Scarlet Devices

Today's post is on Scarlet Devices by Delphine Drysen. It is the second in her Steam and Seduction series. It is 279 pages long and is published by Berkley Sensation. The cover has the two main characters on it with a steam train behind them. The intended reader is someone who likes steampunk, romance, and travel stories. There is mild foul language, sex, and mild violence in this novel. The story is told from third person close of the main characters moving as needed over the course of the story. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- DRIVEN TO WIN.  DRAWN TO LOVE.
Fresh from university, Eliza Hardison is determined to crusade for workers’ rights until her cousin Dexter, the Makesmith Baron, prevails on her to represent Hardison House in the American Dominion Sky and Steam Rally.
The competition is fierce, but only one opponent really matters to Eliza. Dexter’s protégé, Matthew Pence, was always like a big brother to her. But now she’s grown up, and Matthew has made a break from Hardison House with his own business venture—and made his own entry in the rally.
Matthew intends to win while keeping Eliza safe on the perilous route from New York to San Francisco. As the threats escalate through treacherous skies and uncharted American wilds, though, Eliza and Matthew must work together, discovering a bond deeper than either could have imagined…but is winning the rally more important than winning at love?

Review- This is a fun second in the Steam and Seduction series. The characters were fun, the plot was really interesting, and I liked traveling in this world. The real plot is about people who have gone missing. The race is just the way to get there. Eliza is fun, she is a very well educated wealthy woman, who wants to make a difference in the world. Matthew wants to make his own way in the world. Together they both want to win this race. But something more is going on the background of the race. People have been going missing and no one knows anything about it. So with the race, the missing persons, and the romance, this is one fast-paced story. If you read the first one and liked it, then you will like this one too.

I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Metaphors be with You: An A to Z Dictionary of History's Greatest Metaphorical Quotations

Today's post is on Metaphors be with You: An A to Z Dictionary of History's Greatest Metaphorical Quotations by Dr. Marty Grothe. It is 480 pages long and published by Harper Collins. The cover is blue with a light bulb in a speech bubble. The intended reader is someone who likes quotes. There is no foul language, talk of sex, and no violence in this book.  There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Respected quotation anthologist and author of Oxymoronica and Viva la Repartee Dr. Mardy Grothe is at his best in Metaphors Be with You, an A to Z dictionary of 2,750 of history’s greatest metaphorical quotations, meticulously curated for writers, readers, and quotation lovers everywhere.
In Metaphors Be with You, Dr. Mardy Grothe has created the definitive reference on English’s finest metaphors, sourced from literature, politics, philosophy, Hollywood, religion, sports, comedy, history, religion, pop culture, and more. Arranged into two sections—"The Ten Best Things Ever Said" and "The Single Best Thing Ever Said"—Metaphors Be with You includes quotations on five hundred human interest topics and an introduction to the nature, importance, and sheer joy of metaphorical language.
Essential for writers, readers, and language aficionados, this breathtaking, beautifully designed sourcebook also contains elegantly integrated digital access to Dr. Mardy’s Dictionary of Metaphorical Quotations, the world’s largest online database of quotations containing metaphors, similes, and analogies. This one-of-a-kind synergy between print and technology offers a comprehensive look at the diversity of words and phrases we use to relate to, understand, and describe our world by providing access to detailed source information, innumerable "Error Alerts," and fascinating quotation backstories that will engage readers as they delve into metaphorical language and discover their own favorites.
Whether you’re crafting a speech, writing a novel, or simply searching for new ways to express yourself, this remarkable compendium is sure to inspire you with the perfect metaphor every time.

Review- I had so much fun with this book. I love books of  quotes and there are some wonderful ones in here. There are quotes from everything from ability to kisses. The introduction gives the reader some insight into the how and why of using this book. Grothe really gets into how important metaphors are to our language and why we use them so much. Metaphors are things that we all have in common with our common language and usage.As a writer I will have this book on hand for whenever I get stuck on a word and want to make sure that I can make it mean what I want.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I was given this book by Harper Collins exchange for an honest review. 

Rurouni Kenshin volume 23

Today's post is on Rurouni Kenshin volume 23 by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It is 208 pages long and is published by Shonen Jump. The cover has Kenshin in front and Kaoru in the background. It is the twenty-third volume in the long running series. You have to have read the first twenty-two in the series to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes historical stories, manga, and interesting characters. There is no foul language, no sex, but some violence in this series. The story is told from third person close following different characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- In order to discover more about the relationship that binds Kenshin and Enishi, Saitô Hajime makes a surprise appearance at Kamiya Dojo--only to find the aftermath of Kenshin, Sanosuke, and Yahiko's desperate life-or-death battles with Enishi's cabal of fighters. One member of the "Six Comrades" remains standing--the mysterious and deadly Yatsume Mumyôi. Will the strength of Saitô's Gatotsu be enough to fell this freakish warrior-of-the-shadows?!

Review-  Saitô's fight like all his other ones is short but it is great. Saitô and Kaoru have an interesting conversation as Kenshin and Enishi are fighting. Of course Saitô is not going to help her if Enishi comes for her but he does warn her to run. Kenshin and Enishi's fight is very interesting. Enishi learned to fight with a style that was designed to defeat samurais. But Enishi underestimates Kenshin's love for Kaoru and Kenshin keeps fighting when he should be down. But the volume ends with Kaoru facing Enishi alone. The fight scenes were great fun and I cannot wait to see where the plot is going from here.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money. 

Every Heart a Doorway

Today's post is on Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire. It is a stand alone novel but McGuire is going to be writing more in this world and that makes me very happy. It is 169 pages long and is published by TOR. The cover is green with a wooden door standing open in the center. The intended reader is someone who wonders what happens after the quest is done. There is mild language, mild sexuality, and violence in this novel. The story is told from third person of the characters moving as needed. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children
No Solicitations
No Visitors
No Quests
Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else.
But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children.
Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced... they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.
But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter.
No matter the cost.

Review- This book is just incredible. I went into this book with high expectations and it blew them away. I remembered the longing as a child to find a doorway to some where else and this book made me feel it all over again. This book is as close to perfect as I can imagine. The characters, the setting, the plot, the everything about this book just works and it is wonderful. McGuire talks about more than just children returned from other places, she talks about people being different. She handles gender and sexual orientation both honestly and with great care. The mystery is excellent and I was so into the story that I did not guess the murderer until they were unveiled at the end. And the best part is it has a happy ending. I highly recommend this book.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Marrow: A Love Story

Today's post is on Marrow: A Love Story by Elizabeth Lesser. It is 320 pages long and is published by Harper Collins. the cover is a black and white picture of the author and her sister Maggie. The intended reader is someone who likes memoirs. There is mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book-  A mesmerizing and courageous memoir: the story of two sisters uncovering the depth of their love through the life-and-death experience of a bone marrow transplant. Throughout her life, Elizabeth Lesser has sought understanding about what it means to be true to oneself and, at the same time, truly connected to the ones we love. But when her sister Maggie needs a bone marrow transplant to save her life, and Lesser learns that she is the perfect match, she faces a far more immediate and complex question about what it really means to love—honestly, generously, and authentically.
Hoping to give Maggie the best chance possible for a successful transplant, the sisters dig deep into the marrow of their relationship to clear a path to unconditional acceptance. They leave the bone marrow transplant up to the doctors, but take on what Lesser calls a "soul marrow transplant," examining their family history, having difficult conversations, examining old assumptions, and offering forgiveness until all that is left is love for each other’s true selves. Their process—before, during, and after the transplant—encourages them to take risks of authenticity in other aspects their lives.
But life does not follow the storylines we plan for it. Maggie’s body is ultimately too weak to fight the relentless illness. As she and Lesser prepare for the inevitable, they grow ever closer as their shared blood cells become a symbol of the enduring bond they share. Told with suspense and humor, Marrow is joyous and heartbreaking, incandescent and profound. The story reveals how even our most difficult experiences can offer unexpected spiritual growth. Reflecting on the multifaceted nature of love—love of other, love of self, love of the world—Marrow is an unflinching and beautiful memoir about getting to the very center of ourselves.

Review- This is a very moving story about life and death between two sisters. The story begins with Lesser getting a call from Maggie with the first cancer diagnosis. We move back and forth from the past to the present as Lesser talks about her life with her family and her sisters in particular. Lesser gives insight into her family and how it has affected her life in positive and negative ways. She gives a moving memoir about how to learn to love yourself and your family for who each are. When the cancer wins, we are with her to see the impact that loving can have and how much Lesser has changed because she loved. I really liked lesser and how she wanted to understand everything about what was happening to her sister and she was going to do to try and save her. It is a hopeful book about death from cancer.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I was given this book to review by Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review. 

Planetfall

Today's post is on Planetfall by Emma Newman. It is 336 pages long and is published by Ace. It is a standalone novel. The cover is white with the form of a woman in the center. The intended reader is someone who likes hard-ish science fiction. There is mild foul language, mild sexuality, and mild violence in this novel. The story is told from the first person perspective. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Renata Ghali believed in Lee Suh-Mi’s vision of a world far beyond Earth, calling to humanity. A planet promising to reveal the truth about our place in the cosmos, untainted by overpopulation, pollution, and war. Ren believed in that vision enough to give up everything to follow Suh-Mi into the unknown.
More than twenty-two years have passed since Ren and the rest of the faithful braved the starry abyss and established a colony at the base of an enigmatic alien structure where Suh-Mi has since resided, alone. All that time, Ren has worked hard as the colony's 3-D printer engineer, creating the tools necessary for human survival in an alien environment, and harboring a devastating secret.
Ren continues to perpetuate the lie forming the foundation of the colony for the good of her fellow colonists, despite the personal cost. Then a stranger appears, far too young to have been part of the first planetfall, a man who bears a remarkable resemblance to Suh-Mi.
The truth Ren has concealed since planetfall can no longer be hidden. And its revelation might tear the colony apart…

Review- This is an interesting science fiction novel with problems. The colony part of the story is very interesting, the characters are real feeling but then the ending happens. Ren is eaten up with guilt about whatever happened after planetfall that changed everything. Then a stranger comes to the colony and he upsets everything. He makes Ren think about the past and it begins to drive her mad. So much is going on in this novel from Ren having a problem with hoarding, which feels like a bad plot device to a end game revenge plot that I really had some trouble connecting with this novel. About the hoarding, it could have not been in the novel and nothing would have changed with the story. Ren still would have been eaten with guilt and grief. She would have still ended up in the City of God and still would have died. I think that Newman did some interesting things with this novel but I did not connect with the overall themes of this story.

I give this novel a Three out of Five stars. I was given this novel to review by Ace/ROC published in exchange for an honest review.

Rurouni Kenshin volume 22

Today's post is on Rurouni Kenshin volume 22 by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It is 208 pages long and is published by Shonen Jump. The cover has Kenshin looking at the reader. It is the twenty-second volume in the long running series. You have to have read the first twenty-one in the series to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes historical stories, manga, and interesting characters. There is no foul language, no sex, but some violence in this series. The story is told from third person close following different characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The ghosts of Kenshin's past come to wreak havoc on his future as the fight is literally brought to the doorstep of Kamiya Dojo. Three great battles--three great warriors! Myôjin Yahiko, the student of swords not yet a man, takes on a fighter more than twice his age. Sagara Sanosuke, the free-wheeling street fighter, learns a new humility and becomes stronger for it. And Himura Kenshin, the former slayer of men, begins to see a way to atone for the sins of the hitokiri ...

Review-  This volume is all fighting with little in the way of plot or character development. The biggest problem I have is Kaoru is just put in the back. She does nothing for the whole volume but stand there. Yahiko fights but Kaoru just watches. She is the master of Kamiya Kasshin-ryū but Yahiko, who is only ten years old, is the one to fight on of the big bads. How much Kaoru has just been wasted for so much of this series has been annoying me lately. She is good enough a swordsman to teach others how to fight but she cannot fight to protect herself or her home? That really dampened my enjoyment of this volume and it may start to affect the series as a whole. But Saito is back at the end of this volume so I may enjoy the next volume more than this one at the very least.

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money. 

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 2: Squirrel You Know It's True

Today's post is on The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 2: Squirrel You Know It's True by Ryan North and Erica Henderson. It is the second collected volume of the Squirrel Girl comic book. It is 120 pages long and is published by Marvel. The cover has Doreen in the center with a flashlight lighting up her face. The intended reader is someone who likes humor, puns, and great story lines. There is no foul language, no sex, and only comic violence in this comic book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The breakout character of 2015 continues her one-woman crusade against injustice and jerks! These TAILS of the Squirrel Girl will show you the Marvel Universe's most powerful super hero from a bunch of brand-new perspectives, several of them QUITE ASTONISHING.
Squirrel Girl meets potential new allies, including Chipmunk Hunk, Koi Boi, and... Girl Squirrel!?! Yes! But the two rodent-themed heroines don't quite see eye-to-beady-eye - and Squirrel Girl's dislike might be justified! Now, as the world goes mad and the Avengers attack, Squirrel Girl must face Ratatoskr, the Norse God of Squirrels! There's a theme in this book, I don't know if you can tell. The fate of the world hangs in the balance, though, we promisr. Featuring fights! Feelings! Sass! Punches! Friendship! A character named Hippo who is literally a hippo! And several tails (tales) of Squirrel Girl from all kinds of perspectives!

Review- Another funny adventure with Squirrel Girl and friends. The first story is about Nancy waiting to get recused and trying to tell her fellow hostages about Squirrel Girl and no one listening. It is pretty funny. But the real meat of the story is about the Norse God Ratatoskr. She whispers in everyone's ears when they sleep and make attack others. Squirrel Girl beats up all the Avengers to make them stop being mean. It was awesome. Again the social media interactions with other heroes and Squirrel Girl are just the best thing. Everyone gets in on this one again. Thor, both old and new, and Loki are major side characters for this story. Nancy gets to have some fun and see Asgard. I can not wait to read the next volume of this amazing series.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this comic book from my local library.

Rurouni Kenshin volume 21

Today's post is on Rurouni Kenshin volume 21 by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It is 192 pages long and is published by Shonen Jump. The cover has Kenshin in the foreground and Tomoe in the background looking at the reader. It is the twenty-first volume in the long running series. You have to have read the first twenty in the series to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes historical stories, manga, and interesting characters. There is no foul language, no sex, but some violence in this series. The story is told from third person close following different characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Though he once killed in the name of the nascent Meiji government, even an infamous manslayer such as "Hitokiri Battôsai" might grow weary and vow never to kill again. As a new age dawns, there are those who yet cling to the ways of bloodshed, and see the days of peace and prosperity Kenshin and others like him fought so hard to bring forth as betrayal. In ten days' time, the enemies of Kenshin will come for him, and all who stand beside him are in danger. Is the time of earthly justice truly at hand?

Review-  We get the last bit of Kenshin tragic past in this volume and it ends with Tomoe's death. Everyone is trying to decide what they think about it. Kaoru handles it very well and leads the rest to peace with Kenshin's past too. Kenshins is surprised when Kaoru sort of admits how she feels about him. That made me roll my eyes a little but whatever his character is a more than a little clueless about so much so why not this too. Kaoru also has a great idea about how to end Enishi and so bringing Misoa and Aoshi into the last arc. But they are going to be late to stop the attack. The volume ends with the attack on the dojo starting. We get a hint about what Enishi is really going to do and I cannot wait to see what it is. More Action, More Drama, and More Over-the-Top Fighting Coming Soon!

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money. 

A School for Unusual Girls

Today's post is on A School for Unusual Girls by Kathlenn Baldwin. It is the first in her Stranje House series. It is 334 pages long and published by TOR Teen. The cover has the main character on it with her back to the reader moving towards a house in the distance. The intended reader is someone who likes alternate history, strong female characters, and spy plots. There is mild foul language, no sex, and violence in this book. The story is told from the first person perspective of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Welcome to Stranje House.
It’s 1814. Napoleon is exiled on Elba. Europe is in shambles. Britain is at war on four fronts. And Stranje House, a School for Unusual Girls, has become one of Regency England’s dark little secrets. The daughters of the beau monde who don’t fit high society’s constrictive mold are banished to Stranje House to be reformed into marriageable young ladies. Or so their parents think. In truth, Headmistress Emma Stranje, the original unusual girl, has plans for the young ladies—plans that entangle them in the dangerous world of spies, diplomacy, and war.
After accidentally setting her father’s stables on fire while performing a scientific experiment, Miss Georgiana Fitzwilliam is sent to Stranje House. But Georgie has no intention of being turned into a simpering, pudding-headed, marriageable miss. She plans to escape as soon as possible—until she meets Lord Sebastian Wyatt. Thrust together in a desperate mission to invent a new invisible ink for the English war effort, Georgie and Sebastian must find a way to work together without losing their heads—or their hearts…

Review- I had a wonderful time with this book. Georgie is great, she is full of fire and vinegar. She refuses to be just tossed aside by her parents and family. She is going to take some control over her life and she does. But she does it in way that she could not have foreseen. The setting it interesting, the history does get played with but that is why its alternate history. The romance is mild and mixed in with the confusion of what is going on. I liked Sebastian and did not find him too annoying. I believed that Georgie did sweep him off his feet and all the problems that brings with it. The first book is about Georgie but the books that will follow are about the other girls. I have mixed feelings about this. I want to see what is going to happen with Georgie and Sebastian but I do like the other girls enough to read about them. I look forward to seeing where this story is going to go.

I give this novel a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

An Abbreviated Life

Today's post is on An Abbreviated Life by Ariel Leve. It is 288 pages long and is published by Harper Collins. The cover is white with a picture of the author in the center. There is foul language, mild sexuality, and no violence in this book. The intended reader is someone interested in memoirs and the very interesting prose style. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The unconventional world Ariel inhabited was dominated by her mother, a gifted but unstable poet without boundaries or self-restraint. Mother and daughter lived in a penthouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side, which was the setting for raucous parties that attached New York's cultural and intellectual elite: Gloria Steinem, Norman Mailer, and Andy Warhol, to name a few. For all its glamour, this was a universe that was neither predictable nor safe.
With her beloved father living in Southeast Asia and the death  of a nurturing caretaker, Ariel was left as a child to navigate an emotionally perilous landscape. It took four decades before she was able to make sense of the aftershocks of childhood, which eventually necessitated a voyage in secret to the other side of the world.
In stripped-down prose, Leve paints an indelible portrait of her upbringing and the long fight to tunnel her way out of darkness. The drama of her journey proves to be as exhilarating as it is painful and, ultimately, emancipating. An Abbreviated Life heralds the arrival of a fearless new voice in the literary firmament.

Review- This is a heartbreaking  read. Leve starts with the death of the caretaker next to her as they are flying back to New York from spending the summer with her father in southeast Asia. She does not spare any details of her life with her mother and all the chaos that was there. For once in Leve's life her mother is not the main character; Leve is. Leve spends her life trying to recover from her childhood with a unhealthy mother who needs more than Leve could or should ever give her. Leve has troubled relationships with everyone around her because of her mother. Not just because of the emotional and mental scars from her mother but because her mother had to be involved with everything. But it end on a hopeful note that Leve may, in time, be able to have a happy life of her own.

I give this memoir a Four out of Five stars. I was given this book to review by HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.

Rurouni Kenshin volume 20

Today's post is on Rurouni Kenshin volume 20 by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shonen Jump. The cover has Kenshin in the foreground and Enishi in the background looking over his shoulder. It is the twentieth volume in the long running series. You have to have read the first nineteen in the series to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes historical stories, manga, and interesting characters. There is no foul language, no sex, but some violence in this series. The story is told from third person close following different characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- To build a new age, must one truly be mad enough to turn from the extreme justice that political allegiance requires? Deep in the Japanese countryside, far from the gore-spattered streets of the capital, a man who never knew what happiness was begins a new life as husband to a woman who claims to have nowhere else to go. If a man cannot fight to protect the woman he loves, what will become of the nation? Can one woman alone be enough to hold back the madness?

Review- We continue with Kenshin's tragic past in this volume. How he met Tomoe, how he fell in love with her, and the volume ends with him fighting to save her from the people she was working for. The story moves very quickly and is full of historical facts for the history lovers. We get to see Enishi as a child and he is not very different from the man he will become, just a little less crazy. We do get a break from the very sad tale to see what Enishi is doing. He is lying to the men he is working with and while I think that Enishi is going to make it out alright I cannot say the same for those men. Whatever Enishi is planning is going to pretty terrible. The volume ends with Tomoe refusing to sell Kenshin out and Kenshin is in a fighting rage. More Action and Drama Ahead!

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money. 

Gossamer Wing

Today's post is on Gossamer Wing by Delphine Dryden. It is the first in her Steam and Seduction series. It is 300 pages long and is published by Berkley Sensation. The cover has the two main characters on it and it so funny. It is the most cheesy steampunk cover ever but do not judge this book by its cover. There is foul language, sex, and some violence in this novel. The story is told third person close moving from one character to another. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A Spy. An Airship. And a Broken Heart.
After losing her husband to a rogue French agent, Charlotte Moncrieffe wants to make her mark in international espionage. And what could be better for recovering secret long-lost documents from the Palais Garnier than her stealth dirigible, Gossamer Wing? Her spymaster father has one condition: He won’t send her to Paris without an ironclad cover.
Dexter Hardison prefers inventing to politics, but his title as Makesmith Baron and his formidable skills make him an ideal husband-imposter for Charlotte. And the unorthodox undercover arrangement would help him in his own field of discovery.
But from Charlotte and Dexter’s marriage of convenience comes a distraction—a passion that complicates an increasingly dangerous mission. For Charlotte, however, the thought of losing Dexter also opens her heart to a thrilling new future of love and adventure.

Review- This is a fun steampunk love story. As it is a romance novel the main point of the story is the two characters falling in love, so the steampunk stuff is just in the background. The dirigible is cool and I liked the scenes with it but this is a love story. I liked both characters. Dexter is very compassionate to Charlotte having to play at being in love when she is still mourning her husband but Dexter knows very quickly that he is in love with her. So he has to help Charlotte be okay with being in love with someone else. Charlotte just wants to get her revenge on the French agent that murdered  her first husband and she does not care if that kills her. That said she is not stupid. When they come together there is real passion. I had a fun time with this story and I look forward to reading the others in the series.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.