Book review of MISFIT

Misfit by Jon Skovron


Jael is a sixteen year old girl going through some mega changes. Growing up with a demon hunter ex-priest for a father can be difficult, but learning you inherited strange powers from your dead demon mother takes the cake. If that's not enough, through in the strict Catholic school with an exorcist for a history teacher and you have an adventure no one should miss.

Jael is a wonderfully funny, unique teen with all the emotional issues every teenage girl goes through and I enjoyed reading about her battle against the Duke of Hell that murdered her mother. She's feisty, strong, and she corrupts your heart with her caring demonic powers.

Jael's dad and Uncle Dagon...and yes that DAGON, the demon God, help Jael learn to use the gifts she was born to in order to survive. It's refreshing to see the familial bonds flourish during this heart warming story. Jael also has a love interest and a best friend who come in to own their roles in this wonderful story and make you love them just as much as I know you will love Jael.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me want to be in the book with this character, helping her conquer those demons. I can't wait for a sequel!! http://jonskovron.com/misfit

Love letters

 I wanted to share a love letter written by Major Sullivan Ballou to his wife Sarah. My husband is deployed and found this letter online and sent it to me. He said that this letter conveyed how he felt about me in a way that he couldn't express so eloquently. The letter is untouched by the cruelty and harshness of the world and how Major Ballou may have felt about the war....he didn't let it tamper with what he wanted his wife to know. The love he expresses is profound and heartbreaking. After reading this letter, I realized that this is the kind of love we strive for. This is the kind of love romance authors write about and this is the kind of love every one of us dreams that we can both give and receive. I hope you enjoy the letter as much as I did. Thank  you to www.PBS.com for having the letter in its entirety.

July 14, 1861
Camp Clark, Washington

My very dear Sarah:
The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days—perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more . . .

I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans on the triumph of the Government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution. And I am willing—perfectly willing—to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt . . .

Sarah my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me unresistibly on with all these chains to the battle field.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them for so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons grown up to honorable manhood, around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me—perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name. Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have often times been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness . . .

But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the gladdest days and in the darkest nights . . . always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again . . .

Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the first Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861.

Sitting Here on a Wednesday Night

Sitting here on a Wednesday night...knowing I have homework to do. I find myself creatively seeking other things to do. I should be reading my text book. I have an assignment on anxiety disorders and bi-polar disorder. I've played a few games. I am currently enamored of Alice...on PS3...freaking awesome costumes, storyline, special effects, and lots of blood. I'm not a huge gamer person, but I love puzzle games and this is a really great one. Alice in Wonderland is perhaps one of my favorite books of all time and this spin of the classic story into a video game is thrilling to play. You are Alice and you get to go back to Wonderland, but this time it's darker, bloodier, and you aren't exactly in your right mind. Who needs to do homework when you can go kill the Red Queen again? Not me!

YA Highway: Love Is Mandatory

YA Highway: Love Is Mandatory

Visiting a Memory

I often weave through the memory to seek the source of why and how I am here. Sometimes it's a dream and other times a nightmare. I can hear the laughter and see the smiles of my family and my love. Just like in the movies, you can instantly tell when the arc to the story rises and the colors drain from the scene. Melancholy strings play in the background warning of tragedy yet to come.

Blood and tears mark where I have tread and I know I cannot go back ever. I'm cold and the grief overwhelms me into letting go. I don't want to be strong. I don't want to weather the storm. Sobbing replaces the music and I try to ignore the twinge in my heart at the sound. I want to drown the sound. Please make it go away.

Your voice calls out to me, begging me to stay. Your voice is hoarse from use at my bedside and you still plead for me to be with you forever. I try again to shut out your voice, but my walls are cracking and your love is breaking through me. Oh God...I don't want to feel again...it's too soon. Just let me go.

The moment I felt you, agony laced through my body bringing me back. How could I leave? You needed me. You wanted me still. My body bathed in renewed anguish latches on to the strength you offer. It is a tender offering...microscopic in its entirety, but you give it to me and I make it mine. Without you, I have no strength. With me, you are strength invigorated. We faced the darkness and our wounds still fester deep. The deeper the wound, the bigger the scar, and those scars prove the depth of our love.

I still fear the darkness. I still fear the pain. I fear so many things that it paralyzes me. I don't want to be afraid anymore. I don't want to hurt anymore. I want to face the darkness. I want to live each day knowing we survived and are stronger for it.

My Review of Spellbound

Traumatized Emma Connor goes to live with her rich Aunt Christine on the upper East side after losing both her brother and mother, and then suffering at the hands of her alcoholic step father. Fitting in with the uppity rich kids proves more difficult after having a confrontation with the school's queen bee. The devastatingly handsome Brendon Salinger takes up for her in the snide quarrel and Emma becomes smitten.

Brendon and Emma fight their growing attraction for different reasons. He isn't used to actually caring about someone and she is afraid that she's not good enough. Too make matters worse, Emma is wearing a crest that can mean only one thing. They are cursed soul mates destined to lose each other over and over. After befriending a cool teen goth witch, Emma confirms the curse is real and she and Brendon must fight to break the curse or forever lose a lifetime of love.

I found this story intriguing and it definitely had that special something keeping me turning the pages. This love story was sweet and touched my heart. The author Cara Lynn Shultz conveys the fear and heartache so prevalent in teens and young love perfectly. My heart raced right along with the lead character and found myself yearning for her to fight back and triumph. She didn't disappoint me! I absolutely recommend this book if you enjoy happy endings. I know I do!

http://caralynnshultz.wordpress.com/