~Book Review~ Kronos

I know it's not romance but I loved this book so much that I had to share.

Kronos by Jeremy Robinson 

First, the genre. Thriller is not my genre of choice. I tend to avoid it. However, although this is classified as a thriller, I would consider it more of an action/adventure tale with a good dose of suspense and mystery. I read it on the recommendation of my husband, who enjoys authors like Stephen King and Dean Koontz. (Incidentally, I also enjoy Dean Koontz. Just FYI.)

Second, the plot in one sentence. A man's daughter is swallowed by a sea creature and he must accept the help of an eccentric, bored billionaire in order to hunt the creature down.

Third, my rating. I give this 4.9 pearls, easily. I was enthralled from the start and had trouble putting it down. I thought about it when I wasn't reading it. Definitely a 5-pearl keeper, in my opinion.

Fourth, my review. Excellently written! I base this on the following factors, rather than whether a book is "correctly" written:

• Was it easy to follow? YES
• Did it hold your attention? YES
• Did it flow at a reasonable pace? YES
• Were there loose ends and plot holes? Not that I recall.
• Were the characters real, believable? YES

There aren't a whole lot of specific things I can say without giving away some of the crucial moments in the book. I laughed, I cried, I raged. All the emotions were there. I loved the main character (an ex-Navy SEAL named Atticus) and I loved his daughter (a 16-year-old with purple hair named Giona). I thought Trevor Manfred, the eccentric billionaire who offers to help Atticus hunt Kronos, was cleverly drawn, entertainingly so.

I saw a few typos but honestly, I see them in every book I read so I discount them as important unless they're so bad that I can't "see" through them. 

Fifth, my favorite line. Page 101 (mass market pb): His pockmarked face didn't help his grim appearance, and the jagged scar across his forehead was simply a nightcap after drinking in his ugly mug. I just love this mental image. Makes me smile. 

Sixth, my warnings. I really have no serious warnings other than the F-bomb appeared once and there was some violence. The author refrained from too much description of gore, as well as overuse of profanity.

So, who wouldn't like this book? Good question. I think my mom would like it and she's about as picky as they come. 

*Disclaimer: No, I was not paid to say anything posted here. No, I do not know the author and was not asked to write this review. Yes, I purchased this paperback, at full price, from Amazon. Yes, if you click the link I've provided for easy purchase, I will get a tiny commission from the sale, as I am enrolled in the Amazon affiliates program. Did I miss anything?

This Just In!! (Part 3)

I don't do these posts very often, I know. Truth is, I don't buy many books anymore. However, I've gotten three new ones in the last week so I thought I'd share. 

First, I got my dear friend Terrie's book, A Robe of Feathers: And Other Stories.

From Amazon: 

In Japan, the line that divides myth from reality is not merely blurred, it is nonexistent. Superstitions, legends, and folk myths are passed down through generations and pervade daily living.

When a child playing near a river fails to return home, it is whispered that she was swept away by an adzuki arai, or Bean Washer. When a man boarding a ship hears the ringing of an unseen insect, it is announced that a funadama (Boat Spirit) is present and so the auspicious harbinger of smooth seas and abundant catch is celebrated. Even something as innocuous as waking up to find your pillow at the foot of your bed is thought to be the trick of a makura gaeshi, otherwise known as a Pillow Turner. Nothing is as simple as it seems. Your neighbor isn’t merely an eccentric old woman—she might very well be a shape-shifting, grudge-harboring Water Sprite.

The Japanese examine life and living with the keenest eyes and the most vivid of imaginations. Thersa Matsuura has captured that essence in this darkly insightful collection illuminating the place where reality falters and slips into the strange and fantastical.

I also got Lark Rise to Candleford: A Trilogy by Flora Thompson. (I bought season 4 on DVD too, but this blog's about the books, lol.)

From Amazon:
Flora Thompson (1876-1947) wrote what may be the quintessential distillation of English country life at the turn of the twentieth century. In 1945, the three books - Lark Rise (1939), Over to Candleford (1941), and Candleford Green (1943), were published together in one elegant volume, and this new omnibus Nonpareil edition, complete with charming wood engravings, should be a cause for real rejoicing.

This is the story of three closely-related Oxfordshire communities -- a hamlet, a village, and a town -- and the memorable cast of characters who people them. Based on Thompson's own experiences as a child and young woman, it is keenly observed and beautifully narrated, quiet and evocative.

The books have inspired two plays that ran in London, and the trilogy has been adapted into a multi-part, long-running television drama series by the BBC. The first series of ten episodes is scheduled to be syndicated on various PBS stations throughout the Unites States.

And last but not least, I got Kate Quinn's new book, Daughters of Rome. I ADORED her first book, Mistress of Rome so I'm sure I'll love the prequel just as much.

From Amazon:
A.D. 69. The Roman Empire is up for the taking. The Year of Four Emperors will change everything-especially the lives of two sisters with a very personal stake in the outcome. Elegant and ambitious, Cornelia embodies the essence of the perfect Roman wife. She lives to one day see her loyal husband as Emperor. Her sister Marcella is more aloof, content to witness history rather than make it. But when a bloody coup turns their world upside-down, both women must maneuver carefully just to stay alive. As Cornelia tries to pick up the pieces of her shattered dreams, Marcella discovers a hidden talent for influencing the most powerful men in Rome. In the end, though, there can only be one Emperor...and one Empress.

So that's what's new in my book world. What's new in yours? 

Good News!

Faithful readers, I apologize for my previous whiny post. I have found a book that literally GRABBED my attention and simply won't let it go. It's not romance or even close. It's a thriller. I'm so into this book that I think about it when I'm not reading it. It's been quite a while since that's happened. 

Kronos by Jeremy Robinson. 

Unbelievably interesting, attention-grabbing, thought-provoking...I could go on and on. I won't. I haven't even finished it yet. I will provide a review here once I'm done, even though it's not a romance. 

As far as questionable contents go (and I know my readers want to know), I've seen the F-bomb in this book once...so far. To be totally honest, I expected to see it more than that. I'll give a more in-depth review when I've finished. 

Thank you all for your patience. :o)

Woe is Me

(Trivial, whiny post alert! You've been warned.) 

I need help. 

Lately, I haven't been reading much. (Hence, the reason I changed my review request page to indicate that I'm no longer accepting review requests.) 

Funny thing, I've read a lot of older Marion Chesney books but reviewing them takes almost as long as reading them; they're so short. I read them because they're funny, lighthearted, short, and I have TONS of them. They don't require an emotional investment but they promise a good laugh or two. Sometimes, I forget them the day after I've read them.

I still have a pile of half-read books that I either lost interest in or never really got interested in the first place. I'm coming to the swift conclusion that even though I prefer a cleaner read, I don't care much for young adult books. Why? Not sure. I have a copy of Poison Study and a copy of Uglies, both of which I'm afraid to start for fear of a monumental letdown. Perhaps the YA books I've tried have not lived up to the hype?

Then there's the eBook situation. I don't own a Kindle or Nook and I have to say, I do NOT like reading books on a computer screen. I have a huge "pile" of eBooks, some I actually paid money for (and no, the others are NOT pirated) and I can't even bring myself to read them with the nifty Kindle for PC app I use. 

*sigh* 

Tell me, what do you do when you get the reading woes? Do you take some time off, find other things to interest you until your reading love rekindles? Do you read anything and everything you can get your hands on in an effort to force yourself through the slump? Do you even get the reading woes? 

Signed, 

Desperate for an escape into fiction

P.S. I know that in the grand scheme, all this is trivial. However, I'd still love any advice you, my lovely readers, might be willing to share.