A. Renee Hunt's Blog, page 61

A. I. Series: Boss & Initiate by John Darryl Winston

     I spotted book one of the IA Series on Goodreads.com.  I knew that I had to read them, and if they were as good as I hoped, my son would be reading them too.  I read a lot of books, but not many are written (that I've seen) where it's fantasy with powers like this.  This book's got it going on!

     In book one, IA Initiate, by John Darryl Winston, you are introduced to people from both the past and the future.  Young Naz is a boy trying to survive in the Exclave with his little sister.  The world isn't quite like it used to be and Naz can't always remember things from his past, but that's where the mystery lies.  Naz can do things, but this strange power is semi-dormant and he has no inkling on how to use it.  He's always hearing voices, learning to use his abilities, fighting street gangs and pushing to give his sister a better life and he's covered in street   It's then that he finds a sort of release.  A release in a game he'd never really played before... 

     In IA B.O.S.S., the story picks up where Initiate ended, giving you an even more powerful story!  The plot now falls on Naz against a terrible street bully/gang member.  He's still keeping care of Meri while trying to stay out of danger but someone's after him!  Also, you're given answers to questions formed from book one.  This book gives you some deep information- like why Naz has no memory, his father and so much more.  If you read book one, you can't thrive without the second.

     John Darryl Winston is a proficient author and his method of writing is beyond reproach.  The way the stories were woven takes a master's touch- I was in awe and gushing some serious admiration!  The characters are in-depth, the emotions are true and the backgrounds are real enough to make you comfortable in this  dystopian world.  I wasn't sure about the story at first, but found myself mesmerized by the realism and especially with the love of his sister.  Due mostly to the intricate lacing of the past and future, giving answers to Naz's background and powers.  Before I realized it, I was all in and done!

     A great read- check out both IA: Initiate and B.O.S.S.  Check it out while I move on to the next read!

Martha Sweeney's Killmore

     *An eBook Review      This ARC was amazing!  Though not my typical genre, Killmore (Killmore #1) was fantastic.  This book, by Martha Sweeney, is about a woman who's been through a great deal.  She's in hiding and looking to never need help from a man again.

     When she joins the protection program and moves to a new town, she's ready to start a new life.  But the past always catches up.  With a new friend in her life and the hunky Mr. Hot Stuff from the FBI, Laurie has to decide if she can trust again.  And if she's strong enough to be herself out of the danger that's coming for her.  You reap what you sow.

     This is my fourth book by Martha Sweeney and the second series and I am crazy about this book.  There's romance, action and murder!  Who can't love that?

     You'll love this adventure, but be prepared: the language may not be to your liking.  Always good to know in advance, yeah?  So check out Killmore, while I move on to the next read!
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*A.I. Series is next.
Killmore (Killmore #1)
Martha Sweeney
WWM Publishing Group
November 15, 2016

The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon

     A story, told through the eyes of a child can be magical and full of expectation.  I am so happy that I took a chance to relive a childhood through someone else's eyes.  It's books like this one, The Doldrums, by Nicholas Gannon, that allow you to regress, to become a child again and dream dreams so large, you almost escape reality.        I say almost escape, because as hard as the children tried, they couldn't get away and venture out on their own (but this is only Book One).  

     The Doldrums is a story of family, dreams, ambition, and the desire to do something so different, you will more than likely fall into danger.  Every step Archer, Adélaïde and Oliver took was full of possible adventure, and exactly what Mr. and Mrs. Helmsley wanted to protect him from!  Even so, the desire to "GO" was strong.  It reminded me so much of me- I fell for the book hook, line and sinker!  

     Archer is a boy, born into adventure.  His grandparents, stranded on a glacier, are missing and may never be heard from again.  Archer's mother, who doesn't like to speak of her in-laws, can't stand the idea of Archer going anywhere without her or her husband.  She was so worried about their influence on her son, she practically made him a prisoner in his home!  So she became over-protective and over-bearing.  So what does Archer wish to do?  Escape!  Get away!  Have an adventure!  So he gets together with his two friends and they set to do just that.      With illustrations that are rich and full of simple beauty, you feel you can step into the world of the Helmsley's.  My son and I read the story, giving our own impressions of what we thought they sounded like.  It made the tale a blast to read and has us looking forward to Book Two! I'm not sure when it releases, but I plan on following Gannon on Twitter for more information. 

​     The story is wonderful- check it out for yourself, while I move into another read.  Cheers!

The Nocturnals: The Ominous Eye by Tracey Hecht

     The Nocturnals: The Ominous Eye, by Tracey Hecht, is a fun, adventurous and very annoying tale.  It tells the story of a sugar glider, a fox and pangolin, leaders of The Brigade and defenders of those in need.  When something enters their homeland, a threatening beast, it's up to The Brigade to find out what 'it' is...       My son and I read this book together.  We hadn't heard of The Nocturnals before, so we didn't know of book 1, but it didn't stop us from enjoying the story.  The Brigade has (Dawn) who is more like the leader of the trio and the forest, (Tobin) who was empathy and concern, and then the very emotional and ever annoying Bismarck- a sugar glider!  OMGoodness was he a mess!

     We enjoyed the story because it was simple, yet mysterious.  The story showed how teamwork gets things done and jealousy can damage friendships.  Lastly, it  told you that if you ever meet a talking sugar glider, kick it into the next century!  Bismarck talked way too much and couldn't decide if he wanted to be French or Italian!  He was also very conceited, adds my son, but it all added to the fun of the tale!

     All in all, the story was a great, but predictable adventure that can be enjoyed be readers of all ages!  Check out The Nocturnals: The Ominous Eye while I move on to the next read.  Cheers!

The Goblin Crown: Billy Smith and the Goblins by Robert Hewitt Wolfe

     When I managed to get this book- I was shocked outta my gourd!  I didn't think I'd get it- but violà - The Goblin Crown by Robert Hewitt Wolfe!  Here it is and I couldn't be happier.  I have to say that for starters: the cover!

     I am always loving on book covers and this one gives me great pleasure for a couple of reasons.  Number one, it reminds me of The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien- the movie.  Did you see the original, animated movie?  The goblin on this cover reminds me so much of the style and features, thus reminding me of my dad.  He's the one who got me in to books, especially fantasy!  I'm also in love with the detailing.  There was a war going on in this book, with a few children caught up in the crossfire and this cover shows just how hazardous that journey was!  It's neither bright nor gory, it just shows what's to be expected and I appreciated that.

     I'd never heard of Wolfe before The Goblin Crown: Billy Smith and the Goblins but I think I'll be looking for more.   Then again, I had- I just hadn't realized it!  The dude's hand are all over my favorite shows: The Dresden Files, The 4400 and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine!  But this isn't about shows; my review is based on both my thoughts and those of my son on this tale.      The story is about three kids who are supernaturally taken from this world and transported into an underground domain of goblins, magic and mystifying creatures that remind you of the R.O.U.S.'s of The Princess Bride.  Lexi, Kurt and Billy are on a mission to discover the identity of the heir to the goblin throne and a king who's desperately needed.  There's non-stop action, lessons to be learned and some very admirable qualities that shine.

     I think this book is so amazing because of the author's background.  He knows how to create diverse characters and personalities that are realistic while still keeping it all in a world that's a war zone!  Both my son and I felt the story could really happen from the magic of it all.  It also felt like a tv show without the preachiness when it came to lessons like self-control, communication and being courageous.  

     This book is definitely a keeper.  Check out The Goblin Crown while I move on to the next read! 

Eleanor by Jason Gurley

     If you love books that take you to worlds unparalleled, this is the one for you.  The story is saddening and frustrating, but only because you find yourself invested in such a weirdly, beautiful story.  You become engrossed and want things to occur in a particular manner, but when it doesn't, you ache for the main character, Eleanor.

     This story,  Eleanor  by Jason Gurley, is heart-wrenching...      Eleanor is the story of five people and two entities.  All of them come together, converging around one girl who's half of herself.  A Twin.  Eleanor, is the surviving sister of an accident and she's  broken.  Her twin, Esme, the dead twin and Eleanor's other half, is trapped... someplace else.  All she wants is to get home, but can she?  Can Eleanor help her get there?  And who is with her while she tries to break through to the other side?

     I have to be careful how I speak of this story ( you know how I feel about SPOILERS).  The tale is temperamental and distressing because so much is happening (all related to death) and you can see the train-wreck coming!.  Its neglectful, depressing and so unhappy,  but there's also hope.  Lying just beneath a sheer film of  disaster, you know there's a chance this can all be repaired and end on a happy note.  I appreciated the enormous weight of grief from the parents as well as Eleanor, but I wanted them to find some closure.  If you can fight through the sadness of the journey, you will appreciate this novel..

     The tears on the cover are a true sign of what's to come, but I didn't cry.  I wasn't that attached, but I was caught up enough to feel lost within within the mystery of the story,  It's worth a read but understand, there will be a lot of strangeness and emotions going on.  I'm moving off to the next read.

A Confession by William F. Aicher

"Am I a good person?"

     That's the question, more like theme or mantra throughout this book.  William F. Aicher shares with the reader a series of life's mistakes, both intentional and unintentional.  You get to decide for yourself, as he shares with you all he's done.  A confession, so to speak.
     This book speaks to the reader, allowing them to reevaluate themselves as the author does the same.  He shares  things that made you wonder: What the heck he was thinking, but also allows you to ponder how the situation would play out if YOU were in the same situation.  I loved the way he wrote, heart-felt, yet I could easily see him pointing at me saying, "Don't you judge me- I'm just like you!"  It was great.  
     Sharing things like love, sex, drugs and more, Aicher gives you a broad view of his fictional self (or real, I do not know) and you get to see you in the process.  A read you'd enjoy!

Colors by Julie Sieckhaus-Parker

     Another book by the lovely Julie Parker!  Colors is all about the wonderful world of: colors!  Teaching children all about the variety of shades of people, their environment and more.

     Written for the youngest of children, the reader will fall in love  with the fresh colors, the happiness each page shares and the lessons on the people about them.  It's a fast and easy read that they child can do on their own or with someone.  I actually let my Ewok read to me!

     Because she's a new author, her books will become available on both her website and on Amazon.com.  Check out this happy book.  I'm sure you'll want a copy for yourself, as soon as it becomes available.

On to the next read!

Om-Bork by Robert Lampros

      It took well over a year, but I finally got a copy of Om-Bork, by a fellow Saint. Louisan, Robert Lampros.  [Is that a word?]  Anyway, I won this book through Goodreads.com.

     The story is about a boy named Martin who thought he heard an alien spaceship land near his backyard.  Fifteen years later, he runs into the alien, who claims to be the one who'd landed all those years ago and had watched him grow up!

     Now that's where I'm confused.  They meet and become acquainted and then It Ends!  I was like, "Wait!  Did I miss something?"  I went back a few pages and reread, but found myself baffled.  I liked the introduction, but it was never explained why the alien waited so long before finally meeting.  The terrestrial, Om-Bork, though from another planet, just happens to be Christian.  That made me think, that the author was going with the premise of all things created by one being, God.  I wanted more... but it ended.  

The illustrations are abstract and bright, which keeps children interested, but it's outside of that, the book has nothing to offer.  The book is about 38-pages long with a story that ends on page 34.  I don't know what the message is supposed to be.  Right when one should have kicked in, it was over.  

​     I'm gonna just move on to the next book.

13 Ways of Looking At A Fat Girl by Mona Awad

     Because I've been a sufferer of both an under and overactive thyroid, I am always exercising, walking and watching what I'm eating.  I don't have an emotional tie to my weight- at least not in the sense that many others fight through, but I do have things I'm working on.  That being said, when I saw this book in my book stash, I was pretty excited!  I thought to myself, "I think I'm gonna like this..."      I didn't like this.

     I won't give away any SPOILERS, but I can say I was very let down by this book.  I was so upset by it, the only reason I finished the book was due, only to my literary obligations.  So here's my review.  

     First, it's a very well written novel.  Awad shared her feelings in a way that allowed me to relate to her situation   She was real and open about eating, social awkwardness and the opposite sex.  I was like :  "Yes!  That was me too!"  But that was where the similarities ended.

     Liz was desperate and hard up for attention while over-weight, an unhappy thin person with an eating disorder.  It was very frustrating for for me as the reader, because she never found herself.  There was n medium and she just came off as pathetic.  This book showed how emotionally hazardous one can be if they don't love themselves.  The protagonist was so dependent I was angry and actually threw the book against my office door!  

     Needless to say, I was VERY unhappy with this book.  The only reason it got three stars is because of the writing and the few times I could truly relate.

​     And in the famous words of Forrest Gump, "That's all I've got to say about that."  On to the next read.