Conspiracy 365: May-August

"12 Exciting Books.
1 Terrifying Year.
Don't Blink. Don't Forget to Breathe."

Bookworm's Ranking - 4 Worms

Storyline - Books 5-8 - The mystery of the Ormond Singularity, Riddle, and Jewel are slowly coming together with the help of Cal's friends. But that doesn't mean things have gotten easier. In fact, they're worse, with Cal being taken in at a asylum, berried alive, captured by police all the while trying to stay ahead of the criminals chasing him. Some are out to help him, others are trying to kill him. It will take everything he's got to stay sane and alive. But the most recent attack on Cal might be the one that ends it all.

Author - Gabrielle Lord

Publisher - Kane/Miller Book Publishers

Age Group - 14 or 15 and up

Content - *May Contain Spoilers* Cal tends to lie, steal, and has to fight the bad guys that come after him (not graphic). Lives for a short time with a friend who is a girl, he on the couch and nothing happens. Goes to a sauna to talk to someone. Cal does want to do the right thing, being kind to others, and plans to pay back what he takes from those who help him. Cal goes from one tight spot to another and is willing to do what he can for the ones he loves.

Personal Opinion - Still an exciting adventure filled with intrigue, mystery, plot twists, and action. Wonderfully created characters and descriptions bring it to life in just it few short pages. Loving learning more and more about this mystery and how ancient family history (probably fake history) is being brought into the story to affect the characters now. I also like that Cal ended up in a convent for a little while. Even though he wasn't too fond of the order, it was still a pretty accurate, and good, representation. I also a appreciate how Cal is thinking about how he has changed since this has began and what he thinks of them. August's cliff-hanger has to be my favorite so far, it is leaving me anxious and going "What?!"  I was thinking of taking a break from the series to read a couple others books but I don't think I will be able to. Have. To. Know. How. It. All. ENDS!

122 days to go...

Video -

Buy - Amazon, Barnes and Noble,

Special Notes - Conspiracy 365: January-April - Review
                         Conspiracy 365: September-December - Review, Coming Soon

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Unglued Devotional

"Imperfect Progress in

60 Days?"

Bookworm's Ranking - 5 Worms

About - We have all been there. Something happens that makes us become "unglued," our emotions run rampant, and we let it get the better of us. But it doesn't have to be that way. Lysa TerKeurst knows what it is like to completely come undone and let those you love have it or bring yourself down when something totally goes wrong that you wanted to go right. With pertinent (and sometimes funny) stories, Lysa will talk to your heart and situation while giving suggestion on how to end the unglued cycle and start making imperfect progress by turning to the One who loves and created you.

Author - Lysa TerKeurst

Publisher - Zondervan

Age Group - 17 and up

Personal Opinion - Just one minute... Strange. For how much this book depicted what I struggle with, the note in the beginning should have started with "Dear Rachel." I might not be a mom or a wife but totally get the feelings Lysa was talking about. I don't know how many times I have "stuffed," "stewed," and had "toxic thoughts" leading to an explosion later on or self doubts. While reading this book, I tried harder to let God take care of my concerns, prayed more to Him, and got a Bible verse a-day app to give me some uplifting verses. And you want to know what? I think it is working. Shortly before finishing the book I had an instance where it would have been nice to explode on another or stew about it after but I didn't. The only thing different was reading this book, making me think I might be making some "imperfect progress." If only I had taken this advice sooner. The only things I wish had been different were 1) more direct advice on how to handle these situation (but I can see how each person is different so there couldn't be a clear cut, fix-all plan) and 2) had the self-eval on ways you become unglued in the beginning or right after the first couple chapters instead of the end so readers would have been able to identify with chapters speaking on that type better. But, I loved this devotional and am already thinking of people I want to encourage (or buy for) to get this book.

Buy - Amazon, ChristianBook, Barnes and Noble, Publisher,

Special Notes - There is another book, Unglued, that came before this one and a Bible study too that can be found on the author's website.

Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from the publisher through Booksneeze.com.

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Appreciate a Dragon Day, Jan 16

Hi from Bookworm,

Appreciate a Dragon Day is on January 16 and dragons are one of my favorite mythical creatures. I don't know why that is but they are. I personally want to appreciate a dragon I created for a book I'm working on. His name is Taran. Green with silver spikes, bat-like wings, and light blue eyes, he's shy but loyal. He harbors a secret that he fears will make him less of a dragon in other's eyes but when it comes to choosing between keeping this secret and loosing his friend, he will have to find the courage to open up.

So, I thought to celebrate, I would host a GIVEAWAY. One winner will win a dragon book of their choice from the list below (some of the choices mention series titles which means the winner can choose any one book out of that series). The books to choose from are:

• Dragons in Our Midst by Bryan Davis (or one of the books our of the Oracles of Fire or Children of the Bard series)
• Dragonsdale by Salamanda Drake
• Dragons of Starlight by Bryan Davis
• The Dragons of Chiril by Donita K. Paul
• How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
• The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari by Donita K. Paul

Just use the Rafflecopter below and make sure to answer the prompt in the entry posted (also read through the Terms and Use). Good luck and chew on a good book.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Books of the Infinite: Judge

"Kien Lantec,

You Will Bear Witness

to my Followers in ToronSea."

Bookworm's Ranking - 4 Worms

Storyline - Kien has heard from the Infinite... and so has Ela. They are both sent on missions to bring others back to Him. But Kien has trouble looking below the surface of those who wondered away and Ela is terrified of what the Infinite has revealed to her and what may come to pass. As Kien tries to save a city and return to Ela to protect her and Ela is desperately trying to save her beloved home from judgement, both will have to look to the Infinite for guidance or all will be lost.

Author - R. J. Larson

Publisher - Bethany House Publishers

Age Group - 15 or 16 and up

Content - *May Contain Spoilers* People come after Ela with evil intentions but she gets through with the help of the Infinite, the instances are not descriptive. Both Kien and Ela turn to the Infinite for help and have to learn to see things as He does. A group of characters worshiping another god are seen cutting themselves along with behaving inappropriate with one another, nothing descriptive. Some women dress scantily, this is also not described. The Infinite teaches how He loves even those who sin and wishes for them to return to Him, giving unconditional love.

Personal Opinion - Just as book 1, Judge was fun and made me think of the prophets of the Old Testament (I was able to place one Old Testament story with this one, still trying to figure out the other. Apparently, I don't know them well). This book also did a beautiful job on teaching about the Infinite’s (aka God's) love and forgiveness for his people. Loved that because it is easy for us, just like the characters, to look at the outward appearance of someone and judge without knowing the heart. Judge seemed a bit more serious than Prophet but it still had some good, funny spots with Pet, the Destroyer, which made me smile. Still like Ela and Kien and their struggles in various aspects of their lives. The only thing I wish were different are the descriptions of the feelings of characters. I didn't always feel emotionally connected to what was happening and some of the descriptions were just a bit straight forward and interpreted for me. It felt a bit slow, too, but that might have been me because I've been tired lately. But, looking forward to King, the third and final book of the series, and how everything will turn out for the characters.

Buy - Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ChristianBook, Bethany House,

Links - Learn more about the author and series here. Also there are some fun pictures on the site. I specially like the Scaln, gives me an image to what I read in book 1.

Book 1, Prophet - Review
Book 3, King - Coming Soon

Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers.

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Best Books of 2012!

Another year has come and gone.

So, here are the books I  enjoyed the most through this past year.

Young Adult (I use this for Middle Grade):
1. Quest for Truth: Risk by Brock Eastman
2. Code of Silence by Tim Shoemaker
3. Sneak by Evan Angler
4. Swipe by Evan Angler
5. Imagination Station: Peril in the Palace by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (technically this is more of an elementary age group read)
6. The Mission League: The New Recruit by Jill Williamson
7. How to Brake a Dragon's Heart by Cressida Cowell
8. Merlin's Immortals: The Orphan King by Sigmund Brouwer


Teens:
1. Failstate by John Otte
2. Bull Rider by Suzanne Morgan Williams
3. First Date by Krista McGee
4. The Secret by Barb Huff
5. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
6. Halflings and Guardian by Heather Burch
7. The CHAOS Trilogy: Invasion by Jon S. Lewis
8. Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey
9. The Wishing Pearl by Nicole O'Dell
10. Dragons of Starlight: Liberator by Bryan Davis

Ages 20 and up Books:
1. By the Light of the Silvery Moon by Tricia Goyer
2. Serpent of Moses by Don Hasoel
3. The Last Temple by Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer
4. A Breed Apart: Trinity, Military War Dog by Ronie Kendig
5. The Upper Zoo by Michael Wolf
6.  Isle of Shadows by Tracy L. Higley
7. God Blessed the Broken Road Series: Mariza by Crystal Cattabriga
8. Prophet by R. J. Larson
9. My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade


Non-Fiction:
1. Prove It! God by Amy Welborn
2. Winning Balance by Shawn Johnson
3. A Hobbit Devotional by Ed Strauss

Honorable Mentions:
The Dark Sea Annals: The Errant King by Wayne Thomas Batson
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Paper Angels by Jimmy Wayne and Travis Thrasher
The Embittered Ruby by Nicole O'Dell
A Helium-3 Novel: Crater by Homer Hickam
A Winter Dream by Richard Paul Evans
The Messenger by Siri Mitchelle
Mech Mice: Genesis Strike by The Miller Brothers
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Hope you enjoy the list and feel free to share your favorite books in a comment.
You can see all the books I read on Goodreads.
Chew on a good book this year!