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Hello...do you recognize me? I am the #1 pbjunkie slacker coming to post. Hope you all have been well. I have been working on some fun assignments and still multi tasking with my favorite game, Words With Friends.

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Heart On A Chain is a YA romance novel.

Kate Mosley is a seventeen year old girl with an abusive mother, an alcoholic father and she is bullied at school by practically the whole student body.  She has no one to turn to and nowhere to go.  Her mother has almost killed her several times and Kate further sinks into depression as she believes there is no one in the world who can help her.

Henry Jamison has returned to town after being absent for several years.  His family and he used to live in the area when he was younger and he and Kate had become friends.  When Henry left town, Kate was devastated.  However, he is back now and his interest in Kate has never changed.

At first, Kate is leary of Henry's attention.  She is always waiting for him to lead her on so that he and the rest of the school can make fun and laugh at her.  With much persistence Henry finally breaks through Kate's reserve and the two begin a loving friendship. 

Kate has many skeletons in her closet and will not disclose any information to Henry about the abuse she suffers.  Henry has managed to turn the school's opinion of her around, but he is unaware of her home life, that is, until the day she ends up bleeding, broken and lying in a snow bank outside his family's home.  Not wishing to alert the police, Henry's family takes Kate in and nurses her broken body for the next three weeks.  In that time, she has become an endearing addition to this loving family and Kate wishes never to have to return home.

Kate's mother is feeling guilty about her actions and allows Kate to travel over the Christmas vacation with Henry and his family.  Upon her return, her mother has forgotten Kate's whereabouts and begins to beat Kate into unconsciousness.  When a series of events take place, Katie is scared and begins to push Henry away.  Henry proposes marriage, and Kate proposes to end their relationship.  Kate must now survive the future without Henry and his love, will she have the courage to do so or will her heart always be broken.  Only Kate can decide and while she and Henry drift apart, she begins to get her life on track and take actions for her own self.

For a YA romance I have to say this is a pretty decent read.  Author Cindy Bennett certainly knows how to draw emotions from the reader and if you happen to cry when you read, then expect to do a lot of that as you read this.  Kate is written with such raw and honest emotion that the reader is unable to control the floodwork of tears that are sure to ensue.

Kate and her back story are heartfelt as you ache for her life situation, the fact that her mother treats her so poorly leaves you feeling for the character and the pain she has to endure.  Kate's father drifts in and out of her life often in a drunken stupor, he never champions for his child even though he is aware subconsciously the attacks are occurring.  You cannot help but loathe his attitude and when he finally figures out his mistakes, and begins to make amends, his character resolve changes and you find yourself feeling for his plight also.

Henry is a bit unbelievable, his sensitivity and strength of character while commendable are just not seen that often in seventeen year old boys.  His maturity and wisdom were beyond someone his age and I had difficulty with his "perfectness".  As well, his family and their loving and accepting ways were a bit over board as well.  Unless you're the Brady Bunch, families just don't behave that way.&

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Heaven Is For Real is a the story of a little boy's trip to Heaven and back.

Colton Burpo was only three years old when he had an emergency appendectomy.  His doctors had told his parents for over a week that he had the stomach flu and after repeated trips to the hospital he is told he is fine and the family goes on a trip.  However, the trip ends with Colton being rushed to the hospital fighting for his young life as the septic poison courses through his body from his ruptured appendix.

The family is relieved when Colton is healed and they think nothing else of it until several months later when Colton begins to say things that make his parents become shocked by the words he speaks.  Colton begins to say things that he has no way of knowing and his parents try to get out of him what his words imply.

Colton shares many things with his parents, like how Jesus looked or his Pop as well as, he describes other people who he met there and he tells his parents he sat on Jesus' lap and was only dead for three minutes.  His parents are confused, for the medical records do not state that Colton died at any time during any of his surgeries.

When Colton speaks of his sister who he met in Heaven, both his parents are now believing that maybe he did visit there, for they believe there is no way that Colton could know of their earlier miscarriage.  They go on a mission to find out what Jesus looked like to Colton and none of the pictures they show him is right and they meet other children who believe they have traveled to Heaven and back. 

I'm not sure what to make of this book, as a fictional piece, it is well-written and easily read.  It's a short read and told with innocence and wonder of that of a child.  I found the family likeable and they were easy to read about. 

I'm not sure what to make of Colton's story though.  His father is a pastor, could Colton have subconsciously over time picked these things up and shared them as he did?  Yes, I do believe that is possible.  It's just I found most of the things that Colton shared are things that we, on Earth, portray Jesus as.  I would've been more impressed if he had shared something that wasn't common, just because its in a man made bible, doesn't make it true in the "real" Heaven. 

I do believe that children see things that we adults do not and maybe Colton did travel to Heaven as his parents believe, but there wasn't enough evidence there to state as full on truth for me.  The miscarriage mention would have been unnerving to hear from his young lips and perhaps on that basis alone, I would've been inclined to believe him if he were my own child.  I think it would have given more credential to his story if they did remember some of the names Colton gave for some of the people he met, but conveniently this wasn't the case. 

I think this is a book that is determined by the individual reader to make up their own minds about what is being shared on these pages.  Its one of those books where you either believe or you do not, and while I believe that Colton may have touched upon some ethereal imagery, I'm not sure if I have been convinced he visited Heaven.  So, I shall leave that for you to decide...

SYNOPSIS:
Heaven Is for Real is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his

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Heartless is book one of 'Tales of Goldstone Wood', debut novel by author, Anne Elisabeth Stengl.

Princess Una of Parumvir has just turned eighteen and is excited about her suitors that are soon to apply for her hand in marriage.  Her father, King Fidel, has promised she can marry whomever she wishes.  Una dreams of a charming Prince, riding up on a white charger, proclaiming his undying love and devotion.  However, when Prince Aethelbald of the mysterious kingdom of Farthestshore, does just that, Una is appalled and threatens to never marry him, ever.

Among her suitors, is Prince Gervais, whom Una is sure is THE one, however, it comes to her father's attention that Gervais has been thrown from his kingdom by his father for gambling debts.  He is a cad of the best kind and is only looking for Una's hand for the dowry she would bring.

The Duke of Shippening is old, fat and arrogant and is looking for a young bride to have as a trophy.  He cares nothing for Una and only wishes to use her to become king.  When the Duke doesn't get his way, he declares war on the kingdom of Parumvir.

Leonard, the jester and court fool, has also won Una's heart and after learning his secrets, she promises to wait for him.  However, she comes to learn that he isn't all that he says he is and Una must come to terms with their relationship.

The Dragon King is also on the hunt for Una, he can feel her and needs to make her one of his own.  The Dragon King joins forces with the Duke and together, the two wreck havoc, death and destruction on all the kinsmen of Parumvir.  Its up to Una's brother Felix, her cat, Monster and the magic of the Goldstone Wood to save the day.

I wasn't un-impressed with the overall story, it has enough mystery and suspense to keep you reading, however, I did have a problem with Una, the heroine.  I found her to be whiny, ignorant, naive and childishly head-strong.  I think Prince Aethelbald could have taken the time to explain himself to Una, I feel she deserved the truth and not to be lied to nor manipulated.  I really enjoyed Felix and Monster, they brought life and comedy to the story and I hope to see more of them in the future books.

I enjoyed the combat scenes, they weren't too graphic in nature, and I feel young readers would probably really enjoy this book~!!  It has all the components of a good fantasy novel, including magic, love, combat, dragons, fairy land creatures and so much more.  I liked the flow of the story, one doesn't have to backtrack to stay focused, as well, the descriptive aspects of the narrative were well written and imaginative.  Each character is believable, except perhaps, The Dragon King, I expected more from him, instead he was a bit stereo-typed and cliched.  I'm also unsure why this is labeled as a Christian-fiction, for there was absolutely no mention of God nor were any Christian aesthetics involved.  All in all though, the book was a good read and I'm sure YA fantasy lovers will enjoy it and want to read more!

SYNOPSIS:
Princess Una, 18, is strong-willed, immature, and courted by princes who have many reasons to desire her. One sees her as a way to escape the consequences of his poor choices. Another thinks he is in love but, when pressured into making a difficult decision, easily disavows his pledge. Aethelbald of Farthestshore is a mysterious faerie prince whose steadfast love and selfless service annoy Una and provoke her to set her will against him. When the princess make

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We featured artist Matthew Hamby back in April of 2010. Since that time Matthew has created a new Facebook Page. Jump on over and check him out when you get a chance.

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Brandt Hardin is a talented artist with a flair for the unusual - sometimes shocking and often disturbing. There's a hint of surrealism in his art with a heavy dose of graffiti, peppered with a dash of expressionism. Brandt's art tells the story of society's self indulgence, its violent unrest and the crushing isolation and loneliness of its individuals - issues that plague our modern day world. The outcome of these stories is left to his viewers. Tragedy looms heavy over many of Brandt Hardin's subjects, these accidental, freakish characters, plucked from reality, struggling to cope with the harshness of the environment that has been forced upon them. Who are these disturbed individuals and what will come of them? Are you sympathetic to their plight or do you condemn them for who they are or what they seem to be?