What if Nephilim—the children of angels and men—still walked the earth? And their very presence put the entire world in danger? In
Spirit Fighter, Jonah and Eliza Stone learn that their mother is a Nephilim and that they have special powers as quarter-angels. When their mom is kidnapped by fallen angels, they must use those powers to save her. Along the way, they discover that there is a very real and dangerous war going on between good and evil and that God has a big part for them to play in that war.
**Parents today are looking for fiction that makes Christianity and the Bible exciting for their kids. This series is the Christian answer to Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Kane Chronicles, The Secret Series and other middle-grade series packed with adventure, action, and supernatural fights. Son of Angels, Jonah Stone will be the first series in the market to explore this topic from a biblical perspective with content that is appropriate and exciting for middle-grade readers.
My Review:
Wow! Spirit Fighter is an amazing book! I was completely enthralled with the story from the very beginning. I loved the depth of emotion and realistic situations that Jonah faced in the first few chapters. Then to lead into the paranormal portion, where he finds out he is part "Angel" was captivating. I loved this book and could not put it down.
Jonah and Eliza are faced with difficult situations beyond their control, and through each encounter find that as their faith in God grows, they become stronger and are able to defeat the Enemies' forces. Using their knowledge of scripture, their growing faith and trust in God, and each other; they are able to face the enemy and accomplish things that no mortal could ever imagine being able to do.
This book shows young people, (and older ones like me as well) that we truly can do amazing things when we trust God's instructions, rely on Him and remember that "faith" is the key!
Some of my thoughts as I was reading along:
* I know my son will LOVE this if he reads it.
* My daughter will love this in a couple more years!
* This is a great book for school libraries to have on hand.
Yes, this is a Christian Fiction book that is full of adventure, danger, and faith in God. Young boys will love this, and young girls will as well! Having the main characters, and hero/heroine in the story be a 13 year old boy and his 11 year old sister will interest young readers everywhere. I highly recommend this book for kids ages 9 to 109 (even "big kids" will love it too!)
I received one or more books or products in the post above for review purposes through Thomas Nelson. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. If you have any questions or comments, please see my FTC disclosure or Review Policy.
Love Inspired by Harlequin Available July 2012 Miniseries: Eagle Point Emergency Genre: Inspirational Romance
When he fled Eagle Point years ago, former air force trauma surgeon Mitch Wellington left only broken dreams behind. Now he's back with a new dream—opening a trauma center in the rural area and saving lives. He hopes to hire the quick-thinking nurse who impressed him during an emergency. But Lauren Bates lost her faith and doesn't believe she deserves to help anyone. Mitch knows firsthand what loss feels like. And it'll take all his devotion to show Lauren that sometimes the best medicine is a combination of faith, community—and love.
My Review:
I enjoyed reading The Doctor's Devotion by Cheryl Wyatt. I have read many Love Inspired books over the years and continue to be amazed at what each new author can come up with to keep their story unique. I fell in love with Mitch and Lauren from the beginning of this book, I felt completely captivated while reading their story, and loved the banter between the two of them and "Grandpa Lem". Their unique, yet close-knit family ties to Lem, as well as their past hurts, and determination endeared them each to me as I read through this story. I will definitely be giving this story high ratings! A great intro to author Cheryl Wyatt's miniseries: Eagle Point Emergency.
Reading about the struggles and trauma that each of the main characters, especially Mitch and Lauren, go through drew me into this story in such a way that I was unable to put my book down until I had read it from cover to cover. I found myself laughing often, tearing up a few times and completely absorbed in the story. I am hooked now on this miniseries and will be anxiously awaiting more stories about the characters I have grown to love in The Doctor's Devotion! I especially look forward to reading more about Ian's story!
About the Author:
Cheryl Wyatt's closest friends would never dream of the mayhem she plots during announcements at church. A Registered Nurse-turned-Stay-at-Home-Mom, joyful chaos rules her home and she delights in the stealth moments God gives her to write. She stays active in her church and in her laundry room. She's convinced that having been born on a naval base on Valentine's Day destined her to write military romance.
Her debut novels, A Soldier's Promise and A Soldier's Family release from Steeple Hill publishers in January and March 2008. Prior to publication, Cheryl was published in non-fiction and had six manuscripts place in twelve RWA contests.
I received one or more books or products in the post above for review purposes through Christian Fiction Blog Alliance. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. If you have any questions or comments, please see my FTC disclosure or Review Policy.
Where angels walk the ground and the future is told in song, does a man of low rank have a chance at love with a princess? In Camrithia, a land of shadows and mystical secrets, Trevin lives to serve King Laetham. But his heart belongs to the princess, Melaia. When the King sends Trevin on on a dangerous quest to find the missing comains—captains in the king’s army—he must leave Melaia to the advances of a swaggering Dregmoorian prince.
Challenged to prove his worth, Trevin throws himself into his quest. Striving to prove his love, Trevin undertakes a second mission—find the harps Melaia seeks in order to restore the stairway to heaven. Through fire caves, rogue winds, and murderous threats, Trevin remains steadfastly dedicated to his quest—even when he is falsely accused of a heinous crime. As Trevin’s time runs out, he realizes he must face the shame and horror of his own past and the nightmare that has come to life. Will he have the courage to finish what he has started?
My Review: Eye of the Sword is the second book in the Angelaeon Circle Series by author Karyn Henley. It takes up where the story left off in book one: Breath of Angel. Trevin's character intrigued me and drew me into the story from the beginning. His dedication to his quest and his desire to rescue and aid Melaia kept me in the story til the end. I hope the next book in the series comes quickly so I can continue reading and following along on Melaia and her friends' journeys and adventures. This is a good, clean YA book that is well-written and fun to read.
I received one or more books or products in the post above for review purposes through Blogging For Books. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. If you have any questions or comments, please see my FTC disclosure or Review Policy.
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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)
Fruit of My Spirit is a memoir of missteps and misdeeds in which Deanna Nowadnick writes of the hugeness of God’s love and faithfulness. Reframing life in God’s grace, she discovers an indescribable, indefinable, inexplicable love that has encircled her without fail throughout life. Fruit of My Spirit is for anyone who’s ever questioned God’s ability to love and forgive, who’s ever wondered about their place in God’s family or God’s place in theirs. Deanna offers hope for those who dare to question, who secretly wonder, and who fear to ask. Through stories of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, you will experience the enormity of God, too.
From the back cover: In a memoir of missteps and misdeeds, Deanna Nowadnick writes of the hugeness of God’s love and faithfulness. Reframing life in God’s grace, she discovers an indescribable, indefinable, inexplicable love that has encircled her without fail through joyous, sad, cringe-worthy, heartwarming, forgettable,memorable moments in life.
Fruit of My Spirit is for anyone who’s ever questioned God’s ability to love and forgive, who’s ever wondered about their place in God’s family or God’s place in theirs. Nowadnick offers hope for those who dare to question, who secretly wonder, and who fear to ask. Through stories of love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, you will experience the enormity of God, too.
This is Deanna Nowadnick’s first book. What started as short story for her sons quickly became a larger story. When not writing, she serves as the Client Service Coordinator for a financial advisor. She’s active in her church, playing the violin and editing the monthly newsletter. She loves to knit, adores chocolate, and most important, enjoys a blessed marriage to Kurt. Deanna lives in Monroe, WA.
My Review:
Fruit of My Spirit is memoir written by the author: Deanna Nowadnick. She tells about her Christian walk, human mistakes, and God's faithfulness and love throughout her life. She takes the reader through her life by sharing some personal experiences she has faced. This book is like a Bible study mixed with personal experiences, and each chapter ends with a familiar hymn. I enjoyed reading through this book, and will continue to read, reread and share it with others. The book is pretty well-written with a few instances where it could have been edited better. There were a few times I had to stop and reread through a paragraph to try to fully understand what the author was trying to say. Overall a nice book to share with family or friends, and keep handy on the coffee table or nightstand.
Available for purchase at most online retailers!
I received one or more books or products in the post above for review purposes only from the author. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. If you have any questions or comments, please see my FTC disclosure or Review Policy.
Parents, teachers, and others involved in shaping the character of girls have a lot on their minds:
Are girls really fundamentally different from boys? If so, should they be treated differently?
Whoever said that girls are “sugar and spice and everything nice” never met my teenager. What can I do?
My adolescent daughter seems to be on an emotional roller coaster. One minute she’s giddy with excitement; the next she’s moody and withdrawn. Is this normal?
As a mom, I so badly want to be “best friends” with my daughter. Why isn’t it working out the way I dreamed?
How does a dad’s role in his daughter’s life influence her character and decisions—including her eventual choice of a husband?
How can grandparents contribute to raising a healthy granddaughter?
What’s the best way to educate girls?
How are girls affected when their parents divorce?
What should we be doing to shape the next generation of women?
In Bringing Up Girls, Dr. James Dobson, America’s foremost authority on parenting, tackles these and many other questions, offering wisdom and encouragement based on a firm foundation of biblical principles. JAMES C. DOBSON, Ph.D., has devoted his career to helping children and families. A licensed psychologist and a marriage, family, and child counselor, he served on the faculty of the University of Southern California School of Medicine for 14 years and on the attending staff of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles for 17 years. He holds a Ph.D. in child development from the University of Southern California. Heavily involved in governmental activities related to the family, Dr. Dobson served on the task force that summarized the White House Conferences on Families and received a special commendation from President Jimmy Carter. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the National Advisory Commission to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. He has also served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Board on Missing and Exploited Children, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Panel on Teen Pregnancy Prevention, and the Commission on Child and Family Welfare.
From the Back Cover
The ultimate guide to raising our daughters right—from parenting expert and trusted family counselor Dr. James Dobson
Peer pressure. Eating disorders. Decisions about love, romance, and sex. Academic demands. Life goals and how to achieve them. These are just some of the challenges that girls today face—and the age at which they encounter them is getting younger and younger. As a parent, how are you guiding your daughter on her journey to womanhood? Are you equipping her to make wise choices? Whether she’s still playing with dolls or in the midst of the often-turbulent teen years, is she truly secure in her identity as your valued and loved daughter?
In Bringing Up Girls, widely acclaimed parenting expert Dr. James Dobson presents his highly anticipated companion book to the bestselling Bringing Up Boys. Based on the latest research, and handled with Dr. Dobson’s trademark down-to-earth approach, Bringing Up Girls will help you face the challenges of raising your daughters to become strong, healthy, and confident women who excel in life.
My Review:
Author Dr. James Dobson opens his book by relating the physiological and psychological differences between boys and girls. He starts by answering the question: What makes girls unique?
Throughout the book, Dr. Dobson backs up Everything he writes with current research. He discusses the importance of mothers and then fathers in a girl's life. He touches on the subject of discipline. He looks at modesty and why this is such an issue with girls today. And continues throughout the books to show instances of research related to our current culture and technological trends that affect girls particularly. He attempts to give parents a better understanding of why their little girls (and big girls) are the way they are are and to equip parents to raise these girls to be the young women God wants them to be.
I was very impressed with Bringing Up Girls (as I was with Bringing up Boys). It is written in much the same way. Showing the parents the cultural issues that Girls today must face, giving practical examples from real life girls and their parents, and discussing the positive and negative ways to deal with tough issues our girls will face growing up in today's culture. Although I know that Dr. Dobson's opinions on tough issues, such as modesty, sexual abstinance and stay at home mom's can offend some people; I find that his views are biblically based and founded on Christian principals. It is hard to go wrong when using clean, christian values to teach children to behave properly and in respectful ways.
I will continue to read and use this book with my 2 girls and pass it on to my family for their use as well. Dr. Dobson has once again written an informative and interesting book to help families with raising their children.
I received one or more books or products in the post above for review purposes only. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. If you have any questions or comments, please see my FTC disclosure or Review Policy.
Practical life lessons, real-life stories, and Scriptural truths for being the family that glorifies God.
In the first Faithful Families title, Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord, author and pastor Dave Stone shows parents that they have more influence on their kids than any other factor in their lives. Brimming with warmth and humor, Stone gives parents creative examples of how to help kids develop their own faith with ideas such as:
praying at significant times
encouraging kids to display Scripture in special places around the home
serving others alongside their parents.
Building Family Ties with Faith, Love & Laughter
Author: Dave Stone
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 978-1-4003-1872-8
Format: Hardcover
Price: $14.99
Pub date: 5/8/12
Creative ideas, real-life stories, and Scriptural guidance for being the family that loves being together.
The second Faithful Families book, Building Family Ties with Faith, Love & Laughter,gives parents tools to reprioritize their lives and build a joyful family that both children and parents want to come home to every day. Parents can follow easy, practical suggestions that will transform their families such as:
creating a family mission statement
practicing intentional spontaneity
pledging to enjoy family dinners together on a regular basis
It’s never too soon, or too late, to begin applying the tried and true wisdom this veteran of building strong families has to share.
My Review:
Author Dave Stone has an amazing talent to write much-needed advice and encouragement for families today. His easy to read writing style and no-nonsense suggestions are welcome in today's struggling times. Although I am a full-time Stay at Home Mom, I find myself regretting when my children and I have not spent quality time together during a week of busy schedules and hectic activities. From getting up early to get the "big" kids ready for school, to finding creative ways to keep my toddler from destroying a room I just cleaned when I turn my back ~ to evenings full of piano lessons, sports, tumbling and more. I find that time is fleeting and before I know it another week has passed with a few quick hugs and kisses, and the only time spent is hurrying them to their next activity, then quickly listening to night time prayers.
Dave Stone writes from his personal experiences in a way that makes me want to stop, pay attention, and try out some of his practical advice for my busy family. Both of these books: Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord and Building Faimly Ties with Faith, Loves & Laughter are great books to read, reread, and share the advice within. I have read many parts in both books several times, and will continue to utilize the biblical truths contained within them both. Great books to keep handy on the coffee table, night stand (or in my case . . . bathroom - so I can read in private!)
I received one or more books or products in the post above for review purposes only through Thomas Nelson. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. If you have any questions or comments, please see my FTC disclosure or Review Policy.
Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it.
Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.
As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.
Henry's first wife, Persephone.
My Review: Goddess Interrupted is book 2 in the Goddess Test series by author Aimee Carter. Leading in where book 1 left off, Kate Winters has successfully passed the testing required to become an immortal ~ a Goddess, so that she can be with her new love, Henry ~ the God of the Underworld.
In this story she finds that although she has passed the initial tests to become a Goddess, there are more challenges to face. Although she seems to have gotten what she wanted, she finds herself feeling left out, abandoned and frustrated with Henry's lack of affection. On top of all that, Henry and some of the other Gods and Goddesses have been kidnapped by a nasty being ~ the King of the Titans. Her life is thrown into turmoil, danger is everywhere and the only one who can help find where the Titan King has taken his captives is Henry's former wife Persephone.
Kate faces many physical, emotional and mental dangers along the way, but remains steadfast and determined to find Henry and the others and rescue them in any way she can. She struggles throughout the story but continues to make decisions based on her inner strength and her love for Henry. I liked Kate's character, her human flaws and growing maturity throughout this story, and even though he aggravated me often, I actually liked Henry as well. I found the book to be hard to put down once I started reading it. Although, it does have one of those endings that leaves questions I hope will be answered in the next book! Goddess Interupted, along with The Goddess Test (book 1) are great YA, adult books. I enjoy this author's writing style, and found the book easy to read and the story easy to follow. I recommend this series for ages 16 and up.
Q&A With Aimée Carter,
Author of the Goddess Test Series
How familiar were you with Greek myths and folklore before writing the Goddess Test series?Was a lot of research required?
+ I first fell in love with Greek mythology when I was a kid learning how to read, and my infatuation only grew from there. I’ve studied various kinds of mythology for years, sometimes for class and always for fun, but even then I put a great deal of research into the Goddess Test series. Mostly as a refresher to make sure I was getting my facts right, but I also researched the various myths looking for ways to tie the plots and characters together in unexpected ways.
Was Goddess Interrupted any easier or harder to write than the first book in the series, The Goddess Test?
+ It was both easier and harder, in a strange way. I rewrote The Goddess Test multiple times, and I’ve never edited a book more heavily in my life. Goddess Interrupted did require some editing, of course, but it was much easier.
However, the pressure to deliver a sequel worthy of the series made the writing process for Goddess Interrupted more difficult than I’d anticipated. There’s something called the “sophomore slump”, where sequels or second books generally don’t quite match up to the second, and I wanted to avoid that at all cost. So that added a lot of stress, but in the end, I was very happy with the results.
You give the gods and goddesses in the series “ordinary names” – Zeus is named Walter, Aphrodite goes by Ava, Hermes is named James.Why did you do that and do the more contemporary names have any significance?
+ This was something I went back and forth on multiple times. Initially the characters Kate encounters weren’t council members at all – I changed that very, very quickly though. By the second draft, I had a place for each of the Olympians, and I did some heavy rewriting to replace my first draft characters with the gods. I wanted to find a way to keep their names the same, but since they’re supposed to live among us in secret in the modern world, it didn’t really make sense. How many men named Zeus do you know, or women called Aphrodite? On top of that, keeping the council’s identities secret was incredibly important to the plot. So eventually I decided they would have changed their names when Western civilization stopped worshipping them as gods, allowing them to live freely among us.
I did choose each name for what it means, some more than others – Walter, for instance, means “army leader”, while James means “supplanter”. The exception is Calliope, which in the story was chosen by her counterpart for its Greek roots. The reason the gods changed their names – and why Artemis didn’t wind up with the name Diana – is explained throughout the series, but you get to actually see this happen in The Goddess Legacy (July 31).
Goddess Interrupted begins with the main character Kate Winters adjusting to her new life as an immortal.Given Kate’s innate strength and stubbornness, was it difficult to switch gears to portray her as a bit more vulnerable and unsure of herself in her new role as goddess AND wife?
+ Not so much, to be honest – her progression felt natural to me. While Kate is very tough in certain ways, she’s extremely vulnerable as well. She’s emotionally dependent on the people around her (her mother in the first book, Henry in the second), and that in and of itself carves the path she takes in the sequel. She’s spent six months with Henry, falling in love with him and forming a relationship she thinks is going to last for eternity. But Henry is battling his own demons and isn’t ready to be the person she needs him to be, and because Kate is so stubborn, she has a hard time coming to terms with that. In the sequel, Kate really is her own worst enemy emotionally – her entire world has changed, after all, and that’s a lot for anyone to take – but it’s all part of her development into a goddess and queen.
Kate finds herself trying to work through her rather complicated relationship with James, as well as her relationship with her new husband, Henry (Hades).Neither seems to be black and white, but rather varying shades of gray.Were any of Kate’s feelings or situations based on any relationship struggles you’ve been through?
+ Not personally, no, but I did try to make Kate’s relationships with the people in her life as realistic as possible. She isn’t perfect, and neither are they, and that’s something they all have to work through at varying points in the series. None of the relationships in the books are based off of specific experiences I’ve been through though.
What is your favorite part of the writing process?Least favorite?
+ Outlining is by far my favorite part of the process. I love the idea stage, where anything’s possible, and it’s such a shiny place. All of that comes crashing down when I write the first draft though, which is the hardest part for me. I tend to get mentally exhausted about two thirds to three quarters of the way into the manuscript, and it’s always a struggle for me to push through it, especially if I’m on a deadline. And inevitably there are a ton of problems I didn’t notice in the outline stage that have to be fixed for the story to work. I’m a perfectionist, so in order for me to continue writing the story, everything I’ve already written has to make sense.
Do you have a favorite quote or line from a poem or book?
+ I love so many quotes that I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite.
How did you get your first publishing deal and how did that feel?
+ My agent, Rosemary Stimola, sent the manuscript out to various publishers, and after a long submission process, Harlequin TEEN offered to publish it! I was stunned at first, but that quickly gave way to giddiness. It was an incredible feeling to know I’d be published, and to this day, I still can’t quite believe it.
When is the next book in the series due out? Any hints on what will happen in book 3?
+ Goddess Interrupted, the sequel to The Goddess Test, came out in late March. The next book in the series, The Goddess Legacy, will be out July 31. It’s a collection of five novellas told in the perspectives of Calliope, Ava, Persephone, James, and Henry, and together they form one story.
The third book in the series, The Goddess Inheritance, is currently scheduled to be released in March 2013. Unfortunately I can’t say too much about it, but the challenges that Kate will face are pretty clear by the end of the sequel!
After the huge success of The Goddess Test, Goddess Interrupted is on many, many TBR lists for this summer.What’s on your TBR list?
+ I’m so excited for a slew of books coming out – The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, Grave Mercy, The Selection, The Serpent’s Shadow, Philippa Gregory’s YA novel, and a ton of others. I never have as much time to read as I want, but I’m definitely making time for all of those and more!
Yearbook Superlatives! If you went to high school with the Greek gods and goddesses, who would you vote for?
I received one or more books or products in the post above for review purposes only through Harlequin Teen. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. If you have any questions or comments, please see my FTC disclosure or Review Policy.
