Friday, January 24, 2014

Fancy Friday- Forever and Always

Forever and Always by Parachute

So, I haven't done a Fancy Friday in awhile so I thought I would do this one. It's not very exciting but I wanted to show some songs to guys that have touched my heart deeply. The first one which this post is about is Forever and Always by Parachute. It's not a new song, but one of my friends told me about it and also told me I would cry. I'm not going to lie- I did! This song was very hard to listen to, because it made me think, "Could this happen to me?" The situation in the song is so sweet, but something that I would NEVER wish on anyone. I had my mom listen to it with me another and literally bald! I don't know if we are just sensitive people or what, but I just thought I would share it with you guys too. It might not make you feel the best, but it is worth listening to. Thank God for all you have and the time you have with it when listening to this!

 
This leads me to the second song, which has been a favorite of mine since the first time I heard it, which was a LONG time ago. The songs name is Everything by Lifehouse. I wanted to share this song because it also has impacted me in a big way. I get chills everytime I listen to it! The lead singers voice is so beautiful, but more so the words he is singing.
 
A man named Colton Dixon was on American Idol last season, and I like him from the beginning because he was a strong Christian. He wasn't even there originally to try out that year. He was there to support his younger sister. He had auditioned the year before that but hadn't made it past Hollywood. The judges remembered him and begged him to audition again, which he did. Sadly, his sister did not make it past Hollywood that season, but he did! On one of the episodes in the top 24 he sang this song. And I literally felt like crying! He said it was one of his favorite songs. He sang it beautifully! I couldn't believe he stood up for his faith like that on National telivision and was risking being voted off the show for it! Thank God Colton Dixon was on American Idol that year. Here is a video of the original song:
 

Everything by Lifehouse

 

And here is a video of Colton Dixon singing it:

 
In the end, Colton did not end up winning this season. A very talented Phillip Phillips won and he has gone on to be a fantastic artist as well. Colton has become a upcoming threat in the Christian music industry. Furthermore, he is playing at the WINTER JAM concerts going across America this year! I really hope I get in to the one around me coming soon! I am so excited to see him perform!
 
COMMENT!
Have you heard these songs or of any of these artists? Anything else you would like to add?

Monday, January 20, 2014

Remnants by Lisa Bergren

Season of Wonder (The Remnants #1)

Description:

 In the first book of the new futuristic dystopian series from author Lisa T. Bergren, the chosen remnants must work to redirect humanity’s course.

The year is 2095. Gifted teens known as Remnants have been chosen and trained to act as humanity’s last hope to rectify the horrors that are now part of everyday life.

The Community has trained these teens as warriors and assigned them Knights of the Last Order as protectors. Together, they are a force that will be difficult to bring down.

But the Sons of Sheol, of course, are determined to do just that. As the Remnants begin their mission to course-correct humanity by saving and protecting key individuals, their enemies move to stop them, placing the entire world in peril.

Bestselling author Lisa T. Bergren presents the first book in her new YA futuristic dystopian series—The Remnants Novels—fitting in with the current dystopian trend in the marketplace.


My Opinion:

Wonderful start to a new and unique series by Lisa Bergren! I had not read a description of this book until today actually, so I had no idea what I was expecting when I first opened the cover to these pages. Looking at the cover I was actually expecting space ships and high tech futuristic objects, but that was not what I got and I am actually thankful for that. Lisa's spin on the post-apocalypse is something I have never thought of and it took me on a mind-whirling adventure. 

The settings of the book continued to change throughout Remnants, the characters never stayed to long in one place which kept the story moving well. Sometimes the over-all conflict of the book would run flat with how much it was talked about instead of action being taken towards their goal, but it didn't effect my opinion of the book a whole bunch. 

I liked that Lisa had some romance in it, and fit it perfectly as a sub-plot for the story. I also liked that she kept the romance mostly just an attraction between two of the Ailith for the first book, I can't wait to see how she builds on it in the second. 

Rating: 4 Stars

I have a pinterest board that I have started for this series and I will make it public when the first Remnants book is out to the public. I hope you will stop by my pinterest page to check it out. You can go to the right side of my blog and find the pinterest button to get there. Also, check out my other boards for book series I have started. Thank you!

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Love at Any Cost by Julie Lessman

Love at Any Cost (The Heart of San Francisco, #1)

Description:

 Jilted by a fortune hunter, cowgirl Cassidy McClare is a spunky Texas oil heiress without a fortune who would just as soon hogtie a man as look at him. Hoping a summer visit with her wealthy cousins in San Francisco will help her forget her heartache, Cassidy travels west. But no sooner is she settled in beautiful California than Jamie McKenna, a handsome pauper looking to marry well, captures her heart. When Jamie discovers the woman he loves is poorer than he is, Cassidy finds herself bucked by love a second time. Will Jamie discover that money can't buy love after all? And can Cassidy ever learn to fully trust her heart to a man?
With delectable descriptions and a romantic sensibility, bestselling author Julie Lessman brings the Gilded Age to life in this sumptuous new series. Readers will faithfully follow Lessman to the West Coast for more romance, passion, and surprising revelations found in "Love at Any Cost."


My Opinion: 

I was a little hesitant to start this series because I didn't think that it could stand up to my expectations from Julie's past series that I loved so much. Their was so much depth in the characters, especially after reading book after book about the same people. It got to where I felt connected to them, like I actually KNEW them. That's what Julie is great at-- developing characters until they actually feel like your family. 

Cassie and Jamie were such interesting characters to read about, and Julie threw in so many spins and turns that I had no idea what was going to happen in the end, and BOY was a surprised! She is so good at infuriating me over the decisions her characters make, but some how she sneaks her way back in as one of my favorite authors by the end. I never find a flaw in her writing, no matter how tangled up things end up being. And yes, Their is a lot of heartbreak, to the point where sometimes I thought I couldn't finish, but trust me, it's worth it in the end!

I love how she writes passionate books, but still has plenty soul searching for me and the characters. I learn so much, about how to: forgive, forget, repent, cherish... so on and so forth. Best of all, I love how her books focus on God and the family at the top of her important list. That's where they SHOULD be!

On top of this, I unexpectedly found Dare to Love Again, the second book, in my mail today!!! I found out that the second book is about the same family, so there will be more character development! Cassie and Jamie are not gone from my heart, they are here to stay!

Rating: 5 Stars

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent (Divergent, #2)

Description:

Fighting for survival in a shattered world… the truth is her only hope.

I have done bad things. I can’t take them back, and they are part of who I am.

Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future.

Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever… because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead.


My Opinion:

Veronica Roth definitely has a unique story when it comes to this series and I cannot wait to read the last book. These two books: Divergent and Insurgent have undoubtedly left their mark on me. However, which one had the bigger impact? Divergent.

I liked this sequel to Divergent, but I felt like a lot of things were repeated over and over. Fear was a big problem in Tris's society, and she couldn't let it get the best of her, so I see why the issue was emphasized multiple times, but it got to the point where I was rolling my eyes thinking, "Not again..."
I would go into more depth, but I fear giving away to much.

On top of that, the romance in this story has actually lost quite a bit of it's "Sizzle." I liked the attraction between Tris and Tobias in Divergent, but in Insurgent a lot of the romance seemed forced. It seemed like Veronica was trying to fit in as much as she could to the point where it became pointless and nauseating.

On another note, I still LOVE the whole concept of this series and the conflict is full of excitement. I still cannot wait to read to go over the fence in Allegiant!

Rating: 3 1/2-4 Stars (Undecided)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!