Review: The Grown Ups

The Grown Ups

by Robin Antalek

Synopsis

From the author of The Summer We Fell Apart, an evocative and emotionally resonant coming-of-age novel involving three friends that explores what it means to be happy, what it means to grow up, and how difficult it is to do both together.

The summer he’s fifteen, Sam enjoys, for a few secret months, the unexpected attention of Suzie Epstein. For reasons Sam doesn’t entirely understand, he and Suzie keep their budding relationship hidden from their close knit group of friends. But as the summer ends, Sam’s world unexpectedly shatters twice: Suzie’s parents are moving to a new city to save their marriage, and his own mother has suddenly left the house, leaving Sam’s father alone to raise two sons.

Watching as her parents’ marital troubles escalate, Suzie takes on the responsibility of raising her two younger brothers and plans an early escape to college and independence. Though she thinks of Sam, she deeply misses her closest friend Bella, but makes no attempt to reconnect, embarrassed by the destructive wake of her parents as they left the only place Suzie called home. Years later, a chance meeting with Sam’s older brother will reunite her with both Sam and Bella—and force her to confront her past and her friends.

After losing Suzie, Bella finds her first real love in Sam. But Sam’s inability to commit to her or even his own future eventually drives them apart. In contrast, Bella’s old friend Suzie—and Sam’s older brother, Michael—seem to have worked it all out, leaving Bella to wonder where she went wrong.

Spanning over a decade, told in alternating voices, The Grown Ups explores the indelible bonds between friends and family and the challenges that threaten to divide them.

Review

I'm pretty picky about what books I read and I mostly stick to authors and genres I know. This is why I enjoy entering the Book Sparks Summer Reading Challenge. The challenge affords me the opportunity to find out about authors I never would have found out about on my own. Robin Antalek is one such author. The Grown Ups is a coming of age story for when you're "on the other side" also known as adulthood. It's a story told from the perspective of three individuals, Suzie, Sam, and Bella, starting from their early teen years to adulthood. Each faces similar, but unique experiences and heartaches - all while being a part of each other's stories.

This story is about growing up and how even when you're grown up, it doesn't mean you know all the answers. It's a beautiful and heartbreaking book. I will definitely be looking for other works by Robin Antalek.

Verdict

Read it!

Posted with Blogsy

Review: Double Visions

Double Visions

by Matt Drabble

Synopsis

It has been 8 years since the country cowered in fear as the serial killer christened The Crucifier wreaked bloody havoc.

Jane Parkes had always considered her ability a fine line between a gift and a curse. She calls it The Shadow World, a place where she can see through the eyes of killers and help bring them to justice.

Her desperation to prove herself led to a basement confrontation that she wasn’t prepared for. As a result the Detective that had allowed her to work on the case lay dead alongside the killer.

She put away her ability to see inside the minds of monsters for 8 long years, but now someone else has taken up The Crucifiers’ mantle. Someone is killing again, only this time The Shadow World is a two way street and he wants to play.

Sucked into a desperate race for survival Jane is going to learn that sometimes when you stare into the darkness, someone stares back.

Review

This is not the first Matt Drabble book that I have reviewed and I sure hope it is not the last! Talk about creepy, psychological fun! Drabble's books have a way to keep you guessing and this one is no exception. Maybe it's because I am a huge fan of the horror genre, whether we're talking books or movies, but I love being taken on a roller coaster ride of suspense and fear. Jane Parkes has a fantastic (and horrifying) gift in being able to see through the eyes of a murderer which she uses to help bring some justice for the victim. This book is a nonstop thrill ride - I highly enjoyed it!

Verdict

Read if horror and suspense are your thing.

Sometimes when you stare at the darkness, someone stares back.

I love that!

About the Author

Born in Bath, England in 1974, a self-professed "funny onion", equal parts sport loving jock and comic book geek. I am a lover of horror and character driven stories. I am also an A.S sufferer who took to writing full time two years ago after being forced to give up the day job.

I have a career high position of 5th on Amazon's Horror Author Rank of which I am immensely proud.

"GATED" is a UK & US Horror Chart Top Ten Best Seller & winner of the Full Moon Awards 2014 Horror Book of the Year.

"ASYLUM - 13 TALES OF TERROR" is a US Horror Chart #5 It was also voted #5 on The Horror Novel Review's Top 10 Books of 2013 & is a Readers Favorite 2014 Gold Medal Winner.

Both "THE TRAVELLING MAN" and "ABRA-CADAVER" won Indie Book of the Day awards.

Visit me at www.mattdrabble.com to download a free short story.

Twitter: MattDrabble01

Facebook: matt.drabble.3

or to sign up for a newsletter: http://mad.ly/signups/95503/join

Book Blitz: Flash

Flash

By Donna Ball

Genre: Mystery/suspense (dog mystery)

Publication Date: May 1, 2015

Publisher: Blue Merle Publishing

Don’t miss the first book in an exciting new dog mystery series

Almost two years ago the sleepy little community of Dogleg Island was the scene of one of the most brutal crimes in Florida history.  The only eye witnesses were a border collie  puppy and a police officer. Since that time Flash has grown from a puppy into a vital part of the Dogleg Island Police Department, and has  lived happily with the two people who rescued him on that horrible night: Deputy Sheriff Ryan Grady and Police Chief Aggie Malone.  

Now the trial of the century is about to begin.  The defendant, accused of slaughtering  his parents in their beach home, maintains his innocence.  Aggie and Ryan, the top witnesses for the prosecution,are convinced he is lying.  But only Flash knows the truth.

And with another murder to solve, a tangle of conflicting evidence to sort out, and a brutal storm on the way, the truth may come too late... for all of them.


About the Author

Donna Ball is the author of over a hundred novels under several different pseudonyms in a variety of genres that include romance, mystery, suspense, paranormal, western adventure, historical and women’s fiction. Recent popular series include the Ladybug Farm series by Berkley Books and the Raine Stockton Dog Mystery series. Donna is an avid dog lover and her dogs have won numerous titles for agility, obedience and canine musical freestyle. She divides her time between the Blue Ridge mountains and the east coast of Florida, and lives with a variety of four-footed companions. You can contact her at http://www.donnaball.net, or follow her on Facebook at Donna Ball

Links:

Website: http://www.DonnaBall.net

Facebook: Donna Ball Author Page

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonnaABall

Amazon link for Flash: http://www.amazon.com/Flash-Donna-Ball/dp/0985774894

Book Spotlight: The Jack of Souls

The Jack of Souls

by Stephen Merlino

Synopsis

Harric is an outcast rogue who must break a curse put on his fate, or die on his nineteenth birthday. To survive, he’ll need more than his usual tricks. He’ll need help. But on the kingdom’s lawless frontier, his only allies are other outcasts. 

One of these is Caris, a mysterious, horse-whispering runaway, intent upon becoming the Queen’s first female knight. The other is Sir Willard—ex-immortal, ex-champion, now addicted to pain-killing herbs and banished from court.

With their help, Harric might keep his curse at bay. But for how long?

And his companions bring troubles of their own: Caris bears the scars of a dark past that still hunts her; Willard is at war with the Old Ones, an order of insane immortal knights who once enslaved the kingdom.

Together, they must overcome fanatical armies, murderous sorcerers, and powerful supernatural foes.

Alone, Harric must face the temptation of forbidden magic that could break his curse, but cost him the only woman he’s ever loved.

“The first volume in Stephen Merlino's 'The Unseen Moon' series, "The Jack of Souls" is a terrific read from beginning to end and clearly establishes Merlino as a master of the fantasy action/adventure genre. Highly recommended for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections…” - Midwest Book Review

About the Author

Stephen Merlino lives in Seattle, WA, where he writes, plays, and teaches high school English. He lives with the world's most talented and desirable woman, two fabulous children, and three attack chickens.

Growing up in Seattle drove Stephen indoors for eight months of the year. Before the age of video games, that meant he read a lot. At the age of eleven he discovered the stories of J.R.R. Tolkein and fell in love with fantasy.

Summers and rare sunny days he spent with friends in wooded ravines or on the beaches of Puget Sound, building worlds in the sand, and fighting orcs and wizards with driftwood swords.

About the time a fifth reading of The Lord of the Rings failed to deliver the old magic, Stephen attended the University of Washington and fell in love with Chaucer and Shakespeare and all things English.

Sadly, the closest he got to England back then was The Unicorn Pub on University Way, which wasn't even run by an Englishman: it was run by a Scot named Angus. Still, he studied there, and as he sampled Angus's weird ales, and devoured the Unicorn's steak & kidney pie (with real offal!), he developed a passion for Scotland, too.

In college, he fell in love with writing, and when a kindly professor said of a story he'd written, "You should get that published!" Stephen took the encouragement literally, and spent the next years trying. The story remains unpublished, but the quest to develop it introduced Stephen to the world of agents (the story ultimately had two), and taught him much of craft and the value of what Jay Lake would call, "psychotic persistence."

Add to that his abiding love of nerds--those who, as Sarah Vowel defines it, "go too far and care too much about a subject"--and you have Stephen Merlino in a nutshell.

Stephen is the 2014 PNWA winner for Fantasy.

Book Spotlight: Nashville Crazy

Nashville Crazy

by Bethany Michaels

Synopsis

When Harper Perry’s latest Hollywood debacle blows up the internet, the fallen starlet returns home to Nashville…and the man she left behind. She needs someone to make her Tennessee home livable--someone who will be discreet while she lays low and lets all the negative press blow over. Former lover Dan Ryan is just the handy man for the job.  With her personal life being primetime tabloid fodder, her career on the skids, and her concert tour facing cancellation, Harper has a lot to figure out. The last thing she needs is the irresistibly sexy handyman working his way back into her life…and her bed.

Dan Ryan has never forgotten the girl who left town the second he confessed his feelings for her ran deeper than the sizzling hot hours they spent burning up the sheets. And with half a dozen women on speed dial, he’s tried! But once he sees Harper again, he knows why no other woman has ever touched his heart--he gave it away to Harper years earlier. Now that she’s back in town, however briefly, Dan is determined not to let Harper get away a second time...even if he has to give up everything he’s worked for to keep her.

About the Author

Bethany Michaels is the author of over a dozen steamy contemporary novels as well as a few Regency-set historicals and light paranormals. The first book in her “Naughty in Nashville” steamy country music series, Nashville Heat, was a finalist in RT Magazine's Reviewers' Choice awards for Best Small Press Erotic Romance. 

She also creates cover art for indie authors through Dragonfly Press Design (www.dragonflypressdesign.com). 

When not writing, Bethany enjoys movies, travelling, the outdoors, volunteering with her kids' scout troops and visiting the cool places around Nashville where her books are set. A native Hoosier, she now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and children. 

Links:

Website: www.bethanymichaels.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethany.michaels

Twitter: @bmichaelsauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/bethanymichaels

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1C7us14

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1wY71oS

Amazon Canada: http://amzn.to/1EAiQUy

Kobo: http://bit.ly/19cyfxx

B&N: http://bit.ly/1HDGPAu

Apple: http://apple.co/1b4SNIQ

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/526451

Review: Playlist for the Dead

Synopsis

Part mystery, part love story, and part coming-of-age tale in the vein of The Perks of Being a Wallflower and The Spectacular Now.

There was a party. There was a fight. The next morning, Sam's best friend, Hayden, was dead. And all he left Sam was a playlist of songs and a suicide note: For Sam—listen and you'll understand. To figure out what happened, Sam has to rely on the playlist and his own memory. But the more he listens, the more he realizes that his memory isn't as reliable as he thought. And it might only be by taking out his earbuds and opening his eyes to the people around him that he'll finally be able to piece together his best friend's story. And maybe have a chance to change his own.

Playlist for the Dead is an honest and gut-wrenching first novel about loss, rage, what it feels like to outgrow a friendship that's always defined you—and the struggle to redefine yourself. But above all, it's about finding hope when hope seems like the hardest thing to find.

Review

I really enjoyed this book which surprised me because I borrowed it on a whim from the library. There have been a lot of YA books coming out lately that are centered around suicide. I find that intriguing and sad. Please read no further if suicide is a trigger for you.

This book...this book was surprising. It is exactly what they tell you it is - part mystery, love story and coming of age. All mixed up with a whole bunch of sadness. I found it to be quite real in the way everyone is described and how feelings are explained. There is this utter sadness that is laced throughout the whole book because of Hayden's death. What could cause someone to kill themselves? Why leave a playlist for your friend to listen to? So many questions and yet, not everything is answered. The book doesn't tidy things up for the reader. I read in some reviews that some readers didn't like not knowing certain things, but the truth and reality is that in real life, you don't always know why people do what they do. 

Sam was a believable character and, although I usually gravitate to female protagonists,  I can honestly say that I enjoyed living inside Sam's head - even if he was sad. There was an innocence in his sadness, but an understanding too. My feelings about this book are hard to explain. I found myself pulled in from the very first page and was sad to let go of the characters. It reminded me of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but at the same time it is an entity all its own. I loved it and am looking forward to more from this author (this is her first book). 

Also, each chapter has a different song connected to it. I collected all the songs and made a playlist on Spotify. If you would like to listen to it, just click here. 

Verdict

Read it and feel sad. Then, feel thankful (hopefully).

By Golly, an Announcement!

Hello everyone!

It's been awhile since I've taken some time to talk to you - reader to reader. I'm doing so tonight with the hope that you'll be interested in my newest venture. 

Ever since I was young, I've wanted to live my life around books. There was nothing better in my mind than to work in a book store or library. Over the years my dream took different shapes - thoughts of becoming a librarian, a writer, a psychologist who would then write a book etc etc. Eventually I resigned myself to simply read a lot and own a lot of books. 

I don't have the income to build and own a brick and mortar book store - as much as I would love that.

...but what I do have is a little internet savvy and that same love for books.

That brings me to my announcement. I have created an online book store (that currently houses a very little amount of books) called The Bookish Girl.

I have a some books listed as I am learning what it means to list items and figure out how much to sell them for. If you see something you like, please consider purchasing or go ahead and ask me a question. I gladly welcome any comments or suggestions as well!

I don't know what I want this to become...but I do know that I love books and I want others to love them too.

Book Rewind: 50 Shades of Grey

50 Shades of Grey
by E.L. James

Synopsis

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.
 
Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

This book is intended for mature audiences.

Time to Rewind

If you haven't already read my review for this book, please head over to this post.

So - it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that I did not like this book, but I could find something of a novel idea in it. I mean, two very different people with obviously different experiences and point of views who fall for each other? This book and its series could have been so much more. The psychological aspect alone! But alas, it was not meant to go that way.

Now the question - why am I "rewinding" a book I did not like? Well, because I watched the movie, of course.

Better question: Why in the world would I see the movie of a book I basically hated? Easy - I was curious. Not about the sex because, heaven knows, I read all about that in this book (and half of the second). No, I was curious to see how Hollywood would change the story to make it seem more appealing to watchers. Granted, it didn't matter what was changed, really, because people enjoyed this book and movie - regardless of it's undertones. 

If I thought reading this book was silly/somewhat of a waste/devoid of actual emotion, watching it was downright cringe-worthy. 

First of all, I watched it by myself. It was the second movie ever watched by my lonesome (the first was The Duff - but that's for another post). I knew my husband wouldn't want to see it and I didn't feel comfortable inviting anyone when I knew...I KNEW...I would ultimately hate the movie.

And boy was I right.

First, the technical. The dialogue sounded even worse when heard aloud. Grey came off as creepy from the get go. Douche-y, even. Steele came off as ignorant/oblivious (she is a college graduate, come on now...). 

Second, the undertones. I do not get squeamish/embarrassed by sex scenes in books or movies. I just don't. Sometimes, if written or portrayed right - they can be very enjoyable. However, this...relationship between Grey and Steele made me feel so uncomfortable from the beginning. There is no respect between man and woman, dom and sub. There is no communication. There is simply: want, take, have. I'm not saying passion can't be like that, but in this situation, it's not passionate, it's abusive. As a relationship (which it obviously isn't because Grey tells Steele and us repeatedly that he just doesn't do that), Grey does not listen to Steele. He knows she's uncomfortable, afraid of hurting, wanting to be close to him, but he does not acknowledge any of it. He sees it, as it is obvious, and continues to the want, take, have. As a BDSM relationship (of which I don't believe this is an example of), Grey as a dom does not respect his sub. Bottom line. He allows his anger to seep through his treatment of Steele. To sum it up - dude has mommy issues. Hey, that's okay! But guess what, not every woman is a representation of the one that hurt you, dude!

And that's where I think - this could have been so much better. If only James would care enough about her characters to allow them to become more than one-dimensional characters. An exploration of trauma and experiences that leads to understanding another person - that would have been great. But instead, we get a man that doesn't listen, a woman who seems oblivious most of the time, and a story that makes these two crash and burn in a bad way.  

So - why am I spending so much brain-power on this book? Because it makes me so angry.

Authors, artists, celebrities, ORDINARY PEOPLE sometimes like to think their actions don't matter. They are simply smaller pieces of a infinite puzzle - how could they matter?

But it does. From the most famous to the seemingly unimportant - actions and words MATTER. 

I don't like censorship. I want people to express themselves. But if you're going to write about something - portray it the way it is. If you want to write about a BDSM lifestyle - research it. Talk to people. GOOGLE IT. Don't gift wrap abuse and call it something else. It's still abuse.

We unfortunately live in a world where women are still fighting to be respected, taken seriously and not hurt/killed/assaulted/raped/abused for simply being women. A story like this...where the man doesn't listen to the woman, where the virginal woman is forced (because if she doesn't join, she doesn't get to be with the person she thinks she loves. That's called being forced) into a world she wasn't sure she wanted to be in...it blurs too many lines and unfortunately too many people take it at face value. 

So, I am spending time thinking about this because it makes me so very angry. I care about everyone. That's right, everyone. And I want people in safe and consensual relationships/situations. Whether that's two church-goers, two gay men, casual daters, a BDSM couple - I don't care. I want people safe. And this book? This movie? It highlights the opposite. It's basically a book where one person is constantly persuaded, encouraged to follow a lifestyle she knows nothing about. Where one person is constantly being followed, messaged, and having life interfered by another person. It's about a person whose wish to be in a relationship is ignored. Grey doesn't care about Steele. He cares about what he wants from her. Now, isn't that a nice precedent?

I'll be getting off my soapbox now and I will no longer be talking about this movie or book (unless I'm asked about it). Feel free to share your thoughts though. Your thoughts are always welcomed - even if you disagree with me. 

Review: Stolen Sharpie Revolution

Stolen Sharpie Revolution
by Alex Wrekk

Since 2002, Stolen Sharpie Revolution: a DIY Resource for Zines and Zine Culture has been the go-to guide for all things zine-related. This little red book is stuffed with information about zines. Things you may know, stuff you don't know and even stuff you didn’t know you didn’t know! 

Stolen Sharpie Revolution contains a cornucopia of information about zines and zine culture for everyone from the zine newbie to the experienced zinester to the academic researcher. Stolen Sharpie Revolution consists of thoughtful lists and step-by-step how-to guides on everything from definitions of a “zine,” where to find zines, why they are important, how to make them and how to participate in zine culture. 

This book has everything you need to get started creating your own zine, or to figure out what to do with the zine you just made. Stolen Sharpie Revolution serves as both an introduction into the wide world of zine culture and as a guide to taking the next step to become a part of it. 

Review

This is any grrrl's dream publication, basically. It's an awesome little book that will "talk" to you about zines, their importance, and how to get started on your own. It is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in the culture or for anyone who has been reading zines (or read A zine) and thought to themselves, "Hmm, I think I could do this." Trust me - I've been there. It's not as easy as just writing or cutting and pasting - there is this whole process that is rewarding, but hard work. 

Don't take my words as discouragement. This is the kind of work that leaves you with something to show for it. But if you're like me, you want someone or something there to kinda hold your hand because putting pieces of yourself on paper and having people actually read it is a terrifying feat for most people. Consider this little red book your hand to hold in your journey of further self-discovery. 

Verdict

Read this. Be creative. Let me know where I can get your zine 💕

About the Author

Alex Wrekk’s life revolves around making things; primarily zines, custom pinback buttons(badges), vegan food, travel plans, and space for a cat in her bed. 

Alex Wrekk has lived in Portland, Oregon since 1999 and has been creating the zine Brainscan since 1997. Brainscan zine has grown and changed with Alex over the years with stories ranging from travel, reproductive health, love and loss, emotional abuse recovery, zine culture, and even fiction all wrapped up in text and photocopier art. She also wrote the book Stolen Sharpie Revolution: A DIY guide for zines and zine culture that is now entering its 5th edition. 

When Alex isn't doing zine things she is doing other zine things like organizing the Portland Zine Symposium, establishing July as International Zine Month, commiserating with Zine Event Organizers around the world, updating the zine event listings on StolenSharpieRevolution.org, hosting the podcast Nobody Cares About Your Stupid Zine Podcast, fidgeting with her Risograph printer, reading from her zines out loud on zine tours or singing in a zine themed pop-punk band called The Copy Scams. 

Alex has been making custom pinback buttons since 2000 under various business names. In 2012 Alex opened Portland Button Works and zine distro, an online and brick and mortar shop in Portland, Oregon selling zines and books and making custom buttons, bottle openers, and magnets in 4 different sizes. She also maintains an Etsy shop with the same name. 

Alex Wrekk twitter http://twitter.com/alexwrekk 

Stolen Sharpie Revolution Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stolensharpierevolution 

Stolen Sharpie Revolution.org http://www.stolensharpierevolution.org 

Portland Button Works Website www.portlandbuttonworks.com 

GIVEAWAY INFO: Alex is giving away 5 print copies of Stolen Sharpie Revolution + a Custom Stolen Sharpie with each one. This is an international giveaway! a Rafflecopter giveaway