I'm Coming Back and with a Rebrand!

I'm Coming Back and with a Rebrand!

Long time no see! I think the last time I posted here was last April, so that means I have been gone for over a year. I decided it was time to take a break. I had begun to feel worn out and I had begun a new job and wanted to focus on that at that time. And also as you can see I have rebranded my blog with a new blog name and I am still working on the blog layout and look. So be on the lookout for that.  Now that I have taken an extended time of rest I am ready to come back and start reviewing and promoting authors and their works again! 

See you soon!

-Alyssa, Tichel Reviews

REVIEW: The Second Coming of the New Age: The Hidden Dangers of Alternative Spirituality in Contemporary America and Its Churches

   The Second Coming of the New Age

About the Book

The New Age movement has returned with full force in our culture taking the West and its churches by storm.
All across North America, Christian churches have unknowingly encouraged occult beliefs and practices far removed from what the Bible teaches. This unfortunate reality is intrinsically linked to the popularity increase of New Age spirituality in the twenty-first century, and we've been so influenced by its integration into our society that we have become blind to recognizing, and preventing, the effects of this mainstream, pop-culture heresy, even within the walls of God's house.

In this imperative and timely book, former New-Agers Josh Peck and Steven Bancarz reveal:

*What perverse dealings the authors personally witnessed from their experiences deep within the New Age Movement

*Which real and dangerous supernatural force lurks behind the New Age

*Facts that reveal how the occult has worked its way into modern, evangelical churches

*Connections between New Ageism, fallen angels, extraterrestrials, and the Nephilim

*Solid, historical associations between the New Age Movement and Satanism

*What false-Christ and false-gospel doctrines are being pushed by New Age teachers

*How the central deity of the New Age is a thinly veiled version of Leviathan, the ancient personification of chaos

*How quantum physics is being manipulated to promote the New Age agenda

*How to reach friends and family lost in the New Age movement

*Warning signs and influences of the occult in your life and home, and what to do if you are under spiritual attack

Our lives, our relationships, our world, and our churches all depend on our willingness to take action against the deceit of New Age spirituality. The first step toward prevention is knowledge. Now is the time to be informed. 

Review

The Second Coming of the New Age by Steven Bancarz and Josh Peck chronicles of the origins of the New Age movement, the dangers of it, and how it has been creeping into the modern Christian church community for decades. They discuss the major points of the New Age and how it can and does deceive those in and out of the church. It only twists the truth enough to make it sound good, but in reality, what it does is destroy you.  

The Second Coming of the New Age is a fascinating look into the New Age from the perspective from the authors who are formerly New Age. 

                                                      

REVIEW: Unbreakable by Sara Ella

About the Book


Eliyana Ember is stranded in a foreign country in the Third Reflection with no passport, the inability to mirrorwalk, and zero clue where the nearest Thresholds back into the Fourth or Second might lie. Her mind is a haze, her memories vague. She knows a wormhole from the Fourth sent her here. She remembers her mom and baby brother Evan. Makai and Stormy and Joshua . . .

Deep down El realizes she must end the Void once and for all. Is there a way to trap the darkness within its current vessel, kill it off completely? To do so would mean sacrificing another soul—the soul of a man Joshua claims is a traitor. But he’s lied to her before, and even El senses Joshua can’t be fully trusted, but one thing is certain . . .

The Void must be annihilated. And only the Verity—the light which birthed the darkness—can put an end to that which seeks to kill and destroy.

My Review


Unbreakable is the third and final installment of Sara Ella's Unblemished series. Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel, and bittersweet endings are all compiled in Unbreakable.

Urban Fantasy isn't the typical type of Fantasy that I normally gravitate towards but I'm glad I read the Unblemished trilogy as it may be the only Urban Fantasy books I read because I still probably won't reach for this sub-genre too much. 

Is the Unblemished trilogy of my favorite fantasies ever? No. Was this series good and worth the read? Yes.

REVIEW: The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers

About the Book



New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers returns to her romance roots with this unexpected and redemptive love story, a probing tale that reminds us that mercy can shape even the most broken among us into an imperfect yet stunning masterpiece.

A successful LA artist, Roman Velasco appears to have everything he could possibly want―money, women, fame. Only Grace Moore, his reluctant, newly hired personal assistant, knows how little he truly has. The demons of Roman’s past seem to echo through the halls of his empty mansion and out across his breathtaking Topanga Canyon view. But Grace doesn’t know how her boss secretly wrestles with those demons: by tagging buildings as the Bird, a notorious but unidentified graffiti artist―an alter ego that could destroy his career and land him in prison.

Like Roman, Grace is wrestling with ghosts and secrets of her own. After a disastrous marriage threw her life completely off course, she vowed never to let love steal her dreams again. But as she gets to know the enigmatic man behind the reputation, it’s as if the jagged pieces of both of their pasts slowly begin to fit together . . . until something so unexpected happens that it changes the course of their relationship―and both their lives―forever.

My Review



The Masterpiece felt very different than previous Francine Rivers novels. I had such high hopes for this book, perhaps maybe my hopes were too high. Because I did feel a little underwhelmed by this story and the characters although I did still give it four stars. I wish Francine Rivers would go back to her roots and write stories of biblical proportions in different time periods, like her Christian debut. It's still a good story, but it left me wanting something more.

REVIEW: Breaking Cover by Michele Assad

About the Book


The CIA is looking for walking contradictions. Recruiters seek people who can keep a secret, yet pull classified information out of others; who love their country, but are willing to leave it behind to head into dangerous places; who live double lives, but can be trusted with some of the nation's most highly sensitive tasks.

Michele Rigby Assad was one of those people.

As a CIA agent, Michele soon found that working undercover was an all-encompassing job. The threats were real. The mission was a perilous one. Trained as a counterterrorism expert, Michele spent over a decade in the agency--a woman leading some of the most highly skilled operatives on the planet, secretly serving in some the most treacherous areas of the Middle East. But deep inside, Michele wondered: Could she really do this job? Was she in the right place at the right time, or had she misunderstood what she thought was God's calling on her life? Did she have what it would take to survive?

The answer came when Michele faced a life-or-death choice--one that had secretly been the plan for her all along.

In Breaking Cover, Michele has at last been cleared to drop cover and tell her story: one of incredible struggle; of thwarted plans and expectations; and most of all, of discovering a faith greater than all her fears. 





My Review


Breaking Cover is ex-CIA agent Michele Assad, a counter-terrorism expert. It was so fascinating to read a book by a former agent not to mention someone who worked in counter-terrorism. Politics, international or homebound, and counter-terrorism are two topics I am fascinated by. I won't go into much detail because I don't want to give anything away. You'll have to read Breaking Cover for yourself.

REVIEW: Live Fearless by Sadie Robertson

About the Book

Sadie Robertson, bestselling author and star of Dancing with the Stars, has an important message for her generation: you don't have to be held back by fear, anxiety, or loneliness anymore. In Live Fearless, Sadie takes you on a thrilling personal journey toward power, passion, and purpose as you live at the center of who God created you to be!

Dear friends,

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty tired of the struggle. You know which one I mean--fear, loneliness, not knowing who I am or what I'm meant to do. . . . Sound familiar?

I struggled with insecurity, comparison, and isolation for too many years, from thigh gaps to eyebrows to the lifestyles I felt I had to live up to. I was so afraid of being "found out," that everyone in my life would somehow figure out that I was fearful and small and that I struggled to make my faith a reality and to be secure in who I am. It took a major perspective shift from staring at comments on a screen to really digging into the pages of my Bible to see what God actually says about overcoming fear.

Setting aside the fear, anxiety, and comparison to become the joy-filled person God created you to be is exactly what God is inviting you into. To really be seen and known. To be an agent of change by choosing compassion, connection, and acceptance for everyone you come in contact with. Inside this book are ways to find your power, passion, and purpose--and reach for your dreams. Plus, there are places to jot down notes, fun lists, practical ways to make changes, and thoughts on how living fearless can change everything.

Are you tired of the awful comparison game? Are you exhausted from trying to keep up, from feeling small and afraid that people will find the real you and be disappointed? There is so much more for you. No matter who you are, where you come from, or what your fears are, freedom is available to you. It's just a matter of saying yes. You in?

Hope you'll join me on this wild adventure as we learn to Live Fearless together.



Love,

Sadie 








My Review

I have been following the Robertson family since the beginning of Duck Dynasty. And it has been a pleasure to watch Sadie Robertson grow from a young adolescent to grown and faith-filled young woman. Live Fearless is Sadie Robertson's heart for not only her generation but for the church in general. To live a life fearlessly for Christ. For me, there wasn't really anything new, but this would be great for a young teen or pre-teen believer.

ARREST IN DECADES OLD CASES MADE!

BREAKING!


Early this morning around 2:30 am PT an arrest was made at a home in Citrus Heights, CA. 72-year-old Joseph James DeAngelo has been arrested as a suspect in the East Area Rapist and Golden State Killer cases that spanned from 1976 to 1986. Not much is known at this point. There is a Press Conference scheduled for 12:00 Noon PT in Sacramento. You can watch it LIVE on the Sacramento Sheriff's Department's Facebook page and the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office Facebook page.


More details to come.



UPDATE:

The Press Conference is still in progress, however, more information about this case has been released. Joseph James DeAngelo has been charged with the murder of Lyman and Charlene Smith in Ventura County in 1980. It has been repeated time and time again throughout the press conference that DNA was what lead to this morning's arrest. Ironically, this occurred today on National DNA Day. The arrest warrant was issued yesterday, April 24, 2018. District Attorney's from multiple counties that were touched by this monster spoke. Also speaking was the FBI Agent in charge of the Sacramento FBI agency. Bruce Harrington, the brother of murder victim Keith Harrington spoke as well. Bruce spoke mostly about how the victims still alive can finally heal and grieve fully. He also gave a passionate speech on the importance of DNA evidence. 


It was also revealed that DeAngelo was living in Canyon Oak Dr. in Citrus Heights, CA. It was when this was revealed this became more personal. This monster lived only blocks from me when I lived in the area. I can not tell you how many times I walked by that house during the Spring and Summer while on a walk. And to now know that the house was holding a decades-long secret that is a serial rapist and serial killer is upsetting, to say the least. 


To the women, this monster brutally raped over the course of 12 years, sleep well. 

Most Anticipated Films

Mary Poppins Returns

Release Date: December 25, 2018

Mary Poppins Returns is a continuation of the beloved Mary Poppins story and I can not wait to see this film. The trailer's color scheme seems to be a bit dark. I hope the colors become more bright and cheery as the film progresses. I noticed all the references in the trailer to the original film. I mean, when I saw that kite starting to blow in the wind it made want to start singing I Want to Go Fly a Kite. Now, where is the casting is concerned it's a toss-up. I think Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins could be a fantastic choice. However, I am concerned with the pick of Lin Manuel Miranda. I just don't think he is as great of a performer as so many make him out to be. So if his performance is underwhelming I'm afraid he could drag the entire film down with him. When I first heard about this film I was completely closed off from it. But now after seeing the trailer I am more open-minded and will absolutely see this film. Don't screw it up Disney!!!

Christopher Robin

Release Date: TBD

Like Mary Poppins Returns, Christopher Robin is also a continuation of a beloved character and his adventures. In Christopher Robin, we find Christopher all grown up and has started his own family. But in a debacle. And in his need and imagination, Pooh returns. I found this trailer absolutely charming and I am so looking forward to this film release. I love the casting of Ewan McGregor as Christopher Robin. I think he was a perfect choice. Now, I have seen some people complain about how Pooh looks. I, however, do not find fault with the studios choice about how to physically portray Pooh. Christopher has grown up so it would only be natural for Christopher to see his old friend a little older as well. Remember, Pooh is a well-loved bear. I can tell this entire film is going the charm everybody, but especially those like me who grew up on this character.

REVIEW: Stronger than the Struggle by Havilah Cunnington

About the Book 

"Why do I still struggle if I'm faithfully following God?"

We all face challenges. On any given day, the problems of real life can take our breaths away. Our marriages, finances, relationships, and health are regular struggles, and that's just the beginning. Doesn't the Bible say the war has already been won? So why do we still battle?

In a down-to-earth, let’s-get-real approach, popular Bible teacher Havilah Cunnington cuts through the confusion and shows us how to 


Discern whether we’re dealing with battles within ourselves, resistance from God, or genuine fights with the Devil.
Throw off misconceptions about spiritual warfare, and understand what Jesus really said about our spiritual authority and the certainty we have in him.
Ask the right questions and build a realistic battle plan to win one day at a time.
With humor and honesty, Cunnington lays out practical tools to thrive in the face of hardship, enabling us to walk forward in the confidence that, because of Jesus, we really are stronger than the struggle. 










My Review 



Havilah Cunnington's Stronger than the Struggle as the title says uncomplicates your spiritual battle and the supernatural world. So many in and outside the church see the supernatural and supernatural warfare as something mystical when in fact it is so simply and aptly put in Scripture. The supernatural and supernatural warfare is one of my favourite subjects to read about so I was extremely excited when Havilah announced this was going to be her next book and it was fantastic. Highly recommend!

Most Anticipated Reads of 2018

So I've been gone a while and not posting much except for a review here and there. That's because I started a new job. I started working for Starbucks in late September and I've been there for 4 months now. Sorry for the hiatus but after work I've been tired and just wanting to nap. And I also plan to go back to college. Starbucks has the Starbucks College Achievment Plan, where they pay for my tuition completely. I can take advantage of this perk after working at Starbucks for 6 months so that means anytime after March I can register for school. Well, that's enough of life updates let's get onto what you're really here for......THE COVERS!!!

 

REVIEW: Staying Stylish by Candace Cameron Bure

About the Book 


Join Candace Cameron Bure, actress best known as D.J. Tanner from Full House and a New York Times bestselling author, whose faith and wit have delighted audiences for decades, as she lets you in on her best-kept secrets for Staying Stylish. This gorgeous manual for beauty, style, health, and spiritual wellness will be your one-stop shop for everything you need to live your most stylish life.

As an actress, producer, New York Times bestselling author, and inspirational speaker, Candace Cameron Bure has spent her entire life in the spotlight, and she is well aware of the pressures and forces many women face. Throughout her career, Candace has balanced her faith, family, and passion for work and found her spot as role model to women of all ages—and as a style icon.

In her brand-new book Staying Stylish, Candace invites you behind the scenes of her day-to-day life and shares over 100 tips and tricks for looking and feeling your best—both inside and out. Nurture your body, style, and soul as you read through this beautiful book full of photos, insider secrets, and exciting ideas to revamp your own life into its best possible version. She offers her insight into balance, spiritual growth, and looking great while doing it all.

Staying Stylish topics will include personal style, fresh hair and makeup for any age, a well-balanced diet and fitness regime, and a well-nourished spirit.




My Review 


Staying Stylish is actress' Candace Cameron Bure's newest release covering a variety of topics including fashion, beauty, and self. But not without talking about us as people and who we truly are minus all the superficial, but fun topics. I did knock off a star because it feel a bit repeptitive sometimes. However, I adored the layout of this book, the book itself, and the photographs insode the book. Whoever took them is truly talented and has a great eye. This is a fun book that is perfect for that Summer beach day!

REVIEW: The Martyr's Oath by Johnnie Moore

About the Book

Be Inspired by Amazing Eyewitness Stories of Hope and Courage from the Persecuted Church

We are witnessing an astonishing escalation in Christian persecution like we have rarely seen since the first century. Some estimate that every five minutes, a Christian is martyred for his or her faith. Countries like Egypt have experienced more Christian persecution in the last five years than in the previous six hundred years combined. And who could have missed the atrocities of ISIS in Syria, Boko Haram in Nigeria, and the continued persecution of Christians in North Korea?

Johnnie Moore, like many American Christians, didn't fully appreciate the extent of what was going on--until he witnessed the graduation of theology students in India. Unlike graduation ceremonies in America--where feel-good speeches made by visiting celebrities are common--this one featured a remarkable oath. It wasn't an oath to excel or succeed. It was an oath to be willing to die, if necessary, for the cause of Christ. This was no empty promise. This was a choice, choosing the eternal over the temporal.

Johnnie knew he was witnessing a raw, first-century Christianity that his comfortable American version had shielded him from. "For the first time, I really understand my faith," says Johnnie Moore. Now, he's on a mission to give this same experience to others. He and his team have crisscrossed the world, recorders in hand, gathering eyewitness accounts from dozens of people who survived persecution--and the stories of some who didn't.

Join Johnnie Moore on this compelling journey to the heart of the Christian faith.

My Review

The Martyr's Oath by Johnnie Moore is a collection of stories of people who have died for their faith. A concept for so many in the West we can't even wrap our heads around. But in the last several years the persecution of Believers around the world has escelated to a high we have not seen in generations. Men, women, and yes even children in nations like Egypt, Iraq, Iran, China, North Korea. Nations where being a Christian is either severaly frowned upon or illegal. The Martyr's Oath is a timely work that needs to be read by Believers and non-believers alike. 

REVIEW: The Delusion by Laura Gallier

About the Book


By March of Owen Edmonds's senior year, eleven students at Masonville High School have committed suicide. Amid the media frenzy and chaos, Owen tries to remain levelheaded--until he endures his own near-death experience and wakes to a distressing new reality.

The people around him suddenly appear to be shackled and enslaved.

Owen frantically seeks a cure for what he thinks are crazed hallucinations, but his delusions become even more sinister. An army of hideous, towering beings, unseen by anyone but Owen, are preying on his girlfriend and classmates, provoking them to self-destruction.

Owen eventually arrives at a mind-bending conclusion: he's not imagining the evil--everyone else is blind to its reality. He must warn and rescue those he loves . . . but this proves to be no simple mission. Will he be able to convince anyone to believe him before it's too late?

Owen's heart-pounding journey through truth and delusion will force him to reconsider everything he believes. He both longs for and fears the answers to questions that are quickly becoming too dangerous to ignore.
















My Review


The Delusion by Laura Gallier is a Young Adult Supernatural Thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and awake at night because you won't want to go to sleep until you finish the whole thing. Laura Gallier's The Delusion is reminiscent of Frank Peretti and Craig Parshall's Supernatural Thrillers and I believe Laura has made a place for herself in this genre and I can't wait to see what Laura will release next.

REVIEW: Laugh It Up by Candace Payne

About the Book

The world knows Candace Payne as “Chewbacca Mom,” the wife and mother of two from Dallas who captured the hearts of nearly 200 million people around the world with nothing but a toy Chewbacca mask, a smart phone, and infectious laughter.

Candace’s viral moment of simple joy became Facebook Live’s top video. But what the video doesn’t show is Candace’s storied journey of daunting obstacles on the way to the joy-filled life—extreme poverty, past trauma, and struggles with self-worth.

Laugh It Up! tells the rest of the story behind the woman in the mask. Like most of us, Candace has often felt overlooked, undervalued, and insignificant. But she has also discovered the secrets to unshakable joy that no circumstance can take away, and Laugh It Up! will help you discover and experience the same.

Join Candace to discover the gift God has given us all to experience life to the fullest. All you need to do is answer “yes” when joy, whom Candace personifies as a friend, calls you to come and play.


Do you feel tempted to give up on your dreams? Joy stays the course.
Do your knees knock when thinking about the future? Joy hopes for what can be.
Do you feel unseen and unnoticed? Joy is content whether backstage or center stage.
Do you feel crushed under the weight of regret? Joy loves you enough to weep with you, but also enough to help you move on.
When life punches you in the gut, it can be difficult to muster a smile—much less a laugh. But with humor and power, wit and wisdom, Candace lights the way forward to a life that is free indeed.

My Review

Laugh It Up is the memoir of everyone's favourite mom, Chewbacca Mom! Candace Payne made her name simply by posting a video to Facebook that garnered millions of view just for her joyous reaction to a Star Wars electronic Chewbacca mask. In Laugh It Up Candace goes back to her childhood how her family moved from place to place. Laugh It Up really is about experience joy through the smallest of things.