Broken Wings (Angel Eyes, #2)

By Shannon Dittemore
Published by Thomas Nelson


Average Blogger Rating: 4.5



Awesome book, love the series so far. The ending leaves you in suspense for the next novel. I can't wait to read it. I could not put the book down, and the few times i did, it took a lot of effort to drag me away and during those times i was thinking of the story and how it may go in my mind.

This book continues the story about Brielle and Jake. In the books description it gives you a very straight forward idea of what the book will be about. I think everyone could enjoy this book, and would recommend they try it out!








Book Description

Angels with wings of blade. Demons with renewed sight. And a girl who has never been more broken.

Brielle has begun to see the world as it really is, a place where angels intermingle with humans. But just when she thinks she’s got things under control, the life she’s pieced together begins to crumble.

Her boyfriend, Jake, is keeping something from her. Something important.

And her overprotective father has turned downright hostile toward Jake. Brielle fears she’ll have to choose between the man who’s always loved her and the one who’s captured her heart.

Then she unearths the truth about her mother’s death and the nightmare starts. Brielle begins seeing visions of mysterious and horrible things.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s been targeted. The Prince of Darkness himself has heard of the boy with healing in his hands and of the girl who saw through the Terrestrial veil. When he pulls the demon Damien from the fiery chasm and sends him back to Earth with new eyes, the stage is set for the ultimate battle of good versus evil.

Brielle has no choice. She must master the weapons she’s been given. She must fight.

But can she fly with broken wings?

Angel Eyes (Angel Eyes, #1)

By Shannon Dittemore
Published by Thomas Nelson
(Angel Eyes Trilogy #1)
1st book by this author

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is written in the first person for each chapter (For whoevers name is at the beginning of the chapter, it does alternate between 3 people, but mostly it is Brielle ). Brielle went away to the city and a tragedy struck, she blames herself for it. She feels cold all the time and can never seem to warm up. Jake is a new guy who has recently moved there, he starts school the same day Brielle goes back. Every time he is in the same class as Brille, she seems to warm up more.

I would recommend this read to teenagers and young adults. Even me as an adult have thoroughly enjoyed it. This book has Angels and Demons, a spiritual battle, death, a different realm, and many other enjoyable tidbits.

I look forward to the other 2 books in this series






Book Description
Once you’ve seen, you can’t unsee.
Brielle 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 an 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 either Brielle or Jake has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices begin.
A realm that only angels and demons—and Brielle—can perceive.

Merlin's Nightmare (The Merlin Spiral #3)

Merlin's Nightmare Series: The Merlin Spiral
By Robert Treskillard
Published by Zondervan

Average Blogger Rating: 4.17 Stars

I loved the first two novels and was very happy to be able to read this third book. So they skipped Arthur's growing life when he was a baby to a teenager and puts him at the age of 18 now. Though it does mention that they lived in peace in all those years.

This was a great series. It was my first reading of anything about Arthur and Merlin. I only had known some basic info about them, so this was a great series to read and get perspective on them. I am glad i decided to read the first book which was what lead me to read the second and this third book.





Arthur, now eighteen, is missing, and Merlin must find him before a shadowy pursuer catches him first.
With the High King and his kingdom caught in a trap of sinister deceit, Merlin has to find a way out before all is lost. Having everything to fight for, and almost nothing to fight with, Merlin and Arthur must rally Britain’s warriors against three overwhelming enemies: Saxen hordes in the south, Picti raiders in the north, and a chilling new enemy that has arisen in the west. At the same time, Morgana brings Merlin’s deepest fear to life and sets a horde of werewolves loose to destroy Britain. But when the secret purpose of this nightmare is finally revealed, will Merlin and Arthur find a way to survive—without unleashing an even greater evil?










Book Description

The third book in a new fantasy series that enters into the world of King Arthur, Lady of the Lake, the creation of Excalibur, and the rescue of King Arthur himself as it retells the story of Merlin.

In book three of Robert Treskillard’s Merlin Spiral series, Merlin must find the missing, now eighteen-year-old Arthur before a shadowy pursuer catches him first.

At the same time, Mórgana brings Merlin’s deepest fear to life and sets a horde of werewolves loose to destroy Britain. But when the secret purpose of this nightmare is finally revealed, will Merlin and Arthur find a way to survive—without unleashing an even greater evil?

Merlin's Shadow (The Merlin Spiral #2)

By Robert Treskillard
Published by Zondervan

I have read the first book in this series, and wanted to continue reading of Merlin's life. It did not disappoint me. I loved reading it through and will continue to find the other book(s) and read them as I find them and they come out.

The book continues to follow Merlin and his sister through their continuing life. She hating him, he trying to keep Arthur living so he can one day take over his fallen father's throne. This book definitely grabs you as you are reading and keeps your attention.

This book falls in many Genres in the book, so this is a great read for so many different kind of people who like different things. I would definitely read the first novel first though, so you can better understand what is going on in this second book.










Book Description:

Betrayal.

After destroying the sinister Druid Stone and freeing his people from its dark control, Merlin finds himself a royal advisor without a king. Along with his friend Garth and Natalenya, his betrothed, Merlin treks north with the orphaned Arthur in hopes of keeping the young ruler safe from soldiers misled by their turncoat captain. Relentlessly pursued by his old nemesis Vortigern, Merlin and his band make for the fortress of Dintaga.

But dangers multiply when Merlin realizes that Vortigern is not his only enemy. Even his own sister appears bent on Merlin’s destruction. As the threat on all their lives increases, Merlin discovers their only hope is sailing to the lands of eternal darkness and once again cleansing the world from an ancient and powerful evil.

Stained-Glass Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for rolling
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
4 large egg yolks
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Very finely crushed hard candy, such as Jolly Rancher, in various colors (1 cup total)




Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy, 3 minutes. Add egg yolks and vanilla and beat to combine. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture and beat to combine. Form dough into 2 disks, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Working with 1 disk at a time, roll out dough between floured parchment paper to 1/8-inch thickness. Stack dough in parchment on a baking sheet; refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes. With a 2 1/2-inch Christmas-ball-shaped cutter, cut out dough (reroll scraps, if desired). Place cookies, 1 inch apart, on two parchment-lined baking sheets. With a 1-inch star cutter, cut out dough in center of each cookie. Bake until cookies are pale but set, 8 to 10 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Remove sheets from oven; fill cutouts with crushed candy. Bake until cookies begin to brown at edges and candy is melted, 3 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.



Cook's Note

Quick Tip: To crush the hard candy, seal in a zip-top bag and pound with a meat mallet or small skillet.

Disks of dough can be refrigerated overnight or frozen, up to 1 month, and thawed in the refrigerator. Let sit at room temperature until soft enough to roll. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers, up to 1 week.

The Start of a Cold

So last night and all today I have been spending my time coughing my head off. Now my head is pounding. My throat is sore and scratchy. Along with the cough. Isn’t being sick fun everyone? And this is just the stat as we know. It will progress. 

Ok so in my apartment we have no control over the heat per place it is downstairs and only one person who has access and who is hardly ever home. And this is the first year it has been cold in my 3rd floor place. Lived here for 5 years or son  Is it cause the owner of building said not to set it as high this year since he is a new owner or is it cause the guy that does the heat hates the one family living here now. 

But because of this I now have a cold and am not happy with any of them. 

Merlin's Blade (The Merlin Spiral #1)

By Robert Treskillard
Published by Zondervan

Average Blogger Rating: 4.67 Stars

I first thought to pick this book, because pretty much everyone knows the name Merlin. So I thought this would be a great read, to see what this could be about him as a child, and not the most famous part of his life as an adult. I was not disappointed, it was very detailed writing and of course I really love the cover. This is a great book to choose to read, so please do so.

I will be looking forward to reading the other books in the series: Merlin's Shadow & Merlin's Nightmare

Merlin is a half-blind boy (wounded in a wolf attack years ago). He has a lot of courage and tries to do the right thing. He offers up prayers when he is whipped. He has a friend name Garth, who has done a wrong thing in the beginning of the book, it is right after a fight they have with two other boys.

While he is in some woods with his friend they see two people, though Merlin can't really see much, they see a flash of light that comes from some kind of stone.

Merlin is attacked in his own home by a wolf (but there was more outside of the home), which his sister calls her friend. His sister, Ganieda, says the wolf was her friend and she was only protecting herself. Merlin is taken in as a bard by the king. We find that he possess a wisdom and courage that no one knew he had.



Info on the book's character's (mostly for my own information)

Merlin's real mom's name is: Gwevian
Merlin's step-mom's name is: Monda
Merlin's his half sister's name is: Ganieda
Merlin's his father's name is: Owain
Merlin's friend's name is: Garthqys
Merlin's crush name is: Natalenya

Natalenya brothers: Rondroc & Dyslan
Natalenya father: Tregeagle
Natalenya mother: Trevenna

Monda's father: Morganthu
Monda's brother: Anviv