Monday, February 28, 2011

Read the Word...

Wow... this quote is awesome.

Note: This is not my image


"The Bible is the Word of life- it is a picture of the human heart displayed for all ages and all sorts of conditions of men. I feel sorry for the men who do not read the Bible every day.

I wonder why they deprive themselves of the strength and pleasure."

-President Woodrow Wilson










Blessings,

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Something In Your Eyes...

I absolutely love this song, even though I discovered it yesterday. Love, love, love! And its the perfect song to celebrate the most post-ish month! 24 posts this month! That's a new record, people!



"Something In Your Eyes" Shonlock Lyrics:

There's not a man who could number the sands of the ocean
Control the breeze send a ripple through the sea for motion

And it feels just like you're showing me a love song
And it feels just like you're telling me to hold on

I see something in your eyes tonight and it glows,
letting me know I'm never alone

I see something on your eyes tonight, what a show
I'll never let go
Never let go

Mended the pieces to my heart when my heart was broken
Put me together again the doors of grace were open

When I'm feeling like the world is on my shoulders
When I'm feeling like I just cannot go on

I see something in your eyes tonight and it glows
Letting me know I'm never alone

I see something in your eyes tonight, what a show
I'll never let go
Never let go

When I look into the sky
I feel so alive
When I look into your eyes

When I look into the sky
I feel so alive
When I look into your eyes

Blessings,

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Favorite Disney Villain(ess) Song

This song just made me laugh from Tangled. Probably my favorite Disney villain song.



Blessings,


P.S. We're about to break a record here at AGoMC. This is the 23rd post of this month, tying with December 2009. My next post will be a record-setting post, as the most posts in a month!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Review of In Front of God and Everybody

In Front of God and Everybody: Confessions of April Grace by KD McCrite is the warm southern story set in 1986 of a girl in some interesting circumstances. April Grace's life has always been a little different. She has a sister who is so concerned about being glamorous April Grace is sure the girl is from another family, her grandma's cat is absolutely evil, and her neighbors are elderly hippies who never bathe. Throw in an old man who suddenly starts flirting obnoxiously with her grandma and a pair of city slickers who make April Grace's life absolutely horrible. No one will believe April Grace when it comes to her opinions, but her parents insists that she show love to the people who bug her. 

But how can she just stand there when the man kisses her grandmother in front of God and everybody?

This story was really cute. I surprised myself when I realized I like southern-style novels about young girls (April Grace is eleven). April Grace's voice is clear and charming as she expresses her opinions and interacts with her unique family and guests. And are they unique guests! Remember that Benjamin Franklin quote, "Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days."? Well, try three weeks with the rudest woman in the whole world! I love the way April Grace learns to love in her own, funny way. This really was a sweet, down-to-earth book filled with southern humor.

All in all, I rate this book five out of five stars, and I recommend it to girls from age nine and up.

Specifics (from amazon.com):
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 10, 2011)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an electronic advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Blessings,

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Do Hard Things Videos

In lieu of yesterday's posts, I though you might like to see some videos about doing hard things and the rebelution.

Part One:



Part Two:



Part Three:



Part Four:



The Rebelution website is truly a great resource. Go here for more about the Rebelution!

Blessings,

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Review of Do Hard Things!!!

Very rarely do I read a nonfiction book that makes me step back and evaluate my life. I am thankful I found such a book in Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris. I am stunned. This book has caused me to rethink my definition of a teenager and my expectations for myself. I've also come to reconsider the purpose of my blog, my actions, my life...

This book is THAT good. You don't want to miss it. 

Society's expectations for teenager are very low. The world expects us to party, fool around, and basically be worthless until we're in our twenties... or early forties... Lazy kids magically transform into stagnant "kidults".

We need to wake up and live for God. Dare to be different. Reach for the potential God has graciously put into our lives. Rebel against society's expectations about how we should live.

Welcome to the rebelution.

Alex and Brett Harris (names sound familiar? Try I Kissed Dating Goodbye by their older brother, Joshua Harris. Another good book) have written this book perfectly for teens. The writing is clear and to the point, and this book is chalk full of amazing stories of teens stepping up to the plate and beyond by doing hard things. The style of the writing is simple, but its message is profound. Defy the standards, break away from the normal, and do hard things. It is a challenge for teens to reevaluate their standard of what they, as teens, should be. It is a challenge to actually do hard things. It is a challenge to continue doing those hard things.

I highly recommend this book to teens and adults alike. Even though this book is geared towards teenagers, I believe this book's message is also relevant to adults today. As this book shows, people of all ages can do amazing things with God leading them. It is an awesome gift to give a teenage friend or relative.

Go here for the authors' website.

Specifics (from amazon.com): 
~Hardcover: 242 pages
~Publisher: Multnomah Books (April 15, 2008)

Many thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for reviewing purposes.

Blessings,

Friday, February 18, 2011

Going Against the Flow

Picture of Cassy Herkelman after Joel Northrup forfeits. (This picture is NOT mine)
Here's just one example of one teen going against the flow: Joel Northrup.

Joel is a home schooled sophomore wrestler from Iowa who recently forfeited a match against wrestler Cassy Herkelman, a girl.

Here's a quote from him (Go here for my source):

"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan and their accomplishments. However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times. As a matter of conscience and my faith I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner. It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most other high school sports in Iowa."

I also appreciate the girl's parent's public reaction to the situation. The father of Cassy Herkelman respected Northrup's position, although he may not have understood it. 

Wow... From what I've read, this was a pretty big tournament for Northrup, and great things were expected of him. I believe he made the right decision. As Christians, we don't always seem normal. We look at the world with a completely different view, and we should always stand firm, and respectfully so, in our beliefs.

I don't believe guys should wrestle girls either. The sport involves very close contact, and between a guy and a girl- it can get pretty inappropriate.Yes, it is just a sport, and yes I know nothing is going to happen on the mat with the crowds there and everything.

But doesn't it, in a way, throw off the guy? The girl is a girl. The guy is a guy. They're both human.

I have been involved in Tae Kwon Do for about eight years. Thankfully, I have an instructor who puts women together for the techniques or exercises that may be uncomfortable. I would not be comfortable at all if I were to be put into a situation where I had to engage a guy in physical contact, such as wrestling. It would not be appropriate, and why would I even want to risk it?

I'll leave your opinion up to you, but I, for one, applaud Northrup and wish him all the best.

Blessings,

Randomness Friday: Never Say Never... Oops, I Just Did... Twice

Okay, okay, people. This is not going to be a Beiber rant or rave. I know there are many strong feelings about him, so I'm not going to dive into the fray. I just found the title of movie ironic... but that was likely the point.
~*~

So, two random commercials I've seen recently and think are funny:





(Thanks to MaidenofEmmanuel for posting "The Force" on her blog!)
~*~

Soooo....

Tiredness. It seems to love me as much as paper hates me...

I have gotten so many paper cuts in the past couple of days, I am not kidding you.

Paper. Hates. Prism.

The feeling is mutual... Except when there's something good on it.

Like books! Or a good grade! Or an acceptance letter into a program I spent hours applying to!

Okay, nevermind. God made trees. Trees and some other stuff God created make paper. Paper... is okay. (deep breath) Okay, it's very okay! :)
~*~

I've noticed I've been reading many, many books on my digital device. No, it's not because I've decided to abandon paper, but I seem to have more time to read books digitally. Many publishers also only offer review copies as electronic copies, too. Oh, and my library has an e-media program with e-books, and since I almost never have the time to go to the library anymore, so I go digital.

Ahhhh! Prism has joined the dark side!!!!






Note: This is not my image!

Okay, couldn't resist. Funny though, I actually have never seen Star Wars... 

Please, do not throw the rotten produce!

It's really not like betraying the book world. Yes, in ways it is more expensive, but I find myself reading books on my computer too. I can still highlight my favorite parts, keep bookmarks, and I don't have to carry heavy books with me!

Oh, and I don't have people asking me what the book is about!!!

Okay, that just has always annoyed me a teensy bit because I so get into the story. Interruptions that aren't from parents or super important totally frustrate me. I don't go ballistic or anything, but I just sigh, set aside my book and give the person a whole review of my book, because that's what I do.

What? Prism is like this in her real life?!?!?! 

Surprisingly, yes. The only difference between this and my real life is that I am more academic in real life. School is my life. Well, maybe 70% of the time, but I work a lot. I sort of like it too, but I know I never talk about it on here. But I'm pretty much like this with my closest friends. 

Maybe I'm cooler on here, I dunno.

I mean, I want to be a doctor... and I'm not so sure you'd appreciate me blabbering on about the differences between the types of leukocytes, right??? 

(By the way, leukocytes are white blood cells... Same thing. They're pretty tough little... things... (what do I say? dudes?! they're cells!) )

That's all for this edition of Randomness Friday. "See" you all soon!

Blessings,

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Review of No Place Like Holmes!

No Place Like Holmes by Jason Lethcoe is a mystery book set in the times of Sherlock Holmes. Griffin Sharpe is no ordinary boy, and, to put it quite simply, he's a genius. When Griffin visits his uncle in England at 221B Baker Street, he's shocked to find out that his uncle absolutely hates his neighbor, the famous Sherlock Holmes. His uncle is also a detective, but he is much, much less famous due to his, shall we say, inability to solve crimes. Is Griffin just the person he needs?

When a woman comes to them begging for them to find her husband, who is believed to have been eaten by the Loch Ness monster, the uncle-nephew detective duo soon accepts the challenge. But the Loch Ness monster isn't real! Or is it?

The game's afoot!

I loved how this book separated from the normal pre-teen fiction with an exciting whodunit set in older times that will capture the attention of readers. Griffin is uncannily similar to Sherlock Holmes in his observations, and I love how the author crafted a story about a young detective who has his own mismatched crew that helps him solve his mystery, which includes his eccentric uncle, who names his many inventions after himself. The mystery is gripping, and I quickly ate up this mystery. There is also an excellent, although frustrating, cliffhanger at the end.

I'm not too familiar with Holmes' stories (only read two or three), so I can't vouch for how historically accurate this book is for the time period. There were a few elements that I felt as if was perhaps too advanced for the times.

All in all, I rate this book four out of five stars. Highly recommended for pre-teen guys.

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~Paperback: 288 pages
~Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 10, 2011)

Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an electronic advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Blessings,

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Review of Found in Translation

Found in Translation by Roger Bruner is the first book in the Altered Hearts series, and it is the story of a girl who gets a new perspective on life and her relationship with God during a hard-core mission trip to a devastated Mexican village.

Kim Hartlinger is eighteen, spoiled, and looking forward to a relaxed, fun mission trip to a beautiful city, but her plans are soon changed when she ends up going to a remote village to help heal the spiritual and physical condition of the village ravaged by a terrible storm. Kim learns to open her heart to God's plans and gets to sow seeds in the villagers hearts... in her own unique way.

This story was really sweet. Kim didn't strike me as too spoiled, and she genuinely wants to pursue God and help others do the same. There were a few funny moments, like when Kim forgets to set her watch and a disaster ensues. I liked the more spiritual change in Kim. She learned to forgive, trust God, and just love. I love Kim's relationship with a village girl in the story. The language barrier was distinct, yet the girls completely overcame that and communicated clearly in a beautiful way. By the way, I loved the cover. Not sure why, but its just so awesome.

The story had some somewhat dry elements, however. I felt as though the beginning and ending was great, but, in between, the story sort of bumped along very slowly. Kim has a caring yet odd friendship with an African-American girl who brings up differences in race a lot. Of course, the book is definitely not racist or anything, but I was confused as to why it was mentioned so often. I also found it odd that this book was so emotional. Yes, mission trips are amazing, life-changing experiences, but I saw the word "giggling" many, many times in this book. It also seemed as if Kim was often either crying hard or laughing hard. Kim also speaks with what she refers to as "Angel", and the book never really tells us what it is... A dream? A real angel? I was confused about that part.

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

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~Paperback: 368 pages
~Publisher: Barbour Books (January 1, 2011)

Note: Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an electronic review copy. 

Blessings,

Monday, February 14, 2011

Review of The Glory of Green!

The Glory of Green by Judy Christie is the third book in a series. Reporter Lois Barker has changed Green, Louisiana almost as much as the tight-knit community has changed her. See my review for the second book here. Lois Barker is really excited about her upcoming wedding to be married to the amazing Chris Craig, catfish enthusiast, football coach, and the perfect guy for Lois. She's had to deal with some hefty topics before, but the newspaper seems to be going great.

Then, everything gets thrown into a whirlwind... Literally.

After Lois's wedding reception is outright destroyed and Green is torn apart, Lois and her friends are left fighting to mend the brokenness of Green. Lois, her new husband, and their friends soon find the beauty that can be found in brokenness and the amazing power of God to heal. So can the team of The Green News-Item pull together to reattain the glory of Green?

Like the previous two books, I can absolutely say this book is amazing. In fact, it is my favorite in the series. It is a lighthearted book with some weighty topics. One of my favorite themes in this book is forgiveness. Lois and those close to her have been really negatively affected by the actions of a man in town, so when he seems to have turned around in the right direction, Lois must learn to forgive. It is also clear in the book that things don't always turn out like we plan them to, but that hard things can be overcome with some hard work and the grace of God. The romance between Lois and Chris continues as a sweet relationship, even through the hard times and the rocky start to their marriage. Overall, I applaud the author for her ability to completely engage readers to feel like they are a part of Green and friends with the citizens.

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

Specifics (from amazon.com):
Paperback: 228 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press (March 2011)

Note: Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an electronic review copy in exchange for a review.

Blessings,

Happy SAD Day!

Note: This is not my image

Love day, Heart day, Valentines Day, SAD day, it's all the same to me.

To be honest, I have never gotten into the whole romance, kissy kissy scene...

IT'S TRUE! DON'T BELIEVE THE LIES! 

Although, this was said of me:

~Prism~: I LOVE action movies!
Mom: Yeah, kissy, kissy action.

Okay, no. This was said jokingly, and it is not true. Yuck.

Yes, I like Pride and Prejudice, but... but... That is beside the point!

Oh, by the way, do you know what SAD day is? It's Valentines Day's alter ego: Singles Awareness Day. Funny how SAD is the acronym for it, but I am telling you, single people are happy people. Until they get married to the person God decided could put up with them, and then they become super-happy people...But that is beside the point!

I am proud to be unattached, single, and a TEEN! So, uh, there! I plan to remain so for a long time.

I am unabashedly in love with all things chocolate, though. No, its not an obsession, and I don't each chocolate every day. I'm not allowed. Anyways, M&Ms and chocolate frozen delights are my absolutely favorite. However, in my book, the chocolate must be the lone element for me to truly enjoy it (with few exceptions). Forget the nuts, caramel, and other stuff. Skip the valentine, just gimme chocolate!

Okay, I know you wanna know the exceptions... Here they are: Chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and ice cream.

I barely have these things, though. Yes, I have some self-control! I also have a limited wallet and parents.

...Which brings us to the next thing I absolutely love... My family! I (most of the time) think they are absolutely the best thing after chocolate, so I thank God for them.

Above all things, my Heavenly Father. Wow... Love... Now His is the ultimate!!!!!!!!

Blessings,

Friday, February 11, 2011

Randomness Friday: Hey, No More Books!!!!

                                                                                               (Thanks Libby!)

Okay, just kidding! But, people, I am completely running out of space on my bookshelf! I've actually had to pick favorites (oh, the HORROR!) and hide away some books just to keep my shelves orderly... Okay, somewhat orderly.

I'm not particular about many things, but, dude, ruin my books and you'll unleash my wrath!

Again, just kidding. I do get pretty upset when, say, spaghetti sauce gets all over my favorite book or the cover is torn off (may it NEVER be!!!!) but I suffer inwardly... that is, most of the time.

But now I digress.

Any of you have solutions for my lack-of-space woes?

Should I buy a new bookshelf? 
Toss some of them into the banishment of perpetual closet-dom?
Move over some other stuff to make room?
Move to Siberia and carve myself a bookshelf out of stone?
Move to Siberia to ponder the reason why I feel it is necessary to even have more books?
Move to Siberia and feed my books to the tigers?
Quit thinking about Siberia and just deal with it?

I dunno.... I just don't like not having enough room.

*looks back at what she just wrote* Now, THAT, my friends was the weirdest thing ever...

So, that's it for this edition of Randomness Friday. Short, and um, well, short. (What do you want me to say, sweet? Ha.)

Blessings,

Review of Hollywood Nobody!


Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson is the first book in a series about a quirky yet lovable teen girl who blogs about her opinions of the Hollywood scene. Scotty is fifteen years old and has spent the majority of her life on the road, except when her mom, who insists Scotty call her Charley, works with food on movie sets. In this book, Scotty and Charley are off to the latest movie that stars Seth Haas, new guy to Hollywood and Scotty's celebrity crush. Scotty's life around Hollywood soon inspires her to start Hollywood Nobody, a blog she writes anonymously about her opinions about Hollywood. It soon gains popularity, but when everything starts going well, strange things begin to happen...

Scotty has been somewhat secluded her whole life. Charley's job always keeps them moving, but sometimes Scotty wonders if Charley is purposely keeping them that way. When a strange man begins lurking around... What's going on? Scotty soon discovers that life as she knows it, well, is really not as she knows it.

I absolutely loved this book. The characters are unique, and Scotty is just so different and fun that I totally admired her character by the end of this book. The blog posts included are interesting, and I liked how the author incorporated real celebrities with the fictional ones, to keep it all tangible. Scotty's situation is really unique (I mean, not everyone gets to live around celebrities and movie sets, be running away all the time, have a mom who's a vegan hippie, have a cools scooter, and wear cat-styled glasses!) but that makes the book all the more charming.  Throw in a super-cool actor who's new to Hollywood but keeping it real, an ex-designer who makes awesome jewelry, and dressing up in a banana suit... What could be better?

All in all, I rate this book five out of five stars. Highly recommended for tween and teen gals!

Specifics (from amazon.com): 
~Paperback: 224 pages 
~Publisher: NavPress (August 24, 2007)

Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy!

Blessings,

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Snow!!!

I don't know if you have snow or not where you are living, but if you do, enjoy it!!! :)

Love you all!

I love snow :)

My dog loves you too!


Blessings,

Monday, February 7, 2011

"Impossible" Anberlin



I absolutely love the beats and the lead singer's voice!

Blessings,

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Review of Warrior

Warrior by Bryan Davis is the second book in Bryan Davis's latest series, Dragons of Starlight. You can see my review for the first book here, and my review for the first book in the adult accompanying series here. In the second book, the complex stories of Starlighter and Darksphere begins to merge as Jason, our hero from the last book from Darksphere, and Koren, the heroine of Starlighter, begin to discover more about their worlds' past. The prophesied dragon king finally hatches and begins to force Koren into submission, confusing her whether love can be found from bondage or love must be without chains. Elyssa and Wallace continue on their own journey to find Jason and rescue the cattle children, but they soon discover the secrets Starlighter has held for so long. Meanwhile of Darksphere, Randall and Tibalt find themselves in the company of dragons from Starlighter, who want to raise an army to defeat the new dragon king.

Mr. Davis's tales are famous for being very complex and immersing the reader into totally new worlds. This is true for Warrior. It has been some time since I've read Starlighter, but I had no trouble picking up the story from where I left off. This intriguing tale of humans enslaved by dragons continues to make my curious factor escalate to the point of just eating the words up. Readers will never find a dull moment. Not only does this story make for a fun, fast-paced read, but the author also makes the reader think. I saw themes of God's sovereignty and discerning right from wrong when everything seems to be painted grey. I can't wait for the next adventure.

I found one very interesting and somewhat unsettling element in this book. Some characters have the ability to live on as spirits after they die, living somewhat as ghosts. The "spirits", as they are called in the book, shimmer and move about undetected. Although the are concentrated in the Northlands of the story, one of these spirits is able to move around Starlighter and even journey to Darksphere. This same character has the ability to indwell Jason, speaking to him through his mind, though she cannot hear his thoughts.

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

Specifics (from amazon.com):
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (January 17, 2011)
Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches

Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of the book for reviewing purposes. 

Blessings,

Saturday, February 5, 2011

How I Write My Reviews

Book reviews are amazing things. They can connect fellow bookworms, they can help readers know what books are good and what aren't, they can help publishers and author get publicity (any publicity is good publicity in many cases), and the blogger can sometimes get free stuff in exchange for a review!

I thought maybe you'd like to know how I write my reviews, because, according to a friend, I just churn 'em out. If you are interested in writing your own reviews in exchange for free books, it can get pretty hard to keep up with everything. I use a basic format for all of my reviews, and I'd like to share it with you in hopes of helping you on your journey to becoming a blogger book reviewer.

Cue the inspirational music!!!

Here goes:

Get good books. Review books that you want to read. The more you wanted to read it, the more honest your review will be. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of nonfiction books. I hardly feel qualified to do them justice. So, I tend to lean towards Christian fiction. Base your choices on YOUR preference, not your readers' likes. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The more YOU your blog is, the more you'll enjoy it and you'll get readers with similar interests.

Want to get started? Go here for my post about some publishers and publicity groups I review for.

*Keep a list. I use this handy-dandy sticky notes program on my computer to keep things organized.

Now, you really don't need to be all high tech. Start a blogging notebook. I had one for a long time until I was able to get a laptop. Simply use that to write ideas and get organized. Also, blogger is awesome in being able to keeps drafts and such, so use that too.

TITLE:

Review of (insert title name here)

Prism quirk alert: It's something I started a while back, and I doubt anyone has really noticed. When I really like a book, I put an exclamation point after the title of my review.

PICTURE:

Include a picture of the book/product you are reviewing. This is so the reader can get a glimpse of what the book is like and judge it by its cover. (Okay, I know it sounds really bad, but admit it, we all do it for books!) Search it on a picture search engine, like google images

*Be careful, my dear little ones, on what you search. The more specific you are (book title and author, spelled correctly) the less likely you are to pull up irrelevent images or even innapropriate/gross images. 

Anyone care to join me in a rousing rendition of "Oh, Be Careful Little Eyes What You See?"
 
REVIEW:

It's really, really simple. My advice is to write the review as soon as you can after reading a book. If you're like me, you forget key points in the book that you want to remember for the review pretty quickly. 

1. The Synopsis.

Tell us what the title is, who the author is, the genre, if it is in a series, and finally, give us a quick summary of the book. I usually also put an attention-getter in the form of suspense and then a question to keep the reader guessing.

For example, if I were doing a review of my blog, I'd start it like this: A Girl of Many Colors is the latest blog by ~Prism~. Its posts mainly contains book reviews and random snippets ~Prism~ enjoys collecting throughout her walk through life. She says she's going to post about her secrets of reviewing books soon, but is she really going to?

Okay, that was a lame example, but go to any of my reviews (except for the most early ones I have posted... they shame me) and you'll probably see what I mean. Oh, I am so PREDICTABLE!

As for the length, that's totally up to you. I usually make it one paragraph, but if my attention-getter needs it, I single out a sentence and maybe put the rest of the paragraph after that sentence.

2. The Good

Next, tell us what you really like about the book. Was the plot believable? Did the author do a good job of setting up the story? How did you feel, and how do you think other readers will feel while reading the story? There's always something to merit, so even if you didn't like the book, find at least something to complement it on. Make this section one to two paragraphs.

3. The Not-So-Good

Even if you think this book you have just read is the greatest piece of literature on earth (after the Bible, of course), there's still always something that could be better. I mean, nothing is perfect, right? Okay, I admit in some reviews I have had absolutely nothing even slightly negative to report, but a true book critic shows things from both extreme standpoints, like a Justin Beiber fan and a Justin Beiber hater. Maybe not as strongly, though...

*Always, and I mean ALWAYS tell us if you read something inappropriate/non-Biblical in the book you are reviewing. You can word it in a way that isn't offensive or makes readers uncomfortable, though it can be hard sometimes. Be aware that young readers may be visiting your blog. In a way, I feel obligated to notify people about things that aren't good because they trust me to be honest.

4. The Verdict
So, what's your final opinion? Did you like it or not? Who would you recommend it to (age, gender)? You may want to rate your books on a "star" system. I use a five star system.

Extras:

This stuff may or may not be included in your review. 

*By law, if you receive a free product in exchange for a review or receive ANY compensation, you must acknowledge that in your review. 

I've changed my format over time, but I'm now using the basic:


Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for reviewing purposes. 


The exact wording is up to you, but if you got a free product for reviewing, you must acknowledge that.

I usually also put product information in case the reader wants to find out more about the book without going anywhere else. I usually include the format (hardback, paperback, ect.), the number of pages, the publisher, and the date of publication. I have recently decided (like, as in effective from now on) that I will no longer be including the dimensions (how long, wide, and tall?) of the book.

It's up to you. You may decide to post more about the author, about the author's other books, about the publisher, and maybe about the author and publisher's websites.

Close up the review as you usually do your posts, and you are done!

Congratulations, you have completed a review, Prism-style!

Blessings,

Friday, February 4, 2011

New Design?

I've had this current design since maybe 2009, so, I was thinking about maybe giving AGoMC a facelift? Well, I guess it would be a template-lift. I'm not sure- I may not even go through with this. Do y'all know of any good websites or blog designers that does blog templates for free?

I'd love to do a header, or maybe just redesign the whole thing. Of course, I'd still be the same, random me.

Blessings,

What's to Come!

Okay, I just couldn't resist. I am way, super-duper, extra, totally excited about the book reviews to come. So below you'll find the book covers of the reviews I, Lord willing, will post as soon as I can.


AAAAAAHHHHHHHH! I am so excited!

Blessings,

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Review of Delivered with Love

Delivered with Love by Sherry Kyle is the story of a woman, whose adventure of finding who she is starts with one love letter. Claire James has been struggling for some time now. Her mother died after battling cancer, her sister's husband is a drunk who takes her money, she's just lost her job, and all she has left is her mom's old '72 VW bug. The car contains a mysterious old letter addressed to her mother, which makes Claire determined to find the sender. So determined, in fact, that she moves everything she has to the return address on the envelope, Capitola. Once she arrives, Claire begins to find out who she really is, but her employer and landlord, a man named Michael, seems to be hiding something from her. Joined by a spunky elderly woman, a handsome police officer with some cooking skills, and a new friend she meets on her journey to Capitola, Claire's life is forever changed.

This story is really heartwarming. The "coincidences" in this book shows the awesome power of God to be able to work things out, even though we may not see it. Claire's friends are an interesting bunch, but I love the warmth of the relationships. It was also interesting to follow Claire's journey of finding who she really was. The character of Blake, the police officer, is sweet and charming. 

The man in this book named Michael is a character who has his own share of guilt and pain from a huge mistake from his past. Though this book does not go into details or anything, it is clear he broke his marriage vows.

All in all, I rate this book four out of five stars. It will be released in April 2011.

Specifics (from amazon.com):
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press (April 2011)

Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an electronic advanced review copy.

Blessings,

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Chick-fil-A Stands Firm

I applaud the owner of Chick-fil-A for standing firm in his beliefs. After the clamor many people have raised for Chick-fil-A's donation of food for a biblical marriage class, the people in charge have stood firm. I, for one, remember getting so excited when I was little after getting a kids' meal with a Veggietales toy. I also appreciate how they have decided to close on Sundays, in honor of the Lord's day.

Quote from the owner:

"In recent weeks, we have been accused of being anti-gay. We have no agenda against anyone. At the heart and soul of our company, we are a family business that serves and values all people regardless of their beliefs or opinions. We seek to treat everyone with honor, dignity and respect, and believe in the importance of loving your neighbor as yourself.

We also believe in the need for civility in dialogue with others who may have different beliefs. While my family and I believe in the Biblical definition of marriage, we love and respect anyone who disagrees."


Go here for more information.

Blessings,

Tim Hawkins Videos

I couldn't resist. Tim Hawkins just has so many funny videos!



He's kind of right! Haha, I'm around little dudes a lot and this sounds so much like them.

"Hey There, Delilah" The Samson version.




Blessings,

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Review of Katy's Homecoming

Katy's Homecoming by Kim Vogel Sawyer is the third book in the four-part Katy Lambright series, which follows the teen life of Katy as she leaves her Old Order Mennonite community to take part in the "worldly" high school. I've reviewed the first book here and the second book here.

In this book, Katy is becoming more and more torn between the two worlds she is a part of. When Katy is selected to be a part of the homecoming court, her resolution to stay Mennonite wavers as she longs to fit in, even if its just for one night. The glitz and glamor may seem normal to the teens at school, but her beliefs prohibit such things. The fact that her crush, Bryce, might even ask her out to the dance isn't helping much either. Katy must decide whether she wants to attend homecoming and abandon her beliefs or stick with them, even if it means she could be scorned.

The author brings relevant themes from the Katy books. Sure, most of us aren't Mennonites, but as Christians, we are called to be separate from the world. That means doing what's right when it may seem so hard. That is the theme of this book. The characters are still charming and the setting of the Mennonite community really is fascinating.

I found this book a little less interesting than the previous two books, however. Katy's "friends" are a little pushy when it comes to whether Katy holds to her convictions or not. The relationship with Bryce seems a little odd, but it'll be interesting to see what happens in the next book.

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

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~Paperback: 208 pages
~Publisher: Zondervan (January 17, 2011)
~Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches

Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy.

Blessings,
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