Review: Order of the Dimensions by Irene Helenowski

I received a copy from the author, Irene Helenowski, in return for an honest review. This book was first published on September 14th, 2012. 

When Jane Kremowski first began her graduate studies in physics at Madison State University in Wisconsin, little did she know where her work would take her. Now, she is embroiled in a multitude of dimensions all leading to different outcomes. She and her colleagues therefore must act wisely in order to take and keep away the Order of Dimension from falling into the wrong hands for the sake of her loved ones. - Goodreads.com

This book is definitely outside of my knowledge base when it comes to the genre and content. I know very little about computers or programming. I usually have to make others do a lot of programming stuff for me when it comes to my own computer. 

I tried very hard to get into this book. I really did. I just didn't understand part of it and then all the stuff with the main character and the antagonist just had my head spinning. When I'd read the description of the book, I couldn't wait to start. It sounded so interesting. About halfway through I nearly put it down because I just had no more interest in reading. 

It was a creative plot, I'll give her that, but it wasn't done in a creative way. I think over all I gave this book 2/5 stars. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and read the other two books, but I am not keeping my hopes up.  I tried. It just was not something I would read again.

November 2015 Wrap Up

So, as everyone knows it was NaNoWriMo time this past November, so I didn't actually manage to do a lot of reading. I finished one book in total for the month, because like everyone else who participates, I was too busy with NaNoWriMo to read much.

Book #1: Grave Beginnings by R.R. Virdi

In this book, the main character has a very interesting job. He has to solve supernatural murders. He just doesn't do it in his own body. He lost that a long time ago. The job in this book is nothing he's ever encountered before and he doesn't have a lot of time to figure it out before he's going to be sent packing to the next body.

I know Mr. Virdi through Facebook and I bought the book on Amazon a while ago. It just took me a while to actually get around to it. I meant to read it earlier, when I bought it, but things happen and you miss it. When I started seeing other people commenting about it and about the characters, I just had to go find (and charge haha) my Kindle and read it for myself.

I absolutely LOVED it when I finally managed to start reading it. I was hooked from the first sentence on chapter 1. Anybody would. The way he described it was brilliant. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series. 

October 2015 Wrap Up

This month started out much better than last month. I finished a book by 10/02! Then I'd managed to read three more before the middle of the month. I might actually read a good number of books this month. I did actually manage to finish a book on 10/31.

For the month of October, I read 7 books.

Book #1: Over the Ivy Wall by Rosa Sophia

I got this in return for a review.

Clara Pendleton is a prisoner in her home. Always searching for new places to hide from her uncle, whose drunken attention terrifies and confuses her, she finds a tiny clearing in the back of the property near a disintegrating section of the ivy-covered wall that surrounds the estate. Gaven Bridge has been sent to Clearwater to live with his Uncle Daniel. Never fitting in, he doesn’t believe he’ll ever meet anyone who understands him. But when he goes out for a walk in the woods, he happens upon a young lady sleeping soundly on a patch of moss. A deep bond is fostered between them, helping Clara find the courage to change her life. When she finally decides to climb over the ivy wall and out into the world, there is no going back. Will Clara escape her horrible past, or will it destroy the love she and Gaven share?

Book #2: A Tale of Three Cities by Alexander McCabe

I also received this book in return for a review.

There's nothing up for it yet on Goodreads, so I don't actually have a description for you, but I can put what I remember. Melissa Chisholm gets herself involved in something that is much bigger than she realized. Setting out to help someone turns into an international scheme she wants no part of. Michael Bradley is looking for his wife, believing she has been kidnapped from their home in New York. Has she? This novel is definitely fast paced and has a lot of twists and turns one would not see coming.


Book #3: Bridge Over Bethlehem by Rosa Sophia

Sorry there is no image, this was a manuscript I was given to read for content and flow. It was very good, but there's not much to say about it at the time. I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to see what happens with it during editing and then if it's published, what it looks like published. I might even add the cover image here!

Book #4: The Pagan Book of Halloween by Gerina Dunwich

I got this book months ago from a friend of mine. I had completely forgot I even owned it until I was looking for something else that shares a cabinet with some of my other related books, and it flopped out on to the floor!

For Pagans and witches, Halloween, or Samhain, is the most important and sacred holiday--a day to honor the dead and to celebrate the birth of a new year. The number of Wicca practitioners is rapidly growing--especially among young women--and popular media has embraced Paganism on television, in movies, and on the internet. This book guides Wiccans, Pagans, and curious non-Wiccans alike in incorporating some of the original meanings and rituals into their Halloween festivities. It explains the rich Pagan/Irish roots of the holiday and includes ancient legends, divinations for telling the future, spells for finding a mate, and potions for gaining knowledge--not to mention detailed instructions for performing the traditional Halloween ritual and delicious Halloween recipes! Written by a woman who has devoted her life to educating the public about the Old Religion, this handbook reveals the uplifting spiritual energy that people can experience by celebrating a traditional Pagan Halloween.

Book #5: A Siren for the Dead by Rosa Sophia

I received a copy of this book in return for a review, then I lost that copy and bought myself another ebook version to read. I think this book is pretty good and I do have a full review up on it if you'd like to know more.

Aldon never got anywhere on his good looks, at least not according to his late wife. At forty-two, his only companion is a cat named Tilly, and he’s turned to drinking in his off-hours to quiet the discontent in his head. As a city cop, he carries a heavy weight on his shoulders. Though he’s troubled by his own problems, he never lets them get in the way of helping people. Now he’s needed more than ever. When the daughter of a nobleman goes missing, Aldon is sent to an alien planet to retrieve her. But there’s one catch. The woman he seeks is unique. She is a siren, and she can raise the dead.

Book #6: My Dear Watson by Margaret Park Bridges

When I saw the cover of this book, and read the synopsis...how could I not read it? It's brilliantly written and I just cannot believe all of the twists that I did not see coming. I gave this one a 5/5 stars because holy crap.

This and a few others (another My Dear Watson, The Danish Girl, and the Miss Peregrine's series) were ordered online because why the hell not?

The greatest mystery surrounding Sherlock Holmes comes to light - he was actually a woman! The master - or rather, mistress - of disguise finally puts pen to paper to reveal this decades-long deception and, in so doing, discovers another fact she kept secret even from herself.

Book #7: Order of the Dimensions by Irene Helenowski

I received this book in return for an honest review. In all reality I have a hard time giving it more than a 2-2.5 star rating. You'll see more when you read the review I posted about it. There were a lot of mistakes and continuity errors that made me wonder if the author had any editors or proofreaders at all.

When Jane Kremowski first began her graduate studies in physics at Madison State University in Wisconsin, little did she know where her work would take her. Now, she is embroiled in a multitude of dimensions all leading to different outcomes. She and her colleagues therefore must act wisely in order to take and keep away the Order of Dimension from falling into the wrong hands for the sake of her loved ones.

Review: A Siren for the Dead by Rosa Sophia

I received this book in return for a review, then kept losing my place in the PDF, and ended up just buying a copy for myself. Dedication right here. It was originally published April 8th, 2015 by Pagan Writers Press.

I started this book a few different times, making it a little farther each time then losing my place. That can be the price you pay when you read a PDF version of a book. I wound up actually just buying a copy for myself on my Kindle to make my life easier. When I did, it took me all of four days to actually finish it.

Aldon Trekker is one of the best in his field, if not the best. He does his job and does it well. He lives on a planet called Loamarl in 1972. He is sent on a mission to Earth to bring back a missing politician's daughter. What he doesn't know until they are leaving is that she is a siren. Along the way he learns about a cover up bigger than anything he could have possibly imagined.

Sirens are special women, who can raise the dead through their song. They are generally looked down upon by their families (and society I believe) because the dead they raise will eventually come looking for the siren who raised them. Mayanna is a siren and she is lost on Earth.

I liked the way this book tackled zombies. They did not have a will of their own, not that zombies really have one to begin with, but they are autonomous. These zombies have to do the will of the siren that has raised them from their grave. It doesn't even have to be humans either. It can be any dead creature. It was very entertaining reading about people just losing body parts on their way from one place to another.

It was strange when they jumped from one case to another. You would think that if Aldon were on a case about one thing, he would pass off management of an (at the time) unrelated case to someone one else so he could focus all of his power on the case he was assigned. Most police don't try to take on two cases where they would need to be in two different places at the same time. It's just...unusual.

The other thing I had an issue with, was why did they have the technology for cell phones....but they didn't have electric cars, air planes or any other mode of travel that would have fit in with the kind of society they lived it? Why was it that they relied on horses? That made very little sense. Especially Aldon's reaction to a car when he saw it. Obviously they knew cars could be made, so he didn't need to react so violently to one.

Overall I gave this book a 4/5 because I love the way she wrote it and the fact that there were multiple worlds and it didn't seem to be overly developed in one. It was well done.

Review: A Tale of Three Cities by Alexander McCabe

I was given this ARC from the author in return for an honest review. It is set to come out on November 2, 2015 and can be pre-ordered on Amazon.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this story, a re-telling of Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities was certainly in the forefront in my mind. I don't think I've ever been happier to be wrong. It was much better than I would have expected. I think this book is a companion book to Greater Expectations by the same author because it features some of the same characters.

Melissa Chisholm sees an ad in a magazine and decides to make a trek to New York to see if she can get two people back together. She is doing it also for the reward money. Which is something that I can understand. She wanted to do what she thought was right for Michael. If only she understood what she was getting herself into.

Kristy Bradley has gone missing, along with $34 million. Her husband only knows that he received a ransom, and then never heard of them ever again. He believes that the local mafia had a hand in it and has their leader put into jail. Michael has no idea if he will ever see Kristy again. Meanwhile in Scotland, Penelope Munro is leading the life of luxury. She moved recently from the states and plans to never go back.

I wasn't overly fond of the random shifting of viewpoints. It threw me off not knowing if the next chapter was going to be from Melissa's point of view, Michael's, or whomever else were even part of the story. Jumping from character to character wouldn't have been nearly so bad if he would have put the character after the location at the top of the chapter. I would have also liked it better if they had picked a version and stuck with it instead of jumping back and forth between first and third person.

The premise of this novel is fantastic! It kept me guessing. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen in the next chapter or page, there was a twist that just made it such a joy to read this. I never would have guessed most of it. Though it does take a fair while to reveal the name of one of the characters, it is entirely worth the wait (and had me singing old songs I thought I'd long since forgotten). It was very good.

Over all, I gave this book a 5/5 stars because it was well written despite the jumps in P.O.V. The way Alexander tells the story just kept me hooked in. I read it in 2 days. I have never read anything that fast. I would definitely suggest everybody pick this up! 

Review & Beta Reading Policy

Considering I review a lot for sites like Blogspot, Goodreads and NetGalley and beta read/review for authors such as Rosa Sophia, Sara Daniell and others, I feel it is time to share my polices for both reviewing and beta reading.

~ * Reviewing Policy * ~

I am currently accepting print and e-copies, in the form of mobis, of regular books and ARCs. I will accept them from publishers and indie authors respectively. If I decide to read the book, I will post the review within 1-2 weeks of receiving it. Exceptions to this are if the book is large or there are extenuating circumstances that prevent it. In these cases I will contact the client directly and explain what is going on. 

I will be honest with my review. If I do not like a book, do not finish it, or decide not to read it, I will contact the client personally with my reasoning as to why. When I am finished with print books/ARCs, they will be donated to a local library. E-copies will be removed from my Kindle or deleted. 

I use a 1-5 star rating system which is as follows: 

1/5 - I did not like the book, will not read it again, and will not be recommending it to anyone.

2/5 - It wasn't terrible. I personally didn't like it and would only recommend it only to those whom I think would enjoy it.

3/5 - It was okay. I wouldn't read it again, but it wasn't bad. I'd recommend this to some friends who would like it.

4/5 - It was good. While I may not read it again, it was worth reading the first time. I would recommend it to people.

5/5 - It was GREAT! Not only would I read it over and over again, I would buy copies of it to give to friends and family so they can read it.

~ * Beta Reading Policy * ~

Many of the same things from my Reviewing policy apply to my Beta Reading policy. I will accept ARCs and manuscripts from publishers and indie authors in the form of print or PDF copies, whichever is more convenient for the client. My rate for beta reading is $1.50 per page with a $10 minimum.

~ * Queries * ~

You can contact me directly via my email me here to submit queries for review or beta reading. Thank you for your time and I hope you have a wonderful day.

Review: Over the Ivy Wall by Rosa Sophia

I was given an e-copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review. It was published on February 3, 2015 by Smashwords.

When I first heard about this book, it was from the author, who is a friend of mine. She asked about why a book with a five-star review wasn't getting any sales. I checked the review out for myself and realized that the person who posted the review...probably didn't actually read the book. What was being posted as a review, was nothing more than a synopsis of the book. There was not a single point, save for the very last sentence, where I could actually see any sort of opinion on the work in question. I hope to do the book justice with my review.

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book. It looks like the ones that I just give an automatic pass to. The sappy romance novels that make for great Hallmark or Lifetime movies. I was at least partially mistaken. While it would probably work as a Hallmark movie, I'd actually watch it.

Clara is afraid of her uncle, he does some pretty bad things. It took me a fair bit to figure out what bad things he does. The way it is described, I first thought it was molestation, then I thought he simply beat the girls when he was drunk, then I thought it was a little of both. I think I was right on the last bit. It was believable in that way as well. What he did to the girls, and his reasoning behind it. Of course that doesn't make it any better, but it lends credence to the character and why Clara is so afraid of him. The only reason Clara stays in the first place is for her cousin, who can't leave.

The first part that I had a little bit of trouble with, was when Gaven is first introduced. I have a lot of personal experience with people on mood stabilizers. Unless they are heavily medicated, nearly to the point where they can't function at all, they would not be void of all emotion. The point of a stabilizer is to balance out the emotions, not remove them all completely. You can still feel and most of the people I know on them have very little issue getting angry. It's hard, but you can do it.

The second thing that kind of felt off to me was when Clara just decided to leave with Gaven. After all the protesting that she can't....she just up and changes her mind and goes with him. I would think it would have actually taken two or three visits before Clara would work up the courage to go with. One of her biggest fears was that her uncle would discover she had been hiding, why would she not have extreme reservations about leaving the property all together and refuse? Especially when the person asking her appears to be devoid of any emotions at all.

Another thing I had some issue with, when she turned 18, why did he just give up like that? Most manipulators I watch on like Homicide Hunter and things would not have let her go. They would have found out ways to keep her there, probably using a family member or what they taught them about the world. It seemed unusual that he would threaten the sheriff, but then just let her go as if nothing had happened.

Over all I rated this book 4/5 stars because I enjoyed the writing. It was great to have at least a look at what it's like for someone who has never really had a chance to put themselves out there actually trying to join normal society. Clara's plight is an all too common one that I wish I never had to read about happening in real life. I also really enjoyed the way Rosa portrayed Gaven (sans the medication part). It was a good read, well worth reading a second time. 

September 2015 Wrap Up

For the month of September, I've read 1 book. Another month were we didn't do so well.

Book #1: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit who wanted to be left alone in quiet comfort. But the wizard Gandalf came along with a band of homeless dwarves. Soon Bilbo was drawn into their quest, facing evil orcs, savage wolves, giant spiders, and worse unknown dangers. Finally, it was Bilbo–alone and unaided–who had to confront the great dragon Smaug, the terror of an entire countryside...

I have owned this book for longer than I care to admit to, and have read it many many times. Probably ten to twelve times? My own copy is so well loved the cover is just about an ad for Scotch-tape and Index Cards. I love it. My friend and I decided to marathon all three of the movies because they were out on DVD and available at my local movie rental place. I have to say they did not do the book justice. I loved the original. It's one of my absolute favorite books in the world. I gave it a 5/5.

Goodreads Tag

I love doing these. Expect more in the future. I did update part of it because it was from last year's tag so the original question said 2014 reading challenge, instead of 2015. On with the tag!

1. What was the last book you marked as read?

The last book I marked as read was The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien because I'm re-reading the entire series.

2. What are you currently reading?

Currently? I'm reading Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, GREY by E.L. James, The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien, and Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. I can never read only one book at at a time.

3. What is the last book you marked as To-Be-Read?

That would have to be Fallen by Claire Delacroix. A friend gave me a copy of the second book in the series and I marked the first one as To-Be-Read so I could remember it.

4. What book are you planning on reading next?

Cujo by Stephen King. I have been meaning to read some King for a long while. My mom is a big fan of his and I figured if my sister (who is not really a big fan of reading) can read his books, I can, too!

5. Do you use the star rating system?

I do. I actually have those extra shelves that you can use, marked with 1-Star, 2-Star, 3-Star, 4-Star, and 5-Star so I can keep better track of which books I liked and which books I didn't.

6. Are you doing a 2015 reading challenge?

Not any more I'm not. I did do the 2015 Challenge and met my goal almost 10 books ago. I read a lot more than I thought I was going to during the challenge this year. I normally read really slowly.

7. Do you have a Wish List?

If you mean on Amazon, then yes. I do. I keep a list exclusively for books:

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/17R2MLEV12YP8/ref=topnav_lists_1

8. What book do you plan on buying next?

Whichever one strikes my fancy at the given moment. I'm not one to plan buying books. I just let it happen as it happens. I mean, two weeks from now I don't know of a book I saw will still be interesting to me, so why get all worked up about buying it when I don't know if I'd like it any more?

9. What's your favorite quote?

Hmm...I don't think I actually have one from a book. At least, not one that I can remember right now. Yeah even the "Favorite Quotes" section of my reading journal is empty. I got nothing.

10. Who are your favorite authors?

J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan, Vaun Murphrey and Jane Austen. I love their books very much. Cliche, I know, for some of them, but not a lot of books strike me as favorites. I just read them and enjoy them and move on to the next.

11. Are you part of any groups on Goodreads?

Not that I know of. I might have joined one and forgotten about it? I do that a fair bit.

12. What could Goodreads do better?

Oh I don't know. Everything seems to be running fairly well from my standpoint. I don't know if I'd want anything to change at the present.

How I Read Tag

Hello my lovelies! I think this might be one of the first (and probably still going to be rare) blog posts that have no book images in them whatsoever. Been watching a lot of tags recently and there was one that made me want to actually write my own blog version. I found it on Tiernan's BookTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEEjKu_ukYY3L-eKonCdj9w). I will answer each one of the questions as honestly as I can (to the best of my ability of remembering back that far)....

1. How do you find out about new books to read?

I usually find them by just browsing shelves in used bookstores, library sales, yard sales. I love looking through collections that are available at these sales. You never know what you're going to find. I sometimes find really good books by looking at the seasonal “must reads” table at my local Barnes & Noble. I also find a lot by watching book hauls on YouTube. If you know, 5-10 people all rave about a book, I'm going to want to check it out.

2. How did you get into reading?

I had no cable. Growing up in a small town with the inability to pay for cable television leads one to spend many many hours in their local library. I think there is a one time payment of $5 then its a quarter to replace your library card if you happen to lose it. Not that you really needed it to start with. You just have to know your number. My mother and paternal grandmother also read a lot. My dad didn't read much when I was younger, but now that e-readers are popular and common things, he reads a lot too. I think he might actually have more books than I do.

3. How has your taste in books changed as you've gotten older?

Hmm. This is a good question. I suppose my taste has stayed just about the same, with a few minor changes. I still absolutely love fantasy books and paranormal stuff. I've gotten more into contemporary and historical romance than I was before. I didn't like it before because I didn't understand it at all. My tastes certainly expanded in the genres I already liked, but I didn't add too much of new things.

4. How often do you buy books?

Not very often. I have a standard set up where I have to finish 5 books before I can buy 1 new (at least, new for me) book. So far for the year of 2015 I have only been allowed to buy 6. I bought about 30. I implemented my new plan in June I believe, so it isn't that bad. Usually I only buy books from a regular bookstore if I have the money and REALLY want it. Otherwise I will rarely pick up books at yardsales and such.

5. How did you get into book blogging?

(Confession, I changed this from BookTubing to book blogging, because I don't have a BookTube channel.) I...am extremely shy. To be more specific, I have issues with speaking aloud when either I'm completely alone or when I'm in a crowd. It's weird, I know. I much prefer to use written words to communicate if I actually have to.

6. How do you react when you don't like the end of a book?

I don't really react all that badly I don't think? I just shrug it off and move on to the next book I want to read. It doesn't bother me that much. Unless I'm almost at the end and just really not happy with the book, in which case I will put it down and just not pick it up again.

7. How often have you taken a sneaky look at the back page of a book to see if it's a happy ending?

No. I haven't. I'm not that curious. I'm generally a slow-average reader, so I figure I'll get there when I get there. I don't usually have the curiosity that leads people to check that last page. I'm not likely to remember anyway so why bother?

8. How many people are you going to tag, and who are they? 

Everybody who wants to do this tag either via a blog or on YouTube!

Top 15 Books I Want to Read Before 2015 Ends

I've seen people doing these a lot on BookTube, usually making the number of books they want to read match the last two numbers of the year (sucks when you're in like the '50s-'90s). So I decided that I will do only the top 15 for every year, but this time I'm just starting with the 15 I want to read now before this year is over. I won't feel bad if I don't manage to read them all. Sometimes other books just come up that are far more interesting to read that I just need to get done. These aren't written in priority like the first one is the one I most want to read. They are just written in the order I thought of the book. Now then, let's get on with my list!!

Book #1: Cujo by Stephen King – Why this book? I actually borrowed it from my mother last year and I still haven't finished it. It's gotten so long since I picked it up last that I will actually need to start it again because aside from bats...I don't actually remember what I've already read.

Book #2: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – My sister lent me this book saying that I needed to read it. I have had it for like four or five months now and haven't even started it yet. I feel so ashamed of myself. It isn't the kind of book I would normally read, as I am not a fan of contemporary, but I promised my sister I'd try.

Book #3: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens – Oh yes, a classic. I got a set of gorgeous leather bound gilded classics one year from my dad for Christmas, and despite many starts, I've never actually read the entire unabridged version of Charles Dickens. I'm actually pretty sure I've never read an abridged version either. This one I have is gorgeous though I will only be reading it at night. It weighs about seven pounds by itself and is gigantic with tiny font.

Book #4: Grave Beginnings by R.R. Virdi – I actually know him. Sort of. He's in a group I am on Facebook and I think his was the second ebook I actually bought for my Kindle. I'm part of a site that sends me free ebooks for Kindle (because I'm broke). I got a bit of money in and I bought this one because I'd heard so much about it and it sounds so good. Note this is also the only ebook on my list.

Book #5: Wicked by Gregory Maguire – I actually thought I lost this. I had lent it to a friend and her mom, and they did return it, but I thought I had left it in the bottom of a box of junk from my dad's house that I didn't want any more. I knew I had snagged the important stuff and I had just thought it was gone. I found it in another room of the house. I am going to re-read this before starting the other books because it's been so long that most of the details are fuzzy.

Book #6: Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire – Really? Did anybody not see this coming? I got them all for Christmas (though not all the same Christmas which was fun). I did start this, but then put it down for unknown reasons and never picked it up again. I want to actually read the entire series.

Book #7: A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire – I just haven't gotten to it, and I am counting them as their own individual books instead of as a series because hello, I am a terribly slow reader. I plan to get to this one as soon as I can.

Book #8: Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire – I want to finish the series. I love the Wizard of Oz and I loved Wicked and I think I enjoyed what I read of Son of a Witch. It's been so long that I don't remember even reading it, but hey, I can always re-read the books and then finish up these ones.

Book #9: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini – Because September 27 to October 3 is Banned Books week and this one was on the 2014 Top 10 Challenged Books list. I've never actually read a banned book during banned book week that I am aware of. I know I've read them before, I just have never timed it to coincide with the special week dedicated just to banned books.

Book #10: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – I have read this one before, but again like with Wicked, I don't remember what it was that I read. It's been so long since I read it (years) that all information I had is now gone from my mind. I know I really really enjoyed the book and I thought I'd give it one more read before my copy is too old to be read again.

Book #11: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien – I made it like 95% of the way through this book. I got to almost the end and just fizzled out. I couldn't do it. I don't even remember where I stopped. I just couldn't do it any more. I now know, thanks to a friend, that this is actually the slowest of the three books. I really want to finish it this go round.

Book #12: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien – I am a terrible fan of LOTR. I have owned this book since 2001, probably earlier...and never actually read it. This was one of the first purchases I ever made through that Scholastic magazine thing that they would send to schools with books in them. I grew up in a household where money was often very tight and to be allowed to spend $20 on a set of books was like Christmas in September.

Book #13: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman – I tried to read these before. A friend (the same one that told me about The Two Towers in fact) lent them to me and I didn't even make it to chapter 4 of this book. I loved the movie, adored it, and I want to see how close they got to the book(s).

Book #14: The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman – As long as I have all three of them in the series I may as well read them, right? It's not like an opportunity will present itself like this all the time. I heard lot of good things and a lot of bad things about this book series. I don't know which one I am going to believe, but as long as the story is well-written, I don't think what the writer's personal life is like is all that important.

Book #15: The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman – Because I have all three of them. That is the only reason why this book made it onto the list. I don't want to leave the series unfinished unless I really really don't like the first and/or second volume of the book. I know I liked what I read of volume one, I just got very busy and had to put it down.

Well that's my list. I'd love to know if you read any of these books or if you have suggestions for books I should read. If I don't get to all of these books by the end of December, they will just go into the 15 Books I Want to Read in 2016 pile. 

Unpopular Opinions Tag

I've been watching this tag on BookTube a lot and decided I would do a blog version of my own. I used a lot of genres in this because I read a wide variety. I don't mean to offend anybody. These are only MY opinions. If you like these books, or don't like them (see question #2) that's all up to you. Without further adieu, onto the questions:

1. A Popular Book or series that you didn't like. 

Twilight. Everybody I know was really into it when it first came out, so I'd found them all on sale in hardcover at Waldenbooks (haha yeah those existed still when I bought my copies), but I just didn't like them. I mostly didn't understand them really. I'm going to be giving them a re-read soon to see if age changes my opinion on them.

2. A Popular Book or series that every one else seems to hate but you love. 

I....could not think of one, but for this I will say the Harry Potter series. Mostly because of all the haters out there who probably didn't even bother to read the book (insert that hysterical satiric fanfic here). There has been a lot of outrage about this series but I love it. I loved it when they came out and I still love them today.

3. A Love Triangle where the main character ended up with the person you did NOT want them to end up with (warn ppl for spoilers) OR an OTP that you don't like.  

For this one, I'm going to have to say Clark and Tina from Josie Bordeaux's Breathless Promise. Tina is in my opinion pretty much using Clark as a boy-toy every time she has some kind of falling out with her boyfriend and doesn't actually like him. 

4. A popular book Genre that you hardly reach for. 

Non-fiction, because I literally do not ever go for these books unless they are Japanese or Greek history and culture. I like fiction way better because it actually says a lot about people. I can't really say why I don't go for them beyond the fact that they never held any particular draw for me.

5. A popular or beloved character that you do not like. 

I don't know if she's beloved or popular (because I like reading older books as well as newer ones), but the person that pops to the forefront of my mind for this question is Emma Bovary. She has these aspirations of grandeur and just about blames everybody else for not being the wife of a Count or Viscount and living in Paris. I really did not like how she tried to change her husband to fit her ideas of what a town person should be like.

6. A popular author that you can't seem to get into. 

Suzanne Collins. I have tried, several times in fact, to get into the Hunger Games series...but I just can't do it. I never made it past page eight. My sister actually got my copy of the first book because I just gave up. This isn't to say that the people who like this series are wrong, just that I have different tastes than they do. 

7. A popular book trope that you're tired of seeing. (examples "lost princess", corrupt ruler, love triangles, etc.) 

Overpowered MC. Seriously. Just because "s/he of the oddly spelled name" is the main character, doesn't mean they get to have more or better powers than the supporting characters. How about we give the other characters a chance to shine? Maybe they have better powers or are smarter than the MC?

8. A popular series that you have no interest in reading. 

The Vampire Diaries by what's-her-name because it just sounds really dumb. I've seen snippets of the show and I am just like "This makes no sense." I don't want to read something I don't follow at all and is an overused trope. If I hadn't picked overpowered MCs, I would have picked supernatural love-triangles for the trope question.

9. The saying goes "The book is always better than the movie", but what movie or T.V. show adaptation do you prefer more than the book? 

Uh....the only one where I thought that was Fifty Shades of Grey because you could finally see Christian's side of the story. When everybody was losing their minds over the scene with the flogger, I realized that he felt bad. He didn't want to do it. He actually felt terrible for flogging her. (In my defense, I haven't actually read very many books that have a movie or show tie in).

August 2015 Wrap Up

I think I'm still sort of in a bit of a slump, but I did finish a book much earlier than last month. Also...I've set myself a new personal goal to see if I can get to 50 books. If I make it to that 50 and still have enough time in the year I might bump it again to 75. I only set it for 25 this time because I'm used to not reading very fast at all!

Let's get on with the wrap-up then! This month I've read 2 books.

Book #1: Romance by the Book by Jo Victor

For a smart woman, Alex is pretty clueless. She wants the truth, but she’s looking in the wrong place. She wants love, but she’s not looking at all. If only Cam didn’t keep disrupting her life, Alex might be able to find some answers. After all, it’s not as if Cam is interested in her. Which is probably a good thing, since Cam is even more infuriating than she is charming—and she’s got plenty of charm. On the other hand, Rosamund, Cam’s ex and Alex’s professional rival, is definitely interested in Alex, but can she be trusted? Alex doesn’t even realize the historic house she’s staying in is haunted. Perhaps a little supernatural help will lead Alex to uncover the secret of a love story hidden for over a century, and to solve the greatest mystery of all—the truth hidden in her own heart.

I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review. I loved it and gave it 4/5 stars because for a bit during the middle-end (about 60-70% of the way through) I kind of hit a dry patch. For the rest of my review, see the actual review I posted!

Book #2: Atlantis by David Gibbins

From an extraordinary discovery in a remote desert oasis to a desperate race against time in the ocean depths, a team of adventurers is about to find the truth behind the most baffling legend in history. The hunt is on for...ATLANTIS. Marine archaeologist Jack Howard has stumbled upon the keys to an ancient puzzle. With a crack team of scientific experts and ex–Special Forces commandos, he is heading for what he believes could be the greatest archaeological find of all time——the site of fabled Atlantis——while a ruthless adversary watches his every move and prepares to strike, but neither of them could have imagined what awaits them in the murky depths. Not only a shocking truth about a lost world, but an explosive secret that could have devastating consequences today. Jack is determined to stop the legacy of Atlantis from falling into the wrong hands, whatever the cost. But first he must do battle to prevent a global catastrophe.

I was given this book by a friend after I finished Will Adams' The Alexander Cipher. She said she thought I would like it because it ran on a similar sort of track to the previously mentioned book. She....was right. I enjoyed it very much, including the twists I didn't see coming. There are some things that you would expect to happen that don't, and then some things that you wouldn't expect to happen that do. I loved this book and am glad I managed to finish it.

Review: Romance by the Book by Jo Victor

This book was given to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review. It was published on June 9th, 2015 by Bold Stroke Books. It has 292 pages.

For a smart woman, Alex is pretty clueless. She wants the truth, but she’s looking in the wrong place. She wants love, but she’s not looking at all. If only Cam didn’t keep disrupting her life, Alex might be able to find some answers. After all, it’s not as if Cam is interested in her. Which is probably a good thing, since Cam is even more infuriating than she is charming—and she’s got plenty of charm.

On the other hand, Rosamund, Cam’s ex and Alex’s professional rival, is definitely interested in Alex, but can she be trusted? Alex doesn’t even realize the historic house she’s staying in is haunted. Perhaps a little supernatural help will lead Alex to uncover the secret of a love story hidden for over a century, and to solve the greatest mystery of all—the truth hidden in her own heart.  - Goodreads.com

Alex has always wanted to go to England. She receives a letter in the mail saying she's been awarded a scholarship to go study a famous poet believed to be a lesbian. I have wanted to go to England, too, so I understand her excitement when she gets the chance to go. She is not expecting the things that happen to her when she gets there.

I loved the way Ms. Victor wrote the book. It was difficult to put down my Kindle the entire time I was reading. She wrote it in such a way that I just had to know what happened next. Though some of the reveals were kind of...obvious? I felt like even if you hadn't read the synopsis, you'd have known Cam was going to make a move on Alex, or was at least going to think about making a move. 

Did anybody actually like Rosamund? She immediately rubbed me the wrong way with how her only interest seemed to be not in what she could do for people, but how they could get her more money or fame. She is exactly the kind of person I avoid at all costs when I can. She was still well written and a great antagonist for Alex. 

Over all I rated this book a 4/5. It was wonderfully written and I loved the story. This is one of the books that I would read again when I finally clear out my giant (~575 books including my Kindle) TBR pile. 

July 2015 Wrap Up

Last month I was apparently in a bit of a reading slump, only finishing three books. Since I had finished my Goodreads goal for the year I decided to just do whatever instead of reading in my self-prescribed reading times. This month started off much better with me getting a book done before the very first week was out.

So far I have read 1 books this month. Wow, I hit a slump. I didn't actually think I'd read a book. Let's get on with the mini-reviews!

Book #1: Lessons for Suspicious Minds by Charlie Cochrane

In the innocent pre-war days, an invitation to stay at the stately country home of a family friend means a new case for amateur sleuths Jonty Stewart and Orlando Coppersmith. In fact, with two apparently unrelated suicides to investigate there, a double chase is on. But things never run smoothly for the Cambridge fellows. In an era when their love dare not speak its name, the risk of discovery and disgrace is ever present. How, for example, does one explain oneself when discovered by a servant during a midnight run along the corridor? Things get even rougher for Orlando when the case brings back memories of his father’s suicide and the search for the identity of his grandfather. Worse, when they work out who the murderer is, they are confronted with one of the most difficult moral decisions they’ve ever had to make. 

I got this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.  I adored it and you'll see all of my thoughts in the review posted around the 4th of July. 

Review: Lessons for Suspicious Minds by Charlie Cochrane

This book was published by Riptide Publishing on April 18th, 2015. I received a copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review. 

In the innocent pre-war days, an invitation to stay at the stately country home of a family friend means a new case for amateur sleuths Jonty Stewart and Orlando Coppersmith. In fact, with two apparently unrelated suicides to investigate there, a double chase is on. 

But things never run smoothly for the Cambridge fellows. In an era when their love dare not speak its name, the risk of discovery and disgrace is ever present. How, for example, does one explain oneself when discovered by a servant during a midnight run along the corridor? 

Things get even rougher for Orlando when the case brings back memories of his father’s suicide and the search for the identity of his grandfather. Worse, when they work out who the murderer is, they are confronted with one of the most difficult moral decisions they’ve ever had to make. - Goodreads.com

I loved it. Absolutely loved the way they wrote it. I rated this book 5/5 because I adore mystery books. I live for watching shows like this where they have to figure out who did it. Ms. Cochrane completely pulled me in with this book. It is the tenth volume in the set, but can (obviously) be read as a stand-alone novel. 

Jonty and Orlando are experienced sleuths by the time this book is set. They have been called out to investigate an apparent suicide at the home of Jonty's mother's godmother. On their way there they stop at an island for lunch and are asked to look into another suicide that someone believes was not a suicide at all, but a murder. Everyone believes the two cases to be completely separate and that they were simple cases of suicide and nothing more.

Leave it to Jonty and Orlando to connect the dots and figure out what happened. I thought it was interesting that the actual perpetrator was never accused of doing anything. He came forward of his own free will and just spilled the story when they were talking about a completely separate case. I didn't see it coming and I don't think many other people would either. Especially fans of Sherlock Holmes (which I am).

I don't think I've ever seen sex described quite that way before. I actually had to pause and take a picture of my Kindle screen over one and send it to my mother. Ms. Cochrane describes the act of intercourse as if it were a naval battle and refers to their sexual organs as "great guns" which I think made me laugh harder than it should have. I will admit to having a juvenile sense of humor. 

I loved the book and and would definitely recommend it to anybody. In fact, I've already told my fiance she has to read it.

Review: Odin's Child by Bruce Macbain

I received this ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review. It was published on May 26, 2015 by Blank Slate Press. I received a copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

An old grudge erupts into violence as Odd Tangle-Hair refuses to back down from the men he believes shamed his father and betrayed their heritage by turning away from the old gods in favor of the White Christ. But when the violence escalates and Odd's family bears the brunt of it, he must leave his beloved Iceland behind and find his own way in the world.The golden age of Viking conquest is fading when he takes to the seas, but his journey is full of adventures, and he meets priests and politicians as well as many unscrupulous men all too eager to take advantage of a young man abroad for the first time.Beautifully written, impeccably researched, and deeply rooted within the oral tradition of story telling, Bruce Macbain has woven an evocative saga that will sweep readers into the past and plant them firmly in Odd's rapidly changing world. - Goodreads.com 

I don't know exactly what made me decide to pick this up aside from the epic looking cover. I don't think I've ever actually read any books about Vikings or Norse mythology...or Iceland. I picked it up because it had a nice cover.

I really don't know what to say about this book. I rated it a 4/5 stars because it was very well written despite being not really my cup of tea. I hope to have a better review (or really a review) for you for my next book I'm reading. I apologize for the lack of review. I was just meh about the story line.