Rangers Lead the Way! ~ Blog Tour ~ Review & Author Interview

Kassie Angle, author of O to Be Like Thee, is releasing her second book! Tattered Wings is an incredible story!!!! Today I have a book review and an author interview! :)

Synopsis

Some scars can’t be seen. And some can’t be hidden.

Layla Trent’s life is pretty much perfect, except for the little matter of a dog of her own—and maybe a brother. So why does a random nightmare of a princess dress, a hospital, and a stranger who’s definitely not her daddy feel more like an aching wound? And can a broken, glassy-eyed puppy somehow help her release the pain she didn’t even know she was carrying?

Corporal Andrew Reyes has proven he has what it takes to be the best—a US Army Ranger. But when a double tragedy rocks his world, his resolve is shaken to the core. What’s left for a man to live for when he’s lost everything he ever wanted to be? And is the sudden appearance of a teenage girl with a three-legged dog a cruel joke or a divine appointment?

Some scars can’t be hidden. But some don’t need to be.

Goodreads // Amazon // Paperback

Review

Tattered Wings is an awesome book! After reading Kassie's first work, O to Be Like Thee, I was excited to hear she was coming out with another book. 

Tattered Wings is a book about hope. It is a book full of trials and triumphs. I liked how God was woven throughout the book- although I felt like there could have been more.

Layla, Andy, and Andy's siblings- they were all awesome! My favorite was Andy's best friend and battle buddy, Isaiah. Isaiah's story was really good, and his love for God and people really showed through. The characters were pretty in depth, which I really enjoy!

I loved the therapy dog aspect of it! Ranger was amazing. He was so attentive, and he understood what people needed- whether it be a hug or a nose bump. :)

This book shows how even when we are battered and scarred, God can still heal us and use us. Never give up!

*I received a free e-book in exchange for review.*

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And now, for the author interview!

What inspired you to write Tattered Wings?

Brad Paisley’s song “Stubborn Angels.” That was literally it. I was kind of mentally making a music video of it in the car one day and got this picture in my head of a double amputee running with a three-legged dog…and decided I wanted to write a story with that scene in it. It was a wild ride from there—but that’s what started it.

What are a few things God taught you while writing Tattered Wings?

The biggest one is definitely, don’t give up. That’s kind of one of the underlying themes of the story, and I never expected to learn it myself like I did. At first I didn’t want to write TW because I was still so attached to my first book—but God would not let me give up, and I’m so thankful for that. And sort of tied to that, sort of not, would be to let your own stories change you, too. If you believe God gives you the stories He does, you have to be willing to believe He does it for a reason.

What is the main thing you want people to take away from your book(s)?

Ooh, that’s dangerous to make plural! XP From Tattered Wings, well…to never give up. *heart eyes* To respect working dogs, to understand that our soldiers and families go through more than meets the eye. That God brings people together for a reason. You never know who’s trying to make a hero proud. From O to be Like Thee…never. ever. forget. Sacrifice is too important to let go unremembered. The least we can do is remember and honor.

Favorite book of the Bible?

Psalms!! (Although I also love Nehemiah…) David and the other psalm writers just pour their hearts out to God without reservation. They aren’t afraid to tell God when they’re going through a tough time and don’t understand what He’s doing. And they aren’t afraid to praise Him with abandon. Reading Psalms is so comforting and encouraging all at once.

What is the silliest/most embarrassing thing you did when you were a kid?

Okay, now I’m embarrassed all over again. XD This is the first one that came to mind… Once when we were traveling we were on an early morning flight and all the other passengers were quiet and mostly asleep, but I was all hyped up about flying, even though it was far from being my first time. As soon as the plane lifted off the runway I shouted at the top of my lungs, “IN THE AIR!” All the other passengers came to life laughing…and I was very quiet the rest of the flight. It might not have been so bad if I’d been like, four… I was nearly eleven. X’D

What is your favorite hobby?

I want to say writing, but that’s sorta more than a hobby at this point. XD So writing aside, running or
horseback riding…changes frequently, depending on which one I’m doing on any given day. X’D Also, that’s kind of fun that you’d ask, since the kids in Tattered Wings *might* love running too and I got such a kick out of writing my run scenes… <3 And somehow horseback riding gives me some of the same thrill as running.

Since Tattered Wings has a therapy dog in it, is the dog based on your own personal dog?

I can neither confirm nor deny. ;) Yes, all the way. To be honest, I had to change so many places where I’d called Ranger my own dog’s name—Thunder—by accident. The only difference is that Thunder has all four legs…plus, Thunder’s still in training as a therapy dog. So storyline-wise, it’s not our story to the letter, but personality-wise and everything else, Ranger is Thunder, and Ranger’s therapy-dog-training scenes are definitely strongly based off Thunder’s. It was a really fun aspect to write into the book.

Thanks for the interview, Kassie!

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About the Author

Kassie Angle is a teenaged Christian author, cowgirl, therapy dog trainer, stereotypical INFJ, and Army girl to the core. Her first love, i.e. debut novel, O to be Like Thee, swept her unsuspectedly into the world of indie authors. She tries to use her stories to fill the silences in literature, helping more people understand the world of the Army and showing how God heals the broken-hearted. You can find her and more of her writing