Friday, June 28, 2013

Divided Nation by Robert Moore

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Set in the not-to-distant future, the United States is in trouble financially and searching for a miracle. It ultimately finds this in a drug called XU84, which has been manufactured to limit the possibility of having children to those of lower socioeconomic classes. Anyone who will be receiving government assistance will have to take the shot that inhibits procreation. America becomes embroiled in an ethical war between those who vehemently oppose the use of the drug and those who believe that it's the only way America can become a viable country once again. As both sides increase the use of force to get their messages across, the innocent as well as the guilty find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place in order to simply survive from one day to the next.

Review:
I received this book through a free giveaway from Goodreads.com and was excited to see it on my doorstep. As I read my way through the book, I couldn't help but think that the scenarios being presented by the author could very well happen in our future if we don't take the steps to fix the country's problems now. I was drawn in by the cast of characters. The author presented nearly each economic and social class within the book. He was also able to present the problems and solutions each faced with convincing detail. I thought the action was well thought out and the flow of the story was well enough to keep me turning the pages long into the night. Overall, I truly thought it to be a great read that needed just a few touch-ups in order to become a spectacular book.

Unfortunately, I did come across a few things that could be corrected and make the book a much stronger, better read. There were two instances where I felt the story confused me. One, when the company and the government are holding a joint press conference to discuss the upcoming release of the drug, one of the officials tells the CEO that they aren't going to let the public know the exact plans to roll out the doses in order to limit mass panic. A few paragraphs later, one of the speakers tells the press exactly what they weren't going to release. Shortly before that, one of the FBI agents had been stopped outside of the hotel where the press conference was to take place and had to show his credentials to the police officers including the Captain. Once the mayhem inside the hotel began, the FBI agent was involved in a scuffle and the officers weren't sure who he was. There was a bit of confusion caused by the agent being questioned over his credentials a second time by presumably the same Captain that he had spoken to previously. Other than those, the only issue I could find with the book where several instances of needed commas. If you are looking for a good medical thriller, this is one you should definitely check out!

Divided Nation by Robert Moore is currently available in Kindle form. It can be purchased from Amazon.com at the link below.
Divided Nation by Robert Moore

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Currently Reading

Whew! This week has went by so quickly! I was able to get through some of my backlog and hope to get through more as this week continues. Honestly, the books that I've finished this week have all been ebooks that I could read on my Kindle app for my laptop. My hands were spent working on my crochet project to get caught up and couldn't hold a book at the same time. Thank goodness for technology! I have plenty of books sitting here beside me waiting to be cracked open, so I guess I better get to reading!

Yep, this week I am all about finishing:
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Blood Flats by Edward Trimnell
A Season of Mysteries by Rusty Whitener
The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones

I've finished the following:
Seven-X by Mike Wech
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Once Upon a Time is Now by Stephen Carpenter
My Emily by Matt Patterson

Hope you all have a wonderful and wordy week! What are you looking to finish this week?

Until next time,
Kay

Monday, June 24, 2013

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
As the lone survivor of the night when most of her family had been murdered and her brother convicted of the crime, Libby Day grew up feeling as though something bad lived insider of her that was as real as any of her organs. The feeling of "being bad" consumed her, creating her own world where she needed nothing or no one normal. She stayed isolated from the real world until she was forced to find a way to support herself financially. In a bid to capitalize on the uniqueness of her situation, Libby decides to charge those interested in her family's turbulent history and strikes out on her sort of investigation. She follows where the leads take her until she reaches what could very well be her own "dead" end.

Review:
It took me a few chapters to catch onto how the story was being told. Once I found my groove, the story took hold of me and I was pulled along for the ride. The story is told by the point of view of several characters including the main character, Libby, and various other family members. Each chapter begins by naming the POV character, date and time in which the chapter took place. That bit of information made it easier to keep track of where I was taken in the story.

Overall, I loved how the story kept me guessing up to nearly the very end. There was plenty of evidence to convict any number of suspects put forth in the story but the ending wasn't exactly what I had pictured. As each layer of the investigation was examined, a new set of questions would spring up and lead the reader in an entirely different direction. I was also impressed by the author's ability to capture the essence of the "Satanic panic" that took place within the late 1980's. Being a child during that time period, I remember being instructed on what to watch for very well. If you like mysteries with several twists and turns to keep you guessing, this is definitely a book for you.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn is available at many major retailers in hardback, paperback and Kindle forms. It can be purchased through Amazon.com at the link listed below.
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Friday, June 21, 2013

Evolution by Jim Reilly

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Throughout his childhood, James Connor was surrounded by both his mother's deep faith in Christianity and his father's passionate pursuit of scientific truths. As an archeology student, he is sent to a remote village in Africa to assist on a dig and stumbles onto a discovery that changed history as we know it. The more information discovered and questions answered, the more determined to prove that Ancient Visitors were responsible for life on Earth James becomes. His assertions lead thousands of people all over the world to question their faith, leaving churches, synagogues and other religious meeting places with dwindling numbers. While the people of Earth deal with the both the scientific and religious consequences of the discovery, the Ancient Visitors return to help the human evolutionary process and throw the planet into further turmoil. When long simmering disputes reach their boiling point, the world's and universe's forces collide in a battle to save a way of life - any way of life.

Review:
In the interest of fairness and honesty, I have to say that I received this book free from a giveaway at Goodreads.com and as much as I enjoyed the actual story, there were several issues with the print version that made it difficult to work my way through the book. Along with a couple of formatting issues, there were times when the dialogue felt stiff as if forced and sometimes the characters sounded so much alike that it was hard to tell one from another. Unfortunately, there were grammatical errors that also hindered the flow of the story and made it difficult to go from scene to scene.

All that aside, the premise of the story was very interesting and intriguing. The author's vision of a possible future was a new take on the old science versus religion debate that we've been circling around for decades, if not centuries. Both sides of the origin argument are explored within the first half of the book. Compelling reasons for each theory are given. Once the action began to pick up, I was surprised each time that I thought I knew which one was going to come out as the prevailing theory. The author did a good job in weaving the theories together to create an outcome that I haven't seen in other books as of yet. Truthfully, if the above issues were corrected, I believe this could be a really great read.

Evolution by Jim Reilly is available in paperback and Kindle form. It can be purchased from Amazon.com at the link below.
Evolution by Jim Reilly

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Currently Reading

Last week was a tough week to get through, but here I am on the other side of it. I am thankful that I was able to cross a few things off my to-do list so I can focus on getting more done with this reading list! Of course, it didn't help that I picked up a few more books on my Kindle app. Reading work is never done! 

The books I'm working my way through this week are:
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Blood Flats by Edward Trimnell
The Wonderful World of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Seven-X by Mike Wech
A Season of Mysteries by Rusty Whitener


Books that I've finished this past week include:
Elements of Darkness by Michael Twist
Cemetery Girl by David J. Bell

What is everyone reading out there this week?

Until next time,
Kay

Monday, June 17, 2013

11/22/63: A Novel by Stephen King

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Jake Epping is a high school English teacher who takes on the challenge of teaching students at an adult education facility. While working through a batch of essays at the end of the day, he finds himself moved by one in particular. Compelled to discover more information, he speaks with the author of the paper and strikes up a friendship. Jake takes him to celebrate a milestone in a diner where the owner, Al, has a secret. As a last chance to set things right, Al lets Jake in on the secret portal in his diner that would take him back to a time before President Kennedy was assassinated. Jake becomes convinced of the portal's reality and devises a plan to change history, both close to home and abroad. Unfortunately, he has to bear the burden of those changes as well as the knowledge that no one must ever know about his journey.

Review:
The story starts in the present day and yet slips back and forth through time with ease. The format was not difficult to follow, keeping the flow of the story unhindered. It was action-packed and kept me guessing from the moment Jake first went through the portal. One of the early plot twists that the author put into play has consequences far beyond what I would have imagined for the characters and the world itself. Stephen King does a great job of layering the descriptions of the era and places the portal leads Jake and the reader to. With the action were equal parts comedy and heartache that left me wanting to turn the page to find out what was going to happen more often than I wanted to put the book down. It was a great story from start to finish and one that I would recommend to lovers of Stephen King and those who have yet to discover him.

11/22/63: A Novel by Stephen King can be purchased in many forms including hardback, paperback, Kindle form and in various audiobook formats. It can be found at major retailers or at Amazon.com at the link below.
11/22/63: A Novel by Stephen King

Friday, June 14, 2013

The Blood of Gods: A Novel of Rome by Conn Iggulden

Rating:  4 out 5 stars.

Synopsis:
The book opens immediately after the Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar, has been assassinated by a group of Senators who name themselves the liberators of Rome. From that moment onward, Roman history is laid bare by the actions of the Senate and the boy who returns to Rome in order to collect his inheritance. Octavian Caesar Augustus is not content to let the murderers of his beloved father enjoy their hastily awarded amnesty. They must face Roman justice and he will die trying to fulfill that oath. Joining forces with Mark Antony and other characters from Roman history, they seek out those hiding from retribution and attempt to deliver justice in any manner fitting.

Review:
I was very fortunate to win an ARC of this book in a Goodreads.com giveaway. Delving into the historical fiction genre is new to me but I'm finding that it's a worthwhile genre when the author is as dedicated and talented as Conn Iggulden. Right from the beginning, the reader is thrown into the action and we see the aftermath of a brutal assassination. While there are a number of battle scenes, both on land and sea, there isn't an over-the-top amount of description of the blood and gore associated with such scenes. The author does a wonderful job of revealing the underlying thoughts and feelings that each major (and often minor) characters are balancing in order to achieve his goal. Overall, the book is very well written and flows easily from scene to scene. Because I'm not well versed in military strategy or fleet manuevers, I had some difficulty with those scenes. It was not because of the writing but my lack of knowledge in those areas. The book is definitely a must read if you are a lover of tales concerning Ancient Rome or any of the players involved in the Caesar era.

The Blood of Gods: A Novel by Conn Iggulden will be available in hardback and Kindle form on July 2, 2013. It can be pre-ordered at Amazon.com with the link below.
The Blood of Gods: A Novel of Rome by Conn Iggulden

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Currently Reading

Sometimes I wish I had the ability to speed read and remember what the previous paragraphs were about. However, I don't have that superpower so I am making due with reading one page at a time. Thankfully, I managed to get a few of the to-reads knocked off my list. I'm hopeful to continue the trend even with the addition of revising my own novel. I guess we'll see how far I can get!

This week, I'm reading my way through the following;
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Blood Flats by Edward Trimnell
The Wonderful World of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Cemetery Girl by David J. Bell
Elements of Darkness by Michael Twist


Books that I've finished reading this week:
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
Divided Nation by Robert Moore


I've also made some headway into writing up the reviews for several of the books that I've finished as of late. They'll be posted on Mondays and Fridays unless I am able to get a large number of my to-read books finished. The posting schedule may change but again, we'll have to wait and see. What are you all excited to be reading for the summer?

Until next time,
Kay

Monday, June 10, 2013

True Crime: Michigan: The State's Most Notorious Criminal Cases by Tobin T. Buhk

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
True Crime: Michigan is a book full of murder, mayhem and history from across the state of Michigan. Beginning with some of the crimes known to have taken place before Michigan had been given statehood, the book shows the rough and tumble way of life that has come to those in Michigan. The stories include many arenas of the criminal world including murders, extortion, gang activity and even a disappearance. Each is a true account given with background information concerning the key individuals and several theories, if applicable. Some examples of cases covered within the book include the Michigan victims of the Lonely Hearts Killers Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck, the rise and fall of the Purple Gang, an island where one man's perception of religion ruled, the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa and many more.

Review:
As a lover of true crime novels, I was quite pleased to find this book on a day when the Kindle version was free. I was immediately taken in by the history of the state we've come to know as Michigan. The author lays out how the land and its people moved from uncharted, wild territory into the state we may visit today. Along the way, we learn some of the shady characters that make the history colorful, to say the least. I really liked how the author kept his writing unbiased, presenting the information in both an entertaining and informing narrative that was quite easy to follow. Of course, I feel as though the book was a bit short but that's only because I do enjoy the genre. All in all, the book is a solid, entertaining read that provides as accurate information as allowed by records that have been kept or media coverage of events. If you are a true crime lover, this book is one you should consider checking out.

True Crime: Michigan: The State's Notorious Criminal Cases by Tobin T. Buhk is available in both paperback and Kindle form. It can be purchased from Amazon.com at the link below.
True Crime: Michigan: The State's Most Notorious Criminal Cases by Tobin T. Buhk

Friday, June 7, 2013

Engineered Murder by Virginia R. Benson

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Caroline Moore was a handpicked, bright and upcoming star in the office where she worked. That is, until she wound up dead the evening of a very important dinner for the company. Her death brought together a varied cast of characters, each with their own reasons for wanting the young woman out of the way. It soon becomes clear to the detectives that more lies beneath the surface of the simple murder investigation. In fact, the most obvious suspect is clouded by Caroline's own mysterious past, leaving the detectives in the middle of a whirlwind of an investigation.

Review:
The main plot and underlying plots of this book were well thought out and very interesting to me. I was drawn in from the beginning because of how realistic the interaction between Caroline and her husband was written. Their marriage had been on the rocks for a long while and the dialogue clearly showed how far apart they truly were. The characters are individual threads that become woven together to create a good mystery. The only problem I had with the story was an instance where the timeline of the story didn't mesh up to what had been written in the chapter. The detectives leave a diner to investigate and a short time later do the same thing. It broke the spell of the story for me but I was able to dive back into it. The conclusion was one that I didn't see coming and I do love how the author keeps the reader wondering. If you're looking for an interesting murder mystery, this book should be on that list.

Engineered Murder by Virginia R. Benson is available in both paperback and Kindle form. It can be purchased at Amazon.com at the link below.
Engineered Murder by Virginia R. Benson

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Currently Reading

This week has been filled with quite a few ups and downs but I've been able to make some progress. I finished a book and picked up a couple more from a friend of mine. Really love that some of my friends and family feed my addiction this way. My week appears to be quiet - at least, from my actual plans. I am hopeful that I will be able to get through some more of these lovely worded treasure troves.

So far, I'm reading;
Divided Nation by Robert Moore (just began)
A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin
The Wonderful of Oz by L. Frank Baum
The Badlands by Edward Trimnell
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Book(s) Finished:
Evolution by Jim Reilly
Dead Heart by Brandon Ford

What are you reading this week?

Happy Reading,
Kay

Monday, June 3, 2013

Born with a Beard by Ted Ringer

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Born with a beard is a novel about a baby boy who was literally born with a beard. His family brings him home and his adventures among them begin. His father is the breadwinner and intellectual in the family. There is a routine to be followed each day of the week set in place by the father. The boy's mother is a stay-at-home mom who likes to spend time dreaming or preparing surprise meals for the family to try at dinnertime. Last but not least, the big sister attempts to show the baby how things are done all the while dreaming of all things French. Each adventure is another benchmark in the baby's life where things are more interesting than the fact he was born with a beard.

Review:
This book was chock full of humor. From the first paragraph to the very last, the author put a comical and positive spin on what could have otherwise been difficult situations. Each chapter deals with the baby's dealings with the family members as well as his thoughts and feelings about his environment. I love that each character had their distinct voice and brought a different aspect to the family. The author was able to blend them well whenever they are in the same chapter together. I especially loved the chapter where the baby was helping the mother pick items to create dinner. All in all, this book was a quick, light-hearted read that put a smile on my face. If you enjoy humorous books, this one is for you!

Born with a Beard by Ted Ringer is available in both paperback and Kindle form. It can be found at Amazon.com at the link below.
Born with a Beard by Ted Ringer

Sunday, June 2, 2013

June's hopes and dreams

I've decided to include a bit about my life, hopes and dreams here each first Sunday of the month. It's a way that you, the reader, can get to know me a little more as well as let me know how I'm doing or what you'd like to see included or taken out of the blog. So, let's kick off June, shall we?

Though reading is a great passion of mine, writing is the other side of my passion coin. I can remember writing odd short stories from the time I learned to read and write. It is only natural that I would try my hand at creating a written work when I love reading them so much. When I was in high school and asked what my long-term goal would be, the answer came without hesitation. I wanted to have written a novel by the age of 30. Unfortunately, I didn't achieve that goal until I was nearly 31 but I did get a novel completed. I have also written a lot of short stories and poetry over the years. In the past few months, another novel has been written but it still needs polishing and editing before I can do anything more with it. My goal is to have at least half of the novel revised by the end of June.

I also have quite a lot of books on my to-read shelf. Some of them are those I've won in giveaways that will definitely have a review written. The others are all the books I have acquired over the years that need pruning. I mean that I am reading my way through all the books on my shelves and keeping those that I know I will reread again and again while donating or recycling those that I only enjoy once through.

Last but not least, I am currently working with others to crochet 75 hat and scarf sets for our local children's center. It's our goal to have them completed by the end of October so that delivery can be made in the beginning of November. Once that project is completed, I believe the next one is to gather granny squares in order to create lap blankets for the residents of our local nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

Busy month, I know! I hope the month of June brings lots of good reading and plenty of sunshine your way, dear readers. Whatever your plans, enjoy them!

Happy Reading,
Kay