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popthebutterfly
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Thriller
Pages: n/a I read this on ebook and for some reason the page numbers don't show on my Kindle.
Amazon
Author Link
I was provided a free copy of this book from the author. Thank you so much! All opinions are my own.
All it took was a claim.
A claim that C11, a wonder drug, could cure any disease. The media lapped it up, the people applied pressure, everyone wanted to see the results.
Before they knew it, C11 was on the shelf. By the time the side effects were truly realised, too many had changed.
From the chaos, Mutant Suppression Squads were born. Squads of soldiers trained specially to take down any kind of mutant. The soldiers fought for an uneasy truce between mutants and humans, a truce that is beginning to crack.
With a trail of intel leading them to Mumbai, MSS Oscar are in for the fight of their lives.
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Catalyst, inspired by action/thriller author Matthew Reilly, contains the gripping blockbuster like action of modern day novels making it a read you just can't put down. - Amazon.com
So while I'm not a big thriller fan I do have my spells where I want to read them. This book looked really cool and so I chose to read it. I thought that the book was pretty good. The characters were pretty well developed and interesting and the writing was really well done.
However, I did feel that the plot and storyline was a bit weird, especially with the origin story of the wonderdrug. I also feel that the story was a bit predictable and it has that "been done before" feeling. I also felt the pacing was off with the majority of the book.
Verdict: If you're into thrillers and action, this book is for you. If you're a fairweather thriller reader then this may not be the book you're looking for.
Genre: Thriller
Pages: n/a I read this on ebook and for some reason the page numbers don't show on my Kindle.
Amazon
Author Link
I was provided a free copy of this book from the author. Thank you so much! All opinions are my own.
All it took was a claim.
A claim that C11, a wonder drug, could cure any disease. The media lapped it up, the people applied pressure, everyone wanted to see the results.
Before they knew it, C11 was on the shelf. By the time the side effects were truly realised, too many had changed.
From the chaos, Mutant Suppression Squads were born. Squads of soldiers trained specially to take down any kind of mutant. The soldiers fought for an uneasy truce between mutants and humans, a truce that is beginning to crack.
With a trail of intel leading them to Mumbai, MSS Oscar are in for the fight of their lives.
---
Catalyst, inspired by action/thriller author Matthew Reilly, contains the gripping blockbuster like action of modern day novels making it a read you just can't put down. - Amazon.com
So while I'm not a big thriller fan I do have my spells where I want to read them. This book looked really cool and so I chose to read it. I thought that the book was pretty good. The characters were pretty well developed and interesting and the writing was really well done.
However, I did feel that the plot and storyline was a bit weird, especially with the origin story of the wonderdrug. I also feel that the story was a bit predictable and it has that "been done before" feeling. I also felt the pacing was off with the majority of the book.
Verdict: If you're into thrillers and action, this book is for you. If you're a fairweather thriller reader then this may not be the book you're looking for.
Rating: 3/5
Genre: Sociological
Recommended Age: 15+
Pages: 40
Author: Richard James
Amazon
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
A lot of people don’t know this about me, but I minored in Sociology and Psychology and a master’s in Criminal Justice. So I consider myself educated on sociological issues especially when they are pertaining to crime. So when I was offered to review this book I was intrigued by it. Reading through it it’s pretty well done. It’s informative and concise and explains plainly what the poverty cycle is, how one falls victim to it, and how one could escape it.
However, the book was formatted and read like a textbook and textbooks usually have source materials and go into more depth. This book didn’t have a lot of source materials and the reading was really too concise for scholarly work. One could use this as an excellent resource for a paper, but I feel that these types of works should go into more depth and explanation, especially by using examples and data. The work should also try to address critics and have material to debate those that oppose it’s ideals.
Verdict: Informative and concise, which is excellent for papers, but too short and abbreviated for textbook works. If you’re writing a paper or need quick info on this area of study it’s definitely worth a read through.
Genre: Sociological
Recommended Age: 15+
Pages: 40
Author: Richard James
Amazon
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
A lot of people don’t know this about me, but I minored in Sociology and Psychology and a master’s in Criminal Justice. So I consider myself educated on sociological issues especially when they are pertaining to crime. So when I was offered to review this book I was intrigued by it. Reading through it it’s pretty well done. It’s informative and concise and explains plainly what the poverty cycle is, how one falls victim to it, and how one could escape it.
However, the book was formatted and read like a textbook and textbooks usually have source materials and go into more depth. This book didn’t have a lot of source materials and the reading was really too concise for scholarly work. One could use this as an excellent resource for a paper, but I feel that these types of works should go into more depth and explanation, especially by using examples and data. The work should also try to address critics and have material to debate those that oppose it’s ideals.
Verdict: Informative and concise, which is excellent for papers, but too short and abbreviated for textbook works. If you’re writing a paper or need quick info on this area of study it’s definitely worth a read through.
Rating: 4.5/5
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Recommended Age:
Pages: 269
Author Website
Amazon Link
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through KidLitExchange and the publishing company. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Sixty-five million years ago, a meteor struck the earth and all the dinosaurs went extinct. Or did they? Digby Darby has no idea about the extraordinary turn his young life is about to take when he runs off one afternoon. He tumbles into a hidden canyon and finds himself among dinosaurs that escaped extinction and survived to the present day in their secret domain. The Haanasasen, as the dinosaurs call themselves, have evolved and developed a complex language, social structure and culture over the eons since the meteor hit the earth. Digby of the Dinosaurs is an enthralling tale of self-concept, struggle, empowerment and identity. Will Digby adapt and find acceptance in this strange new world? Or will he struggle just to survive in the land of intelligent dinosaurs?
For a book about dinosaurs I thought this book was super cute. The book had great characters, it taught a lot about dinosaurs and acceptance and consequences, the world building was good, and the story was intriguing enough to keep me interested in it.
However, I did feel the pacing was a little too fast for the book and I found the names really hard to pronounce. While there is a pronunciation guide in the back it was still difficult to “say” the words.
Verdict: An adorable book about dinosaurs for children to learn about.
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Recommended Age:
Pages: 269
Author Website
Amazon Link
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through KidLitExchange and the publishing company. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Sixty-five million years ago, a meteor struck the earth and all the dinosaurs went extinct. Or did they? Digby Darby has no idea about the extraordinary turn his young life is about to take when he runs off one afternoon. He tumbles into a hidden canyon and finds himself among dinosaurs that escaped extinction and survived to the present day in their secret domain. The Haanasasen, as the dinosaurs call themselves, have evolved and developed a complex language, social structure and culture over the eons since the meteor hit the earth. Digby of the Dinosaurs is an enthralling tale of self-concept, struggle, empowerment and identity. Will Digby adapt and find acceptance in this strange new world? Or will he struggle just to survive in the land of intelligent dinosaurs?
For a book about dinosaurs I thought this book was super cute. The book had great characters, it taught a lot about dinosaurs and acceptance and consequences, the world building was good, and the story was intriguing enough to keep me interested in it.
However, I did feel the pacing was a little too fast for the book and I found the names really hard to pronounce. While there is a pronunciation guide in the back it was still difficult to “say” the words.
Verdict: An adorable book about dinosaurs for children to learn about.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free from Just Reads Tour and Gilead Publishing Company. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3.5/5
Genre: Romance/Mystery
Recommended Age: 16+ (war, explosives, terrorism, romance ((nothing explicit)), and poison. This book also has a focus on the Christian religion, so if you’re not into books from that perspective I don’t think you would like this one.
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Caden Wallis has suffered several devastating blows that have left him reeling. He’s lost friends and now his girlfriend to the ravages of war. He arrives on the Outer Banks for one final mission—to thank the woman who sent him a quilt while he was recuperating from his wounds at Walter Reed Army Hospital.
McKenna Dockery knows all about loss. She lost her mother at a young age, and her father has never been the same since he came home from his own war. She juggles the family business, her ailing father, and an aging grandmother. Much to Caden’s surprise, she is the quilter—not some elderly lady. The quilt was something she’d begun for her future husband but shipped to the military hospital after the tragic death of her fiancé.
When a man is found snared in a net and murdered on McKenna’s property, she and Caden must work together to bring the killer to justice. Each must learn to trust the other, or no one will be safe in the tangled web of conspiracy, greed, and deceit lurking in the tidal marshlands of the Outer Banks. A nor’easter, a sea turtle named Cecil, and a surf-crazy hound named Ginger conspire to bring these two searching hearts together through the vast and gracious tide of God’s love.
I was presented this book as a mystery and while there are mystery components in it I’d say the book is far more romance than mystery. This necessarily isn’t a bad thing and for the most part I enjoyed the novel. I thought the book was well written and it flowed really well. I thought the book did great with plot development and it kept me on my toes. I also have the praise the book on focusing on a character who obviously suffers from some PTSD and is a wounded vet. Not a lot of books have main characters with them in it and his struggle and triumph were very inspirational to me. I can’t speak to how realistic his plight was, but in my opinion it was written very well.
However, I did feel that the book had a bad case of “insta-love” and that the characters weren’t as developed as they could have been in my opinion. I also didn’t like the random jumps in time and I feel that the author didn’t focus on the mystery component as much as she did the romance, which would have worked better had I known more about Caden and McKenna.
Verdict: Overall, it’s a wonderful action-packed romance with a hint of mystery in it. I would recommend if you’re into romances or books that focus on military vets.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Austin Macauley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Mystery
Recommended Age: 14+ (slight violence, kidnappings, clues, and mysteries)
Pages: 303
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Ben's mother has been kidnapped and the adults don't believe it. They think she's just missing and her employers and the police don't really want to know. The meeting she attended, after all, never took place. But the message she sent Ben tells a different story.
To find his mum Ben must follow a perilous trail and solve a series of difficult clues, whilst evading being captured by the kidnappers. With help from his alarmingly clever cousins, Jess and Freddie, as well as some hindrance from his uncle, he investigates her mysterious disappearance.
Tormented by conflicting leads and a growing threat, Ben's search becomes increasingly desperate. Can he solve the puzzles and save her, before anything terrible happens to her - or him?
This book was really action packed! I loved how mysterious it was, but how the pacing wasn’t slowed or anything by this book. The characters were also really well done and the plot was well developed as well.
My only concern is that sometimes the writing wasn’t descriptive enough for me and the world building wasn’t really there.
Verdict: A great mystery book for younger YA readers.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Mystery
Recommended Age: 14+ (slight violence, kidnappings, clues, and mysteries)
Pages: 303
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Ben's mother has been kidnapped and the adults don't believe it. They think she's just missing and her employers and the police don't really want to know. The meeting she attended, after all, never took place. But the message she sent Ben tells a different story.
To find his mum Ben must follow a perilous trail and solve a series of difficult clues, whilst evading being captured by the kidnappers. With help from his alarmingly clever cousins, Jess and Freddie, as well as some hindrance from his uncle, he investigates her mysterious disappearance.
Tormented by conflicting leads and a growing threat, Ben's search becomes increasingly desperate. Can he solve the puzzles and save her, before anything terrible happens to her - or him?
This book was really action packed! I loved how mysterious it was, but how the pacing wasn’t slowed or anything by this book. The characters were also really well done and the plot was well developed as well.
My only concern is that sometimes the writing wasn’t descriptive enough for me and the world building wasn’t really there.
Verdict: A great mystery book for younger YA readers.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: May 29th, 2018
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, slight mature content)
Pages:
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Sparrow Thibault is drawn inexorably to the waters of the deep, flowing Arizona Canal during a summer thunderstorm. There, she is struck by a bolt of lightning, and when she awakens, she hears a disembodied voice telling her something she cannot believe--something astonishing and wonderful.
The revelation sends her on a dangerous journey to escape those who believe in the voice’s prophecy: a darker, stranger force, desperate to stop her from the realization of her destiny. Accompanying her is a renegade priest, Father Patrick Kilian, who struggles against his own dark forces.
For the most part I really enjoyed this book. I felt the characters were really well done and I felt the plot was well developed. The writing was superb and I felt the whole story flowed really well. I loved how the book showed the development of each characters and how realistic it felt to me.
However, I missed the lack of action in this book. I felt that if there were more action scenes or more suspense in the book that it would have gripped me more. I just felt that there were moments were I felt the action scenes came out of nowhere and it left me confused and disjointed as a reader.
Verdict: A book with a great message and great characters. If you liked The Da Vinci Code, you’re like this!
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: May 29th, 2018
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, slight mature content)
Pages:
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Sparrow Thibault is drawn inexorably to the waters of the deep, flowing Arizona Canal during a summer thunderstorm. There, she is struck by a bolt of lightning, and when she awakens, she hears a disembodied voice telling her something she cannot believe--something astonishing and wonderful.
The revelation sends her on a dangerous journey to escape those who believe in the voice’s prophecy: a darker, stranger force, desperate to stop her from the realization of her destiny. Accompanying her is a renegade priest, Father Patrick Kilian, who struggles against his own dark forces.
For the most part I really enjoyed this book. I felt the characters were really well done and I felt the plot was well developed. The writing was superb and I felt the whole story flowed really well. I loved how the book showed the development of each characters and how realistic it felt to me.
However, I missed the lack of action in this book. I felt that if there were more action scenes or more suspense in the book that it would have gripped me more. I just felt that there were moments were I felt the action scenes came out of nowhere and it left me confused and disjointed as a reader.
Verdict: A book with a great message and great characters. If you liked The Da Vinci Code, you’re like this!
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: September 1st, 2018
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 15+ (some violence)
Pages: 226
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: There are three categories. The first are those who have their worlds turned upside down, the second are those who don't. The third category are those who save these worlds. Eva White fits into the first category. She just wants to be normal and go unseen. However, now with an offer to join a team of young dimension travelers she will find out about dimensions hidden from most of humanity's view. Yet, before she can go on missions of all different kinds of adventures with the team, Eva must first hone her skills in a school. But when that school's dimension goes on a killing spree, will Eva survive long enough to become part of the third category?
This was a quick, fun read. I felt the characters were really fun and developed. The plot was interesting and it held my interest throughout the entirety of the book. I really like the idea behind this book too and I felt the book was really detailed and the world building was well done.
However, I feel that the writing is a bit rushed and the pacing is a bit weird. I felt the characters sometimes maybe really weird and random decisions that didn’t make much sense to me as a reader and the ending was really hard to comprehend.
Verdict: Overall a fun, fast adventure that will leave you in awe.
Upon reflection of this book I have decided to lower my rating to a 3/5. I still feel it could be good but I'm mostly rating this on the books potential. There's a lot of room for improvement and clarification.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: September 1st, 2018
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 15+ (some violence)
Pages: 226
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: There are three categories. The first are those who have their worlds turned upside down, the second are those who don't. The third category are those who save these worlds. Eva White fits into the first category. She just wants to be normal and go unseen. However, now with an offer to join a team of young dimension travelers she will find out about dimensions hidden from most of humanity's view. Yet, before she can go on missions of all different kinds of adventures with the team, Eva must first hone her skills in a school. But when that school's dimension goes on a killing spree, will Eva survive long enough to become part of the third category?
This was a quick, fun read. I felt the characters were really fun and developed. The plot was interesting and it held my interest throughout the entirety of the book. I really like the idea behind this book too and I felt the book was really detailed and the world building was well done.
However, I feel that the writing is a bit rushed and the pacing is a bit weird. I felt the characters sometimes maybe really weird and random decisions that didn’t make much sense to me as a reader and the ending was really hard to comprehend.
Verdict: Overall a fun, fast adventure that will leave you in awe.
Upon reflection of this book I have decided to lower my rating to a 3/5. I still feel it could be good but I'm mostly rating this on the books potential. There's a lot of room for improvement and clarification.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book and then bought the ebook version. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: November 19, 2015
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, swearing, romance that borders on erotica)
Pages: 306
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It was supposed to be a simple photography gig. Brooke Hudson never wanted to be a pawn in an investigator’s scheme, or working with the ex-boyfriend that broke her heart. Her daily life battles used to consist of finishing college, job hunting, and avoiding traffic. But her mundane routine was disrupted by the promise of a large amount of cash to help find a missing person, and take down a crooked CEO.
If Brooke had known exactly what she was getting into from the start, she might have had second thoughts. Her idea of fun isn’t trying to captivate men she has no interest in, or appealing to their every whim. And she never thought someone would deliberately try to kill her. All she wanted was a job, and in a fit of desperation, she’s gambling in a high stakes game with her life.
For the most part I liked this book. I felt that it was a fun read. The book’s characters were well developed and the story was interesting. I also felt that the mystery/thriller aspect were well executed too. You can tell the author definitely has a talent for writing.
However, I felt that the book suffered in the romance scenes. They felt awkward and out of place and they bordered on erotica. I feel that those scenes could have been left out of the book and it would have been better for me personally. I also felt that the book was slow at times.
Verdict: Skip the romance in my opinion but the rest is fun!
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: November 19, 2015
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, swearing, romance that borders on erotica)
Pages: 306
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It was supposed to be a simple photography gig. Brooke Hudson never wanted to be a pawn in an investigator’s scheme, or working with the ex-boyfriend that broke her heart. Her daily life battles used to consist of finishing college, job hunting, and avoiding traffic. But her mundane routine was disrupted by the promise of a large amount of cash to help find a missing person, and take down a crooked CEO.
If Brooke had known exactly what she was getting into from the start, she might have had second thoughts. Her idea of fun isn’t trying to captivate men she has no interest in, or appealing to their every whim. And she never thought someone would deliberately try to kill her. All she wanted was a job, and in a fit of desperation, she’s gambling in a high stakes game with her life.
For the most part I liked this book. I felt that it was a fun read. The book’s characters were well developed and the story was interesting. I also felt that the mystery/thriller aspect were well executed too. You can tell the author definitely has a talent for writing.
However, I felt that the book suffered in the romance scenes. They felt awkward and out of place and they bordered on erotica. I feel that those scenes could have been left out of the book and it would have been better for me personally. I also felt that the book was slow at times.
Verdict: Skip the romance in my opinion but the rest is fun!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: November 13, 2017
Genre: Urban Paranormal
Recommended Age: 15+ (powers and civilization)
Publisher: n/a
Pages: 357
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Eight isolated nomads with matter altering powers - the Cardinals - battle the accusation suggesting they are byproducts of a man responsible for the death of thousands.
One man alone, titled the Hummingbird, kept an entire nomadic civilization clinging to shadows with the power to burn any material, including their own bodies, into a rosy vapor capable of shifting into any element - Blush.
Following the protection of the eight Cardinals and their remote Colonies, the Hummingbird unexpectedly disappears.
Although they outnumber him, it becomes evident to the Cardinals that the Hummingbird's ability to create Blush far exceeds their own, and soon humanity begins to question why they are so similar to begin with.
With every passing day, the Hummingbird's absence makes less and less sense, and soon the Cardinals begin to oppose each other with their own interpretations as to why he chooses to remain hidden when he is so much stronger than them.
As Michael and Ira gain a rapid following of fanatics, their assaults on each other begin to force the rest of the Cardinals to choose sides, until one of the two makes a sacrifice to resolve their conflict for good.
Review: I didn’t think this book was going to be as great as it was, but I’m shocked! The book was really well written and enjoyable. The book is a nice urban paranormal book and the setting was absolutely amazing. The world building was done well and the cast of characters were diverse.
However, I do feel that the pacing was really slow in parts and I feel the characters could have been more developed and I feel we could have spent more time with them if the book was a bit longer.
Verdict: An enjoyable read!
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: November 13, 2017
Genre: Urban Paranormal
Recommended Age: 15+ (powers and civilization)
Publisher: n/a
Pages: 357
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Eight isolated nomads with matter altering powers - the Cardinals - battle the accusation suggesting they are byproducts of a man responsible for the death of thousands.
One man alone, titled the Hummingbird, kept an entire nomadic civilization clinging to shadows with the power to burn any material, including their own bodies, into a rosy vapor capable of shifting into any element - Blush.
Following the protection of the eight Cardinals and their remote Colonies, the Hummingbird unexpectedly disappears.
Although they outnumber him, it becomes evident to the Cardinals that the Hummingbird's ability to create Blush far exceeds their own, and soon humanity begins to question why they are so similar to begin with.
With every passing day, the Hummingbird's absence makes less and less sense, and soon the Cardinals begin to oppose each other with their own interpretations as to why he chooses to remain hidden when he is so much stronger than them.
As Michael and Ira gain a rapid following of fanatics, their assaults on each other begin to force the rest of the Cardinals to choose sides, until one of the two makes a sacrifice to resolve their conflict for good.
Review: I didn’t think this book was going to be as great as it was, but I’m shocked! The book was really well written and enjoyable. The book is a nice urban paranormal book and the setting was absolutely amazing. The world building was done well and the cast of characters were diverse.
However, I do feel that the pacing was really slow in parts and I feel the characters could have been more developed and I feel we could have spent more time with them if the book was a bit longer.
Verdict: An enjoyable read!