Sunday, April 30, 2017

New Books of 2017 (Part 3)



New Books of 2017 (Part 3)
Check out these new books that have been released as of Jan. 2017.

Click on the book covers to find them on Amazon.




Sci-Fi & Time Travel:


Traveller - Inceptio by Rob Shackleford

If you were sent 1000 years into the past, would you survive?

Traveller - Inceptio describes how the Transporter is accidentally invented and becomes public knowledge when it sends a subject 1000 years into the past.

A Special Forces team of Travellers is then selected and trained with the intent to send them to Saxon England to explore what could be a very dangerous period of history.

From the beaches of Australia to the forests of Saxon England, Traveller - Inceptio reveals how Travellers discover they need a lot more than technology to survive the trials of early Eleventh Century life.



White Collar Crime:

Although he was a suburban husband and father, living a far different life than the “Wolf of Wall Street,” Michael Kimelman had a good run as the cofounder of a hedge fund. He had left a cushy yet suffocating job at a law firm to try his hand at the high-risk life of a proprietary trader — and he did pretty well for himself. But it all came crashing down in the wee hours of November 5, 2009, when the Feds came to his door—almost taking the door off its hinges. While his wife and children were sequestered to a bedroom, Kimelman was marched off in embarrassment in view of his neighbors and TV crews who had been alerted in advance. He was arrested as part of a huge insider trading case, and while he was offered a “sweetheart” no-jail probation plea, he refused, maintaining his innocence.

The lion’s share of Confessions of a Wall Street Insider was written while Kimelman was an inmate at Lewisburg Penitentiary. In nearly two years behind bars, he reflected on his experiences before incarceration—rubbing elbows and throwing back far too many cocktails with financial titans and major figures in sports and entertainment (including Leonardo DiCaprio, Alex Rodriguez, Ben Bernanke, and Alan Greenspan, to drop a few names); making and losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in daily gambles on the Street; getting involved with the wrong people, who eventually turned on him; realizing that none of that mattered in the end. As he writes: “Stripped of family, friends, time, and humanity, if there’s ever a place to give one pause, it’s prison . . . Tomorrow is promised to no one.” In Confessions of a Wall Street Insider, he reveals the triumphs, pains, and struggles, and how, in the end, it just might have made him a better person.



YA Fantasy:




Neva has more problems than the average seventeen year old: a fear of mirrors, lips that cause death upon contact, an insatiable addiction to apples, and she's been doomed to repeat the same three years of her life over and over.

She may be the prettiest girl around, but her beauty has caused her nothing but trouble. Neva has been cursed by a vengeful coven of ruthless witches. She has a small window of time to break her curse, or she will have to live with her burdens for all eternity.




Christian Mystery:


How far will one mother go to find her child?

A full year after a painful divorce, Elizabeth’s seventeen-year-old daughter Lillian decides to visit a friend over the Fourth of July weekend but never returns home. With the help of her neighborhood friend Cole, Elizabeth tries to make sense of what really happened and hopefully bring her daughter home.



Dystopian Science Fiction:


The Eternity Prophecy by S. G. Basu

Question a prophecy? Prepare to be terminated.

In the Veloressian Empire of the twenty-three stars, prophecies are sacred and absolute. Until the day Oracle Prime Leon Courtee challenges the Empire's most sacrosanct divination--the Eternity Prophecy. The next morning he disappears, along with an inconceivable truth that could cripple the Empire. 


As murmurs of a conspiracy simmer underneath a facade of peace, the regime prepares to strike back. Anything to keep the dissenters quiet. Or better yet, dead. The Empire is ready to turn innocents into pawns in a game of treachery and deceit--a sacrifice deemed necessary to keep peace across the galaxy. 


Will truth stand a chance against the all-powerful Empire? 


In this unputdownable tour de force, disparate lives--a young mother fleeing a horrific past, a covert operative trying to resuscitate his career, a self-taught hacker fixated on revenge, an assassin seeking redemption--crisscross and careen unwittingly toward a stunning conclusion.




Crime Thriller:

Game Point (DCI Bennett Book 4) by Malcolm Hollingdrake

DCI Bennett faces the most harrowing case of his career. A psychopath, who escaped capture, is hell bent on revenge and executes a series of events that will not only impact on Bennett physically, but will have emotional and professional consequences.     
    
A body is found with its fingers amputated, then an investigative journalist, embroiled in the pornography and drugs scene, is murdered.

Bennett’s team is faced with some baffling evidence. Hatpins and bicycle spokes become pivotal to the inquiry but the police struggle to connect the evidence.

It is only when a Detective Sergeant from the team is kidnapped that Bennett realises that he is the true target.

Can Bennett solve the case before it’s too late? How many people will he lose in the process?



Dystopian Science Fiction:



Humans are all but extinct. Our world is in ruins, destroyed by the AI known as The Order. 3p1c should be just like the other millions of robots created, except that, he has emotions. The only problem is that there isn't much to feel in this hollow, ruined world until he stumbles upon something that will make him question his own existence. A human.



Women's Fiction, Sci-Fi, Fantasy:

Ahe'ey by Jamie Le Fay


Morgan's feminist books didn't prepare her to deal with the dashing Gabriel and the land of Ahe'ey ...

Ahe'ey: The Complete Collection

Morgan is a dreamer, change maker and art lover. She is a feisty, slightly preachy, romantic feminist full of contradictions and insecurities. Morgan uncovers a world where women have the power, and where magic is no longer just a figment of her wild imagination. Sounds like a dream, but it may, in fact, turn into a nightmare.

The world of the Ahe'ey challenges and subverts her views about gender, genes, and nature versus nurture.

The strong and uninvited chemistry between her and the dashing Gabriel makes matters even more complicated. His stunning looks keep short-circuiting her rational mind.




What new 2017 book are you looking forward to?



Descriptions off Amazon. Links are affiliate links to Amazon.


Saturday, April 29, 2017

The Lucky Cat (REVIEW) #ShortReadsSaturdays




 The Lucky Cat

Black Cat Vol. 1

(A Salem Massachusetts Mini Mystery)



Author: Lisa Shea
Category: Cozy Mystery, Short Story
Suitable for: All Ages
My Rating: 3 Stars
Format Read for Review: Nook epub
Pages: 15

Description: Kathy Taylor, a former police officer turned P.I. is offered an unusual case by a stressed mother who comes to her to find a missing cat. The mother claims that this is no ordinary cat but one that she credits with performing miracles. Kathy takes the case and together they quickly discover what happened and find resolution for everyone.

In Short: If you like your mysteries extra cozy and are interested in short reads (15 pages) that are part of a series check this book and others by this author out.

Pros: Cute story, well written and very descriptive. The story has a great ending that is happy for everyone involved. I love the author's writing and would definitely like to read something longer or a full series by Lisa Shea. This is a feel good story full of nice characters. There is a lot of character development for our heroine, Kathy, which will really suck you into the series.  

Cons: I expected this to be more of a mystery so it was kind of disappointing for me when the culprit so easily appeared and spilled the beans. This story was a bit too short and rushed, lacking development.










Monday, April 24, 2017

I Will Love You Forever (REVIEW)

 

I Will Love You Forever 



Author: Tatsuya Miyanishi
Category: Illustrated Children's Book
Suitable for: All Ages, ideal for ages 5-7
My Rating: 2.5 Stars
Format Read for Review: ARC from the author/publisher in return for my honest review.
Pages: 40

Description: A Maiasaura (herbivore) finds an egg in the forest one day. She keeps it safe with an egg of her own until both eggs hatch. When the mystery egg hatches she discovers it is a baby Tyrannosaurus (carnivore). She raises the Tyrannosaurus with her own baby even though he is her natural predator. As the Tyrannosaurus grows he discovers what he truly is and after meeting his biological father in the woods he disappears with him and never comes back.

In Short: Overall I thought this book was too dark to be enjoyable for children. Although it tries to have positive messages of unconditional love and loving others even when they aren't like you, it in the process isolates adopted children. The adopted dinosaur struggled with his identity, was regularly drawn with tears in his eyes, and eventually runs away from the family that raised him and loved him.

Pros: The start of this story was cute and had potential, but I hated how it turned out. Maybe the other books of this series have more uplifting themes. I would suggest, if you are interested in this series, or your child just loves dinosaurs to check out the other books of the series first. I had never heard of the Maiasaura before so I learned something new. I really loved the Maiasaura characters and wish they could have gotten a happier ending.
           
Cons: The art and story are a bit dark and melancholy in my opinion for small children. For me this story is too sad and I think the ending could be confusing for the age group. I didn't feel that there was any sort of resolution by the end or that any valuable lessons were learned. I don't think adopted children should read this book because it could make them feel like they don't belong. Even though the mother Maiasaura raised the baby tyrannosaur with love and said all the right things he left her without any warning. It is a very heartbreaking ending that leaves a lot of questions unanswered and is not comforting.

Parent's Guide: This book contains some cartoon violence and sad themes that may be hurtful to adopted children. 




Saturday, April 22, 2017

Chartreuse (REVIEW) #ShortReadsSaturdays



Chartreuse

A Sci-Fi Short Story



Author: Lisa Shea
Category: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Dystopian, Short Story
Suitable for: All Ages
My Rating: 5 Stars
Format Read for Review: Nook (free)
Pages: 17

Description: Set in a dystopian France in an overpopulated world a woman makes an unpopular choice to join a solely male monastery. Despite her loved-ones objections she follows her dreams to La Grand Chartreuse where the monks make the 'Elixir of Long Life.' She quickly finds herself at home and at peace away from the overcrowding and starvation. Years pass and she becomes a full fledged member. One day she makes a huge discovery about the Elixir and is faced with a choice that will affect the world.

In Short: An entertaining short story full of detail and plenty of plot. For me this was a very peaceful and relaxing read that also makes you think, what would you do with such a powerful secret?

Pros: Beautifully written and very descriptive. Great standalone, feel-good read. I thought the story was very interesting and well thought out. In this world illness is a thing of the past and people live to be 120 years of age. The world has become overpopulated and people are starving. The protagonist is a very well developed character that sought employment in a monastery to escape her dystopian world. A lot of detail was packed into those 17 pages.

Cons: I have no notable issues with this book.  

Parent's Guide: Clean.


This is a perfect #ShortReadsSaturdays read!



Monday, April 17, 2017

Short Horrors for Occult Fans by Sarah Buhrman

 Short Horrors for Occult Fans

by Sarah Buhrman

Genre: Paranormal Horror

Release Blitz- April 17, 2017



Blurb

Three thrilling tales to bring you shivers... and nightmares.



*A chemical spill may have effected the residents of a small town when their dreams become reality.

*A pair of mirrors turns a late night at a museum into a bloodbath.
*A night security guard teaches a rookie the details of a job where it is more important to protect people from the building than vice versa.

Buy Links and Goodreads TBR

Amazon: US/CA/UK/AU

Goodreads: Add to your TBR


Other Books by Sarah Buhrman

Click here to buy!


Click here to buy!



About the Author:



Sarah is an Author Goddess, one who embraces the divine honor of creating worls with words in the hope of inspiring others. Sarah has been writing for more than 15 years. With a tongue-in-cheek way of looking at the world, her form of story and verse is blunt and witty. She lives in the middle of nowhere with two monsters (the kids), an ogre (the hubby) and whatever drama-llama is coming to visit this week.




Website: http://www.authorgoddess.com/
Email: AuthorGoddessSarahB@gmail.com
Blog: https://authorgoddess.blogspot.com/
FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahB/
FB Street Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/StreetTeamSarah/
Twitter: twitter.com/AuthorGoddess
Vlog channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwIyhTZ60_FiXXpCaf_t30g
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbuhrman
Newsletter Sign-up (via FB): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahB/app/100265896690345/
Newsletter Sign-up (direct): http://eepurl.com/caTCyL
Patreon: patreon.com/kalisara
Amazon (Short Horrors for Occult Fans): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XZ5SKR4
Amazon (Too Wyrd): https://www.amazon.com/Too-Wyrd-Runespell-Book-1/dp/1612967523/
B&N (Too Wyrd): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/too-wyrd-sarah-buhrman/1124547224
Goodreads (author): https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8016250.Sarah_Buhrman



Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Little Tails in the Savannah (REVIEW)


Out July 11, 2017
Find it on Amazon here

Little Tails in the Savannah



Author: Frédéric Brrémaud
Illustrator: Federico Bertolucci
Category: Illustrated Children's Book, Educational
Suitable for: Ideal for ages 4 - 8
My Rating: 5 Stars
Format Read for Review: E-book ARC from the author/publisher in return for my honest review.
Pages: 32

Description: Chipper and Squizzo go on another adventure in their paper airplane. This time they are off to the Savannah where they explore and introduce the reader to all the wonderful animals they encounter.  

In Short: The Little Tails books are perfect for children that are very interested in animals because they have the most gorgeous art of animals along with fun, educational facts about various exotic creatures.

Pros: The art is fabulous. Pairs cartoons (Chipper and Squizzo) with more realistic paintings of animals that are just stunning. The book is very colorful and the images fill the pages. At the end there is more information and fun facts about many of the animals. This book is educational in a fun way. Kids who love animals will want to read it over and over.

Cons: I have no notable issues with this book.











Saturday, April 8, 2017

HEY DOORMAN VIII (REVIEW) #ShortReadsSaturdays


 


HEY DOORMAN VIII:

True Tales of an Uncommon Bouncer in Los Angeles

 


Author: John P. Kildemm
Category: Short Story Anthology, Nonfiction, Narratives, Political, Humor, Entertainment
Suitable for: Adults
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Format Read for Review: Kindle copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Pages: 36

Description: A series of short stories based on the author's experiences as a bouncer for a Los Angeles night club. He has had some crazy experiences and he shares these short tales with a lot of thought and wit.  

In Short: This short book definitely resonates the post-election angst that many Americans are currently feeling and expressing. If you enjoy humorous short stories based on the dark reality of nightlife that draw comparisons mocking the rhetoric of Trump's campaign you will like this book. But if you are a Trump supporter you could be upset by many of the comments made in this book, and I would suggest passing on it.

Pros: This book is very interesting and really more of a 3.75 Stars Rating. It gives you a fantastic view of Los Angeles club culture. These stories are quick, fun to read, smart and humorous. Some of the stories or commentary were so funny that I laughed out loud! It was like watching a TV show about a bouncer who encounters some pretty wild people and then throws jokes onto it. Many of the stories were very exciting, action packed, and entertaining. Some of the stories featured very violent characters and it made the story quite scary. Very well written anthology of unique narratives.   

Cons: The amount of cynicism was a downer for me at times, fortunately there was humor too or I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did. Some of the pop culture references went over my head and left me lost. At times I thought some of the stories were too negative and based on just interpersonal issues that I didn't think were very important or entertaining. For example the narrator explained how he didn't like a particular man's name so he chose to call him by a name that he created to insult him. It came across as a bit disrespectful to me. I wish the book had been longer because there were many stories that I did enjoy and would have liked to read more.     

Parent's Guide: This book contains graphic language, swearing, violence, sexual themes. I suggest only adult readers.



To find more time for reading in my busy schedule I read short books on Saturdays! If you like short stories, novellas, novelettes and other short books, join me for the fun and let's discuss great short reads!

What great short book have you read lately?