Join Julie's Special Agents Street Team #JuliesSpecialAgents @authorgilbert

Do you want to join the most awesome young adult street team? If so, now is the time! We are recruiting members to be part of Julie's Special Agents and help spread the word about Team Jules!

Who can be one of Julie's Special Agents?

Anyone that has read about Jillian Marie (Devya's Children)or Julie Ann (The Collins Case) can be a Special Agent! Even before she was kidnapped Jillian was bright, brave and headstrong. Special Agent Julie Ann takes on more than she can chew when a personal case lands on her desk. Join our team and find out if you are as bright and headstrong as Jillian? Or if you have what it takes when a case hits too close to home?

What does the Street Team do?

The street team is a vital part of Julie Gilbert's growth. Members will be helping us spread the word about Devya's Children, Heartfelt Cases and Julie Gilbert. You can tweet, Facebook, blog, etc.. There will be giveaways so re-tweeting and using the hash-tags #JuliesSpecialAgents #TeamJules, #Devya'sChildren and #HeartfeltCases with the link http://goo.gl/VIbB7u will be important. We will also post new missions often in the group and I will email the missions to members as they are available. So, what do you say?

What do Street Team members get?

Street Team members will have special buttons and badges they can place on their blogs. If you'd like, please also post them as your avatar, Facebook image, or anywhere else you see fit. We have several images that can be posted on Pinterest as well. If you do post images and want to know where to link it to, please use http://goo.gl/VIbB7u. You are also eligible for prizes and free books that are earned based on participation.


How do I sign up?

Are you ready to join us and accept your first mission as part of Team Jules? Fill out the form below to get started!

HERE IS THE FORM TO SIGN UP FOR JULIE GILBERT'S STREET TEAM!

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Author Minispotlight - J. Michael Gallen - Fantasy

J. Michael Gallen is a fantasy novelist from Central Texas who has published three novels and two novellas in the Saga Terra series, his franchise focusing on anthropomorphic animal characters that find themselves caught in the ongoing war between two superpowers dominating the world: the Holy Kingdom of Asgard and the Empire of Niflheim.

The recommended reading order of the books is:
Saga Terra: Odysseus
Saga Terra: Jordan the Wanderer
Saga Terra: Judge of The Haven
Saga Terra: The Lone Star Adventure
Saga Terra: Judge of Stellasolum

The books are available at the following outlets:
Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/jmgallen
Amazon:  J. Michael Gallen's Amazon books
Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/nre9csp

Movie Review: Lucy - Scarlett Johansson (4.5/5 stars)

*I'm going to use Amazon's 5 star sys, b/c that's what I'm used to. I'll try to be fairly spoiler free.*

Summary (things you can glean from the trailer): Lucy gets kidnapped and turned into a drug mule, but the bag starts leaking. The drug that enters her system unlocks parts of her mind that no human has ever accessed before. The drug basically lights up a party in her cells and gives her a bunch of cool abilities.

Overall Impression: Excellent, fun, exciting, imaginative, very sci-fi.

Comments:
- Story - pretty straightforward, cool concept. The ending's one of several predictable paths they could have chosen. It fits, but may not be seen as the most favorable one.

- Scarlett Johannson's acting skills are only really tested in the beginning.

- I don't think that the cover really does the movie justice.

- The movie includes some random chase scenes just so it can qualify for an action flick.

- Most of the really cool action scenes are covered by the trailer.

- They probably didn't emphasize the sci-fi connections to avoid the stigma and typical, gut reactions to the term. Oh some people love sci-fi, me included, but action probably has a wider movie audience than sci-fi.

- The symbolism is pretty heavy-handed, but it works. (ie. nature film scenes of a leopard stalking an antelope as Lucy enters the building ...)

- The switches between Prof Norman (Morgan Freeman's character) and Lucy (Scarlett Johansson's character) are fairly smooth, giving a lot of information without tuning in too long for the straightup lecture.

Would I recommend this movie? Yes. It's short but fun and entertaining. You can think about it if you want, but you can also just enjoy the ride for what it is.

Review | Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury

Title: Shades of Blue

Author: Karen Kingsbury

Length: 337 Pages

Released: October 2009

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Blurb

Brad Cutler, twenty-eight, is a rising star at his New York ad agency, about to marry the girl of his dreams. Anyone would agree he has it all … a great career, a beautiful and loving fiancée, and a fairy tale life ahead of him—when memories of a high school girlfriend begin to torment him. Lost innocence and one very difficult choice flood his conscience, and he is no longer sure what the future will bring except for this: He must find his old love and make amends. Haunted by the past and confused about the future, he turns to God seeking forgiveness and redemption.

This is my first Karen Kingsbury book, and it might well be my last. I'm usually not a negative person, though you might not know it to read some of my reviews. This book was downright unbelievable in many regards. I am a Christian, and I do believe in the basic premise she was promoting in the book. Several things irked me (spoilers ahead)...

1. The characters are flat - Brad is Mr. Wonderful, handsome, charming, successful; Laura is Ms. Reese Witherspoon lookalike, Christian Bible study princess; Emma is Ms. gorgeous, alluring, untouchable, teacher lady; Gavin is low-key Mr. super-Christian who will go out of his way to befriend the lonely teacher lady; Mom and Pop James are rich doting parents who totally support the young princess and spared no expense on her wedding

2. The story's not realistic - Brad and Emma grow up together, date in high school, become sexually active soon after he graduates high school, she ends up pregnant; things get weird b/t them; he takes her an abortion clinic and even pays for the procedure. Her mom dies soon after; he shows up for funeral then leaves her life for 9 years. Why does he return? Because he's about to get married and now he's feeling guilty and needs to apologize in person; Brad returns; Emma who pretty much gave up on God is swept up again by Brad but this time she finds her way back to God and peace. Did I mention, her miraculous heart-healing took place in the space of 3 days? Let me run that by you again - 9 years of running from her pain; 3 days - boom, heart on the way to healing. I'm not saying a miracle couldn't happen, but I highly doubt having the guy who abandoned her so soon after 2 traumatic life experiences would send her sailing down the river of peace. And another thing, Laura's supposed to be Ms. SuperChristian and all we get to see her do is pine over Brad, attend Bible study, and go to a play. Maybe I'm just used to books where the heroine actually does something. For that matter, all we see Brad do is pine after Laura, hold Emma, apologize, and cry. Oy, where's Dee Henderson when you need her?

3. Did we ever find out the name of Randy James's company?

4. Preaching to the choir - I almost feel sorry for anyone who is not a Christian who happens to pick up the book and think that Christians might actually be like this. We're not! Promise. This is equivalent to using a fire hose to blow out a birthday candle.

5. I'm having doubts the author has ever stepped foot in an elementary school. Each time we see these darling children, they're quietly doing their work that "teacher" asked them to. Not saying kids can't be good, but every time?

Get it from a library if you must read it. Some will actually like it, obviously, judging by the reviews. But you might just regret dropping money on it.

Review | 501st: Star Wars: An Imperial Commando Novel (Star Wars: Imperial Commando) by Karen Traviss

Title: 501st: Star Wars: An Imperial Commando Novel
 (Star Wars: Imperial Commando)

Author: Karen Traviss

Length: 466 Pages

Released: June 2011

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Blurb

The Clone Wars are over, but for those with reason to run from the new galactic Empire, the battle to survive has only just begun. . . .

The Jedi have been decimated in the Great Purge, and the Republic has fallen. Now the former Republic Commandos–the galaxy’s finest special forces troops, cloned from Jango Fett–find themselves on opposing sides and in very different armor. Some have deserted and fled to Mandalore with the mercenaries, renegade clone troopers, and rogue Jedi who make up Kal Skirata’ s ragtag resistance to Imperial occupation. Others–including men from Delta and Omega squads–now serve as Imperial Commandos, a black ops unit within Vader’s own 501st Legion, tasked to hunt down fugitive Jedi and clone deserters. For Darman, grieving for his Jedi wife and separated from his son, it’s an agonizing test of loyalty. But he’s not the only one who’ll be forced to test the ties of brotherhood. On Mandalore, clone deserters and the planet’s own natives, who have no love for the Jedi, will have their most cherished beliefs challenged. In the savage new galactic order, old feuds may have to be set aside to unite against a far bigger threat, and nobody can take old loyalties for granted.

Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years!

Traviss's Skill Shine Despite Book's Flaws

*spoiler alert*

501st is one of the better of the recent Star Wars books, but that's not really saying much because the competition is fairly pathetic of late. The RC books were great. This book tries to fly on the coattails of that greatness and sort of falls off into navel-gazing drivel from time to time. Certain sections were like reading fictionalized philosophy. Is it right to harbor some Jedi?

Darman often comes off like a complete jerk and an idiot to boot, which is totally uncool because thus far he's been the level-headed one. I understand that the events of the previous book were very rough for him, but the complete turn around just annoys me. I don't really buy the all-Jedi-must-die-to-protect-Kad attitude. Where does a man drowning in grief make so many leaps of logic? Kad's half-Jedi. --> Even though Order 66 went down and all the Jedi are scattered and running for their lives, they must be coming after Kad to recruit him into a baby Jedi. --> I like my job of killing Jedi; I must kill Jedi to protect my son b/c having a son changes things, don't you know? --> Even though my brothers want to rescue me, I must stay here and kill Jedi

That said, Niner's standing out more as the hero. The Skirata Enclave should be all finished their moral wrestling, hopefully the next book will have some forward-moving plot. Altis is back. He seems like an interesting guy. We've only seen him briefly in No Prisoners thus far, and his role here was merely cameo... Still, there's promise of more of him and his bunch later. Darman and Altis's people are certainly on a collision course.

Karen Traviss's writing style makes the really boring parts of this book bearable. She's good, no doubts there.

Review | Song of Renewal by Emily Sue Harvey

Title: Song of Renewal

Author: Emily Sue Harvey

Length: 296 Pages

Released: February 2011

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Blurb

Song of Renewal received glowing acclaim upon its hardcover release. Now, Emily Sue Harvey has dramatically expanded this extraordinarily touching work to allow us to experience its riches at new levels.

The Wakefields seem to have everything. Garrison is a hugely successful graphic artist. Liza is an active member of the community and a patron of the arts. Their 16-year-old daughter Angel is bright, beautiful, and a gifted dancer. At the same time, though, they have traded away many of their dreams. Garrison gave up a future as an accomplished painter to make money. Liza suspended her own dancing career to raise a family. And Angel is setting aside her ambitions to live her mother’s dream.

When Angel gets into a car accident that kills her first love, the Wakefields’ lives turn on a dime. While Angel lies in a coma from which even the best prognosis is devastating, Garrison and Liza sit by her side, their once-passionate marriage in tatters. As their heartache over Angel builds, Garrison and Liza struggle to rediscover who they once were—and who they were meant to be. They come to realize that it will take everything they have within themselves to heal Angel, heal their hearts, and renew the power of their love.

At once romantic, inspiring, and empowering, Song of Renewal is a rare bauble of a novel, one with something to say to every family.

I laughed out loud at certain passages in this book. Not because the content was funny, but because the author's way of stating things is sometimes just so awkward it comes off humorous. (My favorite example is this: Liza and Garrison lunched with Garrison's Floridian parents, who'd flown in the night before, on hospital cafeteria sandwiches. Ha, I'd like to see one of those flying hospital sandwiches. The comma placement probably makes the sentence technically correct, but the sentence as a whole still comes off strange.)

My mom started reading the book and stopped on pg 50 becuase it was boring her. She said that she felt like there are hundreds of books like this and most of them are better written.

The basic story is okay, but it loses something becuase the back cover copy says pretty much everything that is going to happen. The whole book just feels like a short story somebody bullied into being long enough to call a novel. Go grab it from your library if you want to read it. You'll probably be annoyed if you shell out real money for it.

Review | Metatropolis by Karl Schroeder

Title: Metatropolis

Author: Karl Schroeder

Length: 288 Pages

Released: February 2010

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Blurb

Five original tales set in a shared urban future—from some of the hottest young writers in modern SF

A strange man comes to an even stranger encampment...a bouncer becomes the linchpin of an unexpected urban movement...a courier on the run has to decide who to trust in a dangerous city...a slacker in a "zero-footprint" town gets a most unusual new job...and a weapons investigator uses his skills to discover a metropolis hidden right in front of his eyes.

Welcome to the future of cities. Welcome to Metatropolis.

More than an anthology, Metatropolis is the brainchild of five of science fiction's hottest writers—Elizabeth Bear, Tobias Buckell, Jay Lake, Karl Schroeder, and project editor John Scalzi—-who combined their talents to build a new urban future, and then wrote their own stories in this collectively-constructed world. The results are individual glimpses of a shared vision, and a reading experience unlike any you've had before.

This is definitely worth a second listen through. I didn't much care for the first story in the anthology, but the others got increasingly better. The 4th and 5th especially appealed to me in different ways. The 4th appealed because the character seemed the most "down to earth" and easy to relate to sort. The 5th appealed to me because the concept of worlds within worlds and RPGs on a whole new level was neat.

If you're a science fiction fan, this is one collection that you'll find something that appeals to you. That said, know that becuase of the very nature of the work not everything will be completely to your liking. 5 different authors, 5 different readers = one mixed bag of stories.

What a bleak look most science fiction writers take of the future. The first three focus a lot on the hard-knock sort of life it is. The 4th struck me as a whimsical, happy-go-lucky sort of tale and the 5th was mainly a description of a cool idea, not really much in the way of action to the story.

If you don't want to spring for the $20 yourself, at least make your local library consider buying it.