Try the Morgue by Eva Maria Staal

This is definitely a novel worth reading. Especially if you like anything to do with guns. But it is about so much more than guns and gun running or trading. It is about a woman who goes from having no street smarts to a woman who can notice the slightest change in a person's attitude. It is about a woman who cares about her boss so much so that she risks her job, her bosses business, and their life in some deals.

I feel that this "memoir" of a sort is a very good start for Staal, and that she should continue on with this style of writing and maybe tell more of her stories other than the main points that led to the demise of the business and boss that she worked for.

The only thing that I would suggest with this novel is that it is a bit choppy and doesn't have good flow to it. I would have liked to have not jumped around so much with this story especially when it would bounce around between the flashbaacks and when she was talking about her daughter. Maybe this is something that could have been its own book or just left out entirely, especially since we don't even know why she is moving really.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the above book for free from Goodreads First Reads, in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I enjoy and believe that my readers will enjoy. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Little Trouble in Tall Tree by Michael Fertik

This was not the novel I thought it would be. Based on the cover alone, it simply looked like an interesting children's book. This is definitely not the case. However, it was still a fun read. I also enjoyed the fact that it was based off this whole fantasy world that Fertik built around his son, and all the things he thought his son could possibly be doing and imagining himself. I think the only thing that I would have liked more would have been more illustrations. They were simple yet very telling of the story and the events that were discussed .

There isn't really much to say about this story other than if you want a quick laugh then it's something that you should be reading. It is a very odd genre, but one that I would like to see develop more.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the above book for free from Goodreads First Reads, in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I enjoy and believe that my readers will enjoy. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Blood Maiden by Crystal Carroll

Throughout this novel we are given a variety of characters from a multitude of mythologies. Not only are we given all of this information in one novel, but it is done in a way that isn't forceful or confusing, which is very surprising. Most authors would have probably muddled the mythology or thrown it all at us at once which would have made the novel turn out pretty bad. However, Carroll deosn't just stick with the realities of those myths, and instead also gives them a little more depth through making the characters supernatural powers real. 

In this story of figuring out who she is, Blood Maiden learns that she is who she is, but that she can still be what she wants, like being with Danny Unfortunately, the only way Blood Maiden figures any of this out is through several perilous adventures involving herself and the other Gods.

After reading this novel, I couldn't really find anything that I didn't enjoy about it. The only thing that I would have enjoyed more would have been more book to read!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the above book for free from Goodreads First Reads, in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I enjoy and believe that my readers will enjoy. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

A Thief of Nightshade by J.S. Chancellor

In this novel a woman loses her husband in what she thinks is a hunting accident gone wrong. Come to find out he merely was stolen away from her and taken back to his world where he must become the king only to rule until he withers away giving his youth to the Fae queen. Or does he? Distraught with grief, Aubrey finds herself in Avalar, the place her husband writes about in his novels. Novels she thought were all fantasy. Determined, and in a strange world with strange beings, she sets out to save her husband with the help of an Elloheim (a man turned into a bear) and other assorted creatures and beings known as Shades and Fae. Will she save her husband or will he always be lost to her with no memories of her?

The way this novel was written was very well done and very thought out. The entire time Chancellor has you hanging on edge as Aubrey and her companions' survival is constantly hanging by a thread. The suspense of whether or not they will make it through each encounter will leave you reading on, never wanting to put the story down. All of this is all well and good if you've never read the chronicles of Narnia. A lot of the overall feel of the book is very, very Narnia-esque as far as having to defeat a "witch" with the help of other creatures. All of which happens after being taken to a magical world that is very different from our own reality. 

But if you have never read Narnia, then you will really enjoy this book. Shoot even if you have read Narnia, you'd really enjoy this book especially if you are good at the suspension of disbelief!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the above book for free from Goodreads First Reads, in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I enjoy and believe that my readers will enjoy. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Hope Flies on Broken Wings by L.F. Falconer

Hope Flies on Broken Wings is a very interesting story that takes place in an unknown time setting and an unknown realm. It's one of those places where you are unsure if magic can happen or not. The only hint of anything magical is the mention of mermen and the good luck charm that comes from finding one of their scales. However, this story has a wonderfully captivating set of characters that just suck you into the story. Especially with such themes as love, hope and destiny. Despite the fact that I normally don't enjoy the "trashy romance" genre of book, surprisingly I did enjoy this, not gonna lie, it actually brought tears to my eyes especially in the last two chapters. 
Unfortunately, with all the good comes some bad, and for my it was the point of view. Initially the author starts the story in the first person, I I I...however, towards the end of the story, when a lot of the action is occurring, the author kept bouncing back and fourth between this first person and having a narrator. It was already hard enough for me to get used to the first person since many stories don't do this, but then I found it even harder to follow the plot after the author kept bouncing around between perspective. Despite all of this this story was still very captivating. The author really caught the style of love that happened during less civilized times around a fishing village. The one thing that I didn't understand was the introduction to Christianity. It was never given a name, but other than the fact that it preached abstinence until marriage, I don't understand the purpose of the other roles it played. Maybe it is just my lack of knowledge of the uprooting of paganism by Christianity, but the parts where the main female character is being told she will burn in eternal damnation, which is throughout the entire book on almost every page,just make no sense to me. other than the straight-forward obvious point of "oh, you have urges that everything alive has? Too bad, if you follow what is instinct you'll go to Hell". 

All in all this novel was well written, other than the point of view bit, and had good themes, especially if you are christian and believe in the whole abstinence before marriage thing that is preached throughout this story.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the above book for free from Goodreads First Reads, in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I enjoy and believe that my readers will enjoy. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett

In this coming of age tale, we are met with three different story lines that are in and of themselves unique and could stand on their own as individual stories. Much of the going ons in these stories is the main characters learning who they are by taking up various tasks and having traumatic experiences happen to them through the loss of parental figures or just the hard truth of trying to remain pure and uphold their morals, even the lessons of what a coward looks like. All of these things are going on amongst one of the most harrowing things in their lifetime, the Demons. These denizens of the night have reduced all of the people of "Thesa" to cowering behind ancient symbols, many of which no longer are remembered by everyday people. Many of the people (the Krasians being the exception) hide out of fear of being Demon fodder every night afraid to fight. However, after learning waht cowardice looks like, one boy takes to questing about the land and stumbles upon a ruin where some of these ancient wards that could hurt the demons remain. He then becomes known as the Warded Man, a man who eats the flesh of Demons, and has covered himself in wards and fights the Demons at night.
Now that my book report is over...The writing style used is very rhythmic. There is a very fine and delicate balance between the upbeat rhythm of the action of this novel, as well as the lulling almost lullaby quality of the intimate and personal moments of the story. The only complaint I have about this is the nature of how the three main characters come together. It is very abrupt and instead of telling us why Arlen was where he was (near Leesha and Rojer), Brett just kind of throws them together which isn't how Rojer and Leesha met up, that introduction was a lot smoother. However, despite that one hiccup, this novel was an overall success. The only question I have of Peter Brett is why did you change the name? "The Painted Man" just seems more fitting with the setting of the story. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the above book for free from Goodreads First Reads, in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I enjoy and believe that my readers will enjoy. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Trinity by Kristin Dearborn

Trinity

     So this story starts off pretty, well, slow. It then suddenly escalates into action very abruptly and without much warning. However, the plot twist at the end where the main character learns that he is in fact an alien that was born to help a race of aliens breed with another race to absorb the second race's mind powers, was interesting, however, it wasn't very mind blowing. Throughout the entire book it is hinting at this possibility.

Another thing that I didn't particularly like about this novel was the excerpts from another authors book. I felt that this could have been made into either the introduction, or just included at the end. The story really didn't benefit from these excerpts. It also seemed very amateur-ish and very simplistic despite the fact that it was written for an older audience which I assume based on the graphic nature of the language and descriptions.

     Some of the things I did like about it were the paths of discover throughout the book. Not only was the character discovering things about himself, but the reader also discovers things about the characters, and well it allows the reader, if they can get into the story, to question their view on reality. Maybe if a younger person read this novel (like a 7th or 8th grader), after it has been edited somewhat for graphic language, the point would be better accepted.

     Unfortunately, overall, I don't feel as if I would pick this story up and read it again. and thus, I only gave it two stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the above book for free from Goodreads First Reads, in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I enjoy and believe that my readers will enjoy. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”