Blog Tour: ARC Review + Giveaway: Dark Halo (Angel Eyes Trilogy #3) by Shannon Dittemore

Today I am a bit conflicted about being a part of the Dark Halo Blog Tour hosted by YA Bound--on one hand, I'm so happy to share with you my love for this series, on the other, I'm saddened to see it reach its finale and post my final review of this phenomenal series. (I'm all "WHY CAN YOU NOT LAST FOREVER?!") You can find the other tour stops listed here.

Dark Halo (Angel Eyes Trilogy #3) by Shannon Dittemore

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
368 Pages

One halo brought sight to Brielle. Another offers sweet relief from what she sees.

Brielle can't help but see the Celestial realm. Even without the halo, it's everywhere she looks. And with the heavens above Stratus ravaged by war, Brielle wishes for another gift, any gift. Because Jake is gone. The only boy she's ever loved has been taken by the demon, Damien--and she knows if she ever wants to see him again, she must fight.

But fighting is so hard when everything you see makes you afraid.

When she receives instructions from the Throne Room leading her to Jake, she unknowingly walks into a diabolical and heartbreaking trap. Then the Prince of Darkness himself offers Brielle a halo of his own making. With the dark halo, she won't have to see the fear and brokenness that surround her. She'll be free of that unbearable burden. And it comes with a promise: the guarantee of a life with Jake.

When confusing details about Jake's past emerge, and the battle above reaches a fever pitch, Brielle is forced to make a choice. Will she choose the dark halo and the ignorance that comes with it, or will she choose to live with her eyes wide open and trust the Creator's design--even if it means a future without Jake?

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5-sets of the Angel Eyes Trilogy including Angel Eyes, Broken Wings and Dark Halo.  
US only.

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Dark Halo is the thrilling conclusion to the Angel Eyes trilogy. Let me tell you, I have followed this series since the release of the first book and each book just seems to get better than the last. As Dark Halo is the final novel, I was very worried. There is always a lot of pressure on finales--especially for beloved series. I should not have been worried. Shannon Dittemore's story ends just as strongly as it began.

I (again) feel the need to state that I'm not a very religious person. I say that because this is a very religion driven series and I was still very much able to enjoy it. Dittemore's strong prose and plots made it impossible for me to feel anything but love towards this series. Her talent gives Dark Halo the ability to stand on its own merits. There is something for everyone in this book. Though religion is a very heavy theme, I never once felt like it was being shoved down my throat. It is very common for authors to (whether consciously or not) push religion at its readers in novels with angels, and frustrate those who read them, too. I've had this experience several times, but Dittemore never made me feel uncomfortable. I applaud her for that.

There isn't much I can explain in regards to the plot without spoiling the first two books in the series, so I will just say that the cliffhanger from book two is immediately addressed. Jake and Brielle, along with their friends, must find the faith and strength to overcome their enemies while saving the world as they know it.

These characters… I don't even know how to properly describe them. Jake, Brielle, Marco and Kaylee all have found a place in my heart. While I originally found it strange to switch from first to third point-of-view, Dittemore pulls it off. It works well for this book. We get great insight into each of these "players." The different perspectives help us understand the motives behind their actions, and help the audience bond with them. After this novel, I even found that I was able to care for Liv--albeit reluctantly. Though she was not shown as a good guy, her redemption was excellent. Each character, major and minor, was given a role in Brielle and Jake's journey. No one felt out of place, or disjointed. Dittemore sees these each of characters through to the very end.

There is so much intensity in this book, but that's to be expected after the last two.The plot is strong, and moves very steadily. It never felt rushed, or seemed to drag on. The pace fit with the themes and events within Dark Halo very well. Dittemore shapes an excellent story and brings a beloved series to a close while being sure to answer any questions the readers may have. Even as we witness all of the trials these characters are put through, the author leaves us with hope in our hearts and a smile on our faces.

I am so happy I decided to give this series a chance. It was an amazing journey, watching these characters grow and come into themselves. Dittemore has impressed me and it saddens me to let go of these characters, but the ending leaves nothing but smiles. This book/series was amazing. Dittemore is a very talented writer, who I hope to see more of in the future.

I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher and YA Bound for my honest opinion and review.

Blog Tour: ARC Review + Giveaway: Broken Wings (Angel Eyes Trilogy #2) by Shannon Dittemore

Today, Edwin and Emily are happy to be a part of the 

Broken Wings Blog Tour

hosted by YA Bound.

Find the other tour stops here.

Broken Wings (Angel Eyes Trilogy #2) by Shannon Dittemore

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: February 19, 2013
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
311 Pages

Giant angels with metal wings and visible song. A blind demon restored from the pit of darkness. And a girl who has never felt more broken.

Brielle sees the world as it really is: a place where the Celestial exists side by side with human reality. But in the aftermath of a supernatural showdown, her life begins to crumble. Her boyfriend, Jake, is keeping something from her—something important. Her overprotective father has started drinking again. He’s dating a much younger woman who makes Brielle’s skin crawl, and he’s downright hostile toward Jake. Haunting nightmares keep Brielle from sleeping, and flashes of Celestial vision keep her off kilter.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s been targeted. The Prince of Darkness himself has heard of the boy with healing in his hands and of the girl who sees through the Terrestrial Veil. When he plucks the blind demon, Damien, from the fiery chasm and sends him back to Earth with new eyes, the stage is set for a cataclysmic battle of good versus evil.

Then Brielle unearths the truth about her mother’s death and she must question everything she ever thought was true.

Brielle has no choice. She knows evil forces are converging and will soon rain their terror down upon the town of Stratus. She must master the weapons she’s been given. She must fight.

But can she fly with broken wings?

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Tour-Wide Giveaway Details:

- One winner will receive print copies of Angel Eyes and Broken Wings by Shannon Dittemore

- Five winners will receive a print copy of Broken Wings by Shannon Dittemore

- Open to US entrants only

- We are not responsible for lost and/or damaged packages

- Ends 03/01/2013

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Review:

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I don't like angel books. Now, I know what you are thinking: "Why did you pick up Broken Wings if you don't like angel books?" The answer is because I was extremely impressed with the first book in this series, Angel Eyes. I decided to read Broken Wings because though this is a pretty religion-oriented novel, it is handled tastefully and the story is compelling beyond the religious aspects.

In Broken Wings, Brielle and Jake are in search of answers. Answers about Jake's past, answers about Brielle's mom and answers about their gifts. But beyond their search, danger is coming and it's coming for them. The Prince knows of their existence and wants Damien, whose eyes have been restored, to be them to him. It doesn't help that Brielle's father is starting to fall apart, or that Jake's been keeping a secret. To survive the impending battle of good and evil, Brielle and Jake must trust in each other, trust in the Father and fight.

I really love these characters. They are genuine and easy to relate to, which made reading the book a breeze. Brielle and Jake's love for each other is pure and so fantastically sweet. Brielle's dad really angered me in this story. He's drinking a lot. He's being cruel to Jake, even though Jake is being nothing but kind to him. He's also dating a much younger woman who Brielle doesn't trust. I really wanted to smack her dad. He's extremely selfish in this novel and I started to loathe him. And Olivia? I had a bad feeling about her from the moment she was introduced. I look forward to seeing how the author expands her story in the next book. The minor characters that are reintroduced from the first book continue to build the plot. Especially Marco and Kaylee. I wish we could see inside their heads!

The story itself was captivating. I read through it quickly and didn't even think about putting it down. The author brilliant weaves a tale that will capture the interest of all of its readers, even those who, like me, are not religious. I have so many questions I need answered. Broken Wings left a lot unresolved. We are introduced to many new problems, but only given a few solutions. It sets up the final book nicely. 

Ms. Dittemore has thoroughly impressed me with these Broken Wings and its prequel, Angel Eyes. I eagerly am awaiting the third and final book in the series, Dark Halo. (Though I'm not excited about having to wait six months to read it because of the way the book ended!)

I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review via Netgalley.

Blog Tour: Author Interview: Fire Prophet (Son of Angels #1) by Jerel Law

Today, Edwin and Emily are happy to be a part of the Fire Prophet Blog Tour

hosted by YA Bound.

Find the other tour stops here.

Fire Prophet (Son of Angels #2) by Jerel Law

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers
257 Pages

"Jerel Law transports readers to a place where supernatural forces of good and evil collide. Young readers will be entertained and inspired . . . I heartily recommend it." --Robert Whitlow, bestselling author of the Tides of Truth series

What if you could actually see angels and fallen angels engaging in battle--and you were expected to join the fight?

It's been one year since Jonah Stone and his sister, Eliza, discovered that their mother is a nephilim, the product of a union between a human and a fallen angel, which makes them and their little brother, Jeremiah, "quarterlings," or one-quarter angel. After embarking on an epic journey to rescue their mother and the other nephilim, who were kidnapped by fallen angels, the Stone kids have enjoyed a little peace and quiet.

But when Jonah and Eliza are attacked by fallen angels at school, they learn that quarterlings all over the world are being targeted, and separating them from their parents is the only way to keep them safe. The kids undergo special training to help them discover their own unique angelic gifts, which come in handy when they embark on a mission to find a mysterious prophet who they believe holds the key to Abaddon's defeat in a massive battle between good and evil.

Parents today are looking for fiction that makes Christianity and the Bible exciting for their kids. This series is the first Christian answer to Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Kane Chronicles, the Secret Series, and other middle grade series packed with adventure, action, and supernatural fights. But the message is solidly scriptural in that God alone is always in control.

"Jerel Law has crafted a fantastic story that will leave every reader wanting more. Stop looking for the next great read in fantasy fiction for young readers--you've found it!" --Robert Liparulo, bestselling author of Dreamhouse Kings and "The 13th Tribe"

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FIND SPIRIT FIGHTER(SON OF ANGELS #1):

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Q & A With Author Jerel Law

Q: Everyone seems to have a "how I got published" story. What is yours?

My story, like a lot of others, is about the right door opening up at the right time, combined with
a lot of persistence. I had been writing fiction for ten years before my first book, Spirit Fighter,
was published. Four completed, unpublished manuscripts are sitting on my laptop right now.
None of them sold, but I learned lots of lessons with each. Writing those books was like going
to school for me. Each one helped me become a better writer. The fifth one turned out to be the
one that sold.

After I’d written the fifth, I did what most authors do (and what I’d done four times before with
limited success) – try to find an agent! Which can be just as hard as landing a publisher. But I
remembered a conversation I had with a local author two years prior – a great guy named Robert
Whitlow. I figured reaching out to him couldn’t hurt, so I asked if he would look at my query
letter and give me some suggestions. He agreed, read it, and to my surprise, also asked to see
the first chapter of my book. The next day we spoke on the phone and he told me how much
he liked what he’d read (I still remember how excited I was as we spoke) – and then he offered
to introduce me to his publisher. Not long after, we reached out to a wonderful editor named
MacKenzie Howard from Thomas Nelson via email, and ten minutes after I contacted her, she
requested my manuscript. Ten months later (yes, it took that long!) I had a two-book contract
for the Son of Angels series. At this point, I still don’t have an agent. And Robert has become a
great friend.

Q: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer?

The truth is, I did not grow up wanting to be an author. I wasn’t one of those kids who filled
journals with words and ideas. I was too busy playing sports, going to school, and hanging out
with my friends. The real story (although I’m not quite sure how I feel about letting this cat out
of the bag) is that around 1999, my wife and I were on vacation at the beach, and she brought
a book along that I ended up reading – The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. Yeah, I know. But
looking back, I realize I had some frustration in my current job as a pastor, and needed an outlet
for some creative expression. Coming back from our trip (and having read that book), I was
inspired with an idea for a novel. I talked to Susan, my wife, about it, and she encouraged me to
get busy and write. So my first book was a Sparks-ish love story set in North Carolina (where I
live), written for her. And apparently, she was the only one who liked it. But I realized through
that that I really enjoyed writing.

Tour Wide Giveaway:
- Five Winners will receive copies of Fire Prophet by Jerel Law
- Open to US residents only

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Thank you to Jerel Law for stopping by and YA Bound for hosting the tour!

Blog Tour: Book Review & Giveaway: Angel Eyes (Angel Eyes Trilogy #1) by Shannon Dittemore

Today, Emily is happy to be a part of the Angel Eyes Blog Tour

hosted by YA Bound.

Find the other tour stops here.

Angel Eyes (Angel Eyes Trilogy #1) by Shannon Dittemore

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: May 29, 2012

Publisher: Thomas Nelson Fiction

320 Pages

Once you’ve seen, you can’t unsee. Everything changes when you’ve looked at the world through . . .

ANGEL EYES

Brielle’s a ballerina who went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She’s come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and the incredible, numbing cold she can’t seem to shake.

Jake’s the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.

Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what’s going to happen. And a beauty brighter than Jake or Brielle has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices start.

A realm that only angels and demons—and Brielle—can perceive.

VISIT THE AUTHOR:

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Review:

Angel Eyes was a great book. I grew obsessed with the story very quickly! As soon as I started, I knew I was going to like it.

Of course, my instinct was right. I wanted to read it from the moment I saw the cover. It's so beautiful and mysterious. Plus, it fits in perfectly with the plot and a specific scene in the book. I love when covers are beautiful and make sense in regards to the story.

The storyline in this book was awesome. I don't know what else to say about it. I was immediately captivated by the writing style. The characters were so easy to fall in love with. I connected with Gabrielle, or Brielle as she referred to, very easily. I've never been a dancer, but the book was writing so well, that I could feel Brielle's love for dancing. It made me wish I didn't have two left feet! I've always admired ballerinas, and I'm not sure what it was about Brielle, but her as a ballerina really intrigued me. That sounds so strange, I know, but you'll understand when you read it!

Brielle's father is great. He's there for her when she needs him and tries his best to ensure her happiness. He loves her dearly and didn't abandon her when her mother passed away like many parents in young adult fiction are known to do. Her friends, well the only real friends mentioned in this book are one from the school that she's returned to and one from her talent specified school. Both seem very nice, though the one from her school is a bit annoying at times.

I LOVE JAKE. His backstory is so interesting and his life is just crazy. He's a great match for Brielle. He cares for her deeply. Bonus? No insta-love. There is attraction and acknowledgement of a future together, but they aren't like: "Ooh, I love you so much. Let's get married right now and have a thousand babies because we knew immediately that we were meant to be forever." We all know what I'm talking about. Jake and Brielle's story wasn't like that at all. This book didn't focus on their relationship, though it did have a role in the story.

I haven't read a book about angels that I've really liked until this book. In fact, I loved this book. I've seen a lot of reviews that say people didn't really love it, they just enjoyed it. It wasn't phenomenal. I'll agree there were some issues that should have been edited, and a couple of modern references that seemed out of place in a book like this. Those things did not take away from the book in my opinion. The writing style was slow, but I really enjoyed it. I thought it read perfectly for the characters and the story.

Before reading this, I was a bit nervous. As I said, I haven't read an angel novel that I've enjoyed. I'm not very religious and most angel books seem to shove religion down your throat. I didn't feel that way with this book. It felt more like a paranormal fantasy than a religious novel, which really made me happy. I really, really enjoyed Angel Eyes and I am excited to read book two. I know it will be just as wonderful as the first! 

I received a free e-copy of this novel from the publisher through Netgalleyfor a blog tour in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway Details:

1 Winner will receive an e-copy of Angel Eyes

Open Internationally

End 6/12/2012

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