Waiting On Wednesday: The Evaporation of Sofi Snow

November 30, 2016

Waiting On Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. 
Each week offers the opportunity to spotlight an up-and-coming- release you are most excited about. 

Waiting On:
Title: The Evaporation of Sofi Snow
Author: Mary Weber
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: June 6th, 2017

Synopsis:
From GoodReads
For fans of Ender s Game and Blade Runner comes a story of video gaming, blood, and power.

Ever since the Delonese ice-planet arrived eleven years ago, Sofis dreams have been vivid. Alien. In a system where Earth s corporations rule in place of governments and the humanoid race orbiting the moon are allies, her only constant has been her younger brother, Shilo. As an online gamer, Sofi battles behind the scenes of Earths Fantasy Fighting arena where Shilo is forced to compete in a mix of real and virtual blood sport. But when a bomb takes out a quarter of the arena, Sofis the only one who believes Shilo survived. She has dreams of him. And shes convinced hes been taken to the ice-planet.

Except no one but ambassadors are allowed there.

For Miguel Earths charming young playboy the games are of a different sort. As Ambassador to the Delonese, his career has been built on trading secrets and seduction. Until the Fantasy Fight s bomb goes off. Now the tables have turned and he s a target for blackmail. The game is simple: Help the blackmailers, or lose more than anyone can fathom, or Earth can afford.

From the award-winning author of the Storm Siren Trilogy, step into a diverse cast of characters spanning from the electric metropolises of earth to the chilling alien planet above, in a story of re-finding yourself in the midst of losing the one thing you love. Before it all evaporates.
Why I'm Waiting:
I absolutely loved Storm Siren by Mary Weber. I can not wait to read this new story. It sounds to have the perfect mix of fantasy, political intrigue, and many other elements. I think this is going to be another book to dive into and lose all sense of time.

And look how awesome the cover is!!

What are you waiting on this week?


Top Ten Tuesday: Holiday Gift Guide for the Contemporary Lover

November 29, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
Each week features a book related topic that offers the opportunity to spotlight your Top Ten.


Topic:
Holiday Gift Guide for Contemporary Books
We all know people who like certain genres. Recently, I focused on books that are Biblical based, Civil War based, and just Historical. I have yet to feature Contemporary based books. So, with the Christmas coming, here are the books I would buy for the people who love Contemporary stories. 

 


1. The Promise by Beth Wiseman
3. Friend Me by John Faubion
4. Always On My Mind by Susan May Warren

 
 5. All My Belongings by Cynthia Ruchti
6. The Dandelion Field by Kathryn Springer
7. Dancing with Fireflies by Denise Hunter
8. The Last Witness by Glenn Meade
9. Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade
10. Submerged by Dani Pettrey
11. Here to Stay by Melissa Tagg
 
 I would recommend any of these books to any one looking for a good contemporary read. 

What would you recommend for a gift this holiday season?

Waiting On Wednesday: Wings on the Wind

November 23, 2016

Waiting On Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. 
Each week offers the opportunity to spotlight an up-and-coming book you are most excited about. 

Waiting On:
Title: Wings on the Wind
Author: Connilyn Cossette
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: May 2nd, 2017

Synopsis: 
From Good Reads
Alanah, a Canaanite, is no stranger to fighting and survival. When her family is killed in battle with the Hebrews, she disguises herself and sneaks onto the battlefield to avenge her family. The one thing she never counted on was surviving.

Tobiah, a Hebrew warrior, is shocked to find an unconscious, wounded woman among the Canaanite casualties. Compelled to bring her to a Hebrew healer back at their camp, he is soon confronted with a truth he can’t ignore: the only way to protect this enemy is to marry her.


Unused to being weak and vulnerable, Alanah submits to the marriage—for now. As she comes to know and respect Tobiah and his people, however, she begins to second-guess her plans of escape. But when her past has painfully unanticipated consequences, the tentative peace she’s found with Tobiah, the Hebrews, and Yahweh is shaken to the core. Can Alanah’s fierce heart and strength withstand the ensuing threats to her life and all she’s come to love?
Why I'm Waiting: 
I have really enjoyed the first 2 books in this series. They have been so well written and offered some very interesting perspectives and angles from the story of Mose. I can't wait to read the final book and see how these characters close out.

What are you waiting on this week?


Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'm Thankful For

November 22, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 
Each week features a book related topic that offers the opportunity to spotlight your Top Ten. 

Topic:
Books you are thankful for! 

There are actually many books I am thankful for. As a child, I had issues reading, I am dyslexic and have a processing disorder. So, it made reading very difficult. Once I had the tutoring and teaching I needed to help over come and work with and around the issues, I was able to dive into reading with a passion. My Grandpa, Mom, and Aunt all helped me in finding books that I loved, so because of them, there are many books I am thankful for. 


 Charlotte's Web, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe were bought for me when I was first learning to read and they hold a place in my heart. The Little House Series and Love Comes Softly Series were both given to me as gifts after I had become stable in reading and they were the first real novels I devoured. Mara: Daughter of the Nile was the first school book I enjoyed. The books by Stephen Bly opened up the world of Christian fiction for me. If I hadn't read his stories, it would have taken me longer to find the books I love now. 

You may be wondering why you see Twilight on my list. I went through a rough patch and hadn't read a book in a few years. This series helped me get back into reading. From there I read Harry Potter and Outlander. These stories got me back into reading and I'm thankful for that. 



What are you thankful for this week?

Review: Shadowed in the Storm by Connilyn Cossette

November 21, 2016

Title: Shadow of the Storm
Author: Connilyn Cossette
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 352
ISBN: 978-0-7642-1821-7
Publication Date: October 18th, 2016

Synopsis: 
In the darkness of the storm's shadow, only truth can light her way.
Having escaped Egypt with the other Hebrews during the Exodus, Shira is now living in freedom at the foot of Mount Sinai. When the people rebel by worshiping a golden idol, the ensuing chaos gives Shira an unexpected opportunity to assist a midwife. When the experience awakens a new desire in her, she defies her mother's wish for her to continue in the family weaving trade and pursues her heart's calling as an apprentice midwife.

But when a delivery goes horribly wrong, Shira finds herself in an impossible situation and bound to a man who betrayed her. As contention between the Hebrew tribes and the foreigners fans the flames of another dangerous rebellion, Shira comes face to face with the long-hidden pain of her past. Can she let go of all that has defined her to embrace who she truly is and believe in a hopeful future?
Review:
I have been anxiously awaiting this book. I fell in love with the first book in this series, Counted with the Stars. It was a fresh perspective on the story of Moses. I enjoyed the idea and thought. Book two in the Out of Egypt series, Shadow of the Storm, picks up right where book one ended, which I was thankful for. 

Shadow of the Storm follows Shira, a young Jewish woman we met in book one. She was a wonderful character in Counted, and I was very happy to have this book expand into her story. Shira is a strong woman. She lived as a slave in Egypt, now she is free and traveling in the dessert with her family, and the rest of the Jewish people who escaped. 

We open this book at the base of Mt. Sinai. Shira and her family are hiding in their tent as the revelry at the base of the mount grows, as the people celebrate the golden calf. Shira and her family await Moses' return. When he does, the people who participated are dealt with and the community moves on. However, some people haven't moved on from the night that they loss parts of their family. 

We follow Shira as the time moves on. Shira was raised  knowing her moms talent, but since coming out of Egypt, Shira was introduced to her aunt's profession and she knew that was her calling. Following her through her training and watching her grow in many ways was a fantastic journey. 

I can not wait to see how this series wraps up with book three. 

Too Read
4 out of 5
 
About the Author:
When she is not homeschooling her two sweet kids (with a full pot of coffee at hand), Connilyn Cossette is scribbling notes on spare paper, mumbling about her imaginary friends, and reading obscure, out-of-print history books. There is nothing she likes better than digging into the rich, ancient world of the Bible and uncovering buried gems of grace that point toward Jesus. Her novel Counted With the Stars won the 2013 Frasier Contest and was a semifinalist in the 2013 ACFW Genesis Contest. Although a Pacific Northwest native, she now lives near Dallas, Texas.

Connect with her at www.connilyncossette.com.


Thank you to the Publisher, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. 


Review: Where Jesus Slept by Norma Lewis

November 17, 2016

Title: Where Jesus Slept
Author: Norma Lewis
Illustrator: Katy Hudson
Publisher: Worthy Kids
Pages: 32
ISBN: 978-0-8249-5679-0
Publication Date: October 4th, 2016

Synopsis:
“This is the bed where Jesus slept. This is the straw that lined the bed where Jesus slept.” From here, the story builds with each spread, adding a new element and explaining the relationships among the participants and witnesses to the first Christmas. From Jesus sleeping sweetly to the wise men bringing gifts, this charming book reminds readers young and not-so-young of the joyous event we celebrate at Christmastime. Children will love the delightful illustrations and the engaging repetition in this cumulative tale.
Review:
It is hard to believe we are already half way through November. Christmas is fast approaching. It may not feel like it just yet here, but I'm excited none-the-less. Christmas is an amazing time of the year. There are so many things to look forward to. One of my favorite traditions is pulling out my old favorite Christmas stories and sharing them with my kiddo.

Where Jesus Slept is one of those stories, that you want to hang on to and add it to your Christmas book collection. This was a beautifully illustrated story! The rhyming was a good pace and kept it smooth for reading aloud.

For young children, explaining the story of Jesus' birth can bring about some questions, "What is a manger?" "What does a stable look like?" This book I thought broke it down in a sweet way to point out to young children the story of baby Jesus and made it understandable to them. The color and pictures of the book just popped off of the page and brought the story all together perfectly.

I also enjoyed how the book started and ended with Bible verses. They were the perfect bookends.

Too Read
5 out of 5

About the Author:
Norma Lewis is the author of ten books, including Connecting the Coasts: The Race to Build the Transcontinental Railroad and Kasey's River Song. She lives in Grand Haven, Michigan, with a marmalade cat named Scalawag. They both love spending time with her six grandchildren, ranging in age from three to twenty. 

About the Illustrator:
Katy Hudson was raised in Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, and started her career as a small child drawing on freshly painted walls! Her parents quickly encouraged drawing with pencil and paper instead. The idea stuck, and after earning a degree in illustration, Katy embarked on a career illustrating books, including All Things Bright and Beautiful for WorthyKids/Ideals and Bear and Duck. Katy works at a desk in a studio in an old library and likes to tap dance in her spare time.

Thank you FlyBy Promotions, I recieved a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.


Top Ten Tuesday: Movie Freebie

November 15, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 
Each week features a book related topic that offers the opportunity to spotlight your Top Ten. 

Topic:
Movie Freebie

For this topic, to keep it book related (and because if I had to pick my favorite movies, I would be all over the place), I'm going with books that I think would make great movies.
And by great movie, it plays out exactly like a book. :-) 

Ok, make this books I wish could be turned into series or mini-series movies. That would work. Outlander and Game of Thrones have proven it is doable. 


 Each and everyone of these stories was fantastic while reading them. They were vivid and detailed to the point where, when I read them, I watched them unfold in my imagination and they were gorgeous! I could see each of these books transferring to the screen.


 What is your Top Ten this week? Did you focus on books or movies?


Waiting On Wednesday: Murder on the Moor

November 9, 2016

Waiting On Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.
Each week offers the opportunity to spotlight an up-and-coming release you are most excited about.

Waiting On:
Title: Murder on the Moor
Author: Julianna Deering
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: January 3rd, 2016

Synopsis:
From GoodReads
Mystery Awaits on the Mysterious Yorkshire Moors 

At the urgent request of an old school friend, Drew and Madeline Farthering come to Bloodworth Park Lodge in the midst of the Yorkshire moors, a place as moody and mysterious as a BrontE hero. There have been several worrisome incidents out on the moor--property destroyed, fires started, sheep and cattle scattered--and worst of all, the vicar has been found dead on the steps of the church. 


Drew's friend is obviously smitten with his bride of eight months, though it's hard to imagine what she sees in the awkward man. Drew can't help wondering if her affections lie more with the man's money and estate, while her romantic interests focus on their fiery Welsh gamekeeper. As the danger grows ever closer, it's up to Drew to look past his own prejudices, determine what is really going on, and find the killer before it's too late.
Why I'm Waiting:
I have really enjoyed this series so far. I love the setting and the time period that it is set in. Julianna's writing is fun and captures everything in a way that draws you into the story. The mysteries keep you reading and guessing through out the story.

What are you waiting on this week?

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