Up and Coming

Hey guys!

Just thought I'd give a short list of what to expect as far as book reviews in the next few weeks!

Let's Take a Look: The Runaway King by Jennifer Nielesen

Author's Corner: Inside the Mind of Jennifer Nielesen

Let's Take a Look: If Wishes Were Horses by Robert Barclay

Let's Take a Look: The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley

Let's Take a Look: The Dark Hills Divide by Patrick Carmen

Let's Take a Look: Beyond the Valley of Thorns by Patrick Carmen

Let's Take a Look: The Tenth City by Patrick Carmen

Let's Take a Look: Stargazer by Patrick Carmen

Thats all I have planned for now! Let me know if there is anything you'd like me to add to my list! Thank you!

Calista Gonzales

Let's Take A Look: The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen

The False Prince; easily one of my favorite books and I can proudly proclaim that I have read it multiple times. In this story we are introduced to the very peculiar Sage. Sarcastic and rather unwilling to participate in a scheme meant to deceive an entire kingdom; I wasn't crazy about him at first. Don't get me wrong Nielsen's writing is beyond amazing; her ability to grapple with complex dialogue - and a enough description to make you fall into the world but not so much that you can't fill in little pieces with your own imagination - is beyond normal limits. All the same, Sage, for the lack of a better term, was too much of a brat for me. I preferred the lesser known character, Roden. As usual with stories like this, Sage kind of grew on me and at the end I found myself rooting for him. 

The False Prince is one part of a three book series; the Ascendance Trilogy. The second book; The Runaway King will be in my next review. Sadly; I cannot review the third book (The Shadow Throne) as I haven't managed to get my hands on it. Anyway; back to the initial review of this book. Sage comes from a group home and surprisingly, is unwilling to adapt to a life of riches and modesty. He quickly falls for a quiet servant; whom of course he is allowed to have no contact with under any circumstances. After all; he is meant to play the part of a prince. One of my favorite quotes from this book is:

"A person can be educated and still be stupid, and a wise man can have no education at all" 

Sage and a group of boys are taken from various homes in order to be educated in the ways of a prince. Why? Because the prince of the kingdom (forgive me I cannot recall the name of it off the top of my head) has died and his younger brother no where to be found. To avoid the scandal of someone else taking the throne, one of the King's administration take it upon themselves to groom an orphaned boy into playing a popper of sorts. Sage is just one of the lucky (or unlucky?) few who are dragged into this. Of coarse where would the story be without a rival? Tobias, as rotten as he can be is overall not a disgusting character. He has a sneering attitude that makes me cringe and makes me want to smack him in the face but; good job on Nielesen's part. I found myself hating the men that pitted the boys against each other rather than Tobias himself. Cregan is one of those men and I can say with a forced assurance that I hate his guts. Just one of those characters you know? Mott on the other hand; Cregan's mate and a guard and one of the boys' teachers, is bearable and in the end is on my list of characters to forever adore. 

Well as it is two o'clock in the morning now and seeing as I could go on about this book for hours, I will end it here. As always; thank you so much for reading and please comment and subscribe! If there are any books you'd like to recommend please let me know! 

Coming Next: Let's Take A Look: The Runaway King by Jennifer Nielsen

Then: Author Corner: Inside the mind of Jennifer Nielsen - Exclusive Interview

Until next time,
Calista Gonzales

Let's Take a Look: Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline

Welcome Back!

So if you couldn't tell by now; I love Lisa Scottoline. She is such a gifted author and I cannot get enough of her work. Today I'm going to be doing a review on Don't Go a book that has made me cry probably about every time I read it. Unfortunately this will be my last Lisa Scottoline review for the time being. Having no income I have no way to get my hands on another one of her books. That information aside....let's get to it!

Don't Go doesn't just rival Save Me and Look Again, it outpaces it by about a hundred and one steps. This novel is touching and unlike Scottoline's other novels focuses on the tragedy of a struggling father. A military doctor, Dr. Mike Scanlon and his wife  have just had their first child, a baby girl. Mike returns home upon the untimely death of his beloved wife, Chloe (forgive my possible mutilation of the name) Scanlon. He comes home, a respective hero and highly regarded by those around him, only to find that he is a stranger to the only family that he has left - his baby girl. Centered upon the aftermath of Chloe's death and the reintroduction of Mike to his daughter, this novel is a heart stopper. Like many of Scottoline's books, she plays with your emotions and just when you think things are finally going good for our favorite protagonist, things quiet frankly go to hell. This novel shows some insights into the struggles that our military heroes face upon coming home; some that we may have never thought of before. Scottoline usually writes her main characters as strong, curious women with a faithful husband and usually, as I've noticed, a loving and over eager pup. I was a little weary about reading a book where her main character was a man. Who was to say she wouldn't completely botch the attempt? I have such high expectations for her that I didn't want one novel to ruin my love of her writing. But surprise surprise, I wasn't let down. I recommend over Save Me, as much as I adore that book. If you have a few spare hours definatley take a run to your local library or book story and get this book. I know I had to buy it after I read it because I loved it so much.

Remember to like comment and subscribe for more reviews! Coming Next: Let's Take a Look: The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen

Until next time,

Calista Gonzales

Let's Take a Look: Look Again by Lisa Scottoline

Welcome back!

Hey everyone! I'm here for another book review! For this next one I choose to review the ever persistent Lisa Scottoline once again. As mentioned in my last post I was in love with her Save Me book. I got through it in a few short days! Much like Save Me, this book is action packed to the very end.Centered once again around a young mother, Ellen Gleeson's neat and very orderly world is thrown into the wind when she receives a missing child's poster in the mail. As the story escalates to the climax, we learn that her beloved child is the missing boy in the poster. Faced with a very unique position, Ellen must choose to give up the child she has loved since he was a baby or to keep him from a family she knows wants and needs him. Scottoline really out did herself with this novel. Beyond the normal dynamic views of a mystery, she en-captures the raw emotions of a parent and the things that one will do for a loved one. Through her highly talented and expansive vocabulary, she expands upon the basic human instinct by combining our needs with our wants. This story is gut wrenching but kept me turning the page until the very end. I have to say, I was worried that this novel would be shadowed by the glory of Save Me but once again, Scottoline truly out did herself. If anything, Look Again marvels that of its sister novel. We all know the endevors that our mothers go through when having to raise...well us with our 'creative' minds and very...ah...dynamic points of views but Scottoline puts a whole new spin on this. Her characters are solid and have so much life in them that it is almost impossible for them not to jump off the page. Her words created images that danced around my mind long after I put the book now. Even though it has been a few months since I read this book, I can say with anticancer that I remember every twist and turn and every shocking detail that Scottoline weaved as she tore my heart along the lines. This book is a must read; especially for those who enjoyed Save Me or any other Lisa Scottoline. Graced with an amazing gift, I am so happy to be reviewing another one of her works. Please pick up a copy of this book! It is a must read and must have !

 Please remember to like, comment and subscribe for more reviews! Coming Next: Let's Take a Look: Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline and hopefully Author's Corner: Inside the Mind of Jennifer Nielesen

Until next time;

Calista Gonzales

Let's Take a Look:Save Me by Lisa Scottoline

Welcome back everyone!

The first book I ever read by Lisa Scottoline and I wasn't in the slightest bit disappointed. This book is an intriguing mystery novel that any would enjoy. Surrounding a mysterious tragedy at her third-grade daughter's (Melly's) Rose McKenna is put through quiet possible one of the worst things a mother could  go through. Scottoline uses a very very effective form of visualization that generates a strong and moving picture in the reader's mind. She uses such strong vocabulary that quiet honestly I'm not sure has been noticed before. Some people who have read her books say that she uses to much visualtion and puts to much information into her story line. Quiet honestly, I love it. It is very similar to my own writing style so I can relate to it very easily. From the very first sentence she hooks you in and quiet forcefully draws you into the story. I could not stop reading this book once I got into it! I would suggest this book to anyone who can read! Save Me is an extraordinary novel that knocks you off your feet and keeps you gunning for more. Better yet, Lisa Scottoline is a truly gifted writer and her amazing book has made me ache for more of her writings.

Please remember to like, comment and subscribe for more reviews! Next: Let's Take a Look: Look Again by Lisa Scottoline

Thanks for reading my first review ! Leave me some reviews and I'll improve with them!

Until next time;

Calista Gonzales 

A Brief Synopsis on My Mind

Hello everyone! 

My first post! Yay! So a little about me and this blog then onto my first review! :) I have started this blog upon the urging of my English teacher who suggested that since I read non-stop and have done a few author interviews that I put it to use and make some reviews ! I'll try to post weekly but please work with me if I don't! Some basic back ground information: I am a senior in high school and I participate in robotics and am co-captain of my school colorgaurd team. I have a two year old border collie mix named Loki and two parakeets named Tweety and Nimbus (yes like Nimbus 2000 from Harry Potter) So boring introductions out of the way....lets get down to business ! :) Please please feel free to comment and make book suggestions! I love talking to people and hearing their feed back ! Thanks and see you all soon!

Calista