Remember the Price of Our Freedom

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live by them.

- John F. Kennedy

An Admission & An Apology & An Update

The Admission

Sometimes life doesn't go like you've planned.

Sometimes life feels like you got caught in a rainstorm and forgot your umbrella, drenching you with all of its expectations and not letting you find shelter. (See real-life example of this to the left).

Sometimes life surprises you with awesome things--blessings in disguise--and you have to put other, equally good things aside in order to take hold of those blessings. (keep reading for an example)

Are you sensing a trend here?

What has Emilie been up to? 

Well, I'm glad you asked. Clearly it hasn't been blogging. *hangs head in shame*

Phoenix Fire by S.D. Grimm | Re:View

What would you do if you lived over and over again? As a Phoenix, Ava gets to do just that. Adopted and living with a bit of a chip on her shoulder, Ava is shocked to experience memoirs that tell the story of someone else’s life. Or is it her life?

Cade faces paralyzing headaches when he remembers, though his brother Nick is there to help him.

When circumstances and so much more bring them together, Ava faces a life she never dreamed of and a task that seems impossible. Wyatt is just one such complication, or is he more than that?

I enjoyed the concept of this book in the creativity of using Phoenix’s (something I haven’t personally read about aside from in Harry Potter of course!). I found that keeping the memories as well as the current events straight was a little challenging. There’s a lot going on in this book - something I really appreciated - but it was also rather complex.

One thing I will note is the fact that I didn’t really believe the villain as much as I would have liked to. She was evil but I couldn’t help but feel like I wanted to know more of why she was so terrible. In that respect, she fell flat for me.

Reclaiming Shilo Snow by Mary Weber | Re:View

Reclaiming Shilo Snow throws Sofi into a thrilling race to save the ones she loves and to rethink what she’s capable of.

In this fast-paced, duology wrap up to Mary Weber’s science fiction series, we follow Sofi Snow on a quest to rescue her brother. Left behind on the planet/space craft Delon, Sofi discovers the fascinating truth behind the Delonese and works to actively oppose them.

On Earth, Sofia’s mother is faced with a hard choice that will not only affect Earths inhabitants but also the lives of her children.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and answered a lot of questions the first book had left me with (of course, since it was the end of the duology). I thought the interspersing of her mother’s point of view was really well done and added a layer to the story that brought a lot of things to light.

I feel like this duology will appeal to those who enjoy fast paced plots with light elements of science fiction. It wasn’t so strong of a theme that it would be a requirement to like hard core sci-fi to enjoy this series. Mary’s heart for the innocent and children is visible in this book in a beautiful, powerful way. I think she has a message to share that we need to listen to.

Meghan M. Gorecki | New Novel News

Amongst the Roses
by Meghan M. Gorecki

Published: April 12, 2018
Publisher: Northern Belle Publishing
Purchase: Amongst the Roses

The War Between the States shakes Margaret Bryant out of her comfortable upper-class life when her father enlists in the Army of the Potomac. Despite being safely ensconced above the Mason-Dixon Line in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Margaret finds her strength tested by opposition from familiar faces and Confederate threats. Will she let a young man from a lesser station into her heart even as war rages ever nearer to the home front?

Lynn H. Blackburn {Writer Wednesday} | JustReads Tour Stop

A little bit about Lynn...

Lynn H. Blackburnis the author of Hidden Legacy(Love Inspired, June 2017) and Covert Justice, winner of the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel. Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She’s passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don’t make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in South Carolina with her true love, Brian, and their three children.

Unraveling by Sara Ella | Re:View

Another layer is revealed in a beautifully complex story of hope and the fight for good to win over evil in Unraveling, the second book in the Unblemished series by Sara Ella.

Elyana is now queen but living like a shadow of her former self. Joshua, strong and left in charge, can obviously feel the weight of his responsibilities. The tensions rise between the two when something happens that disrupts the almost-happy ending and sends El to make a drastic choice.

On a race through the reflections, El joins with an unlikely partner to bring and end to the voids rule. But can she do it in time to save the ones she loves?

I really enjoyed this complex book filled with twists, turns, secrets, and surprises! I love Sara’s writing and had such a fun time being shocked by her ever-widening plot. Her creativity is also a highlight in this book as we get to see new reflections and meet different characters that add a lovely dimension to an already fantastical book.