Photo Friday

Found on Pinterest. Originally from: http://lovelydinos.tumblr.com/post/27585920345

Love this.

WWW Wednesday (103)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

          

01. Currently Reading:
The Beholder by Ivan Amberlake. A fantasy/science fiction novel about a young man who has dormant super powers. And they're about to awaken.

02. Recently Finished:
Written On Her Heart by Paige Rion. Debut novel about an aspiring writer who gets the chance to work with her favorite author.

03. Reading Next:
Way Walkers: Tangled Paths by J. Leigh. The royal heir doesn't have the power to shift into his dragon form, therefore he is made to feel like an exile. His quest to find acceptance begins with this first book in the series.

Teaser Tuesday (117)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers



The Beholder (Kindle 31%)
    - Ivan Amberlake

She led them to a door framed by an ancient stone arch, embellished with cryptic signs which had been burnt in iridescent mauve and turquoise. The door seemed to be a solid black slab in one moment, then it changed, ripping as if it were fluid instead.

Photo Friday

Pinterest Source: hplyrikz.com

And those are the ones that stay with us. 

Written on Her Heart

Andi Callaway has dreamed of becoming a published author her entire life.

Ford Delaney has always wanted nothing more than to escape his past.

An opportunity of a lifetime. This is what Andi finds when she returns home to Callaway Cove on summer break. A chance to work for her literary idol Ford Delaney is up for grabs, and she’s willing to risk everything—her boyfriend, her best friends, and her education—to get it.

She’s positive this will be the key to reaching her dreams. But the moment she begins working for the reclusive author, Andi realizes there’s more to him than just a name. As attraction builds between Andi and Ford, she begins to discover consequences must come hand-in-hand with something great—which could loosen control over her tightly wound life. And once romantic sparks fly, Andi’s other relationships start to crumble, Ford’s fame comes back to haunt him, and the heat they generate will either forge a powerful, enduring love or threaten everything she holds dear.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Paige Rion shares her writing talent with her debut novel, Written on Her Heart. Andi never thought traveling home for the summer would mean competition with her best friends, revealing secrets, or working with her favorite author, but sometimes quiet lives erupt into mass chaos. 

Andi is a self-proclaimed dreamer. She has always loved to write and was encouraged to do so by her loving parents. Andi is passionate about her writing and strives to share her written word with the world. Readers will enjoy her ambitious nature and willingness to fight for her dreams. They will connect with her easily through her passion, being able to relate to her goals of success with something she loves doing. 

The plot of the novel pinpoints a summer in Andi's life at age twenty-one when she's still in college. She learns of a chance to work with her favorite writer and knows that this opportunity will open doors for her career. What she doesn't know is that he may be the perfect guy for her... which would really complicate things with her boyfriend. Written on Her Heart is a novel about passion and chasing dreams that hooks readers from the beginning. (I read the entire book in one sitting.) It's a light and easy read that briefly covers a few serious issues, two of which aren't perfectly wrapped up at the end. Wondering if these will continue in the planned series or if the author will leave them unfinished. Either way, Written on Her Heart is definitely recommended for an enjoyable summer read. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Heart of Eternity

When you are invited to dance with the muse of love, when you are driven to the edge by the pain of the past, when you hold the remedy for what ails you in your arms you will find yourself in the heart of eternity.
Set in the Blue Mountain’s town of Blackheath in New South Wales, Australia, the novel Heart of Eternity introduces two very different characters, Jay and Naida, who encounter each other at a challenging time in each of their lives. Their individual expressions of the feelings they provoke in each other give rise to a turmoil that could ultimately claim their lives. When two people understand so deeply the pain each other has faced will it force them into the abyss of darkness or will their combined need for healing allow love to enter both their hearts?

*May Contain Spoilers*

N. Jay writes a story of spiritual survival in her novel, Heart of Eternity. Naida is a gifted young woman who is dying from cancer. She believes that if she can reach the core of her spirituality then her body can begin to heal. Jay is plagued by darkness with a demon residing in his heart, forcing the evil within him to the forefront. Their only hope is to find each other and fight against the darkness together. 

Naida is a positive and hopeful character. Though she is terminally ill, she refuses medical treatment and resorts to spiritual treatment instead. Naida uses persistent meditation to discover her inner light and then uses that light to heal herself while also helping others. Readers will enjoy the spiritual journey that Naida embarks upon, connecting with her through a generalized hardship. 

Jay is a villain born of the world. He's experienced more pain and loss in his life than he could bear. This caused him to devolve into a malicious being, constantly looking to cause pain and share his misery. Readers will sympathize with Jay, hoping that it isn't too late to save him from his inner demons. The connection between Jay and readers will revolve around feelings of understanding and empathy. 

The plot of Heart of Eternity introduces Naida when she first begins her spiritual journey, including unexpected visions of a man she's never met but one who needs her help: Jay. The story is a little confusing at times as the line that separates reality and the incorporeal is heavily blurred for both characters. The dialogue and descriptions of the spiritual journey are also difficult to understand. The writing forces readers to slow down and breath in the words to comprehend their meaning. These difficulties created a struggle for me, as a reader, and I found myself falling behind and unable to fully grasp the plot and evolution of the characters. 

Rating: 2/5 Cups

WWW Wednesday (102)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

          

01. Currently Reading:
Heart of Eternity of N. Jay. A spiritual story about saving a soul from an inner demon and sacrificing inner light for love.

02. Recently Finished:
Binds That Tie by Kate Moretti. After a wife accidentally kills a young man, her husband decides it would be better to bury the body and try to forget what happened. But life doesn't always go as planned.

03. Reading Next:
Written on Her Heart by Paige Rion. Everything changes when Andi gets a chance to fulfill her dream and work with her favorite author.

Teaser Tuesday (116)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers


Heart of Eternity (Kindle 51%)
   - N. Jay

A gentle wind followed the clouds and bursts of thunder sounded in the distance; as the rain came on softly, Naida felt a sense of comfort when the rain drops touched her skin. She looked up and inhaled the wet scent of the water drops through her nose, imagined the sea in her lungs and watched the sand beneath her feet get sucked out by the tide.

Binds That Tie

Love ties. Murder binds.

Maggie never felt as though she belonged until Chris Stevens showed her what true happiness meant. Ten years into their marriage, miscarriages and infidelities have scarred them both. Despite their perfect-couple image, Maggie can’t look at Chris with anything but resentment. When a charismatic stranger offers the opportunity for a little harmless flirtation, she jumps into the game.

But charm soon turns to malice, and a deadly split-second decision forces Maggie and Chris onto a dangerous path fraught with secrets, lies, and guilt. With no one else to turn to—no one she dares trust—Maggie will ultimately learn just how binding marital ties can be.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Kate Moretti shares a thrilling story of marriage and murder in her novel, Binds That Tie. Maggie and Chris have been having problems within their matrimony for years. They've struggled through multiple miscarriages and adultery. All Maggie wants is to feel beautiful, adored, loved. She finds the chance in a seemingly harmless flirtation with an attractive stranger, Logan. Though Maggie doesn't know that Logan's past includes attempted rape, assault, and a restraining order. 

Growing tired of the flirtation, Maggie insists that she and Logan no longer keep in contact. Logan strongly disagrees which leads to the murder of Mr. Logan May. When Chris learns of what happened, he is terrified that he'll be the one in handcuffs looking at a long prison stay. Instead of calling the police, Chris opts for burying the body and pretending nothing happened. The next day, the police are knocking on the door asking questions that Chris is not prepared to answer. 

Maggie and Chris are the main characters, the novel switching focus back and forth between them. Sadly, neither of them are very likeable characters, reminding me of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Maggie lacks the warmth that a relationship requires. When she is sweet or caring, I'm wondering what her motive is. She's struggled through a lot and that needs to be taken into account when assessing her character, but the consistent blaming of her husband paired with her own adulterous actions reduces the sympathy I feel for her. Chris is a man who takes things into his own hands without thinking through all of the consequences. He cheated on his wife, but still loves her. He's protective, willing to hide his wife's murder victim, but is also unbalanced and selfish -- after all, he fully believed the police would blame him instantly, no matter what the story was. 

Though the characters weren't easy to relate to... or easy to like, the plot is absolutely thrilling. Stakes are incredibly high and both main characters are all in. Moretti brings flaws to the forefront and marriage becomes a battle. Binds That Tie is a novel propelled by plot, not by character connection, and will leave readers with goosebumps, wondering how people could treat the ones they love so badly. 

Rating: 2.5/5Cups

Photo Friday

Pinterest Source: themetapicture.com*

And it grows faster than I can read...

*Photo also the cover of Destiny, Rewritten by Kathryn Fitzmaurice

The Joey Parker Movement

Read in more than 100 countries, JoeyParkerMovement.com forgoes snark, judgment, and tabloid-style gossip in favor of generating positive celebrity content, including coverage of celebrities’ charitable and philanthropic pursuits. In this offering, founder Joey Parker channels that positivity and sense of optimism as he seeks to give today’s youth a new and positive perspective on life, drawing on his own experiences and struggles. Among the topics he discusses are coming out in a conservative town, politics, and what it takes to find and make a positive name for oneself in the modern world. With endorsements and contributions from the likes of Paris Hilton, civil rights activist Justin Mikita, Def Jam cofounder Russell Simmons, actors Ian Somerhalder, Denise Richards, and Lisa Rinna, and Real Housewives of New York star Aviva Drescher, The Joey Parker Movement looks to make a difference in the lives of its readers.

**

Joey Parker combines personal essays with philanthropic celebrities to inspire positivity, happiness, gratitude, and compassion through his book, The Joey Parker Movement. In merely seventeen chapters, Parker shares his experiences, ranging from being bullied at school to his mother's cancer diagnosis, with the world. Some of his stories are bursting with happiness, like his family's love-filled reaction when he shared his true self with them, while others are heartbreaking. No matter the topic, Parker connects with his readers from the first page. The evolution depicted through the essays is existentially moving. 

Parker shares how he first began to discover and define himself, which allowed him to realize his life's purpose. He's an avid volunteer with an impressive resume. Through social media, he often reaches out to charitable celebrities with the desire to help share their message. So often, the general public is overloaded with the bad gossip coming out of Hollywood that only leads to spreading negativity. Parker wants to change this and has begun to with his website: The Joey Parker Movement. 

Through this motivational book, readers will see how much he has grown through experience, loved through compassion, and helped ignite change in the world. Highly recommended for readers of all ages; no harm would come from a little more understanding and a lot more gratitude. 

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

WWW Wednesday (101)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

          

01. Currently Reading:
The Joey Parker Movement by Joey Parker. A collections of essays create this uplifting book about seeing life in a positive way.

02. Recently Finished:
They Call Me Superman by Michael Goffinet. This book shares the adventures of Marcus Evans as he and his group attempt to save the world, accidentally discovering a huge historic secret.

03. Reading Next:
Binds That Tie by Kate Moretti. With a marriage on the rocks, Maggie sees no harm in a little flirtation, but she has no idea what she has really gotten herself into.

Teaser Tuesday (115)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers



The Joey Parker Movement (Kindle Loc. 92-93)
     - Joey Parker

But what qualifies me most is that I am human just like you, filled with an abundant, complex set of emotions which are often lost in this chaotic world. As a human, I am faced with challenges that either mold me into a stronger person or set me back on my path.

Photo Friday

Pinterest Source: elmanicomioliterario.blogspot.com/

The Fault in Our Stars in theaters today. I'm going. Anyone else? 

They Call Me Superman

Marcus Evans is a new kind of super hero. Born with superhuman strength, he is compelled to join the Army Rangers, where his abilities create an unique assassin against the war on terror. After his stint with the Rangers, he joins forces with reclusive billionaire Robert Sinclair, who has been his mentor and father-figure since the age of sixteen. A whirlwind of action-packed adventures leads Marcus to the discovery of an alien spaceship that unlocks secrets about his life, which will shock him to his very core, secrets that Robert has been hiding from Marcus his entire life.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Michael Goffinet writes an action packed story about a group of extraterrestrials who come to Earth in 500BC to observe the human race in his novel, They Call Me Superman. The aliens insert themselves into society and one not only gets married, but fathers a child. Now, in present day, a two-thousand year old spaceship is about to be discovered that will unlock secrets for the main character. 

Marcus Evans has always been incredibly gifted when it comes to strength and strategy. After a stint with the United States Army as a Ranger, Marcus now works for Robert Sinclair to protect the world from megalomaniacs and the like. Marcus plays the role of hero in this thriller. He is incredibly brave and courageous when it comes to doing the right thing. Readers will definitely like Marcus, but the story line will keep them hooked. As a man who is descended from gods, he's a little hard to relate to without a military background.

The plot line of the novel follows Marcus and his partner, Charlie, trying to stop the murder of other team members. A villain, cleverly named after the author himself, is attempting to take over the society of do-gooders that Marcus works with in order to exploit their humanitarian efforts for money. In the meantime, a Middle-Eastern group is looking for revenge when it comes to Marcus. Inadvertently, their revenge leads Marcus to a nuclear weapon plot and the spaceship that holds the key to understanding himself. They Call Me Superman is a roller coaster of secret missions that will exhilarate readers who enjoy an action-adventure novel laced with fantasy and mythology. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

WWW Wednesday (100)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

          

01. Currently Reading:
They Call Me Superman by Michael Goffinet. A man with superhuman strength joins up with the Army Rangers to fight the war on terror which leads him to discover surprising information about himself.

02. Recently Finished:
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. A girl fighting to stay alive after being diagnosed with terminal cancer meets a (very hot) boy in group therapy.

03. Reading Next:
The Joey Parker Movement by Joey Parker. Interviewing celebrities, Joey Parker shares positive endeavors in order to inspire the world's youth.

The Fault in Our Stars

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

*May Contain Spoilers*

John Green writes a horribly wonderful story about life, love, and cancer, with disappointment and reality on the side, in his novel, The Fault in Our Stars. Hazel's parents believe that she is depressed and they force her to go to group therapy sessions. She completely hates group therapy until Augustus Waters shows up, an osteosarcoma survivor. Thinking that Hazel looks just like Natalie Portman in V for Vendetta, he invites her to watch her doppelganger movie. And thus, the story of faulty fated love begins. 

Hazel is the girl I'd imagine a friend with terminal cancer to act like. She's blunt, witty, honest, intelligent, demanding, and full of spirit. What she shares with her readers is edgy and open, a diary spray-painted on downtown buildings. The connection readers feel with Hazel beings with sympathy. As she describes her illness and the waves of honesty swell and crash upon the reader, that sympathy turns to understanding and, in eventually, empathy. With Hazel's blunt force trauma of words, readers get it. They can grasp what they may have never experienced. Throughout the novel, which is just over 300 pages, readers see all sides of living with illness. There are situational examples of fear, hope, love, joy, depression, jealousy, despair, surprise, and preparation.

The Fault in Our Stars focuses on Hazel and Augustus, depicting how they help each other to live a forever in a limited infinite. When Hazel shares her favorite book with Augustus, he has the same reaction she does: how can an author write a book without an ending? Luckily, Augustus has saved his wish so the two teens can fly to Amsterdam, where the author lives, and ask him what exactly happened to the characters after the last sentence was cut off and the story ended. 

The Fault in Our Stars was a miracle of misery, it had me laughing out loud and quietly crying in a subsequent nature. The only, dare I say, problem I had with the novel was the dialogue. I felt like the terminology and use of the English language was too old for Hazel and Augustus. Certainly not very often, but a few times, I had trouble imagining that a girl of sixteen, or a boy of seventeen, would have such advanced conversations. But, now that I've said that, I loved the way they spoke. I wish everyone spoke with such honesty and a highly developed vocabulary. It helped the quotes from T.S. Eliot et al fit right in. 

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups