Book Review/Giveaway!! The Angelorum Twelve Chronicles, by L.G. O'Connor

The Wanderer's Children
(The Angelorum Twelve Chronicles, #2)
L.G. O'Connor
Trade Paperback, 402 pages
Collins-Young Publishing, LLC
December 16, 2014
Angels, Pararnormal Romance, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy

Book Synopsis:   

The Wanderer’s mission three decades ago: secretly sire children to hide his bloodline, and protect them until their destinies can unite in the final battle between good and evil. That time has come...

Cara Collins, the First of the Holy Twelve, longs for one last peaceful weekend with her bridesmaids as she plans her wedding to Simon Young, her former Trinity Guardian, before duty calls with the Angelorum to gather the Twelve and prepare them for battle. Life, as she knew it, has changed; weird is Cara’s new normal. Her newly acquired Nephilim DNA is wreaking havoc on her and those closest to her as her body transforms into Amazonian proportions and an overabundance of pheromones threatens to land her in hot water with Simon—not to mention a sudden suspicious outbreak of “insta-love” among her friends.

Michael Swift, Cara’s Trinity Messenger, has spent months running from his attraction to Cara’s brazen best friend Sienna, the only woman who has ever skirted his considerable defenses. But if he wants a future with her, he must confront his tormented past head on, or risk losing her and destroying the future of the Angelorum.

Amazon US/Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Barnes & Noble

Note

Since I didn't have the time to read both books,

I decided to read Trinity Stones,

the first one in the series.

 Trinity Stones

(The Angelorum Twelve Chronicles, #2)

L.G. O'Connor

Trade Paperback, 355 pages

She Writes Press

April 22, 2014

Angels, Paranormal Romance,
Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy

Book Synopsis:

Anxiety-ridden New York investment banker, Cara Collins, has little to smile about on her twenty-seventh birthday between a hostile work environment and her impossible romantic situation with her longtime friend and first love, Dr. Kai Solomon. But before the day ends, she learns she has inherited $50 million—a windfall that must remain secret or risk the lives of those close to her.

As Cara unravels the truth surrounding her inheritance, she makes a startling discovery: angels walk among the living, and they’re getting ready to engage in a battle that will determine the future of the human race. In the midst of these revelations, she meets mysterious and sophisticated Simon Young, who offers her the promise of romance for the first time since Kai—but when Kai and his daughter are kidnapped by dark forces, Cara must choose: accept her place in a 2,000-year-old prophecy foretold in the Trinity Stones as the First of the Twelve who will lead the final battle between good and evil . . . or risk losing everything she holds dear.

 

Amazon US/Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Barnes & Noble

I  became hooked on paranormal romance and urban fantasy some time ago, so I know a great read in either genre when I come across one. This novel is one of the very best that I've ever read, and I can't wait to start on the sequel, The Wanderer's Children! Without a doubt, O'Connor is an author to watch!

This first novel of the series blends the romance with the fantasy action so well, they both captured -- and held --  my attention. The world-building was so detailed, so logically-developed and explained, that I had no trouble at all getting immersed in the story from the very beginning of the book. 

The characters are very likeable, as well as very realistic. They're by no means perfect, but their flaws are understandable, given their individual histories. Besides, these flaws are counterbalanced by their strengths. Cara Collins, for instance, has panic attacks, and is still pining for a former boyfriend, now married. However, she is also an extremely intelligent, very resourceful woman, as well as a very compassionate person, with a great capacity for love.

Simon Young, the man she eventually falls in love with, is also flawed. He's not who Cara believes he is, but again, when his background is revealed, the reader can understand exactly where he's coming from.

Waiting On Wednesday #70: The Shadowhunter's Codex, by Cassandra Clare and Joshua Lewis

This is a weekly event hosted by

Jill @ Breaking the Spine!

It showcases future releases which

we book bloggers are eagerly anticipating!

Here's my pick for this week!

The Shadowhunter's Codex

(The Mortal Instruments)

Cassandra Clare and Joshua Lewis

Hardcover, 304 pages

Margaret K. McElderry Books

October 29, 2013

Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Nonfiction,

Young Adult

From the Goodreads Synopsis

Since the thirteenth century, the Shadowhunter’s Codex has been the one and only manual for Shadowhunters looking to brush up on their demon languages, learn proper stele use, and discover just what exactly a pyxis is. Featured in both The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, this guide is a necessity for any young Nephilim on their journey to becoming a Shadowhunter. Beautifully illustrated, the Codex contains images of the famous Shadowhunter homeland of Idris, as well as depictions of demons and other Downworlders.

Shelf Candy Saturday #50: Angels of Darkness, by Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, Meljean Brook, Sharon Shinn

Welcome to

Shelf Candy Saturday!!

This weekly meme/blog hop, hosted here,

features beautiful book covers!

If you'd like to participate, just grab my button (or create your own), write your own post, and link up in the Linky widget at the bottom of this post. (You have to click on "Read more" so that the entire post will open up.)

As a bonus, you can include information on the artist, designer, and/or photographer, but it's not required. You can simply feature a cover and explain why you love it!

Here's my choice for this week!

Angels of Darkness

(Guild Hunter #4.5)

Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, Meljean Brook,

Sharon Shinn

Trade Paperback, 406 pages

Berkley Trade

October 4m 2911

Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Why do I love this cover?

I can honestly say that I have never seen an image like this one.  It's absolutely breathtaking!  The most beautiful feature is, of course, the male angel's wings, and how they enfold the woman in a tender, loving embrace.....such a romantic concept....and then, the two lovers are so obviously deeply immersed in each other, almost as if they were touching each other's heart and soul...  Okay, I'm a hopeless romantic, so please bear with me.  I can't help sighing over this image! 

BOOK LOVER'S HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY HOP FINAL WINNER!!!

And the final winner is...

Veronika!!

Goodreads Profile

Facebook Page

Twitter Page

CONGRATULATIONS!!

You have won the fascinating 

YA novel, Entice!!

Entice

(The Violet Eden Chapters #2)

Jessica Shirvington

Paperback, 464 pages

Sourcebooks Fire

March 29, 2011

Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy,

Young Adult Fiction

Entice

(The Violet Eden Chapters #2)

Jessica Shirvington

Paperback, 448 pages

Orchard Books UK

September 6, 2012

You are the third winner

to be picked, since the first two

did not reply to my emails!

You have 72 hours.

If I haven't heard from you

by then,

that will be the end of

the winner selection process.

No further winners

will be chosen.

I'd like to thank everyone

who participated in this

Book Lover's Holiday

Giveaway Hop!!

Do stay tuned, because

there will be future

giveaways coming along!! 

  

   

Waiting On Wednesday #54: Shadows In The Silence, by Courtney Allison Moulton

This is a weekly book meme, hosted by

Jill @ Breaking the Spine,

which features future releases that
we book bloggers

are eagerly anticipating!


Here's my pick for this week!

Shadows In The Silence

(Angelfire #3)

Courtney Allison Moulton

Hardcover, 384 pages

Katherine Tegen Books

Expected Publication:

January 29, 2013 

Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy,

Young Adult

From the Goodreads Synopsis

The demonic have resorted to their cruelest weapons to put Will in mortal danger, and Ellie makes an unlikely alliance to save him and to stop Lilith and Sammael, who seek to drown the world in blood and tear a hole into Heaven.

SPOOKTACULAR GIVEAWAY HOP/REVIEW: Forsaken, by Jana Oliver

Welcome to this stop

on the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop,

hosted by the wonderful blogs

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer,

and

The Diary of a Bookworm!!

Three cheers and thanks to both

for hosting this fantabulous hop!!

 

 

The Rafflecopter for each giveaway will actually

start accepting entries on Oct. 23rd,

per request by Kathy @ I Am a Reader, Not a Writer,

and will close on Nov. 1st. 

More than 400 blogs are participating!!

For the complete rules,

just click on the hop button above.

There are great prizes involved,

so be sure to check out

as many of the giveaways as you can!!

I will be giving away

TWO PAPERBACK COPIES

of Forsaken, the first book in

The Demon Trappers series,

UK edition!

(This is a USA only giveaway.)

 

 

 Forsaken

(The Demon Trappers #1)

Jana Oliver

Trade Paperback, 423 pages

Macmillan Children's Books

February 7, 2011

YA Urban Fantasy

Here's my review!

This is the UK edition of The Demon Trapper's Daughter.  I bought this one because I loved the cover at first sight. 

This is a gritty, fast-paced story, and yet, it does contain some depth, since several of the characters do quite a bit of soul-searching along the way. 

At first, I thought I would finish the book quickly.  However, I got stalled by a completely unexpected event pretty early in the story -- one that came very close to home, and I could not continue.  Of course, I won't spoil things for other readers by divulging any details of said event.  I will merely say that it was one that had a strong emotional impact on me. 

Waiting On Wednesday #44: Finale, by Becca Fitzpatrick

This is a weekly book meme, hosted by

Jill @ Breaking the Spine,

which features future releases that
we book bloggers

are eagerly anticipating!




Here's my pick for this week!

Finale

(Hush, Hush #4)

Becca Fitzpatrick

Hardcover, 448 pages

Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Expected Publication:

October 23, 2012

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Goodreads Synopsis

Fates unfurl in the gripping conclusion to the "New York Times" bestselling Hush, Hush saga. Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen Angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean that they will always be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. And yet their biggest challenge lies ahead. Can their love survive a seemingly insurmountable divide? The lines are drawn, but it's unclear which sides have been taken. And in the end, will there be enough trust left to rebuild what has been broken?

I have the first three books of

this series, but have yet to read them...

I've heard it's excellent, of course,

so I really must get started

on it!

And, as soon as this one is released,

I'm getting it, bccause

I simply have to have the complete set!

Of course.

This is what bookwormism does

to otherwise sane human beings...

not that I'm complaining!

Plus, anything with angels in the plot,

fallen or not, will 

immediately get my attention!!

What fascinating books

are you all waiting on this week?

And what do you think

of my choice?

TGIF at GReads #3: Book Recommendations

It's TGIF time!!!!

Happy Friday,

Fellow Book Lovers!!!!!

This blop hop is hosted by Ginger,

 at the awesome

GReads!

Each Friday, a question is posted, and the week's

blog posts are re-capped.

To join in the fun,

just publish your own post,

and then link up to the hosting blog's hop page!

Here's this week's question:

Recommend It:

Which book from the last ten

you've read 

would you recommend to a friend?

Winter's Shadow

M.J. Hearle

You can read my review of this book

HERE.

This week at A Night's Dream of Books:

TGIF at GReads #2: Must Reads

Shelf Candy Saturday #2:

Daugher of Smoke and Bone

Book Review: Daily Guidance From Your Angels

On My Bookshelves #14

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Book Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Book Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor (first review for the 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge)

Here's my first review for this

wonderful challenge!!

For the rules and a list of hosting blogs,

just click on the challenge button in my sidebar.

There are great prizes involved,

so be sure to check out

the rules and consider joining in!

Title: Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Author: Laini Taylor
Format: Hardcover, 418 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Publication Date: September 27, 2011
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy




Since I love beautiful book covers, it wasn't surprising that I should have felt attracted to this one.  That blue mask, those enigmatic eyes...the bold lettering...but it was the story inside that held me, and didn't let go until the very surprising end...

I had already seen the book on other blogs, and noticed that the reviews were, for the most part, overwhelmingly positive.  Besides, those eyes were following me everywhere, almost as if they were daring me to plunge right in and find out for myself.  So I did....and discovered one of the strangest, most wonderful, fantastical worlds ever conjured by a writer's pen.  I did indeed see for myself what all those other reviewers were talking about, and fell under the book's spell in spite of some misgivings.

I really like Karou, the main character.  She lives in the fairytale city of Prague, and is an art student.  Her hair is naturally...blue, incredibly enough.  She's kind, quirky, funny, very honest and straightforward.  She speaks several languages with native fluency.  Last but most definitely not least, she can draw like an Old Master.  She's someone I would definitely love to be friends with!

I did begin to feel rather uncomfortable when I met the denizens of that other, strange world Karou also lives in, visiting it whenever she is summoned there.  That was how I first met her 'foster father', Brimstone, and was instantly reminded of the old so-called 'fire and brimstone' sermons.  I couldn't help thinking that the reference was demonic, especially when I discovered that this Brimstone character possessed a very formidable pair of ram's horns, and appeared to have a very weird collecting hobby.  At that point, I could feel myself start to pull away from the book.  The story struck me as much too macabre for my reading tastes. 

To make matters worse, one of the minor characters is a snake woman named Issa.  Snakes and brimstone.  Well...hell.  I was almost out of there!

For some reason, I decided to stick around.  I forced myself to go beyond my all-too-facile assumptions, and continued the journey.  Needless to say, I was very glad I did, because the story that finally emerged proved that Brimstone, Issa, and Brimstone's peculiar collection had nothing whatsoever to do with the devil's sinister abode.  Instead, they were all part of an alternate world known as 'Eretz', which exists on a plane different from our own. Interestingly, the word 'eretz' comes from Hebrew.  When I researched it on Google, I came up with "Eretz Israael", alternately spelled "Eretz Yisrael".  This means "The Holy Land of Israel". 

This strange world is inhabited by two races -- the seraphim and the chimaeras.  The seraphim are angels, while the chimaeras remind me of similar creatures in Greek mythology; in this novel, however, they are mixtures of human and animal.  There are those that have 'high-human aspects', which means that they mostly look like human beings, but might have animal legs, or some other animal feature.

The angels are not the typical Biblical angels.  They are born from a male and a female angel, like humans, and are not immortal.  They are also of flesh and blood, instead of being spirits, although, like traditional angels, they do have wings.  In this novel, they are more like a winged humanlike species that is very much part of a three-dimensional world. 

The seraphim and the chimaeras have been at war for centuries.  Each side abhors the other as evil; both seraphim and chimaeras do their best to eradicate the ones they consider their enemies.  And this is the background for a beautiful love story, reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet...

Akiva is another character I found very appealing.  I didn't like him at first, because he came off as a ruthless killer.  There was a very plausible reason for that, though -- he had been bred as a soldier, and it was difficult for him, considering the great losses in his past, to remember that he was a creature with emotions, as well.  Later on, after he had really gotten to know Karou, he allowed his more civilized side to emerge.  He even tried to make amends for his earlier behavior.  I thought this was very endearing.  Needless to say, I ended up liking him as much as I like Karou!

As far as the secondary characters go, Zuzana is definitely my favorite!  She's absurdly funny, but also very caring, as well as very creative.  She tries to make up for her small stature by coming off as bossy, but she's really not.  It's all an act, and a pretty good one, too, because she mixes it with humor.   As I read, I was really touched by the way she cared for Karou, her best friend.

As I stated earlier, I had very mixed reactions toward Brimstone and Issa, but I also came to care for them, as well.  They too, were touching in their love and concern for Karou, although I really didn't like the way Brimstone treated Karou at one point.  He had his reasons, I understand now, but I still didn't like it. 

This mesmerizing, highly complex tale is like a maze that draws the reader in -- perhaps reluctantly at first, as happened with me -- and transports said reader to a world of beauty and constant battle skirmishes, in which seraph despots breed soldiers through their harems, a world in which chimaeras of all species must unite against a common enemy, keeping the secrets of magic hidden from seraph eyes.  It is a world in which two moons alternately rule the night sky, and have been transformed into goddesses.

Taylor's prose style is nothing short of magical.  She has a very unique way of using similes and metaphors to evoke feelings and images of uncanny beauty.  Her sentences shine, prompting the reader (at least this one) to want to highlight them in order to come back to them later, for the purpose of savoring them like fine wine.  Quite a few of them are stored as author quotes on Goodreads.

In closing, I have to say that this novel is, quite simply, brilliantly written.  The characters are truly compelling, the world-building magnificent, the love story enthralling. 

From a Christian point of view, there are a couple of major theological sticking points, so I will have to give the book four stars.  If it weren't for these two things, I would not have hesitated to award it a five-star rating, because it is, indeed, the work of a master storyteller. 


MY RATING:


Where To Buy:  Amazon

Book Review: Daily Guidance From Your Angels: 365 Angelic Messages To Soothe, Heal, and Open Your Heart, by Doreen Virtue

Title: Daily Guidance From Your Angels: 365 Angelic Messages To Soothe, Heal, and Open Your Heart
Author: Doreen Virtue
Format: Trade Paperback, 400 pages
Publisher: Hay House
Publication Date: October 1, 2007
Genre: Non-Fiction, Metaphysical, New Age



The author of this book, Doreen Virtue, is well-known in metaphysical circles for her psychic skills.  According to her, this is a channeled work, which means that she did not actually write any of the material contained in the book, except for the introduction.  Instead, she received the messages from the angels, transcribing and then publishing them in book form.  Although I must confess to some skepticism in this regard, I can say that this is a very beautiful book, full of inspiring thoughts and practical advice.   It's also a very spiritual one, with entries that deal with such things as making time to commune with God, blessing everyone one meets, and letting go of one's past painful memories.   Reading positive, beautiful thoughts like these is sure to shift one's negative moods.  Despondency and anger gently transmute to peace and serene joy as one absorbs these messages.

This is not a book to be read in one or even two sittings.  Indeed, the book doesn't even have to be read sequentially, or even finished, because one never does finish it!  Instead, the reader can come back to refresh the spirit time and time again, dwelling especially on those messages that are most appropriate at the moment. 

The reader can, of course, take one message per day to read, mull over, and internalize.  Each message comes with a beautiful affirmation that sums up the theme of the message.  This affirmation can be memorized or copied on an index card to be carried around during the day, being pulled out from time to time in order to refresh the message in one's mind. 

The book can also be used as a divination tool, so to speak.  For instance, one can sit in silence for a few minutes, holding a specific question or issue in mind, and then open the book at random.  Whenever I have done this, I have found that the resulting message (or messages, if the ones on each facing page have similar themes) was just what I needed to be aware of at that precise point. 

I have several copies of this book -- one of them is the hardcover version of this edition, another is the paperback.  I also have the gift edition, shown below.  I even have the Spanish translation, which I'm currently dipping into for some much-needed peace of mind.  So that's four copies of this book!  I might buy more, too, because, since I literally live inside a library (well, an apartment, but there are so many books in it it might as well be a library...), I don't always have a book at hand just when I most want it! 

I do have the Spanish-language with me right now, so I can give readers some idea of the beautiful things contained in this book, translated back into English. 

Here are some of the message titles: "Find Light in the Darkness" (message #14), "Speak to Yourself with Loving Words" (message #19), "Be an Example of Peace" (message #21), "Give Your Worries to God" (message #31), "Polish the Jewels in your Innermost Thoughts" (message #33), "Change Negative Energy to Positive Energy" (message #35), "Express Your Feelings in Creative Ways" (message #78), "Be Aware of Your Thoughts" (message #79), and many other beautiful ones.

I have found this wonderful book especially useful whenever I have felt depressed because of a disagreement with someone, whether at home or at work.  All I have to do is open this book to a random page, or leaf through it until I find the perfect message, and start reading.  After reading through a given message once, I re-read it at least twice more, sounding the words out slowly in my mind.  Doing this invariably calms me.   I then go to the affirmation at the bottom of the page, which I frequently copy out in a small notebook. 

One of the really soothing things about this book is the great number of messages related to self-esteem.  There are so many of them, with titles like "Pamper Yourself" (message #5), "Be Patient with Yourself" (message 8), "Be Aware that You are a Blessing to the World" (message #12), "Give Your Imagination Free Rein" (message #58), and many others.

Although some of the messages contain typical New Age ideas that I as a Christian may not totally agree with, I have found quite a few that do resonate with Christian values.  So I adhere to those that do, and discard the rest.  Readers who belong to other faiths will still feel uplifted when reading these positive, peaceful thoughts, since the themes of self-esteem, love, peace, creative expression, and blessing one's fellow human beings are universal ones, after all.

I highly recommend this book as a wonderful spiritual tool to help one achieve and maintain a state of calm serenity in the face of all the stress and crazy-making going on in the world!



MY RATING: 


Where To Buy: eBay, Amazon, Barnes & Noble