Crazy Love - Review

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

By: Francis Chan

Published: May 1st 2008 by David C. Cook

205 Pages

Genre: Non-fiction, Christian, Spirituality, Religious

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—Have you ever wondered if we’re missing it?

It’s crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe—the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E minor—loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss.

Whether you’ve verbalized it or not, we all know something’s wrong.

Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts—it’s falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same.

Because when you’re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.

Learn more about Crazy Love at www.crazylovebook.com.

There is a whole lot of punch packed into this little book. Giving it a 5 star rating. This book really inspired me. I’ve been looking around me wondering about the state of the world lately. How we’ve gotten where we are. How we’ve forgotten to give glory, and honor, and praise to our God. How we forget who He is and who we are in comparison to Him. How we have taken on the role of creator (or tried to) and have fallen miserably short. This book is about coming to see God, an accurate picture of God. It’s about praising Him. It’s about coming to a love for Him that will move you to action. It’s not just about loving God, it’s about being IN LOVE WITH GOD! (There is a difference.) And Francis Chan challenges you to take a look at yourself to see what it is that you’re expecting out of your relationship with the Almighty, Creator God. Are you only looking for the blessings He has the potential to bestow upon you? Do you realize that none of this is about YOU but it’s all about HIM?

I have to say, I NEVER highlight in fiction books. I rarely highlight in non-fiction books. Update: I now highlight through all kinds of books, but mostly only kindle versions. I do, however, highlight all throughout my Bible (personal preference and decision of mine), but I also have to say that I highlighted all throughout this book, as well. Of course that was somewhat easier and less messy because of it being a kindle version. Yet, highlighting wasn’t enough. I found myself copying sections of this book into a notebook because they were powerful, they moved me, and they made me take a hard look at myself. Am I lukewarm? All who are godly in Christ will suffer persecution—where is my persecution? Will I follow if God calls me to do something radical with my life? And do I have a love for Him that is passionate and evident to those around me because I just can’t contain it?

I appreciate the amount of Scripture used in this book. Also, there are at least two videos that he requests you go to the website and watch. I wasn’t able to do it at the exact moment I came to those passages in the book, but I did make time to go back and watch them later, and I am really glad that I did. I highly suggest that you incorporate those videos into your process through the book.

Francis Chan left me with a lot to think about, but he challenged me not to stop there. He challenged me to move myself into action. If you need a good kick in the butt, a refresher on what it means to love a Holy God, or you just want to see what all the talk is about, I suggest you check out this book. It will always be my reminder to you on any post I do of a book that has any religious subject that you check out what the Creator has to say for Himself. The Bible is and always will be the Source of all information that we have about our God. It is the Living-Word and sharper than any two-edged sword. It is a love story from the beginning to the end. And Francis Chan reminded me of that. My Abba Father has an a crazy, radical love for me. And I’m just as giddy as a school girl when I stop and think about it.

Have you read Crazy Love? What did you think? Let me know!

*Updated: February 9, 2015

Sizzling Sixteen Audio - Review

Sizzling Sixteen (Stephanie Plum, #16

By: Janet Evanovich

Published: A Macmillan Audiobook from St. Martin's Press

Read By: Lorelei King

Running time: 7 Hours

Genre: Adult, Mystery, Humor, Crime

Source: Borrowed from my sister

( 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--Trenton, New Jersey, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has inherited a "lucky" bottle from her Uncle Pip. Problem is, Uncle Pip didn't specify if the bottle brought good luck or bad luck...

BAD LUCK: Vinnie, of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, has run up a gambling debt of $786,000 with mobster Bobby Sunflower and is being held until the cash can be produced. Nobody else will pay to get Vinnie back, leaving it up to Stephanie, office manager Connie, and file clerk Lula to raise the money if they want to save their jobs.

GOOD LUCK: Being in the business of tracking down people, Stephanie, Connie, and Lula have an advantage in finding Vinnie. If they can rescue him, it will buy them some time to raise the cash.

BAD LUCK: Finding a safe palce to hide Vinnie turns out to be harder than raising $786,000. Vinnie's messing up Mooner's vibe, running up pay-per-view porn charges in Ranger's apartment, and making Stephanie question genetics.

GOOD LUCK: Between a bonds office yard sale that has the entire Burg turning out,Mooner's Hobbit-Con charity event, and Uncle Pip's lucky bottle, they just might raise enough money to save the business and Vinnie from ruin.

BAD LUCK: Saving Vincent Plum Bail Bonds means Stephanie can keep being a bounty hunter. In Trenton, this involves hunting down a man wanted for polygamy, a turnpike toilet paper bandit, and a drug dealer with a pet alligator named Mr. Jingles.

GOOD LUCK: The job of bounty hunter comes with perks in the guise of Trenton's hottest cop, Joe Morelli, and the dark and dangerous security expert, Ranger. With any luck at all, Uncle Pip's lucky bottle will have Stephanie getting lucky--the only question is...with whom?

Sizzling Sixteen ...so hot, the pages might spontaneously combust!

I've not read (or listened) to the Stephanie Plum books in any kind of order. I believe my first experience wtih Stephanie Plum and Janet Evanovich was when my sister checked out Plum Lovin' from the library. Plum Lovin' is A Between-the-Numbers Novel. And it was hilarious. I just remember listening to it and busting out laughing at different parts. Then I think Finger Lickin' Fifteen was the next one I moved onto. And now Sizzling Sixteen. This is so rare for me to pick up mid-series and out of order and such. I'm a very organized and methodical person. But in my experience, any of these books could be stand-alone books.

Lorelei King is brilliant as a narrator. She has voices for the other characters in a way that makes me forget one person is actually narrating everything and in such a way that I know exactly who is speaking without having to be told just based off the voice she's using for the character. It's great. She's great. Especially her depiction of Lula. "He ate my jelly donut, so I shot him." HILARIOUS. Obviously, you need to hear (or read) that in context, but you get the picture. And I have to say that Lorelei King is one of the reasons why I'm not upset that I haven't gone at this series in order. My sister tells me that Lorelei King isn't the original narrator of the series, and I just don't think I could listen to anyone else read these books.

I do have to say that the potty mouth stands out to me a little bit more in audio version than it usually does in print. I can skim over it in print, but once you hear it, it's hard to undo and for some reason it has more of an impact that way.

The Stephanie Plum series is a great in between series and I really enjoy listening to them when I have opportunity. Janet Evanovich is very humourous and I find myself laughing out loud then looking around to see if anyone is staring at me like I'm an idiot quite often. Especially Lula and Gramma Mazur ("I can't squeeze to keep the breezers in.").

If you're looking for a quick book to blow through or a reprieve from some seriousness, Sizzling Sixteen will do the trick, especially the audio version. 3 Stars. Have you read (or listened) to Sizzling Sixteen? What did you think? Let me know!

**Side note: I've finished 4 books this week and I'm STOKED about that. Extremely rare for me to get that much accomplished in one week. I've already posted my review of City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare. And I will be posting on Crazy Love by Francis Chan and Divergent by Veronica Roth later on this week. Look out for those reviews.

*Updated: February 9, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday - Authors and Reality Shows & Dislikable Characters

Top 10 Tuesday is a post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and this week's topic is: Top 10 Authors You'd Like to See in a Reality Show. However, Broke and Bookish changed the topic to "freebie" because they received several comments about how hard the authors and reality shows idea was. Overachiever that I am, I decided to do both.

Since the real topic is about the authors and reality show, I'll start with that.

Authors to be on a Reality Show

Celebrity Apprentice - Mostly because I don't watch very many reality TV shows and this one just happens to be at the finale...(in no particular order).

1) Stephenie Meyer - Because her books have exploded and with the work she's done behind the scenes on the movies, I have a feeling she'd actually be a very diverse player.

2) Jane Austen - Because come on...love Jane Austen. Plus she had a little bit of scandal in her own life...what reality show can't use a bit of a scandal?

3) JK Rowling - Because she's brilliant and because she'd be a creative genius on the show.

4) Kahlil Gibran - Because he'd probably be the wisest player, but fired first.

5) Carrie Ryan - Because every reality show needs a little zombies.

6) Janet Evanovich - Because she's hilarious and would be the comedian of the group.

7) Richelle Mead - Because she's one of my favorite authors and I can see her being able to do anything.

8) William Shakespeare - Haha...because he's dramatic. Everything would be a comedy or a tragedy. HA!

9) Earnest Hemmingway - Because what reality show doesn't need a little crazy?

10) Robert Frost - And because even on Apprentice with Donald Trump....nothing gold can stay.

What would also be really cool is if there was a reality show like The Voice or something where authors have to make up fictional stories on the fly and share them with the audience and judges and get voted off.

Most Dislikable Characters

Surprisingly this has been a lot more difficult to cast that I thought it would. Ironically, I find myself feeling sorry for almost every character I’ve tried to put on this list in one way or other, and even though they might be pure evil, I’ve found myself relating to them in one way or other…or…at the very least…understanding them. This struck me as really odd because I’m not typically that way in real life—understanding of my fellow man. But I think it’s because in fiction I’m able to see them more clearly, I’m able to take time to think about them--understand them--and of course the biggest kicker here, I’m not personally affected by them. Also, I kind of cheated a smidgen--given more than 10 characters, but only because I dislike multiple characters for the same reasons.

1) Sebastain/Jonathan Morgenstern from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare - Because any character who purposely kisses (and wants more) his sibling...well...I don't know about you guys, but yuck. Aside from the fact that he's a raging lunatic and psychopath.

2) Daniel from The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan - Because he's majorly creepy and slimy...and that scene with Gabry in the Lighthouse literally made my stomach churn.

3) Cira from The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan & Jessamine from The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare - Because I seriously struggle with "weak" girls...and Cira...well I didn't feel sorry for her at all. She was weak...and annoying. IMO. And Jessamine, despite the fact that growing up one of the only things I knew about myself was that I wanted to be married and loved, I just don't relate to her. And I kind of consider her as weak too. On top of all of that, Jessamine was also a traitor and ARGH! I hate traitors.

4) Nathaniel Gray from The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare - Because even though we find out he's not blood related, anyone who can treat someone he or she grew up believing was his or her sibling the way he does...is easily dislikable. And because I really can't stand a traitor as mentioned above.

5) George Wickham, Lydia Bennet from Pride & Prejudice & Isabella Thorpe from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen - Wickham, two faced. Another trait I despise. When the face you show to the world isn't who you are. I mean there were times when I felt sorry for him...but...not enough to really care. And Lydia...bless her heart (the universal preface to anything derogitory that makes the coming statement okay)...is just an idiot. What more is there to say about that? She's the type of person I run in the opposite direction screaming at the top of my lungs and waving my arms over my head. And Isabella is a combination of George Wickham and Lydia Bennet. AH! Double-whammy.

6) Lena Duchhanes from Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl & Nora Grey from Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick - Lena, TOO whiny! Just get over it already.Nora, I like her better in Silence and Hush, Hush, but in Crescendo...man, I didn't think I was going to make it. WAY too much whinning going on for me. This one might get me some negative feedback, but it is how I feel.

7) All the characters from the House Of Night series by PC & Kristin Cast - Oh my...don't even get me started...I'm saving my rant about these characters and this series for if I ever force myself to finish reading Destined (I'm only one chapter in. I wouldn't hold my breath. However, I'm kind of excited about the rant, so maybe I will finish it just so I can go off. HEHE!). Also, probably not a popular listing.

8) Cersei Lannister from A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin & Mimi Force from the early books in the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz - Cersei is the perfect character you love to hate. She's got reasons behind the evil things that she does, and that is what is relatable about her...but man...she is easy to hate. Especially in A Game of Thrones. And with Mimi, another character you love to hate. She just seems pure evil. Jack doesn't want you (this life cycle anyway)...move on. I come to like her in later books (I say later books, I think I haven't read the last two or three that are currently available in the series).

9) Theon Greyjoy from A Clash of Kings by George RR Martin - And Theon steps out of the shadows into the lovely, bloody spotlight. I also struggle with Theon because I consider him to be weak. Seeking his father's approval--which I understand--but not being able to see that he had family amongst those he chooses to betray in hopes of winning his father's love and approval...oh yeah...all while making the biggest fool of himself.

10) Gale from the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins - Because essentially he guilts Katniss into spending more time with him than Peeta in Catching Fire. And well...I really can't stand a guilt trip. I don't respond to those very well at all. Plus he wasn't my pick from the beginning...so I had no allegience to him. And then he got crazy wrapped up in the war and making cool bombs...which...enough said. And this will be the kicker. I'm sure I will incur the wrath of Team Gale fans.

What do you guys think? What authors would you like to see on a reality show? Which show? And who are your most dislikable characters? Let me know.

City of Lost Souls - Review

City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, # 5)

By: Cassandra Clare

Published: May 8th 2012 by Margaret K. McElderr

535 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Angels, Vampires

Source: Personal 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--The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.

What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

Oh boy! I’m still overflowing with giddiness over this book. I feel like I need to apologize to Cassandra Clare yet AGAIN (for like what? The 5th time or something?)! Sometimes I believe myself able to predict the future (which is totally not possible in case you were wondering). I trust my sense of direction so strongly that I almost believe that what I see lying ahead of me (usually when faced with only partial information) is so set in stone that I forget that other possibilities exist (as often more information exists as well). As much as I think I’d love to be able to predict the future, and as often as my predictions do ring true, I don’t have this ability and my predictions just as often fall short. After reading Clockwork Angel, all I could see were the similarities between The Infernal Devices and The Mortal Instruments. The characters, the plot, the bad guys, the twists, the overall story arc that I perceived, the timing and rhythm of events…it all felt so similar. Then of course I read City of Fallen Angels, and I was just left so distraught after reading it. I was one of those readers that felt closure with the way City of Glass ended. I wasn’t happy that Clary and Jace had just gotten settled and conflict smacks them in the face yet again. I didn’t want them facing these new challenges. I’m one of those readers who typically likes the classic American happy ending. I thought my characters had gotten their happy ending, only for it to be ripped right out from under them. I felt like these characters that I’ve come to love were going to have at least one if not two other books to struggle through adversity with little hope of a happy ending in sight until the end of the upcoming book, City of Heavenly Fire. And while conflict is absolutely essential to any good story—no one wants to read about people who are happy ALL the time—I personally have a hard time going into a book knowing (or assuming) that “happy” isn’t anywhere in sight. Cassandra Clare said to be patient, to trust her, that she loves these characters just as much if not more than the reader does…well I didn’t listen. Summing all of that up, over those two books (Clockwork Angel and City of Fallen Angels), I was just overall disappointed.

And because of that disappointment, I put off reading Clockwork Prince until recently (you can read my review here) and was blown away. As I said in that review, the two series, while similar, really started showing their differences in that book. And I LOVED Clockwork Prince. It was the book that stood out for me as exceptional in a sea of “pretty good” and “okay/average.” (Not every book can be 5 Star worthy.) That being said, while City of Lost Souls doesn’t get the 5 star rating, I’m giving it a solid 4.5.

I was fully prepared, expecting, and assuming for Clary and Jace to not even see each other for the majority of this book. And that was just a depressing outlook to me and a failed prediction on my part. City of Lost Souls did have a semi-slow start for me. I think it was around 70-80ish pages before I was really starting to get excited about it. Up until then I still believed my preconceived ideas would hold true. And because Cassie Clare proved me wrong, I was majorly excited about seeing what else she might prove me wrong about. (As you can see, my being wrong in a prediction is by no means a bad thing in my opinion).

I struggled right along with Clary and the questions she had in her mind about Jace, about Sebastain/Jonathan, about right and wrong. I enjoyed the swapping of narrators. Though sometimes this is annoying to me and I’d rather stick with one main character, it works for this book. And any character is fair game as a possible narrator in this series. I really liked Maia and Jordan. And while I like what’s happening between Simon and Isabelle, I find myself asking what is it about him that she likes? I mean I like him, but why does she? Sometimes I’m not sure that’s explored or flushed out as clearly as I would like. Oh and Sebastain…there in the last 100-150 pages…well…I don’t want to give anything away, but let me just say “Oh my!”. There are more crossovers between The Mortal Instruments series and The Infernal Devices series, which I also really enjoy. And I have a major prediction of my own about a crossover between the series that I can’t share as of now, but if it comes about I will totally say that I called it. I told my husband so that I have a witness.

And one last thing for now, I actually thoroughly enjoy how frequently the characters refer back to their own words to each other or one character remembers words that another character said to them. Because that’s life. We do that all the time. And I absolutely hate when a series isn’t consistent or when a character appears to have forgotten something that I just don’t buy them forgetting. I really enjoy this and it just goes to show how well Cassandra Clare ties everything together and how every sentence has meaning and might be drawn up later. GJ! Faith restored yet again Cassie Clare!

Have you guys read it? What did you think? Looking forward to Clockwork Princess (anyone know when this one is supposed to release?) and City of Heavenly Fire. If you haven’t, this book and this series is a must read! Check it out.

Updated: February 5, 2015

In My Mailbox - #5

In My Mailbox is a weekly post hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where bloggers can discuss the books we got in the mail this week.

Last week I was cleaning house and was going through this stack of papers and guess what a found? A GIFT CARD!!!!! It had to have been from my birthday last year or the year before, either way, I was stoked! So what did I do? I SPENT IT OF COURSE! (Can you feel the excitement?) And what did I buy you ask? Well it just so happens that I'm about to tell you.

Because I've posted about City of Lost Souls before, I'll just post the link to Amazon . I'm reading this one right now, but I've been very disappointed in the amount of time I've been able to find to read. So I haven't made much progress yet, which is the sux. (Goodreads)

My friend, Lacy, read Divergent and said it was pretty awesome, and I've seen some other bloggers I follow that really enjoyed it. So that was my next pick. Goodreads Description--In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all. (Amazon | Goodreads)

And because book 2 came out on May 1st, Insurgent was my third selection. Goodreads Description--One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature (Amazon | Goodreads )

And lastly, because a blogger I follow, Anna Reads, loves this books and I trust her opinion. It's been on my Amazon wishlist for probably about 2 years, Graceling. Goodreads Description--Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more. ( Amazon | Goodreads )

What did you get in your mailbox this week?