Posted December 24, 2015 in Reading, Review / 0 Comments
Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives by
Pope Benedict XVI Series: Jesus of Nazareth Publisher: Image (2012)
Hardcover (127 pages)
Rating: Reading Challenges: 2015 Alphabet Soup,
2015 What's In A Name?,
Read 2015 Synopsis
New York Times Bestseller! The momentous third and final volume in the Pope’s international bestselling Jesus of Nazareth series, detailing how the stories of Jesus’ infancy and childhood are as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago.
In 2007, Joseph Ratzinger published his first book as Pope Benedict XVI in order “to make known the figure and message of Jesus.” Now, the Pope focuses exclusively on the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life as a child. The root of these stories is the experience of hope found in the birth of Jesus and the affirmations of surrender and service embodied in his parents, Joseph and Mary. This is a story of longing and seeking, as demonstrated by the Magi searching for the redemption offered by the birth of a new king. It is a story of sacrifice and trusting completely in the wisdom of God as seen in the faith of Simeon, the just and devout man of Jerusalem, when he is in the presence of the Christ child. Ultimately, Jesus’ life and message is a story for today, one that speaks to the restlessness of the human heart searching for the sole truth which alone leads to profound joy.
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Tagged as 5 star, Advent, Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge, Catholic, Catholic Book, Christmas, Jesus, Mary, Pope Benedict XVI, Read 2015, Saints, What's In a Name Reading Challenge, You Read How Many Books Challenge
Posted December 21, 2015 in Reading, Review / 0 Comments
Winter by
Marissa Meyer Series: The Lunar Chronicles #4 Publisher: Feiwel and Friends (2015)
Hardcover (824 pages)
Rating: Also by this author: Cinder,
Scarlet,
Cress Also in this series: Cinder,
Scarlet,
Cress Reading Challenges: 2015 Fairytale Retelling,
2015 Finishing the Series,
Read 2015 Synopsis
Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.
Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.
Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?
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Tagged as 5 star, All Time Favorites, Fairy Tales, Finishing the Series Challenge, Read 2015, You Read How Many Books Challenge
Posted December 16, 2015 in Reading, Review / 0 Comments
Emerald Green by
Kerstin Gier Series: Ruby Red #3 Publisher: Henry Holt and Company (2013)
Hardcover (451 pages)
Via: Library Rating: Also by this author: Dream A Little Dream,
Sapphire Blue Also in this series: Ruby Red,
Sapphire Blue Reading Challenges: 2015 Finishing the Series,
Read 2015 Synopsis
Gwen has a destiny to fulfill, but no one will tell her what it is. She’s only recently learned that she is the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve, and since then nothing has been going right. She suspects the founder of the Circle, Count Saint-German, is up to something nefarious, but nobody will believe her. And she’s just learned that her charming time-traveling partner, Gideon, has probably been using her all along. Emerald Green is the stunning conclusion to Kerstin Gier’s Ruby Red Trilogy, picking up where Sapphire Blue left off, reaching new heights of intrigue and romance as Gwen finally uncovers the secrets of the time-traveling society and learns her fate.
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Tagged as 5 star, Finishing the Series Challenge, Library, Read 2015, You Read How Many Books Challenge
Posted December 14, 2015 in Reading, Review / 8 Comments
The Heart of Betrayal by
Mary E Pearson Series: The Remnant Chronicles #2 Publisher: Henry Holt and Company (2015)
Hardcover (470 pages)
Via: Library Rating: Also by this author: The Kiss of Deception Also in this series: The Kiss of Deception Reading Challenges: Read 2015 Synopsis
Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save Lia’s life, her erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar’s interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.
Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: There’s Rafe, who lied to Lia but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be savages. Now that she lives among them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country… and her own destiny.
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Tagged as 5 star, All Time Favorites, Library, Read 2015, You Read How Many Books Challenge
Posted December 9, 2015 in Reading, Review / 2 Comments
Sapphire Blue by
Kerstin Gier Series: Ruby Red #2 Publisher: Henry Holt and Company (2012)
Hardcover (354 pages)
Via: Library Rating: Also by this author: Dream A Little Dream,
Emerald Green Also in this series: Ruby Red,
Emerald Green Reading Challenges: Read 2015 Synopsis
Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.
At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.
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Tagged as 4 star, Library, Read 2015, You Read How Many Books Challenge
