Free Mobile App: Halflings!

Zondervan has unveiled a free mobile app for Heather Burch’s critically acclaimed Halflings series

Zondervan Unveils Free Mobile App for Heather Burch's Critically Acclaimed Halflings Series,
Praised as "utterly addicting" by USA Today  

 

With award-winning author Heather Burch setting the media and the YA blogosphere abuzz with her new series of thrilling paranormal romance books, HALFLINGS, publisher Zondervan has unveiled a free, cutting-edge mobile app that gives readers the opportunity to further enjoy the book's exciting universe beyond the printed page.

In the HALFLINGS trilogy, Nikki Youngblood discovers she's the central target of supernatural attacks and turns to three half-angel boys (Raven, Mace, and Vine) for protection. A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a new danger: while she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys' powers, and her role in a scientist's dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, and could disrupt the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

The universal iOS app - now available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch - features the HALFLINGS Memory Match Challenge, a turbo-speed memory game in which players are asked to remember where symbols are hidden and unveil them in pairs or triplets. Successful competitors will get faster and faster as they make the right matches, learning that their fingers will soon obey their brains with Halfling-like speed and agility. The levels of play become more difficult as the players advance.

The app is also universally available for Android devices and can be downloaded via Google Play.

To download the app for iOS or Android, visit: http://zndr.vn/halflingsapp    

"We designed the HALFLINGS Memory Match Challenge so readers can continue to enjoy the book's engaging experience," said Annette Bourland, Senior Vice President and Zonderkidz publisher.  

Those who download the app will also be able to access the HALFLINGS illustrated prequel, 11:15: The Making of a Halfling, available as a free downloadable eBook. The app also gives fans the opportunity to connect with Heather on the Halflings Network at halflings.ning.com, and receive updates about upcoming books in the series.

Making her mark alongside Stephanie Meyer, Lauren Kate and other acclaimed authors in the paranormal genre, Heather Burch has written a novel that Publishers Weekly hailed as "easy to, gobble up, and seek more."

For more about Halflings, visit  halflings.ning.com. The ebooks are available through the iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and  ChristianBook.com. The book is available wherever books are sold.

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Zondervan, a HarperCollins company, is headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, is a world leader in Christian communications, and is the leading Christian publishing brand. For more than 75 years, Zondervan has delivered transformational Christian experiences through general and academic resources authored by influential leaders and emerging voices and has been honored with more Christian Book Awards than any other publisher.

*repost from Zondervan*

Halflings Trailer and Giveaway

Take a moment to check out the new book trailer for Heather Burch’s critically acclaimed book Halflings.

I love the trailer....:D

***if you have problems watching the video, watch it directly here****

You can now sign up for a chance to WIN a signed copy of Halflings by Heather Burch!

FIVE copies up for grabs! To check it out and enter, visit here.

Book Review:Insight

Insight by Diana Greenwood

• Reading level: Ages 15 and up
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (April 12, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310723140
• ASIN: B005K6FUDG

Fourteen-year-old Elvira Witsil lives in a remote area of Wisconsin with her mother, Connie, who acknowledges Elvira only when chores need doing; her grandma, a cantankerous woman who can't hold her tongue; and her baby sister, Jessie --- who, the family discovers, is a seer.

Along with the burdens of a difficult family, Elvira also bears a daunting secret --- she encouraged her father to enlist in WWII. Ever since he was declared missing in action, Elvira has felt responsible for his presumed death. But Jessie also carries a secret about the father she never met --- a secret so powerful that when her mother, Connie, learns of it, she sends the family on a journey to California with a traveling preacher.

This powerful teen manuscript tells the story of a family's journey toward forgiveness and a young woman's journey toward faith.

I enjoyed this book a lot.

The cover of this book doesn’t really have anything to do with the story-my own opinion-. It suggest a paranormal one, while actually even if there is some supernatural things in the book, it doesn’t deal mostly in it. But I loved the cover just as well. It’s eye-catching and interesting.

This book is about self-discovery, love and loss, life and death, acceptance and understanding, past and future, hope and faith, forgiveness, healing and God's love. This is a complete journey into the lives of ordinary people who found themselves and God along the way.

With the author’s writing, I found myself in the road in 1940’s with the main character Elvira. I really empathized with her. I cried and laughed along, carried and felt the guilt she have over her father’s presumed dead. I also felt her mother’s neglect and meanness towards her. I struggled with her in her transformation toward a woman of faith.

Ms. Greenwood brought her story to real life and inspires readers like me a lot. Her characters are developed well-enough that they’d stay in the reader’s hearts even long after reading Insight.

This book wonderfully stated the thoughts and feelings every teen and to-be-teen experienced. It’s a hard thing turning from a child to a teen, but it’s much harder when there’s no one to guide you, especially when you needed the most your parents.

Insight is a great reminder, that we don’t only have problems to worry about. We have blessings and every little thing we should be thankful for. Faith and the questions that comes along with it are detailed without really making the reader uncomfortable with the religion-subtext.

All in all, Insight is a fast-read, all-pack book I would recommend to kids, teens and adults 9 and above. INSPIRING. Highly Recommended. :)




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Diviner by Bryan Davis

• Author: Bryan Davis
• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (August 30, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310718384
• ISBN-13: 978-0310718383
• Series:  Dragons Of Starlight #3

The Mysteries Unfold

As a starlighter, Koren knows her destiny is to save her fellow human slaves from the dragon’s bondage- but by following the orders of the smooth-talking dragon king, Taushin, has she in fact doomed her people and herself?

As Koren struggles over her choices, Elyssa discovers a new aspect to her Diviner gifts when her pendant begins to unlock mysteries surrounding the stardrops from the Exodus star.

Soon Elyssa, along with Jason and his father, also discover new truths behind the dragon’s prophecy and learn that Randall has teamed with a major war imminent and talk of a new starlighter in the air, confusion and uncertainty reign- something Taushin might have planned for all along.

I read this book without reading the first two books, good thing this is a stand-alone and besides Mr. Davis hints the backgrounds of the characters, so it’s not that hard for me to get a good grip to the story.

Praise for the cover, it’s wonderful and beautifully designed!

I really enjoy reading and learning about how Koren, Elyssa, Jason and the dragons worked together to work against the dragon, King Taushin, and other dragons. In this book, the climax started to an ultimate battle between Taushin, leading the dragons, and the humans from Darksphere who are attempting to lead the unwilling slaves. Diviner takes the reader deeper into the mysteries of Starlight, its past and the unusual, turbulent relationship between dragons and humans.

There are a lot of revelations. And the characters are more determined to free the people. I’m just a little bit confused about the white dragon, if he’s the creator, he should be able to alter things. Maybe Mr. Davis intend to reveal this thing in the next book. Or maybe we could relate it into our world, there is God, but He still let us choose, He gave us free will in order for us to choose right from wrong.

It’s a book full of action, with dragons flying, throwing flames, sword-fighting, etc,. I couldn’t seem to put this book down, I am so into every adventure in this book, the storyline is getting complicated what with all those characters, but a reader could still keep up, it seems every character thrust into the story takes on a life of its on, not letting (me) forget them that easily.

The author brings to existence a new world where dragons exist, I enjoy reading and I feel comfortable in this new world he created.

The best thing I want in this book are the subtle messages about wisdom, faith and hope. It’s just that as I read the lines, and then something struck within me. It’s never a nuisance at all, it made me realize things…:) thanks to the author…

Mr. Davis weaves a wonderful story of love, sacrifice, truth and faith. I can't wait to see how it ends in the Fourth book Liberator. The story unfolds even more and answers start to come to the surface, and it still leaves you with answers to come. So many of my questions were answered - and many new ones were raised. I cannot wait for the final book.

When Diviner ended we were left wondering who will survive. Will Starlight ever be free or will history be repeated? Will Starlight learn the truth or will Taushin blinds them as their new Black King?

A must read! Highly recommended!

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