Nailgun Messiah (Micah Reed, Book 1)
by Jim Heskett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for Readers Favorite
For most of his life Micah Reed has been a screw up, drinking his way through life, but the trouble he finds himself in this night has nothing to do with him, really, unfortunately the big bad drug dealer isn't willing to believe him. Micah is able to escape and finds himself needing to get out of town for awhile, and although visiting his sister is forbidden, that's exactly what he does, which turns out to be a good thing. His little sister has gotten herself into, what she thinks is a religious group, but is really just a front for other illegal activities. Micah knows he has to get his sister out, but she is not really inclined to trust him based on his past record of screwing up. Nailgun Messiah is complex and multilayered story of all the people living in the house and the complex relationships and controls extorted over them. Author Jim Heskett has developed so many levels that you don't know who is really a friend or a foe until the very end.
Nailgun Messiah is titled as the first book in the Micah Reed series, so it would seem that the author Jim Heskett is planning to follow the main character through a few more books, which could be exciting. This book was full of adventure and intrigue, trying to figure how who was on what side, who you could trust and who you couldn't. Even after all that, I still found a few questions that I never got fully answered, which is the mark of a good book, it leaves you still wondering about certain small parts and then there is the possibility that they show up again later in another book. This was a really good book, although there were themes of violence and mind control, in case any readers have issues with that. Definitely worth the read.
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The Tale of Miss Susie and her Steamboat: And Other Songs from your Childhood Explained
by Sonja N. Kreps
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
The Tale of Miss Susie and her Steamboat: And Other Songs from your Childhood Explained is an amazing concept. Your favorites; Susie, Mary Mack and the Princess Pat are all there, but they are young twenties, just out of college and starting their lives with their first jobs. Author Sonja N. Kreps takes common modern issues, and uses these childhood song characters to deal with those issues. From drug use, to abusive boyfriends, to bisexualty and more. The thing is that the songs fit with these themes so well, and it makes an amazing story. Sometimes serious and sometimes funny, it gave each song a new meaning and made me rethink singing each and every one of them.
The Tale of Miss Susie and her Steamboat done this way is so amazing. Not only do the songs fit well with the themes that author Sonja Kreps has picked, they seem to explain the songs even. Even more there is more than one layer to the story, you have the main story that is going one, but then there is more going on in the background that makes things even more involved. The issues that it addresses in the domestic violence is something that needs to be addressed, and the back stories that are told in the way it began, the past victims and current victim and stopping it all make it clear that you can't give in to the abuser. Definitely more of an adult book because of the issues addressed, but well worth the read!
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Things Lost In The Fire
by Katie Jennings
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Life as the daughter of two of the greatest rock singers in the world is never easy, and when your parents are divorced and feuding against each other it is even worse. Sadie McRae doesn't think it can get any worse than this, but she is about to learn that everything can be taken away in an instant. Things Lost In The Fire follows Sadie as she rebuilds her life, with the help of her grandparents, after she survives a terrible assault in her mother's house. Even if that means that she must return to Hollywood and face her demons. Katie Jennings takes the time to develop true to life characters that you can relate to and understand, that you feel for and want to see overcome their pasts and find a brighter future.
Things Lost In the Fire touches on a physical assault, stalking, drugs and rock 'n roll. The characters are all touched by a fire, or event that destroyed something in their lives, but how each one reacted if completely different. Sadie retreats far from public view and becomes a shy, scared version of herself that needs to be brought back into the world. Her mother refuses to accept anything and lives in an almost fantasy. Katie Jennings gives us a compelling story of life that does not have to be defined by one incident in life, there is more to each person that one event or one mistake. This is a wonderful book for young adults as well as adults.
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Police Don't Move! ... well sometimes we do
by N.E. Wood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Have you ever wondered what it's really like to be a cop? Not all the glory job that you see on television but the mundane everyday stuff? Well N. E. Wood takes his time on the force and relays some of the best stories of things that actually happened to him when he was working on Australia's Gold Coast. Police don't move is wickedly funny at times, serious and direct at others, and teaching still at more. The cases highlighted are some of the best, funniest and down right silliest you will ever read. Then there are some that taught the officer a lesson, so that made him better and others that lead to his retirement.
Police Don't Move captures real life, the pictures and pretty parts; and the ugly and dirty parts just the same. It gives you a look into an area that is just like any other area, what Officer Nick experienced and talked about are the same things any cop in any town is going to tell you he has dealt with to. N. E. Wood takes his time to tell the stories more like his is sitting right there talking to you, than you reading a book. At the same time, he puts his emotions and feelings into some of the harder issues that he faced. It is well written and a great fun read for anyone. Might not want the kids to read it without parents around, but then again, they could learn what not to do, and how to stay out of trouble from this book too.
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UNREAL
by Riley Moreno
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Just finished with college, best friends Julie and Kim decided to take one last fling before starting real life with jobs and futures. They have no real plans, they are just going to drive and enjoy their week with no rules before settling down. Seems so easy, so many kids have done the same thing over and over through the years, yet nothing is ever as it seems.
On their first stop for lunch, the girls take up with a pair of clean looking college guys, only to find their worst nightmares are waiting. Kim, so worldly and beautiful, surely she can be the strong one and get them out of this mess. Julie, the innocent and sheltered child, can she have the strenght to get out and get home?
Ethan has his own demons, and never thinks he will be involved in anything like what he got himself into. New client, and for some reason he felt the need to impress, now they are taking him into their secret world. A world he never knew existed but one he wants no part of. How to get out safe and keep the account is his main focus until he is left alone with Julie. Now she is his main focus.
You have two distinct storylines that start and later merge into one, which is wonderful storytelling on the part of Riley Moreno. Each person has their own scars already and then to deal with what is happening is ever tougher. Who will become the strong one? Who will be able to survive?
Although there is some sexual references in the novel, and given that the girls are kidnapped you would expect them. They are not overly graphic, in fact the author does a wonderful job of allowing you o understand what is going on but at the same time keeping the information and details to a minimum. Wonderfully skilled writer in the author to do such a good job with this terrible topic.
This is definitely an adult book, but the whole premise of the story will have you wanting to hug your daughters and remind them again just how dangerous it can be to go with someone you just met. I was truly moved by the story.
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A Deeper Cut
by Sheri Wren Haymore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Every summer Hunter spends it with Granny Jen in Beaufort. This year he has brought Mikki with him, thinking it might be a good thing for them. This summer though, a murderer has decided to visit Beaufort also, and frame Hunter for at least one of the killings. A Deeper Cut mixes drug dealers and sweet, southern charm into a realistic tale of a summer on the shoreline. Hunter is tasked with figuring out who he really is, and whether to continue to let his father's disappearance and failures define him or not. +Sheri Wren Haymore writes a wonderful mystery, thriller that you want to know who did it, but at the same time keeps the beauty and charm of life is a small southern town.
A Deeper Cut follows Hunter, and more than just the cuts of the killer are needing to be healed this summer. Hunter has always felt that everyone, except maybe Granny Jen expected him to fail and turn out like his father. This summer he will have to face his father, and the demons he carries and figure out who he really is. +Sheri Wren Haymore mixes this soul-searching with the mystery of who if offing drug dealers and sets it all in a sweet, charming southern town. You will feel for Hunter, want to hold the boy and help him through his struggles. At the same time you will enjoy the intrigue of discovering who the real killer is and just why the killer might have it out for the Kittrell family.
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Exiles of Gaia
by H. R. Olsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Exiles of Gaia is aptly titled. As humans in this future world we are exiled from Earth. We did not take care of the planet and it could no longer support life. Everyone now lives in space stations or colonies on the moon. Only one mission to Earth has taken place in the time they have lived in space. That mission ended badly, now another is in the works. H.R. Olsen does a wonderful job of weaving together the flight crew, the movements, political intrigue and murder to create a captivating story. As there are grass root movements today, there are groups that want to return to Earth, some that want to stay in space, and still others that love the Earth but don't want to return to it. As each of these groups plot against each other and political rivals face off over the planned Earth trip we follow the story, twisting and turning until the end.
H.R. Olsen is a wonderful writer, in that I started reading this book, and just couldn't put it down. I wanted to keep reading to find out who and where. As you turned each page in Exiles of Gaia and got further into the story, what once seemed like random characters are starting to come together. They are crossing paths and being connected to each other, making for unplanned twists in the storyline. It is a great science fiction book, even for young adults and teens, as well as the older crowd. Everyone would get enjoyment out of this book.
Reviewed by Michelle Randall for +Reader's Favorite
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Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book One)
by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Clockwork Angel is the first book in the Infernal Devices series, which is a precursor to the Mortal Instruments series. This book and series is set in London area in the late 1800's. All your favorite character types from the Mortal Instruments are there, werewolves and vampires, demons and shadowhunters, it is just more the beginnings. You will also recognize some familiar last names.
Clockwork Angel revolves around a young girl named Tessa, who has always though she was a normal (mundane) girl and never imagined anything more to life, until her Aunt dies and she moves to London to be with her brother, only all is not what it seems. Tessa is more than what she thought, and someone knows more about her than she does, and they have plans to use her.
Welcome to the London Institute, where young James Carstairs or Jem and William Herondale or Will are living and training to be Shadowhunters. They follow a trail that leads them to unknowingly to young Miss Tessa, and she has to decide if they are worth trusting after all she has been through. And is she willing to help them save the world.
If you have already read the Mortal Instruments series, you will see some similarities in some of the characters. If you haven't then have no fear, you will still enjoy this book. The layers of story that weave throughout are wonderful, it is not all on the top, but there are under currents upon under currents of stories in the book.
I personally enjoyed the first three books of the Mortal Instruments, which is why i started reading this series, and i find that I like the characters, was glad to see Magnus Bane in this book as well, and find that the struggles are the same this century and last.
I almost find myself enjoying this series a little more than the Mortal Instruments, and maybe that is the time period, i have always had a thing for historical books.
Book Two: Clockwork Prince Review Lin
Book Three: Clockwork Princess Review Link
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