Book Review: Under the Dome by Stephen King

Book Title: Under The Dome

Author: Stephen King(www.StephenKing.com)

Pages: 1074

Publisher: Scribner

Genre: Horror/Science Fiction

(Scale Explanation: 1) Meaning awful, 5) Meaning not good, but not bad, equal, 10) Meaning wonderful)

PLOT - 10

CHARACTERS - 10

BEGINNING - 10

ENDING - 8

FLOW - 10

OVERALL - 10

What I liked about this book:
What was there to not love about this book. You will see when you read on, but what I liked was the characters. Each one had their own life and Stephen King divulged things about their lives, he also showed you there personalities. There were so many characters, but it was so well written that I was still able to keep up with almost every one of them. I love how Stephen King can make you feel the most utter despair that you have ever felt by reading the written word. I love how he made me feel the gut-wrenching terror whenever it reared it’s ugly little, or in this books case, huge disfigured head. The book is very fast-paced, which I like because it was a page turner even at 1000+ pages. I loved the descriptions of places. I loved the research that Stephen King had to do, because wow, there were some interesting things going on in that book. I love how is not afraid to tackle anything there is to write about and tackle it head on. I loved the Woodchuck, though I will never look at one the same way ever again! LOL Through and though, this book really was a great read.

What I disliked about this book:
The ending was a bit abrupt, even though it turned out to be the ending that I would have wished for, it still just seemed rushed. Almost as if he was approaching a deadline and had to write it really fast. I’m not saying like the last hundreds of pages, I’m saying the very last chapter that is only a few pages. It just gave me a feeling of being rushed. I mean, the ending was a great way to end the whole book, but not the way he did it. It just wasn't fitting to me.

Who I would recommend this book to:
Anyone that is a fan of Stephen King and his remarkable work. Anyone that enjoys a book that you have to devote yourself to. Anyone that enjoys a good gut-wrenching terror inducing read. Anyone that enjoys horror. Anyone that enjoys science fiction.

What I felt the book was about:
The way I see it with this book, if I went through and wrote what I truly felt the book was about, it would take about five other blogs to do this and the reader(if there truly are any) would have grown a long white beard by the time they finished, so I’ll just touch on it.

Dale Barbara is a retired Iraqi war veteran and he lives in Chester’s Mill, Maine, but the day that the dome comes down over the entire town, he was on his way out. Only he was stuck, because the pretty young blonde girl driving the old truck didn’t stop when he waved. Hitchhiking is just not a good idea anyway. Basically as the dome comes down over the town, tracing the exact shape of the towns border, many things happen and Stephen King illustrates these with the most detailed and descriptive words that I have ever seen used when describing deaths and slicing. I’ll leave that part at that.

As the town is trying to piece together what has happened, there are many things going on all at the same time, there is a murder, Big Jim Rennie, a local used car dealer that has other ways of making his millions is trying to take over the town. Only he is smart about it. He uses his fellow Selectman, Andy Sanders to be his front man. Basically, he owns the town.

Colonel Cox, Barbara’s old Army Colonel contacts his via Julia Shumway’s cell phone. Miss Shumway is the local newspaper editor, and she basically writes most of the stories. They get in contact and it comes out that the President has promoted Barbara to Colonel so that he can take charge of the situation inside the dome, though Jim Rennie hates Barbara because of his run-in with Junior Rennie, Big Jim’s son.

Junior Rennie has issues of his own, including a terminal brain tumor that not really anyone knows about, except for the town doctor that expires shortly after the first day under the dome.

There were so many characters that it would be difficult to explain the stories that all of them are included on, but in the end Stephen King brings them all together and he does it brilliantly.

Moving on, Big Jim decides that he can pin the now 4 murdered bodies on Dale Barbara so that he can maintain control of the town. All of the kids in the town have had at least one seizure and all are saying the same things, things that make absolutely no sense. The bigger picture is they do, but that isn’t found out until later. There have been numerous suicides and Big Jim has appointed many of the town hooligans to be honorary police officers given the situation. This is not good because just about all of them end up abusing the power that Big Jim bestows upon them.

Meanwhile, the old police chief who was one of the casualties of ‘Dome Day’ has a very smart wife, she is also very curious and digs in her late husbands computer files and finds a file that he was putting together with the help of the DA against Big Jim Rennie, it seems as though he has something to do with a Meth-producing business and has made butt loads of money that way. They have everything they need to end Big Jim Rennie’s reign. Barbara gets arrested and is held for a few days before the people that are on Barbara’s side decide to break him out.

The US government has proclaimed the day ‘Visitor’s Day at the Dome.’ A day for the families that have family members inside the dome to visit them. It all goes to hell. Basically, there is an explosion which is also, in a slightly obscure way, connected to Big Jim, though also hugely connected to him as well. The explosion fills the dome with non-breathable gases and those that survive the fire are left to die from inhaling the fumes. The Barbara’s side peeps had broken him out and went to the far end of the dome, the US Government has set up fans to blow as much air as possible into the dome, there is a small amount of oxygen and water vapors that can make it though, bit not much.

Barbara’s peeps go to this side of the dome, because Colonel Cox had told him to find a Geiger Counter and this side of the dome is where they found the dome generator. Whatever was keeping it there.

From this point, I’ll leave out the details, but this is where they all decide that they have to try to get the dome lifted, or they will all die.

Favorite excerpts or quotes from the book:
““Minions,” Junior whispered. “Just another one of Big Jim Rennie’s filet minions.”” – Page 825

“”I’m the wolf now,” he whispered to the hot and empty house, “I’m the werewolf, and I saw Lon Chaney dancing with the queen.”” – Page 849



If I put my absolute favorite quote up, it will give away the whole entire book, so I’m not going to do it, just read it, you won’t be disappointed.

Upcoming Book Review: Musings on Minutiae by Weston Locher

This was a great book that I enjoyed so much. I loved that it was cut up into very short stories, or anecdotes. Perfect book to read when you are short on time, but you want to laugh a lot before you have to move on. I look forward to posting this review. I'd like for people to really check this book out too. :)

Excerpt from the book:

Here's what readers are saying about Musings on Minutiae...
"This is the funniest book I've read in thousands upon thousands of years!" - God
"If you keep writing these things about me, I'm going to have to sue you." - The Author's Father

Welcome to Weston Locher's Musings on Minutiae where the author offers up hilarious observations and insights on topics of great importance such as:

Living in an urban apartment complex - "...if I become an admitted pet owner, then I have to pay not only a several hundred dollar deposit to the apartment complex, but I'm pretty sure that they also reserve the right to harvest some of my bodily organs..."

Living with felines - "...as I'm walking anywhere in my apartment. They scamper in front of my legs, causing me to fall and face plant into whatever furniture is closest. They especially like to play this game when I'm carrying piping hot coffee."

Childhood Memories - "Our family was nearly torn apart on several occasions by arguements started when the refrigerator door was open for what my father deemed as 'too long.'"

Chock full of humorous essays and personal anecdotes, Musings on Minutiae will keep you laughing as long as you have a pulse.

For more information, visit http://www.musingsonminutiae.com/

Upcoming Book Review: Under the Dome by Stephen King

 Oh my, this book was something. I mean SOMETHING! It blew my mind. Stephen King is a literary genius. Okay, this book was one that I had to devote a lot of time and my whole being to, but it was definitely worth it.

The edition that I bought didn't have a description of the book on the back or the cover, it was a hardback. I think it was collector's edition which makes me happy, but anyway, I got the description from Goodreads.com:

On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester's Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener's hand is severed as "the dome" comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when -- or if -- it will go away.


Dale Barbara, Iraq vet and now a short-order cook, finds himself teamed with a few intrepid citizens -- town newspaper owner Julia Shumway, a physician's assistant at the hospital, a select-woman, and three brave kids. Against them stands Big Jim Rennie, a politician who will stop at nothing -- even murder -- to hold the reins of power, and his son, who is keeping a horrible secret in a dark pantry. But their main adversary is the Dome itself. Because time isn't just short. It's running out.

Visit: http://www.stephenking.com/ for more information.

Book Review: Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Last Olympian (PJ#5) by Rick Riordan

Book Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian (PJ#5)

Author: Rick Riordan(http://www.rickriordan.com/)

Pages: 381

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Genre: Young Adult/Science Fiction/Fantasy/Mythology

(Scale Explanation: 1) Meaning awful, 5) Meaning not good, but not bad, equal, 10) Meaning wonderful)

PLOT - 10

CHARACTERS - 10

BEGINNING - 10

ENDING - 10

FLOW - 10

OVERALL - 10

What I liked about this book:
I loved the book. It was a great way to end a great series.

What I disliked about this book:
Nothing really, it was very fast-paced and there weren’t any mistakes plot-wise that I saw. The only real issue I had was that the person that is the Last Olympian is not even near what you would expect and I think that the title was poorly chosen for this book. Maybe something like The War of Mount Olympus would have been better suited. IDK, I'm just a reader.

Who I would recommend this book to:
Anyone who is a fan of The Percy Jackson Series, and anyone that enjoys Greek Mythology.

What I felt the book was about:
Essentially, the book is a battle the whole way through between Percy, the demigods, and the Olympians and Kronos's army of many misfits, so there is a lot of strategy talk and not much focus on things away from the battle. We find out who the prophecy was about, which is a surprise. There are a few deaths that are very sad. There is a surprise from a mortal girl that is very risky, but she succeeds. I don't want to give too much away seeing as how this is the last in the series. Basically, you need to read it. There is an agreement between Percy Jackson and the Gods that's supposed to prevent Kronos's rising from every happening again. Percy has to make an interesting decision at the end of the book. One that would have been extremely hard for me. And the Percabeth romance gets juicy. In the good way.

Favorite excerpts or quotes from the book:
""It's him," I said. "Typhon."

I was seriously hoping Chiron would say something good, like 'No, that's our huge friend Leroy! He's going to help us!''"

There were a few other quotes that I would have loved to have added, but that would give too much away. Now, go read it!

Beautiful Blogger Award

Renee Miller-Johnston from http://www.reneeamiller.blogspot.com has given me the coveted Beautiful Blogger Award. I surely do appreciate it and am so thankful that she chose me.

What an awesome award to receive when I spend so much time and hard work on this blog. I'm hoping to add some cool new features in the near future, but for now, I'm just happy that people actually look at it from time to time.

Thank you Renee.

Be sure to check out her blog also where she has the other winners posted. The other blogs were amazing and I am again thankful that mine was even considered in that grouping.

Book Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth (PJ#4) by Rick Riordan

Book Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth (PJ #4)

Author: Rick Riordan(http://www.rickriordan.com/)

Pages: 361

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Science Fiction/Mythology

(Scale Explanation: 1) Meaning awful, 5) Meaning not good, but not bad, equal, 10) Meaning wonderful)

PLOT - 10

CHARACTERS - 10

BEGINNING - 10

ENDING - 9

FLOW - 10

OVERALL - 10

What I liked about this book:
This one let us see a lot more of each characters characteristics and I really enjoyed the budding Annabeth/Percy relationship with Rachel mixed in. Very comical. The wit that Rick Riordan uses in these books continues to make me burst out in laughter as I'm reading in silence. It is quite distracting for my family. :)

What I disliked about this book:
Nothing really, this was the most developed of the books so far. It has seemed as I have read them that they have just been better and better with each book.

Who I would recommend this book to:
Anyone that is a fan of the Percy Jackson Series. Anyone that likes Greek Mythology.

What I felt the book was about:
Percy Jackson goes to his Freshman orientation and is stalked by demon cheerleaders. He sees Rachel Elizabeth Dare again and she becomes a mortal friend. She can see through the mist. Percy ends up going back to camp with Annabeth and there is a new swordsman teacher, Quintus who has a hellhound named Mrs. O’Leary. One of the lesson plans that Quintus has set up is a battle with real monsters purchased from a ranch for the monsters of Greek Mythology. While in the woods, fighting off the monsters, Percy and Annabeth stumble into an opening to the Labyrinth. A very mysterious and crazy maze designed and still living, because it’s creator is still living, Daedalus.
This is the best book in the series so far, because through out the book, they are in and out of the labyrinth. Grover finds Pan and realizes some things about Pan that were always true and that Grover is a chosen one of Pan to spread the word that they have to save the Wild.
Nico Di Angelo is against Percy, but Percy doesn’t know what he is going to do. It is known now that Nico is a son of Hades and he is extremely powerful.
There is a really insane moment when Percy has the chance to kill the re-creation of Kronos which I’m not going to give away, but was like WHOA! LOL
By the end of the book, Kronos army invades Camp Half-Blood, but Grover is able to fend them off with a screechy scream that was given to him from Pan, not without losing a few campers in the process.
Poseidon comes to visit Percy on his 15th birthday party and so does Nico Di Angelo who has a special message for Percy regarding defeating Kronos.

Favorite excerpts or quotes from the book:
"Be careful of love. It'll twist your brain around and leave you thinking up is down and right is wrong."

Upcoming Book Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian (PJ#5) by Rick Riordan

Wow, this series was just so much fun to read and I love how it got me interested in the history of Greek Mythology. The ending was spectacular! I can't wait to post this review.

Excerpt from the book:

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for the battle against the Titan's, knowing the odds of a victory are grim. Kronos's army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan's power only grows.
While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now, it's up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.
In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy's sixteenth bithday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the street of Manhattan, Percy faces terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

Visit http://www.rickriordan.com/ for more information.

Goodreads/Writers Review and Short Stories/February 2010 Short Story Contest Winner: Cathy with 'Africa'

Goodreads.com Website

Writers Review and Short Stories Group

September 2009 Short Story Contest Winner

Cathy with 'Africa'

Genre: Fiction

Word Count: 663

(February's Genre was *Author's Choice*, the topic was *Love(due to Valentine's Day) or Africa(due to African-American History Month)*. The word count minimum was 300 words and the maximum was 3000 words.)

Here is a link: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/287871-february-2010

*You can view the other participants here as well.*

Here is the story:

When Jason made the announcement that he was going to Africa, I did not take him seriously.

“Where in Africa?” I asked.

“I dunno. Doesn’t matter really. Which part has the rainforests and tribes with the loin cloths and spears and stuff?”

High school geography class came to mind and I envisioned the glossy map of Africa in the back of the textbook. Squiggling black lines dividing out the pink, green, and blue oddly-shaped puzzle pieces. Names like Togo, Nigeria, Camaroon. “I think somewhere in the middle,” I guessed. “Near the equator where it’s hot as shit.”

I was laying on his dorm room floor with one leg in the air balancing a paper plate on my pink-socked foot. The yellow light from the bare bulb on the ceiling was shining through the grease spots.

“You think they have study abroad programs in Africa?” he asked.

“Sure,” I said. “Like in Cairo... or Johannesburg maybe.” The plate dropped from my foot and I sat up. “I’ve always wanted to see the pyramids.”

“The pyramids?” Jason was leaning against one corner of the bunk bed and picking at a piece of clear tape on the wall. “Nah, I’m talking about somewhere wild and undiscovered. Where they don’t have cable or electricity or golf clubs, you know? The real shit.” He was staring out the darkened window now and I could tell he was picturing himself in some khaki-colored outfit handing out water bottles and cans of bug spray to little naked children, and so I shrugged and stood to leave.

“Hey, come with me.”

“I gotta go study,” I said. “Where the hell are my shoes?”

“No, not now. I mean when classes are out. Come with me to Africa.”

“Ha ha. Right.”

He pushed himself off the bed post and grabbed me by the shoulders. “We could do it,” he said. “We could go to Africa.”

“You’re high, Jason. Stop it. I need to find my shoes.” I was making a big deal of looking around at the floor for them, trying to hide my blushing face. Every God damned time he touched me, my face had turn two shades from hot rod red.

“We could do it. We could just buy the tickets and go, just have like a real fucking adventure, or we could join one of those groups.”

“Groups?”

“Yeah, you know. Those groups that go to Africa.”

“You mean missionaries?”

“Yeah! Or well... no, but those people that go help Africans. Like with the peace corps and shit.”

I had my sneakers now and was sitting on the bottom bunk pulling them on. I rolled my eyes as a response.

“I’m totally serious!” He knelt down and rested his chin on my right knee. “Come to fucking Africa with me.”

“Okay, say we do go to Africa,” I said. “What the hell would we do when we got there? Pitch a tent and just hang out for a few weeks? Learn a native language? What.”

“We would just see,” he answered as he lifted himself up to sit next to me on the bed. “... just experience it. I’ve never been out the country. It would be a life experience. A life-changing experience. We would meet native people. See lions. Catch malaria.”

I let this sink in for a minute. “Pet elephants?”

“Watch a gazelle get eaten!”

“Shop at a crowded, dirty market where they sell grasshopper shishkabobs?”

“Drink cow’s blood for breakfast.”

“Watch the sun set on the Serengeti?” I was smiling now.

“Watch the sun set on the fucking Sarengeti,” he said.

We sat there on his bed for a long moment laughing before I said goodbye and left for my own dorm a few blocks away. The night air was chilly and the wind was stinging my warm cheeks, so I pulled my sweater in close as I walked, staring up at the half-moon and dreaming of Africa.

END STORY


Thank you Cathy for your wonderful contribution to the monthly short story contest.

Book Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan's Curse (PJ#3) by Rick Riordan

Book Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan’s Curse (PJ #3)

Author: Rick Riordan(http://www.rickriordan.com/)

Pages: 311

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Science Fiction/Mythology

(Scale Explanation: 1) Meaning awful, 5) Meaning not good, but not bad, equal, 10) Meaning wonderful)

PLOT - 8

CHARACTERS - 9

BEGINNING - 10

ENDING - 8

FLOW - 9

OVERALL - 9

What I liked about this book:
I love the Percy Jackson series. It is just so fun and it got me interested in Greek Mythology. What a fun way to get someone into that field of history. In this book, you can also see a hint at Annabeth and Percy's relationship later.

What I disliked about this book:
Nothing, these books continue to make me happy! They are such fun reads.

Who I would recommend this book to:
Anyone that is a fan of the Percy Jackson series, and anyone that enjoys Greek Mythology.

What I felt the book was about:
The Titan’s Curse was a really good third book for this series. I was very impressed. I went ahead and read The Battle of the Labyrinth before I wrote this review, so please excuse me if I get something mixed up. Percy, Annabeth and Thalia are sent to a military school to retrieve Grover who has found two demigods that are very powerful. No one knows who their father or mother is yet. The principal of the school ends up being a Manticore and ambushes the group as they’re trying to escape. Luckily, Artemis and her hunters are there to save them and Bianca Di Angelo, one of the newly discovered demigods chooses to become a huntress. Artemis is distraught because she knows that new and powerful monsters are stirring and she has decided to go after the monsters. Annabeth has been lost, but they all know she is still alive, but in great danger. The quest that arises is for Thalia to retrieve Annabeth, or more importantly to find out what is going on on the West coast of the United States. They set off, Grover and Thalia, Zoe Nightshade, a huntress, and Bianca, once they have learned that Artemis has been captured. In New Mexico, Grover catches the scent of the Wild or Pan and can’t wait to set out on his personal quest to find Pan again. They make it to San Francisco, not before losing one of the group, and the manticore offers Thalia a choice. Eventually, Thalia becomes a huntress because she fears that her sixteenth birthday will make her the subject of the prophecy. They fight off Luke and his army yet again, and head back to camp with Annabeth in tow. All is well for another book. I skipped through a lot of the details, because I like to give people to option to read the book and find out these things for themselves.

Favorite excerpts or quotes from the book:
"Do you always try to kill people when they blow their nose?"

Upcoming Book Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth (PJ#4) by Rick Riordan

This was an exciting read. I look forward to posting the review.

Excerpt from the book:

Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.
In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan Lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade the once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest throughthe Labyrinth-a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this latest book promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet.

Visit http://www.rickriordan.com/ for more information.

Book Review: A Lady of Persuasion (Goddess Trilogy #3) by Tessa Dare

Book Title: A Lady of Persuasion (Goddess Trilogy #3)

Author: Tessa Dare(http://www.tessadare.com/)

Pages: 344

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Genre: Historical Romance

(Scale Explanation: 1) Meaning awful, 5) Meaning not good, but not bad, equal, 10) Meaning wonderful)

PLOT - 10

CHARACTERS - 10

BEGINNING - 10

ENDING - 10

FLOW - 10

OVERALL - 10

What I liked about this book:
EVERYTHING! This was the perfect ending to a great trilogy that I will keep forever and ever! LOL Anyway, I just really loved this book particularly because everyone that was of note that was in the first two books made an appearance in this third book. I especially loved the inclusion of Lucy’s pregnancy and the Epilogue Five Years Later. Great book!

What I disliked about this book:
Nothing, this was the perfect tie-up of every story. The only thing that I would have liked to have seen was Joss and Hetta at Waltham Manor in the end, even if they were just mentioned as being in the stables or in the house.

Who I would recommend this book to:
Anyone that likes historical romance. Anyone that has read the first two books in the Goddess Trilogy. Anyone that likes Tessa Dare. :)

What I felt the book was about:
Toby is upset that Sophia ran away and ran out on their engagement, but they both knew it wasn’t love, so it’s not complete devastation. Toby wants revenge and it comes in the form of Isabel Grayson. The sister of the man whom stole Sophia’s heart, or in this case, it was given to him, as it belonged to no one but Sophia before. Lucy has thrown a ball and Toby spots Isabel and can’t take his eyes off of her, she is totally beautiful. They speak alone after an intense dance on the verandah. The talk ends with Toby proposing to Isabel. Isabel only wanted a man with power and had wished that Toby would have shown her the best man to marry. She believes deeply in her charities and wishes to be a lady of influence. Toby just wants revenge, though it is sweet revenge because Isabel is everything that he has always wanted. There is a slight battle as Toby has never known what it is to live in a way that you feel guilty every time you enjoy something, where as Isabel lives with intense guilt every time she has an experience that makes her feel good. This continues throughout the book and Isabel lets go just a little, but is still very strong willed. Toby agrees to run for the office that Isabel asked him to run for, though he is friends with the writer of The Prattler, a soap-opera type gossip magazine. He has the writer/artist draw illustrations that compromise Toby’s chances of winning the election. He is running against an older man that was very dear to him his whole life and some crazy rebellious man on the verge of death, with some crazy grandsons. Isabel finally finds out what has been going on and there is an argument between her and Toby. She has struggled with thoughts that she was going mad like her mother before her. She has refused to fall for Toby, but after the argument and a few events, she realizes that she does love him and chases after him where he is waiting for the announcement of the election. She tells him how she feels and everything is good. There are so many things that I wanted to leave out, because the little details were the icing on the cake for this book. It was the best ending ever and I look forward to the next trilogy by Tessa Dare.

Favorite excerpts or quotes from the book:
Basically all of chapter 16 and 17 because Lucy and Jeremy were my favorite couple from this trilogy, but Lucy is hilarious and Jeremy is so intense in these chapters. Also, the Epilogue was amazing! But this is my favorite quote from this section:

““You didn’t allow me to finish, my lord.” The faintest hint of a smile played on Miss Osborne’s lips. “She said, tell my addle-brained brute of a husband that his son is need of a name, and…” “And?” “And his wife is in need of a kiss.”” – Page 237

Goodreads.com/Writers Review and Short Stories Group/January 2010 Short Story Contest Winner: Mary with 'Submerged'

Goodreads.com Website

Writers Review and Short Stories Group

September 2009 Short Story Contest Winner

Mary with 'Submerged'

Genre: Fiction

Word Count: 730

(January's Genre was *Author's Choice*, the topic was *Beginning*. The word count minimum was 300 words and the maximum was 3000 words.)

Here is a link: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/266645-january-2010

You can view the other participants here as well.

Here is the story:

I twist the ring on my finger several times before throwing my hands down in frustration. My heart aches and I just want to curl up and cry. I run a hand through my long dark hair, and I fall into a chair.

"Momma?" Chris cries. My little six year old boy runs up to me and jumps onto my lap.

"What's up sweetie?" I ask gently. I stroke his light blonde hair lovingly as he speaks.

"Momma," he sniffles, "Junie's being mean to me."

I sigh. "Junie, sweetie! Junie, come over here!" I wait paitently as my 12-year old comes into the living room sullenly.

"Yeah, Mom?" she snaps.

"June, honey, Chris says you're being mean to him. Is that true?" I ask kindly.

"No!" she spits. "Chris is just being a big baby!" June turns around and stomps into her room.

I put my face in my hands and let out a frustrated sigh. It is times like these I ache for you most, Bastien.

"Momma?" I look up and see little Chris' eyes looking at me in earnest. "I'm sorry, Momma." He looks ashamed, but I see a flicker of something else in his light green eyes. Fear? "I'll be good. I won't be a baby. Please don't kick me out!" he sobs.

I am stunned. "K-Kick you out?" I repeat breathlessly.

"Please Mommy! I'll be good, promise!" he begs.

"Christopher Sebastian Thomas." I say slowly, temper flaring. "What in the world are you talking about?"

His spring green eyes are watery as he speaks in a shaky voice, "Junie said you were going to kick me out of the house if I didn't stop being such a burden. She said that you would kick me out into the cold to die alone. Just like you did to Daddy."

I cannot breathe. I lower Christopher onto the floor. "Sweetie, I would never throw you out of the house. Ever. I love you, baby." I try to hug him, but he wriggles out of my grasp.

"You said that to Daddy too! You said you loved him, but you kicked him out!" he sobs.

"Chrissie, I didn't kick him out of the house. Daddy made the choice to leave." I find myself pleading with my ten-year son. "Please believe me Chrissie. Please."

Tears fall slick and fast down my cheeks as Chris leaves the room. In his fits of anger, he is exactly like his father, my husband who I haven't seen in weeks. Chris has his eyes and his hair. June is like me, with a slender body and almond-shaped eyes, but she has Bastian's colorings. I can still remember the night he left.

"Come on, Sammie." he whispered. "We can start over. We can be who we want to be, with no one dragging us down. We can live the life that we lived before all of this." He gestured to the house.

My heart had sunk when I realized what he meant. "Leave the kids? Bastian, you know that I couldn't-you know that I wouldn't! I love them!"

He had laughed harshly at that. "You loved your parents too didn't you? But then you ended up leaving them behind too."

I was crying, on my knees. "Bastian, don't make me choose. Please don't make me choose. Not again."

He knelt, pushing my chin up with his fingertips. "Come on Samantha. You chose me once, and you can choose me again. Sammie, I love you more than you'll ever know. We were kids when you left home, but now our kids are grown. They'll be fine."

"Chris is eight, and June's 12, you asshole!" I yelled. "Forget it. I'm not leaving. Do what you want, but I'm staying."

Sebastian's face hardened. "Whatever you want, dear. But remember, I gave you a choice. Good luck trying to live without me. Goodbye honey dearest." He opened the door, and didn't look back.

I had listened to the car start, seen the sleek, dark shape slithering out of the drive way. Only then did I whisper, "Goodbye, love" to Sebastian, to my heartache, to my past.

But when he had left, he had left me with something I hadn't had before. I had my own choice. And now I was submerged in the choice I had made, and I was going to stick by it. Just like Bastian hadn't.
END STORY


Thank you Mary for your wonderful contribution to the monthly short story contest.

Upcoming Book Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan's Curse (PJ#3) by Rick Riordan

So far, this is an interesting book and the whole series has kept my intrigue up off the scale. This, so far, is my fave Percy Jackson book. So far...

Excerpt from the book:

When Percy Jackson receives an urgent distress call from his friend Grover, he immediately prepares for battle. He knows he'll need his powerful demigod allies, Annabeth and Thalia, at his side; his trusty bronze sword, Riptide; and...a ride from his mom.
The demigods race to the rescue, to find that Grover has made an important discovery: two new powerful half-bloods whose parentage is unknown. But that's not all that awaits them. The Titan lord, Kronos, has set up his most devious trap yet, and the young heroes have just fallen prey.
Hilarious and action-packed, this third adventure in the series finds Percy faced with his most dangerous challenge so far; the chilling prophecy of the Titan's Curse.

Visit: http://www.rickriordan.com/ for more information.

Book Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters (PJ#2) by Rick Riordan

Book Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters (PJ#2)

Author: Rick Riordan(http://www.rickriordan.com/)

Pages: 279

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Genre: Young Adult/Science Fiction/Fantasy

(Scale Explanation: 1) Meaning awful, 5) Meaning not good, but not bad, equal, 10) Meaning wonderful)

PLOT - 9

CHARACTERS - 9

BEGINNING - 8

ENDING - 8

FLOW - 9

OVERALL - 9

What I liked about this book:
The continued story of Percy Jackson, it was great. It was a little short, but Rick Riordan managed to fit everything that would entail an outrageous adventure into less pages than the first. Great book, a fun quick read.

What I disliked about this book:
Nothing really, just that the ending was definitely a cliff hanger, but that is what makes books fun, right? :)

Who I would recommend this book to:
Anyone that likes the Percy Jackson series. Anyone that likes Young Adult, mixed with some really out there fantasy, science fiction, and mythology.

What I felt the book was about:
Percy Jackson goes back to camp only to realize that he must leave again on another quest to save Grover! Grover is in trouble and has created an empathy link with Percy. Also, the camps magical borders are failing, someone has poisoned the tree that keeps the camp safe. Only the Golden Fleece can save the camp. Percy goes to save Grover and has Tyson, his half brother along with him, Tyson is a cyclops. Annabeth joins the two and they brave many new monsters, and a trip through the sea of monsters where they encounter sirens, hippocampi, the PRincess Andromeda, Luke's new ship, and an island where the men are turned into guinea pigs and the women are pampered. Percy gets Blackbeard's ship and sails to the island where the ultimate cyclops lives and is keeping Grover captive. It is on this island that the Golden Fleece resides. There is a battle of immense proportions when it comes to getting the Fleece off the island and they make it back to Florida safely. Only Luke is waiting for them there. Clarisse takes the Fleece and heads back to camp aboard an airplane and Percy, Grover and Annabeth are left to battle Luke. Chiron suprises them and shows up with his crazy Centaur family and they get away safely. They race back to camp where Clarisse balances the Fleece onto the tree. Only the Fleece works too well and lying on the ground next to the tree the next morning, is Thalia, Zeus's daughter whom had turned her into the tree in the first place.

Favorite excerpts or quotes from the book:
“We only came close to dying six or seven times, which i thought was pretty good. Once, I lost my grip and found myself dangling by one hand from a ledge fifty feet above the rocky surf. But I found another handhold and kept climbing. A minute later Annabeth hit a slippery patch of moss and her foot slipped. Fortunately, she found something else to put it against. Unfortunately, that something was my face. "Sorry," she murrmured. "S'okay," I grunted, though I'd never really wanted to know what Annabeth's sneaker tasted like."

Upcoming Book Review: A Lady of Persuasion (Goddess Trilogy #3) by Tessa Dare

This was the last book in the trilogy, I loved that all of the characters that I so loved from the last two books were included in this book and that they mostly all had sufficient parts. It was the perfect way to end an amazing trilogy!

Excerpt from the book:

Only one thing could convince Sir Toby Aldridge, an incorigible libertine, to profess undying fidelity to a women he's just met. Revenge. What better way to get back at an enemy than by stealing a scoundrel's sister? Not that Toby finds it a chore, seducing a beguiling, sultry beauty freshly arrived from the West Indies. When the prize is Isabel Grayson, vengeance is doubly rewarding.
Isabell is determined to marry a wealthy, powerful lord and become a lady of influence, using her rank and fortune to fight social injustice. Sir Toby, with his paltry title and infamous reputation, in unsuitable husband material-but he makes her blood race, her heart pound, and her long-buried passions come to the surface. If she can reform the charming devil, she'll get exactly what she craves: society's respect. But it's a dangerous gamble. For if Toby wins this battle of persuasion, Isabel could lose her heart.

Visit http://www.tessadare.com/ for more information.

Book Review: Surrender of a Siren (Goddess Trilogy #2) by Tessa Dare

Book Title: Surrender of a Siren (Goddess Trilogy #2)

Author: Tessa Dare(http://www.tessadare.com/)

Pages: 384

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Genre: Historical Romance

(Scale Explanation: 1) Meaning awful, 5) Meaning not good, but not bad, equal, 10) Meaning wonderful)

PLOT - 10

CHARACTERS - 10

BEGINNING - 10

ENDING - 10

FLOW - 10

OVERALL - 10

What I liked about this book:
The whole scenery was lovely. I really loved the ocean and the descriptions. It made me want to go to the beach, specifically, on a boat. The relationship started off rocky, but still intense, then it leveled out beautifully as the characters spent more time together. Beautiful love story. Humorous in many situations.

What I disliked about this book:
Well, not much, I was a little annoyed with Sophia at first, but her character became well rounded toward the middle of the book and I loved all the characters by the end.

Who I would recommend this book to:
Anyone who is a fan of historical romance.

What I felt the book was about:
Sophia Hathaway has a vivid imagination and she can’t see herself marrying Toby Aldridge, because he doesn’t seem adventurous and that is what Sophia wants the most. She flees to Tortola on the Aphrodite, a ship owned by Benedict ‘Gray’ Grayson, and captained by his half brother, a black man, which was odd in those times, Joss Grayson, who is extremely bitter after the death of his wife, birthing his son a year ago. Sophia is instantly awestruck with Gray, only he is a scoundrel, he hasn’t quite lived his life the gentlemanly way, he was even a privateer during the war, the legalized form of piracy. There is a battle between Sophia and Gray that is intense from the start, they are both witty and are attracted to each other immensely. They argue like they are an old married couple a few times, but it adds to the humor. Sophia lies to Gray the whole way to Tortola and they eventually fall for each other, which is odd, seeing as Gray never wanted to marry ever. It was a beautiful blossoming love story. They get to Tortola and Gray is accused of piracy by a man on another ship that he saved when lightning hit the ship. Sophia decides that the only way to save Gray is o confess her whole lie in front of the court in Tortola. She does this and leaves back for England. Gray chases after her in another ship and they wed. They go back to England for Isabel’s(Grays little sister) coming out, and everything has been fine. Toby did not go to the press about Sophia’s fleeing and her whole reputation in intact. Gray is even honored for his work on the other ship. Toby is upset and wants revenge, and he sort of gets it in the next book, but he finds love as well.

Favorite excerpts or quotes from the book:
““The proper way to touch a woman,” he continued, sauntering to her side and propping an elbow on the bar, “is to come at her from the side, like so.” In an attitude of perfect nonchalance, he leaned his weight on his arm and slid it along the bar until his knuckles came within a hair’s width of her breast.” – Page 2


Tessa Dare is such an awesome writer, I will continue to read anything that she writes in her career. Thank you again to Courtney Milan for referring Tessa Dare's books to me. You guys are so awesome.

Upcoming Book Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters (PJ#2) by Rick Riordan

This was a fun book. I have enjoyed all of the Percy Jackson books so far. I can't wait to post the review.

Excerpt from the book:

The way he said my name sent a chill down my back. Nobody called me "Perseus" except those who knew my true identity. Friends...and enemies.

Percy Jackson's seventh-grade year has been surprisingly quiet. Not a single monster has set foon on his New York prep-school campus. But when an innocent game of dodgeball among Percy and his classmates turns into a death match against an ugly gang of cannibal giants, thigs get...well, ugly. And the unexpected arrival of Percy's friend Annabeth brings more bad news; the magical borders that protect Camp Half-Blood have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and unless a cure is found, the only safe haven for demigods will be destroyed.
In this fresh, funny, and hugely anticipated follow-up to The Lightning Thief, Percy and his friends must journey into the Sea of Monsters to save their beloved camp. But first, Percy will discover a stunning new secret about his family - one that makes him wonder whether being claimed as Posiedon's son is an honor, or simply a cruel joke.

For mor information, visit: http://www.rickriordan.com/

Book Review: Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiement (The Fugitives Book 1) by James Patterson

Book Title: Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment (The Fugitives Book 1)

Author: James Patterson(http://www.maximumride.com/)

Pages: 423

Publisher: Little Brown

Genre: Young Adult/Science Fiction/Fantasy

(Scale Explanation: 1) Meaning awful, 5) Meaning not good, but not bad, equal, 10) Meaning wonderful)

PLOT - 8

CHARACTERS - 6

BEGINNING - 6

ENDING - 4

FLOW - 8

OVERALL - 7

What I liked about this book:
The descriptions of the special abilities and the facilities and surrounding areas were really good. A few of the characters were really interesting and the back-stories were something that I craved.

What I disliked about this book:
A few of the characters, Maximum Ride is just a shell and inside that shell, she is a meek little girl that is scared of everything. The shell is just not enough to make her intriguing. Angel, the little girl, is not an interesting character and reminds me of a spoiled brat type character.

Who I would recommend this book to:
Anyone that would like science fiction blended with fantasy written for children or pre-teens. Anyone that enjoys people that can fly.

What I felt the book was about:
Max Ride is a mutant that was made that way by scientists in a lab. She lives with her flock in a house in the mountains and forest. They live there for a while safely, but at some point the wolf-like humans(Erasers) come to find them. From then on, it’s a race against dying as the flock encounters obstacles and issues at every step of the way. Angel was taken in the initial battle and Iggy and Gasman stay behind at the home while Max, Fang, and Nudge go to rescue Angel from the School. The School is a laboratory where scientists perform disgusting tests on children. Max sees a girl in trouble on the way there and saves her only to be injured herself. She then is nursed back to health by the girls mom and teeters on emotionally breaking down. She finally leaves and finds Fang and Nudge waiting for her to advance on the School. Iggy and Gasman end up having to fight off a bunch of Erasers in order to live and not be captured themselves. They eventually join Max and the others. The whole flock gets captured and escapes. Max starts having horrible migraines and a voice starts talking to her in her head and the flock goes to New York to find the Institute to find more information on why they are the way they are and if they have parents. They find some answers when the break in to the Institute, and rescue a horde of mutant children. The ending is very disappointing as it leaves you wondering what next to the extreme! It was a nice book of science fiction, but I think that the characters could have been structured better, although this is the first book in a series, so I could be wrong as the series roles on.

Favorite excerpts or quotes from the book:
"“Yes!” said Fang, punching the air. “Freaks rule.”"

Upcoming Book Review: Surrender of a Siren (Goddess Trilogy #2) by Tessa Dare

This will be a fun book review. I surely love Tessa Dare's writing. Thank you to Courtney Milan, author of Proof by Seduction for reccommending Tessa Dare to me.

Excerpt from the book:

Desperate to escape the loveless marriage and society's constraints, pampered heiress Sophia Hathaway jilts her groom, packs up her paints and sketchbook, and assumes a new identity, posing as a governess to secure passage on the Aphrodite. She wants a life of her own: unsheltered, unconventional, uninhibited. But it's one thing to sketch her most wanton fantasies, and quite another to face the dangerously handsome libertine who would steal both her virtue and her gold.

To any well-bred lady, Benedict "Gray" Grayson is trouble in snug-fitting boots. A conscienceless scoundrel who sails the seas for pleasure and profit. Gray lives for conquest-until Sophia's perception and artistry stir his heart. Suddenly he'll brave sharks, fire, storm, and sea just to keep her at his side. She's beautiful, refined, and ripe for seduction. Could this counterfeit governess be a rogue's redemption? Or will the runaway heiress's secrets destroy their only chance at love?


Visit: http://www.tessadare.com/ for more information.

Book Review: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games Book 2) by Suzanne Collins

Book Title: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games Book 2)

Author: Suzanne Collins(http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/)

Pages: 391

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Sci-fi

(Scale Explanation: 1) Meaning awful, 5) Meaning not good, but not bad, equal, 10) Meaning wonderful)

PLOT - 10

CHARACTERS - 10

BEGINNING - 10

ENDING - 10

FLOW - 10

OVERALL - 10

What I liked about this book: What could I not like about this book? The Hunger Games series has taken my breath away and has become my new obsession. I cannot get enough of this series. It has the perfect mixture of suspense, romance, morbid situations, and adult themes. Katniss is a great character that is strong, yet has a turmoil to battle. I thoroughly enjoy the character of Peeta because he is Katniss’ strong shoulder to carry her through anything. Also Peeta is very smart and a great speaker for the uprising. TEAM PEETA!

What I disliked about this book: Gale. LOL I know that is so wrong, but I don’t like Gale. Although, we haven’t got to see much of him, he just seems to be someone that Katniss should feel like is family, rather than a love interest. He seems whiny and if he truly loved Katniss before, he should’ve said something. Other than that, President Snow is disgusting but an interesting villain.

Who I would recommend this book to: Anyone that loved the first book in the trilogy. Anyone that is looking for a good action-packed book to read.

What I felt the book was about: Katniss and Peeta have survived the hunger games and are back in District 12. They are preparing for the Victory Tour, but having a hard time keeping up the façade that is their romance. Haymitch has gone back to his heavy alcoholism ways and Katniss and Peeta each have a lovely house in the Victor’s Village. They’re receiving food and everything that one would need to survive as well as helping everyone in District 12 with those needs. Hunky dory, right? Wrong. Gale planted a kiss on Katniss a few days after arriving home and President Snow saw it, even though it was outside the fence. He give Katniss a visit and threatens her that if she doesn’t make the romance with Peeta full-on what it needs to be, there will be consequences, mainly ones that involve her mother, Prim, and Gale. This is after Katniss witnessed a special report on the TV of the Mayor at the Victor’s Dinner in District 12. The special report stated that District 8 was rebelling. Apparently, things had calmed down a bit, but District 12 suffers for this rebellion. The food doesn’t come in, there is a blizzard, and a new batch of awful peacekeepers make it into the District. Katniss sneaks out to meet Gale, when she finds two peacekeepers. These are not real peacekeepers. They are escapees from District 8 and they are on their way to the ruins of District 13. It is speculated that there is a group of independent humans living underground there. The escapees have a piece of bread with a stamp of the mockingjay pin that Katniss wore in the first hunger games that she competed in. She makes it back over the fence, climbing a tree, because the fence has been turned back on and bonds with Peeta. Gale is caught walking the streets with a wild turkey that he had killed and is whipped in the town square. Peeta and Katniss stop the whipping and take Gale to Katniss’ home. Gale recovers and goes back to his house. On the Victory Tour, Peeta proposes to Katniss and she accepts. There is a grand celebration held in the Capitol, at President Snow’s home. Katniss meets Plutarch Heavensbee, the new head gamemaker for the Quarter Quell Hunger Games. He shows her his timepiece, and Katniss makes out that there is an iridescent picture of a mockingjay on it. She can’t put this together, but goes on. They get back to District 12 and President Snow announces how the Quarter Quell games will go. It’s shocking. He says that this years tributes will be pulled from the existing batch of victors. This means that Katniss is going back and that she is going back with either Peeta or Haymitch. Peeta starts training them like Careers and Haymitch is chosen on the Reaping day, but Peeta takes his place. They go to the Capitol to prepare and Cinna is back at his excellent designs. Katniss keeps overhearing how things are harder for people in the Capitol to get, things that are produced in different districts. An uprising is in the midst. When they get their scores, Peeta and Katniss each score a 12, due to a defying act for the gamemakers. Then, when they have their interviews, President Snow makes Katniss wear one of her wedding gowns, though Cinna has modified it to turn into a Mockingjay outfit when Katniss spins. This is revealed and everyone cheers. Then Peeta takes his interview to the stage and announces that Katniss and he had already been married in a private ceremony at home, because they couldn’t wait. He also says that Katniss is pregnant. This shocks the people of the Capitol and there is a rebellion there as well, everyone is angry that the hunger games are being played and they’re calling for a stop to them. Katniss and Peeta have met all the other tributes and there are some strange people, but they make allies with Finnick. They enter the arena and it is a dome, not very much space to move around in. They figure out the whole setup pretty quickly and figure a way to kill the last of the surviving tributes that are a threat to them. The whole time, Peeta is fighting for Katniss to stay alive and Katniss is fighting for Peeta to stay alive. Sounds like love to me.  Anyway, they rig up a charge to shock the last few tributes, but this goes haywire and Katniss spots a chink in the armor that is the force field, she ties the wire to her arrow and shoot it. This blows up the whole dome. A hover craft comes in and picks her up. She is assuming she is dead, but what is revealed after she is in the hovercraft will send her into a slight depression. She finds out that Peeta was picked up, but he was picked up by a Capitol hover craft. She finds out that Plutarch Heavensbee was in on an underground society that has been plotting to overthrow the Capitol for years. Haymitch is there and they were just able to save Gale, Prim, and her mother before District 12 was demolished. I can’t wait for Mockingjay!

Favorite excerpts or quotes from the book: “I do,” I say. “I need you.” He looks upset, takes a deep breath as if to begin a long argument, and that’s no good, no good at all, because he’ll start going on about Prim and my mother and everything and I’ll just get confused. So before he can talk, I stop his lips with a kiss. I feel that things again. The thing I only felt once before. In the cave last year, when I was trying to get Haymitch to send us food. I kissed Peeta about a thousand times during those Games and after. But there was only one kiss that made me feel something stir deep inside. Only one that made me want more. But my head wound started bleeding and he made me lie down. This time, there is nothing but us to interrupt us. And after a few attempts, Peeta gives up on talking. The sensation inside me grows warmer and spreads out from my chest, down through my body, out along my arms and legs, to the tips of my being. Instead of satisfying me, the kisses have the opposite effect, of making my need greater. I thought I was something of an expert on hunger, but this in an entirely new kind.” – Page 352

Upcoming Book Review: Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment (Book 1) by James Patterson

I had heard a lot about this book and so I was inspired to buy it and read it. Actually, it was the only book at Wal-Mart that looked like something I would enjoy. Why are the political books all the rage right now? :P

Excerpt from the book:

Welcome to my Nightmare.
Do not put this book down. I'm dead serious-your life could depend on it. I'm risking everything by telling you-but you need to know. -Max
Her full name is Maximum Ride. And the girl can fly.

Max's Missions:
*Protect the rest of her gang-Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman, and Angel-from a pack of half-wolf, half-humans with a taste for flying humans.
*Rescue Angel from a crew of complete wack-jobs.
*Infiltrate a secret facility to track down their missing parents.
*Figure out what she really thinks about Fang.
*Get revenge on the one person she thought she could trust.
*Discover the best chocolate-chip cookie in New York City.
*Save the whole world, for crying out loud.

Not necessarily in that order, of course.

Visit: http://www.maximumride.com/ for more information
Visit: http://www.maximumride.blogspot.com/ for more information

Book Review: Pleasure Model (Netherworld Book 1) by Christopher Rowley

Book Title: Pleasure Model (Netherworld #1)

Author: Christopher Rowley(http://www.heavymetal.com/)

Pages: 238

Publisher: A Tor Book, Heavy Metal Pulp

(A note about this book: I won this ARC copy of Pleasure Model (Netherworld Book 1) from Goodreads.com's First Reads Free Book Giveaway system. On the Goodreads website, I was instructed to state this if I gave the book a review.)

(Scale Explanation: 1) Meaning awful, 5) Meaning not good, but not bad, equal, 10) Meaning wonderful)

PLOT - 10

CHARACTERS - 7

BEGINNING - 8

ENDING - 7

FLOW - 8

OVERALL – 8

 What I liked about this book: This was an interesting book. It was done in a new style of graphic novel/comic book look. There were some pictures on the pages that illustrated what was going on at the time. The artist, Justin Norman, has a wonderful way with pencils. At least, the pictures looked to be done in pencil. The plot was very interesting and I would be interested in reading the other two books that are to come from this series. Christopher Rowley creates his own futuristic world that comes alive as you keep up with all of the gadgets and such that manifest during the story.

What I disliked about this book: There was a small sense of choppiness that was a turn off to the book. Reading one page, turning the page and wondering how the character got to someone else’s office. Though that happened a few times, it wasn’t at all a deterrent from finishing the story.

Who I would recommend this book to: Those that are fans of comic books or graphic novels. Those that don’t mind futuristic ideals and a world somewhat different from what we have today.

What I felt the book was about: Rook is a police officer that was called out to investigate a case where a man, Sangacha, had whip marks all over his back. He had been shot by shotguns and he had a pleasure model doll stored away in his apartment. The FBI comes in and bullies the cops, but the cops don’t give over all f the evidence. Later on, Rook has to take the pleasure model home to keep her safe for questioning. Pleasure models are genetically designed women that provide whatever the buyer wants from them. They aren’t very smart and they only have a ten year life span. Rooks house gets bombed that night after he receives a strange call from a man telling him to get out of his house. The strange man is way high up the chain in United States politics. Rook and Pleasur, the pleasure model, take off to find a safe haven. They make it to Rooks friendly neighborhood whore house and the madam gets a doctor to remove his chips so that he can’t be tracked. The adventure continues as they get chased to five different places where they think they are safe, but are not. People die, and the pleasure model gets lost after Rook takes her to a clinic to insert an intelligence chip in her head. They find her again and all hell breaks loose as the military finds them and Pleasur socks it to them. Apparently, her owner was training her to be a lethal weapon of sorts. Lots of fun and interesting characters lead the way to this revelation.

Favorite excerpts or quotes from the book: “I just asked him about this.” “And his f*cking head exploded!” “Was he shot?” “No, said Rook. “He must have had an explosive chip in his head.” – Page 229

Upcoming Book Review: Catching Fire (Hunger Games Book 2) by Suzanne Collins

Have I told everyone yet that this is my new obsession? Well, it is, and believe me it merits that awards in my book. Hehe! I can't wait to get the review up for this one.

Excerpt from the book:

Sparks are igniting.
Flames are spreading.
And the Capitol wants revenge.

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta Mallark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol-a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

Visit: http://www.suzannecollins.com/ for more information.
Visit: http://www.scholastic.com/ for more information.

Book Review: The Host: A Novel by Stephenie Meyer

Book Title: The Host: A Novel

Author: Stephenie Meyer(http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/)

Pages: 619
Publisher: Little Brown

(Scale Explanation: 1) Meaning awful, 5) Meaning not good, but not bad, equal, 10) Meaning wonderful)

PLOT - 10

CHARACTERS - 10

BEGINNING - 10

ENDING - 9

FLOW - 10
OVERALL - 10

What I liked about this book: This was a very interesting read. I hadn't believe that Meyer could pull off anything other than the Twilight Saga and I would love to tell those that didn't like the Twilight Saga that thye should give Meyer another chance with The Host. This book was wonderful and I found instances where Meyer also borrowed from other great science fiction authors, with the world of the dolphins. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the emotions that the main character had to go through to understand the bigger picture.

What I disliked about this book: There wasn't much that I disliked about the book. It was rather lengthy, but I realize that this was needed to convey the story as a whole.

Who I would recommend this book to: Anyone that enjoyed the Twilight Saga and anyone that didn't like the Twilight Saga. Meyer puts together a much better story in this book.

What I felt the book was about: Wanderer is a Host, a small centipede-like creature, from The Origin. Hosts take over a host body and basically level out the planet on which the host bodies live on. Melanie was a rebel, one that evaded being captured and taken over by a host, but eventually, she was caught. Wanderer was placed inside of Melanie and so begins an emotional nerve-wracking story of love, friendship, and the human way of life. Melanie was in love with Jared and had her younger borther Jamie to take care of. The three of them lived like a family. When Melanie was captured, Jared took Jamie to Melanie's crazy Uncles hide-out smack dab in the middle of the Arizona desert. The hide-out is naturally made and was perfect for a small settlement of rebels. Melanie is still able to comunicate with Wanderer and as Wanderer finally gets sick of hearing Melanie play with her emotions and show her memories, she decides to go back to the Healer and be placed into another body, but on the way there, Melanie pushes her to look for Jaren and Jamie and so Wanderer treks through the desert following a strange map that Melanie's uncle showed her when she was little. On the edge of death, Wanderer finally gives up and lays down in the dirt just as the sun is gone for the night. She wakes up to someone giving her water and several anxious people with guns pointed at her. Jeb, the uncle takes her back to the hide-out and Jared and Jamie are there. Jared is angry and wants Wanderer dead, even though she is in Melanie's body. So, they hold Wanderer in a jail cell type cavern for days until Jared has to go on a supply run. Jeb then takes Melanie around and shows everyone that she is not dangerous and tries to make everyone accept her. As the days go on, the people eventually accept her. When Jaren returns, he is angry and beats Melanie/Wanderer up, then he speaks with Jamie and apologizes and finds out that Melanie is still in there. As the days go on, Jared accepts what is going on and Ian falls in love with Wanderer. Ian is a twin with Kyle who tries to kill Wanderer at another time. Jamie gets sick and Wanderer wants to get him the proper medicine, but no one wants to let her leave. Jared helps her escape in the middle of the night to go get the medicine and they save Jamie. Wanderer's Seeker, eventually gets caught by the people of the caverns and they learn how to take the Host out of the host body. Eventually, Wanderer wants to be removed from Melanie's body for Jared. But Ian doesn't want this. They take her out and find her a new body that had been in habited for a long time so there wasn't a person inside and they go on living.

Favorite excerpts or quotes from the book: “It's not the face, but the expressions on it. It's not the voice, but what you say. It's not how you look like in that body, it's what you do with it. You are beautiful!"

A Crazy, but Beautiful Sky

So, it has been a while since I have updated this blog and I fear that people won't come by to see how things are going, so as a jump start to get myself working on it again(I have two book reviews to catch up on and several books to read), I thought I'd post a picture that I took of the sky from my back patio a few days ago. It was so beautiful that I couldn't resist. The sky just after the snow storm. I hate the color pink, but in nature, it's remarkable. Just like the color orange. :)

Upcoming Book Review: Pleasure Model (Netherworld Book 1) by Christopher Rowley

I won this book on Goodreads.com First Reads program for free! It was a fun little read. I will post the review soon!

Excerpt from the back of the book:

Presenting Heavy Metal Pulp, a new line of novels combining noir fiction with fantastic art featuring the themes, story lines, and graphic styles of Heavy Metal Magazine.


In Pleasure Model, the first book in the Netherworld Trilogy, down-and-out police detective Rook gets a big break when he’s assigned to a bizarre and visiouc murder case. The clues are colder than the corpse, and the case looks like it’ll remain unsolved-until an eyewitness is discovered. But the witness is a Pleasure Model, an illegal gene-grown human. Pleasur’s only purpose is to provide satisfaction to her owner-in any way. When the murderer targets Pleasur in order to eliminate the one witness, Rook takes her into hiding to protect her. Thus begins a descent into the dark world of exotic pleasure mods and their illicit buyers and manufacturers. Rook frantically looks for clues, struggling to stay one step ahead of those looking to kill them both. But is Rook falling under Pleasur’s spell…?