Stacking the Shelves: 10/22-10/28

Received in November's Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss:

Never Mine by Megan Mitcham

The Boy Friend by Mika Jolie

The Highlander's Princess Bride by Vanessa Kelly

Totally His by Erin Nicholas

Most of All You by Mia Sheridan

The Dirty Book Club by Lisi Harrison

Lady Jayne Disappears by Joanna Davidson

Among the Dead

Title: Among the Dead
Author: Hansol Jung
Publisher: Samuel French
ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: Scriptd

Thoughts: This was a rather trippy read, which works for a play about Vietnam.  I do think I would get more out of it by seeing it, as I spent most of it imagining how I would stage it if I were directing it.

Rating: 3/5

Stacking the Shelves: 10/15-10/21

For review (on Bookloons):

Cici's Journal by Joris Chamblain & Aurelie Neyret

Winter Warning

Winter Warning

by Jerome Charyn

published by Pegasus

October 2017

ISBN 978-1-68177-348-3

Like much of Jerome Charyn's work, Winter Warning is fraught with melancholy.  While this particular novel does not involved a historical character, it still feels like it could be true with its Cold War politics and realistic suspense.

This is the 12th book featuing Isaac Sidel, but it is unnecessary to read the previous ones, which date back to 1975.  This easily stands alone, and Charyn explains any of Sidel's backstory needed to jump right into Winter Warning.  Although you can jump right in, as with any of Charyn's stories, the current is slow, meandering along through the plot.  Since this is suspense, there are a few rapids, but nothing that will leave you breathless.

Fans who have read the previous Isaac Sidel novels will definitely enjoy this one.  Suspense fans who are not used to Jerome Charyn's writing, however, might not find what they are looking for in Winter Warning.

Rating: 3/5

Fantastic Fables of Foster Flats

Title: Fantastic Fables of Foster Flats
Author: Orrin Jason Bradford
Publisher: Porpoise
ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: This collection of speculative fiction short stories has some hits, but others that completely lost me.  I think it may have worked better without the frame story.

Rating: 2/5

A Beautiful, Terrible Thing

Title: A Beautiful, Terrible Thing
Author: Jen Waite
Publisher: Plume
ISBN: 9780735216464

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: This starts out a tad slow, but it is non-fiction after all.  Towards the end, it really picks up pace and reads more like fiction, making you pause in shock when you remember this is someone's life.

Rating: 4/5

Do Not Become Alarmed

Title: Do Not Become Alarmed
Author: Maile Meloy
Publisher: Apex
ISBN: 9781370117956

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: The story was OK, but every character made such idiotic choices, that I just could not get into it - and one character, Penny, I absolutely despised.  If I had read the book, I might have rated it higher, but the author read the audiobook with such a melancholoy tone that it just heightened the idiocy of the characters.

Rating: 1/5

Beautiful Sorrows

Title: Beautiful Sorrows
Author: Mercedes M. Yardley
Publisher: Apex
ISBN: 9781370117956

Why Read?: Early Review

Thoughts: Collection of melancholoy short stories and flash fiction that high light the disconcerting horror of everyday life.

Rating: 3/5

Usborne Books - 12 Days of Christmas Bundles!

My child and I love Usborne books, so I recently became a consultant so that I could help spread the love of reading!  I have an awesome special going on until October 23rd on 12 Days of Christmas Bundles (that means 12+ books).  For more information, check out my Facebook VIP group.  Also, anyone who joins by October 28th will be entered in my contest!

The Marriage Pact

Title: The Marriage Pact
Author: Michelle Richmond
Publisher:  Bantam
ISBN: 978-0-385-34329-9

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: Taught psychological thriller that takes pulse-pounding twists chapter after chapter.

Rating: 5/5

Reluctant Reunion

Reluctant Reunion

by Ruth J. Hartman

published by esKape

August 2017

ISBN 9781370450572

Reluctant Reunion is a sweet chick lit novel about finding where you truly belong.  And surprisingly, there is no romance.  Also, somehow Ruth J. Hartman wrote a story with no cats (but there are baby alpacas).

Rating: 4/5

Stacking the Shelves: 10/8-10/14

First Reads from Goodreads:

The Welcome Home Diner by Peggy Lampman

Yesterday

Title: Yesterday
Author: Felicia Yap
Publisher:  Mulholland
ISBN: 978-0-316-46252-0

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: Very inventive alternate universe with a good mystery.  However, the twist was lacking basis.

Rating: 3/5

Stacking the Shelves: 10/1-10/7

For review (on Bookloons):

Tortall: A Spy's Guide by Tamora Pierce

Demon 3 by Jason Shiga

Won:

A Penny Lost by Aspen Bassett

First Reads from Goodreads:

Whisper of the Moon Moth by Lindsay Jayne Ashford

Make No Mistakes by M. H. Helpers

LibraryThing Early Review:

Sorrow's Lie by Danielle DeVor

Received in October's Scriptd:

Among the Dead by Hansol Jung

Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Nine Ladies Dancing

Nine Ladies Dancing

by Kim Bowman, Sherry Gloag, Elizabeth Hanbury, Ruth J. Hartman, Patricia Kiyono, Miranda D. Nelson, Felicia Rogers, Vivian Roycroft, Kay Springsteen, & Nicole Zoltack

published by Dingbat

2016

ISBN n/a

If you are looking for a sweet boxed set of Regency Christmas romances, Nine Ladies Dancing is a fun read.  Some of the standout stories were The Toymaker by Kay Springsteen, The Duke of Christmas Past by Kim Bowman, and Romancing the Dustman's Daughter by Ruth J. Hartman, but all ten stories are very enjoyable, especially for fans of the genre.

Rating: 3/5

The Sun Is Also a Star

Title: The Sun Is Also a Star
Author: Nicola Yoon
Publisher:  Listening Library
ISBN: 9781524721398

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: I like how this was broken up into three voices - the two main characters and then an impartial third party who delved deeper into secondary characters.  Once again, though, Yoon's title choice leaves you wondering.

Rating: 3/5

Luna Gale

Title: Luna Gale
Author: Rebecca Gilman
Publisher:  Dramatic Publishing
ISBN: 9781583429952

Why Read?: Scriptd

Thoughts: Gilman specializes in humanizing the issues, which she does well here.  However, I think I would have to see it to tell if it makes good theatre or not.

Rating: 3/5