Day 10 of the Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon

     I finished two books and reached one of my goals! Woot! YAY ME! I am now back on track for my 2015 reading challenge. Now to stay that way :-s

Day 9 of the Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon

Waiting For Nick by Nora Roberts
Book 5 in The Stanislaskis: Those Wild Ukrainians series
251pp
I give it 4 stars!

It was cute, plenty of laugh out loud humor and very little garbage drama usually found in romances.

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Total Books Finished: 11
Total Pages Read: 1949

Day 8 of the Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon

     Yeah, I know, I didn't update yesterday, but I had nothing to update as Sunday ended up being a very slow day for reading and I didn't finish any books at all. But I am back on track and finished a paranormal fantasy that every time I'd see it on my Kindle would think "Ooh, I wanna read that soon!"

Day 6 of the Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon

A Little Bit of Déjà Vu by Laurie Kellogg
Book 1 of Redemption series
Genre: Romance
246pp
I give it 4 stars!

Excellent, and only ONE eye roll!

Day 5 of the Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon

Another Fine Myth
by Robert Asprin
208pp

I give it 4 stars!

This was really good, better than I'd expected, to be honest. Was surprised to find the author lives in my home state - which is always a nice surprise. Only bad thing about this book is that I'd love to read more and not sure how many books of this series that I have. Fairly sure that I don't have all of it, sadly.

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Total Books Finished: 7
Total Pages Read: 1088

Day 4 of the Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

by Shirley Jackson
146pp

     People can be so cruel even if they may eventually regret their cruelty.

I give it 4 stars!

The Book of Dragons

by E. Nesbit
150pp

     Nice compilation of classic fantasy short stories that involve dragons in one way or another.

I give it 3 stars.

What America Was Really Like in 1776

by Thomas J. Fleming
22pp

     I had expected just a brief history mainly regarding political atmosphere but it also includes info about economy, population, diet, and other common everyday things that aren't normally mentioned in history.

I give it 4 stars!

Total Books Finished: 6
Total Pages Read: 880

Day 2 of the Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon

     I started off slow yesterday, having had to go back to work as half expected, and only got about 2/3 of the way through my first book, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I finished it this morning, plowed through my second book - Haunted by Willow Cross which is shortish but has been on my TBR since I read her Birthright series back in 2011, and started my third book Falling for Nick by Joleen James.

The Consecration of Jacob Jordaens - Book Review

The Consecration of Jacob Jordaens by Michael Brown Genres: Paranormal, Thriller

     Jake Jordaens moves from New Orleans to Providence, Rhode Island with his adoptive mother Lexis. At the tender age of 19 Jake is struggling with paranormal visions, college admissions, and his own identity - due to being adopted and also confusion as to his own sexual persuasion. Combine all this with falling into an underground ring of mafia run illegal activities primarily consisting of child pornography marketing both videos and children to pedophiles, and poor Jake has quite a lot on his plate.

Vic: Never Give up - Serial Sunday Review

Vic: Never Give Up by Jerry Gill Book 3 Vic Challenger Series Genres: Action Adventure, Romance,    Historical Romance, Fantasy

     Vic Challenger returns for another adventure in her quest to find Nu, the son of Nu. This time Vic and her friend Lin are headed to Scotland and London in search of an artist that Vic believes to be the reincarnation of Nu. Expecting a nice, quiet, fun vacation; the pair of adventurers stumble upon slave traders, strange beasts, and much more danger than they had anticipated. But never fear, for these super women are more than up to the challenge.

Keep Calm and Ask On by Michael Samuels - Book Review

Keep Calm and Ask On: A No-Nonsense Guide to Fulfilling Your Dreams by Michael Samuels Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

     The author stresses how important it is that you define your goals and trust that everything will work out. Whether you are trusting the Universe, as Samuels phrases it, or God, fate, karma, destiny, Buddha, a higher power, etc. these principles can be applied - no matter what your beliefs or religion may be.

Playmates by Jess C Scott - Fun Read Friday Review

Playmates Book 1 - Wilde Twins series by Jess C. Scott Genre: Psychological Thriller

     Author Scott produces a promising beginning to her Wilde Twins series where fraternal twins are a grisly brother sister team of serial killers. In this first book she begins by introducing us to them as children. We see how Tania goes from a normal 9 year old girl to a teen with little or no empathy, especially for those that seem to have a better life than she does.

     *SPOILER ALERT* nope not going to give away the conclusion of the story. I couldn't if I wanted to since there was no conclusion, just a cliff for me to dangle off of. For those readers who enjoy cliff hangers, you're going to love this one. Personally, I feel jipped. When I invest my time to read a book and don't get some closure, some sense that the book has ended, even if there is a sequel there should be some sense of a conclusion to this book before the next one begins. Ok, off my soap box about my biggest pet peeve and moving on...

     The characters are incredibly well developed. Their actions and reactions are realistic and gives insight to the reader as to how and why the twins develop exactly as they do psychologically and allows us to sympathize with Tania even if we do not condone her actions.

     This installation of the series definitely piques one's interest to follow the Wilde twins lives to see where fate takes them next.

I give it 4 stars!

Imaginary Friend by Troy McCombs - Book Review

Imaginary Friend by Troy McCombs Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Paranormal

     Nathan is not your average eight year old boy. He is a victim. Abused by his father, terrorized by bullies at school, and misunderstood by his teachers and principal, Nathan has had enough. He fantasizes about a monster that comes to his rescue, wrecking havoc and violent deaths to all who mistreat the boy. The more Nathan imagines his monster the more realistic it becomes - both in added details to the beast and in substance. It isn't long before the impossible becomes possible - Nathan's imaginary friend becomes real and Nathan finds that he cannot control his creation's murderous tendencies.

     A very interesting premise put forth by author Troy McCombs. While I could feel sorry for the little boy because of the abuse he suffered, I had a hard time really liking the character. His whole hearted rage, constant denial of any complicity, self righteous attitude, and lack of remorse once the killing spree began made the boy seem a tad bit creepy to me.

     Entertaining story that is well worth the time and effort that it takes to read it. I would recommend this book to those who love stories about fantasy creatures come to life or underdogs who come out on top.

I give it 4 stars!

Anna Lynn Blog Tour - Book Review

Title: Pulled by Darkness Series: Finding Light Series Book 1 Author: Anna Lynn Genres: Romance, Drama, Fiction       After the loss of her husband and two children to a drunk driver, twenty nine year old widow Eva Hernandez sales her home and business. Then to only add salt to her wounds she attacks the drunk driver, lashing out in court, mourning her loss she is given the choice or jail or therapy.

Seeker by Jerome Gilden - Fun Read Friday Book Review

Seeker by Jerome Gilden Timeline Series #2 Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy

     Jerry Daniels is back for this sequel to the original book Tracers. He is a bit older, wiser and much more powerful. It required massive amounts of damage to have killed off the entire Royal family and Jerry is determined to find out how and why, hopefully before those behind it decide to unleash their power onto the mortals of the world.

Secret to Startup Failure - Book Review

Secret to Startup Failure: Fail Fast. Fail Cheap. Fail Happy. by Sonia Lin Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Self help

     Failure is a part of life. Successful people see failure as a learning experience, not as just another road block in this journey we call life. Author Sonia Lin uses humor to share what she has learned through such experiences and manages to make what could otherwise be a very dry subject, entertaining.

Feel Good Factor in 30 Days - Book Review

Feel Good Factor in 30 Days by Andrea Morrison Genre: Nonfiction, Self Help

     Do you find yourself often grumbling that you have the worst luck, that even if something can't go wrong then it will go wrong in your life, and other assorted bits of negative thinking that we are so routinely in the habit of making? Author, Andrea Morrison, saw that her life was beyond mere negative thinking. She grabbed destiny by the collar and retrained herself to be more positive.

Supernatural Hero - Book Review

Supernatural Hero by Eran Gadot Genres: Adventure, Fantasy,    Children, Paranormal

     Andy is a sixth grader who feels he has been over looked by life. His glasses, skinniness, and ineptitude at sports make him prime fodder for bullying by his older sister and all of the mean kids at school. Mostly ignored by his parents other than their unwanted concern for his mental state, Andy spends most of his time daydreaming about the prettiest girl in school and getting even with those who bully him. He also likes hanging out with his best - and only - friend Tom, who is a brainiac yet somehow still considered cooler than Andy.

Tracers by Jerome Gilden - Book Review

Tracers Timeline Series #1 by Jerome Gilden Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy

     Imagine being a normal average teenager in high school, until one day you come home from school to find your home ransacked and your adoptive parents missing without a trace. This situation takes the phrase "without a trace" to new extremes as there aren't even any records left to show that his parents ever even existed. Since he was 17, he was allowed to live on his own without guardians. He made it through high school graduation without any further bizarre incidents. Until suddenly he finds himself in the future with no idea of how he got there. He learns that not only is he descended from a race of super-beings but he is of Royal blood and is a very powerful Tracer.

Legendary Detective at the World's End - Book Review

Legendary Detective at the World's End by Kaye Wagner Genres: Mystery, Dystopia

     Teigen is a growing metropolis on a distant island. The world has become something that we would not recognize. The role of the politician is nothing more than that of a trained monkey, putting a public face on those that really run the show. The unions. It is the unions that decide what society needs and the laws that are made and enforced. Kirin is seventeen and small for his age but what he lacks in physical stature he more than makes up for it with his incredible deductive reasoning skills. In his boredom with the everyday, he amuses himself with digging up mysteries to solve, and in the process helps to right a wrong that has been orchestrated by those within power.

Buddhism and Politics - Book Review

Buddhism and Politics: Citizens, Politicians, and the Noble Eightfold Path by Victoria Stoklasa Genre: Nonfiction

     In this day and age it seems that the majority of politicians are just power hungry, money grubbing people who are only looking out for their own best interests. I think that, similar to many occupations, the people start out with good intentions but become hardened or disenchanted after realizing that situations may not be as rewarding as they had originally anticipated.