Feature: APPRENTICE SOLAR, Wildvine Book 5

Fantasy from Writers Exchange:

In multiple worlds, universes and dimensions of reality, there are tales of Hub Worlds where many different realms can meet and intersect. Some travel between worlds through the power of the mind and with Talents born into the blood, while others are chosen through vision and prophecy and step between worlds with the power of talismans. None can go to the others' worlds, except when they meet in a Hub World.

Wildvine County, somewhere in the United States, is that pivotal point where the travelers from multiple worlds and universes meet.

A secret life is just as much a burden as a secret identity...

Jori's still recovering from her injuries earned on her first adventure in Unipuri when her college life turns upside down. While losing her pain-in-the-neck roommate is good news, she also loses the good one. Two friends in her dormitory rescue her from the dilemma of taking new roommates, and share their dorm room with her. Nothing in the world can compel Jori to mess up her new dorm situation.

However, she's now living in two worlds, and, as a result, some complications just can't be avoided. Jori enjoys learning to be a Solar, charged with protecting the doorway between worlds. The time differential between the Midworld and Earth is a big help in getting her homework done. She can't always hide her dual lives, when she puts her life on the line in the centuries-long war raging in Unipuri. Especially when she realizes her new roommates have secrets of their own. Even her dreams aren't private anymore.

Enemies of the Solars target Jori and manage to follow her from Unipuri to Earth with their magic, threatening her life and the ones she loves most. She was warned and trained, but at the end of the day, she's still just a college freshman.

Feature: OLD SOLAR'S SHOPPE, Wildvine Book 4

Fantasy from Writers Exchange:

In multiple worlds, universes and dimensions of reality, there are tales of Hub Worlds where many different realms can meet and intersect. Some travel between worlds through the power of the mind and with Talents born into the blood, while others are chosen through vision and prophecy and step between worlds with the power of talismans. None can go to the others' worlds, except when they meet in a Hub World.

Wildvine County, somewhere in the United States, is that pivotal point where the travelers from multiple worlds and universes meet.

Jori goes to Willowood College because of a promise her father made years ago when he was a student there. She only has to put in one year and then she can go to whatever college she prefers. When she walks into Old Solar's Shoppe her first day in town, prophecies spoken in another world awaken and claim her.

Lew has already lost one apprentice, and he isn't happy when the dreamstone marks Jori as his new apprentice, but he knows better than to disobey the will of Waetru. Lew and Jori become friends and he teaches her about the world called Unipuri. She believes Lew's stories are just a wonderful, complicated game.

Then an ancient evil attempts to reach across multiple universes and force protective barriers wide open. Jori's game becomes more real than anything she has ever known, changing her life forever...if she and Lew survive their first test as master and apprentice.

Feature: FELIN-RU, Wildvine Book 3

Fantasy from Writers Exchange:

In multiple worlds, universes and dimensions of reality, there are tales of Hub Worlds where many different realms can meet and intersect. Some travel between worlds through the power of the mind and with Talents born into the blood, while others are chosen through vision and prophecy and step between worlds with the power of talismans. None can go to the others' worlds, except when they meet in a Hub World.

Wildvine County, somewhere in the United States, is that pivotal point where the travelers from multiple worlds and universes meet.

Daniel is a mystery, found injured, lost, and unconscious on a mountainside after a freak storm. His miracle recovery and then his brilliant mind make medical history. After witnessing the murders of her parents, Wren loses her memory. The trauma in their childhoods unlocks Talents that will take years for them to explore and understand.

Grown, Daniel escapes his university existence and sets out to explore and search for answers to the mysteries in his life. Taking refuge with a school friend's family, he meets Wren, and the two discover an instant bond of mind and soul and heart. Guarded by the mysterious, interdimensional shadow creatures Daniel knows only as the felin-ru, they dare to try to make a life together.

Feature: ISTORICA, Wildvine Book 2

Fantasy from Writers Exchange:

In multiple worlds, universes and dimensions of reality, there are tales of Hub Worlds where many different realms can meet and intersect. Some travel between worlds through the power of the mind and with Talents born into the blood, while others are chosen through vision and prophecy and step between worlds with the power of talismans. None can go to the others' worlds, except when they meet in a Hub World.

Wildvine County, somewhere in the United States, is that pivotal point where the travelers from multiple worlds and universes meet.

Khyber is Istorica for the exiles, the one entrusted with remembering all their history, everything they've learned. Despite the support of her grandmother, Dayree, Khyber feels she's let down her family by not being able to step between worlds and take the exiles home. She has many gifts, but her talent for telling stories becomes the most important, when it offers the exiles a chance to reach out and find other exiles from Rehdonna. However, enemies have followed the exiles to Earth, and the only way to protect her family and village is to live separated from them under a false name. For the sake of the exiles, Khyber will do whatever it takes...and in the process find her way home.

Off the Bookshelf: THE DANIEL PLAN, by Rev. Rick Warren

Pastor Rick Warren (The Purpose-Driven Life, remember him?) looked in the mirror one day and realized he needed some help on the outside, to be blunt. And so did a LOT of people in his congregation. So he issued a challenge and invitation from the pulpit and a lot of people in the congregation of Saddleback Church got involved.

He also got experts in nutrition and fitness involved. You can read their references and experience in the book.

Yeah, another diet plan.
But this one is DO-ABLE.

A total makeover for your mind and body, with multiple aspects to incorporate. Faith, food, fellowship, fitness. Meeting the needs of the WHOLE person.

Okay, it's going to take me a while to incorporate ALL the steps, all the recommendations, make all the changes, but I started making changes in my eating and activity and lifestyle while I was reading the book. Simple things like being more active, trying to avoid drinking my calories (that one hurt, I love milk, for one thing), and drinking more water. I've lost weight already. I'm down lower than I've been in years.

There are lots of options available and lots of support on the Daniel Plan website. You can do this, and they're there to help you. I kid you not. Can't wait to see where I am a year from now, if just a few changes have made a difference already ....

Feature: JA'HANNA, Wildvine Book 1

Fantasy from Writers Exchange:

In multiple worlds, universes and dimensions of reality, there are tales of Hub Worlds, where many different realms can meet and intersect. Some travel between worlds through the power of the mind and Talents born into the blood, while others are chosen through vision and prophecy and step between worlds with the power of talismans. None can go to the others' worlds, except when they meet in a Hub World.

Wildvine County, somewhere in the United States, is that pivotal point where the travelers from multiple worlds and universes meet...

Dayree was born to a powerful family in the Taksearhe Clan. She was expected to have strong Talents, yet her gifts never emerged. Mocked by some, ignored by others, she took the opportunities offered to her and explored other gifts, becoming a craftsman and then a teacher. In the process, she found her soulmate, Jayx.

Years later, when their village was threatened by rebels who wanted to control their world, Dayree's gift awakened, enabling her talented cousin to evacuate the entire village to safety--stepping through the vortex between worlds, to a planet called Earth.

Off the Bookshelf: THE TEMPTATION, by Alisa Valdes

Subtitle: A Kindred Novel
Which leads to the natural question: What are the Kindred?
Easy answer: soul mates

Shane is a talented musician, going to an exclusive school, dating a boy from a powerful family, popular. The night of her car wreck on a desert highway, all that becomes meaningless. Travis saves her life and changes it forever.

Because Travis is dead. His arch-enemy is out to get Travis to break the rules of those who wander this world, paying for their sins, and condemn him forever. That enemy is out to get Shane now, because danger and harm to those we love is a far worse pain than anything we feel ourselves, and saving them by breaking the rules is an easy temptation to fall victim to.

Shane and Travis are soul mates, with the rules of the Afterworld standing between them, and one false step could destroy him for eternity. But in the end, Shane is the only chance Travis has to save his soul. How? I'm going to have to read the next two books to find out.