When Josie Comes Home - Book Review

When Josie Comes Home (The New West)
by A.E. Stanton
ebook

What is it about:
The future’s a wonderful place to be if you were considered worthy -- until a huge solar flare slagged the world computers. Now, over two hundred years later, the unworthies are all that’s left of humanity, and they’ve reverted back to the old, old ways.

Josie escapes from the forced sexual slavery of Horsetown, vowing to return with help to save her sisters. Ten years later, she’s not home -- but her youngest sister, Sadie, insists Josie will return, with her Hero along to help save the day.

(Gini Koch writing as A.E. Stanton)

What did I think about it:
I really liked the setting and world building in this story. Stanton creates a grim and nasty future that's very recognisable because of all the similarities with the Old West.

The story itself is a bit predictable in my opinion, but well written. I did have some problems with the characters though. I couldn't connect with them and this made that I didn't feel really involved with the story.

I think I will give the next story in this series a chance though, because this setting sure has many possibilities that I hope Stanton will explore.

Why should you read it:
It's well written and has a really cool setting.


Buy from Musa Publishing

The Myth Of Mr. Mom - Book Review

The Myth of Mr. Mom
by Jeremy Rodden, Sonny Lemmons, Christian Jensen, Shawn Scarber, Toby Tate, Leo Dee, Charlie Andrews and Gerhi Feuren

What is it about:
The Myth of Mr. Mom is a collaborative non-fiction essay anthology written by stay-at-home dads that shares the personal stories of eight men from around the world.

The goal of the book is to help bring awareness to the fact that men are just as capable as women of being the primary caregiver, homemaker, and stay-at-home parent. We feel that there is a societal bias against stay-at-home dads that does not exist for stay-at-home mothers and seek to bring our stories to the public.

Filled with humorous anecdotes and eye-opening personal experiences, The Myth of Mr. Mom is simultaneously inspiring and entertaining.

What did I think of it:
This is not a book I would normally read, but because I really enjoyed Jeremy Rodden's Toonopolis: Gemini I decided to give this collection of essays a try.

And yet again I was reminded how rewarding it can be to step outside of your reading comfort zone once in a while.

This is a fun and interesting book to read. Being an open minded person myself when it comes to gender roles and such, I never would have thought there were so many prejudices against stay-at-home dads. The humorous way in which the authors in this anthology write about the prejudices and difficulties they encounter, show that they don't let themselves be taken down though. I think this book would be a great help to all those stay-at-home dads who suffer from the same kind of prejudice if only so they know they're not alone.

Other readers will certainly enjoy this anthology as well. It has many funny anecdotes and it will get you thinking about your own look at life and what hidden prejudices you might have.

As for the writing:
I enjoyed the writing of all the authors in this anthology. Because these are essays it's not a clear indication of their overall writing, but I'm going to investigate what other things these authors have written and see if there's anything that fits my reading tastes.

Why should you read it:
It's an interesting and fun collection of essays about stay-at-home dads


Buy from Amazon

Release Day: Daybreak And Alien Proliferation

Today is the release day of two fabulous books!
If you haven't pre-ordered them yet, go read my reviews and then run to the store to get your hands on them!

Daybreak (Dark Age Dawning #3)
by Ellen Connor

What is it about:
It's been twelve years since the Change, and Penelope Sheehan is one of the few still practicing magic for the good of humanity in this dark, dangerous world. But she needs the help of a shapeshifter named Tru, whom she knew when he was a troubled boy. But Tru is a creature of instinct and impulse, living only to satisfy his senses- ignoring the scarred heart nobody has ever reached. Fighting alongside the last holdouts of humanity, they will unleash a passion that tempts them to risk everything for love. But if they succeed, Tru and Pen hold the power to brighten the Dark Age for all time.

Read my review here




Alien Proliferation (Katherine "Kitty" Katt #4)
by Gini Koch

What is it about:
Alien Super-Being Exterminator Kitty Katt is expecting her first baby. But the alien attacks are getting more dangerous, and now Kitty and her Alpha Centaurion husband, Jeff, have to find out who's behind the conspiracy to kill Kitty's secret agent mom and what caused Kitty's transformation into a superhuman-and they've got to do it all before the baby shower...

Read my review here!

Play Dead - Book Review

Play Dead by Ryan Brown

What is it about:
For the first time in Killington High School history, the Jackrabbits football team is one win away from the district championship where it will face its most vicious rival, the Elmwood Heights Badgers. On the way to the game, the Jackrabbits’s bus plunges into a river, killing every player except for bad-boy quarterback Cole Logan who is certain the crash was no accident—given that Cole himself was severely injured in a brutal attack by three ski-masked men earlier that day. Bent on payback, Cole turns to a mysterious fan skilled in black magic to resurrect his teammates. But unless the undead Jackrabbits defeat their murderous rival on the field, the team is destined for hell. In a desperate race against time, with only his coach’s clever daughter, Savannah Hickman, to assist him, Cole must lead his zombie team to victory. . . in a final showdown where the stakes aren’t just life or death—but damnation or salvation.

What did I think of it:
This book might have zombies,but it's more of a horror-thriller than a zombie book.

Not that I hold that against it:
This is a really cool read.

The writing is very good and the way the story builds up in tension is really well done. Even though I knew what would happen, because the blurb gives a lot of the story away, I couldn't put this book down and had to keep reading. Brown does a really good job at luring the reader into the story. And there still are a couple of really cool zombie mayhem scenes to please any zombie fan.

The characters were also very well written and if I had to name one negative thing it's that there were a few minor characters that I wished had played a bigger part in the story.

Otherwise this is a captivating tale and I will keep my eyes out for other books by Brown.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool horror-thriller with zombies.

Heart of Steel - Book Review

Heart of Steel (Iron Seas #2)
by Meljean Brook

What is it about:
Growing up in the dangerous world of the Iron Seas, the mercenary captain of the airship Lady Corsair, Yasmeen, has learned to keep her heart hard as steel. Ruthless and cunning, her only loyalty is to her ship and her crew-until one man comes along and changes everything...Treasurehunter Archimedes Fox isn't interested in the Lady Corsair-just the captain and the valuable da Vinci sketch she stole from him. When it attracts a dangerous amount of attention, Yasmeen and Archimedes journey to Horde-occupied Morocco- and straight into enemy hands.

What did I think of it:
I'm in two minds about this book.

The story and setting are really cool. There's zombies, creepy assassins, airships, you name it. I loved reading about the grim world Brook created and I loved the action and adventure.

Yasmeen and Archimedes however....

I don't think they made a believable romantic couple. It might be just me, but I couldn't feel the connection between them. Don't get me wrong: Both characters are very cool and interesting and I really wanted them to succeed and to find happiness, just not with each other.

This mismatched romance kept me from losing myself completely in the story and while I was totally engrossed in the story when reading The Iron Duke and Here There Be Monsters, here I kept feeling a distance.

I will certainly continue reading this series, because The Iron Seas world is the coolest and darkest Steampunk setting I've come across, but Heart of Steel is my least favorite addition to this series so far. (Although the zombies did make up for the botched romance I will say ;-)

Why should you read it:
It's a cool Steampunk adventure.

Rocky Mountain Heat - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Rocky Mountain Heat (Six Pack Ranch #1)
by Vivian Arend
ebook

What is it about:
Blake Coleman is old enough to know that acting on impulse causes nothing but a heap of trouble. But when trouble’s a blonde wearing a cowboy hat and with slim legs that go on forever, what’s a man to do? Wanting the sweet girl next door is just wrong. Hell, he was the one that taught her to ride a horse and now all he can think about is riding her. The responsible thing to do is keep his hands off.

Jaxi has other plans for his hands, and his heart. She may have considered Blake a big brother once but that was a long time ago. She’s all grown up now and ready to convince him that she’s just what he’s been waiting for.

Add the complication of two sexy younger brothers who have suddenly noticed Jaxi and things heat up fast. Blake’s gonna have to decide if a little trouble is worth fighting for.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
I'm usually not much for contemporary romance, but because I absolutely adore Arend's paranormal 'Wolfie' books I wanted to give this story a try.

And it's one hot and sexy read!

Arend knows just how to write a contemporary romance that keeps me interested and that's by sticking to the romance and making it hot, steamy and intense.

There were times I was totally frustrated and even times that things seemed to steer into menage territory, but Arend succeeded to keep the romance within the boundaries that I can handle without getting too upset.

All in all this is a wonderful and sexy romance and I'm very tempted to read more books in series even though I got a feeling some of the Coleman brothers might venture a bit too far into menage territory.

Why should you read it:
It's a hot cowboy romance.


Buy it here

RAK wrap up.

December is here, so time to say goodbye to November and say hello to a new RAK month.

In November I send out a couple of books, but didn't receive a RAK myself. I did receive some awesome books I won in giveaways though, so I'm a happy piggy.

I'm still very much enjoying the RAK thing, so I'm joining again for December


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RAK:

The RAK movement (=Random Acts of Kindness): it is an initiative organized by the Ladies at the Book Soulmates where everyone posts their whislists and then other people realize one (or more) wishes of a person. Meaning that they send some books to the lucky person they picked! Doesn't it sound fabulous?

Rules:

• Sign up each month you'd like to participate in.

• Show off your participation! Grab one of the buttons available :)

• Create a wish list and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
{Post on your blog, Amazon, where ever as long as there's a link to it.}

• If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.

• At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K!

• Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE!

Let's keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.

Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!