This Reader's Review: "The Boss" Trilogy

 

You have to love Tumblr. I know I do. This past week, a post recommended a good trilogy for the readers of "50 Shades of Grey." I am thankful to Mara Wilson's (child actor from "Madeline") tweet about the Abigail Barnette series "The Boss." So, I went to look it up on Amazon. I did read that other BDSM trilogy. I was hardly impressed. I was open to try another one. The first book of the series is "The Boss." It was actually free on Amazon via Kindle. Which is always a win for me. I jumped head first into this book. The main characters are Neil and Sophie. Both dynamic and flawed in their own right. Both characters I instantly liked. I love when an author can create a world with words that I can see in my head. Barnette does that for me. She creates a look into a good BDSM, Dom/Sub relationship. The characters feel and speak like real people. The situations are ones I can imagine. I finished this book in hours. I could not wait to find out what's next. Books 2 ("The Girlfriend") and 3 ("The Bride") are only $0.99 on Amazon last weekend. This was another win for me. I finished the entire trilogy in one weekend sitting. I didn't think it was possible but the second and third books were better than their predecessors. Barnette has gained a fan in me.

 

What I loved the most about the books was the care that was shown in the Dom/sub relationship. It showed how much Neil cared for, loved Sophie. Their d/s relationship wasn't about pain or manipulation. The most amazing thing was the sub care that Neil provided to Sophie. I loved their love. From their first interaction until the last page of the third book, I was always for their relationship. The age gap is insane but I forgot about it until it is mentioned. There is only one character I hate in the book. Barnette has a gift and I am appreciative for it. I am slightly intrigued by the whole BDSM culture. This book made my interest grow a little. If you are interested in that lifestyle, you should def check this series out. Oh, and btw, there will be a fourth book released next spring entitled "The Ex." And, since I loved the trilogy, I cannot wait to find out what happens between Sophie and  Neil. Get into it. 

This Reader's Review: Part XXIV : "Unfriending My Ex: And Other Things I'll Never Do" by Kim Stolz

 

The title of this book caught my eyes as I was walking out of the library. "Unfriending My Ex: And Other Things I'll Never Do" is definitely an eye catching title. I double backed to check it out. I recognized the author's face. She was a contestant on one of the early seasons of "America's Next Top Model" which I used to watch religiously with my best friend and goddaughter. Her name is Kim Stolz. Her book is a look into the way social media is changing our interactions with each other.  It's a subject that I can totally relate to. We are so technologically advanced in 2014 but I cannot say it's actually for the better. We have evolved to spending more time on Facebook that actual face to face meetings. In a nutshell, social media isn't actually real. Stolz makes a good point that we all have become slaves to our devices and accounts.

 

 

What I really loved about this book is the way it made me reevaluate the way I interact with people. I am guilty of being addicted to my phone. I constantly check my email and social media accounts. I love the instant gratification of it. But, as Stolz reminds me that none of it is really real. I have unfriended hundreds of people I only casually knew because they did not need to be privy to my life. Even though I do not frequent Facebook or Twitter like I used to, I am still an addict. This book proves it. I liked her in-depth and cheeky look into her own addiction. We are all addicted. I've gotten better with it. This was a great read and I really enjoyed it. Get into it. 

Because it's Tuesday...

• New music makes me happy. If you are looking for something new and different, check out SZA's "Z" EP. I love it. Also, random but she is gorgeous. Her hair and those freckles are everything. I gave Kelis' "Food" project a listen. I wasn't that impressed with it. 
  
  
  
  
• I finally saw "Captain America The Winter Soldier" a few weekends ago. And,  loved it!!! I am a huge fan of the Marvel Superheroes movies. Love them all. I was particularly interested in this one because of Anthony Mackie as Sam Hill aka "The Falcon." Great movie. 

• I also read Chimamanda Adichie's "Americanah." It was a wonderful book. I loved the storyline and the two main characters. I loved the writing style of Adichie. She is awesome. It was a love story but there were so many other layers. It was interesting to read about the experience of a Non-American Black's experience in America. Love transcends all groups and labels. Adichie's book exemplifies this. I would suggest this book to everyone. Great read. 

                                                

• Last night's season premiere of the final season of "The Boondocks" was a tad disappointing for me. I am a fan. I have been since it was a comic strip. The absence of Aaron McGruder was felt heavily. The episode was entitled "Pretty Boy Flizzy" and it is Chris Brown inspired. The episode seemed dated and lame. Also, it wasn't even as good as the Usher/A Pimp Named Slickback episode of season 2. There wasn't many scenes with Huey, Riley or Granddad. I will watch another episode but I am sad. I feel like the show is going to go out without a bang. No McGruder snarky sarcasm and quick wit makes for a slower paced show.            
  
• Saw a pic on FB and felt like I needed to see it. Also, felt like I should pass it on. Get into it and your goals for this year. 
  
• I am severely annoyed and I really need to shake this feeling. I'm just not really sure how to do so. Also, I have the overwhelming feeling that a certain conversation is going to happen sooner than later. And, I won't like the content. I think I have to start mentally preparing myself for the fuckery because it is coming. 
                                           
• So, to shake all of this off, I am gonna soak in a hot bubble bath, drink a glass or three of wine and turn the music up loud. That will change my mood. Happy Tuesday again. 
  

This Reader's Review: Part XXIII: "Divergent" Trilogy

I spent my weekend reading the "Divergent" trilogy. I was interested in it because the "Divergent" movie just opened in theaters.  The movie trailers peeked my interest. Also, Zoe Kravitz is in the movie and I really like her. The trilogy is set in futuristic Chicago. People are split up into 5 factions based on their talents. The 5 factions are Dauntless, Erudite, Abnegation, Candor, and Amity. The main character is Beatrice "Tris" Prior, a 16 year old Abnegation girl. The trilogy is built around Tris and her choices. She is a very interesting character. Other notable characters are Tobias (Four), Christina, Caleb, Will, Uriah, Marcus, Evelyn and Peter. Each interesting in their own right.  I love the way she grows from her first scene and her last scene. I finished the trilogy in 2 1/2 days. But, I do read incredible fast.   

I wanted to like the Divergent series. I had high hopes. They did not live up to it. They trilogy is well written and the story flows quite well. But, there is a disconnect somewhere along the lines. I just wasn't that into it. I liked some of the characters but towards the middle of the second book, I started to figure out what was really going on and I didn't like it. I hated the ending of "Allegiant" completely. The movies may be better but I no longer feel the need to rush out and see them. Maybe I am not the intended audience. I read all three because I like to finish what I start. I doubt seriously that I will ever read them again. I just felt unfulfilled once I was done. That is never a good feeling after reading a book.  I read a lot. It's my favorite thing in the world. This was an interesting way to spend a weekend. I wasn't overwhelmed by the plot of the series. I wanted so much more from a dystopian novel. It wants to be "the Hunger Games" but it fails. If you are curious about this trilogy, I say check it out for yourself.  

This Reader's Review: Part XXII: Steve Stoute's "The Tanning of America"

When it comes to reading, there isn't much  I won't read. Reading is something I do often and early. I love music almost as much as I love reading. So, whenever I come across books about the music business and the like, I have to read them. Such was the case when I found Steve Stoute's book "The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hip Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy" on the library shelf. It's a book that had been on my to read list for a year or so. I just never got around to it because there were so many books on the list. I am so glad I picked it up and read it this month. It was so insightful about so many things. A lot of the topics are things I never gave a lot of thought to. This book shows how Hip-Hop literally changed the world. Stoute takes you on a historical journey that intertwines the world of Hip-Hop from it's infancy to the world of mass media marketing. It is beyond interesting to see how the world of Hip-Hop, which is full of Black people, changed the way the world markets their products. I was amazed more often than not while reading this book.

I love the conversations that are included. Stoute talks to a lot of big name Hip-Hop players such as Jay Z, Eminem, Fab Five Freddy, and Will Smith. One important tanning moment is one I will always remember. It is the infamous LL Cool J Gap commercial in which he is sporting a FUBU hat  and drops a "for us by us" endorsement. It is crazy that no one who worked for Gap knew who or what  "FUBU" was. The corporation did not realize that their huge star just name dropped his own company twice in a national commercial. It was quite genius on LL's part. That is a great example of tanning in America. Superstars who looked like me were the ones guiding the culture. When Jay rapped about growing up and not wearing a Throwback jersey and putting on a crisp button up, the world responded in kind. It is that kind of marketing power which is the reason for tanning in America. While I enjoyed everything about this book, there is one chapter that is my favorite. One of the last chapters entitled "1520 Sedgwick Avenue - 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue." It focuses on the tanning effect of Hip Hop on politics. It takes you from the inception of Hip Hop to the election of the first Black President. In this chapter, Stoute discusses the stolen first election of George W. Bush, the horror that was the governmental mismanagement of Hurricane Katrina and the things that led up to the election of two term President Barack H. Obama. 

Also, make sure you check out the 4 part, 4 night special on VH1 on "The Tanning of America." It begins tonight @ 8. After finishing this book, I am super hyped to watch this documentary. I want to see some of the interviews that eventually became the basis of the book. I knew Steve Stoute's name because of Jay Z. I did not know much about him to be honest. I just knew he was a mover & shaker behind the scenes in Hip Hop, a name that carried weight and was respected. This book shows me why. He is incredible smart and knows his stuff. "The Tanning of America" is a great look at how a genre of music and a lifestyle has changed the way America looks and feels. It is quiet amazing. This book was an incredibly insightful look into what made the changes. It is simply a great read. Get into Steve Stoute's "The Tanning of America" today!

This Reader's Review: Part XXI: "Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns"

"The Devil Wears Prada" is one of my favorite books and movies. Miranda Priestley is a horrible character that I could not hate. I loved her. The book was a favorite that I reread constantly. When the movie came out, I couldn't get to a theater quick enough. Ms. Meryl Streep embodied Miranda Priestley. I was always a fan of hers but this role made me a stan. Streep was e-very-thing in this film. I loved Andy and Emily was well. The book and movie are all time favorites in my world. I own both. I also will watch the movie every single time I catch it on tv. It's that good to me. So, hen I heard that there would be a sequel, I was ecstatic. "Return Wears Prada: The Devil Returns" was the titled and I couldn't wait to get into it. 

"Revenge Wears Prada" picks up a decade after "The Devil Wears Prada" ends. Andy and Emily are shockingly best friends and business partners. Their unlikely friendship is the basis of this book. They are the owners of a posh wedding magazine that is in the vein of "Runway." It's the magazine that is run by Miranda Priestley in TDWP" that Andy and Emily first met. Their lives are totally different now. There are husbands and babies and lives totally devoid of the horror that was Miranda. Things are going great until Miranda slyly walks back into their lives. Andy is adamantly against her while Emily is all for letting her back in. The journey that takes place is wild. The book is a great read. I love catching up with old characters that I love.  I loved it. I do think it would make an awesome movie. If you were a fan of the first book, then this is a book you need to read. "Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns" was amazing. 

This Reader's Review: Part XX: Demetria L. Lucas "A Belle in Brooklyn"

I cannot recall how I first heard of Demetria L. Lucas. I didn't know her real name at that moment. She was just "A Belle in Brooklyn." She is a relationship expert, a blogger, journalist, an author and now a reality tv star on Bravo's "Blood, Sweat, and Heels." I've been following her for some time now on Twitter.  She gives great advice via her ask.fm page and she tweets interesting things daily. I feel like I know her and I like her. I've been wanting to read her debut novel "A Belle in Brooklyn:  The Go-to Girl For Advice on Living Your Best Single Life" for some time now. But, I have an enormous to be read list and stack. But, I was in the library last weekend and couldn't pass it up. I dived right into. From the opening paragraph, it was everything I wanted it to be and more. I could not put it down. I needed to know more about these men and the dating scene in New York. I finished it in a day and a half. 

I kinda live tweeted some of my favorite parts of the book. This book is one woman's dating journey. I love Lucas' take on men and dating. I love the way she paints the pictures. I felt like I knew all of the characters in her book. Her voice and tone are very distinct. I love an author that makes me feel like I am right in the center of their literary world. Lucas does this effortlessly. The setting of her book is mostly New York with trips to DC and L.A. The men are different and varied. She dispenses real life advice for single women  about men and dating. I learned a lot from reading this book. There was one paragraph that hit me like a ton of bricks. I've included it below. It was like a ton of bricks fell on my head. I was deeply invested in her dating tales, especially those involving Greg. "A Belle in Brooklyn" was an easy, fun read. I loved it. Lucas will be releasing her second book, "Don't Waste Your Pretty:The Go-to Guide for Making Smarter Decisions in Life & Love" this year. I cannot wait to read it.  

This Reader's Review: Part XIX: "The Happiness Project"

I hadn't read a new book in about a week. I was searching for something new to jump in to. I was in desperate need to find something new to read. This was the perfect book for me. The book is "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. Happiness is something I've struggled with for the last year. In short, I couldn't find my way back to happy. I started this year off with one simple thought: be happy. To me, that meant thinking happy thoughts to change my outlook, even when I didn't feel happy. So, in a way, I was already exploring my own happiness project when I discovered this gem via my friend Joseph's Tumblr page. I had so many "a-ha" moments while reading. I love when a book makes me rethink things. There are things I have been doing all wrong. I learned so much from this book. I think everyone would learn a lot from Rubin's book. 

"Love is a funny thing." -- Gretchen Rubin

"Nietzsche wrote, "All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking," 

Do I believe it possible to make myself happy? Yes. I can honestly say that this book made me re-evaluate the way I approach the idea of happiness. By the time I reached the end of chapter one, I knew that this was a book I needed to read. It's funny the way things just fall into your lap right at the precise moment. The more I read Rubin's account of her journey to happiness, the more I saw myself in her words. Like Rubin, I too feel that I can be happier, that I'm supposed to be happier. I was already on the right word with my thinking positive motivation. By the time, I got to the end of this book, I felt happier. I felt like I had found another purpose for this year in my life. I wrote the areas in my life that needed to be happier and thoughts on how to achieve them. is happiness for me may not be for anyone else. But, I am the only person who can define what my idea of happiness truly is. I'm excited about it. This was a great read. I 100% recommend it to any and everyone. Get into Grtchen Rubin's "The Happiness Project" and her one sentence journal.  

"To be happy, I need to think about feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling right." -- Gretchen Rubin

"It's a secret of Adulthood: Do good, feel good." -- Gretchen Rubin 

This Reader's Revew: Part XVIII: EJD's "The Education of Nia Simone Bijou"

Nia Simone Bijou. A character I have thought was amazing since her appearances in Eric Jerome Dickey's "Pleasure" and this year's "Decadence." I loved both books and Nia was always the character that I was drawn to the most. But, in both books er past was alluded to. The readers were never truly given any insight into why Ms. Bijou was exactly the way she is portrayed. Maybe EJD got that question enough so that he decided to do something about it. This is where the e-book special "The Education of Nia Simone Bijou" comes in. It fills in all the blanks I had about Nia. I loved reading about the situations that made her become the woman in "Decadence."

"The Education of Nia Simone Bijou" is the tale of Nia's college days. It centers on her love and sexual relationship with Chris, her friendships with MM, Rigoberto and Siobahn. All the relationships are intertwined and play a huge part on who Nia becomes. I loved having that insight. A lot of it brought me back to my college days. Clearly, Nia was meant to be the star and she was. I felt every emotion she did in this piece. Nia is an exceptional character because she is able to evoke so much from her audience. I would not be mad if EJD decided to bring her back for another novel. She is that dope of a character. TEoNSB is a must read if you loved "Decadence." As a reader, you need to know more about Nia's back story. Get into it. Great read. 

This Reader's Review: Part XVII: Terrence Jenkins' "The Wealth of My Mother's Wisdom"

Terrence Jenkins is a name you may not know. But, he has a face and voice that you've known for years. He started his career as one of the hosts of BET's "106 & Park." He was a VJ for 7 years before moving on to anchoring E! News. He is also an actor. I loved him in "Think Like A Man" and can't wait to see him in more movies. I like Terrence. He is funny and charismatic as a tv host and actor. There is so much more to the man than what we see on tv. He is adding another title to his name, author. His first book "The Wealth of My Mother's Wisdom" was just recently released. I was interested in seeing what it was about. It blew me away to be honest. It was a great read. I found it on Amazon for my Kindle for only $2.99. I finished it in a day and a half. 

Terrence and his mom Lisa have a really unique relationship. It reminds me a lot of my relationship with my Mom. Lisa was an amazing role model for Terrence. She made him the most important person in her life.  She sacrificed everything for him. I loved reading about their life and journey. The book just flowed so well. It was an interesting look into who Terrence the man is and how his mother (and later stepfather) shaped his entire world. He never gave up pursuing his dreams even when it looked grim. He is an amazing man. I am so impressed with him and his story. I have and will continue to recommend this book to any and everyone. Terrence's "The Wealth of My Mother's Wisdom" is a must read. Go ahead and get into it. You will not be disappointed. Let's read folks!!

This Reader's Review: Part XVI: Eric Jerome Dickey's Gideon Series

 

Eric Jerome Dickey has a way with words. Since I read "Milk In My Coffee," I've been a fan. Over the years, he has wrote some of my favorite books. The combo of "Pleasure" and "Decadence" stands out as two of my favorites. But, all of his books pale in comparison to the Gideon series. "Sleeping With Strangers" introduces the central character Gideon to the world. His life is definitely worthy of a book or four. Gideon is a very complex character. He is a quintessential bad boy but he has his soft spots. I love that he isn't just an awful man. The book also introduces another character who will be central to the series. Her name is Arizona. The danger and excitement flows right into the second book "Waking With Enemies." The series takes the readers all around the world. "Dying For Revenge" is my favorite book of the whole series. It's the longest book ad has the most details in it. 

Gideon is one of the most complexly written characters I have ever read. I love that along with his toughness that there is also a softness. He is very intelligent and street savvy. I love that his education came from all over. He is a contract killer who loves science fiction. Also, his sexual prowess has to be mentioned. That is a big part of his appeal. He is described as a handsomely rugged big man. He seems to ooze sex. The ladies love him and he loves them right back. There are more than a few very hot and steamy scenes of Gideon with his various ladies. This also humanizes him as a character. He has so much depth. Gideon is always on to the next adventure, next country, and next lady. Every time is as exciting as the one before. Every time I finished a book, I was so ready for the next one. Books 1, 3, and 4 are really long but really great. Book 2 is the shortest book but is filled with drama. The entire series kept me intrigued. 

This four book series is amazing. I love the main character Gideon. He's a bad guy but I root for him anyway. That is the sign of a great author. Dickey writes Gideon in a way that the reader does not feel bad about wanting the bad guy to win. It took me all of a week and a half to finish this series. Now, I'm sad because I'm done. The only thing that gives me a little hope about the Gideon series is that the way the 4th book "Resurrecting Midnight" ends lets me know that there will be more Gideon to come. For a voracious reader such as myself, that makes me super happy. I cannot even fathom what adventure Dickey will send Gideon on next. But, whatever it is, I am ready for it. If you are looking for a murder-hit man-romance series to get into, then this is it. The series is a great read. Dickey truly outdid himself with this series. Get into it.

This Reader's Review: Part XV: "Decadence"

"Decadence" is a riveting story of Nia Simone Bijou. If you are familiar with Eric Jerome Dickey's work, then you know that Bijou is the main character from "Pleasure." In a way, "Decadence" is a sequel to "Pleasure" because it tells us more about Nia's life since then. In this book, Nia's life has changed drastically since we last heard of her. She has grown as a woman and a writer. Her life has new characters in it and new drama. All of it leads to a great story. Nia is a woman after my own heart. She is a self described "word slut. book slut as well." I can identify with that. She quotes Anais Nin, another favorite of mine. She is also a woman very in tuned with her sexuality. She craves sex.

"Anais had taught me well." - Nia Simone Bijou

This book is hot. Scorching. When it comes to the sex scene, I haven't read anything that moved me like this in forever. The sex scenes alone are insane. The sex scenes made me blush. And, I am no where near a prude. I am a very sexual woman. Reading this book made me feel some kinda way. The book is only 240 pages. For me, that's nothing. I read extremely fast. It took me hours to get through "Decadence" because it was so intriguingly good. I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of the book. Even if it left me hot and bothered and thinking some insane thoughts. Eric Jerome Dickey can def construct a dope, deep sex scene.  I am all the way here for it.

"Love has too many side effects. I have suffered them all." - Nia Simone Bijou

I loved the journey that EJD took me on with Nia. I loved immersing myself in her world for a few hours. I loved that she is a smart, well read, word loving, sexual being who doesn't allow any one to label her. Nia Simone Bijou is her own woman. That makes her a wonderful character to me. I've read almost all of EJD's books. "Decadence" has to be one of my favorites. I love a book when the author paints a picture with words so vividly that I can see them. EJD did exactly this for me. That makes it a win in my book. This is erotica done right. "Decadence" is a great read. I would recommend it to everyone. I already made one person in my life read it. He loved it as well. Get into Eric Jerome Dickey's "Decadence."

The irony related to my own life that is in "Decadence" Two things in particular. I wasn't prepared.
— °MsK° (@KatchKenda) May 11, 2013

This Reader's Review: Part XIV: "A Deeper Love Inside: The Porsche Santiaga Story"

Sister Souljah is the author who wrote one of the books I cherished as a young woman. I read "The Coldest Winter Ever"as a teenager. It was one of the main books that shaped my world. I've been a fan of those characters for decades now. It took many, many years for Sister Souljah to write any kind of sequel. Then, a few years ago, she gave us not one but two books about one of the most interesting characters in TCWE. Midnight was that character. Both books, which I loved, gave me an detailed insight on his story. I was happy to have it. Sister Souljah created characters who were so unlike me and my world but I still identified with them. She showed me a world that was real to so many people. I was a fan then, I'm still a fan now. All three of her books were interesting to me. 

I was not expecting to get anymore from the author about the characters from TCWE. But, Souljah gave her fans another gift in the form of "A Deeper Love Inside: The Porshce Santiaga Story." Porsche is the sister of Winter, middle daughter of Ricky and Lana Santiaga. She was the mostly quiet, observant daughter in TCWE. This book tells the story of what happens to her after the fall of her Dad. Porsche is pulled from her fantasy turned reality life. She is no longer the pampered princess. Her life becomes hard and rugged. From foster homes to juvenile detention centers, Porsche has to fight every step of the way. She was hard because of the curve balls thrown at her but still soft underneath it. That's what makes her such a relatable character. For most of the book, she is a little girl playing grown woman. But, while doing that, she becomes that woman. 

It is a very interesting read. It begins really slow to me. Souljah also has a habit of being verbose. She displayed this in both Midnight books. I kept reading the book because I was already invested in the characters. The ending was worth it. There is even an appearance of three main characters from TCWE. Those made me very happy. I loved catching up with the characters that I feel in love with as a teenager. It felt familiar in a way. I love that. Porsche turned out to be totally different than I thought she would be. She is a character that I wanted to win. Her life was full of so many twists and turns. None of them expected but all of them needed to make her who she would become. If you are a fan of "The Coldest Winter Ever" or "Midnight," then "A Deeper Love Inside" is the book for you. It brings closure to a story that has been around for decades. Sister Souljah did an incredible job of coming full circle with the characters she created. 

This Reader's Review: Part XIII: "The Five People You Meet In Heaven"

I read a book a few years that really stayed with me. It was Mitch Albom's "The Five People You Meet In Heaven." Albom is an amazing writer. His books have always impacted me. This one is my favorite by him. It takes the reader on a very unexpected journey through the five people. The characters have such depth. While reading, I was genuinely invested in every character. That, to me, is the appeal of a great writer. Only the greats can evoke that emotion from a reader. Albom does this effortlessly. I just recently re-read this book. I needed to be reminded of the message in this book. I think I've read this book at least 6 times. It never gets old. It actually seems to get better every time I read it.

"The Five People You Meet In Heaven" is an excellent story. The main character is an old guy named Eddie. In short, Eddie is killed during a heroic attempt to save a little girl from a falling amusement park ride. He is killed and sent to heaven where he encounters five people who significantly impacted him while he was alive. That is the short story. The stories that each of his five people weave is insane. I read this book in a few hours. I couldn't put it down. I needed to know how each person was affected by Eddie. It's a book that made me smile during and after I was done. It made me think of who my face people would be. It handles death in such a Frank and different way than I'm used to. I love a book that challenges what I think or believe. "The Five People You Meet In Heaven" did that and more for me. There is also a movie about the book as well. It's one of my favorite books. I recommend it to every one. If you haven't, you should read this one.

This Reader's Review: Part XII: "The Dream Giver"

I am always looking for new books to read. I found my latest choice via Twitter. Necole Bitchie is an entertainment blogger that I really enjoy. You can visit her site here. The book is "The Dreamgiver" by Bruce Wilkerson. This is the story of Ordinary and following your dreams. The way the story is told is very interesting. The book reminds me of the poem "Everybody, Anybody, Somebody, and Nobody." I love that the main character doesn't have a name. He just goes by "Ordinary." Any one of us could be "Ordinary." That's the brillance of the plot.

In essence, we can all find ourselves in the main character "Ordinary" because we are. We are all on a journey to follow our dreams. We have to fight through our own personal comfort zones to attain them. Our dreams are obtainable. They are ours to reach. "The Dreamgiver" weaves a great tale. Ordinary is just an every day person living an ordinary life. He hears a voice that tells him to go after his dreams. I took that voice to be God. Ordinary meets so many people on his journey to capturing the "Big Dream." Ordinary also inspires others on his way. That's the way dream capturing works. It was a very good and quick read. I loved every bit of it. This book was awesome. I would recommend it to any reader looking for a new book. Get into it.

#30in30: This Reader's Review: Part XI: "The Left Behind Series" (Part II My Spiritual Take)

The Left Behind series stirred up so many emotions in me. I blogged about the books here. Religion has always interested me. It's the one thing I do not believe I will ever get tired of learning about. I've found out so many answers on my quest for Biblical knowledge. The only thing I've truly taken from this series is questioning my faith. From the beginning of Book 1, I've been intrigued by the Rapture. The people who were left behind were a mixed group. There were characters who went to church all the time, who seemed to be devout Christians. The fact that they were left behind told their true stories. Their faith wasn't strong enough, their resolve not deep enough. They weren't really living a Christ filled life. They weren't truly believers. This bothered me. I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord & Savior. I have confessed with my mouth. I have been baptized. I've spent years in the church. My relationship with God is strong. I believe that he is the Alpha & the Omega, that he created everything that we know. I have no doubt about Jesus or Lucifer. I know what I believe to be the truth and my faith is solid. This series makes me question if that is enough. If my belief is enough.

The series takes the reader on an incredible journey. From disbelieve and confusion to triumph and redemption. There is never a dull moment. Each line, each paragraph builds this world for the reader. It's colorful and dark and good and evil all rolled into a 13 book series. Everything the reader thinks they know about the Bible, this series challenges, confirms and takes to task. It's just that great. To read about the rise of the Anti-Christ was appalling and insane. I cannot believe that some characters in this book still did not believe in God even after living through the Rapture, the Tribulation and the Great Appearing. To still doubt that God is the Alpha & Omega is crazy to me. But, I do realize that as long as there is good there will be Evil. 

The authors did an incredible job of creating a storyline that pulls you in. The foundation of this series comes directly from the Bible. The authors did not stray from God's word. They created the situations surrounding the Bible. Every aspect of this series is filled with so much colorful imagery that this story came alive in my head. I saw every word just the way the authors intended. I was so deeply engrossed by this series that I would dream of it. These characters became real to me. There are many times in the series that characters doubt their faith or their walk. I identify with that aspect. I have been there before and I am sure that I will be again. The characters struggled with real life doubts and moments of being unsure. This is the walk that I believe that all believers take.

If you are someone who, like me, is reading the Bible for the first time by yourself, this series is for you. It is a lengthy but quick read. Yes, it's 13 books long but the story is so captivating that reader would lose sight of that quickly. This series had me pulling out my Bible a lot. There are things that I knew before reading this series. There is even more that I did not know until reading this series. I am grateful for the authors for that. It has inspired me to read my Bible more. I think I will start with a nightly reading. The story progresses at the right rate. It's full of Bible scriptures. I was always pulling out my Bible to read more. It's interesting on a spiritual level. If you are searching for answers about what will happen when God comes back for his people, you will find them in this series. I would recommend this to all. It's a must read. It's why I'm sharing it with you. I am that invested in the series. I devoured every page of it.

#30in30: This Reader's Review: Part X: "Left Behind" Series (Part I)

A good book makes you feel good once you're finished reading. A great back makes the reader want more. I have just finished 13 great books. I've been deeply submerged in a book series. So much so that I didn't want it to end. It's a 13 book series entitled "Left Behind." The series is biblical & is based on what happens after the Rapture. As a woman who is intrigued with the Bible, this series was perfect for me. I needed to read this. I have to say thank you to HIM because he suggested I read this. We talk a lot about spirituality and religion. So he knew that this would be right up my alley. I'm grateful for that, for HIM. There is so much that takes place within these 13 books. I just want to share an overview of the books here.

These characters are so well thought out. I love the depth that each character possesses. I love all the good characters like Rayford, Chloe, Buck, Tsion, David and Mack. They represent the good in mankind. I see pieces of me in all of them. They weren't truly sold on Christianity and religion before the Rapture. But, every last one of them became believers in their own time. I loved how much each of them grew within their faith. How they never waivered on their love of the Lord. It's inspiring on so many levels. I've never had issues with my faith. My issues with religion have always centered on the pastors giving the sermon. My hunger for the word of God has never be completely quenched. My walk with God has been in my own hands for the last few years. This series has helped me realize a clearer view of where I need to be. 

The authors also did an incredible job of making me like and despise certain characters. Nicolae Carpathia is the epitome of a character you love to hate. He's sweet as pie, charismatic, well spoken and sinister to boot. He is the epitome of a wolf in sheep's clothing. From the beginning, I was wary of him. He was too smooth, too perfect. He reminded me of Adolf Hitler. He too was charismatic and people allowed him to kill at will for years. I loved watching his evolution. He slowly became everything the Bible had predicted that he would be. It was amazing to see his story unfold. I hated him, everything he was, everything he stood for. I despised him. I do not think I've ever felt so deeply about a character in a book. That shows how awesomely he was written. That takes talent. The authors truly possess that.

This series was made into movies. I will definitely check them out in the near future. If they are even half as good as the books, they will be awesome. I needed to sit with this information. It affected me that much. This series made me happy and excited. I was so into this series. I did not want it to end. I flew through the first ten books easily. Then, I started to slow down with my reading. I wanted the final books to last. I wasn't ready to be done with these characters. I was happy with the outcome. I would recommend this series to anyone I know. You guys should get into it. It's worth it.