Book Review: Submarine Outlaw

Title:  Submarine Outlaw
Author:  Philip Roy
Pages:  251
Publication Date:  2008
Version:  Paperback
Genre:  Young Adult Fiction/Adventure

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Fiction. Young Adult Novel. What happens when a fearless young explorer teams up with a junkyard genius and builds a submarine? Going to sea with an unusual crew, a strangely intelligent seagull with attitude and a dog that nobody wanted, Alfred unwittingly becomes the "Submarine Outlaw" and discovers that the sea is a busy place. Escaping from the coastguard when he is mistaken for a Russian spy sub, rescuing a family on a sailboat in a storm, and running from thieves who are after the gold coins he has raised from the floor of the Louisburg harbor, Alfred learns that a modern explorer must keep his wits about him as he sails on the high seas, or beneath them. First prize winner in the Atlantic Writers Competition."

My Review:

I started out reading this book because my son was reading it for summer and I wanted to make sure he was really reading it and understanding what he was reading.  I didn't really know what to expect out of it, being that I didn't pick it out to read.  Once I started reading it with him though, we were both hooked.  This is such a neat adventure book for young adults and adults too.  The young boy, Alfred, is turning 14 years old and doesn't want the life of a fisherman like he is seen by his grandfather as doing, just like all the men in the family have done.  Alfred really wants to be an explorer and just be able to see things people haven't seen before or rarely seen.  Soon he teams up with the grumpy junkyard owner and they decide to make a submarine so he can fulfill his adventure dreams.  This book follows Alfred along his maiden journey of his homemade submarine.  All the adventure, the great times, the bad times, the trouble, the new friends, and more.

This book was full of adventure and action.  It didn't have a dull moment in it at all and was such a page turner that even my "reading isn't very fun" son admitted to loving it and can't wait to read more of the series to go on more adventures with Alfred and his submarine mates.  He loved it even more because Alfred is so close to his own age and he too has a desire to explore and go on adventures.  I have to admit that with all the wonderful adventure and great writing style of the author, I too can't wait to read on along with my son to see where Alfred's exploring takes him next.  Such a great book!  Very descriptive, very fast paced, and very easy to watch play out in your head as you read.  It was just so much fun reading!  It's a must read for any age.  

5/5 Stars!!

Book Review: If You Ask Me (and of course you won't)

Title:  If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)
Author:  Betty White
Pages:  260
Publication Date:  2011
Version:  Hardcover
Genre:  Adult Non-Fiction/Biography

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Drawing from a lifetime of lessons learned, seven-time Emmy winner Betty White's wit and wisdom take center stage as she tackles topics like friendship, romantic love, aging, television, fans, love for animals, and the brave new world of celebrity. If You Ask Me mixes her thoughtful observations with humorous stories from a seven- decade career in Hollywood. Longtime fans and new fans alike will relish Betty's candid take on everything from her rumored crush on Robert Redford (true) to her beauty regimen ("I have no idea what color my hair is and I never intend to find out") to the Facebook campaign that helped persuade her to host Saturday Night Live despite her having declined the hosting job three times already.

Featuring all-new material, with a focus on the past fifteen years of her life, If You Ask Me is funny, sweet, and to the point-just like Betty White."

My Review:

I have wanted to read one of Betty White's books for some time, but never had the chance to.  When I finally sat down and curled up on the couch with this book I was hoping to get in a few chapters before supper.  What I got was a late supper and a finished book!  I simply love love love Betty and always have.  I became a fan when I was just a kid watching The Golden Girls reruns on TV.  I started loving her for her great sense of humor and wonderful acting and developed a greater love of her for her animal love and devotion to helping them.

I was kind of scared that the book may disappoint me due to the high expectations I had for it.  This was not the case at all!  I loved every page and every view and story Betty shared in this book.  My love for this wonderful lady only has grown from reading this book and getting an I side look into her life.  I think reading some of her other work is definitely in my future.  This was such a fun read for me and fast read.  I normally am not a biography or nonfiction reader, but how could I resist Betty White!!??!  So glad I read it and can't stress enough to others how much fun it was to read and how much I think they too, should pick it up and read it.  Pure Betty White, serious but not too serious and laugh out loud funny points!  A must must must read!!!

5/5 Stars!!!

Book Review: Death Cure

Title:  The Death Cure
Author:  James Dashner
Pages:  329
Publication Date:  2011
Version:  Paperback
Genre:  Young Adult Fiction/Sci-Fi/Dystopian

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?"

My Review:
Once again Thomas and his friends are in a safe time, or so they think.  They are "saved" by WICKED and now all that is left is to let them help the friends regain their memories.  Thomas may be glad things are over, but he is still uneasy and is very reluctant to have these people help him with anything when they did so many horrible things to him and his friends.  The truth may be a good thing, but sometimes the truth is too dangerous to confront.  This is what Thomas is afraid of.  He also thinks that there is something not quite right with the whole situation, but can't quite put his finger on what they may be.  Soon enough Thomas, Minho, and Newt decide to do what they think is best and still go against what WICKED wants them to do.  This may not go over well, but they are quickly shown they are making the correct choice.  Can they ever find the bottom of all the lies they are being told?  What is the real truth?  Can they find the truth beneath all the wickedness?  If they find the truth will it set them free or will it condemn them to death?  Can Thomas and his friends survive one final round with WICKED?

Out of the three books of this trilogy I think this one was my least favorite.  It was still a good book and a great read, but I just liked the other two better.  I thought the other two had a bit more action and just were more character involved instead of "WICKED" involved.  I didn't like the plot quite as much either.  It just seemed like the book was dragged out of one topic this time instead of many topics.  It wasn't as captive of me as the other ones.  I did love reading on about the wonderful characters I have come to love though.  I also loved watching how the dynamics of their friendships changed over the course of the books and throughout this book.  The descriptiveness of the writing was also still there, vivid pictures were playing in my head as I read the book from page one to the last page in the book.  I was surprised at the ending, that did throw me for a loop.  I thought a ton of action that was in this book was in the last part of the book.  Which is okay, but in the other books it was all throughout the book.  Perhaps the other two books just spoiled me because I loved them so much.  This is another book that you must have read the first two books to understand and get anything out of it.  No picking it up and stand alone reading it.  All in all, it was a good read for me, just not as great as the first two books were.

4/5 Stars!

Book One:  Maze Runner
Book Two:  Scorch Trials

Book Review: Scorch Trials

Title:  The Scorch Trials
Author:  James Dashner
Pages:  359
Publication Date:  2010
Version:  Paperback
Genre:  Young Adult Fiction/Sci-Fi/Dystopian

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. 

Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch. 

There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.

The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them. 

Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off. 

There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive."

My Review:
When Thomas and his friends managed to survive and get free of the Maze they were very confident that things were over and they could start living "normal" lives now.  They couldn't have been more wrong.  Soon after they are brought to their safe haven, cleaned up, given food, and given a place to rest they wake up from that rest to all holy hell.  Their saviors seemed to have all hung themselves, but why and what is going on?  They soon find out that they are surrounded by Cranks, a zombie type creature and are in grave danger yet again.  They soon are told a bit more about their situation, but it doesn't help any of them feel any better.  They are being put through, yet another, test of survival.  They will need to cross the Scorch to get to a safe haven once again for a cure to the disease that is already in their systems.  Many things cross their minds.  Where has Teresa gone, or been taken to?  What is this disease they are told they all have already?  Is there really a cure?  Who can they trust?  Who of the group of friends will survive the grueling crossing of the Scorch?  And where the heck did this Aris boy come from?  They have way more questions than answers, but the only way to even try to figure anything out is to not panic, work together again, and simply plug along the new road they must now follow.

Loved, loved, loved this continuation!!!  I simply couldn't put it down.  It was written in such a way that it felt like I was just reading one long book instead of a second book.  I didn't mind this due to the fact that I had read the first book and was doing just that, continuing on in the series.  I would have to say though, that if you are trying to read this book as a stand alone book it will not work for you at all.  There is too much that happens in the first book for it to be summarized in this one without re-writing the whole book.  So as a book it was fantastic, but you really had to have read the first book too for any of it to truly make sense.  I thought it was amazing though and such a great continuation.  The characters were just as great too.  I got to see them grow even more in this book and come to know them.  The situations they go through really are something and I couldn't help but be sucked in to them with the characters from page one.  Everything I loved about the first book I love even more about this book...the writing style, the descriptiveness, the characters, the unique plot, and the whole concept of the book.  Again though, to give too much insight would confuse or spoil the book for future readers, so I will just leave it at that.  Fantastic read that you just don't want to miss!  However, like I said, read book one first if you have not before reading this one.  It will make the whole experience that much more amazing for you and way less frustrating and confusing.

Book One:  Maze Runner

5/5 Stars!!!

Book Review: Maze Runner

Title:  The Maze Runner
Author:  James Dashner
Pages:  371
Publication Date:  2010
Version:  Paperback 
Genre:  Young Adult Fiction/Sci-Fi/Dystopian

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
""If you ain't scared, you ain't human." 

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying."

My Review:

When Thomas woke up he was scared, unsure, and in a strange place...but that wasn't the worst part, the worst part was that he woke up without any memories of his past or where he was sent.  He woke up completely clueless in a big box, being stared at by many other boys around his age, the age of teen years.  No one seems to know much of anything and no one else has their memories either.  Soon he learns that they all are inside a huge Maze, a maze that they have been trying to figure out for two years to no avail.  They know they were placed inside by the "creators" and their goal is to try to find a way to get out, but they have no idea who the creators are or how to get out when the maze seems to change every night.  The dangers of the maze are numerous too.  Anyone exploring it must be back to the main camp by sundown or they will be locked in the maze and will be killed by horrible creatures called the Grievers.  Thomas is different than the other boys however, but he's finding out maybe that's not a very good thing.  Soon the other boys are more against him than with him, but little do they k ow that he may be the key to figuring out what they should be doing to try and gain freedom again.  When danger levels raise even higher will the other boys finally see Thomas as a friend rather than a for?  Does Thomas really know what they think he does?  Is he really any different than all of the other teenage boys trapped there?  Can they work together to fight the dangers of the maze?  What are they willing to do or risk to be free of the maze some day?  Will they ever really get out?  When a mysterious thing happens the day after Thomas arrives they know something has to be done and fast.

When I first started to read this book I thought it to be a bit slow moving due to the many details that were given to set the scene, so to speak.  They seemed like a waste of print to me...at first.  The more I got into the book the more I realized that those details were veryuch needed and added a ton to the plot line and the characters.  Without those first details I would have been lost in the book.  Once things took off though as far as the action and drama of it all, they really took off!  I was sucked into the book and dreaded having to put it down.  It actually became a fast read for me.  It was easy to read, easy to understand, and a real edge of my seat thriller.  The plot was amazingly thought out and different than anything I have ever read.  There were winding roads with many bumps in this book, but the ride was amazing!  Every time I thought things couldn't get more interesting, they did just that and made me excited to read even more.  Not only was the plot great and fast and easy flowing, but the description levels were so vivid I felt like I was at the movies rather than reading a book.  And the characters!!!!... Loved loved loved them!!  They were easy to come to like, even those that should have been hard to like because of their personality were easy to like the dynamics of.  They were so well developed and so easy to feel for.  Nothing makes a book a great read for mW like great characters and lots of suspense.  This book full filled those needs by far for me.  This was a series I have heard about, but never got to reading...now I am sorry it took me so long to finally decide to read it.  I know I have only just started the series now, but my plan is to dive right into the next book to see what happens next for these wonderful characters.  My mind goes so many ways with how the story can co tongue that I must read on to see how it really does continue.  This was probably, by far, the best book I have read all year!  I can't wait to continue on and see where Thomas and his, now, friends go next and what adventures they find themselves going on.  This is a must must read if you have not!  Well worth the read and well worth stepping outside your comfort box for if you are not so into books like this.  I can't say enough good about it or give enough details without spoiling things, so I will just leave it at...you must pick up this book!

5/5 Stars!!!!

June Wrap Up!!

June already?  Sorry about the severe lack of reviews this month.  Between summer being a usual summer, full of family time and the unexpected things that our family has had to go through and deal with; reading has not been a top priority by any stretch of the imagination.  But here is my one, lone review I did manage to scrape up.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL MY FOLLOWERS AND THOSE THAT STOP IN TO READ MY BLOG!!!  YOU ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED BY ME EVERY DAY!  


Here's what I have read in June: 1 Grand Total of  Books!!
You can click on the title of the book to get to my review of that book.  :-)

~ 1 Young Adult Fiction:
~The Day of First Sun by Sheryl Steines

How are my Challenges looking as we gradually approach the finish line?
You can click on each challenge and you will go to my post for that challenge to see which books counted for each challenge or what each challenge entails.  As I complete challenges I will highlight them!  :-)

1.  Reading Challenge Addict Challenge 2014  Complete 11-15 of my reading challenges that I have signed up to do in 2014.

4/11 Completed

Wrap Up Post:  

2.  Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2014  Read 60 books that are in my TBR pile, but have been there BEFORE 2014.

21/60 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

3.  2014 What An Animal Reading Challenge VII  Read 7-12 books with animals either on the cover, as main characters, or in the title.  

0/12 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

4.  Monthly Key Word Challenge 2014  Read a book with a "key word" from each months list.  

5/12 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

5.  TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2014  Read 50+ books from my TBR pile that were put in that pile BEFORE 2014.

21/55 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

6.  Cruizin' Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2014  Read 20+ cozy mysteries.

9/25 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

7.  Finishing the Series Reading Challenge 2014  Finish two series.  I am counting by books in series for counts.

4/27 Books Read  0/2 Series Finished

Wrap Up Post:  

8.  Color Coded Reading Challenge 2014  Read books with colors in the title.  9 different colors in a year!

9/9 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  Challenge Complete

9.  Chill Baby Chill Reading Challenge 2014  Read six books in the time frame of December 21, 2013 to March 20, 2014.
6/6 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  Challenge Complete!!

10.  Lucky No. 14 Reading Challenge 2014 Read 14 books from the 14 different categories given.

7/14 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

11.  Foodies Reading Challenge 2014  Read 3 books involving food, fiction or non-fiction.

0/3 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

12.  eBook Reading Challenge 2014  Read 10 eBooks.

10/10 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  Challenge Complete

13.  Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2014  Read 1-5 more books than 2013.

0/5 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

14.  Full House Reading Challenge 2014  Read a book from all the "boxes" on the sheet to get a Full House and complete the challenge.  Each box has a different category.

16/25 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

15.  Eclectic Reading Challenge 2014  Read a book from the categories listed to read different books you may not have read.

5/12 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

16.  Reading Outside the Box Reading Challenge 2014  Read books from categories that may be outside your normal reading.  Try to do all the categories listed.

12/25 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

17.  Quirky A to Z Reading Challenge 2014  Read books from the A to Z guidelines given.  A new and exciting spin on just reading books titled from a to z!

17/26 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

18.  I Love Picture Books Reading Challenge 2014  Read 25 picture books in the year!

0/25 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

19.  You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2014  Read 150 books in the year.  (Level 2).

24/150 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

20.  Quick Fix Challenge 2014  Read books that are under 300 pages long.  I picked the Gorilla Glue level of 30+ books.

17/35 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

21.  100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2014  Read 100 books in a year.

24/100 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

22.  Audiobook Challenge 2014  Listen to audiobooks.  I picked the Newbie level of listening to 1-5 books.

4/5 Books Listened To

Wrap Up Post:  

23.  Jumble Your Genres Reading Challenge 2014  Read a different, set, genre every month.

5/12 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

24.  Dystopia Reading Challenge 2014  Read set number of distopian books in the year.  I chose the Rebel Level, Level 2 of reading 7-12 books.

1/12 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

25.  Rewind Challenge 2014  Read those books you couldn't wait to come out, but then never read.  I chose to try for 15 books.

15/15 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  Challenge Complete

26.  My Kind Of Mystery Reading Challenge 2014  Read mystery books!  I chose level of Lost Artifacts to read 31-40 mystery books.

13/40 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

27.  Freda's Voice 100+ Books Reading Challenge 2014  Read 100+ books in the year.  I am personally shooting for 105.

24/105 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

28.  Gentle Spectrums Challenge 2014  Read 10 books with titles containing color hues.  Read 10 books containing title words fitting in set categories.  

15/20 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

29.  Ethereal Challenge 2014  Read spiritual/paranormal books.  I picked Third Eye Level of 11-20 books.

7/20 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

30.  What's In A Name Reading Challenge 2014  Read a book with a title fitting in each of the name categories.

3/5 Books Read

Wrap Up Post:  

31.  Audio Book Challenge 2014  Listen to audio books.  I chose the Flirting level of 6 books.

4/6 Books Listened To

Wrap Up Post:  

32.  Book To Movie Challenge 2 2014 Read books that were made into movies, then watch the movie.  I chose the Movie Fan Level of 3 book/movies.

0/3 Books Read/Movies Watched

Wrap Up Post:  

33.  Diversity Reading Challenge 2014 Read books that have a main character or are written by a person of color.  I chose the First Shelf Level of 1-6 Books
0/6 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

34.  Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge 2014 Read books that are Witchy.  I chose the Maiden Level of 6-10 Books.
3/10 Books 
Wrap Up Post:  

35.  Shifter Challenge 2014 Read 10 books with a main character that is a Shifter.
1/10 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

36.  Vampire Challenge 2014 Read 10 books with a main character that is a Vampire.
5/10 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

37.  Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge 2014 Read a variety of books that start with all the letters of the alphabet to make up a nice soup of reading.
12/26 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

38.  Where Are You Reading Challenge 2014 Read books set in all of the 50 states!
14/50 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

39.  YA Mythology Reading Challenge 2014 Read 12 YA Mythology books.
7/12 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

40.  Fur and Fangs Reading Challenge 2014 Read books with Werewolves, Shifters, Vampires in.  I am shooting for 25!
4/25 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

41.  Ireland Reading Challenge 2014 Read books set in or about Ireland or that have Irish characters.  I am doing Shamrock Level of 4 books.
0/4 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

42.  Zombie Reading Challenge 2014 Read Zombie books.  I chose Infested Level of 1-3 books.
0/3 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

43.  Women's Murder Club Reading Challenge 2014 Read books in this series.  I chose level Detective in Training 4-6 Books.
0/6 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

44.  Erotic Romance Reading Challenge 2014 Read Erotic Books.  Level One 12 books.
1/12 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

45.  A to Z Mystery Author Challenge 2014 Read Mystery authors from A to Z using last names.
11/26 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

46.  In The Middle Reading Challenge 2014 Read books that are between 300 and 450 pages.  I am doing Cruising through the Pages level of 10 books.
2/10 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

47.  Witch's Reading Challenge 2014 Read books dealing with paranormal or witchcraft.  Initiate Level of 5-10 books.
3/10 Books Read
Wrap Up Post:  

Perpetual:

1.  Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge  Read all the books in this series.
Wrap Up Post:  

2.  Kinsey Millhone Reading Challenge  Read all the books in this series.
Wrap Up Post:   

3.  Read 1 Million Pages Challenge  Read 1 Million Pages.
Wrap Up Post:  

Personal Update

I know I have been MIA for about a month now.  Due to a lot of personal situations that I can't control, I have finally made the decision to take a break from my blog.  I plan to keep reading, but I may not do reviews for awhile.  I just am finding it is becoming more stressful than not to always be worrying about my blog and reviewing everything I am reading.  I also am not reading very much in a month anyway, so I figure some time off is the best call at this point.  

I will still try to complete my challenges, but will not be "officially" in them, as I don't plan to write reviews for every book.  I will still do a wrap up if I complete a challenge, but as for reviews there may not be one for every book anymore or if there is it may be very short and sweet.  

Life is a funny thing...and right now I am finding that the curve ball is a favorite thing in my life right now.  Every time I think things are back on track and life can get back to what I am used to as my "normal" something happens, yet again, and I am sent into a whirlwind of stress, drama, and worry.  I love my blog and my reviewing, but at the moment I need to focus on what is best for my family and myself and give my full attention to the situations that must be dealt with on that front first and foremost.

I will try to come back more regular, but at this point I have no idea when that will be, if I am completely honest.  Like I said I plan to still try to complete some challenges and maybe write some very short reviews, but they will not be as in depth as my past reviews have been.

Thank you all for being great support and for understanding.  I have a couple reviews I wrote before all this that will be posted soon too.  I will do my best to keep posts of some kind coming, but I can't promise anything.