Book Traveling Thursdays

I am going to attempt to post the Book Traveling Thursdays topics. These will be short and sweet posts. To see the original group check out Book Traveling Thursdays on goodreads.

 

Here’s how it works:

• Pick a book! At the beginning of every month a list of themes will be posted. All you have to do is choose a book that fits the theme.
• In your blog post, the first thing you will want to include is an explanation of why your chosen book fits the theme.
• Look at covers from multiple editions and multiple countries for the book you chose.
• Finally, include pictures of the original cover, the cover from your country (if their are multiple covers from your country include all of them!), your favorite cover, and your least favorite cover.
• Be sure to tag your posts with booktravelingthursdays so we can all see each others posts!

Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon

Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon is only a few days away! It begins on Saturday April 29 at 7 a.m. CT and runs through Sunday April 30 at 7 a.m. CT. I am undecided if I will be reading for the whole time, but it’s not about reading for 24 hours straight, it’s about spending some time reading on that day and interacting with others. Search the #deweys24hourreadathon on Instagram to talk with others. There are a few challenges going around as well. I am hoping to use my Instagram too @kanksbooklife. Add me if you haven’t yet!


I thought I’d provide some suggestions/tips to help you through the readathon.

1. Let others know you are doing it so they can either participate or leave you alone.
2. Make sure you have snacks, drinks, food to avoid being interrupted.
3. Don’t do too much. If you normally don’t read for hours at a time, then don’t start now.
4. Get up and move around to avoid aches and pains.
5. Don’t choose a 500 page book. You might get bored and put in a reading slump.

What books are you planning to read?

Review: Half Bad

The Details

Title: Half Bad

Author: Sally Green

Genre: YA Fantasy

Length: 394 pages

Release Date: March 4, 2014

Medium: Hardcover

Rating: 3.5/5

Pace: Medium

Stand-alone or Series: Book 1 of the Half Bad Trilogy

“I couldn’t ever touch anything as bad as you.”

The Goodreads Synopsis

Wanted by no one. Hunted by everyone.

Sixteen-year-old Nathan lives in a cage: beaten, shackled, trained to kill. In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world's most terrifying and violent witch, Marcus. Nathan's only hope for survival is to escape his captors, track down Marcus, and receive the three gifts that will bring him into his own magical powers—before it's too late. But how can Nathan find his father when there is no one safe to trust, not even family, not even the girl he loves?

Half Bad is an international sensation and the start of a brilliant trilogy: a gripping tale of alienation and the indomitable will to survive.

The Review

I found many controversial topics throughout this book. First, there is both black and white witches. The black witches are hunted and killed. Second, the slavery and abuse was evident throughout the entire story. Nathan is known as a half code, his father is the most wanted black witch in history and his mother is white. His struggle with knowing who he was and dealing with how bad he was seen was engaging and interesting. I was annoyed with the cage he lived in throughout the book and was so upset when he was bullied.

THIS BOOK IS NOT ABOUT MAGIC! I repeat, the book is not like Harry Potter or any other magical books you may have loved. There’s some reference to the witches different abilities, but nothing detailed. Maybe the rest of the trilogy covers this more?

The Characters

Nathan, the main character, was an alright character. He was the one everyone hated, the black sheep of the family. He did hold his own throughout the book.

Honestly, I don’t have a bunch of character names to list as they all blended together. I know there was the council that was against him and tried everything to get rid of him. Their kids were just as horrible. Then Nathan’s family, was also a bunch of jerks. Except his lone brother that tried to be there for him.

The Style

The style of the book was odd to me. At first, I thought I was reading it the way it was because the main character wasn’t educated. But some parts of the book are well written, while others are as if a second grader wrote it. I enjoyed the first chunk and the ending, but the middle was slow and lacked something, I am not sure what that something is, but it put me in a reading slump.

The Recommendation

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a different kind of witch tale. Be on the lookout for some triggers though: whites/blacks, slavery, bullying, and suicide.

Review: Red Queen

The Details

Title: Red Queen

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Read By: N/A

Genre: YA Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Dystopian

Length: 383 pages

Release Date: February 10, 2015

Medium: Paperback

Rating: 5/5

Pace: Fast

Stand-alone or Series: Book 1 of the Red Queen Trilogy

“Anyone can betray anyone.”

The Goodreads Synopsis

This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.

The Review

Debut novel by this author. I was instantly hooked! This novel was an amazing combination of history (in it’s own world), sci-fi, and dystopian. I loved the main character and what she stood for. Having not known who she was and what she was capable of, she was always looking to help others.

There are some intense betrayals throughout the book from all characters. I never knew who I could trust. The same issue that Mare had throughout the book. The action scenes were so detailed! I loved feeling like I could visualize the whole book.

When you’d think there couldn’t be any more twists, there is. Without spoiling the book, I can’t say any more.

The Style

The book was well written and very easy to follow. I didn’t feel like I was jumping around while reading it. It was fast paced and I read it in about a day and a half. I just had to know what happened next and ran to the library for the second novel.

The Recommendation

I recommend this book to those looking for dystopian novel. There is a strong presence of sci-fi/fantasy as the characters have powers. Keep in mind when going into this book that some of the story isn’t necessarily original as it is similar to other dystopian type books. Which, is part of the reason I loved it so much. 

Review: The Woman in Cabin 10

The Details

Title: The Woman in Cabin 10

Author: Ruth Ware

Read By: Imogen Church

Genre: Fiction, Mystery

Length: 380 pages

Release Date:

Medium: Audiobook

Rating: 3.5/5

Pace: Medium

Stand-alone or Series: Stand-Alone

“I know what it's like. Don't you see? I know what she must have felt like, when someone came for her in the middle of the night. That's why I have to find out who did this to her.”

The Goodreads Synopsis

In this tightly wound story, Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. At first, Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for—and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong…

With surprising twists and a setting that proves as uncomfortably claustrophobic as it is eerily beautiful, Ruth Ware offers up another intense read.

The Review

This is my first ready by this author. I was so intrigued right away and excited to see what would happen. The first few chapters were not what I was expecting. To be honest, I didn’t read any of the reviews before starting this one. It was a book club choice of the month and I knew the synopsis sounded great.

I enjoyed the book for the most part. I didn’t like the main character, Lo. She was so bossy and rude throughout the entire book. For being a journalist and trying to get people to talk to her she wasn’t very approachable. She was relatable with the panic attacks and the feeling of claustrophobia as many people suffer from those things daily.

The story line was OK. I wasn’t blown away, but thought it was an interesting take on the cruise ship mystery. I was questioning each and every character trying to figure out the big story. I kept wanting to turn on my phone to listen to the audio book. So, the suspense factor was great.

The Style

I felt like the style of the book was well done. The narrator did a great job with the different characters. It was a bit slow at the start and then the ending felt so rushed.

The Recommendation

I recommend this book to those looking for a simple mystery read. Keep in mind however the triggers involved including: weight, depression, anxiety, claustrophobia, and shipwrecks/drownings.

Review: Gilded Cage

The Details

Title: Gilded Cage

Author: Vic James

Genre: Dystopian, YA

Length: 368 pages

Release Date: February 17, 2017

Medium: E-Book

Rating: 4/5 stars

Pace: Medium

Stand-alone or Series: Series Dark Gifts #1

“Do your slavedays too old, you’ll never get through them. Do your slavedays too young, you’ll never get over them.”

The Goodreads Synopsis

Not all are free. Not all are equal. Not all will be saved.
Our world belongs to the Equals — aristocrats with magical gifts — and all commoners must serve them for ten years. But behind the gates of England's grandest estate lies a power that could break the world. 
A girl thirsts for love and knowledge.
Abi is a servant to England's most powerful family, but her spirit is free. So when she falls for one of the noble-born sons, Abi faces a terrible choice. Uncovering the family's secrets might win her liberty, but will her heart pay the price? 
A boy dreams of revolution.
Abi's brother, Luke, is enslaved in a brutal factory town. Far from his family and cruelly oppressed, he makes friends whose ideals could cost him everything. Now Luke has discovered there may be a power even greater than magic: revolution. 
And an aristocrat will remake the world with his dark gifts.
He is a shadow in the glittering world of the Equals, with mysterious powers no one else understands. But will he liberate—or destroy?

The Review        

I was provided this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

Seconds please! This book has its own magical world that I loved. I enjoyed the different take on a dystopian genre. The slavetowns were a new concept that I found interesting. I felt there was so much history behind the book and loved the world building. I was eager to know what was going to happen and the ending has me begging for more!

The Characters

I enjoyed most of the main characters. I felt like the Kingston estate characters could use a bit more detail, but then again the darkness behind them was mysterious.

Abi was the sister everyone wants and loves. Doing whatever it takes to keep her family safe.

Luke was a great character that I cheered for the entire time. He felt so real and relatable.

The Style

This book is told from different perspectives every chapter or so. Sometimes that drives me crazy, but the flow was great.

The Recommendation

I recommend this to anyone looking for a magical and historical type of book. 

#T5W: Goals (01/04/2017)

Today’s Top 5 Wednesday topic is Goals. These do not need to be reading goals specifically, they can be any goals you want to talk about. Reading goals, blog/channel/instagram goals, personal goals...anything!

This year I have many goals I want to accomplish in my life. I have book goals, lifestyle goals, and career goals, below are just a few.

1. BLOG! I have been without internet so it makes it difficult to update my blog. I want to get myself to go out to the library or another place with free wi-fi. Such as, Barnes and Noble, where I am now!
2. Read 52 books. In 2016 my goal was to read 24 books (2 per month). I reached that goal by reading 30 books. I was in a rut for the first few months of the year and a couple minor ones throughout. My goal is to keep pushing through those ruts by reading middle grade or other shorter and simpler books. Add me on Goodreads!
3. Kanksbooklife Instagram. I have been lacking on this front as well. I have been traveling the country with my boyfriend in a semi and have only been reading e-books. They aren’t as great to photograph. I hope to spend more time with my physical books now that I am not gone for a month at a time.
4. Health. I want to improve my overall health. Make healthier choices, exercise, and hopefully lose a few pounds. I really want to improve my stamina and mood as well.
5. CTMH. I recently became a Close to my Heart Independent Consultant. I have tons of goals for that alone, but the first and foremost is to keep up with it. I plan to create a blog and already have an Intagram.

For more information on #T5W check out my Introduction to Top5 Wednesday post.

Review: Disaster at Roosevelt Ranch

The Details

Title: Disaster at Roosevelt Ranch

Author: Elise Faber

Genre: Romance

Length: 211 pages

Release Date: December 13, 2016

Medium: E-book

Rating: 3.5/5

Pace: Fast

Stand-alone or Series: Book 1 in Roosevelt Ranch series

“I had never thought of a plus sign as a bad thing. Of course, I’d never had on show up on a sick I’d peed on. Kudos to me, that changed today.”

The Goodreads Synopsis

I slept with the wrong twin.

And all I got for it in return was a broken heart.

Oh yeah, and a baby on the way—there’s that too.

But I’m determined to make it on my own. I don’t need a man, thank you very much. Not rich, charismatic, and decidedly flighty Rex Roosevelt, and especially not his twin brother, Justin.

No matter that the gorgeous former military doctor makes my heart beat a little faster . . . and all spots lower pay careful, careful attention.

None of that matters. The Roosevelt men are dangerous and I’m steering clear.

The trouble is, Justin refuses to leave me be.

And deep down, I don’t want to avoid him.

Deep down, I want to be even closer.

The Review

I was provided this e-book from the author and publisher on NetGalley for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book from the first page. It was light hearted and a very quick read (one sitting to be exact). This isn’t the traditional romance where two fall in love, then one runs away, and they fall back in love. It was fast paced, but almost too fast for me. The beginning had great story line and build up, but the middle and end felt so rushed. I wanted to linger in the romance a little longer before the drastic change in events.

The Characters

Kelly was so relatable. Instead of being the traditional, “I wish my life would end up like that”, I felt like so many people can relate to her circumstances.

Justin, stole the show from the first mention of him. He is the well-known hero that everyone loves. I enjoyed his background story and his characteristics.

Rex, made me mad, enough said about him.

The Style

This is a very fast paced book. There are some adult sexual scenes, as there are in most romance novels.

The Recommendation

I recommend this to anyone who loves reading romance. It was a light and fun read on a cold winter day for me. This was my first book from this author. I look forward to the second installment from Roosevelt Ranch. 

Review: The Mistletoe Promise

The Details

Title: The Mistletoe Promise

Author: Richard Paul Evans

Genre: Romance

Length: 251 pages

Release Date: November 18, 2014

Medium: E-book

Rating: 3.5/5

Pace: Fast

Stand-alone or Series: Mistletoe Collection (Stand-alone)

"What I do know is that everyone makes mistakes. That's why forgiveness is so important. Unfortunately, so many of us are bad at it."

The Goodreads Synopsis

Elise Dutton dreads the arrival of another holiday season. Three years earlier, her husband cheated on her with her best friend, resulting in a bitter divorce that left her alone, broken, and distrustful.

Then, one November day, a stranger approaches Elise in the mall food court. Though she recognizes the man from her building, Elise has never formally met him. Tired of spending the holidays alone, the man offers her a proposition. For the next eight weeks—until the evening of December 24—he suggests that they pretend to be a couple. He draws up a contract with four rules:

1. No deep, probing personal questions

2. No drama

3. No telling anyone the truth about the relationship

4. The contract is void on Christmas Day

The lonely Elise surprises herself by agreeing to the idea. As the charade progresses, the safety of her fake relationship begins to mend her badly broken heart. But just as she begins to find joy again, her long-held secret threatens to unravel the emerging relationship. But she might not be the only one with secrets.

The Review

My first thoughts, this is a cliché Christmas novel. Pretending to be in a relationship for the holidays instantly made me think of a Hallmark T.V. movie. Not that this is a bad thing, but I wanted more from it. I appreciated the different take on how it became a relationship with the Mistletoe Promise (contract).

Many readers and reviewers stopped reading this novel due to the flashbacks to the history of the main characters’ lives. Both extremely tragic and heart wrenching, it might not be suitable for all readers.

The Characters

The two main characters within this novel have incredible back stories. They are very real and I could see them as actual people versus fictional characters. I wish we could have seen more into the stranger’s life (name withheld to avoid spoiler).

The Style

This was a simple and easy read. I read it in one sitting. It was fast and didn’t drag out parts that didn’t need to be.

The Recommendation
I do recommend this book, but I don’t plan to read it again. It was a cozy Christmas read, but nothing more than that for me. 

T5W: Books You Want to Finally Read in 2017 (12/07/2016)

This weeks #T5W topic is Books You Want to Finally Read in 2017. These are those books you meant to read in 2016 or 2015 or 2014 and never got around to. Those books that have been sitting on your TBR for a while, and you really want to get to. These aren't upcoming 2017 releases; these are older books that need your love too!

1. City of Bones – Cassandra ClareI am way behind the times on Cassandra Clare as I haven’t read any of her books yet. I have started this book more times than I am willing to admit. I just need to be in the right state of mind to read this book. Hopefully, 2017 is the year to finally read this highly recommended book.
2. Me Before You – JoJo MoyesHere is another, get on the bandwagon book for me. I mean come on, it’s already a movie and I haven’t read the book! I own it, I really have no excuses.
3. Throne of Glass – Sarah J. MaasAlright another well-known book. It’s been on my list for years now, but I just haven’t gotten around to picking it up. I am not 100% sure it’s going to be my style of read. To be honest, I am worried it won’t live up to the hype and I will hate it. Basically, for this reason, I haven’t read it.
4. Miss Peregrine’s Homefor Peculiar Children – Ransom RiggsFunny story on why I haven’t gotten around to this one… I thought it was a horror novel! I mean some 1,100 users have flagged it as horror on Goodreads. Horror and I just don’t mix. I like to read at night and can’t read something that will keep me up. We finally discussed this book at book club one night because Barnes and Noble had a free pack of “photos” from the orphanage. I have the paper copy and look forward to reading it soon!
5. B is for Burglar – Sue GraftonI read the first installment, A is for Alibi in 2014, and have been meaning to continue ever since. It keeps getting put on my TBR for the month, but then I don’t get to it or I am not in the mood for a mystery. I really hope to get to this one and might have to re-read the first. 

For more information on #T5W check out my Introduction to Top5 Wednesday post.

Read On, Kank