Review \\ Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore

\\ About the Book \\ Brielle’s a ballerina who went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She’s come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and the incredible, numbing cold she can’t seem to shake.

Jake’s the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.

Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what’s going to happen. And a beauty brighter than Jake or Brielle has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices start.

A realm that only angels and demons—and Brielle—can perceive.

\\ My Review \\ Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore caught be off guard. I won the book in a giveaway without knowing what the book was really about. A quick glance at the back cover gave me some concern, and I was quite sure that this book would not be among my favorites. But Dittemore's style and story kept me glued to the pages, and Angel Eyes turned out to be a suspenseful, engaging read all the way around.

In the first pages we're introduced to Brielle, a likable character who has faced some unnamed tragedy. Her emotions are raw and her reactions to the world around her are realistic. But a few chapters in we're introduced to this celestial realm, a realm of angels and demons, and the entire book shifts. At first it was hard to figure out or get used to. I don't read much fantasy (I'm a fan of C.S. Lewis and Tolkien, though.) so Dittemore's imagined celestial realm is a bit much at first. I mean, you have a hard time believing it could be true, even though Dittemore strives to back most (but not all, because she clearly says that this is her imagination at work) of it up biblically.

And that brings me to the plausibility of it all. The Bible certainly talks about angels and fallen angels, but it is just one of those things that I try not to dwell on. It makes me uncomfortable and confused, and I prefer to take the stand that what is is and God knows what He's doing even if I can't see it, so I'll just leave it at that. I wouldn't call it ignoring the subject: I acknowledge that there must be angels because there are angels in the Bible, but I'm good at leaving it at that and not pondering where they are at or what they are doing at this very moment. 

Dittemore gives readers pause to consider that angels might just be circling us at this moment, living in human form (the terrestial realm), and fighting for us on behalf of God (or, in the case of fallen angels, Lucifer). It's an interesting thought, and Dittemore wrote it out very well, but I still feel a cautious grip that states, quite simply, that this is fantasy fiction. So, though Dittemore may have nailed every single thing on the head, she doesn't really know anymore than I do, based on the Bible, about the celestial.

All that aside, Angel Eyes is a really well written tale of a girl who discovers that she is not alone, that she has never been alone, and that she has purpose in a world that seems at first glance purposeless. It's empowering and inviting, and it's just plain fun to read. Next to Brielle, Jake is the most interesting and different character in the book. I mean, you know in young adult fiction there has to be some kind of romance going on, but at least Jake is different than most fictional males. And the idea that he knows more about Brielle's future than she does? Whoa. The ending is a total cliffhanger and I know I'll have to grab the second book in the trilogy when it comes out next year fast so I can get some answers.

\\ About the Author \\ Shannon Dittemore has an overactive imagination and a passion for truth. Her lifelong journey to combine the two is responsible for a stint at Portland Bible College, performances with local theater companies, and a focus on youth and young adult ministry. The daughter of one preacher and the wife of another, she spends her days imagining things unseen and chasing her two children around their home in Northern California. Angel Eyes is her first novel.

\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\

Title: Angel Eyes

Author: Shannon Dittemore

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: May 29, 2012

Number of Pages: 336 (Paperback)

Review \\ Fix by Force by Jason Warne

\\ About the Book \\ Spencer doesn’t have a choice. He can't choose to be different than what he is—the son of the town's worst enemy, the weakling who can't stand up for himself, the loser without friends. He can't change the way things are. Or maybe he can. Immediate confidence. Rapid change. Instant hope. These are the things Spencer believes he needs to fix his life, and that is what the steroids promise—a quick fix. But promises can be broken and shortcuts are often treacherous, and Spencer must decide if those risks are worth the perceived rewards—if “artificial” hope is strong enough for him to be fixed, by force.

I was first drawn to Fix by Force by Jason Warne because I thought the cover looked pretty cool. I looked  around some online about the book and found many positive reviews, and I even discovered that the author lives very near my hometown. But I still didn't really know what I was getting into.

Spencer Shane hasn't had the most promising life. His drunk dad died in a car accident, his mom's on drugs, and he's being bullied at school. To cope, Spencer escapes into a world of lies, but eventually that doesn't help get him by. When he is given the opportunity to use what he calls his "chemical salvation," he jumps at the chance. In his mind, steroids will make him strong, not just physically, but mentally. Steroids will give him purpose.

At first glance Fix by Force is a classic bully-story filled with self-esteem issues, family life problems, and overwhelming emotion. But Jason Warne crafts the story in a way that really pulls you in, and before long you realize that you are Spencer. You are fighting against the temptation that is steroids, and you are trying to overcome labels and bullies. It's that truth that makes this fictional story so powerful. Maybe it's not steroids, maybe it's not bullies, but there is something that we each struggle with, and that makes Fix by Force an entirely applicable book that never stops grabbing at its readers' emotions.

I wouldn't call this Christian fiction, as God is mostly absent from the story. (At least, He's not directly mentioned.) On the one hand I'm a little disappointed by that, but on the other hand I see strong Christian values without them being spelled out, and that gives more hope to this novel landing in the hands of people who don't want to be preached at. (There's also a very few instances of profanity, but I was really happy with how clean this book is considering the topic.)

Fix by Force is short but powerful. The writing is great, and the added twists and turns in the novel make it all the more enjoyable. It's not an easy read because the topic is not easy, but I dare you to walk away from the book without being changed. I highly recommend it.

ETA: I just found out that you can buy Fix by Force for Kindle for only $0.99. You can also check out the author's website to read or listen to the first few chapters for free. So now you have no excuse for not reading it.


\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\
Title: Fix by Force

Author: Jason WarnePublisher: Westbow PressPublication Date: March 28, 2012Pages: 188 (Paperback)ISBN: 9781449739Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a review copy!

Divergent \\ Beyond The Hunger Games Part #1

Suzanne Collins' famed and acclaimed series The Hunger Games has gotten a lot of publicity lately. But now that you've read the books and watched the movie, all you can do is wait until next year for the second big screen adaptation to come out. So what will you do in the meantime? I've got a couple of reading suggestions. First off, Divergent.

Divergent is twenty-something Veronica Roth's first novel, and it is a big one. It's plot is very similar to The Hunger Games, but, in my not so humble opinion, it is much better. Instead of districts there are factions, and instead of the Games there is a Choosing Ceremony.

\\ About the Book \\ In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.          During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

Not unlike The Hunger Games, Divergent is in first-person present tense, the main character is a sixteen-year-old girl, and the setting is in a dystopian, futuristic society. I like Roth's descriptions and dialogue better than Collins', and I thought the whole plot was much more applicable. Divergent's biggest theme is facing your fears, and the second, much like The Hunger Games, is accepting who you are and learning how to best use your strengths and weaknesses in whatever situation you are faced with.


Though Divergent has about the same amount of violence as The Hunger Games, the romance is, unfortunately for me (and us all), more pronounced. There are a couple of kissing scenes that go unnecessarily far, and sex is discussed in a couple of places (when I say discussed I mean mentioned, nothing is explicit) but never actually happens (though the final consensus is someday, making me a little concerned about what the next books in the series hold).


For this reason I would say that Divergent is more appropriate for the sixteen and older crowd, though I'm not even sure I would have/should have read it at sixteen. Honestly, the content here is not more (actually much less) than most movies and TV shows today, so it really just depends on your level of comfort and/or convictions.


Personally, it bothers me greatly that authors feel the need to add these situations (making it seem normal or appropriate), especially when marketing to young audiences, but I liked the story itself so much that I decided to overlook these instances of romantic overload.


I always try to look at romance in a book and decide to what level it is necessary. Some of the romance in Divergent seems necessary (or justifiable, maybe) to the growth of Tris' character, but to me most of the romance could have been cut out and the book would have been just as good (if not better).


Still on romance, Tris' relationship with the-boy-who-will-remain-nameless is a lot better than Katniss' relationship with Peeta. I have to say it. Besides the excessive kissing, which both books possess, Tris and him aren't pretending, unlike Katniss' maybe I like him, maybe I don't confusion with Peeta. This is yet another reason why I like Divergent more.


Unfortunately, there are a few uses of h--- and g-- as well.


Oddly, I preferred Collins' decision to leave out faith and God entirely as opposed to Roth's decision to add a little of God here and there (a very little). In Divergent there are only a couple times when God is mentioned, once at the dinner table and once when a character believes death is imminent. If I remember correctly there is also a brief saying of "fear God alone," which isn't expanded on at all (if Roth really wanted to bring in God, this would have been a good spot). Those instances seemed awkward to me, just because no one really takes into consideration God or a higher power at all until these choice scenes. They could have been edited out, really.


Also, I liked that Tris' parents are more involved than Katniss' mother. For the most part Tris is on her own, but there are several choice scenes between her and her mother and father that are really touching. They aren't a perfect family, but they are still a family, and I like that Roth chose to utilize both parents in important ways.


Comparing Tris and Katniss (yes, I'm going there), Tris has my vote. Her personality is more likable and her growth is more noticeable. She has goals for herself, goals of the person she wants to be, and she does whatever she is able to reach those goals. She doesn't let circumstances get the best of her, and she doesn't give in. The added interest of the factions and what they stand for give her reason to examine herself and decide where she fits, and her ultimate realization shows huge strength in her character. I enjoyed Tris' journey more than I did Katniss', and I felt less stressed reading Divergent.


(Is anyone else giving a little hmmm... at the similarity between Tris and Katniss?)


So, if you are a fan of The Hunger Games series I am sure you will like Divergent, as long as you are okay with the extra romance. I really enjoyed the book though; it took me all of two days to read it. The second book Insurgent has just come out, and the third is in the works. And once you finish Divergent, you can check out a scene from the book that Roth wrote from a different character's perspective. But wait until you have finished the book, or the scene won't make sense.

\\ About the Author \\ Veronica Roth is only 23, so her bio will be short. She’s from a Chicago suburb. She studied creative writing at Northwestern University, and wrote Divergent and Insurgent. The third and final book in The Divergent Trilogy, which doesn't have a title yet, will come out in Fall 2013. In the meantime she will spend endless hours browsing Wikipedia in her pajamas as she eats corn flakes. (Or some other kind of bland breakfast cereal.)

\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\
Title: Divergent (Book One in The Divergent Trilogy)
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: May 3, 2011Pages: 487 (Hardcover)ISBN: 0062024035Many thanks to my local library!!

Review \\ Glass Girl by Laura Anderson Kurk

After the death of her brother, heroine Meg Kavanagh realizes that she is made of glass―she’s fragile, and she’s about to break. But moving to Wyoming and attempting to hold together family bonds begins to change things, and Meg realizes she’s not as fragile as she seems. It isn’t until she meets cowboy Henry that she discovers the one thing that will really make her strong: faith in Jesus Christ. Glass Girl by Laura Anderson Kurk is a story packed with sorrow, hope, redemption, and love.

Please click the arrow to
understand my reviewing system.

Read more of my review and interview with author Laura Anderson Kurk at RealTeenFaith.com.


I'm giving this one a sad arrow because I felt that, though the story was good, the amount of romance outweighed the positives of Glass Girl. (If you've read my blog for any length of time you know I'm not one for much romance, especially with teenagers involved.) Click on the link above to read what the author said about the subject and decide for yourself!

Fiction | The Final Hour

"You're not alone. You're never alone."

     Charlie West has held on to that believe, but now he's starting to wonder. He went to bed one night an ordinary high-school kid. When he woke up, he was wanted for murder and hunted by a ruthless band of terrorists. He's been on the run ever since. Now he's stuck in prison, abandoned by his allies, trying desperately to stay a step ahead of vicious prison gangs and brutal guards. And a flash of returning memory tells him another terrorist strike is coming soon. A million people will die unless he does something. But what? He's stuck in a concrete cage with no way out and no one who can help. Charlie has never felt so alone—and yet he knows he can't give in or give up . . . not with the final hour ticking away.

Coming out this month, The Final Hour is the fourth and last installment of Andrew Klavan's exciting young adult series, The Homelanders. Expectant readers might be shocked by the contents of this book: Who knew life for Charlie West could get worse? A swirl of clanging cells, prison breaks, terrorist plots, and flashbacks, The Final Hour is the perfect conclusion to such an adrenaline-pumping series as The Homelanders.

After reviewing The Truth of the Matter, the third book in The Homelanders series, I got first dibs from Thomas Nelson on reviewing the fourth and final book. When I received the third book, I actually didn't realize it was the third in the series, and I was a bit worried that I'd have no clue what was going on. Thankfully, as most books in a series (sometimes annoyingly) do, The Truth of the Matter recapped so that I knew what was going on. The Final Hour does the same, but just enough so readers aren't confused after the long time between book releases.

In this conclusion we find Charlie West in prison. Because of his involvement with The Homelanders, a group of terrorists bent on destroying freedom, Charlie's been locked away indefinitely. Of course, we know that Charlie's innocent; he only got involved with The Homelanders to help the U.S. stop them from completing their plan to attack an American city. Charlie knows the exact location of the attack: he just doesn't remember it. Since he took a drug to erase his memory so that he wouldn't reveal anything important to The Homelanders, he's been having memory attacks that slowly and painfully help him to remember. But the time of the attack is coming, and he still doesn't remember. If he doesn't, many lives will be lost, and he'll be held responsible.

The Final Hour is the perfect conclusion to a great young adult series. If you've been anxiously awaiting this book, you won't be disappointed.

By the way, after a quick Internet search I discovered that this series is currently being turned into a movie. I can't wait!

Visit Andrew Klavan's Website |  Read an Excerpt of The Final Hour

I was kindly provided a complimentary review copy of The Final Hour from Booksneeze.