Review: Offworld by Robin Parrish

Offworld by Robin Parrish

Bethany House / 2009

Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book:

"Every Person on This Planet Has Disappeared." 

Commander Christopher Burke and his crew are humanity's greatest explorers. They've finished their mission on the red dirt of Mars and now they just want to get back to Earth. To see friends, family, and loved ones. To be home. But even with communication to ground control cut and a perilous landing, nothing could prepare the crew for what they discover when they step foot back on planet Earth. Everyone...everywhere...is gone. It's not a dream. It's not a trick. Now Burke and his team have one mission: find out who or what is behind the disappearance of all mankind.

My rating: 

I have not read a Robin Parrish book that I did not enjoy, so I was very much looking forward to Offworld and it definitely met my expectations!

The story was very good and interesting throughout, although it wasn't until Chris and his team got back to earth that my attention was really grabbed. :)

I was surprised by how things turned out at the end of Offworld - it was NOT what I was expecting - and while I did find a few things really weird, it did make for an intriguing story.

I really liked the characters - my favorite probably being Terry with Owen and Chris close behind. :)

Overall, I really liked Offworld and recommend it for fans of suspense books with some sci-fi elements.

*I did not get this book for review - it is my own personal copy. I was not required to write a review, I chose to. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Was my review helpful? If so, please click "yes" on Amazon. Thanks!

2013 Debut Author Challenge Post

This year, the Debut Author Challenge is being hosted by Hobbitsies. I love this challenge because it encourages readers to go out and snag debut novels. I like supporting authors who already have one book out but it is so important to find new author's to love too.

So this year, you need to pick at least 12 books to sign up. I've compiled a list of books I'm going to try to read. I'm aiming for at least 12 of these.

Here's my list:

Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans

Released January 15th

The Midnight Affair by Mindee Arnett

Released March 5th

Legacy of the Clockwork Key by Kristin Bailey

Released March 5th

Taken by Erin Bowman

Released April 16th

Dualed by Elsie Chapman

Released February 26th

City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster

Released February 5th

Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield

Released May 7th

Splintered by A.G. Howard

Released January 1st

Vengeance Bound by Justina Ireland

 Released April 2nd

Pantomime by Laura Lam

Released February 5th

Prophecy by Ellen Oh

Released January 2nd

Broken by A.E. Rought

Released January 8th

Bella Epoque by Elizabeth Ross

Released June 11th

The Collector by Victoria Scott

Released April 2nd

Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

Released July 8th

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Released August 20th

I've actually got a tons more on my list but those are some highlights. I think 2013 is shaping up to be a really interesting year and I'm pleased to discover new authors. 

Have you signed up for this challenge? If so, what books did you add?

Weekend Wrap-Up & Giveaway Winner!!

Weekend Wrap-up is where I share what I read this past week, am currently reading, and hope to read this coming week, and (when applicable) the current giveaways/giveaway winners. Occasionally I'll post some other stuff as well.

Feel free to join along and post your own Weekend Wrap-up on your blog/site (if you do, please leave the link in a comment so I can stop by) or, in a comment, share what you've accomplished (reading-wise) this past week. :)

 What I've read this week:



SO happy I was able to finish 4 books this week!! :)

What I'm currently reading:

 What I hope to read next week:

I hope to read most of those books next week. :)

Reviews posted this week:

Evacuation by Jennifer Hartz

  Current Giveaways!

Enter to win a copy of If We Survive by Andrew Klavan! US only. Ends 12/11



Enter to win an autographed print copy of Starflower by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, along with some fun extras (bookmarks, pencils, etc.). US only.

Giveaway Winner!



The winner of their choice of one of Serena B. Miller's books is...

Brooke!!*

*Winner has been contacted and has until 12/14 to claim her prize.

There you have it, that is what I accomplished (reading-wise) this week! What about you?

Too Afraid to Review?

I saw a conversation on Twitter the other day where authors were encouraging writers never to post a bad review of a book anywhere on the internet.

Why? Because someday that writer might want to work with the editor of said hated book, or he/she may need a blurb from that writer. We want to make friends, not burn bridges.

I felt a little defensive when I read this advice.

Do you think authors need to leave their critical-thinking caps in the closet when they're writing reviews? Should honest book reviewers never try to write novels?

I'm not talking about people who go out of their way to slam books just to be mean. I'm talking about thoughtful, critical reviews. Sometimes a thoughtful, critical review can cast a book in a negative light. We live in a culture where a bunch of three-star ratings can bring a book down.

While I'm all for preserving bridges and making friends and building relationships, I don't think editors are so egotistical that they cannot take a critical review of one of their books with grace. We all are trying to grow and learn. Editors, too!

I don't want to be afraid to give a two or three star rating on Goodreads if I think it's deserved. I would honestly hope any editor I worked with would be more interested in my book than in my opinions about other books. But maybe I'm too idealistic.

How about you? If you're a writer, do you shy away from giving honest reviews of certain books because of possible backlash? Do you avoid reviewing books at all? (If you're not a writer -- lucky you! You can review however you want!)

I'm really interested to hear what you all think, so please let me know in the comments!

Series Catch-Up Challenge

The Series Catch-Up Challenge is hosted by Emilie's Book World and Lost at Midnight Reviews and is a challenge to get us to finish up some series which I adore!

Here are the rules:
- Runs from January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013

- Goal is to catch up on as many series as possible
- Two ways to meet your goal: number of books you've read to catch up series/number of series you've caught up on.
- On the first of each month there will be a post here and at Lost at Midnight Reviews so you can link up your reviews. For every review you link, you get one entry into a monthly giveaway.
- There will be a big giveaway at the end of the year.

So the reason I decided to sign up for this challenge is because I have started so many series that my eyes go crossed just thinking about them but so many sequels have come out that I haven't gotten around to reading. So I figured I'd sign up for this challenge and make myself read seconds of some of the books I love.

There are two ways to go about this challege. Either by books or series. I'm choosing books. Here are the levels and the one I'm going to do is in bold:

Goals - Books Read to Catch Up on Series
1 - 5: Book Novice
6 - 10: Book Aficionado
11 - 15: Book Connoisseur
15+: Book Maniac

I'd like to read more than 15 books but it's safest for me to go with the 11 to 15 category. And now onto the fun part.

My list of potential reads:
- Silence (Hush Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick
- Finale (Hush Hush #4) by Becca Fitzpatrick
- City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare
- City of Fallen Souls (The Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare
- City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare
- Captivate (Need #2) by Carrie Jones
- Entice (Need #3) by Carrie Jones
- The Lost Saint (The Dark Divine #2) by Bree Despain
- The Savage Grace (The Dark Divine #3) by Bree Despain
- Where She Went (If I Stay #2) by Gayle Forman
- Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3) by Maggie Stiefvater
- Passion (Fallen #3) by Lauren Kate
- Rapture (Fallen #4) by Lauren Kate
- Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2) by Andrea Cremer
- Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) by Andrea Cremer
- Crossed (Matched #2) by Ally Condie
- Reached (Matched #3) by Ally Condie
- Swear (Swoon #2) by Nina Malkin
- A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) by Beth Revis
- Endlessly (Paranormalcy #3) by Kiersten White
- Hidden (Vanish #3) by Sophie Jordan

 ...And there are so many more! This isn't even mentioning the books that come out in 2013 that are sequels to things I read in 2012 like Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2) by Veronica Rossi, Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi and Everbound (Everneath #2) by Brodi Ashton.

As you can see, I'm going to have plenty of fuel for this challenge. As long as I keep on it, I'm pretty sure I'll meet this goal easily!

The Time Will Come (38): Daughter of Smoke and Bone

The Time Will Come is a weekly meme started by Books for Company which spotlights books that have been sitting unread on our shelves for too long.

Want to join in?
- Pick a book you have been meaning to read
- Do a post telling us about the book
- Link the post up in the linky at Books for Company
- Visit the other blogs!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out. 

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Yes, I know this officially makes me a bad person for not reading this book. Like with so many others on my shelf, the only reason I haven't read this one is purely about time. Truth be told, I'm hearing so many good things about this one and it's sequel that I'm the tiniest bit scared. What if it can't live up to my expectations? Eep! But I will get to this one in 2013. I've decided it will be my treat for finishing the second rewrite on my current WIP.

What's been sitting on your book shelf unread for too long?

Review: Evacuation by Jennifer Hartz

Evacuation by Jennifer Hartz

Future Savior Series: Book Three

Desert Breeze Publishing / 2012

Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book:

Faith… it seems to be revolving around everything I do and it is a hard lesson to learn. I have to have faith that I can save my brother. I have to have faith that my friends scattered all over Meric will survive. I have to have faith that all of Shaw's secrets are coming to an end. I even have to have faith in my own abilities.

The evil tyrant Leticia has sent out her dark priest Neamiah to persuade the people of Meric that she is god. The people must take her mark or die. My greatest test of faith lies ahead… I have to prove to the people of Meric that Leticia's claim to lordship is false and that the Creator is the real God.

My rating:

My thoughts:

Evacuation is the third book in Jennifer Hartz's Future Savior series and the third book of hers I've read. While I really enjoyed the first two (Conception and Resurrection), I loved this one. It held my attention throughout and the story was fantastic!

I loved how in Evacuation we got to find out some of Shaw's secrets and learn more about the other characters as well. I also liked how parts of the story reflected Biblical events (like Jonah being swallowed by a whale).

The same thing I didn't personally care for in the first two books (characters saying "Oh my G**" and similar things) was in Evacuation - it seemed to only occur a couple times, though, and (because I enjoyed the story so much) it's not going to affect my rating.

Because of some things in the story (like an attempted rape) I only recommend this book for mature readers who like fantasy novels. With a great ending, I can hardly wait to read the next book, Desecration!

*I received a complimentary eBook copy of this book from the author for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Was my review helpful? If so, please click "yes" on Amazon. Thanks!!