The Silent Songbird

I had originally thought this book was based off Han's Christian Anderson's fairytale "the Nightengale", but to my delighted surprise it was based off another of Han's fairytales, "The little Mermaid"

Blessed with a voice that nearly enchants all who hear it Evangeline feels a prisoner within her own home. Never allowed out of the castle without a full armed escort for fear of kidnapping she has seen very little of the outside world. When rumor spreads that her cousin, King Richard II, is planning to marry her one of his advisor's Evangeline fears she will never be free. When she meets her betrothed Evangeline fears for her very life.

I have always been a huge fan of fairytales, especially from Han's Christian Anderson, so when I saw the similarities between not only the little mermaid, but to me also of The Nightengale, I was love with the book even more. This is part of a series, but you don't have to read the others to understand what is going on. Though if you want to read the stories of some of the characters in this book read A Merchant's Daughter, it is Melanie Dickerson's take on Beauty and the Beast, and the best way to start this series if you are interested!

I finished off this book within the same day of getting it in the mail. That's just how good it is. With clean content for young adult, yet still captivating while keeping it realistic. Any age group will enjoy this, and any, of Melanie's books. I am heart broken that her next one will not be coming out until May of 2017. I guess that just gives me time to read the previous books again!

That's all I have for now folks. Until next time, I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my Honest review, which I have given.

Light of the Last

The first two books to this series were like the beginning to a classic song. It starts out a little slow, then it starts to build a little tempo around the middle, by the crescendo you have your breath taken away from you! Light of the Last builds up on where the other two left off, giving us a great action packed novel with twist and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

After an accident left him temporarily blind, Drew Carter didn’t just regain his sight. He now sees what others can’t imagine–an entire spiritual realm of mighty beings at war.

Forget the gift, Drew just wants his life back. Part of that involves Sydney Carlyle, a woman he is inexplicably drawn to. When he’s offered the chance to become a CIA agent, it seems the way to redeem his past. The only problem–his visions of the supernatural realm are increasing in frequency. Surrounded by spiritual warriors and targeted by demons, Drew’s faced with an impossible decision that will forever alter the destiny of America...and his own soul.

Okay, after Rise of the Fallen (that’s book two of this series) I really couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. A lot goes on in 335 pages, a few time jumps, some flash backs, all of it building up the character Drew Carter is and needs to be. I seriously impressed with Chuck Black on this one.

I also enjoyed looking to the back of the book after each chapter and reading the chapter guide. Each one gives a sort of theme to that chapter, and the Biblical message in it. If you plan to read this book for a book club or with some friends I suggest doing what I did and after each chapter you finish going to the back of the book to read the chapter guide for it. Doing this helped me look forward to reading the next chapter. Each book should have a chapter guide, so give it a look!

I will be giving way only one spoiler here people, and this is it: There are more books to come. If you thought this would be the last we see of Drew Carter and the gang then you are happily mistaken! We will be seeing our hero and perhaps some new characters in the next book.

The plot thickens!

The first two books of this series were a little much to get through, but you’ll be eating up book three. So I encourage you to go to your local bookstore or Library and pick up this series.

Until next time folks I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given

Always Watching

Suspense doesn’t begin to cover this book. You will be sitting on the edge of your seat throughout the entire book, wondering, waiting, always watching for the next turn of events.

I am new to Lynette Eason’s novels, but I can say I am a fan now. I usually read books with more romance or that are in a historical setting, it took some getting use to a modern fiction book with so much action and so few answers. Lynette doesn’t make her bad guys identity easy to guess, at least not in this book. The Elite Guardians are a group of well trained bodyguards, each one of its founding members were once a some type of law enforcement before creating the business, and they aren’t afraid to go out into the field. Oliva is one of the three founding members and our main character.

Ice doesn’t begin to describe her cool personality, and the control she has over her emotions is something only pain from the past can accomplish. Then there is Wade, her new client. He’s a radio talkshow host, a psychiatrist, and works for a charity. Hard not to like this guy, right? Well someone has set her eye on him, and not in the most attractive way. His stalker has become ruthless, taking out anyone who might be a threat. So what happens when Oliva steps onto the scene as his new bodyguard?

This well written novel is just the first in the new Elite Guardians series, and I honestly cannot wait for august to get here so I can read book two. This will become a new favorite series to new and old fans alike. The characters are complex, and well developed, and it’s not focused so much on just the two main characters. It brings a whole host of characters to life, and each are special in their own way.

There is also the theme of surrender in this book, surrendering control, the guilt, and fear. I found it interesting how the author showed how to deal with fear in a Christ like way, something have been trying to deal with myself

I cannot say more about this book without REALLY spoiling it, and that isn’t fair to you readers, but please get this book! it is amazing.

Until next time folks I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

Mermaid Moon

Again I missed book one of Colleen Coble’s amazing series, but I do not regret getting my hands on book two!

Okay, for all you people out there wondering you do want to read book one of this series, because the characters are in here and they play a role in the story. And another fun fact, these take place in the same islands, or at least the islands around the Summer Harbor series by Denise Hunter! that is just so cool to me.

Anyways, back to the program. As we have come to expect with Colleen Coble, this is a mystery/romance novel, but this one is different from her previous works. I’m not sure how to explain it, maybe it’s the writing style, the feel of the characters, the storyline, or maybe all three. Mermaid moon is for sure her best book to date!

I want to explain a little of the story, like I usually do, but anything I could say would spoil the plot, and I just cannot do that to you readers, not this time anyways. You can look at the description below, but that’s all I can give y’all this time.

Mallory’s mother died fifteen years ago. But her father’s last words on the phone were unmistakable: “Find . . . mother.” Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years, but when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn’t have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point. Mallory believes her father was murdered and childhood sweetheart Kevin O’Connor, game warden in Downeast Maine, confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart—and left—without a word, years ago. When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life—and her beloved teenage daughter, Haylie—their search intensifies. There’s a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye. As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her father’s killer—it is also about finding herself again . . . and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together.

The theme of this book is forgiveness, forgiving family and forgiving yourself when God already has. It touched my heart deeply. Before I was saved I battled with a guilt I couldn’t comprehend, and I felt God would never show me forgiveness if I couldn’t even find it in myself. I was wrong. If you are battling with a deep guilt I suggest picking up this book, it might help you.

That’s all for today folks I hope you have a blessed day

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given

A girl with a Golden Braid

Melanie Dickerson once again brings us a novel that will bring you back to a time knights, dukes, and the true love God has for all His children.

The story of Repunzel has grown in popularity in the last few years (Such as Disney's retelling Tangled, and Alex Flinn's retelling Towering) I think this is because in some way everyone feels trapped in their lives, weather is is emotionally or physically. 

In this story though Repunzel is the outcast due to the efforts of her mother, Gothel. She has tried to instill into Repunzel that all men are cruel and only interested her beauty, then they would leave her as used goods. It was saddening in a way to see Gothel in this light, with a pain so obvious it was in almost her every move. I wonder where Melanie gets these ideas for her characters, and how she is able to give her latest villain a depth of pain that can be felt across the pages.

Another thing I loved was how each character was relatable in some way. Sir Gerek's plans were to marry into wealth, finding a girl with land and a suitable dowery. Repunzel did not fit his criteria. How often do God's plans do not aline with our own? We like to think we know what is best, but every time God has something even better planned. It makes me think of this verse.

"There are many plans in a man’s heart,

Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand." Proverbs 19:21 NKJV

Having Repunzel be an outsider among the places she lived gave me a bond to her, and I think to many others. I always felt like I was on the outside looking in, and to remove the ache from my heart I wanted to learn all that I could. And this is what Repunzel did. At the time her greatest wish was to learn to read. Back in this day and age the only women to really learn to read were the children of the wealthy, so finding a teacher that is not a man would not be easy. Aaahh the humorous turns these story takes, for none other then the grumpy Sir Gerek (who saved Repunzel, who then later down the road saved him) would be her reluctant teacher.

This book also coincides with the events of The Princess Spy, and continues onward after those events. So if you want to read this one I suggest reading the previous one, though you don't have to. Also an interesting note is that it seems Melanie Dickerson has moved over to Tomas Nelson publishings instead of Zondervan, anyone have any thoughts on this?

Anyways, back to the book review. Secrets and wicked plots abound in this book, finding ways to make a more interesting plot and helping our beloved characters to trust in God's sovereign hand. There was a time in the book I feared the worst, but I won't tell you what happened, good or bad. This is too good of a book to spoil. If you haven't picked up any of Melanie Dickerson's books I suggest doing so now! If you want to know where to start in this book series you can check out my review for The Princess Spy on my blog.

Well folks that is all I have for today, I hope you have a blessed day and tune in for my next review.

I received this book from the publishers for free in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

who said Chivalry is dead?

Taking place shortly after the events of Dina  L. Sleiman’s previous book Dauntless we meet young Gwendolyn a woman setting her heart out on being a knight, and proving she is more then just another helpless female.

I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect from Chivalrous since I have not read Dauntless, and in truth I thought it might be another somewhat unrealistic book where a girl becomes a knight and all her dreams come true. I won’t spoil things for you, but Chivalrous is so much better then that.

Gwendolyn has to battle more then just the constant reminder that for her time skills such as fighting and horseback riding are deemed unladylike and would bring shame to a family if that girl is ever caught. Her father, a cruel and unjust man, would see her married to a man who could break her very spirit.

I found that Gwendolyn is a very relatable character for any girl. In this day and age marriage is almost always looked on unfavorable and isn’t really encouraged anymore, to the point that girls get the wrong impression about marriage. Instead of seeing it for the beautiful commitment to one another under the power of God they see it as a ball and chain, or sometimes a prison depending on the examples of marriage that have been shown to them. This was the view Gwendolyn had of marriage and vowed never to go into marriage, no matter the costs.

Gwendolyn also had another relatable thing to just about anyone; the desire to be loved for who you are, not for what people want you to be. I struggle with this too, and seeing a character have to deal with the same things I have to in a setting where myth and knights was even more amazing.

This book is not only about Gwendolyn though, there are so many supporting characters I have come to know and love, to watch them grow and make their choices was amazing. Another amazing thing to watch was the change in Gwendolyn. Some think the changes made by God are wrong, that it makes you someone too different then who you want to be, but this book showed that the changes that God makes to make you a new person are not so drastic, and that He is making you the person you were always meant to be, the better person you could not be with sin controlling your life.

I would recommend this book to EVERYONE, and I want to read Dauntless even more now. I hope that Dina will make more books, if she continues with this series or not I will look forward to any work by her.

Well until next time folks, Kaitlyn W. signing out. I hope you have a blessed day.

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given

I'm not so sure....

Okay, I heard from a few people how much they enjoyed the NIV translation of the bible; it was enough to make me curious. So I chose the NIV bible for teen girls by Zondervan. I wasn’t sure what to expect.

 As I said before I really was not sure what to expect from this translation, but others who had reviewed this particular Bible seemed to really enjoy it and liked the devotionals inside. I did too, and not just for teens, woman, but some I recommended that parents should read to their children, boy or girl, it will be really helpful.

The NIV Teen girls Bible introduces each book kinda like a few study bible I have seen before, telling about what time the book took place, listing who is in the book, and what verses you might recognize, along with explaining what it is about. This is really helpful to teens that wonder what’s the point in reading this part of the bible, giving just a small explanation to encourage them to go on.

Now here is where I have a little trouble with this Bible. While comparing some verses to see how it sounded against my NLT version I found that a few verses sounded really off, making them confusing to the reader. Such as Mark 3:24-27. I will give you an example of what I mean be putting the NIV and the NLT versions of this verse on here

“A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive. Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.” Mark 3:24-27 NLT

“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.” Mark 3:24-27 NIV

Maybe I am being a little too nit picky, but this was one of the verses that just really bugged me when I was reading it. And there were others verses in this version that made it sound like if you repented of your sins and was baptized then you were saved, which we all know isn’t right. This happened a few times throughout this Bible. It’s like pieces of a puzzle were obviously missing, and when you’re a teen you need a clearer picture of what the Bible is trying to teach you.

I am not saying this translation is all bad, but it is not a version I would go for to read on a daily bases. In the end it is up to you, but when getting a Bible for your child or a teenager in your life read it for yourself before you buy it.

I guess that is it for now folks, Kaitlyn W. signing out.

Until next time folks I hope you have a blessed day

I received this Bible in exchange for an honest review, which I have given

Hope Harbor

Hope Harbor becomes a place of healing for three weary souls in this tale of regret, romance, and God’s grace.

I really need to stop getting more books, but the description of Hope Harbor drew me in. Though honestly the description even on the back of the cover does little justice for it.

The story begins with a widower named Michael Hunter trying to find some solace in the place his wife had loved so much, Hope Harbor. When he arrives he the only hotel in town is closed. Frustrated, lonely, and depressed Michael wonders through town trying to think of a plan. Along the way he run into our two other main characters Tracy, a twenty some odd year old woman running a cranberry farm, and Anna, an old woman with a heart hardened by her past.

I did not except to be so captured by the book within just the first two pages. Irene Hannon has an exceptional writing style that flows and keeps a well pace, keeping you interested in each chapter as you pass by. I did feel quite a few were a little long, not a book you can read a chapter or two before you go to bed.

The story takes many unexpected turns not just for me but for the characters too. Showing God’s hand in many of their situations. Such as Tracy trying to help her uncle Ben to keep the cranberry farm afloat, only to have him catch a cold later on.

Or Anna and Michael, neither expected the bitter older woman to offer him a place to stay. Yet still she did.

After chapter 5 it does slow down a little, which made it hard for me to read, but it does pick up latter on. It has some of these slow spots throughout the book, but that is really a minor thing and the book is still extremely enjoyable.

With secrets kept within the crypts of the hearts of our three main characters you will find yourself not wanting to put the book down for most of the day. I will admit I wanted to skip forward several chapters just so I could find out why Tracy kept her heart locked up so tightly. Irene will bait you with little tid bits here and there, more then enough to keep you reading.

 I enjoyed this book and if it sounds like your cup of tea I hope you guys and girls will pick one up too.

Until next time folks I hope you have a blessed day!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given