Release Day Blitz - Stolen Art by Ruth Silver

 

Title: Stolen Art

Author: Ruth Silver

Publisher: Lazy Day Publishing

Release Date: April 28, 2015

Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi Romance

  Sixteen-year-old Madeline has been living on the streets, biding her time until she's eighteen. With little to no money, she takes on a heist in hopes of making ends meet. What could possibly go wrong? Everything. Getting caught is just the beginning of Madeline's adventure as she meets Weston and discovers the secret of where she came from.   Fans of Orphan Black, The X-Files, and Fringe will fall head over heels for STOLEN ART. Recommended: 15+

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Excerpt

I rush back up the dark stairwell, shoving the key into the doorknob. It takes a minute for the lock to click and I push myself inside the apartment, securing every lock and deadbolt. I can’t stay here in Hutchinson, Kansas any longer. Pulling my phone from my purse, I text Weston. Tatiana is here. It’s not safe for me. I grab the few belongings that have any value to me, sentimental or otherwise, and shove it into my shoulder bag, including the stolen silver necklace. It has value and if I’m forced on the run, I’ll need money to survive. I know. What did Weston mean he knew Tatiana is at the bar? Had he seen her? Is he there? What do you mean, you know? I type into the phone. If he saw her, why didn’t he warn me? I can’t go down out the front door and it’s only a matter of time until she finds me just a few feet away. I grow restless waiting for an answer. The phone buzzes and displays an incoming call from Weston. "Wes, tell me you’re here." The only thing to do is hop in his car and drive into the night, far from Kansas. A female’s voice bubbles with laughter. "Oh he’s coming darling, but you should know he won’t get here in time. Amazing how easy it is to clone a phone number and steal his service. The advancements Stem Tech has made is encouraging."    

About the Author

Ruth Silver is the best-selling author of the Aberrant trilogy. With a passion for writing and a love of story-telling, Ruth is actively writing multiple series under her name as well as the pen name Ravyn Rayne. Her interests include traveling, reading, and photography. Her favorite vacation destination is Australia. Ruth currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois. Follow Ruth here Blog- http://writeawaybliss.com Facebook- http://facebook.com/writeawaybliss Twitter- http://twitter.com/writeawaybliss Looking for a steamier read? Check her out here Blog- http://ravynrayne.com Facebook- http://facebook.com/ravynraynereads Twitter- http://twitter.com/blushingravyn  

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Chances Choice Changes Death by Connie Knight

Genre:  Adult, Mystery

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:

Myra Cade is a single mother, living with her father, Doug, and raising her son, Scott. She mostly keeps to herself and really has no time for anyone else. But shortly after serving paternity papers to Danny, the suspected father of Scott, she’s found dead at the side of the road in the country. Caroline and her cousin Janet, who are taking Western riding lessons at the nearby Robinson Ranch, find themselves drawn into the murder investigation and looking for the missing boy and the murderer.

My Thoughts:

Talk about a book gluing you to your seat until you finish it, this book is it.  When Myra is found dead and her son is missing my first concern was not with who killed Myra, but with who took Scott and why.  Throw into all of this the fact that Myra’s father is very ill and you have a mystery to keep you turning pages.  Of course Danny is the first one you suspect.  But, this author is good at throwing out little bread crumb clues and leading you to think one thing only to throw out another bread crumb that leads you down another path. You, the reader, find yourself right there along with Caroline and her cousin Janet trying to solve this mystery.  I’ve not read the first book by this author, “Cemetery Whites”, but it is on my list to read. As a reader/teacher who reads predominantly books for kids and teens, it is refreshing to find a new author who can keep my attention and make me want to read more of their work.  Great job Connie Knight.

Into the Aether by T.C. Pearce

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Mystery
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:
A scared teenager, Lara must battle her own inner demons … while being stalked in her nightmares by an all-too-real monster. She has only two options: run or succumb. 

A courageous woman, Cybil is doing her best to piece together a new life free of her abusive husband. She is cursed with confused glimpses into future events she may not be able to change—including her own death. 

An honorable warrior, and the reluctant leader of her people, August must undertake the familial obligation of protecting a seemingly ordinary high school teacher. If she shirks her duty, then the world will fall to a preternatural tyrant in search of a long-lost weapon of immense power.

Their stories weave together to reveal a mysterious supernatural world that hides just beneath our own. As chaos swirls among and around them, the three women must put aside their differences and act together, or watch two worlds collide in a deluge of fire and blood.

My Thoughts:
 If you are looking for a great fantasy with a mystery mixed in then this is the book for you.  The author is very adept at weaving all of the characters stories into one great plot.  The book is full of twists and turns. You think you have things all figure out and then there is another twist.  One thing that really intrigued me was Lara's ability to enter into other people's dreams.  I don't know why this is so fascinating to me but it is an idea I have always loved.  Check this one out and then prepare for the second book out in May.

Logan and the Mystical Collar: Adventures in Ancient Egypt by Suzanne Burke

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

There is so much to love about this book. I have to admit that my husband raised grey hounds for years and I knew nothing about this breed. My husband worked for the dog track in Sarasota, Florida. He was always telling me what great dogs they are.

In this story we meet Logan a golden greyhound who wakes up in ancient Egypt. There he meets Cleopatra and her greyhounds.  He doesn't know how or why he is there.  Zeus is Cleopatra's body guard and doesn't like Logan at all. Logan will play a major part and be declared a hero before the story is done.  There is also the underlying message about bullying that children will definitely be able to relate to.

I enjoyed not only the story, but the valuable information found at the back of the book.  I didn't know that there were penalties for killing dogs in ancient Egypt. I also didn't know that only royalty could own greyhounds. As an adult I loved this book and I'm sure my students will love it just as much.

Student Saturday: Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

Student Reviewer: Alexia
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Flipped is about a boy named Bryce. His family is new to the neighborhood. While they were putting their furniture in their new home, this girl named Juliana couldn't wait to meet the new family that's moving in. Juliana liked Bryce and Bryce didn't like Juliana. But, then over the years Juliana liked Bryce les and Bryce liked Juliana more.

I really liked this book because I think it is a good book on how the author describe the characters in tehbook and about how school drama goes. I liked Juliana and her family, Bryce, Grandpa and all the free spirits. They don't realy care what people think of them and I liked how they handle family situation.  I liked how they said "the choices you choose now will affect you in the future." I really liked this quote

Black Scorpion: The Tyrant Reborn by Jon Land

Genre: Adult, Suspense

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:

The next adventure of The Seven Sins' Michael "The Tyrant" Tiranno, Jon Land's Black Scorpion is a pulse pounding action-thriller as he takes on a worldwide human trafficking cabal.

Five years have passed since Michael Tiranno saved the city of Las Vegas from a terrorist attack. And now a new enemy has surfaced in Eastern Europe in the form of an all-powerful organization called Black Scorpion. Once a victim of human trafficking himself, the shadowy group's crazed leader, Vladimir Dracu, has become the mastermind behind the scourge's infestation on a global scale. And now he's set his sights on Michael Tiranno for reasons birthed in a painful secret past that have scarred both men.

Already facing a myriad of problems, Michael once more must rise to the challenge of confronting an all-powerful enemy who is exploiting and ravaging innocents all across the globe and has set nothing less than all of America as its new victim. Black Scorpion has also taken the woman Michael loves hostage: Scarlett Swan, a beautiful archaeologist who was following the dangerous trail of the origins of the ancient relic that both defines and empowers Michael, a discovery that could change history and the perception of mankind's very origins.

With the deck and the odds stacked against him, Michael must come to learn and embrace his true destiny in becoming the Tyrant reborn as a dark knight to triumph over ultimate evil and stop the sting of Black Scorpion from undermining all of the United States and plunging Las Vegas into chaos and anarchy.

My Thoughts:

This was the first book I’d read by this author. I have to say the author is quite the writer.  Reading his book is like watching a major motion picture.  You are along for the ride of your life. It is fast paced and the adventures just keep going. To think all of this suspense is due to one small gold coin. Check out his book.  I will definitely be finding time this summer to read the first book in this series.

Auditory Viewpoint by Lilian R. Melendez

Genre: Adult, Mystery

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This was an excellent book.  I was intrigued by the idea that a blind person would be the one to step up to try to solve a crime.  When Gloria Rank interviewed Benjamin Taylor on her morning radio talk show she had no idea she would need his help.  Benjamin Taylor was an expert on identity theft.  Gloria’s younger sister Anna is a victim of identity theft.  That isn’t the only problem she has. A body has been dumped on Anna’s doorstep ad she has become the prime suspect.  It will be up to her and he sister to find out what is actually going on.

The reason this story intrigued me was because Gloria sets out to help those who are trying to solve this crime learn to use their other senses.  I was right there with her. I had to agree with her character that we don’t utilize our other senses.  About five years ago I had some severe eye problems and was actually losing my sight.  Thankfully several surgeries later and most of it has been restored.  The thing is, I had to learn to rely on my other senses.  I’m a teacher.  I used my hand to guide me down the hallway because it was so blurry.  I could no longer make out the faces of my students so I had to learn the sound of their voice, their walk, or their cologne.  When you can’t see what you are eating on your plate you learn to utilize your smell to find your food. 

This was a great approach to writing this story. It was unique and kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through.  I would highly recommend this book to those who love mystery and intrigue.

The Rise of Mallory by Roy Huff

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.


From Goddreads:
As the epic journey continues, a victorious Owen Sage stands undefeated against his enemies. His last battle in Everville gave rise to a new insidious evil, Mallory; whose determination to defeat him opens and unexplored Pandora's box. Owen's search for truth will unveil the mystery and surprising insights surrounding himself and his friends at Easton Falls University. New creatures will be uncovered and the true value of friendship will be tested, as Owen embarks on yet another battle in Everville.

My Thoughts:
As always Roy Huff has done an excellent job with this third story in his series. In this third book we find Owen Sage, the hero trying to protect both his world and teh world of Everville from Mallory.  If he fails it could mean the destruction of people, animals and other creatures in both worlds. He is not alone in this effort.  He has the help of Zee and Anika.  Like his other books this book is fast paced filled with twists and turns. His world building as always is great.  He seems to be able to create our world and the world of Everville so they flow together.  If you haven't read this series yet I would suggest you begin it.  His next book will be out very soon.

Red Stick One by Kenneth Kirkeby

Genre:  Adult, Suspense

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This is one of those stories that you can’t put down.  We have the main character Virgil who sets out to find the person who murdered Tom Jay Harding.  The story starts in Florida.  When Virgil kills a deer out of season, he finds himself doing community service to pay off the fine.  His mentor is Tom Harding. Tom becomes the father he never had.  He grows up and joins the marines and fights in Vietnam.  When he returns he becomes a warden like Tom.  When Tom is killed by a poacher then Virgil will go to all ends of the earth to catch his killer and bring him to justice. 

The author did a wonderful job with description of the places across the country.  I live in Florida and can tell you that he was definitely spot on with his descriptions. You travelled along with Virgil and felt just like you were there.  One thing I liked was there was a small romance.  I don’t like reading major romances I a book, never have.  This author is a master of painting scenes with his words.  I am glad I was asked to review this book.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Benjamin Buckingham and the Nightmare's Nightmare by Gregory Gershwin

Genre:  Middle Grade, Fantasy
Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

From the minute I opened this book I was hooked.  Benjamin Buckingham dreams each night that he is a hero in his dreams. He travels with a group of dinosaurs from his favorite show.  He helps save the world from a villain and he is the leader of the good guys. It is ironic that his teacher has given them dream journals to keep for a week.  When they share them out in class he realizes that his dreams are nothing like his classmates dreams.  When he reads his the class bully makes fun of him and the entire class laughs at him.  He goes home very disappointed.  That night he begins his dream again, only something is different.  He is being chased by a monster.  One of the dinosaurs from his dream saves him.  He wakes up to find the dinosaur in his room.  When the dinosaur  disappears through a hole in his floor, under his bed, he follows. He finds himself in the land where dreams are made.  Since he misses the portal to get back to his world, he is stuck there for a month.  He learns that the dream machine is broken. Things keep getting worse and when the King disappears and Benjamin is blamed.  Benjamin must save this world if he is to save the dreams in his own world.

The great thing about this book is that there are lessons tucked in throughout the book.  Benjamin learns to make friends, and learns to value himself.  He learns that only he can make himself feel different. The idea of how dreams are created in something like a movie theater, is just so creative.  I would have loved to have been in that world with Benjamin.  If you want to find out if he's successful then you really must read this book.  It is one of the best fantasies I've read this year. Since I read  an electronic version of this book I can only hope that the author creates a print book that I can add to my school shelves.