One Book At A Time

Monday, August 20, 2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list. Click on the picture to be taken to Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books!

Read Last Week:

Anastasia Forever (Dreaming Anastasia, #3)

House of Plunkett Street by Lorena Bathey
Anastasia Forever by Joy Preble
Prodigy by Marie Lu

Currently Reading:

Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Up This Week:

The Dark Unwinding by Shannon Cameron
Savage by Willow Rose

Sunday, August 19, 2012

In My Mailbox!

For Review:

The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #2)

Prodigy by Marie Lu (Around The World Tours)
Rebel Heart by Moira Young (Margaret K. McElderry and Edelweiss)
The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (Simon &Schuster and Edelweiss)

Purchased:

Captive Queen: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine

Captive Queen by Alison Weir

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process! It's hosted by Tynga's Reviews!

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren and she was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Review - The Far Out Cafe by Stuart Chambers (DNF)

Title: The Far Out Cafe

Author: Stuart Chambers

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 274

Published: May 7th 2012 by Author House

ISBN: 9781468504866

Source: Author sent for honest review

Description: No it isn't During the fall of 1969 Daniel Dyer stands alone at a still point between the disappointments of his childhood and an incredibly uncertain future. He is a boy from Yorkshire, living in America who has been abandoned by his father and then his mother and has signed up to fight with the US army in Vietnam. The Far Out Cafe is full of characters and events: a blues singer, a Cuban called Guerrero and another called Compay, with his head full of conspiracy theories, 'Birdmen, ' a chapel dating back to the 2nd century, an isolated island, a pack of marauding sharks; one of mythical proportions, a psychotic Soviet called the Generali, a barbaric guard called Rusanov and his syphilitic assistant, Yefrem. This is not merely a story about the atrocities of war. It's a story about who Daniel meets when he has been left for dead; a boy called Angel and a girl called Beth. It's about the way we live our lives and what happens when we place our Faith in God when things go horribly wrong. It's a savage yet tenderly lyrical story about an unforgiving time and indestructible love. 'I sat down, cleared my mind, and 'The Far Out Caf ' blew it apart. It's a really great story and it's told in such a surreal way, it messes with your head so much, delightfully so, but what really caught me is the sense of magic and mysticism that is woven into the story. A huge story that has roots in an even greater and deeper meaning. The spiritual clashed against the brutality of men is incredibly powerful. Good to fi nally be challenged by a modern book that gives the mind a great workout.

I Give This ...

DNF (Did Not Finish)

I really try hard to be open to self published books. I think authors like this needs recognition for trying to go it alone. If I can fit them into my review schedule, I will accept. I have found some of them to be very worthy reads.

This one I was pretty sure from the start that it would not be my type of book. But, the author's email captured me. I debated for several days over it and decided to give it a try. I knew within a few pages that I this was not going to be an easy read for me. But, I pushed on.

I didn't identify with the characters of the setting. Sometimes I wasn't sure what was going on. I would reread and still wasn't really understanding the story that was presented to me. At 20%, I knew I had to put this one aside. It just wasn't for me. I do think there are others who would find this book enjoyable (I think my friend Jackie might like this).

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Review - Seeds of Rebellion (Beyonders #2) by Brandon Mull

Title: Seeds of Rebelllion

Author: Brandon Mull

Series: 2nd (A World Without Heroes)

Pages: 512

Published: March 13th 2012 by Aladdin

ISBN: 9781416997948

Source: Library

Description: After the cliffhanger ending of A World Without Heroes, Jason is back in the world he’s always known—yet for all his efforts to get home, he finds himself itching to return to Lyrian. Jason knows that the shocking truth he learned from Maldor is precious information that all of his friends in Lyrian, including Rachel, need if they have any hope of surviving and defeating the evil emperor. Meanwhile, Rachel and the others have discovered new enemies—as well as new abilities that could turn the tide of the entire quest. And as soon as Jason succeeds in crossing over to Lyrian, he’s in more danger than ever. Once the group reunites, they strive to convince their most-needed ally to join the war and form a rebellion strong enough to triumph over Maldor. At the center of it all, Jason and Rachel realize what roles they’re meant to play—and the answers are as surprising as they are gripping.

I Give This ...

I'm a huge Brandon Mull fan. If you haven't read any of his books, you really need to do so soon! However, I was a tad disappointed in this book. It just didn't really live up to the first book in the series and feel short of my love for his other series.

All our characters are back, and for that I soldiered on through this book. Jason ends up back in Lyrian. It doesn't take him long to find Rachel. And the little band of rebels marches forward with a plan. There are bits of the story that I really enjoyed. Rachel has a far higher purpose that I could have ever imagined. Tie that in with her affinity for magic and I eagerly await where this story might take her. We learn some extremely interesting facts about Galloran. After everything we've learned, he's the one I would want on my side to take down Maldor. There are some secondary characters that are interesting including a Maldor traitor that I really have no idea if I trust or not. Interestingly enough, he's not sure he can be trusted either. I'm not sure how that works.

I wanted to like it so much that I never gave up on the story. And it seriously dragged. Remember how there were quite a few complaints about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows feeling like a never ending camping trip? That's kind of how this one felt as well. There are numerous location changes with endless time in between. A lot of time is spent discussing what they should do next, who the traitor might be, and how to stay ahead of Maldor's spies. There are definitely interesting things that happen when they get there, and those moments are worth the journey. I just sometimes wished it wasn't so wordy. I think the story could have been told is quite a few less pages.

Despite all that, I can guarantee that I will still read the last book in this series. I know how fantastic Mull is at world building, and I want to see how this epic land handles a rebellion.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Early Review - Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles #1) by Gena Showalter

Title: Alice in Zombieland

Author: Gena Showalter

Series: 1st

Pages: 404

Published: September 25th 2012 by Harlequin Teen

ISBN: 9780373210589

Source: Around The World Tours

Description: Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone. Her father was right. The monsters are real…. To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I Give This ...

I'm not one for mash ups, which is what I thought this was going to be. But, I love Alice in Wonderland and I enjoy most books about zombies. I thought this was a win win for me. Interestingly, this is not a mash up. There's hardly any correlation with Alice in Wonderland. Once, I got over that realization, I ended up really liking this book.

I liked Alice right from the start. Her dad sounded like a certifiable nut job (although, we know he wouldn't be in the end). I completely understood her position for wanting a normal life, or even an evening resembling it. I also understood her guilt she assumed after the accident. I'm glad we don't get much of her grandparents because I think they might have been a little overbearing (although in their defense they are dealing with their own loss). I liked how in denial she was about what she was seeing every night outside her window. When she truly figures out what is going on, she demands to be on the same training and schedule as everyone else. She wants revenge, no matter what the cost. Plus, she wants to understand why she can see the zombies and her abilities that seem to be above and beyond what the other zombie hunters can do.

I loved the other characters in this book. Alice's little sister Emma is sweet and I loved that we get glimpse of her throughout the book. Alice swiftly makes a die hard friends when she moves in with her grandparents. Kat is exactly the type of person that Alice needs. Her no nonsense, tell it like it is attitude is awesome! The band of zombie hunters was an interesting mix to the story. They kind of blend together with the exception of Kat's ex boyfriend, Makenzie, and Cole. Cole...wow. He seemed like the stereotypical bad guy that the good girls are always attracted too. I was afraid of the insta romance between Alice and Cole. But, then I realized it's hard to call it that. When visions occur every time you meet, it's hard not to feel the heat behind them.

There's some myth behind this story that hasn't been fully explored. I don't think we truly no why Alice is special. Plus, I just really enjoyed the story and look forward to what comes next.