Book Coop

Hello bookworms! This is Nicole here. It's been so hectic these few weeks for me with starting my university year and I finally got the time to post our monthly newsletter! 

I'm so excited to be able to post these month's book coop because I joined the The Double Trouble- Twin Reading Challenge earlier this year! So here's the list of books our team has read from our review request paired with the books we read from our personal bookshelf.

Review Request Coop                                                            Bookshelf Coop

The Thirteenth Prophet by T. Lucas Earle                          Under the Dome by Stephen King

Open Your Eyes by Jake Olson                                             Papertown by John Green

Escape the Doubt by Andrea Michelle                                 Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkas

The reviews for those request coop will be definitely come around soon so keep an eye on it if you're interested to know more! I'm not going to promise we will do any review for the personal bookshelf coop books as life are getting more hectic for both Donna and I. I am starting my freshman year in college while Donna will be pursuing her graduate degree so please do understand that our time for reviewing books will be very limited now. 

I apologise for the delay to all the authors or publishers that books we accepted for reviews. We will review every book that we had agreed to review so rest assured. For the time being, BWS is not accepting any review request therefore we will not reply to any of the request emails. However, I will send out a notification email once we are back in receiving review request. Therefore, feel free to drop in an expression of interest to request a review!

The good news is BWS will definitely accept request in the near future. Once we had settled everything and are able to review books, I will let everyone know with a Book Coop post as well as through Google+. Author interview and guest post, however, is another matter. I am very happy to say that BWS still do and will feature author interview, book spotlight, and guest post! Just approach us through email and we will be more than happy to host those things for you.

I would like to say thank you for everyone who is reading and has been reading BWS for a while, or since we started (welcome to first-timers! So glad to have another enthusiastic bookworm! Even if you are not, it doesn't matter as we love to have another reader. We will have book giveaways and blog tours coming up; to those interested, you could sign up and participate in the giveaways :) Happy reading, everyone!

A Bowl For the Soul

BLOG TOUR: ESCAPE THE DOUBT 

Good day, bookworms! Today I'll be reviewing Escape the Doubt by Andrea Michelle as part of her blog tour. I receive an ARC from Enticing Journey in exchange for an honest review. It's a young adult romance story but it is also much more than that so here we go!

Synopsis:

After the unexpected death of her Dad and the haunting manner in which he died, Riley Shaw built invisible walls around her heart. Barriers she created to protect her from splintering into broken pieces that couldn’t be repaired. She was unable to move forward from her past, letting the guilt of her parent’s mistakes dictate her own choices. 



Dean Warren was safe. Being with him was innocent and peaceful because she didn’t truly love him. His words held her captive in a false sense of security. His eyes were deceptive, and his promises of never pushing her beyond what she was willing to give were broken, leaving Riley Shaw in a state of regret and doubt. 



Joshua Parker had the power to take what was left of Riley’s splintered pieces, and ruin her completely or make her whole again. He was her best friend, her next-door neighbor - everything she wanted and settled on never having. Loving him was as easy as breathing air. The fear of losing him forever was more real to her than the feelings she couldn’t escape. 



When faced with the very thing she feared the most and in the arms she thought were safe, Riley finds herself questioning every decision she has made over the past two years. When she finally escapes the doubt in her head and accepts the truth in her heart is it too late? 



Is taking a chance with your heart worth the escape or was it better to have never loved at all? Can forgiveness really set you free? 



*Warning: This is a mature young adult novel. Recommended for readers 17+ due to underage drinking, sexual content and adult language. 



*This is book one in a series however can be read as a standalone.

This is a beautiful, heartbreaking love story about two teens struggling for their love towards each other while coping with their other life dilemmas at the same time. Everyone has gone through that particular phase where we fell in love for the first time and our times during high school. That is what exactly what I get from reading Escape the Doubt. We can relate well with the story and characters because it happened to most of us at some point in our life.

A Bowl For the Soul

Short Noir: The Thirteenth Prophet

Hi, bookworms! Last month (and year), we did a short story review and we are doing another one again because we love T. Lucas Earle's story that much. This time his short story is titled The Thirteenth Prophet.

Book Blurb:

Mulligan Burke, an over-the-hill P.I. who has forsaken the evils of Personality implants, is brought back from Alaska to investigate the murder of one of the Prophets. The Prophets inhabit the highest position of the social hierarchy - they dictate fashion trends. Fashion, in this instance, encompasses much more than clothing. And, as Burke discovers, being fashionable is something to die - or kill - for.


At first, I was quite confused  when I started reading this short noir story. There are several references that make myself pause and re-read to understand the meaning of the story depiction. Great thing is the editing is done nicely with almost neither typos nor grammar mistakes. Earle has created a complex dystopian setting with terms that painted a world full of Prophets aka government controls, cult followings, and rampant trends. The concept of The Thirteenth Prophet makes sense as nowadays, I find myself becoming a follower of consumerism and part of a social dysfunction. Our personality might even change due to the society. That is exactly what happens in The Thirteenth Prophet. The so-called Prophets (who people worshipped) have different personalities that are copied and uploaded into other people so they can be gods, in some sort of sense. 

A Bowl For the Soul

JOIN A QUEST FOR THE RED SAPPHIRE

We were approached by Rival Gates to review his debut novel: Quest For the Red Sapphire and I finally got the time to start reading it before Christmas. So here's the review! QFTRS (short for Quest for the Red Sapphire) is a fantasy, adventure story. Fantasy novels has always been my cup of tea therefore I got quite excited when I will be reviewing QFTRS.

Synopsis: 

The book centers around Linvin Grithinshield, a half-elf general called home from the goblin wars to run the lucrative family trading business after his father's disappearance. Only after his mother's murder does he discover his destiny is to be the Master of the Red Sapphire, the most powerful magic any mortal can possess. Together with his wise but mysterious Uncle Anvar and his infuriating cousins Bander and Rander, Linvin must flee the would-be assassins and find the gem before the sinister forces from whom he flees find the stone and take it for a dark purpose.

The story was mind-gripping for sure. It's action-packed and full of surprises that keeps the readers on edge. As most fantasy story, it includes a long journey for the main characters that ensure hardships and danger along the way. When one challenge was conquered, another came up and it always seems so bleak for the characters as the story goes on. Nevertheless, Gates has woven a story that makes me want to read on until the end to find out the outcome of this fast-paced, thrilling adventure. 

A Bowl For the Soul

SHORT STORY REVIEW: MONKEY TALK

Hello bookworms! We were approached to review a book by T. Lucas Earle so here is our first short-story review. 

  

Book blurb:

Monkey Talk is loosely based on the Chinese myth, the Monkey King, a timeless story about who belongs, and who doesn’t. In a future in which Chimps can give lectures on cybernetics, Mr. Towry is a Chimp with an attitude. Unfortunately, the rules are still “No shirt, no shoes, no service.”

The fact that the author could develop the characters in the story very well has made me very partial to this book. Especially considering it is only 16 pages long! In fact, while Mr Towry was quite a stubborn chimp, I find myself liking this character. He voices his mind outrightly with no malice intention which makes most of his conversations (internal and with other people) quite hilarious. It's not a full-blown humour but you can find yourself smile when Mr. Towry acts up and demand to be treated more equally by humans. His uses of canes was ingenious- since Towry is an ape, he has a short stature so he has to carry a cane everywhere to press the buttons on elevators and hits people that mistreated him on occasions. Then, he has to make an argument with his new assistant, Ms Liu, regarding the difference between beef and other animal meat (refer to monkey meat). It's an exceptionally heavy notion as Mr. Towry indicates that if all animals could voice their opinions, none of them wants to be cooked and eaten as delicacies for anyone.

After reading Monkey Talk, I can see exactly what the book blurb means. In the story, even though chimps are evolved and as capable (maybe even more so) than humans, they do not belong with the norms of the society. If you don't wear any shoes to a banquet, you can't enter. Unfortunately, Mr. Towry is not human therefore he has hands instead of feet. This actually makes a valid reason for him to be shoeless (how could you wear shoes on hands?!). Nonetheless, this was unacceptable by human standards. Ergo, the point of who belongs, and who doesn't. 

Thumbs up to the author for such a brilliantly executed story with enlightenment of some serious issues in the society. It's a very well-laid storyline with clear thoughts of the characters and being a unique story that does more than just a short story. I do wish that Earle would write more about the adventures of Mr. Towry, as I would love to know more about this particular chimp!

Author's Profile: 

T. Lucas Earle is a writer, filmmaker, and amateur statistician  He lives in LA, a comfortable 60 meters above sea level, where only three out of every 100,000 people are murdered. 

T. Lucas has a degree from Emerson College, which makes for a terrific placemat. He spends his days reading terrible scripts - a job for which he receives  nominal remuneration. Like many slightly brain-damaged children of hypoxic former left-wing political cult members of the 1970s , he will review almost anything. I once caught him writing a review for a Hamilton Beach toaster oven  instruction manual.

When T. Lucas is not reading and groaning quietly to himself, he writes and groans much louder.  He has written several short stories, a screenplay or two, and is working up the courage to write a note to the fetching young lady who works at the Starbucks on Glendale Ave. He's been published in Electric Spec, The Colored Lens, and on Amazon, where you can find his short stories. Find out more at his official website.

Reviewer Notes: I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. All views are my own and do not reflect those of the author, my clients or tour companies I work with. This is not a paid review. To form your own opinion please support the author and acquire your own legal copy of the book.

A Bowl For the Soul

BACK IN TIME: THE MINE

Hi everyone! Let us start with a question regarding time-travelling. What would you do if you travel back in time? Not back to a few years but back to a few decades or more than half century; which means you, or maybe, your parents are not even born yet. When I was a kid I used to think: that'll be cool! Of course being the 8 year-old kid that I was, it's quite a naïve thought. Perhaps, that is one of the reason why I was ecstatic when John Heldt approached our blog with a review request. I've always love a good time-travelling story especially considering all the funny things that could happen to the main character when he or she landed in an entirely different era. Add that with a romantic twist and wonderful historical descriptions, voilá! The perfect book for my reading time. The Mine consist of all the elements said above. It's the first book in John Heldt's Northway Passage series, which consist of 3 more books: The Journey, The Show, and The Fire.

 

The Mine started with the main character, Joel Smith, having discovered an abandoned mine in May 2000. While exploring it, he re-emerged from the mine to an entirely different time. He was still in the same place, but landed in May 1941. He was penniless (modern money did not qualify in pre-war era and credit card was not even invented yet!), have no place to go home to, and perplexed at what he is going to do next. 

Thankfully, after days of walking around and catching a wagon to Seattle (his hometown back in the 21st century), he made good friends with Tom Carter and (here's the catch) his independent, straightforward grandmother, Ginny. Seriously, the young version of Joel's grandmother is one of my favourite character in The Mine; a strong-willed woman during the pre-war era was difficult to be found. Then Joel was introduced to Grace Vanderberg. Sweet and smart, Grace felt immediate attraction to Joel and vice versa. Unfortunately there's a catch, Grace was engaged and this proves to be one of the conflict that arises for Joel. Eventually after spending time in each other's company, Joel's cocky (and a bit arrogant) attitude is softened up by Grace's compassionate nature. Their romance evolves for months as in 1940's, holding-hands and afternoon walks are required for a budding relationship back then. It turns out for both Joel and Grace that their mutual attraction becomes something much more serious and they are falling in love with each other. Think of the Notebook and this tender, beautiful love is just like that. I just can't help but sigh contentedly as I read this wonderfully written romance. 

A Bowl For the Soul

JOURNEY TO HOUSE OF HADES

"Nico, I've seen a lot of brave things. But what you just did? That was maybe the bravest."- Jason Grace to Nico de Angelo; House of Hades.

Hello bookworms! I've been a fan of all Rick Riordan's work since The Lighting Thief- including the likes of The Percy Jackson and The Olympians and The Kane Chronicles. Now, with his most recent ongoing series, The Heroes of Olympus, I have been waiting for ages to grab a copy of the 5th instalment: The House Of Hades. Let me tell you; it is worth the long-wait! 

My copy of House of Hades. I abandon my other books just to start reading it!

Rick Riordan reading House of Hades

Once again, Riordan has managed to make me roared in laughter with the right jokes thrown around on the right timing yet keeps me on my toes throughout the book due to the suspense and plot twists (you will not see it coming). House of Hades continues from the end of the Mark Of Athena, where the gang has gotten hold of Athena Parthenos; the key to stop the incoming war between the Greeks and the Romans, but Percy and Annabeth fell to the depths of Tartarus during the process and Gaea is soon waking up to take over the world. The future seems bleak for our heroes but as we all know, it will be hard to break these demigods. Now, their friends are on board of Argo II to rescue Percy and Annabeth from Tartarus and to close the Doors of Death (all the vile creatures aka monsters and Titans are escaping from Tartarus through the door to answer Gaea's summon to create havoc) at House Of Hades. 

I have to say this is true!

We can feel each of the characters' dilemmas because Riordan alternated POVs between all the main characters. This time they have to face their personal fears such as helplessness, feeling of being useless, and failing their loved ones. My spotlight is turned to Leo Valdez in House of Hades. He was awesome and funny since the beginning of the series yet had captured little of my attention up until House of Hades. Guaranteed a spot as the comic relief during the story has always been Leo's job. Then in House of Hades, he matured immensely. Towards the end of the book, his jokes and mischief had sobered much and Jason had noticed a faraway light in his best friend's eyes. He no longer pins after Hazel and he made a great promise that will be hard to keep (Spoiler! To skip spoiler, continue directly to the next paragraph: Leo was stranded on Calypso's island and fallen for her. He promised to return and saved her yet this had been an impossible thing to do for centuries- once you leave, you will never find the island again.) So let's see whether Leo and Calypso will become a new ship in the series. I hope it will because I'm ecstatic at the thought of it! I want Leo to find a way back to Calypso or else..well nothing actually since I'm not the author and I don't own any of the characters (sigh).

A Bowl For the Soul

 TO BE OR NOT TO BE: THE QUEEN OF BAD DECISIONS

“Because some life lessons you just have to learn on your own. You need to set your man bar higher.”- Mary to Daisy; The Queen of Bad Decisions.

Author of Must Love Sandwiches, Janel Gradowski, has released a novella with an ear-catching book title: The Queen of Bad Decisions. As the prequel of Must Love Sandwiches (Bartonville Series), we get to know Daisy better and understand her life dilemmas. This is a great story for those who likes to curl up on their couch to relax and enjoy some light reading.

About The Bartonville Series

Sometimes all you need is one or two bites to satisfy a craving.

That is the principle behind The Bartonville Series. We're all busy. Settling down and spending hours reading a nice, long novel is appealing, but how often do you get to do that? With that thought in mind I am creating a women's fiction series where each book will contain stories of different lengths with companion recipes. There will be flash fiction stories that can be read during a coffee break, novellas that can be devoured over an evening and everything in between, like short stories and novelettes.