Review: "Crystal Witness" by Kathy Tyers

I'm not normally one for reading science fiction, but after loving Ronie Kendig's Brand of Light last year, I've been more inclined to give it a chance. So when Crystal Witness came along, I decided to read it. It turned out to be a good choice!

Review: "Brand of Light" by Ronie Kendig

I am such a fan of science fiction movies and TV shows, but I rarely read sci-fi novels, and I've certainly never picked up anything that could be classified as a "space opera" before. But when I heard about Brand of Light, something about it intrigued me ... and now I wish the entire series was available, as book one wasn't enough!

Review: "Recursion" by Blake Crouch

A year ago, I read Blake Crouch's Dark Matter while on a five-hour flight home from San Francisco. (Best. Vacation. Ever.) When I learned Crouch had a new book releasing, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it ... except I had to, as there was a long waiting list at my library! My hold finally came in, and the wait was worth it!

Review: "Dark Matter" by Blake Crouch

I remember hearing about Dark Matter when it released ... at the time, I'd just started watching a TV show called Dark Matter (see my thoughts on the show here), and I made the (erroneous) assumption that the two were connected. Well, they're both sci-fi ... and that's where the similarities end!

About a month ago, Dark Matter was deeply discounted on Kindle. After asking my sister if I'd like it (she said yes), I pulled the trigger. Flash forward to my trip to San Francisco last month. On my first flight, I was looking for something to read, and, shock of all shocks, I wasn't feeling YA or inspy romance. So I started Dark Matter and got swept into a really intriguing story.

"The Wanderers" by Meg Howrey

I began The Wanderers with high hopes—it was being compared to The Martian, which I loved. But this is nothing like The Martian ... the characters don't even actually go to Mars! (I did recognize a few sciencey/spacey terms from The Martian, but that was were the similarities ended.)

"The Girl Who Could See" by Kara Swanson

I'll be completely honest—I was drawn to The Girl Who Could See because of the cover. The book description could've probably said anything, and I still would've requested this book. But the fact that it's science fiction made me want to read it even more!

"Out of the Shadows" by Emma Carrie

Sci-fi, YA, and Christian fiction intersect in Emma Carrie's Out of the Shadows, the first novella in her Tacket Secret series.

"The Martian" by Andy Weir

Prior to beginning the novel, this is what I knew: An astronaut left behind on Mars survives by eating potatoes. And there's science.

Here's what actually happens: Mark Watney, a member of the Ares 3 crew, is presumed dead and left on Mars when a storm comes up and the mission is aborted. He has to figure out a way to survive until the next Ares crew arrives. Through ingenuity and lots of crazy science, he manages to stay alive.

"trial run" by thomas locke

If you like sci-fi thrillers, check out Trial Run!

---

Dr. Gabriella Speciale has assembled an international team of elite scientists with one goal in mind--to create and control out-of-body experiences that transcend the limits of time and space. Reese Clawson's mind-bending experiments aim to explode the boundaries of human consciousness--and annihilate the opposition in the process.

When a terrifying discovery and a string of failed tests threaten to dismantle both programs, the key to survival may reside in the mind of a gifted grad student whose unsettling dreams have thrust him into the center of a dangerous battle for control.

As the threads of perception and reality become tangled and time itself twists in unexpected directions, one warning remains clear: what you don't know can kill you.

---

Trial Run is marketed as a thriller/suspense title, but it's really more science fiction than anything—which is fine by me! In a way, Trial Run reminds me of the film Inception because of the idea of entering dreams, but really that's where the similarity ends. In Trial Run, people in a dream state are able to travel back or forward in time, but then several subjects end up comatose.

This novel features a very large cast of characters, and at first I struggled to keep them all straight. A few of these characters only appear sporadically, which sometimes made me stop and question who they were. Fairly quickly, though, the novel's main characters come to the forefront—grad students Shane and Trent, government operative Reese, and researcher Gabriella and her guard Charlie. When this happens, things get much easier to follow. I also appreciated that it took me a long time to figure out which faction (Reese's or Gabriella's) was good and which was bad ... and I'm still not entirely sure that the good guys are truly good!

The action moves at a rapid pace, and, while there's a lot of scientific mumbo-jumbo (which isn't actually mumbo-jumbo if you take the time to try to understand it), it doesn't become overwhelming or confusing. The ending features a great blend of dream world and real world action, and it sets up what is sure to be a fascinating second book.

Trial Run is not for everyone, that's for sure, but those who enjoy smart science fiction will really like it. I'm already looking forward to next summer when book two will release. 4 stars.

Buy the book.
Get the prequel novella, Fault Lines, free for Kindle.

---

Thomas Locke is a pseudonym for Davis Bunn, the award-winning novelist with total worldwide sales of seven million copies. His work has been published in twenty languages, and critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction. Davis divides his time between Oxford and Florida and holds a lifelong passion for speculative stories. As Thomas Locke, Davis is also the author of Emissary. Learn more at www.tlocke.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"revolutionary" by krista mcgee

Revolutionary (Anomaly #3)

by Krista McGee

Release Date: 07/15/14

Thomas Nelson Publishers

About the book (from Goodreads): All her life Thalli thought she was an anomaly. Now she must use her gifts to fulfill the role she was called to play: Revolutionary.

Back in the underground State against her will, Thalli is no longer the anomaly she was before. She has proven herself to be a powerful leader aboveground and returns with information that Dr. Loudin needs to complete his plan of uniting the world under one leader: himself. But he, too, has information. A secret he has kept from Thalli her entire life. A secret that, once revealed, changes everything about the person Thalli thought she was.

Hoping to help Thalli rise up against the Scientists, both Berk and Alex join her underground, but their presence only brings more trouble for her. Now Dr. Loudin knows just the leverage to use on his captive, and she is forced to choose between the two of them. Is her first love her true love? Or does Alex ultimately claim her heart?

Unsure of everything around her, including her own identity, Thalli doesn’t know where to turn. She knows she needs the Designer, but he seems further away than ever. What she does know, though, is that if she doesn’t do something to stop Loudin, the fragile world aboveground will be lost once and for all.

My take: Revolutionary is an incredibly satisfying conclusion to McGee's Anomaly series. It's hard to really talk about it without spoilers because So. Much. Happens. So let me just say that the way everything wraps up is brilliant. The truth about Thalli and why she is the way she is makes so much sense, though I didn't ever guess it (I'm thinking I should have, but I was convinced McGee was going in a different direction). The ending is fitting and bittersweet—as would be expected from a series in this genre, several characters give their lives in the pursuit of freedom.

Once again, one of my favorite aspects is how the Designer fits into the story. In previous books, Thalli was learning about Him and relying on Him, but in Revolutionary she really comes to a crisis of faith, as she feels the Designer isn't hearing her. What Christian hasn't gone through that? I felt like Thalli's journey of faith was very realistic and something teens could easily identify with.

In a world of dystopian teen novels like The Hunger Games, Matched, and Divergent (which I enjoy, don't get me wrong!), it's refreshing to read a series that is equally entertaining but comes from a Christian perspective. I highly recommend this series to teens and anyone else who enjoys YA fiction.

My rating: 5 stars (for both the book and the series)

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Buy the book: Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo Books * The Book Depository
Learn about Anomaly and Luminary.
Read my reviews of McGee's Anomaly, Luminary, and Starring Me.

About the author: Krista McGee writes for teens, teaches teens, and more often than not, acts like a teen. She and her family have lived and ministered in Texas, Costa Rica, and Spain. She currently lives in Florida.

Connect with Krista at her website, Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.

About the giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour Organized by YA Bound Book Tours.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook free for review via YA Bound Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"luminary" by krista mcgee

Note: If you haven't read book one in this trilogy, Anomaly, and you plan to, you should probably stop reading now. I don't know how I could possibly review this book without referencing some of the events in book one. I'm even ditching the "about the book" section so that you can avoid spoilers. Also, my review of the final book, Revolutionary, will go up tomorrow morning, and it will contain mentions of both Anomaly and Luminary.

My take: This is one of those books that it's difficult to write a review of. Not because I hated it and struggle with what to say without being too negative but because it's wonderful, and I just want to gush ... but then it would be full of spoilers. So prepare for a very vague yet glowing review!

Luminary picks up right where Anomaly left off, with Thalli, Berk, Rhen, and John embarking on their journey to find survivors. The survivors they find reside in two opposing communities—agrarian New Hope and technology-focused Athens. When Thalli tries to help broker peace between the communities, her knowledge of truth is tested, and she struggles to understand what is real and what is make believe. And then there's Alex, prince of Athens. Can she trust her feelings for him? And what about her feelings for Berk?

I loved virtually everything about Luminary—the plot, the characters, even the love triangle. Normally, love triangles drive me crazy because it seems so obvious to me who the heroine should pick, even if the author doesn't agree with me (Team Peeta, Team Cody, Team Jacob, Team Logan. Obviously.)* But Luminary is different—I really have no idea who Thalli should choose, and I can see the merits to each guy. I also definitely didn't see the twists coming in the relationships!

I also love, love, love the focus on the Designer. McGee weaves the truth of the Gospel into the story without coming across as preachy. As Thalli learns more about the Designer, her faith grows, and it's great to watch her reliance on Him through the difficult times—and there are certainly plenty of those in this book!

The story ends on a cliffhanger that I really can't explain at all—but let's just say that it's perfect, and I'm so glad I have the final book waiting on my Kindle so I can keep reading the story!

*The Hunger Games, The Bailey Flanigan series (don't even get me started!), Twilight (admittedly, I only read the first book and saw the first film), Veronica Mars.

My rating: 5 stars

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of McGee's Anomaly and Starring Me.

About the author: Krista writes for teens, teaches teens, and more often than not, acts like a teen. She and her family have lived and ministered in Texas, Costa Rica, and Spain. She currently lives in Florida.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I won this book in a giveaway and was not required to review it. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"i'm nobody: the lost pages" by alex marestaing

About the book: We're all broken on this side of heaven, but we can make beautiful things from the pieces. Agoraphobic Caleb Reed is about to step outside for the first time in seven years, meet indie filmmaker Iris Elliott . . . and definitely not fall in love. It's all because of the notes, the weird and wonderful notes he keeps finding on his front porch, notes signed by someone claiming to be long dead poet Emily Dickinson. Caleb's parents think he's losing his mind, as always, but he knows they're wrong. Something's going on outside—something strange, something terrifying . . . something beautiful.

Read the EPIC Award nominated novel that critics are saying is "fresh", "powerful" and "unlike anything" they've read. In a world full of anxiety, I'm Nobody: The Lost Pages is a triumphant tale of faith over fear and one that kids and grown-ups of all ages will love. (A London Book Festival Honorable Mention Winner)

My take: I'm Nobody is a delightful young adult novel about fear, grief, and the power to overcome—with a dose of intrigue and magic.

Agoraphobic Caleb slowly comes out of his self-imposed prison as two things happen—he begins receiving mysterious notes from a stranger, and he reconnects with grade school classmate Iris. His journey back to the real world is both fascinating and heartbreaking.

One thing I absolutely love about this novel is that I couldn't tell where it was going. I've become pretty adept at anticipating plot twists, but I certainly didn't anticipate where this novel was headed. The ending is supremely satisfying and magical in the best kind of way.

I do have to note that I found some of the point of view shifts to be a bit jarring—the reader is inside just about every character's head at some point. Also, my copy had quite a few typos. But overall, this is a fantastic novel! I would have loved it in junior high, and I love it today. I'd say it's completely appropriate for ages 12 and up, and perhaps even for more mature 9 to 11 year olds.

Content note: The "magic" of this novel is more of the Disney variety—sweet and harmless. No witchcraft or demons here.

My rating: 4-1/2 stars

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Buy the book.

About the author: Author Alex Marestaing loves to create. He's written for media outlets such as The Walt Disney Company, Lego, Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins, and The Los Angeles Times and has authored three YA novels. His latest, I'm Nobody: The Lost Pages, recently won an honorable mention at the London Book Festival and was nominated for a 2014 Epic Award. Though he spends most of his time imagining ideas for the youth market, he's also written for faith based publications and has covered his favorite sport, soccer, in Europe and the U.S. for Sports Spectrum Magazine and Yanks Abroad. When Alex isn't writing or speaking at conferences, you'll most likely find him hanging out in California with his wife, three kids, and Milou, his dog.

Alex can be found at his website, Twitter, and Facebook.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"anomaly" by krista mcgee

About the book (from Litfuse): Thalli has fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds left to live. The toxic gas that will complete her annihilation is invading her bloodstream. But she is not afraid.

Decades before Thalli's birth, the world ended in a nuclear war. But life went on deep underground, thanks to a handful of scientists known as The Ten. Since then, they have genetically engineered humans to be free from emotions in the hopes that war won't threaten their lives again.

But Thalli was born with the ability to feel emotions and a sense of curiosity she can barely contain. She has survived so far thanks to her ability to hide those differences. But Thalli's secret is discovered when she is overwhelmed by the emotion in an ancient piece of music.

She is quickly scheduled for annihilation, but her childhood friend, Berk, convinces The Ten to postpone her death and study her instead. While in the scientists' Pod, Thalli and Berk form a dangerous alliance, one strictly forbidden by the constant surveillance in the pods.

As her life ticks away, she hears rumors of someone called the Designer—someone even more powerful than The Ten. What's more, the parts of her that have always been an anomaly could in fact be part of a much larger plan. And the parts of her that she has always guarded could be the answer she's been looking for all along.

Thalli must sort out what to believe and who she can trust, before her time runs out . . .

My take: Anomaly combines three of my favorite things: YA fiction, sci-fi, and Christian fiction. As I read it, I could almost see it playing out on screen (which is fitting, as movies do play a small role in this story).

I loved virtually everything about Anomaly. I really felt like I was there with Thalli as she experienced life in Pod C and then as her life spiralled out of control. The first person point of view that McGee used certainly helped to draw me right into the story. And the characters—Thalli, her friends Berk and Rhen, and John, the old man who tells Thalli about the Designer—are all believable.

The end (which isn't really an end, as this is the first book of a trilogy) came with a delicious twist that made me wish I could pick up book two immediately!

Teen dystopian novels with female protagonists are all the rage today, and McGee's new series fits right in ... but the difference is that she pulls in the truth of the Gospel, which leaves the reader with a hope that isn't present in most of the novels in the genre.

My rating: 5 stars

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Read the first five chapters free!
Buy the book.
Read my review of McGee's Starring Me.

About the author:  When Krista McGee isn't living in fictional worlds of her own creation, she lives in Tampa and spends her days as a wife, mom, teacher, and coffee snob. She is also the author of Anomaly, First Date, Starring Me, and Right Where I Belong. Connect with Krista at http://www.kristamcgeebooks.com.

About the giveaway: Krista McGee is celebrating the release of Anomaly, the first book in her new YA dystopian series, with an iPad Mini Giveaway!

One winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• A $25 iTunes gift card (download Anomaly to the iPad!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 31st. Winner will be announced at Krista's website on August 2nd.

Spread the word about Krista and her giveaway HERE!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"unclaimed legacy" by deborah heal + giveaway!

About the book (from Amazon): Abby’s weird computer program is working again. And it comes in handy when they agree to help the Old Dears next door with their family tree. Except Abby and John learn more about one of the ladies’ ancestors than they ever wanted to know. Convicted in 1871 of murder and arson, Reuben Buchanan is a blight on the family’s reputation. But was he really guilty? Abby and John get inside the mind of a murderer to find out. But while they’re rummaging around in the Old Dears’ family history, they discover the truth of God’s promise to bless a thousand generations … … and a legacy waiting to be reclaimed.

My take: Wow! I enjoyed Time and Again (see my review here), but Unclaimed Legacy is in a class of its own! There's no sophomore slump for author Deborah Heal—Unclaimed Legacy is an absolutely fantastic book.

Unclaimed Legacy picks up right where Time and Again leaves off, with the special computer program on Merri's computer that allows the user to see into the past not working. John's tech-savvy friend transfers the program to John's laptop, and the action picks up there and doesn't quit until the end of the book. I loved digging into the past with Merri, John, and Abby, and I'm anxious to finish the story with book three! (Also, I'd now love to visit a Lewis & Clark museum!)

Unclaimed Legacy does deal with some weighty issues, like spousal abuse, infidelity, and drug use, so I wouldn't recommend it for kids younger than 13 or 14. But for older teens and adults (especially those who are interested in history or who live in Illinois), I highly recommend Unclaimed Legacy. 5 stars.

Read an excerpt: Merri leaned forward and studied the monitor and then, laughing, said, “It’s them.”

Frowning, John looked closely at the monitor. “That’s crazy. This is just a computer program. It can’t be them.”

“See the resemblance? Just project forward fifty to sixty years,” Abby said. “That’s definitely Beulah and Eulah.”

“Boo and Yoo,” Merri said. “Get it?”

“That’s insane! No one could make a program that could—”

“We don’t know what this is or where it came from. All I know is that it’s awesome,” Abby said. “And we really are seeing Beulah and Eulah back in the forties—you got the bit about food rationing, didn’t you? And if you think that’s wild, just wait until you see what happens when we lock onto one of them and go virtual mode.”

“Virtual mode? Show me.”

Abby smiled smugly and turned back to the controls. “Okay, John. Hold onto to your hat.”

First, there was a confusing blur of color and whirring sounds and then…

About the author: Deborah Heal is the author of the young adult novels Time and Again and Unclaimed Legacy. She lives in Waterloo, Illinois, where she enjoys reading, gardening, and learning about southern Illinois history. She is married and has three grown children, three grandchildren, and a canine buddy named Scout (a.k.a. Dr. Bob). Currently, she is working on book three in the Time and Again trilogy. You may learn more about the author by visiting her website: www.deborahheal.com, her Facebook Fan Page, and Goodreads. Her books may be purchased on Amazon.com.

About the giveaway: Win a copy of Time and Again, the first book in the trilogy! ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­To enter, simply leave a comment telling me where you'd virtually time travel to if you had a computer program like Abby and Merri. One commenter will be chosen at random to win a copy of the book on Wednesday, October 24. For additional chances to win, see Deborah Heal’s official website and LIKE her Facebook Fan Page.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"alienation" by jon s. lewis

About the book (provided by Litfuse): After his parents were killed in a car accident, Colt McAllister was drawn into a world he thought only existed in comic books-one where mind control, jet packs, and flying motorcycles don't even scratch the surface. Along with his best friends Oz and Danielle, Colt is now training at the secret Central Headquarters Against the Occult and Supernatural academy. But strange accidents seem to follow him. . . even with the security of the school grounds. What first seems random soon turns deadly. But who is targeting Colt? As the alien invasions increase in frequency and force, C.H.A.O.S resources are taxed to the limit and they're forced to utilize the new recruits. In the midst of battle, Colt will discover some startling revelations . . . about himself, his friendship with Oz, and why he has been chosen to defeat this alien attack against earth.

My take: An allegorical YA novel based on the life of King David with a giant science fiction element? Yes, please! Seriously, this book combines three of my loves—Bible stories, Young Adult fiction, and sci-fi—how could I help but love it, too?

Alienation is book two in Lewis's C.H.A.O.S. series, but you can quite easily jump in without having read book one (I did!). Alienation is a completely engaging story, and even though it is based on David's life, there are enough differences that I didn't know where the plot was going. (Sure, you can guess the "big" stuff, but most of the plot remained a mystery.) What I enjoyed most about the book was how vividly Lewis described everything. When I read, I rarely picture the events as though I'm watching a movie. But with Alienation, that's exactly what I did.

I absolutely loved Alienation, and I give it 5 enthusiastic stars! I can't wait to read the next chapter of Colt's story. I'll also be recommending this series to my students—I'm always trying to convince them that reading is fun!

See what other bloggers are saying here.

About the author:
Jon S. Lewis is the coauthor of the Grey Griffins trilogy (over 500,000 books in print) and the upcoming Grey Griffins Clockwork Chronicles. He also writes for the DC COMICS family of publishers. He resides with his family in Arizona. For more about Jon and the series, visit www.chaosnovels.com.

About the giveaway: Win an iPad from @JonSLewis and @NelsonFiction in the Alienation iPad2 Giveaway! The invasion was only the beginning! Jon Lewis is celebrating the next adventure in his fast-paced C.H.A.O.S. series with an explosive giveaway!

One thrill-seeker will receive:

• iPad2 with Wi-Fi
• Copies of the C.H.A.O.S. novels, Invasion and Alienation

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on February 7th. Winner will be announced at the Alienation Facebook Party on 2/7. Jon will be hosting an Author Chat, giving away copies of the books and gift certificates to iTunes and Amazon.com! Don't miss a second of the intrigue!

Grab your copy of Alienation and join Jon on the evening of February 7th for an author chat, spy training (How much do you know about alien invaders?) and lots of giveaways. 

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 7th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

an enjoyable weekend

It's been a while since I've done a list post, but it's a pretty easy way to tell you about my weekend! Here are a few things I enjoyed:

• X-Men: First Class. Going into this movie, I was curious, but I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did. Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy as Magneto and Professor X respectively made this film absolutely fantastic. I loved the look back at their friendship and their falling out, and some questions from the first films, such as "How could they have ever been friends?" and "Why is Professor X in a wheelchair?" are answered. There's also a highly enjoyable (though vulgar) cameo by Hugh Jackman that had the entire theater in stitches. In my opinion, this is the best X-Men movie yet.

• Prom and Prejudice. This is one of my book review books, and, as you can probably guess by the title, it's based on Pride and Prejudice. I know some people are quite snobbish about their Jane Austen and will turn up their noses at any adaptation. I, however, love a good remake--as evidenced by my affection for Lost in Austen--and I thoroughly enjoyed this version set in a private high school (so much so that I stayed up until 2 a.m. reading it). A review will be coming soon!

• Canoeing down the Platte. Those of you from Nebraska know that the words canoeing and Platte River usually don't go hand in hand. This time of the year, the river is often so low that you could easily walk across it. This year, however, the river is exceptionally high. So a few friends and I got together and canoed from Chapman to Central City. It's about 10 miles, and it took us just about three hours. The highlight? Seeing probably 20 deer--including some fawns and three deer that swam across the river. The weather was beautiful, the company was enjoyable, and Beth and I had more time to talk than we've had since she moved back a month ago. Overall, a fantastic afternoon!

  

  The girls in our canoe.



The guys in their canoe.

•  Spending time with Val. She's moving to Indiana in just under a month, so we won't have many more days like today. We got Qdoba for lunch, watched Point Break (don't waste your time--but we'd been wanting to watch it ever since we visited Cannon Beach, Oregon, two years ago as some of it was filmed there), got coffee, and went to another movie. Speaking of that movie ...

• Super 8. This is the new J.J. Abrams/Steven Spielberg film, and it's absolutely fantastic! Set in Ohio in 1979, it's about a group of middle school kids who are making a zombie film when a train wreck causes the military to overtake the town, and someone or something starts terrorizing the citizens. I can't really say any more than that, but trust me, this movie is worth your time! The cast--especially Joel Courtney as Joe and Kyle Chandler as Joe's father Jack--is fantastic. Also look for a 7th Heaven kid in a decidedly unCamden-approved role. And be sure to stay while the credits roll for a look at the completed zombie film.

"flight of shadows" by sigmund brouwer

 In the not-so-distant future, Caitlyn Brown is on the run. She has escaped Appalachia, a country run by religious zealots, but now she's being tracked by those who want to study her for her genetic mutations. Along the way, she meets a mysterious man named Razor who promises to help her. But can she really trust him?

I'll be honest: it took me forever to get into this book. First of all, I somehow missed that it's a sequel (to Broken Angel), and I spent the opening chapters thinking, "Who are these people?" After I got everyone straightened out (and there are many characters in this book), I just wasn't very interested in the story. I'd read a few pages here and there, but I never actually wanted to pick up the book. Finally, around page 200, something clicked, and I devoured the rest of the book in an hour. I have a feeling that if I'd first read Broken Angel, things would have snapped into place a lot sooner!

What I enjoyed most about this book was its realistic look into the future. Brouwer paints the future of America in a way that is both believable and scary. I closed Flight of Shadows with lots to ponder, and I do recommend reading this book ... but you should probably read Broken Angel first! (FYI, the Kindle edition of Broken Angel is currently $.89 on Amazon. I'm going to buy it.)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”