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Blood Numbers - Five Stars
Blood Numbers is an excellent story written with master-like language by author, Cary Kreitzer. This is a spoiler free review. The main character is a girl named Aston who’s blood could earn her big money. However, she seems to be the only who sees the corruption in the process and she seeks to become that first Donor to make a living without donating.
I break my stories down into five categories and grade each out 20%. Then whatever the sum is will decide the amount of stars it receives. The five categories (in no particular order) are story, imagery, enjoyability, language (which includes tone), and success. The only one that doesn’t seem to explain itself is success and that’s a measure of how successful the book can be in the market.
The story is amazing. It has one of those dark tones that seem to draw the reader in. I swear it was only five minutes into the book and I had already found myself past page 30. Time goes by fast when you are reading this novel, so congratulations Cara. You have yourself a creative and insightful story. I would give this 19%.
Now did I enjoy the novel? So, this is where it kind of draws the line between “story”. The story category is based solely on creativity and execution. I have started to grow out of the Young Adult genre, but this book gave me a reason to continue reading YA novels. Don’t grow up too fast guys because I guarantee you, readers of all ages will enjoy this at least at a small level. Aston’s a character I have fallen in love with and you just might also. Enjoyability gets 17% from me.
My head feels disconnected from my body for a moment as my blood now pools around his thumb. “That’s a lot of blood, technician.” My voice sounds funny—quiet and distant. Too much blood. This isn’t right. Something splashes against my bare legs and I notice my blood is dripping, forming a small, dark puddle on our newly polished floorboards. - Excerpt from chapter one
Imagery gets an easy 20%. That was probably the best part of the novel. The language goes hand in hand with story and imagery and it’s because of this those two categories were successful. Language, 19%. Lastly, success? Given the right marketing and atmosphere to succeed, this novel will go places. Be sure not to miss it! 20%.
The 95% earned is good enough for five stars.
I break my stories down into five categories and grade each out 20%. Then whatever the sum is will decide the amount of stars it receives. The five categories (in no particular order) are story, imagery, enjoyability, language (which includes tone), and success. The only one that doesn’t seem to explain itself is success and that’s a measure of how successful the book can be in the market.
The story is amazing. It has one of those dark tones that seem to draw the reader in. I swear it was only five minutes into the book and I had already found myself past page 30. Time goes by fast when you are reading this novel, so congratulations Cara. You have yourself a creative and insightful story. I would give this 19%.
Now did I enjoy the novel? So, this is where it kind of draws the line between “story”. The story category is based solely on creativity and execution. I have started to grow out of the Young Adult genre, but this book gave me a reason to continue reading YA novels. Don’t grow up too fast guys because I guarantee you, readers of all ages will enjoy this at least at a small level. Aston’s a character I have fallen in love with and you just might also. Enjoyability gets 17% from me.
My head feels disconnected from my body for a moment as my blood now pools around his thumb. “That’s a lot of blood, technician.” My voice sounds funny—quiet and distant. Too much blood. This isn’t right. Something splashes against my bare legs and I notice my blood is dripping, forming a small, dark puddle on our newly polished floorboards. - Excerpt from chapter one
Imagery gets an easy 20%. That was probably the best part of the novel. The language goes hand in hand with story and imagery and it’s because of this those two categories were successful. Language, 19%. Lastly, success? Given the right marketing and atmosphere to succeed, this novel will go places. Be sure not to miss it! 20%.
The 95% earned is good enough for five stars.
Book Summary
There are only two kinds of people left on the earth: Donors and Recipients. Sixteen-year-old Aston Vazeto hates the idea of selling her blood for money and is determined to be the first Donor in New World history to never donate. But after a suspicious accident at her father's power plant leaves her family diving deeper into poverty, Aston has no other choice except to enter the annual blood auctions, where Recipients bid on the richest blood. With the highest test results ever seen, Aston’s blood becomes the most sought after in history, and will likely bring a large price at auctions. When her friends are caught tampering with their donations, they are arrested and tortured. Knowing she puts her family's safety and income at risk Aston takes advantage of an opportunity to escape donation facility drugs meant to keep Donors complacent. Free to feel and free to love she is caught between Gannet, a kind facility technician, and Marcus, a sarcastic rebel like herself. Dancing at Blood Auction Balls and kissing a donor in coat closets under the stairs has Aston confused between joining the uprising she hears rumors about or merely following the life her blood was meant to lead.
About the Author
Is there a writer which brain you would love to pick for advice? Who would that be and why? Stephenie Meyer. I know she gets a lot of flak in the writing world, but no mater what you want to say about her writng she is an amazing story teller. She’s also who really opened up the world to this idea of stay-at-home moms turned authors. I remember years ago listening to her say in an interview that if you have an idea just write it. She is a big inspiration to me.
Where did you come up with the names in the story? My husband is a birder. I think without realizing it I patterned Aston’s father after my husband. I love the kind of Dad he is and he loves birds, so I put a lot of the names of birds that we joked about naming our kids. Gannets are sea birds; Lazuli Buntngs are beautiful blue birds, and Aston- well that’s not a bird. I actually took a job working at an apartment complex called “The Aston” the day I started plotting the concept in my head. It only seemed fitting.
What can we expect from you in the future? I have lots of ideas all over the place, but something that seems to stay consistent is my angsty romance that I just can’t get enough of. I am querying a science fiction suicide story right now that has a lot of magical realism, and I’m sending in book two of this series to my editor next week. Lots of exciting things happening that I’m super stoked about.
Where did you come up with the names in the story? My husband is a birder. I think without realizing it I patterned Aston’s father after my husband. I love the kind of Dad he is and he loves birds, so I put a lot of the names of birds that we joked about naming our kids. Gannets are sea birds; Lazuli Buntngs are beautiful blue birds, and Aston- well that’s not a bird. I actually took a job working at an apartment complex called “The Aston” the day I started plotting the concept in my head. It only seemed fitting.
What can we expect from you in the future? I have lots of ideas all over the place, but something that seems to stay consistent is my angsty romance that I just can’t get enough of. I am querying a science fiction suicide story right now that has a lot of magical realism, and I’m sending in book two of this series to my editor next week. Lots of exciting things happening that I’m super stoked about.
Sailor Take Warning
Summary
The commissioner banned citizen interference in police investigations, but that’s never stopped Donna before and won’t stop her now. A race yacht has capsized. A millionaire has gone missing. If that and the involvement of a would-be psychic aren’t reason enough to worry, adding Donna’s meddling mother to the mix will jeopardize Legacy’s reputation even further. Can Donna rein in the chaos before it spells disaster for everyone involved?
M. K. Scott is the husband and wife writing team behind The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries. Morgan K Wyatt is the general wordsmith, while her husband, Scott, is the grammar hammer and physics specialist. He uses his engineering skills to explain how fast a body falls when pushed over a cliff and various other felonious activities. The Internet and experts in the field provide forensic information, while the recipes and B and B details require a more hands on approach. Morgan's daughter, who manages a hotel, provides guest horror stories to fuel the plot lines. The couple's dog, Chance, is the inspiration behind Jasper, Donna's dog. Murder Mansion is the first book in The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries. Overall, it is a fun series to create and read. Drop Dead Handsome is the second book in the series.
Lying Beneath You - Summary
Underneath the city lies an advanced society, and its dark secrets could bury her alive.
Ayla worries she'll be stuck waitressing for pennies until she dies. She longs for adventure, for something to save her from the paycheck-to-paycheck life she lives with her long-time boyfriend, Derek, who plays it safe and only half-tolerates her thirst for exploration.
With her trusty camera in tow, she explores abandoned buildings, searching for something—anything—interesting. One night, she finds a mysterious trapdoor in an old warehouse which leads to a futuristic society right beneath her feet.
This is the adventure she's been looking for, but the people underground don't appreciate her intrusion and she quickly finds herself locked up and questioned. They think she's a spy, their questions are getting more intrusive, and Derek has no idea where she is.
Ayla must find a way out of this underground world that's not at all the adventure she thought she wanted, or she may never see Derek again...
Ayla worries she'll be stuck waitressing for pennies until she dies. She longs for adventure, for something to save her from the paycheck-to-paycheck life she lives with her long-time boyfriend, Derek, who plays it safe and only half-tolerates her thirst for exploration.
With her trusty camera in tow, she explores abandoned buildings, searching for something—anything—interesting. One night, she finds a mysterious trapdoor in an old warehouse which leads to a futuristic society right beneath her feet.
This is the adventure she's been looking for, but the people underground don't appreciate her intrusion and she quickly finds herself locked up and questioned. They think she's a spy, their questions are getting more intrusive, and Derek has no idea where she is.
Ayla must find a way out of this underground world that's not at all the adventure she thought she wanted, or she may never see Derek again...
Grace's Ghost
Grace’s ghosts didn’t particularly wow me, but I didn’t read it to find the next Avengers: Endgame. I read it for a nice, “cozy” and time consuming read. And you know what? Time was consumed. You know how when you are bored, time goes by very slowly? Well, time went by way too fast as I read this novel. Congratulations to the author and I can’t wait for future pieces. This book gets 4.5 stars. The only thing this should work on is the sarcastic tone of the mc becoming too repetitive.
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Stephanie Peterson
About her and her story...
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Grace’s Ghosts?
The protagonist is a twelve year old girl named Grace. She doesn’t have a lot of living friends, but she’s the most popular girl in town among the dead. She’s the only person who’s been able to see the many ghosts of the town of Tansy for more than 300 years, so the ghosts have flocked to her since she was a baby. Grace, like a lot of tweens, is a bit unsure of herself when the story starts, but she grows a lot and gains confidence as the story unfolds.
Her best friend is her cat, Midnight. Like nearly all of her friends, Midnight is a ghost. The ghostly kitty stays by her side at all times. He goes to school with her every day. He makes sure she’s never lonely. Midnight is probably my favorite character in the book.
Grace’s family plays a big part in the story, especially her mom and grandma. They’re strong women who Grace can really look up to, but they are not without their faults.
The many ghosts of Tansy make up most of the cast of characters. They all have unique personalities. Most of them are friendly toward Grace. A few aren’t. But they all are ready to move on into the Light, and they need Grace’s help.
Grace’s only living friend is a boy named Bain. He’s a bit quirky, but he’s funny, supportive, and Grace thinks he’s cute. He helps Grace throughout the story.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
I have! Quite a few, actually. Right now, my agent is working to find a publisher for my other books. I’ve written two other middle grade novels, two chapter books, and five picture books. I’m working on another middle grade novel as well as a picture book.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
I like some background noise. If it’s too quiet, I get distracted. I don’t like playing music with lyrics, however. I find myself typing the words to the songs on accident. It’s not as bad if I’m in a coffee shop where there’s other background noise, but at home, I only play instrumental music. A coffee shop is the ideal place for me to write because there’s noise, but none of it is my problem. At home, my kids or my dogs make noise and I know I’m responsible for whatever mess happens while I’m working, so each sound distracts me
What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first
I go into a story with a main character, a setting, and a rough idea of where I want to take the story. Then I write a few chapters to get to know my characters a bit. After I’ve spent some time getting to know them and how they react, I write a rough outline. I base it off the book. Save the Cat. I never hold myself to my outlines, but I like to have a general idea of where I’m going.
The protagonist is a twelve year old girl named Grace. She doesn’t have a lot of living friends, but she’s the most popular girl in town among the dead. She’s the only person who’s been able to see the many ghosts of the town of Tansy for more than 300 years, so the ghosts have flocked to her since she was a baby. Grace, like a lot of tweens, is a bit unsure of herself when the story starts, but she grows a lot and gains confidence as the story unfolds.
Her best friend is her cat, Midnight. Like nearly all of her friends, Midnight is a ghost. The ghostly kitty stays by her side at all times. He goes to school with her every day. He makes sure she’s never lonely. Midnight is probably my favorite character in the book.
Grace’s family plays a big part in the story, especially her mom and grandma. They’re strong women who Grace can really look up to, but they are not without their faults.
The many ghosts of Tansy make up most of the cast of characters. They all have unique personalities. Most of them are friendly toward Grace. A few aren’t. But they all are ready to move on into the Light, and they need Grace’s help.
Grace’s only living friend is a boy named Bain. He’s a bit quirky, but he’s funny, supportive, and Grace thinks he’s cute. He helps Grace throughout the story.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
I have! Quite a few, actually. Right now, my agent is working to find a publisher for my other books. I’ve written two other middle grade novels, two chapter books, and five picture books. I’m working on another middle grade novel as well as a picture book.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
I like some background noise. If it’s too quiet, I get distracted. I don’t like playing music with lyrics, however. I find myself typing the words to the songs on accident. It’s not as bad if I’m in a coffee shop where there’s other background noise, but at home, I only play instrumental music. A coffee shop is the ideal place for me to write because there’s noise, but none of it is my problem. At home, my kids or my dogs make noise and I know I’m responsible for whatever mess happens while I’m working, so each sound distracts me
What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first
I go into a story with a main character, a setting, and a rough idea of where I want to take the story. Then I write a few chapters to get to know my characters a bit. After I’ve spent some time getting to know them and how they react, I write a rough outline. I base it off the book. Save the Cat. I never hold myself to my outlines, but I like to have a general idea of where I’m going.
Secrets and Scrabble Book 1: Murder at Pirate's Cove
RATED PG-13 FOR LANGUAGE AND MYSTERY VIOLENCE. THERE IS NO SEXUAL ACTIVITY IN THIS ROMANCE.
THIS IS A SPOILER FREE REVIEW
In the series’ debut, Ellery, a master of the English language and person who always has bad luck in his relationships, discovers one night that the bookstore he’s inherited as become the site of a gruesome murder. Chief Jack Carson investigates while the press appears to be pinpointing the blame on him, although the investigation has only just begun. In this small community where nothing goes by unnoticed, who is the murderer? The answer might just be enough to turn the tables of mystery fiction forever.
I break my stories down into five categories and grade each out 20%. Then whatever the sum is will decide the amount of stars it receives. The five categories (in no particular order) are story, imagery, enjoyability, language (which includes tone), and success. The only one that doesn’t seem to explain itself is success and that’s a measure of how successful the book can be in the market.
I think the strength of this read is in the language it uses. It doesn’t give off an old-literature impression, but instead has a purely contemporary feel. Colloquialism is used quite strongly, but it didn’t turn me away. That with the other elements in the story made for a good read. Language gets 18% from me.
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Where the story was lacking was, well, the story. The romance was extremely compelling (more on that soon), but the story just wasn’t enough for me. Lacking is a good way to put it - certain things could have used less colloquialism and more explanation. With that being said, I have never been more intrigued to read a M/M romance. If there is any reason to read this book, read it for that. The mystery aspect can also draw you in, however, the way the romance is delivered over time makes the read worthwhile. Story gets 14%.
Did I enjoy the read? Well, romance aside I didn’t feel particularly drawn to it until chapter 19. Perhaps, it may be because I don’t feel the desire to read mystery novels enough. Do I think mystery readers will enjoy this? Absolutely. So I’ll judge off of that. Enjoyability gets 17%. Success gets 15% and imagery, well, gets 14%.
That brings our total to 78% which is good enough for four stars from me.
Amazon link - $3.99: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0826X61C9?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_0&storeType=ebooks
Josh Lanyon is the author of over sixty titles of classic Male/Male fiction featuring twisty mystery, kickass adventure and unapologetic man-on-man romance.
Her work has been translated into eleven languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Harlequin Mondadori, the largest romance publisher in Italy. Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan's annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place). The Adrien English Series was awarded All Time Favorite Male/Male Series in the 2nd Annual contest held by the 20,000+ Goodreads M/M Group. Josh is an Eppie Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads M/M Hall of Fame award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California.
Her work has been translated into eleven languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Harlequin Mondadori, the largest romance publisher in Italy. Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan's annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place). The Adrien English Series was awarded All Time Favorite Male/Male Series in the 2nd Annual contest held by the 20,000+ Goodreads M/M Group. Josh is an Eppie Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads M/M Hall of Fame award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California.