This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

This is Not a Test is an okay, book. It takes place during a zombie apocalypse but is not about zombies.

A group of six teens seek refuge inside their high school. They have quite a bit to deal with. They are frightened and cut off from the world but other than that not a lot happens ---

The book is pretty dark and bleak. I'm not sure that I like it and I can't exactly pinpoint why so --- I will leave you with an overview from B&N.

Grade: C-

Overview (B&N)

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

Slave (Finding Anna) by Sherri Hayes

Slave is a rather unique novel (or, I imagine it is, since I haven't read many books in this genera).  There is no sex, it actually deals with the the phycological being and how one person can destroy a person's mind and how much time, energy and compassion it takes to help that person overcome years of pain and torture.

Stephen purchases, Brianna, with the intentions to save her life. He has no idea how shattered she is and what it's going to take to help her regain some semblance of normalcy. What transpires is intriguing.

Expect a fast, emotional read. You will be moved by the compassion, Stephen has and what he will do to protect, Brianna.

Grade: A

FYI: This book is in the erotica, BDSM genera. Do not read if you find the subject matter unfitting.

Derailed - Memoirs of a Botched Hysterectomy: A Story of Undiagnosed Endometriosis by Jaimi Taylor

Derailed will be published on, July 11, 2012

Jaimi went in for a "routine hysterectomy" --- but it became anything but routine. It turned into a series of colossal mistakes by the medical community. 


She was first diagnosed with fibroids and cysts and as she got older the pain became more intense but doctors told her she was just premenopausal. When she went under the knife for her hysterectomy --- the real culprit was found. She had the worst case of endometriosis her doctor's had ever seen.


From here on out things got progressively worst. A, series of mistakes were made --- mistakes that resulted in an 18 day hospital stay, 4 surgeries and over $ 400,000 in medical bills. Jamie died on the table, was revived and had other near death experiences. She was a wreck... and so were some of her doctor's and nurses. She had a mix of good and bad and the bad were very bad....


She does an excellent job at telling her story. The writing is clean and well thought out. She adds notes on the procedure done to her, explaining what they are and why they are done.


I feel more educated in the subject matter and more women should read this book because it just might save their lives. 


The only negative thing I have to say is that at time you will find yourself not liking the author, despite this you want the best outcome for her. 


Grade: A

Wife 22: A Novel by Melanie Gideon

Alice Buckel has been married for 20 years. Her marriage doesn't have the passion it use to. It is lackluster. Her children are growing up and distancing themselves from her. She is a bit obsessed with facebook. Upon opening her email one day, she finds an invite to participate in a marriage survey. 


Before she knows it, she finds herself flirting with "Researcher 101" -- and then falling for him. She begins to question her marriage and so does Researcher 101. 


Wife 22 is engaging, entertaining and a bit predictable. I strongly suggest that you use the index in the back while reading Alice's answers. I wasn't aware of it until I finished the book and had I used it as I read the book, I would have gotten a different perspective on things.


This is a perfect summer read.

Grade: A

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne

A great post-apocalyptic book. A major catastrophic event occurs and causes a series of chain reaction events that cripple the Unites States ( perhaps the world?).  Think, major earthquakes, tsunamis, erratic weather conditions, toxic spills, etc...

Large hail falls from the sky, in Monument, Co, causing major damage and a group of school age children to seek refuge inside of a Greenway (Walmart) store. 14 kids, ranging from ages 4-17 are left to their own devices. They are cut off from the world and need to formulate a plan to survive.

The cast of characters is large --- however, Laybourne manages to give them each distinct voices. There is absolutely no way you can confuse the characters. There is quite a bit of chaos and struggle for power. There is a lot of action packed into this book but no ending. Yeah -- you know what that means --- a sequel. I can't wait!

Expect a degree of violence, blood and profanity.

Grade: A

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

The Hunt, came highly recommended by a few of my favorite authors, so I figured it would be amazing. It wasn't. I was extremely disappointed. I debated on whether or not to blog about it but I've always been  honest in my reviews so --- here it goes.

I was bored. Yea, bored! The premise was great, it started strong and then it just fell all to sh*t.

Gene was the only character worth liking. He has lived his entire life among vampires, acting like one, pretending to be one so that he won't be devoured in seconds. His blood, non-vampire blood is rare and unique. There aren't very many of his kind left.

Living among the vampires is hard enough but then he is selected to participate in the Heper Hunt. A hunt to track and kill others like him in a controlled environment. Gene needs to blend in better than ever and he doesn't seem to be doing as well of a job as he would hope.

It all sounds wonderful and entertaining but it just drags and there is little to no background on the state of the country. How it got to where it is and why --- not even an inkling, which leaves you in a state of wonder, frustration and confusion.

Things are not believable --- I mean seriously. Gene eats blood, raw meat and never, ever gets sick? Armpit sex? It's all undeveloped and meh....

Skip this and read another book.

Grade: F

The First Husband: A Novel by Laura Dave

The First Husband is a delightful read. The character's are realistic, they story is entertaining and unique.

If you are looking for a light read that is not easily predictable this is one for you. A lot of things happen and since it is nothing like I expected --- I don't plan on giving too much away, as I don't want to ruin the book for you.

Annie Adams has spent her entire adult life traveling for work. She writes a travel column and finds herself on the road more than at home. Life seems to be going pretty well until her long term relationship with, Nick ends. Nick wants to see another woman and leaves, Annie is in disrepair until her best friend ( Who is also, Nick's sister) encourages her go out.

Annie, meets Griffin and they hit it off. It's a whirl world romance. They marry soon after and move to Griffin's hometown --- where problems arise that test their relationship.  Then, Nick shows up and wants, Annie back. Annie has some choices to make, who will it be, Nick or Griffin?

Grade: A

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Thirty-five girls are given the chance of a lifetime. The chance to marry the prince. American Singer is selected despite her reservations to compete for a chance to marry Prince Maxon.


She leaves behind her family, home and secret love for a chance that she isnt' sure she wants --- a chance,  that will raise her status in the caste system and give her family much needed money.


The Selection doesn't really add anything new or original to the dystopian genre but it holds its own. It is an exciting, fun, entertaining read. The storyline is interesting, the character development is fantastic and the book is well paced. There isn't one boring moment!


This is setting up to get an excellent trilogy. (Love, LOVE, love the cover!)

Grade: A

Bared to You: A Crossfire Novel by Sylvia

Bare to You is a completely new genera for me. I haven't read erotica before and when, I was given the opportunity to read this book for free (Thanks, NetGalley!), I figured I would give it a try.

It turned out to be a lot more interesting that I would have suspected. There has been a lot of hype about 50 Shades of Grey. Which I have yet to get my hands on, simply because I don't want to buy the book or check it out from the library. Not became I am embarrassed (okay, maybe a little bit) but because I work at a library and I'd rather my co-workers not know every single thing I read and as far as purchasing goes -- my book money is set aside for a few sequel books, I can't wait to read. So, what I am saying is -- dear reader don't expect a 50 shades review anytime soon!

Okay, back to reviewing ---

Bare to you is rather interesting. It is about two individuals with dysfunctional pasts and families trying to make their relationship work. The sex scene's are steamy and hot but the perfect bodied, exceptionally good looking character part  gets to be a bit of a cliche (oh, yeah and lets not forget the super rich part, either!). Of course no one really wants to read about unattractive people having sex but do the character's have to be so good looking you get a complex?

and --- if that wasn't annoying enough. When the characters' fight, they storm out, make assumptions and then make up. I get it, people get into arguments but do they always have to run away and then make up and have passionate, mind blowing sex without really solving the problem?

Despite these challenges in the storyline and writing the actual book is pretty good. Good enough that I am really fond of the character's and  care about what happens to them. I am anxious to know the secrets they have yet to reveal about themselves and see if they can make this relationship work.  I will be reading the next two books due out this year and next. You should pick this one up and give it a go.

Grade: B

I Suck at Girls by Justin Halpern

Justin Halpern isn't just funny --- he is hilarious and beyond cute.

Halpern is an excellent storyteller. He brings you into the moment and you see it clearly though his eyes. This is Halpern's second book, his first being the outrageously funny, Sh*t My Dad Says.

Justin's father makes many, many appearances in this book and gives his off handed advice on subjects ranging from kissing to marriage. You get to read about, Justin's youth, awk-ward teen years and early adulthood.

The very best part of this book is, Justin's relationship with his father. It is clearly a close one, mingled in with lots of love shown in variety of harsh, honesty words.

Grade: A

Stay Close by Harlan Co

Another great book by Coben.

Megan is a stay at home mom living the "perfect" suburban life but things are not always what they seem to be.  She hasn't her past with her husband.  A past full of abuse, a wild lifestyle,  a lover and murder.

Ray is stuck in a dead end job posing as a paparazzo photographer. He can't get over his ex and he has a photo that might break open a murder case or implicate him.

Jack is a detective -- who just can't seem to let go of an cold case file. He visits the victims wife and children every year and continues to search for the murderer. Then, a new murder occurs in the same location as his previous cold case and Jack has to rethink his entire strategy in order to solve both cases.

These three seemingly different lives find that, the  past has a way of resurfacing and crashing down on them.

The writing is intense, the story has so many twists and turns you'll need a road map to find your way out and just when you think you've figured it out ---- Coben tosses something new into the mix and your previous suspicions are wrong, wrong and wrong!

This is page turner. It is gritty, chilling and beyond entertaining.

Grade: A