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The Gatekeeper
This is the second installment of the Marenon Chronicles; a trilogy by Jason Morrow. As I have said before on this blog, I'm always worried about the second book in a trilogy. The second book is usually the worst book of the lot and I cringe when it comes to it. However, this book was a glorious exception to that notion.The Gatekeeper is a fantastic followup to "The Deliverer". It keeps the story moving at a break neck pace that keeps you turning pages long into the night. I loved this book from beginning to end. There was no long drawn out sections where you could tell that the author was just trying to fill up space on the pages. The characters didn't become stagnant as some are prone to do in second books of trilogies.
In this book we see Silas and his companions continuing their quest for the six medallions that they believe will bring peace to Marenon. Along the way Silas is also trying to embrace his role as the "deliverer" of Marenon. There are some unlikely twists and turns in his role as the "deliverer" during this book and I'm excited to see how Jason continues this plot line in the third and final book in this trilogy. There are also a lot of players involved in the quest for retrieving the medallions. I have so many different ideas in my head for how this could end that I'm excited to see how Jason wraps it all up.
Overall I would say that Jason Morrow has crafted a trilogy that is a must read for lovers of the fantasy genre. If you haven't picked up these books or heard of Jason then it's time to start reading his books and finding out what he has to offer. I give this book two thumbs up.
Overall rating: 5/5
The Unsacred Gift
The Unsacred Gift by C.S. Dorsey was a bit of an interesting book for me. What I mean is this, I loved the plot and the characters. They were both superb; but for some reason I really had a hard time with the way the book was written. I don't know if it's the way the characters talk to each other or what, but I just struggled a little bit getting into the dialogue of the book. That's not to say that I didn't like the book. I really enjoyed reading this book. The plot was very intriguing and I didn't see the ending coming at all. Sissy is a great character to get to know (despite the fact that I couldn't stand the way that she called her mother "Ma" throughout the entire book).Dorsey does a fantastic job of plot development. When I first started reading I thought that the days of Sissy's life were a little too detailed for my liking, but as I got farther into the book I realized that it was necessary to have all of the information that you were being given. So, the plot is well developed and flows very well.
The characters in this book were fascinating. Just when you thought you had everyone figured out then a new little twist or turn would come into play that would have you rethinking your whole mindset for the book. I really love books that keep me on my toes when it comes to the characters. This book does exactly that. If you are looking for a book that is a quick read with a great story line then this is the book for you. I would recommend this book to anyone that's into ghost's and other-worldly stuff.
Overall rating: 4/5
Dizzy Miss Lizzie
When I first heard from Mr. Clark about this book I was unsure about whether or not it was something I would enjoy. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by what I read. Dizzy Miss Lizzie is a very well written book. The characters are fun to follow and easy to relate with. Kasey is your typical inquisitive 13 year old and Paula plays the perfect role of best friend. When the book first started I was kind of confused about where the plot was going and what the point of the book was. It didn't take me long to get into it though and from there it was smooth sailing plot wise. It had a nice little touch of mystery to it that I enjoyed. It wasn't too in depth of a plot either, which is good for the age group this book is written for.
The character development was good and not over done, which is important for a shorter novel. I thought Mr. Clark did a wonderful job of crafting all aspects of this book. I was curious as to how Kasey would break the mysterious curse and also by what her grandmother had to do with everything. If you are looking for an entertaining, quick read then this is the book for you. I would also recommend this book to any reader, regardless of gender. Sometimes people will look at a title or a cover and immediately write a book off (no pun intended). Please don't let that be the case with this book. It is well worth the read.
Overall Rating: 4/5
The Deliverer
To be honest, it has been a long time since I have read a book in the fantasy genre so I was somewhat apprehensive about whether or not I would like this book. Now that I have finished it I can say that not only did I like it, I thought it was one of the best books I've read in a while.Jason has a wonderful ability to paint mental pictures with the way that he writes. I could vividly see the landscapes he described and the battles that took place. The character development in this book is very well done, but not overdone. Some authors spend so much time developing their characters that it cripples their plot development, not so in this book.
Jason does a fantastic job of keeping the tempo of the book upbeat. There were rarely times that I found the book dragging along. Silas and his group were constantly on the move going from one part of Marenon to the other trying to collect the medallions they are after. I'm still on the edge of my seat waiting to see what will happen when they can get their hands on all 6 of them. This book does a fantastic job of leaving you wanting more, which is good since it's a series. There have been many series that I don't bother going on to the next book. That will not be the case with this one. The second book, The Gatekeeper, has been added to my TBR list.
Overall I think that if you are a fan of the fantasy genre this is a wonderful series for you to start. You will not be disappointed with the way that you are whisked off into the world of Marenon to follow along with Silas as he strives to live up to his title of "The Deliverer".
My Rating: 5/5
The Black Book of Secrets
This book was an interesting read to say the least. At the beginning of the book I had no idea what a "secret pawnbroker" was. And, to be honest, most of the way through the book I still didn't know. This book keeps you going until the end because you just have to find out what's going on. I enjoyed this quick read. It's geared towards middle school kids I would say.Higgins does a great job with his character and plot development. The only criticism I would have is that there were a few parts where villagers were telling their secrets that got a bit repetitive. The secrets were all different, but the way the book read was repetitive, if that makes any sense. There were a few twists and turns that I was not expecting, which made for a good read.
If you are looking for a quick read to pass a weekend and you are into middle grade literature then this would be a good book for you to pick up. I believe it is part of a series as well so I'm sure I will end up reading the other books in the series.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Casting Stones
It has been a very long time since I have had an emotional investment in a book. Casting Stones had me in it's grip from the beginning of page 1. There were times when I was reading that I wanted to literally yell and scream at the characters in this book. There where times where I felt sad for some of the characters in the story. There were times when I had to set the book down and come back to it because I couldn't stand to read anymore about what was going on. This book was a masterpiece when it comes to getting you invested in the characters and the story.Speaking of the characters; they were so well crafted! James, one of the main characters was a prime example of this. In the beginning of the story I felt sorry for him, then there were parts that I was so angry at him that I probably would have tried to deck him if I met him in real life, then I went back to feeling sorry for him. There was just an emotional connection with all of the characters in this book.
I'm not going to go into the plot because I don't want to give anything away. You have to read this book to fully appreciate what goes on it it. My retelling of the plot would not do it justice.
This book is a must read for any and all readers. It doesn't matter what genre you like; I believe you will like this book. Thank you again Gina for sending me this book. I can't wait for your next book to come out!
Overall Rating: 5/5
The Hunt for the Seventh
I just finished up this fascinating read by Christine Morton-Shaw. The Hunt for the Seventh was a wonderfully written book. There were many times in the book that I had no idea where the plot was heading so that makes it a great thriller I suppose.The characters and plot of this book were excellent. The characters were well developed, but not over developed. I never found myself bored with an over explanation of what was going on, as some authors are prone to doing. The plot had sufficient twists and turns to keep you reading all the way to the end. Morton-Shaw did a fantastic job in crafting this story.
This book is written for middle school aged kids I would say. If you are a parent and you don't like the idea of ghosts, witches, and magic then I think it would be best if you steer clear of this book. If you don't mind those things then this as a fantastic, and quick, read.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Daddy Dates: Four Daughters, One Clueless Dad, and His Quest to Win Their Hearts: The Road Map for Any Dad to Raise a Strong and Confident Daughter
Daddy Dates by Greg Wright is a thought provoking and often humorous book about a father raising 4 daughters. In this book Greg lays out his road map for what he calls "daddy dates". The concept behind it is so simple that it's beautiful. He calls his daughters and sets up real live dates with them. He picks them up from their house (which is also his house), takes them out for a date, and then brings them back home. This probably sounds pretty simple, but there's so much more.The genius of his idea is that during the date he actually spends time listening to his daughters and learning about them as people. You may be thinking to yourself that that's stupid because everyone should do that, but they don't. Many times we just lay out a list of rules for our kids and leave it at that. He has taken a hands on approach to learning what his daughters like, who they hang out with, and a host of other things. All the while he is shaping and molding his daughters into wonderful women who are well grounded and well balanced.
I applaud Greg for his approach to raising his daughters and I would recommend this book to anyone that is raising kids (sons and daughters both). Not only would I recommend this book; I would recommend adopting Greg's approach of "daddy dates". I know that I'm going to be doing this with my 18 month old daughter when she gets older. Thank you for the wonderful book and ideas Greg.
This book is a must read!
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn
I found Eon to be a very fascinating book. Alison Goodman does an amazing job of painting a vivid world that you get sucked into as you follow the main character, "Eon", through the story. I've read a few reviews of this book that were less then complimentary about the quality of the story and the writing. I would say that I have to disagree with these reviewers on their feelings about this book. I found it to be a fairly easy read that had plenty of action to get you through the book. I will say that there were a few points in the story where you were kind of "willing" the story to move along a little quicker, but it wasn't terrible at all. Eon is a great lead character because "he" doesn't always have the answers and spends a lot of time worrying about how things are going to work out. I like that in a main character because it is like real life. No one has everything together and we all worry about how things are going to pan out for us. Needless to say, Eon, has plenty to worry about as the story moves along. There was the constant worry of connecting to the dragon, dealing with Ido, and hiding all of "his" secrets from the world at large and from friends. (We all know how hard it is to keep things from our friends)
The plot was well thought out and kept you guessing throughout the book. The other characters in the book were well rounded and Goodman didn't spend an unnecessary amount of the book describing them. She did enough to let you know all the details that were important for each character. Some authors "over do" some of their supporting characters and that annoys me to know end. I don't want to spend 100 pages talking about characters that the story doesn't ultimately revolve around.
Having said all of that; I feel that Eon is a book that is well worth the time to read. The story is engaging and the author leaves you on the edge of your seat for the second book. I can't wait to pick it up to find out how this wonderful story and power struggle come to an end.
Overall: 4/5
Youth Ministry 3.0: A Manifesto of Where We've Been, Where We Are & Where We Need to Go
Youth Ministry 3.0 is a very insightful book for anyone interested in what is going on with youth culture right now. It talks about three very distinct times in the "life" of youth ministry."Marko", as the author is called, talks about the different youth culture fixations, cultural influences, key themes, drivers, and theme verses for each of the 3 "versions" of youth ministry through the years.Youth Ministry 1.0 is the original. Here is the breakdown for you:
Youth Culture Fixation: Identity
Cultural Influence on Youth Ministry: Language and Topics
Key Themes: Evangelism and Correction
Driver: Proclamation
Theme Verse: Matthew 7:13-14
Youth Ministry 2.0
Youth Culture Fixation: Autonomy
Cultural Influence on Youth Ministry: Models and Success
Key Themes: Discipleship and Creating a Positive Peer Group
Driver: Programs
Theme Verse: Matthew 28:19-20a
Youth Ministry 3.0
Youth Culture Fixation: Affinity
Cultural Influence on Youth Ministry: Contextualization
Key Themes: Communion and Mission
Driver: Not Driven, but Present
Theme Verse: Acts 2:44-46a and John 17:18
This is just a brief overview of what is covered in this book. If you are someone that works with kids for a living, in any setting, you need to pick up this book and give it a read. It is one of those books that really makes you look at what you are doing in your ministry. I know that it has prompted me to change some of the ways that I do things.
**Information for the breakdown was taken from: Youth Ministry 3.0 by Mark Oestreicher, Youth Specialties, Copyright 2008
White Cat
As I watched bookshelf tours on Youtube this book seemed to be on a lot of shelves so I decided it must be worth the read. I must say that I wasn't disappointed at all. I found White Cat by Holly Black to be a very well written book with a very original story line.I like the way that she developed the characters. Some authors seem to feel the need to over-develop their characters and that gets tedious and boring for me as a reader. Black, however, does a marvelous job. She makes the characters believable, well as believable as "workers" can be. You find yourself sucked into the world of Cassel and all of his "friends".
The only criticism that I have for this book is that it was somewhat hard to follow in the first few pages. Once I figured out what was going on though I had a hard time putting this book down. There are many twists and turns in the story line that keep you guessing from the beginning to the end. You have kind of a hard time figuring out who really has the upper hand in the story, which makes for a great ending. I can't wait to get my hands on the second installment of this series.
I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for something a little different than the vampire and werewolf books that are so popular these days.
Overall rating: 4/5
To Own a Dragon: Reflections On Growing Up Without A Father
This is the third book I have read by Donald Miller. The other two are Blue like Jazz and Searching for God Knows What. I am a big fan of the way Miller writes. His books make me laugh and they also make me contemplate. He has a way of writing that makes it feel like you are having a conversation with him.This book is about growing up without a father and the affect that can have on your life. My father was an active part of my life, but in my line of work with youth at our church I run into kids who don't have an active father figure. So, I thought this book would have some valuable insights for me on a professional level.
I was right about the valuable insights. There are a few statistics that are of interest but the best part about this book is hearing Miller talk about his thoughts on not having a dad around growing up. It's a good perspective to hear since I don't have a frame of reference for that kind of thing. This book also talks about the struggles Miller had with accepting God as a father figure. I had never thought about that aspect of things before. I can see now how you would struggle with the notion of God as a father figure if you didn't have a good benchmark of a father in your own life. Throughout the book Miller talks about little things along the way in life that brought him a little closer to the idea of God as a father. It is a very thought provoking book.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone that works with kids or has had trouble with father figures in their life. It is a great read and well worth the time spent.
Overall Rating: 5/5
Quitting Church: Why the Faithful Are Fleeing and What to Do about It
This was a well written book. It focused most on Baptists and Evangelicals, but that's ok. It had some great things to say about small group ministry and the role that it plays in the church. It said that small groups are a great way to know when people are falling through the cracks at church. In a small group people notice that you are missing, whereas in a large group setting it is easier for the fact that someone is gone from church to go unnoticed. There was also some interesting stats on why folks are leaving churches. The most talked about reason in the book was because they felt like their church wasn't catering to their needs as much as they thought they should be. Overall, I think that someone from any denominations can glean some valuable insights that they can put to good use in their congregational setting.
Infernal Devices
This was my first foray into the steampunk genre and I have to say that when I first started this book I was very confused as to what was going on. However, as I progressed through the book I started to get more and more into the plot and the characters.Jeter does a phenomenal job of painting a scene and developing his characters. I could actually picture myself walking through the dank streets of London at night along with the main character. The main character in this book is Mr. Dower and he is one of the most unassuming main characters that I have come across in a long time. He just seems to be a plain old guy that gets caught up in one mess after another. If I had his luck then I would never leave my home ever again. It is interesting to watch how he gets himself into trouble and then subsequently gets himself back out of that same trouble (with a little help from time to time). I believe that many of you will really enjoy his character.
As far as the plot goes, as I have said, I was confused at first about where I was heading in this book. But, as I read on the plot pulled me in and made me want to keep reading long into the night. Jeter spun a fantastic tail of science fiction set in old London. If your are a science fiction fan then I suggest that you pick this book up as an interesting alternative to what you may be used to reading.
The Broker
This is another novel in a long line of great books by John Grisham. You know it's going to be a fun book when the CIA is leaking someones whereabouts just to see who kills him. When I read the jacket of the book I was afraid that they may have given too much of the plot away. I was wrong. There was still plenty of suspense and drama to be had. This book had me guessing how it was going to end until it was over. I must admit that I didn't guess right at all. The characters in this book are well rounded and well developed. It seems that Grisham takes great pride in developing the characters and the settings of his books and it shows. The chase in this book takes you into 3 or 4 different countries and crosses paths with many, many people.
If you are a mystery fan or a Grisham fan then this book is a good read for you. It's not as good as "A Time to Kill" or "Runaway Jury" but it's by far better than "The Brethren" (those references will make sense to the Grisham addicts out there).
Overall Rating: 4/5
Mockingjay
I had high hopes for this book as I really enjoyed the first two books in this series. I have to say that I was somewhat let down by this book. I don't know what exactly I was expecting, but I really struggled through this book. It wasn't that there wasn't as much action in this book, because there was plenty of action, but this one just seemed predictable in many parts.The characters just seemed somewhat stagnant in this book as opposed to the other two books. There were a few twists and turns in this book but nothing like the first two. As I said earlier the plot was predictable in parts and boring in other parts.
I don't even have a whole lot to say about it in review of it. It was just ho-hum to me. If you are like me then you are going to have to read the 3rd book because you read the first two, but don't get your hopes up like I did because I don't feel like this book can live up to them.
Overall Rating: 3/5
