Blogging With Carol: April 2013

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Broken Wings by Shannon Dittemore (The Angel Eyes Trilogy) Third Post!

O.k.... Having eyes to see, I do see. And having ears to hear, I hear! But apparently like some other super great books, there are things people just don't understand. I stumbled across a few of those, and so I am going to address them in this post.

The Bible says, with a bit of paraphrasing that one day people will say, when people finally see Satan as he is, this is it? This is all? This is who and what deceived us and terrorized the world? We have scriptural reference to the Devil coming as an "Angel of Light". Shannon shows that in Broken Wings as well. The Prince of Darkness in her book has the form of an Angel of Light, which he once was, but is no more. Satan's main tactic in this book is fear. Frankly, that is just truth. Satan probably doesn't exactly "rule" Hell, but in a way, I am sure that he does because he has all his demons under his command. Pull any Bible version you like, but go read Ezekiel 28:13-19 AND Isaiah 14: 9-19. Satan, know as Lucifer before he was cast out of Heaven, had music embedded in him, as well as precious jewels. He was captivating enough to get 1/3 of the angels to leave God and follow him in his deception. (Revelation 12:4-9) Thus, I think what Shannon did was a wonderful job of portraying the Enemy of all man-kind.

A few people have issues with Sabers, and new class or names of demons, or even Pearla being a cherub who, instead of being baby faced and a cutie-pie is instead, dark haired, with dark wings. Pearla is an angel who can spy on the demons with less risk of being noticed. Frankly, I liked this! Don't you dare think for a moment in the real battle that rages over human's souls that Satan's ranks do not do all they can to follow us or "spy" when possible. Why not use this wonderful format to show that we do have an unlimited God and if He choose to have a group of angels that could infiltrate, they could. No... it's not listed out in any scripture, but I am glad that Shannon did this.

For anyone who is worried about the romance aspect, it is great! Nothing to worry about here. I worry more about you if you aren't able to read these two books and have your eyes opened to a realm that is more real than the one you sit in now reading this screen. Brielle is not the only one who can see in the Spirit realm. It is just that Shannon has been strong enough to create her and bring her to us so that more people can be aware of the things happening around us, and the power we have in Him.

Carol :)

About the book:

Giant angels with metal wings and visible song.

A blind demon restored from the pit of darkness.

And a girl who has never felt more broken.

Brielle sees the world as it really is: a place where the Celestial exists side by side with human reality. But in the aftermath of a supernatural showdown, her life begins to crumble.

Her boyfriend, Jake, is keeping something from her—something important. Her overprotective father has started drinking again. He’s dating a much younger woman who makes Brielle’s skin crawl, and he’s downright hostile toward Jake. Haunting nightmares keep Brielle from sleeping, and flashes of Celestial vision keep her off kilter.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s been targeted. The Prince of Darkness himself has heard of the boy with healing in his hands and of the girl who sees through the Terrestrial Veil.

Brielle has no choice. She knows evil forces are converging and will soon rain their terror down upon the town of Stratus. She must master the weapons she’s been given. She must fight.

But can she fly with broken wings?

Here are the covers to the first and the upcoming third book!

Book link - http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Wings-Angel-Eyes-Novel/dp/1401686370/
Author Website - http://www.shannondittemore.com/
Author Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/ShannonDittemore

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book
from the publisher.... AND I AM THRILLED I was able to do so! :D

Participants’ links:
Gillian Adams
Julie Bihn
Jennifer Bogart
Beckie Burnham
Pauline Creeden
Janey DeMeo
Theresa Dunlap
Emma or Audrey Engel
Victor Gentile
Nikole Hahn
Becky Jesse
Jason Joyner
Karielle @ Books à la Mode
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Megan @ Hardcover Feedback
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nathan Reimer
James Somers
Kathleen Smith
Jojo Sutis
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler
Shane Werlinger

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Broken Wings by Shannon Dittemore (The Angel Eyes Trilogy) Second Post!

I can't just let the rest of this tour slide by with out taking about how nicely Shannon Dittemore covered Praise and Worship, and even prayer in her book Broken Wings!

Hopefully I am no the only one who found this beautiful and refreshing! :D
We have a group of angles in this book called the Sabres. While you will not find that name in the Bible, I do believe that some things like this we will see in Heaven that just weren't considered important enough to add in at the time. These huge 8-9 foot each group of angels, twelve of them to be exact are incredible. They have metal wings, wings that sing and create music along with their voices. These massive angels are dispatched from the Throne Room of God when some major spiritual warfare in an area is going down. They are strong and their adoration of their Creator is able to thin the veil between the Celestial and the Terrestrial. {In other words, the Spirit realm and the Physical one.} When these angels go to war singing, Brielle is able to see their worship headed towards Heaven. She can smell it, and it moves her like she has not been moved before.

I simply loved the way Shannon showed worship over and over in this book. Prayer too! Prayer and worship were sent up to God like the incense it is called in the Bible. Like the light swirling and bursting from our prayers and praise that so many who have died and come back from Heaven have talked about here on Earth. I was struck by how wonderfully she put detail in the Sabres. Each time I read about them, I was reminded of how Lucifer was once the embodiment of music, and now how she shows him so fallen and separated from all that he was to be, and got to read and "see" her description of this class of angels who's original purpose had not been removed from them. It was wonderful!

I'm hoping in the third book that it will also show that even though Brielle isn't singing her Redemption song yet, that Shannon will also show that her dancing sends up praise as well.

You really should read this series!
Carol :)

About the book:

Giant angels with metal wings and visible song.

A blind demon restored from the pit of darkness.

And a girl who has never felt more broken.

Brielle sees the world as it really is: a place where the Celestial exists side by side with human reality. But in the aftermath of a supernatural showdown, her life begins to crumble.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s been targeted. The Prince of Darkness himself has heard of the boy with healing in his hands and of the girl who sees through the Terrestrial Veil.

Brielle has no choice. She knows evil forces are converging and will soon rain their terror down upon the town of Stratus. She must master the weapons she’s been given. She must fight.

But can she fly with broken wings?

Here are the covers to the first and the upcoming third book!

Monday, April 22, 2013

Broken Wings by Shannon Dittemore (The Angel Eyes Trilogy)

Broken Wings is the second book in this wonderful series! Angel Eyes is the first, and Dark Halo will be the third. Frankly, I wish this were not going to be *just* a trilogy! These books are great!!!
About 7 month later we pick Briell's story back up again. Her life has NOT returned to "normal" in any way that she thought that it would. In fact, it has gotten even more Spiritual than before! Oh, not spiritual in the way that religion has it, but in her day to day life is now starting to include seeing the Celestial, or the Spirit realm.

Briell is having nightmares, or are they nightmare? Even with the halo under her pillow at night, the dreams just so real that she is watching through someone else's eyes. Someone she feels she should know. A mystery that God must want to her to deal with or solve. But Briell doesn't know why and Jake doesn't have all the pieces to this puzzle either. Briell's Dad is drinking again, and then.... then there is what happens with her Mother's grave!

The most massive angels you can imagine are descending on Stratus and warfare and praise are falling and rising up in the most unlikely of places. Briell, Jake, and a few other people as well as several Angels are all smack in the middle of it all... fighting Fighting and praying to find out what they are really fighting for, because when your eyes are really open, there is no going back. That leads me to wonder, what do other people see? I know what I see, and I can read about what Briell is seeing, but what do others see?

If possible you will see me run a three day post on this one!

Carol :)

About the book:

Giant angels with metal wings and visible song.

A blind demon restored from the pit of darkness.

And a girl who has never felt more broken.

Brielle sees the world as it really is: a place where the Celestial exists side by side with human reality. But in the aftermath of a supernatural showdown, her life begins to crumble.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s been targeted. The Prince of Darkness himself has heard of the boy with healing in his hands and of the girl who sees through the Terrestrial Veil.

Brielle has no choice. She knows evil forces are converging and will soon rain their terror down upon the town of Stratus. She must master the weapons she’s been given. She must fight.

But can she fly with broken wings?

Here are the covers to the first and the upcoming third book!

The Gate by Dann A. Stouten

I have very mixed feelings about this book. In some ways I like it. I can take the "stretch" of a few things, and in other ways that same "stretch" brothers me. :/

First of all, this book is about a man who spends a week in Heaven. He went up to the family property, a bit confused about an add on the net by Paradise Reality, and Micheal DeAngelo. (Yes, Micheal the angel from the Bible.) There he can go spend time from "Angel's Gate - The back door to God's country." Sky just didn't know that he was going to spend a week in Heaven. With Ahbee (God), Josh aka Jesus, and Rea. In this case Rae is the FEMALE version of the Holy Spirit. (HUH!?!?!) O.k... artistic licencing I see. However, I am not sure that I am ok with this. Is Rea female - yes. Is that a Biblical term? I am told yes. Does the Bible also say the Holy Spirit is a him? Why yes.. it does! However, spirits aren't exactly male or female.

Back to Sky, he spends a week in Heaven. He rides around in cars. He goes fishing at Promise Point. Sky wrestles with his past, present and future. Sky enjoys Abhee cooking food, Josh working with lumber, mansions being build, the New Jerusalem that isn't on Earth yet. Most of all Sky gets little tiny sayings or sermon points, or platitudes of a sort emphasized They are so emphasized that they are put up in special chunks on many pages of the book. Sky figures out what he has to deal with, and things are better.

What I got from this book is that I liked the part about saving people. I do work to do that daily, as is our goal in this life. People are who go with us to Heaven. I also can tell that this Pastor has a creative mind, and he tried really hard for his first novel. The food was nice, the scenery was ok. The constant flash backs into the past and un-dealt with problems got really taxing for me, and I did get a bit weary of the cars. That is just me! ;)

Carol :)

About the book:

When a planned getaway with his wife turns into a shopping trip for the girls, Schuyler Hunt finds himself looking for something else to do. An ad for a vacation cottage catches his eye, and he sets off in search of a much-needed break. When he arrives, he finds something far different from the typical summer home experience. In fact, he may have found a little slice of heaven.

The proprietor—along with a number of unexpected and yet familiar guests—welcomes him with food, rest, and conversation, until what started out as an escape from everyday life turns into something much, much more…

Visit DannStouten.com to download free book club and small group resources as well as sermons from popular ministry leaders.

About the Author:

This is his first book! Visit his web site for more information!
http://www.dannstouten.com/

Available April 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

The Dance by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley (The Restoration Series)

The Dance is about Jim and his wife Marilyn. Marilyn has had it and she has left Jim. She can't take her husband not letting her live a life where he loves her. She isn't divorcing him, if he can straightened out, but she is moving into an apartment and doing something she has wanted to do her whole life - learn to dance.

Frankly, her husband, like many others, is a jerk. He is focused on his needs, his wants, and himself. Not on her needs, or communication, or what his life will be like if he is with out Marilyn. And the wife, well I can tell you from the other things I have learned that the wives had to be willing to let God move and let their husbands win their hearts back, if the man is series about it.
I would very much like to read the DNA of Relationships now. Once I read it I will know if I need to add it to my list of books that we wives need to read in order to see if our spouses will become the Godly men they are meant to be! So very many of us are in "dead" marriages. Finding ourselves married with out a marriage. Part of us have wound up divorced because of that, but if the husband will wake up and turn - God can do all sorts of wonderful things!

One of these days I will share my story with you. Until then I am right in there with Marylin and each of my dear friends like her, tears and prayers included.

Carol

About the Book:

From the Back Cover:
After 27 years of marriage, Marilyn Anderson is tired of playing the role of perfect wife. Her husband Jim is a successful businessman who gives her everything she needs--a beautiful home in an upscale neighborhood, the financial freedom to be a stay-at-home mom, an enviable collection of stuff. Everything, that is, except what really matters: love.

After years of trying to connect with Jim, Marilyn has had enough. She longs to experience some measure of happiness before she's too old to enjoy it. Needing some time to herself to sort things out, Marilyn leaves to start a new job and take dancing lessons--something she has wanted to do for as long as she can remember.

Shocked to find his wife gone, Jim Anderson must sort through the past to save his marriage. With a little help from an unexpected ally, he begins a campaign to win Marilyn back. What he doesn't anticipate is how his actions will affect everyone around him--starting with himself.

The Book Link Is: http://www.amazon.com/Dance-The-Novel-Restoration-Series/dp/0800721489

About the Authors:

Combining the literary talents of bestselling author Dan Walsh and the relationship expertise of bestselling author Gary Smalley, The Dance is the first novel in The Restoration Series. Readers will get caught up in these flawed but sincere members of the Anderson family as they rediscover genuine love and start a transformation that ultimately affects all of them.

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best-known authors and speakers on family relationships and has appeared on national television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, andTODAY, as well as numerous national radio programs. He is the bestselling and award-winning author or coauthor of many books, including the Baxter Family Redemption series with Karen Kingsbury. Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 40 years and live in Missouri.

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of several books, including The Discovery and The Reunion. He has won three Carol Awards, and two of his novels were finalists for RT Reviews Inspirational Book of the Year for 2011 and 2012. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel.

“Available April 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Friday, April 5, 2013

Invisible by Ginny Yttrup

What first strikes me about this Author is that she cares deeply about people and it shows in her work. I like that a lot! This is the second book by Ginny L. Yttrup that I have read. This book, Invisible, address how many women feel. Sometimes it is all the the time, and sometimes it is just on occasion. But more often than not women we know and love feel unworthy and battle major life issues relativity alone.

Invisible focuses on three women, and one male. He is missing in the book description down there, but he is a big part of the book, so Miles is in my review as well. Miles knows Ellyn. He is a doctor, and as his wife was dying of cancer she made him promise to take Ellyn out on a date or two and get to know her better. Now, two years after her passing he is trying to do that. Ellyn is rather addicted to butter, but that isn't her problem. Her problem is that she beats herself up and doesn't see herself as God sees her. Something many of us fail to do.

Sabina is in the same town, was at the same Dr. as Ellyn - Miles. But Sabina is running away from her life. She is sucked into a void of deep horrible depression for reasons that are not clear at the front. She is a councilor but she can't heal or council herself. She needs help.

And then Twila is running a store with her mother. She has thorns tattooed on her cheek, but she is a Christian. She has a major eating disorder because of things that are tearing her life apart. She knows Ellyn from her coming into the store to get cleansing diets to try to loose the weight that upsets her so badly. Meanwhile, Twila is just struggling to keep weight on at all.

These four lives are laid out and intertwined, as are our real lives. Invisible works to show that we are still God's children, made like Him, and that we have to heal and forgive so that we don't destroy ourselves and those around us. It is like I tell my friends, you are so NOT alone. You have a God that loves you so much He died for you, and if you will work to see yourself like He sees you, it will change your life. I think Ginny worked hard to put that into her book, and I appreciate that.

Carol :)

About the Book:

Ellyn DeMoss--chef, cafe owner, and lover of butter--is hiding behind her extra weight. But what is she hiding? While Ellyn sees the good in others, she has only condemnation for herself. So when a handsome widower claims he's attracted to Ellyn, she's certain there's something wrong with him.

Sabina Jackson--tall, slender, and exotic--left her husband, young adult daughters, and a thriving counseling practice to spend a year in Northern California where she says she's come to heal. But it seems to Ellyn that Sabina's doing more hiding than healing. What's she hiding from? Is it God?

Twila Boaz has come out of hiding and is working to gain back the pounds she lost when her only goal was to disappear. When her eating disorder is triggered again, though she longs to hide, she instead follows God and fights for her own survival. But will she succeed?

As these women's lives intertwine, their eyes open to the glory within each of them as they begin to recognize themselves as being created in God's image.

About the Author:

Ginny is an author, speaker and life coach from Northern California. Writing has been Ginny's life-long passion. Since meeting Jesus Christ as her Savior, Ginny enjoys using her talent to convey to others the unconditional love, grace and freedom found in God.
Ginny's "MEET" page is way better than this tiny blurb I have here.
Please do go read it! http://ginnyyttrup.com/meet-ginny/
Ginny's web site: http://ginnyyttrup.com/
Ginny's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GinnyYttrup

The book link is here: http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Novel-Ginny-L-Yttrup/dp/1433671689

My copy of Invisible by Ginny Yttrup came from through Handlebar Publicist on behalf of B&H Publishing Group and the author in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much! :)

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

The Guardian by Beverly Lewis

The Guardian is the story of a little girl who just seems to have appeared out of no-where! But children don't just come from nowhere at all, so where did this little one come from, and why? Jodi was just "happily" jogging when this child's appearance radically changes her life. One glimpse of a little body curled up under a tree, next to a road, in nothing but underclothing has Jodi very worried. When her bright blue eyes open up and she clings to Jodi for dear life, well, she didn't have a choice but to take her to her cousin's house where she is house and cat sitting. This beautiful child has some minor injuries, but she can't speak English!

Meanwhile, back with the Plain folks, Marryann is beyond distraught She is even beating herself up in case she put love of her last daughter ahead of her love for God. Her husband is dead, killed in an accident, and she is VERY hardworking single Amish woman, raising 4 children. Little Sarah that went missing is her youngest. She is begging God to send home her baby girl, about the time that Jodi's job as a teacher is dumped. Jodi was close to tenure, but now she is jobless. Her fiancee is gone for a year, and life seems to be falling apart, excecpt for her new connection to little Sarah and Sarah's family. Something that is so unlike Jodi's world, or is it really that different? Can God use a missing little girl reunited with her family to heal Jodi's deepest wounds and re-connect her with the life He wants her to have?

The plot was a bit predictable in places, but I liked it anyway. Sarah is a wonderful way to warm up and let the others sort of revolve around her in this book. The people in this book all have deep hurts, and it is nice to see how Beverly Lewis worked it to show God working in their lives for their good and His purpose.

Carol :)

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Guardian Bethany House Publishers (March 26, 2013) by Beverly Lewis

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Beverly's first venture into adult fiction is the best-selling trilogy, The Heritage of Lancaster County, including The Shunning, a suspenseful saga of Katie Lapp, a young Amish woman drawn to the modern world by secrets from her past. The book is loosely based on the author's maternal grandmother, Ada Ranck Buchwalter, who left her Old Order Mennonite upbringing to marry a Bible College student. One Amish-country newspaper claimed Beverly's work to be "a primer on Lancaster County folklore" and offers "an insider's view of Amish life."

Booksellers across the country, and around the world, have spread the word of Beverly's tender tales of Plain country life. A clerk in a Virginia bookstore wrote, "Beverly's books have a compelling freshness and spark. You just don't run across writing like that every day. I hope she'll keep writing stories about the Plain people for a long, long time."

A member of the National League of American Pen Women, as well as a Distinguished Alumnus of Evangel University, Lewis has written over 80 books for children, youth, and adults, many of them award-winning. She and her husband, David, make their home in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, and spending time with their family. They are also avid musicians and fiction "book worms."

ABOUT THE BOOK

When schoolteacher Jodi Winfield goes for a morning run, the last thing she expects is to find a disheveled little girl all alone on the side of the Pennsylvania road, clad only in her undergarments, her chubby cheeks streaked with tears. Jodi takes the preschooler home with her, intending to find out where she belongs. But Jodi is mystified when no one seems to know of a missing child, and the girl herself is no help, since she can't speak a word of English. It's as if the child appeared out of nowhere.

As the days pass, Jodi becomes increasingly attached to the mysterious girl, yet she is no closer to learning her identity. Then an unexpected opportunity brings Jodi to Hickory Hollow--and into the cloistered world of the Lancaster Old Order Amish. Might the answers lie there?

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Guardian, go HERE.

Beverly can be reached through the Contact link on her Website

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 0764209795

Monday, April 1, 2013

Scorned Justice by Margaret Daley (The Men of The Texas Rangers Series)

Saving Hope is the first book in this series. The second book in the series is Shattered Silence.
Scorned Justice is book three in this series. There will be a book four as well! This review is about Scorned Justice.

Rebecca is overseeing a trial, a trial bigger than what she might think she got into! She is a Judge, and now her brother is injured, and she is getting dead flowers sent to her. Her brother, who is trying to get well in the hospital, has been sent dead flowers with an extra surprise that is rather gruesome. Then there is the dead man, found dumped on the back of a gang leader's doorstep. Is this the two rival gangs trying to intimate the Judge or more? One of the witnesses is now missing, but did he leave on his own accord, or was he taken to keep him from talking at the up-coming trial?

Ranger Brody Calhoun has his hands full trying to track down the light-weight leads while trying to keep keep Rebecca safe. He really cares for her, but Rebecca's last husband was in law enforcement and it caused his death. She doesn't want to feel what she does, she can't deal with this pain again. Her heart isn't exactly listening and she has no idea how close the killer is getting into her closed off and formerly protected world. And by the way, who on earth is rustling up (stealing) the cattle? Is that connected to, or not?

Each of these books deals with a major issue in a very well written and impact-full way. This book is dealing with revenge, justice, and gangs, as well as faith, hope, love and family. I hope we get to review the next book in this series!

Carol :)

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Scorned Justice Abingdon Press (April 1, 2013) by Margaret Daley

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Margaret Daley is an award winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. Recently she has won the Golden Quill Contest, FHL’s Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, Holt Medallion and the Barclay Gold Contest. She wrote for various secular publishers before the Lord led her to the Christian romance market. She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines, romantic suspense for Abingdon Press and historical romance for Summerside Press. She has sold eighty-three books to date.

Margaret was the president of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization of Christia writers with over 2300 members. She was one of the founding members of the first ACFW local chapter, WIN in Oklahoma. She has taught numerous classes for online groups, ACFW and RWA chapters. She enjoys mentoring other authors.

Until she retired a few years ago, she was a teacher of students with special needs for twenty-seven years and volunteered with Special Olympics as a coach. She currently is on the Outreach committee at her church, working on several projects in her community as well as serving on her church’s vestry.

On a more personal note, she has been married for over forty years to Mike and has one son and four granddaughters. She treasures her time with her family and friends.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Texas Ranger Brody Calhoun is with his parents in west Texas when an unexpected attack injures the brother of Rebecca Morgan, Brody's high school sweetheart. The local sheriff, a good friend, asks for Brody's help. At first, it seems like an open-and-shut case. However, as Brody digs deeper, he realizes the attack may be related to an organized crime trial Rebecca will be overseeing. With Rebecca's help, he compiles evidence which involves cattle rustlers, bribery, and dirty payoffs that shatter the entire community and put Rebecca directly in the line of fire.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Scorned Justice, go HERE.

Margaret can be reached through the Contact link on her Website

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/142671436X