October Wrap-Up and Book Haul

WRAP-UP:
It's the end of October?!!! I'm still happy it's Fall though. Such a beautiful time of the year. This month I was super thankful for the cool weather, and still am. I've missed the brisk mornings and foggy sunrises.

I was able to visit one of my friends, and it was such a good time to just hang out with her. Had a lot of fun.

This month I was able to go to a women's conference my mom started, and had a wonderful time serving and worshiping with women I've grown up knowing. They are such amazing women. God encouraged me through it, and I was so happy to see God move throughout that weekend.

I went and saw the movie PRICELESS. It was amazing, and I thought they did an excellent job filming it. (So thankful that there are more and more well made Christian films coming out.)

I went to a Voice of the Martyrs conference, and got to meet and listen to some amazing  Gracia Burnham, Sara Liu, Brother John, Jason P. They shared some amazing testimonies about themselves and other persecuted Christians. (I even got to almost meet a fellow NaNoer. We "meet" on the phone since she couldn't make it, but it was still cool)





BOOK HAUL:

I got some great books this month, and am excited to begin some of them. Have you read any of these? If so, what did you think?

READING:
I was finally released from my awful no reading sentence and began devouring a book as soon as October 22nd rolled around. I got some great books this month, and am excited to start some of them. I read two of the books from the Selection series by Kiera Cass, Counted With the Stars by Connilyn Cossette, Neverseen by Shannon Messenger, and
The two I read and reviewed this month were:

Unblemished by Sara Ella: SO good! I really enjoyed it, and am excited to read the sequel when it comes out next year.

Guilt Hollow by Lorie L: Another great book. Full of mystery and some awesome characters.


WRITING/NANOWRIMO:

I am super excited to start writing again, and NaNo is the perfect excuse. This year is a bit of plotting, and a lot of plantsing (not having a plan). I have a general idea on what I want to write, and can't wait! It feels like forever since my hands have been able to create another story, and I am happy to soon be creating another world. Basically I'll be doing a story inspired by a fairytale, and adding my own twist to it. I know a lot of you guys did a post on your story, but as I'm still figuring it all out, I'll just share a small glimpse into the world I'll be journeying through this November...



POSTS I ENJOYED FROM FELLOW BLOGGERS:
Katie Grace: Exploring my NaNoWriMo Novel
Jonathan: 15 Writerly Excuses
Rachael: Beautiful Books
Raechel: Q&A Tag
Savannah: 10 til Midnight
Mary: The Eye of the Storm
Rebekah: 21 Answers to the Question "Why Aren't You in School?"
Abigayle: National Novel Writing Month


Are you doing NaNo? If you haven't already, friend me! (username: smb) What are you writing right now? Are you excited for November?

Unblemished

Summary: Eliyana has always recoiled from her own reflection in the mirror. But what if that were only one Reflection—one world? What if another world existed where her blemish could become her strength?

Eliyana is used to the shadows. With a hideous birthmark covering half her face, she just hopes to graduate high school unscathed. That is, until Joshua hops a fence and changes her perspective. No one, aside from her mother, has ever treated her as normal. Maybe even beautiful. Because of Joshua, Eliyana finally begins to believe she could be loved.

But one night her mother doesn’t come home, and that’s when everything gets weird.

Now Joshua is her new, and rather reluctant, legal Guardian. Add a hooded stalker and a Central Park battle to the mix and you’ve gone from weird to otherworldly.

Eliyana soon finds herself in a world much larger and more complicated than she’s ever known. A world enslaved by a powerful and vile man. And Eliyana holds the answer to defeating him. How can an ordinary girl, a blemished girl, become a savior when she can’t even save herself?

~~~~

I found out about this book from Nadine Brandes, and I am really glad. Sara Ella has done a stupendous job writing this book. and I really enjoyed it. The story was exciting, and I love how Sara Ella mixed our normal, modern world with a totally new world. The story was well paced, and there were a lot of new and creative things throughout the story. The characters were awesome, and I liked how relatable they were.

Eliyana was awesome. She is a girl from our world who is suddenly thrust into a realm full of mythical beasts and an ongoing battle. Because of her birthmark on her face, she has never believed that she is beautiful, and her journey shows her what true beauty is, and that looks don't define you.

Joshua was very sweet. He is one of El's only friends, and does whatever it takes to protect her. His parent's died when he was young, and was raised as a guardian in another realm.

Ky is one of my favorite's. (I think I just like any character that is bad, but kind've good, and ends up one or the other, but you really hope they'll be good.) He lost his sister to the enemy and, after the death of his father, had been doing anything to survive the void that is trying to overtake him.

Different realms, mystical creatures, people with gifts, and an amazing adventure.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

I recieved this book free from Booklook Bloggers for an honest review. 

Hidden Gem: Tricia Mingerink

Here is the link to Shantelle's blog.


Tricia Mingerink:
Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn't writing, she can be found pursing backwoods adventures across the country.


Dare:  Courage could cost him everything. Third Blade Leith Torren never questions his orders or his loyalty to King Respen until an arrow wound and a prairie blizzard drive him to the doorstep of the girls whose family he once destroyed. Their forbidden faith and ties to the Resistance could devastate their family a second time. Survival depends on obedience, but freedom beckons. How far does he dare go to resist the king and his Blades? No matter what Leith chooses, one thing is certain. Someone will die.


 Deny:  All lies have consequences. Promoted to the top rank among King Respen's assassins, First Blade Leith Torren hides his involvement with the Resistance. How many lies will it take to protect his secret?Renna Faythe has done nothing but survive for the past four years, but now Leith's courage inspires her to try to be something more. If only she could figure out what that duty might be.When the unthinkable happens, faith wavers. Friendships tear. What else will they be forced to deny?But this time, Leith faces his greatest fear.He can't save everyone.

 Defy:  The war for Acktar has begun. With his betrayal revealed, former Blade Leith Torren flees into the Sheered Rock Hills, pursued by King Respen’s vengeful Blades. Left behind at Nalgar Castle, Renna Faythe tries to find her purpose, yet that purpose isn’t what she expected. Brandi Faythe has been torn from her sister, and that isn’t all right. If Leith can’t rescue Renna, Brandi will take matters into her own hands. War demands sacrifice. Courage falters. Who will find the strength to defy King Respen? Acktar rests on one hope: The Leader is ready.

My review:
Defy

                         ...........
I totally love all of Tricia Mingerink's books. Her series was so fun to read, and I loved all of the characters. It was so cool to watch them overcome stuff in their story, and it encouraged me in different ways as well. I hope you will check her books out as they are really good. Don't forget to go to Shantelle's blog!