Beautiful by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma

Beautiful. How many times does a girl like to her that word? Well, when it refers to her current state, I would say the number can't be counted. However, what if it referred to her former state? Does beauty change?

Ellie was an over-achiever, involved in everything, wanting to go to Stanford and change the world. It was her senior year in high school and she was dating Ryan, a boy who was the typical jock, or was he? Ellie's best friend Vanessa told Ellie that she and Ryan better stay together, at least through Homecoming. Ellie's feelings for Ryan were up and down, until one day he told her he loved her. She didn't know what to say... she was going places... was he? 

He had a special date planned for the next evening for the two of them, only it didn't go as planned. (I don't want to give away the secrets of that evening, but they ended up at a party.) Ellie decided that she had enough of the party and left with a girl named Stacia. The two were acquaintances, but not friends. Neither girl had been drinking, but even sober, they wouldn't have been able to avoid the accident. 

The beautiful Ellie was now scarred for life. She began to act more like her "older by less than a year" angsty sister. The two couldn't have been more different prior to the accident, but now, Ellie felt that the majority of what she had been striving for wasn't important. Who would want to look at her now?

Does Ellie learn to live in her new life? Or will she stay stuck in her misery? What would you do? 

4 of 5 flamingos. 

Lucifer's Flood by Linda Rios Brook

My apologies for the writing delay. I moved and now do not have internet... Odd I know. More time for reading :)

I picked this book up at a Christian bookstore in Seattle. They were having a buy two get one free sale, and Lord knows that I can't pass up a deal involving books. And, upon searching Amazon for the cover image, I realized that it's a part of a series. Bonus! 

Samantha Yale, expert language interpreter, receives an call from a man who wants her to translate some scrolls. What she finds is a first-hand, angel's account of the war in heaven and the fall of Lucifer. I must say, it put a very interesting perspective on the beginning of things. A few times during reading the book I had one of those "huh" moments. It also made the fight in the spiritual realm more real to me. The language the angel uses to tell of the account is modern, and often comical. 

Samantha is concerned about where these scrolls came from. The man who brought them insists that they are legally his, but that the is in great danger for bringing them to her. He leaves no number with her and no other information. She must wait for his calls. This certainly adds to the mystery of the book.

I am certainly interested in reading book 2.

4.5 of 5 Flamingos. 

As Sure As the Dawn by Francine Rivers

This was the third and final book in the Mark of the Lion Trilogy. In this story we follow the gladiator Atretes and his undeniable and insufferable temper all the way back to Germania. Atretes had made the decision to go back to Germania because there were those in Ephesus who were trying to get him to fight in the arenas again. Though he had earned his freedom, he still felt like a caged animal. The politicians and gladiator trainers knew Atretes' weak spots and they were coming to capitalize on them. Unfortunately there is a problem. Atretes lacked the knowledge of how to get back to his homeland. Would it be possible that God would use a Roman centurion to lead the way? Could Atretes let go of his pride and serve the God of the universe, and not Tiwaz?

In this book, I was reminded that nothing is impossible with God. What seems insurmountable, is but a mole hill to Him. And in the times of our greatest sadnesses, He is there, not always to offer understanding, but to offer comfort.

5 of 5 flamingos.

An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers

An Echo in the Darkness is book 2 in the Mark of the Lion trilogy. Again this book shows the miraculous things that can happen when one places their trust in God. Marcus decides to go on a quest to find Hadassah's God. He journeys on his own to Judea and meets several people there that help point him in the right direction, and others who mock his journey. 

We also meet Alexander, a doctor who is trying his best to heal the sick, using techniques that are moral. He begins working with a young woman who is given the name Rapha (healer) by those she sees. Rapha is a Christian and does  not wish to take on the name, but knows that she is safer by doing so. 

Phoebe, the mother of Marcus and Julia Valerian takes ill. Alexander goes to see what services he can offer and brings Rapha along with him. Little does he know the history the two women have had. 

Will Marcus find Christ? Will Phoebe get better? Read the book. It's long, but good. :)

5 of 5 flamingos.