upbooks.htm.htm

The Spirit of Elijah Series: Vol. II - Test of Time ∙ The Depression swept across the nation like a dust storm, leaving everything in its path desolate and without hope. John Thorpe spends half his time working on his father's farm, trying to grow crops in the harsh New Mexico soil. The rest of his time is spent working long hours at his uncle's mill. Try as he might, his finances never seem to improve, and he despairs of ever being able to marry or serve a mission, the two dreams he's held dear since he was a boy. One day he meets the girl of his dreams, young Celia Barton, of the Hole-in-the-Rock Bartons. Clearly she's out of his league, but that doesn't stop him from falling in love with her. How can he overcome the objections to their union? And how will he ever be able to afford to marry or go on a mission? This story is loosely based on my own grandparents' love story, and will bring tears to your eyes as you read about their struggle. (Obviously you know they do end up together; I'm here, after all! :)

Faith Beyond Fear ∙ Shannon Tanner is an up-and-coming financial advisor with a future. Her boyfriend is on the brink of proposing, and she feels that her life is taking the right path. But her father suddenly comes down with a mysterious illness that no one can diagnose, and is confined to the hospital. As Shannon tries to deal with the prospect of losing her father, she discovers a plot to bring her family to financial ruin, and this discovery nearly costs her life.

This is my first contemporary novel and falls into the category "lighthearted contemporary suspense," if there is such a thing.

Forgive Not Forget ∙ This is the long-awaited sequel to Nothing to Regret. Ken and Catherine have been through a great deal together, but the trials haven't ended yet. Their daughter, Sunny, decides to have life-threatening plastic surgery to remove the scars she received from the atomic bomb. A strange sickness begins to overtake Catherine, and Ken realizes that he still has issues with his past that must be resolved if he's ever going to be able to move on.

This is a continuation of the raw emotion so evident in Nothing to Regret carried through as the story of the Sugiharas comes to life again.

You're Never Alone (Working Title) ∙ Divorce rates are climbing like never before. One statistic I recently heard stated that every day, over 2000 couples separate. This subject holds a special interest for me because my parents divorced when I was a teenager. In You're Never Alone, I talk to teens openly and honestly about my own situation, all the feelings I experienced, and how I eventually found out that I was okay. I also include thoughts and feelings from today's teenagers. There are no cheesy cliches in this book, just straightforward talk that teens can relate to. This book is a must for every LDS teen with divorced parents, and parents could benefit from reading it too.