Review: Monument 14

January 27, 2012

Summary: Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong.

A huge store isn’t the worst place to be stranded. There’s food and water, bedding and books. But what if it’s not safe to leave?

Six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids are trapped together in a chain superstore. Together they build a refuge for themselves inside, while outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapon spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart.

My Thoughts: Monument 14 is a book that surprised me. It’s one of those I took a chance on. I thought it sounded like a premise that had promise – and it exceeded my expectations. The description reminded me a bit of Trapped by Michael Northrop, but really the only similarity is the basic premise: a bunch of kids trapped in a large building – without any adults. Where Trapped was in a high school, with only teens present, Monument 14 is in a superstore, with a much wider rage of ages. While Trapped features a monstrous blizzard, Monument 14 features natural disasters and spilling of chemical weapons. Both books left me wanting more – in the case of Monument 14, a whole lot more. As in, my primary thought upon completion was: There had better be a sequel!

As such, I immediately set about some research. No mention of a series on Goodreads. Same with FictFact. Fortunately, I found the author’s website, where I learned that there definitely is another book coming (thank God!). From her site

Book One is called: “We Don’t Die”. Book Two is: “We Split Up”.

So, I gotta wonder. Why is the book I read called Monument 14? And why isn’t there any mention of “We Don’t Die” on it anywhere? Granted, there are still several months until it’s published and I had an ARC. So, I suppose, this very well could change. I think it should – to avoid confusion on the part of readers. (Although, I half expected the second book to be called Monument 5.) Confusion aside, I am quite pleased to know that another book is indeed coming. And, yes, knowing that does have an effect on my review. The ending is, well, nothing short of a cliffhanger, and if it was a stand-alone, I’d be pissed. But it’s not, so I love the book and eagerly look forward to the next one. (Please hurry!)

All of that rambling about whether it’s a series. Let’s talk about this book. It’s good. Very well-written, and the story is compelling. There’s a slight dystopian undertone, with suspense and apocalypse-like action. We get this from the first-person perspective of Dean, one of the boys kind of in the middle of the pack. He’s in high school, not all that popular, but seems to have a good head on his shoulders. I generally liked the view from his head – except for one peeping-Tom episode. Although, in Dean’s defense, it wasn’t intentional. He stumbled upon something.

Anyway …

The characters, from the youngest kids to the high school seniors, are an eclectic group with probably more differences than similarities. But they seem to understand from the get-go that they have to work together to survive. Well, for the most part. There is inevitable discord that comes from such situations – and it grows to all-out fighting in some instances. Understandably. We’re talking high stress!

Laybourne keeps the tension at just the right level, and still gives us hope. When things look their darkest, there is still hope. (That is another way Monument 14 is different from Trapped, which is much darker.) There are some surprising plot twists and turns that I never saw coming, too. As I stated above, the end left much to be desired – but that’s because it’s not over yet! I cannot wait to see what happens with these kids. Oh, and I’m wondering if we’ll still be stuck in Dean’s head at the store, or if we’ll have a way of knowing what’s going on from the group on the bus. Hopefully we get some of both.

Anyway, I would highly recommend Monument 14. And, again, I cannot wait for the next book.

Source: Received through Around The World Tours for review.

Read It: Monument 14 is scheduled for release on June 5, 2012. You can pre-order your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Challenges: Counts for the Speculative Fiction Challenge 2012.

Find me on Goodreads.com >>
♥

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Tags: 4.5 stars, ARC, Around the World Tours, Emmy Laybourne, Monument 14, review, Speculative Fiction Challenge 2012, YA

Third Sentence Thursday: Monument 14

January 26, 2012

I’m so, so sorry this is late! I just now realized that today is THURSDAY! I blame the migraine I had on Tuesday (or was it Monday? SEE?)!

Third Sentence Thursday is a weekly meme that is all about the number 3 (my favorite/lucky number)!

Take the book you are currently reading, open it to a random page. Count three lines down and post it – it doesn’t even have to be a full sentence or anything. Just whatever’s on the third line. Feel free to share more (or a full sentence or two or three) if you’d prefer.
Share your thoughts on the snippet (or sentences).
Post a link to your blog post in the link list below. Don’t forget to link back here, too! (There is a button in the sidebar to the right.) If you don’t have a blog, just leave it in the comments here.
Visit one or two of the other blogs to check out their third sentence(s).

Here’s mine:

Brayden pushed forward. ~ page 102 in Monument 14 (ARC) by Emmy Laybourne

While it reads like one, this actually isn’t a complete sentence in the book. It’s just what’s on the third line on this page. The whole sentence:

Jake threw up his hands and took an unsteady step back as Brayden pushed forward.

I’m thinking this is one of the fight or near-fight scenes in this book. People are stuck in a store, with chaos going on outside. Tensions are high. Can’t say I blame them!

Now it’s your turn! I can’t wait to see what everyone shares!

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Review: Waterfall

January 24, 2012

Waterfall (River of Time #1) by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Summary: While most American teens would kill for an Italian vacation, the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. And they’re not happy to be back. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds…until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the Fourteenth Century. Gabi emerges in the middle of a dream–or nightmare?–with hot Italian knights in a fierce battle. And so begins her quest to return home…while wondering if she wants to at all.

My Thoughts: While the general story in Waterfall was quite interesting, I found Gabi a bit unbelievable. Yes, she’s a strong female character, but she’s also not the smartest time-traveler I’ve ever read about. Her dad taught her fencing, and somehow she thinks that means she can fight in a battle against trained knights. Um, honey, a broadsword is not the same thing! Plus, these battles are to the death. And the men around her just accepting her for how she is. I just really don’t find it plausible. She was just too independent for the Medieval period – and she didn’t seem to understand for most of the book that it was basically a different world from our current time. She does, however, realize that kinda late in the book, but even then I think she’s not meek enough to fit into the time. Although, I suppose any teenage girl from the 21st century might have difficulty grasping the Medieval era.

Despite my issues with Gabi, I did enjoy the tale. I was eager to see how things would play out and who some of the key characters were. (Often there are characters who are much more important than they first seem.) I think I liked Luca a bit more than I liked Marcello. I felt he was more charming. More fun.

I am very much looking forward to reading Cascade and Torrent, books 2 and 3 (respectively) in the series. Look for those reviews to come soon!

Source: Received through The {Teen} Book Scene for review. (Click the button below for more tour stops.)

Read It: Get your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Challenges: Counts for the E-Book Reading Challenge, the Speculative Fiction Challenge 2012, and Free Reads 2012.

Find me on Goodreads.com >>

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GIVEAWAY

Lisa is having a scavenger hunt on her blog with an awesome giveaway. There are more than 20 prizes available – including a chance at one of three KINDLES!! To find out how to play along, and to enter, follow the link below. Good luck!

ENTER HERE!

♥

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Tags: 2012 E-Book Reading Challenge, 3 stars, blog tour, fantasy, Free Reads 2012, giveaway, kindle, Lisa Tawn Bergren, review, River of Time, sci-fi, Speculative Fiction Challenge 2012, The {Teen} Book Scene, YA

Blog Tour: Lifting the Wheel of Karma (Guest Post)

January 24, 2012

Welcome to today’s stop on the tour for Lifting the Wheel of Karma by Paul H. Magid. This tour is brought to you by Tribute Books.

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My novel, Lifting The Wheel Of Karma, is a profound spiritual journey of extraordinary healing and redemption, but it is also a modern tale that harkens back to the myths of antiquity, which is what I think makes it distinctive. It is also why I believe it is relevant to readers, because it taps into the mythical dimension that resonates deep within the collective unconscious of us all.

Paul H. Magid Our lives are permeated and guided by forces that are beyond our control, forces more powerful than us, and very often with designs not of our choosing that will challenge and test us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

My novel is the story of Joseph Connell, a gifted high school athlete from Montana, loved deeply by his family, yet tormented by nightmarish visions he can neither explain nor escape.

He believes the answer to what threatens to crush him can be found in the knowledge possessed by a mystical old wise man, who lives deep within the remote Himalayas of India.

If Joseph is ever to find the peace he so desperately seeks, he must get this wise old man to reveal what he truly knows, but that will not be easy…for this sage knows far more than he truly admits.

I started writing my debut novel, Lifting the Wheel of Karma, 25 years ago while still in high school. It took so long to complete because I tried repeatedly to abandon it, but the work refused to be forsaken. Eventually I realized that sharing this story with the world was, in fact, my Dharma –my duty in life.

Along the way I have worked as a Wall Street financial analyst, a waiter (not a very good one), a Hollywood Agent Trainee, a real estate developer, a summer day camp director, an award winning screenwriter, and independent filmmaker— including my autobiographical film, “A Life Unfinished,” which screened in The Hamptons International Film Festival.

Please visit my author’s website at: www.Paulhmagid.com

Lifting the Wheel of Karma is available at Amazon

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Thank you, Paul!

For more tour stops, click the button at the top of the post.
♥

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Tags: blog tour, guest post, Paul H. Magid, Tribute Books

Review: Lifting the Wheel of Karma by Paul H. Magid

January 23, 2012

Summary: Joseph Connell is a gifted high school athlete from Montana, loved deeply by his family, yet tormented by nightmarish visions he can neither explain nor escape.

He believes the answer to what threatens to crush him can be found in the knowledge possessed by a mystical old wise man, who lives deep within the remote Himalayas of India.

If Joseph is ever to find the peace he so desperately seeks, he must get this wise old man to reveal what he truly knows, but that will not be easy…for this sage knows far more than he admits.

My Thoughts: This is a quick read, but nothing like I’d expected. In all honesty, if it wasn’t such a quick read, I don’t think I would have finished it. I felt like things were over explained and the narrative was written with flowery language. It almost felt like the author was trying to hard to be eloquent or lyrical – or something. That doesn’t mean the descriptions aren’t complete – they are. I just felt like much of the language used was a bit over the top.

The plot didn’t live up to my expectations at all. The synopsis made me expect more intrigue, more excitement, and less mysticism. This wasn’t bad, not good – just OK for me.

Source: Received as part of a blog tour promotion on Tribute Books. Tribute Books can also be found on Facebook and Twitter. (Click the button below to find more tour stops.)

About the Author: Paul H. Magid started writing his debut novel, Lifting the Wheel of Karma, twenty-five years ago while still in high school. It took him so long to complete because he tried repeatedly to abandon it, but the work refused to be forsaken. Eventually he realized that sharing this story with the world was, in fact, his Dharma.

Along the way he has worked as a Wall Street financial analyst, a waiter (not a very good one), a Hollywood Agent Trainee, a real estate developer, a summer day camp director, an award winning screenwriter, and independent filmmaker—including his autobiographical film, A Life Unfinished, which screened in The Hamptons International Film Festival.

Web Site | Facebook

More information: To learn more about Lifting the Wheel of Karma, check out the book’s Facebook page or visit the tour page.

Challenges: Counts for Free Reads 2012 and Off the Shelf 2012.
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Tags: 2 stars, Free Reads 2012, Off the Shelf 2012, Paul H. Magid, review, Tribute Books

Review: Wings of the Wicked

January 20, 2012

Wings of the Wicked (Angelfire #2) by Courtney Allison Moulton

Summary: Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined.
Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven’s warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell’s strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night.

She’s been warned.
Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian’s new plan to destroy Ellie’s soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian’s schemes , the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything—including herself.

She’ll be betrayed.
Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be hell to pay.

My Thoughts: Is your memory of a book ever better than your original reaction was? Do you ever remember a book as being awesome – or at least really good – only to go back, read your review, and end up surprised? That happened to me this week. I remembered Angelfire much better than I apparently thought if it upon completion. When I read books that are second (or later) in a series, I often go back and read my review of the previous book(s) to help jog my memory. (There are so many books between readings that it’s necessary more often than not.) This time, unfortunately, I think that ended up biting me in the ass. I can’t help but wonder whether I would have enjoyed Wings of the Wicked better if I went into it believing that I loved Angelfire. But, it had been so long since I’d read Angelfire I felt I needed the refresher. Oh, well. Too late now!

So, in case you can’t tell, I wasn’t too impressed. First time around, I found Ellie annoying, spoiled, and anything but likable. Unfortunately, she’s not much better this time, either. *sigh* I so wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, my dislike for, and soon impatience with, Ellie just couldn’t be overcome. I wish I could say that the book was so well-written that I could overlook this and just enjoy the writing. Unfortunately, I can’t. I felt like things were overly dramatic, although perhaps that’s because it’s from Ellie’s perspective – and she is on helluva drama queen! Plus, some of the writing made it impossible for me to picture things as they happened.

I let out a choking sob and collapsed at her feet as our arms wound around each other. ~ page 439 (ARC)

First of all, this is the perfect example of Ellie’s selfishness and melodramatic tendencies. She is not the one who should be collapsing. Secondly, I found envisioning this to be somewhat difficult. Embracing each other while one collapses? Seems a bit difficult. I dunno.

The snowflakes landing in my hair were tangling it. ~ pages 320-321 (ARC)

I just can’t help but wonder how that works. Snowflakes tangling hair? I’ve never had that happen, and I have always lived where it snows during winter. I’ve only had it melt in my hair, making it wet. Never tangling it. But then, I suppose if she uses a LOT of styling product, then maybe it’d tangle it. But, not really, that’d be more if the product getting sticky as the snow melts, making her hair a gross, sticky, icky mess. Yuck. Either way, it gave me pause.

Back to Ellie. I can’t say it enough. She’s whiny, spoiled, etc. Complain, complain, complain. Woe is me. Rather than bucking up, accepting her destiny, and finding a way to make the most of it, she whines and complains. “I, I, I … me, me me.” I got so tired of her I almost threw in the towel. But, I finished the book hoping it’d pay off.

I’m not so sure it did.

Can you say predictable? None of what someone might call plot twists took me by surprise. Not a single one. And some, I saw coming a mile away. And the end is a cliffhanger. An annoying one at that.

A slightly redeeming moment comes before the very end, when you see just a tiny bit of character growth. Ellie has some revelations that cause some introspection and some decisions about how she’s going to carry on. That was good to see, but would be even better if she’d get an attitude adjustment.

There’s so much more I want to say, but I think I’ve said enough. The things I could say would only make this an even more negative review, and I’m done with the negativity. That said, I noticed that I seem to be in the minority. Most reviews/ratings/comments I’ve seen about Wings of the Wicked have been quite positive. Others LOVE this book, so please don’t let me keep you from reading it. Look at the book’s page on Goodreads and scroll down to find lots and lots of favorable reviews.

Source: Received through Around The World Tours for review.

Read It: Wings of the Wicked is scheduled for release on February 14, 2012. You can pre-order your own copy HERE. (This is a Book Depository link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission at no cost to you. Your support is appreciated!)

Challenges: Counts for the 2012 Sensational Seconds Challenge.

Find me on Goodreads.com >>
♥

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Tags: 2.5 stars, Angelfire, angels, ARC, Around the World Tours, Courtney Allison Moulton, review, YA

Blog Tour & GIVEAWAY: Waiting to Forget (When I’m Not Writing)

January 20, 2012

Welcome to Proud Book Nerd for the final stop on the Waiting to Forget blog tour! Today I have a guest post from author Sheila Kelly Welch, who shares how she spends her time when she’s not writing.

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Like the characters, Marlene and Dan, in Waiting to Forget, my husband and I are adoptive parents. Six of our seven children were adopted and most of them were school age when they joined our family. Now we have a lot of delightful grandchildren, and one, brand-new great-grandson.

Getting the family members who live nearby together for holidays and a few of the many birthdays is always chaotic but lots of fun. Two of our grownup boys could get second jobs as standup comedians. One of our daughters is a middle school librarian, and my husband is a retired college library director, so we often talk about publishing and book-related issues. Several of my kids love to read as much as I do, and we share our opinions about various books.

When I was a child, I was considered the artist in my family, and now I do the illustrations for some of my stories and books. I wouldn’t call doing artwork a “hobby,” but I definitely do it “when I’m not writing.”

My favorite models for ar work are animals, and quite a few of my books feature animal characters. I’ve always had pets as friends. These have included a chicken, a turtle, a pigeon, a guinea pig, and numerous horses, dogs, and cats. Now I enjoy the company of four cats and three dogs. I love to ride horses and spend some of my non-writing time dreaming about getting another horse – preferably a mustang.

I volunteer at the local animal shelter, and one of our dogs is a Certified Therapy Dog. We visit nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult day care. We also go to the public library where kids read to Raven and other dogs in the “Paws for Reading” program. I enjoy both the older people and the young readers. And they all love Raven.

I’m in favor of activities that encourage kids to read. Visiting schools and libraries is a good way to meet and interact with students. Now that computers have gotten so smart, I can make virtual trips over great distances via Skype. If you’re interested in such a visit, please send an e-mail to this blog requesting information. Maybe we’ll “meet” one day soon.

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Thank you, Sheila. It sounds like you’re quite busy!

About Waiting to Forget

T.J. has always looked out for his little sister, Angela. When Momma used to go out and leave them home alone, he’d lock the door so they’d be safe, keep Angela entertained, and get out the cereal and milk for her. When Momma’s boyfriend got angry at them, he’d try to protect Angela. Later, at their foster homes, T.J. was the only one who knew how to coax his little sister out of her bad moods. The only one who understood why she made origami paper cranes and threw them out the window.

But now T.J. is sitting in the waiting room at the hospital, wondering if Angela, unconscious after a fall, will ever wake up. Wondering, too, if he will ever feel at home with his and Angela’s new parents—Marlene, who insists on calling him Timothy, and Dan, who seems to want a different son.

Going back and forth between Now and Then, weaving the uncertain present with the painful past, T.J.’s story unfolds, and with the unfolding comes a new understanding of how to move forward.

GIVEAWAY

I am able to offer one lucky reader a paperback copy of Waiting to Forget! I do not require anything in order for you to enter. Simply leave a comment to on this post. ONE ENTRY PER PERSON. Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Central) Friday, January 27, 2012. The winner will be chosen randomly with the help of the WordPress plugin And the Winner Is… I will send the lucky winner an e-mail notification. (It will come from proudbooknerd(at)gmail(dot)com, so make sure to add this address to your safe list or address book to ensure it doesn’t get lost in junk/bulk mail.) If I do not get a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to readers in the U.S. No P.O. boxes.
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Tags: blog tour, giveaway, guest post, Sheila Kelly Welch, The {Teen} Book Scene, when I'm not writing