Aoléon The Martian Girl: A Science Fiction and Fantasy Saga - Part 1: First Contact by Brent LeVasseur {A Book Review}

**I received an advanced copy of Aoléon The Martian Girl: A Science Fiction and Fantasy Saga - Part 1 by Brent LeVasseur from iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. **

I mentioned earlier this year that I've been trying to expand my reading to try reading a few books that I wouldn't normally pick up. Well, this book is definitely one of those! Aoleon is geared toward young adults/teenagers but I actually really enjoyed it as well. I would consider it a science fiction book because it included alien, UFOs and the like. 

This book is only part one of the story so it ends in a cliffhanger but even with that, it was a really good story. The illustrations are incredible. They are fun, brightly colored and vivid and I think they really added to the story. I think this would really appeal to young adults for that reason. 

I don't want to give you the full story but it follows a young country boy in his adventure with Aoleon. They go for quite a trip! If you teach middle-grade children, have middle-grade children or would enjoy a quick sci-fi, check it out! 

A quick blurb about the Author from the folks at iRead: 

Mr. LeVasseur enjoys crafting good stories based on lovable characters designed to translate well to multiple media formats such as books, games, movies, and toys. He lives in New York when he is not commuting between South California and Olympus Mon, Mars. His hobbies include writing, 3D animation, musical composition, and intergalactic space travel. He also enjoys various sports such as skiing, running and exospheric skydiving. 

Connect with him on Facebook

Books I Read This Year {2014}

This year, I read a lot of books. Many of them were for review but some were just for fun! Here's what I read this year:

For Review:  (links are to my reviews) 

1. Stones for Bread by Christa Parrish
2. Unstoppable by Nick Vujicic
3. How to Be Rich by Andy Stanley
4. Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke
5. Crash the Chatterbox by Steven Furtick
6. Restless by Jennie Allen
7. A Table by the Window by Hillary Manton Lodge
8. Mom Seeks God by Julia Roller
9. Passion by Louie Giglio
10. The Nesting Place by Myquillyn Smith
11. Willie Out West by Rhonda Walker
12. Mom's Night Out
13. Mom's Night Out and other things I miss...Devotions to help you survive! by Kerri Pomarolli
14. A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert
15. Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin
16. Smart Money Smart Kids by Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze
17. Reasons My Kid is Crying by Greg Pembroke
18. The Good News About Marriage by Shaunti Feldhahn
19. The God-First Life by Stovall Weems
20. Treat Yourself by Jennifer Steinhauer
21. Love, Skip, Jump by Shelene Bryan
22. Get to Know Jesus by Nancy I. Sanders
23. Fire and Smoke: A Pitmaster's Secrets by Chris Lilly
24. Answering Your Kids' Toughest Questions by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson
25. Get to Know Apostle Paul by Nancy I. Sanders
26. Roadfood by Jane and Michael Stern
27. $10 Great Dates: Connecting Love, Marriage, and Fun on a budget by The Larsons and The Arps
28. Goodnight, Ark by Laura Sassi
29. A Grand Design by Amber Stockton
30. All is Fair in Love and Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant
31. Colliding with Destiny Finding Hope in the Legacy of Ruth by Sarah Jakes
32. The Southern Foodie's Guide to the Pig by Chris Chamberlain
33. Treasury of Bible Stories Rhythmical Rhymes of Biblical Times by Kelly Pulley
34. Flour + Water by Thomas McNaughton
35. Messy Beautiful Love by Darlene Schacht
36. The Brickmaker's Bride by Judith Miller
37. A Matter of Heart by Tracie Peterson
38. The Berenstain Bears: Blessed are the Peacemakers
39. Expectant Parents by Suzanne Gosselin
40. In This House We will Giggle by Courtney DeFeo
41. Brave Mom by Sherry Surratt
42. Little Things Long Remembered by Susan Newman
43. The Pizza Bible by Tony Gemignani
44. Love Without End by Robin Lee Hatcher
45. Aoleon: The Martian Girl by Brent LeVasseur
46. A Brush with Love by Rachel Hauck

For Fun:  (links provided are to the books on Amazon in case you are interested in any of them) 

 1.A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet by Sophie Hudson
 2. Overwhelmed by Perry Noble
 3. Rivers of Grace by Mark and Patti Virkler
 4. The Blessed Life by Robert Morris (read with Matt)
5. The Antelope in the Living Room by Melanie Shankle
6. Fifteen Minutes by Karen Kingsbury
7. The Chance by Karen Kingsbury
8. Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers
9. Her Daughter's Dream by Francine Rivers
10. Still Alice by Lisa Genova
11. Sweet Caroline by Rachel Hauck
12. Love Starts with Elle by Rachel Hauck
13. Georgia on her Mind by Rachel Hauck
14. Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck
15. In the Sweet By and By by Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck
16. New Hampshire Weddings by Rachel Hauck
17. Softly and Tenderly by Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck
18. Love Lifted Me by Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck
19. The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck

Handprint Ornaments {A Christmas Gift from Uncle Ben}

Matt's brother, Ben, sent us a clay handprint kit for Christmas. We didn't waste any time using it and decided to make two ornaments. One of Mason's left hand and one of his right. Mason was a huge fan and such a big helper. We will enjoy this gift for a long time. Can't wait to add them to the tree next year. 

Just look at his face! 

The Morgan's Movements {Late December 2014}

These posts are quickly becoming some of my favorite. A fun way to put all of our miscellaneous pictures in one place. 

This little scrunched nose is Mason's signature. And it's not just because he's touching the diaper genie. 

"Mom, I'm going to stand on these boxes and climb over, okay?"

We put socks on Curious George. Mason thought it was hilarious! 

Every time I try to take a picture with Mason and he is holding something, he puts it to his mouth. Goof

We received a package from my mom and Mason loved the box.

and the package's contents...glasses and old remotes 

We made yummy cranberry orange bread for our neighbors and friends for Christmas gifts. YUM! YUM!

After a long time being stuck inside, Mason was SO glad to get out and play! 

Drinking (juice) and driving. :)

Sweet snuggles with my boy

We love having fun! 

We pulled out just a few toys today...

Mason and I FaceTimed with GiGi and he gave her sweet kisses.

This boy loves his books! 

and I love reading with him, too. 

Facetiming before I went to a CEU course. 

Mason, Dad AND George had breakfast together one morning. 

Mason enjoys tossing his toys out of the tub at the end of bath. On this day, he was quite proud! 

Matt put Mason on the bed one day while he was getting dressed. Sweet boy1 

More FaceTime while I was at lunch in my CEU course. Love this boy

Where's Mason??

Matt and Mason met Grandmom and Granddad for dinner one night and Mason was giving Granddad sweet eyes. They have such a sweet relationship. 

Big boy dipping his food in ketchup. 

Grammy and PopPop sent us some Christmas presents in the mail. 

Mason was pretty darn excited about it! 

We went to The Polar Express storytime at the library. Mason enjoyed it and sat through the whole story. 

Our neighbor, Ms. Phoebe, has light up reindeer in her front yard. We tried to get a few pictures with them one day. Mason was very busy exploring! 

Working on our utensil usage. WOO!

Date for Momma and Mason to a local Chinese buffet. A buffet alone with your child is hard! Trying to hold him and fix plates, I was worn out! 

Great Mom-Mom sent Mason a sweet little Christmas gift in the mail, too. 

Chocolate and a cookie...she knows the way to his heart for sure! 

Do I have Oreo on my face??

I have loved our Christmas card display so much and I hope I remember this again for next year. 

"Yes, Mom! I'm in here AGAIN!"

My handsome guys ready for Christmas church service. 

Wrestling time for Mason and Daddy

Dinner date for Dad and Mason. Mexican food!

We each loved having a date with Mason around Christmas. 

See? Picture time equals things in the mouth! 

Yummy dinner for Matt and me. We made pizza dough but it was a flop (still don't know why) so we used crescent rolls instead! It was so good! 

Snuggle time for A Very Monkey Christmas! 

Mason had his 2 week check up and he waited so patiently! Also, his ears are all clear!

I'll be back with a few last pictures from the end of December. We have had such a fun month!