Review # 32: Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Description:
     Alex is not your typical teenager. Due to unforeseeable circumstances, she has been pushed  prematurely into adulthood. Her parents are dead, she's living with her aunt, she can't figure out if she has a future, and she has to deal with a deadly inner struggle - Cancer. So in order to preserve her sanity, she heads to the mountains for a much needed camping retreat, as well as to spread her parents ashes. Unfortunately, an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), also called the Zap, hits and begins to affect those who experience it. Some people, like Alex, only show certain signs of the Zap, but most of the population has started acting rabid and cannibalistic, craving human flesh. Is the change from human to feral beast inevitable? Or can Alex and those she meets along the way find a way to protect themselves and those they love?

Review:

     I have always had a fascination with survival horror and science fiction genres; but recently, I have found it difficult to find books with unique plots. It seems like zombie books are the new vampire fiction, the same themes constantly overdone. So when I saw Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick, I almost passed on reading it, that is, until I picked it up and started reading the blurb; this was definitely not the "typical" zombie novel. 

    First-off, the plot was refreshingly original, with characters that had just as many problems before the pulse as they did after. Alex is a multi-dimensional character that constantly adapts to whatever hand she's dealt, her cancer, her parents deaths, the pulse, the post-apocalyptic "takeover", etc. Ilsa J. Bick did an excellent job developing the characters as well as the back-story for Ashes. The level of action and attention to detail did not leave me wanting, (until the end when I realized there would be another book!). I thoroughly enjoyed the shocking plot twists as well as the overall tone, which definitely raised my own pulse rate, (gory but great). I recommend Ashes to any reader looking for a survival horror to sink their teeth into, just in time for Halloween.

Rating: On the Run (4/5)


***I received this book from NetGalley (Egmont USA) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 31: Simply Great Breads by Daniel Leader

Description:

     Simply Great breads by Daniel Leader is a recipe book filled with beautiful, not to mention flavorful breads that will leave both the reader and baker craving some serious carbs.

Review: 

     First-off, I must begin by admitting that I am a total bread addict. This summer alone I have experimented with making so many breads that I can't even pick a favorite. Therefore, when I heard that Simply Great Breads was coming out, I just had to get a copy and try out some of the recipes. The photographs of the breads were mouth-watering, I had to stop myself from trying them all out on day one. And, once I started baking, I found the instructions easy to follow and the equivalency tables a great resource for baking. I can honestly say that Daniel Leader knows how to bake some exquisitely delicious breads, however, I wish that there had been more "breads", (loaved), in addition to all the specialty recipes, (Stone Fruit Beignets, Ham and Cheese Crescent rolls, Luxury English Muffins...etc). That said, I did enjoy the delectable recipes and recommend Simply Great Breads to readers and home bakers alike.

Rating: Bounty's Out (3/5)

*** I received this book from NetGalley (Taunton Press) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 30: Missed Connections: Love Lost & Found by Sophie Blackall

Description:

     Almost everyone who uses craigslist.com has heard about the Missed Connection classifieds; a place where strangers who have chance encounters write posts in hopes of finding a “missed connection.” Detailing whatever they remember, (no matter how insignificant), these strangers describe places, faces, clothing, and other accoutrements that may, or may not, lead them to people they want another chance with.     Once Sophie Blackall discovered Missed Connections, after a fleeting encounter of her own, she decided to use her passion for painting in order to bring the posts to life. On her blog, http://missedconnectionsny.blogspot.com/ , Sophie posts her paintings, brush-stroked in rich watercolors and Chinese ink, of missed opportunities, regrets, and hopes of future contact with the ones once lost. Each glossy plate of the 128 page book captures a different Missed Connections post as well as several small related margin illustrations; every depiction evoking the feelings of both Sophie and the post-maker towards the person or event.

Review: 

     The amazingly playful, yet serenely elaborate paintings drew me in to this resplendent artistic world. Sure, I had always wondered about the Missed Connections classifieds, but I had never really viewed and imagined them in the ways presented in this crafty little book. It is definitely one of my top ten books for 2011 due to its refreshingly light and amusing tone. I also loved the introduction, especially Sophie Blackall's recounting of her personal Missed Connection experiences. After finishing this book, I had to pull up Sophie's blog and look at all her other Missed Connections paintings, which are also brilliant! I can tell this will be a new addiction of mine. I recommend this to readers and artists alike!

Rating: Clean Getaway (5/5) 


*** I received Missed Connections by Sophie Blackall from Workman Publishing in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. 

Review # 29: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Description: (from Amazon)

     Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.
     Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.
     Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.
     Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.
     In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women - mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends - view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't.

Review:
     I would recommend The Help by Kathryn Stockett to anyone who enjoys a well-written novel! I was slightly skeptical at first, because I don't usually follow the "book hype" that surfaces when a book transitions into a movie, but I couldn't put it down! The characters were brilliant, as were their witty southern dialects; and the plot was engrossing, and fully immersed the reader into the South of the 1960's. I am a bit of a book critic, and I found The Help to be quite an impressive view of segregated living in the South.


Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)


*** I received this book from The Harford County Public Library.

Review # 28: LS: The Beginning by Kevin O'Ralph

Description:


     Stephen and Lisa are two college kids who discover that they both have special abilities. One can create fire and the other creates ice, but they share the powers of mind reading, telepathy, and super speed. When they meet, they feel an instant connection to each other, but in order to stay together and figure out where their powers come from, they must overcome exes as well as other dangers. 


Review: 
     I really gave this book a chance, but after the first few chapters I started to lose interest and had a hard time finishing it. The premise is good, but the writing style, character development, and dialogue are not. I can tell that Kevin O'Ralph is a new author, and some of these format errors are expected, but the fact that there are so many grammatical errors as well as errors in overall structure, make this book very difficult to read. There were some sentences that didn't make sense, and after realizing the author was from the UK, I concluded that the language barrier must be to blame. But an editor of some sort would do this book, and future books, wonders. Unless the writing improves, I won't look forward to the sequel(s).


Rating: Toe Tag (1.5/5)


***I received this Ebook from LibraryThing Member Giveaways in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 27: Best Friends with Anabella by Nev Nickelz

Description:

          This is the second Anabella book that I have received from the LTMG program, and they are two of the most adorable children's books that I've had the pleasure of reading. Just like the first book, Best Friends with Anabella is an ebook about a spirited little girl named Anabella, who in this book has a disagreement with a friend, but finds a way to fix their friendship.

Review:
     This book is great for kids, and has great vocabulary that I haven't seen in other children's books. I love the illustrations, especially the Rhompees. Nev Nickelz has a way of making difficult topics, like arguments, easy for kids to understand and to learn from.  I recommend this to readers with younger children who like to be read to, or who are just beginning to read.


Rating: On the Run (4/5)


***I received this book from LibraryThing Member Giveaways in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 26: Amoral Science -- Brainless Religion & How to Create Useful Idiots by Ernest Kinnie

Description:

     AMORAL SCIENCE----BRAINLESS RELIGION & HOW TO CREATE USEFUL IDIOTS by PhD Ernest Kinnie is a set of papers describing how science and religion are separate entities that really have nothing to do with each other, but that scientific and religious communities have constantly pushed them into conflict. Kinnie believes that neither topic is capable of being judged or debunked by the other; they are like separate languages. 

Review:
      I enjoyed these papers and Kinnie's opinions on both religion and science. I found that they provoked many philosophical thoughts and discussions, especially since I am a microbiologist who believes in a higher power. Very enjoyable, and great material for debate. 


Rating: On the Run (4.5/5) 


***I received this ebook from LibraryThing Member Giveaways in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 25: Love.com by RW Bennet

Description:

     Love.com by RW Bennet is a fast-paced mystery about a new dating site that's too good to be true. Paul Latimer, a wealthy man who wants to be wealthier, buys Love.com and sets a plan into motion. Members of this dating site won't have any fees to pay until, (and after), they find the one and tie the knot. The company even provides perks like wine, reservations, and gifts for added romance. Sounds great right? Until clients end up dead after meeting "the one".
     Marsha Underwood is hired by Paul as Love.com's Marketing Director, and brings her father in to prepare questionnaires for the site's users. All seems kosher until Marsha sees the statistics. How is it possible that every user of Love.com finds their "soul-mate"? This question leads Martha and her father to an investigation that could leave both of them toe-tagged.

Review:

     I received Love.com from LibraryThing Member Giveaways and found the story-line to be quite enjoyable. I really liked the premise since it seems like the internet is the new frontier of dating. The characters were relatable, but I would have liked to see a little more personality, especially during conversations between the characters. I felt that the dialogue was a little lacking and had some flow problems, but for the most part it was easy to follow. The only other problem I had was with the rough tie-up of the ending; it seemed like the resolution was rushed and crammed into the last three pages. Still a very entertaining and quick read. Overall, I thought that this was a great first novel by RW Bennet.

Rating: Bounty's Out (3/5)

*** I received this eBook from LibraryThing Member Giveaways in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 24: Gamadin, Book IV: Gazz by Tom Kirkbride

Description: (from Amazon)

     Finally, the Boys have a series the Girls love to read! In this fourth installment, Harlowe is surfing in the South Pacific with his little brother, Dodger, when Riverstone calls in a panic from the Omini Prime quadrant. All life on the planet Gazz is about to be wiped out by a lethal gamma ray burst in 11 days. According to Wiz, saving the planet with Millawanda's force field is a slam dunk. The plan was going smoothly until hostile forces dropped out of hyperspace, moments before the deadly rays struck. Battling two forces at once, Millie still saves the planet, but at a cost: her power is sucked dry! Unable to maintain orbit, Millawanda plunges into the planet's ocean. Adding to their peril, Riverstone, Lu and Sizzle have vanished and a second gamma ray burst will hit the planet in 37 days! There is a source of thermo-grym to bring back Millie, but Gazz is a 16th century planet of wind-powered ships and slithering beasts called Traas. In a race against time, Harlowe must borrow and commandeer a pirate ship to find the yellow crystals that will power Millawanda back to life before the crew, his girl, the planet and his own life are lost...

Review:

     I received a copy of  Gamadin, Book IV: Gazz from LibraryThing Early Reviewers in July 2011 and immediately went to the library to find books I through III; and I am glad I did because this series ended up being quite an adventure! At first these books seemed quite lengthy, but after finding the time to read them, I was hooked. Chapters are just the right size to encourage further reading without becoming monotonous and boring, (not that the material could get boring, it was pretty exciting and fast-paced). At first I wasn't sure I would enjoy all the science fiction ("planetary space cops"), but it was surprisingly enjoyable. The story line and the characters were really well developed and each character had their own "vibe", it was easy to imagine them existing, especially with the dialogues between them. Descriptions of Gazz and the ship were great, liked the overall feel I got from them. I do believe that someone could read this as a single volume and still understand and enjoy it, but I would recommend finding time to enjoy it as a whole. Can't wait to see if Tom Kirkbride adds another volume to this already exciting adventure.

Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)

***I received a copy of this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Other Books in the Series:

Review # 23: Wanting June by Cindy Simon

Description:

     Crisis counselor Penny is willing to to brave Hell and high water to figure out what happened to her mother, June, who disappeared when Penny was a child. And what she finds is certainly hellish. Shocking family secrets are revealed, rivalries come to light, family members choose their sides, people get hurt, someone wants to keep June and her past hidden, and Penny and her father must decide whether they really want the truth; before June's fate becomes theirs.

Review:

     Wanting June by Cindy Simon was quite an intense and complicated mystery. In the beginning, I had trouble getting into the book's twisted plot-line because there were so many characters and relationships to consider. I never knew who was on Penny's side or who she could trust. The friends and family she was surrounded by felt very real, and at times very threatening. I often had to stop reading and think about what characters had said in previous chapters that could link to certain events because of the huge amount of detail the author presented at certain points. It wasn't hard to follow, but there was a lot of information to be garnered from each chapter; there was meaning in everything.

    The book was very well researched, but I felt that there could have been a little less detail and more attention to certain events and important conversations. The technique used to write this book was very interesting. I loved the language and the dialogue, especially Cindy Simon's use of metaphor and detail, which made the book even more enjoyable. The plot was action and mystery packed, one event began as soon as another ended, and I never knew what was to come. Even as I read the last chapter, I still hadn't discovered what really happened to June until the last couple of pages. This was a true suspense, laden with lies, love, deceit, pain, wanting, addiction, and the path one must take to find the truth, even when all hope seems lost. I applaud Cindy Simon on her first novel, an amazingly intricate and dark medical mystery!

Rating: Bounty's Out (3.5/5)

*** I received this book from LibraryThing Member Giveaways in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 22: Circle of Fire (The Maya Brown Missions) by S. M. Hall

Description (from Amazon):

Maya Brown is bored with being cooped up in her grandmother's house over the summer, and is dying to get involved in her mother's intelligence operation against a group of would-be terrorists. But when her mum, Pam, is kidnapped by the criminals, Maya is suddenly plunged headlong into a world of intrigue and danger. Can Maya find out what the terrorist cell are plotting in time, and without putting her mother's life further at risk? And is the mysterious Khaled luring her into a trap, or a secret ally?

A fast-paced thriller by an established author of teenage fiction, with a fiesty and charismatic heroine who will appeal to boys and girls alike. This is a gripping adventure story that also deals sensitively with issues of inter-racial understanding and the social causes behind extremism.

Review:

     Circle of Fire:The Maya Brown Missions was a great volume in a series that could really go somewhere, but for as action-packed and fast paced as it was at times, it did have its slow moments where I wanted to jump ahead to a more exciting chapter, (which I didn't do because I believe in reading the whole book). The plot was very exciting and well-thought-out, especially the espionage, terrorism, and cultural aspects which were very well-written and researched. Teen heroine Maya Brown is a DIY kind of girl with a spunky and smart attitude, even if she gets herself in a bad situation she manages to think her way out of it. Both guys and gals will appreciate and enjoy the overall tone and dialogue; there's even a little bit of slang/violence for those teens who like a slightly "edgier" read. I can't complain about anything other than those few slow moments, most of the time I was hooked and couldn't put it down. I will read future S. M. Hall Maya Brown Mission books in the series, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a high charged, fully-fueled read that will last them a sit-down or two. 

Rating:  Bounty's Out (3.5/5) 

 

*** I received this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Review # 21: Verita (Verita Trilogy) by Tracy Rozzlynn

Description:

     I received Verita and Fast-Tracked through the LibraryThing Member Giveaway Program and was very exited about both. Verita begins with the main character, Brett, suffering the unimaginable loss of both her parents, followed by the realization that the people she calls friends are not what they seem. So instead of staying at the orphanage till she turns 18, she is recruited by a government organization that is sending teens to a habitable planet called Verita in order to study and repopulate it. Once there, (100's of years later), Brett, who has been in suspended animation, wakes to find a new world filled both with familiar humans and strange creatures like Caper the Meerkit. Then trouble strikes and Brett must find a way to save herself and the ones she's grown to care about; (No more spoilers!).

Review:
      I thought that Verita by Tracy Rozzlynn was a fantastic read suitable for the beach, or anywhere else you'd like to snug up with a book! The dialogue and descriptions were very well written, and completely immersed the reader in Verita's amazing landscape. That coupled with the fast-paced plot and the adventure/romance angle, made the first volume in this series a great read that I would recommend to teen, or interested adult readers. I almost wish I hadn't read it fast so that I'd have more to read. Can't wait for the next installment! 

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this book from LibraryThing Member Giveaways in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.