180 Movie - An Eye Opening Documentary

Wednesday, 27 July 2011

99 cent eBooks by Bryan Davis

Hey, y'all! Three of Bryan Davis' books (Starlighter, Beyond the Reflection's Edge, and Eternity's Edge) are on sale for 99 cents at all ebook vendors, including Amazon (Kindle), Barnes & Noble (Nook), & Christianbook.com (epub). This sale is over on August 1st, so check it out and tell all your friends!

Erynn Mangum's Newest Novella: Fish and Chips

Erynn Mangum has just released her newest novella, Fish and Chips, on Amazon for Kindle. Check it out! It sounds adorable.




Raina Miskin is sarcastic, witty and apparently, a fish-killer. When her goldfish dies after only living a couple of days, she returns it to the pet store only to meet the equally witty and sarcastic Chip, the son of the store owner. Sparks fly and fish accidentally die in this novella about life, God’s love and the pursuit of the perfect mate.


Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Andersone & Tricia Goyer



Life, In Spite of Me is a very moving story that offers hope to a world full of people who are considering suicide, have attempted suicide, or anyone who has lost a dear one to suicide. It is a story of hope to the depressed, the disabled, and the hopeless.

Kristen Jane Anderson wanted to end her pain and her life, so she laid down on the railroad tracks by her house. Thirty-three freight cares ran over her at fifty-five miles per hour and she lived. But her legs had been cut off and were lying on the ground ten feet away from her body.

I loved reading Kristen's transformation from a depressed, hurting teen who had been raped to a young woman who lives because God has a purpose for her life. Reading Kristen's story from her perspective was eyeopening, heart breaking, and life changing. The book also includes notes of encouragement from Kristen and resources for suicide prevention.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Don't Check Your Brains at the Door by McDowell & Hostetler



Don't Check Your Brains at the Door: Know What You Believe and Why by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler is a great book for teens with questions, doubts, and many misconceptions about Jesus. It helps you understand the faith you live and know what you believe and why.

I was a little disappointed by this book because I thought it would tackle questions about creationism and evolution. Instead, it was mainly focused on myths about God, the Bible, Jesus, Christianity, the resurrection, and life and happiness.

I think a new Christian would benefit from this book a lot. A kid who grew up in church like me might get some much from it because they've heard it all before. I liked the quick "Brain Food" sections at the end of each chapter. It gave you Bible verses to look up yourself which I think is great. Too many kids read what everyone else thinks about the Bible and what the Bible says without checking it out for themselves.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Ciao by Melody Carlson



The sweet life might just turn sour. After the events in the Bahamas, Paige's engagement to designer Dylan Marceau is about to fall apart---and so is Paige. Erin's state of mind isn't much better. In addition to keeping Paige in check, Erin is dealing with Bryce's new TV career, as well as having to care for Fran during her chemo. A trip to Milan might be the break both girls need, but things only seem to get more complicated once they land in Italy. Dylan is also in Milan, and Paige's rekindled romance, combined with a new director, leaves Erin with more work on the show. Just when Erin can't take any more, she discovers a secret that could crush Paige. Clinging to God for direction, Erin must find the power to make a difficult choice, one that could not only hurt her sister but throw the show into turmoil.

With Paige's engagement to designer Dylan Marceau falling apart, Bryce starring on a new TV show, and Fran going through chemo, Erin is about to go crazy. Erin and Paige head to Milan to film and hopefully get a break until they find out Dylan is there also. Erin wants her sister to be happy, but rumors about Dylan have reached her ears and things don't look good.

I love Carlson's On the Runway series. It's so interesting to get a peek into the fashion and television world through Erin's eyes. Even with all the drama, she manages to keep her head, her faith, and her family intact. Ciao is no different. With Erin and Paige both having guy problems, they learn that guys come and go, but sisters are forever.

Uncompromising by Hannah Farver



Ask any girl on the street what womanhood is about, and you’ll get a blank stare in return. No one knows. Young women are devoid of vision beyond popularity, material wealth, a cute boyfriend or a dream career. Even in Christian circles, significant questions are often left unanswered: What’s the point of purity? Modesty? Femininity? What’s biblical womanhood? Most of all, girls wonder at the longing in their souls for something greater.

Uncompromising: A Heart Claimed By a Radical Love cuts straight to the heart of young womanhood. Rather than setting up rules, it pulls at the desire in every woman’s heart to live a life of purpose, fully surrendered to His radical love. Written in an edgy teen voice, Uncompromising is a collection of “field notes” from the author’s own search for answers…and the story of how she stumbled upon the one Cause worth dying for. Contains study questions for group or individual use.

Uncompromising by Hannah Farver is about that yearning to have purpose in every girl's heart. It also touches on purity, modesty, femininity, and biblical womanhood. One of my favorite parts is when she emphasizes how much Jesus dying on the cross effects us. and how much He loves us.

Hannah starts out telling us a story about beauty - something every girl struggles with. In fact, Hannah has tons of short, amazing stories written inside this book. I loved her voice as she spoke about most topics people like to avoid. It was great to read a book by another young women like myself.

Hunter Brown and the Eye of Ends by The Miller Brothers



The Codebearers Series ends with Hunter Brown and the Eye of Ends! In book two, Hunter Brown and the Consuming Fire, you are left hanging with a school fire and Hunter falling into the hands of medics with aren't who they seem to be. In book three, Hunter wakes up with no memory of his last visit to Solandria with Trista and Rob. To make things worse, intimidating detective Volger suspects Hunter was the one who set the school on fire! Hunter sets off with to get back his memories and winds up in a search for his father and a lost relic called the Eye of Ends.


I really enjoyed this conclusion to The Codebearers Series. It was amazing to watch characters and places from the first book reappear and add more to the story than I had ever imagined. I also loved the new characters, especially Desi. I think the best part about this book was that it wasn't predictable. The Miller Brothers were always surprising me in every chapter. Plus, their artwork keeps getting better and better! My brother and I agreed we liked the second book the best, but really liked this one also.

Wednesday, 13 July 2011

The Errant King Book Cover




Check out the cover of book two in The Dark Sea Annals by Wayne Thomas Batson! Like or dislike?

Spearhead eBooks

With tons of eBooks hitting the internet, it's hard to choose what to buy. Is it junk, good quality, something I'm going to regret buying, or maybe become a new favorite?



Thankfully, Wayne Thomas Batson, the Miller Brothers, and Christopher Hopper have put together Spearhead, a website that sells "professionally edited and proofed, triple-checked for content, and adhere to a standard of Biblical quality" eBooks.



Monday, 11 July 2011

Kindle Freebie: Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl


The Christy Awards 2011










I sooooo wanted to be in Atlanta for the Christy Awards (and ICRS!), but their live blog was the next best thing!


Nominees in the Young Adult category are:


The Charlatan’s Boy by Jonathan Rogers (WaterBrook Press)
The Healer’s Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (Zondervan)
Motorcycles, Sushi, and One Strange Book by Nancy Rue (Zondervan)








I was torn between Rogers and Rue. I loved both books! I was so surprised that The Healer's Apprentice was a finalist. I did not like that book at all (But congrats to Ms. Dickerson!). And the 2011 Christy Award in the Young Adult category is.......




Motorcycles, Sushi & One Strange Book by Nancy Rue (Zondervan)!!!


Nominees in the First Novel category are:
Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes (Tyndale House Publishers)
Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
A Season of Miracles by Rusty Whitener (Kregel Publications)






I was rooting for Heartless 100%! I haven't read Crossing Oceans or A Season of Miracles yet, but they look like great books. The 2011 Christy Award in the First Novel category goes to.......




Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

(Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)!!!


Yay! Super excited for her! Veiled Rose (sequel to Heartless) will be out soon!


The nominees in the Contemporary Series, Sequels & Novellas category are:
The Reluctant Prophet by Nancy Rue (David C Cook)
The Thorn by Beverly Lewis (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)
The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group)



I'm not the biggest fan of Amish fiction (unless it's in the form of Operation Bonnet or Double Take), but I am HUGE fan of Nancy Rue. The Reluctant Prophet knocked off my socks - it was that good. The 2011 Christy Award in the Contemporary Series, Sequels & Novellas category is......


The Reluctant Prophet by Nancy Rue (David C Cook)!!!


Here's what SusieMayWarren posted when Rue came up for her SECOND Christy Award:

Liz: The first time a person has one two different awards in two different categories for books released in one year, and she can wear a mini skirt at age 60! (about Nancy!)