Belated Book Birthday to...Starter House by Sonja Condit!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers…the place to be this 2014 for great reads indeed.

How can I say, well type technically, that statement so confidently?  Well, experience of course…as in the first two books of the year, actually READ this year, have BOTH been A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!  Curious?  You’ve already heard about the one (Rachel’s Folly by Monica Bruno) and today we’ll reveal the second.  Remember the teaser from yesterday?  Today. We reveal all (not really, but at least enough to peak your interest even more ^_^)!  Are you ready?  You best be because if you don’t come prepared to THIS house warming party, you might not make it out…well, alive at least.  (Dun dun dunnnn….)  Today’s book of choice is…

Starter House

By

Sonja Condit

9780062283054

William Morrow

About the book…

 From the moment Lacey sees the house with the beautiful wood staircase, she knows she’s found her dream home. Growing up rootless with her flighty mother, Ella Dane, a self-proclaimed psychic, Lacey is determined to give her unborn baby the stability she never had. But shortly after she and her husband, Eric, move in, the warm and welcoming house becomes cold and dark. There is something malevolent within these walls that wants to hurt her unborn child—a terrifying presence that only she can sense. And there is Drew, a demanding and temperamental little boy who mysteriously appears when Lacey is alone. To protect her unborn child and save her family, Lacy must discover the truth about her dream house and the troubled Drew—a decades-old mystery involving secrets, violence, and guilt—and confront an evil that has lingered in wait for years.

Oh me, oh my.  This book will definitely serves as a cautionary tale for those house hunting for their first, second, or last place to call home…emphasis on last there.  *-*

The happily married couple has it all worked out.  Limited courtship, followed by an engagement complete with a turn in financial situations for one half of the pair testing both their love and their resolve to make things work.  Doesn’t sound terrible now, does it?  Oh, but those are only the beginning bumps in the road to their happily ever after…and I’m not talking about unplanned pregnancies here.  You see, the couple is in fact having a baby…that is if their newly chosen dwelling will let them.  How can a house prevent a birth?  It’s not really preventing it that’s the problem; it’s allowing the newly born soul to live.  *cue ominous music*

There’s something about their idyllic new house that the previous owner (and current next door neighbor…for now at least) failed to reveal.  Something that new owners, particularly in their situation, REALLY would have wanted to know before hand.  Might have changed their whole view of this “house-in-need-of-TLC” to “house-that-should-be-avoided-at-all-costs” before things got out of hand…and boy do they EVER get out of hand.  History as we’re told repeats itself and the same can be said here…just not in an “okay-I-learned-a-lesson” sorta way.  Good thing our leading lady has had some experience in this department already….with the supernatural, I mean.  Her mother may not have imparted a great many life lessons worth remembering, but a predisposition to accept and respond to those still in our plain and yet not, will definitely come in handy.  Moving forward....

Aside from the troubling events unfolding, we have the characters themselves.  The majority of the story is seen through Lacey's eyes and mind.  She has a good soul, though her life has been touched by darkness, more than she even knows.  Her choices may not always have seemed right by they were definitely understandable given the circumstances and her past.  Eric, her husband, is a bit of a mess.  He means well but he's quick to anger; he's caring and yet weighed down by work to the point of depression.  He swings back and forth like a gate that won't latch...an aspect to remember when things get hairy later on.  Speaking of hairy, there's Harry...the former owner and next door neighbor, currently.   He's got a past littered with hopes and dreams, kindness given and faith taken away, but it's his more recent decisions this past decade or so that'll really turn your head.  Add to this growing brood, Ella Dane, Lacey's mother; a quirky character that can infuriate the calmest mind but someone worth knowing nonetheless, for obvious reasons and not so obvious ones.  Then, we have Drew...

How to explain him?  I mean, he's a young lad that loves to ride his bicycle past the house, appear for impromptu cookies and milk, play random games of chutes and ladders while telling you he's not cheating, and....has a temper that will knock your socks off, or your head; whichever is faster.  *o*  It's hard to imagine all of this from a little 6-8 year old, don't you think?  Oh buddy, you haven't even heard the best parts. Suffice it to say that leaving the house behind in all it's living and non-living colors would've have been hard....for like to seconds.  Otherwise, count me outtie.  Just sayin'....he's not someone to PO if you know what I mean....

  

The final scenes of the book were the only thing that really gave me pause.  When things were finally revealing themselves, the unraveling of past, present and future, who was who, what was what, and the final outcome for everyone and everything, it got a little discombobulating.  HOWEVER, give it a second…read it through carefully, maybe even reread a passage or two, and you’ll be right on track again with an “Ah HA” moment of your own to laugh about later and share with those you meet.  Trust me, this is one book you’ll definitely want to share.

In conclusion, a read for those open to the idea of “something else” out there and ready to fight alongside our leading lady for love, family and life in general.  It’s a story that tosses the notion of the ideal family right out the window (with good reason) and invites you to take life as it’s doled out because sometimes picture perfect is more facade than reality.  That whole “don’t judge a book by its cover” thing…revisited, revived, and re-imagined, all on display in a tale that’s creepy on the outside but running strong with undercurrents of love and understanding.  Don’t buy what I’m selling?  Read it.  You will.  Recommended for older teens and beyond who are seeking a GREAT addition to their 2014 (or any year frankly!) reading list.

ARC for review courtesy of William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their full catalog, be sure to stop by their official site.  This title is available now, so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf near you.

Until next time…happy reading!

Taste Testing Tuesdays

Hi guys!
So,  my schedule had changed a smidge and thus today's post is having an adjustment as well.  We're teasing up a title today and full on reviewing it tomorrow.  Sounds good?  Oh trust me,  you'll want the extra time with this one. ..

STARTER HOUSE
by
Sonja Condit

Above,  we're sneaking a peek at page 86 in my ARC of this fascinating addictive read.  If you can't wait til tomorrow,  grab a copy today. If you can,   stop by for a closer look at this ghostly story. ..

Until next time. .stay warm (it's only 21 here, but feels like 11!)...and happy reading!

MUST READ ALERT: Rachel's Folly by Monica Bruno

Hi guys!

Welcome back to another week here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the site that knows when to scream, when to shout and when to shake it all about.  ^_^

Today's featured title is one that will make you do all three of the actions mentioned above in a totally and absolutely GREAT way.  That's right!  It was DEFINITELY a winner in my book and I think it will be in yours too....however, before I go making snap judgments on your behalf, perhaps I should introduce the book first, no?  No...I mean yes!  Ladies and gents, readers of teen age and above, may I proudly introduce today's book of choice...

RACHEL'S FOLLY

by

Monica Bruno

9781489594211

About the book...

Family therapist Rachel Richards’ life is about to come undone.
She has it all: a successful career, a beautiful house, a loving husband, and a son she adores. To top it off, her best friend is getting married. But who is this mysterious man who calls himself Jack and, more importantly, who is Rachel when she’s with him? After a night of drinking gone awry, Rachel is forced to face a dark part of herself she didn’t know existed. She must find a way to cope—with what she’s done, with the kind of person she might be—or lose her life in the process.
Told from three unique perspectives and set against the backdrop of an Austin, Texas both strange and familiar, Rachel’s Folly is an exploration of profound loss, morality, and the lengths to which we will go to save our loved ones and ourselves . . . from ourselves.

Yeah...did you catch that?
You know, the synopsis up there...did you actually read it?  If not, go back....I'll wait.  What's that?  Oh...you want to know why?  Well that's easy....because as of the time of this post, that's the most you're gonna find (besides word of mouth) about this little beauty online.  That's right.  It's top secret-ish at the moment, running incognito, behind the scenes....well, you catch my drift.  Anywho...the official launch of this book is scheduled for later this week, at last check January 9th you should find it online at the big "A", but YOU my lucky readers get to catch an inside glimpse at what awaits you.  Now, I am under strict orders not to include any spoilers, though that is my normal m.o. I will be especially dutiful this time around.  So, if my words seem a tad veiled, it's TOTALLY on purpose.  Okay?  Kay.  Let's jump into it then with both feet first and our eyes wide open because you're not gonna want to miss a minute....

Rachel is a great lead character.  She's genuinely a good person, but she's done something awful.  Is it something she should be condemned for, something she should let eat away at her for the rest of her life?  I'll have to let you be the judge but suffice it to say, it probably happens more often than not nowadays. Anywho, the terrible something affects more than just her.  It affects the lives and loves of those around her.  To reveal or not to reveal, that is the question.  Whether tis better to shed light on a bad choice and release all the guilt, or bury it deeper than the deepest ocean bed so as to not risk affecting the masses because after all, what good is being guilt free if you're all alone in every sense of the word?  Ahh...but what if things weren't exactly what they seem?

What if the idyllic life you pretend to live is just one of many facades?  What if those you thought you knew, you never really knew at all?  Hard to admit to yourself as a lay person, let alone someone who is suppose to help others uncover their true selves....like our friend Rachel, a therapist.  She works with people everyday that are searching for answers to this or that problem in their lives.  But tell you, who councils the therapist?  Family can sometimes help, in this case her brother Ben, but though their intentions are good, their choices don't always mirror our own whether we can admit that or not.  Case in point, Ben offers council somewhat reluctantly, but all it does is deepen his own guilt when events take a turn for the worst.  What events?  Oh no you don't...I'm not telling.  Nice try though.  Let's move along with the characters.

Ben is a great brother.  He's there for Rachel and her family, is genuinely into his nephew Jacob and has a little dog named Homer.  When times get tough, he's reachable by phone (normally...~whistles~) and can be counted on to lend a hand even from afar....and when things get a bit shady, from within the fire.  Keeping with the male end of the spectrum, we also have Edward, Rachel's husband.  Again with the great guy comment, but my only real beef with him is not believing more in Rachel.  I mean he had valid reasons not to after what happened is revealed, but to simply shut the door on a possibility because it's too hard...I don't know; it seemed less than noble.  Perhaps he was simply thinking of their little guy, Jacob.  Last on the male chain would be Jack, the new addition to their circle....we get to know him as the story progresses, until then, he seems like a cog that doesn't quite fit.

Story wise...there is action aplenty, morals explored, relationships tested, the three M's (that's murder, mayhem, and madness) and much much more all contained in just under 60,000 words and 250 pages.  Just goes to show you that it doesn't have to be a whopper of a book to be a GREAT read...and this my friends is just that.  From start to finish, this read was completed in about two days...and that's with working two jobs, so you do the math!  Oh, and one final note.  That cover?  That oddly unusual and yet drawing cover?  It's explained within the story so don't think too hard on it in the mean time.  I know, it'll be hard, but just wait.

Author Monica Bruno

In conclusion, a story you can really sink your teeth.  You come to know the characters, well....as good as anyone else....(~whistles~...I'm NOT spoiling it!)...while your heart tries to keep pace with the events as they unfold.  Recommended read for older teens and beyond due to one (maybe two?) intimate scenes and a bit of violence that while totally warranted may not be the best thing for younger eyes.  The grammar is spot on, the tale well written allowing the story to flow freely from page to page and viewpoint to viewpoint.  Make a spot on your wish list my friends and stay tuned to the online channels as this book makes its way into the Literary Suspense/Thriller arena.  I foresee it being quite a contender.

ARC received courtesy of author Monica Bruno.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as the mind behind it, seek thee out her official site, or follow along on Twitter.  This is the author's first novel, and I for one can't wait to see what else she has in store for us.

Until next time...happy reading!

The Book of Someday by Dianne Dixon

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers…the place to be every day of every season because even if the weather outside is frightful, the reading will ALWAYS be delightful.

Today’s featured title comes to us from the fab folks over at Sourcebooks and stars an author’s second journey into the Fiction genre.  Though I’ve not read her previous work, if this title is any indication of her talent, I’m SO there.  Make room on your wish list, it’s time to greet today’s book of choice…

The Book of Someday

By

Dianne Dixon

From the back cover…

Mysteriously connected and soon to be forever changed, three women begin a story that will haunt you long after they are gone.

Ever since she was a little girl in California, Livvi Gray has been tormented by a nightmare – the image of an eerily beautiful stranger in a shimmering silver dress.  Shortly before Livvi’s thirtieth birthday, she will come face to face with this stranger, an encounter that will not only alter Livvi’s future, but also change much of what she thinks she knows about her past.

The Book of Someday tells Livvi’s story in parallel with that of Micah, a brilliant Boston photographer, and AnnaLee, a young Long Island wife and mother.

Like Livvi, these two women are swiftly moving toward events that will prove to be the ultimate turning points in their lives.  Linked by an unforgettable mystery, they reveal a web of devastating secrets about the unexpected ways in which we choose to protect – and betray – the people we love.

  

It was great getting to know each of the women featured in this story and though each received their time in the spotlight, including one that speaks not a word, none is followed more closely than Livvi…and with good reason.  We get to see her as a child, seeking the attentions of her destroyed father while attempting to outmaneuver her stepmother’s attention (not the good kind either).  We see her as an adult, just learning to stand on her own two feet and being sideswiped by society time and again.  We watch as she grows and changes into the person she was meant to be though it is hard won and not without its setbacks, one that even involves a young child though not of her own flesh and blood.  How easily she loves despite all that she’s encountered is perhaps the truest miracle although allowing herself to feel it, really see it through is another obstacle entirely…no worries though; she’s working on it…and has a helping hand too.

The world needs a soul like Livvi’s; able to share and give of herself to those in need.  I was amazed to see that the story she authored was so close to her heart and yet she was not able to reveal that part of herself to anyone.  All of that brought to the surface and we STILL haven’t even touched on the mysterious woman that plagues her dreams with the memorable dress and pearl button shoes.  You almost can’t help but wonder if she’s completely from her imagination, an enigma of sorts…that is until she makes an appearance in the lives of our other two leads.

Now Micah, she is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum.  A hard hitting presence in her field she specializes in a unique brand of photography…stills with no life.  Yep, that’s right. Zilch.  Zero. Nada. Add to that AnnaLee, a wife and mother, she has no more in common with the other two as they do with her...except this mysterious woman, a story well worth reading and a future that entwines with everything else when all is said and done.  OH, did I mention that the key players in each of these ladies lives ALSO feature prominently in the overall scheme of things so be sure to take note and of their who's and what's while you figure out the why's.  

In conclusion, this is an AMAZING read that will stick with you long after the final “Aha” moment.  Though my attention was captured throughout the story, the final chapters really bring it all home and the connections you find make sense of all the little moments you were patiently waiting on.  I still can’t get over when the big reveal occurred.  I mean I literally gasped, causing several heads to turn in my direction at the time…~whistles~.  Hey, there’s no shame in my game, and when it comes to reading if I turn a few heads, the bigger the audience I have to share a potential great read with. 

Recommended for adult readers who like mystery, love, and second chances as well as multiple narrators, memorable characters and story lines that converge to a satisfying end.  It’s a wonderful mix that I’m happy to spotlight for all of you…and hopefully entice a few of you into my “been there, read that” circle,  ^_^  ARC courtesy of Sourcebooks Landmark.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their full catalog, be sure to visit themonline, or follow along on Twitter.  This title reached publication September 2013, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you or online retailer of your choice. 

Until next time…happy reading!

An old friend?: Juniper Berry by M.P. Kozlowsky

Hi guys and gals!

Welcome back to the site that’s an equal opportunity platform for books both forthcoming and as well known as old friends…Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we’re flashing back to a title that released back in 2011 and even stopped by on a tour with a special post from the author himself.  Why are we getting reacquainted then?  Well, I noticed when perusing my books-that-still-need-reviewing stack, this one managed to slip through the cracks.  GASP!  SHOCK!  AWE!  Needless to say, I couldn’t very well let THAT happen…after all I DID in fact read it and enjoyed it VERY much indeed.  So, ready to meet an old friend of mine that should be a MUST READ acquaintance of yours?  Let’s!  Today’s book of choice is…

Juniper Berry

By

M.P. Kozlowsky

9780061998690

Walden Pond Press

About the book…

Be careful what you wish for.
Life for young Juniper is a series of contradictions.  She is the daughter of the world’s most famous film stars, and yet she is alone.  She lives on a palatial estate, but she feels completely trapped.  And even though she is closer to her mother and father than anyone, she couldn’t feel more distant from them.  In fact, Mr. and Mrs. Berry have been cold and disinterested and cruel, not at all themselves lately.  And lonely, imprisoned Juniper and her equally beset friend, Giles, are determined to find out why.
On a cold and rainy night, she follows her parents as they sneak out of the house and enter the woods.  What she discovers is an underworld also filled with contradictions: one that is terrifying and enticing, lorded over by a creature both sinister and seductive, who can sell you all the world’s secrets in a simple red balloon.  For the first time, Juniper and Giles have a choice to make.  And it will be up to them to confront their own fears in order to save the ones who couldn’t.

This is one book that packs an uber creepy punch.  I mean by the time you get to the creature doling out red balloons (be afraid, be very afraid!), you’ve already been exposed to unusual instances, unexpected occurrences, strange individuals and a black crow that just…~shudders~.  Don’t worry friends, Juniper Berry is one strong gal and her little friend Giles isn’t so far off that track either even if outward appearances have them appearing less than able to handle all that’s set before them.  The path ahead is dark and littered with all the wreckage life can throw at us, even for these young ones, but it’s also filled with hope and the promise of everything turning out alright in the end.  If I were you, I’d stick close to them; you may learn a thing or two about friendship, the bonds of family, and the world at large. 

Surprised all of that could come from a Children’s Fiction book?  I wasn’t but then again, I love taking an adventure through the kid lit pages almost any chance I can get.  Too often the books in this genre get discounted by readers outside of the targeted audience…I beg of you, DON’T BE ONE OF THEM.  There are too many fantastic journeys to be had to turn your nose up simply because you’re not actually “Middle Grade” age.

In conclusion, a great Middle Grade read for those that aren’t afraid of the dark with characters that will stick with you well past the turning of the last page.  It reminds us to be careful what we wish for, consider the other side of the story before making judgments, and above all else…avoid strangers offering you the world on a string; no matter HOW shiny and bright the balloon may be.  *-* 

ARC for review courtesy of Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their ever growing catalog of wonders, be sure to stop by their site, friend them on Facebook or follow along on Twitter.

Until next time…happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: The Last Savanna by Mike Bond - Wilderness Survival CONTEST!

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place where good books come to celebrate with all their bookish friends.  (Moi included!)

Today, we're playing host to a Meryl L Moss Media blog tour featuring a newish release you may want to add to your 2014 reading list.  Did I?  Honestly, no...but that doesn't mean it won't be YOUR cup of tea.  Oh, and once you're done reading the "what" of the post, be sure to stick around for the party favors.  They're pretty kickin'.

Ladies and gents, readers of varying ages, let's shine the spotlight on today's book of choice....

THE LAST SAVANNA

By Mike Bond

At the age of 19 author and former foreign correspondent Mike Bond took off on foot across the Sahara, experiencing the euphoria and terror of wandering across the blazing, uncharted desert mountains from Tamanrasset to Timbuktu. Since then he has travelled and explored many thousands of miles through Africa’s jungles, deserts and savannas, and has participated in

military operations with Kenyan rangers against elephant poachers. These experiences have ignited a life-long fascination and involvement with the African continent, which comes blazingly to life in his existential thriller THE LAST SAVANNA (Mandevilla Press; January 15, 2014).

Former SAS officer Ian MacAdam is wearing his retirement like an ill-fitting suit. Uncomfortable at home on his Kenyan ranch watching his wife slip into alcoholism, he accepts an assignment by an old government friend to hunt the one creature that is truly worth hunting—man.

Leading a team of commandos against ivory poachers, he is horrified to learn that these criminals have kidnapped the young archaeologist who still has an unexpected grip on his heart. Soon he is on a desperate trek to rescue Rebecca—and perhaps, himself.

THE LAST SAVANNA is an unflinching look at the beauty and violence of Africa, the horror of the slaughter of the great beasts, the delicate balance of tribal life, the growth of terrorism and the timeless landscape. Its insights into how elephant poaching and drug sales are used to fund Islamic terrorist activities by Al Qaeda offshoots like Al-Shabaab are shockingly relevant and little known. And, as Bond points out, “at the heart of the book is the truth that preserving East African wildlife is the best way to fight fundamentalism. The animals are not only essential to the environment; they fuel tourism, which in turn fuels the economy.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MIKE BOND has been called the “master of the existential thriller” by the BBC and “one of the 21st century’s most exciting authors” by the Washington Times. He is a bestselling novelist, environmental activist, international energy expert, war and human rights correspondent and award-winning poet who has lived and worked in many remote, dangerous parts of the world. His critically acclaimed novels depict the innate hunger of the human heart for what is good, the intense joys of love, the terror and fury of battle, the sinister vagaries of international politics and multinational corporations, and the beauty of the vanishing natural world.

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

CONTEST TIME!

Thanks to the fab folks at Meryl L Moss Media, YOU get a chance to win an AWESOME Wilderness Survival Backpack chock full of goodies to get you through most any outdoorsy situation.

Prize pack includes...

• Survival card multi tool (Kikkerland)
• Colorful Bandanna (Carolina Mfg)
• Coghlan’s – 2 camping items (items may vary)
• Aquatabs water purification tablets
• Clearon neutral pH bleach tablets
• Nuun flavored electrolyte tablets
• Element Bars nutritional energy bar
• Gear Aid – Seam Grip and Tenacious Tape repair patches
• Badger organic sunblock and lip balm
• Grabber Emergency Blanket
• HeatMax Hand Warmers
• Action Wipes

Ready to enter?
All you've got to do is submit your information below and BAM; you're in it to win it.

Entries accepted TODAY through midnight CST, January 17th, 2014.

US only; no P.O. Boxes please.

Special thanks to Alissa at Meryl L Moss Media for the chance to participate in this tour.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this promotion as well as those forthcoming, be sure to stop by their official site, like them on Facebook or follow along on Twitter.

Until next time...good luck...and happy reading!

The Thousand Year Curse by Taylor Lavati

Hi there!

Welcome back to another day, another reading adventure…here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we’re cracking the spine (not literally, perish the thought! ^_^) on a title from the YA Lit genre that’s sure to garner some attention. It’s the first YA release from a young writer who loves to explore the romance of life in her writing from a teenage point of view.  In this story, it seems we’re taking a leaf from her own life adventure, college; more precisely, the Greek system, and the mythology behind it all.  So if you’re ready to get your heart racing, put it all on the line and hunt down the creator of a curse that’s upon you that you never knew existed, grab your toga, it’s time to party!  Today’s book of choice is…

The Curse Books, Book One:

The Thousand Year Curse

By

Taylor Lavati

9781491090862

From the back cover…

Being a teenager isn’t all fun and games for seventeen year old Ryder Mason.  After being thrown down the social hierarchy, Ryder has one goal for her senior year – survive.

Within the first month of school, Ryder goes from bullied teen to a cursed half goddess with two boyfriends.  AS if that wasn’t enough, she travels into the Underworld to confront Hades about the curse and her missing mother.

Ryder delves head first into a Godly world as her knight’s fight to seek her approval, her best friend’s loyalties are tested and people’s true intentions are shown in the first Curse Books novel.

Oh me, oh my.  Where to begin! *le sigh*

Okay, so the story has a lot of doom and gloom, understandably so seeing how Ryder’s life has played out thus far.  I mean she has a good Dad, a great friend (mostly) in Junior (don’t be fooled by the name because he won’t match the image you’re conjuring), and more recently here, two hot guys vying for her attention and causing hormonal races she didn’t know she was even running in.  (FYI on those hormones, the book is rated for a Young Adult audience HOWEVER there are several more than steamy scenes so I’d put it to at least OLDER teens…maybe even adults.)  Sounds good, right?  Yeah…you haven’t heard the OTHER half of this story.  She also has been having weird unexplained dreams, experiencing power surges of the non-electrical variety, blacking out from supposed panic attacks A LOT more than usual, hating on a Mom she never had a chance to know and oh…she just found she’s part god and under a curse thanks to that favorite chap of Greek mythology, Hades.  Yep.  Life’s a walk in the park, right?  Told ya so.

Chalk this new trilogy, well book one of it anyone, up on the tally board for the Greeks.  Yes sir, it’s another trip to the Underworld, but not exactly like I’ve seen it before.  The classics are there, but we get to explore additional areas and meet the man, or rather “god” himself, in an interesting twist.  Good stuff.  Anywho, the majority of the story takes place above ground as Ryder, or more precisely Eurydice, is placed in a tug of war that’s lasted oh for the last several HUNDRED years with varying outcomes based on time, place, and whether or not she met BOTH gents (gods).  Note to readers, when she’s met both (like here), her days were numbered more than usual.  Good thing she’s only met Ollie…oh wait, she met him FIRST.  *-* How could I forget.  (*said with raised eyebrows*)  Hey, you wouldn’t forget these guys either, though I can’t really pin down which one I’d root for when Ryder finally decides.  I mean, Ollie’s got the whole beyond gorgeous, musically inclined gentleman act down pat, but he also has QUITE the temper.  Ari on the other hand seems more kindly and loving but that’s once you get behind his bad boy-esque exterior and I can’t help but feel he’s only sharing info that works in his favor.  Hmm…something to ponder AND enjoy along the way.  Moving forward…

The story is good, in fact I’d even cross that line into the “great” field at times, and the characters certainly make an impression (gotta love her meeting with the “H” man and the fellas, whew!), but the grammar and proper word usage can drive you up a wall.  It’s something that happens to the best of them (authors, I mean) but sometimes it simply plagues a work.  From her acknowledgements, I do believe the author is editing her work herself; not necessarily a bad choice but one has to be EXTRA careful when editing your own words…heck, even in BLOG posts I run into trouble once in a while.  If you’ve ever taken that reading “test” of sorts that has a complete paragraph filled with words made up of letters that are garbley-goo…only the first and last of each remain intact, you know that the brain can do AMAZING things when reading something, including make sense of what would otherwise not make sense…or at least be a hiccup.  The same applies here. 

It doesn’t change the story, but it does distract.  There were several times I had to stop and reread a sentence or paragraph to realign what was being said because either the train of thought was interrupted or the incorrect-yet-spelled-correctly word was used.  If spell check is the primary source of her editing tools, I would certainly reconsider…at the very least, use the type that checks grammar AND spelling.  Better still, if self-editing is her path of choice seeing how she is a student currently and the traditional publishing methods are perhaps still a smidge out of reach, at the very least, READ IT OUT LOUD.  I’ve caught many of my own errors doing just that; hey, no one is perfect!  The sooner we all accept that, the sooner the world can become the kinder place we dream of.

Book 2

In conclusion, an “A” for effort and creativity, but  my ratings take a small dive when factoring in the grammar.  Sorry.  Blame my 8^thgrade English teachers.  It’s just something that REALLY irks me.  In small doses, no biggie; the more, the not-so-merry.  That being said, I will admit I am HOOKED and ready to go on Ryder’s next adventure, whenever that might be available.  The author brings everything introduced full circle and yet still leaves you craving more.  Good call on her part indeed.

Review copy received courtesy of author Taylor Lavati.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as her future works, be sure to stop by her official site, friend her on Facebook or catch her on Twitter.  This book is the first in a planned trilogy and is available now, so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf or online retailer of your choice.

Until next time…happy reading!

Adventure ho!: Sir Seth Thistlethwaite and the Soothsayer’s Shoes by Richard Thake

Hi there!

Welcome back to the site that aims to be the bookish break in your day…well, at least ONE of them, Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we’re looking back at a title from my reading history last year (hey, it's only the 1st...there's still time for reflection!) that’ll get you tongue tied in a hurry, and have you reaching for the next installment before you can pronounce our leads knightly name.  Don’t believe me?  What?!  You doubt my honesty?  My integrity?  My very name?  Oh…wait…~listens~…not my name but the rest.  Well.  *humpf*  Read on, readers…READ ON.  (^_^) The book of choice for today, my fair lasses and lads, is…

Sir Seth Thistlethwaite and the Soothsayer’s Shoes

By

Richard Thake

Illustrated by

Vince Chui

9781897349939

Owlkids Books, Inc

About the book…

How do you spend a lazy day?
For best buds Seth Thistlethwaite and Ollie Everghettz, it’s a chance to imagine themselves as none other than Sir Seth and Sir Ollie, the Mighty Knights of Right and Honor!

Hauntedly hidden within the bubbling bogs and craggy crevices of rain-soaked High Dudgeon, that poxy Prince Quincy of Poxley has secretly stolen the most magical soothsaying shoes of the wise wizard, Sir Shawn Shrood.

Can our knightly heroes, Sir Seth and Sir Ollie, turn this woeful wrong into a righteous right?  With the help of a saber-toothed sloth, a 3,000-year-old ghost king, fire-breathing bats, and some creatures called bog runners, they just might.

It truly is a marvelous time to be a knight!

Okay, let me just say that if you have a reluctant reader in your home particularly of the male variety (though trust me, females will be just as enchanted), this might just be the book you’ve been waiting for. 

Picture it…two ten-year-old lads plotting the course of their Saturday off with their trusty steed, I mean best ruff pal, Shasta.  Are you thinking pranks?  Are you thinking mischief?  Are you thinking dastardly deeds are afoot?  Wrong!  Think IMAGINATION. Think ADVENTURE.  Think a “magical” escape to a mystical land to save the day, raise a kingdom, and help a distressed damsel (note she’s not in distress, she’s more stressed out by the sitch but with a fairly cool head on her shoulders).  Sound good?  Oh, it gets better.  Add to that the awesome assortment of critters and creatures, both living and a step beyond post mortem (aka ghosts), and you’ve got a fun read for all ages.

To me, it was like a kiddy version of that old David Bowie movie…The Labyrinth.  Well, okay…so without the girl wishing away her brother to the goblin king, get-stuck-in-you-head songs and dancing, and more with the crazy kooky cast of unlikely friends, unusual trials and tribulations, and wordplay fun.  I mean, come on!  Imagining yourself as a knight?  No problem!  Bringing to life the kingdoms, customs, and people that surround…now that takes some talent; these boys DEFINITELY have talent.  I mean as far as I’m concerned, they totally went to Thatchwych Castle guided by Lady Sheri-Sue Shrood in search of the Soothsayer’s shoes because I mean without a little sooth, where would any of us be?  (Sooth = truth …case you were wondering.)  Anywho…

In closing, I shall pass along a few sooths, I mean truths, as I see them to all of you.  First, you can be the BEST soothsayer in the kingdom but without the support of those residing within, it matters not what you say in the least.  Second, be sure to remember the little guys and gals you meet along the way, they’ll be the ones that remember YOU when it counts.  Finally, and perhaps above all else, ALWAYS appreciate those that share your path in life…and let them know how much they count on your scorecard; one never knows how long we’ll be in each others lives to make an impression, make each second count.

Review copy received courtesy of the great folks at Owlkids.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their full catalog, be sure to stop by their official site.  This title is available now so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you or online retailer of your choice…and while YOU’RE doing that, I’LL be adding the other books to my wish list.  Kay?  Kay.  ^_^

Until next time…happy reading!