The Lost Causes (YA)

I stumbled upon this book and just had to read it feeling like a lost cause most of my teen years myself, and the book did not disappoint, it was great!  Five teens all with different problem, all had been given up on by parents and various other adults in their lives, until the FBI needed them.  These five were needed because they wouldn't be missed while helping look for a killer, one that would kill a FBI agent, oh did I mention the teens would have help a special drug to help their minds develop their psychic abilities, whatever they be.
I absolutely loved this book it was imaginative, action packed, and suspenseful.  The characters were so different but fit together so well in this tight nit group with there being only the one thing in common.  Even the complex puzzle of the killer was well hidden from the reader until the very end.  I liked this book a lot and hope there is another as I would like to see more of the team and find out what happens next, do The Lost Causes ever get found?

Spliced (YA)

Jimi will do anything for her friend Del especially to keep him safe.  But will she ruin her chances to go to college, will she go to jail, will she run away and hurt other people, maybe kill them, all for Del and what for?  Because Del made some decisions without fully thinking them through, he went to a shady genie to get his splice, who gets spliced with a amphibian?  No one, and by the time they take him to get it undone the cops are there and Del disappears sending Jimi on the path of self destruction to find more people than Del who might not want to be found.
This was a interesting book on many levels, I suppose the biggest one is morality, and if your genes are part animal part human what are you animal or human.  Or does it go by percent's, and could this start with the advent of using animal parts for transplant parts?  But besides all the mind baffling what if's this book is full of action, suspense, and pit falls you won't see coming that will keep you on your toes right up until the end of the book, so be prepared for some long nights until you finish the book because you won't want to put it down.

Oceans The Anthology (ADULT)

Oceans an anthology of stories written by an awesome lineup of high quality authors is not one to be missed, with stories like:

Tide Sweeping by P K Tyler – That portrays Jasja a young sweeper who keeps the last ocean and leads the offering ceremony for this twenty years that will chose the next sweeper for Jasja to train.  But there is always more to a story than I am willing to tell so you will need to read it to find all the exciting, and wonderful parts.

Siren Song of the Mississippi by Hank Garner – Is another wonder story that will call to you from the gulf and tell you of its history and wonder as it did to Will’s sister Gabby, oh how dolphins only try to root us to the real world but our minds know the truth no matter what.

Aquagenic by Will Swardstrom – show what happens when an amnesia patient who is allergic to water befriends a nurse and they both can’t stand their current situation and go for a change one a bit more extreme than the other as Cora, the patient, does everything she can to find out who she is.

Full Circle: A CHRONOS story by Rysa Walker – Madi lives in 2136 but when she stumbles across a CHRONOS key she accidentally travels back in time and ends up at the bottom of the ocean and almost kills herself in the process, lucky for her one of the people that finds her can help her get back home.

There are plenty more stories by many more great authors and all well written with ocean thymes, I wish I had half the imagination these authors have as I was so captivated not only by the character and places, but also by the tales, lore and meaning that each story had, it was so awesome.  I love these anthologies as I always find new authors this way and that was true of this one as well.

Consumption (ADULT AUDIO)

Picture Andrew Zimmer and one of those special dinner parties where the chef has a secret ingredient and only invites certain people to his party (the A list).  Those people don't know each other but they are all trying to guess what the gross, trendy, expensive ingredient is.  Yep this is sort of like that but with a very surprising twist.
Author Michael Patrick Hicks loves his twist and we love him for his twists and surprises, that is why we read/listen to his books, and this one does not disappoint.  I don't want to give to much away so I will leave it there but if you can you really need to get the audio version narrated by Joe Hempel oh my gosh he literally takes you there and makes you a bystander in this wonderful show of all shows.  Awesome coordination between author and narrator it make it so great.

Cove Embers Of Destruction (MG)

Trenton and Kallista are back with their friends and mechanical dragons, fighting real dragons and looking for Kallista’s father.  But when they reach San Francisco things turn nasty really quick, when they encounter more dragons then they have ever seen in one place before, and they manage to escape by the skin of their teeth only to go back and find more disturbing sights, ones they might not be able to fight and win this time, and Kallista’s father, Leo, right in the middle of all of it.

Author J Scott Savage has a flare for the dramatic and he knows right where to put it, I was holding my breath through most of the book just waiting to see if all of our friends, old and new would make it out of that lair of dragons with all of their body parts.  And I am not about to spoil it for you now, so you will just have to hold your own breath.  But it was an awesome book full of action, adventure and suspense.  I hope there will be a spin off series with some of our friends coming back to show us how things can be now.  If not I hope Mr. Savage has plans to keep us entertained for several more years to come because I sure loved Ladon.

Invictus (YA)

Farway was born outside of time when his mother, Empra, failed to make it back in time to give birth in the correct year.   She was trying to watch his fathers, a roman gladiator, final minutes before his death.  You see Empra was a time recorder on the Ab Aeterno's crew and if anyone found out that Far's dad wasn't one of the crew, well that would be really bad for his mom, so the crew never said anything and classified the whole trip.  However, alternate realities are being eaten up by a darkness that is seeking an aberration, one that is only known by a alternate reality doppelganger of Far named Eliot and she is here to kill the aberration and stop the darkness they called The Fade.   Only Far and his friends showed Eliot that wouldn't stop The Fade, they had to change his whole birth, but that is a lot to change especially when time doesn't want to be changed, and their are a lot people against you.  But can the five of them do it and what happens to their friendship in their new lives? 
So many timey whimey, spacey, wacey questions to ask and answer.  But this author does it all so well, she has left no paradox open and hanging.  The action and suspense is almost non-stop, they did take a very short break in Vegas but even that ended and action and suspense.  The characters are put together so well you couldn't have a better bunch as a crew, they are so eclectic and awesome together, just fun, and the red panda is a hoot a bit more training and you might just have a guard panda.  There were a few times I was waiting for someone to comment on Gram's bow ties or for Priya to say that the Invictus was bigger on the inside than on the outside.  Yeah, I am a Dr. Who fan, but you can't help it with all the time travel. 

Warcross (YA)

Emika Chen, a down on her luck Warcross bounty hunter, owing money to everyone and about to be evicted from her rat hole of a apartment, she tries one last ditch thing to gain her a little money, she hacks into the Warcross opening ceremonies only to accidentally glitch herself, making herself visible to everyone, and becoming a overnight sensation.  From there she is sure she will be thrown in jail but her life take a very different twist, one very cloak and dagger, one that will take her into the dark net and show her that the game of Warcross is more than just a game.
I absolutely loved this book, the action was non stop, the suspense with Zero went throughout the book, and the twists kept you on your toes, as did the side stories, some I am sure will blossom more in subsequent books.  This is the first book I ever read and thought while reading it, "Wow this would make a awesome movie." so that is saying something, hint hint movie people, pay attention, maybe Netflix!  I was so trying to turn more pages at the end (don't get me wrong it ended at a good place) I just was not ready for it to end, so I can not wait for the next book. Hurry Hurry Hurry

Beginnings The Pandemic Series Book One (ADULT AUDIO)

Makenzie Hagan a doctor with the CDC, Nathan Hunter a officer with a special unit of the DOD, keep crossing paths until a spark flies, actually more than one spark, but they finally figure out they are working on the same case but in different ways.  It seems her outbreak and his terrorist are linked but now the race is on to save the worlds population, and their selves. 
This is a awesome book that is very entertaining but can also make you think if you are so inclined, and if you do will you still do the same things you have always done?  Do you still shake hands, take your neighbors soup when they are sick with the flu, or even wipe your kids nose?  Do you start stock piling water and food in a shelter, or just take things as they come?  This book is well researched, action packed, and suspenseful right up until the end where you can't help but rush for the next to see what happens. 
I had the audio version with narrators John David Ferrell and Kris Adams who tag teamed the male and female roles and brought the book alive, they were great, they made you part of the team like you were there with the guys helping them, providing cover, running tests, doing what needs to be done.  And it was these fine narrators teamed with a really good author that made that possible.

Mari's Hope (MG)

 

This is the final chapter in this part or Mari's story, of a childhood that wasn't a childhood at all.  The first two books in this trilogy are Odin's Promise and Bjorn's Gift.  The three books follow Mari through the German occupation of Norway, a story not often told but just as horrific at times and powerful as well.  Mari's family is strong in the resistance and Mari is also a respected Doctors helper in their small village, which also helps her to be able to move around when others can't, like after curfew.  However, she is always worried about the soldiers living in their house snooping and her old friend from school whos family now support the Germans.  Are extra food rations that important?  But is everything always as it seems?
This was a very powerful series, and a story not often told but just as important in history as any other.  It is told in a exciting but very real way, it does not glamorize war but doesn't scare and totally traumatize children either.  There is plenty of action, a lot of hold on to your seat suspense, and just a few (ha ha) twists and turns to keep you on your toes.  But all in all it is a really awesome historical fiction book that I think any one would, young and older, great reader or reluctant (might need help with the Norwegian, but heck don't most of us), love to read.

Sandy Brehl is the award-winning author of a Norway historical trilogy for ages ten-thru-adult. (ODIN’S PROMISE, BJORN’S GIFT, and MARI’S HOPE) She also writes a blog about picture books (http://Unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com) and contributes to a blog about historical works from middle grade readers (https://thestoriedpast.org). She’s an active member and volunteer with SCBWI-Wisconsin. Sandy writes fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for young readers of any age. A retired educator living in the Milwaukee area, Sandy offers programs for schools, libraries, and adult groups. Learn more at www.SandyBrehl.com, follow on Twitter @SandyBrehl and @PBWorkshop, and on Facebook: Sandy Brehl Author. 



Deliver Us From Evil Demons Beware Part II (ADULT)

The Devil has recruited a hitman to do his bidding, and he is after those who help the people the Devil uses, the ones he possesses, Priests, and not just any Priests, but the few that can do exorcisms.  But out of all of the priests and people the Devil has his eyes on the one that got away, Tony.  Tony while working as a mechanic and trying desperately to be admitted into the priesthood  despite numerous rejections keeps trying, knowing that someday he can help his brother Billy and his friend James fight demons and the Devil, like the one that possessed him as a child.
This was an action packed from start to finish, roller coaster type book with all the twists and turns, but so good.  You will stay up past your bedtime because you won't want to put it down, it is one of those books where you say to yourself one more chapter to see what happens to (fill in the blank), for many more chapters.  A awesome sequel to Demons Beware and well worth it, it will not disappoint.