Crossing the Line - Review

Crossing the Line (Pushing the Limits, # 1.1)

By: Katie McGarry

Published: April 1st 2013 by Harlequin TEEN

67 pages

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Katie McGarry captivated readers with her “riveting, emotional”* Young Adult debut, Pushing the Limits. In this gripping novella, she tells the story of Lila and Lincoln, who discover that sometimes it’s worth crossing the line for love…

Lila McCormick, Echo's best friend from Pushing the Limits, first met Lincoln Turner when tragedy struck both their lives. But she never expected their surprise encounter would lead to two years of exchanging letters—or that she’d fall for the boy she’s only seen once. Their relationship is a secret, but Lila feels closer to Lincoln than anyone else. Until she finds out that he lied to her about the one thing she depended on him for the most.

Hurting Lila is the last thing Lincoln wanted. For two years, her letters have been the only thing getting him through the day. Admitting his feelings would cross a line he’s never dared breach before. But Lincoln will do whatever it takes to fix his mistakes, earn Lila’s forgiveness—and finally win a chance to be with the girl he loves.

I just love Katie McGarry. She has this way of getting me hooked in the lives of her characters and making me truly and deeply care about them and about what happens to them. It took me no time to get hooked into the story of Lila and Lincoln. Having started the relationship with my own husband through correspondence (though almost exclusively through email), I can completely relate to both Lila and Lincoln and their relationship.

In such a short 67 pages, Katie McGarry not only develops this relationship between Lila and Lincoln, but she explores their backgrounds and struggles with their families and friends and outside forces, which is somewhat of a feat considering how short this novella is.

More than anything, I just wanted more. I wanted more of Lila and Lincoln--I wish they had gotten a full-length book. I would have been all over that. I enjoyed their story so much. But I just wanted more of it--I didn't want it to end.

Crossing the Line gets 4 Stars from me. Have you read Crossing the Line? What did you think? Let me know!

*Updated: September 19, 2014

Sunday Post - 64 & Stacking the Shelves - 37

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

This has been a roller coaster kind of a week. I won't go into details but a friend of mine lost her daughter in a car accident tragically this week. Words can't even touch what she's going through. My heart breaks for her. On the other hand, my sister got married yesterday. It was a small ceremony. Immediate family only. But all went well and she was beautiful. Hope everyone else had a good week.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Inhale, Exhale by Sarah M Ross (3 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Best Sequels
Wednesday: Waiting on Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, # 3) by Laini Taylor (love this cover)
Thursday: Review of This Song Will Save Your Live by Leila Sales (3.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Crossing the Line (Pushing the Limits, # 1.5) by Katie McGarry
Tuesday: Top Ten Book Turn-Offs & September EOM Wrap Up
Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday
Thursday: Kicks off my month long "All Things Halloween" Reviews (that's a working title and very boring, but basically I'm reviewing only Halloween-type books for October) with a Review of Consume (The Clann, # 3) by Melissa Darnell & Fraterfest Read-A-Thon Begins (Ends on October 8th)

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Love & Respect in the Family: The Transforming Power of Love and Respect Between Parent and Child

By: Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Expected Publication: November 5th 2013 by Thomas Nelson Publishers

208 pages

Genre: Self-Help

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depository, and Booksamillionc.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Children need love. Parents need respect.

It is as simple and complex as that!

When frustrated with an unresponsive child, a parent doesn't declare, "You don't love me." Instead the parent asserts, "You are being disrespectful right now." A parent needs to feel respected, especially during conflicts. When upset a child does not whine, "You don't respect me." Instead, a child pouts, "You don't love me." A child needs to feel loved, especially during disputes.

But here's the rub: An unloved child (or teen) negatively reacts in a way that feels disrespectful to a parent. A disrespected parent negatively reacts in a way that feels unloving to the child. This dynamic gives birth to the FAMILY CRAZY CYCLE.

So how is one to break out of this cycle? Best-selling author Emerson Eggerichs has studied the family dynamic for more than 30 years, having his Ph.D. in Child and Family Ecology. As a senior pastor for nearly two decades, Eggerichs builds on a foundation of strong biblical principles, walking the reader through an entirely new way to approach the family dynamic. For instance, God reveals ways to defuse the craziness with our children from preschooler to teen, plus how to motivate them to obey and how to deal with them when they don't. In the Bible, God has spoken specifically to parents on how to parent. This book is about that revelation.

The Bet (The Bet, # 1)

By: Rachel Van Dyken

Published: March 26th 2013

240 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

Source: Borrowed from my SNL, Holly @ Words Fueled by Love

( Goodreads | Amazon (currently $2.99) | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--"I have a proposition for you." Kacey should have run the minute those words left Seattle millionaire Jake Titus's mouth. It's been years since Kacey's seen her childhood friend Jake, but the minute Jake mentions his ill grandmother, Kacey is ready to do anything for the sweet old woman. And if that means pretending they're engaged for her sake-so be it.

But Kacey wasn't counting on Jake's older brother Travis still being there. She calls him "Satan" for a reason: she's never forgotten the way he teased and taunted her. Yet when they meet again, Travis's gorgeous smile is a direct hit to her heart . . . and Kacey's more confused than ever. As the days pass, only one thing starts to become alarmingly clear-she never should have accepted Jake's deal . . .

The Wager (The Bet, # 2)

By: Rachel Van Dyken

Expected Publication: October 1st 2013 by Forever

256 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

( Goodreads | Amazon (currently $2.99) )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--THE WAGER

Lose a bet, lose your heart...

What is it about a junior-high crush that can send an otherwise intelligent woman into a tailspin? TV reporter Char Lynn wishes she knew. Jake Titus is too rich, too handsome, too arrogant: a trifecta that once lured Char into the best night-and worst morning-after-of her life. Now they've been thrown together in a wedding party. It's awkward, but survivable . . . until Jake stops acting like a jerk, and starts acting like the man she'd always hoped he could be.

If watching your brother marry your best friend is weird, being attracted to your best friend's other best friend is downright bizarre. Unfortunately for Jake, Char hasn't forgotten how he once tossed her aside. Worse still, Jake's already-nutty grandma is even crazier about Char. Cue meet-cute shenanigans and all manner of meddling, and somehow, Jake's falling. For Char. Now all he has to do is make her believe it . . .

Wait for You (Wait for You, # 1)

By: J. Lynn

Published: February 26th 2013 by J. Lynn

332 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

Source: Borrowed from my SNL, Holly @ Words Fueled by Love

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Some things are worth waiting for…

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing…

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet…

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for…

Between the Lines (Between the Lines, # 1)

By: Tammara Webber

Published: April 29th 2011

384 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Reid Alexander is used to getting what he wants – and what he wants next is his newest costar, Emma Pierce. The universe is lining up nicely to grant his wish, until he’s confronted with two unexpected obstacles on location: a bitter ex-girlfriend and a rival for Emma’s affections.

Emma Pierce just got her big break after years of filming commercials and made-for-TV movies. Winning the lead role in a wide-release film – opposite the very hot Reid Alexander – should be a dream come true. But Emma’s heart is hiding a secret fantasy: she wants to be a normal girl.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

This Song Will Save Your Life - Review

This Song Will Save Your Life

By: Leila Sales

Published: September 17th 2013 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

288 pages

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Source: Won in an Armchair BEA Giveaway

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*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.

Told in a refreshingly genuine and laugh-out-loud funny voice, THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE is an exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together.

So I've got some mixed emotions about This Song Will Save Your Life. I really struggled with Elise's character in the beginning. I can't tell you (well...if you read my blog then you've seen me talk about this frequently anyway) HOW OVER THE BULLYING TOPIC I AM! Seriously! Done! And Elise's attitude toward her situation in life was just hard for me to comprehend and push through. Some of it I even found slightly unbelievable.

pg 8 "I shaved my legs, which is something I didn't know you were supposed to do until an ill-fated all-class pool party at the end of the eighth grade."

I mean I get that Leila Sales was trying to establish the fact that Elise doesn't really have any friends and maybe this is the kind of thing that you learn from friends, but Elise isn't living under a rock. Not to mention that she does have a mom. I just find it hard to believe that she wouldn't have known about this for so long. I was begging my mom to let me start shaving at eleven. And this isn't an isolated quote I picked out. This type of thing was throughout the beginning of the book.

Elise hasn't had friends. She's been bullied. She looks around her and sees what she thinks is how good everyone else has it. Others have friends. Others do the bullying and the putting down. "That girl" wears all the right clothes and says the right things. Surely all of these people are completely happy with their lives. But that's just not the way it works. You never know someone else's story. You can see what shows up on the outside, but you don't ever know how they feel on the inside until you spend some time with them and talk. And even then they might only be letting you see what they want you to see. Elise does learn this lesson among many others, and I'm glad that I pushed through my struggles with her initial attitude and negative self-talk.

This Song Will Save Your Life is a coming of age story. It's a story about a girl who finds her place in the world. She finds friends. She finds something that she truly loves to do. She learns about herself and life and love. And it's a story about how music connects us all. Music was a big instrument that contributed to my relationship with Husband, and it just has this way of making connections. For that reason, stories that include music in this way, like This Song Will Save Your Life, have a soft spot in my heart.

The secondary characters were similar for me in that I struggled with some and not as much with others. I felt nothing but bad for Amelia. She was put in an awfully uncomfortable situation and did the very best that she could do with the information she was given. I like how Elise wanted so much more out of Char, but that's the nature of life and not-quite-love. Pippa was a truly flawed character, repeating her mistakes time and time again. I can't say I liked her, but I did like that she was real. I loved Vicky, and I wanted more of Harry. Even Elise's family members were memorable.

More than anything, I enjoyed how much Elise grew as a character throughout this story. It wasn't always rainbows and cotton candy getting there, but neither is real life. If she hadn't moved passed where we started the story, I completely would have felt like I wasted my time reading this one, but that's not the case.

Most memorable quotes:

pg 25 - Only mine wasn't going to be a cry for attention. Mine was going to be punishment. Punishment for Jordan DiCecca and Lizzie Reardon and those girls at lunch and everyone who ever tortured me or turned their backs while I was tortured. And punishment for myself, too, of course. Punishment for being wrong.

pg 238 - But power was not friendship. All these people were not my friends.

pg 247 - What do you do when you say sorry, but that still isn't enough?

Small spoiler alert for the next two quotes...
pg 248 - I wanted to DJ my party tonight. Not to prove Char wrong, not to put Emily and her friends on the guest list, not for anything like that. Simply because Alex deserved to be the best that she could be. And I did too.

pg 273 - You think it's easy to change yourself. You think it's so easy, but it's not. True things don't stay the same forever: couches are replaced, boys leave, you discover a song, your body becomes forever scarred. And with each of these moments you change and change again, your true self shining, shifting positions--but always at least it returns to you, like a dancer on the floor. Because throughout it all, you are still, always, you: beautiful and bruised, known and unknowable. And isn't that--just you--enough?

This Song Will Save Your Life gets 3.5 Stars from me. Have you read This Song Will Save Your Life? What did you think? Let me know!

Waiting on Dreams of Gods and Monsters

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, # 3)

By: Laini Taylor

Expected Publication: April 2014 by Hodder & Stoughton

528 pages

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ... something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!

Top Ten Best Sequels

Top 10 Tuesday is a post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's topic is Top Ten Best Sequels.

I'm not 100% sure what counts as a sequel. Is that only book 2? Or any book after book 1 in a series? In order to narrow down my list, I'm only going with book 2 out of a series.

The second book in a series usually takes a hit, especially in trilogies. Book 1 is the build up and either ends in conflict such as a cliffhanger, or the conflict begins in book 2. Book 2 is usually the down period where we struggle through to get to the resolution in book 3. That's just how it is. Keeping that in mind, it was actually harder than I expected to create my list.

While there are tons of series that I love the series as a whole, when I looked at book 2 only, I had to pause. What's funny is that in my list below, a lot of these books are actually companion novels or novels that switch to a different MC and thus don't carry on the story immediately following book 1. I'm counting them anyway. I also excluded books retelling the first book (i.e. Walking Disaster, Losing Hope, etc).

1) Rose Under Fire (Code Name Verity, # 2) by Elizabeth Wein (companion)

2) Fragments (Partials, # 2) by Dan Wells (lenghty but worth it in the end) (review coming soon)

3) The Dead-Tossed Waves (The Forest of Hands and Teeth, # 2) by Carrie Ryan (swaps MC and years after the events of book 1)

4) Jet (Marked Men, # 2) by Jay Crownover (companion) (review coming soon)

5) Point of Retreat (Slammed, # 2) by Colleen Hoover (so emotional)

6) Fire (Graceling Realm, # 2) by Kristin Cashore (companion)

7) Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, # 2) by Cassandra Clare (major events take place)

8) Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, # 2) by Marissa Meyer (half companion, half continuation, enjoyed better than book 1)

9) Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, # 2) by Maggie Stiefvater (love Maggie S.)

10) New Moon (Twilight, # 2) by Stephenie Meyer (while I can't say I hated this book ever, I've changed my feelings on it and think it was a great sequel to Twilight)

11) Frostbite (Vampire Academy, # 2) by Richelle Mead (such a pivotal book in the series)

What are your top favorite sequels? Let me know!

Inhale, Exhale - Review

Inhale, Exhale

By: Sarah M Ross

Published: May 6th 2013 by Createspace

241 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!)

( Goodreads | Amazon ($2.99 now) | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affilite links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Jillian had a plan: celebrate the end of her first year of college with an amazing summer full of beaches, barbeques, and bonfires. When her mom insists she needs a summer job, and her boyfriend spends more time with his band than with her, Jillian’s plans go down the drain.

Grant had a plan: finish his Masters, get a great job at Google, and get the hell out of Georgia. He might be giving up some of the fun of his youth, but he knows his all work and no play method would be worth it when his dreams came true.

But things never go according to plan.

When temptation brings them together and tragedy tears them apart, Jillian and Grant will be forced to choose: fight for their dreams, or fight for each other.

I'm going to go ahead and put it out there that I have a massive headache at the time of writing this review. One of the ones that give you a semi-permanent "stank face." Eyes and nose scrunched and lip curled. Yeah...one of those. That's a disclaimer for just in case I make absolutely no sense in this one.

Inhale, Exhale was a cute and quick read. There was nothing earth shattering about it. And truthfully I'm not sure I'll remember much about it in a few weeks or months. I hate to say that, but it's true.

The relationship between Grant and Jillian just progressed too quickly. There was insta-love. There was insta-lust. There was insta-everything. On top of that, minor spoiler alert, we've got cheating. I do not abide cheating under any circumstances. I definitely comprehend how relationships can progress despite someone being in another relationship with boyfriend/girlfriend, spouse, significant other...whatever. But I just don't understand not having the respect for yourself, your current partner, or the potential new partner to not end one before beginning another. I mean as I said, I comprehend how it happens, I just don't understand it. I definitely don't respect it. And truth be told, I don't want to read about it. End spoiler.

I did enjoy the concept of how one relationship fizzles out, and another, better one starts up. The other person just doesn't pan out to be who you think they are. Or they change. Or you change. Whatever the reason. And then the someone new gets you better. You feel more. You see a better future with new person. I liked the concept. BUT I didn't enjoy the execution and the path the characters of Inhale, Exhale took to break things off with the old and join up with the new. It doesn't send the best message. Especially because Jillian never really had to deal with the consequences of her indiscretion. She got off the hook because Christian turned out to be an even bigger loser.

Another frustration for me was the dialogue. It's hard to explain it, but I really felt like the dialogue was "too neat." For Jillian and Grant both. It's like there was too much information given in the dialogue making it feel awkward and unrealistic at times.

In the end, Inhale, Exhale gets 3 stars from me. Have you read Inhale, Exhale by Sarah M Ross? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 63 & Stacking the Shelves - 36

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Well the headaches left! HOORAY! And then a sinus infection set in. :( Bummer. However, I feel mostly back to normal now. Saturday was a rainy day here. So that means lazy, reading day! YAY! Oh and fall is officially here! Fall is one of my favorite times of the year--although come to think of it, I really like them all for different reasons.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of The Dream Thieves (Raven Cycle, # 2) by Maggie Stiefvater (3.5-3.8 Stars)
Tuesday: Top Ten Books on My Fall 2013 TBR List
Wednesday: Waiting on The Temptation of Lila and Ethan (The Secret, # 3) by Jessica Sorensen
Thursday: Review of The Power of a Praying Kid by Stormie Omartian (4.5 Stars)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Inhale, Exhale by Sarah M Ross
Tuesday: Top Ten Best Sequels
Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday
Thursday: Review of This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Valkyrie Rising (Valkyrie Rising, # 1)

By: Ingrid Paulson

Published: October 9th 2012 by HarperTeen

352 pages

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Mythology, Paranormal

Source: Kindle Freebie

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.

Deadly legends, hidden identities, and tentative romance swirl together in one girl’s unexpectedly-epic coming of age.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

The Power of a Praying Kid - Review

The Power of a Praying Kid

By: Stormie Omartian

Published: July 1st 2005 by Harvest House Publishers

100 pages

Genre: Christian

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--New from bestselling author Stormie Omartian! A look at prayer through little eyes.

"The Power of a Praying(R) Kid "is a fun and "kid-friendly" approach to prayer for a very- special audience. Written with young hearts in mind, this short, easy-to-read book for 7- ?to 12-year-olds helps children learn to talk to God in a way that is meaningful and relational.

Interactive call-outs, sample prayers, and places to record their own words to God are sprinkled throughout the pages. Moms and Dads as well as children will love the message of this book for growing-up kids...God wants to hear from them and He listens to their prayers.

It's no secret that I love The Power of a Praying...series. I hasn't really been a goal of mine to read them all necessarily, but I can't help but grab whichever one applies to my current situation. I grabbed The Power of a Praying Kid and The Power of a Praying Teen for my kids' Bible class that I teach on Wednesday nights. So far we've only done the first two chapters but both classes went really well.

The Power of a Praying Kid is written in easy to understand words, phrases, and concepts so that even a child below teen years should be able to understand it. I love the simplicity of the messages provided in this book. Stormie Omartian set up this book to act as a sort of prayer journal for young children. I love the idea of starting children out early with focusing on their prayer lives. While this was something that I was told I needed to do as a child, I didn't really grow and cultivate my prayer life until adulthood.

The Power of a Praying Kid isn't very long at all, so it shouldn't be too daunting to children. And I think it will serve as the perfect introduction to the next book, The Power of a Praying Teen. Included in the book are short prayers from other children and sections about the answered prayers of various children, as well as common things children of this age group think and pray about. Also in keeping with the other Power of a Praying...books that I've read, Stormie Omartian adds Scripture at the end of each chapter dealing with that specific topic, a short prayer over the topic, and space for the child to add to the provided prayer.

My only complaint is the short section early on in the book where Ms. Omartian discusses "how to become a Christian." I don't agree with her breakdown of the process as Scripture lays it out. As I always say in my reviews of any kind of religious book, we must consult the Source and the Standard (The Bible) for the answers to any questions that we have. Because of this, I highly recommend this be a book that an adult/parent/teacher/etc go through along with the child/children instead of just saying, "Here's a book about prayer. Read it." It needs to be interactive with children of this age.

The Power of a Praying Kid gets 4.5 Stars from me. Have you read The Power of a Praying Kid? What did you think? Let me know!

Waiting on The Temptation of Lila and Ethan

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Temptation of Lila and Ethan (The Secret, # 3)

By: Jessica Sorensen

Expected Publication: October 22nd 2013 by Forever

336 pages

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Ella and Micha series comes a gripping story of passion, pain, and the courage to love . . .

THE TEMPTATION OF LILA AND ETHAN

On the surface, Lila Summers is flawless: good looks, expensive clothes, and a big, beautiful smile. But a dark past and even darker secrets are threatening to bubble over her perfect façade. She'll do anything to keep the emptiness inside hidden-which leads her into situations that always end badly. Whenever she hits bottom, there's only one person who's there to pull her out: Ethan Gregory.

Ethan set the rules a long time ago: he and Lila are just friends. He doesn't do relationships. Although his tattooed, bad boy exterior is a far cry from Lila's pretty princess image, Ethan can't deny they have a deeper connection than he's used to. If he's not careful, he could be in serious danger of becoming attached-and he's learned the hard way that attachment only leads to heartbreak.

When Lila falls farther than she ever has before, can Ethan continue to help as a friend? Or is he also getting close to falling . . . for her?

What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!

Top Ten Fall 2013 TBR List

Top 10 Tuesday is a post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's topic is Top Ten Fall 2013 TBR List.

I could have sworn I had this typed up and prepared already, but since I can't find it anywhere...here's my second list which may be entirely different from the first list that I did. Who knows? (In no particular order...)

1) The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines, # 4) by Richelle Mead

2) These Broken Stars (Starbound, # 1) by Amie Kaufman

3) This is How I Find Her by Sara Polsky

4) Witchstruck (The Tudor Witch Trilogy, # 1) by Victoria Lamb

5) Countdown by Michelle Rowen

6) The Temptation of Lila and Ethan (The Secret, # 3) by Jessica Sorensen

7) Allegiant (Divergent, # 3) by Veronica Roth

8) Passion (Fallen, # 3) by Lauren Kate

9) Zombie Fallout (Zombie Fallout, # 1) by Mark Tufo

10) A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R R Martin

11) Origin (Lux, # 4) by Jennifer L Armentrout

12) Crash Into You (Pushing the Limits, # 3) by Katie McGarry

What's on your fall TBR list? Let me know!