Friday, December 31, 2010

Randomness Friday: It's Been a While!

(Thanks Libby!)

Wow... My last Randomness Friday was in... guess what?... October!!! So, yes, it's been a long while to be deprived of such randomness...

So the banner has gotta be bigger to make up for all of those days missed- duh! :P

and the NEW YEAR is in a few HOURS! Yippee!!!!!!

Okay. Granted, some of y'all are already celebrating the new year. Yay!

*puts philosopher thinking cap... hat... toga?...on* What is it about New Years that we enjoy so much? Perhaps it is the closing of one year with a big sense of finality, perhaps joyfully or sorrowfully, and being about to rejoice at the prospect of a wonderful new year full of work, fun, and prayer. (Well, unless Jesus comes back... Now, THAT would be a year to remember, huh?)

My plans for tonight, you ask? Well, I plan to curl up on my couch, pretend there's a warm fireplace by my side, and read through the books that I have (about half of the series) of the Phantom Stallion series by Terri Farley. It's been a while since I've read through all of my books, and I'm hoping I can read every single one tonight. I absolutely love the character of Jake in the series- he's one of my all-time favorite guy characters.

Oh, and I kinda owe my well-being to the series. Haha.

We'll see what else I do... Maybe catch a movie on TV if its good.
~*~

Speaking of movies, thanks so much for all of the comments on my review of Tron: Legacy and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader!

I plan to see Tangled tomorrow (I have never frequented the movie theater so much in my entire life!) with my sister and a friend. I believe, from all of the reviews I've read on your awesome blogs, that this will be an awesome, adorable movie. I'll do my best to review it this coming week.... in the new year!!!!

I absolutely love the horse from what I've seen from this movie. Rapunzel is a surprising change from the classic story- I like the idea of her using her hair and a pan to fight off enemies. And Flynn is probably one of the coolest guys in a Disney princess movie yet...

We'll see how it is tomorrow! YAY! So excited.


~*~

Wow, looking back on this year, this has been the best blogging year yet! More posts this year than last year, hit some big post goals (400 posts and counting!!!!), interviewed some awesome fellow bloggers and some authors, and you awesomeful people are commenting and following more than I could ever ask for! Thank you so much.

I absolutely love blogging and reviewing books, music, and movies. Oh, and don't forget, being absolutely random!!!
~*~

Be sure to cast your vote in my latest poll- What do YOU (yes, you!) like most about GoMC (A Girl of Many Colors)?

So far, the reviews are winning! :P
~*~

By the way, do any of you think my blog title is funny-sounding??? "A Girl of Many Colors"....

I mean, I'm really not multicolored... You get the whole play on words, right? Many interests, many emotions, many different types of post, girl of many colors?

Wouldn't that be funny, though?

Rainbow colored hair.... colorful clothes.... random pigmentation...

Random Person 1: "Dude, your lips are blue!!!! Are you cold or something?!"
Me: "Nope, just the way I am... I'm A Girl of Many Colors!"
Random Person 2: "Never knew you meant it literally...Whoa...-ness"
Me: "What're you tryin' to say???"
~*~

Well, that's all for now, folks! Have an awesome day, and I'll see you next year!

Blessings,

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Review of Invasion!

Invasion by J. S. Lewis is the first book in the C.H.A.O.S. series, a science fiction book about a boy's mission to uncover the scary truth about a huge company with some big secrets.

Colt McAlister's happy, surfer-boy life is suddenly shaken when his parents get killed in a car accident. He soon moves in with his grandfather, close to his friend Danielle, a technological junkie. Just when life starts to get somewhat normal, Colt meets an oddly familiar guy whose knowledge pulls Colt into a strange and somewhat frightening adventure. What if his parents' car accident was no accident, but a way to get rid of his mother, an investigative reporter on the verge of exposing Trident Biotech? This revelation leads to a uncovering of a big secret- alien takeover!

This book was awesome. The characters were distinct and easy to follow, the setting was perfect, and everything was believable, even though the ideas of aliens using mind control is pretty abstract. That's what I look for when I read science fiction- Does it totally disregard reality or does it use it to further propel the plot? All of the main protagontists- Colt, Danielle, and Oz were great. Most science fiction books are geared either for girls or for guys, but the author makes it exciting for both guys and gals.

My biggest complaint? The sequel comes out in January 2012! Some other items I was a little unsure about was that I felt Colt didn't talk to his grandfather as much as he should have. I mean, he is one of the biggest guides Colt could have! Also, Colt and Dani's reaction to the aliens was a little weird. Realistically, they should have panicked or thought, "WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?!" but nope, they just take it all in stride and work to conquer the aliens... Not a big deal, but it was a little weird.

All in all, I rate this book five out of five.

Specifics (from amazon.com);
~ Hardcover: 336 pages
~ Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 4, 2011)
~ Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches

Note: I received this book freely from Thomas Nelson Publishers. I am not obligated to write a positive review- only an honest one.

Blessings,

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Review of Dragons of the Valley

Dragons of the Valley by Donita K. Paul is the second book in her latest series about a young princess named Tipper and the adventures she and her friends experience. Longtime fans of the author will find that the world of her famous DragonKeeper series is the setting for this new fantastic journey of discovery for all ages.

And it is truly a family-friendly book.

The land of Chiril is usually peaceful, and it is the land of Princess Tipper and her artist friend Bealomondore. However, an army soon begins attacking Chiril, forcing her to escape with three special statues made by her father. Bealomondore must learn to put down his brush and learn how to wield a sword to fight a terrible monster called The Grawl. They must journey to the Valley of Dragons before their enemies destroy any chance of peace.

   Donita K. Paul does an excellent job of crafting a totally new and unique world with her words. I enjoyed the journey filled with familiar and new characters that seemed to be a culture so distinct. It was really like stepping into the land of Chiril. And the dragons are just the whipped cream on top of the ice cream!
   My favorite character would have to be Bealomondore. His character is a lot like some of us- we're often put into situations that force us to go above and beyond our comfort zone. Another character I found interesting is Lady Peg; she is one of the most unique characters I've seen in a long time. I've rarely read a book where a character talked so much nonsense yet made sense! It was a good comedic relief in the story, and I applaud the author for creating such unique characters and such a fantastic setting.
   The truths ring loud and clear in this book, and I can easily imagine it as a book a family would read before bedtime or during the weekend.

   I admit I haven't read the DragonKeeper series in a long time (a.k.a Wizard Fenworth and his librarian were my only "aha's!" I had to look in the index in the back to figure out who was who a lot. Indexes are helpful things...), so I was excited when I heard of this new book. I haven't read the first book in this series and I wasn't even aware that there was a first book until I searched the book online... So, this is my background; it may be just me who was confused with several elements of this story.
   My advice? Read the first book first. I was confused when I first became reading. It wasn't until halfway through the story that I remembered things I had read in the Dragonkeeper series along with understanding the story as it went along. This world in the book is really unique, and because of that, readers may get confused or bored pretty easily. I'll repeat the idea: the index in the back with all of the information about what was what, who was who, and where was where really helped out.
I felt that at some places, the story tended to drag on a little. I struggled through the first half of the book because it was all so unfamiliar and the background elements were being set into place. It took an effort to finish the book, and for me, that's a rarity. 

All in all, I rate this book a three out of five.

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~ Paperback: 384 pages
~ Publisher: WaterBrook Press (September 21, 2010)
~ Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches

Note: I received this book freely from WaterBrook Multanomah Publishers. I am not obligated to write a positive review- only a honest one.

How did I do? Please rate my review :)
Go here to rate my review

Blessings,

Friday, December 24, 2010

Review of TRON: Legacy and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader!

I had the awesome opportunity to watch two new movies this week with friends and family- TRON: Legacy and Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader this week. Both awesome movies that I enjoyed, and below are my reviews. By the way, I know what some of you are thinking... "Wait... Prism reviews movies now??? WHAT?" Well, I rarely go see new movies, but we'll see if I can continue reviewing films.

My ranking:
1. TRON: Legacy
2. Chronicles of Narnia: the Voyage of the Dawn Treader

TRON: Legacy:

Synopsis: In 1989, Sam Flynn’s father mysteriously disappeared one night after telling Sam about The Grid, a computerized world of programs who look and act like humans! Fast forward to today. Sam is a twenty seven year old who is content with messing around with ENCOM, a mega-corporation. Soon, his father’s old friend shows up saying that he has been paged by Sam’s father. This leads Sam to visit his dad’s old arcade and discover his father’s office, which leads him into The Grid. Sam finds this world a dark place, far from what his father had described. He soon discovers that his father’s creation, Clu, has turned against his father and plotted to take over the human world. Can Sam find his father and get to the portal to the real world in time?

The Good: I absolutely enjoyed this movie. I came into the theatre without a clue about what Tron was or even that it had a predecessor. This movie does well as a standalone; it didn’t take me long to grasp what everything was referring to or how things worked. (But I watched the original after seeing the movie, and a lot of seemingly random things in the movie suddenly made sense) So do I recommend seeing the original Tron before seeing the new movie? Well, yes… but the old one is a little boring at places and it is… well, old…
The new animations were absolutely brilliant. There are light bikes and jets that look really real. Kevin Flynn and Clu were expertly done (both portrayed by the same actor but computer effects are used to make the computerized character look young). The technology and scenery of The Grid is creative and I loved that it all seemed to tie together, as The Grid is supposed to be designed by Kevin Flynn alone.

My favorite character would have to be Quorra, who sacrifices herself for the Flynns several times and is absolutely tough. Quorra is Flynn’s assistant/apprentice who is a program. She is curious and intelligent, and she yearns to see the users’ world. The relationship between Sam and his father was really strong, and they are both willing to sacrifice for each other.
The music was also incredible. It fit the movie perfectly, and I’ve had one of the songs, “Derezzed”, stuck in my head for the past couple of days.

The Not-So-Good: There actually isn’t much I can say I disliked about this movie. The suits did tend to be a little skin-tight, especially on the sirens who suit Sam up for The Grid.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader:

We’ve all probably read the books and seen the first two movies; this movie doesn’t disappoint.

Synopsis: Edmund and Lucy are back with their cousin Eustace Scrubb in a new adventure in Narnia. The Pevensies have been stuck living with Eustace since the rest of their family went to America. Eustace is an absolutely terrible child- arrogant, mean, and an overall nuisance. The three soon get immersed (literally!) into the world of Narnia and join the crew of the Dawn Treader, whose leader is King Caspian. They must find the seven lords and defeat the ugly green mist that has been making people disappear.

The Good: I have read all of the books and seen both of the movies in this series, and I can attest that this is good material. It’s all adventure and action, and I absolutely loved seeing the characters grow and mature and learn good lessons. The main theme to me seemed to be temptation- overcoming it and yourself. Aslan is as wonderful as ever, the movies capture exactly how I imagined him as I read the books and dreamed of adventuring there.

The new character of Eustace was absolutely spot-on. His attitude changed totally and the actor portrayed him almost exactly as I imagined the character of Eustace to behave. I look forward to seeing how this character continues to grow in the movies to come. The character of Lucy has now matured and struggles with wanting to be beautiful as her sister Susan, and this is her giant to face. Edmund seemed very similar to Peter in this movie for me, he wants power and respect, but he too has changed from the Edmund in the first movie. We also get to see Reepicheep again. He was my absolute favorite character in the whole series when I read it as a child. He is instrumental in Eustace’s transformation from a bratty boy to a real person while keeping his charm. I loved seeing his soft side in this movie.

The movie sticks with the books enough for there to be “Oh, I recognize that!!!” moments yet it is creative enough to be new for old fans. Now, this may be considered a good thing or a bad thing to different people, but I did like the new elements and characters that fleshed out this movie.

I felt it was much for lighthearted and adventure-filled than the previous movies. The movie seemed to have more depth for me while retaining a fun spirit.

And was it just me, or did Caspian seem really different? I mean, this isn’t technically in the Good or Not-So-Good categories, but I felt as if the accent was a lot lighter and more British. Yes, I know the actor is British, but I thought it was a little funny.

The Not-So-Good: Again, not much I can say that I disliked about this movie. Can I say it’s the best of the series thus far? Yes. Can I say it’s the best movie I’ve ever seen? Not quite. The movie seemed boring at times for me, and to tell you the truth, I am a little annoyed by the White Witch now and how she seemed to require appearances in Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader to torment Edmund. I mean, if she shows up in the next movie (which is unlikely since Edmund may not appear unless in a cameo appearance), I might moan, “Aw, maaannnn!” right there in the theatre. But to be sure, my annoyance will soon be quelled by the overall excitement and child-like wonder I experience seeing the adventures of Narnia come to life.

Blessings,


P.S. Merry Christmas Eve!!!! Wow, it's almost here! May you all be blessed as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, tomorrow!

P.P.S. This is my 400TH post!!!! Wow!!!!! Thanks, y'all, for following!!!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Tag!

 I have been tagged by Samarah! Thanks! I've always wanted to do this tag.

Here's how it works:

1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag 20 friends.
5. Everyone tagged has to do the same thing.
6. Have Fun!

Note: This image does not belong to me

Here are the questions:

IF SOMEONE SAYS ‘ARE YOU OKAY’ YOU SAY?
"Glow" Britt Nicole
Haha! Can you imagine that? People would think I'm a lunatic or something...


WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
"Bless Me Indeed" MercyMe

Ha... It would probably be something like, "Loud Me Indeed"... I'm a loud person sometimes

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
"Meant to Live" Switchfoot
Haha!!!


WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
"Million Voices" Barlowgirl
Uh, no... That would be pretty noisy, yeah?

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
"Fire" Krystal Meyers
Ha. Nope... More like the opposite of fire... Anti-fire or ice or something. I'm pretty tired today.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
"Only You Make Me Happy" Krystal Meyers
okkkkaaay....

WHAT’S YOUR MOTTO?
"Take My Chances" BarlowGirl
Hm... Sorta true. It depends on the circumstance!

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
"R.I.O.T. (Righteous Invasion Of Truth)" Carman
Oh my gosh!!! Hahahaha... I doubt that, but this song is an oldie but a goodie :)


WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
"Heart Attack" Stephanie Smith
HAHAHAHA! Wooooow...

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
"Fearless" Building 429
Aw, I love that song...


WHAT IS 2+2?
"Time For You To Go" Barlowgirl
It's Christmas Break, man! No math XD


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
"One of Those Days"
We all have 'em ;)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Ignition" Tobymac
Huh?

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
"Hold On" Tobymac
Awwww... That is such a sweet song

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
"Sound of Melodies" Leeland
I really wish I could sing...


WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Running Out of Time" Barlowgirl
How about, "Have All the Time in the World to Care about That Stuff and I Really Don't "XD

 WHAT WILL YOU DO AT YOUR WEDDING?
"No Plan B" Manafest
XD Hope it won't be that bad...

 WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
\"Stand and Scream" Krystal Meyers
Uh, no... :P


WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
"Circles" Switchfoot
So, I like spinning?


WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
"Movin'" Group 1 Crew
So, y'all... I have a fear of motion... So I just sit here all day- so not true! XD


WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
"Sweet Revenge" Barlowgirl
Uh, never done that.

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
"Beautiful" MercyMe
Awwwwww...


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
"Made to Love" Tobymac
We do love each other... most of the time XD
 

WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
"Run" Charmaine
?

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
"Move" Mercyme
What is it today with me and moving? Haha

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
"Catchafire (Whoopsi-Daisy)" Tobymac
That song is funny-ish

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
"Wake Up" Danyew
I don't love sleep that much... Haha


WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
"I Believe in Love" Barlowgirl
XD

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
"God-shaped Hole" Plumb
Don't have one of those! I love Jesus.
 

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
"Showstopper" Tobymac
So, yes? XD


IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
"Elevator" House of Heroes
Yeah! No more elevators, more stairs! Haha


WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
"Feelin' So Fly" Tobymac
Nothin'!

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE PERSON WHO TAGGED YOU?
"Sing Me A Love Song" Barlowgirl
Haha. no... Thanks for tagging me, Samarah!

WHAT WILL YOU NAME THIS NOTE?
"One Trick Pony" MercyMe
uh...

I tag:
Okay, do you guys see the follower widget in the sidebar that says "Followers" and has some of you awesome people's icons? If you see your icon, you're tagged! :)

Blessings,

Monday, December 20, 2010

Review of Double Shot!




   Double Shot by Erynn Mangum is the third and final book in the Maya Davis series. Maya is engaged to her best friend and love of her life, Jack Domingez. Now they have a wedding to plan! But just when things start to get crazy, it gets even crazier! A family emergency soon shakes Maya’s plan for perfection, and Jack soon gets a job offer all the way in Seattle! Can Maya trust God’s plan for her life, or will she decide to do things her way?

   I absolutely loved this series, and I can happily say that this book didn’t disappoint as the final chapter in the story of Maya Davis. I absolutely love how the author keeps the story lighthearted and fun it while fusing it with reality. It is sometimes really hard to trust that God is control, and this book shows us that. The characters are truly characters, and I love how everyone is unique yet so relatable. Additionally, I admire the cleanness of all of the author’s books, not just Double Shot. The Maya Davis series and Lauren Holbrook series by Erynn Mangum, which I have read and enjoyed thoroughly, are series that I would recommend to both young woman and older woman. Rarely do I find a book that a preteen and forty-year old would enjoy reading.

I rate this book five out of five stars. Absolutely highly recommended!


Specifics (from amazon.com):

~ Paperback: 288 pages
~ Publisher: NavPress; 1 edition (October 29, 2010)
~ Dimensions: 2.9 x 1.5 x 0.5 inches

Note: I received this book freely from NavPress publishers. I am not obligated to write a positive review- only an honest one.

Blessings,

Friday, December 17, 2010

"Carol of the Bells"- Lanae Hale



Can you tell I really like this song? And have had it stuck in my head for the past 2 weeks? :)

Blessings,

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Lovin' It?

I hope you guys are enjoy my little Christmas music playlist. Want more? Amazon is giving away a free Christmas single every day of December. Go here to check it out!

Blessings,

"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"



I love how the all put it into perspective at the end. :)

Blessings,

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

"12 Days of Christmas" - Relient K



I absolutely love this version of the song. Relient K is so hilarious.

"What's a partridge?
and what's a pear tree?
I don't know, so please don't ask me.
But I can bet those are terrible gifts to get."

Haha!

Blessings,

Monday, December 13, 2010

"Christmas This Year" by Tobymac feat. Leigh Nash!



Blessings,


P.S. A review of Double Shot by Erynn Mangum will posted as soon as I, um, *cough* finish reading it... Sorry, folks! I'll do my best to finish it this week and review it by Friday.

Friday, December 10, 2010

More Christmas Music!

Today has been amazingly wonderful for me, and I am so excited that CHRISTMAS IS COMING IN LIKE 15 DAYS!!!!
WAHOOOOOOOOOO! ;)

Here's some awesome Christmas music to celebrate the Christmas season.

Notice I'm saying Christmas a lot??? Christmas, Christmas, Christmas, Christmas, Christmas! Ok, notice it now? :) Jesus is the true reason for this season and let's celebrate with some wonderful music!









Blessings,

Monday, December 6, 2010

Carol of the Bells/ Sing We Now of Christmas- Barlowgirl

Okay, I am officially in the Christmas mood. Thanks, y'all!

Here's one of the songs that has gotten me into the festive mood:



Blessings,

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Getting Into the Christmas Spirit...

... is a little hard these days.

Shall I explain my situation to you wonderful people?

1. We have no Christmas decorations to speak of anywhere in my home (My dad's gone on a trip so we've not done anything)
2. We didn't really have a Thanksgiving dinner this year (Again, Daddy gone = fun gone)
3. I haven't been able to listen to the radio much with school avalanching on me, so no Christmas music!
4. I haven't gone to the big stores in a while, like the malls or Walmart, so no Christmas-y feelings there

And what day is it? Oh yeah, the 2nd of December! Christmas is twenty-three days away! Dude!

(Note: I know Christmas is all about Christ. I am not downplaying that in any way. There's just something special about Christmas and the whole festive feeling about it, and I seem to be wanting.)

Prism has always had a problem with getting into the whole happy, giddy, let's decorate the Christmas tree feeling. The problem is almost as big as the problem Prism has with talking about herself in third person.

Note: This is NOT my image

Can someone turn on "happy elfish Prism"?

How about you guys? Getting into the holiday spirit? What have you been doing? Any suggestions for me?

Blessings,

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Review of The Truth of The Matter!

The Truth of the Matter by Andrew Klavan is the third book in The Homelanders series (you can find my review for the second book here) Charlie West has been running away for so long, from both the law and a group of terrorists. After being prosecuted for the murder of his best friend and losing his memory of the past year, Charlie is finally starting to get answers. However, the knowledge of his past may be more terrible and dangerous than he had ever imagined.

This book was absolutely wonderful. I enjoyed the action, the patriotism, and the whole heart of the story. The characters were really down-to-earth, I had no trouble believing the bad guys or the good guys. That’s what got me turning the pages- oh, wow, this could be possible! With that in mind, I grew to experience the adventure along with Charlie. It is so amazing how the threads come together in this story, and I applaud the author for a job well done. 

I couldn’t find anything except for that there is mild violence in this book. Nothing gory or bad, just something some readers may want to be aware of.

All in all, I rate this book five out of five stars. Teens will find this book a wonderful, thrilling read. 


Specifics (from amazon.com):

~ Hardcover: 352 pages
~ Publisher: Thomas Nelson (November 2, 2010)
~ Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches

Note: I received this book freely from Thomas Nelson Publishers. I am not obligated to write a positive review- only an honest one.

Blessings,

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Review of Flight of Shadows

Flight of Shadows by Sigmund Brouwer is the futuristic story of a government hungry for one girl’s DNA. Caitlyn has always been different, but not until recently has her deformity been a danger to her very life. Caitlyn is forced to go into hiding, fleeing the government agents and scientists determined to do terrible things to her. She soon finds Razor, a mysterious man who is “fast, sharp, and dangerous”. She soon has conflicting feelings about him, but can she truly trust this strange person? As Caitlyn races to find her friends, Billy and Theo, and a safe place, she soon begins to discover the true powers bestowed upon her and the terrible truth of how it occurred.

This book was definitely intriguing. It is very fast-paced with action abounding. The character of Razor I found to be the most interesting of them all, even more so than the protagonist, Caitlyn. He is an illusionist and somewhat slippery character and the author had me guessing until the very end of the book whether or not he was a “good guy” or a “bad guy”.

I have read previous works of Mr. Brouwer, and I have to admit I was slightly shocked at this book. I would recommend his children and teen books such as the Accidental Detectives, Mars Diaries, even Cyberquest. The story of Flight of Shadows is somewhat frightening. I found much violence, gore, and suggestive themes throughout the book. The story moves very fast and the antagonists blended together in the whirlwind of the story and I was confused at times as to who was who. The story of Razor was also very disappointing to me in the end. I would not suggest this book be read by teens and I advise caution to adults.

All in all, I rate this book 1 out of 5 stars. Intriguing idea, but very dark.

Note: I received this book freely from WaterBrook Multanomah Publishers. I am not obligated to write a positive review- only a honest one.

How did I do? Feel free to rank my review!


Blessings,

Friday, November 26, 2010

Review of A Case for Love!


A Case for Love, the final book of the Brides of Bonneterre series by Kaye Dacus, is the story of love and doing what is right, no matter the cost. Forbes Guidry is the high-profile lawyer in town, the son of the owners of a mega-corporation, and also the town’s most eligible bachelor. Alaine Delacroix is the town’s TV news reporter, the daughter of the owners of a small florist shop, and one of the town’s most eligible bachelorettes. They seem like the perfect match, until Alain discovers that Forbes’s family is planning to take over her family’s beloved business and all of the businesses around it. Alaine must find a lawyer who is willing to work for next to nothing and stand up to stop the corporation like David against Goliath. To her surprise, in walks Forbes to take her case. Forbes must decide whether he is willing to sacrifice his reputation, fame, and family in order to do what is right and win Alaine’s heart. 
Will he choose to take a case for love?

This book was absolutely charming. The main characters have genuine struggles throughout the book and I was intrigued by the business and law elements, which is why I read it. I enjoyed the diversity the author was able to display, with the different cultures and monetary backgrounds. 

I did find it slightly dull at times, and I believe it may be because this is the final book of the series and I have not read the first two. It seemed like some background characters were supposed to be important, but I found the portions with them in it a little tedious to read. However, I was able to keep up with the story and grow to love the two protagonists as I read. One thing to be aware of is there is one woman who tries to get Forbes to turn against Alaine by making it seem as if Forbes is cheating on Alaine. 

All in all, I rate this book four stars out of five. 

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~ Paperback: 320 pages
~ Publisher: Barbour Books (February 1, 2010)
~ Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches

Note: An electronic copy of this book was provided freely to me by NetGalley. I am not obligated to write a positive review- only a honest one. 

Blessings,

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Wiped Off of the Face of the Earth???!!!

Okay, so I'm actually surprised I haven't gotten any comments asking where in the world I had disappeared to.

I assure you, I have not died (well, duh, Prism), quit blogging, or been kidnapped by aliens. I've simply been that awful word that is the bane of bloggers...

You got it...

Busy.

Busy-ness is the Bane of Bloggers. Ah, how I love alliteration.

Yep. Prism has been super-duper extra swamped with work and school and all sorts of stuff.

So, my life... Consider this a Randomness Tuesday, since I've missed what, like a bazillion Randomness Fridays?
~*~

School = crazy, crazy, crazy. I have so much work to keep up with, and I'm pretty confidant in saying that this is THE busiest school year of my life thus far. In addition, I've been doing my best to keep up with school activities. I'm the class president this year, and I can assure you, it is no easy task. I've been learning how to balance everything and I hope it all gets better really soon.

On the bright side, school is actually really fun. I've met some awesome people, albeit somewhat crazy, and they keep me from crying laughing all school day. (Joking about the crying part, although sometimes I laugh so much I cry). I've been purposely spending tons of time at school because it is just so much fun and I get a lot done without Blogger, Facebook, or my music to distract me. (Even though the first week of my unofficial break from technology, I was screaming for mercy inside. But it's pretty weird begging for mercy to yourself for yourself, so I soon quit)

Probably why my blogging has decreased, but it's all about priorities.
~*~

Piano= memorizing, memorizing, memorizing. I am actually falling in love for the first time in a long time with Mr. Piano.
And it's all thanks to "Clair de Lune". Now, I'm not one of those people who are crazy about the song because apparently, and I just found this out a week ago, that it's in one of the Twilight movies. (no offense to those that do like it for that reason)
Nay, I have fallen in love with the beauty of the song. The sweeping motions, the calmness, the fluidity of the song just makes me feel so peaceful, warm, happy...
As for the memorizing, I am currently learning/memorizing the first movement of a Mozart Sonata (K.332). I really like it, although it doesn't provoke the emotions Clair de Lune does. However, it is a truly fun song and I will truly be happy when I can sit back and say, "I've finished this song"!
~*~

Unfortunately, I have been unable to keep up with Tae Kwon Do and horseback riding, which are two activities that are absolutely enjoyable, well, at least most of the time. I so miss my time with the horses I ride, even though my favorite, a mare, is going to foal in February so I can't ride her. But just spending time with horses is awesome, so I hope I can go back soon!

~*~

There's a quick update on me. How have y'all been? More reviews to come this week.

Blessings,

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Love's Coming Through My Headphones

...because I've been listening to this song all day! Britt Nicole "Headphones", folks! Enjoy!




Blessings,

Monday, November 15, 2010

Review of Uncertain Heart

   Uncertain Heart by Andrea Boeshaar is the story of true love. Sarah McCabe finally has independence from her family and farm life. While she waits to hear from a music academy she applied to, Sarah takes a job as the governess of the children of a wealthy widower, Captain Brian Sinclair. Soon, she is immersed into the life of luxury.
    Richard Navis is one of Captain Sinclair's employees who shows instant kindness towards Sarah and soon befriends her. His charming ways and vibrant personality soon catch the attention of Sarah as her sweet spirit and lovely appearance begins to attract Richard. However, Richard is determined to take over his family's farm once his indentured time with Captain Sinclair is over. Sarah is determined not to marry a farmer. Is there any way to get along?
When the worldly Captain seems to capture Sarah's heart, Richard and Sarah must make decisions that will affect their reputations and possibly the chance of them ever getting married.

This book is so well written. I wanted to be a part of the journey as Sarah goes through the conflicting emotions and the spiritual battle of dealing with Captain Sinclair. Sarah is an excellent protagonist- determined to please God while being fun and sweet. Richard Navis is the "perfect" gentleman though the book points out some faults. This book isn't always sunshine and roses, but it is so real. The characters' points of view were distinct and I never felt as if something couldn't happen in real life.

Some things I would caution readers about is that there are a few kisses and rumors fly about Sarah and the Captain sinning together, though they are false.

All in all, I rate this book four out of five stars.

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~Paperback: 304 pages
~Publisher: Realms (October 5, 2010)
~Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 1 inches

Blessings,

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Review of Angry


Emma is angry… really angry. Angry by Laura L. Smith is the story of a girl who learns to turn to God and put her complete trust in Him in the midst of a time that is tearing her family apart.
  
Emma thought her life was normal until her parents suddenly get a divorce. Her life suddenly crumbles into pieces and she becomes enraged about her life- her family, her friends, and even herself. Through this hard time, she learns that God is with her, her family, and friends. The drama, literally, of this period of her life ends and as the curtains close, we see beauty through pain.

This book clearly portrays the life of a girl like so many out there. The author’s voice shines as she clearly describes the relatable life of the main character. Emma is real in her likes- she loves acting and singing, and this element adds more depth to the story as it centers on her involvement in a production of Les Miserables. I liked how the author didn’t make the book preachy but didn’t hide the message of the book so much that a reader has to dig to find it. The relationship Emma has with her siblings is also admirable.

Emma is angry in this book, and because of that, she does show disrespect sometimes. Her parents get a divorce because her father has an affair, and the reader finds that Emma had a relationship with a boy that left her scared of a pregnancy in the past. Nothing is discussed other than the fear she had that she could have had a baby. 

All in all, I rate this book three out of five stars. 

Specifics (from amazon.com) :
~Paperback: 160 pages
~Publisher: NavPress (August 24, 2010)
~Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches 

Note: I received this book freely from Navpress for reviewing purposes. I am not obligated to write a positive review- only an honest one. 

Blessings,

Monday, November 1, 2010

Review of The Blue Enchantress!

Hope Westcott's life is about to end when she is suddenly taken captive on a ship and on the auction block as a slave. Her life has been nothing but a mess, her most recent problem being running after a man she wanted to marry to find he was already married. Will she ever find love and forgiveness?

Nathaniel Mason is a strong Christian who is the proud owner of a ship shipping business. When he finds Hope for sale, he remembers his admiration for her and decides to sacrifice for her freedom.

With Hope rescued, it should be a safe trip back home. Or will it?

This book is a tale of redemption, love, and forgiveness. Hope is like so many young woman today- hungry for love but finding anything but. Nathaniel struggles with forgiveness and acceptance, but the reader gets to see him grow in his faith and character. Hope also grows in character and becomes very selfless. I love the adding of a pirate element to this book; it brings so much more character and historical adventure into the story..

This is a book for women, so there may be some things younger gals may not want to read just yet. I advise moms to look over it first. Maybe they can read it with their daughters!

All in all, I rate this book a four out of five stars.

Specifics (from amazon.com) :
~ Paperback: 320 pages 
~ Publisher: Barbour Books; 1 edition (August 1, 2009
~ Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches

Note: An electronic copy of this book was provided freely to me by NetGalley. I am not obligated to write a positive review- only a honest one. 

Blessings,

In Christ Alone- Owl City



I absolutely love this version. Adam Young has an amazing voice :)

Blessings,

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Gold



"But he knows the way that I take: when he has tried me, I will come forth as GOLD." Job 23:10

Blessings,

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Winner!!!

And the winner of an autographed copy of Me, Just Different is none other than.....

Shelley!!!

Congratulations!

Please send your info to girlofmanycolors *at* gmail (dot) com
Please get it to me before Monday, November 1. If I do not get it by then, I will have to pick another winner.

Congrats again and enjoy the book! :)

Blessings,

Friday, October 22, 2010

Randomness Friday: Listen UP!

(Thanks Libby!)

I don't usually compare myself to animals, or in this case, bees, but I truly am as busy as a bee. I'm talking no fall break here with tons of test prep and homework a-plently.

But, you want to know the amazing thing?

God is showing himself so powerful and merciful in my life. It's incredible what He has done, and I'll never ever start doubting His power in my life, even if the results I get from tests, scholarship contests, or activity applications are not what I want.Who knows? It might just be what I need.

This year has been really amazing so far. I was a total mouse (there's another animal for you) for most of the time last year, but I'm really finding boldness and more friendliness as more time goes on.

Take two days ago. I was supposed to give a ten second speech in our class (because I'm the president. Who'd have guessed that, either?) about why we were having a party that day.

So I stand in front of the class and stare at the people in front of me talking, working on school, or already digging into the eats.

And I yell, "LISTEN UP, PEOPLE!"

Then gasp, "Whoa.... That was loud."

There were a few comments here and there like "You go, girl!", "There's a leader", "Okay...That was...loud. Really loud."

I never expected I'd experience this much growth in a year.

Thanks to God, school, and family, I hope there's a bright future out there for me. And I know I can accomplish my goals with lots of hard work and lots of grace from God.
~*~

The giveaway for Stephanie Morrill's book, Me, Just Different, ends this coming Monday, October 25! Be sure to enter for a chance to win this awesome book for teen girls. Click on the icon of the book in the sidebar or go here!
~*~

Do you ever have trouble finding the right words to say? It can be serious or laughable, but I seriously have trouble saying the right things at the right time.

I don't really struggle with the use of "Um" and "Like" but I just have times when I blank out when it comes to what to say! It can be pretty annoying...

But do you know that when a friend's going through a hard time, you can just be there for them?

Just go sit with them for a while, and if you can't find the words to say to them find the words to say to Him.

Prayer works, folks.
~*~

Last thing before class is dismissed. I know this has been a more serious RF than usual, but I hope you don't mind...

"Beautiful"- MercyMe


For those of you blessed with an actual Fall Break, enjoy it! Have fun and spend some quality time with God, family, and friends.

Blessings,

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Monday, October 18, 2010

Review of City On Our Knees






















      
City on Our Knees by TobyMac with Todd Hafer and Rick Killian is an awesome compilation of inspirational true stories all with themes similar to TobyMac’s hit “City On Our Knees”. Some stories are about George Muller, Michael Oher (who The Blind Side is based on), William Wilberforce, and many others. In each section of the book, there is a two-page “blog” by TobyMac. 

I really enjoyed this book. It’s filled with awesome stories of people doing awesome things. From children with diseases raising an enormous amount of money to an athlete committing to keep herself drug-free, I absolutely loved every page of this book. It teaches lessons about unity, faith, and prayer. Fans of TobyMac, I believe, will really enjoy this book, but people who may not necessarily be big fans of tobymac will enjoy the real, amazing stories of the people of God in this book. I recommend it to families with teens. The writing style is easy to understand, and those who may not enjoy reading will enjoy these short (about four pages) true stories. 

One thing to be aware about is that there are two stories about ministries that help people trapped in the awful act of slave trafficking. The situation for many people in “the red light district” is briefly described. May not be suitable for younger children.

I recommend this book to adults and older teens. 

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~ Hardcover: 223 pages
~ Publisher: Bethany House (September 1, 2010)
~ Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.1 x 1 inches

Note: I received this book freely from Bethany House Publishers. I am not obligated to write a positive review- only a honest one.

Blessings,

Friday, October 15, 2010

Randomness Friday: Please, God? Please? Pleeeeeaaaase?

(Thanks Libby!)

I remember when I was little and wanted a puppy with everything I was... (Which wasn't much- I've always been Ms. Shortie)

Anyway, I would beg and plead my parents to get me a puppy. I begged and begged.

But God was gently and silently telling me "Wait." 

My friend got an adorable puppy... But I didn't

Still I begged my parents and God. Every week, without fail, I would ask for a puppy when my Wednesday night girls group asked for prayer requests. Soon, my teacher didn't even ask- she just put it up on the board.

God was again telling me "Wait- just a little longer. Just wait."

Then, one day, my parents made an aggreement with me.

They'd give me a puppy if I did well on a piano test and researched for the perfect breed of dog for our family and house.

Can you guess the rest of the story? :)

I was so amazed the day of the test. I walked out with the highest score for my teacher's students. I had played each music selection well, but not of my own power. God said yes!

I didn't get a puppy that day, but we did buy a puppy. We got her after calling about an ad in the newspaper and meeting the owner in the lot of a far away McDonalds.

We didn't expect to drive away with a adorable little puppy with us, so we hadn't prepared at all. But she was ours.

Though my sister claims the honor of first holding her, I got the privilege of naming her.

She's my Belle.


 Isn't God just AMAZING?
~*~

So, don't forget to enter the awesome giveaway with an autographed copy of Me, Just Different! See that icon to the right with the book? Just click on that to enter!

Or scroll down...

or click here...

You have many options. Choose wisely (namely, entering the contest!)
~*~

115.

That's a pretty big number, if you ask me. I am stunned when I think about all of you people who want to follow strange ol' me. ;)

Thank you all for clicking the "follow" button!
~*~

Blessings,
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