Sunday, April 15, 2018

"Sibley Birds of Land, Sea, and Sky" Review

"Sibley Birds of Land, Sea, and Sky" by David Allen Sibley



Well, this is a bittersweet post. Blogging for Books is closing down so this will be my last review on something from them, but hopefully, I won't be gone forever!! There are other honest reviews for free books websites so I might sign up for one of those. You never know. Anyway, this last BfB post is on David Allen Sibley's Sibley Birds of Land, Sea, and Sky, a collection of 50 postcards of watercolor paintings (of birds, obviously).

At the very first glance, the presentation is very pleasing! The box is sturdy and well designed: simple, with just enough color. When you open the box, the postcards are divided into the five types of birds in the collection (waterfowl, woodpeckers, wading birds, songbirds, owls & raptors).

The postcards themselves are made of very durable, sturdy cardstock, with nice rounded edges and plenty of room on the back to write on. The paintings are very nice, but a few of them seem a bit bland (lacking color, background, etc.). Most of them are fantastic and there are few special ones that I really like (and probably will keep! ;) ). Another nice thing about the postcards is that they are very versatile. They can be sent in the mail, framed, or used as gift tags. 

Ratings: 
Would I recommend this to a friend? I might give some to a friend! They would be especially perfect for people who like to send out "get well soon" or "thinking of you" encouragement cards. Pretty cards, less $$ for postage, and a nice amount of writings space = perfect!

How many stars would I give this? 4.5

*Disclaimer: I received these postcards from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.



Saturday, February 17, 2018

"Seeing the Unseen" Book Review

        
SEEING THE UNSEEN: A 90-DAY DEVOTIONAL TO SET YOUR MIND ON ETERNITY
by Randy Alcorn
 

http://images.randomhouse.com/cover/9780735290792?width=450&alt=no_cover_b4b.gif 

Hello to the people of the Internet! I am back with another book review, and this time it's a book by Randy Alcorn from Eternal Perspective Ministries. One of his books that I absolutely love is called Safely Home - maybe one day I'll do a review on it. And right now, I'm in the middle of Lord Foulgrin's Letters, which is a modern day rendition of C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters. Very insightful!!!

Okay, on to the review....

This book is a tiny little thing, small enough to fit into my purse (for you technical people, the actual dimensions are 5 x 7-1/4, 208 pages if anyone was wondering). Each day's devotional is one page (front and back). It's the perfect length to give you just enough to think about throughout the day. 

The first side of the page has the devotional, written by Mr. Alcorn. The other side has two Bible passages under the heading "Perspectives from God's Word," and two quotes under the heading "Perspectives from God's People." Both of these sections relate to the topic discussed in the devotional (obviously). 

Some of the titles of the daily devotionals include "Breaking Our Addiction to Materialism," "Holiness and Happiness Together," "He is Always Sovereign," "Forgiveness Is a Choice," and "Grasping Our Need for Grace." These are just a few of the 90 days' topics...

I love quotes and I love related Bible verses, so this part is perfect. Quotes included come from people such as John Piper, Martin Luther, Hudson Taylor, George Mueller, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Spurgeon. Bible passages range from 1-4 (or so) verses.

In closing, Seeing the Unseen is a great supplement to one's Bible study and devotion time. I use it in my morning devotion time. Since each day is short, it's a perfect tool to use with the Bible reading plan I'm using this year. 

Now for the ratings:

Would I recommend this book to a friend? Probably - I like several of Randy Alcorn's books and this one is no exception. The length and content is great...

How many stars would I give this book? 4.5

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

"Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (But Were Afraid to Ask)" Book Review

**Yes, I realize it's been an eternity since I've posted a book review. But, I'm here to post one today on a book that I've been going through (and am still working on - life has been very, very hectic recently!)**


Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (But Were Afraid to Ask) by Eric Metaxas


Image result for everything you always wanted to know about God but were afraid to ask 

So I've seen Eric Metaxas's name on several recommended book lists and finally got a chance to get a taste of his writing. (And you have to admit, the cover looks pretty cool too, all those pretty colors.... 🤗) I wasn't disappointed. Metaxas is a very engaging author, formatting his book in a "Q&A" style, which made it much easier to read! 

**Disclaimer: I'm only through the book halfway because of the craziness of my schedule but if the rest of the book is as good as the first, then this book review will still stand. 😉

The set up of this book makes it great for conversational questions. The topics are different in each chapter, enabling the reader to go straight to the desired topic (topics include "Why Does Anyone Need Religion?" and "Why Would a Loving God Allow Suffering?"). 

Another thing I liked about the book was that the chapters were clear and concise.  Metaxas writes in a very casual tone, which makes difficult concepts easier to understand and digest. In chapter 12, he quickly debunks the idea of heaven being boring and explains the gospel clearly. 

However, in chapter 9 ("Isn't One Religion About as Good as Another?"), Metaxas tries to explain how religions compare, and I have to admit, I felt a bit lost on that one, even after the explanations. 

All in all, this book is a great go-to for one who wants to be able to explain something better. 

Ratings:

Would I recommend this book to a friend? I'm not sure.

What would I rate this book? 3.5 stars

**I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

EDIT: As I read a bit more in the book, I realized what was missing: references, Biblical or otherwise. There aren't many Bible verses cited and the author doesn't quote many other people too - it is based mostly on his thoughts....



Wednesday, April 19, 2017

"No Fear" Book Review

Yes, yes, I know for the 1 person who actually reads this, it's been forever. I'm horrible at blogging - I like the idea of blogging but the actual "doing it" part is a whole different story. Anyway, I'm back....with another book review:

NO FEAR: Real Stories of a Courageous 
New Generation Standing for Truth
by Tony Perkins

http://images.randomhouse.com/cover/9781601427427?width=450&alt=no_cover_b4b.gif 

This book caught my eye for several reasons. First, I really want to be able to stand for truth when the time comes and the description "Real Stories of a Courageous New Generation Standing for Truth" sounded very exciting. Second, Franklin Graham endorses it. Founder of Operation Christmas Child.... need I say more? :)

 Well, I got the book a while ago and read it. Honestly, I felt like I was reading another "Do Hard Things" - No Fear contains 12 stories of modern day young people who have taken a stand for what they believe. Not only does it contain the modern day stories, but it also goes back to the Bible and relates stories or verses and applies it to our lives. 

While it was interesting to read these stories, I've heard of many others who have taken a stand for their faith. The stories in No Fear includes stories of people who have been in the spotlight, people such as the Benham Brothers (EEK! Super excited about that one!!! #nationalbiblebee), Moriah Peters, Mariam Ibraheem, and Melissa and Aaron Klein, and also people who I hadn’t heard of before, such as Angela Hildenbrand and Ryan Bomberger. These stories are inspiring and there are many more that no one has heard of.

The downside of all these stories is that it can make some of us “normal” people feel inadequate. What if we aren’t on national TV because we developed a cure for cancer or invented a new type of technology? Are we to feel less important because we aren’t doing these things? I remember having these questions and trying to come up with “BIG” things to do for God. But I was overlooking the small things God was dropping in my life right then (and now). Sometimes, the small things in life are way better than any big things you “could be doing.” Changing a baby’s diaper, reading to a little brother, and talking heart-to-heart with your sister are ways to impact the people God has put into your life without you even taking a step out the door.

As with many things, there’s a balance. If there weren’t people doing BIG things for God, where would we be? But we can’t forget that being faithful in the little things are just as important. And who knows? Maybe those small things will lead to BIGGER things because “he who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much…” (Luke 16:10).

Ratings:

Would I recommend this book to a friend? Maybe. There are so many books out there like this and I feel that No Fear  didn't go as deep as other books (such as Do Hard Things) did. But it was still good. :)

What would I rate this book? 4.5 stars.

Now go change the world!
-Annalysa

*I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest book review.

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Doodletopia: Manga Book Review

So, you may remember my last art-book review on Christopher Hart's first Doodletopia book here. Well, I loved that one so much that I was soooooooooooooooooo excited when the next book in the series came out. And that's the book review I'm doing today. :) *drumroll please*

Doodletopia: Manga by Christopher Hart
 http://images.randomhouse.com/cover/9781607746935?height=450&alt=no_cover_b4b.gif

This book is so fun and I'm still using it. I really, really love copying the drawings in the book and following the guidelines. I haven't even gotten through the whole thing because I got so distracted with the international chibis. Agh, they were tooooooooo cute! (sorry about the bad quality, but you get the idea)



There are all different types of manga characters that Hart teaches you to draw. There are some just plain figures, fun drawings to finish, and the silly mazes to finish. It reminds me a lot of his cartoon book and the layout is very similar, only in manga form. There are several pages that have vampires or less than desirable drawings that I do not appreciate, but the rest of the book is great fun!


Like the Doodletopia: Cartoon book, the manga book has a "Master the Manga Mazes". This is a section that has half of a manga maze that you have to finish. The variety of Hart's ideas in his Doodletopia books is really nice because you learn a lot of different ways to draw styles. 

Ratings:

 Would I recommend this book to a friend? Probably. The only thing that I have hesitation about is the vampire pictures that are in the book. There are only a few pages but I don't really appreciate them being in that book.

What would I rate this book? 4.5 stars. The only reason is the same reason I stated above. Other than that, I really like this book!!! :)

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review. 

If you want to get one of these fun manga books for yourself, click here for more info.

Thanks so much for reading! Be sure to follow through email or G+ and comment below with your favorite drawing included in this post!

Now go change the world!!

~Annalysa

Monday, June 27, 2016

"Light of the Last" Book Review

So I finally have all of the Wars of the Realm books by Chuck Black...AND I WANT MORE!!!!!! As far as I know, Mr. Black has not released anymore information on future books, but I'm following his Facebook page (be sure to check out their Video and Art contest here !) and am so looking forward to his next series!

Anyway, a few months (yes, I'm sorry it's been months!) ago, I received Light of the Last. Wow. To start of this review, I have to say it is the best book Chuck Black has ever, ever written (at least, in my opinion it is!)

Officially, the book I am reviewing is titled "Light of the Last", the last book in the Wars of the Realm trilogy by Chuck Black.


In the first book, we were left with the fact that Drew Carter had been taken into custody by the FBI and something big was happening in the angels' realm. But that's where it ended. The second book went back in history and focused mainly on the invaders' realm. (see my review on Rise of the Fallen here)   So, with that cliff-hanger ending and not knowing what was going on, I was dying to find out what happened. This book was not a disappointment!

**SPOILER ALERT**

We find Carter in the FBI questioning room, just 2 days after we left off in book one, and see the heartbreaking separation he has to go through with several people very close to him. He then joins the CIA and the things that occur after that are so intense that I was almost quite literally on the edge of my seat the whole way! Just to give you a taste of what is to come, think of leather jackets that have 360* cameras and hidden mics, ISIS attacks, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (yes, someone does get diagnosed with that! I'm not telling who, though!), and Ebola outbreaks...and a microbiology major that helps save the nation. Are you interested now?!

I don't want to give too much away for those of you haven't read it, but I was never expecting what happened in the end. That's one of the reasons I like this book so much: I wasn't exactly sure what was going to happen next (and that's hard to find in today's books, believe me!)!!!

So, would I recommend this book to a friend? ABSOLUTELY!!!

What would I rate this book? 5 out of 5 stars for sure!

Summary: If you're looking for a book that has a million unexpected twists and turns, this is the one! There's a bit of romance, a whole lot of suspension and danger, and some heartbreak too.

If you're interested in getting this book for yourself, click here. If you want to drop me a note, click here.

*disclaimer* "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

Now go change the world!

~Annalysa~

Friday, February 26, 2016

The Rebelution's Top 27

If you haven't been over to The Rebelution blog, head over there now!

Brett has just posted a new article titled "27 Books Christian Teens Should Read and Grownups Should Too." So head on over to get the full list by clicking here.


Now go change YOUR world!
~Annalysa

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

"Doodletopia: Cartoons" Book Review

Wait, let me read that again - 2 book reviews in one month?! How is that even possible???? (I have an ulterior motive, but motivation is good, right? ;) )

About a week ago, I got this book (Doodletopia: Cartoons) in the mail.


Let me just tell you, Christopher Hart is a genius! Can I say how much I enjoy this book???!!! (And I just found out he has more books....Amazon, here I come!)

First of all, Doodletopia: Cartoons is designed to help people enjoy drawing, and believe me, I've really enjoyed this book. It's different than a lot of other drawing books in that it doesn't just give examples of how to draw the character. Doodletopia has cartoons that are halfway done for you and you can finish them. Here's one I did of a panda:


Actually, I traced the half that was done in the book because I can't bear (no pun intented) to write in the book yet!!! (the left side was traced, the right side wasn't)

Another thing I liked about this book was that Christopher Hart doesn't limit you to just animals or people. In the last few pages of the book, there's a whole section titled "Draw Ridiculous Inventions" and it has inventions that you get to draw and add to. Another section is called "Write in Cartoon Calligraphy" and has all sorts of different fonts to try. I haven't gotten brave enough to do either of those yet, but we're going on a trip soon and I'm definitely taking this book along.

Here are a couple  of my drawings from the book: 





Okay, now for the ratings. Drumroll, please!!!!

Would I recommend this book to a friend?: ABSOLUTELY YES! This is a book that's great for all ages and it's not intimidating because you aren't staring at a blank page - you get to finish a drawing or add to a drawing, not start from scratch and pull your hair out trying to make your drawing look like the one in the book.

What would I rate this book? 5 stars, hands down! Like I said, it makes drawing super easy and fun, and for those of you who don't like to draw, this book will change your mind.

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

If you want to get one of these great cartoon books for yourself, click here for more info. 

Thanks so much for reading! Be sure to follow through email or G+ and comment below with your favorite drawing included in this post!

Now go change the world!!

~Annalysa

P.S. Here's a bonus drawing that I did in art class a few weeks ago! 


Want to see more drawings? Let me know in the comments below!!!

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

"Freehand Figure Drawing for Illustrators" Book Review

Okay, first of all, I am not a great artist, so this book review might be a little short. :) I enjoy art (somewhat) but I wish I could draw better (believe me, I'm working on it!). I've actually started art classes with a fantastic art teacher (and I'm with friends and my sister so it's great!!!) so my sketches will hopefully improve with time.

Anyway, this book (Freehand Figure Drawing for Illustrators) caught my interest and I got it. I have yet to read it word for word, but I'm working on it. As a beginning artist, a lot of this stuff goes way over my head but it makes sense still.

I really appreciate all the example drawings that are throughout the book. Mr. Ross (the author) doesn't just tell you what to do, he explains it through his drawings. The book also progresses in difficulty, starting with describing how to draw different points of view by placing the vanishing points at different places and such. (This is about where I am in my art hobby - I'm actually supposed to do a drawing that contains vanishing points for my art class this week!) He then explains how to draw mannequins, how they are different, and what they should look like for different angles. (I can't wait to get to this point because it looks so interesting!)

Each part of the body (torso, muscle-type for each gender, how the torso and hips are connected, etc.) is explained and illustrated to show how a person would stand and what it would look like from each angle.

Later on in the book, head construction, including the eyes, nose, and ears, are explained in detail. There are great illustrations to refer to from different angles; for example, on pages 98 and 99, there are 7 different drawings of the ear, all from different angles. It's so cool and very, very helpful!

David Ross even gets into the human skeleton and how all the bones connect, which shows why the body looks and moves the way it does. If you are interested in how to draw the human body in ways that you never thought you could, this book is definitely one I would recommend.

*Note: For those of you who are uncomfortable looking at human bodies without clothes (it's not too detailed but detailed enough to make some (including me) uncomfortable at times, you might want to flip through the book before you buy it to make sure it's something you are okay with. Honestly, I don't really appreciate all the female models in sports bras, halter tops, and really-short shorts but I do like the helpful tips and instructions contained in the book.

What would I rate this book?
4 stars - the drawings are very well done and the explanations aren't overly confusing, which is great for me. The only part I didn't really like was the immodesty (noted above) but that's a personal conviction that I realize not everyone has.

Would I recommend this book to a friend?
Maybe, if they are really interested in art.

I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks so much for reading! Be sure to follow through email or G+ and comment below what your favorite things are to draw!

Now go change the world!

~Annalysa


Sunday, August 9, 2015

"The Paleo Chef" {Cook}Book Review

I'm back!!! Yes, I'm back!!! I apologize for such a long delay --- my life has been so crazy recently. I'm hoping *crosses fingers* to be able to keep up with this blog more this summer.....ha, a girl can dream, right?

Anyway, without further ado, here is my next book review....


The Paleo Chef
by Pete Evans

http://images.randomhouse.com/cover/9781607747437?height=450&alt=no_cover_b4b.gif 



When I first got this book, I was really excited. The recipes looked really good and the fact that they were all healthy stuff made me happy. 

But as I looked through the book several times, I could barely find one that looked easy enough for a simple family dinner. These recipes look amazingly delicious, but for a girl who doesn't have 3 hours to fix dinner, this book isn't really for me. 

I do have to admit that I would like to try these recipes one day. The Apple-Berry Crumble, the Churros (with chocolate sauce!) and the Chocolate Smoothie all look really, really good. However, a lot of these ingredients we don't have: maca powder, coconut water, and ghee...most of the ingredients I had never heard of!

When I get the spare time (haha), I'd be interested in trying some of these things. But for someone who doesn't have a lot of time, this cookbook doesn't really have a place in my kitchen

Would I recommend this book to a friend: probably not, unless they love going all out for every meal. This cookbook has some really good recipes, but they aren't really time-savers.

What would I rate this book? Recipe quality: 5 stars 

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.



Thanks so much for reading! Be sure to follow through email or G+ and comment below with what your favorite healthy recipe is!!! 


Sunday, June 14, 2015

Book Review: Cloak of the Light

Yes, yes, I know I said the next book review would be on The Paleo Chef but I had this one written so I decided to post it. Enjoy!!!!! :)



Cloak of the Light by Chuck Black is an intriguing story about a young man who, after
a series of unexpected events, has the ability into see into another realm: the realm of
angels…and demons. This exciting story takes you into the life of Drew Carter, now a young
man in high school, who has experienced much hurt, disappointment, heartache, and
tragedy in his short lifetime.

At the age of twelve, Drew’s father dies in action as a member of a Special Forces
unit in the United States military. Jake Blanchard, Mr. Carter’s best friend and fellow
soldier, visits the mourning family and helps them through their grief. Over the years, Jake
takes Drew on camping trips and eventually, combat training trips beyond the borders of
the U.S. Despite having to move from one place to another to get a job, Drew’s mother,
Katherine, is a strong woman who does whatever she can for her son. Although they go
through many struggles, Katherine and Drew bond and push through life together.

Then, when he meets and defends the high school “geek”, Drew’s life is changed.
He also crosses paths with a fascinating girl named Sydney Carlyle, a homeschooled
student who takes a speech class at the same school. She is a dedicated Christian,
which Drew finds difficult to understand. Drawn by her confidence and beauty, Drew seeks
to develop a relationship with the elusive young woman. After an accident at a lab in
college, Drew went blind, but later gained his sight back, along with an unexpected change
that turned his world upside down. Through the life of Drew Carter, this book gives insight
to the spiritual battle that rages all around us.
           
In Cloak of the Light, Drew Carter finds himself in the midst of a battle that wages all
around us: the war of the realms. Despite a rough childhood, Drew excels in his later years
of high school, graduates, and is accepted into Drayle University, where both his best
friend, Ben, and the mysterious Sydney Carlyle also attend school. After an accident in a
physics lab, Drew goes blind and, a few days later, Ben disappears.
           
A few months later, Drew regains his sight but, now, not only is he able to see
normal things, but also realizes that he is able to see into another realm, a realm that
contains warriors, both good and bad. These “invaders”, as Drew calls them, somehow have
the ability to control, protect, and affect the human mind and circumstances beyond
comprehension. With this new ability, Drew watches as the dark invaders wreak havoc on
the world, controlling the human judgment and causing everything from anger to
international scandals and world atrocities. Armed with extensive training from a former
Special Forces soldier, Drew drops off the grid and sets out to help counteract these
invaders’ evil doings.
           
As he moves into inner-city Chicago, Drew has many opportunities to help others by
protecting them from the local gang called “The Dragons”, actions which earn him the
nickname “The Guardian.” All these good deeds are a result of something Drew remembers
his father telling him: “It’s wrong to do nothing when you have the power to do something.”
Drew does not realize that this quote comes from the biblical principal found in James.
“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it,…it is sin” (James 4:17).
           
Although we don’t have all the details about angels, what we do know provides
room for speculation and a bit of imagination. This book had some very interesting details
about the angels and, after reading this book, made me think more about what very
possibly could be more than just speculation. Cloak of the Light contains great enjoyment
for the reader - humor, heartache, suspense, action, prayer, and a touch of romance are all
packed in one book. Although not everyone has the same views on the subject of angels,
Cloak of the Light is a good reminder that we are “under the charge of the angels” (Psalm
91:11) and that the “war is not of the flesh” (1 Cor. 10:11). I would recommend this book to
anyone who has an imagination and loves action.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

New Book!!!

My next book review will be on....









I've flipped through this book several times and my mouth waters as I do!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All these recipes look so amazing, I can't wait to try them!!!!!! :)

~Annalysa

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Rise of the Fallen Book Review

                                   (Disclaimer: This review is kind of random, so bear with me here.) 
                                  
This book is the sequel to Chuck Black's new (well, not so new anymore, seeing as the first book came out last fall) trilogy, "Wars of the Realm". Chuck Black is an amazing author and his books have been some of my favorites ever since I received Kingdom's Dawn for my birthday several years ago, and I must say, The Kingdom Series remains my favorite to this day.

Rise of the Fallen attempted to cover some things that aren't made known to us clearly through the Bible...and it did well. Almost too well.

Cloak of the Light (which shall be reviewed shortly) began the story of Drew Carter, and, I guessed that Rise of the Fallen would continue his story. Well, I must need to work on my detective skills because...you got it, I was wrong.

Nope, this book is not mainly about Drew (something which I was kinda disappointed about, actually, considering his side of the story is super cool {IMO, anyway}). It's about Validus, an commander angel. Yes, an angel.

So let me explain: Wars of the Realm is just what it says. A fiction trilogy attempting to describe what the angelic realm beyond our comprehension is like. And it's interesting. I especially loved Cloak of the Light because of the intensity, drama, humor, suspense, and action. Don't get me wrong, Rise of the Fallen did have all of those things. But for some reason, it didn't appeal to me nearly as much as it's prequel. And I think I know why.

First of all, let me say that I really like Chuck Black's books, don't get me wrong. This book was well written and was perfect for a bookworm like me who reads through 306 page books in a couple of hours. Actually, it took a lot more concentration than most book just because it was so intense and had a lot of theological concepts that needed contemplating. Which I liked...and didn't like. I wanted to know what happened but I also didn't want the book to end!!!!!!

One of the things that I didn't like about the layout of this book is that it went back and forth. I don't mean between characters (I actually like books that go back and forth between characters to give you views from each person), but I mean between years. No, I'm not kidding. The book starts out in the present day. One chapter later, you're in 4010 B.C., "listening" to the angels' conversations before the world begins. (The angels' conversations before the world begins, not you listening before the world beings. Just clarifying.)Then, in chapter 4, you're back in the present world. I was hoping that the book would smooth out and stay in present day later on in the book, but it continued to switch back and forth throughout the entire plot. Not a big problem, but it was kind of aggravating when the chapter stopped at a cliff-hanger and then went back several thousand years.

Angels. The Bible doesn't really tell us much about them except for verses such as Hebrews 13:2, 1 Timothy 5:21, 2 Peter 2:4-9, and many in Revelation. I write this to say, we don't know much about them...giving room for imagination and speculation. I'm not saying that this stuff is fanciful and ridiculously fabled --- Not at all, it actually (if you have an understanding of the Bible and know what it says) makes a lot of since when reading parts that aren't addressed in the Bible.

Lots of angels and people. There were a lot of characters in this book, so if you have trouble keeping up with a lot of different names in books, beware!!! :) (Personally, I enjoy the challenge...and the Cast of Characters in the front of the book helped too...)

Action. If you like action, get all of Chuck Black's books. Need I say more?!?!?! :) (Chapter Excerpts from the Kingdom Series

The ending of the book is what surprised me the  most. Why was Validus "demoted" from a commander of an entire continent to a warrior guarding one unbeliever? Why is Carter so important? What do the Fallen know that Validus and his team don't? Will Validus be able to find out in time? Will Carter be safe in the custody of the FBI?

In the third book (which should be released this fall, if I'm not mistaken), I hope to see the Bransons (Drew's friends who run a local church in Chicago) come back. I'm looking forward to it with excitement!!!!

Would I recommend this book to a friend? Yes. But not as the first book written by Chuck Black you would read. (If you've never read a book by Chuck Black, start with the Kingdom Series.)

What would I rate this book? Out of 5 stars, I'd give it 3 1/2 - 4 stars. 

Summary: This book was really good and gave me a lot to think about. I have yet to read through the study guide thoroughly and look forward to looking through that. The quality of writing was great and it held my attention and was not drawn out to the extent that it was boring. One of my favorite things about this book is that it had tons of surprises!!!!!! I never knew what was going to happen!

Thanks so much for reading! Be sure to follow me through email or on G+ and comment below! What were your thoughts on the book? What would you like to see happen in the next book?

Now go change the world!!!!

~Annalysa 

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for this review. 

Friday, February 27, 2015

Got my first book!

I got my first book to review!!! And it is....



Yes - I am soooooo super excited to read this!!! :) I'm about halfway through so a review will be coming soon, y'all! :)


Tuesday, February 17, 2015

I Love Books

Yes. I ❤ books.


God gave me a love for books and reading - and I am so thankful He did!!!! :)

This is a book review blog - only wholesome books here! 

I started this book review blog because of Blogging for Books. I can't wait to write my first review!

Now go change the world!!!!

~Annalysa