Review: Cold-Blooded Beautiful

Cold-Blooded Beautiful by Christine Zolendz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Poor Samantha, she just can't catch a break! We're finally given her whole story, and it's tragically heartbreaking. There is a reason she and Kade are so perfect for each other. They have both lived through such horrific events early on in life, both of them changed forever. I do have to point out that the characters talking to the reader are extremely annoying. I want to get lost in a book, and I can't do that if I am constantly reminded I am reading it.

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Review: Lost to You

Lost to You by A.L. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Take this regret is such a good book, so I enjoyed getting glimpse of where Elizabeth & Christian started. Elizabeth is so sweet, and so naive, but I think that's exactly what draws Christian to her. She is completely unlike the girls he normally dates. Though Elizabeth refuses to fall to his charm, and they are both leery of ruining their friendship, it's inevitable. I was hoping for a little more on what happened when she found out she was pregnant. Though we already know since we've read Take This Regret.

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Review: Red Rising

Red Rising by Pierce Brown
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The war begins...

Darrow is a Helldiver, one of a thousand men and women who live in the vast caves beneath the surface of Mars. Generations of Helldivers have spent their lives toiling to mine the precious elements that will allow the planet to be terraformed. Just knowing that one day people will be able to walk the surface of the planet is enough to justify their sacrifice. The Earth is dying, and Darrow and his people are the only hope humanity has left.

Until the day Darrow learns that it is all a lie. Mars is habitable - and indeed has been inhabited for generations by a class of people calling themselves the Golds. The Golds regard Darrow and his fellows as slave labour, to be exploited and worked to death without a second thought.

With the help of a mysterious group of rebels, Darrow disguises himself as a Gold and infiltrates their command school, intent on taking down his oppressors from the inside.

But the command school is a battlefield. And Darrow isn't the only student with an agenda..


***Spoilers***
The Golds make each of the initiates go through the passage, basically, each of them is put in a room with one other initiate and the one who lives moves on. Darrow is forced to kill Julian in order to survive. The remaining Golds are split into groups and are each given a home they must protect with the task of conquering the other groups, and making them their slaves. Darrow rises in his group, but he has a tenuous grasp on his power. When his friend Cassius finds out that it was Darrow that killed his brother, he tries to kill Darrow. He only lives because after he was left for dead, the girl called Mustang saved him and nursed him back to health. Darrow learns from his mistakes and knows he will never gain favor by making slaves of the people he captures, that he can only succeed if his army chooses to fight for him. He gains the nickname The Reaper because of the curved blade he favors. The Jackal is head of the Pluto house, and the one Darrow will have to beat in order to win the game. He is also the ArchGovernor's son, and the Gods watching over the games are all cheating to help him win. When Darrow starts to hurt their chances of winning, they plot against him. It eventually turns into a full-blown battle at Olympus, but Darrow succeeds. Mustang turns out to be the Jackals twin sister but throws her loyalty in with Darrow. He takes a position in the ArchGovernor's house, knowing in order to start the revolution that will free his people, being as close to his enemy as possible gives him the best chance.


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Review: Five Down

Five Down by Stacia Kane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Unfortunately, it's been a while since the last book was released in the Downside Ghosts series (2012). I thought I would get my fix by reading Five Down, which is five novellas/ short stories. The first story is titled Rick the Brave and it follows an electrician who takes a job in Downside against his better judgment because the pay is really good. While there he meets Chess and Terrible and a few murderous ghosts. Seeing Chess and Terrible from an outsiders perspective was a fun change. The second story is titled Home and it involves a neighbor reporting another neighbor for suspected ghost activity which the homeowner vehemently denies. Seeing as that would be enough for the Church to cut a big check, Chess knows something is up in suburbia. The third story, Close to You involves a seemingly senile old woman who's celebrating the return of her husband, and Christmas which has been banned since Haunted Week when the Church of Truth took over. Keeping it Close is the fourth story in Five Down which was also a new one for me. The Randell's report suspicious activity to the church and Chess is sent out to investigate. The last few months have been difficult for Chess, especially losing Elder Griffith even though the outcome could have been much worse. This case seems open and shut until she finds out what's really going on at the Randell house. Last but not least is Playing With Fire and it's also a new one for me. This was probably my favorite of the five because I just love that Chess and Terrible are finally so happy. Without many lucrative cases of her own since the fallout with Elder Griffith, Chess starts investigating the mysterious death of a woman she and Blue witnessed. Since she hasn't been assigned the case she doesn't get all of the information but she does pretty well with what she has. Will was someone she went to the Church's training program with, and he is assigned to the case. Luckily he has the hots for Blue and Chess is able to convince her to get the info she needs. Unfortunately for Chess she agrees but only on the stipulation that Chess stops avoiding Lex. Poor Terrible, everytime Lex's name comes up it's so awkward. Chess didn't see or speak to Lex in Playing With Fire, but that moment is coming and I hope she and Terrible are able to withstand it.

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Review: Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10

Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am in absolute awe of our military, and the things they endure on our behalf. The atrocities they see and experience can never be adequately put into words. I had to give Lone Survivor four stars because it was written, and because it is a true account of the bravery of our armed forces. The rating does not, however, reflect the writing of the book itself. The author who wrote this book did a very poor job of presenting the battle between the Taliban, and the US Navy Seals. The movie, which I did watch before reading the book, is a gripping narrative of the heroics that took place in the Hindu Kush. Unfortunately, the book is not nearly as mesmerizing and is a little painful at times. There was information in the book that you don't get in the movie, which is why I continued reading until the end. I also love that Marcus Luttrell is a Texan! <3

Favorite quote from the book:
"That rifle had so far fought three separate battles in three different places, been ripped out of my grasp twice, been blown over a cliff by a powerful grenade, fallen almost nine hundred feet down a mountain, and was STILL somehow right next to my outstretched hand. Fluke? Believe what you will. My own faith will remain forever unshaken."
Marcus Luttrell- The Lone Survivor


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