the plan of action.

I wanted to tell you what's going to happen with the Paperdoll Blog Party. Basically, it's going to be a bunch of reviews of Paperdoll, plus some fun stuff thrown in. I'm really excited about it. We'll be having some really cool bloggers reviewing the book, as well as a review by Natalie herself.

I'm still working on the scheduling part of it; hopefully we can get it up and going before Christmas. I'll be traveling during the holidays, so likely the blog party will begin in early January. It'll be a week long event, with something posted every day. There'll be something special on the first day, reviews the next five days, and something to wind it up on the seventh day. Tell your friends about it! Blog about it! The more people participating the better!

If you have any questions, let me know. If you'd like to contribute a review, please feel free to email it to me. I can't wait!

**originally posted at Beauty Like a Kaleidoscope.

Hatteras Girl, by Alice J. Wisler

Jackie Donavan has two things she’s looking for: a strong, wonderful man to marry, and a bed and breakfast she’s planned on owning since childhood. Her well-meaning family has tried to help her with this first ambition, setting her up for numerous blind dates, none of which prove successful. For the time being, she works for a magazine near her home, helping to pay for the old Bailey Place, the bed and breakfast she’s been saving up for. On a mission to buy the Bailey Place, she meets Davis Erickson, the handsome and available owner of the Bailey Place. Have her dreams been fulfilled?

Alice J. Wisler did a great job on this novel. Jackie is a likeable and relatable person, and Buck was amazing. The book is set in a beach town (in South Carolina, possibly? My geography is terrible.) and the description was lovely. My only problem with this book happened to be Jackie: I was upset as soon as Davis walked into the picture. They moved way too fast and that wasn’t cool. It was slightly predictable, but that’s expected of chick lit, right? The book was sweet and the ending satisfying.

Note: I received this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a favorable review, only an honest one.

Amy Inspired, by Bethany Pierce.

Amy Gallagher is a college professor and an aspiring writer. Her passion for words caused her to give up a safe job that she loved to pursue the last item on her childhood list of careers: famous novelist.

Her rejection slips are piling up when Eli, odd and unavailable, comes to live in her apartment by her roommate’s invite. Eli, who is an artist, wears his hair in a ponytail and has a long distance relationship with his girlfriend in Europe, slowly turns Amy’s world around. Despite Amy’s reservations, he proves that he may be the inspiration she’s been looking for.

I enjoyed this book. It was a classic chick lit: girl meets boy, boy is unavailable/undesirable. Girl becomes friends with boy. They have a falling out. Boy leaves. They meet again, girl realizes boy in available/desirable. It ends happily ever after.

I thought that the book, although lovely, was slightly depressing. Amy is walking around, single, her ambitions unfulfilled, and that’s how it continues for the majority of the book. The scene that saved it was the end of the book, where Amy is looking at his art in the display. That scene was magical. It formed a clear picture in my mind, and that’s what I walked away with from this book.

Note: I received this book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review, only an honest one.

Heaven is for Real

Heaven is for Real, by Todd Burpo, is the story of a little boy's brush with death and his trip to Heaven and back.

Colton Burpo, aged 4, astounds his parents when he casually says something about speaking to Jesus in Heaven. It began a few months before.

Colton was in the hospital with a ruptured appendix. The doctors at the previous hospital had dismissed the idea of a ruptured appendix, and tried other treatments over a five day period. 
His parents decide that it’s not working, and move him to a different hospital. Colton has emergency surgery, during which he spends three minutes in Heaven.

Over the next few years, more details become evident. He displays knowledge of relatives who died before he was born, as well as meeting his miscarried sister.

I did enjoy this book. The story was interesting enough to keep me reading, especially Colton’s stories of Heaven. But besides that, the story didn’t really hold me. Yes, it was interesting, but that was all. The words didn’t pull me in. I finished it, and sat there thinking, “Well, the whole Heaven thing was cool.” The book was great for it’s purpose: telling Colton’s story. That’s as far as it went with me.

Note: I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishing. I was not required to post a favorable review, only an honest one.

Artemis Fowl: the Atlantis Complex.

Seems like our favorite genius super-criminal has developed a slight (and quickly progressing) mental disease. I had high expectations for this book: it had to live up to all the previous books AND still intrigue me with a new story.

Eion Colfer has created another amazing Fowl tale.

It begins in Iceland, puts the characters in new situations that they don't know how to respond to. Artemis is falling apart as he tries to save the world, trusting no one, Foaly is faced with danger first hand, Holly has to take command, and it falls to Butler to protect Artemis even when he doesn't trust Butler.

The book is full of new enemies, new threats, and the one person able to stop them is trapped in his own mind.

One of my favorite Fowl books! I fall more in love with Artemis every time I read them...why can't he be around to help me with Geometry? The end of this book was slightly bittersweet knowing that there will be just one more book published. Maybe a Miles and Beckett series next? I'm voting yes for that one.

Blue Like Jazz.

Read it. Go on. Find a copy, pick it up, and read it. This book, well, it doesn't sound like a book. It reads more like a conversation, like listening while a good friend tells his story. It's about the author, Donald Miller, and his journey in accepting God's love. It's blunt and real. It made me think, made me laugh, and made me question how I was living. One of my favorite chapters is the one about confessions. When I read that chapter, I felt like I needed to apologize. To my family, to those kids at school who I judged, to the girl at youth group who annoys me.

This book is one of those books that you pick up, read, and flip to the front cover and read again. It's that kind of book that sticks in your head. It challenged me more than anything I've read before. One of my all time favorites.

You Were Made to Make a Difference.

Max Lucado collaborated with his daughter Jenna Lucado Bishop in this book for teens. It gives easy, practical tips of ways that you can serve God and your community. I enjoyed how easy this book is to understand, and yet it’s packed with great truths. It displays stories of teens who made a difference, who realized that God created them to do more in their lives than what immediately benefits them.  You Were Made to Make a Difference is enjoyable and clear, full of inspiring stories of young people who rose beyond negative stereotypes and did something to help someone else.

One of my favorite chapters was chapter five: Unplug and Tune In. It talked about how our generation is dulled by technology and media, rarely taking the time to “unplug the headphones,” and see the need around them.

I think that the ideas in this book are vital for teens who need to step out of their comfort zone and make a difference for someone who can’t do it on their own. Max Lucado and Jenna Bishop did a fabulous job of making this relevant for teenagers.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who has read and enjoyed books like Do Hard Things and Start Here by Alex & Brett Harris. My rating? Four stars. Great job, Max and Jenna.

(thanks so much, Booksneeze, for providing this book free of charge.)