Jessica
This is a mystery novel with a gritty feeling. You have ex-cons, an S&M club, and detailed descriptions of violence, abuse, and death. The characters are complex and stay true to character. There are no major plot holes and the grammar is fine.
This story starts out slow, but picks up speed after about a quarter of the way into it. The story is easy to understand. The plot is unique, I have never read anything similar to this.
I enjoyed this story, and the author had me guessing the outcome until the very end. Ozzy Stone is now one of my favorite book boyfriends. He is polite, tough, sure of himself, and wise. There were a couple of times that I had to reread a chapter to make sure I had read it right. I think some of the rereads were wishful thinking. This story toes the line between darkly descriptive and darkly disturbing style.
This is not for everyone. If you enjoy mystery novels and mind a story that delves into riskier topics, you will enjoy this. I look forward to more Stone and Blade thrillers in the future.
I won this in a giveaway.
This is a book with no words. The story is told through pictures. It start with a boy who fell asleep while reading. The book shows where his dreams take him while he is asleep.
My six year old was imersed in this. He looked through the book many times. The first time through he examined the pictures, which are beautiful and very imaginitive. He pointed thins out to me that he found interesting. His favorite was a scene where the boy is on a life sized chess board and it pieces are live me be of a royal court. The second time through he told me a story to go along with the book. Since buying it a week ago, I often see this book in his hands.
This is a lovely book meant for young adults, but I think it is enjoyable for adults too. There is much to this novel. The story involves subjects like racism, bullying, interracial marriage, and native Indian culture. There is mystery, murder, illness, and budding love.
Nikaia, who is the child of a Welshman and a native American mother, is the victim to bullying due to her interracial heritage. The name the other children call her stings every time she hears it, Half-breed. Another boy, Lee Sim, is also a child who is picked on do to ethnicity, Chinaman. There is an obvious budding affection between the two throughout the story.
This story is set in the later half of the eighteenth century during the gold rush. The author has obviously done he research on the time period in which the story is set.
The author's writing is top notch and at times this story reminds me of a couple of classic novels: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Little House on the Prairie books, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
The way I came across this book is through a blog post by a friend.
http://edwardlorn.booklikes.com/post/1239135/i-have-a-favor-to-ask-of-all-of-you
I never intended to finish this as quickly as I did, or to enjoy it as much as I did. I will admit, the blog post hit a spot with me. I watched both my mother and my grandmother lose their battle with cancer. My mother's fight lasted for a lengthy amount of time, ten years, my grandmother only a few short weeks. They both took their last breaths in a Hospice center. I lost both them within the last four years.
I not only give this book a high recommendation, but I gushed about it to my daughter's seventh grade teacher today.
This was awesome. It reminds me of a comic book without the graphics. It is funny, full of corny action scenes, comic book like humor, and sweet innocent love. This is not the type of book you take seriously, it is meant to be fun and fantastic. There is no great knowledge to be gained, but there is a lighthearted, fun story containing some of the most unique characters I have ever come across.
Magno Girl and Ron team up again in this story. Ron is just plain silly at times in this one tryin to pull off the “I am so manly routine,” it is hilarious to read about some of his thoughts. He likes what he likes and he likes Magno Girl, a lot. In this story Magno opens up more than she did in the first story and her character really unfolds. Both characters are very fun and the way they interact and compliment each is great.
The action scenes remind me of scenes from old batman shows. I laughed out loud during a scene where Magno encounters her kryptonite, tobacco smoke. A midget tries to defeat her by smoking a cigar. Her and Ron work together and put the tiny midget in his place before he can cause a lot of damage.
This author is amazing at getting your attention and keeping it. The story is action filled and stays at a steady pace though out the entire book. I will definitely be reading anything this author writes.
I recommend this to anyone looking for a book to read to have a fun time. If you like superheroes or comics, you will most likely enjoy this book. This is meant for an adult audience.
The company AMARS (American Materials and Robotic Systems) has just introduced it's latest in military robotic warfare, the H.Y.D.R.A. This robot has been built to be the perfect war robot. It is not affected by EMPs, the battery life has a time life of too many years, it's packed with short and long distance missiles, armour piercing rounds, a capture net, gas canisters, tracking beacons, and more. What would happen if this robot some how had a chess program installed in it and the program is controlling it's every move?
A game of chess is a battle between two opposing armies. As in a real battle, each side must have a plan and that plan must include the ultimate goal of checkmate. Along the path to that goal there will be many short term plans to reach intermediate goals.
This Michelle Knight tells a brilliant story set in the near future. She has created well developed characters, there are quite a lot of them but it is not overwhelming. Lingo used by military personnel is correctly termed, this is hard to find. The robot actions are spot on for the situation and written perfectly. This is a complex story written in a way that makes this easy to follow and understand. The story is packed full of action maintains a steady throughout the entire book. There are humorous parts that made me laugh, shocking parts that made my jaw drop, and some parts even had an emotional impact. I had no idea what so ever how this was going to play out in the end until I got to that point in the book and read it.
This is the author's first book in the genre of science fiction. I hope she continues to write more as I would, love to read more. Just thinking about how much research obviously had to be done during the writing of this novel makes me tired. No part of this book could have been written without being extremely thought out. The author really nailed it with this novel, it is an amazing story that keeps you turning the page well past your bedtime.
I would easily recommend this to everyone. If you like about science fiction, the military, robotics, war.
“In order to improve your game, you must study the endgame before everything else, for whereas the endings can be studied and mastered by themselves, the middle game and the opening must be studied in relation to the endgame”
(Jose Raul Capablanca)
This was good. Girl with boyfriend troubles meets bad boy rocker, and that's what you get. There are things about this book that I loved, and things about this book that I didn't.
What I loved:
-I really liked the main female character, Eve. She seemed well ronded, and and didn't come across as too needy.
-The story flowed nicely. Things didn't feel rushed, but they also didn't feel too wordy or drawn out either.
-The author has serious story telling talent.
-This is not as outlandish as 50 Shades.
What I disliked:
-Val, the male main character, was not a good Dominant. He gave Eve no reason to trust, but demanded she gave him trust anyways. In a true D/s relationship, trust is earned not demanded, a common misconception.
-Problems were wrapped up too quckly. I have dealt with one of the issues myself. The way the resolve was met, was way too easy. I would have liked to see the struggles explored more in depth. (I don't want to say what the conflict is, it will spoil parts of the book for future reads.)
The sex:
-Some of the sex scenes were HOT! Others left me cringing. I will add, there is not as much “kink” as I thought there would be.
Thoughts:
I will try more by this author in the future. I hope some of relationship portrayals in the future will be more along the line of realistic BDSM rather than fantasy BDSM. Like I said, the author is talented. This book is not for everyone. If you do not like aggressive sex that borders on abuse (this one toes that line very closely) this is not for you.
Synopsis:
Rory's once promising ballet career was destroyed by family tragedy and illness. She turned her life around and became a lawyer. Now at the start of her legal career, she lacks passion in her work and self-confidence in her abilities. But when she meets gorgeous, mysterious Russian ballroom dancer, Sasha, at a firm holiday party, her passions for life and dance are immediately re-kindled.
Since being torn from his Siberian family as a child, Sasha's life ambition has been to be world ballroom champion, a path he was destined for until his former partner pulled the plug on their partnership. She went on to win the world title, leaving him, without a partner equal in ability, forever in second place. The instant he lays eyes on Rory, he recognizes the depth of her passion and talent, and falls hard for her in more ways than one.
But she also reminds him of great pain from his past. He must not only overcome his own demons but convince her to leave her demanding law career, and all that she has worked for in her adult life, to train with him full-time in order for their partnership – both on and off the dance floor – to work.
My thoughts:
This book opens Rory watching a two professional Latin ballroom dance partners perform while at a party being thrown by law firm her boyfriend, James, works for. The description the author gives of the dance is perfection. It's sexy, vivid, worded beautifully, and I could see the performance play in my head. I have never read anything described so beautifully. The book continues to both impress me, and hold my interest, until about 35% percent the into the book. Then it is just dance class, after dance class,after dance class. It reads like an instruction manual for dancing. I don't need to know the details to every class Rory attends. I don't need to know where her arms and feet are placed every second of every practice dance. This became repetitive, and (I am sorry) obnoxious. I could rip out out groups of pages from this book and a new reader would lose nothing of importance to the story. I almost didn't review this because it sickens me to give a book that gave me one of the most beautiful things I have ever read, 2 stars. I wish I could rip this in half and give it two separate ratings. 5 amazing stars for the beginning, 1 star for the rest. This needs to be majorly trimmed down. Oh, the author thanks her editor in the dedication. Huh?!? This was edited? It was definitely proofread, but edited? No! Maybe it needs an deleter. Is there such a profession? If there isn't, there needs to be. There is just too many filler scenes in this book. That being said, this is a book with no story. In my opinion, only about 150 pages of what I read had any substance to them at all, and that's being generous. This is 416 pages long! The story went nowhere, AND IT'S A CLIFFHANGER! What we are hanging on for, I have no idea. This is all I know: Girl loved ballet when younger. Girl's family stops her from dancing. Girl becomes lawyer. Girl falls in instant love with man she saw dance. Girl is not a good lawyer. Girl goes to dance class, dance class, etc.. Girl's boyfriend is a cheating douchebag. Dance class, dance class. Girl moves out. Dance class, dance class. Blah blah blah blah blllaaahhh blah blah.
On to the character development. Rory's character, in the beginning, was very well thought out. I liked her. Then, when she should be blossoming, the author focuses on dance moves and lets the character development to go to crap. I do know she can't get her hips, or posture perfect during dancing. The author informed me of this over, and over, and over.
This is supposed to be romance. Romance? Where? There is a bizarre, obsessive, school girl like crush, but no romance. Not even a steamy feel-up. When I think of Latin ballroom dancing, I expect sexy and erotic. I have read children's books with more romantic development than this book has.
I recommend the beginning of this book, but not the the rest.
I won this book in a giveaway.
This is short so, I went into this not expecting much of a story. Everything g that happens is: pouson, rescue, sex, poison again, big kick, sex. Bleck! Boring characters, which all I know about them is that one is an elf, one can do a karate kick, and they like to fuck. Plus half a star cause at least the sex was hot, even though if I had to judge the character's intellegence I would compare it to that of a rabbit. I said rabbit because they like to screw a lot too. Waste of time.
If, after I am not hurting, I change my mind about this later I will change this review. I doubt I will though.
Like I said about the first book, this is great for Harry Potter and Percy Jackson fans.
I love this series so far. The author tells a wonderful story. The charters are wonderful and we'll thought out, and I genuinely cared for each and everyone of them. This is a lovely book, and a great example of perfect world building.
I have book three and will review not only each book, but the series as a whole when I am finished.
I won this book on goodreads.
This series is available for Kindle unlimited users.
This is an amazing series geared toward middle grade readers and anyone who loves a tame fantasy story that doesn't feel too heavy.
There are many qualities in the books of the series. There is magic, fantasy lands, a big unusual manor to explorem, and much more. The characters a beautifully written, they display great amounts of courage, intelligence, and compasion. Each book can be read without too much confusion without having read the previous installments, but I recommend reading them in order because there are so many things that each book offers.
This author is very talented. He can really weave a story. The world he created is unique and beautifully set up. There are no plot holes, or confusing moments for the reader. I found little to no grammatical errors. The story flowed smoothly and kept my interest through it's entirety. I hope this author has more to come in the future. He has definitely snagged my interest and I now declare my fangirl status as extreme.
My favorite character in this series was the gigantic white tiger named Rune. He is an amazing beast and loyal friend to Peter, the main character. As a child I know I would have wanted a Rune of my own.
Thank you to the author for allowing me the chance to win this in a Goodreads giveaway. I am so happy that I was one of the ones chosen to recieve both the second and third book in this series.
This was good, but not great. I love Kenyon's books. She is one of my favorite authors. This is Hellchaser, #7; Dark Hunter #24. I have read all of the previous books. I admit, some were better than others. This one just felt like it was missing something. The characters weren't as complex as they have been in the past. At times,I was confused. I love this series, and will continue it. This is my least favorite so far. If you haven't read the previous books in this series, I think you will be very lost.
I wish i could give half stars here on goodreads like i can on other sites. I was on the fence between 3 and 4 stars. Everywhere that offers that half star, I gave this 3 1/2. This is a good book. It is well written, but it has been written so many times, and I have read it so many times. I will read more by this author.
The good:
-this author is very good at describing a scene. I feel like I just watched an episode of Dawson's Creek or Awkward.
-Toby is funny. I laughed out loud a couple of times while reading this.
-This wasn't the love at first sight type of story.
-The way the character's are written are spot on for their age. Thy don't
The downside (these are my dislikes so I won't call this “The bad”):
-The sex/lovey scenes felt too detailed and drawn out. I love a good sex scene, bt I don't need to know exactly where Toby's knee was placed. It felt more described then necessary.
-this book, like the sex scenes, seemed too drawn out for me, it is set over, a 2 year period.
-I knew exactly what was going to happen, before it happened. Like I said, this story has been told so many times.
I won this on goodreads.
3 1/2 stars
This was so worth reading. The epilogue is amazing. I don't know what else to say about this.
This has so many characters for it's length, and at times I was confused. This is about a girl who committed suicide after she murders her lover while he is in bed with another mistress. The author's writing is very unique. Parts of this are very disturbing, but the good out ways the bad. This is a very emotional read.
I have lost too many people to suicide. Two uncles, a good friend, and my first boyfriend (we weren't together at the time). Just this past fall, a teenage boy that I used to babysit when he was a child hung himself from the monkey bars at a park two streets up from me. His works for the city and was the one to find him when he was doing leaf clean up. Two weeks ago, a neighbor of mine lost her father. He shot himself while sitting on his wife's grave exactly a year after he buried her. I hope the way this book ends, is what happened to my loved ones after their death.
This is the most disturbing thing I have ever read. There was a scene in the beginning of the book where a young girl get both her eyeballs sucked out during sex time with an older woman. That is just a glimpse into this book. Have barf bag handy. Did I like it? Yes. Do I wish I could erase parts of it from my brain? Please. Can you do that for me?
Miss Timberlane probably doesn't wear socks. Maybe she doesn't even have feet. I can't tell because she is always behind that enormous brown desk in our school office.
This is a really great book for children 4+. It is hard to keep a child's attention for long. This has the perfect balance of pictures to words. If a page has too few words, the child doesn't get enough time to investigate the illustrations without interrupting the flow of the story. If a page has too many words, a child's eyes will wonder and they won't focus on what is being read to them. The illustrations are bright and full of things to look at. The story gives the reader many opportunities to use their imagination in how they portray each character and scene. I highly recommend this book. It would make a wonderful addition to any child's, teachers, school, or public library.
Received book for honest review
This is a perfect book for young girls who are just venturing into the world of chapter books. There are black and white illustrations. The map in the beginning of the book is sure to catch the interest of children. Perfect for little girls who love princesses, mermaids, and reading. Many “first” chapter books use words that exceed the vocabulary limits of the intended age group, ths one doesn't. My second grader did well with this.
I went into this book with much apprehension over a letter the author included to his readers in the beginning of the book (the author will be removing this letter from future copies of this book).I had all intentions of deducting stars over the content of this note.(see post on this subject here). I had every intention of ripping this book to pieces in my review, and was looking forward to it. Well, there is nothing to rip apart. I found a minor issue near the beginning. I flipped the book over, stared the picture of the author in the eyes, and actually addressed him outloud, “Your ass is mine!” I then, as much as it embarrasses me to admit, cackled at the thing and gave it a murderous glare. (I admit, I am a lot little dramatic and enjoy the hell out of ripping someone a new asshole.)
Synopsis (Amazon):
It's all the news channels can talk about: the White House has been bombed, there's chaos in the streets, and the United States has found itself in the throes of a violent revolution.
Surrounded by panicked people, washed-up journalist Len Savitz takes the crisis in stride. It's nothing that a stiff drink won't cure. After all, bad news only hurts optimists.
But when the mysterious leader of the rebels cherry-picks him to acquire certain information for her, Len is forced to go on an investigative mission where he uncovers millennia-old secrets and unwittingly triggers a chain of disturbing events that will determine the future of humankind.
Author Kevin Gaughen's dynamic debut novel, Interest, creates a seamless alternate reality behind real-world political tensions while keeping pace with its page-turning plot. Interest is as riveting as it is thought-provoking.
Who really runs the world we live in? The further Len digs, the darker the answers appear to be...
Author Kevin Gaughen's dynamic debut novel, Interest, creates a seamless alternate reality behind real-world political tensions while keeping pace with its page-turning plot. Interest is as riveting as it is thought-provoking.
Who really runs the world we live in? The further Len digs, the darker the answers appear to be...
Excerpt:
“Is this Mr. Leonard Savitz?” The voice was female.
“Speaking. Who's this?”
“I just killed the president of the United States. I would like to meet with you.”
“Hilarious. Who's this?”
“Today your daughter Octavia is wearing the yellow Steelers shirt that you bought her last fall. Your ex-wife, Sara, who drives a green SUV, just picked her up from kindergarten.” The woman's tone was eerily flat.
The blood drained from Len's face.
Tomorrow we will find you.”
My thoughts:
Kevin Gaughen has written an amazing story that will have you asking yourself, what if? After finishing this book, I was left with so much to process. It is a big universe out there, what is the chance we are really alone in this universe? What if humans weren't the ones in control, and hadn't ever really been?
This is well thought out and executed nicely. I really enjoyed this book. My brain will not stop thinking about this. I can't even bring myself to give deductions for the letter. I hope this author has more to come in the future. Plus, the cover of the book is great.
I won this book in a contest.
About the author:
Kevin Gaughen holds a degree in writing from Carnegie Mellon University but has spent most of his working life in the real estate business. However, with his debut novel, Interest, he's finally pursuing his true calling as an author. In his spare time, Gaughen enjoys night photography, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and engaging in pointless arguments on the Internet. He currently lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and their three kids.
Be warned, this is intended for a mature audience.
This is a collection of short graphic novels. These are dark and twisted stories. An artist who paints with human blood, murder, aliens and drugs, and more. There is bloody scenes, wicked graphics, and great dialog in these. I enjoyed over 85% of the stories in this.
I definitely found a couple of authors, illustrators, and characters to follow.
This was fun. Lots of graphics, one-two page reports on superheroes who didn't make it big. It is a nice looking book. It looks great in the bookcase. I like that the hardcover doesn't have a dust jacket. The graphics are printed directly on the cover of the book. This is very handy considering how much my 6 year old tornado son enjoys this book. Everyone who sees it picks it up. I have never seen teenagers fight over a book before, but they did this one. Then my husband and his brother also fought over it. It was quite funny, they are 35 and 40 and had drank a lot of ‘soda'.
This is comprised of three parts. The Golden Age 1938-1949, The Silver Age 1950-1969, and The Modern Age 1970-Present.
