The Liar's Daughter

Today’s post is on The Liar's Daughter by Megan Cooley Peterson. It is 277 pages long and is published by Holiday House. The cover is a picture of a young woman with the face burned out. There is very mild foul language, implied sex, and no violence in this novel. The intended reader is someone who likes survival stories and young adult literature. The story is told from third person close of the main character, Piper. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Seventeen-year-old Piper knows that Father is a Prophet. Infallible. The chosen one.
She would do anything for Father. That's why she takes care of all her little sisters. That's why she runs end-of-the-world drills. That's why she never asks questions. Because Father knows best.
Until the day he doesn't. Until the day the government raids the compound and separates Piper from her siblings, from Mother, from the Aunts, from all of Father's followers--even from Caspian, the boy she loves.
Now Piper is living Outside. Among Them.
With a woman They claim is her real mother--a woman They say Father stole her from.
But Piper knows better. And Piper is going to escape.

Review- A fantastic novel about a young woman surviving a cult and discovering her truth along the way. The story is told in two parts Before and After. Before is when they were found and how they were living, not well. After is when Piper is back home with her real family. This is very well done by Peterson, the reader is never lost as the story moves forward not just because she makes when we are but the reader is never lost because of how the story is told. We are with Piper and we understand the world from her eyes. It is heartbreaking to see her struggle with the truth and the lies she was raised with. At times I was very worried for Piper but that means Peterson did a good job. I recommend this novel.

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

The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird

Today’s post is on The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird by Joshua Hammer. It is 317 pages long and is published by Simon & Schuster. The cover is a picture of a peregrine falcon. The intended reader is someone who is interested in true crime and wildlife protection. There is mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- A true-crime adventure about a rogue who trades in rare birds and their eggs—and the wildlife detective determined to stop him.

On May 3, 2010, an Irish national named Jeffrey Lendrum was apprehended at Britain’s Birmingham International Airport with a suspicious parcel strapped to his stomach. Inside were fourteen rare peregrine falcon eggs snatched from a remote cliffside in Wales.

So begins a tale almost too bizarre to believe, following the parallel lives of a globe-trotting smuggler who spent two decades capturing endangered raptors worth millions of dollars as race champions—and Detective Andy McWilliam of the United Kingdom’s National Wildlife Crime Unit, who’s hell bent on protecting the world’s birds of prey.

The Falcon Thief whisks readers from the volcanoes of Patagonia to Zimbabwe’s Matobo National Park, and from the frigid tundra near the Arctic Circle to luxurious aviaries in the deserts of Dubai, all in pursuit of a man who is reckless, arrogant, and gripped by a destructive compulsion to make the most beautiful creatures in nature his own.

Review- This is an interesting story about one man’s greed and his abuse of nature. Jeffery Lendrum was interested in birds and more rare animals from a young age. But started out as an innocent interest grew into a criminal life of stealing eggs from rare and endangered birds to sell to the highest bidder. But there was a lawman who cared about the harm and the birds that Lendrum so callously hurt, Andy McWilliam, and he chased Lendrum to the ends of the earth. I enjoyed this story mostly but when reading about Lendrum stealing the eggs that made me sick because some of these birds will mourn themselves to death for the loss of their clutch. But other than that it was a fascinating story about a thief who never thought he would get caught or that the lives of the birds he stole really mattered. If you are interested in true crime or rare birds then you should give this one a try.

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. 

Daytime Shooting Star, Vol. 3

Today’s post is on Daytime Shooting Star, Vol. 3 by Mika Yamamori. It is published by Shojo Beat and is 200 pages long. The cover is purple with Suzume’s boy classmates on it. As it is the third volume in the series you need to have read the first two volumes to understand the story. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this volume. The story is told from third person close of Suzume with some scenes from other characters for character and plot development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Suzume has moved to Tokyo and is living with her uncle. In an unguarded moment while Mr. Shishio naps in the infirmary, Suzume voices her feelings. But he wasn’t sleeping?! Mamura soon realizes how Suzume feels about their teacher, and with Mr. Shishio’s ex-girlfriend back in the picture, things become even more complicated.

Review- We pick up right where we left off with Suzume having just confessed her feelings to a sleeping Mr. Shishio when another teacher calls him and he has to answer back. So she spends most of the volume trying to figure out what to do and Mr. Shishio has to decide what to do as well. But with Mamura and the ex-girlfriend in the background there is much drama going on. In this volume Mr. Shishio does the right thing and he turns Suzume down when she confesses to me in person. But he is already developing feelings for her and that is not right as he is her teacher and much older than her. I want Suzume to learn and become better for this experience but I am worried about her. I look forward to seeing what kind of trouble is coming for Suzume now. 

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

Say Yes to the Duke

Today’s post is on Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James. It is316 pages long and is published by Avon. The cover has a pretty woman in a lavender dress on it. It is the fifth book in the Wildes of Lindow Castle but you do not have to have read any of the others to understand the story. There is mild foul language, sex, and no violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Miss Viola Astley is so painfully shy that she’s horrified by the mere idea of dancing with a stranger; her upcoming London debut feels like a nightmare.
So she’s overjoyed to meet handsome, quiet vicar with no interest in polite society — but just when she catches his attention, her reputation is compromised by a duke.
Devin Lucas Augustus Elstan, Duke of Wynter, will stop at nothing to marry Viola, including marrying a woman whom he believes to be in love with another man.
A vicar, no less.
Devin knows he’s no saint, but he’s used to conquest, and he’s determined to win Viola’s heart.
Viola has already said Yes to his proposal, but now he wants her unruly heart…and he won’t accept No for an answer.

Review- A very cute little romance with two likable characters. Viola has some trauma from being yelled at when she was teen by a strange man and Devin just wants to work on his math problems but when they meet face to face they can help but yell at each other. It was very cute, almost a comedy of errors and I had a nice time reading it. Viola is a little under confident about herself and Devin does not help by putting his foot in his mouth but in the end all's well that ends well. The plot does not break any new ground but it is a solid fountain for a love story. If you like sweet historical romances then you need to give this one a try.

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.

 

 

The Water Dragon's Bride, Vol. 6

Today’s post is on The Water Dragon's Bride, Vol. 6 by Rei Toma. It is published by Shojo Beat and it is 184 pages long. The cover has Asahi on it with some water drops between her hands. As it is the sixth in the series you need to have read the first five. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this volume. The story is told from third person close of mostly Asahi but sometimes from characters to get character development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Asahi continues to be trapped between power-hungry humans and exposed to ill will. When she becomes gravely injured, will the water dragon god be able to save her? How will these two change during this time of distress?

Review- The Water Dragon is trying to help or protect Asahi from greedy people around her but he just keeps making it worse. So he decides to send her home after he views her dreams. But now she has been gone and her family does not know what to do and neither does Asahi. This was a very interesting  volume with the Water Dragon trying different things and he is starting to change from who he was in the beginning. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger with Asahi maybe summoning the Water Dragon or trying to go back in time again. This series just keeps getting better with every volume. 

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. 

Asunder

Today’s post is on Asunder by Jodi Meadows. It is 406 and is published by Katherine Tegen Books. It is the second in the Newsoul Trilogy. The cover is a close-up picture of a girl with flower petals around her eyes. As it is the second volume you need to have read the first book Incarnate. There is some very mild foul language, no sex, and some mild violence's in this book. The story is told from first person close of the main character Ana. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Asunder. Apart. Alone
Ana has always been the only newsoul, but after Templedark some hold her responsible for the darksouls lost- and the newsouls who may be born in their place. Then when sylph begin behaving differently toward her, the people turn violent and Ana must learn to stand up not only for herself but for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Love. All Ana wants is to live and love as an equal among the citizens of Heart, but even when Sam professes his deepest feelings, it seems impossible to overcome a lifetime of rejection. When she discovers the hard truth about reincarnation and the hostility in Heart begins to escalate, can Ana find a way to embrace love and make her life meaningful?

Review- A great second volume in a very different series. Ana is trying to discover what is really going on with Janan, the Heart, newsouls and darksouls and we are along for the ride. She starts with her father’s research but then another newsoul is born and everything comes crashing down. The plot is fast-paced with lots of action and discoveries in this book. Ana is starting to see what happened five thousand years old to create this world. The background information is great and I am starting to understand this world more myself. I really like this mix of fantasy and science fiction that this series has, it is unusual and a lot of fun. I am looking forward for the final volume and see what happens to Ana and this world. 

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

Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics

Today’s Nonfiction post is on Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics by Dolly Parton, Robert K. Oermann. It is 380 pages long and is published by Chronicle Books. The cover is a close up picture of Dolly Parton. The intended reader is someone who is interested in Dolly Parton and country music history. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead. 

From the dust jacket- Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics is a landmark celebration of the remarkable life and career of a country music and pop culture legend.

As told by Dolly Parton in her own inimitable words, explore the songs that have defined her journey. Illustrated throughout with previously unpublished images from Dolly Parton's personal and business archives.

Mining over 60 years of songwriting, Dolly Parton highlights 175 of her songs and brings readers behind the lyrics.

• Packed with never-before-seen photographs and classic memorabilia

• Explores personal stories, candid insights, and myriad memories behind the songs

Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics reveals the stories and memories that have made Dolly a beloved icon across generations, genders, and social and international boundaries.

Containing rare photos and memorabilia from Parton's archives, this book is a show-stopping must-have for every Dolly Parton fan.

• Learn the history behind classic Parton songs like "Jolene," "9 to 5," "I Will Always Love You," and more.

• The perfect gift for Dolly Parton fans (everyone loves Dolly!) as well as lovers of music history and country

Review- A fascinating look into one of the most famous singer and songwriter of modern country music. Parton brings her special touch to this book about her music and her life. We follow her from childhood all the way to being very famous and in demand. Parton includes pictures, the lyrics, and written insights into why she wrote what she did at that time. The essays are interesting and well written. I had a good time with this memoir and if you are a fan of country music history or Dolly Parton herself, I would recommend this book.

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

Sweat and Soap, Vol. 2

Today’s post is on Sweat and Soap, Vol. 2 by Kintetsu Yamada. It is 224 pages long and is published by Kodansha Comics. The cover has the main characters Asako and Kotaro on it. As it is the second volume in the series, you need to have read the first volume. There is no foul language, mild sexuality, and no violence in this series. The story is told from third person close of Asako. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- On their scent
Asako Yaeshima and Kotaro Natori’s scent-sual relationship is going well, though they’ve decided to keep it a secret from their coworkers for now. However, Kotaro’s protégé, Korisu Ichise, can sense something’s going on between two two of them… but what? And when Asako tells her family about her new beau, her brother decides Kotaro needs to be put to the test. Because a playboy like Kotaro must spell doom for his sister… right?

Review- A cute continuation of the first volume. Asako and Kotaro are dealing with this new relationship and they are so sweet together. They talk, they want the same things, and they are starting to get serious about each other. Asako tells her mother and brother about Kotaro and brother is afraid that his sister is being used by a player. Of course Kotaro is not doing any such thing and her brother sees that quickly. Already some people at their work are onto them but no one really cares as they work in different departments and do different things. I enjoyed this volume and I look forward to reading more about Asako and Kotaro. 

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.

Not That Kind of Guy

Today’s post on Not That Kind of Guy by Andie J. Christopher. It is 320 pages long and is published by Jove. The cover is an illustration of the two main characters. There is some foul language, discussion of sex and sexuality, and no violence in this novel. This is a stand alone novel. The story is told from third person close of the two main characters, Bridget and Matt. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- An office attraction becomes something more when they're off the clock in this delightful romantic comedy by the USA Today bestselling author of Not the Girl You Marry.
State attorney Bridget Nolan is successful in all aspects of her life--except romance. After breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, she's been slow to reenter the dating scene. To be honest, she has more important things to do like putting bad guys behind bars. But with her brother's wedding right around the corner, she suddenly needs a date and fast. Lucky for Bridget, the legal intern is almost done with his program.
Matt Kido is dumbstruck by Bridget--total love at first sight--but there's one problem. She's totally off-limits while she's his boss. But the moment he no longer reports to her, Matt asks her on a date. An impulsive decision takes them to Las Vegas where, as the saying goes, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
Unless you put a ring on it.

Review- A cute romance that I mostly enjoyed. Bridget and Matt are cute, they have good chemistry and good banter, and they earn their happily-ever-after. The sex is not very descriptive, which was fine with me, it did not lose anything by that. The side characters are great and add to the story. The only thing I did not really care for was the sub-plot of Matt’s mother trying to buy Bridget off and Bridget not telling Matt about it until almost the end of the novel. That was not the best conflict in this story, I liked the two ex’es who would not deal with the fact that the previous relationships were over and they were never going to get back together. But it was all in all a very cute story and I enjoyed it.

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.

Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 13

Today’s post is on Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 13 by Mizuho Kusanagi. It is published  by Shojo Beat and is 192 pages long. The cover has Su-Won and his generals on it. As it is the thirteenth in the series you need to have read the first twelve volumes to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes epic fantasy, shojo manga, and epic long stories. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this manga. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Kang Su-jin, chief of the Fire Tribe, has been plotting to become the ruler of the Kingdom of Kohka—and now he’s started an uprising by attacking Su-won at Hiryuu Palace! As the armies clash on the battlefield, will Yona and her friends join the fray with so much on the line?!

Review- Most of this volume is the battle between Su-Won forces and Su-Jin’s. We get to see how brilliant Su-Won is in battle and how much loyalty he has gathered to himself from the other tribes. We still really don’t know why Su-won is doing what he is doing or why but we see that he is very good at it. We do see a little of Yona and Co. helping with the battle a little but not too much. Also Yona and Su-Won face each other for a moment across the battlefield and then they move on. I’m curious about where Yona and Co. are going now and I don’t want to see Su-Won for a while. 

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

Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed

Today’s post is on Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed by Laurie Halse Anderson and  Leila del Duca (Illustrator). It is 208 pages long and is published by DC Comics. The cover is a close-up of Diana’s face with waves. The intended reader is someone who likes Wonder Woman. There is no foul language, no sex, and mild violence in this comic. The story is told from third person close of Diana. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Princess Diana believes that her 16th birthday will be one of new beginnings--namely acceptance into the warrior tribe of Amazons. The celebrations are cut short, however, when rafts of refugees break through the Themysciran barrier. Diana tries to help them, but she is swept away by the sea--and from her home--thus becoming a refugee herself.
Now Diana must survive in the world outside of Themyscira for the first time; the world that is filled with danger and injustice. She must redefine what it means to belong, to be an Amazon, and to make a difference.

Review- This is a good origin story for a new arc in Wonder Woman’s story. Diana gets swept away from her home in a storm as she tries to save innocent people. Now Diana is a refugee herself and trying to find her way home but home maybe very different than she thought. The art is great, the story is moving, and Diana grows over the course of the story. DC is trying to market their characters to a new young audience and in this one I think that they have a good way in. Diana cares about the things that the teens in my life cared about and talking about. Wonder Woman herself is timeless and she moves forward with her own strength and values. I had a good time reading this graphic novel and I would recommend it. 

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