"Chameleon Soul Mate"

I discovered this book on the website "BookBub", check it out if you don't know what that is. I downloaded a copy of "Chameleon Soul Mate", by Evelyn Lederman, and basically from the first page could tell why it was being offered for free. The story is about an alternate universe that is a lot like ours except the people there have telepathic abilities. The main girl accidentally crosses to this universe from earth and finds out that he parents are from the first person she runs in to is her soul mate.

This book is definitely not one that I would recommend. The text is very repetitive, the details are weak, and the storyline is confusing. There is quite a bit of sex involved and the author puts the words 'soul mate' in almost every single sentence. It's ridiculous. I didn't get very far into "Chameleon Soul Mate" before I actually laughed out loud at how ludicrous it was, and I didn't read any further. Definitely 1 out of 5 stars. I only put this book on here to give you a heads up incase you are a fellow BookBub user and you've downloaded this book. If you have, I would promptly delete it. :)

"The First Ones"

I received a copy of "The First Ones" from the author, Ageless. I love stories about vampires, especially love stories, so I was excited to read this one. This story is set in a world where humans actually know about vampires and take precautions to protect themselves. The vampires were sent to earth to be a punishment to mankind, and they won't be taken away until humans can prove themselves. 'The First Ones' are the first vampires that were created and they have special abilities and are more powerful than the other vampires. The main character, Thereticus, meets a human who instantly mesmerizes him and ultimately steals his heart. She is special and could change the future for both humans and vampires.

I definitely give the author points for imagination on this one. The story itself is very creative, but the way it is written takes away from the story line. There is a lot of repetitiveness throughout the book, and some discrepancies with the story. Some of the details don't match up from one page to the next and there are some spelling and grammatical errors. Which is distracting for the reader, and like I said, takes away from the story line. I definitely think that this author has a lot of potential, but I wouldn't recommend reading this one. I would wait for some of her future works when she has had a chance to work out some of the kinks. 2 out of 5 stars. If you do feel like reading this one, you can get a copy here. Or read more about the author here. Let me know what you think!

"The Martian"

No, this book is not about a little green alien from Mars. I can't tell you how many times I got asked that when people asked what I was reading. "The Martian", by Andy Weir, is about an astronaut that gets stranded on Mars. Alone.

Mark Watney wakes up to his space suit beeping at him and realizes that he survived the sandstorm that swept through his camp and threatened to strand his whole team on Mars. Well, not his whole team apparently, just him. Despite the hole in his side, Watney unburies himself from the sand and makes it back to his shelter where he assesses the damage done by the storm. He has no way to communicate with anyone, and his shelter is only designed to last the 31 days required for the mission. This botanist/engineer is going to have to find a way to contact Earth as well as keep himself alive against all odds.

And it really is against all odds. Anything and everything that can go wrong, does. Towards the end of the book I kept thinking, "Give the guy a break! He has already gone through all this crap he doesn't need this to go wrong too!" Mark Watney, however, has the perfect personality type to be left all alone like this and his sense of humor turns out to be is greatest ally. This is one of the best books that I have read in a while. It is thrilling, witty, suspenseful, and unique. You will fall in love with Watney's character and will be rooting for him from start to finish. If you like a good book that will keep you on your toes, then "The Martian" is just for you. 5 star rating, hands down. The only disclaimer: there is quite a bit of swearing in this book. It is definitely written for adults, so be careful is buying it as a gift. Other than that, I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did! Let me know what you think!

I received my copy of "The Martian", by Andy Weir, from Blogging For Books for this review. You can get your own copy here!

"The Kill Order"

The prequel to the Maze Runner series, "The Kill Order", by James Dashner, reveals how it all started. I thought that this book would be about the beginning of the Maze and how all of the "subjects" were picked, but it is before all of that happens. It is the story of the Scorch and how the Flare started.

Mark has had a crush on Tina forever, he just can't seem to get her to think of him as more than a friend. He never thought that sun flares destroying the earth would be the thing to open her eyes and bring them together. They have to escape New York City to get away from the scorching heat and smell of death. Groups of survivors have fled to the mountains to try to rebuild their lives and are doing a pretty good job of it. Mark and Trina have joined up with Alec and Lana (both former military), as well as other survivors, to start their own little community. They all think that the worst is over, until one day a Berg shows up and starts raining their little community with small darts.

The darts seem harmless enough, only killing if they hit someone fatally. The people that were just knicked by the darts, however, become sick and pass away within a couple of days. Mark and Alec realize that there is a disease spreading that started with the darts and it is mutating so that each person that gets it will manifest differently and will show symptoms at different times. Now no one knows if they are really sick or not and the only hope is to get to the nearby headquarters of their attackers and find a cure.

They encounter other people on their journey and start to see exactly what this disease is doing to people. They are full blown crazy and are saying nonsense and hurting eachother. They find a light in all the darkness though when they meet a 5-year-old girl who was hit by a dart but didn't become sick. Deedee is special because she is immune, and Mark makes it his lifes mission to get her to people who can use her to help others. They have to fight for their lives through a city full of Cranks to save Deedee and get her to safety.

This book will blow your mind. It is one of those books where it seems like there just isn't a way for the characters to win. The whole world is against them and they have to fight for their lives against Cranks and against themselves. This is the prequel to the Maze Runner series and I think you would be just fine reading it before the other books, or at the end like I did. If you do choose to read this before the other three, you will probably come back and read this one again becuase the author drops hints about the characters in the Maze Runner that you might not pick up on until you have read the series. There is a lot of sadness and death and crazy people in this book. I would not suggest it to anyone younger than high school. James Dasner's imagination continues to amaze me and I am sure that you will be amazed at what he comes up with when you read this book. 5 stars! Check it out and let me know what you think!

"The Death Cure"

Just like the first two books in the series, "The Death Cure", by James Dashner, ties seamlessly to the book before it - "The Scorch Trials." Thomas and his friends are saved from The Scorch and are being taken back to WICKED headquarters. They are told that all of the trials are over, but are they really? They know that anything said to them by WICKED could just be another way for them to collect data on how the 'subjects' react. So they know to take everything they are being told with a distrusting ear. Everyone is given the chance to get their memories back and all but Thomas, Newt, and Minho agree to do it. Even though they were told they had the choice to do it, and they chose not to, the Rat Man decides to force them to do the procedure anyways. In an act of defiance the three boys (with the help of Brenda) fight off the guards and make their escape. In the process of leaving they look for the other gladers but can't find them anywhere, so they have to leave alone.

With their successful escape they find that the outside world is in turmoil and the small group has to find a safe place to hide. Denver is the city they pick and it is nothing like they expected. People are trying to live a normal life but are in constant fear of getting the Flare. No one touches each other, most people where masks, and everyone is afraid of everyone else. Despite all of the government's testing, people with the Flare are still in the city and it is spreading. When Thomas and his friends get kidnapped by bounty hunters for being immune, they are reunited with Theresa and the other gladers who were also kidnapped.That is when they find out that WICKED is collecting more immunes to run another set of trials on and the group that kidnapped them, the Right Arm, are formulating a plan to take WICKED down. This plan starts by Thomas voluntarily going back to WICKED to finish part 3 of the trials. He is the final candidate. He can easily infiltrate WICKED to plant a device to help the Right Arm take over the building.

What no one anticipated, however, was that part 3 of the trials meant performing a brain surgery on Thomas that would ultimately claim his life. Now they are on a race against time to take down WICKED while saving all of the immunes inside. Their journey takes them on battles through the headquarters, back to the maze to fight the grievers one last time, and through a flat trans that will hopefully lead to safety. Everyone has to fight for their life, and not all of them win, in this epic ending to the Maze Runner series.

Gah! There is so much more that I want to tell you about this book, but I don't want to give anything away! You will enjoy it so much more when you really don't know what's coming or what to expect. I kept writing things and then going back and deleting them because it was a key part to the story. If you want a more detailed summary then click here. This really is the perfect ending to this series. The characters are finally taking their lives into their own hands while finding a way to payback WICKED for all of the "kindness" that they received. This book is a nail-bitter and will keep you up at night worrying about what will happen next. I actually cried at one point. Just like the other two, I would suggest this book to high school age or older. This one is a 5 out of 5 on my scale. Believe me, you want to read this book. Especially after reading "The Maze Runner" and "The Scorch Trials". Then you can pick up "The Kill Order", which is the prequel to this series and will be posted on here soon. And of course, let me know what you think!

Can't get enough of James Dashner? Then check out his books "The Eye of Minds" and "The Rule of Thoughts".

"The Scorch Trials"

The second book in "The Maze Runner" series - "The Scorch Trials", by James Dashner - picks up right where the first one left off. I actually started reading the second book within minutes of finishing the first one and they tie together so seamlessly that I had to go back and check to see where the first one actually ended and the second began.

Thomas and the other gladers have finally reached safety. They have been put in a safe bunkhouse and have been told that answers will be theirs in the morning. Morning comes, but instead of bringing answers it only brings more questions. Crazy people are trying to break into their room, all of the guards that rescued them are dead, and Theresa has been replaced by a boy who claims to have gone through the same maze experience as them. The safety they thought they had reached is jerked out from under them and replaced by another set of trials. More tests to go through and more people to get hurt or killed. The boys have no choice but to go on another race for their lives through a place called "The Scorch" and hope to make it to the other side alive.

This book is definitely just as heart-pounding as the first one - "The Maze Runner". James Dashner has an incredible imagination and he brings that imagination to life through his writing. You will be right there fighting for your life and getting chased by cranks along with the characters. Without the actual danger of course, which is why books are so magical. I would suggest reading the first book before picking this one up, but you should probably have this one on hand because you will want to start it right away. I would say high school age and older, it might scare younger kids. I rate this book as a 5 out of 5. Definitely worth your time and is coming out as a movie this fall! Let me know what you think!

"The Maze Runner"

I cannot believe that it took me so long to read these books. It only took me a week and a half to read through the entire series because I could not put it down. I will put them on here one at a time starting with the first one: "The Maze Runner", by James Dashner.  

"The Maze Runner" is about, well, a kid (Thomas) that runs through a maze. But first he wakes up in a box in the middle of the maze without any memory. There are a bunch of other kids in the maze, all boys, and none of them know why they are there or who put them there. Thomas, the last boy to arrive, is special because even though he doesn't remember anything he gets feelings about what seems right or familiar, and that helps guide him. The day after Thomas arrives the most unusual thing happens - a girl shows up in the maze.  Her arrival changes everything and is the beginning of the end for the boys in the maze. The grievers (horrible man-made monsters that live in the maze) start acting differently, the sun disappears, and then the doors stop closing at night which gives the grievers full access to attack the kids. After two years of unsuccessfully trying to get out of the maze, the rules have changed and one boy will die every night until they find a way to escape.

This book got my heart racing and it didn't slow down until the last page. My heart didn't get much of a break though because I started the second book, "The Scorch Trials", right away. This is the type of series that will leave you feeling empty when your done. It took me a couple of days before I could start another book because I was still living in this story. This is a whole other level of "dystopian". The world has crumbled and the "good" guys are only making things worse. This book is definitely a 4 out of 5. It's an amazing book, but there are some pieces of the story that don't have enough detail for the reader to really visualize. Which leaves some holes in the story. I'd say age appropriate for high school and older. Let me know what you think!

"Warm Bodies"

If you have seen the movie "Warm Bodies", then you don't really need to read the book. I was surprised by how close the two are. "Warm Bodies", by Isaac Marion, is a most unusual love story. Zombies are usually the monsters in books, not the leading male role. However, Marion takes a normally gross and terrifying character and personalizes him. Now all of a sudden the reader is relating to this zombie and wondering what it would really be like to be in his shoes.

'R' is all that the (the zombie) can remember of his name, so that's what he goes by. He is living in an abandoned airport with a bunch of other zombies, but R is different from the rest because he is not content with being a zombie. On a run into the city to get some food, R sees Julie and he has the sudden urge to protect her instead of eat her. He sneaks her back to his home and tries to keep her like a pet. Being around a human starts to bring out some human qualities in himself that have been suppressed for a long time. Julie is slowly making him human again. The rest of the zombies can see the change and it sparks something in them too. Julie and R break the bounds set by society (what's left of it anyways) and start an uprising while almost getting themselves killed in the process.

Like I said, this book is almost exactly like the movie. The two biggest differences are that the book definitely gives the reader a closer look at R and what is really going through his head, and the book has way more swear words than the movie. If I had to choose, this is one of the rare instances where I would pick the movie over the book. I didn't feel like the language really added anything to the story, so the movie gives you everything that you really need. I LOVE this story though because it is one of the most unusual love stories that I have come across. I love unlikely love stories. If you want to read this love story though, I would suggest renting the movie. :)

"The Rule of Thoughts"

"The Rule of Thoughts", by James Dashner, is the sequel to "The Eye of Minds". It picks up right where the story left off, which I love, and has all the same intensity to it that the first book does. Michael, the teenage hacker, coder, gamer, is a little more than leery to go back into the VirtNet after his faceoff with Kaine. While he is trying to get used to his new life, and body, he decides he is going to have to track down his friends in the real world. He soon finds out though that hiding in the real world is a lot harder than in the VirtNet. There is nothing to manipulate to hide yourself, or easily transport you to a different game. Michael thinks that he has it figured out, but as soon as he contacts Sarah her parents are kidnapped. The only clue to their whereabouts is a note from Kaine. Michael is helpless. With Kaine chasing him in the VirtNet and the police chasing him in reality, the only person he can think to turn to is Agent Weber.  She tells Michael, Bryson, and Sarah that she has a plan to destroy Kaine and save Sarah's parents. They have to go back into the VirtNet  and do some very illegal things. Is she really going to help him though? Or is she just using their skills to attain her own goals?

Dashner does it again with another non-stop thrilling page turner. This book will most likely take a few days to a week to get through. It's one of those books that when you're not reading it, your thinking about it, and when you're not thinking about it, you are subconsciously playing scenes from it in the back of your mind, and when you're not doing that then you are wondering what the characters are doing while you're not there to keep them company. I didn't think is was AS good as the first one, but it definitely comes close. You will need to read the first book for this one to make sense, and there is a third book coming out this fall I believe. So that will be on here then. And as always, let me know what you think!

"The Eye of Minds"

I was talking about this blog to my friends at work the other day and one of my girl friends told me that she had a book for me to read. She wasn't sure if I would like it, but I'm not very picky when it comes to books, so I asked to borrow it. Good thing she sits right next to me because she had to cover for me while I read this book at work. "The Eye of Minds", by James Dashner, is the type of book that I carried in my purse with me everywhere and pulled out to read in every free minute I could find. It's about a young boy, named Michael, who is a serious gamer. Almost all of his free time is spent in his coffin - a box that allows his brain to go into the virtual world while his body is being pumped with fluids and things to make every virtual experience feel absolutely real. In a world where you bounce between what's 'real' and what's 'virtually real' it's easy to get confused about what is actually real. There is a rumor being whispered through the virtual world about gamers being trapped there, while their bodies back in the real world become brain dead. For an expert gamer, hacker, programmer like Michael, these rumors aren't a concern. Until he has a run in with the VNS - VirtNet Security. They ask him to go off grid and find out exactly what is happening to these gamers. It will be dangerous, and he'll have to do some pretty illegal things without any help or backup from the VNS, but a gamers gotta game right? And this would be the most exciting and challenging game of all.

 I have never read a book like this before, it showed me a world that I know very little about. The way the author describes the virtual world reminds me of reading a book; You get sucked in and it's almost like that becomes your reality and the real you doesn't exist. The characters are fun, it's well-written, and it's clean. I couldn't ask for more in a book. It does have some parts that are pretty scary, I wouldn't suggest anyone younger than high school age read it. I know it's labeled for young adults, and maybe because I'm not a gamer myself I might be a little sensitive to the content, but I just can't imagine a 14-year old reading this book. However if you have a child that is already playing games where they kill people and fight monsters then maybe they would enjoy this book. That's your call. It will probably only take a few days to a week to get through, so go get a copy and get started! Keep your eye out for its sequel, "The Rule of Thoughts". I'll have that on here soon!

"Son"

This is the exciting finale of "The Giver" quartet. "Son", by Lois Lowry, takes us back to the first community where Jonas is training to be the Receiver. Only this time we learn the story of Clair, the young woman who gave birth to Gabe. Clair is unique because she feels. In a community where feelings do not exist no one is there to help her through the loss she feels after her son is taken from her, or the unexplainable love she feels when she holds him for the first time. When Jonas takes Gabe and escapes, Clair is left with only one option - leave with the strange people from elsewhere on their boat. That is her best chance of finding her son. Things don't go as planned though and Clair ends up washed up on a beach in a remote village where the only exit is to climb an impossibly high cliff. She is not about to let that stop her though and her determination to find her son is stronger than ever. She will do whatever it takes to make it back to Gabe.

This book shows what true love is and will definitely pull on your heartstrings. It brings all of the characters from the previous three books back together for one last hoorah, and is the perfect ending to the story. I've said this before, but Lowry ends her books without really ending the story. All four books in this quartet are like that. She leaves a lot for the readers imagination to fill in. It's something that I don't really enjoy, but if you have read her other books then you will know what to expect with this one. However that is not enough to deter me from recommending this book. It will probably take a week or so to get through, but it's definitely worth reading. Be sure to read "The Giver", "Gathering Blue", and "Messenger" before starting this one though. Then get back on here and let me know what you think!

"Messenger"

"Messenger", by Lois Lowry, is the third book in "The Giver" quartet. This book is where the content from the first two books finally comes together and you start to see the ties between the stories. Instead of focusing on either one of the main characters from the first two books, the author chooses to share Matt's story - the little boy from "Gathering Blue". He is now living with Kira's father, Seer, in a place called Village. Matty's role in Village is to deliver messages to the people that live there, as well as to the people in other communities. He is the only one who can travel through Forest safely and he hopes that when he receives his true name it will be Messenger. He's not sure if he will ever get it though because Village is in turmoil and Forest has been acting strange and attacking people. Matty is tasked with traveling to the other communities and telling them that Village will no longer be open to new comers. Seer asks him to visit Kira during his travels and bring her back to Village with him. As soon as Matty enters Forest he feels a change in the air. What was once warm and inviting is now sinister and cold. Matty knows that this will be the last time Forest allows him to travel through, if it lets him live that long.

Lowry does it again with "Messenger", and shows us just how creative she can be. This book is the shortest one out of the four, it will only take a couple of days to get through, but that's not the reason I read this one so fast. It was because of how good the book is! I definitely recommend "Messenger" to all readers. I've heard people say that these books in "The Giver" series can be read separately or together...I would say that only applies to the first two books. The last two have content and characters that you won't understand unless you have read the first two. So if you are thinking about reading "Messenger", be sure to read "The Giver" and "Gathering Blue" first. Then get back on here and let me know what you think!

"Gathering Blue"

The book "Gathering Blue", by Lois Lowry, is a sister book to her book "The Giver". There are actually four books that comprise The Giver story, and while the stories don't actually intertwine until the third book I think it's important to read both of these first so that you fully understand what is going on later in the tale.  "Gathering Blue", the second book, is about a young physically handicapped girl who, after losing her mother and finding herself alone in the world, has to figure out how to survive on her own. The village she lives in is not a friendly one. If women die then their children are given away because the dads don't want the responsibility, if babies seem weak then they are left in a field to die, if a person doesn't have a way to contribute then they are left out in the field to die. It's basically every man for himself. Fortunately our leading lady, Kira, has a way to contribute to the community after her mom dies. She has an incredible talent with weaving, and is chosen to make repairs on a special robe that is sacred to the community. Once she moves into the Council Edifice she slowly picks up hints that her community is not what it seems. She is determined to find the truth and make it a better place, with the help of her young companion, Matt, who acts as her protector in his own little way.

This book adds to The Giver story, but it is also really good all on it's own. My only qualm with it is that the author doesn't finish the story. The book ends as if there will be a sequel, but the next book in the series picks up in a different place and you never really learn about what happens to this community. I almost wish she would have made this story it's own series instead of tying it into "The Giver". However, I still think it is worth reading. This book will probably take a couple of days to get through, and is definitely appropriate for readers of all ages. (I read it for the first time when I was in fifth grade). Let me know what you think!

"The Giver"

Apparently this is a book that some high school students were forced to read in their English classes. It was not on my syllabus for English, which is unfortunate because I would have liked to have found this book sooner. (There is always something special about finding a good book before it becomes popular). "The Giver", by Lois Lowry, is now very popular and is also a movie, which I have yet to watch. This as another book set in a controlled community that has become so popular these days. "The Giver" came out in 1993 though, so I guess it is one of the first of it's kind.

This book is very unique. It takes "controlled community" to a whole new level - one where you don't get to choose the clothes you wear, the job you have, what you do with your day, when you get to ride a bike, or even the words you say. Every choice is made for you. This was the life of young Jonas, until he received his job assignment to become the community's new 'Receiver' and was told that he is suddenly allowed to be different. He can ask questions, lie, and even be rude. His life is turned upside down and through his training he realizes that he's not satisfied with the way the community is run. What will he do about it though?

"The Giver" is a book that will make you ponder things that you have probably never thought of before, and it's thought provoking contents will stay with you long after you have finished reading. It's reasonably easy to get through and there is nothing questionable about the content. I recommend this book for all ages. If you enjoyed this book, be sure to check out it's companions - "Gathering Blue", "Messenger", and "Son".

"The Host"

I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that practically everyone has heard of Twilight. But I'll bet maybe half of those people have heard of the book "The Host" (which was also written by Stephenie Meyer), and an even smaller amount of those people have actually read it. I was so excited when the movie came out because then I would finally have people to talk to about this epic love story. Really it's two love stories intertwined because the female main characters are sharing a body. One is 'the host' and the other is an alien that has taken over her body. In a world where aliens are taking over the human race typically the host fades away once their body has been invaded, but in Melanie's case her resistant mind stays there in the background even after Wanderer has been inserted. It becomes a constant struggle between the two as Wanderer tries to make Melanie disappear and Melanie tries to convince Wanderer to take them to the place where her loved ones are hiding. After a near death experience they decide to work together to make the wary humans trust them enough to keep them alive. They get mixed up in fights, lost in love triangles, and nearly lose their lives a few more times. All while doing their best to share a body.

The author takes an amazingly romantic and impossible story and adds a unique twist by making the main character a bystander in her own body. I have read this book multiple times and every time it is as exciting as the first time and I don't have the self control to put it down. This book sucks you into a vacuum where nothing else exists and will keep you thinking about it long after you've read the last page. I strongly suggest that you read this one, and you better let me know what you think when you're done!

"Lightland"

I'm going to share a secret with you, and if you are like me and you enjoy books that depict what the world will be like after everything goes kaput, then you are going to like this secret. My secret is a book called "Lightland", by Kenny Kemp. Ever heard of it? Neither had I until my mom brought it home from Costco one day. She said there was a guy sitting at a table all by himself and she didn't know what he was doing until she got closer and realized that he was an author doing a book signing for the book "Lightland". She felt bad for him because all these people were just walking by so she stopped and purchased a copy. I am so glad she did that! This book is about how a disease overtakes the world and the only hope society has is in a 6,000 year old skeleton and the canopic jar buried with it. "Lightland" will take you on an intense adventure, with some unpredictable twists, as the main characters battle to protect and use K'tanu (the skeleton) to save what's left of the humankind.

It will definitely hold your interest from start to finish. It also has a touch of romance and there were a few parts, I must admit, that made me cry. It's a book that you could easily get through in just a few days, (I suggest planning to read it on days where you won't be very busy because you won't want to put it down!). If you have already read "Lightland" or anything else by this author please let me know! I'd love to hear what you thought about the book!

"The Star Wars Trilogy"

This is going to let my geekier side show through, and I'm not even sure if this book really counts because it was a movie before it was a book, but I just have to put it on here. Everyone should have at least a basic knowledge of the Star Wars story, this particular book is the first three movies that came out which means they are the last three if you are going in numerical order. Maybe it's just the fan in me....but I really enjoyed reading this. It takes what I loved about the movies and made it even better by adding the extra details that books always have. You know like..."Yes Lord Vader", he said trembling in fear. The kind of stuff that you just don't get out a movie. Which satisfied my book worm side and my Star Wars fan side. The book is kind of thick, because it covers content from three movies, but it's what I would consider an 'easy read' so don't be intimidated by the size. I would definitely recommend this book whether you are a Star Wars fan or not. Who knows, maybe reading the book will persuade you to become a fan. ;)