Review of Dark Before Dawn by Stacy Juba

Description (From Amazon)

Cover links to amazon

Psychic chills and thrills in a deserted Maine beach town from the author of Twenty-Five Years Ago Today, Sink or Swim, and Face-Off. When teen psychic Dawn Christian gets involved with a fortuneteller mentor and two girls who share her mysterious talents, she finally belongs after years of being a misfit. When she learns her new friends may be tied to freak "accidents" in town, Dawn has an important choice to make - continue developing the talent that makes her special or challenge the only people who have ever accepted her. This novel is appropriate for young adults ages 12 and up, or adults. 

My Review

This was a nice, quick, easy read and I have to say I really enjoyed it. This is not your typical slushy romance brand of YA Paranormal and I found that to be a nice change.

The plot is not overly complicated and I did see a lot of it coming, but I still enjoyed reading along to find out if I was right.

Well written with characters everyone can relate to, I would definitely read more by this author.

I give Dark Before Dawn 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating System:

1 star: I will never post a 1 star review because this means it was so bad I couldn't finish it, and I don't won't publicly rate a book I haven't read all the way through.

2 stars: I may have liked the story but it was badly written or it may have been a boring story well written. Something about it kept me reading but I didn't enjoy it.

3 stars: A good, enjoyable read. If the description appeals to you I'd recommend reading it.

4 stars: A really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed and may even read again. I will want to read other books by the same author. Highly recommend.

5 stars: Reserved for books that blew me away and whose characters I can't get out of my head. These are books that I will definitely read again, possibly several times. If I read an e-book version I may even have to go buy a hard copy for my shelves. Why are you still here? Go read this book right now.

Review of Wars Of The Roses: Stormbird by Conn Iggulden

Description (From NetGalley)

Cover links to amazon

Historical fiction master Conn Iggulden retells the gripping story of the English Civil War in his new Wars of the Roses series.

King Henry V - the great Lion of England - is long dead. In 1437, after years of regency, the pious and gentle Henry VI, the Lamb, comes of age and accedes to the English throne. His poor health and frailty of mind render him a weakling king - Henry depends on his closest men, Spymaster Derry Brewer and William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, to run his kingdom. Yet there are those, such as the Plantagenet Richard, Duke of York, who believe England must be led by a strong king if she is to survive. 

With England's territories in France under threat, and rumours of revolt at home, fears grow that Henry and his advisers will see the country slide into ruin. With a secret deal struck for Henry to marry a young French noblewoman, Margaret of Anjou, those fears become all too real. As storm clouds gather over England, King Henry and his supporters find themselves besieged abroad and at home. Who, or what, can save the kingdom before it is too late?

My Review

There isn't really a great deal I can say about this book other than, go and buy it now!

I was completely hooked from the first page to the last and already cannot wait for the second instalment. This is one of the best pieces of historical fiction that I have read in a very long time.

The style of writing, the fully fleshed out characters, the way the 15th Century landscape jumps out at you, all of it is pure genius.

I give Wars of The Roses: Stormbird 5 out of 5 stars.

My Rating System:

1 star: I will never post a 1 star review because this means it was so bad I couldn't finish it, and I don't won't publicly rate a book I haven't read all the way through.

2 stars: I may have liked the story but it was badly written or it may have been a boring story well written. Something about it kept me reading but I didn't enjoy it.

3 stars: A good, enjoyable read. If the description appeals to you I'd recommend reading it.

4 stars: A really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed and may even read again. I will want to read other books by the same author. Highly recommend.

5 stars: Reserved for books that blew me away and whose characters I can't get out of my head. These are books that I will definitely read again, possibly several times. If I read an e-book version I may even have to go buy a hard copy for my shelves. Why are you still here? Go read this book right now.

Review of How To Be A Good Wife by Emma Chapman

Description (From NetGalley)

Cover links to amazon

In the tradition of Emma Donoghue's Room and S.J. Watson’s Before I Go to Sleep, a haunting literary debut about a woman who begins having visions that make her question everything she knows

Marta and Hector have been married for a long time. Through the good and bad; through raising a son and sending him off to life after university. So long, in fact, that Marta finds it difficult to remember her life before Hector. He has always taken care of her, and she has always done everything she can to be a good wife—as advised by a dog-eared manual given to her by Hector’s aloof mother on their wedding day.

But now, something is changing. Small things seem off. A flash of movement in the corner of her eye, elapsed moments that she can’t recall. Visions of a blonde girl in the darkness that only Marta can see. Perhaps she is starting to remember—or perhaps her mind is playing tricks on her. As Marta’s visions persist and her reality grows more disjointed, it’s unclear if the danger lies in the world around her, or in Marta herself. The girl is growing more real every day, and she wants something.

My Review

I did enjoy this book but for me, I felt it fell a little short in places.

The concept is a brilliant one and well thought out, but at times there were certain aspects that were only hinted at, or glossed over, and I would have liked a bit more depth to them. Even said, I probably still would have given this book a 4 if it weren't for the ending. I can see why the author chose that particular ending, but as a reader I didn't find that it satisfied and was left feeling a little let down by it.

That being said, If the description appeals to you, I would definitely recommend giving it a go.

I give How To Be A Good Wife 3 out of 5 stars.

My Rating System:

1 star: I will never post a 1 star review because this means it was so bad I couldn't finish it, and I don't won't publicly rate a book I haven't read all the way through.

2 stars: I may have liked the story but it was badly written or it may have been a boring story well written. Something about it kept me reading but I didn't enjoy it.

3 stars: A good, enjoyable read. If the description appeals to you I'd recommend reading it.

4 stars: A really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed and may even read again. I will want to read other books by the same author. Highly recommend.

5 stars: Reserved for books that blew me away and whose characters I can't get out of my head. These are books that I will definitely read again, possibly several times. If I read an e-book version I may even have to go buy a hard copy for my shelves. Why are you still here? Go read this book right now.

Review of If I'd Known You Were Coming by Kate Milliken

Description (From NetGalley)

Cover links to amazon

In these twelve award-winning stories, Kate Milliken unflinchingly shows us what can happen when the uninvited guest of our darkest desires comes to call. Whether surrounded by the white noise of a Hollywood celebration or enduring a stark winter in Maine, the characters of If I’d Known You Were Coming yearn to heal old wounds with new hurts. With a wry wit and a keen eye for emotive detail, the author of this unforgettable collection sets intersections in motion that will leave you both winded and wanting more.

In one story, a mother, driven by greed, unwittingly finds out how far her needs will push her. A hand model surprises himself and everyone else at the birthday party of an old friend’s daughter in another. With poetic deftness, a woman evaluates the meaning, the familial stories, that we carry with us from birth. In a story ripped from the headlines, a woman pines for the legs her husband lost in a freak accident at a Santa Monica farmer's market. A medical clerk, restless and alone, takes advantage of a disabled neighbor.

Kate Milliken knows the ties that bind and how tautly we will pull them. These are stories about desire, betrayal, love, regret, and family. Like all great fiction, If I’d Known You Were Coming possesses that uncanny ability to reveal us to ourselves.

My Review

I enjoyed this collection of short stories and like that some of the characters actually intercept but at different periods in time. The let down for me was that once I had connected a few of the stories I was expecting them all to end up connecting in some way and they didn't so I felt a bit let down at the end.

That being said, the way the author brings you inside the minds of these very odd collection of characters is remarkable and it's definitely worth a read.

I give If I'd Known You Were Coming 3 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating System:

1 star: I will never post a 1 star review because this means it was so bad I couldn't finish it, and I don't won't publicly rate a book I haven't read all the way through.

2 stars: I may have liked the story but it was badly written or it may have been a boring story well written. Something about it kept me reading but I didn't enjoy it.

3 stars: A good, enjoyable read. If the description appeals to you I'd recommend reading it.

4 stars: A really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed and may even read again. I will want to read other books by the same author. Highly recommend.

5 stars: Reserved for books that blew me away and whose characters I can't get out of my head. These are books that I will definitely read again, possibly several times. If I read an e-book version I may even have to go buy a hard copy for my shelves. Why are you still here? Go read this book right now.

Review of Mrs Poe by Lynn Cullen

Description (From NetGalley)

Cover links to amazon

A writer and his demons. A woman and her desires. A wife and her revenge . . . 

Inspired by literature’s most haunting love triangle, award-winning author Lynn Cullen delivers a pitch-perfect rendering of Edgar Allan Poe, his mistress’s tantalizing confession, and his wife’s frightening obsession . . . in this “intelligent, sexy, and utterly addictive” (M. J. Rose) new masterpiece of historical fiction. 

1845: New York City is a sprawling warren of gaslit streets and crowded avenues, bustling with new immigrants and old money, optimism and opportunity, poverty and crime. Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” is all the rage—the success of which a struggling poet like Frances Osgood can only dream. As a mother trying to support two young children after her husband’s cruel betrayal, Frances jumps at the chance to meet the illustrious Mr. Poe at a small literary gathering, if only to help her fledgling career. Although not a great fan of Poe’s writing, she is nonetheless overwhelmed by his magnetic presence— and the surprising revelation that he admires her work. 

What follows is a flirtation, then a seduction, then an illicit affair . . . and with each clandestine encounter, Frances finds herself falling slowly and inexorably under the spell of her mysterious, complicated lover. But when Edgar’s frail wife Virginia insists on befriending Frances as well, the relationship becomes as dark and twisted as one of Poe’s tales. And like those gothic heroines whose fates are forever sealed, Frances begins to fear that deceiving Mrs. Poe may be as impossible as cheating death itself. . . .

My Review

Not only does this story successfully bring to life New York City in the mid-nineteenth century, the characters themselves became a part of the landscape and help create the overall feel of the novel.

The love story between Mr Poe and Mrs Osgood is a dark one but given the types of stories Poe is famous for it seems only fitting. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself wanting to learn more about Frances Osgood and her body of work.

I would definitely be interested in reading more by this author.

I give Mrs Poe 4 stars out of 5.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating System:

1 star: I will never post a 1 star review because this means it was so bad I couldn't finish it, and I don't won't publicly rate a book I haven't read all the way through.

2 stars: I may have liked the story but it was badly written or it may have been a boring story well written. Something about it kept me reading but I didn't enjoy it.

3 stars: A good, enjoyable read. If the description appeals to you I'd recommend reading it.

4 stars: A really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed and may even read again. I will want to read other books by the same author. Highly recommend.

5 stars: Reserved for books that blew me away and whose characters I can't get out of my head. These are books that I will definitely read again, possibly several times. If I read an e-book version I may even have to go buy a hard copy for my shelves. Why are you still here? Go read this book right now.

Sunday Check-In - #ROW80 and #NaNoWriMo

This week has been a bit of a mixed bag.

Weekly goals:

• Two book reviews a week. Done, but again, only because I got ahead in previous weeks. This week I only read one and a half books, but one of those was almost 600 pages so not too bad.
• 4 blog posts a week. No. I didn't get my weekly inspirations post out on Friday, but then I haven't been very active on Twitter or reading blogs so I didn't have any links to share.
• Visit and comment on the blogs of at least 5 other #ROW80 participants every week. Another failure, my apologies to all my fellow #ROW80ers. As this is the second week running that I have failed this task, next week I promise to visit a minimum of 15.
• Exercise at least three times a week and eat more healthily. Only managed one workout and then injured my knee (Not while working out funnily enough). I have made up for this with lots of long walks with the dogs though.

Monthly goal

• November - Write a minimum of 1,667 words a day to complete 50k in 30 days for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).  I have been dipping below the word count goal on quite a few occasions but always catch up the following day. I have done 2k today but still need another 692 to get caught up.

How about you? How did you get on this week? Let me know in the comments below, I'd love to hear from you. And remember, if you want to visit others in the #ROW80 blog hop you can use the links below.

Review of Upgrade by Rana Florida

Description (From NetGalley)

Cover links to amazon

7 Transformative Principles Guaranteed to Deliver Remarkable Results 

What do a graffiti artist, eminent neurologist, rocket scientist, and Grammy Award-winning musician have in common? Seven key ingredients for success.

In this groundbreaking book, Rana Florida, drawing on her years of experience working in collaboration with top global companies, offers readers the tools they need to achieve unimagined success in work and in life. 

UPGRADE gathers the best from entrepreneurs, innovative thinkers, and creative leaders, and presents their philosophies and approaches in simple and actionable terms that anyone can put to good effect in their professional or their personal lives right from day one.

Experts, luminaries, and stand-outs in their respective fields, from Andre Agassi, Nelly Furtado, and Mario Batali to Tony Hsieh, Tory Burch, Richard Illy, Daniel Pink, Zaha Hadid, and Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, offered remarkably consistent advice and key principles for living an Upgraded live, which allowed them to overcome challenges, change course, and completely reboot their lives to ones with vision, purpose, challenge, and passion.

UPGRADE provides the keys to making small changes in work and life which will elevate you to a level of greater happiness and fulfillment – and bring you the life you really want.

About the Author: Rana Florida is CEO of the consulting firm The Creative Class Group, whose clients include BMW, Starwood, IBM, Philips, Zappos, and Johnson & Johnson. She writes a Huffington Post column called “Your Startup Life,” and is a regular HGTV who has appeared on The Today Show and in The New York Times.

My Review

This book certainly provides some food for thought. The first and last parts of the book were really inspiring and have pushed me to re-evaluate a few things in my life and make one or two changes. A couple of the chapters in the middle, I feel, were geared more towards people who are out there working in an office environment, with more focus on those who are in leadership roles. Although I couldn't directly relate this to my own situation I still found it really interesting.

Overall, this is an easy, interesting and enjoyable read, and may just help you change your life.

I give Upgrade 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating System:

1 star: I will never post a 1 star review because this means it was so bad I couldn't finish it, and I don't won't publicly rate a book I haven't read all the way through.

2 stars: I may have liked the story but it was badly written or it may have been a boring story well written. Something about it kept me reading but I didn't enjoy it.

3 stars: A good, enjoyable read. If the description appeals to you I'd recommend reading it.

4 stars: A really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed and may even read again. I will want to read other books by the same author. Highly recommend.

5 stars: Reserved for books that blew me away and whose characters I can't get out of my head. These are books that I will definitely read again, possibly several times. If I read an e-book version I may even have to go buy a hard copy for my shelves. Why are you still here? Go read this book right now.