Not This Time

:My random thoughts:

I'm not going to lie. This book started out pretty dull. Maybe it was because this book is part of a series, and I didn't read the previous novels. I dunno. But I read the first few chapters, and put it down.  But I couldn't leave it down, as I had gotten it to review from a Publisher, and I had given my word to review it. So, after finishing all other books at hand, and then kicking my feet, I picked it back up, telling myself, "You've read worst things, you can do it".  And for awhile, I did have to force myself to continue reading. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting, but you know that feeling when you walk into the middle of some one's conversation and feel left behind? Yeah. That's what I got. But after reading it, I started to get the feel of things. Annie and Liza's problems, WHO Darla Green was, whatever NINA was, and why Beth was so nervous of having her heart broken. It cleared up nicely. And after that? You couldn't have torn me away from 'Not This Time'. The greatness in the novel was there, I just had to read a bit longer to find it.

:Publisher's Description:

Small town scandal. International terrorist attack. Who among them is the traitor?
Sara and Beth have built a multi-million dollar business together, but their once solid friendship is now strained. Beth is leery of Sara's husband, and when he is kidnapped, authorities consider Beth their prime suspect.

Then, their small town of Seagrove Village is rocked by an act of terrorism, and Beth doesn't know who to trust. Someone she knows is linked to the attack, but who? Is there a connection to Crossroads Crisis Center? In the midst of the confusion and fear, Beth finds herself attracted to a man from her past. She knows she shouldn't fall in love with him, but she can't resist or even explain their bond. As her world unravels around her, she wonders, is it possible to be beyond redemption?

:info to know:

Author: Vicki Hinze

My recommended age: 14+

Their recommended age: NA

Publisher: Multnomah Press

Number of Pages: 336

• Characters: After I got to know them, I loved them. Each was so real. Astounding. My favorite? Joe. Don't we all wish for a guy like Joe?

Plot:
While at first it was confusing, after I got into it, and kinda puzzled together the back stories to everybody and everything, it got really exciting.

Writing Style:
Ms. Hinze certainly has the ability to become a star. I can't truly point out anything that is a huge flaw with her writing craft. She is clear and Concise, doesn't burden you with details, but doesn't leave you in the dark. Her characters are realistic and enjoyable. You felt Beth's pain and annoyance with Sara, and Joe's desperation to crack the wall around Beth's heart. It was really wonderful.

Cover:
It is so vibrant. I love it.

Ending:
She finished the story, while leaving room for a sequel at the same time.

World Building:
Maybe because I've grown up in a small southern town, but I really felt Seagrove.

Color:

Murky Grey.

Language:

None.

Drugs and Drink:

none.

Romance and sexual content:

Joe is very much in love with Beth. But, unfortunately, she is a tough gal to win. She was dumped by a man she really and truly loved for some Glamorous beauty, and every since, she has built a wall around her heart against any man. While she also feels strongly for Joe, she is afraid of her own choice of love.  She makes the point, If she was so wrong about the type of guy Max was, maybe I'm wrong about the type of guy Joe is.  Finally, at the end, her walls come down. However, nothing immoral, or naughty happens. Which does my herat good. I can take this type of Romance.

Violence:

We are dealing with a Terrorist organization here.  There are two shootings (one ends with a death), a Domestic Violence, A fist fight, and gassing.

 

Ratings
Despite the fact I was sloth to read it, I did enjoy it. Having a book without language, Drinking, or Sexual content does my heart really good. Rarely do you come upon such a thing as that. I bestow on this novel a grande:

 

 

*I got this book free of charge from Waterbrook Multnomah press. I was not paid to do this review and all opinions are my own*

The Two Princesses of Bamarre

:My random thoughts:

This was my first entrance to Ms. Levine's writing, and I was entirely pleased. Everything about this novel was lovely (But Rhys is the loveliest part...just sayin').  Eervything had an air of beauty, an air of magic, an air of adventure. I will certainly be going back to The writing of Gail Carson Levine.

:Publisher's Description:

A kingdom beset by monsters . . .
A disease that weakens and destroys . . .
An epic poem and a hero of long ago . . .
A story of danger and desperation.
The Two Princesses of Bamarre couldn't be more different. Princess Addie is fearful and shy. Her deepest wish is for safety. Princess Meryl is bold and brave. Her deepest wish is to save the kingdom of Bamarre. They are sisters, and they mean the world to each other.
Then disaster strikes, and Addie -- terrified and unprepared -- sets out on a perilous quest. In her path are monsters of Bamarre: ogres, specters, gryphons, and dragons. Addie must battle them, but time is running out, and the sister's lives -- and Barmarre's fate -- hang in the balance.

:info to know:

Author: Gail Carson Levine

My recommended age: 12+

Their recommended age: 10+

Publisher: HarperCollins

Number of Pages: 256

• Characters:  Normally, I hate timid characters. While I'm not the bravest soul, I'm not timid and annoyingly so. I just don't have any patience for Characters that wither in dark corners and don't do something with their life. But, I didn't feel that way with Addie. I almost felt, a sort of, bond with her. However, we are nothing alike, so I contribute that feeling to Ms. Levine's excellent writing craft. And then, Meryle was a delightful character to read about. So much spunk and life. If she hadn't gotten sick, I feel there could be a great many books about her adventures alone! And now, I come to Rhys..*bestillheart*...Sweetness, beautifulness, and Mysterious. Perfect guy. He sorta reminds me of a Manga Character.  I loved him. Addie and Rhys are a perfect match.

Plot:
It was so much fun. The pace was a little fast, and never was it dull or slow. Following Addie on her journey, clapping at her first brave act, Watching her face off a Dragon, and use her wits. It was spell binding.

Writing Style:
Enjoyable. Magical. Sweet.

Cover:
It's Sweet. It feels like a Renaissance painting without spoiling the fantasy genre.

Ending:
It gave me a rather odd feeling. Normally, when a book ends, I feel a sort of sadness creep over my soul because it is done. No more. The story ends. It is a kind of funeral for the Characters, almost. But, with 'The 2 Princesses of Bamarre', I felt content. Even though it could leave me feeling like "What now?", it didn't. I felt content, I felt satisfied.

World Building:
I give her an A+ on World Building. Bamarre seems so real, I would only be partially surprised if I ever see it on a Travel brochure.

Color:   

I mentioned doing this in my last review, and I think i shall.  The Color I get for 'The Two Princessess of Bamarre' is Yellow. Light, Dandelion Yellow.                                                                                      

Language:

None.

Drugs and Drink:

none.

Romance and sexual content:

Addie falls in love with Rhys early on, but becasue she isn't sure if Sorcerers can marry Humans, she doesn't express it until once, when she is preparing to leave, she kisses him on the cheek. 

Violence:

Griffins engorge themselves to death, And a tale is told of Drault's love who was eaten by monsters. Addie slays a Dragon, there is a battle at the end.

Ratings
It should be no surprise to you at all that I give this a:

Have you read any of Gail Carson Levine's works?

The Epic Reader was actually rewarded!

Hannah from Candy Apple Books rewarded T.E.R!

Lovely! She invented the award herself, due to the sad lack of Book Blogger awards circling this fair blogotopia.

:Rules and Regulations:

1: This award if for book blogs only! To receive this award the blog must be at least 50% about books (reading or writing is okay).

2: Along with receiving this award, you must also share your top five favorite books you have ever read in your life. (It can be more then five if you prefer)

3: You must give this award to five-ten other lucky book blogs that you adore.

:Doing the Rules:

My favorite Book Bloggers:

Tarissa

Go Teen Writers

Sky

Ellyn

Inkblots (I'm a co-Author there)

Abigail
Katie

Those I am rewarding:
Ellyn
Sky
Katie
Tarissa
Rachel

I would reward Abigail as well, but, I doubt she'd do it, as I'vve never seen her do an award before, I I just refuse to believe she has never gotten one.

In that matter, I'm not even sure Rachel and Ellyn will do it. But, you two got rewarded anyway. Dare you to disapoint me? Yes. It's ok. If you don't, I wont be offended.

(I've not done some rewards either, becuase I just didn't want to. And whats the use of getting a reward if you must MAKE yourself post about it?)

London Calling

:My random thoughts:

Do you 'sense' colors when you read books? I'm not certain how to explain it, but how you get different feelings from memories, the same is sorta with me and books. The Soldier's Cross was golden. A Lot Like a Lady is Shiny Black. North of Beautiful is a light pink. and Torn Heart is minty Green. All books have colors for me. And London Calling was for the most part grey. Martin's life, Martin's school, Martin's troubles, Martin's Friends. Everything casts a Grey aura. Until we meet Jimmie. Then, everything starts becoming Yellow. Until Martin wakes up and is back in his normal life. Then it goes to Grey again. But, by the end, Even Martin's world is Yellow. Somehow, along the line of plot, the grey lightens, and finally dissolves into cheerfulness. It certianly makes for a satisfying read.

:Publisher's Description:

Martin Conway comes from a family filled with heroes and disgraces. His grandfather was a statesman who worked at the US Embassy in London during WWII. His father is an alcoholic who left his family. His sister is an overachieving Ivy League graduate. And Martin? Martin is stuck in between--floundering.

But during the summer after 7th grade, Martin meets a boy who will change his life forever. Jimmy Harker appears one night with a deceptively simple question: Will you help?

Where did this boy come from, with his strange accent and urgent request? Is he a dream? It's the most vivid dream Martin's ever had. And he meets Jimmy again and again--but how can his dreams be set in London during the Blitz? How can he see his own grandather, standing outside the Embassy? How can he wake up with a head full of people and facts and events that he certainly didn't know when he went to sleep--but which turn out to be verifiably real?

The people and the scenes Martin witnesses have a profound effect on him. They become almost more real to him than his waking companions. And he begins to believe that maybe he can help Jimmy. Or maybe that he must help Jimmy, precisely because all logic and reason argue against it.

This is a truly remarkable and deeply affecting novel about fathers and sons, heroes and scapegoats. About finding a way to live with faith and honor and integrity. And about having an answer to the question: What did you do to help?

:info to know:

Author: Edward Bloor

My recommended age: 12+

Their recommended age: 10+

Publisher: Ember

Number of Pages: 304

• Characters:  They were all life like to a certian degree. However, for the most part, all the living Characters were grey and dull. They gave off a rather depressed air. Except for Jimmie. excpet for dead, searching Jimmie. Which, is kinda odd. He is dead, and is pulling Martin/Johnny to his time period, shouldn't he be the dull one?

Plot:
It kept you thinking. What was Martin supposed to do? What was Jimmie needing his help with so much? How was this going to fix Martin's problems? What did they all have in common. And, when you reached the end, the "Ah HA!" moment, it all seemed so plain. So innocent. So childlike. but it led to oh so much more then Jimmie had planned. So much more.

Writing Style:It was like a puzzle. A spell binding puzzle.

Cover:
Isn't so pretty?

Ending:
It left you feeling complete. Some stories make you yearn for more (ex. Phantom of the opera, Chalice) but this book made my happy. I was glad James Harker had found his peace and made things right with his son. I was glad Martin's Dad was back on the right track. I was glad Martin's life cast off the grey look to it, and he began a new life in the yellow.

World Building:
Well, not to copy what I said in 'My Random Thoughts' but, the colors made it. Even though WW2 London was plagued with bombs, with black outs, with cowards, traitors, and fear, you just felt the yellow, raw courage pulse through you. You felt the hope under the hurt. The healing of London under her scars. And you felt Jimmie's joy at life. his vibrance. That was the most ntoicable thing in the World Building. It was magnificent.

Language:

I don't think there was anything...

Drugs and Drink:

Martin's Dad is a shameless drunk. but by the end, he repairs his ways.

Romance and sexual content:

None.

Violence:

This requiers a slight spoiler. the whole book was, in a wrapped around way, about a murder. Believe it or not.
There are 2 school scuffles.
World War II England...air raids, bombs, bombs, more bombs, death. yeah.

Ratings

this book is amazing. It kept you spell bound, and entrapped. It's colors were satisfing. It's feel was lovely.  Without the slightest hesitation, I bestow upon it a grande:

Should I include a Color section in my review?

The Rogues

 

:My random thoughts: 

I'm not entirely sure why I picked up this book. Maybe the name drew me in, or perhaps it was the mention of a "Robin Hood like Rogue". Whatever made me check this book out from the library, I am so glad I did. I hadn't gotten far in it when I had to put it down, but I picked it up again yesterday, and just finished it. Novels set in Scotland are so much fun. And I do believe my Scottish accent has gotten better.

:Publisher's Description:

When everyone in his Scottish village is violently evicted from their land by the laird, Roddy Macallan knows he must find a way to fight back. As his family escapes, making their way through the Scottish Highlands bound for Glasgow, Roddy sneaks home in search of a treasure his mother once told him was hidden there. But the search becomes more than that when Roddy teams up with a Robin Hood–like rogue who roams the Highlands just ahead of the unscrupulous laird.

  :info to know:

Author: Jane Yolan and Robert J. Harris

My recommended age: 12+

Their recommended age: NA

Publisher: Philomel

Number of Pages: 288

• Characters:  Love. The depth put in every character was wonderful. There weren't any filler characters. You kinda felt each one was real, each had their own stories of sorrow and happiness. But I must say, even though Roddy was the main character, Alan Dunbar was excellent. You kept guessing with him. One moment, I thought I had him figured out as a dead drunk who sold Whiskey, the next time I met him, I figured him to be more then he at first appeared. Then, I went back to thinking he was a selfish brute. And this kept going on and on, until I realized he was a bit of each. A Soldier mentally scarred, yet hiding it under a thick layer of nonchalance. A lover, who's sweet heart was out of his league, but yet needed him. A man who thought himself worse then he was at soul. Alan Dunbar stole the show.

 Plot:
It was enchanting. It gave you a taste of Scottish life, and kept you drawn in even at the most boringest parts.

Writing Style:
Lyrical. Thats the best way I can figure it out. It was like a music of it's own. the Authors played out the tune without wearing you down. Enough description to keep you happy, but not enough to bog you down.

Cover:
I'm still trying to figure out which one is Roddy, and which is Alan...lol

Ending:
Oh happiness. First off, I'm really glad the authors didn't drag into the sailing to the new World thing. There are enough books about emigrants and pioneers who left all behind. If they had done that, it would've spoiled the feel of the story.  And then, we have Roddy getting back to his family, and then, we see Alan Dunbar without all his act. How, I think, he truly was. A man who simply wanted to be loved back. A man who yearned for more.

World Building:
Oh, beloved Scotland.

Language:

There are a few references of them cursing, but you don't ever know what words they use.

Drugs and Drink:

*coughlaughcough* Alan Dunbar makes his own whiskey and sells it, and Roddy gets drunk after drinking to much of the strong stuff. But it is never in an overbearing light. Rather a matter of fact thing. 

Romance and sexual content:

None.

Violence:

The farmers keep their distance from Willie Rood, from fear he will 'Smash their heads in'. 

Willie plans to drop Roddy over a cliff and kill him, thankfully, Alan saves the day.

Roddy gets Alan to tell about the day he fought against Napoleon's army, and Alan spares no detail.

Alan is forced to kill Willie Rood to protect himself.

 

Ratings

It was a beautiful story. It might not be meant for those who prefer fast paced novels and action around every corner. But I enjoyed it to the very fullest of myself. It was a sweet read, one that makes you smile when you shut the book.

Therefore, I give it a:

 

Incredible Author-y giveaway

I don't normally post giveaways on TER, but I rather felt this was appropriate. 

Taylor Lynn is giving away this lovely little book:

And I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to win it.

Go HERE to enter yourself!

Heir of the Force

:My random thoughts: 

So, my first Star Wars Expanded Universe novel.  I guess it was ok, and I won't lie and say it wasn't interesting. But, I'm not huge for all the 'after Return of the Jedi' stories. I'm perfectly fine leaving everything as it is. The idea of Mara Jade nearly makes me sick. Star Killer is a joke, but I will admit, That Red eyed dude has something going for him....

:Publisher's Description:

While exploring the jungle outside the academy, the twins make a startling discovery—the remains of a TIE fighter that had crashed years ago during the battle against the first Death Star. Mechanical whiz Jaina thinks she can repair it…if they can sneak the right parts from the academy.
Meanwhile, their work is being closely watched—but not by academy eyes. The original pilot, an Imperial trooper, has been living wild in the jungle since his ship went down. Waiting to return to duty. And now his chance has come…

  :info to know:

Author: Kevin Anderson and Rebecca Moesta

My recommended age: 8+

Their recommended age: NA

Publisher: Berkley Press

Number of Pages: 240

• Characters:  Han Solo and Chewbacca were written splendidly. Although Captain Solo is now General Solo, he kept his character while adding a Fatherly twist.  Luke Skywalker disappointed me. He just seemed so lame. Not at all like the Luke I know. And then Jiana, Jacen, Lowbacca, and Tenel Ka. I didn't know much about these 4, except Jacen and Jiana are the children of Leia and Han, and they were Jedi. So, I can't say if the book kept to their character.

 Plot:
It was good. Fan fictions have a plot style all their own.

Writing Style:
As in the plot, Fan fictions always have a writing style that is their own. A certian, pardon me, cheesy, feel to it. I guess the reason why is because it doesn't feel original. It feels like a borrowed, worn out pen. Used to much and spread to thin. Also, Heir of the Force had absolutely NO moral to it. There wasn't even the mediocre, 'Friendship' moral. It was just a story. Just fluff to fill your brain. Sherlock Disapproves.

Cover:
Nice to see a picture of Lowbacca...but where is Tenel Ka? I had to google a picture of her.

Ending:
I'll just say, it was really lame. Jiana and Jacen (And Tenel Ka, and Lowbacca got out of that little mess without even a chastening. And then, What about Qorl? You're just gonna let him blast off to space? That was real lame man. 

World Building:
Seeing how they were building on somebody else's Science Fiction world...I'll give them a B+.

Language:

None.

Drugs and Drink:

None.

Romance and sexual content:

None.

Violence:

None.

 

Ratings

 

Ok. It was a clean book, a super fluffy read, and lame, when you wrap it all up, and add some red twine for looks, you get:

I know you were all expecting a 1 or 2 star. But It wasn't a bad book. If was interesting, and a pretty good EU starter. But just empty. I prefer some meat with my words puhleeze.