Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

The Proviso by Moriah Jovan

The Reckoning by Tanya Parker Mills

Where Hearts Prosper by Suzanne V. Reese

The Loser's Guide to Life and Love by A.E. Cannon

Pretty Like Us by Carol Lynch Williams

The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck

A Christmas Grace by Anne Perry


We have a lot this week because people are sending me e-mails about books that I've missed. If you know of a title that I've missed, please let me know ASAP. I'd like to get all fiction titles published by LDS authors up on the blog by the end of the year.

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

Abinadi by H.B. Moore

Life in the Pit by Kritsen Landon

Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card

Dragonlance: The Survivors by Dan Willis/Tracy Hickman

Alcatraz vs the Scrivener's Bones by Brandon Sanderson

Clear as the Moon by Chris Stewart

Taking Chances by Shannon Guymon




Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest.


P.S. Authors & Publishers—If you'd like to be a sponsor for this contest, contact me.

Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

Reunion by Allyson Braithwaite Condie

The Clone Elite by Steven L. Kent

Grace by Richard Paul Evans



Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest.


P.S. Authors & Publishers—If you'd like to be a sponsor for this contest, contact me.

Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

Promises to Keep: Diane's Story by Dean Hughes

The Indigo King by James A. Owen

Above and Beyond by Betsy Brannon Green


Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest.


P.S. Authors & Publishers—If you'd like to be a sponsor for this contest, contact me.

Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

Easterfield by Anna Jones Buttimore

The Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3) by Brandon Sanderson

Royal Target by Traci Hunter Abramson


Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest.


P.S. Authors & Publishers—If you'd like to be a sponsor for this contest, contact me.

Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

Leven Thumps and the Wrath of Ezra by Obert Skye

Night's Master by Amanda Ashley

Isabelle Webb: Legend of the Jewel by N.C. Allen


Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest.


P.S. Authors & Publishers—If you'd like to be a sponsor for this contest, contact me.

Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

The Highway Man of Tanglewood by Marcia Lynn McClure

Bethlehem's Star by Bevan Olsen

The Ruby by Jennie Hansen

The Elf and the Magic Windows by Ted Hindmarsh



Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest.


P.S. Authors & Publishers—If you'd like to be a sponsor for this contest, contact me.

Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:


The Hometown Weekly by Bruce Lindsay

Recovering Charles by Jason F. Wright

Epicenter by Sonia O'Brien


Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest.


P.S. Authors & Publishers—If you'd like to be a sponsor for this contest, contact me.

Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

Day of Remembrance by David G. Woolley

The Eyes of a Stranger by Rachel Ann Nunes

The Wyrmling Horde by David Farland

FarWorld: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage


Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest. Now that the Summer Book Trek is over, the free book contest is open to everyone again.


P.S. Authors & Publishers—If you'd like to be a sponsor for this contest, contact me.

Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

Dark Curse by Christine Feehan

Stones Quest: Redemption of the Curse (vol 3) by LaRene R. Ellis

Meeting Amazing Grace by Gary & Joy Lundberg


Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest. Now that the Summer Book Trek is over, the free book contest is open to everyone again.


P.S. Authors & Publishers—If you'd like to be a sponsor for this contest, contact me.

Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

The Apple Trees of Tschlin by G.M. Kearney; illus. Rebecca Miller

The Legend of the Kukui Nut by Robert Brandon Henderson; illus. Mark McKenna

Santa's Secret by Christy Hardman and Phil Porter

The Santa Letters by Stacy Gooch-Anderson

Her Good Name by Josi S. Kilpack

The Sound of Rain by Anita Stansfield

Don't Cry Wolf by Clair M. Poulson


Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest. Now that the Summer Book Trek is over, the free book contest is open to everyone again.


P.S. Authors & Publishers—If you'd like to be a sponsor for this contest, contact me.

LDSPs Summer Book Trek Wrap-Up Post

I've finished my reading for the Summer Book Trek and here is my wrap-up post. (Details on wrapping up here.) I thought I was going to read these books. But instead, I read these:

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Farworld by J. Scott Savage

Surprise Packages by Lael Littke, Carroll Morris, Nancy Anderson

Angel Falling Softly by Eugene Woodbury (I read this on vacation. Will post thoughts soon.)

I've started Traitor and will also read Freefall, but not before the end of the Trek.


Now to answer the wrap-up questions:

1. How many fiction books by LDS authors did you read? Four (that I'm willing to admit to here; I actually read 12 but if I disclose the full list, LY will be able to discern my true identity.)

2. Did you read more than you would have read if you hadn't participated in this book trek? Yes. I read more LDS fiction and did not read much national fiction.

3. Did the reviews posted by other participants influence which titles you read? How? Yes. I read Surprise Packages because of several good reviews. I also read Angel Falling Softly because of the "buzz."

4. Did the Whitney awards influence which titles you read? How? No, because I'd already read all of 2007 nominees and winners. But had I not read them, they would have shaped my list.

5. Did the many, many virtual blog tours that happened this summer influence which titles you read? How? Yes. I read Farworld (and a few undisclosed others) because of the blog tours.

6. Did you finish all the books you had planned to read? If not, why? No. Others took precedence.

7. Did you discover any new authors whom you now love? Yes. A few national writers that I didn't realize were LDS.

8. Did you nominate any of the books you read for Whitney awards? Not yet. I'm waiting till the end of the year to do it.

9. Would you be interested in another LDS themed reading challenge either this winter, or next summer? Yes. This was fun.

Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:


Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Watch Me by Brenda Novak


Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest.


P.S. Authors & Publishers—I'm out of sponsors for weekly LDS Fiction blog contest. Sponsors agree to ship a copy of their book to the winner of the contest. If you'd like to be a sponsor, contact me.

Newly Released LDS Fiction

We're going to take a short break from the hornets' nests because today is Friday and on Friday, we feature new titles by LDS authors. We will hit the last of these related topics on Monday.

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

Runaway Amanda by Leora Potter

Lost Luke by Leora Potter

A Soldier's Secret by RaeAnne Thayne


Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest.

P.S. Authors & Publishers—I'm out of sponsors for weekly LDS Fiction blog contest. Sponsors agree to ship a copy of their book to the winner of the contest. If you'd like to be a sponsor, contact me.

Hornet's Nest #1: Books Posted on the LDS Fiction Blog

Dear LDS Publisher,

I don't want to stir up a hornet's nest, but. . . I noticed that Angel Falling Softly is a current sponsor for your blog. I have some real issues with this book and its portrayal of LDS theology. It angers me that it's being billed as an "LDS" book when it clearly would be offensive to most LDS readers. Do you have a problem with this book sponsoring you, since you label yourself as an LDS publisher? How do you feel about this?

Also, I noticed that a couple of books on your LDS Fiction blog have content warning labels, but this book doesn't. Why not? And why do you post books with content warning labels anyway? If the books are antagonistic to LDS teachings, and therefore not really LDS fiction, why not delete them from the blog entirely, especially since you're calling your other blog "LDS Fiction"? It would seem that a book with explicit s*x scenes or promoting behaviors that aren't in line with LDS teachings shouldn't be called LDS fiction.

I don't mean to offend here. Just want to understand.

A hornet's nest? You've got a whole slew of nests here. That's okay. I can handle hornets.

As I see it, the issues you've raised are:

1. Books posted on the LDS Fiction blog that not may uphold LDS standards.


2. Sponsors of this blog and the LDS Fiction blog that may not uphold LDS standards.


3. LDS authors that write books that may not uphold LDS standards.


4. Books marketed to LDS readers and promoted as LDS fiction that may not uphold LDS standards.


5. Angel Falling Softly, as a specific example of the above.

Did I miss any? Let's separate these issues and deal with them one at a time, starting with today's issue.


Books on the LDS Fiction Blog:
When I started the LDS Fiction blog, my intent was to inform LDS readers of newly published fiction books written by LDS authors. The only conditions I set for books finding a spot on that blog were that 1) they be fiction, 2) they be published (not just e-books), and 3) the authors be LDS. Even though I've personally encountered books by LDS authors that made me uncomfortable, it never crossed my mind that I might need some provision for LDS authors publishing books with highly offensive content on the blog. Silly me.

I have not read every book listed over on the LDS Fiction blog. I haven't even read a majority of them. While I wish I could, I don't have the time or money required to purchase and read every book published by every LDS author in any given year. If someone would like to pay me a salary to do this and provide me with the books, I'd be happy to quit my day job and start a book review blog and give you my completely unbiased and highly educated opinion on each and every one of these books, but until then, I count on you, my blog readers, to help me out.

And you've been great about this. I appreciate that you send me e-mails suggesting titles to add and tell me about LDS authors who publish nationally or who self-publish in small niche markets. I count on your input and I couldn't maintain that blog without it.

I also count on you to comment about these books. Just because someone is LDS does not mean they write books with characters who adhere to or promote LDS standards of living. Nor does it mean they use language (descriptive or dialog) with which the average LDS reader would be comfortable. Not only can we, as fiction readers, help each other find great books by leaving positive comments on the LDS Fiction blog about the books we read, but we also owe it to each other to comment when we find something offensive.

The first time I got an e-mail about a book containing offensive content, I spent some time thinking about how to handle it. I admit that my first knee-jerk reaction was to take the book post down because I don't want to offend. I want to uplift and enlighten and entertain. But then I talked to quite a few people about it—readers, authors and publishers. Is there a line that I, as blog owner, need to define and draw? Where is that line? Is it only for sexually related content? Do I include violence and gritty real-life issues? What about swearing—are certain words okay, but others not? Whose sensibilities do I honor or protect? How many people need to be offended before I take a book off the blog?

After lots of thought and prayer on the matter, I decided that if a book met my original criteria—published fiction by an LDS author, I would give it a place on the blog. However, if I read a book that I think will be offensive to others, or a reader makes a comment or sends an e-mail about offensive material in a book, I will put a warning on the post.

Hopefully, you will put your own warnings on such posts, as this commenter did. Don't just say, "This book was offensive." Tell us in general terms what was offensive, such as, "This book had more swearing than I'm comfortable with."

If we post our honest opinions, feelings, and reactions to the books we're reading, then others who read our comments will be able to make an educated decision about whether or not they want to read the book.

What do you think?



(We'll tackle hornet's nest #2 tomorrow.)

Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

Flashback by J. Michael Hunter

Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest.



And speaking of contest winners.
Rachelle and LY won prizes for last month's contest and haven't sent me their mailing addresses yet. If you want your prize, get me your address by the end of next week or I'll give your books to someone else.

Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

Pillage by Obert Skye

Stop Me by Brenda Novak

Servant to a King by Sariah S. Wilson


Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest.

Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

Angel Falling Softly by Eugene Woodbury

Emma: Woman of Faith by Anita Stansfield

All's Fair by Julie Coulter Bellon

The Journey by J. Adams


Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest.

Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

The Celestial City by Chad Daybell

Time and Eternity by E.M. Tippets


Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest.

Newly Posted LDS Fiction

This week's new titles over on the LDS Fiction blog:

The Prairie Prince by Marcia Lynn McClure

Upon Eagle's Light by Clover Autrey

Last Wish: Passage of Promise by Tom Roulstone


Did we miss any? If we did, let me know.


We've also posted the next contest and the winner of last week's contest.