REVIEW: Compass: The Study Bible For Navigating Your Life

Title: Compass: The Study Bible for Navigating Your Life
Author: various
Series: none
Publisher: Ecclesia Bible Society / Thomas Nelson Publishers
Published Date: October 8, 2013
ISBN: 1401679110
Genre: religious
Buy It Link: Amazon

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: Compass is about helping you find the answers you’re looking for in the pages of the Scriptures and allowing that truth navigate your life. Packed with Bible-reading helps and using an energizing, new Bible translation, Compass is a Bible designed with you in mind. Do you want to start reading and applying the Bible to your life, but aren't quite sure where to start? Let Compass point you in the right direction.

Review: I received a copy of this Bible in exchange for an honest review.
This bible is a new translation of the Bible for me and it's one I'm not quite comfortable with. I'm used to the NIV translation, not the Voice translation and layout. When I review a Bible, I usually read the book of Ruth. It's one of the shortest books in the Bible, which makes it easier and quicker to do a review in a timely manner. When I first started reading Ruth in this Bible, I was briefly stuck on the fact that one of the names is spelled differently in this Bible than in my NIV Study Bibles (Chilion/Kilion).
At times it reads like a script for a play, which can make it easier to differentiate who is speaking to whom. However, many of the words are entirely cut out by this, which makes it seem even shorter of a book than expected. The Bible itself has some nice in-text notes in it, which makes it a good study Bible, but I'm not sure the commentary is really historically accurate, or just put into the best light for the characters. The Bible itself is slightly more durable than my daily NIV study Bible with thicker pages. 
I'm not crazy about this translation, but overall, its an okay study Bible, just not one I can see myself using daily.

REVIEW: War of the Heavens: Leviathan by Charbel Tadros

Book Tour

Nigel survives a car crash, while his whole family perishes in the accident. With the help of his later-to-become girlfriend Vicky, he overcomes the tragedy and makes his way to college. As they are about to graduate, Vicky convinces him to embark on a strange project involving crystals and magick, with a "k" (meaning real magic). Little did they know that this project would open for them the gates of other dimensions including the world of the gods, the world of the muses and the demons, the world of the dead and many more. But why were they called there?  

Buy on Amazon

Rating: 3 stars

Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The book is a fantasy book that melds many different mythos with a storyline of the ultimate good versus evil. Two scientists start a project in measuring and changing the vibrational qualities of different crystals. From there, they are transported to different vibrational levels of existence to help with the battle between good and evil.The author writes rather well, descriptively enough for my to have pictured the different scenes and storyline. 

The biggest problem that I feel the book has is that there are so many myths and different belief systems that are melded into this one book, it detracts from the storyline rather than enhancing it. From crystal magick to Thoth to angels to Apollo, it was just so mashed up together that instead of making a beautiful beef stew, it seemed to make a tasteless mush. I couldn't put my head into one mythos and just stay there.

Ultimately, this could be a great story, it just needs less individual ingredients.

REVIEW: The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Title: The Calling
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Series: Inn At Eagle Hill #2
Publisher: Revell
Publish Date: Jan 14, 2014
ISBN: 9780800720940
Buy It Link: Amazon
Genre: Amish romance
Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis: Twenty-year-old Bethany Schrock is restless. Her love life has derailed, her faith hangs by a thread, and she is spending the incredibly hot summer days wading through a lifetime’s accumulation of junk at the home of five ancient Amish sisters. About the only thing that holds her interest is the spirited and dangerously handsome Jimmy Fisher–and he seems bent on irritating her to no end.
When the sly old sisters and a guest at the Inn get Bethany involved in running the local soup kitchen and starting a community garden, she suddenly finds herself wondering, Shootfire! How did that happen? Despite her newfound purposefulness, a gnawing emptiness about a childhood mystery continues to plague her. Encouraged by Jimmy Fisher, she will seek out the answers she craves–and uncover a shocking secret that will break her heart, heal it, and point her to love.
Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher delivers her trademark twists, turns, and tender romance in this delightful and exciting visit to the deceptively quiet community of Stoney Ridge.
Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was the first Amish book that I ever read. I did have some preconceptions about the Amish before reading it, but honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect. A bunch of German? A lot of heavy handed religion? 
Whatever my preconceptions about the Amish, I didn't find any of them in this book. Instead, I found a very sweet, gentle romance, with some religious overtones throughout the few different story threads going through the book. There really wasn't as much of the Amish culture in the book as I thought there might be. Without the buggies and rare Germanic phrases tossed in, it could be any other religious romantic fiction story just tossed back a century and a half. 
The storyline itself flowed well, I found myself pulled more into the youth pastor's story, than into Bethany and Jimmy's romance. I found myself caring for all of the characters, even the shady Rusty. I think I'm going to have to go back and read the first in the series before I turn my sights to the next. Ultimately, I'm glad I finally opened myself up to this genre. It was a very calming book to read during a very tumultuous and stressful time in my life.

TOUR and GIVEAWAY: war of the Heavens: Leviathan by Charbel Tadros

Book Tour

Nigel survives a car crash, while his whole family perishes in the accident. With the help of his later-to-become girlfriend Vicky, he overcomes the tragedy and makes his way to college. As they are about to graduate, Vicky convinces him to embark on a strange project involving crystals and magick, with a "k" (meaning real magic). Little did they know that this project would open for them the gates of other dimensions including the world of the gods, the world of the muses and the demons, the world of the dead and many more. But why were they called there?  

Buy on Amazon

About the Author:

Charbel Marcellino Tadros was born on July 16, 1988. He is an avid reader and has been writing since a very young age. He holds a BA in English Pedagogy from the Lebanese University and is working on his MA in Special Education at Notre Dame University. He currently is the Career Counselor at Eastwood College in Mansourieh, Lebanon and is a freelance contributing writer for many different magazines and blogs including the Red Carpet Magazine. For more information, Charbel is almost always available to answer his mail. He can be contacted through charbel.tadros{at}gmail.com or through facebook.com/charbel.m.tadros. In 2010, Charbel published his first novel, “The Destined Journey”, which turned out to be a success in Lebanon and the world. Later on, he published a spiritual poetry collection entitled “When the Spirit Speaks”. Most recently, he published “Leviathan”, the first part of his “War of the Heavens” series. Charbel Tadros is a founding member in the WataniY and SeedArz organizations. He was a charter member in the Lions Clubs International and was the founding president of the Angel Guardians. He has been in many local and international interviews talking about his earlier publications and has lectured about many topics including spirituality, teaching, special education and career planning. Currently, he lives in Brummana, Lebanon with his wife Christine.

Follow Charbel:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram #waroftheheavens

Pinterest | Zazzle | Website

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY: Glitter Girl by Toni Runkle and Stephen Webb

Purchase Paperback or Kindle version

About Glitter Girl -

• True Confessions of a Trendsetter

Hi! I’m Kat. Welcome to my blog. I may be from a small town but I’m also Glitter Girl Cosmetics’ newest trendsetter. Thanks to my flair for fashion and my popular style blog, I’ve been chosen to be an Alpha Girl, which means I get to try out all the Glitter Girl products before they hit the stores. Forty-eight hours after she blogs about the goodies in the new line, every girl at Kat’s school is sporting the gear. Kat’s popularity skyrockets, but Jules–Kat’s BFF–seems to be the only one who’s not buying into the Glitter Girl lifestyle. Is Kat willing to sacrifice her friendship for life in the fab lane? Glitter Girl By Toni Runkle and Stephen Webb

Ages 10 and up

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Toni Runkle and Stephen Webb are both working screenwriters in Los Angeles. They met in grad school at the University of Southern California and have been writing partners since. They are both married (not to each other) and have middle-grade daughters.
Find them online: runklewebb.com. @kidslitwebb @writtenbytoni.
Toni also run the popular mom blog, mammakaze.com.
 Taking Time for Mommy is sponsoring a giveaway of one paperback of Glitter Girl. Open to US addresses 13+ a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: Glistening Rebellion by Jill Cooper

Book Tour

Sci-fi Dystopian (Sequel to Glistening Haven) In Glistening Haven, Jenna Morgan fought to uncover a government conspiracy. In Glistening Rebellion, she fights for her life. New Haven 57 is opening for business—bigger landscape, nicer homes, and tougher reconditioning techniques that will make resistant glistenings docile. A caravan of glistenings from overcrowded concentration camps are enroot to their new home. For Jenna Morgan it’s the final job before she retires forever to a happy low key life. When the escape glistenings from New Haven 56 attack, a simple transportation job turns into life or death. Jenna does the unspeakable and is pulled back into a fight she wants no part of. With an assassin on her tail, her loyalties are questioned. She will need to decide once and for all, which side she’s on as she teeters on the brink of full out war.  

Buy on Glistening Rebellion and Glistening Haven (Part 1) on Amazon

Put Glistening Rebellion on your TBR list! Goodreads

Feb 3rd-Feb 9th Glistening Rebellion will be

99 cents on Amazon!

**********************************

Rating: 4 stars

Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to give a positive review.

First, this is the second book in a series, and you really need to read the first book to understand any of the world or story-line. However, if you do go back and read the first book, it is a worthwhile, enjoyable read. The world and story behind it are somewhat realistic, given how centered our society is around how people look. That's the whole premise for the difference between Glistenings and humans.

I know a book is good when, days after I've put it down, I catch myself thinking as if I was in the world. That's what happened with this book, when my co-workers and I were talking about "enhancements" to our bodies, and all I could think of was, "Nope, not going to be a Glistening....I want to be all natural"

The characters were well-written with realistic development for each of the main characters. I don't like how some main characters have these absolutely amazing traits that are unrealistic. I didn't read this here at all with these characters. They were all poignant and emotionally compelling. I certainly couldn't pick a side between them, and could understand each side's drive and ambitions.

The ending was heart-breaking, and infuriating, all at the same time. I can't wait to see how this series ends. I really hope Jenna kicks some more butt.

RELEASE DAY!: Undeniable by Tawdra Kandle

Available NOW on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords. . .UNDENIABLE, The Serendipity Duet Book One.

If you read The King Series and fell in love with Rafe Brooks, the bad boy who tried to steal Tasmyn's heart. . .here's the story you've been waiting to read. What happened after graduation? How did Rafe get over Tasmyn?

**********************

For Rafe Brooks, running from a broken heart means losing himself in alcohol and women. Lots of women, none of whom will remember him, since he has the ability to manipulate their minds and make them forget. Numbing the pain works until he meets an irresistible redhead with secrets of her own. She offers him the opportunity to join forces with an organization that will use his powers for good rather than his own amusement. Jocelyn rocks his world with her unapologetic passion and makes him believe for the first time he just might survive heartbreak. When a mission takes the two of them undercover to infiltrate a commune with suspicious activity, they discover it's just the tip of a plot to cause world-wide anarchy. Hiding their extraordinary powers and real identities is crucial to staying alive. For Rafe and Jocelyn, when life is uncertain, love is undeniable.

Buy UNDENIABLE on Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Smashwords!

Come join our Twitter party tonight!

Wednesday, February 5th 9PM EST

#Undeniable

Prizes, chat and more. . .

Follow Tawdra on Facebook/Twitter/Website/Newsletter