ANGEL EYES

I received a copy of ANGEL EYES by Shannon Dittemore, from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze.  It is her first novel, about a young woman named Brielle, which is short for Gabrielle.  She has always loved to dance, and happened to be discovered by a talent scout.  Using a scholarship, she left her country town for a boarding school in the city – and found deep tragedy.  I won’t ruin the surprise for you by telling you what the tragedy is, but I was disappointed in how long the secret was dragged out.  It felt like a writer’s ploy to keep the reader reading, rather than important to the story.  Knowing the tragedy right away might have enhanced my enjoyment of the overall book, but instead, I was a little irritated by how long it took before Brielle revealed it. 

Back to the story, Brielle returns home.  Her father is her only living parent, and does his best to make her feel better.  He felt a little too lenient for me.  Maybe I just have overprotective parents, but it seemed like he gave her a little too much space, acting more like a neighbor than a dad. 

Brielle meets the new boy at school, Jake.  He’s hot and warm, something she needs because she feels so cold.  His guardian turns out to be an angel.  He gives Jake his halo, which allows Jake to heal people.  When Jake gives it to Brielle, she gets to See.  I really enjoyed the angel aspects of the story.  They reminded me of the television show, Supernatural.  Then, there is a fallen angel, mysteries from her life in the city, and inner struggles.

Overall, I enjoyed this young adult novel.  Shannon Dittemore’s storytelling voice is hard to resist.  

Wanderers

Oliver Neubert sent me his first book in the Wind of Life series, THE FLYERS, in exchange for a review. My review can be found here: http://kissedbyliterature.blogspot.com/2012/01/flyers.html

After the review, we continued to talk and he graciously agreed to an interview, located here: http://kissedbyliterature.blogspot.com/2012/01/interview-with-author-oliver-neubert.html

Now, he’s sent me the sequel to THE FLYERS. The second book in the young adult fantasy series, the Wind of Life, is THE WANDERERS. I was hoping for another story about Timo, but THE WANDERERS follows the path of fourteen-year-old Rider (this book did reference THE FLYERS enough that I still felt satisfied). Where the first book involved mountains, this one dwelt more with the forests and the haunted Flatlands. I found I could connect with it more, since my house is surrounded by a forest. I could picture looking through my bedroom window and seeing Rider, talking to his little sister, Pia.

Like the first book, this is a delightful, quick read – I managed it in two lunches. Oliver Neubert is a truly outstanding author. Not only is he a great writer – his characters come to life in realistic settings – but he is a great person as well. He connects with his readers. I am very grateful to him for sending me this book, and look forward to not only reading the third installment of the Wind of Life, but also his other novels. I highly recommend this book, and the series, to fantasy lovers and young adult readers.

THE FLYERS

I greatly enjoyed reading THE WIND OF LIFE – THE FLYERS by Oliver Neubert. He was kind enough to send me a signed copy. That shows a lot about the author, when he cares not only about his book, but also about his fans.

I started reading this today during lunch, and hated to go back to work. As soon as I got home, I had to see what happened next and finished the novel within a few hours. It is a fast-paced read, without dull moments. The development of the characters progresses throughout the story – it is fun growing with them.

The story involves two races – those who fly and those who can’t. They cannot mix. I love how this reflects prejudices in today’s society. Timo, the main character, must help them unite. I don’t want to give too much away in this review, but the culture is richly detailed, really bringing the reader deep into the story. It’s a perfect tool for escapism. The best part is that this is only book one of THE WIND OF LIFE series. I recommend this not only to young adults (Timo is fourteen), but to anyone who loves a good fantasy story.

OPEN SPACES

I received a copy of OPEN SPACES: VOICES FROM THE NORTHWEST from University of Washington Press and GoodReads. The book is comprised of a selection of short stories, edited by Penny Harrison. Some of the stories are lumped together in categories, such as Wildlife and Energy. Each short story reveals a glimpse into the life of someone in the Northwest.

The stories are short, so they are easy to read through, and each is exciting in its own way. My favorite of the collection is RHAPSODY FOR BLACKBERRIES by Sandra Dorr. Reading it made my mouth water for blackberries.

For someone like me who lives in New York, this book is like taking a trip across the country, accompanied by friendly, knowledgeable tour guides. The picturesque cover accurately depicts the amazement you will find within the pages.

STORM OF WAR

I received a copy of THE STORM OF WAR: A NEW HISTORY OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR by Andrew Riberts, from GoodReads and Harper. I love history, so I was excited to learn more about World War II. The book, of 712 pages, contains three parts: the Onslaught, the Climacteric, and the Retribution. There are also maps, notes, a bibliography, and a conclusion.

The book is very informative. Even though it is not fictionalized, it reads smoothly. I highly recommend this book to other history buffs.

THE THIRD MIRACLE

I received a copy of THE THIRD MIRACLE: AN ORDINARY MAN, A MEDICAL MYSTERY, AND A TRIAL OF FAITH by Bill Briggs, from GoodReads and Crown Publishers. The letter is dated February, so it should have come sooner. There has been a lot of snow here lately, and the mail carrier left the package on the deck where it became covered. My uncle discovered it while he was shoveling.

I enjoyed the book, but it was a little dry. When I sat down, the words didn’t flow so well that I forgot the time. Rather, I would glimpse ahead to see how many more pages I had left. Overall, though, this is a very powerful book about the Catholic faith. Now that I’m done, I am passing it on to my devout grandmother.