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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Gospel Topics - Faith and Testimony

Hello, everyone!  The past two weeks in Sacrament meeting the topic has been faith and testimony.  I believe that both faith and testimony are virtues we must constantly work to develop. 

When I was a young girl, Girl's Camp was what helped me most in these areas.  This is when I would have the biggest opportunities for growth.  It would be a call-to-action time for me. 

You would think it was the great preparation, talks, and testimonies shared by the leaders at Camp that led me to these moments, and maybe this is what encouraged the opportunity for me, but in reality it was Solo Time.

I loved Solo Time.  During Solo Time, I was forced to take an absolute timeout from the world and responsibilities.  We were given a certain amount of time, and I would go and find a beautiful quiet place to sit and be alone.

It was then in those quiet moments, surrounded by Heavenly Father's creations, that I would take to heart the things that I had been taught at Church, kneel down, and ask my Heavenly Father if they were true.

I remember one of those occasions.  I was wondering how we could say we knew the prophet was a true prophet of God.  I had searched the scriptures and found some logical answers.  When I knelt and asked with sincere desire to receive an answer, I knew.  I knew that the current prophet would never lead me or the Church astray.  I knew he was a true prophet of God.

After my prayer, the world seemed even brighter and more beautiful around me.  Any doubt I had had was gone.

The lessons I learned at Girl's Camp would gradually slip away, but I believe the most important lesson I ever learned and will always remember is that God hears and answers our prayers.

He does and He will.

Also, the sincerity of the prayer is important.

Since then and especially in recent times, I have observed that my initial prayer in the morning and my final prayer at night are not always the most sincere.  I must seek sincere prayer during the day too, when I am not so tired and my mind is more alert.

For me, when I read the scriptures is the best time.  If I read and then kneel in prayer, my words really feel like they reach the heavens and my heart fills with a greater faith in and love of my Savior.

Do you have an experience with faith or testimony you would like to share?  We would all love to hear it!  



This is a personal experience shared by Celeste Estes.

Sorry...

Hey, everyone!  Wow, this has been a busy couple of weeks for us.  LDS Bookstore Convention was great, but when I got back I had packing to do!  My mom has been playing catchup at the store, and I have been busy, busy, busy. 

I promise we will be back on track soon, so please stay tuned.

Thanks again for following our blog at Queen Bee Corner!!!

-Celeste

LDS Bookstore Convention, yay!

Hey, everyone!  Rather than a book review, today I decided to tell you what is going on in our neck of the woods.  My mom (the Queen Bee) and I are busily preparing to go to LDS Bookstore Convention.

Have you ever heard of it?  It is a great opportunity for us to go and connect with LDS vendors and authors.  Also, we get to learn many great things about how to improve our business.

What does the customer want?  What new is coming out?  How can we ourselves be better people and grow closer to our Savior?

These are just a few of the wonderful topics we discuss at Convention.

I am very excited for a fun and satisfying week with my mom in the great Salt Lake City, Utah area.

What did you think of this post?  Would you like more personal posts like this one?

Thanks everyone for following!

Sincerely,
Celeste Estes, daughter of the Queen Bee

Can fog describe more than the weather?

Foggy with a Chance of Murder

by G.G. Vandagriff

Category – LDS suspense with a twist of romance

In this book, Chloe, a young suspense author, buries herself deep in her work in order to avoid love.  However, when tragedy brings her and a “jack” mormon together, sparks begin to fly.  It is then that her past love re-enters the picture, bringing fog for Chloe in more ways than one. To make it worse, someone is out to kill her new love.

G.G. Vandagriff is quickly joining the field of fine LDS suspense novelists.  I have enjoyed her use of combining good values and nail biting suspense.  Maybe not quite as thrilling and suspenseful as books by Clair Poulsen, but definitely worth the read.

Book Review by Vickie Ricks, The Queen Bee



WHO ELSE IS REVIEWING IT???

Goodreads.com at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10275748-foggy-with-a-chance-of-murder says:

• A classic whodunit with a unique LDS twist
• Readers of G. G.'s previous mysteries will enjoy this latest offering from a Whitney Award-winner
• The author was recently featured in "Literary Worlds," a Special Collections exhibit at BYU's Harold B. Lee Library
• Online reading guide available for book clubs

Scroll down on the Goodreads.com page to see who else is commenting on and reviewing this book.

One Guy, Three Girls...the Ultimate Laundry Bet

Luck of the Draw

by Rachael Renee Anderson

Category – LDS romance (but not too sappy)

 The typical story of relationships on the college level, but this one goes seriously wrong. A bet among roommates puts a young man on the road to finding true love but when the girl he falls for finds out about the bet, for her, all bets are off.

This is a fast paced, fun and humorous story, kind of predictable but with a few twists to keep it interesting. Geared for the young adult market, but I thoroughly enjoyed it as well. This book will make any hot summer day go more quickly.

Book Review by Vickie Ricks, The Queen Bee

WHO ELSE IS BLOGGING ABOUT IT?

Rachael Renee Anderson - Happy Endings Blog 

Excerpt from Luck of the Draw:

     "This is the end of our date,” he said. “And you just told me that you won’t go out with me, at least not any time in the next eight years, so this is pretty much my only opportunity.”

     “Opportunity?” Dani raised her eyebrows. “For what, exactly?”

Click here to continue reading the excerpt on Rachael's blog.