Category Archives: Book Review

Book Review: Unseen (The Unseen Trilogy Book 1) by Stephanie Erickson

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Unseen (The Unseen Trilogy Book 1) by Stephanie Erickson

A Young Adult Fantasy Novel published by Pickles Press (11/19/14)

 

Summary:

Mackenzie “Mac” Day must choose between a career in music therapy and finding out a secret about herself she’s wanted to know all her life. She discovered music when she was five and, ever since, it has helped her cope with the inundation of voices in her head. She doesn’t have Sensory Processing Disorder like she was diagnosed with at such a young age, but the power to read minds, or at least to be overwhelmed by everyone else’s thoughts. That is, until she meets members from the Unseen, a secret organization full of people just like her who can read minds. Will she choose to be a therapist, continuing her own dependence on coping mechanisms she learned as a child or break free from the curse she has known all her life if she chooses to join the Unseen?

“How can I choose between something I’ve been reaching for my whole life and something so unlikely I never even dared to hope for it?” (Page 69).

 

Keywords:

 Mind Readers, Secret Organization, Graduate School, Musical Therapy, iLS Device, Sensory Processing Disorder, Music, Young Adult Issues, Friends, Terrorists, Making Adult Decisions

 

My Review:

Mac was a main character I could get behind. She’s confident and somewhat confrontational and can stand up for herself. She’s logical and to the point, but is also creative and intelligent. I really liked her. Maddie was also a character I took an instant liking to. She was funny and quirky in her own way. The interactions between Mac and Maddie were super fun. Their banter was humorous and cleverly written, with a sense of reality that kept my attention throughout the dialogue.

I was a little disappointed at the predictability until the end when the author introduce one whammy right after the other. What a climax!

As this is a fantasy novel, of COURSE the main character was special, but I got bogged down in this predictability. She is special. She is more special than the other special people. However, even within this predictability I thought the context of mind reading was interesting and well written.

To note as well, the thoughts of the men in the beginning were exaggerated as if they were a female’s take on what a man would be thinking, but who knows, I’m not a guy, maybe a guy’s thoughts really are like she describes. I also noticed there were quite a number of characters that were blonde haired and blue eyed. Coincidence?

This novel was published by Pickles Press November 19th, 2014 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TL;DR Star Rating: 4.50

 

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Stephanie Erickson’s Website

Book Review: Scattered links by M. Weidenbenner

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Scattered links by M. Weidenbenner

A Drama/Inspirational/YA Novel published by Random (01/04/2014)

 

Summary:

“America is a place where there’s lots of color and people who don’t worry about running water or food.” (Page 145).

Scattered Links takes place in downtrodden Russia where Oksana is a thirteen-year old trying desperately to take care of her pregnant mama. In a place where many are homeless and hungry, it’s difficult for the young teen to take care of the burgeoning family and make a place for herself in the world. Oksana must make adult decisions and take any chance she can get to help herself, her mama, and her new sister but it isn’t enough. Oksana’s aunt leaves both her and her sister at the local orphanage, but the story isn’t over for the resilient Russian girl. An American couple wants to adopt Oksana’s infant sister and end up with both girls in the process. Adopting an older girl comes with its own complications and it’s difficult for Oksana to leave her mama behind and make a new life for herself in the abundant America.

Keywords:

 Russia, Orphans, Adoption, Hardships, Therapy Horses, Family Separation, Leukemia, Emotional

 

My Review:

M. Weidenbenner can tell a story that pulls at the heartstrings and brings out emotions in the reader. You are anxious for Oksana to live and prosper and desperately afraid something bad will happen to her. When she teeters on the edge of the precipice of disaster you will shakily turn the pages and wonder how she doesn’t step up and fight for herself or her sister or her mama. But that’s the thing. If you grew up in an environment like Oksana, you wouldn’t always act like a super hero, beating off attempted rapists successfully on your own or finding food where there is none. There is reality to the scenarios in Scattered Links. Everything doesn’t always happen the way we want it and for Oksana a lot can and does go wrong. Where in America would a thirteen-year old be left to deliver her own mama’s child with nothing more than boiled water, cloth, and scissors? Where in America is a woman’s only job opportunity as a prostitute? Oksana lives in a much different world and yet, she is still resilient. She still wants to live. And finally, and most importantly, she has this undeniably beautiful love and hope for her family.

Oksana’s blind eye toward her mama and family situation is endearing because Oksana still has the hope that blood is thicker than anything: poverty, destitution, and more mouths to feed. Oksana loves her baby sister more than anything and will stop at nothing to make sure she is safe and wants for nothing. This love is so compelling. I don’t know if there’s anything I’ve loved as much as Oksana loves her sister. Weidenbenner has created these larger than life characters with stories that will make you want to cry for them and their hardships. The author doesn’t stop there though, she creates conflicted characters as well, the adoption mother is overly hard on Oksana, but she just doesn’t understand the girl. Maybe if she had read Scattered Links she’d have a better understanding of what it’s like to grow up in a less than suitable environment for a child and then be separated from one’s mother and taken to a different country and asked to be the daughter of someone who doesn’t understand you.

Weidenbenner’s ability to show relationships and the interaction of people is phenomenal. Each character has personality and motivation. Each character shows development and growth. Wow. If I could give a book 6/5 stars, I would do it for this book, and for anything Michelle Weidenbenner writes.

 

This novel was published by Random 01/04/2014 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TLDR Star Rating: 5.0

 

Links for more information:

Goodreads

M. Weidenbenner’s Website

Book Review: Claudia Must Die by T.B. Markinson

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Claudia Must Die by T.B. Markinson

A Comedic Thriller Novel published by T. B. Markinson (07/13/14)

Summary:

What if you could evade your imminent murder by setting up your doppelganger to die in your place, would you do it? For Claudia, it’s a given that Parker must die. Claudia doesn’t have room for guilt or remorse because Parker seems like she doesn’t enjoy life or have any friends or loved ones. On the forty ninth day of Claudia’s stakeout of Parker Mapes, the hired assassins show up to do the deed and Claudia’s plan seems to be going flawlessly. That is, until Parker’s lover shows up.

Keywords:

 Assassins, Violent Men, Guns, Killing, Comedy, Set-Up, Look-Alikes,

My Review:

T.B. Markinson delivers again with her fourth novel, Claudia Must Die, in a fast-paced comedic story of kill or be killed. Markinson has a way with descriptions and setting a scene to get the reader really involved with the story. The scenes are vivid and authentic. Each page invokes intrigue and keeps your attention. The author catches your attention with the vivid yet simple cover and keeps it from the very first sentence to the very last sentence.

This story was a very funny take on an assassination attempt with a side of attempted identity theft. But it wasn’t all fun and games. Markinson fueled the characters’ actions with real emotions and motivations. She didn’t put in anything extra while giving the story everything it needed. The backstory was written concisely and integrated seamlessly into the plotline.

The characters were larger than life, but believable and relatable. The dialogue was realistic and fun. One of my favorite lines was, “Too many people talk, yet I haven’t met anyone worth listening to.” (Location 565). This story was just too fun and I enjoyed every minute/page of it. It unfolded just like a comedic heist would in a movie. And hey, not everyone has to die.

This novel was published by T. B. Markinson July 13th, 2014 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 5.0

Links for more information:

Goodreads

T.B. Markinson’s website

Book Review: Confessions from a Coffee Shop by T.B. Markinson

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Confessions from a Coffee Shop by T.B. Markinson

A Fiction Novel published by T. B. Markinson (07/13/14)

 

Summary:

Cori is working the local coffee shop to make ends meet, but she shouldn’t have to work two jobs. She’s the daughter of the famous writer Nell Tisdale, she went to Harvard, and she is a University professor. Doesn’t add up? Throw in the shopaholic girlfriend Kat and the fact that Cori can’t seem to finish her own book (long since spending the $10,000 advance).

Cori’s life gets thrown further from order when the hot cheerleader from high school saunters into the coffee shop when Cori’s working. On top of her old crush making an appearance, Kat is supremely jealous, Nell can’t stop talking about sex in front of her, and Kat’s dad ropes her into doing his dental billing work at night. Cori will not only have to find time to sleep, but also get her life back in order before something breaks.

 

Keywords:

Drama, Friendship, Stuck in a rut, Writing, Lesbians, Loyalty, Coffee Shop

 

My Review:

T.B. Markinson has a gift for character interplay and raising the stakes. She creates brilliant characters full of life that the reader is bursting to meet. After first reading Marionette, Markinson’s then newest novel, I just had to read every other novel and I haven’t been disappointed. Confessions from a Coffee Shop is a great portrayal of woman down on her luck who has the ability to change her life, but is stuck in her rut.

Markinson gives us a thirty year old character who any woman of any age can relate to. Cori has relationship issues and job issues and friendship issues. Markinson also gives us so much life of character that we are instantly in the midst of all Cori’s issues with her. Markinson shows the brilliance of her writing as Cori develops throughout the novel.

Halfway through I understood the cleverness behind the title, it’s a double play on words and absolutely brilliant. I loved the book through and through and can’t wait to pick up the next book by T.B. Markinson.

This novel was published by T. B. Markinson July 13th, 2014 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TLDR Star Rating: 5.0

 

Links for more information:

Goodreads

T.B. Markinson’s website

Book Review: Ghostwriter by Tyan Wyss

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Ghostwriter by Tyan Wyss

A Teen/YA Speculative Fiction/Historical Fiction Novel published by Tyan Wyss-Lockner (07/27/13)

 

Summary:

 Micah is not afraid of ghosts, in fact, they don’t faze him at all. When the Chasens move into a haunted house in the San Jacinto Mountains in Southern California, the ghost of the house’s former occupant appears to Mica and asks for his help. The ghost is Ethan Samuels, who died approximately 100 years ago in the very house Micah lives in, in present day 2013, and the 11-year old precocious Micah is compelled to help the ghost. Acting as a ‘ghostwriter’ Micah simultaneously writes up a social studies report for school and documents the details surrounding Ethan’s death. In his quest to help his only ghostly friend, Micah becomes involved in current town affairs and will attempt to get to the bottom of what really happened all those years ago.

 

Keywords:

 Ghosts, Historical Fiction, Grieving, Southern California, Jews, Friendship, Thoughtfulness, Bullies, Resolutions

 

My Review:

Tyan Wyss is a writer who doesn’t leave any checks unmarked in the lengthy list of novel requirements. Her story is robust. The characters are well-written and vibrant, coming alive through the story. Her descriptions are just enough to give the reader the complete picture while still leaving some parts to the imagination. The pacing is perfect. And then the ending… Wyss has a way with the climax of the story and with giving a well-rounded ending. This book in particular was so heartfelt and connected with me emotionally that I got a bit teary eyed. I was so caught up in the story that I felt the emotions coming through the story.

Ghostwriter reminds me of Holes, in that it seamlessly intertwines two stories into one novel, the story of how Ethan died and the story of how Micah helps Ethan discover his past and move forward with his death. Not all authors can work two stories together well, but Wyss is phenomenal with this aspect of the story. She would probably be a great mystery writer because she is able to mingle the stories in such a way that pieces start to fall into place, grabbing and hooking the reader with each new part of the puzzle. She also delivers a killer ending that makes sense according to the previous elements while still being not completely predictable.

Wyss also touches upon subjects like moving to a new town, being bullied, being alone, making friends, grieving for lost loved ones, and other situations that affect young teens in an expert manner that is so subtle it just blends right into the story without intruding into the main action, but rounds out the novel.

I was too involved in the story to take many notes of my reactions to elements of the story or highlight favorite passages, it was just too good to put down, even for a moment.

This story would appeal to the underdogs, those who like a well-written historical fiction mashup like Holes by Louis Sachar, or a mesmerizing YA book about a precocious boy and a ghost.

This novel was published by Tyan Wyss-Lockner July 27th, 2013 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TLDR Star Rating:5.0

 

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Tyan Wyss’s Website

Book Review: The Solitaire Prince by Tyan Wyss

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The Solitaire Prince by Tyan Wyss

A Fantasy Novel published by Tyan Wyss-Lockner (12/15/13)

Summary:

 King Henry cannot see further than the length of his own nose. “All his life he’d been the one in control, barking out flippant orders and fickle whims to his subordinates. It would be a nightmare indeed to lose his power and control to another man; to a mere woman, inconceivable and humiliating.” (Page 46).

What the king fails to realize is how clever his own daughter is because he never wanted a princess, he wanted a son. She must grow up in the shadow of his rules. No chess! She might beat him. No climbing trees! It’s not ladylike. Only solitaire is allowed, and with that game she might be able to bend the rules to get what she wants, but according to the king, one can’t cheat at solitaire.

Keywords:

Fantasy, Princesses, Solitaire, Finding a Groom

My Review:

 Tyan Wyss shows us that she is very skilled at her back story without being boring or overly descriptive. The back story is told in the perfect rhythm and with the perfect progression of time to arrive at the heart of the struggle.

Wyss gives us an entire world within King Henry’s castle and is able to place the reader into the Princesses’ predicaments (yes there is another Princess). I loved the specific food descriptions, they really put me into the world of King Henry and Princess Christine.

It is a special story indeed that can deliver a full and complete novel without a true evil villain or one that is able to redeem himself by the end. With so many villains, once evil always evil pervades, but Wyss is able to construct a character that is conflicted enough, through a story that is different enough, that the ‘villain’ is able to transform.

This story is a true young adult novel for all ages, as it’s written in a clever style. Wyss delivers a clever twist on the last line, summing up the slight bending of a Princess fairy tale in this delightful novel. “Their voices faded softly away as everyone tried their best to live happily ever after.” (Page 158). The voice of the writing style is more than just warm and intimate to the story, but is also a great translator of the truth of the characters’ struggles.

This novel was published by Tyan Wyss December 15th, 2013 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating:4.75

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Tyan Wyss’s Website

Book Review: Wildest Dreams by Stefany Rattles

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Wildest Dreams by Stefany Rattles

A Romance Novel published by Stefany Rattles (09/28/14)

 

Summary:

Alaina never went to college. She’s of average intelligence, but she’s given a chance at a career when she’s accepted at a law firm in Arkansas. She is a short brunette with hazel eyes and a penchant for engaged men. Alaina is excited to start her new job, but soon gets caught up in the man she crushed on in high school, a case involving a young Russian girl in the Witness Protection Program, and threats telling her to stay away from Rayden (the engaged man).

 

Keywords:

 Romance, Cheating Fiance, Female POV, Jealousy

 

My Review:

The first thing any reader will notice about Wildest Dreams is the well-crafted book cover that indicates the book is solidly a romance (between a man and a woman) and that the eBook has not been formatted. The author, it would seem, has forgotten to justify her paragraphs to indent for dialogue and new paragraphs. This makes for a book that is physically difficult to read, unless she was continuing in the book’s stream of consciousness writing style. Clever or forgetful, who knows?

What can only be deemed an oversight is the abundance of obvious grammatical errors, where the incorrect word is used or spelled wrong, commas are skipped over, and possessives are given oddly spaced apostrophes. The tenses used also skip from present to past without missing a beat (still could be from stream of consciousness). Many of the sentences are short and choppy and a lot of the action is told to us by the author/narrator Alaina.

I adore the character names used, Alaina and Rayden being my favorites, but I couldn’t get into the romance of the story. To me, it was unbelievable, unrealistic and became dull and lifeless. Why does Alaina even appeal to these career-men? We are not told much about her outside of her fascination for Rayden and her involvement in the present action with her job and the Russian girl.

It is difficult to pull off a romance between an engaged man and another woman without making the characters unlikeable and Rattles was not able to balance this morally-gray area to my satisfaction as a reader. Rayden is ready to leave it all behind for Alaina, his job and his fiancé and his parents’ approval, but why? It also makes him less appealing as the lead man and less appealing professionally. He lost my sympathy when he actively pursued another woman when he was in a committed relationship (no matter what the terms). I was also very perturbed when he took advantage of Alaina when she was drunk and neither the characters nor the author seem fazed by this act of rape.

I was impressed when Rattles was able to dish out an epilogue that was able to wrap up the main story without giving away the entire happily ever after. I was also delighted with each new character’s introduction and Rattles’ instant description of what they looked like and a quick personality description.

I received a free copy of this book for an honest, non-reciprocal review.

This novel was published by Stefany Rattles September 28, 20104 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TLDR Star Rating: 2.50

 

Links for more information:

Stefany Rattles’ Website

Goodreads Profile

Book Review: Deny the Moon (Wolfblooded Book 1) by Melissa A Graham

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Deny the Moon (Wolfblooded Book 1) by Melissa A Graham

A Paranormal Drama Novel published by Melissa A. Graham (11/28/14)

 

Summary:

 Harley “Harls” Rayne is just an average girl in an average town in an average family, except for the fact that her parents favor her younger daughter Lorelei. This favoritism spurs Harley to run off with the bad boy biker to become his bike b***h (aka the person who rides behind him on his Harley). But Frank isn’t all that she thought he was and his violent behavior and a culminating incident becomes the final straw for her to steal his bike and run away again. She thinks she’s safe with her new life and new job and new friends, until it all comes crashing down around her once more.

 

Keywords:

 Bikers, gang, packs, werewolves, female protagonist, strippers, abusive relationships

 

My Review:

I went through a sequence of liking and disliking this book. At first I loved it, there was tension from the very first page and the characters were very real. The story was alive from paragraph one and the inciting incident went off without a hitch. Harley turned her life upside down. Then I started to get bogged down in grammatical errors and the gruesome violence that the author described. I was not prepared for the horrific violence, but kudos to the author for bringing out such a strong emotional reaction in me, it is a telltale sign of a good writer, just not what I was expecting in a paranormal young adult story. I was further disgusted by the behavior of Frank and the relationship between Harley and Frank. It was an abusive relationship described in a way to make my toes curl and my hair stand on end, but was interlaced with these extremely steamy descriptions. Graham was putting me through emotional loops, with ups and downs and extremes in between. Be warned fair readers of the violence, abuse, and foul language in this book. Graham depicts the not-so-nice aspects of relationships and the gruesome results of foul play, but she does it in a hypnotizing way that makes you turn the pages with shaking fingers.

I despised Frank so much he made my stomach curdle. He is cold-blooded and cold-shoulders and the definition of the opposite of a gentleman. But he has a soft spot for Harley and it’s hard to hate him too much because he has that undeniably redeeming quality of wanting to protect her (from everybody but himself at least). He is domineering and possessive with a pack-like animalistic quality. He is raw and as Harley sees him: extremely and ruggedly attractive.

Harley is also a hard character to like. She put herself into the bad situation. Don’t girls know that the bad boys are usually bad news? Her most redeeming moments are when she is being protective of her best friend Liz. Harley surprised me with her gumption and ability to leave the situation when it crossed the line. When at first I didn’t like her because she couldn’t take action and kept staying in the abusive relationship, she showed her true strength when she up and left and started over with a confidence not many women would have after her experiences.

This book pushes the boundaries of paranormal with its down to earth grittiness and would appeal to those who enjoy a gritty paranormal story with violence, werewolves, or a female protagonist.

This novel was published by Melissa A. Graham November 28th, 2014 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TL;DR Star Rating: 3.25

 

Links for more information:

Melissa A Graham’s Website

Goodreads Profile

Twitter

Book Review: The Genesis Code: Lambda by Robert E. Parkin

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The Genesis Code: Lambda by Robert E. Parkin

A Sci Fi/Fantasy Novel published by Robert E. Parkin (09/29/14)

 

Summary:

Lambda is the most sophisticated AI program, able to learn and grow, or is she? Zack was the one who found Lambda, the first to imprint on her, but is this more than just coincidence? Zack decides to stand by Lambda, for reasons he at first doesn’t disclose, which leads to his life and that of his pop star sister being in danger. As Zack falls for Lambda, he is more and more reminded of someone from three years ago, someone who changed his life, someone whose past is connected to Zack in more ways than anyone seems to realize.

In the fight for the Network’s continuation and the fight between those with access and those without, Zack and his family are caught in the middle of something greater than all of them, but they all seem to have a hand in it behind the others’ backs. And yet, it all goes back to a cruel abuse of power and the misuse of technology to hold back those who can’t keep up. A Great Divide.

 

Keywords:

Fantasy, Science Fiction, Love Story, AI, Economic Divide

 

My Review:

This novel has a long list of characters and introduces most of them from the beginning to slowly tie them together throughout continual action and excitement and reveal. The author excels at layering his plot and leaving breadcrumbs of backstory leading right up to the climax. It was difficult keeping up with the cast of characters until the latter half of the story. It was also difficult keeping track of allegiances and motivations and keeping them clear between the characters.

The action scenes (which comprise a large portion of the novel) are engaging and exciting and frequented by fantastically large weaponry. For a novel based on Earth, with humans and human-like characters, the weapons technology is a deviation from the norm and keeps the book fresh and different.

I started out liking the powerful AI Lambda, but when she was overcome little by little with human emotions and lost her power and her confidence I started to resent her. She devolved from a feared and beautiful AI to a distressed and distracted woman-like AI. However, Parkin does say that “she is a girl before she is a program.” (Location 5073). But I hoped she would remain like Zack’s initial perception, “A cyber maiden of death, clad in black. All he could think at that moment was just how alluring and terrifying she looked.” (Location 430-431).

Some final thoughts I had upon finishing the novel were as to what the world outside the Limit Zones looked like. What do people eat? How is their Network technology possible?

I was also a bit disappointed in the ending. It appears the novel ends in the middle of the climax and I prefer, even of the first book in a series, for it to be complete and with an end. Even with an overarching unresolved issue the smaller conflicts should be resolved.

On an end note I adore the cover in its vibrancy.

This novel was published by Robert E. Parkin September 29th, 2014 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TLDR Star Rating:3.25

 

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Facebook

Robert E. Parkin’s Website

Book Review: The Thousand Year Curse (The Curse Books #1) by Taylor Lavati

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The Thousand Year Curse (The Curse Books #1) by Taylor Lavati

A YA Paranormal Novel published through CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (08/12/13)

 

Summary:

Ryder has to overcome more than her real name Eurydice when she is tossed into the dog house of high school and tormented almost every day by her previous best friend. She feels alone and vulnerable and just wants to make herself disappear, but within the very first month of school the new boy makes her his object of affection. Not too soon after, a second new transfer student gets the hots for her and she gets stuck in a love triangle of mythic proportions.

 

Keywords:

 Paranormal, mythology, love, love-triangle, curse, high school, teen drama

 

My Review:

Integrating mythology into a romance story is a great idea, and Lavati starts out integrating the story of love and curse well into her present day character Ryder. Lavati gives the deepest of reasons for Olli and Ari (the two love interests) to be obsessed with Ryder, which gives the book more intrigue and more grounding.

Then Lavati goes paranormal. The story gets more myth and less reality all the while keeping the love triangle going strong. It is a story of highs and lows in each of Ryder’s relationship and Lavati keeps the reader wondering who this girl will end up with and who is best for her in the end, both according to the curse and according to how each of the boys’ feel about her.

I was entranced by Lavati’s beginning. She hooked me in with the story and the underdog character of Ryder who definitely has some great things coming for her. I was disappointed when Lavati abandoned the underdog altogether to give Ryder some unnecessary superpowers while she is learning to fend for herself in the ultimate battle of her soul. I didn’t think it was necessary for Ryder to have these great powers, but perhaps they will come into more play further in the series. I also thought the love triangle started to become too stereotypical, like that in Twilight, but I’m very glad the guys had a real reason behind their instant attraction.

One plot comment I would make is that the adult situations contained in chapter sixteen weren’t necessary for the story line and could have been left out.

Overall the author does quite well at involving a myth as a motivation and interweaving the past and present to make an epic of higher than normal proportions with greater consequences and greater possibilities. If romance, especially love triangles, and deepening paranormal leaps is your thing, then this could be the book for you.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys the steamy love triangle of Twighlight or integrating myths into a novel.

This novel was published through CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform August 12th, 2013 and is available on Amazon here.

 

TLDR Star Rating: 3.25

 

Links for more information:

Goodreads

Facebook

Taylor Lavati’s Website