-riding cowboy, Heck Benham, life is as solid as the New Mexico countryside he loves as predictable as the annual spring roundup. Yet, that all changes when Mrs. Ruth Reynolds moves from back east into his homeland and into his heart.

The stark contrast in their lives is played out in a territory that is, itself, coming into its own. As Ruth and Heck face a trail of pivotal, life-changing decisions, their love is challenged at every turn. What will it cost them before they find what is most important in life?

With strong characters, true-to-life emotion, gentle humor, meticulous attention to detail and historical accuracy, Liz Adair paints a passionate tale of love and learning, of romance and redemption.

Genre: Fiction - Western

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Love in Bleak Times, May 22, 2009
By Story Circle Book Reviews

The bleak yet beautiful land of western New Mexico is the setting for a love story in a rugged and often lonely time--the tough years of the Great Depression. City-raised, culture-loving, impoverished Ruth sought security and a home when she agreed to marry Harlan Reynolds. When the couple moved to Harlan's new job at the Diamond E ranch, Ruth found the land as bleak as her marriage. She took her car and ran away to Las Cruces, but didn't make it far before she found herself stuck in a deep and isolated arroyo. Enter Heck Benham, Diamond E cowhand, who after a spectacular display of horse-handling rescued the lady. They both felt the spark, and here, the story takes off.

In her dedication of the book to her mother, author Liz Adair explains the novel is a fictionalized account of a long secret family story: an uncle fell in love and ran away with a married woman in that long ago New Mexico.

The story Adair tells is a love story, but it is also one of struggle. Struggles with the land, the hard times, and, mostly, two very different people who, in spite of their love, want very different things.

Heck is content with his life, his horses, his home, however modest, and his (eventual) wife. Ruth longs for what she had--and more. More culture, more money, more people. Through the years, they stay together, sometimes one yielding, sometimes the other.

Adair spins a fascinating and easy to read story. All of her characters, not only Heck and Ruth, ring true. Moreover, she has a fine eye and ear for both the land and the times. I grew up in the country not far from the setting of this story, and, like Adair, I grew up hearing stories of the Great Depression. She has skillfully captured both.

This is a story to enjoy, but also one to learn from.

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Perfect Paperback: 335 pages
Publisher: Inglestone Publishing; 1st edition (January 30, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0977881466
ISBN-13: 978-0977881468
Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,131,207 in Books

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About the Book: The Santa Letters

One year ago on Christmas Eve, William died. For Emma, the hit-and-run driver killed more than her husband; he killed her joy in life itself.

Now, as Christmas approaches again, Emma Jensen finds herself sinking into a depression that nothing can breach; not her job, not her love for her children, and certainly not the season. Money is tight, and emotions are taut, and this year Christmas will be a meager, empty, and painful experience.

Only six-year-old McKenna believes in miracles and the magic of Christmas. The rest of the family knows that Christmas can never be the same. But when a mysterious package and an ornate letter arrive on the doorstep, things begin to change. Each day, a package and a letter signed Santa arrive for the family, and together they come to understand that the joy of Christmas does not have to be lost forever, and that God s love can heal any wound, no matter how deep.

The Santa Letters will take the Jensens on a journey through a Christmas experience that will have the power to heal them all.

Genre: Fiction - General

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A must read Christmas story, October 27, 2008
By Florida Reader "Judith" (Florida)

This is a book that most likely every person will want to call their own and pass on to future generations. The Santa Letters will surely become a family heirloom because of the warmth, love and inspiration it contains. Christmas has become so commercialized over the years that the true meaning has so easily been forgotten. This new book reminds us of family traditions, the warmth and comfort of friends and family, and those around us needing a lift. Written with great wisdom to uplift and inspire.

The Santa Letters is a beautiful story about how the lives of Emma Jensen and her children were changed overnight by the death of her husband, William, killed by a hit and run driver. As Christmas Eve approaches, marking the anniversary of his death, she finds herself sinking into a deep depression where nothing can reach her - not her job, not the love of her family, and especially not the season. Her youngest child, McKenna, is the only one who still believes in the magic of Christmas, and in miracles. When an ornate letter and mysterious package appears on their doorstep and one continues to arrive every day, Emma and her sons begin to experience the same magical journey to Christmas that McKenna feels and believes in. As the meaning of the letters unfolds, the whole family comes to realize that William is still playing a part in their lives and the joy of Christmas need not be forever lost.
Read this one, if you read no other for this season!

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Hardcover: 190 pages
Publisher: Sweetwater Books (July 8, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599551454
ISBN-13: 978-1599551456
Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #310,653 in Books

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About the Book: Famous Family Nights

Touching, inspiring, and often hilarious, the personal experiences in Famous Family Nights highlight family home evening as a priceless tool for building strong, faith-centered families, despite the many obstacles of modern life. Contributors sharing their stories are LDS entertainers, writers, radio and TV personalities, as well as LDS leaders in sports, business, and the community.

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Inspiring! , September 30, 2009

Trouble with Family Home Evening?

Check out Famous Family Nights (great for gifts too) and you'll come away inspired and motivated.

Author Anne Bradshaw approached dozens of favorite LDS entertainers, authors, musicians, etc. and asked them to share their experiences with Family Home Evening. The stories will have you laughing one minute, then crying the next. Many are touching, and some are outrageous. But in the end, you'll come away with a renewed resolve to hold consistent Family Home Evenings and most of all, it's okay to be creative (like best-selling author, Rachel Ann Nunes), or it's okay to send the kids to their rooms after (like Best of State Educator, Lu Ann Staheli). And sometimes FHE can be used for simple teaching moments, such as encouraging the children to flush the toilet (as told by Josi S. Kilpack, well-known mystery writer).

Stories are shared by Alan Osmond, Carol Lynn Pearson, Annette Lyon, Bruce Summerhays, Susan Easton Black, GG Vandagriff, and Jennie Hansen to name a few.

I echo George Dyer's (international opera singer) sentiment, "After reading the first few stories in this book I let out a sigh of relief and a chuckle as I realized my family wasn't so dysfunctional when it came to family home evening experiences after all!"

Genre: Fiction - Religious

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Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (August 15, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599552922
ISBN-13: 978-1599552927
Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #601,298 in Books

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About the Book: Forged in the Refiner's Fire

Why do bad things happen? Is there a purpose when we face a severe trial? As mortals, we can be compared to ore, such as gold and silver. Ore that is unrefined is generally impure and undesirable. Only ore that is crushed-and then refined by fire-becomes beautiful, pure, precious and valuable.

This book was written to help you see the results of the Ultimate Refiner, the Lord, in your own life. Within these pages, people from all walks of life share their stories of triumph over tragedy. More importantly, they reveal how they were strengthened as they passed through the Refiner's fire.

They became more precious, and so can you.

Genre: Nonfiction - Religious

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We ARE Strong Enough to Thrive From Trials, March 12, 2006

This is a truly inspirational and uplifting book. Personal essays of people who have had serious challenges and/or trials in life, how they survived, and what they learned. I highly recommend this for anyone who is currently going through really hard times, or anyone who has survived them. You discover you are not alone in your stuggles, and that the adage is true: "Anything that does not kill you makes you stronger."

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Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: Salima Enterprises, LLC (February 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1438238924
ISBN-13: 978-1438238920
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,737,462 in Books

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