Book Review ~ Invitation

Product Description

From the minds of Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, and Alton Gansky, Invitation compiles the first four episodes of the Harbingers series, each following a different character.
BRENDA - The street-hustling tattoo artist who sees images of the future.
THE PROFESSOR - The atheist ex-priest ruled by logic.
ANDI - The professor's brilliant but geeky assistant who sees inexplicable patterns
TANK - The naïve, big-hearted jock with a surprising connection to a healing power.
The four find out that pockets of darkness are emerging throughout the world. Whether it involves a mysterious house, the unexplainable death of animals around the world, or an otherworldly little girl, each mystery they solve brings them closer to the ultimate explanation of what's happening. What will happen if they don't solve the mysteries in time?

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This is a book that contains four books. One by each author, Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, and Alton Gansky.  I have read a book by Myers and I love Peretti so I was looking forward to trying this thrilling book out.

Crazy things start happening in the first book, The Call by Bill Myers and it doesn't stop there.  It is the first time these four unlikely people end up together.  From this "school" that's for gifted youngsters that has a well that goes down into the earth and sounds like ends in hell.  To a house that moves and disappears, and brings them together with a little boy named, Daniel.  And then to Florida with eyeless fish washing up on shore and eyeless birds falling.  And finally to Oregon where they get involved with a little girl that can float and ages younger. 

So many twists and turns through this supernatural thriller with lots of stuff based in the spiritual realm.  For instance, Daniel has a friend only he can see who's name is not Harvey.  There is also an IT that sounds super creepy.  And there are these freaky creatures that they all see for a moment that sound like demons (even Tank said so).  There is a bit more, but I'll leave it there.

I think all of the characters are interesting, unique and completely different in their own ways.  My personal favorite is Tank.  Because he is the only one of the bunch (besides maybe Daniel, I don't know) that believes in God.  He has healing power through Him and it's awesome. 

I really enjoyed these books.  They did leave me hanging and I know that was on purpose.  I'm looking forward to reading the next book(s).  If you like supernatural thrillers with witty, interesting characters, then this is the book for you.  I personally, really liked it.

5 out of 5 stars

*I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

~Sunshine Blogger Award~

Hello everybody!! Long time no see?  Today I am going to be answering some questions to a really fun tag!  I've been tagged by Ms. Mary at Sunshine and Scribblings for the Sunshine Blogger Award.  Thank you so much, Mary!!!  Let's get to it!

The rules are pretty simple: answer 11 questions from your nominator, then tag 11 other bloggers, and ask them 11 new questions.

1. Do you like to read an entire series at once or spread out the books over time?
It kind of depends if the series isn't all out yet.  I prefer to read it all at once, but if one book comes out and the next doesn't till the following year, I guess I just have to wait.  Which is infuriating if I'm in a good book and I want to know what happens!!  (Unblemished, I'm looking at you)

2. Would you rather be stuck in the past or the future?
Hmmm...what kind of past?  If it is during a period in History I like, then probably the past.  The future is so unpredictable.  So yeah, I'll go with the past.

3. Have you ever had dream re-runs? (In other words, the same dream twice. XD)
Not that I remember.  Honestly, I don't dream that much and if I do, I normally don't remember. XD

4. What is your favorite vacation you've ever taken?
Oooo.  There are so many good ones!  Okay, I'll give you my top three. Although, I do love all the vacations we have taken.  These aren't in any order, by the way.
 1. When we spent a whole week in Southern California.  Doing Disneyland, Lego land, Knott's Berry Farm, Hollywood Walk of Fame, and touring the Queen Mary.  It was SO much fun!
2. A couple years ago, we took a road trip through 8 states and even went into Canada.  We were gone only eight days.  It was a BLAST!!
3.  The cruise to Mexico!!!  So much fun!!!

5. Do you like to chew gum? If so, what is your favorite flavor?
I do!  And my favorite flavor is Spearmint.

6. If you found the entrance to Narnia, would you tell anybody?
Who would you take with you if you did?
First off, that would be SO COOL!!!!  I'd be freaking out.  As for telling people, yes.  I'd probably want to take my siblings and parents.  It would be awesome!

7. Waffles, pancakes, or neither?
WAFFLESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!  I LOVE waffles!!!  Especially with strawberries and whipped cream.  *drools*  As for pancakes...they aren't my favorite, but it they have strawberries and whipped cream, I'll eat em!!! (Do you think I like strawberries and whipped cream?  Yeah, I don't think so either;))

Ooo, raspberries look good, too!!

8. Do you use the Shift key or the Caps Lock key every time you capitalize something? (Odd question, but it's something I always wonder, haha.)
Mostly, I use the Shift key.  Sometimes the Caps Lock, but mostly the Shift. ;D

9. What is one smell that never fails to make you happy?
Lot's!  The smell of rain is heavenly.  Cookies baking in the oven.  Even turkey bacon cooking in the oven smells good(and that makes me happy cause it means food!:))!  Chocolate, fresh coffee, clean clothes/sheets(aren't clean sheets the best?), roses, apple/cinnamon in the air during fall, candles, and I could go on and on.  But there you go. ;D

10. Have you ever been roller-skating?
Yup!  But it has been a long time.  I have never been "great" at it.  I couldn't go backwards or anything fancy.  Normally, I try to stay close to the wall.  Falling is never fun.  One time, I was roller skating at home on the front driveway and I fell on my bottom, but I had stuck my arm out under me and sprained my wrist.  Ah, the joys of sports(is roller-skating considered a sport?).  ;)

11. You've gone into hiding and have to conceal your identity. What new alias would you adopt?
Ooo, good question!!  Probably either Jessica Bourne (Jason Bourne) or Samantha Baggins (Sam and Baggins, anyone?). :D

Thank you again, Mary!!!  And now for the tagging....um, it looks like most of the people I would tag, already got tagged. But that's ok, I will tag two more lovely ladies to join the party! But if you haven't been tagged and would like to do it, please do!

Amaris @ The Storybook Journal & Madison @ Every Day Simplified (of course you ladies don't have to do it if you want to. ;))  And here are Mary's fun questions!

1. Do you like to read an entire series at once or spread out the books over time?

2. Would you rather be stuck in the past or the future?

3. Have you ever had dream re-runs? (In other words, the same dream twice. XD)

4. What is your favorite vacation you've ever taken?

5. Do you like to chew gum? If so, what is your favorite flavor?

6. If you found the entrance to Narnia, would you tell anybody? Who would you take with you if you did?

7. Waffles, pancakes, or neither?

8. Do you use the Shift key or the Caps Lock key every time you capitalize something? (Odd question, but it's something I always wonder, haha.)

9. What is one smell that never fails to make you happy?

10. Have you ever been roller-skating?

11. You've gone into hiding and have to conceal your identity. What new alias would you adopt?

Thanks for reading! ~ Morgan

Book Review ~ Some Small Magic

Publisher's Description

From acclaimed author Billy Coffey comes Some Small Magic, "a story of determination and love . . . that deserves to be read" (RT Book Reviews).

All Abel wants is a little bit of magic in his life. Enough money so his mom doesn’t cry at night. Healing for his broken body. And maybe a few answers about his past.
When Abel discovers letters to him from the father he believed dead, he wonders if magic has come to the hills of Mattingly, Virginia, after all. But not everything is as it seems.
With a lot of questions and a little bit of hope, Abel decides to run away to find the truth. But danger follows him from the moment he jumps his first boxcar, forcing Abel to rely on his simpleminded friend Willie—a man wanted for murder who knows more about truth than most—and a beautiful young woman they met on the train.
From Appalachia to the Tennessee wilds and through the Carolina mountains, the name of a single small town beckons: Fairhope. That is where Abel believes his magic lays. But will it be the sort that will bring a broken boy healing? And is it the magic that will one day lead him home
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*be prepared for spoilers*

This book in a word would be...sad. For most of the book it felt like it was dragging on.  I didn't like the beatings and being bullied that Abel got.  He has brittle bones and is small.  He has one leg that is shorter then the other and kind of hobbles to walk.  The bully boy, Chris is mean to him and says "I'm goin to kill you."  And one night he tries, but Abel's only friend, Dumb Willie, kills Chris first.  Yikes.  Dumb Willie is called "dumb" because he is more childlike in a grown mans body.  He is slow in words, but loves Abel. 

The "beautiful woman" they meet on the train is actually...Death.  But Abel and Dumb Willie don't know that (Dumb Willie knows way before Abel) and Abel calls her Dorothy.  It is a long story and I'm not going into all the details, but lets just say it is a sad and rather odd book.  I don't really get the point in it. Since this book is getting the lowest rating I have ever given, I'm going to point out some of the things I didn't like.  I mentioned some the things above.

There is this preacher who gives Abel a "word".  But when he does the description of what happens sounded demonic to me.  I didn't like that.  The word bastard is used quite a bit.  And another word I loathe, retarded.  It wasn't necessary and I don't like it. 

When Abel first meets Dorothy (Death) he kind of looks her over.  Apparently, her shirt was a little unbuttoned and his eyes travel to two humps (boobs)as he tries to hold his Blatter.  Um...what in the world?!  Then, later on she is wearing a cross body bag with the strap between her...you know what, and Abel wishes he was that strap.  Guys, he's eleven, seriously? Was that necessary?  When Dumb Willie gets into a pond he is completely naked.  Dorothy (Death) jumps in with all her clothes on, to Abel's disappointment.  Then the last one, which isn't as bad as the first three, is when the wind is playing with her hair and Abel wishes he could do that.  Eventually, he tells her he loves her.

There is this weird "magical" pond that they eventually get to that is protect by a Cherokee Indian.  If you go in it you get healed then the water turns to mud.  This pond is in a dump.  It was just odd.

Okay, I'll leave it at that.  The only good thing about this book, besides finishing it, was when Abel gets to see his dad at the end.  That's it. 

Overall, I don't recommend this book.  I found it slow, odd, and sad.  I'm just glad I finished it.

1 out of 5 stars

*I received this book from Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review