The End

Hi all! It's been a while! I was studying today and realized I never wrapped up this blog in a definitive way, mostly because I always intended to return to it. Over time (has it really been three years?!) it has become quite obviously to me that it won't happen. And, in many ways, this blog isn't quite me anymore.

I still find myself itching to write every once in a while. Writing is and always will remain a huge passion of mine and maybe one day there'll be A Woman of Many Colors blog (another major realization: my teens years are quite behind me). I am forever grateful for the outlet this was for me during my teen years, the publishers that had enough confidence in me to allow me to review their books, and for the followers who read my ramblings and honestly helped a shy teenager gain confidence in herself.

These days, I am on the path to my dreams as a current medical student. My family is great and I am so in love with my Savior.

This blog was a pivotal time in my growing up. I am grateful for the experience, but it's time to official close this chapter.

Blessings,
~Prism~

Review of The One Year Devos for Teen Girls!

Note: I do not own this image

The One Year Devos for Teen Girls by Dannah Gresh and Suzy Weibel is a great devotional for teenaged girls who are finding their way in the world and tackling some big topics associated with growing up and becoming a young woman of God. There is one topic per day, and the reading is relatively short with really great content. It starts with a Bible verse which the topic is based around and ends with an application challenge. The authors of the devotional do a great job of incorporating the big topics girls are faced with and interested in—everything from social media, world issues, dating, fame, drugs, self-image, to money, and more in a biblical context and what being a Christian should be in the environment of our modern and rapidly changing world. These topics are great in the fact that they not only give a biblical perspective but also leave many things open for the reader to think about and form her own opinion.

This is an excellent premise for parental discussion, especially with a mom. I believe this devotional is perfect for girls aged 12 to 15 to converse with their mothers about what the Bible says and what they believe about it. It opens topics up for discussion that a mother and daughter may not necessarily discuss in passing. The pre-teen and teen stage are a time of great change, not only physically and emotionally. There’s a huge spiritual and intellectual growth that takes place, and its critical that the adults in a girl’s life foster growth. As a college student, I know these kinds of discussions (either with a parent or adult a girl looks up to) are essential to developing critical thinking skills in evaluating one’s worldview and the worldview of others and compare them to Scripture. This really helps the process of helping a girl transition from child to woman, and I believe this book is a great method of opening up conversation and fostering that transition.

The devotional is well-written, easy to understand, and very much geared towards questions, concerns, and attitudes teen girls may have. I give a five out of five for this one!

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

Blessings,
Prism

Dead Come To Life!!!!

Song addiction of the month! :)

Shadowhand Cover Reveal!

I am super, super super pumped to be a part of the cover reveal for Anne Elisabeth Stengl's latest book, Shadowhand! Shadowhand is book 6 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series. You can see my reviews for books two, three, and four by clicking on the links. I am a huge fan of the books- they are so fantastic and transport you into another world that is absolutely enthralling!

Blurb about the upcoming book:

"She Will Take Your Own Two Hands

To Save Your Ancient, Sorrowing Lands."

  

By her father's wish, Lady Daylily is betrothed to the Prince of Southlands. Not the prince she loves, handsome and dispossessed Lionheart, but his cousin, the awkward and foolish Prince Foxbrush. Unable to bear the future she sees as her wedding day dawns, Daylily flees into the dangerous Wilderlands, her only desire to vanish from living memory.

But Foxbrush, determined to rescue his betrothed, pursues Daylily into a new world of magic and peril, a world where vicious Faerie beasts hold sway, a world invaded by a lethal fey parasite . . .

A world that is hauntingly familiar.

 

For the official cover reveal site and for fun things about the upcoming book, go here: www.shadowhandnovel.blogspot.com.

Are you ready?

Here it is!

 

Isn't it absolutely gorgeous? I love her expression and how the background brings attention to her. Her dress is absolutely gorgeous and well-detailed. The bird is also a great touch and adds to the intrigue of the book.

This is just another addition to the absolutely breathtaking covers from the series. Props to whoever drew/designed them. So beautiful!

Here's the book lineup:

 I just can't pick my favorite one! They are all so great!

Also, the author is having a giveaway for a Tales of Goldstone mug!

Enter by clicking the link: a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can get more entries by liking the authors FB page, following on twitter, ect.

I hope you all are able to read the books in these series. They're on my "favorites" shelf at home, so I highly recommend them.

Blessings,
~Prism~

 

Review of Rescue Team!

Rescue Team by Candace Calvert is the second book in the Grace Medical series. Nurse Kate Callison, who we met in the first book, has move to Austin to serve as a temporary ER director at Austin Grace Hospital, filling in for the previous director. Kate is struggling. The previous director seems to have been the angel of the department, and Kate feels as if she is in a losing battle if she tries to compete with the memory of the last director.

Things get worse.

A terrible tragedy takes place in the ER, and Kate soon finds herself drowning professionally and personally. The event has brought much scrutiny to her ability to run the ER, and it has shaken her to the core. Her mysterious past is revealed, and the reader is able to see why this case is so hard for her.

Enter Wes Tanner, the hero. Literally. This search-and-rescue volunteer enters at the same time as the tragedy and soon finds himself intrigued with the ER director, much to her dismay. His life has revolves around rescuing those in need ever since he was a young boy, and he can't help but feel as if Kate Callison is in need of some rescuing. Soon, his respect and desire to help her turns into something more, and Kate finds herself starting to think that maybe she can let her walls down.

However, a startling discovery shakes their already rocky relationship. Wes and Kate both come to question their relationship. Can Kate overcome her past? Will Wes be able to?


The Good:
This book is well-written. I liked how each book in the series has a different hero and heroine. You don't have to read the books in succession and can pick up anywhere. Even though the books can be standalone, the main character of the next book is introduced in the current book. For example, we first met the mysterious Kate Callison in Trauma Plan, but we didn't get to fully know her and this built up for suspense in the this book.

Although most romance novels have similar general plotlines, the author brings in a twist with the medical and search-and-rescue occupations. Kate's job in the ER made me feel as if I were in the ER with Kate. Wes's personal experience with search-and-rescue and his different missions was also a great addition and worked to endear the reader to the hero.

The characters are well-written with flaws that they work with throughout the book. The secondary character cast is diverse and add perfectly to the story; I did not feel as if they were in excess or meaningless. The secondary characters helped push and pull the main characters towards each other and God.

I love how this book faced some tough topics and had a well-written romance without turning to the overt or crude. I love medical fiction that makes the reader feel as if they are there without making them feel as if they entered a medical textbook. The author provides a good blend of excitement, romance, and a glimpse into life in the ER.

The Bad: Nothing major. There's a major twist in the story that I can't divulge without spoiling. Somehow I never felt as if there was complete closure on the issue. I realize this book isn't intended to be a mystery book, but the mystery of how the plot-twist initially happened is never figured out.

The Ugly: Nothing! A great, clean read!

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

Specifics:
~Length: 379 pages
~Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (April 19, 2013)

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

Blessings,
~Prism~

Review of Starflower!

Starflower by Anne Elisabeth Stengl is the fourth book in the Christian fantasy series Tales of Goldstone Wood. You can read my reviews for the second and third books by clicking on the links.

A furious dragon vs. a man-cat and a mortal girl. Doesn't seem like a fair fight at all, does it?

When the beautiful Lady Gleamdren is kidnapped by a fairy queen turned dragon, the amorous poet of Rudiobus, Eanrin, is quick to pledge to save her, as is his rival who is equally determined to win Gleamdren's heart. The two decide to race each other to save the beautiful lady, but Eanrin gets sidetracked when he attempts to escape a terribly frightening white hound that has been pursuing him and when he saves a mortal girl, trapped in sleep, from a river. He saves her out of the goodness of his immortal heart, but little does he know this girl has power unexplainable- the power of courage and love. Starflower, or Imraldera as Eanrin calls the girl, joins him in his noble quest. As the story unfolds, Imraldera's true story is revealed, and the dark powers pursuing her and her ability to aid Eanrin instead of hinder him becomes more and more evident.

Although the girl has much strength, does she have the fortitude to stand up to the dragon witch and the dark force after her? Will Eanrin rescue his lady-love? What is this white hound, and will he harm Eanrin?

As with its predecessors, Starflower is a story as imagination-inspiring and beautiful as its cover. This book can be a standalone book, without knowledge of the characters from previous books. This book is set as a prequel to the previous three books in the series, so we delve into the past of characters such as Eanrin, who we first saw as a feline protector in the first book, Heartless. He gives the book its breath of lightheartedness but also contributes in deeper ways- I absolutely loved learning more about the mysterious man-cat from the previous books. The lead character, Starflower, is strong and captivating, quite representative of the cast of characters we have seen in the author's previous books. She is bold and self-sacrificing, as shown by her actions and love of her sister. I love the depth of emotion in this book- it is a book with heart. Parents will also appreciate that it is a clean book with strong morals and spiritual truths.

I highly, highly recommend this book. Brilliant, captivating, a must-read!

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

Blessings,
~Prism~

Review of Oliver Twist!

Prism is reviewing classic books now? How can one review Dickens? Okay, okay, no I'm not reviewing Oliver Twist the novel, I'm reviewing Focus on the Family's audio adaptation of the book!

I grew up listening to Focus on the Family's famous radio show, Adventures in Odyssey. They have now expanded to create audio dramas of classic books from C.S. Lewis to Les Miserables and the list goes on and on. Those familiar with the style of Adventures in Odyssey will find that the adaptation of Oliver Twists, while of course different in content, is very similar in the way it is presented. A cast of all-star actors breathe life into the characters, with sounds effects, and a score to accompany. It really is as if you are hearing everything going on. The CDs come in beautiful packaging, and there are five CDs and one DVD. The CDs contain over 5.5 hours in audio drama, and the DVD contains a behind the scenes featurette and a video on modern-day Oliver Twists.

I was absolutely and completely hooked to the story. I had read the novel before, but it never seemed so real. Of course, Dicken's story is fiction, but the way Focus on the Family presented it with the audio drama and story of modern orphans, it really brought everything into perspective. Stories like Oliver's happened every day during Dicken's time, and many of them did not have happy endings. There's still much suffering among children today also, even in America. It truly opened my eyes.

A little disclaimer: Due to the nature of the story of Oliver Twist, the documentary of "modern Olivers", and one mild choice word in the audio dramatization, I would recommend this to ages 13 and up.

Great as a gift, to listen to as a family (with teenagers), ect. Highly recommended. Excellent adaptation!

All in all, I rate this audio dramatization 5/5 stars.

Note: Thanks to Tyndale for providing me with a free copy for reviewing purposes.

Blessings,
~Prism~

Review of Placebo!

Placebo is the latest suspense novel by bestselling author Steven James. It is the first in a series about Jevin Banks, a former magician and current expose filmmaker.

Jevin and his assistant Charlene, in their latest investigation for their TV show, are going to a laboratory that is testing the "entanglement" of two people in love and mind-to-mind communication. The two pose as a couple in order to determine whether or not the study is legitimate. Soon, they are caught up in a huge conspiracy that may threaten lives... and it is up to him to stop it. Along with Xavier, a conspiracy theorist, and Fionna, a technology genius and homeschool mom, Jevin attempts to get to the bottom of the research and its potential far-reaching capabilities. Additionally, he grapples with personal tragedy, the loss of his wife and twins and the resulting guilt.

This book definitely pushes a person to think about the nuances of science, medicine, and religion. I love how the characters all have such great depth and the emotions, or lack thereof. One of the most intriguing characters was that of Dr. Riah Colette, who is a self-diagnosed psychopath. I found her character incredibly complex, as she is incapable of experiencing emotion and her motives and characteristics are very unclear and gray. In fact, many of the characters of this book are used to help explore the gray areas of life. One of Jevin's biggest struggles in the book is that of his loss, his guilt, and how God could let that happen to his family. The book handles the matter very delicately in a way both Christians and people who are not Christians will be able to read and understand the author's point of view. Well-written, full of suspense, and a great scientific-related, detailed book.

I wish this book had picked up a bit faster. The plot line did accelerate towards the end, but the beginning was somewhat hard to get engaged in.

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

Book Info:
Publisher: Revell (November 1, 2012)
Pages: 409 (Paperback)

Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book for reviewing purposes.
Available November 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

Blessings,
~Prism~

Do You Like Free Stuff?

Tyndale Publishers has started a great new program where you can earn free books and Bibles! How cool is that? All you have to do is some little easy tasks, and earn points. You can then use those points towards certain Tyndale products. I signed up for Tyndale Rewards, have you?

Here is the link:  www.TyndaleRewards.com

Blessings,
~Prism~

Review of Rock Solid Faith Study Bible

Brief description: Rock Solid Faith Study Bible for Teens is one of the latest teen Bibles from Zondervan. It is in the NIV format, and contains additional content to help keep a teen's faith strong.

Provided description (not mine): This all-new, full-featured NIV Bible is great for teens looking to grow their faith, increase meaning in their lives, and find hope for their future. The Rock Solid Bible for Teens is a timely guide for teens grappling with big questions about the world, their future, and their faith.  Featuring the complete New International Version text, apologetics helps, hundreds of call-outs, and concrete promises for the future, the Rock Solid Bible provides firm traction for the development of beliefs and behavior rooted in the unchanging love, guidance, and promises of God.

Only recently have I really delved into and explored study Bibles. Many of them are rich in content, and this is one of them. There are several features that are interspersed in the pages. These sections include: Truths, Principles, Promises, Plans, People, and God. Rock solid Truths explore what Christianity is and how it differs from other religions. Rock solid Principles help make topics in the Bible relevant to teen readers. Rock solid Promises describe what God has promised believers, but also addresses what God has not promised. Rock solid Plans addresses one of the biggest worries of teens: what's the future going to be like? Unshaken people highlights some of the the strong people of God in the Bible. And the last topic Unshaken God, explores who God is and His attributes. Some of the topics addressed often are in story form. Fictional examples relating to the topic are useful to see how it relates to life and in a way not to feel unique in struggles. Many teens will be able to relate to the material presented.

Aesthetically, the hardback cover is great, the Bible is easy to navigate through, and I loved the additional material at the end. I've always loved maps and visualizing where the events of the Bible occurred.

This is my first time to review a Bible, and as it is a Bible, I will not be rating it.

Because of the additional material and content, I do recommend this study Bible to teens.

Note: thanks to B&B Media Group, Inc. for providing me with a copy of this Bible for reviewing purposes.

Blessings,
~Prism~

Review of Perfectly Ridiculous!

Perfectly Ridiculous by Kristin Billerbeck is the third book in the YA fiction Universally Misunderstood series (see my reviews for book one and book two). Daisy Crispin is finally done with high school and looks forward to a bright future as a finance major in college. To add to her happiness, her best friend's parents are giving an all-expenses-paid trip to beautiful Argentina! As an added bonus, Argentina is where her extremely attractive sort-of boyfriend, Max, lives! Some summer fun, independence from her well meaning but slightly overbearing parents, and the possibility of an innocence foreign romance! What more could a girl ask for?

But, of course, things never turn out as Daisy expects, as we have seen in the last two books.

Soon, a letter arrives in the mail dictating that Daisy cannot get her scholarship for four years at the university unless she completes two weeks of mission work. Bye bye tango lessons, exotic tours, spa days, and Argentinian steak... Or is it? Daisy soons comes up with a compromise. One week helping with a rural VBS program and another week enjoying her vacation in paradise? Sounds like the perfect plan, right?

Or... it could be perfectly ridiculous.

This book is so refreshingly real. I mean, true, most girls don't go to Argentina, have parents who are as eccentric as Daisy's, and have an affluent best friend, but the dialogue and Daisy's inner thoughts are just so spot on! Daisy's quirks makes this book even more endearing to the point that she feels like a real person! I believe teenage girls will absolutely relate and love the witty, and honestly, brilliant writing. I also love books with a big-impact lesson. I think on of the main themes in the Universally Misunderstood books is letting go of the OCD tendency most teenage girls have and letting our lives be piloted by God. Readers are able to see that Daisy's misadventures are often a result of her, as Daisy's mom puts it in the book, "playing God". I think this is an excellent message to girls, as I know it is to me, to really learn to depend on God and acknowledge His sovereignty. I also love how the end of the book leaves the reader fulfilled yet leaves enough open so that the reader could decide Daisy's future, so to speak. The ending is very well-written, as is truly the whole book. I'm so glad I found this series!

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

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~Paperback: 247 pages
 ~Publisher: Revell (July 1, 2012)

Available July 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group!

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

Blessings,
~Prism~

Review of Eye of the Sword

Eye of the Sword by Karyn Henley is the second book in the Angelaeon Circle fantasy series. A reformed thief and servant of evil, all Trevin wants to do now is to serve King Laetham of Camrithia and his beautiful daughter Melaia as one of the king’s captains. Things get shaken up with Prince Varic of Dregmoor appears with an eye for Melaia, and Trevin is commissioned by the king on a quest to find the rest of the captains, or comains as they are called, who have disappeared mysteriously. 

His quest becomes more challenging when Melaia requests that he also search for two missing harps that are said to have the power to restore the stairway to heaven. With a heavy heart, he leaves Camrithia and his beloved Melaia to seek the truth and and prove his worth to the king. What ensues is a dangerous, dramatic, and, at times, deadly journey of discovery, not only of what has happened to the comains and the harps, but who he truly is and what his destiny could be.

As he grapples with his past, will Trevin be able to finish his quest before Princess Melaia is won over by Varic? Will he even survive?

I detest picking up a series at the second or third book and muddling my way through the first few chapters. It’s like being the newcomer in a group that has known each other for years, and it can be quite irritating. However, this book reads like a standalone. I also like how the ending is satisfying. No bothersome cliffhangers that are at times more irksome than anticipation-inducing. The characters are strong and their backgrounds are well-thought out. And how rich the setting is! I loved the descriptions of new lands, new creatures, and new adventures. I highly respect fantasy writers because the majority of the content of their books is purely imagination! That is a very huge undertaking, and the author has handled it masterfully. There’s the right blend of suspense, mystery, and romance to keep the plot moving seamlessly until the end. Nicely done!

I wasn’t a fan of the book calling its “God” in the story “Most High mother-father”. That bothered me and made me wonder why the author even brought it up. I also must admit that the description of different characters in the beginning of the book was a bit disorienting. After skimming through it, I went straight to the story and had no trouble keeping up. I think those descriptions can be helpful but are best left at the end of the book and put in the index, where the reader can find it if they are even confused with a character. I also was a little bewildered at how the angel race mixed up with the human race so easily. It’s like everyone in the story is somehow blood related and family lines are distorted. It begs the question that if the angels and humans mix so much, are the angels in this story really angels after all? Or just glorified humans? And what point is the author trying to make through this? Muddy, dangerous waters. 

In the end, my opinion is half and half. I really liked the story, but there were some things that bugged me. Therefore, I rate this book three out of five stars.

Specifics (from amazon.com):

~Paperback: 256 pages

~Publisher: WaterBrook Press (March 13, 2012)

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

Blessings,

~Prism~

Review of Halflings

Halflings by Heather Birch is the YA fantasy about when the supernatural and natural meet. Nikki Youngblood has always lived a normal life, somewhat. Her parents deal in antique weapons and she's in karate, but other than that, she's a normal teenaged girl. That all changes one night. Nikki is attacked by strange wolf-like creatures, but is rescued by a mysterious boy with heavenly eyes. And that's no understatement.

Mace, Raven, and Vine- these Haflings, half human half angels, are assigned to guard Nikki.  They must protect her from evil while hiding their most startling secret... wings! Trouble begins to brew as they uncover a terrible plot. They soon discover that Nikki is somehow tied to a laboratory and a dark plan that could change the world as we know it forever. Things only get murkier when Nikki discovers that there is a growing attraction to two of her guardians, who are as different as night and day. Mace and Raven must grapple with their own feelings, because, although Nikki's broken heart is at stake, they could very well lose everything, including their own souls.

Danger lurks in every corner. A budding romance could bring nothing but trouble.

A teenage girl. Three semi-heavenly beings. One world to save.

The premise is certainly unique. I always find it intriguing when a lead female character finds herself in a tug of war for her heart. In this case, the men pulling at the opposite ends of the rope are part angel. The suspense of why Nikki was being protected and what the evil plan was certainly kept my attention to finish the book.

Unfortunately, that was it. To be honest, I really disliked the book. It seemed like some kind of Christianized Twilight. Almost as if the author was trying really hard to create a less-controversial alternative for young Christian girls. I could see the whole Team Mace and Team Raven things going on. The romance seemed a bit forced, and poor Nikki was caught in the middle. To her credit, I really liked the character of Nikki Youngblood and the aura of mystery that surrounds her. I just really disliked the whole background of her heavenly-human compadres. It is very creative, don't get me wrong. I just found it too YA fiction-ish, as in trying too hard to please the romantic teenager. YA romance books, I suppose, are very "mushy" in dialogue and plot. And this book laid it on thick when it came to the romance. In addition, I believe some feathers will be ruffled by the fact that this book deals with angels, who are God's heavenly servants and messengers. I think making up fantasy from Christian theology could step on some toes. Dangerous waters.

I think when it comes to books like this, it's all about personal preference. And my preference says no.

All in all, I rate this book one out of five stars. Liked the lead character, not so much the plot and supporting cast.

Specifics (from amazon.com):
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz (January 9, 2012)

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

Blessings,
~Prism~

Review of Love in Disguise!

Love in Disguise by Carol Cox is a historical novel set in Arizona in the 1880s. Elli Moore is desperate. Her previous employer, a famous stage actress, decided to move to Europe, leaving her wardrobe mistress, Ellie, jobless with nothing more than a trunk full of old costumes. When Ellie eavesdrops on a conversation between two Pinkerton Detective Agency operatives, she feels as if her troubles are over. They need a woman to discover who is stealing silver from mines! She could become an agent, explore her acting abilities, have an adventure, and say goodbye to her money troubles!

After convincing the agency to take her on, Ellie sets off to Arizona for her assignment, her only shot to become an operative. Using the costumes and makeup left to her, Ellie becomes two people very different yet very close to herself. One of her characters is Lavinia Stewart, a middle-aged widow of three years and possible mine investor. Of course, a respectable widow cannot travel everywhere an operative needs to investigate, so Ellie also becomes Jessie Monroe, a stunning redhead and niece of Lavinia, whose dazzling personality attracts men like bees to a sweet flower.

One such man is Steven Pierce, a mine owner who is struggling to keep his mine in the midst of the robberies. In one last act of desperation, he and the other mine owners had written to the Pinkerton Agency, asking for help. When it doesn’t seem to appear, help comes in another quite unexpected form. A widow and her beautiful, feisty niece.

Ellie soon finds out her undercover operation has brought more danger than she anticipated. When the thieves grow irritated with her characters’ nosiness, they decide to silence Lavinia and Jessie. Her deception has also possible alienated Steven, who has fallen hard for Jessie.

 Will they survive? And if they do, what will Steven think when he discovers the woman he loves isn’t real?

 I loved, loved, loved this book! It is filled with mystery, romance, and humor. Ellie Moore is definitely a spunky lead character, and the situations she gets into as Lavinia and Jessie are unique and captivating. The humor of the story is what really struck me, as this is a historical novel. Not quite typical of the genre. Sure, a woman becoming two completely different other woman is humorous in itself, but the author perfectly crafts scenarios that test Ellie’s ability to think quickly under pressure… and the reader’s ability to stifle their tendency to laugh out loud. The funny aspects are well-balanced with romance and, of course, Ellie’s mission to uncover the culprit. It was an excellent blend of all of the aspects necessary to make a book great.

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

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~Paperback: 352 pages
~Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (June 1, 2012)

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

Blessings,
~Prism~