Update

Next up for review will be The Eagle Tree by Ned Hayes and will be up on September 2nd.

Until Next Time...
-Fiction Book Reviewer

Review: Life First by R.J. Crayton

   Life First takes place one hundred years into a post apocalyptic nation. After the pandemics wiped out eighty percent of the world’s population, the new government made a law, Life First. If an individual needed an organ or blood, it was to be given to them. A married pregnant woman is held in the highest regard because she is the giver of life. Children are told through statistics when they should or shouldn’t sacrifice to save others. The citizens have to give blood every two years to maintain a steady blood supply as well as have their blood type logged into a data base if someone was ill or in need of a donation. Kelsey Reed, a woman in her early 20s is marked for a kidney extraction surgery for a man who is in need of one and she seems to be the only match. In the days leading up to the surgery, she stays with her Father, a lead gubernatorial candidate and sitting state senator. The night before the appointment, she makes an attempt to flee with the help of her boyfriend Luke and the man who witnessed her pregnant mother’s death, Dr. Grant. The attempt fails and Kelsey is sent to a holding facility until her trail. There it is revealed she is pregnant and wouldn’t have been able to have the surgery done if she had gone to the appointment. If she is found guilty, not only will her baby will be stripped from her and given to another family but she will also be sentenced to death through donation. Her uterus will be removed and she will be sent to a long term holding until she is matched with someone who is in need of any kind of vital organ. With the help of her father, Luke, Dr. Grand and her Uncle Albert, Kelsey hopes to avoid a guilty verdict.  If not, they will have to put their risky escape plan in motion.

   Life First is a different outlook on the future of a society after an apocalypse claims billions of lives. Rather than focus on the first year or so after the outbreak, RJ Crayton takes the story a century into the future. The prospect of the government taking on a law like Life First after the pandemic is very believable. The author did a fantastic job of making this novel as realistic as possible, that is, until the tail end. I try not to give parts of the ending away but this is a scene that I have to address. If you plan on reading Life First for yourself, stop reading this now. In the last handful of chapters, Kelsey and Luke make a daring escape from the short-term holding facility. They make their way to Kelsey’s apartment. There, Luke invited their small group of family and friends to witness a small wedding ceremony. Kelsey and Luke apparently had enough time to change into a Tux as well as a white dress. This scene seemed so unrealistic and the whole time I’m thinking, “Shouldn’t they be on the run to Peoria?” Good thing this was not the very ending to the book or else that would have ruined it for me. Overall Life First is well written and for the most part, very convincing that something like what happened to Kelsey could very well happen to any one of us.

Until Next Time…

~Fiction-Book-Reviewer  

Update #41

   Up next for a review is Life First by RJ Crayton.  This book is the first of the Dystopian series and contains 262 pages of content. This novel is about a young woman living in a world where the apocalypse happened over a century ago and eighty percent of the population had perished. A new law was formed, Life First. This law stated that if one person is in need of an organ, the match for that donation would have no choice but to give it. Now, whether it was a vital organ or not, that depended on if you were being held in a long term holding facility. Death by donation instead of death by lethal injection. Kelsey Reed gets word she is to donate one of her kidneys and she decides to run. The punishment for denying a donation? Being brought to a short-term unit where it'll be decided if she'll be placed in long-term or set free. The review will be up on Tumblr as well as Blogger on April 22nd.

Until Next Time...
   ~Fiction-Book-Reviewer

My Tumblr Blog: http://fiction-book-reviewer.tumblr.com/

Review: The Happening by Harvey Yoder

   The Happening retells the unbelievable tragedy that struck an Amish community on the morning of October 2^nd, 2006 and the overwhelming forgiveness from the victim’s families as well as the outpouring of love from around the world. That morning was just another ordinary, beautiful morning in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania as families were readying themselves for the day. The main character, Rebecca Sue is an embodiment of the group of young girls that had survived the Happening as well as changing the names used in the book is a way of preserving the privacy the Amish community wanted. That morning at 10:25 Mr. Roberts rode in a borrowed truck to the small white school house where class was in session. The children ranged from first grade to eighth, twenty-six in total. Mr. Roberts came into the school house with one thing on his mind, to get revenge on God for taking his daughter away from him. An hour later, eleven young girls where shot. Only five survived. Soon an out pour of love and support came rushing to the families of the victims. What was even more astonishing was the forgiveness of the Amish community. Mrs. Roberts and her children reached out to each of the victims’ families, visiting their homes, being greeted with open arms. This tragic event was handled with so much grace and understanding from the community. The people of Nickel Mines had forgiven Roberts but the absence of their loved ones cannot be replaced.

   The author of this novel, Harvey Yoder, did an amazing job of retelling not only of that fateful morning but the love and forgiveness in the aftermath. I’ve read books that share a version of terrible events and the authors would focus the majority of the story about every detail of what had happened. This was a different perspective and included different focal points that I enjoyed. Not only was the event described through a young girl’s eyes but shows an example of tremendous strength within a community. Their faith was unshakable though this time and in doing so, inspiring millions.

   Until Next Time…

~Fiction-Book-Reviewer

Update #40

For the next review I will be reading The Happening: Nickel Mines School Tragedy, written by Harvey Yoder. This book is based on a true even that struck the heart of the community in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. Mr. Yoder tells a story of an Amish school shooting on the morning of October 2nd, 2006. The review will be posted on the 25th of this month.

Until Next Time...

~Fiction-Book-Reviewer

Check out Books on Screen and New York Bestsellers on eCampus  Here!

Review: The Rexwood Murders novel by Barron Jones

The Rexwood Murders novel by Barron Jones is about a group of teenagers being thrown in the middle of fifteen year old vendetta that is finally making itself known. The first opening chapter takes the reader back to October 31^st, 1998 where this close knit community in southern Georgia is about to be put though a horrific tragedy.  A home in the neighborhood of Meadow-Way is hosting a Halloween party.  Inside there is a fight that breaks out between two men, Kirk Jones and Ronald Rosenberg.  A fire starts claiming the home after Kirk’s failed attempted at throwing his drink at Ronald. The home explodes not long after Ronald goes back into the home to try and rescue his family. Years later, this group of teenagers on Halloween night spend a terrifying night in the Rosenberg mansion, chased thorough hallways and discovered tucked away secrets. After some of the characters make it out alive and into their homes, the dark hooded figure’s presence didn’t diminish.  Through notes and text messages, the group is threatened of their secrets coming to light. The teenagers think they know exactly who is harassing them and who attacked them that Halloween night but when they drive by the Rosenberg Mansion, it’s littered with police. One body bag is being wheeled away. In the distance, the black hooded figure is watching. They were wrong.

The Rexwood Murders novel was different in terms of the writing style.  This example will be taken from the book itself;

“They are reaching a door and Austin starts to place his hand on the door knob.”

 In a usual fiction piece that sentence would be written like this, “They reach a door and Austin begins to place his hand on the handle.” I haven’t read a novel written like this before and I honestly didn’t enjoy this style. There were points where I would catch word or phrase repetition within the same two or three sentences. These two sentences are an example.

“…reach the lunchroom before the lines get full, the three finally reach the lunchroom. 

Entering the lunchroom…”

The plot is very good although towards the end it seemed to resemble a popular television series called Pretty Little Liars. This novel started off very strong and original until it was reaching its last couple chapters. I hope there is a slight change in the way this plot seems to be developing if there happens to be a sequel in the future.

  Until Next Time…

      ~Fiction-Book-Reviewer

Update #39

Goodmorning! I wanted to let you know that I am posting my book reviews, sidebar, and updates to my Blogger page as well as my Tumblr page. Please feel free to check it out!
http://fiction-book-reviewer.tumblr.com/

Until Next Time...

Update #38

Up next for review is The Rexwood Murders, written by Barron Jones. The review will be up the 26th of February.

Review: Thicker Than Water by E.L. Rummery

Thicker Than Water takes place in Sydney, Australia where the journey of a Templar, a Witch, and an old soul start to form.  Julien and Isolde first meet when Isolde jumps after a man who had just dived off of a bridge. Julien rushes to the underpass below and is shocked when he realizes he can only see the woman because witches, like him, can see through illusions. Isolde is able to heal the suicidal man as well as herself fairly quickly. Julian and Isolde became fast friends from that day on. Not long after, Isolde is on her way back to her apartment after handing out food to a group of homeless individuals in an alley in Blackwattle when she is attacked by demons. A Templar trained in killing witches and Demons, named Delilah, comes to her rescue. The three of them set out to find who are letting demons pass through from hell and soon come across a demon who possessed the body of someone Isolde use to know. After Delilah and Julien try to kill the demon, Isolde steps in, in hopes of healing him. Instead she somehow binds the demon to the body, making him human. Delilah lies to the demon, convincing him that he cannot harm Isolde without harming himself. They name the demon, Damon, who becomes part of their group and comes to be protective over Isolde.  Throughout the novel, the histories of Julien, Delilah and Isolde are revealed. It becomes clear the tragic secrets they hold from each other are far more intertwined than they could ever know.  

Thicker than Water is one of those books that keep you at the edge of your seat from beginning to jaw dropping end.  I’ve read many books that incorporated the classic supernatural; ghosts, witches, demons, nephilim and vampires. This book has a different twist in this regard by placing the demons to the forefront along with the witches as well as a whole new race, Templars. E.L. Rummery did a great job making the characters as well rounded and real as possible. The twists and turns throughout the novel left no holes and always leading to something bigger. I loved how the back story of Delilah and Julien came together to create an ending that leaves you dumbstruck. I look forward to reading the second installment of The Shadow Acts series. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a different twist on paranormal, mystery books and would like a fresh, dangerous world to step into.

Until Next Time…

~Fiction-Book-Reviewer

Update #37

Being a book reviewer does have its perks, I get to do what I love which is to read and share with you my thoughts on the piece. There are times between book reviews that I get to pick that one book that I’ve been eye balling for some time and I look forward to those “free time” periods. I’ve always loved having an actual book in my hands, something that i didn’t have to worry about the batteries dying before I would finish the chapter. I’ve been faithfully buying books from amazon because nine times out of ten they have the best prices. Sometimes Amazon falls short, especially for college students who needs a novel for that English class. Recently I came across a website that is my plan B. eCampus has everything from Textbooks to New Yourk Times Bestsellers and you can even sell them your used books if you’re wanting to make room on your shelf. 

Check them out: Bestsellers

I hope you all are having a fantastic week.

Until Next time…

Update #35

Happy Sunday:) Over the holidays I’ve been reading this novel, The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. I’m enjoying it so much that I’ve wanted to write a review on it even though it is a book I am just reading to pass the time in the afternoons. I have about fifteen chapters left and I will have the review up by next Friday. Hope you are having a wonderful start to 2016 thus far.

Until Next Time…

Review: Phantoms by Dean Koontz

Phantoms take place in a small off season ski resort village in Snowfield, California. On her way back to her home after picking up her newly orphaned sixteen younger sister, Jenny drives through the oddly deserted town. They arrive at Jenny’s home which doubles as her doctor’s office. In the
kitchen they find her secretary dead on the floor, spotted with bruises that seemed to have been inflicted all at one time. The death must’ve happened quick and caught the woman of guard since her eyes were open; her face frozen as if she died in the middle of a scream. Requesting the help from the military’s Biological Investigations Unit the following morning and having them flown in,
another gruesome discovery is made. One of the victims had written a name on a bathroom mirror, “Timothy Flyte”. In Phantoms, Flyte is famously known for his book, “The Ancient Enemy” in which he shares these mass disappearances and says that the cause of these events was done by an ancient predator.  Some of the mass disappearances he mentions are that of the Mayan population as well as the dinosaur extinction. As the story progresses, Timothy Flyte, Jenny, Lisa, the police and the biologists find that the cause is a creature who is able to mimic anything it consumes, growing in
mass as it does. It resembles a jellified, black mass which has been hibernating under the entire town until recently. It is never revealed how big exactly the mass is but it’s made clear it was big enough to fill caverns under the town as well as fill the entirety of under the town itself. The creature commands other parts of itself to detach in to phantom like creatures, into anything it has
consumed.  Their only hope of getting out of Snowfield alive is to put together a biological weapon to attack the creature’s nucleus, obliterating it’s’ existence.

Phantoms was a book I easily got lost in. There were two different stories going on which had me wondering how these two were going to meet. The main story is about what was going on in Snowfield. The side story was about a man who had killed his wife and son. The side story was a nice
break every now and then when the main story was just starting to drag. At the end of the book, the side story met the main portion seamlessly and found myself not wanting the story to end. The ending tied all the loose ends in a nice little bow and I was happy to not to be let down at the outcome. The creature’s outcome was at first a little lack luster but then again Koontz tried to make this story as realistic as possible. I was impressed when Koontz’s “a note to the reader” reveled that the mass disappearances motioned in the book (The Roanoke Island colony, the deserted Eskimo village of Anjikuni, the vanished Mayan populations, the loss of thousands of Spanish soldiers in 1711, etc.) were true events and that he had really researched the back stories of these events  for his book. One of the chemicals that were used in attempts to kill the phantom creature was called Biosan-4 which was a supposed more stable strain of the first patented microorganism which was to fragile to survive outside of the lab. Although Biosan-4 is fictional, the fragile version is in fact real and scientists have not found a way to make a hardier version like the characters used in this book. I would recommend this book to someone who likes facts integrated into fiction novels as well as a scientific twist on a suspense novel. There are some graphic as well as disturbing scenes. This is a book that is undoubtedly different from most.


Until Next Time…
  ~Fiction-Book-Reviewer

Update #31

I picked out Phantoms by Dean Koontz for the next review. The cover looks enticing (must be the #1 NYC Bestselling Author written in bold letters) and it looks to be suspenseful. Its not a very thick book so ill have a review up by January 5th or so.

Until Next Time...

Review: The Taker By Alma Katsu

The Taker: Book One of the Taker Trilogy

Written by Alma Katsu

        The Taker is based in two different times. It starts off in St. Andrew, Main in present time
were Dr. Luke Findley is treating a strange young woman who asks his help in escaping the
hospital. Despite the fact that she is a witness to a murder, he helps her in her journey to cross the
border into Canada. During their drive up along the snow covered roads, the young woman
Lanore McLivrae (or Lanny is what she is called on and off throughout the chapters), finds
herself compelled to share her story of how she came to be stumbling into the hospital with
blood and police stuck to her like white on rice. Lanny was born in St.Andrew in the early 1800s,
when main itself was still a small village and not entirely ventured into yet. She shares her tale of
her encounters with true love, the face of the devil himself, and countless passionate nights. It
takes multiple dark turns, starting with her immortality coming with a dangerous bond. What
once was her saving grace was now her fated damnation.

       The Taker is a fairly good read although it has a slow beginning up until they start delving into
Lanny’s past. I was surprised at how graphic the sex scenes are since it was mentioned no where
on the book that there was going to be. There’s a lot of them if you don’t mind some Game of
Thrones type intimate scenes, personally, I love them. I do feel the writer should have put more
adventure into the present portions of the book. I found myself just skimming the present day
portions just to get an idea of what was going on. There are many twists, turns and dark secrets
throughout the book that kept me on the edge of my seat up until the last page and I ended up
buying the next book in the series, The Reckoning. I would recommend this series who are
interested in history based fiction and don’t mind some detailed kinky sex scenes. There are a
few abusive/molesting scenes that don’t go to far into detail but just be prepared!

         Until Next Time…
              ~Fiction-Book-Reviewer

Update #30

Ive been extremely busy with family/life issues but I’m back finally and ill be doing my reviews as well as getting my other little business up off the ground within the few up coming weeks. Any ideas you might come up with that might help me with anything on the entrepreneurial topic like more product ideas or opinions of any kind, please click the “ask me anything” link above or comment on this post. In two weeks ill have the next review up!

Until Next Time…

Update #27

My next review will be on The Taker by Alma Katsu. The book is fifty chapters long (422 pages) and is organized in four parts. I did buy the novel on the nook so it was a bit more affordable compared to other prices in regular book stores, about $8 is how much I paid.


Until Next Time…

Update #26

Right now I’m looking at either reading The Taker by Alma Katsu or Fated written by Alyson Noël

Until Next Time…

Update #24

Since I didn’t have time to write the review today, I will have to post it before Ten o'clock tomorrow night. Thank you for your patience!
Until Next Time…

Update #19

Good morning(:
I just started a job and they are having me work 20 hrs a week and I some how have to balance college as well. Anyway, right now I a on chapter six out of tweet seven in Daughters of the Moon:Goddess of the Night. I am slowly getting really into this book and wanting to read more and more. I wanted to ask anyone who has read Fifty Shades of Grey, what they think of it? It is probably a little to racy to do a book review on and then post it on tumblr. Most likely I’ll read it in my leisure time. I’ll check in again next Saturday.
Until Next Time…

Update #10

Already thinking about what book to read next……“City of Bones” by Cassandra Clare or “Witch” by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie? I’ll make a decision by next Sunday.

Until Next Time….