Valentine's Day Thought: Strengthening Families and Homes

Dear Friends,

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to focus in on the quality of our marital relationship with our spouse. This Valentine's Day I thought it would be special and important to review the words stated by The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Let us, together with our loved ones, choose one or more points presented within this Proclamation that we can better implement at home in order to increase the love and closeness in our marriage and family.

Celeste Estes
Beehive Books

This image is taken from lds.org. Click here to visit link.

This post is taken from an Inspiring Thoughts e-mail by Beehive Books.



"Janitors" by Tyler Whitesides

JANITORS

by new author, Tyler Whitesides

Click here to see "Janitors" by Tyler Whitesides on the Queen Bee's bookstore website 

After reading this book you may think twice about sending your children to school. I know that I’m glad mine are almost all done.

Summary: Spencer washes his face with soap in the school bathroom, and all of a sudden he is seeing dust motes and sink sludge in a whole new light.  He can’t get anyone to believe him, though, and he finds himself the laughing-stock of his class.  This doesn’t keep him from trying to warn the teachers and other students of the creatures that lurk in the carpet, bathrooms, and everywhere dirt and grime exist.  While trying to follow one such creature, he finds out that janitors can see them too.  Along the way he makes a new friend, Daisy, and together they set out to clean up their school.

My Thoughts: This is an entertaining book, definitely geared for a younger audience, elementary school, but was cute enough for me to enjoy half-heartedly.  This is Tyler’s first novel but definitely shows good promise for future books.

Book Review by The Queen Bee of Beehive Books

What Shanda at LDS Women's Book Review Blog says,

 

"As soon as I received the Janitors ARC [Advanced Reading Copy], I knew I wanted to read it aloud to my 10-year-old daughter the first time through. I wanted to experience the events in the book for the first time along with her to get the perspective of the book’s intended audience. We read Janitors in just a few days, with many instances of 'Mom, are you busy? When can we read more of Janitors?'...I’ve heard it said that we don’t remember facts as much as feelings. While the details of Spencer and Daisy’s adventures will fade with time, I’ll always remember how I felt every time my daughter gasped and giggled as we read..." - Click here to read the full article



Rachel Ann Nunes, "Before I Say Goodbye"

This book is a 2011 Whitney Award finalist in the General category.

Before I Say Goodbye

by popular LDS Author, Rachel Ann Nunes

Published in 2011 by Deseret Book.
342 pages in length.
Genre, in my opinion, is LDS drama.

In my opinion, this is a story of growth and change.

I love the way the author utilizes a written format that encourages the reader to get to know each of the main characters on a very intimitate level.  As a result, we get to understand the trouble teen and the inactive mother.  We get to relate to the preocuppied Bishop and his unintentionally taken-for-granted wife. 

 

We also get to see how serving others truly helps us to love and understand them.

This was a very satisfying and uplifting book for me.  I couldn't put it down. 

You can find out more about this book and/or purchase by visiting the Queen Bee's book store website at http://beehivebooksbakerfield.com

or at the following direct link to this item:

http://beehivebooksbakersfield.com/#%7Bselector%3A%22.ldsba-body%22%2Cmodule%3A%22/ldsba/productDetail.module%22%2Cparameters%3A%7Bproduct%3A%2220071912%22%7D%7D.

Thanks for visiting our blog!  Feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you thought of this book.

Happy Thanksgiving to All

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL

Hey, everyone!  I know I've gotten behind on posting reviews.  I'm so sorry for that.  =(

I am making this post today to rejoice in what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for my husband and my kids.  I don't always treat them right.  I will try harder.

I am thankful for a house to live in and food to eat.  Maybe sometimes I take this for granted.

I am thankful for my parents and all that they have taught me.  Sometimes I forget how fortunate I am.

I am thankful for an income.  Not everyone has a job, and I should be grateful for mine even when it causes me stress.

I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I must always strive to remember Christ and His sacrifice for me.  Sometimes I forget.  As I remember, I will become more thankful for all the things that I have.

At this Thanksgiving, I hope you will hold your loved ones tight and realize how blessed you are to have them.  I hope you will feel your stomach full and realize how blessed you are to have a Thanksgiving meal.  I hope you will remember your Savior and His love for you, so you can in turn share it with others.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE QUEEN BEE AND HER PRINCESS BEE.

An Added Note on Wedding Letters from the Queen Bee

Guess what, everyone?!  THE QUEEN BEE decided to review "The Wedding Letters" by Jason F. Wright too!

Here is her note to me...

I know that you reviewed The Wedding Letters already but I was so impressed with it that I thought my view on it was worth hearing too.

The Wedding Letters written by Jason F. Wright

First there was The Christmas Jars and then Christmas Jars Reunion. Then along came The Wednesday Letters, and now we have The Wedding Letters.

The Wedding Letters is a great twist on The Wednesday Letters. The characters are the same with a few additions, but the book can be a standalone also.

Noah Cooper found love by running into it, literally. While driving and trying to avoid a squirrel he runs into Rachel, and for him it is love at first sight. For Rachel, well, all she could think of was what kind of a person runs over a bicyclist while trying to avoid hitting a squirrel he hit anyway? All seems to be going fine, and marriage is in the near future, until a secret from Rachel’s past sends her running from her future with Noah.

In keeping with the Cooper Family tradition, and despite the fact that the wedding is called off, letters start coming in for the happy couple and are compiled to create a book of wedding letters. These are letters from friends and family and are advice on love, life, and happiness. Can the wedding letters save the wedding?…..You have to read to find out.

Having just married off one of my own daughters, I can say that this tradition would have been great for her, something that she and her new husband would have kept and treasured forever.

Great book, it was definitely worth 2 reviews!!!!!!!

Book Review by Vickie Ricks, the Queen Bee at Beehive Books

Beehive Books Bakersfield
Beehive Books Lancaster

The Wedding Letters, a great sequel to The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright

The Wedding Letters,

a Great Sequel to The Wednesday Letters

by Jason F. Wright

Sold at Beehive Books

In Wedding Letters, Wright carries us on a new adventure of love and self-discovery.  Noah Cooper, grandson of Jack and Laurel (from Wednesday Letters), falls in love with a girl from a family much different from his.  Rachel returns his love but finds out a family secret that threatens her sanity and happiness in general.  Rachel's family relationships coupled with the upcoming selling of the inn, in my opinion, are what make this book fun and exciting.

I really liked this book!  At first I was unsure that anything could compete with Wednesday Letters, but Wright took up the challenge and ran with it.  He did a great job.  I found myself caring about Rachel and wishing I could reach out and hug her.  I worried for and with her.  I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an easy uplifting read and who is or will ever be married.  I loved the marriage advice!!!

Book Review by Celeste Estes, daughter of the Queen Bee


Jason Wright loves to connect with his readers! 

**Visit his page on Facebook: Jason F. Wright Official Fan Page.  

**Here is his blog (looks like he hasn't written in a while, we should help him with that by going on and posting a comment): Life with Jason Wright. 

**And here is his website: jasonfwright.com. 

If that's not enough, here's a great book trailer for The Wedding Letters:

The Wedding Letters trailer on You Tube

Beehive Books Website

Guest Review from Author Lynn Gardner: If I Should Die by Jennie Hansen

Guest Review by Author Lynn Gardner

About Lynn Gardner

Click here to visit Lynn Gardner's website



Lynn Gardner traveled the United States for twenty-five years with her career Air Force husband and developed a love of exploring this beautiful country, discovering fascinating places to set a story, and weaving local history into intriguing mysteries. When her husband retired, they began traveling to foreign countries where she found more exciting venues for her suspense stories.  Her motto is, "There's a story and a mystery around every corner!"

Lynn also loves to read mystery novels.  We asked her if she would be willing to review a book for us, and this is what she chose: "If I Should Die" by Jennie Hansen.

Lynn's Review of "If I Should Die" by Jennie Hansen



Kallene’s world is turned upside down when her jogging partner, Linda, disappears after confiding she’s filing for a divorce. Soon the missing person search turns into a murder investigation. Kallene is overwhelmed by the attentions of a charming lead detective and her jogging partner’s handsome brother. Throw in the tragic circumstance of Linda’s frightened little daughter and a young boy at loose odds and a creepy handyman who shows up at Kallene’s elbow at every turn. Then, mix in a rogue dog and strange character in the neighborhood and you have a fast-paced intriguing mystery with a touch of romance.

I loved this book. All of Jennie Hansen’s books are extremely well written with characters you love to hate or cheer for all through the book, but I think this might be her best effort so far. I couldn’t put the book down after I began reading it. I had to know about each of those characters she had so carefully crafted. Who was the real killer? What would happen to Linda’s little girl? What happened to the little boy who disappeared? And which of the handsome men would actually capture Kallene’s heart?

This book was reviewed for Queen Bee Corner by Lynn Gardner, author of 10 books in the Gem/Jewel series and 2 books in the Maggie McKenzie series.

Some of Lynn's titles:

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