Review: The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

Rating: 4 Wine Glasses

The title speaks for itself and pretty much sums up the premise for this book. Allan, the main character, decides on his 100th birthday to climb out the window and disappear without an exact destination in mind. When he gets to the bus station, a young man asks Allan to watch his suitcase while he uses the restroom. While the man is using the restroom, Allan’s bus comes and he decides to take the suitcase with him. This decision leads to a chain reaction of events and begins a surprising adventure starring many unusual characters.The book flips between current day and Allan’s past, leading up to the moment he decides to climb out his window.

This book is comparable to the movie Forest Gump in the sense that Allan stumbles upon an array of political figures over the course of his life (Truman, Mao, Stalin, and LBJ) and provides readers with a glimpse into some actual political and historical events that occurred in the last 100 years across the world. It actually made me want to research and read more about these events to find out how much was real versus made up. I am sure my high school history teacher would promote this book if he knew it sparked a new interest in historical world events.

My favorite part was Allan’s relationship with his cat, Molotov. I could just picture my father having the same reaction as Allan and doing something just as crazy. It was a bittersweet moment in the book – Allan having his first close companion and it being taken away from him.

This book made me sad at times and then at other times I found myself smiling. When you look at this book from the standpoint of how society views and treats the elderly like children, this book made me very sad. Once you get past that, you see that this book challenges our beliefs and even provides a sense of hope that when I turn 100 I could step out my window and start my own adventure. I loved Allan’s “things are what they are, and whatever will be, will be,” attitude throughout the book. Regardless of the highs and lows, I found a smile on my face when I closed this book that remained the rest of the day. 

Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

The Elite (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass

Rating: 5 wine glasses

America is still in the competition to win Prince Maxon’s heart while Aspen searches for a chance to regain America’s. 

I finished this book in almost a day because I can't get enough of this series. The beginning of The Elite repeated a lot of small details which I just read in the Selection, regardless I still enjoyed every page. My favorite parts are America and Maxon's intimate discussions.

“You know that you’ve found something amazing, and you want to hold on to it forever; and every second after you have it, you fear the moment you might lose it.”

Then there is the beautiful Halloween Party. Things are just so perfect that I knew it was too good to last. No sooner than I thought this than I had tears running down my face. I won't say anymore about the situation that caused this but if you read the book you will know what I am talking about because the very pain and hurt America feels, I felt it transposed onto me.  I did like that you find out more about the history of Illéa and the original monarch, Gregory.

This book made me distrust Maxon a little bit more, but at the end of the day I still want America to be with him. While reading this book I did questioned whether Aspen really loves her or just wants her for himself, which is weird because I am usually fighting on the side of the protagonist’s first love. However, I feel like America is growing, changing and developing her own opinion of the world while Aspen expects her to be the America who left for the Selection months before. America is a jumble of who she was and what she has become. Reflecting now, I do believe Aspen loves America, but like Gale in the Hunger Games, he expects her not to have changed and for things to be as they once were.

My heart goes out to Aspen, but at the same time I was taken back when he told America that he doesn’t think she could be queen. Rule #1 for Winning Back the Girl of Your Dreams: Believe she can conquer the world and back her up whatever she does. My thoughts are #1 he is blind to this new America that is blooming right before his eyes. #2 He doesn’t want to imagine her as a queen/princess because that means she ends up with Maxon and not him. #3 He thinks this role would strangle and crush her. I am tempted to read the novella, The Guard just to find out what his reasoning is and get a better understanding of him, but I am going to wait until the third and final book, The One, is released so I can just finish the whole series at once.

America was very indecisive in this book and rash in her judgment/reactions. It could be frustrating at some moments but it did keep the book interesting and realistic. I am more indecisive than I like to admit so I really have no room to judge.

I cannot wait for The One’s release. I really hope to see more physical action between Maxon and America in it even though Maxon is too much of a gentleman for that to happen...well he is most of the time.

This is the second book in the Selection series. Check out my review of book one, The Selection.

Review: Opal and Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

As promised, here are more Daemon reviews.  I figured that I needed spread these out a bit for two reason, first the post would get very lengthy.  I'm pretty sure I could go on and on and on about these books.  Second, I knew I would going through withdrawals, and writing reviews take me back into the books, briefly.

Opal (Lux, #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Daemon and Katy are discovering more and more about themselves.  Their love/hate relationship is finally in full force commitment mode.  They start working together to finally start working against the system that has kept secrets from them this entire time.

Origin (Lux, #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Katy has been capture and Daemon will do everything in his power to save her, even if it means exposing all of his kind to the humans.

What can I say.  I really, really, really, love this series.  They are right up there with the Ancients of Light series by Heather Fleener as my favorite paranormal romance books.  I'm trying really hard not to spoil any part of the book, Rachel knows this is not easy for me to do.  I get really excited and then my mouth just doesn't stop talking.  I guess this is a benefit of writing, I get to proof read what I'm going to say, edit and delete.  Too bad I can't do that in real life, that would have saved me some pretty embarrassing moments.  Anyways, I really hope everyone takes some time to check these books out.  I promise you won't be disappointed, how can you not fall in love with a strong opinionated book blogger like Katy and a sexy and moody alien like Daemon.

Review: Room by Emma Donoghue

Room
by Emma Donoghue
Rating: 5 wine glasses

Seven years ago, a young college student was kidnapped walking across campus, locked up in a 11 by 11 ft room, rapped by her assailant and been held prisoner in that room ever since. Two years after being kidnapped, this woman got pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy. This book follows the life of this now five year old boy, Jack.

I am glad this book was chosen by my book club because it forced me to push through the slower parts in the first two sections. From the 1^st page to the last page of this novel, my feelings toward this book did a complete 180.  

The first third of the book, I was frustrated with Jack and the way the book was narrated from his point of view. Unlike his mother, Jack has only known the confines of this room and he has no inkling that there is a whole another world beyond the locked door so his outlook on the room is completely bewildering at first glance. It was amazing what Jack could comprehend and yet how little he actually understood of his situation. The second third I was frustrated with the mother’s selfish behavior. The final third was bittersweet as Jack slowly learns to cope with his ever growing world and life outside of the room. I love  the strange but sweet interactions between "Steppa" & Jack and Grandma & Jack

Although the book is told through the eyes of a child the subject is tough to swallow. The book invokes such powerful emotions and reactions as I couldn’t help but relate it to the recent news story of those girls who were kidnapped and found in Ohio. The most frighten part is that this novel isn’t based in another country where you can close the book and wash your hands of it with a “that doesn’t happen here” mentality. This book tackles what those girls might have experienced when they were held captive and during the rehabilitation process after they escaped. Before reading this book, I never thought about what a person would have to mentally, physical and emotionally go through to assimilate back into the outside world after being kidnapped.

The Room is a riveting story about the power of mother’s love for her child and even more so the power of a child’s love for their mother. The ending brings the story to a full circle and provides hope that with time Jack and his mother will be able to recover from these unspeakable transgressions. I definitely would recommend this book, especially for a book club read. 

Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass
Rating: 5 glasses of wine

I read a lot of good reviews about the Selection and now I can finally say I know what everyone else is talking about. Before I read this book I told myself I am done with dystopia, love triangles and vampires. Well…this book has the former 2 of the 3. For hearing so much about the book, I clearly still didn’t know what it was entirely about when I picked it up so let me tell you a little bit about it.

Futuristic dystopia set in Illéa  formally known as the United States of America. Society is broken into 8 different castes and each caste is designated with a corresponding number 1-8. Here is a quick reference to get the idea: One = royalty, Eight = homeless. You are born into your family’s caste and you must do a job that fits within your caste’s roles. If you are a Five then you are expected to be an artist, musician, sculpture, singer, etc. There are only three ways you can move into a high caste:

1.) Buy Your Way Up - If you make enough money, which is unlikely because the lower your caste is the less money you make, then you can buy your way into the next highest caste and slowly work your way up the totem pole.

2.) Marriage – To my knowledge when a couple marries the wife moves into her husband caste but not the reverse.

3.) Get Drafted – If you are a male and you are drafted into the military then you are automatically made a Two.

A notice is sent out that there is to be a selection to help Prince Maxon find a bride. They are selecting 1 young woman from each province in a random drawing that turns out to be not so random. Picture the TV show the Bachelor being filmed in a castle and the bachelor is a prince and there you have the premise for the Selection.

The female protagonist, America, is a Five but she is in love with Aspen and he is a Six. She is an idealist and believe they can make their relationship work despite their class differences. America doesn’t want to enter the selection however Aspen tell America he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if she didn’t enter since she might always wonder what if. Then, her mother pesters her and makes her a deal she can’t refuse so America doesn’t see the harm since what is really the chance she will get picked? Wrong!

Aspen ends up breaking up with America because he feels like he can’t provide for her. Then America’s name is drawn for the Selection and she figures the castle will be a good place to mend her broken heart away from Aspen while earning some money for her family. The contestant’s family receives a check for every week they remain in the selection. She has no intention to fall for Prince Maxon, but he is Prince Charming wrapped in a big, red bow. America and Maxon become friends and then they start flirting with the line of friendship.

The Selection kept me captivated from the beginning to the end. It is an intriguing tale that left me wanting more…so much so that I started reading book two, the Elite through Amazon’s preview option during my lunch hour since I didn’t have it on hand. Yes, it is a dystopia and it has a love triangle, but so what. This is a uniquely crafted dystopia and when a love triangle is done right, like this, it is a real treat.

Have you read The Selection? What did you think of it? Are you Team Aspen or Team Maxon?

Review: Shadows, Obsidian, and Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I know I've totally slacked on my blog posting, what can I say, I've been in Nashville for work and the hotel had very slow internet connection.  Also, I've met someone.  No, I'm not cheating on my husband, technically.  Has anyone heard of Daemon Black? If so you know what I'm talking about.  While in Nashville, every waking moment that I could possibly steal, my nose was in my nook.  Let me tell you, those were some magical moments.  I read all four novels and a novella in The Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout in seven days. I never turned on the T.V. once and I don't regret a minute of it.  Since the internet was spotty I did stop reading long enough to write a review the old fashion way with my pen and paper.  Now I will share them with you.

I started reading this series because of a contest the author is holding.  Write a piece of fan fiction using one of the characters in her books and win a trip to New Orleans.  Deep dark secret, I've wanted to write a book for about a year now, but I've been too scared to try.  I thought that maybe I could try something like this and it would jump start my writing. Well, I hadn't read any of her books, which was a problem since how could I write a book about a character I knew nothing about.  So, I went on my nook, navigated to the store and bought all 5 books in this series, completely blind.  Problem solved.  Since I was traveling for work I knew I would need something to keep me busy in the airports right?  These kept me busy alright. I wrote these over a period of a week, and tried to keep it keep it so I wouldn't spoil anything for you.

Shadows (Lux, #0.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Rating: 4 wine glasses

Dawson, a 16 year old boy trying to live a regular life in a small town in West Virginia.  Dawson has a secret unlike any other 16 year olds, he wasn't born here.  As in not on this planet.  Dawson and his siblings, Daemon, and Dee (they are triplets) are aliens from the planet Lux.  They have been here on Earth blending in after their planet was destroyed.  It's been engrained in them that Luxen are to blend in with humans, but it's forbidden for humans know about them or to fall in love with one.  Something that hasn't been a problem for Dawson, until he met Bethany.  A human, who Dawson is willing to bend all of the rules for.

This book is a must read before you start the series.  You will gain a deeper understanding of why it's forbidden to for a Luxen to fall in love with a Human.

I connected very deeply with this group of kids.  The story is probably one of the best I've ever read, simple, yet magical.  Jennifer L. Armentrout has transported into this amazing story and I've now reverted back to being a 16 year old girl and I love it!

Obsidian (Lux, 1)by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Rating: 5 wine glasses

Well, I read this book within two days.  I couldn't put it down.  Every waking moment I was thinking about this book.

So, in the last book we learned why Luxens and humans are not supposed to be together.  Dawson and Bethany have been *SPOILER* declared dead by the suspicious DOD (Department of Defense), or the Men in Black.  This book is from the new girl's point of view, Katy.  A year has past since the Dawson/Bethany incident when Katy moves in next door to the Blacks.  Honestly, in Shadows, I didn't care for Daemon at all, not even a little.  Before I started reading this I did question whether I would enjoyed it at all.  I had nothing else to do in the hotel so what the heck.  Thinking back I have no idea why I would have even thought that!

I love Katy.  She is a book blogger, like us, and a normal human teenager.  The banter and sexual tension between Katy and Daemon had me hooked right off the bat.  I heart Daemon, a lot, I mean A. LOT!  I almost don't want to post this review because I kind of don't want to share him with anyone else.  I know it's totally selfish.  I also need someone else to gush about him with.

You can only imagine what is going to happen and most likely you would be correct.  However, Katy and Daemon's love/hate relationship is so intriguing and entertaining you will be captivated.

You will be thanking me later for this.

Onyx (Lux, 2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Rating: 5 wine glasses

Book #2 of the Katy and Daemon relationship saga.   Daemon gets a little softer during this book, showing how sensitive he can be, *SIGH*, but don't worry he'll be back to his usual self.  This book is more about discovery.  We learn more about the new and improved Katy, the DOD, the Dawson/Bethany incident, and the one Luxen weakness.

Again, I read this book in less than two days, it's become my crack, I'm going to be going through some serious withdrawals when I have no more Daemon to read.  I'm torn between slowing down to savor each and every moment with this series and reading, reading, reading, to get that high.  Just like an addict, the addiction always wins.

More Daemon reviews to come....

Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1)
by Cassandra Clare

Rating: 3 Wine Glasses

After taking a step back and a couple weeks of reflection, I am downgrading my initial rating of City of Bones from a 4 to a 3. I enjoyed the world Cassandra Clare has built, however I have found myself not as invested in the world or the characters as I would have liked to been by the time the book ended. For example, Clary’s mother is kidnapped at the beginning of the novel, yet I seem to forget about her for the majority of the novel. While the author is giving the reader a 50/50 mix of vital background and pointless details (do I really need to know how big Isabelle’s necklace is?), the book is absent of what I need most – the desire to care about what happens to these people. This was put on the back burner for the bulk of the novel.  

While reading, I continuously stopped and wondered why something seemed so familiar and I would remember some similar experience/situation in Harry Potter, Star Wars, Percy Jackson, ect. That déjà vu ruined the book’s flow and creativity points. I wasn’t a fan of the ending. The what I like to refer to as the “OMG” moment, completely blindsided me. It could have been the author’s ode to Star Wars, but this twist was unnecessary among other things. I was also shocked how lightly sex is referred to when Clary is only 15 years old, going on 16.

I admit that I have a tiny crush on Jace. He is the perfect image of a fixer-up boyfriend - a damaged bad boy with a sarcastic mouth to match and sarcasm just happens to be my personal love language.  The garden scene was my favorite book kissing scene so far this year.

I have book two, City of Ashes at my disposal but I haven’t had an overwhelming urge to start it so maybe I try to see where the story goes at a later date.

Favorite quote: There might be a God, Clary, and there might not. Either way we’re on our own.

My Soundtrack for City of Bones: Demons by Imagine Dragons

Review: An Unfortunate Fairy Tale Series by Chanda Hahn

I came across the first book in this series as I was perusing the free books on my nook, which has become more of an addiction for me.   What can I say, there could be worse things I could be doing.  Therefore it's justified- spoken like a true addict.  I read the first book back in May and upon discovering the third book release date was soon arriving I had to read the second book so I was prepared for the next one.  I'm going to try something a little different with this review.  I'm going to give you a review of all three of these books.  Just to warn you, this story is not yet complete and with the third book just released last week, we might have to wait a little more.  Not to fear!  I will make sure that I continue to read the remaining books and review them as well.  No really, it's the least that I can do for you.

 UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn
Rating: 3 wine glasses

Fairest by Chanda Hahn
Rating: 3 wine glasses

Fable by Chanda Hahn
Rating: 4 wine glasses

Mina Grime is the one girl who thinks she is invisible.  The girl with very few close friends, the quite one, a little clumsy, the diamond in the rough.  A very relatable character.  In the first book Mina discovers that she is a descendant of the Brothers Grimm.  A very powerful family line that comes with a curse.  To break the curse Mina must play out all of the fairy tales while going to school and being a typical teenager, however, the Story has taken on a life of it's own.  It has the power to manipulate the world and bend it to the story.  In the second book, Mina is getting tired of playing the Story's games and is forced into the story without her realizing it.  Snow White's story.  Learning her lesson from the Snow White story, Mina is determined in the third book, not to give in to the power.  Ignoring her destiny, the Story again has to take drastic measures to force Mina to play.  Charlie is missing.  Should Mina make a deal with a Stiltskin so save her brother?

If you like a modern day twist to the good old classic fairy tales, then these books are for you.  In the first couple of books, I felt the dialog was a bit childish and I needed to remind my-self that these are young adult books.  The third book is written much better.  You can't help but fall in love with Mina and her little brother Charlie.  Her best friend Nan and her two possible love interests, Brody and Jared are just as wonderful.  With these books I feel that I can just sit back, relax and let the book take me away.  I enjoy reading these and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

Review: Forbidden Forest by Tenaya Jayne

This book takes you on a journey of passion, pain and the quest for power. The story follows Forest, a Shape Shifter/Elf hybrid who is an outcast of society as mixing between factions (Vampires, Elves, Shape Shifters and Werewolves) is taboo. Forest works as a portal patroller keeping supernatural creatures that aren’t authorized to visit Earth out. She especially loves kicking out scum suckers, who she has a personal vendetta against after being marked by a vampire so he can have complete dominance and control over her.

Due to her special set of skills, Forest is assigned a secret mission to escort the presumed to be dead, Vampire Prince Syrus across Regia safely as the realm is on the verge of war. This odd duo of a volatile hybrid and charming ladies’ man make for an entertaining pair especially when they discover a strange attraction for each other. Their love is forbidden and as the journey progresses, the forbidden temptations and desires become undeniable. 

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Forbidden Forest (Legends of Regia #1) by Tenaya Jayne

Rating: 5 wine glasses 

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Forest is a rough character and a loner around the edges, but is someone you can’t help but cheer on and wish happiness for. She reminded me of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Tenaya Jayne doesn't go too in-depth with the intimate details of Forest’s devastating encounter with the vampire who marked her, but gives the reader enough information to figure out what caused her to be so guarded and damaged.

I found the book’s concept of mating fascinating. As a shifter only Forest’s destined mate can see her true appearance, no matter how she shifts. You fully bond with your mate upon making eye contact.

This is the third book I have read where the heroine’s love interest is blind. It makes Syrus more vulnerable in some aspects and more realistic in an unrealistic, fantasy world. I adore Syrus’ ability to smell her tears when she is crying and sense other things about Forest’s demeanor.

The scenes at Forest’s house were my favorite. My emotions were swirling – my stomach would clench in anticipation during the heated scenes and then I would catch myself laughing out loud at the comical banter between Syrus and Forest.

I found this book on Amazon for free and purchased it based on the memorizing cover and alluring synopsis. Forbidden Forest grabbed me and kept me wanting more. I will definitely be checking out the sequel, Forest Fire.

Source

My Playlist for Forbidden Forest:
I Need Your Love by Calvin Harris Featuring Ellie Goulding
Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey

photo credit: photosteve101 via photopin cc

Review: Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

This was our book club read for July.  I have to admit that I procrastinated reading this book until the very last possible moment.  This isn't my typical book choice, and when I have so many books on my To-Read list it's really hard to start something that's not.  It's kind of like school.  If it's not interesting to me then you might not get 100% effort from me.  Well, I was pleasantly surprised with this book.  It was able to capture my attention and I ended up reading it in four days.  

Secret Daugter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Rating: 3 1/2 wine glasses

This book is about two very different families and the one thing they have in common.  These stories are beautifully told.

Kavita and Jasu starting a family in India, where having daughters was a punishment.  These girls were often disposed of and if they were lucky ended up in orphanages.  Not being able to allow another daughter suffer the same fate as her first, Kavita secretly traveled days on foot, hours after giving birth, to allow her daughter some chance by giving her up for adoption. 

Somer and Krishnan having suffered through multiple miscarriages and discovering that they would never be able to have a child of their own, sought adoption from Kris' home in India. 

Asha the little girls story of adoption, growth, development, rebellion, and understanding.  Through a school project she travels to India and discovers who she really is.

I experienced a lot during this book. I was the mother who had to give her daughter up for adoption, living in a culture where women served a purpose to cook and clean, and were required to bear sons.

I was a mother who adopted a child from another country and experienced the difficulties of connecting to this child who you loved with all of your heart.

I was a daughter who was adopted and felt the emotions of not belonging and the determination of finding out who I am.

I'm not going to lie.  This book touched me and I was an emotional wreck at the end of it.

Review: Lichgates by S.M. Boyce

Are you ready for another review?  I sure hope so!  I found this book while I was searching for free books on my nook.  I spend hours searching the thousands of free books.  I will admit it, I'm a freebie junkie. This one caught my attention.  The cover is compelling, the synopsis sounded interesting and let's face it, the price was right.  FREE!  You can't beat that.  I love it when I find free books that are pretty amazing.  I feel like I've discovered some buried secret treasure, which is what the Author is trying to do, but frankly I really don't care.  I'm an addict remember!


Lichgates (The Grimoire Saga, #1) by S.M. Boyce
Rating: 4 Wine Glasses

Kara is a college student, who is on vacation with her father in one of their favorite places.  Kara is an adventurer by heart and loves to hike and discover new places among the mountains.  Since her mother passed, Kara uses hiking as a retreat to run from her guilt.  During a daily hike through the familiar mountains a storm immediately strikes and Kara seeks shelter in an old abandoned library of some sort.  The next series of event leads Kara to discover the Grimoire which unlocks a world that is unimaginable.  A world filled with war and everywhere she turns she is being hunted.  Kara has been named the new Vagabond, whose purpose is to bring peace to this world, Ourea.  Can Kara follow in her successor's dreams and fulfill her destiny?  Along the way Kara meets Braeden, a young man who has been searching for the Grimoire in hopes of becoming the next Vagabond so he can escape the world of Ourea forever. Which desire will Braeden overcome, his desire for Kara or for the Grimoire?

I enjoyed this book immensely.  I found the story intriguing, full of magic and mystery, tragedy and turmoil.  The characters are likeable and relatable.  This book was easy to get lost in.

Here are the other books in the series:

Treason (The Grimoire Saga, #2)
Heritage (The Grimoire Saga, #3) To be released Fall of 2013.  Want to get an advance review copy (ARC) of Heritage? Sign up here.
Illusion (The Grimoire Saga, #4) To be released Fall of 2014.

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)
by Marissa Meyer
Rating: 3 wine glasses

At the spot where the world of fantasy and science fiction collide is where the story of Cinder begins. Cinder is a unique spin on the classic fairy tale of Cinderella. The story unfolds in New Beijing 120 years after World War IV. The world has changed quite a bit over the years. The moon has been colonized by humans and over the centuries the lunar human race has evolved and developed special abilities which allows them to alter a person’s thoughts or the way they appear to others.

“People said Lunars could alter a person’s brain – make you see things you shouldn’t see, feel things you shouldn’t feel, do thing you didn’t want to do. Their unnatural power had made them a greedy and violent race, and Queen Levana was the worst of the worst of all of them.”

Queen Levana is suspected of murdering her older sister, husband and niece in order to inherit and secure her position on the Lunar throne. She will stop at nothing to maintain control and increase her power.

The story follows the life of Cinder, a cyborg mechanic. If Cinder didn’t already feel like a second class citizen living as ward under her step-mother’s care, it is about to get worse as Cinder’s mysterious pre-cyborg past is about to be unraveled.

Like Cinder’s character, this book is more than meets the eye. Marissa Meyer has crafted a unique and at times peculiar retelling of the fairy tale favorite, Cinderella. Her distinct attention to detail has created a world that is just as much science fiction as it is fantasy. At times, the mechanic scenes got a little too technology savvy for my personal taste, but some sci-fic readers might find it an enhancing quality to Meyer’s unique skill to drop a fairy tale in a scientifically futuristic world.

I appreciated that the story is set in China where the story of Cinderella was originally believed to have been first recorded. I also enjoyed Cinder’s character, but even more so at times I liked her cyborg abilities such as how an orange light will appear in her vision to indicate when she is being lied to. I adored Iko, an android with a programming glitch that leaves her with smart mouth, a nose for fashion and a mad crush on the young prince, Kaito.

I was surprised by Meyer’s willingness to kill off characters this early in the series. It is rarity in the young adult genre to see authors kill off characters in the first book of a series. I found this refreshing in the aspect that some events didn’t occur exactly how I predicted, however, the big shocker at the end of the book was something I foresaw about 20% of the way into the book.

In all, it was an interesting read and was unlike any other fairy tale retelling I have encountered. I definitely think this a great pick if you like science-fiction as much as fantasy. And if you prefer fantasy and romance like me than it is worth giving it a shot because if nothing else it will challenge your concept of fairy tales, being human and love.

Review: Side Jobs by Jim Butcher

Do I have any Harry Dresden fans out there?  If you are, you are my new best friend.  If you have never heard of Harry Dresden, keep reading and maybe I can convince you why.  Three years ago or so, I was just getting back into reading after sometime taking a break.  You have kids and they consume your life.  I had forgotten how much I loved to read and I was lucky enough to have a young man on my team at work, Matt Davenport, who worked at B&N part time and who is also an indie author. We will talk more about Matt another time.  Anyways, Matt has a very contagious excitement when he talks about books.  He starting telling me about this character Harry Dresden.  Harry Dresden is a Wizard who lives in Chicago.  If you are in the Chicago area, look him up in the phone book. 

Anyone who is cool enough to have an ad in the phone book as a wizard is worth checking out. So, I read the first book in the Dresden File series and was hooked.  About this time every year, I start to get a craving for a little Harry Dresden.  Normally I can hold off until the release of the next book in the series which usually is around Thanksgiving.  However, the next book, Skin Game, has no release date.  NO RELEASE DATE!!!!!  Now, I did find a possible December 3rd release date, however, that has not be confirmed yet.  Now what is a girl supposed to do?  So, in order to sate my appetite I watched the entire TV series that came out about 5 years too early since it was cancelled after the first season.  I recommend you check it out on Netflix if you have it, it's amazing nothing like the book but amazing in it's own way.  This was just the appetizer.  I needed more, so I picked up Side Jobs, which are short stories that occur at various times throughout the series.  My favorites were Backup, The Warrior, and Aftermath.  Here is a list of all of the short stories you will find.

Side Jobs by Jim Butcher

Rating: 3 wine glasses, very, very, very full

“Restoration of Faith”- Takes place before Storm Front
“Vignette”- Takes place between Death Masks and Blood Rites
“Something Borrowed” - Takes place between Dead Beat and Proven Guilty
“It’s My Birthday Too”- Takes place between White Night and Small Favor
“Heorot”-Takes place between White Night and Small Favor
“Day Off”- Takes place between Small Favor and Turn Coat.
Backup - A novelette, takes place between Small Favor and Turn Coat      
The Warrior- A novelette, takes place between Small Favor and Turn Coat  
“Last Call”- Takes place between Small Favor and Turn Coat
“Love Hurts” - Takes place between Turn Coat and Changes 
 Aftermath- A novelette, takes place after Changes

What can I tell you about Harry Dresden.  He is a kick butt wizard and ends of having a lot of issues with vampires, werewolves, Chicago PD, archangels, fae and a whole bunch of bad guys.  He is goofy and clumsy, but somehow he manages to save the day.  Jim Butcher has done an amazing job developing all of the characters in the books and you can't help but fall right into the series.  I will admit that this was the series that started my book binges, yes I have a problem, no I don't care.

Review: Something From the Nightside by Simon R. Green

Rachel and I are still figuring this blogging thing out.  OK...so Rachel already rocks the page and I'm still trying to figure it out.  Rachel is far superior when it comes to her posts and reviews.  Rachel's reviews are full of thought, meaning, and she always has lots of questions.  I wish I could write like her.  When I read, I read for pure entertainment.  I am usually transported into the book and live moment by moment alongside the characters.  I don't analyze why a character does this or why this is the way it is.  That's Rachel and why I like her so much.  So, what you will get from me will be posts that are fairly straight forward and describe how I felt when reading the book.  I'm hopping the more I do this the better I will become.  Please be patient with me.

I'm currently in the process of reading The Good, The Bad, and The Uncanny by Simon R. Green.  This is book 10 of 12 in the Nightside series.  This all started about three years ago, I had just finished the Twilight series for the second time.  Yes, I got caught up in the Twilight hype, but those were the first books I had read in over ten years.  Kids. Needing something to quench my renewed thirst for books, the Nightside series was recommended to me.  I'm a sci-fi fantasy kind of a girl and it sounded like something right up my alley.

SOMETHING FROM THE NIGHTSIDE (Nightside #1)
By Simon R. Green
Rating: 3 Wine Glasses

John Taylor, left the Nightside for a chance at a normal life as a private investigator in the human world.  He has a special gift for finding missing things.  Years later, John is barely making ends meat in the real world and has just been hired to find a young teenage daughter who has gone missing.  All of the clues lead to the place that John vowed never to return to.  John has to make a decision to return and deal with the consequences he ran away from or let a young girl become another victim of the Nightside.  According to John, the Nightside "is the sick, secret, magical heart of London, where gods and monsters go to make the deals and seek the pleasures they won't find anywhere else."

Reader beware.


I like this series, it gives me the opportunity to be the bad, good guy.  Let's face it, sometimes you just need that.  There are no morals in the Nightside and all of your guilty pleasures come true.  Like a lot of British authors that I've read, there is a lot of description.  I've realized that I enjoy dialog so without a lot of dialog it takes me longer than typical get through reading these.  I've also realized that I can't just jump into the next book of the series I need to wait a while in-between them.  They are thrilling and full of mystery, I just don't like living in them for too long.

Review: The Sibylline Oracle by Delia Colvin

The Sibylline Oracle (The Sibylline Trilogy #1)
by Delia J. Colvin
Rating: 3 wine glasses

I was really excited to read this book since I am a huge fan of anything to do with Greek mythology. Don't get me wrong, I did like the book. The flashbacks were enchanting, transforming and enhanced the story. I hope to see more of those in the series' second book,  The Symbolon.

However, the book starts out slow. I got a little restless. It takes about half of the book for the reader to get the full background, but don't give up on this too hasty. The author does a good job with the storyline once she devolves more.

I will provide you with the background that you don't find out until about halfway through the book to entice you without spoiling the ending.

Valeria is really Cassandra, the beautiful Trojan woman who Apollo bestowed the gift of prophecy upon, reincarnated.

She is Alex's soul mate. They make each other feel complete. The author explains this beautifully, but pretty much he is willing to wait millenniums just to have a couple minutes with her. Wow...there is the definition of eternal love.

Alex is also blessed with the gift of prophecy. He is immoral and he will remain so, as long as no one kills him in the same manner he was originally killed.

Each time Cassandra is reborn, Alex tries to find her but each time she is reincarnated she always dies on her 26th birthday. When the book starts Valeria's 26th birthday is only a couple of weeks away and time is running out.

Things that took away from the story - the exclamation points. They were overused to the point I felt like the main characters were over excited about everything (the books they enjoyed, the weather, etc) and on some happy-go-lucky drug. I got more used to it as the book continued, but I had trouble relating to the characters since they were over enthusiastic and not realistic.

I still want to read the rest of the books in the series to see where the author takes the story and how she develops the characters.

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Read in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

I know, I know, I'm really late reading this book. I bought it almost four years ago when it first came out and it's just been sitting here, moved around from nightstand to dresser to book shelf. When I discovered a fourth book had been released in the amazing world of Robert Langdon I figured that I needed to get this book off of the 'ole book shelf and get caught up.  I was really excited to read this book when it first came out, however at that time I was completely engulfed in another series and so this waited.  I didn't miss much.

The Lost Symbol
by Dan Brown
Rating: 3 wine glasses

The Lost Symbol is book three that features Robert Langdon getting into some type of mess that requires only him and his expertise to solve the mystery.  Robert Langdon sure knows how to get in a mess. In this third book, Robert is called to Washington D.C. For an emergency seminar by a close friend and mentor Peter Solomon. Only when he walks onto the stage Robert is face to face with an empty room. A phone call seconds later revels that Robert has been tricked and Peter has been kidnapped.  Robert has to decide whether he will comply with the kidnapper's demands to code the clues to the Ancient Mysteries or work with the CIA to keep a very old and Masonic secret a secret.  With Peter's life on the line he must act quickly.  

Robert is amazing at first with his knowledge of symbols that takes you on a thrilling adventure again. I love the symbolism and the way these books make me think.  The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons are two of my favorite books and proof that I do read books other than Sci-Fi Fantasy.  However, in this book Robert's lack of belief limits his mind from decoding the artifact. Yes, Robert is not the hero in this story. I guess this is what Dan Brown wanted, but its not really what I wanted. I now see Robert flawed. Even after the conclusion of the climax, Dan Brown still goes on and on and on to try to convince Robert to believe. My issue with this is everything that Robert has already been through, I would imagine that he wouldn't have been this stubborn to try to accept that the Ancient Mysteries could be truth. This book kept my interest however it was predictable which why it only received 3 wine glasses.   I love how Dan Brown pulls in religion, science, and history and I will forever be a Robert Langdon fan. 

Melissa's Monday Review: Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn

I know it's a little late, but I thought that I would make my first contribution to the site. I have read a lot of fantastic books lately and it was really hard to decide which one I should post here tonight. I haven't read many new releases so I apologize if I'm behind the times on this one. Since this book is currently free and Rachel mentioned it in yesterday's post here you go.

Open Minds (Mindjack Trilogy #1) 
by Susan Kaye Quinn
Rating: 5 out of 5 wine glasses

Imagine a world where we have evolved to communicate telepathically. By the time you become a teenager you should go through the change, if you don't, you are an outcast, a zero. Unable to go to college or get a decent job because you can't be trusted with thoughts that no one can hear. Kira Moore has been waiting for her change and has begun the realization that she may never. Her best friend Raf won't give up hope for the girl he loves. Kira nearly kills him when she finally goes through the change only it's not what she or anyone expected. Kira has the ability to push people telepathically to her command. Kira meets Simon who is like her and helps her with the change. Simon has mastered his craft and is not always moral or ethical. She knows that no one can know her secret since history has proven disaster with people who are different, but she can't trust Simon and the cult he is trying to get her to join. Kira is faced with decisions to either fight against the corrupt cults or the to protect them from the unlawful system that hunts them because they are different.

The author did a fantastic job developing this world from the technology you use your mind to control and the slang the teenagers use. The story is nothing that I've read before. I love Kira, have a sweet spot for Raf, and love to hate Simon. I'm hooked!