Optimists Die First by Susin Nielsen

Petula De Wilde went from a girl who enjoyed life to a girl who is scared of everything after tragedy struck her family. In her mind something bad could happen at any time. She has withdrawn from her friends and no longer enjoys what she use to. Because of her grief she must attend art therapy class with others that she does not connect to. That is until Jacob arrives on the scene, and he just may be able to help Petula overcome some of her fears and enjoy life again.

I don't think this book lived up to what I had in my mind, but it was still an enjoyable book. I did like seeing into Petula's mind even though her anxiousness touched a place in my own. So if you are in a place where your anxiety and fears come easily you may not want to read this at this time. Even though I did feel where Petula was coming from I was able to enjoy the book without my own anxiety plaguing me. I do think this story was a good one for showing the fears that some people have. I still do not believe it would convince those who refuse to believe anxiety is real, but I thought it was a good portrayal of someone who has faced tragedy and the aftereffects. This book also touched on alcoholism and other methods of dealing with tragedy. I liked all the characters that were presented in the art therapy class and their contributions to Petula's story.

I rated this 3/5 stars.

I received this free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sherlock Holmes and the Eisendorf Enigma by Larry Millett

Sherlock Holmes at 66 years old is depressed and diagnosed with emphysema. Sherlock goes to America to be diagnosed, and before he leaves he receives a note from the Monster of Munich, the killer that Sherlock tried to catch in 1892 in Munich. He follows the Monster to Eisendorf, a strange, gothic town that is slowly dying. It is here that the Monster toys with Sherlock, and Sherlock doubts himself in his age and health.

I hate to say it, but I did not really like Sherlock in this story. I did not connect with him at all and didn't care what happened to him. I felt even more disconnected towards the end of the book when Watson becomes the narrator. I struggled in finishing the book but pushed myself to the end just to be revealed the Monster. I remember thinking that I wanted to stop reading within 10% of the book. I was not pulled into the story and felt disconnected from all of the characters. I just kept wishing for it all to be over.

I rated this 2/5 stars.

I received this free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Swiss Vendetta by Tracee de Hahn

Agnes Luthi has just transferred over from Financial Crimes to the Violent Crimes unit and is now on her first case. A body has been found lying by a bench and is getting covered by ice from the blizzard of the century raging over the landscape. Agnes is now stuck at a chateau where the murder took place because the ice and snow has made the roads impassable and there is no phone or electricity. She is finding it difficult to get the answers she needs from those in the chateau. Agnes worries for her own safety as she begins to wonder if the crime will ever be solved.

This was a good story about a Swiss-American detective who is stranded at a chateau with the killer. The fact that it took place in Switzerland and that she was stuck with the killer made me want to read this. I found the story to be slow for most of the book. The majority of the book is Agnes and her team trying to find clues to help solve the case with little action. The last 10% of the book is where all of the action took place. It was an enjoyable plot, but I was really in the mood for a more intense story. If you decide to read this book keep in mind it is a slower paced mystery but still a decent one.

I rated this 3/5 stars.

I received this from Netgalley free in exchange for an honest review.

Argyle Fox by Marie Letourneau

 

    Argyle Fox wants to play outside on a spring day, but the wind keeps interfering with his plans. He tries to use his imagination several times as he plays throughout the day just to have his toys blown away by gusts of wind. Finally, Argyle Fox gives up. He tells his mom he'll never play in the wind again, but Mother Fox tells him to keep thinking and he will come up with something that would be perfect for the windy day. Argyle Fox takes his mother's advice and begins to think and use his imagination to come up with fun for a windy day.

     I absolutely loved this book! First, the artwork is fabulous! It's perfectly whimsical and fun! The story is very well written and is wonderful about showing young children all about using imagination. Also, towards the end the book presents not only imagination but determination. Between the art and the lessons behind the story, it has made me decide I will purchase this book in physical form for my children when it comes out on March 14, 2017.

     I rated this 5/5 stars and highly recommend it.

     I received this free from Netgalley for an honest review.

Traveler by L.E. DeLano

     Jessa is a writer, and all her material comes from what she dreams at night. Or at least that's what she thinks until one day Finn, who plays a role in her every dream, shows up one day and asks Jessa to have coffee with him. He explains to her that they are both Travelers who can go through any surface they can see themselves in to alternate realities, and this seems like an amazing talent until Jessa is told that her other selves are dying one by one in each reality. Finn is here to make sure that this Jessa stays alive.

     Can I just say that I fell in love with this book?! I haven't had a book hangover like this one in a long time. I was mesmerized by every alternate reality that surfaced, wanting even more details and time in each than was allotted in the plot. The realities ranged from fluffy goodness to dystopian extremes, all pulling the reader in to its own place. I loved reading about all the different Jessas and their own stories. And of course, falling in love with Finn all the way. This book not only offers romance but adventure and a feeling of desperation for it all to work out. Traveler left me wanting more, and I cannot wait to lay my hands on book two.

     I rated this 5/5 and highly recommend.

     I received this free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gilded Cage by Vic James

     I received this free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

     In Gilded Cage, the Equals, who are aristocrats with magical powers called Skill, rule the world. Commoners that do not have money or Skill must enter a time period called Slavedays. This period of time is 10 years in length and is a time where each person loses their identity to become chattel. Abi is the eldest in the Hadley family and has arranged for her family to spend their Slavedays at an estate rather than a Slavetown, but something goes wrong and her younger brother, Luke, is sent to Millmoor, a Slavetown where he is met with violence. Abi and Luke are trying to change the world right where they are, but things don't always go the way it is planned.

     I was so glad to read this book and actually enjoy it after reading a flop. Abi was a character that wasn't surprising but yet one that was enjoyable. She is a strong and self-possessed until she meets a man that stirs her heart. Luke was written very realistically for a teenage boy except for when he is walking around the Slavetown thinking things are sweet or cute. Besides those few moments, Luke presents himself as a strong and independent thinker that is able to fight for what he believes. The Equals are even likable and if not completely approved are still entertaining to read about.

     The book does not end with a bow on top so a second book will be on the way. I cannot wait to read the next book to see what happens to all the characters even those I'm not sure about.

     I rated this 4/5 stars and recommend it.

The Girl Before by JP Delaney

     I received this free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

     The Girl Before is about 2 women that have lived through tragedy and move into a highly advanced technological house. Emma is the first to move in to this strange house after answering very interesting questions on the application. The first question is, "Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life." And the questions seem to become stranger still.

     Jane moves into the house after Emma is no longer there. She is fleeing her own personal tragedy, but soon after moving in she finds out that the previous tenant who had an uncanny likeness to Jane died in the house. Jane finds herself racing to find out how the other girl died. Then, she begins to experience the same things as the other girl.

     I can truly say this book was devoured. I loved the pacing as well as the mystery. Yes, I did suspect who the bad guy was, but I still enjoyed the whole journey to the end. A realistic mystery thriller is usually such a good choice for me, and I am so glad to have the opportunity to read this delectable morsel of a thriller.

     I rated this 5/5 stars and highly recommend it.

Bizenghast: Volume 1 by M. Alice LeGrow

I received this free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A young girl moves to a town called Bizenghast, and she is haunted by visions and fits while she is there. She and her friend stumble upon a cemetery where they find lost souls that they must help set free.

This is a manga that I truly enjoyed reading. I was so upset when it ended since I only received Volume 1. I need more!

There is a gothic feel to the whole setting and the artwork is done in perfection with that theme. Now, in honesty, there are some places where I was not sure what I was seeing in the image because it is a little dark, but I still enjoyed the story and plan to read the rest to find out how they help the lost souls become free.

I rated this 4/5 stars and recommend it.

The Swap by Nancy Boyarsky

     I received this free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

     Nicole and her husband have arranged a house swap with a couple in London. Nicole hopes that time away from LA and time together in London will help their rocky marriage.  Once they get to the house in London things go awry. The couple that they swapped with never arrive at Nicole and her husband's condo in LA, and she cannot even reach them by phone. She begins to notice people following her which progresses to threats made against her. Nicole thinks that her husband will believe her when she tells him of these threats but he does not and neither do the police. Nicole is in a lot of trouble, and she will have to face it alone.

     I truly struggled through this story. I kept pushing myself not to discontinue reading.

     First, I really dislike Nicole. She is the main character, and it is hard for me to read a story about someone I don't like and hope that they will be ok. I would catch myself saying quite often, "She is so stupid!" I was so frustrated with the foolish decisions that Nicole made through the whole story.

     And as if Nicole's decisions weren't enough, I had to come face to face with every cliche that could be written in a thriller/mystery. It's no fun to know what's going on the whole time you are reading a story that you are supposed to be guessing at. I need some mystery, please!

     And to top off the whole thing, the romance in the story was distasteful and unrealistic. I won't go in to too much detail because I don't want to spoil anything.

     Overall, this was just a very disappointing read that I had been excited about. It all fell flat.

     I rated this 2/5 stars.

The Complete Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol, Leah Moore, John Reppion, Erica Awano

     I received this free from NetGalley for an honest review.

     I am so torn about this review. I love the stories of Alice, and this book sticks to those stories. Where I am torn is the artwork. I like the artwork but I do not, as well. The artwork is beautifully done. The artist does a fantastic job of capturing detail and is quite skilled. I think we each have an opinion or idea of classics and how they look in our heads. I do think that this art would appeal to so many, but for me it just does not match what I think Alice and her adventures should look like. The artwork presented is very much formal and grandiose. I would like to see it more whimsical and fantastic.

     All in all, this is a beautiful rendition of a classic story, and I do not discourage others to give it a try. Just because it is not how I think it should be does not mean that it would not appeal to others.

     I gave this 3/5 stars.

Sawbones by Melissa Lenhardt

     I received this free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

     Dr. Catherine Bennett has worked hard to earn her title, and all is left in shambles when she is accused of a murder she did not commit. Suddenly she must gather her belongings and her maid and head to the unknown, untamed West. Her adventure offers horrific violence, lost, fear, and romance. Was the move worth it or not? She may just lose her life anyway.

     I truly enjoyed this adventure. You can't help but fully support Catherine as a woman doctor that was such a rare occurrence. The opposition that she saw for her choice of career keeping true to the time. As she runs for her life she meets the unknowns of a life in an untamed land with horrors of massacres and raids. It was awful to read of the violence, but it is not the first time I have read these things as they were based on reality. It was still awful to read as the reader feels so connected with the characters in the book. There were so many things that Dr. Bennett came up against in the book, and I was cheering for her the whole way. She does find a passionate romance in the middle of so much trouble, and it is an enjoyable romance to read about.

     There will be a second book, apparently, since there was a sneak peek at the end. I read that sneak peek, and I cannot wait until August 2016 to read this continuation of Catherine's story.

     I rated this 4/5 stars and recommend it.

Sugarland by Martha Conway

     This may seem a little familiar, but since I am participating in a blog tour to promote Sugarland I am posting again. This is a book that I do not mind posting about in duplicates. I enjoy books that take place in the wondrous Jazz Age. I find myself taken in by the music clubs and the bold girls. This book is no exception. Martha Conway gave us a world full of genuine atmospheres of the age and time. I think she did an excellent job of giving us a peek into the world of racism at this time in history. She serves all of this with a side of murder and mystery. 

      I received this for free for an honest review from Netgalley.

     Eve Riser, a jazz pianist on the circuit, is present when a man is accidentally killed.  In conspiracy with the man she was with, Eve is sent to Chicago with money and a letter to help cover up the crime. She joins up with her pregnant stepsister, Chickie, who later disappears. There is another murder that Eve witnesses, and Eve is injured in the crossfire. Eve, along with the latter murdered man's sister, Lena, set out not only to find Chickie, but to find who murdered Lena's brother. 

     This book draws the reader into a world of 1920's jazz, Prohibition, and racial tension. I did enjoy the book and its peeks of life in the 1920's for a person of color. I liked seeing behind the scenes of the clubs and glimpses of how the police cast a blind eye to alcohol to imbibe themselves. It was interesting to once again witness the racial tension of that time in novel form. I feel that the author wrote genuinely the glares and words that would have been directed at the opposite ethnicity.

     Where I found a lacking in this book lies with the mystery/mysteries. There wasn't an intense mystery and was obvious in its ending. I usually don't mind figuring out a mystery before the ending of a story, but I do not enjoy the answers to the mystery served to me on a silver platter. I want the author to give me hints and clues along the way and give me a chance to put it all together. I found with Sugarland I was given the answer instead of the clues.

     I still enjoyed this book for the setting and the characters if not for the mystery.

     I rated this 3/5 stars.

MARTHA CONWAY BIO BLURB

Martha Conway is the author of Sugarland: A Jazz Age Mystery [Noontime Books], available via Amazon as of May 12, 2016. Conway’s first novel was nominated for an Edgar Award, and her second novel, Thieving Forest, won the 2014 North American Book Award for Best Historical Fiction. Her short fiction has been published in The Iowa Review, The Carolina Quarterly Review, The Quarterly, The Massachusetts Review, Folio, and other journals. She teaches creative writing for Stanford University’s Continuing Studies Program and UC Berkeley Extension, and is a recipient of a California Arts Council Fellowship for Creative Writing. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she is one of seven sisters. She currently lives in San Francisco.

Connect with Martha on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and her website: www.marthaconway.com

Please check out all the stops on this blog tour.

Monday 5/9: TRUE BOOK ADDICT (http://www.truebookaddict.com/) 

Tuesday 5/10: WAG THE FOX: GEF FOX’S DEN FOR DARK FICTION (http://waggingthefox.blogspot.com/) 

Wednesday 5/11: 100 PAGES A DAY… STEPHANIE’S BOOK REVIEWS (http://stephaniesbookreviews.weebly.com/)  

Thursday 5/12: WORTH GETTING IN BED FOR (https://worthgettinginbedfor.wordpress.com/) 

Friday 5/13: MYSTERY FANFARE (http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/) 

Saturday 5/14: READING WITH WRIN (http://readingwithwrin.blogspot.com/) 

Sunday 5/15: GINGER ST. GEORGE (https://gingerstgeorge.wordpress.com/) 

Monday 5/16: BETH’S BOOK NOOK BLOG (https://drbethnolan.wordpress.com/) 

Tuesday 5/17: LOOKING FOR A GOOD BOOK (https://lookingforagoodbook.com/) 

Wednesday 5/18: JAY WHALES BLOG (http://authorjaywhales.wix.com/mid-western-stories#!blog/zoom/mainPage/) 

Thursday 5/19: I’M HOOKED ON BOOKS (https://imhookedonbooks.wordpress.com/) 

Friday 5/20: TONSANT WEADER REVIEWS (https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/) 

Monday 5/23: A WORLD UNDERNEATH (http://aworldunderneath.blogspot.com) You've made it here. :)

Tuesday 5/24: LITERARY MARIE (http://www.literarymarie.com/) 

Crimson & Cream by C.M. Skiera

     I received this free from LibraryThing for an honest review.

     Jetsam is a 13 year old orphan that loses his twin brother to a troll attack. He is then wrongfully accused of murder and that sends him on the run to escape punishment. His adventures lead him to run from a bounty hunter and straight into the arms of a not so innocent gang of a knight, wizard, and squire. After joining this unlikely crew, he begins to learn magic, has his mind controlled, meets a talking dragon, fights goblins, and meets a powerful wizard on the run.

     I really enjoyed this lighter fantasy read geared towards a younger audience. It is not bogged down with so much world building but instead focuses more on the adventures that Jetsam experiences. I enjoyed the fights that occurred with the trolls, goblins, and dragons. I feel that this book is a perfect fantasy for those not familiar with this genre or for those who already enjoy fantasy and want an easy read. I think the author did a great job of giving the reader a fantastical story that leaves room for more adventures to come in a later book.  I definitely want to read more.

     I rated this 4/5 stars and recommend it.

Paper Girls Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan

     I received this free from NetGalley for an honest review.

     In 1988, four 12 year old papergirls get caught in a very old generational conflict leading them to fight for their lives. This story includes flying dinosaurs, weird teenagers, spaceships, and futuristic laser guns.

     I really enjoyed this story line. I think that Mr. Vaughan did an excellent job creating a plot that stands alone without needing artwork. The artwork is just an incredible bonus to the story. I loved watching the girls fight for themselves against unknowns. They had to decide who is good and who is bad. We are left with a great cliff-hanger, and I can't wait to read the next volume.

     I rated this 4/5 stars and recommend it.

I Hate Fairyland Volume 1: Madly Ever After by Skottie Young

     I received this free from NetGalley for an honest review.

     A little girl named Gertrude wishes her way to Fairyland and gets stuck there for 27 years as she looks for the key to the door that will lead her home. As she ages closer to 40 years old, she hates Fairyland even more as she battles every person she meets. Gertrude hates Fairyland and Fairyland hates Gertrude.

     I completely enjoyed the artwork in this graphic novel. Beautiful landscapes, creatures, and colors were used to tell the story of Gertrude who just couldn't find the key. I have to say that the story is a little crude in nature and there is quite a bit of bloodshed (definitely not a story for young ones), but the graphics drew me in. I thought the creators were very clever with how they portrayed the different features in the book---mountains looked like old men, the wounded moon became a crescent, and so many more creative pictures. The story line was only enjoyable when paired with the hilarious and entertaining artwork.

     I rated this 3/5 stars.

The Mysterious Case of the Mysterious Case by John Press

     I received this from PublishNation for free for an honest review.

     Susan Queen rolls her wheelchair up to Homes the iPad using genius dog and declares him hers. This is the start of some fun and dangerous adventures. They join forces with Susan's best friends, Di and Robbie, as well as some "talking" pigeons and a kleptomaniac cat. All of them come together to solve the hideous crime against animals that is occurring in their town. Someone is torturing and killing animals while filming it and distributing DVDs of the crimes. These sleuths use some unorthodox methods to try to catch the guilty leading the reader on a hilarious journey.

     This is a good book for younger readers. A cute mystery with "talking" animals with high intelligence. The humor in the book was absolutely fabulous! I found myself laughing out loud quite frequently. I would recommend this book to a younger audience to thoroughly enjoy it. It's definitely worth a quick read.

     I rated this 3/5 stars.

Smoke by Dan Vyleta

     I was sent this for an honest review.

     This book takes place in England about a century ago. In this world, people who do or think wrong smoke from their bodies to show the wrong. The gentle class does not smoke, but the lower class is covered in black soot from the Smoke. London is a grimy, sooty place of wickedness and sin, and the upper class come into the city to indulge in the Smoke by volunteering in the city to help those less fortunate.

     Thomas and Charlie are two young boys that attend an elite boarding school and are led on a journey of their own into London. Here they search for the original source of the Smoke, witness tension between those who embrace the Smoke and those set against it, and find their own way in a Smoke filled world.

     I enjoyed this fantasy story of an alternate England. I believe Mr. Vyleta did an excellent job of creating the Smoke and its history. I found myself at a tug-of-war within quite often throughout the book. What is right? What is wrong? The different points of view given gave a richness to the story line and added depth to this alternate world. This was a fantastical adventure of right vs wrong.

     I rated this 4/5 stars and recommend it.

Sugarland by Martha Conway

     I received this for free for an honest review from Netgalley.

     Eve Riser, a jazz pianist on the circuit, is present when a man is accidentally killed.  In conspiracy with the man she was with, Eve is sent to Chicago with money and a letter to help cover up the crime. She joins up with her pregnant stepsister, Chickie, who later disappears. There is another murder that Eve witnesses, and Eve is injured in the crossfire. Eve, along with the latter murdered man's sister, Lena, set out not only to find Chickie, but to find who murdered Lena's brother.

     This book draws the reader into a world of 1920's jazz, Prohibition, and racial tension. I did enjoy the book and its peeks of life in the 1920's for a person of color. I liked seeing behind the scenes of the clubs and glimpses of how the police cast a blind eye to alcohol to imbibe themselves. It was interesting to once again witness the racial tension of that time in novel form. I feel that the author wrote genuinely the glares and words that would have been directed at the opposite ethnicity.

     Where I found a lacking in this book lies with the mystery/mysteries. There wasn't an intense mystery and was obvious in its ending. I usually don't mind figuring out a mystery before the ending of a story, but I do not enjoy the answers to the mystery served to me on a silver platter. I want the author to give me hints and clues along the way and give me a chance to put it all together. I found with Sugarland I was given the answer instead of the clues.

     I still enjoyed this book for the setting and the characters if not for the mystery.

     I rated this 3/5 stars.

Fade Out, smile by Casey Renee Kiser

     I was given this for free from LibraryThing for an honest review.
   
     This is a collection of darker themed poetry that I enjoyed except for the cuss words that seemed to stop the poetic feel. Cuss words are just not poetic to me, and when I read them in the poetry I felt like I had hit a brick wall. The cuss words just stopped the flow of the poetry. I know that poetry reflects life and life is not always pretty, but the cuss words robbed from the poems, making them feel stunted. I did enjoy the actual poetry because it did reflect the darker, realistic side of life.

     I rated this 3/5 stars.

Faith Volume 1: Hollywood and Vine by Jody Houser/Francis Portella/Marguerite Sauvage

     I received this free from Netgalley for an honest review.

     I liked this book for the fact that the heroine is overweight but she can still be the superhero. Yeah! Superheroes can be any size or shape! I enjoyed the art style and the plot that was revealed. If you are looking for a lot of action this may not be your thing. There was a minimal amount of action which was completely fine with me. I enjoyed seeing "Summer's" day job and her normal life. I was confused about a few things, but I'm sure that these things would have been explained later on in this series. I do think that I would like to continue on with this series because I want to know more about Summer/Zephyr's past and what is trying to be solved in this volume.

     I rated this 3/5 stars.