So Shines the Night by Tracey L. Higley is another "Seven Wonders of the World" novel. This novel center on the Temple of Artemis about 40 years after the Resurrection of Christ. It follows Daria, a woman scholar who stumbles on dark secrets and has to flee to Ephesus with sea-trader Lucas. In Ephesus she serves as Lucas' tutor, but even there the darkness she left behind follows; Lucas re-enters the world of shadows, secrets, and revenge he fled from. So Shines the Night focuses a lot on demons and witch-craft, it gives the thriller aspect of the book spooky edge. There is also the history/biblical side to this book. It is set in the time of the Ephesian church, and we meet Biblical characters such as Paul, Timothy, and Priscilla. The book is well researched and ties together really well in the end.
Broken Wings by Shannon Dittemore is the second book of the Angel Eyes Trilogy. It is seven months after the end of the last book for Brielle and Jake, and much is uncertain. Brielle's gift- her "angel eyes"- seems to be evolving in ways she doesn't understand, and the halo Jake gave her is no longer containing her nightmares. Both Jake and Brielle's father have been keeping secrets form her, secrets that change everything for her.
It is apparent that this is the second book of a trilogy.The characters aren't as capturing, the plot not as involved- it's more of a build up to the third novel. The first book was obviously an introduction-to the characters, to how angels and demons work and rank- and the second book is a gathering of all the puzzle pieces. Anything that is "revealed" in this book was either apparent at the beginning of the book, or is left a half-mystery until the next book.
I still really liked this book. It's interesting, and I can't help but like the characters, setting, and quirky little details- like the old men outside the Donut Factory and Kaylee spilling so much blue nail polish on herself she looks like an avatar. The differing tenses with different characters and chapters is still confusing at times.
Honestly I would recommend this book to anyone and look forward to the next one!
"Secretly Smitten" is a sequel to "Smitten" by Colleen Coble, Kristen Billerbeck, Denise Hunter, and Dianne Hunt. Secretly Smitten is the story of three sister- Tess, Clare and Zoe- and their mother Anna falling in love and getting over their many insecurities. Also, the mystery of the dog tags found in the attic- dog tags of their grandmother's presumed dead first love. How did the dog tags get there, and is her grandmother's first love still alive? And if he didn't survive the war, how did the dog tags get there?
Secretly Smitten was very quick-paced. The love stories were rushed, the "mystery" was subtle and barely there. I felt like I never really knew the characters, other than their various insecurities. I'm not saying there is a problem with having insecurities, and like a good emotional problem in a book. But they were too main stream, and just blurted out in one chapter and solved within the next one. It was kind of annoying.
I'm not saying the whole book is bad, there are still some really sweet love stories. But the first book, " Smitten" is definitely the better of the two.
So about a year ago I made a post about a few of to movies I wanted to see (Hunger Games and Snow White and the Huntsman from what I can remember).
The Hunger Games was ok. It was really true to the book. Josh Hutcherson was short, but has a surprisingly hot jaw line. Ect. ect. Nothing too interesting or thought provoking happened in the movie.
Snow White and the Huntsman was just horrible. I'm not even going to blame Kristen Stewart. Even an actress with real facial expressions couldn't have made that butchered blunder of a script make any sense. Most of the time they had her going around silent, yelling "insightful" things about a white light at soldiers, and doing something that was meant to reflect some sort of flirting, but was more like a spasm of giggles and "yeah". And that was all the writer's fault. The moronic script did, however, keep me from noticing too many of Kristen Stewart's "acting" blunders.
Needless to say, I was a little disappointed in these movies. So I'm a little hesitant to go all gung-ho on a new batch of movies....... But I have to. So here is a new set of movie trailers that I'm FLIPPING OUT about.
The Immortal Instruments; City of Bones
I read these books a few years ago, and just recently started reading the original series, as well as the 2 new "companion" series, this year. Honestly, I know it won't be all I want it to be. Cassandra Clare is an amazing writer. Her characters are complex, her story-line a mystery even as it sums itself up, her humor subtle yet in-your-face at the same time. I don't know if a movie will really be able to capture everything that Cassandra Clare put into her writing. As they say, the book is always better.
And then there is the casting. Ahhh, everyone groans. Six years after Twilight casting and people( fans and Twilight-haters alike) can still erupt into venomous arguments about who Jacob SHOULD have been played by, why Edward should have been acted out by someone who didn't sound like he was being strangled, and how Bella should have had facial expressions(after all, this is a vampire movie. Not a Zombie movie. But we'll get to zombies later).
Cast as Jace Wayland/ Morgenstern/Lightwood (no wonder he is the boy with issues, am I right?) is the Golden-Eyed Jamie Campbell Bower, who has appeared absolutely luscious in movies like "Anonymous" and "Camelot", yet looks a bit bone-y in the trailer. I myself am fine with him as Jace; he's hot yet weird-looking. Cassandra Clare didn't write him as some prissy Hollister model, which is why I'm glad they didn't cast Alex Pettyfur. He's turning out to be a bit of a snob for me. As for Clarey, to be played by the infamously big-eye-browed Lilly Collins..... Well, I'm not really going to complain. Lilly will do fine with the role, I'm sure. I just didn't see Clarey and such a strong looking person... And she is meant to have flaming red hair. Lilly at her best has a dark auburn.
But the commercial looks pretty cool!! Can't wait for it to come out this summer.
Warm Bodies
Now this looks like it's going to be one strange movie. Usually when "zombie movies" come up, it's all about shooting them. Not thinking they are hot. It's definitely going to be one of those movies I either love to death because of how weird it is, or hate....because of how weird it is. For being about the zombie falling in love, the trailer is full of dry humor, I really think it could be hilarious in a completely "in your head laugh" sort of way. Plus, for being a dead guy who can't remember him name and rubs blood on other people, R is really likable in just these two minutes. So, will these movies disappoint me? Unfortunately I have to wait months and months to find out. But here's hoping!!
This book is a companion to Krista McGee's two other books(both of which have been on Booksneeze) "First Date" and "Starring Me".
It starts out in Spain, where Natalia Lopez's father is leaving yet another wife. This forces the plot into motion. When Natalia's father leave Maureen, Natalia's favorite step-mother who in fact led her to Christ, Natalia decides to swear off men and follow Maureen back to the states. In this sense it loosely portrays the story of Ruth. The storyline isn't very gripping, it's fun and light; very easy to read because of the humor and likable characters-who are cross overs from "First Date" and "Starring Me". The message is about finding yourself, finding your calling, and trusting God with your future. So while there wasn't any suspense, I still found it interesting- especially with the comparison of different cultures(parts of the book take place in Spain and Costa Rica), as well as Brain, the "romance interest" in the book, who was pretty much the most adorable male character I've ever read without seeming like he was 12 years old. I'd definitely recommend this book for everyone. The themes were not only for teenagers; in the background Maureen's depression and anger over her divorce from Natalia's father played a large emotional role, and was a part of another great message in the book- reach out to those you love, and let your church family help you when broken.
Lovelier than Daylight by Rosalyn Elliot is the third book in "The Saddler's Legacy". The whole series is cool, because it is based on actual history.
The book is about Susanna, a niece to Anne, the original character in the first saddler's legacy novel. Susanna's sister, Rachel, has gone missing and all of her children put into orphanages. Susanna blames Rachel's alcoholic husband. Susanna searches for answers and a way to save her nieces and nephews with the help of Johann Giere, the son of a German beer-maker. Susanna despises any type of alcohol, and at first they clash due to their differing opinions. After time, Susanna sees Johann's kindness, and learns to give up her judgmental prejudices.
This book was OK, though I"ll admit I liked the first two better. Susanna was a bit judgmental, and mixed her sappy softness, I found it annoying. And I didn't really know Johann's character that well. But it was still an interesting read, and there are very few books that go into temperance issues.
Once again Colleen Coble has made another great thriller-meets-romance novel. The story is about Libby, who inherits a beautiful old Inn from her long-lost and thought-dead father. As if trying to bond with her not-so-friendly half brother and sister, and trying to figure out if she has feelings for Alec, a coast guard who lives in Hope Island, has feelings for her, there is also the fact that she saw her business partner kidnapped right before her eyes.
So as Libby struggles with threats, secrets and trying to figure out whether she should sell the Inn or not, she is also under suspicion for the kidnapping of her friend.
Now, the book was really gripping. Colleen Coble always delivers a novel to keep you interested. Yet there were some things that just didn't click. Such as the detective's constant suspicion of Libby- it seemed to kind of lag along in the book. It also seemed that some of the "family secrets" were vague, and not explained well enough.
But altogether, the book is a great read and worth reading.
So Shines the Night by Tracey L. Higley is another "Seven Wonders of the World" novel. This novel center on the Temple of Artemis about 40 years after the Resurrection of Christ. It follows Daria, a woman scholar who stumbles on dark secrets and has to flee to Ephesus with sea-trader Lucas. In Ephesus she serves as Lucas' tutor, but even there the darkness she left behind follows; Lucas re-enters the world of shadows, secrets, and revenge he fled from. 
