Angels: Agents of Light, Love, and Power by Donald W. Parry – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Jul 082013
 

angelsagentsoflightAngels: Agents of Light, Love, and Power

Author: Donald W. Parry

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published Date: July 2013

Hardcover/ebook: 260 pages

Genre: Religious Nonfiction

ISBN# 978-1-60907-519-4

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: received a temporary digital review copy that will be removed from my device after a short time

Summary

Stories are told around the world of persons who have received help or comfort from someone they couldn’t see—an angel or spirit who guided them or in some other way gave them assistance from beyond the veil.

But just who are these angels? Are they even real?

Although angels are a vital part of Latter-day Saint history and doctrine, their roles and purposes are often misunderstood. In this inspiring volume, author Donald W. Parry discusses in a clear and understandable way what we can learn from the scriptures and from modern prophets and apostles about angels and their missions.

Here you will find answers to such questions as the following:

  • What are angels?
  • What powers and abilities are angels given?
  • How do angels communicate with mortals?
  • What are the assigned missions and roles of angels?
  • How do angels reveal truth and teach the doctrines of the gospel?
  • How do angels minister to and comfort mortals?
  • What is the role of guardian angels in the modern world?

When just the thought of someone watching out for us can give us hope in challenging times, to realize that angels minister light, love, and power to us, whether we are aware of them or not, gives us unparalleled understanding, comfort, and peace.

Review

Angels: Agents of Light, Love, and Power is a fascinating look at the subject of angels and a more in-depth look at angels than I’ve ever taken before. It lists and discusses everything we have learned about angels from scripture and modern-day revelation, specifically what an angel is, what kind of beings angels are or can be, what angels are capable of doing, and what we know about the work of angels.

Included in the text are specific incidents, dreams and revelations regarding angels from prophets and apostles as well as some from members in early church history. By these experiences, the reader learns the importance of angels in accomplishing the Lord’s will and work here on the earth. The author limits the scope of the book’s focus to scripture and revelation from prophets and apostles so as to remain as close to the truth of angels as possible.

On a more personal note for the reader, the author discusses the influence angels can and do have in our own lives, including the revealed keys for recognizing a being as an angel of God or an angel of the devil. A lot of people, myself included, probably think the time of seeing angels has passed and isn’t something that happens very often nowadays. After reading this book and understanding the scope of angels and their work, I realize that I have felt and experienced the work of angels in my own life many times. I will definitely be paying more attention from this point on to angels and the circumstances around their appearances while studying the scriptures as well as during meaningful and spiritual experiences in my own life.

Angels: Agents of Light, Love, and Power was an educational read for me. Anyone who is interested in learning more about angels will find this book useful, interesting, and inspiring.

Find Angels: Agents of Light, Love, and Power

KINDLE | DESERET BOOK | DB BOOKSHELF | SEAGULL BOOK | GOODREADS

 

Until Next Time (The Angel Chronicles Book 1) by Amy Lignor — Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Apr 252012
 

 Until Next Time

Author: Amy Lignor

Publisher: Tribute Publishing

Published: February 1, 2012

ISBN13: 9780983741855

eBook 1st Edition 255 pages

FTC FYI: Review Copy

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads summary: How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the ‘life’ they’ve been assigned. What they don’t realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.

When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz’s establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel’s path and a warrior’s plans.

From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that’s ripping them apart.

My Review

3 1/2 stars.  I was pretty stuck with 3 stars through the book, but the climax and the ending gave it that extra boost.  I did enjoy the book, I just thought the language (meaning the way the characters spoke) wasn’t fit for the time period.  Also, there is party that the main characters attend, and why they were there was a contradiction to why they returned to the house.  The story is entertaining though, and the author did do a good job of developing the characters.  Jason was a favorite.  The book jumps back from Emily to Liz, which I enjoyed.  I liked seeing both sides of the characters.  The one relationship that I had a hard time with Daniel’s and Liz’s.  It wasn’t as believable for me as it should of been.

Content

There is some language, and two of characters have sex, but there is no details, just hints in that direction.

NOOK / KINDLE / PDF / SMASHWORDS

About the author:

Amy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.

Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.

She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.

Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / BLOG / GOODREADS

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Nov 042010
 

Halo


Alexandra Adornetto
Publisher: Fiewel and Friends
Published: August 2010
ISBN: 978-0-312-65626-3
Hardcover: 484 pages
FTC… Borrowed from the library

Halo page 1 “Our arrival didn’t go exactly as planned. I remember it was almost dawn when we landed because the streetlights were still on. We had hoped our descent would go unnoticed, which it mainly did, save the thirteen-year-old boy doing a paper round.”
“Halo” is the story of three angels that are sent to earth to find and fight, if necessary, the agents of darkness. Gabriel, Ivy, and Bethany are the sibling angels. They are the agents of light. Ivy and Gabriel are centuries old. Bethany is only 17 in mortal years. Each sibling has a different gift and their gifts and strengths are why they were sent for this mission. Gabriel is an archangel, a warrior. Ivy is a seraphim and she has the gift of healing. Bethany’s gift hasn’t been revealed yet, but her ability to relate to humans was why she was sent. Ivy and Gabriel have both fought many battles against the dark forces, this will be Bethany’s first. The three are sent to Venus Cove because of the surge of unusually evil activity occurring.
In order to fit in, Gabriel is hired to be the music teacher at the local high school, and Bethany enrolls as a student. Ivy is too old to be a student, so she spends her time volunteering at nursing homes, helping in soup kitchens, knitting hats for clothes drives… Whatever she can do to help around the community. The three of them really stick out because of their beautifully flawless skin, perfect bodies, and if you looked close enough, you could catch their halos. In school, Bethany meets Molly who introduces her to life as a teenager. Bethany is very naive, of course, and makes some silly choices. Eventually, she meets Xavier, and is instantly drawn to him. He has a sad history, and for that reason, Molly warns her not to waste her time, but Bethany can’t help herself. Xavier is the captain of the school, and he’s a really nice guy, who is nice to everyone.
Xavier and Bethany hit it off. Some surprising things happen, that have to do with wings… :). Later, the bad guy shows up. Luckily, because that’s when the story really started to pick up for me. His name is Jake Thorn, and… well, I’ll let you find out.
**Heads up: There is a scene with two main characters that is sexual where they don’t have sex, but where their clothing is removed, and they lay together in bed. Also, there is some teen-age drinking. Parental discretion should be used for how old the individual should be to read this book.**
I enjoyed this book, but thought it was about 100 pages too long. The story is good and even though, it was slow in parts, it did hold my attention. The climax was exciting and it is set up for a sequel. The coolest part about this book is the author. She is only 18! I couldn’t believe it when I read that, and this is her second book. Alexandra’s first book is “The Shadow Thief”, she wrote that when she was 14. The writing was done well, characters were developed, and there was a good flow to it. I just thought there was some things that weren’t necessary, and repeated too much. Oh, to be a teenager again :).
3 stars out of 5, and I will read the sequel, “Hades”, when it comes out.

Fallen by Lauren Kate

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Sep 232010
 

Fallen

Author – Lauren Kate
Publisher – Delacorte Press
Published – December 2009
IBSN13 – 9780385738934
Hardcover – 452 pages
ftc fyi – Borrowed from the library
This was one of those books that caught my eye with the cover. I’d seen it around for a few months and wondered what the story was about, and I was always thinking that I needed to read it. Then, a couple weeks ago, my friend called raving about this book she finished in one day, she knew I would like it too.
“Fallen” is a book about mystery, questions, and figuring out the past. Lucinda Price is sent to Sword and Cross because she is thought of as a menace, someone who is possibly dangerous. Something happened in her past that even she can’t remember all the details about. In Sword and Cross the reds (cameras) follow you everywhere and you can’t even have your cell phone. Luce meets some bizarre kids on her first day. Many she’s not sure she can trust, but hopes that she can. Yet, the first time she sees Daniel Grigori, there is a hint of recognition there she can not place and things about him she can’t ignore.
I liked most the mystery of it all. Not the mystery of crime solving :), just the figuring everyone out and their intentions toward Luce. Luce is pursued by Cam, a repeat at Sword and Cross. He brings her in and shows her the ropes. Arriane, and Penn are friendly too. They are always trying to get her away from Cam, but why? But, Cam wants her away from Daniel… What will she do and who will she choose? Luce does have some secrets of her own. As she is tries to figure out her surroundings, the past, what happened and why it happened on the night that changed her life forever, she could even be in danger.
I really enjoyed this book. It is a darker story, but I was fascinated by all the characters. Some were spookier then others, and a few have wild secrets of their own. I mostly enjoyed Daniel, figuring him out, and why he did what he did, and why all out avoids anything to do with Luce at first. As I was reading, I felt on edge, with butterflies in my stomach wondering what would happen next. (but all in a good way)
The sequel “Torment” comes out September 28, and I will read that.
4 stars