The Promises She Keeps by Erin Healy

Title:            The Promises She Keeps
Publisher:     Thomas Nelson
Pub Date:    02/08/2011
ISBN:         9781595547514
Author:        Erin Healy


This book has been sitting on my to-read list for quite a few months, but I was in a mood to read it. Finally I picked it up last week, and I feel as if I have found a jewel. I think I will regret if I have missed it. It is different comparing to most other fiction books that I have read. Since most of the main characters in this book are artists, together with the storyline it makes me feel a little "abstract". Some part of the story is a bit eerie, and yet makes me feel calm.

Promise is a talented young singer with terminal illness. Despite her health condition, she never giving up hope in her life and she wants to leave her name behind after she dies. For she knows she would die at young age, she wants to be remembered.

Porta is an aging sorceress who seeks immortality. She just moved into the town where Promise is staying and opens an art gallery there. She believes the art has power to speak into a life and can heal a soul.

When Promise survives a series of freak accidents, all involving Zack, Porta believes that Promise may hold the key to eternal life. Zack is an art student in the university that Promise is studying in. He's also Porta's son. However he does not have good relationship with Porta.

Chase is an autistic artist in early thirties who loves to draw trees. He has great knowledge of trees, on their scientific name, their common name and their characteristic. Despite having autism, to me Chase has the most pure heart amongst all of them. He sees people through relating them to trees. He can tell Porta and Zack are not good people and they will harm Promise. And he loves Promise. He knew he was made for her. He risks himself trying to save Promise.

The whole story reminded me about things happen for a reason. There are things meant for you and there are things not meant for you. But it seems like only Chase understands about this. I like his heart, his clear mind, and his intelligent. As if he has a special gift to see things. I dislike Porta the most. She is a selfish mother and very self centered. She even goes as far as manipulating her son in order to get what she wants.

I like the way the author builds the characters and the plot. It requires us to read it with open mind and open heart. The ending is a little sad but I suppose it's the best for everyone. It is a beautiful story in its own way.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.


Note: I receive the review copy of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

14 Secrets to Better Parenting

 

Title:         14 Secrets to Better Parenting
SubTitle:   Powerful Principles from the Bible
Publisher:  Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Imprint:     Barbour Books
Pub Date:  04/01/2011
ISBN:       9781616262259
Author:      Dave Earley

Book Description:

Wondering how to raise great kids? Turn to the Bible’s book of Proverbs for guidance—that’s where author Dave Earley found many of his 14 Secrets to Better Parenting. From “Focus on Training” to “When You Have No Other Option, Keep Praying!”, these principles will help you create the kind of home environment conducive to raising successful children. “When our children were born over twenty years ago,” the author says, “I researched what the Bible had to say about parenting and made a list of principles. I considered writing my findings up as a book, but refrained from getting it published until our children were grown and I could see how the principles worked. Guess what? They work! We can joyously say today that all three of our boys are living lives that honor the Lord.”

My Review:

This book is great especially for Christian parents. In today's world, the Bible principles of parenting are often overlooked. Author shares his experience on applying these principles in bringing up his three sons. This entire book is written based on the book of Proverbs. Throughout the whole books, the author continuously quotes scripture from Proverbs with explanation how to apply them in our parenting journey. The area that the author has covered not limited to but including training, discipline, and bringing the children closer to God. And Wisdom is highly emphasized throughout the whole book. A wise parents will focus on developing the wisdom in their children. Parenting is never an easy task. In fact it is full of challenging as each child is different. This book definitely serve as a good reference to assist us in our parenting journey. 


Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Atomic Weight of Secrets or The Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black by Eden Unger Bowditch

Title:         The Atomic Weight of Secrets or The Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black
SubTitle:   The Young Inventors Guild: Book One
Publisher:  Bancroft Press
Pub Date:  03/15/2011
ISBN:        9781610880022
Author:      Eden Unger Bowditch

Book Summary: -

In 1903, five truly brilliant young inventors, the children of the world’s most important scientists, are taken from their lives and their parents by the mysterious men in black. They take twelve-year-old Jasper and six-year-old Lucy Modest from London, England; nine-year-old Wallace Banneker from New York, United States; twelve-year-old Noah Canto-Sagas from Toronto, Canada; and thirteen-year-old Faye Vigyanveta from New Delhi, India, depositing them all at a strange, isolated farmhouse in Dayton, Ohio, with kindly schoolteacher Miss Brett. But what mysterious invention have all the children, unbeknownst to one another, been working on? Who are the men in black? And are the men in black trying to kidnap them—or protect them?



My Review: -

The starting of this book is very slow. Until I almost want to give up reading. Anyway the pace never really increases later. But I was curious to know who are these men in black and whether they are good or bad guys. I was also curious whether the children will successfully run away and rescue their parents or not. One thing the children learn is that a man dress in suit not necessary is a gentleman; a man dress in weirdo outfit not necessary is a bad guy. From being a lonesome the children learn to make friend with each other and work together as a team. The ending was rather disappointing. But I guess we suppose to find the answer from Book 2 or probably Book 3 since it is a trilogy.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.


Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter

Title:         The Goddess Test
SubTitle:    Book I in The Goddess Test series
Publisher:   Harlequin
Imprint:      HarlequinTEEN
Pub Date:   04/26/2011
ISBN:         9780373210268
Author:       Aimée Carter


Book Description:

EVERY GIRL who has taken the test has DIED.

Now it's KATE'S TURN.

It’s always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate’s going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won’t live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he’s crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she’ll become Henry’s future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails...


Excert from The Goddess Test:

“The prize is immortality,” Henry said. “It’s not something we give out lightly, and we need to make sure it is something you can handle.”

I felt a cold block of ice form in the pit of my stomach. So my choices now were to live forever or die trying. Somehow it didn’t seem fair.

“You will do well,” Henry said. “I can feel it. And afterward, you will help me do something that no one else is capable of doing. You will have power beyond imagining, and you will never fear death again. You will never grow old and you will always be beautiful. You will have eternal life to spend as you wish.” But would I have my mother?


My Review:

The story is written as Kate as the first person. Kate is independent and kind. Despite cheated by a new friend she just got to know in the new school, she did not hesitate to help her even though the situation put her life in danger. Due to her mother's illness, she treasured life more than others. She was even willing to do anything to save her friends. This shows how selfless Kate is. Sadly in reality there are lots of people like to take advantage of others despite being their good friend.

The story is based on Greek Mythology on the tale of Persephone and Hades. Since Kate is the first person in the story, there were lots of thoughts from Kate. I wish there were more thoughts from Henry were told in the story, for example when and how Henry fall in love with Kate.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.


Author bio:

Aimée Carter was born in 1986 and attended the University of Michigan. She started writing at age eleven, focusing first on fan fiction and later on original work, and hasn’t stopped since. The Goddess Test is her first novel.  Check out her website at www.aimeecarter.com.


Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

 

 Title:         Hereafter

Publisher:   HarperCollins
Imprint:     HarperTeen
Pub Date:  06/07/2011
ISBN:       9780062026774
Author:     Tara Hudson

Book Description:

For Amelia, time has all but slowed to a stop as her spirit remains stranded alone in the dark waters of a mysterious river. She knows she’s died, but with no recollection of her past life--or her actual death--she’s trapped in one long continuous nightmare, in which she cannot feel anything or interact with anyone. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a teenage boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in a moment of connection, he looks in her eyes and becomes the first person in the world to see that she still exists.

When he touches her, Joshua sparks strange and wonderful sensory feelings in Amelia--at first just momentary flashes, then pulses that become ever stronger as he leads her out of the river and into his life. As Amelia and Joshua uncover who she was and the strange circumstances of her death, new problems arise: somehow, Joshua’s grandmother seems to know exactly what is going on between them, and Eli, a ghost enforcer, is hell-bent on destroying their happiness and dragging Amelia back into the spirit world.

With every touch and the growing feelings that come with them, Amelia and Joshua begin to wonder if there’s something special not only about Joshua but also the dark river that held her captive for so long. Can there truly be love after death?

This is a beautiful story, a beautiful love story between a ghost and a human. After seeing Amelia during his near death accident, Joshua couldn't help but attracted to her. And that's made everything change for Amelia. She was no more wondering around aimlessly. She started to get flash back memories on her past life. She gained back some of the senses that she had lost after her death. Together with Joshua, she found out who she was. Though she did not harm Joshua, but Joshua grandmother's Ruth who was a seer did not trust her and wanted to exorcize her. At the same time, the evil spirit Eli wanted to claim Amelia as his apprentice. Despite all these, Joshua and Amelia's feelings to each other did not change. And I believe it is their innocence love that brings out the power hidden inside Amelia. I admire her courage and strong will to defense herself from surrender to the evil spirit. How many of us can really deny to gain power and take control? Not all ghosts are evil. Just like not all human are good people. 

I enjoy reading this book very much. Both Amelia and Joshua's characters are well defined. Amelia's thoughts and emotion are well presented throughout the whole story. And the story is very attractive and intriguing.

I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. 

Book Trailer:

Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.