Saturday, July 2, 2016

*Platypire Read-A-Thon* July

Photo courtesy of Platypire Maribel.
How is it July already? The year is half over and instead of cutting my list down so far this year, I've only made it longer! (Although I think I've been doing a slightly better job at not increasing it quite as much as I did last year, maybe.) You can see my reading list for July 2015  here. (Okay, so the list was starting to get out of control by July. That's good to know, I guess.) 

X - Read
R - Currently Reading
+ - To Be read
Bold - Must Read ASAP

Currently Reading

R - Sector 64: Ambush by Dean M. Cole*
R - Sweetwater: The Kihn by Rivi Jacks*
R - The Voyage by Tammie Painter*
R - The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd*
R - Give Me Your Answer True by Suanne Laqueur*
R - Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning by Timothy Snyder*
R - The Road Home by Kathleen Shoop*
R - Buffalo Trail by Jeff Guinn*
R - Troll by Ashley C. Harris*
R - Christine by Stephen King*
R - Human: A Shadow Empires Book by S.M. Carriere*
R -  The Improbability of Love by Hannah Rothschild*
R - The Sanctum of Souls by R.K. Pavia*
R - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak*
R - Back Blast by Mark Greaney (Jan)
R - Back of Beyond by Neeny Boucher (March)
R - The Travelers by Chris Pavone (March)
R - Hustling Hitler: The Jewish Vaudevillian who Fooled the Führer by Walter Shapiro (May)
R - Red Queen by Christina Henry (June)

To Be Read

July

+ - The Punishments by JB Windsor
+ - The Candymakers and the Great Chocolate Chase by Wendy Mass
+ - The Deadbringer by E.M. Markoff
+ - The Beauty of the End by Debbie Howells
+ - The Dream Protocol by Adara Quick
+ - His Dark Canvas by Alexandrea Weis (GR)
+ - Proofread for Mary Ting/M. Clarke*
+ - Proofread for Ginna Moran*

*I do not know the titles for these books as I don't have them yet. 

June

+ - Mercer Girls by Libbie Hawker
+ - By Helen's Hand by Amalia Carosella
+ - Victoria Crossing by Michael Wallace
+ - Edenland by Wallace King
+ - The Jolly Coroner by Quentin Canterel
+ - Colony of the Lost by Derik Cavignano
+ - Dove by M.H. Salter
+ - Cleo by Sassafras de Bruyn
+ - King Garnett Stories by Marianne Parry
+ - Babak the Beetle by Fred Paranuzzi

May

+ - Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard
+ - The Heretics of De'Ath by Howard of Warwick
+ - The Candidates: Based on a True Country by Matthew Hiley
+ - Schism by Britt Holewinski
+ - The Spirit Chaser by Kat Mayor
+ - The History Major by Michael Phillip Cash
+ - Meantime Girl by Sindhu S.
+ - The Toothless Fairy by Timothy Jordan

April

+ - Behave by Andromeda Romano-Lax
+ - Sister of Mine by Sabra Waldfogel
+ - The Rejected Writer's Book Club by Suzanne Kelman
+ - The House by the Lake by Ella Carey
+ - The Quest of All Ages by Maha Devi Li Ra La
+ - Riverside by Brett Burlison
+ - The Invasion of Heaven by Michael B. Koep
+ - No Ivory Tower by Stephan Davenport
+ - Like I Used to Dance by Barbara Frances
+ - Toto's Tale and True Chronicle of Oz by Sylvia Patience
+ - The Frog in the Skyscraper by Faiz Kermani
+ - One Creepy Street: Annica's Broom by Lee Jordan
+ - The Demonic Kraken Debacle in Hollywood by Andy Mulberry
+ - The Lord of Ireland by E.M. Powell
+ - In the Light of What We See by Sarah Painter
+ - While You Were Mine by Ann Howard Creel
+ - The Vow by Felicity Goodrich
+ - Call to Juno by Elisabeth Storrs
+ - Burying the Honeysuckle Girls by Emily Carpenter
+ - Broken Angels by Gemma Liviero
+ - The Accidental Life of Greg Millar by Aimee Alexander

March

+ - The Daughters of Palatine Hill by Phyllis T. Smith
+ - Our Own Country by Jodi Daynard
+ - The Art of Not Breathing by Sarah Alexander
+ - Darker the Night by Lisa London
+ - Diary of Anna the Girl Witch by Max Candee
+ - Risuko by David Kudler
+ - In the Forest by Art Collins
+ - How to Smoke Pot (Properly) by David Bienenstock
+ - At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier
+ - The Never-Open Desert Diner by James Anderson

February
+ - Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor
+ - The Silver Suitcase by Terrie Todd
+ - Very Like a Queen by Martin Lake
+ - Bad Luck by Pseudonymous Bosch
+ - The Keeper of the Crows by Kyle Alexander Romines
+ - Progeny of Vale by Rhett C. Bruno

January
+ - Henchgirl by Rita Stradling
+ - Infinitas by David N. Sebastian
+ - Here to Stay by Suanne Laqueur
+ - In a Different Key: The Story of Autism by John Donvan and Caren Zucker

Leftover from 2015
+ - The &Now Awards Volume 3 by Various Authors
+ - Shadows of the Unseen by Christine Steendam
+ - Drawing Heat by S.L. Dearing
+ - Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
+ - PrairyErth by William Least Heat-Moon
+ - House of Holes by Nicholson Baker
+ - Pieces by Maria Kostaki
+ - Summer Secrets by Jane Green
+ - Forgiveness by Chiquis Rivera
+ - The Summer After You and Me by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
+ - The Prophets of Eternal Fjord by Kim Leine
+ - Making Pretty by Corey Ann Haydu
+ - The Underwriting by Michelle Miller
+ - The Biology of Luck by Jacob M. Appel
+ - Omega City by Diana Peterfreund
+ - American Warlord by Johnny Dwyer
+ - When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi
+ - Bell Weather by Dennis Mahoney
+ - Deadly Design by Debra Dockter
+ - Unprocessed by Megan Kimble
+ - The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley
+ - The Sparks by Kyle Prue
+ - Take by Silvia Ami
+ - The Never-ending Story by Michael Ende
+ - Devil's Garden by Lance Tuck
+ - The Rumor by Elin Hildebrand
+ - It's You by Jane Porter
+ - Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
+ - Beautiful Girl by Fleur Philips
+ - The Witch of Bourbon Street by Suzanne Palmieri
+ - Killing Katie by B.A. Spangler
+ - A Hanging at Cinder Bottom by Glenn Taylor
+ - The Pianist by Wladyslaw Szpilman
+ - Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally
+ - The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer
+ - Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard
+ - Dracula is a Racist: A Totally Factual Guide to Vampires by Matt Melvin
+ - Steele Mackaye Investigations: The Tarot Problem by Barry H. Wiley
+ - The Age of Amy: Behind the Fun Zone by Bruce Edwards
+ - Jezebel: Defeating your #1 Spiritual Enemy by Bob Larson
+ - Fear Itself by Duffy Prendergast
+ - Anyone? by Angela Scott
+ - Silent Creed by Alex Kava
+ - The Sisters of Versailles by Sally Christie
+ - This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
+ - In the Dark by Chris Patchell
+ - Need by Joelle Charbonneau
+ - Gods of Anthem by Logan Keys
+ - Second Chances by Sarah Price
+ - A Bridge to Cross by Edward R. Hackemer
+ - The Fifth House of the Heart by Ben Tripp
+ - Diary of a Single Wedding Planner by Violet Howe
+ - The Curse of Crow Hollow by Bill Coffey
+ - Family Grandstand by Carol Ryrie Brink
+ - The Saturday Night School of Beauty by Marsha Mehran
+ - The Boss Killers by Keith Gillison
+ - Our Brothers at the Bottom of the Bottom of the Sea by Jonathan David Kranz
+ - The Phantom of the Earth (Omnibus Edition) by Raedan Zen
+ - Wynn in Doubt by Emily Hemmer
+ - Bloodlines by Lynn Lipinski
+ - High School Horror: Teen Frankenstein by Chandler Baker
+ - The Devil's Engine: Hellraisers by Alexander Gordon Smith
+ - Seaside by Wylde Scott
+ - Lydia's Enchanted Toffee by Neale Osborne
+ - Welcome to Monstrovia by Mark Newhouse
+ - Corr Syl the Warrior by Garry Rogers
+ - Christmas at the Vicarage by Rebecca Boxall
+ - Monsterland by Michael Phillip Cash


I managed to only add 8 new books to my list this month, and three of those are proofreading jobs! If I actually stick to my list, then I will make a little bit of headway towards making it smaller. So here's to hoping I actually stick to my list for once. - Katie





*Platypire Read-A-Thon* June Results


Photo Courtesy of Platypire Maribel

June is over, so it's time to see how I did sticking to my list. I know, I'm a couple days late here. In my defense, I was trying to finish writing reviews for some of the books that I read in June but had yet to review (I succeeded in case you care.) Without further ado, my results. 

X - Read
R - Currently Reading
+ - To Be read
Bold - Must Read ASAP

Read

X - Tito the Magician by Guido van Genecten (June)
Read my review.

X - I Will Always be Happy to See You by Ellen Delange (June)
Read my review.

X - Everywhere and All Around by Pimm van Hest (June)
Read my review.

X - The Bear Who Couldn't Sleep by Caroline Nastro (June)
Read my review.

X - Been There, Done That: Reading Animal Signs by Jen Funk Weber
Read my review.

X - From Titans by Mary Ting
Read my review.

X - Thoughts on Life: Random and Otherwise by Jennifer Rego
Read my review.

X - Radio Girls by Sarah-Jane Stratford (May)
Read my review.

X - Tainted by Ginna Moran (May)
Read my review.

X - My Clarity by M. Clarke
Read my review.

X - Blue Waters by India R. Adams
Read my review.

X - God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction by Dan Barker (May)
Read my review.

Currently Reading

R - Sector 64: Ambush by Dean M. Cole*
R - Sweetwater: The Kihn by Rivi Jacks*
R - The Voyage by Tammie Painter*
R - The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd*
R - Give Me Your Answer True by Suanne Laqueur*
R - Black Earth: The Holocaust as History and Warning by Timothy Snyder*
R - The Road Home by Kathleen Shoop*
R - Buffalo Trail by Jeff Guinn*
R - Troll by Ashley C. Harris*
R - Christine by Stephen King*
R - Human: A Shadow Empires Book by S.M. Carriere*
R -  The Improbability of Love by Hannah Rothschild*
R - The Sanctum of Souls by R.K. Pavia*
R - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak*
R - Back Blast by Mark Greaney (Jan)
R - Back of Beyond by Neeny Boucher (March)
R - The Travelers by Chris Pavone (March)
R - Hustling Hitler: The Jewish Vaudevillian who Fooled the Führer by Walter Shapiro (May)
R - Red Queen by Christina Henry (June)

To Be Read

June

+ - Mercer Girls by Libbie Hawker
+ - By Helen's Hand by Amalia Carosella
+ - Victoria Crossing by Michael Wallace
+ - Edenland by Wallace King
+ - The Jolly Coroner by Quentin Canterel
+ - Colony of the Lost by Derik Cavignano
+ - Dove by M.H. Salter
+ - Cleo by Sassafras de Bruyn
+ - King Garnett Stories by Marianne Parry
+ - Babak the Beetle by Fred Paranuzzi

May

+ - Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard
+ - The Heretics of De'Ath by Howard of Warwick
+ - The Candidates: Based on a True Country by Matthew Hiley
+ - Schism by Britt Holewinski
+ - The Spirit Chaser by Kat Mayor
+ - The History Major by Michael Phillip Cash
+ - Meantime Girl by Sindhu S.
+ - The Toothless Fairy by Timothy Jordan

April

+ - Behave by Andromeda Romano-Lax
+ - Sister of Mine by Sabra Waldfogel
+ - The Rejected Writer's Book Club by Suzanne Kelman
+ - The House by the Lake by Ella Carey
+ - The Quest of All Ages by Maha Devi Li Ra La
+ - Riverside by Brett Burlison
+ - The Invasion of Heaven by Michael B. Koep
+ - No Ivory Tower by Stephan Davenport
+ - Like I Used to Dance by Barbara Frances
+ - Toto's Tale and True Chronicle of Oz by Sylvia Patience
+ - The Frog in the Skyscraper by Faiz Kermani
+ - One Creepy Street: Annica's Broom by Lee Jordan
+ - The Demonic Kraken Debacle in Hollywood by Andy Mulberry
+ - The Lord of Ireland by E.M. Powell
+ - In the Light of What We See by Sarah Painter
+ - While You Were Mine by Ann Howard Creel
+ - The Vow by Felicity Goodrich
+ - Call to Juno by Elisabeth Storrs
+ - Burying the Honeysuckle Girls by Emily Carpenter
+ - Broken Angels by Gemma Liviero
+ - The Accidental Life of Greg Millar by Aimee Alexander

March

+ - The Daughters of Palatine Hill by Phyllis T. Smith
+ - Our Own Country by Jodi Daynard
+ - The Art of Not Breathing by Sarah Alexander
+ - Darker the Night by Lisa London
+ - Diary of Anna the Girl Witch by Max Candee
+ - Risuko by David Kudler
+ - In the Forest by Art Collins
+ - How to Smoke Pot (Properly) by David Bienenstock
+ - At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier
+ - The Never-Open Desert Diner by James Anderson

February
+ - Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor
+ - The Silver Suitcase by Terrie Todd
+ - Very Like a Queen by Martin Lake
+ - Bad Luck by Pseudonymous Bosch
+ - The Keeper of the Crows by Kyle Alexander Romines
+ - Progeny of Vale by Rhett C. Bruno

January
+ - Henchgirl by Rita Stradling
+ - Infinitas by David N. Sebastian
+ - Here to Stay by Suanne Laqueur
+ - In a Different Key: The Story of Autism by John Donvan and Caren Zucker

Leftover from 2015
+ - The &Now Awards Volume 3 by Various Authors
+ - Shadows of the Unseen by Christine Steendam
+ - Drawing Heat by S.L. Dearing
+ - Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
+ - PrairyErth by William Least Heat-Moon
+ - House of Holes by Nicholson Baker
+ - Pieces by Maria Kostaki
+ - Summer Secrets by Jane Green
+ - Forgiveness by Chiquis Rivera
+ - The Summer After You and Me by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
+ - The Prophets of Eternal Fjord by Kim Leine
+ - Making Pretty by Corey Ann Haydu
+ - The Underwriting by Michelle Miller
+ - The Biology of Luck by Jacob M. Appel
+ - Omega City by Diana Peterfreund
+ - American Warlord by Johnny Dwyer
+ - When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi
+ - Bell Weather by Dennis Mahoney
+ - Deadly Design by Debra Dockter
+ - Unprocessed by Megan Kimble
+ - The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley
+ - The Sparks by Kyle Prue
+ - Take by Silvia Ami
+ - The Never-ending Story by Michael Ende
+ - Devil's Garden by Lance Tuck
+ - The Rumor by Elin Hildebrand
+ - It's You by Jane Porter
+ - Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
+ - Beautiful Girl by Fleur Philips
+ - The Witch of Bourbon Street by Suzanne Palmieri
+ - Killing Katie by B.A. Spangler
+ - A Hanging at Cinder Bottom by Glenn Taylor
+ - The Pianist by Wladyslaw Szpilman
+ - Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally
+ - The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer
+ - Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard
+ - Dracula is a Racist: A Totally Factual Guide to Vampires by Matt Melvin
+ - Steele Mackaye Investigations: The Tarot Problem by Barry H. Wiley
+ - The Age of Amy: Behind the Fun Zone by Bruce Edwards
+ - Jezebel: Defeating your #1 Spiritual Enemy by Bob Larson
+ - Fear Itself by Duffy Prendergast
+ - Anyone? by Angela Scott
+ - Silent Creed by Alex Kava
+ - The Sisters of Versailles by Sally Christie
+ - This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
+ - In the Dark by Chris Patchell
+ - Need by Joelle Charbonneau
+ - Gods of Anthem by Logan Keys
+ - Second Chances by Sarah Price
+ - A Bridge to Cross by Edward R. Hackemer
+ - The Fifth House of the Heart by Ben Tripp
+ - Diary of a Single Wedding Planner by Violet Howe
+ - The Curse of Crow Hollow by Bill Coffey
+ - Family Grandstand by Carol Ryrie Brink
+ - The Saturday Night School of Beauty by Marsha Mehran
+ - The Boss Killers by Keith Gillison
+ - Our Brothers at the Bottom of the Bottom of the Sea by Jonathan David Kranz
+ - The Phantom of the Earth (Omnibus Edition) by Raedan Zen
+ - Wynn in Doubt by Emily Hemmer
+ - Bloodlines by Lynn Lipinski
+ - High School Horror: Teen Frankenstein by Chandler Baker
+ - The Devil's Engine: Hellraisers by Alexander Gordon Smith
+ - Seaside by Wylde Scott
+ - Lydia's Enchanted Toffee by Neale Osborne
+ - Welcome to Monstrovia by Mark Newhouse
+ - Corr Syl the Warrior by Garry Rogers
+ - Christmas at the Vicarage by Rebecca Boxall
+ - Monsterland by Michael Phillip Cash


I only managed to read 12 books this month, and several of them were children's books. I was apparently having a really off month (again.) I did stick to my list fairly well, however. Although it should be noted that the year is halfway over now, and I still have books on my currently reading list that I started in 2015. I swear, one of these days, I will finish reading them. Maybe next month. - Katie





*Review* God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction by Dan Barker


Genre: Non-Fiction/Religion
Published: February 2, 2016
Pages: 320

Synopsis

What words come to mind when we think of God? Merciful? Just? Compassionate? In fact, the Bible lays out God’s primary qualities clearly: jealous, petty, unforgiving, bloodthirsty, vindictive—and worse! Originally conceived as a joint presentation between influential thinker and bestselling author Richard Dawkins and former evangelical preacher Dan Barker, this unique book provides an investigation into what may be the most unpleasant character in all fiction. Barker combs through both the Old and New Testament (as well as thirteen different editions of the “Good Book”), presenting powerful evidence for why the Scripture shouldn’t govern our everyday lives. This witty, well-researched book suggests that we should move past the Bible and clear a path to a kinder and more thoughtful world.


Review

I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program in the hopes that I would leave an honest review. 

This book served to reinforce my preconceived notion that religion is merely a means to explain things that society doesn't understand. But it also showed me that it was used as a way to control a group of people (and has continued to do so for thousands of years to an extent). And it confirmed for me that a theocracy based on a literal interpretation of the Bible would be just as violent and wrong as some of the theocracies that employ Sharia law today. 

I would honestly recommend this book to everyone. I think it would help to show Christians why there is an increasing number of people who are skeptical of Christianity and why it is difficult for those same people to accept moral outrage based on the Bible. And non-religious people will likely enjoy it because it reinforces their pre-conceived notions (like me). 

My one complaint is that I wish the book included more commentary from the author. It would have broken up the monotony of the lists of Bible verses that demonstrate each negative characteristic a little bit. 

4 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Buy the Book


About the Author

Dan Barker, a former evangelical minister, is co-president of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, cohost of Freethought Radio, and cofounder and board member of the Clergy Project. A widely sought-after lecturer, debater, and performer, he regularly discusses atheism and life's meaning and purpose in the national media, with appearances on Oprah WinfreyThe Daily ShowThe O'Reilly FactorGood Morning America, and many others.
 
Richard Dawkins was the Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford. He is a Fellow of both the Royal Society, and the Royal Society of Literature, and has Honorary Doctorates in both science and literature. His many bestselling books include The Selfish Gene (Oxford University Press), The Blind Watchmaker: Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe without Design (W.W. Norton & Co.), and The God Delusion (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).

*Review* Blue Waters by India R. Adams


Genre: YA
Published: February 16, 2016
Pages: 116

Synopsis

"The blue water I sank through was angelic, quiet, peaceful…"

Whitney is a vivacious, highly spirited 17-year-old girl. Her motto, "Live life to the fullest" is derailed when the young man, who's captured her attention, turns out to be the son of a drug tycoon- the same that provided the drugs that killed her brother. Whitney believes she simply need to heal from her first heartache, not knowing she is a part of a devious trade, one against human rights, and she has been… since the day age was born.

Blue Waters is the first Novella in a Tainted Waters, and begins a story of deception, corruption, self-discovery, and love with all that it demands you sacrifice…

"There was a beauty in dying that day…"


Review

I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program in the hopes that I would leave an honest review.

I wanted to like this book. It has an almost entirely blue cover which is a major selling point for me. Unfortunately it left me wanting. For one thing, it has a major case of irrational instal-love. There was almost no relationship building and then all of a sudden the two main characters just can't live without each other. It did not work for me at all. 

The insta-love leads to some other bizarre things that felt completely unrealistic to me, and I can't even give a single example because they're all connected to a huge spoiler, but it led to a whole lot of eye-rolling on my part while reading. 

The basic premise of the book seems intriguing, but for me, it just felt way too short for everything that happened (and yes, I realize it's a novella, but I feel like it encompassed way too much to be sufficient as a novella). 2 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Buy the Book


About the Author

India R Adams is an author/singer/songwriter who has written YA and NA novels and novellas, music for her Forever series, and designed jewelry for some of her book characters.

India was born and raised in Florida but has also been so lucky as to live in Idaho (where she froze but fell in love with the small town life), Austin Texas (where she started her first book, Serenity, and met wonderful artist), and now Murphy, North Carolina (where the mountains have stolen a piece of her heart).

Being a survivor of abuse, has inspired India to let others know they have nothing to be ashamed of. She put her many years of professional theater background to the test and has written fictional stories with a shadow of her personal experiences. She says, "I'm simply finding ways to empower perfect imperfections."

Another cause India feels needs change, is Sexual Slavery. She has joined forces with jewelers to design beautiful ways to raise money for non-profit organizations. Even though India writes about serious subjects such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, and Human Trafficking, she has a magnificent sense of humor, as do the characters she creates. Perfectly balanced between laughter and tears, her readers see how to empower their own perfect imperfections.

To receive Blue Waters for free, go to India's website and sign up for her newsletter.

*Review* My Clarity by M. Clarke


Genre: New Adult/Romance
Published: May 7, 2014
Pages: 328

Synopsis

Still reeling from the death of her father, Alexandria hopes to find both independence and reprieve from her grief by heading off to college. However, life throws her a serious curveball when she discovers that her roommate isn’t quite the person she had imagined.

Smoking, tattoos, and street racing for fast cash are Elijah’s only interests. A harsh life has made him apathetic and indifferent, until Alexandria enters his life. When their paths cross, turmoil abounds.

An inevitable encounter, an undeniable attraction, and an unexpected chance at love—will it be enough?


** This is a New Adult romance novel recommended for ages 18+ due to sexual content and mature subject matter.**


Review


I was hired to proofread this book. Ms. Clarke is most likely aware that I would be writing a review since we have worked together in the past, but it was not part of our agreement. I simply review every book I read. If you feel that my connection to this book makes my review untrustworthy, so be it, but this is my honest review.

I had mixed feelings about this book. Like I felt like it was fairly predictable, but not in a bad way. And Alexandria's naivety annoyed me in my jaded thirty-something womanhood. I even realize that I shouldn't be annoyed by her innocence, but I was anyway. And that annoyance colored my whole experience reading the book.

The romance in this book was sappy and sugary sweet with a slow burn to boot, just the way I like it. And I really enjoyed the whiteboard notes that appeared periodically. Then there's Elijah, who is pretty much exactly what my pubescent dreams were made of, so that's a major win. 

3.75 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Buy the Book


About the Author

International Bestselling Author Mary Ting/M. Clarke resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children's chapter book-No Bullies Allowed.

Ways to keep in touch with the author:

Newsletter Updates: http://eepurl.com/YMyCn

Website: www.authormaryting.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authormaryting
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CrossroadsBook
Twitter :@maryting
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11283685-crossroads
Blog: http://www.marytingbooks.blogspot.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/authormaryting