Best of
Lds-Fiction

2004

Undercurrents


Traci Hunter Abramson - 2004
    She now has a new name, a new life, and strict orders not to reveal her secret. But fitting into a community is hard when you can't tell people anything about yourself. When she learns that one of her new friends, Matt Whitmore, is LDS, she can't even tell him that she's a Mormon too.She doesn't dare get involved. The fact that Matt's father is a high-profile senator could give her the kind of exposure she doesn't need. How can you fall in love when you can never reveal who you really are? But when someone almost takes her life, Shaye recognizes that whoever is after her knows exactly who and where she is.  Can she trust Matt to help her? Can she trust his family?

The Captain of Her Heart


Anita Stansfield - 2004
    As the brooding mists of war settle over a stark American battlefield, Captain Ritcherd Buchanan yearns for his native England—and for Kyrah Payne, the woman he loves. Wounded and disheartened, he eventually returns home, only to have Kyrah torn cruelly away from him and deported for a crime she didn’t commit. Desperate to bring her home, he joins a band of privateers and finds himself embracing the American patriot cause—a cause he’d once sworn to defeat. All alone in a country at war, Kyrah becomes a victim of the breach between her own impoverished circumstances and the aristocratic upbringing of the man she loves. They had been best friends and confidants for more than half her life, but now she wonders if Ritcherd will ever be able to find her—or if he’ll even try. And she fears that the chasm between their worlds can never be bridged.

Of Goodly Parents


H.B. Moore - 2004
    A deeply divided family led by Lehi and his son Nephi leaves the ancient city of Jerusalem and flees into the Arabian wilderness to make their long journey towards a promised land.

What the Doctor Ordered


Sierra St. James - 2004
    They can barely speak a civil word to each other when they find themselves in the same room. But Aunt Bertie, who is not crazy, just -eccentric- knows that John and Ellie belong together, and she's doing all she can to further their cause. When Ellie comes to Colton Idaho, to spend the summer with Aunt Bertie and prove to her parents that her aunt doesn't belong in an assisted-care facility, the confusion begins. Bertie's determination to marry Ellie off to Dr. John Flynn leads to a hilarious string of miscommunications in this delightful romantic comedy.

Apocalypse, The Unveiling: A Novel About The Earth's Last Days


Wendie L. Edwards - 2004
    Struggling with the trials of loss, each learns that life is precious. Through tragedy they come face to face with their hidden strengths as they remember the true source of all power. As righteousness increases among the Saints, one sells his soul for worldly power. Through a miraculous physical transformation, the dragon moves to unite the world under one power…his power! To all a message of warning: Satan is roaming the world as a lion looking for souls to consume. The end of days approaches. The truth of heaven is unveiled through missions of angels as well as men. The APOCALYPSE unfolds. It is the end of days and all is in commotion!

Vanished


Lynn Gardner - 2004
    In Maggie McKenzie's case, the saying is not only true, but the starting point for a troubling--and deadly--mystery.Maggie has just begun her first job as a full-fledged newspaper reporter. It’s a dream come true. But soon the young journalist finds she is captivated by what should be old news – a girl who vanished years ago – who looks amazingly like her. Intrigued by what she has heard about the missing girl, Maggie takes advantage of her travels for another assignment to try to solve the mystery of Alyssa Lawson’s disappearance. While on her cross-country quest, Maggie meets psychologist Dr. Flynn Ford, who is interested in helping her solve the puzzle--and in getting to know Maggie better. But as the pair inches closer to the truth, witnessed begin turning dead. And it appears Maggie and Flynn could be next. Could the woman Maggie thinks might be her sister be trying to kill her?

Refining Fire


Linda Paulson Adams - 2004
    Peter and Alyssa have been reunited-but their hearts seem miles apart as they face the resulting chaos. Alyssa discovers perplexing spiritual gifts, and Peter struggles to lead his family in the wake of his father's kidnapping and disappearance. Is there any hope to rekindle the love they once shared?

Out of the Shadows Into the Light


Candace E. Salima - 2004
    Almost three years to the day of her son's kidnapping, U.S. Marshal Slade Taggart arrives on her doorstep, bringing news of Todd's imminent capture. If all goes well, Patrick will be home within twenty-four hours. Caroline struggles to remain strong when she soon receives news that Todd had eluded the authorities once again. In desperation, Caroline vows to pursue him herself. Slade joins her, and the pair head into one of the most vicious Wyoming blizzards ever, facing the rigors of weather, nature, and drug cartel assassins. In the midst of this, Caroline isn't sure she needs a tall, good-looking U.S. Marshal to complicate matters, but Slade knows he wants this strong, righteous, beautiful Wyoming rancher in his life.

A Caroling Christmas


Julie Warnick - 2004
    That's how Carl feel about his now wife's family tradition of sharing Christmas carols and plates of homemade goodies with lonely neighbors. It seems to him that there are so many better ways to spend and evening, so many more effective ways of helping people. yet, as he joins with aunts, uncles, children, and grandparents to take part in this annual event, his eyes are gradually opened to the power of touching lives in simple, caring ways. A Caroling Christmas strikes a tender chord in today's busy world, bringing home this true spirit and warmth of the holiday season.

Walk to Hope: In the Time of Joseph Smith


Carol Lynch Williams - 2004
    Laurel runs into the woods with her brother, and into a series of adventures that prove she is braver than she ever dreamed.

Foul Play


Betsy Brannon Green - 2004
    Billie Murphy, a public relations representative and parttime fiction writer, has been watching from the sidelines. But not for long. Soon forces beyond her control will draw her into a deadly game of fraud and deceit initiated by those who will stop at nothing-even murder-to win. To survive, Billie must trust a man whose reassuring exterior hides a devastating past. But time is running out. . . Foul Play, by master storyteller Betsy Brannon Green, is an emotionally charged romantic thriller that will keep you glued to each suspense-filled page.

Comfortable in My Own Genes


Tamra Norton - 2004
    Along the way she discovers that finding her true identity and selfworth is the greatest story of all.Dani longs to feel special and appreciated, just like her beautiful, perfect older sister, Trista. In a journalism class, Dani is reunited with Jarret Allen, an old childhood friend. Jarret helps Dani recognize that she doesn't need to change her outward appearance to feel good on the inside.Tamra Norton has once again created a marvelous story full of witty humor and enchanting characters. Her charming style draws you in to the main character's life. This story is a treasure for all to enjoy!

Surprising Marcus


Donald S. Smurthwaite - 2004
    Which presents me with two choices: Do I play along and wait until all is revealed and declare genuine surprise and pleasure, assuming the cabal has something to do with me? Or do I launch an investigation, searching for clues, weighing evidence, trying to separate truth from fiction, and hoping that one of the conspirators caught scheming in some undeniable way, spills all, and I have my moment of triumph?Marcus Hathaway, the main character in Fine Old High Priests and A Wise, Blue Autumn, is turning seventy-five. Reaching that milestone causes him to reflect, not only on the events of his life but also on what lies ahead, when his time on earth will finally run out. In the tender and insightful way his readers have come to expect, author Donald Smurthwaite recounts both the humorous and somber events in Marcus's life, finding in his marriage, love for his family, church service, friendships, and occupation ample evidence of a rich life, well-lived. Marcus may whimsically wonder if there are such things as golf and fly-fishing to be enjoyed in heaven, but his real concerns are universal: do our earthly relationships continue, and how does one best prepare to pass from here to there? If you are a father or a grandfather, or if you've ever loved a dad or a grandpa, you'll be grateful for this comforting reaffirmation that mortality, in spite of the setbacks and disappointments it may bring us, is itself a wonderful journey and a prelude to the joy of a glorious eternal life. About the Author Donald S. Smurthwaite graduate from Brigham Young University in communications and now works as a communications specialist for a federal agency. He is the author of several novels, including Fine Old High Priests; A Wise, Blue Autumn; and Letters by a Half-Moon. He and his wife, Shannon, are the parents of four children and live in Boise, Idaho.

My Mom's a Mortician (Kevin Kirk Chronicles, Vol. 1)


Patricia Wiles - 2004
    After all, normal people don’t live in houses with dead bodies downstairs! Once in Armadillo, Arkansas, Kevin tries to adapt to the family business. When he’s targeted by the biggest bully in the seventh grade, Kevin begins to “hear” advice from an unlikely source — Cletus McCulley, an old Mormon fisherman and one of his mother’s dead customers. Cletus’s messages from beyond the grave lead Kevin to uncover not only the bully’s secrets, but the truth about a family tragedy that shattered his parents’ faith and led them away from God. It’s up to Kevin to find the courage to face the bully, and to find a way to help his family heal. Winner of the 2004 Middle Grade Fiction Award from the Association for Mormon Letters.“This portrayal of small-town Mormon life sets an excellent example for future children’s novels set outside the highly-concentrated Mormon communities of the West.”—Association for Mormon Letters

Spyhunt


Michele Ashman Bell - 2004
    S. Ambassador. They are especially excited about having time to play their favorite game, Spyhunt, which takes them all over the city, riding busses, streetcars and subways in search of imaginary adventures. But for some reason, Seth and Sadie’s parents are more concerned than usual about the twins’ safety. To make matters worse, they announce that a blind boy named Fami is going to spend several weeks with them. The twins are afraid their fun will be over before it begins. Then they discover that Fami is a great kid who enjoys doing the things they like best. In the midst of their fun, the children spot a mysterious man who seems to pop up everywhere they go. Soon Seth, Sadie, and Fami will have an opportunity to play Spyhunt for real—in a dangerous game that puts their lives in jeopardy.

Angels Can Laugh Too: The Chronicles of a Guardian Angel


Alberta Rothe Nielson - 2004
    I know because now I am one, and the transition from mortal to angel was, if I might jest, once-in-a-lifetime experience . . . Randolph Rippenhoffer, better known as R2 (R Squared), has just been given an otherworldly assignment—to be a guardian angel to those on Earth. His job is to influence people for good and try to preserve the precious institution of the family. Join R2 as he begins his angelic mission to help people through dark times, and rejoice with them in good times. Along the way he touches the lives of everyone from a bronc-riding cowboy to a boxcar full of Jewish orphans. He helps others to recognize the small miracles that surround them.

Blossoms of Faith


Launi K. Anderson - 2004
    You know my Ma and her flowers. Pa says the six flowers he brings to Dixie will be plenty enough to beautify the whole countryside. He means, of course, Ma, my sisters and me. Volume 2 of the In the Times of the Prophets series Life is good for Violet's family in Salt Lake City during the early 1860s. Violet has a best friend, Mattie, who is like a sister to her. Then Brigham Young asks Violet's family to help the Saints settle southern Utah and grow cotton. The prophet's request comes unexpectedly, but they go willingly. Violet promises to write faithfully to Mattie and tell her about their adventures there. Violet soon learns that life in St. George is much different than in Salt Lake City. Wild animals live in the hills, wood is hard to find, and between the dry spells and the floods, plants just won't grow. Violet has a plan to get some flowers for their mother, though, resulting in a surprise for Violet's whole family.

Miracles for Michael


Joann Arnold - 2004
    Social workers place him under the charge of two women--Harley-riding Samantha Porter and her spinster sister, Hannah Allen. As they care for him, Michael visits his mother each day in the hospital, singing and reading to her, and his spirit touches the town in miraculous ways. When his unloving grandparents try to take custody of young Michael, his local caregivers resist them in court and help to shape Michael's future in a series of events that climax on a wonderful, life-changing Christmas day.

The Maybe Saint


Lisa Ray Turner - 2004
    

Search for the Bark Warwick (Warwick Saga, Volume 1)


Sherry Ann Miller - 2004
    A historical novel based on a real hero of 1630'3 England.