IMM (2)

Last week and the beginning of this week have been the busiest weeks I have had by far since I started this blog. Thank you to everyone who has sent me things for review. Here is what I got this week:

The Deliverer by Jason D. Morrow

Dizzy Miss Lizzie by R.M. Clark

The Unsacred Gift by C.S. Dorsey

Dark Matter Heart by Nathan Wrann

 












From Out of Chaos by Nathan Wrann

Needless to say I will be quite busy in the coming weeks! Once again, thank you to everyone that sent me these books. I can't wait to get through them and get reviews up for you.

Throwback Thursday (3)

 

Book:

Why

The premise of this book has always been interesting to me. I've got a pretty tall stack of books in my TBR pile, but rest assured that once I get around to reading some of my classics this will be very close to the top of the list. I mean, who doesn't want to read about a crazy middle aged guy that thinks he's a knight? Sounds like a good time to me!

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

"Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event, hosted by “Breaking the Spine”, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My Pick This Week:

Description:

Whatever happened to Calico Joe?

     It began quietly enough with a pulled hamstring. The first baseman for the Cubs AAA affiliate in Wichita went down as he rounded third and headed for home. The next day, Jim Hickman, the first baseman for the Cubs, injured his back. The team suddenly needed someone to play first, so they reached down to their AA club in Midland, Texas, and called up a twenty-one-year-old named Joe Castle. He was the hottest player in AA and creating a buzz.

In the summer of 1973 Joe Castle was the boy wonder of baseball, the greatest rookie anyone had ever seen.  The kid from Calico Rock, Arkansas dazzled Cub fans as he hit home run after home run, politely tipping his hat to the crowd as he shattered all rookie records.

Calico Joe quickly became the idol of every baseball fan in America, including Paul Tracey, the young son of a hard-partying and hard-throwing Mets pitcher. On the day that Warren Tracey finally faced Calico Joe, Paul was in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his Dad. Then Warren threw a fastball that would change their lives forever…

In John Grisham’s new novel the baseball is thrilling, but it’s what happens off the field that makes CALICO JOE a classic.

*Excerpt taken from Goodreads

Book Details

Title: Calico Joe

Author: John Grisham

Genre: Adult Fiction

Hardcover: 208 pages

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday

Release Date: April 2012

ISBN: 0385536070

ISBN-13: 9780385536073

 

Why I'm Waiting

John Grisham is one of my favorite authors of all time and I have a love for baseball so this book seems like a no-brainier for me. 

Vote for me!

 Hey guys, come by and vote for my blog! Just click on the link under the icon and vote! Thanks so much.

Vote for this blog for the Independent Book Blogger Awards!

Vote

Book Review: The Black Book of Secrets by F.E. Higgins

A boy arrives at a remote village in the dead of night. His name is Ludlow Fitch—and he is running from a most terrible past. What he is about to learn is that in this village is the life he has dreamed of—a safe place to live, and a job, as the assistant to a mysterious pawnbroker who trades people’s deepest, darkest secrets for cash. Ludlow’s job is to neatly transcribe the confessions in an ancient leather-bound tome: The Black Book of Secrets.

Ludlow yearns to trust his mentor, who refuses to disclose any information on his past experiences or future intentions. What the pawnbroker does not know is, in a town brimming with secrets, the most troubling may be held by his new apprentice.

*Excerpt from Amazon

This book was an interesting read to say the least. At the beginning of the book I had no idea what a "secret pawnbroker" was. And, to be honest, most of the way through the book I still didn't know. This book keeps you going until the end because you just have to find out what's going on. I enjoyed this quick read. It's geared towards middle school kids I would say.

Higgins does a great job with his character and plot development. The only criticism I would have is that there were a few parts where villagers were telling their secrets that got a bit repetitive. The secrets were all different, but the way the book read was repetitive, if that makes any sense. There were a few twists and turns that I was not expecting, which made for a good read.

If you are looking for a quick read to pass a weekend and you are into middle grade literature then this would be a good book for you to pick up. I believe it is part of a series as well so I'm sure I will end up reading the other books in the series.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Book Review: Casting Stones by G.M. Barlean

First of all I would like to thank Gina Barlean for sending me this book for review. Having said that, lets get to the review.

It has been a very long time since I have had an emotional investment in a book. Casting Stones had me in it's grip from the beginning of page 1. There were times when I was reading that I wanted to literally yell and scream at the characters in this book. There where times where I felt sad for some of the characters in the story. There were times when I had to set the book down and come back to it because I couldn't stand to read anymore about what was going on. This book was a masterpiece when it comes to getting you invested in the characters and the story.

Speaking of the characters; they were so well crafted! James, one of the main characters was a prime example of this. In the beginning of the story I felt sorry for him, then there were parts that I was so angry at him that I probably would have tried to deck him if I met him in real life, then I went back to feeling sorry for him. There was just an emotional connection with all of the characters in this book.

I'm not going to go into the plot because I don't want to give anything away. You have to read this book to fully appreciate what goes on it it. My retelling of the plot would not do it justice. If you would like to see a trailer for the book you can click here.


This book is a must read for any and all readers. It doesn't matter what genre you like; I believe you will like this book. Thank you again Gina for sending me this book. I can't wait for your next book to come out! You can find this book here.

Overall Rating: 5/5

Book Review: The Hunt for the Seventh by Christine Morton-Shaw

A haunted mansion.
Six dead children.
A garden of statues.

With every step he takes around the carefully manicured grounds of Minerva Hall, Jim is haunted by the ghosts of children, long dead, whom no one else can see. Urging him to "find the Seventh," the children leave him cryptic clues pointing to a devastating ancient prophecy that only he can stop from being fulfilled.

Jim befriends another boy--Einstein, who lives at the Hall. Einstein is autistic and very, very smart. If anyone can help Jim find the Seventh, perhaps he can--Einstein clearly knows more than he is saying. At the same time, the dead children seem to be leaving Jim some sort of macabre treasure trail.

If Jim doesn't figure out the clues, innocent people will die. But how can Jim find the answers while the dangers of the Hall grow ever more threatening? And even if he can, the real question is--is Jim already too late?

Linking ancient rites with modern mystery, Christine Morton-Shaw has crafted an eerie thriller that will keep readers guessing until its startling conclusion.

*Summary take from Goodreads

Review:
I just finished up this fascinating read by Christine Morton-Shaw. The Hunt for the Seventh was a wonderfully written book. There were many times in the book that I had no idea where the plot was heading so that makes it a great thriller I suppose.

The characters and plot of this book were excellent. The characters were well developed, but not over developed. I never found myself bored with an over explanation of what was going on, as some authors are prone to doing. The plot had sufficient twists and turns to keep you reading all the way to the end. Morton-Shaw did a fantastic job in crafting this story.

This book is written for middle school aged kids I would say. If you are a parent and you don't like the idea of ghosts, witches, and magic then I think it would be best if you steer clear of this book. If you don't mind those things then this as a fantastic, and quick, read.

Overall Rating: 4/5