Sage Nestler's Blog, page 77
March 25, 2016
Upcoming Book Reviews Round 1
Hello Everyone,
I just wanted to update you on some upcoming indie books that I am reading and will be writing reviews about soon. Below are all of the books on my review list, in no particular order, for you to browse through as well.
Title: Hell School – Fresh Meat
Author: Heidi Angell
Purchase: Hell School – Fresh Meat
Review is Now Up: Hell School: Fresh Meat by Heidi Angell
High school is hard, especially when you’re a freshman in a new town, surrounded by people you don’t understand and who don’t understand you. Sam was overwhelmed just trying to fit in. Then she is singled out with the first letter.
While some girls envy the “romantics” of this unknown admirer, Sam can tell something isn’t right. Sam wanted to just blend in, but someone’s eye is fixated on her. As the letters and bad poetry continue, so does the nagging in Sam’s stomach telling her this is not normal.
When things escalate from strange to creepy, Sam’s world becomes a nightmare. Twisted admiration is stalking her around every corner in the high school from hell….
*.*.*
Title: Forgotten
Author: Neven Carr
Purchase: Forgotten
Review is Now Up: Forgotten by Neven Carr Review – 5/5 Stars
Fear and the bitter stench of death have haunted Claudia Cabriati for much of her life, along with odd dreams, puzzling cards and the bone-chilling sensation of being watched. When a vaguely familiar woman possessing secret knowledge about Claudia’s family is murdered, it sets off a string of horrifying events including shocking revelations of family skeletons better left buried.
*.*.*
Title: Lovejoy’s World
Author: Dai Alanye
Purchase: Lovejoy’s World
Two naive Terrans of opposite sexes, accidental and unwilling travel companions, each spend their life savings on a journey to a primitive criminal-ridden planet, pursuing different but equally unlikely dreams. These two innocents, these babes in the wood, these pathetically hapless greenhorns are in for the biggest shocks of their lives.
Escorted by an alcoholic local, Keira and Wally backpack their way across an inhospitable stretch of territory from the landing site to the planet’s second city. They make it almost halfway before losing their guide, being attacked by bandits, and stumbling into a pack of dangerous local wildlife.
Then the trouble really starts. Hitherto antagonistic, under pressure of danger they begin to feel attraction for one another.
This, of course, can only lead to worse problems.
*.*.*
Title: Mortal Showdown
Author: Nik Krasno
Purchase: Mortal Showdown
Mortal Showdown is an action packed thriller sending the reader on a kaleidoscopic race through violence, sex, scamming and anti-scamming, political upheaval and murder.
Michael (Misha) – a Ukrainian oligarch who was rapidly climbing the Forbes rich list, wakes from a coma caused by an assassination attempt and realizes that he’s in the thick of a multilayered attack on him and his business empire. Making things even worse – among his numerous adversaries is one of Russia’s most influential strongmen. From rich and powerful, Michael very quickly becomes a fugitive, struggling for survival. Counting on his wits and a handful of loyal associates, he searches for a way to even the score with each of his adversaries and to save his country from the Russian bear’s grasp.
In order to have the slightest chance in a face-off with his prime nemesis, Michael needs to attack head on, undertaking the greatest risk of his entire life. Unfortunately, the dangerous mission goes wrong from the very beginning…
*.*.*
Title: The Unseen Face
Author: Joannes Rhino
Purchase: The Unseen Face
James Maddox must face the demons of his past and question everything he thought was real; even his own memory.James was used to living without emotion after losing his Emilia unexpectedly; he gave up on happiness the day she died. His plans for their future, of marriage and kids, died right along with her. He preferred feeling numb, rather than feeling the pain of losing his dreams. That all changed the day he received an anonymous letter in the mail with just three words: I am innocent. James began dreaming of Emilia that same night. However, his dream quickly becomes his nightmare as she haunts his sleep, demanding he knows the truth, that he faces the unseen. And what is hidden threatens to change James’ life forever.
*.*.*
Title: Mind in the Clouds
Author: Bruce Perrin
Purchase: Mind in the Clouds
A suspenseful whodunit, where not all the suspects are human.
Recently graduated and newly hired Ruger-Phillips employee, Dr. Sam “Doc” Price is excited to be starting his new assignment. He will be assessing training developed for a team. It is, however, a team like no other, because only one of the team members is human; the other is one of the most intelligent and lethal systems ever built by man – the Joint Aerial Combat Capability or JACC. Loaded with the latest in detection and threat assessment technology, JACC is a silent, deadly hunter in the sky. Doc discovers, however, that JACC may not be the only killer on the remote, Nevada test range where he now finds himself. Soon, he is involved in a cat and mouse game with an unknown adversary. In this fight for his life and the lives of his friends, Doc asks himself, how do you match wits with the mind in the clouds, when you are not sure if you are facing the cold, exact logic of machine intelligence or the coldblooded urges of a human murderer?
*.*.*
Title: The Calypsis Project
Author: Brittany M. Willows
Purchase: The Calypsis Project
The year is 2438. Ten years ago, an ill-fated encounter on a human mining colony triggered a devastating war between the United Nations Planetary Defense and an alien organization known as the Drocain Royal Empire.
After a decade of fighting with no sign of a conclusion in sight, the men and women of the UNPD find themselves faced with the harsh reality that mankind’s very existence is at stake.
When Corporal Alana Carmen stumbles upon an encrypted communications device, she learns there is more to the conflict than a simple war-for-worlds. But to uncover the truth, she must make allies of those she once considered enemies.
And now, the fate of the entire galaxy may rest on the shoulders of a single alien warrior . . .
Following a public shaming at his own Coming of Age ceremony, Kenon Valinquint enrolls in the Drocain Royal Empire with the hope of one day redeeming himself. Unbeknownst to the young Drahkori, this decision has set in motion a staggering chain of events that could very well change the direction of the war, and the known history of the universe, forever.
*.*.*
Title: Davenport House
Author: Marie Silk
Emotions are running high in the midst of a family scandal at Davenport House, where social classes collide and discretion is the secret to survival.
Mary Davenport is a 22-year-old idealist who worries that the world in the Progressive Era is leaving her behind. She lives isolated in the Pennsylvania countryside with her affluent and secretive family. When her father dies suddenly, Mary becomes pained with grief and increasingly suspicious of those around her.
A humble servant girl has the chance of a lifetime to become a lady’s companion. Costly dresses, exquisite rooms, and fine dinners are pleasant distractions from what is really happening in the house.
Upcoming Indie Book Reviews – 3/25/16
Hello Everyone,
I just wanted to update you on some upcoming indie books that I am reading and will be writing reviews about soon. Below are all of the books on my review list, in no particular order, for you to browse through as well.
Title: Hell School – Fresh Meat
Author: Heidi Angell
Purchase: Hell School – Fresh Meat
High school is hard, especially when you’re a freshman in a new town, surrounded by people you don’t understand and who don’t understand you. Sam was overwhelmed just trying to fit in. Then she is singled out with the first letter.
While some girls envy the “romantics” of this unknown admirer, Sam can tell something isn’t right. Sam wanted to just blend in, but someone’s eye is fixated on her. As the letters and bad poetry continue, so does the nagging in Sam’s stomach telling her this is not normal.
When things escalate from strange to creepy, Sam’s world becomes a nightmare. Twisted admiration is stalking her around every corner in the high school from hell….
Title: Forgotten
Author: Neven Carr
Purchase: Forgotten
Fear and the bitter stench of death have haunted Claudia Cabriati for much of her life, along with odd dreams, puzzling cards and the bone-chilling sensation of being watched. When a vaguely familiar woman possessing secret knowledge about Claudia’s family is murdered, it sets off a string of horrifying events including shocking revelations of family skeletons better left buried.
Title: Lovejoy’s World
Author: Dai Alanye
Purchase: Lovejoy’s World
Two naive Terrans of opposite sexes, accidental and unwilling travel companions, each spend their life savings on a journey to a primitive criminal-ridden planet, pursuing different but equally unlikely dreams. These two innocents, these babes in the wood, these pathetically hapless greenhorns are in for the biggest shocks of their lives.
Escorted by an alcoholic local, Keira and Wally backpack their way across an inhospitable stretch of territory from the landing site to the planet’s second city. They make it almost halfway before losing their guide, being attacked by bandits, and stumbling into a pack of dangerous local wildlife.
Then the trouble really starts. Hitherto antagonistic, under pressure of danger they begin to feel attraction for one another.
This, of course, can only lead to worse problems.
Title: Mortal Showdown
Author: Nik Krasno
Purchase: Mortal Showdown
Mortal Showdown is an action packed thriller sending the reader on a kaleidoscopic race through violence, sex, scamming and anti-scamming, political upheaval and murder.
Michael (Misha) – a Ukrainian oligarch who was rapidly climbing the Forbes rich list, wakes from a coma caused by an assassination attempt and realizes that he’s in the thick of a multilayered attack on him and his business empire. Making things even worse – among his numerous adversaries is one of Russia’s most influential strongmen. From rich and powerful, Michael very quickly becomes a fugitive, struggling for survival. Counting on his wits and a handful of loyal associates, he searches for a way to even the score with each of his adversaries and to save his country from the Russian bear’s grasp.
In order to have the slightest chance in a face-off with his prime nemesis, Michael needs to attack head on, undertaking the greatest risk of his entire life. Unfortunately, the dangerous mission goes wrong from the very beginning…
Title: The Unseen Face
Author: Joannes Rhino
Purchase: The Unseen Face
James Maddox must face the demons of his past and question everything he thought was real; even his own memory.James was used to living without emotion after losing his Emilia unexpectedly; he gave up on happiness the day she died. His plans for their future, of marriage and kids, died right along with her. He preferred feeling numb, rather than feeling the pain of losing his dreams. That all changed the day he received an anonymous letter in the mail with just three words: I am innocent. James began dreaming of Emilia that same night. However, his dream quickly becomes his nightmare as she haunts his sleep, demanding he knows the truth, that he faces the unseen. And what is hidden threatens to change James’ life forever.
Title: Mind in the Clouds
Author: Bruce Perrin
Purchase: Mind in the Clouds
A suspenseful whodunit, where not all the suspects are human.
Recently graduated and newly hired Ruger-Phillips employee, Dr. Sam “Doc” Price is excited to be starting his new assignment. He will be assessing training developed for a team. It is, however, a team like no other, because only one of the team members is human; the other is one of the most intelligent and lethal systems ever built by man – the Joint Aerial Combat Capability or JACC. Loaded with the latest in detection and threat assessment technology, JACC is a silent, deadly hunter in the sky. Doc discovers, however, that JACC may not be the only killer on the remote, Nevada test range where he now finds himself. Soon, he is involved in a cat and mouse game with an unknown adversary. In this fight for his life and the lives of his friends, Doc asks himself, how do you match wits with the mind in the clouds, when you are not sure if you are facing the cold, exact logic of machine intelligence or the coldblooded urges of a human murderer?
Title: The Calypsis Project
Author: Brittany M. Willows
Purchase: The Calypsis Project
The year is 2438. Ten years ago, an ill-fated encounter on a human mining colony triggered a devastating war between the United Nations Planetary Defense and an alien organization known as the Drocain Royal Empire.
After a decade of fighting with no sign of a conclusion in sight, the men and women of the UNPD find themselves faced with the harsh reality that mankind’s very existence is at stake.
When Corporal Alana Carmen stumbles upon an encrypted communications device, she learns there is more to the conflict than a simple war-for-worlds. But to uncover the truth, she must make allies of those she once considered enemies.
And now, the fate of the entire galaxy may rest on the shoulders of a single alien warrior . . .
Following a public shaming at his own Coming of Age ceremony, Kenon Valinquint enrolls in the Drocain Royal Empire with the hope of one day redeeming himself. Unbeknownst to the young Drahkori, this decision has set in motion a staggering chain of events that could very well change the direction of the war, and the known history of the universe, forever.
Upcoming Indie Book Review – 3/25/16
Hello Everyone,
I just wanted to update you on some upcoming indie books that I am reading and will be writing reviews about soon. Below are all of the books on my review list, in no particular order, for you to browse through as well.
Title: Hell School – Fresh Meat
Author: Heidi Angell
Purchase: Hell School – Fresh Meat
High school is hard, especially when you’re a freshman in a new town, surrounded by people you don’t understand and who don’t understand you. Sam was overwhelmed just trying to fit in. Then she is singled out with the first letter.
While some girls envy the “romantics” of this unknown admirer, Sam can tell something isn’t right. Sam wanted to just blend in, but someone’s eye is fixated on her. As the letters and bad poetry continue, so does the nagging in Sam’s stomach telling her this is not normal.
When things escalate from strange to creepy, Sam’s world becomes a nightmare. Twisted admiration is stalking her around every corner in the high school from hell….
Title: Forgotten
Author: Neven Carr
Purchase: Forgotten
Fear and the bitter stench of death have haunted Claudia Cabriati for much of her life, along with odd dreams, puzzling cards and the bone-chilling sensation of being watched. When a vaguely familiar woman possessing secret knowledge about Claudia’s family is murdered, it sets off a string of horrifying events including shocking revelations of family skeletons better left buried.
Title: Lovejoy’s World
Author: Dai Alanye
Purchase: Lovejoy’s World
Two naive Terrans of opposite sexes, accidental and unwilling travel companions, each spend their life savings on a journey to a primitive criminal-ridden planet, pursuing different but equally unlikely dreams. These two innocents, these babes in the wood, these pathetically hapless greenhorns are in for the biggest shocks of their lives.
Escorted by an alcoholic local, Keira and Wally backpack their way across an inhospitable stretch of territory from the landing site to the planet’s second city. They make it almost halfway before losing their guide, being attacked by bandits, and stumbling into a pack of dangerous local wildlife.
Then the trouble really starts. Hitherto antagonistic, under pressure of danger they begin to feel attraction for one another.
This, of course, can only lead to worse problems.
Title: Mortal Showdown
Author: Nik Krasno
Purchase: Mortal Showdown
Mortal Showdown is an action packed thriller sending the reader on a kaleidoscopic race through violence, sex, scamming and anti-scamming, political upheaval and murder.
Michael (Misha) – a Ukrainian oligarch who was rapidly climbing the Forbes rich list, wakes from a coma caused by an assassination attempt and realizes that he’s in the thick of a multilayered attack on him and his business empire. Making things even worse – among his numerous adversaries is one of Russia’s most influential strongmen. From rich and powerful, Michael very quickly becomes a fugitive, struggling for survival. Counting on his wits and a handful of loyal associates, he searches for a way to even the score with each of his adversaries and to save his country from the Russian bear’s grasp.
In order to have the slightest chance in a face-off with his prime nemesis, Michael needs to attack head on, undertaking the greatest risk of his entire life. Unfortunately, the dangerous mission goes wrong from the very beginning…
Title: The Unseen Face
Author: Joannes Rhino
Purchase: The Unseen Face
James Maddox must face the demons of his past and question everything he thought was real; even his own memory.James was used to living without emotion after losing his Emilia unexpectedly; he gave up on happiness the day she died. His plans for their future, of marriage and kids, died right along with her. He preferred feeling numb, rather than feeling the pain of losing his dreams. That all changed the day he received an anonymous letter in the mail with just three words: I am innocent. James began dreaming of Emilia that same night. However, his dream quickly becomes his nightmare as she haunts his sleep, demanding he knows the truth, that he faces the unseen. And what is hidden threatens to change James’ life forever.
Title: Mind in the Clouds
Author: Bruce Perrin
Purchase: Mind in the Clouds
A suspenseful whodunit, where not all the suspects are human.
Recently graduated and newly hired Ruger-Phillips employee, Dr. Sam “Doc” Price is excited to be starting his new assignment. He will be assessing training developed for a team. It is, however, a team like no other, because only one of the team members is human; the other is one of the most intelligent and lethal systems ever built by man – the Joint Aerial Combat Capability or JACC. Loaded with the latest in detection and threat assessment technology, JACC is a silent, deadly hunter in the sky. Doc discovers, however, that JACC may not be the only killer on the remote, Nevada test range where he now finds himself. Soon, he is involved in a cat and mouse game with an unknown adversary. In this fight for his life and the lives of his friends, Doc asks himself, how do you match wits with the mind in the clouds, when you are not sure if you are facing the cold, exact logic of machine intelligence or the coldblooded urges of a human murderer?
March 24, 2016
Starflight by Melissa Landers (Contains Spoilers)
Title: Starflight by Melissa Landers
Release Date: February 2, 2016
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
I received this novel in my February Uppercase Box. It is a young adult science fiction novel with romantic and dramatic elements and I was thoroughly intrigued. Not to mention the fact that Landers is active on instragram and liked and commented on all of my posts about the book. She is a lovely human being and obviously engaged with her audience. That alone made me appreciate her book more because it was obvious how much she cared about her work and her fans.
But to start the review I would like to start with the cover, for one thing. The saying is always “don’t judge a book by its cover”, but as visual beings we all tend to do that. In that aspect alone, this book excelled. I absolutely love the galactic elements of this cover and if I had first seen it at the bookstore I would have picked it up right away. I also love how the back cover featured a quote instead of a small summary. The quote seemed to sum up the relationships of the characters well and bind together all of the themes of the story.
Even though this book was publicized as being a “firefly inspired novel for the next generation” Landers said that she did not base the novel on the television series “Firefly”, but instead was inspired by the memory loss element of the 1980’s film “Overboard” which features Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. With “Overboard” being one of my favorite movies of all time, I was very impressed by this reference. Don’t be mistaken, this book is nothing like “Overboard” except for the fact that the main male character, Doran, loses his memory and regains it back during the course of the novel.
I did like this aspect of the novel, however, I do feel that it could have been done better. Doran lost his memory for only a short amount of time before regaining it and this seemed to make that part of the novel almost insignificant. I would have liked it better if Doran had not regained his memory all at once, but I do understand why she did it that way. She needed Solara to get away with kidnapping him so that she could afford fair to get on another ship, but she also needed him to be present again to really fall in love with her and form their relationship as well as being an active participant of the novel.
The main premise of this novel was about Solara, who is a felon, running away to start her life on a new planet. Along the way she and Doran become part of a ship full of felons and have to fight off galactic pirates as they travel to different planets and experience life on a new ship with people who end up becoming like family. I thought that the way Landers progressed the relationships of all members of the ship was lovely, and there were some extreme plot twists as one member of the ship passes away and another person related to a member of the ship turns out to be alive when he was believed to be dead. There was a lot of action in this novel and it kept me reading the whole way through. Each character had many different faces and it was hard to get a solid grasp on any of them, because they all seemed to have secrets that unfolded during the novel. This was a strong writing element and proved to me that Landers is very skilled with character development.
Landers did, however, use a lot of sexual scenes as well as one accidental drug related scene and younger readers should be aware of this. I thought that these scenes were tasteful and necessary to the action and progression of the story, but they are something that is not usually seen in young adult novels.
Overall, even though I do not usually pick up science fiction novels I was very fascinated by this novel and thought that it was a beautiful, multi-faceted story. I highly recommend this book for anyone, even those who do not normally read science fiction. This book serves as a great introduction to its genre. 4/5 stars for beautiful writing, but one star off because of the rushed element of Doran regaining his memory.
Buy the Book: Starflight by Melissa Landers
Email: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com for review inquiries. I respond to all emails.
About
Email: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com for review inquiries. I will respond to all emails!
Instragram: @ancoolu
Twitter: @ancoolu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ashley-Nestl...
Hello all!
My name is Ashley Nestler and I am the author behind Peach Keen Book Reviews. I am a self published author myself with two book out so far and one book coming up. My first two books “Beautiful Nightmare” and “Into the Fog” are available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
Beautiful Nightmare by Ashley Nestler
Into The Fog By Ashley Nestler
That being said, I am very passionate about indie publishing and love to read and review books of all kinds. I will post my book reviews of indie and mainstream books here as well as writing tips for those authors out there. If you have a book you would like a review for I will review for free if you supply me with your book. I am able to read ebooks on my kindle and paper books as well. However, the ebook but would be most convenient for both you and I.
I am also active on Goodreads and will be posting all of my reviews on there as well. You can also message me through Goodreads concerning book reviews and I will answer all messages.
Thanks and enjoy,
Ashley Nestler
