Wonder Woman: Warbringer

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Daughter of immortals.

Princess Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mortal. Diana will soon learn that she has rescued no ordinary girl, and that with this single brave act, she may have doomed the world.

Daughter of death.

Alia Keralis just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted by people who think her very existence could spark a world war. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together.

Two girls will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. Tested beyond the bounds of their abilities, Diana and Alia must find a way to unleash hidden strengths and forge an unlikely alliance. Because if they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

My thoughts: I'm still a little on the fence when it comes to Wonder Woman. After all the hype about the movie, I was a little bit disappointed in it. That said, I thought that this book was well done. It is an excellent story of friendship, with all the usual super hero elements: romance, action, and snappy dialog. If you enjoyed the movie, then I highly recommend this one! Even if you are on the fence about the movie, as I was, it is still a fun book to pick up.
I received this book from Blogging for books in exchange for my honest review.

Take ten: books I want my kids to read

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1. The Chronicles of Narnia

Are you surprised this on is on here? lol. We've kind of started on this one with the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I will probably wait to read the others with them.

2. Harry Potter

Another one we will wait to read, but I look forward to reading these with my kids!

3. Lord of the Rings

Are you sensing a nerd theme?

4. Little House on the Prairie

I should start reading these aloud, since I loved them as a girl!

5. All of a Kind Family

Another of my childhood favorites that I can't wait to share with my children!

6. Molly

I loved all the American Girl books, but Molly was my favorite.

7. Little Women


8. Jo's Boys

This one might be one more to my son's liking.:)

9. Eight Cousins

It's been forever since I picked this one, but I loved it when I was a kid!

10. The Scarlet Pimpernel

Another one I should re-read before we read together (though, we have a while with this one!)

I went with books for older kids, since we read a lot of board and picture books. It will be some time before we tackle this list though.
What books should I add to the list?

Lady Jayne Disappears

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When Aurelie Harcourt's father dies in debtor's prison, he leaves her just two things: his wealthy family, whom she has never met, and his famous pen name, Nathaniel Droll. Her new family greets her with apathy and even resentment. Only the quiet houseguest, Silas Rotherham, welcomes her company.

When Aurelie decides to complete her father's unfinished serial novel, writing the family into the story as unflattering characters, she must keep her identity as Nathaniel Droll hidden while searching for the truth about her mother's disappearance--and perhaps even her father's death.

Author Joanna Davidson Politano's stunning debut set in Victorian England will delight readers with its highly original plot, lush setting, vibrant characters, and reluctant romance.

My thoughts: I was quite excited to receive this book in the mail! I enjoyed the writing style and getting to know the main character, seeing that good can come from selfish. It was a bit of an interesting combination, with the gothic flavor set in Victorian times. I did like the social aspect of the story, with Aurelie coming from debtors prison. I feel like the mystery takes backstage to Aurelie's story and how it parallels the story she is writing. I look forward to reading more by this author!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Pass it on

Let Scripture reform the next generation.

There are many different kinds of legacies we can leave, but sharing yourself and your faith with the next generation will always stand the test of time. Through showing himself and his wisdom in the book of Proverbs, God has also left his legacy with us and relies on us to share it with our children and grandchildren. But before we can share that wisdom, first we must grow in our own understanding and knowledge and record, reflect, and consider what we have learned.
Pass it On provides readers with an opportunity to create a legacy of wisdom and faith and to share it with their children and grandchildren. As readers are guided through the book of Proverbs, they are asked to create their own personalized, wisdom journal with the aim of giving it to someone they love. Through careful study, answering questions, writing out prayers, and sharing personal stories, readers can create a lasting keepsake for themselves and for their families and friends.
Created by Champ Thornton, best-selling author ofThe Radical Book for Kids, Pass It On is an innovative resource to strengthen families and help them grow in their love for God and each other. This is a perfect gift for an older and wiser friend or relative, so they can share themselves and what they have learned about God with the next generation.
The fresh and careful translation provided comes from Dr. Bruce Waltke, who, now in his eighties, has devoted his life to a humble and Christ-focused study of God s Word, and especially the book of Proverbs. His two-volume work on Proverbs is considered by many as the premier commentary in the English language. As you study the translation of individual chapters, add your own comments in the margins. And feel free to circle, underline, and connect key words or phrases as you see them in the chapter for the day.

My thoughts: I love journaling, so I found this journal style devotional on Proverbs to be a perfect fit for me. I love how it has the verses written out and then questions for the reader to go deeper into the verses that struck home and think on why they hit home. I also love the prayers and how you can personalize them, along with the chance to connect with the gospel.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

Habits of the Heart

Are you “out of shape” spiritually? Do you long for a life that is fully and deeply engaged with the Creator? Does your heart ache to be transformed by God? Real change happens only when we train ourselves to be in the habit of exercising our hearts in the practice of godliness. The Bible says that training the body is of some value, but the most important thing we can do is to train our spirit. Habits of the Heart will help you develop practices that draw you into a deeper and lasting relationship with God. Each day of the year, this simple guide will help you focus on one essential aspect of your walk with God and show you how to make it a habit.

Features: Unique cover material featuring wood texture stamped with a bronze foil Elegant interior design with full-color end papers and a ribbon marker 365 devotions offer a meaningful, yet practical, way to exercise your heart in the practice of godliness Each week immerses you in a specific practice: conversational prayer, unplugging from life’s daily grind, waiting on God, being watchful, and much more.

My thoughts: This is a fun little book of devotionals that will get the reader thinking about well known scripture passages. I love the reminders of where your treasure are, giving in secret, stewardship, paying forward, God's power, heaven, and more. These are perfect for the busy adult, as they have a scripture verse and then a short thought that is to the point. These exercises are refreshing and a great way to start the day.
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

The Usurper's Throne

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His last best hope for England may destroy them all.

Henry VII faces traitors on all sides.

In a darkened abbey in Hampshire, a dozen monks conspire against him.

In a French garrison, a governor favors his enemies.

And one of them holds a secret to devastate England.

Katharine of Aragon arrives in the midst of a storm, bought in a traitor's blood. The death of Edward Plantagenet turned the queen's cousin, the Duke of Suffolk, against Henry. He has since fled to the Netherlands to recruit an invading army. Henry hopes to keep his new daughter-in-law close, but Suffolk's allies stir corruption in Wales, forcing him to send his son into the north.

There, a brutal feud threatens all Prince Arthur holds dear.

As his ruthless enforcer, Sir Thomas Lovell, closes in upon his enemies, Henry's last hope lies in his children, and in a dynastic marriage to unite two kingdoms...

My thoughts: I have read a couple of Charity's other books, which were quite different from this one. While I love her speculative fiction, I also enjoyed this rich historical tale. She does a fantastic job of breathing life into historical characters while staying true to the history aspect. I hadn't read a whole lot on the Tudors, outside of my history classes, so I felt a little overwhelmed at times by all the characters, but there is a list of characters in the beginning to help those like me to keep everyone straight (especially how they are related!). This is a wonderful, rich story. I look forward to reading more in the series!
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Engaged in Trouble

When a washed-up pop star inherits a wedding planning business, it’s all bouquets and bliss until a bride turns up dead.

Paisley Sutton shot to stardom as a teenage rock sensation, but ten years later that star has fizzled out, just like her bank account. When she unexpectedly inherits her aunt’s wedding planning business, Paisley leaves the glamour of Los Angeles for a charming small town in Arkansas. Thinking she’ll arrive in Sugar Creek and liquidate the moldly property, Paisley’s shocked to find Enchanted Events has experienced a major makeover and is now the place for brides. She’s got two months to keep Enchanted Events afloat if she wants to sell and rekindle her music career with the profits.

Paisley’s tossed into a world of vows and venues, but her most difficult challenge comes in the form of one demanding bride. When this Bridezilla’s found facedown in her cake, all fingers point to Paisley as the prime murder suspect. And she does not look good in prison orange.

This former pop princess will need the help of her gun-toting, ex-CIA grandmother and her handsome neighbor, Beau Hudson, to unravel the mystery and clear her good name. As she and her unruly posse dig into Bridezilla’s life, she discovers the woman had a long list of enemies. The closer Paisley gets to the truth, the more her own life is in danger.

Love is in the air this wedding season, but before Paisley can help the ladies of Sugar Creek say, “I do,” she’s got to unveil a killer. Or find herself the next target.

Engaged in Trouble is the first book in the long-awaited Enchanted Events cozy mystery series by award-winning author Jenny B. Jones. If you like laugh-out-loud adventures, small-town romance, unforgettable, sassy characters, and a mystery to keep you guessing, then you’ll love this new page-turning series.

My thoughts: So, I recently re-discovered Jenny B. Jones books, since I broke down and put some on hold through inter library loan. This one was actually at my library, so I didn't have to wait near as long! I Love Jenny's sense of humor that is woven into each of her books. It was fun to get to know Paisley, as she struggled to make sense of what God had thrown her way, between her pop career being on hold and left with a wedding business. I can't wait for the next book to come out!
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