Crown of Souls (Tox Files #2) by Ronie Kendig, A Review

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Book Description

Six months after stopping a deadly plague, Cole "Tox" Russell and his team are enjoying a little rest. That peace is short-lived when a sniper shot hits Tox. The enemy is discovered to be one of their own, a rogue Special Forces team operator. 
Alec King is perhaps the only person as skilled as Tox, and he's out for justice. Furious with orders that got his men killed, he intends to make those responsible pay. And he insists Tox join him, believing they are the same breed of soldier. 
Afraid his old friend is right, Tox battles a growing darkness within himself as he and his team engage in another deadly encounter with antiquity. It appears Alec is cheating--he's using a mysterious artifact, a crown that history has linked to some of the worst slaughters in humanity. Racing to stop Alec before his vengeance is unleashed, Tox must fight the monster without becoming one.

Review

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

I really like to read books in order although sometimes it's not necessary to read a series in order. I didn't realize that this was a series and so I spent the first half of the book feeling disconnected: I was still trying to figure out who all the characters were and what they brought to this elite team of soldiers. 
I'm really glad I stuck with it as the story took off for me about 40% in; the plot was thickening and I finally felt connected to the characters. Tox did annoy me a bit with all his self-recrimination. 
Another thing that surprised me about this story was the way Kendig mixed the soldier thriller genre with fantasy (science fiction?). It's a very unique perspective and made the story super interesting. Another aspect that I appreciate about this book is for a military focused book, it is very clean: no sex (kissing but nothing beyond that), no language and the violence is not over the top. 

I enjoyed it and look forward to the next book in the series and seeing what evil the Wraith team battles next. 

I gave this book: ★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    

★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

Deadly Proof by Rachel Dylan, A Review

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Book Description

In the biggest case of her career, attorney Kate Sullivan is tapped as lead counsel to take on Mason Pharmaceutical because of a corporate cover-up related to its newest drug. After a whistleblower dies, Kate knows the stakes are much higher than her other lawsuits.

Former Army Ranger turned private investigator Landon James is still haunted by mistakes made while serving overseas. Trying to forget the past, he is hired by Kate to look into the whistleblower's allegation and soon suspects that the company may be engaging in a dangerous game for profit. He also soon finds himself falling for this passionate and earnest young lawyer. 

Determined not to make the same mistakes, he's intent on keeping Kate safe, but as the case deepens, it appears someone is willing to risk everything--even murder--to keep the case from going to trial.

Review

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

This is legal thriller that doesn't have the typical cursing or violence that is characteristic of this genre. The legal case in the story is interesting but what makes the book enjoyable are the characters that Dylan has created. Kate is an attorney who is tough and accomplished but also full of heart. What I really enjoyed was the way Dylan wove the redemption of God into the story. The way she shared the Christian faith was the strongest part of the story.

Additionally, the supporting characters were not only likable but they are introduced in a way that the readers knows their story will be told later.

I gave this book: ★★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    

★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

Quick Book Reviews: Inside Hudson Pickle and Bookishly Ever After

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Review

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.

Hudson Pickle is a teenage boy struggling with growing up; he has a growth spurt that no only has him towering over his friends, it gets him cut from the hockey team, his favorite sport and the one thing that he thinks identifies him. He also has no idea who his father is and while it might not have been an issue in years past, it is becoming more and more important to him to know who he was and what he was like. His mom wants to protect him from the realities of life and Hudson feels like he is old enough to have his questions answered. He is not a little kid and resents being treated like one. (Despite the friction between Hudson and his mother, it does not create a rift between them that cannot be bridged). 
Ridge does a really good job of writing in the voice of a seventh grade boy who is trying to figure out who he is, friendships that change, his mom and girls. There is of course the bully that Hudson and his friend Trevor must deal with and I really like how Ridge shows the duo dealing with him and realizing that he is not someone to fear and how they stand up for themselves. 
The ending was pretty good: Hudson finds a new sport to love and has repaired his friendship with his best friend, and yet, it felt like there is more to Hudson's story. 

This is definitely a book that I would let my son read: drug use, bullying, lying are dealt with in the book but done in a way that one, doesn't glorify the activities and two, opens the door to discussions on these issues that teens today are facing. Talking about them through a fictional character is one of the best ways to broach the subject in a way that is safe and allows them to open up in a way that is less threatening than talking about real-life people they know. 

I gave this book: ★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    

★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

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Review

It pains me to give this book one star; however, if I'm being honest, I just did not enjoy it. 

I was excited about this book: a bookworm who ends up falling for a friend - that is right up my alley.

And yet, Phoebe drove me absolutely bonkers. I didn't feel like she was a particularly strong heroine, despite her desire to be. 

I don't want to go too much into why I didn't like this book. I think much of it can be attributed to the fact that I am an adult mom and this is a YA book that you need to be a teenager to actually enjoy. Just don't think it is anywhere close to reality. It's a fairy tale.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review. 

I gave this book: ★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    

★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it