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Book Review: My Bittersweet Summer by Starla Huchton
My Bittersweet Summer by Starla Huchton
A New Adult/Contemporary Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (05/07/15)
Summary:
Margie was bullied relentlessly as a child. It was only when her family moved that she was able to slowly recover and become a stronger and more put together person. It took her six years to gain back her confidence and decrease her panic attacks, but it takes all of one look at the boys who were her biggest tormentors to tear down all the defenses she’d built up. She needs a letter of recommendation from the new chef at the restaurant her parents work at, so she can’t just leave. One boy in particular, Zack, keeps bothering her. He isn’t the bully she used to know, but can she get over the fear she still has of him and the others and of getting hurt again?
Keywords:
Bullying, Strength, Panic Attacks, Restaurants, Chef, Cooking, Summer, Summer Job, Promise of Paris, New England, Romance, Perseverance, Victim, Second Chances, Becoming a Better Person
My Review:
Starla Huchton has done it again. I couldn’t put down My Bittersweet Summer. The book flowed from beginning to end and held its tension and my attention throughout the entirety of the story.
I always love Huchton’s characters. Margie has so much personality and her past, though only told in bits and pieces throughout her present day life, is so alive for the reader. The events in Margie’s past made her who she is and shaped who she has become. Present Margie is a product of Past Margie, but she has worked hard to become a new Margie. Going back to the place where her bullies tormented her would break anyone. Margie is not a super human, she is susceptible to bouts of panic and emotion when she has to confront the same bullies all grown up. She reacts with words and even her fist at one point, but there are other factors that keep her from losing all control. She can’t beat up the restaurant owner’s son. She can’t kill her chance to get that recommendation. She can’t let her parents down. She’s forced to confront her fears and her tormenters and to rise to the challenge Zack presents.
Zack. I love a person who is trying to be a better person. He has a lot of past to overcome as one of those that stood by and let Margie get bullied. The ones who do nothing are just as guilty as those who are at the front of the assault. Zack has a lot to make up for and the way he tries is super sweet. I loved all his gestures and how hard he tried.
I absolutely love Starla’s style and the story of My Bittersweet Summer.
This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on May 7th, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 5.00
Links for more information:
Wildlife Wednesdays: How Does Your Garden Grow?
Remember the garden I planted this year?
Well… it’s growing up!
This was weeks ago… and now we harvested quite a bit of beans and a large zucchini.
If you have a garden, have you been harvesting yet? What did you plant?
Book Review: Progeny (The Endure Series Book 3) by S.A. Huchton
Progeny (The Endure Series Book 3) by S.A. Huchton
A Sci-Fi/New Adult/Romance Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (12/07/13)
Summary:
“’We always have a choice, Dr. Ashley. It’s what we do with the options we’re given that’s important.’” (Kindle Location 423).
“’You can’t blame yourself for putting people into a dangerous situation you didn’t create.’” (Kindle Locations 3297-3298).
Book three picks up after a bit of time from the end of Nemesis. Lydia has been gone long enough for them to send Dr. Nick back after lack of funding for both off-Endure researchers and she is now by herself in what may became potential enemy territory. With what she has learned and how she thinks Daniel feels, Lydia feels more alone than she’s ever felt before. She continues working on the cure to the bacteria she was studying on the Endure, but is plagued by doubt about everything and everyone. Has she left Daniel for good, or will this genius power couple get back together, even after knowing what they know about each other?
Keywords:
Genetics, genius, underwater, tough, instability, romance, love, hormones, leader, kick-butt female, sex, fighting, training, good guys, testing, banter, skills, technology, hackers, subaquatic living, scientists, the hard way, Marine Biochemistry, Nobel Laureate, ship-shape, selective breeding
My Review:
The reveals are grandiose in this book and the lengths both Daniel and Lydia will go for love are insane. The tension has been building from book one and we get the exciting third book of all hell breaks loose! Some conflicts are resolved, but the grand plotline, the good versus evil theme is still ongoing and yet to be concluded in this third novel. THIS IS NOT A TRILOGY. Progeny is not the final book. Huchton leaves the book with her greatest cliffhanger of the Endure series.
The greater plotline that’s fully revealed in this third book of the series is quite a doozy, meandering in and out of the gray area of genetic manipulation and selective breeding. But Huchton makes it personal. She brings a hypothetical (I hope) scientific concept to life right in front of your eyes with one of her characters and you are in the midst of the emotional ride as this gray area plays out. Who will win in the end? Will there be any winners? This third book is the most apocalyptic of the series, as it delves into possibilities that Huchton might explore in book four concerning a major decrease in population! She pulls out all the stops for this book, but looking back you know she had some of these greater designs in mind from the beginning. There were hints. There were clues. Hopefully in book four we get the conclusion we’ve been looking for.
This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on December 25th, 2013 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 4.50
Links for more information:
Book Review: Nemesis (The Endure Series, book 2) by S.A. Huchton
Nemesis (The Endure Series, book 2) by S.A. Huchton
A Sci-Fi/New Adult/Romance Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (08/25/13)
Summary:
“The last thing she needed or wanted was more complications in her life. And Nicholas Miller was one big ball of drama waiting to happen.” (Kindle Locations 1214-1216).
Nemesis picks up right where Maven left off, in the middle of a great conflict between the Maven Initiative (the bad guys) and those on the Endure wishing to combat the great evil that wants to unleash a deadly disease on humanity. Only, the Maven Initiative hasn’t set off the deadly bacteria, that even though they hold a kill switch, they have to develop a cure for the disease. They enlist Lydia for her Marine Biochemistry abilities and she works as a double agent, trying to both cure the disease and take down the Initiative. It isn’t until she stumbles on a large hole to the puzzle, that Lydia finds out she has been targeted by the Initiative longer than she expected.
Keywords:
Genetics, genius, underwater, tough, instability, romance, love, hormones, leader, kick-butt female, sex, fighting, training, good guys, testing, banter, skills, technology, hackers, subaquatic living, scientists, the hard way, Marine Biochemistry, Nobel Laureate, ship-shape
My Review:
Many new complications arise in this second book in the Endure series. We see a new love interest (old flame) and competition arrives for both Lydia and Daniel. The face of evil that is known as Dr. Burkovitz and the Maven Initiative reveals some surprising developments. The places they are willing to go in their evil plan knows no bounds and Lydia is caught up in the middle of it all.
Huchton really throws on the tension in this book. There are so many new complications and plot twists, but they all fit seamlessly together. Hints from book one and the beginning of book two come alive as their own sub-plots and intricacies.
The characters get more development and depth and we are introduced to the newest complications: Dr. Gorgeous (Nick Miller) and the Mistress of Sarcasm (Anna Corvis). These two characters inflict quite a bit of damage to Lydia and Daniel’s relationship, especially as the two don’t seem to be able to communicate all their feelings to each other. The Maven Initiative’s surprise throws another wrench into Lydia and Daniel’s relationship. Really, almost everything in this book tears at their relationship, threatening to come between the greatest love ever seen on the Endure.
It is in this book in particular that any normal human being will feel lazy and stupid in comparison to the genius workaholics presented in the characters of Daniel and Lydia as well as almost every character on the Endure and beyond.
Huchton also shows us that even a genius can be normal when it comes to human emotions and trying to communicate and endure under great hardships and terrible surprises.
The end of this book is heart wrenching and gut rending and you must immediately continue on with book three of this series (Progeny).
This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on August 25th, 2013 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75
Links for more information:
Book Review: Maven (The Endure Series Book 1) by S.A. Huchton
Maven (The Endure Series Book 1) by S.A. Huchton
A Sci-Fi/New Adult/Romance Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (06/02/13)
Summary:
“How was she supposed to juggle saving the world and a social life?” (Page 112).
Lydia has been waiting six years to board the Deep Water Research Command Endure and to meet the famed Daniel Brewer, a fellow young genius like herself. Lydia is a Doctor of Marine Biochemistry and a Nobel Laureate in her twenties and she has longed to find someone similar to herself, another prodigy of sorts, but Daniel doesn’t even hit the radar of her expectations when they first meet. He was too busy with his newest female conquest to do his job of meeting her and this poor first impression does not immediately endear him to the Lydia the workaholic. This isn’t the only complication Lydia encounters aboard the Endure, there are greater things afoot that she concentrates on while Daniel attempts his greatest challenge yet: Lydia.
Keywords:
Genetics, genius, underwater, tough, instability, romance, love, hormones, leader, kick-butt female, sex, fighting, training, good guys, testing, banter, skills, technology, hackers, subaquatic living, scientists, the hard way, Marine Biochemistry, Nobel Laureate, ship-shape
My Review:
With her Endure Series, Huchton has written a great science fiction romance series for adults. Unlike her Evolution Series, which was more geared toward a younger adult audience, the Endure Series follows an older protagonist (albeit a twenty-something emergent adult) who just happens to be a child prodigy and genius with elevated maturity.
The Endure Series is also hyper focused on the science fiction aspect of marine biochemistry and the strict environment on board the Endure (Research Command in military style). There were quite a few unknown terms to the layman involving the environment of the Endure and the science fiction aspect of the story, but this specificity did not take away from the story Huchton writes.
The romance Huchton builds is powerful and intertwines between and amongst the science fiction aspects of the book as well as the overarching plotline and menace to the world of the protagonists. The way this romance is built and sustained is breathtaking and phenomenal. If you are a fan of romance, this book will give you that and so much more besides. Side note: There was a lot of nefarious adult activity going on in this book with medium depth level of description during these adult scenes, but it was told in a very masterful manner with a level of love involved that you can only swoon and hope for in real life.
I thought the POV switching between Lydia and Daniel was seamless and definitely added to the character and complexity of the novel. For someone who always wants to know what the other guy is thinking, this technique Huchton employs fills this need perfectly.
As this is the first in a series, the book ends on a high-tension cliff hanger on many of the plot points and I would highly suggest reading this book and immediately reading the second book (Nemesis) in the series.
This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on June 2nd, 2013 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 4.50
Links for more information:
Flora’s Last Chance for Magic – WIP progress update
Flora’s Last Chance for Magic: (working summary)
Flora wanted to be an artist, but artists without strong magic are not taken seriously. Flora has to find her magic, but every time she tries something new it backfires. Her best friend Sebastian is not concerned with magic, only finding his real parents and Flora has a hard time taking him seriously. Magic is everything. Magic is important. Magic is how you are adopted. Sebastian was adopted before he got his magic because he had potential. Flora has no potential, only a love of art, and no prospective parents will want to adopt her. Stuck in a group home, Flora’s only chance for a future is to discover what’s been inside herself all along, and it’s not just magic.
Progress Update: Flora is at about 25k words! Projected word count is between 40-60k, so I’d say I’m about halfway done writing Flora’s Last Chance for Magic. Yay! I’m fairly certain I’ve nailed down the title, what do you think? I kept forgetting if it was Flora Finds her Magic or Flora’s Last Chance for Magic, but I like the latter better. What do you think?
Writing: As I stated, Flora is at approximately 25k words. I’ve been editing heavily the beginning with my critique group and editing as I go by myself. I also wrote a fairly concise outline that’s helping me stay on track and helping Flora’s first draft to be as excellent as it can.
Cover: I flirted with a website called selfpubbookcovers.com, do you guys like this one linked here for the cover?
Beta Readers: I have enough beta readers for my projected two rounds of beta reading, but would always love a few more. If you’re interested in reading this lovely middle grade sci fi/fantasy book, let me know.
Marketing: I have some great back end things for this book, such as book questions, a fun magic/career aptitude test that anyone can take, and a genetic abilities scale research paper report. I have not yet started marketing for this book, however, my plan is to submit it to a few publishers that accept unsolicited manuscripts and perhaps the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. Know any great publishers for this type of book? I’d love to know!
Flora’s Last Chance for Magic Snippet from Chapter five:
Flora left Seb’s house well before her curfew so she would have enough time to walk across town back to Last Chance. She didn’t want to take the public bus, because people stared at her. Walking had become habit for Flora and she relished being outdoors. The greens were so green and the browns were quite brown. Sebastian was really cool and Flora was glad he had decided to welcome her into his house and to be her work partner for the genealogy project.
Sebastian only knew a few things about his real parents and Flora didn’t think he had enough information to go on to find them. He had explained the genetic magical matching principle to her and she kind of understood it now. It would be super easy to match Seb up to his parents once he got his magic. She was amazed he wasn’t as anxious as she was to get her magic, since it could help him find his parents and he really wanted to find them.
His adoptive parents were like the Pr’aps that came around every once in a while looking to adopt a kid with good magical potential. Flora could see that they weren’t good parents for Seb, but they were probably just disappointed in their investment. Seb was good at nothing. He had tried almost everything and shown no propensities for any particular specialty. If he got his magic, it would be a tossup what he did in life. If you got magic late in life you didn’t get the choice of a career, though, society chose for you.
Flora would not let that happen. She needed her magic. Without it, she couldn’t be an artist.
Disneyland and Business
I went to Disneyland last weekend! Jealous?
Day one at Disneyland: 
Day two at Paradise Pier for QA training: 
Day three at Paradise Pier for QA training: 
Day four, traveling home: 
As soon as I got into the park on Sunday (around 9:30 AM) I snagged a fast pass for Space Mountain (11:55-12:55 return time). Then headed over to Splash Mountain, waited two minutes in the Single Rider line and hopped in. Not like I remembered, the ride was stopped multiple times in the middle due to “log jams up ahead” which really killed the mood. The same ‘log jam’ happened during the Haunted Mansion, which I hit up next due to short estimated wait time. Pirates of the Caribbean was next and it was ho hum. It was about time to use my fast pass! Zoom near the front of the line with only a twenty versus seventy minute wait time (thanks fast pass!). Space Mountain is THE BEST ride at Disneyland and I highly recommend doing it more than once. I finished my day by Single Riding the Matterhorn Bobsleds (not worth a wait over 10 minutes), Star Tours (the only ride that made me feel nauseous) and Indian Jones.
Book Review: The Blackout by Stephanie Erickson
The Blackout by Stephanie Erickson
A Dystopian Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (01/26/2014)
Summary:
Molly and Cindy are professors at the local college in Florida in the middle of the teaching day when the power goes out. After twenty minutes the school is let out and they discover that more than just the power is gone. Cell phones, cars, appliances, running water are all not working. Molly is most worried about her husband, Gary, a pilot currently in Pennsylvania. Gary’s first concern is for his customers, but after several days of no power and no help he decides to make the long trek on foot back home. There are dangers for both Gary on his journey and Molly as she stays put in their small neighborhood community. All it took was an EMP blast for chaos to reign in the United States and a blackout lasting indefinitely. Will Gary be reunited with Molly again?
Keywords:
Apocalypse, Power-loss, blackout, brownout, chaos, EMP, government shutdown, military, coming together, community, family, hope, loss, scarcity of supplies, primitive living, violence, wandering thieves and murderers
My Review:
Erickson is not the first to imagine a world without power, but her story is not less frightening. She shows us a brief glimpse into a world we are familiar with and worries we may have ourselves about our day to day lives. After the blackout, Erickson shows us the step by step fall into chaos as a world falls apart without order and electricity. Erickson captures the attitude of those in her world as they go through the stages of disbelief and acceptance of this mind-numbing, terrible disaster. “The darkness was so… penetrating. She couldn’t wait for morning, when the world would be returned to the light.” (Page 31).
Erickson switches POV from Gary the husband in Pennsylvania to Molly the wife in hometown Florida. I liked having both perspectives and two different paths to survival. Gary was trying to get home, walking through cities and outskirts of town and he had different troubles and similar problems to Molly who stayed put in her neighborhood home. The Wanderers, the scum that rose up to take what they needed and wanted during the time of instability, plagued both Gary and Molly, providing an extra element of suspense and horror to the book.
Books like these are chilling. Can you ever be ready for this kind of total world chaos? Gary was a pilot and Molly a teacher, both nearly useless skills in a world without modernity. Almost nobody had supplies stocked or weapons ready. Almost nobody was prepared for what followed after the Blackout.
“Everyone in the world thought normalcy would be restored any minute, and no one was thinking in terms of permanency – not yet at least. Each community assumed they were the only ones stricken with the debilitating problem, and that soon their neighboring cities would come to their aid. They were wrong.” (Page 44).
My only complaint is why wouldn’t Gary find a bike to help him go faster in the beginning of his journey and to cover more than 10 miles a day?
This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. 01/26/2014 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 4.50
Links for more information:
Book Review: Beneath Scarlett Valley: Book 1 (Volume 1) by Kerr-Ann Dempster
Beneath Scarlett Valley: Book 1 (Volume 1) by Kerr-Ann Dempster
A YA Fantasy/Romance Novel published by Ink City Books (08/08/2014)
Summary:
“You’re not a monster,” Vicky said. “You certainly won’t earn the MVP of life award, but you’re not a lost cause.” (p. 231).
Cassidy and Harper move back to their hometown of Scarlett. It has been years and years since they’ve been gone. Cassidy is 117. They are both Furors, half human half something else and if they can’t find The Source and immortality they will Fade and be consumed by their inner fire. Cassidy is ready for death until she meets a boy in Scarlett. Will she still be able to choose the Fade or has Sebastian changed her mind about trying to live forever and spending at least a few years with the mortal boy?
Keywords:
Paranormal, Seers, Furors, Ghouls, Immortality, Power, Choices, Sisters, Time, Death, Fading Away, Promises, Searching, High School, Instalove, Crush, Rage, Killing, Heat, Dark Past
My Review:
Dempster’s premise is paranormal, but it is a different twist. The immortal ones (the two main characters searching for immortality) are female and there aren’t any conventional witches or werewolves in the story. The girls are Furors, which is a slightly different take on the usual paranormal. Most of Dumpster’s characters are otherworldly and she has built her own universe in Scarlett Valley.
Cassidy is content to help her sister Harper find the Source and let Death and the Fade consume her over time. Instead of letting life slowly take hold of her, she is involved in the local high school, falls for the local award winning swimmer boy for SVHS and takes midnight walks with the neighbor. She can’t seem to take herself out of life and is swept up into the world of a 17 year old. She even falls hard for Sebastian. It is instalove and she is 117 and he is 17. Why does she like him? Why hasn’t her heart matured? How is being a giddy teenager acceptable and adequate for someone who has lived many, many more years than everyone else around her? If you can forget she’s lived several lifetimes, you may enjoy the soft romance that develops between Cass and Sebastian.
The relationship between Cassidy and Harper was the most interesting in the whole book. Out of all the characters, their dynamic was the most intriguing. They fought but they were there for each other. How do you keep on living with someone for all those years! How amazing. And yet, Cassidy was willing to leave her sister behind, to die without her and leave Harper to live forever on her own.
To be 117, you have a different view of the world and your death and I liked how Dempster showed Cassidy’s interesting viewpoint and thoughts about her own impending death.
This novel was published by Ink City Books 08/08/2014 and is available on Amazon here.
TLDR Star Rating: 3.75
Links for more information:
Rachel Author Barnard 