More Summer Reads

Yes, I am reading more than I should be writing, but it IS summer, right? Here are a few more books I've managed to get through this week that I wholeheartedly think is worth a read if you're still compiling your book list for the summer.

And just a reminder, I am not a book blogger, nor do I accept requests to read books. The books I mention or write reviews for are those that I have chosen to read. In some cases, I am given ARC copies, but that's because I asked (writers have favorite authors too ya know)...not the other way around. So, my book choices are my own and if I love 'em, I pimp 'em.

I just finished Troll or Derby and all I have to say is, it's been a long time since I felt such a rush from reading a book (it wasn't from the faeth, I swear)! The title itself says it all...you're in for a rocking' good time.

The world of troll and fairies Tash has created is beyond what you've come to expect from other troll/fairy books. In fact, this might be one of the best fairy stories I've had the pleasure of reading. The characters in her world are nitty, gritty, raw and real...very much like Red Tash's writing and storytelling. The fae are neither regal nor beautiful, but rather harsh and sinister. This is what I would imagine the fae world to be like.

A troll overlord, rednecks, a rock band, and the roller derby...this book has it all. You can't beat a fabulous story, creative imagery, and overall brilliance.

Although the protag in the story, Roller Deb, is fifteen, this tale is for the inner child in all of us, for those of us who once had The Sight as children, but can no longer see the magical world of the fae as adults.

Oh!...there's even a unicorn that kicks some serious troll @$$!

Ya'll know that Blake Crouch is one of my favorite authors. I'm a sucker for horror and the macabre. I was very fortunate enough to snag a precious ARC of PINES, provided by Thomas & Mercer.

What can I say? This book spoke to me in volumes. As most of you know, I'm a TV junkie. If you've read my books, you also know that I tend to use my writing as an outlet based on the fact that I'm a TV junkie. A wide screen TV into my own little universe, if you will.

Okay, getting back to the book. PINES was like reading my favorite television shows all at once and I didn't want to turn it off, less I miss something. A copulation of The Outer Limits, The Twilight Zone, Twin Peaks, all came into mind as I read this thriller of a book. What happens when a Secret Service agent finds himself trapped in an all idyllic town?

Crouch set out to write a book they way he saw fit, from conception to execution, and it definitely came across in PINES. His inspiration behind the story became clear and it resonated in every page he wrote...I felt it from page one.

I don't want to give any spoilers, so I won't. PINES comes out August 21, but you can pre-order it on Amazon. And you totally should.

I downloaded Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn awhile back when it was free and just got around to reading it. Why do I always feel like such a loser for waiting so long to read a fantastic book?

This is one YA read you don't want to miss out on (like I almost did). Kaye takes us to a world where mind reading is considered normal, but for those without the ability to be considered second class citizens. And for those who can "mindjack," or rather, those with the ability to hack into your mind to manipulate thoughts, it's a whole other story all together.

Open Minds throws out the tired YA formulas, and is rich with originality and great storytelling. If you're a fan of dystopian, sci-fi, and paranormal, this is a must read.