"Sneak" Book 2 of the Swipe Series by Evan Angler

Sneak
Book 2 of the Swipe Series
Author: Evan Angler
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 9781400318421
Paperback: 288 pages

About the Book:

In a future United States under the power of a charismatic leader, everyone gets the Mark at age thirteen. The Mark lets citizen shop, go to school, and even get medical care—but without it, you are on your own. Few refuse to get the Mark. Those who do . . . disappear.

Logan Langly went in to get his Mark, but he backed out at the last minute. Now he’s on the run from government agents who will stop at nothing to capture him. But Logan is on a mission to find and save his sister, Lily, who disappeared five years ago on her thirteenth birthday, the day she was supposed to receive her Mark.

Logan and his friends, a group of dissenters called the Dust, discover a vast network of the Unmarked, who help them travel safely to the capital city where Lily is imprisoned. Along the way, the Dust receives some startling information from the Markless community, opening their eyes to the message of Christianity and warning that humanity is now entering the End of Days.

When the Dust finally arrives in the capital, it seems that all their careful planning is useless against a government that will do anything to bend its citizens to its will. Can the gentle words Logan has found in a tattered, banned Bible really stand against the most powerful military the world has ever known? Can Logan even sacrifice his own freedom, choosing to act through faith alone?

My Thoughts:

" Sneak" is Book 2 of the "Swipe Series", a young adult dystopian series that will hold the interest of both young adults and adults alike. Picking up where "Swipe" (Book 1) ended, this is not a book that one can pick up and totally enjoy or appreciate without starting at the beginning of the series.

As Logan gets closer to the truth and his goal to find Lily, the Dust is also coming closer to what they are working for. This novel will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat as things happen that you never saw coming. People who were introduced in "Swipe" return in "Sneak" and their roles may surprise you as things unfold.

"Sneak" is as good as or possibly even better than "Swipe" was and now I'm impatiently waiting for the next in the series, "Storm" to be published. May 7th, 2013 cannot come soon enough!

I received this book through the Booksneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review, but instead, one that gives my honest opinion.

Sigmund Brouwer's "Merlin's Immortals" series - CSFF Tour

I had planned on featuring Sigmund Brouwer's "Merlin's Immortals" series over all three days of the tour as these books deserved to be noticed every one of those days. Unfortunately, even the best and most carefully laid out plans can be uprooted, especially when we rely on technology to get it up and out. :( So, here I am today, crunching everything together and not giving the attention that these great books deserve.

Arthurian tales are probably my favorite of the young adult fantasy genre. Based on possible truth (some say King Arthur wasn't a real person), these tales have all the elements of a fantastic story line: knights, castles, kings, sorcerers, good vs. evil, magic, immortality and love. Yet, with such a great story line, it seems to be somewhat overused and many of the stories seem the same... but not with Brouwer's "Merlin's Immortals" series.

In Book One "The Orphan King", we are introduced to Thomas, an abused orphan who was raised in a monastery after his mother passed away. She was in the process of teaching him and preening him for his future role when she died. Thomas continued those studies in secret until he grew old enough to leave the monastery. He then pursued his predestined course of action that his mother had carefully laid out and he discovered so much more that she never had the chance to tell him...

"The Orphan King" was a wonderful start to the series, and I must say I was reading it every chance I got until the end. Thankfully I had the second book, "Fortress of Mist" to continue with right away. I HAD to know what happened to Thomas when... (nope, no spoilers here!!)

"Fortress of Mist" picks up where "The Orphan King" lets off, making this a series you must read in sequence - no starting in the middle of this series. I'm really not sure how to go from here, as I'm afraid to give away anything important that may spoil the first book. Hmmm, let's see... Thomas continues his destiny, however the forces of good and evil are playing against each other and Thomas has to decide which one is which. Some of the pieces of the puzzle are revealed and he finds out people are not always as they seem.

Ohhhh  - Talk about keeping one on the edge of their seat! I devoured the second book and got to the end only to cry "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!  You can't end it here!! I need to know and I need that third book now!" (Book 3, "Martyr's Fire" is scheduled to be released October 15th, 2013)

Truly, I have enjoyed everything about this series, from the story line to the characters to the suspense that is skillfully woven throughout the story. Thomas is a wonderful character - one with high standards that his mother carefully taught him and those standards impress many. He is a fantastic role model for the young adult audience and a delight to the older reader.

So far I have focused on Thomas, but the other characters: Katherine, William, John, and even Isabelle are characters that were believable, likable and even frustrating at times, and like real life, not always as they seem. Isabelle threw me a curve ball as she had me eating out of her hand. I thought she was amazing because she was there to protect Thomas. Knight William had a sense of humor that made me chuckle more than once, but at the same time he had concerned me in the beginning of the story. John was a little devil and amused me often with his skills. Katherine broke my heart and I fell in love with her character. She's so mysterious and yet her destiny scared me - especially when it revolved around Thomas's allegiance.

As for the setting, the setting of the story is wonderful and the descriptions are amazing. One can honestly hear the sounds and see the sights, feel the weather and smell the smells (although not always wanting to!) This series has cemented Brouwer in my favorite authors list - he is nothing less than brilliant when it comes to weaving a story - he is truly masterful!

This series comes highly recommended for both the young adult and adult audience!!

Make sure to look for "Martyr's Fire", Book 3 of the "Merlin's Immortals" series in October. It can be pre-ordered at your favorite retailer now.

The Orphan King Trailer:


Fortress of Mist Podcast:



If you would like to add these books to your reading library, for your convenience, you can find them at the links below, or at your local bookstore:
The Orphan King
Fortress Of Mist

To find out more about the author, you can visit Sigmund Brouwer's website at: http://www.sigmundbrouwer.com/ .
You can also find him on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/SigmundBrouwer
and Twitter at: https://twitter.com/BrouwerSigmund

Make sure to visit the others on the tour to see what they are saying about the "Merlin's Immortals" series:

Gillian Adams
Julie Bihn
Thomas Fletcher Booher
Beckie Burnham
Janey DeMeo
Theresa Dunlap
Victor Gentile
Nikole Hahn
Jeremy Harder
Ryan Heart
Janeen Ippolito
Becky Jesse
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Rebekah Loper
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Megan @ Hardcover Feedback
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Anna Mittower
Eve Nielsen
Nathan Reimer
James Somers
Steve Trower
Phyllis Wheeler

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a favorable review, but one the reflects my own personal opinion.

Still Settling In - Downsizing/Repurposing Furniture

We didn't officially move into our new home until the kids were on winter break from the university. It seemed like the most logical decision because of the travel involved, plus it was exciting coming here all at the same time as a family. The kids love our new home, even though it is small. They say they love the cozy feeling plus the area is amazing - an added bonus!

One of my largest issues at this time is the downsizing we need to do. Storage space is almost non-existent, so I'm at that point of deciding what really is important and what can I live without. Not only that, but most of our furniture won't work here, so we are slowly acquiring "new" furniture.

One of the items we won't be using is our old waterbed - sorely outdated and one of the few things I was glad to get rid of. Instead of tossing it all, hubby repurposed it into a nice new bed for us!

Waterbed frame cut, resized and legs added.

Next came the support posts.

Then a nice stable surface to put our new Memory Foam type mattress on - But only after we covered the plywood with something that would protect the mattress.

The finished product.

We still need to add a headboard. I want to make an upholstered headboard (like this one), but am waiting until I find the perfect fabric. I'm thinking of a red and white print or something with red in it.

I have many projects ahead of me - refinishing, repurposing, and making new. I plan to furnish our home as cheaply, yet beautifully as possible! I would love to hear what you have done for your home.

Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore CSFF Tour Pt 2

With all the young adult books on the market that center around angels and humans, it seems like the theme is the same... girl meets angel and they fall into forbidden love. Sigh... It gets old and boring quickly. Because of this, I almost passed on "Angel Eyes". The cover art said to me this was a girl pining away for her long lost angel.  I'm glad I didn't, because this WASN'T another of those books at all!

Brielle was the "new" girl at school. Actually she was returning home after a tragedy that isn't revealed right away - creating a mystery quite like Brielle herself. She meets Jake, who is a new student as well - creating a similar bond from the beginning.

Unlike all the other YA books I have read involving angels, Jake is human. The angels portrayed here assume the roles of guardians (sheilds) or fallen angels. They are much more believable in this novel verses others, and I found that quite refreshing.

Angel Eyes is the first book of the trilogy with the second book "Broken Wings" due to be released in February 2013. (I can't wait!!!) Full of mystery, guilt, sadness, forgiveness, romance, and good -vs- evil, this book will keep you intrigued and on the edge of your seat. Although written for the young adult audience, it will easily be enjoyed by adults. Or to put it simply... This book was great!

Angel Eyes
Author: Shannon Dittemore
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 978-401686352
Paperback: 336 pages
Find at Amazon

To learn more about Shannon Dittemore or her works, you can visit her website at: http://www.shannondittemore.com/
You can also find her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ShannonDittemore

See what others on the tour are saying about "Angel Eyes":

Gillian Adams
Julie Bihn
Beckie Burnham
Theresa Dunlap
Nikole Hahn
Jeremy Harder
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Anna Mittower
Faye Oygard
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Jessica Thomas
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Dona Watson
Shane Werlinger
Phyllis Wheeler

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore CSFF Tour Pt 1

Angel Eyes
Author: Shannon Dittemore
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 978-401686352
Paperback: 336 pages
Find at Amazon

About the Book:

Once you've seen, you can't unsee. Everything changes when you've looked at the world through . . .
Angel Eyes

Brielle's a ballerina who went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She's come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and the incredible, numbing cold she can't seem to shake.

Jake's the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.

Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what's going to happen. And a beauty brighter than either Brielle or Jake has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices start.

A realm that only angels and demons-and Brielle-can perceive.

To learn more about Shannon Dittemore or her works, you can visit her website at: http://www.shannondittemore.com/
You can also find her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ShannonDittemore

See what others on the tour are saying about "Angel Eyes":

Gillian Adams
Julie Bihn
Beckie Burnham
Theresa Dunlap
Nikole Hahn
Jeremy Harder
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Anna Mittower
Faye Oygard
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Jessica Thomas
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Dona Watson
Shane Werlinger
Phyllis Wheeler

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Moved In - Sort Of....

We've been in our new home for a whole week now and I'm liking it more each day. It's a beautiful area and it seems each day I find more and more "hidden" treasures. For example, we discovered the Bookmobile stops every week only 1/4 mile from our house AND it's a full-service Bookmobile. We were able to get our library cards, books, movies, and even order books through not only the local libraries, but the whole state and have it delivered by the Bookmobile! That may not be impressive to some, but compared to the one that used to come to my old hometown, this is totally amazing!

We spent the week cleaning and organizing but can't do much more without another trip to the old house to pick up more furniture. That doesn't sound like it will happen in the near future because of the wet weather that's in the forecast - so we will continue to live out of boxes until we can get some sunny days.  Sometimes I think it would be better to just rent a U-Haul :)

This Christmas will be spent without decorations, but we did have a little fun trying to brighten up the kitchen with our new snowman. With a few Christmas towels and dishcloths, some nice smelling candles and scented pine cones, plus a couple of bottles of Mrs. Myers Iowa Pine soap, we still feel the holiday cheer.

So on that note, I will be signing off with warm and loving holiday wishes to all. May you have a Blessed and very Merry Christmas!!!

"An Amish Kitchen" by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston & Kelly Long

An Amish Kitchen
Authors: Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Kelly Long
Publication Date: December 18, 2012
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Length: 352 Pages
ISBN: 9781401685676

About the Book:

The Amish Kitchen is the Heart of the Home – and the Ideal Setting for Stories of Love and Hope.

Fall in Paradise, Pennsylvania, always brings a brisk change in the weather. This season also ushers in unexpected visitors, new love, and renewed hope for three women.

Fern has a green thumb for growing healing herbs, but longs for love to bloom in her life. Then the next-door neighbor’s oldest son, Abram, comes running into Fern’s kitchen seeking help for his little sister. The crisis soon leads to a promise of romance—until mistrust threatens to end the growing attraction.

Nearby, Hannah runs her parents’ bed and breakfast, Paradise Inn—but her life feels nothing like Paradise. She longs for a man of integrity to enter her life, but never expected him to knock on the front door looking for a room. Will she be able trust Stephen with her future once she discovers his mysterious past?

When a storm blows a tree onto Eve’s farmhouse, she has little choice but to temporarily move her family into her parents’ home. Outside of cooking together in the kitchen, Eve and her mother can’t agree on anything. But this may be just the recipe for hope in healing old wounds.

Three Amish stories—each celebrating love, family, and faith—all taking place in a tight-knit community where the kitchen truly is the heart of the home.

Also Includes Reading Group Guide and 45 Old Order Amish Recipes

My Thoughts:

With three quick and easy to read novellas, "An Amish Kitchen" is the perfect book for those days you just want to curl up with a nice sweet book. Each story has a strong main female character that learns a lesson about love, hope and faith.

Although quite predictable, these stories will warm your heart and make you smile. Beth Wiseman's story appealed to me most, but they were all quite enjoyable. With a nice assortment of recipes in the back of the book, one will be sure to find some recipes that have to be tried right away. Make sure to try the delicious Granola and the Sour Cream Pancakes - they are both very good!

This book will appeal to those that love Amish fiction, clean fiction, and sweet romance type stories.

I received this book through the Booksneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review, but instead, one that gives my honest opinion.