Saturday, December 20, 2014

Review - Gathering Shadows


Gathering Shadows
Finding Sanctuary, book 1
by Nancy Mehl
Publisher: Nancy Mehl
Pub. Date: May 6, 2014
ISBN: 978-0764211577
Pages: 320
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

I've been trying to catch up on a few books that have been piled up on my desk collecting dust for several months. One of these books happens to be Gathering Shadows by Nancy Mehl, an author that I instantly liked ever since I read the first book in the Road to Kingdom series. Plus, I do enjoy the fact that author lives in my home state of Missouri.

Gathering Shadows centers on a St. Louis reporter, Wynter Evans, who stumbles upon a photo of a boy that resembles her brother, Ryan, who went missing at nine-years-old. Being a reporter, she has a few detective skills up her sleeves and with a little research she is able to find out that the picture was taken in the small Mennonite community of Sanctuary, Missouri.

Upon arriving in Sanctuary, Wynter teams up the town's young mayor, Rueben King, in the pursuit of identifying the young boy in the photo. She never imagined that she would unravel a dark family mystery that was meant to stay buried.


Friday, December 19, 2014

Book Blogger Hop: Dec. 19th - 25th

Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Samantha!

Do you write a review for every book you read or only review copies from publishers?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer: 

Sadly, I don't have much time to read an non-requested book reviews; let alone write a review for them.


Linky List:

Start 2015 Off Right With The Jabra From Best Buy


While I'm sure most of us are trying to get your last-minute Christmas shopping finished, there is also no time like the present to start planning your New Year's Resolution. With all the holiday meals and sweets we have been eating, it is no surprise that the #1 resolution is losing weight.

If this is your resolution, then you might be considering getting a gym membership or buying a treadmill, but those can be kinda costly. And lets face the facts, most of us end up quiting within a few months, which isn't good considering you've wasted all that money for buying exercise equipment that will sit in the corner collecting dust.

The most cheapest and easiest way to lose weight is by walking, jogging or running. All you need is a good pair of running shoes, a jogging suit (if you want one) and a water bottle. It is also nice to have an iPod or a MP3 Player to listen to music while your exercising. Or you can just use your cell phone. No matter what device you use to listen to tunes with, you're going to need a good pair of headphones, like the Jarba on Bestbuy.com.

The Jabra Sport Pulse Wireless is the ultimate wireless earbud headphones that will help boost your training to to the next level with its Military grade durability. This all-in-one headphones has an in-ear biometric heart rate monitor, immersive Dolby® Digital sound and a real-time voice coaching. As an added bonus, it has a built-in intelligent app called Jabra Sport Life, which can help runners, cyclisst and any exercisers to plan, track and evaluate your workouts. The app can also help you set your goals based on distance, time and calories burned. This is a great way to adjust your heart rate zone levels to optimize training.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Graystone (The Darkwoods Series, book 3)




Graystone
The Darkwood Series, book 3
by Marta Stahlfeld
Publisher: Book Publisher Network
Pub. Date: November 20, 2014
Price: $16.95
ISBN: 978-1940598529
Pages: 269
Buy Link: Amazon
Description:

Book 3 of the Darkwoods Series! Treachery and Betrayal! Barely had the hard-fought battle against the Foxes of Darkwoods finished when a new evil began to grow-- an evil that would stretch from the royal Wraith Mouse city of Arashna all the way to the tiny village of Graystone. Dangerous river otter warriors kidnap two young mice and will only release them if Graystone gives up a mysterious wounded mouse sheltering behind their walls. When the mice at Graystone refuse and instead attack in a desperate attempt to free the hostages, the renegades flee north to collect the promised bounty for the wounded mouse, and to sell the Graystone mice and their sea otter allies into slavery. Hope for rescue depends on three young creatures who race against all odds to save their family and friends from the clutches of a new king -- a king who has turned against his own family in his greed to rule and grasp power. Shy and bookish, Miamuran Princess Nurida must overcome her fears and brave unknown dangers in the wild if she is to save her older sister. Nathan el of the Cliff Mice searches not only for his kidnapped sister and her friend, but also for his vanished mother, who may have stumbled across information for which powerful creatures would kill. Conch, the son of a sea otter and an infamous river otter, struggles to decide who he can trust to stand with his friends against the approaching onslaught. Stahlfeld s riveting third installment of her Darkwoods series vibrantly brings to life young creatures willing to place themselves in danger to save others. As they find help in unexpected places and discover their own strengths, they become the new leaders in the ongoing fight for freedom.


Billy's Thoughts:

Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Family Tree Maker 2014





Family Tree Maker 2014
by Ancestry.com, Inc
 Retail: $39.99 
Sale Price: $29.99
Buy Link. www.ancestry.com

Description:

With dozens of exciting new features and enhancements to simplify your tasks, Family Tree Maker version 2014 makes building and sharing your family tree easier than ever. Enjoy new Family View™ for a broader view of your tree and explore new enhanced charts and reports, including more print options. And the more robust and reliable TreeSync™ lets you sync your tree from your computer, tablet or smartphone, so you always know you’re accessing and sharing the very latest.



Billy's Thoughts:

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

DVD Review - Power Rangers Super Megaforce: Earth Fights Back



Power Rangers Super Megaforce: Earth Fights Back
Cast: Andrew M. Gray, John Mark Loudermilk, Azim Rizk
Studio: LionsGate / Saban Brands
Release Date: December 9, 2014
Retail: $14.98
ASIN: B00O2QWG28
Running Time: 92 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Description:

The Rangers transform into Legendary Rangers from the past to battle Earth's Ultimate threat!



Billy's Thoughts:

While the Power Rangers franchise is in-between series (seasons), fans young and old can grab their hands on the recently released Power Rangers Super Megaforce: Earth Fights Back, the first volume of this year's season, which just ended last month.

The DVD features four episodes:

Super Megaforce - The Armada has finally invaded and Earth and the only way the Megaforce Rangers can fight back is to upgrade their powers to access all the Legendary Power Rangers.

Earth Fights Back - As the Rangers help to rebuild the Angel Grove, Troy (the Red Ranger) must try to stop Cybax and the X Borgs before the Armada fires missiles onto all the major cities on Earth.

Blue Saber Saga - Noah (the Blue Ranger) must train himself to be a master swordsman in order to defeat Skatana.

A Lion's Alliance - The Megaforce Rangers hop aboard the Sky Ship on a race against time to find the Red Lion Wild Zord.


Super Megaforce picks up exactly where the final episode of Power Ranger Megaforce left off, where the alien Armada has finally arrived on Earth. Robot Knight has disappeared and the Megaforce Rangers are outnumbered. Luckily, Gosei gives the Megaforce Rangers access to all the Legendary Ranger Keys, which means they can morph into any past Ranger, which doesn't make a bit of sense as the majority of the former Power Rangers powers were destroy in past series, but I guess this a fantasy shows for kids, so all logic is tossed out the window. While both Megaforce series (seasons) received mixed feedback from fans, the Super Megaforce season is still fun watch.

Similar to other LionsGates' releases from the franchise, there are only 4 episodes on this DVD. I know that there will be complaints from older fans that there isn't a full season release, but you have to remember that the series is aimed towards children and not adults and buying a $10 DVD is cheaper than buying a season set.

While I had mixed feeling about the first series (season), I enjoyed the Super Megaforce season as it was more of a throwback to the original series and you get to see some of the old Ranger costumes again. Overall, Power Rangers Super Megaforce: Earth Fights Back features four action-packed episodes that the entire family can enjoy. It would make a great stocking stuffer this Christmas for any fan.


*Disclaimer - I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review - Miracle In A Dry Season


Miracle in a Dry Season
by Sarah Loudin Thomas
Publisher: Bethany House
Pub. Date: August 5, 2014
ISBN: 978-0764212253
Pages: 304
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

I'm trying my best to get caught up with writing reviews before Christmas Eve. I received Miracle in a Dry Season by Sarah Loudin Thomas a few months back and I'm just now getting around to writing the review for it.

The novel centers on Perla Long, along with her daughter Sadie, settling in the small town of Wise, West Virginia in 1954. She hopes they can keep their haunting past behind them and restart their lives without the two residents asking too many questions about them. The sleepy town is suffering from a long drought and the farmers are praying for rain, well, they're praying for a miracle. 

Perla never planned on falling in love again, but that is exactly what happened when she met Casewell Phillips. Once she confessed her past to him, he practically shuns her; judging her for her past sins. Despite being adjusted to his life as bachelor, he does care deeply for Perla and her daughter. It will take faith in the Lord to help guide Phillip to understand what Perla has been through.