In the Box: August 2015 Awesome Pack Big Kid Pack

I thought August was going to be my last Awesome Pack Big Kid Pack, but luckily, I can continue, so this will not be my last review! The subscription is $44.99 a month and you can choose the Big Kid option (for those without kids - like me), or the Family option.  Their site does not have referral links set up yet, nor can you log into your account yet, but they do have a referral program, so if you do decide after reading my review to try it, I would very much appreciate if you told them you heard about it from me, rickimc [at] aol [dot] com.

For August, the main game was Cacao ($34.95 value) from Z-Man Games. As you know, I love Z-Man games and I love chocolate, so this sounds perfect for me!  It's a worker placement game, which I have not played many of, so this will be a good challenge.

The first of the smaller games was Rumpelstiltskin (a $9.99 value) from AEG games.  This is a short two-player which is prefect for me and my husband.  I also received Poker Dice (a $1.49 value) by Koplow Games.  Seems like a good alternative to cards.

My collectibles this time were Crazy Cube Soccer Shootout (a $9.99 value).  I guess this can also count as a game, but it is not really for me.  Closer to my interests was The Smurfs Tag Athon Collectible Game Booster Pack (a $0.99 value) from WizKids.  While I do not play the game (sounds like HeroClix), I do love the Smurfs.  For Awesome Pack goodies, I received my two favorites from the past (probably because I thought it would be my last), the pen and bookmark.

Of course, another awesome Awesome Pack !  The items actually added up to an amazing $57.41 value, and I got it all for $44.95, which included shipping.  Not the highest value one I have received, but I really love the games this time around.  If you would like to subscribe, once again, I ask that you say you heard it from me, rickimc [at] aol [dot] com.  (Please note: as games and collectibles can vary in price based on demand, I tried to take the price from the manufacturers site whenever possible.)

Stacking the Shelves: 8/30-9/12

For possible review (on Bookloons):

Greenwode by J Tullos Hennig

Shirewode by J Tullos Hennig

Dead Boy by Laurel Gale

The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas

First Reads from Goodreads:

The Ancient Whisper by M.A. Appleby

Blue Moon Over Fenway by Alden C. Glass

LibraryThing Early Review:

The Gray Lady of Long Branch by Maura Satchell

Swapped for on My Subscription Addiction:

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project 1 by Osamu Takahashi & khara

Red Equinox

Title: Red Equinox
Author: Douglas Wynne
Publisher: JournalStone

ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: Early Review

Thoughts: A pretty decent paranormal horror with ancient artifacts, cults, and paranormal investigators.  Hopefully, this is the first in a series.

Rating: 4 stars

Torn from Troy

Title: Torn from Troy
Author: Patrick Bowman
Publisher: Post Hypnotic Press

ISBN: 9781927401606

Why Read?: For fun

Thoughts: While I have seen YA retellings of myths, I have never seen one that retells the classic Greek Odyssey.  Torn from Troy starts with the sacking of Troy goes through the Island of the Lotus Eaters and finishes with the Cyclops, leaving plenty left for the rest of the series.  Unfortunately, there was a bit of down time between each recognizable event.

Rating: 3 stars

Inanna's Tears

Title: Inanna's Tears
Author: Rob Vollmar & mpMann
Publisher: Archaia

ISBN: 978-1-932386-79-0

Why Read?: For fun

Thoughts: Very interesting concept but I just found the whole thing hard to follow, especially the characters, and the artwork did not help.

Rating: 2 stars

In the Box: August 2015 Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss

Once again the Fresh Fiction box contained not one but three paperback: Reunited for the Billionaire's Legacy by Jennifer Heyward, And Then He Kissed Me by Kim Amos, and A Peach of a Pair by Kim Boykin. The first two are traditional romances, but the last one seems right up my alley. Not quite as many ebooks this time around (only the minimum of three), but that is OK.  I received Sheltering His Desire by Allyson Lindt, Candidate by Tracy Ewens, and Murder.com by David Deutsch.  Murder.com sounds a little more hard-boiled than the previous offerings from Gemma Halliday Publishing, but it still sounds perfect for me, and it is the first in a series unlike the majority of this month's books.

The swag was also a little light this month, but that is fine as that is not why I subscribe.  I am not a fan of the stress ball, but the dog tag is actually a flash drive, so that is awesome.  And yes, those are banana Laffy Taffy!

A pretty awesome Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss.  While this month had 3 paperbacks, each box will have at least one paperback and 3-6 ebooks, along with swag, for $25 a month (you can skip months). 

Stacking the Shelves: 8/23-8/29

First Reads from Goodreads:

Oak & Mist by Helen Jones

Dream Things True by Marie Marquardt

The Hollow Ground by Natalie S. Harnett