It's Monday! What are you reading? #9

This meme is hosted by Book Journey.


My thoughts for this week:  This week I've been reading basically author requesting.  A lot of the books are out of my comfort zone, but I figured that would be awesome for me, so I can expand my horizons, I was pleasantly surprised with the books that I read.  I still have a lot more to go, and there are a few books on my upcoming list that I want to read that aren't author requests.  I've been having fun with it so far though.

 

 

 

Reviews I posted this week:

The Sham by Ellen Allen
The Atomic Blood-Stained Bus by Michael J Ritchie
Guardian of the underworld by Rachel Tetley
The Second Coming: A Love Story by ScottPinsker
Gene. Sys. by Aaron Denius Garcia
 

What I have read this past week:

   

 

What I am working on this week:

 

My Blogger List account finally got set up properly, so I've been bomboarded with requests to review, so the "what I am working on" list is constantly changing.  I am considering revamping my process and my TBR list to work a little smoother for me, but that might be a week or two.

 

So, your turn! what are you reading? Link me up so I can go visit!

Review: Gene. Sys. by Aaron Denius Garcia

 

**I received this from the author in exchange for my honest review**

 

4/5 Stars

 

 Synopsis per Goodreads:

The world is supposed to end in about a year. For Atom, that means his quest is about to begin.

Genetically engineered by the scientists that will be setting off a nuclear apocalypse, Atom and eleven other Genetic Systems were created to restart humanity. When an outside attack expedites the plans for the extermination, Atom must find the courage and strength to lead himself and the other Genesys to survival

 

 

My thoughts on this book:

 

This book is a YA/Dystopian book about a group of genetically engineered kids that are a group of scientists last resort for humanity.  The were genetically engineered to be perfect in just about every way, but in order for them to live and thrive and start over, everyone else in the world has to die, and some people aren't ready to have that happen.

 

This book was on my TBR pile down the line a bit, but the last book I read was so thought provoking and heavy to read, and my next one is a historical book that started off very heavy and stuff, I wanted something I could sink into and grip me from the start.  The synopsis of Gene. Sys. captured me and I had to read it.

 

From the start I was completely enthralled.  The author created a world and scenario and characters that were real and believable.  I love that the book gave a brief synopsis of the world from the 1900s on, and gave brief mentions of 4 world wars and what happened, so that the reader wasn't boggled down by it.  I felt both horror and sympathy at the characters for this book, feelings for the "outsiders" that were basically fighting for their survival, versus Atom and Ev and the genesys created group, that are going to be the next evolution for human kind to thrive.  Realization that if humans of today continue on this path, the future of this book could very well come into pass.

 

There was a lot of action, a bit of crushes, some spy and friendships, and a bit of a love triangle between Atom and Ev, who he seemed to be engineered for her, or Atom and Fe, who he dreams about.  I read this in one sitting.  And I really enjoyed this book, and it was upsetting when my nook reached the last page and I couldn't turn it anymore.  I want a book 2.  I want to keep going.

 

Review: The Second Coming: A Love Story by Scott Pinsker

**I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review**

 

3.5/5 Stars

 

Synopsis per Goodreads:

Two men claim to be the Second Coming of Christ. Each claims the other is Satan in disguise. But only one is telling the truth.

In The Second Coming: A Love Story, the devilish new novel by Scott Pinsker, the culture war between Red America and Blue America turns shockingly real when two self-declared saviors appear on earth. The first “messiah” attracts legions of liberal and secular-progressive followers with his message of New Age brotherhood, quickly becoming the darling of the left. The second “messiah” preaches fire-and-brimstone traditional Christianity, gaining a grassroots army of conservative worshippers ready to battle to the death.

It’s finally happened: Red America and Blue America are headed for Armageddon!

My thoughts on this book:

 

This book wasn't really an easy read, it's thought provoking and filled with symbolism and theology.  There are more questions than answers.  The point's of views changed, between the different messiahs, and the different followers, some of it was hard to follow, and a lot of the questions being raised and asked and the theology behind them were a bit over my head, this book is perfect for someone who likes to read about theology and those questions "did mankind write the bible or did God" type stuff.   My interpretation also included a bit of political Blue/Red symbolism too. 

 

The author himself managed to be brilliant by not leaning heavily more on one side or the other, I think early on I though out what I expected from the book, and found it to be true.  It wasn't an easy read as far as being able to pick up the book and read it right then and there in one sitting on a lazy Saturday morning.  It leaves you kinda winded with a headache from overthinking, but the second installment should prove to be another interesting read.  It doesn't really read like a fiction/nonfiction but more of a long essay or something along those lines.  It was a good book though.

Review: Guardian of the Underworld by Rachel Tetley

**I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review**

 

5/5 Stars

 

Two worlds
Neither can exist without the other
And one guardian to ensure their survival
But a family with a score to settle
Forces one boy, into a dangerous adventure

Jake Summers is an ordinary boy with an ordinary family- so he thinks. He has just spent another summer holidays building dens in the woods with his best friend Paul. But when someone special unexpectedly dies, Jake is determined to find out the truth, unaware that it will change his life forever.

He discovers a key to Grandpa’s forbidden room, and is plunged into a long-forgotten magical world, together with class mate Arianna Brown and a strange creature called Noggin. Stormy seas, underground carts pulled by Golden Eagles and a dragon all stand in his way. He must race against time to fulfil an ancient magical prophecy and save the world.

My thoughts about this book:

 

This is a childrens/middle grade fantasy book, while reading it I had a lot of other books in my head.  The Hobbit, Bridge to Terabithia, Spiderwick,Narnia, Harry Potter, Labyrinth, and similar adventures like that.  It followed the theme of children ages 10-12 heading off into a huge adventure.  This one had the a boy who just lost his grandfather, find out that the stories he told were autobiographical rather than fantasy, that he's a guardian of the underworld.  Along with Arianna, who's sister was kidnapped by the "bad guy" in the book, he has to complete 5 challenges to get to the high counsel and get her sister back. 

 

I did start this book off with my son, he was super intrigued by the illustrations he saw.  That quickly ended when he started asking me if he could stay up late cause the kids in the book were out till 4am in the morning, and then his mom ended up letting him stay home from school, and wanted to know why the kid in the book aren't at school a lot.  My son is 9, just a few years younger than the main character.  I think that the characters in the book were WAY wiser than their years.  Sneaking out and steering boats and knowing exactly what to do and what to say while doing it.  I think the book was a little bit too old for my son, there was a lot we had to spend time looking up, like the birds that were in there and that sort of thing.  For me however, I loved it.  From the first word, I was sucked in, how many books start off with intrigue like "As he ran, his muscles screamed at him to surrender." 

 

The imagination that the author has to create this world, is pretty incredible, and the detail and thought that went into it.  It was amazing, I loved this book.  I wish it was longer, and fuller, but it was a great start to a series, I wish book 2 were available, i'd be all over that.

Review: The Atomic Blood-Stained Bus by Michael J Ritchie

 

**I received this book from the publisher based in London UK, in exchange for my honest review**

 

4/5 Stars

 

Synopsis per Goodreads:

Gwen McKenna, a bored journalist, has lost faith in her work and instead spends her time pondering the locations of missing people and attempting to make magic work. When David Lowry goes missing, she seeks out his trail, only to find herself tugged under the surface of the normal world and into a layer inhabited by banished gods, secretive witches and psychotic bus drivers.


This time, she might be in too deep

My thoughts about this book:

 

This book was based in London I believe, where they have buses, that I can only imagine in my fantasies.  With a bus by the name of The Atomic Blood-Stained Bus, my imagination pictured something out of the 1970's US psychedelic colors with the double buses (which I need to point out I have never personally seen in my entire life)

 

What my head came up with was something similar to this:

 

Only the book had it a bit more of a murder mobile, so there's no accounting my imaginations taste.  Maybe instead of butterflies and flowers there are pictures of body parts and murder weapons?? :)

 

Anyways, so on to the book.  This book the story line captivated me immediately, it was something I had never read before, that I couldn't even really properly put it in a genre.  It had a bit of everything, murder, mystery, humor (I love Algie), Gods and witches and magic and mortals.  The entire book was unique, and the writer wrote it in a way that made you keep on reading it.  The characters were loveable and relatable, from Gwen with the boring life, to Garfield, the immortal mortal that knew magic and killed to avenge his wifes death and then to find her soul. 

 

This book was very well written, and articulate and the flow was perfect.  I enjoyed reading this book and am thankful for the publisher for sharing it with me. It was easy to read, and again, the plot was very very unique!  great job writer!


Review: The Sham by Ellen Allen

**I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review*

3.5/5 Stars

 

Synopsis per Goodreads:

When love leads to death, be careful who you trust…

Eighteen-year-old Emily Heath would love to leave her dead-end town, known locally as "The Sham", with her boyfriend, Jack, but he's very, very sick; his body is failing and his brain is shutting down. He's also in hiding, under suspicion of murder. Six months' ago, strange signs were painted across town in a dialect no one has spoken for decades and one of Emily's classmates washed up in the local floods.

Emily has never trusted her instincts and now they're pulling her towards Jack, who the police think is a sham himself, someone else entirely. As the town wakes to discover new signs plastered across its walls, Emily must decide who and what she trusts, and fast: local vigilantes are hunting Jack; the floods, the police, and her parents are blocking her path; and the town doesn’t need another dead body.

My thoughts on this book:

 



I think I read this one at a bad time. I was just coming off a 24 hour read-a-thon where I read some weird books. The entire time I was reading this and there was this huge mystery surrounding who this boy was, and some of the weirdest scenarios were going through my head, so that when we finally find out, I was just like, what? that's it!? lol. That was the biggest letdown of the entire book, the rest of the book however, was pretty awesome, mostly because of the ending..I wasn't expecting that. I was expecting anything BUT that.

There were a few confusing moments, the four girls, two of them had similar names so I kept interweaving them together, getting confused with who was who. My head actually kept thinking it was the same person, just name changing between name and nickname. There's some moments where Jack does something that still isn't completely explained to my satisfaction by the end of the book so my head with the weird scenarios is still insisting that the ending was completely and totally wrong.

Overall it was a decent read. I wasn't too disturbed by the violence, or the bullying, gross and disturbing, but I was prepared and expected it with all of the disclaimers around about it. I feel that this was a really good debut novel, that foreshadows the promise of some really great stuff from this author in the future. 

Teaser Tuesday/Top off Tuesday Double Feature #7

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.  Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Here is my Teaser:

Synopsis per Goodreads:

When love leads to death, be careful who you trust…

Eighteen-year-old Emily Heath would love to leave her dead-end town, known locally as "The Sham", with her boyfriend, Jack, but he's very, very sick; his body is failing and his brain is shutting down. He's also in hiding, under suspicion of murder. Six months' ago, strange signs were painted across town in a dialect no one has spoken for decades and one of Emily's classmates washed up in the local floods. 

Emily has never trusted her instincts and now they're pulling her towards Jack, who the police think is a sham himself, someone else entirely. As the town wakes to discover new signs plastered across its walls, Emily must decide who and what she trusts, and fast: local vigilantes are hunting Jack; the floods, the police, and her parents are blocking her path; and the town doesn’t need another dead body.

page 136

"Do you know why Jack left so suddenly?" Brown asked.

I shook my head but I could guess the worse.  Two new signs had appeared after months of nothing.  The superstitious talk of how death comes in threes.  Becky was missing.

share with me your teaser links so I can stop by and check it out :)

and because I can't make up my mind which one I like the most, I'm participating in Top off Tuesdays too! LOL I know I know, but HEY! Eye CANDY!

Top off Tuesday is hosted by Felicia from The
Geeky Book Blogger's Book Blog, Amanda from On a Book Bender,
and Christi from Smitten with Reading.
"Every once in a while there are covers that just make you say Oh My!  Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is bad, and sometimes it is head scratching. The point of Top Off Tuesday is to show you the ones with their Tops Off!  Seriously y’all hunting out Top Off Tuesday covers is one of my favorite pastimes and you should join the fun!"~Felecia

Here's my cover:

Synopsis per goodreads:

White Hot Holidays vol 1 A Special holiday anthology of sizzling stories from Ellora's Cave, home of Romantica. Sexy santas, New Year's Eves filled with new love, gifts that keep on giving........all hot enough to melt snow. Is your greatest wish to have someone to call your own, someone to love who loves you in return? Whether your fantasy is the sexy stranger at the party, being stranded with a lover in a snow-bound cabin, keeping more than warm in front of the fire, matchmaking on the moon, or finding your favorite man in your christmas stocking- your wish may come true in this series of holiday stories from the mistresses of Romantica. Enjoy the spirt of a very sensual season!

Link me up with your teasers so I can drool too!

It's Monday! What are you reading? #8

This meme is hosted by Book Journey.


My thoughts for this week:  This week kinda flew by for me, one minute I was writing my It's Monday #7, now here I am on #8.  It's hard to believe how fast time is flying, pretty soon we'll be hitting November, seems like just yesterday was New Years.  Anyways, this week was really busy at work, most of my evenings consisted of me coming home and falling flat on my face asleep I was so exhausted.  I didn't even do much blogging, completely missed my tuesday and Wednesday meme's:(  This week will probably be much of the same.  Friday my dad took over my kid for the weekend, I came home, cleaned, then went to bed, starting at 8am Saturday morning I participated in Dewey's 24 hour read-a-thon.  I thought I did pretty well, specially since I took off a lot to do some errands and eat lunch with mom, and go to moms to do laundry, then I fell asleep probably about 3am.


Click HERE to check out my Dewey's results


I am on #bookblogwalkers too! completed September, started October and didn't do great at all.
#bookblogwalker

 

 

 

Reviews I posted this week:

Dust by Sarah Daltry
Alien Brood by Helen Atreya
Path to Freedom by Conrad Taylor
Tributaries by Illise Montoya
Beautiful Wreck by Larissa Brown
 

What I have read this past week:

   

  
  
  

What I am working on this week:

 

My Blogger List account finally got set up properly, so I've been bomboarded with requests to review, so the "what I am working on" list is constantly changing.  I am considering revamping my process and my TBR list to work a little smoother for me, but that might be a week or two.

My October Random Read Meme is:



So, your turn! what are you reading? Link me up so I can go visit!

Review: Beautiful Wreck by Larissa Brown

**I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review*

 

4/5 Stars

 

Synopsis per Goodreads:

In a bleak future built on virtual reality, Ginn is a romantic who yearns for something real. She designs environments for people who play at being Vikings. But when her project goes awry, she’s stranded in the actual 10th century, on a storybook farm in Viking Iceland.

Heirik is the young leader of his family, honored by the men and women who live on his land. But he is feared and isolated because of a terrible curse. Ginn and Heirik are two people who never thought they would find a home in someone else’s heart.

When forces rise against them to keep them apart, Ginn is called on to decide—will she give up the brutal and beautiful reality of the past? Or will she have the courage to traverse time and become more of a Viking than she ever imagined?

My thoughts on this book:

 

This book, despite the not so great cover  (so much more potential there for a better one), was a intensely beautiful read.  The author has some raw talent that is comparable to some of the great historical books.  You can tell that a LOT of research and time and thought went into this book.  The writing was lyrical and articulate, the world building was phenomenal and the characters well thought out.

 

The first chapter basically took place in the future, holograms and contacts that are basically computers, and a holographic "tank" the world building here wasn't as impressive, I wasn't sure what I was reading and what the tank actually WAS.  I can tell the author and the main character, Ginn had passion more for times of the Viking, because once Ginn arrived to the past, it was like high definition color started happening, and the future was just black and white.

 

The book, the story, it was intense.   It was raw and emotional, I cried at several points, at Ginns heartbreak and forbidden love.  I loved how the ending wasn't revealed at the very beginning like a lot of books seem to do.  It is NOT a lighthearted quick romance.  There is a little bit of everything, hand chopping off, love, angst, struggle, enemies and friends, vikings and futuristic mma style fighting.  If you like historical romance that isn't frilly and is down right gutwrenching and absolutely enthralling that you don't know you just read almost 500 pages?  read this one!

Review: Tributaries by Illise Montoya

 

**I received this book from the author to read and review**

 

4/5 Stars

 

Synopsis per Goodreads:

Nyx is a feline shape shifter, lost and alone, host to a fierce and ferocious being that lies deep inside her. She harbors a deadly secret and is running for her life when she is saved by Elmiryn, a cursed warrior on a quest for revenge. The pair quickly become unlikely allies and embark upon a perilous physical and mental journey that will put both their skills and sanity to the test. Ultimately, they form a unique and powerful bond through their shared trials and tribulations. Together they continue onward and follow a path that leads to new and remarkable discoveries of both the worlds around, and within them

My thoughts on this book:

I received this book from the author to read and review.  This book reads to me fantasy more than anything else, but the author does say it's a lesbian romance also. 

 

We've got Nyx and Elle, shapeshifter and warrior on a journey and quest of Elles to right a wrong done to her by a evil spirit type thing.  There's some battles both mental and physical, and some coming of age moments.

 

The book was a nice read, very articulate, very well written, the author has lots of talent.  The characters were easy to get to know, the world building was pretty good.  There were some parts that confused me, mostly dealing with Nyx, and not being able to figure out who was actually the one walking and talking, when I thought it was Nyx, it ended up being the shapeshifter, or vice versa, during some parts. I didn't feel the romance too much, the quest/journey seemed to be the strong point in the whole book, there were some moments when the characters cared for each other, but I didn't see the romance leading up to that, a kiss seemed out of the blue to me, and kinda took me by surprise, the end quest seemed to be the focal point, more than relationship building, I didn't feel like they were in love or anything, more friendship was felt for me, going through stuff like they did, similar to Frodo and Samwise in LOTR, where they obviously care for each other, but aren't IN love.

 

I recommend this read if you are a fantasy fan, with a bit of lesbian romance mixed in.



Review: Path to Freedom by Conrad Taylor

 

**I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review**

 

4/5 Stars

 

Synopsis per Goodreads:

Little about Conrad Taylor's upbringing in a remote mining town, carved into the upper reaches of the Amazon jungle, prepared him for a first-of-a-kind scholarship to West Point. An extraordinary opportunity for most, it was a life-changer for him. Culture shock hardened the ensuing West Point Experience. And, Third World politics tested it - severely. The book has a simple proposition. Fly-or-die!
"PATH to FREEDOM: My Story of Perseverance" charts a sometimes-humorous journey of perseverance, resilience, hope, survival, and love. It traverses between the ecologically-exotic Guyana, South America and the wind-swept plains of the highly-regimented United States Military Academy - at the height of the Vietnam War. The narrative sums up rude awakenings, especially after West Point - because of West Point.
The book offers up a ringside seat to Taylor's journey. It provides a unique prism through which to see the cultural trauma of emigration, the unique experience that is West Point, the personal side of Cold-War-era geopolitics, and the mayhem of Third World politics. The view will be nostalgic for some, shocking to many, and enlightening for others. Its subtly-threaded love story will enchant - at the very least. 
The account describes what happened upon Taylor's return to a government turned repressive, anti-American, and paranoid - overnight. The Soviet-leaning, Cold-War-era dictatorship feared regime change. Its power-hungry leaders obsessed about him being a spy for the United States. His was the impossible task of proving that he was not - or else! 

 My thoughts on this book:

I was asked to read and review this book from the author.  This is a coming of age auto biographical book, that follows the author through some main points of his young life up living in Guyana South America, follows him through his scholarship to West Point, then after he went back to Guyana, where is government thinks he's a spy for America.

 

My favorite part of the entire book was the beginning.  The author clearly loves where he grew up his description of the beautiful of Guyana, and the waterfalls, and wild life and trees, I really need to add this place to my bucketlist to go see all of it, especially the waterfall. I've never heard of Guyana before, but the description made me feel like I was there.

 

There were a few points through the book that I wish were elaborated on, because the briefest mention was made, but then nothing beyond that, curious minds need to know ALL.  The memories and culture shock of arriving in America were interesting to read, I wish there were more mention, if he had problems as far as racism or anything like that,   There were a lot of hazing and seemingly awful memories of West Point, I kind of wondered if there were many good memories, and wish I had gotten to read some of those.  I'm walking away from this book with the thoughts of bullying and WP being awful, there didn't seem to be any happiness except for when there were more freedom allowed to go visit Ona (girlfriend at the time).  Oh and why after marrying Ona did he go back but she stay in the US? I was confused at that part.

 

It was an easy read, though filled with lots of facts and details about political things going on at the time, both in Guyana and West Point.  The author is very articulate and well written, and it was obvious he went through so much, and it was obviously painful to go through that, when he the place where he was born.  Good book!