Book Nook Club: 4 Stars

Showing posts with label 4 Stars. Show all posts

Showing posts with label 4 Stars. Show all posts

October 14, 2013

The Preservationist, by Justin Kramon

A few years back, I had the pleasure of reviewing Finny, Justin’s debut novel. So, while I was happy to hear he had a second book coming, I was particularly thrilled when he asked me to review The Preservationist.

Julia Stilwell is a college freshman grieving the loss of her brother, the fallout from which her family is still struggling to overcome. She’s also acclimating to a new school, lifestyle, and two mysterious suitors.

Sam Blount works in the snack bar of a small college in Pennsylvania. He’s much older than the students, but still relates to them, trading barbs and attending campus parties. Aside from being a bit socially awkward, he seems like a nice guy.

Marcus Broley is in one of Julia’s classes and takes an immediate interest in her. They go on a couple dates, but Julia quickly gets a taste of his overprotective side.

The novel alternates between these three narrators. It moves at a quick clip, from Julia and Marcus’ first date, to Sam’s pursuit and Julia’s wavering interest between the two men, and ultimately to a heated ending that you'd expect from any good thriller.

It’s the usual thriller in its pace and plot arc, both of which I appreciated. I finished the book in a day while on vacation. For me, the difference between this and other thrillers is that the reader isn’t quite sure who the bad guy is until you're well into the story.

There were times I wanted to smack Julia for her naiveté and poor decision-making skills. But then I remembered I had an equally hard time fully discerning the truth behind these men – and I had the benefit of knowing what each one was thinking. I appreciated the little flecks of doubt Justin inserted into his story to keep me guessing until the moment I realized exactly what was happening and it was too late for Julia to do anything but succumb to her fate.

While Finny was a coming of age saga, this is more of a quick frolic. If we’re being honest, I would’ve preferred a little more depth to these characters, and a few more twists and turns (frankly, I'll say this about any thriller because I love a good twisty plot). However, there were enough twists to keep the predictability at bay. The alternating narration kept the plot moving and kept me turning the pages. 4 stars.

**I received a free advanced copy of this book for review purposes, but my opinion is all my own!**

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October 7, 2012

Unleash! by Perry Noble

Perry Noble, senior pastor of NewSpring Church in South Carolina, challenges readers to Unleash! the life that God has in store for them and to put their past to rest.

Within his book, he explains how God's desire is to have us live our best life now by walking in His path and by letting go of a past that enslaves us. He compares all of our challenges with the story of David from the Bible. Now, most of us would dare say we have absolutely nothing in common with the same David that found favor with God. The same David that was anointed as a child, brought down a giant and became one of the most revered kings in history. But Perry specifically outlines how his struggles and ours are not so different.

Just as God chose David to be anointed, God chooses us to be His children. Just as David had to fight Goliath, the giant, so we have to fight metaphorical "giants" in our lives. God is not looking for someone who is perfect… David was far from perfect. David was a poor shepherd boy who no one ever suspected would become king. And then once king, he became an adulterer and a murderer. And yet… God found favor with him.

In his book, Perry offers hilarious and gritty stories about his life and how he's learned these lessons. He speaks about how coming to know the Lord and Jesus has changed him and in doing so he offers hope to everyone who reads his book. Perry does not beat around the bush… he is dead set on Biblical teachings and does not care if he makes people uncomfortable about it. He wants everyone to know that the ONLY truth is Jesus. But he also wants everyone to know that God is not sitting on His throne in Heaven waiting to smite all of the sinners… He wants people to know that God is loving, compassionate and fatherly. "God is not after or begrudging submission. He is after our joy" (pg.9)

I highly recommend this book for anyone who just can't seem to let go of their past. To anyone who thinks that God can't possibly forgive them for what they've done. To anyone who thinks that their problems are too big. To anyone who feels hopeless. Within these pages you'll learn about a Savior who's love knows no limits and who can't wait to call you His own.

I had the privilege of being a member of NewSpring church for the 3 years that I lived in South Carolina and I have never seen a pastor more captivatingly true, real and passionate about his call to ministry and Jesus. He is doing some truly incredible things across the state of South Carolina and reaching throughout the world to impact churches and people in need. You can listen to his sermons by downloading the FREE NewSpring App or by visiting www.NewSpring.cc

And don't forget to pick up a copy of his book. You'll be so glad you did!

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July 4, 2012

Echoes From the Academy by Jeffrey Mann

Sid is sitting in his car with a bottle of vodka between his thighs and a pistol in his hand. As he looks back at the last year of his life, he can't believe how he had gotten there. How had he strayed so far? His life was alright... but now, it was a complete disaster. There's only one way out.

Sid is a good kid. He's sometimes misunderstood and misrepresented but all in all, he's a decent teenaged boy. He comes from a great family... a father that's a provider and loves his family, a mother who loves God and always listens to her children and a sister who is wicked cool and even hooks him up with her pretty friends. Life was good. But his life takes a turn when he gets kicked out of school for allegedly selling drugs... a complete misunderstanding. With few options remaining, he decided he wanted to try military school. He was ready and eager to become a man.

His father reluctantly agreed, under the condition that he would attend for an entire year, no matter what. Even if it got hard, he would have to stay for a full school year. Sid accepted under those turns and was ready to start a new chapter. But when Sid got to military school, it wasn't quite what he expected. And it wasn't the strict discipline that brought him down, but he was actually fearful for his life! The events that took place within those walls were more frightening than his worse nightmares. The only thing that brought him through that tortuous year were two best friends that he made there. But even they could only help so much...

As he finds himself in that car, sorting through the details of the life he once had and the life he now had, he thinks there's only one choice now. As he remembers the pain and abuse from the past year, he thinks there's a sure way to forever forget. What will Sid choose? How will he ever get out of this mess?

Surprisingly, this is a 100% true story... not "based on a true story", but actually true. Some of the events seem so extraordinary or extreme and that's why it's so surprising and exciting to hear that it's all true! The book offers a great deal of hope for any young person coping with depression or struggling with their identity. The writing is easy flowing and fast moving... great for a YA crowd. Beware of some violent content, so lean towards the more mature side of YA.

4 Stars

Now available on Amazon!

I received a complementary copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This is my honest opinion.

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May 22, 2012

The Mother Road, by Jennifer Allee

The Mother Road tells the story of Natalie, who has just discovered her husband is leaving her for another woman with whom he's fathered a child. At the same time, Natalie's father is pressuring her to visit her ailing mother, who is battling Alzheimer's.

Natalie escapes the problems in her marriage by dragging her sister Lindsay on a road trip across Route 66 to visit home. Lindsay has her own set of personal issues that cloud the trip as both sisters prepare to encounter a past they've avoided for years.

Plot: I've been interested in taking a Route 66 road trip for some time, so that initially hooked me. The scenery was a good choice by the author as it makes a nice backdrop for the sisterly reunion that is the focus of the book. I enjoyed the interplay of the sisters during their trip, and the plot moved quickly, allowing me to get to know the sisters as well as their back stories. I felt the end of the book was pretty predictable, though the author did throw one curve ball that I wasn't expecting.

Characters: I actually found my favorite character was Lindsay. Of the two sisters, she was the most real, and I also felt her evolution throughout the book was the most visible. I found Natalie to be a frustrating narrator at times when her judgmental nature got the better of her. Sure, she underwent her own changes as she came to terms with her divorce, but I didn't feel this evolution was as well described by the author to warrant her overly righteous attitude through 90 percent of the book.

Overall, the book had a nice message and interesting characters with a bit of depth. 3.5 stars.

** I received a free copy of the book for the purposes of this review, but my opinions are my own.**
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This Means War

Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy Form the

Perfect Love Triangle in this Action Packed Comedy

Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download May 22

About the Movie

They are the CIA’s best, trained for any situation…except one. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment plays the ultimate spy game as two best friends fight for the right of one woman’s hand in THIS MEANS WAR, released to Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download today. Starring Academy Award^® winner Reese Witherspoon* (Walk the Line), Chris Pine (Star Trek) and Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises), the laugh-out-loud comedy gets even better on Blu-ray with three alternate endings that answer the question – what if she chose the other guy?

The world's deadliest CIA operatives, FDR Foster (Pine) and Tuck (Hardy) are inseparable partners and best friends until they fall for the same woman (Witherspoon). Having once helped bring down entire enemy nations, they are now employing their incomparable skills and an endless array of high-tech gadgetry against their greatest nemesis – each other.

My Review

This is one of the best romantic comedies I've seen in quite a while. I was nervous that it might end up being a little cheesy, but it was actually really funny and I loved the chemistry between all three of the main characters. And it's not just a chick flick, I went to see it with my two brothers (20 and 30) and there was enough comedy and action to make them both enjoy it just as much as I did. Highly recommended for anyone who likes romantic comedies or watching things be blown up.

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May 20, 2012

TIME's Disasters That Shook the World

TIME Disasters That Shook the World

Reviewing Disasters That Shook the World is an interesting experience. I think humans have a fascination with disasters and while you can't really "enjoy" reading about them, this publication by Time made the learning about them interesting albiet brief.

As a history teacher, I know how important it is to talk about accomplishments and failures. History is made of mistakes and, really, we should be glad for them as these disasters shaped future safety measures and awareness. The subjects include Disasters at Sea, Disasters in the Air, and Fire Disasters amoung others.

The articles include many pictures and are a general overview. Of course there is more to each of these stories but as far as a 'magazine-esque' book goes, I was pleased. If anything it made me go further and look up some more about some of the stories.

I recommend this for anyone intersted in history and anyone looking for a quick interesting read.

4 Stars.
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May 3, 2012

50 Shades of Grey, by E.L. James

You guys, I don't think we could be considered a legit book blog if we didn't review this book. Or, maybe we could call ourselves "above it", but I know I at least am not above a little smut now and again.

So, Fifty Shades of Grey. One day, I'd never heard of it and then like lightening it was everywhere. I mean, literally, it was overnight. And it all happened about the time I was trying to decide what to load on my Nook for my tropical honeymoon. Given the plot, this particular book seemed quite appropriate -- and it didn't disappoint.

Plot: Let's face it, this won't win the Pulitzer for its plot line. The book is basically sex in print, with the occasional side line in between. But, there is a common plot line that is every so slightly superior to your run-of-the-mill erotica plot. And it doesn't even involve a sexy secretary or hot pizza delivery boy! Already it's a step above the rest.

Anastasia is on the cusp of graduating college and being on her own. As a favor to her roommate, she conducts an interview of a local CEO, Christian Grey. Intrigued by him, she is surprised when he pursues her. Over the course of the book, she learns Christian is hiding a dark secret and she must make the decision whether to fall down the rabbit hole with him -- or rise above and move on with her life.

See? It's not a totally lame plot! There's lots of agonizing on Anastasia's part, and how Christian finally hooks her is interesting enough to entertain me between the really good parts that only serve to get you hot and bothered. (Like I said, PERFECT honeymoon/vacation read.)

Characters: Shockingly, I actually liked the characters. Anastasia intrigued me. Christian intrigued me. The two of them together and their interactions (the non-sexual ones!) intrigued me. Who woulda thought?!

Overall: I'll be honest. It's not literary genius. You pick book this up for the wow factor. It'll make you simultaneously cringe and think "hmmmm..." You pick this book up to add a little excitement to your life. And it will. But, you'll also enjoy the underlying story, however faint it may be. 4 stars.

P.S. -- I was pretty clueless on the premise, so when Christian starts talking about his "dark secret", I was afraid this was going to be another vampire book. After all, it started out as Twilight fan fiction. But, I promise you, no vampires make an appearance. At least not yet, there are two more books I have to read.

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May 2, 2012

Heft by Liz Moore

Heft, by Liz Moore, is told from alternating points of views of two very different characters: a 550, shy, shut-in, and a talented high school athlete who takes care of his alcoholic mother.

This book was a very quick read and the two stories flowed naturally together. Moore does an excellent job at distinguishing the voices of the two different characters (although Kel, the teenager, is occasionally written with a higher level of vocabulary and poetic expression than could be expected).

While I did enjoy the book as I read it, the ease of emotional healing that both characters undergo seems too…easy. There was little self reflection and it seemed to take no time at all for the characters to undergo major emotional breakthroughs.

Bottom line—this book was sweet. The characters were quirky and it is worth the read. I think it would be a great read for high school students. 4 stars.

I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

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April 13, 2012

The Time Machine by H. G. Wells

The Time Machine, published in 1895, is the story of an otherwise-unnamed Time Traveller who invents (of course) a time machine and travels to the year 802,701. There, he meets a race of childlike adults called the Eloi, who live in communal societies, subsist mainly on fruit, and live together in beautiful but slowly crumbling buildings. Efforts to communicate with these people are largely unsuccessful, mostly due to the fact of their diminished intelligence (which the Time Traveller attributes to man’s conquest of nature with technology). They are a peaceful people, however, and they welcome the Time Traveller with affection.

Soon upon the Time Traveller’s arrival, his time machine goes mysteriously missing, and he discovers that the Eloi are not the only race that humanity has evolved into. It appears that sometime on the road of evolution, humanity gradually split into two races: a diurnal, surface living race (the Eloi), and a nocturnal race, called the Morlocks. These ape-like creatures live in eternal darkness underground, and appear to have stolen his time machine.

Now it’s up to the Time Traveller (and his Eloi friend, Weena) to get his time machine back if he ever hopes to get back to London and his own time again. Though he has no weapons and a companion who lives in mortal fear of darkness and the Morlocks, he makes it back—but who will believe his story?

I think you’re all pretty aware of how much I love old-timey science fiction. The Invisible Man, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde—I just love the style. It’s technically narrated by a friend of the Time Traveller who listens to his story (a common mode of narration in this time, it seems, or perhaps just a favorite of H. G. Wells), but the majority of it is narrated in first person by the Time Traveller himself. It’s beautifully written, with fantastic descriptions that can make you really see the places he’s describing—and the feeling of the Morlocks’ claws plucking at your clothes…

Something else I really enjoyed was actually learning about the Morlocks, which I had heretofore only heard about in It (Ben always called the sewer pipes in the Barrens “Morlock holes”) and in the TV show The Big Bang Theory, specifically the episode where Leonard actually buys the Time Machine prop used in the 1960 film adaptation, thinking it’s just a miniature model. Of course, hilarity ensues:

At any rate, this book was fantastic. I would have liked to read it in hard copy form (and might still go out and get a copy at some point) but it was easy and convenient to read it on my iPhone. (And really, anything that allows me to get books for free is a good thing, since this one was free on iBooks.) If you liked any of the books I mentioned above, you should give this one a try; you won’t be disappointed.

4 stars

This review is also posted on my personal blog.

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April 10, 2012

The Inquisitor - A Novel by Mark Allen Smith

Book Summary: Geiger has a gift: he knows a lie the instant that he hears it. In his business, called Information Retrieval by its practitioners, that gift is invaluable. One of Geiger’s rules is that he never works with children. So when his partner, former journalist Harry Boddicker, unwittingly brings in a client who demands that he interrogate a 12-year-old boy, Geiger responds instinctively. He rescues the boy from his captor, removes him to the safety of his NYC loft, and promises to protect him from further harm. But if Harry & Geiger cannot quickly discover why the client is so desperate to learn the boy’s secret, they themselves will become the victims of an utterly ruthless adversary.

Mark Allen Smith’s debut novel is an exhilarating experience through the mob world, NYC, and the life of a professional torturer. Geiger doesn’t remember his childhood and has disturbing nightmares, so he is seeing a psychiatrist. He doesn’t talk much, doesn’t have any friends and keeps to a routine. Then, his world is turned upside down when a client brings a child to him.

The plot and characters keep the reader engaged in the book and you can’t wait to find out about Geiger’s childhood, who is after them, and why! A great novel I highly recommend, especially if you love mystery thrillers! 4 out of 5 stars

I received an ARC from the author's publisher for an honest review.

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April 6, 2012

Divergent by Veronica Roth

I’ve been hearing about this book for a while. I’d heard it was the next Hunger Games—in the words of my friend Nicole, it has a “female protagonist who kicks ass, dystopian society [that] is split up into different specialties, war”—so definitely very similar. But I’d venture to say it was even better than The Hunger Games.

Beatrice Prior is the story’s protagonist, a sixteen-year-old member of the Abnegation (selfless) faction. The other factions are Candor (the honest), Amity (the peaceful), Erudite (the intelligent), and Dauntless (the brave). As the novel opens, she and the other sixteen-year-olds of this future, dystopian Chicago are on the brink of adulthood, which means they will soon take their aptitude tests—the test that determines to which faction they truly belong. After the tests, some will choose to stay with the faction they were born in. Others will transfer. But the mantra of the society remains the same: “Faction before family.”

Beatrice has always known that she doesn’t quite belong in Abnegation. Being selfless and desiring nothing but to help others are traits that do not come as naturally to her as they seem to come to her mother and her brother, Caleb. But she never imagined that her aptitude test would place her in three different factions; she is Divergent. Her test proctor immediately deletes those results from the system, manually entering Abnegation, and begs Beatrice to never tell anyone that she is Divergent—but refuses to give an explanation. And at the Choosing Ceremony the next day, both she and Caleb make choices that shock each other, their parents, and the entire community.

When Beatrice begins initiation, she renames herself Tris and struggles to find out who her true friends are as she goes through the incredibly strenuous initiation tests. She eventually discovers that her seemingly perfect society is on the verge of unraveling, and the secret she is harboring—as well of the secret of an enigmatic boy called Four—could be what saves her, and the lives of those she loves. But it could also destroy them.

This book was fantastic. It does make me feel a little bad about myself simply because Veronica Roth, the author, is only a year older than I am, but she more than deserves any success she gets from this. The writing was miles better than The Hunger Games: there weren’t nearly as many annoying fragmenty sentences. And even though I’m not a huge fan of present tense narration, it fit really well here and probably wouldn’t have been as thrilling had it been written in the past tense.

I’m also SO glad the obligatory romance here wasn’t as annoying as the love triangle in The Hunger Games. There was really only one romantic interest, which was refreshing. And it was also nice that I actually liked the guy—not that I didn’t like Peeta and Gale, but I found them both WAY too sycophantic. In Divergent, it wasn’t sappy, and it wasn’t for show, either—they both genuinely felt for each other, and at the same time, no less! It took almost 350 pages for that romance to unfold and it was fantastic.

If you liked The Hunger Games, you should read this. If you didn’t like The Hunger Games, you should still read it, because I think this is better. Can’t wait for Insurgent to come out on May first!

4 stars

This review is also posted on my personal blog.

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March 28, 2012

Coming Home by Stacy Hawkins Adams

Dayna is a successful executive with a beautiful home, a loving fiance, and a lot of baggage she believes she's left behind. One day she opens the door to find her ex-husband standing there with a bouquet of roses, wanting to apologize for having cheated on and divorced her years before. He's dying of terminal cancer, and wants her to help him and his wife, the very woman he's cheated with and left her for, establish a foundation to leave a legacy after his death. Can Dayna put aside her anger and allow Brent to find peace in his final days?

This is a novel of forgiveness in the face of ultimate betrayal. Adams bravely constructed a powerful scenario all women can relate to in one way or another. How many of us have been betrayed by a good friend or a love interest at one point and wondered how we could ever truly forgive them?

I enjoyed Adams' writing. She keeps unnecessary description to a minimum while somehow giving the reader a vivid picture of what is happening. The story never lags, there is always something happening. And while I normally care nothing for material trappings, she made me want a designer handbag and better hair and wardrobe with her characters' thoughts on such things. It takes a talented writer to create such desires in a reader.

There are only two negatives I can find in this book. First, Dayna's boyfriend, Warren, struck me as a jerk. I could tell I was supposed to like him, but he just wasn't likeable. Second, there are way too many details about phone calls. I can appreciate that there is realism in this, especially in our age of constant communication, but I found myself gritting my teeth every time Dayna is about to do something but gets a gossipy phone call. Perhaps because I hate it when I'm about to do something and am interrupted by a gossipy phone call. I think Adams was demonstrating Dayna's ties of friendships and the ways in which we are all influenced by and depend upon our friends, but it irritated me anyway.

Overall I enjoyed this book and appreciated its powerful message and the package Adams wrapped it in for us.

I received a copy of this book for the purpose of review.

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March 23, 2012

The Shining by Stephen King

I don’t remember how old I was when I first read The Shining. It was definitely toward the beginning of my Stephen King obsession in my early teens, because it was a title that was already familiar to me, and something I felt comfortable buying. Both my parents recommended it as well, which was cool, because I was young and most of my taste in books didn’t really coincide with my parents’. They also recommended the movie, but the movie sucked, at least compared to the book (which is my usual stance). The miniseries was great, though. But I digress.

Anyway, The Shining is the story of Jack, Wendy, and Danny Torrance, a young family on the verge of falling apart. Jack, an alcoholic and an aspiring playwright, had a successful job at a Vermont prep school before he was fired for violently beating a student. Jack’s rage lies close to the surface, and his life only slides further downhill when he decides to live a life of sobriety—now there is nothing to temper his fury. He takes a winter-long caretaking job at the Overlook Hotel in the mountains of Colorado, bringing his wife and son with him.

However, five-year-old Danny has a gift. His parents are unsettled but not overly concerned about Danny’s uncanny ability to understand or know certain things without being told; however, Danny’s power is quite beyond what they realize. They also fail to realize—almost until it’s too late—that the Overlook has some sinister power of its own, and is intent on absorbing Danny’s. Finding Danny too difficult to possess, the hotel begins to work through Jack, gradually overtaking him until the malevolent spirits finally force him to attempt to kill Wendy and Danny.

Although I love Stephen King, I’m honestly surprised to find him on the list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” It was also something of a surprise to me to find that The Shining was his one book to make the list; but since it was his first hardcover bestseller and also probably boasts the most successful movie adaptation of any of his books, I suppose it makes sense. And I did really like The Shining, which is part of why I thought the movie was so terrible.

It was very interesting to watch the deterioration of Jack Torrance, both from outside perspectives and from inside his own mind. It’s important to note that he doesn’t start out totally crazy—he’s violent, yes, and an alcoholic, but he strives to be better than that, despite how terrifically difficult it is for him. He doesn’t want to be the way he is, and I always found it admirable that he does try to be a better father and husband. Even though he ends up being a slave to his—and the hotel’s—impulses, he fights mightily not to bend.

There isn’t a lot I can say other than that it is a really good horror story. The suspense builds until you feel like you’re as tightly wound as a coiled spring—and then releases, but not all the way. Eventually, this tension builds up so completely that there’s no release, and it’s impossible to put down for the last 30-50 pages. The last time I read it, I read the entire thing in twelve hours. This turned out to be a bad idea as I started reading it on my return to college, and finished it that night, but I was alone in my apartment for that entire night. Suffice it to say that even though I am usually ruthlessly rational about these kinds of things, I still didn’t turn out all the lights in the apartment that night.

Even though I still find it a little strange that The Shining is on “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die,” I would still definitely recommend it. It’s a quick, intense read, and one that I will read again for sure—just not when I’m by myself in my apartment.

4 stars

This review was originally posted on my personal blog.

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March 18, 2012

Equity of Evil by Rudy Mazzocchi

Rudy Mazzocchi begins the novel “Equity of Evil” by describing experiments performed on fetuses in a laboratory setting. Certainly a scene to wake you up in the morning! The novel continues to detail a new company, EMBRYIA, which will commission and run mobile abortion units, MAU’s. These units will be stocked with a sterile environment, trained doctors and nurses, and a new technique that will allow the fetus to be removed intact, thereby preventing scaring and lessening trauma to the client. Promoting the social implications of this company by stating that it would lead to less backroom abortions by impoverished or embarrassed women, Roman Citrano decides to fund this new venture.

Based on true events, Roman Citrano suddenly finds himself immersed in a world of black-market organ donations, seedy scientists (led by the founder of EMBRYIA, Dr. Marcus Levine) who will stop at nothing to achieve their objectives, and a highly influential crime syndicate. Without giving too much plot details away, Citrano begins to unfold the PR nightmare involved with the intricate details of EMBRYIA’s operations.

Before analyzing the characters, let me start by stating that if you have strong pro-life views on abortion, the details in this novel will make you angry and upset. The author states in his afterword that he attempted to maintain a neutral stance on abortion throughout the novel, never declaring his own personal views, and I concur that the scenes did not substantially lean to any view on the issue. Overall, the details would be disturbing to any reader and are hard to digest as a true account. However, Mazzocchi does an excellent job of piecing together several intricate plot lines and characters. At first, the characters seem disjointed and robotic. As the reader continues to dive into Mazzocchi’s world, the characters begin to play their individual part in this mystery, allowing the reader to slowly discover EMBRYIA’s true mission.

In the beginning of the novel, Roman Citrano maintains his naivety in regards to the consequences and personal effects of abortion and his new venture. Not until someone he loves enters a MAU does Roman begin to search for answers and discover that Dr. Levine and others have constructed a puzzling game of Monopoly using women and unborn children. Mazzocchi uses intricate details, flashbacks, and emotional events to reveal the personal feelings and backgrounds of several characters, while continuously presenting several angles of abortion and the highly realistic MAUs. Based on true events, this novel continues to send shivers up my spine.

4 stars

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

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March 9, 2012

Her Frozen Wild by Kim Antieau

In "Her Frozen Wild” Ursula spends her time in the basement laboratories examining tattoos and body art of ancient mummies. In her spare time she fights with her cheating husband and listens to stories of the People told to her by her Siberian grandmother. As Ursula stays behind in the states, a team of her colleagues unearths a 2500-year-old mummy, adorned with tattoos and possessing a priestess headdress. As their plane crashes, Ursula is called to Siberia to finish her colleagues’ mission of identifying this woman. Blood and skin tests shows that the mummy’s DNA possess significant matches to Ursula’s DNA! How can she be connected to a 2500-year-old mummy? Well the answers to this question just scratch the surface of Antieau’s plot in “Her Frozen Wild.”

Also, as Ursula attempts to conquer her fear of flying in the middle of the Chicago airport, a suave Russian doctor helps her relax. Sergei Ivanovich Polyakov begins to seduce Ursula in his Russian mansion as she waits for her next plane to Siberia. One night she discovers that Sergei possesses the same tattoos as the ancient mummy, causing her to wonder about the connection between her, the mummy, and Sergei. Taken on a quest through time, Ursula begins to piece together this strange puzzle as Antieau creates a beautiful story centered on finding your true self and releasing the inner beast within.

I found this novel to be truly magical, filled with details that will make the reader feel as if they are standing next to the mountain in Altai, Siberia with Ursula. Ursula tries to find herself as she untangles details from her past, including the disappearance of her mother 30 years ago. In addition to breathtaking scenery, Antieau adds some steamy sex scenes into the mix. She describes sex as a primal act, so if you are a conservative, modest reader this book might not be for you. Ursula attempts to unlock the inner animal inside of her, meaning that she is trying to break through all of the stereotypes and rules put on to her by society.

One of my favorite lines of the novel sums up the entire mission of “Her Frozen Wild:” “Who you are is the who you were before someone told you you weren’t tall enough, short enough, skinny or pretty enough. Before anyone told you you were not right.” What a great and true statement! Antieau combines more of her wisdom with intricate plot lines, which seem hard to follow at certain points in the novel. In the beginning of this novel, the reader will be reading several plots that occur in different time periods. They eventually collide into one, cohesive story so do not be discouraged if at first you are a bit confused. Overall, great message, superb details, and interesting character development.

4 stars

*I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinions.

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March 8, 2012

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

Margaret Macy is a lady in London, in the early 1800's. She lives in her manor with her mother, step father and step father's nephew, Marcus. Her younger brother and sister are away at school until break.

Margaret is accustomed to living a fine life. Although her late father was only a minister, they had always had money and lived well. Until recently. On Margaret's 25th birthday, she would come into a great amount of money that had been set aside for her by her aunt. And her step-father knew this.

In his attempt to keep the money within the family and reap the benefits of the fortune, he insisted on his nephew, Marcus marrying her. Although Mararet had had many suitors in the past and even came close to marrying one, a Nathaniel Upchurch, she decided she would not marry anyone and support herself fully. Marrying Marcus was not in the plans. But her step-father was insistant and one day Margaret overheard a plot to make them have to marry each other. And so, she fled.

She decided to try her luck as a maid... but where would she end up? At Fairbourne Hall... the home of Nathaniel Upchurch, her former suitor and the man she rudely rejected in favor of his older and more dashing brother, Lewis. Luckily, she had disguised herself. She hid her blonde hair under a ratty brown wig, her white eyebrows with some black soot and put a pair of spectacles on her nose. And with her maid clothes, fake accent and new name, Nora, no one suspected... for a while at least. But how can a lady of privilage learn to be a maid? How could she stand the hours of hard labor? How could she lower herself to such standards? Read and see how Margaret's appearance isn't the only thing that changes.

I thouroughly enjoyed this book. It was so clever and well written. The whole time I was holding my breath just waiting for her to be discovered. And watching her change was really beautiful. The book is also filled with insight of what life was like behind the scenes... as a maid. And it wasn't always pretty! The only thing I didn't love about the book was that I felt that at times it moved a little too slowly... there was a lot of day-to-day. But when the action arrose, it was brilliant!

4 Stars!

I received a complementary copy of this book for the purpose of this review.

Now for some GIVEAWAYS!!!

Enter Today and Save the Date-3/15!

Julie Klassen The Maid of Fairbourne Hall Giveaway

Don't miss the perfect blend of Regency-era romance and mystery in The Maid of Fairbourne Hall! Grab a copy and then be sure to enter Julie's Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVP for her Author Chat party on Facebook! Swoon.

One fortunate winner will receive:

A brand new Kindle Fire
A Julie Klassen Library (The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Silent Governess)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/14/12. Winner will be announced at Julie's Fairbourne Hall Book Chat Party on 3/15. Julie will be hosting an evening of chat, trivia and a sneak peek of her next book - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books and a Downton Abbey Prize Pack (Seasons 1 and 2)!

So grab your copy of The Maid of Fairbourne Hall and join Julie and friends on the evening of March 15th for a book chat party.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on March 15th!

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