Chasing Sunsets {by Karen Kingsbury}

Title: Chasing Sunsets
Author: Karen Kingsbury

Series: Angels Walking #2

Genre: Christian Fiction

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: publisher

 

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury comes the second novel in a brand-new series about divine intervention and the trials and triumphs of life; the dramatic story of a woman desperate to find deeper meaning in her life.
Growing up in a comfortable home, Mary Catherine wanted for nothing. Though she loves her wealthy parents, their lifestyle never appealed to her. Instead, Mary Catherine pursues meaning through charity work, giving away a part of herself but never giving away her heart.
Mary Catherine lives in Los Angeles with her roommate, Sami, and volunteers at a local youth center with coach Tyler Ames and LA Dodger Marcus Dillinger. Despite Mary Catherine's intention to stay single, she finds herself drawing close to Marcus, and their budding romance offers an exciting life she never dreamed of. That is, until she receives devastating news from her doctor. News that alters her future and forces her to make a rash decision.
Inspirational and moving, Chasing Sunsets is the story of one woman's deep longings of the soul, and the sacrifices she's willing to make in search of healing. 

 

I loved this one even more than the first book. Although the main characters from Angels Walking, Tyler and Sami, appear in this one, this book focuses more on Sami's roommate Mary Catherine, and Tyler's best friend, Marcus.

We also get a different set of angels this time, Jag and Aspyn. I liked how this story explored some different aspects of the angels, such as how human emotions could affect them, and how they overcame that. I mentioned before that the angels were my favorite part, and that was true for this book too. I think we got to see more of them, and I loved that.

I also loved these characters. Something about Mary Catherine just stuck with me, and I loved her. Not going to lie, she insured me. She believes in living life to the fullest, and is adventurous in a way that I am not. But her full life philosophy doesn't just extend to jumping out of planes. She also believes living life includes making connections with people, and does a lot of charity work and churn
work. Although I did also like Marcus, there were some things that still held me back (like the whole Shelly thing). But still, I liked the two as a pair (or, the pair they could become).

Again, this book wasn't wholly focused on the romance as it was on the other things going on. The gang wars, Marcus's community center, and Mary Catherine's secret of her health. There were many different aspects of this story that kept it interesting, fast-paced, and moving.

This definitely has Kingsbury's signature inspiration and faith-based style, in a new and unique way. I would definitely recommend this series, and will be continuing. I need the next book, like, now.

This review can also be found on   

 

 

Karen Kingsbury:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

An Uncertain Choice {by Jody Hedlund}

Title: An Uncertain Choice

Author: Jody Hedlund
Genre: YA Historical
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Source: eARC via NetGalley

 

Due to her parents' promise at her birth, Lady Rosemarie has been prepared to become a nun on the day she turns eighteen. Then, a month before her birthday, a friend of her father's enters the kingdom and proclaims her parents' will left a second choice. If Rosemarie can marry before the eve of her eighteenth year, she will be exempt from the ancient vow.
Before long, Rosemarie is presented with the three most handsome and brave knights in the land. But when the competition for her heart seemingly results in a knight playing foul, she begins to wonder if the cloister is the best place after all. If only one of the knights the one who appears the most guilty had not already captured her heart.

 

Guys, I loved this book so much. It was cute, sweet, and romantic. I love my medieval stories, and knights. I've heard this being called a "medieval Bachelorette" story, which kind of sounds terrible (since I hate the show) but it was actually a lot of fun.



Rosemarie has been promised to the convent on her 18th birthday. Since her parents' deaths, she has been focused on ruling her people kindly and fairly, and not on suitors, since she is not allowed to marry. It's taken her years to come to peace with this decision, but she has. Until that is thrown in disarray by the discovery of a loophole: if she marries before her 18th birthday, she is saved from the vow. So, her father's friend the duke brings three of his noblest knights, and asks her to at least give them a shot. If, by the end of the month, she hasn't fallen in love with any of them, she can enter the convent as planned. And so, Rosemarie agrees.

I loved Rosemarie. Although there was some question of whether historically, a underage girl would have been allowed to keep her lands and rule them, I did appreciate that the author tried to keep this historically accurate. She didn't have full power, and she had those that advised her, and we also saw those that did not believe she could rule, and would try to undermine her. But Rosemarie has a kind heart. She does whatever she can for the poor, even giving her own money. She wants to make life better for them. If anything, she is too trusting, and does let people walk all over her.

I did enjoy the knights, although of course we all know who was my favorite (the same one that has her heart). While some would say it is unrealistic to expect to fall in love in a month, these are people in times where most people wouldn't get the chance, since marriages were arranged among nobility. And I loved that their feelings for each other weren't instant, they developed over the month, and weren't based on shallow things. He pushed her to be a better ruler. He was also kind, concerned for the poor, and selfless. While I did like the other two knights, it was mostly for the comic relief they provided. I did love the dynamic between the three, and how they were there for each other, even while competing.

But everything isn't all roses and sunshine. While the guilty party was kind of predictable and easy to guess, it was still suspenseful and exciting. I managed to fly through the book, because it was well-written and kept my interest, but also had me needing to know what would happen next for Rosemarie. I actually have no idea how I missed that this was series, but I am definitely glad to be getting more.

This review can also be found on   
 

Jody Hedlund:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

Blogaversary the Second {+GIVEAWAY}

Hey guys! Yep, it's my second blogaversary!! Sometimes, I look back and can't believe it's already been TWO YEARS since I started this. I never really thought this would take off (as I had started blogs before and abandoned them) or that it would become such a huge and crucial part of my everyday life. I am so thankful for all the friends and connections I've met through blogging, and of course all the BOOKS I've discovered.

I know I set the bar pretty high with my huge event last year, but that just isn't happening this year. You may have seen me mention it before, but I've just been so tired this year. I definitely do not have the energy or time to do a big thing, as much as I want to. I've been dealing with a lot of things personally (especially health-wise, which is what's making me feel so tired and drained), and its shown in how quiet the blog has been these past few weeks. (I will be back soon! I just don't know how soon.) Anyway, I still want to celebrate, so I'm keeping the blind date with a book giveaway from last year! I'm also having Twitter and Instagram giveaways, so make sure to check those out!

So here's how this works. I give you clues as to what the book is about, how I felt, etc. You then have to decide if you would read the book based on the description I gave. If the answer is yes, then enter the giveaway! Each book has its own giveaway so you can enter just the ones you want, or all three! (For the tweet, you can tweet once and use that for all three rafflecopters for that day. I won't make you tweet the same thing three times a day.) 1 is US only, but the other two are INT. Once the winners have been notified, I will come back and reveal what each book is. Feel free to guess or discuss in the comments, I just won't tell you if you're right or wrong :)

Aaand the books have been revealed below! Did you guess correctly?

Book 1: This is a SIGNED paperback, an older release, US only

YA Contemporary. Costumes. Inventions. San Francisco.

 

 

Book 2: This is a preorder, INTL

 

YA Fantasy. Beauty and the Beast. Faeries. Magic.

 

Book 3: This is a newer release, INTL

 

YA Contemporary. Greyhound. Road Trip. War Paint.

 

Thanks for entering, and good luck! 

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things {by Ann Aguirre}

Title: The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things

Author: Ann Aguirre

Genre: YA Contemporary

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Source: won from publisher



 

Sage Czinski is trying really hard to be perfect. If she manages it, people won’t peer beyond the surface, or ask hard questions about her past. She’s learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it’s working just fine… until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He’s a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted.
Shane Cavendish just wants to be left alone to play guitar and work on his music. He’s got heartbreak and loneliness in his rearview mirror, and this new school represents his last chance. He doesn’t expect to be happy; he only wants to graduate and move on. He never counted on a girl like Sage.
But love doesn’t mend all broken things, and sometimes life has to fall apart before it can be put back together again…

I almost didn't even read this book, as I didn't think it was really my type of book. I've actually been in quite a reading slump, so I picked this one up on a whim, and ended up enjoying it so much.

I loved Sage. This is definitely a character-driven novel, so it's even more important that the characters were done well, and I definitely think they were. Sage is quite interesting. She has a dark past, that she is trying to cover up by being perfect. She doesn't have many friends, except for her best friend Ryan. She lives with her Aunt Gabby. She has been nicknamed Princess Post-It by her classmates, thanks to the post-its she leaves on kids' lockers to help cheer them up. But what I found most interesting about her was the person inside that she was covering up. Sage was very level-headed and logical when it came to pushing that person down, not letting anyone see the other side of her. She refused to get angry, or even upset, from fear that she dark shadow in her would come rising back up. She did everything she could to hide her true self away from her peers, and so that her aunt wouldn't send her away.

Then she meets Sage, a lonely, antisocial musician who is just trying to make it through high school without any more issues. He just wants to be done so he can get out. I thought Shane was a very well-rounded and fleshed out character. We got to see into him, the puzzle pieces that make up his life.

I'm usually not one for angst or romance. But while this book was heavily focused on Sage and Shane and their budding romance, it was also about more. I loved reading about the two together, but they both have really deep, dark stuff hidden in their past. We get to see the two open up, make friends, and find out who they really are.  Sage realizes that she's not alone, and starts to make some new friends, and find out what she wants from life. Shane starts to realize that he's not alone. I loved the supporting cast, from Lila to Aunt Debby, to the sophomores, and Ryan, even when he messed up.

Of course, everything has to hit the roof before it can settle down with a happy ending, but I thought it was handled really well. I like that we got to see multiple sides of the story and the characters, even the "villain". While some might consider this "just" a romance story, I thought it was so much more than that. There were parts where I teared up, and I never tear up at books. It was such a deep, powerful coming-of-age story that I think will resonate with readers, even if your past isn't hiding things quite as dark as our MC's.

This review can also be found on   
 

Ann Aguirre:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | tumblr | Goodreads

Life Is {by Judah Smith}

Title: Life Is ____

Author: Judah Smith

Genre: theology

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Source: publisher

 



Life is ____. How would you finish that sentence?
Judah Smith believes Jesus shows us how to live life to the fullest. In this follow-up to his" New York Times "and" USA Today "bestseller "Jesus Is ____," Judah completes the new sentence again and again, revealing how
- Life is to be loved and to love.
- Life is to trust God in every moment.
- Life is to be at peace with God and yourself.
- Life is to enjoy God. Judah writes as a friend, welcoming new believers, lifelong followers of Jesus, and even the merely curious. He shows us the love of God that defies human logic and the life that God intends for us to have in the here and now. With excitement and humor, Judah looks at the stories in the Bible from his unique angle and shows how life is all about loving God and loving others.

I've been quite interested in reading one of Judah Smith's books for a while now. I mean, when a pastor is endorsed by Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, you get curious. And I can definitely see why. Pastor Judah relievers profound wisdom, but not in an over-the-top, in-your-face preachy way. He is deep, but in a way that can be understood.

Smith is also quite humorous. He pads his stories with personal anecdotes and a take on life that will make you laugh. He isn't trying to be relevant, he just speaks. And he speaks in a way that can be understood by young adults as well as older adults.

He also writes in a way that can be understood by new believers. If you're just curious, and pick this up, you would still be able to understand what he is talking about. Likewise, if you have been a believer for a while, he brings things in a new light, that will make you rethink what you thought you knew.

I thought this was a deep, powerful book, and one that I would definitely recommend to people of all ages. I think young people need more books like this to lean on, and will definitely be picking up Pastor Judah's books in the future.

This review can also be found on   

 

Judah Smith:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

#JLBGivesAwayanIndie: Unbreathable

Hey guys! So I know I'm a little late posting this month's #JLBGivesAwayAnIndie, sorry! We didn't have one last month (if you were wondering if you missed anything), but we are back! This month, we are featuring Unbreathable by Hafsah Laziaf. Hafsah is the brains behind IceyBooks and IceyDesigns, and let me tell you, her work is incredible.

Here's this month's photo challenge. Grab the graphic and follow along with us on Instagram and Twitter! While participating is not required, it does get you extra entries into the giveaway. And the end of the month, TWO winners will be randomly chosen to win some goodies!

This month, we have an awesome giveaway for you. Katie over at Punk Projects made these adorable tablet covers, and you can enter to win the one on the bottom, which Katie will personalize with a quote of your choice!

 

US Giveaway: tablet cover, paperback of Unbreathable + swag.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

INTL giveaway: ebook of Unbreathable + swag! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Cover Reveal} The Summer Marked by Rebekah L. Purdy

Hey guys! Today, I am excited to help reveal the cover for the second book in Rebekah Purdy's The Winter People series. I loved the first book in this series, and I can't wait for this second one. Also, this series has some of the prettiest covers, so without further ado....
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Ta-da!

Title: The Summer Marked

Author: Rebekah L. Purdy

Series: The Winter People, #2

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Expected Publication: August 4, 2015

 

Fresh off a break-up with her boyfriend, Kadie’s glad to be home from college for Thanksgiving. All she needs is a rebound guy, a box of chocolates, and some girl time with her best friend, Salome. Problem is, Salome isn't returning her calls, and her family won't say where she is. Feeling sorry for herself, Kadie ends up at Club Blade, a place filled with pumping music, dangerous guys, and promises of a good time. However, when midnight strikes, Kadie’s fun turns into a nightmare as she’s ripped from the human world into Faerie by a vengeful Winter Prince named Etienne. For the first time in her life, she realizes the monsters Salome always spoke of are real, and they’ll stop at nothing to destroy her friend.
Salome thought the winter curse was behind her. But winter has left its mark. Not just on her, but on the whole summer court. The Kingdom of Summer is falling apart, and Nevin is hanging onto his throne by a thread. With war on his doorstep, he has no choice but to send Gareth into enemy territory, which means Salome will be left alone—vulnerable in a world she doesn't understand. A place where beauty is deadly and humans are pawns in the macabre games the Fae play. Both Kadie and Salome will have to call on all their strength to survive in a world where humans aren’t meant to be. With death and enemies all around them, it’ll be a miracle if they can survive.

 

Isn't is gorgeous? And won't it look so good next to Book 1?

Rebekah Purdy:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
 

Rebekah Purdy grew up in Michigan, where she spent many late nights armed with a good book and a flashlight. When not hiding at her computer and getting lost in her stories, she enjoys reading, singing, soccer, swimming, football, camping, playing video games and hanging out with her kids. She loves the unexplainable like Bigfoot, the Dogman, and the Loch Ness Monster (lots of good story material)! She admits to still having all the books she bought throughout her childhood and teen years, and she may or may not have an obsession with anything chocolate…

 

Cover Reveal Organized by: