The Vanished by Sarah Dalton REVIEW

(I read this book for R2R program in Making Connection YA Edition Group in goodreads.com. I received a free copy in exchange for a review)

The Vanished is second installment followed The Blemished, a dystopian story written by Sarah Dalton. The story follows Mina Hart, the blemished girl, after she ran away from the Ministry into the Clans and joins the vanished.

Mina struggle a lot in earlier story, she must find a way to fit into the society that turns out, not as good as she thought it gonna be. They have their own rule, and as the Ministry, they want to control people, only in a different way.

Her BFF, Angela, is not making things easier either, she became mad at her and totally gone crazy, even attacking her. But, Mina didn’t lose faith in her, unlike me, I would probably gone hating and cursing her. Lol.

Fortunately, Mina finally made up her mind and chose Daniel over Sebastian (thanks God). But still things aren’t go as smooth as she wished, but luckily she then be able to make things right in the end.

I love Mina’s new group, Freaks, consist of Mike, Kitty, Daniel, and my favorite, Hiro, and of course Mina herself. They bonded so tight and I finally figured out the mystery behind Mina’s power. But I won’t mention it here, for it will be spoiler 😀

I love this book better than the first one, the adventure is much more thrilling and unpredictable, with the war between Compounds and all left me breathless. and thanks God this book (kinda) has a happy ending, although the author still has a mystery in the end of the book, left the reader can’t wait for the next book.

Copied from my goodreads page.

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The Moon Dwellers by David Estes Review

Firstly, many thanks to David Estes who kindly send me a copy of Mood Dwellers.
The novel is so amazing, now I understand why so many people has praised it.

Adele, our heroine (which is also the name of David’s wife, that’s cool to use his wife name) is a kickass girl who I adore so much. she’s strong, fierce, yet soft and innocent.

I love the way David spills the background story little by little, giving us truth but not lay it openly all at once. even by the end of book one, there are still secret hidden by Tristan.

oh well, Tristan. how I love his connection to Adele so much, and the chemistry is so strong, makes me wonder whats the real deal of the electricity between them.

one thing more I love about this book is how David Estes puts humor in thrilling scenes, and it worked brilliantly. it cracked me up, sometimes I found myself smiling or even laughing when reading this book.

one thing that disturbed me is actually the switching part of Adele and Tristan, although I know its good to makes me understand their feeling and background better, its kinda bother me how the point of view change back and forth. but maybe its just me who like to read mono point of view. but its just a meaningless glitch really, for I really enjoy every second reading this.

I already bought book two and three, and I can’t wait to get started! (that’s another thing I love about David Estes, he doesn’t makes me wait until next year or so to read the next book!)

The Blemished by Sarah Dalton Review

(I read this book for R&R program in YA making connection group, I received free copies for a honest review)

My first thought on this book is “oh great, another dystopian book” for I always love dystopian stories.

And well, I’m not wrong, Sarah Dalton successfully brings me into the new “British” world where Mina Hart live. Its a world where clones exist, more terrifying, they want to replace our existence with them.

The clones, known as GEM or Genetic Enhancement Ministry, is a perfect human, without ill disease, without obese, and a perfect DNA. It would be nice, if the ministry don’t try to get rid of another human being, which known as the blemished.

Mina, our heroine is a blemished, she’s been told that she is imperfect, ugly, and that her DNA is useless. That way, the blemished aren’t allowed to have children, and must be GEM’s slaves.

Mina didn’t accept her fate, she didn’t let the Ministry control her life. With her “gift” she will fight back. And that’s where her adventure begin.

Our heroine is a rebellious, brave, and a leader type of girl. she didn’t afraid to make changes. That’s what I adore about her. If she just sit idly and accept her fate, the stories will be a complete different. After what people told her, she still believe that she is special.

As it not enough with rebellion, Sarah Dalton puts two guys in Mina’s life. Daniel, and Sebastian. One a blemished, another one is a GEM. This is the part where I wanna scream actually, seriously another love triangle? I’m so tired with all the fans playing team who. LOL. And as reading this book, at times I want to shake Mina and yell “Just make up your mind! which one do you choose? pick up already!”

And oh, I love Mina’s friendship with Elena, who used to be her bully, so much better than Angela, her so called BFF but totally being jealous with her and Daniel.

And don’t forget about Mrs. Murgatroyd, Mina’s teacher. Dang, I hate her so much. She’s so mean and cruel and many times makes Mina life like hell. I just hope that the author will vanish her and she won’t make appearance again in book two.

Well, overall this is a great debut book, a real page turner and definitely worth a read, I can’t wait to read the next book (thanks God I already have it!)

Copied from my page at Goodreads

Stitch by Samantha Durante Review

(I got a copy of this book for ARR program in Lovers of Paranormal group) Imagine that your life is not like its seems to be. Its much more than that. Oh. My. God. I love this novel. Stitch is one of the rare novel that keeps you anxious from page one. Stitch tells us about Alessa, a normal college girl who recently lost her parents in a car accident and try to move on with her life. Until the apparition of the “ghost” begin. Alessa became obsessed with the reason behind the apparition, who is he, and why on earth she feels attracted to him. Oh yes, this maybe the typical ghost slash time travel story, but its not. The story changes drastically in the middle, it could make you jumps off your chair and shout WTH. Lol. I won’t tell here of course, otherwise it would be spoiler. Stitch is a horror / romance / science fiction / dystopian all in one package. Samantha Durante cleverly brings us into the whole new world with new experience. Strong characters, twisted yet interesting storyline, this book could easily stands proudly next to other dystopian masterpiece like hunger games or divergent. Trust me, you gotta love this book. Copied from my page on Goodreads.

Angels

What Are Angel?

What are angels?
An angel is a pure spirit created by God. The Old Testament theology included the belief in angels: the name applied to certain spiritual beings or intelligences of heavenly residence, employed by God as the ministers of His will.
The English word “angel” comes from the Greek angelos, which means ‘messenger’. In the Old Testament, with two exceptions, the Hebrew word for “angel” is malak, also meaning ‘messenger’. The prophet Malachi took his name from this word. He was himself a messenger, and he prophesied about the coming of “the messenger of the covenant”, Jesus Christ (Malachi 3:1).
Although the word “angel” in the Bible, meaning a messenger, nearly always applies to heavenly beings, it can occasionally apply to human messengers. Malachi himself said a priest was a messenger (malak) of the LORD of hosts (Malachi 2:7), and in the Book of Revelation the elders of the seven churches of Asia were called angels (1:20; 2:1 etc.). But when we meet messengers doing supernatural things, there is no doubt they are heavenly beings – God’s messengers, working for Him and for the ultimate benefit of mankind.

How Do We Know Angel Exist?

The Scriptures give us no indication of the precise time of the creation of angels; their existence is assumed at the earliest times. Our Lord often spoke of angels; in the New Testament they are numerous and seven orders are mentioned: Angels, Powers, Principalities, Dominions (ations), Thrones and Archangels the Old Testament specifically mentions two others Seraph (im) and Cherub(im). God bestowed upon angels great wisdom, freedom, and power, and their many appearances in the New Testament are indication of the lead role assigned to them. Both the New Testament and Old Testament refer also to the fallen angels. The Temptation of Adam and Eve presupposes the existence of bad spirits or demons who were cast into hell from which they have no hope of redemption. Angels are purely spiritual or bodiless persons (Mt 11:30), some of whom behold the face of God and thus are in bliss (Mt 18:10). These spiritual beings comprise the celestial court and are called angels (from the Greek for “messenger”) because, according to the Bible, they carry out missions at God’s command. In order to complete these missions, they can at times assume bodily form. According to the Bible, their missions are sometimes of great importance – eg, the Annunciation (Lk 1:26; 2:9-14). Like us , the angels are the objects of God’s grace and love. But because, unlike us they are non-bodily creatures, their response to God’s love did not require time and reflection to grow and mature. As soon as they were created and received grace, they had the opportunity to respond to God’s love and thus be welcomed into bliss. While many did so, some did not. Perhaps the most significant continuing activity of the good angels is to be the agents of God’s particular providence for mankind. Thus, the Church teaches that everyone has a guardian angel, based on references to them throughout the Bible.

Why did God created Angels?

The Creator Himself is so powerful and glorious that He cannot be approached in person by human beings. He alone “hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto: whom no man hath seen, nor can see (1 Timothy 6:16). Angels do not have man’s shortcomings, and can therefore act for God and represent Him when communicating with men and women. They bridge the huge gap between the holiness and perfection of God in heaven and the shortcomings of dying people on this planet. Angels were made immortal (that is, never to die). Their eternal quality was spoken of by Jesus when he said:
“They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God. being the children of the resurrection.” (Luke 20:35.36)
Jesus was saying that, in the same way as the angels (the children or “sons” of God) live for ever and are of one gender, so those who will be called the “sons” and “daughters” of God when Jesus returns will also live for ever and will not marry.

Angels with Names

Only occasionally are the angels given names. “Michael“, for instance, was “the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people (Israel)” (Daniel 12:1). Undoubtedly, among the most significant of angelic appearances were those by the angel whose name was “Gabriel“. He was sent twice to the prophet Daniel. On the second occasion Daniel was at prayer, and Gabriel, “being caused to fly swiftly, touched me … and talked with me” and proceeded to prophesy the date of the first coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Daniel 9:21-27). There was therefore great expectation among the Jews at the time when Jesus Christ was about to be born, and this was heightened by the personal appearance ofGabriel again, firstly to Zacharias the priest while on duty in the temple, and then to Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph. To Zacharias, the angel announced. “I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God: and am sent to speak unto thee” (Luke 1:19). We notice that angels can stand in the glorious presence of the LORD. whereas men cannot. and angels are sent to do whatever God wishes. His mission here was to announce the miraculous birth of John the Baptist.

Six months later, Gabriel appeared to Mary, who was in the royal line of King David. Her prayer, said the angel, had found favour with God, and she would be the mother of the expected Messiah. Gabriel told her that she would conceive through the power of the Holy Spirit and her son would be Jesus, the Saviour, and he would be the Son of God and would occupy the royal throne of David (Luke 1:26-33). It was an extraordinary meeting because Mary was not yet married. Nothing is impossible with God! Joseph, her husband-to-be, also received angelic messages advising him what steps to take in this unique situation.

When Jesus came to be born in Bethlehem, the birth was the signal for a glorious witness of divine approval, seen by shepherds:

“An angel of the Lord (could this have been Gabriel?) appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear … And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!'” (Luke 2:9-14, RSV)

Who are our Guardian Angel?

No evil shall befall you, nor shall affliction come near your tent, for to His Angels God has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. Upon their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
Psalm 91: 10-12 A heavenly spirit assigned by God to watch over each of us during our lives. The doctrine of angels is part of the Church’s tradition. The role of the guardian angel is both to guide us to good thoughts, works and words, and to preserve us from evil. Since the 17th century the Church has celebrated a feast honoring them in October throughout the Universal Church. Since the last calendar revision this feast is Oct 2.

He has charged His angels with the ministry of watching and safeguarding every one of His creatures that behold not His face. Kingdoms have their angels assigned to them, and men have their angels; these latter it is to whom religion designates the Holy Guardian Angels. Our Lord says in the Gospel, “Beware lest ye scandalize any of these little ones, for their angels in heaven see the face of My Father.” The existence of Guardian Angels, is, hence a dogma of the Christian faith: this being so, what ought not our respect be for that sure and holy intelligence that is ever present at our side; and how great our solicitude be, lest, by any act of ours, we offend those eyes which are ever bent upon us in all our ways!

Angels of the early Church

Revelations the Lord addresses each of the seven Churches by means of instructing angels to record His dictation. These ‘secretary’ angels are the angels of the Churches:

• Church of Ephesus (Rv 2:1)
• of Smyrna (Rv 2:8)
• of Pergamum (Rv 2:12)
• of Thyatira (Rv 2:18)
• of Sardis (Rv 3:1)
• of Philadelphia (Rv 3:7)
• of Laodices (Rv 3:14)

Man Made Lower than the Angels

Man Made Lower than the Angels
When the first man was being created:

“Let us make man in our image. after our likeness … So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him: male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:26-27)

This does not mean that the first of the human race had exactly the same physical nature as the angels, for the angels were made to live for ever. Adam and Eve were not made never-dying: they did sin, and they suffered death as the punishment for it. That is why the whole human race has been dying ever since.

Psalm 8 is a Psalm in which the creation of the earth is extolled. Here we are told that man’s position is lower than the angels:

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? … For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.” (Psalm 8:4,5)

The New Testament quotes this passage, and tells us that mankind – including the Lord Jesus himself – was made a little lower than the angels, “for the suffering of death” (Hebrews 2:9). Angels do not die, but men and women do. Even Jesus, the Son of God, was a mortal man, but has now received the glory and honour which was his due when, as he said after his resurrection, “all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18).

The Fallen Angels (Demons)

These beings, because of pride, did not return God’s love. God did not destroy them, but permits them a limited scope of activity. Their condition is permanent for no creature can turn away from the perfect good of the beatific vision once he has come to enjoy it, and no additional reflection could change the mind of a purely spiritual being who has turned away.

Demons are fallen angels under the command of Satan, those who are still free after the Gen. 6 affair. Satan is called the Prince, or Ruler, of all demons in Matthew 9:34; 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15. Demons are also called the ministers, or ambassadors of Satan, Luke 4:35; 9:1,42; John 10:21. Satan is brilliant, an administrative genius. He has an excellent organization, mentioned in Eph. 6:10-12 (READ) The Bible also makes a distinction between demon possession and demon influence.

 

information taken from : www.catholic.org

Quotations About Humility

Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all. ~William Temple

Swallow your pride occasionally, it’s non-fattening! ~Author Unknown

It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others. ~Andrew J. Holmes, Wisdom in Small Doses

What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself. ~Abraham Lincoln

A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle. ~Benjamin Franklin

Most of us retain enough of the theological attitude to think that we are little gods. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

It wasn’t until quite late in life that I discovered how easy it is to say “I don’t know!” ~Somerset Maugham

Humility is to make a right estimate of one’s self. ~Charles Haddon Spurgeon

If I only had a little humility, I would be perfect. ~Ted Turner

There are two kinds of egotists: Those who admit it, and the rest of us. ~Laurence J. Peter

Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are. ~Malcolm S. Forbes

There are a billion people in China. It’s not easy to be an individual in a crowd of more than a billion people. Think of it. More than a BILLION people. That means even if you’re a one-in-a-million type of guy, there are still a thousand guys exactly like you. ~A. Whitney Brown, The Big Picture

We are all worms, but I do believe I am a glowworm. ~Winston Churchill

Don’t talk about yourself; it will be done when you leave. ~Wilson Mizner

It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles. ~Niccolo Machiavelli

True merit, like a river, the deeper it is, the less noise it makes. ~Edward Frederick Halifax

Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity. ~Frank Leahy, Look, 10 January 1955

It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help. ~Author Unknown

It is always the secure who are humble. ~Gilbert Keith Chesterton

In all that surrounds him the egotist sees only the frame of his own portrait. ~J. Petit-Senn

Some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they hit a triple. ~Barry Switzer

When science discovers the center of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to find they are not it. ~Bernard Baily

To have a thing is little, if you’re not allowed to show it, to know a thing, is nothing unless others know you know it. ~Charles Neaves

We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility. ~Rabindranath Tagore

Blushing is the color of virtue. ~Diogenes

Glory is largely a theatrical concept. There is no striving for glory without a vivid awareness of an audience. ~Eric Hoffer, The True Believer, 1951

When someone sings his own praises, he always gets the tune too high. ~Mary H. Waldrip

Don’t look for more honor than your learning merits. ~Jewish Proverb

With people of only moderate ability modesty is mere honesty; but with those who possess great talent it is hypocrisy. ~Arthur Schopenhauer

None are so empty as those who are full of themselves. ~Benjamin Whichcote

We would rather speak ill of ourselves than not talk about ourselves at all. ~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims

Wear your learning like your watch, in a private pocket; and do not pull it out, and strike it, merely to show that you have one. ~Lord Chesterfield

People that put themselves above others will fall longer and harder. ~Gina Lindley

One learns to ignore criticism by first learning to ignore applause. ~Robert Brault, http://www.robertbrault.com

A man may do an immense deal of good, if he does not care who gets the credit for it. ~Father Strickland, 1863 (Thanks, Garson O’Toole!)

Lord, where we are wrong, make us willing to change; where we are right, make us easy to live with. ~Peter Marshall

Talking much about oneself can also be a means to conceal oneself. ~Friedrich Nietzsche

The man who thinks he can live without others is mistaken; the one who thinks others can’t live without him is even more deluded. ~Hasidic Saying

Any party which takes credit for the rain must not be surprised if its opponents blame it for the drought. ~Dwight Morrow

If every fool wore a crown, we should all be kings. ~Welsh Proverb

He was like a cock who thought the sun had risen to hear him crow. ~George Eliot, Adam Bede, 1859

I can’t tell you if genius is hereditary, because heaven has granted me no offspring. ~James McNeill Whistler

You shouldn’t gloat about anything you’ve done; you ought to keep going and find something better to do. ~David Packard

Nobody stands taller than those willing to stand corrected. ~William Safire

Modesty is the lowest of the virtues, and is a confession of the deficiency it indicates. He who undervalues himself is justly overvalued by others. ~William Hazlitt

Modesty is the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it. ~Oliver Herford

Modesty: The art of encouraging people to find out for themselves how wonderful you are. ~Source Unknown

Flattery is all right so long as you don’t inhale. ~Adlai Stevenson

Kiara

That is my confirmation name. I picked it yesterday. Yes, i actually made my mind! Thanks God! Lol.

So, let’s talk about Saint Kiara 🙂

 First of all, she is an Irish. She is a disciple of St. Fintan Munnu Kiara, lived near Nenagh, in Tipperary, Ireland. She is also known as Saint Cera of Ireland (alternately Chera, Chier, Ciara, Cyra, Kiara, Cier, Ciar). So when you google it, probably you will find Cera instead of Kiara. This is the information i got from here.

Kiara was the daughter of Duibhre (or Dubreus) reportedly in the blood line of the kings of Connor (or Conaire). She, along with 5 other virgins asked Saint Fintan Munnu for a place to serve God. He and his monks gave the women their abbey in Heli (or Hele). Heli may have been in County Westmeath. He blessed Kiara, and instructed her to name the place after St. Telle who had given three jubilations in the plain of Miodhluachra that day.

St. Kiara eventually returned to her own province and founded another monastery, Killchree, which she governed until her death in 679. The later Franciscan Kilcrea Friary stands about a mile west of where her monastery stood, and claims to have taken its name, Kilcrea, in her honor: “Kilcrea (Cill Chre) means the Cell of Cere, Ciara, Cera or Cyra.”

St. Kiara’s feast day is October 16, and a festival on January 5 also commemorated her. Both dates are reported to have been the day of her death. Statements also show December 15.

Anyway, i’m so glad i found my confirmation name 🙂 So from now on, you can just call me Kiara 😀

A Little Follow Up

This is a little follow up to my previous post “Motivation Everyday”.
I don’t give a damn on what people says about me. I don’t care if they called me fat or whatever.
The truth is I love myself now more than I love myself two or three years ago. So, I think I am just perfect the way I am now.
I’m no beauty queen.
I’m just beautiful me.

Life is Better with or without Facebook?

Oh, probably this is the old topic. But I still want to share my thoughts about it. Social site, who hasn’t use it nowadays? Now, the world is literally limitless. You could share about anything in social site. Well, some people use this social network to stands up. To be noticed. There’s even heard a saying that says if you don’t have facebook, you don’t exist.

Really? Is our existence depends on facebook? That is just plain sad.

No, i am not anti-facebook. I use it. Everyday. Yes, I updated my status, and sometimes I do mistakes that I think the most common facebook-ers made. That is share your privacy. What I mean here is making facebook your diary. Share your thoughts is fine, but when you share your very private feeling, it just not right for me.

And many times I encounter (and I admit, I did this too) that people update their status to TALK to SOMEONE. They actually make a status to share the feeling to a certain somebody and hopes that someone read it and actually knows their feeling.

For me, well, it’s obvious that they don’t have a gut to tell it directly to that somebody. And to share that feeling in public, it is just inappropriate. Oh dear God, please forgive me cause I did that too!

Now when I come to my senses, I think that is just not the right thing to do. Oh well, next time I want to tell someone about my feeling I better text or call or better, meet that person and say it in front of his face!

And so, they say facebook connected people. But then what happened to phone? Or email? Years ago people will survive just right without facebook, and now, they can’t live without it.

Not to mention, there are a lots of crimes happens in facebook, a lots of cheating and lies, and bla bla bla. I see many fights in marriage just because facebook.

So I, for once, think that life would be easier without facebook. I’m not saying it has no advantages, but still.. this is just my thoughts.