Escape to Redemption by Peter M. Parr

From Goodreads.com: Josie only had the gun to frighten Curtis Rook, but his son disturbed her. One startled reflex and now he's dead. Josie flees to Poland leaving her boyfriend Snaz to take the rap. A reformed criminal offers her refuge from the police and the chance to begin a new life, but she cannot hide from her guilt. As the stakes rise, Josie begins to realise that only her own forgiveness can set her free. Fast-paced and original, Peter M. Parr's contemporary take on Crime and Punishment challenges traditional ideas about guilt and redemption, and the meaning of forgiveness. 

My Take: This book is about two people who need to grow up and happen to murder someone on their way.  Josie learns who her mother was and how she dies so she talks her friend Snaz into helping her to threaten the man who killed her mother Rook.  When she is threatening Rook with a gun she acccidently shoots his son and kills him.  She then runs away and leaves Snaz to take the blame.  Along the way we see our two killers make deisions that are good and ones that are bad.  I would give this book a 4 star rating and recommend it to people who like thrillers.  

I received  a review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. 

Audiobook review of Symbiont by Mira Grant

From Audible:  The second book in Mira Grant's terrifying parasitology series.

The enemy is inside us.

The SymboGen designed tapeworms were created to relieve humanity of disease and sickness. But the implants in the majority of the world's population began attacking their hosts turning them into a ravenous horde.

Now those who do not appear to be afflicted are being gathered for quarantine as panic spreads, but Sal and her companions must discover how the tapeworms are taking over their hosts, what their eventual goal is, and how they can be stopped.

©2014 Mira Grant (P)2014 Hachette Audio

My Take:  I liked the first book in this series so I thought I would try the second book.  It brought back most of the characters that were in the first book.  In this world parasites were introduced to help heal people of different diseases.  Unfortunately some of the parasites have made their way to the brains of their host bodies and have taken over and are making them attack other humans like zombies.  Sal even though she has a tapeworm has taken over the body because the girl was dead but she does turn into what they are calling a sleep walker.  They are trying to find out why some turn into sleep walker while others don't.  Different factions are conduction their own experiments some ethically and some not so much.  There is alot of action in this book.  I will probably be getting the next book with my next Audible Credits.  

Narration:  The narrator for this book is Christine Lakin.  You might remember as one of the kids from the show Step by Step.  Anyway she did a really good job of making all of the characters have different voices and she sounded excited when she should have and displayed the proper emotions.  She also paused when she should have.  Excellent job.  

This book was from my personal library at Audible. 

#Fridayreads Sept 16

Here is what I plan on reading this weekend.

My book is


UnWhooly by Neal Shusterman book 2 in the Unwind Dystology

My Audio book is :



Symbiont by Mira Grant book 2 in the Parasitology Series

If I finish Symbiont I will start


Murder Tightly Knit by Vannetta Chapman  the second book in the Amish Village Mysteries.

The Hanging Tree by Michael Phillip Cash

From Goodreads.com:  Enter a world where spirits roam the earth in Michael Phillip Cash's haunting new novella, The Hanging Tree. Set amid the eerie backdrop of Long Island, an area famously steeped in old legend, two young would-be lovers contemplate their future while visits from those who have come before them reveal the lure of fate...and the power of free will. At seventeen years old, Arielle's relationship with her parents is slowly deteriorating. Angry and defiant, she is at a loss on how to cope with the tumultuous situation in which she finds herself. Arielle's only comfort is Chad, an eighteen-year-old young man who seems to truly understand her struggles. Arielle and Chad meet beneath the low-hanging branches of what the local community has nick-named the "Hanging Tree". An ancient and majestic landmark, it has long been rumored that the tree is haunted by ghosts. These ghosts span various centuries and vary wildly in age, but each one of them has one thing in common: their deaths are all somehow connected to the tree itself. As Arielle and Chad commiserate over their current situation and their precarious nature of their future, the spectral inhabitants of the Hanging Tree witness their conversation. One by one,the ghosts begin reminiscing about their own lives-and deaths- as they examine the inner demons with which their human forms long struggled. An eerie meditation on the oft-overlooked power of choice, Cash's The Hanging Tree will stay with readers long after they turn out the light.

My Take :  This is a ghost story of sorts as there are ghosts but they really don't haunt anyone.  It started back in the days of witch hunts, the first ghost is a woman who was accused of being a witch .  She curses the family of the man (the local pastor) who did the most for getting her hanged.  The rest of the ghosts are the descendants of the pastor who one by one have been hanged on that tree.  Fast forward to present day when Arielle is dating Chad who only wants one thing from her.  As the ghosts watch they also comment on what is going on.  A nice little twist at the end. 

I received a review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

The Gathering: Shadow House by Dan Poblocki

From Goodreads.com : You don't just read this ghost story. You step into it. Some houses are more than just haunted... they're hungry.

Dash, Dylan, Poppy, Marcus, and Azumi don't know this at first. They each think they've been summoned to Shadow House for innocent reasons. But there's nothing innocent about Shadow House.

Something within its walls is wickedly wrong.  Nothing -- and nobody -- can be trusted. Hallways move. Doors vanish. Ghosts appear. Children disappear.

And the way out?

That's disappeared, too...

Enter Shadow House... if you dare.

Don't just read about Shadow House -- explore its haunted depths with the free app!
 

My Take:  I liked this book.  It is geared for middle grade and I don't think it is that scary to bother most middle graders.  There are ghosts so be aware .  Five kids each receive an invitation to come to Larkspur house.  Each invitation is different as to appeal to each kids interests.  Once they arrive they find that the invitations were not truthful and they find various obstacles to leaving.  They are some thrilling moments.  

I received a review copy of this book from the Amazon vine program in exchange for my honest review. 

#Yearathon September Wrap Up

The Theme for this month's yearathon was short book under 200 pages.  I was only able to complete two books because I developed a small reading slump.

Here are the books I read.



The Hanging Tree by Michael Phillip Cash



The Gathering : Shadow House by Dan Poblocki

The Retreat by Kelly St. Clare

From Goodread.com: arth is ruined. Humankind destroyed. And it’s old news.

Romy’s life is simple—for a genetically enhanced space soldier; pick up space junk with her four friends, and stave off the invaders fixated on stealing Planet Earth.

It isn’t much. But it’s temporary—only another 850 years to go, give or take.

When her crew tangles with a gulp-worthy alien mothership, Romy’s return to Earth is brought forwards at hurtling pace.

Strength comes from the unlikeliest of quarters.

As does leadership.

…As does betrayal.

My Take:  I haven't read anything before by Kelly St. Clare but I think that will change soon because I will be looking for her other series.  I am not really the biggest Sci-Fi  fan but lately this year it seems as if a lot of the books I have liked are Sci- Fi in nature.  This book was very good.  It had alot of action and aliens and betrayal and everything that makes a good sci-fi book.  The main characters are genetically inhanced and they must defend Earth because aliens want to take it over.  They have been told that Earth is not habitable but is this really true.  Things that Romy and her crew have been true turn out to be not so much.  this book was great And I would give it a 4.5 stars. 

I received a review copy of this book by Chapter by Chapter in exchange for an honest review. 

Starving Hearts by Janine Mendenhall

Starving Hearts (Heritage Beacon Fiction, May 2016)

Since her assault, Miss Annette Chetwynd has been plagued by nightmares and worries about an arranged marriage.

She yearns to find her anonymous rescuer. Unfortunately, her health and intellect prevent it. Both repel suitors and cause Annette to doubt God’s existence, at least until He answers her prayers in an unusual way. . . .

Mr. Peter Adsley is joining the clergy, and he desires a godly wife by his side. After a failed attempt to obtain one, he engages in a clandestine meeting with the bewitching young woman who keeps crossing his path. But she is so unsettling.

Destined for disappointments, Peter and Annette both endure disgraceful situations. Will Peter’s faith sustain him through overwhelming setbacks? Can Annette overcome her doubts? Or will their starving hearts yield to the machinations of a mad man?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{MORE ABOUT JANINE MENDENHALL}

Janine Mendenhall teaches teens English, of all things! Sometimes she sleeps, but most nights she reads, writes, or watches movies like “Pride and Prejudice” and claims she’s researching her next book. “Splickety Love” and “Splickety Prime” have published her flash fiction. She and her husband, Tom, live in North Carolina where they and their two golden retrievers help gratify the needs of their five children and two cats.

Find out more about Janine athttp://www.janinemendenhall.com.

My Take: This book was much more suspenseful than romantic which I was glad for as I like suspenseful reads much more than romantic.  This story dealt a bit with the African Slave Trade that the two main characters were for the end of .  This seemed to be right in line with a Regency story which I am not to familiar with as I haven't read to much from this era.  I do get frustrated with women during this era as they seem to all fawn and flirt with the men so they can get married and have the men take care of them the rest of their lives.  Good story expecially if you like this era. 

I received a review copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. 

September Tbr 2016

This my September TBR for 2016

Audio




Kindle book


Books

Service Tails by Ace Collins

Service Tails (Abingdon Press, August 2016)

Heart-tugging true stories of the courage, faith, and loyalty of remarkable service dogs.

Not all heroic dogs wildly toss themselves into lifesaving situations. Some save lives simply by their incredible commitment to duty and service. Some lead the way to independence for people whose disabilities were supposed to limit their lives.

In Service Tails: More Stories of Man’s Best Hero, prolific author Ace Collins introduces us to leaders whose entire lives are wrapped in the banner of service. Their stories are remarkable snapshots of the value of vision and teamwork, as well as devotion to duty and unconditional love and acceptance–stretching the way we see both canine and human potential. Their training was intense, their loyalty unquestioned and each step of the way they constantly adapt to better serve those they lead. These unforgettable dogs are more than heroes; they are models from which we can learn how to love and serve unconditionally.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

{MORE ABOUT ACE COLLINS}

Ace Collins defines himself as a storyteller. He has authored more than sixty books that have sold more than 2.5 million copies. His catalog includes novels, biographies, children’s works as well as books on history, culture and faith. He has also been the featured speaker at the National Archives Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted a network television special and does college basketball play-by-play. Ace lives in Arkansas.

Find out more about Ace athttp://acecollins.com.

My Take: I love reading stories about animals help humans by saving them or helping them in some way.  This is a whole book about just such animals in the form of dogs.  Service dogs help their companions to live a more independant life. Each story tells the tale of how each dog is unique in the way that they help their human. This includes the story of when the first service dog came to America. A great story of dogs loving their humans.  

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review from Litfuse.