Saturday, February 2, 2019

Sleep? What is that?


Hello Readers.

Another morning that started way too early. My oldest decided that sleep was overrated so we were up at 4 A.M. Downside to this was that sleep was once again stolen from me. Upside to this was that I got to finish reading the book I was working on while cuddling with a three year old. Overall, it was a win. 

As I drink my coffee, I cannot help but wonder exactly how many hours have I read instead of slept. Granted, this morning was early because someone else chose for it to be but it does have me thinking. As a child, I would hide in my bed under the covers with a flashlight and read after everyone else had gone to sleep. I would also hide in the closet. That probably began before I started school. I would be found many mornings passed out on my book. My mom would tell me about the importance of sleep and would often attempt to prevent my late night reading sessions. I quickly found ways around this. 

As I got older, I would find myself starting books at night and staying up to finish them. It became so frequent that my mom would threaten to take them. She was afraid that I would fall asleep in class. Looking back, it is understandable. I was forgoing sleep to read. Sleep or awesome adventures? Who would choose sleep? 

I would most nights. Being significantly older, I try to be more responsible these days. I understand the importance of sleep in regards to cognitive ability and general  heath. With that said, I also have insomnia at time and have young children so sleep often evades me. On those nights or early mornings, I love to spend my time in books. I get to journey to other worlds and be other people. That is an amazing thing. 

I wonder what little me would think of all the literary adventures we have been on. I am sure that she would be delighted beyond words. So many books. So many journeys. So little sleep. Worth it. 

InkedBookDragon 

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Sickness, gremlins, chaos, and every sort of crazy


Hello Readers.

I once again apologize for disappearing. I hate that life has been so insane. I was terribly sick and required surgery. Add that to the two toddlers ruling my home and writing opportunities have been pretty much obsolete. I did manage to read quite a bit so I will be featuring a number of books soon. 

I am still a little in shock with the amount of books that I read last year. I completed 247 books in one year. Blown away by that. Not sure I can repeat or surpass it but I will defiitely try. So many books, so little time. 

Happy New Year! I realize that it is a month late but let's pretend that January was just a practice month. Hope your 2019 is full of amazing books!

InkedBookDragon

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

BLOG TOUR: I DO NOT TRUST YOU



I Do Not Trust You
By Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz
Published by Wednesday Books
On Sale Septemnber 11, 2018


Memphis "M" Engel is stubborn to a fault, graced with an almost absurd knowledge of long lost languages and cultures, and a heck of an opponent in a fight. In short: she's awesome.

Ashwin Sood is a little too posh for her tastes, a member of an ancient cult (which she’s pretty sure counts for more than one strike against him), and has just informed Memphis that her father who she thought was dead isn’t and needs her help.

From the catacombs of Paris to lost temples in the sacred forests, together they crisscross the globe, searching for the pieces of the one thing that might save her father. But the closer they come to saving him—and the more they fall for one another—the closer they get to destroying the world.

Here is an excerpt:
I Do Not Trust You



About the authors:

LAURA J. BURNS and MELINDA METZ have written many books for teens and middle-grade readers, including Sanctuary Bay, Crave, and Sacrifice, as well as the Edgar-nominated mystery series Wright and Wong. They have also written for the TV shows ROSWELL, 1-800-MISSING, and THE DEAD ZONE. Laura lives in New York and Melinda lives in North Carolina, but really they mostly live on email, where they do most of their work together.




Thursday, August 2, 2018

Series Spotlight: The Lunar Chronicles



A blurb about the series:

The Lunar Chronicles are futuristic retellings of classic fairy tales. In CINDER, a teenage cyborg (half human, half machine) must deal with a wicked stepmother, start a rebellion against the evil Queen Levana, and decide how she feels about a handsome prince. As the series continues, Cinder forges alliances with Scarlet, a spaceship pilot who is determined to solve the mystery of a missing loved one — with the help of a magnetic street fighter named Wolf; Cress, a computer hacker who is imprisoned by Queen Levana; and Winter, a princess who's in love with a commoner, and who discovers that Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress may hold the key to saving her kingdom — and the world.


Hello Readers.

I knew about this series for a while but I avoided reading it. For years, I had people recommend them to me and I was hesitant because of the hype. Let's be honest about it. If a book or series is over hyped, I tend to steer clear of it because I am pretty sure that I will be greatly disappointed. Some of the most popular books out there have disappointed me so much that I will never read them again or did not finish them to begin with. I wasn't sure how this one would be because I was unsure as to how one could combine such very different components and actually succeed. There was so much room for failure here and I did not want to waste my time. Last month, I decided to go ahead and read the copy of Cinder that I had been given. I was pretty sure that I would be giving it away as soon as I read it. There was no way that I would actually like it and keep it.

Hahahahaha. Sorry. I am taking a moment to laugh at myself. I am not one that shies away from admitting that I am wrong when the occasion occurs. Not only did I plow through Cinder with insane speed but I ordered the rest of the books midway into the book. Before I knew it, I was fully enveloped in this series and had to know every detail. Beautifully written. The author combined the old fairy tales with sci-fi and steam punk so expertly that I am in awe. I cannot recommend this series enough.


InkedBookDragon


Books in the Series:

  • Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1) - 2012
  • Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2) - 2013
  • Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3) - 2014
  • Fairest (The Lunar Chronicles, #4) - 2015
  • Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #5) - 2015
Additional Books:
  • Stars Above (a collection of short stories) - 2016
  • The Lunar Chronicles Coloring Book - 2016
  • Wires and Nerve, Volume 1 (graphic novel) - 2017
  • Wires and Nerve: Gone Rogue,  Volume 2 (graphic novel) - 2018



Amazon


*Picture taken from:
http://bookclub.wikia.com/wiki/File:The_Lunar_Chronicles.png
**Blurb taken directly from http://lunarchronicles.universeofmarissameyer.com/books/


Sunday, July 1, 2018

Something In The Water by Catherine Steadman


Something In The Water by Catherine Steadman
Published by Ballatine Books
Published on June 5, 2018
Genre(s):Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller
Page Count: 352
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardback
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Book Description: If you could make one simple choice that would change your life forever, would you?

Erin is a documentary filmmaker on the brink of a professional breakthrough, Mark a handsome investment banker with big plans. Passionately in love, they embark on a dream honeymoon to the tropical island of Bora Bora, where they enjoy the sun, the sand, and each other. Then, while scuba diving in the crystal blue sea, they find something in the water. . . .

Could the life of your dreams be the stuff of nightmares?

Suddenly the newlyweds must make a dangerous choice: to speak out or to protect their secret. After all, if no one else knows, who would be hurt? Their decision will trigger a devastating chain of events. . . .

Have you ever wondered how long it takes to dig a grave?

Wonder no longer. Catherine Steadman’s enthralling voice shines throughout this spellbinding debut novel. With piercing insight and fascinating twists, Something in the Water challenges the reader to confront the hopes we desperately cling to, the ideals we’re tempted to abandon, and the perfect lies we tell ourselves.


Hello Again!

I am a fan of book clubs. I always have been. I enjoy being able to read a book and automatically having people to discuss it with. I had not heard of this book prior to seeing it on a post about Reese Witherspoon's Book Club. It looked promising and I agreed to "buddy read" it with a friend. Bonding over books is always great. 

The premise of this book caught my attention and I thought it would be a fun read. It started in such a way that I was not quite sure how it was going to proceed. In the very beginning, the author painted herself into a corner. I was intrigued about how she was going to write herself out of it so I continued. In some ways, I am glad that I did. It was interesting to see where the events were going to lead. With that said, too many of plot twists were predictable. Most of the characters were not likeable and greatly frustrating at times. I found myself wanting to shake the main character on more than one occasion. Large holes in story. One is not one hundred percent sure who is actually orchestrating what. 

I am rating this book Three Orange Books because it was a good debut novel. The potential was great but the finished story fell short. Too many loose ends left untied. Reader left wondering when it all truly began. Overall, it was a decent read. I am intrigued as to what the author may do for her next offering. I may recommend to some. 


InkedBookDragon







Friday, June 29, 2018

Author Spotlight: Becky Albertalli


AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: BECKY ALBERTALLI

"Becky Albertalli is the author of the acclaimed novels Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (film: Love, Simon), The Upside of Unrequited, and Leah on the Offbeat. She is also the co-author of What If It's Us with Adam Silvera. A former clinical psychologist who specialized in working with children and teens, Becky lives with her family in Atlanta."

Published Works:
Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda
The Upside of Unrequited
Leah on the Offbeat
What If It's Us (with Adam Silvera) Expected publication date: October 9, 2018



Becky Albertalli has completely taken my by surprise. I had heard the hype about Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and was hesitant to read it. Too much hype tends to push me away. I finally read it and was blown away. The hype was there for a reason. Truly likeable characters. Situations that people can relate to. Simon won me over but I feared that there was no way she could captivate me that way again. I was wrong. She keeps writing stories that pull the reader in. I have read and reread everything that she has offered and am patiently (not really) awaiting her next book. 


**Bio above is from her Amazon Page and is not my personal words.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

The Other Woman by Sandie Jones


The Other Woman by Sandie Jones
Published by Minotaur Books
Published on August 21, 2018
Genre(s): Suspense, Mystery/Thriller
Page Count: 304
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC Paperback
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Description: The most twisty, addictive and gripping debut thriller you'll read this year.

HE LOVES YOU: Adam adores Emily. Emily thinks Adam’s perfect, the man she thought she’d never meet.

BUT SHE LOVES YOU NOT: Lurking in the shadows is a rival, a woman who shares a deep bond with the man she loves.

AND SHE'LL STOP AT NOTHING: Emily chose Adam, but she didn’t choose his mother Pammie. There’s nothing a mother wouldn’t do for her son, and now Emily is about to find out just how far Pammie will go to get what she wants: Emily gone forever.

THE OTHER WOMAN will have you questioning her on every page, in Sandie Jones' chilling psychological thriller about a man, his new girlfriend, and the mother who will not let him go.


Hello Readers.

I was sent a copy of this book and was intrigued. The premise looked promising and I was optimistic. I have a special place in my heart for books if this nature. Who doesn't love a good mystery? I certainly do but I am often disappointed because I tend to figure them out early on. This one surprised me. That is not an easy thing to do. The characters were fantastic. Complex and intriguing. I found myself wanting to know more about them. 

I am rating this book Four Red Books because it was a wonderful read. There were some moments where I saw what was coming but was surprised overall. I would definitely read more by this author and highly recommend.


InkedBookDragon