Hook Me: Witch Way to Turn by Karen Y. Bynum

Title: Witch Way to Turn
Author: Karen Y. Bynum
Publisher: Lyrical Press (August 6, 2012)
Genre: Fantasy Romance

Book Description: Can you give one guy your heart and another your soul?

The last thing eighteen-year-old Breena Cross needs in her life is more complications. It’s all she can do to balance studying, working, trying to keep her foster-sister safe and drooling over the new guy at work. But things go from complicated to crazy when a fit of rage ignites the dark magic inside her and she finds herself fending off the supernatural underworld.

Myles, Breena’s drool-worthy coworker and vampire convict, is carrying a load of secrets--one of which is that he’s fang-over-lip in love with Breena and in danger of violating the terms of his sentence.

Orin is a soul-hungry assassin sent to kill Breena. However, he takes one look into her eyes and sees his own lost humanity. For once thinking of someone other than himself, he chooses not to end her life, even though it means risking his own.

Despite a convict and an assassin fighting over her, all Breena wants is custody of her sister. But to do this, she will need help from both Myles and Orin. And if Breena doesn’t learn to control the darkness within, she could lose her sister…forever.

WARNING: Contains strong language and some graphic content.

First line: Breena Cross glanced at her watch.
Last line read: She'd taken to Myles fast, following him around like a little lost pup, hanging on his every word.

Overall Impressions: Wow! Breena and Jenny's lives are hard to read about. The girls are foster sisters, and my heart ached for them. Breena does everything she can to keep Jenny safe and hopes one day to get her out of the horrible foster home she lives in. The dash of paranormal and fantasy from vampires to witches adds to this very realistic and gritty sample.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

***There will be no Hook Me next Wednesday as I have a special announcement for December 18th.***

Hook Me: In the After by Demitria Lunetta

Title: In the After
Series: In the After #1
Author: Demitria Lunetta
Publisher: Harper Teen (June 25, 2013)
Genre: YA Dystopian

Book Description: They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.
And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.

Rebellious, courageous, and tender, this unforgettable duo will have you on the edge of your seat as you tear through the pulse-pounding narrow escapes and horrifying twists of fate in this thrilling debut from author Demitria Lunetta.

First line: I only go out at night.
Last line read: Whether it was Monday or Wednesday seemed meaningless in the After.

Overall Impressions: I love the idea of dystopian with aliens. Too much lately involves some disaster (natural or manmade). The aliens, although they look different, remind me of the ones from the movie Signs. Amy is a strong heroine who will do anything to survive. Sometimes the story reminded me a lot of Julie Kagawa's The Immortal Rules, except Lunetta has aliens instead of vampires. The writing style is fast-paced and a bit jarring at times and the sample had a bit too much backstory for my taste. I would have preferred learning about the world as the story progressed.

Would I keep reading?: Maybe.

Hook Me: The Secret History by Stephanie Thornton and a Blogging Vacation

Title: The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora
Author: Stephanie Thornton
Publisher: NAL Trade (July 2, 2013)
Genre: Historical Fiction

Book Description: Where Theodora went, trouble followed…

In sixth century Constantinople, one woman, Theodora, defied every convention and all the odds, and rose from being a common theater tart to become empress of a great kingdom, the most powerful woman the Roman Empire would ever know. But the woman whose image was later immortalized in glittering mosaic was, in fact, a scrappy, clever, conniving, flesh-and-blood woman full of sensuality and spirit whose real story is as surprising as any ever told…

When her father dies suddenly, Theodora and her sisters face starvation on the streets. Determined to survive, Theodora makes a living any way she can—first on her back with every man who will have her, then on the stage of the city’s infamous amphitheater in a scandalous dramatization of her own invention. When her daring performance grants her a back-door entry into the halls of power, she seizes the chance to win a wealthy protector—only to face heartbreak and betrayal.

Ever resilient, Theodora rises above such trials and by a twist of fate, meets her most passionate admirer yet: the Emperor’s nephew. She will thrive as his confidant and courtesan, but many challenges lie ahead. For one day, this man will hand her a crown. And all the empire will wonder—is she bold enough, shrewd enough, and strong enough to keep it?

First line: I am She whom one honors and disdains.
Last line read: We quickly drained the cup of wine she'd left behind, both making sure to avoid the thick smear of henna on the rim.

Overall Impressions: I must admit I have a soft spot for historicals, especially those around the Roman Empire. This one is a bit beyond my expertise about Rome (I know more about pre-Christian Rome), but I enjoyed it. Theodora is a character anyone could cheer for. She's smart and savvy. Her situation is heart-breaking too. Thornton's writing is exquisite and real. I felt dropped into the time period without it being overwhelming.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

***By the way, since next week is Thanksgiving in the States, I'm taking a blogging week off. I'll be back December 2 with a new book review.***

Hook Me: Mind: The Beginning by Jenn Nixon

Title: Mind: The Beginning
Author: Jenn Nixon
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press (September 1, 2013)
Genre: Science Fiction

Book Description: After Dina Ranger loses telepathic contact with her brother, she breaks into his apartment and stumbles onto a special government unit responsible for monitoring the psychic population. She's offered a job where she can use her psionic gifts to help people. Stranded on earth over a hundred years ago,

Liam of Shria is searching for a metal needed to repair his ship when he finds Dina, a telepathic investigator, and narrowly saves her from an exploding alien pod. Together, they uncover a plot to rebuild an ancient weapon and discover the truth behind Dina's abilities while unlocking dangerous secrets about the alien presence on earth.

Can they stop a powerful weapon meant to enslave the human race? Can their relationship survive the secrets of the past or will it tear them apart?

First line: The taxicab pulled up to the curb, squeaky breaks announcing its presence.
Last line read: He had to get out.

Overall Impressions: I love stories about psionics, so Nixon's novel grabbed my attention. Dina is a kick-butt heroine, and Liam is very mysterious. The abilities they have such as telepathy and the like are fascinating. The sample was well-paced and left me wanting more.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

Hook Me: The Last Hunter: Pursuit by Jeremy Robinson

Title: The Last Hunter: Pursuit
Series: Antarktos Saga #2
Author: Jeremy Robinson
Publisher: Breakneck Media (May 19, 2011)
Genre: YA Fantasy

Book Description: I was thirteen years old when I was kidnapped. They took me from my family, from my friends-from everything I knew, and stole my innocence. They brought me to a world beneath the surface of Antarctica, where I was broken and trained by a hunter named Ninnis. He served the ancient Nephilim: half-human, half-demon monsters. My personality was buried in my subconscious and replaced by that of Ull, a hunter and killer. For a time, I too served the Nephilim. As the first and only human born on Antarctica, they believed that I could contain the spirit of their fallen king, Nephil, and lead them to conquer humanity. But I was stronger than they knew and escaped deep into the underworld, where I have been hiding for the past two years. I live in a cavern, which is somehow lush with green vegetation, eking out a living and cowering from the confrontation that I know awaits me. But the nightmare has found me. I can smell them. The hunters. They have discovered my hideout. The pursuit of Solomon Ull Vincent-the last hunter-has begun. And if they catch me, this is where my story will end.

First line: Lieutenant Ninnis was once a proud man.
Last line read: None of that is on display here.

Overall Impressions: I had read The Last Hunter: Descent a long time ago. I didn't even know more books had been written until recently. Robinson gives some brief background on who people are and the like, which I found to be very helpful. The pacing and tension is great, and I was able to pick up on what was going on in this second book in the saga. Solomon is such a strong character, and the sample is adventurous and thrilling.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

Hook Me: Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

Title: Doctor Sleep
Series: The Shining #2
Author: Stephen King
Publisher: Scribner (September 24, 2013)
Genre: Horror

Book Description: Stephen King returns to the characters and territory of one of his most popular novels ever, The Shining, in this instantly riveting novel about the now middle-aged Dan Torrance (the boy protagonist of The Shining) and the very special twelve-year-old girl he must save from a tribe of murderous paranormals.

On highways across America, a tribe of people called The True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless—mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky twelve-year-old Abra Stone learns, The True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the “steam” that children with the “shining” produce when they are slowly tortured to death.

Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father’s legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant “shining” power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes “Doctor Sleep.”

Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan’s own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra’s soul and survival. This is an epic war between good and evil, a gory, glorious story that will thrill the millions of devoted readers of The Shining and satisfy anyone new to the territory of this icon in the King canon.

First line: On the second day of December in a year when a Georgia peanut farmer was doing business in the White House, one of Colorado's great resort hotels burned to the ground.
Last line read: The scuffed tophat cocked on her head was jarring, but otherwise she was the most beautiful woman Andi Steiner had ever seen.

Overall Impressions: As a fan of The Shining and Stephen King, I knew I would eventually want to read Doctor Sleep. The sample did not disappoint. First King lets us know what happened to Dan Torrance a few years after the incident at the Overlook Hotel. Then, we're dropped into the story. The characters are weird, unique, and purely Stephen King. The writing is intense and gripping, and I want to know what happens next.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

Hook Me: Let Me Go by Chelsea Cain

Title: Let Me Go
Series: Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell #6
Author: Chelsea Cain
Publisher: Minotaur Books (July 1, 2013)
Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Book Description: Beautiful killer Gretchen Lowell tightens her grip on Detective Archie Sheridan in Let Me Go, New York Times bestseller Chelsea Cain’s newest nail-biter.

Detective Archie Sheridan is about to receive a birthday present from the last person he ever wants to see again: Gretchen Lowell.

The investigation into Jack Reynolds's drug enterprise is heating up and has Archie heading off to attend a masked Halloween party on Jack Reynolds's island, where Susan is a reluctant guest. But the next morning one of the guests is found murdered, and Archie quickly realizes that nothing is what it seems. Only one thing is clear: Gretchen is back, and she's been closer than anyone thinks. On Halloween Eve, with time running out, Archie will have to risk everything, and choose wisely whom to trust, if he and his loved ones are going to live through the night.

First line: Archie Sheridan had a paper birthday hat on his head and six bullets in his front pocket.
Last line read: She smiled at what she found.

Overall Impressions: I've been a fan of Cain's Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell series since book one. Cain has this delightfully gritty style that had touches of wry humor that I just love. The opening is paradoxical at its juxtaposition of a birthday party and death. The sample just skimmed the surface of what the story is about.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

Hook Me: Torrent by Lindsay Buroker

Title: Torrent
Series: Rust and Relics #1
Author: Lindsay Buroker
Published: September 21, 2013
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Book Description: From the bestselling author of the Emperor's Edge series...

When Delia chose to major in archaeology, she imagined herself as the female Indiana Jones of the Southwest. She didn't imagine herself crawling through abandoned mine shafts, scrounging for rusty pickaxes and gold pans to sell on auction sites, but Indiana Jones didn't have to make student loan payments.

Scouring the mountains of Arizona with Simon, her best friend and computer geek extraordinaire, Delia dreams of turning their scavenging enterprise into a legitimate business. More, she longs to earn the respect of peers who shun her for turning into a treasure hunter. What she doesn't dream of is stumbling across a decapitated body in an old mine near Prescott.

Something dangerous has come to the mountains, and a pair of Harley-riding strangers are the only ones who seem to have a clue. They speak a language Delia has never heard and carry mysterious artifacts she's never seen. Investigating these strangers might lead her to discoveries that change the face of archaeology forever... or it might lead her and her best friend into a deadly monster's lair.

First line: You get yourself into strange places when you're broke, jobless, and trying to figure out how to pay back sixty thousand dollars in college loans.
Last line read: "Black wool caps?" Simon crinkled his nose.

Overall Impressions:  I have to admit the book description hooked me quite a bit. I studied archaeology some in college and had visions of grandeur at being the female Indiana Jones. Sadly, archaeology isn't quite like that. The sample had great humor with a dash of horror to keep the tension up. I love Buroker's voice. It's an easy story to get into.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

Hook Me: The Vanished Knight by M. Gerrick

Title: The Vanished Knight
Series: The War of Six Crowns #1
Author: M. Gerrick
Publisher: Etopia Press (October 4, 2013)
Genre: YA Fantasy

Book Description: Since the death of her parents, Callan Blair has been shunted from one foster family to another, her dangerous secret forcing the move each time. Her latest foster family quickly ships her off to an exclusive boarding school in the Cumbrian countryside. While her foster-brother James makes it his mission to get Callan expelled, a nearby ancient castle holds the secret doorway to another land...

When Callan is forced through the doorway, she finds herself in the magical continent of Tardith, where she’s shocked to learn her schoolmates Gawain and Darrion are respected soldiers in service to the king of Nordaine, one of Tardith's realms. More than that, the two are potential heirs to the Black Knight—Nordaine's crown prince.

But when the Black Knight fails to return from a mysterious trip, the realm teeters on the brink of war. Darrion and Gawain set out to find him, while Callan discovers there is more to her family history than she thought. The elves are claiming she is their princess.

Now with Darrion growing ever more antagonistic and her friendship with Gawain blossoming, Callan must decide whether to stay in Nordaine—where her secret grows ever more threatening—or go to the elves and uncover the truth about her family before war sets the realms afire.

First line: The wet air smelled like blood. 
Last line read: "I do. Don't worry. He knows it's from me."

Overall Impressions: A very well-written start to this novel! I want to learn more about Callan's entity as well as the land and people of Tardith. The characters are well-drawn and feel very realistic. I really feel for Callan's plight in particular.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

Hook Me: Scorched by Mari Mancusi

Title: Scorched
Author: Mari Mancusi
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire (September 3, 2013)
Genre: YA Fantasy

Book Description: Trinity
Don’t leave me here... It starts with a whisper. At first Trinity thinks she’s going crazy. It wouldn’t be a big surprise—her grandpa firmly believes there’s a genuine dragon egg in their dusty little West Texas town. But this voice is real, and it’s begging for her protection. Even if no one else can hear it...

Connor
He’s come from a future scorched by dragonfire. His mission: Find the girl. Destroy the egg. Save the world.

Caleb
He’s everything his twin brother Connor hates: cocky, undisciplined, and obsessed with saving dragons.

Trinity has no idea which brother to believe. All she has to go by is the voice in her head—a dragon that won’t be tamed.

First line: They came at noon, black shadows dancing across the sky, drowning out the sun.
Last line read: It still amused Caleb to see these people have so much pride in a country that would soon be accused of burning the entire world to the ground.

Overall Impressions: Wow! This book starts right off with the action. I enjoyed the point of views of Connor and Trinity, and I got a small taste of Caleb's. Right now, Caleb is my least favorite character, but this is just the beginning of the book. My heart goes out to Trinity, and I love the introduction of the dragon egg and how the entire world hinges on it.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

Hook Me: Dinosaur Jazz by Michael Panush

Title: Dinosaur Jazz
Series: The Jurassic Club #1
Author: Michael Panush
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press (June 13, 2012)
Genre: Science Fiction

Book Description: Acheron Island is a world lost to time, home to prehistoric creatures from earth’s savage past.

The island’s occupants range from ferocious, man-eating dinosaurs and savage Ape Man tribes to strange ruins from a lost civilization. It is also home to Sir Edwin Crowe, son of the Victorian explorer who discovered Acheron Island, renowned big game hunter, scarred Great War veteran, and last of the world’s Gentleman Adventurers.

But now Acheron Island has some new residents – ruthless American businessman Selwyn Slade and an army of corporate cronies. Why has Slade brought all of his modern industrial power to conquer this world from the past? Can Sir Edwin uncover his strange purpose and protect this prehistoric world? Sir Edwin’s only allies are his stalwart Ape Man partner, a beautiful torch singer with a mysterious agenda, his strong-willed sister and her archaeologist boyfriend, and a family of American tourists – and they’re about to become the last hope of a lost world.

Its Jazz Age meets the Mesozoic Age in a world where cave men, gangsters, hunters, zeppelins, pirates, warlords and dinosaurs clash for a chance of survival. All that and more is waiting for you in Dinosaur Jazz, a tale of high adventure in a prehistoric world.

First line: The fat that we are living in an utterly modern age is often ballyhooed by corner store Solomons nationwide.
Last line read: "You hardly know Webster! How dare you--"

Overall Impressions: The cover looks more like a Middle Grade book, but it's not (not that I thought it was). I enjoyed the story and found it an easy book to get hooked on. After all, I'm a dinosaur lover, so reading about such an island like Acheron does ignite my imagination. The story had a feel of the old TV show The Lost World and reminded me of reading Jules Verne novels, so I did really enjoy the sample.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

Hook Me: Wish You Well by David Baldacci

Title: Wish You Well
Author: David Baldacci
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (January 1, 2000)
Genre: Historical Fiction

Book Description: The lives of 12-year-old Lou Cardinal and her eight-year-old brother, Oscar ("Oz"), are forever altered when an auto accident takes the life of their writer father and leaves their mother in a catatonic state. Used to the hectic bustle of New York City, they find themselves transplanted to the mountain cabin home of their great-grandmother, Louisa Mae Cardinal. Their new home has no electricity or running water, and their food comes not from any grocery store but from the barn and the land. Their new neighbors are simple folk, many of them poor, uneducated, and worked to the bone. But beneath them all is The Mountain, with its power to mesmerize and nurture their minds and their souls.

Though Lou rebels against her new life at first, she eventually grows to appreciate her hardscrabble existence, rising before dawn to milk the cows, attending school in a one-room schoolhouse, and then working till dusk to prepare, plant, and harvest crops. Her great-grandmother's simple lifestyle, boundless spirit, and obvious love of The Mountain become contagious. But there is plenty of ugliness here, too, not the least of which is the pervasive poverty and prejudicial ignorance subscribed to by some. When a greedy corporate entity enters the picture, Baldacci takes his readers into territory more familiar, culminating the tale in a highly satisfying David-and-Goliath-style courtroom battle. 

First line: The air was moist, the coming rain telegraphed by plump, gray clouds, and the blue sky fast fading.
Last line read:  Lou did not intend to rush to it, for she had a more pressing matter to attend to right now.

Overall Impressions: For me, the first few pages were a bit slow. Way too much telling, not enough show, but once the conversations started, I found myself quickly hooked to these characters. And what happens in the first chapter with the car accident made me tear up. I definitely feel for Lou, her brother Oz, and their mother Amanda and am curious what will happen to them as the story progresses.

Would I keep reading?: Yes.

Hook Me: Design and Upload Your ePub by Cheri Lasota

Title: Design and Upload Your ePub: The Steps to Your Success
Author: Cheri Lasota
Publisher: Ever-Sea Press (July 27, 2013)
Genre: Non-Fiction

Book Description: This guide will cover several types of e-book design software and help you navigate the upload process for all the major vendor sites: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iBooks.

In addition, learn basic and more advanced coding and design techniques to make your novel unique, interactive, and beautiful. We'll cover e-book format conversion, epub validation, coding for interactive elements, and much more.

First line: E-book design can be as simple as converting a simple manuscript with one paragraph style and one header style to a fully immersive, interactive experience.
Last line read: It may seem like an extra step you don't have time for, but I've seen readers complain about the lack of a navigable TOC in their book reviews.

Overall Impression: Cheri Lasota knows her stuff when it comes to e-book formatting and design. Her own design for the book is well-laid out, and I think even someone who knows a thing or two about formatting would learn something as well as beginners. The text is pretty heavy on the lingo, so if you are a true beginner and know very few computer savvy terms, then you might want to read up on such things first.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

Hook Me: Oh Myyy! by George Takei

Title: Oh Myyy!
Author: George Takei
Publisher: Oh Myyy (November 22, 2012)
Genre: Memoir/Non-Fiction

Book Description:  How did a 75-year old actor from Star Trek become a social media juggernaut? Why does everything he posts spread like wildfire across the ether, with tens or even hundreds of thousands of likes and shares? And what can other sites, celebrities and companies do to attain his stratospheric engagement levels, which hover or top 100 percent while theirs languish in the single digits?

Read about George Takei’s meteoric rise and dominance of the Internet in Oh Myyy (There Goes the Internet), published of course in electronic format.

In this groundbreaking, hilarious and informative book, Takei recounts his experiences on platforms such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, where fans and pundits alike have crowned him King. He muses about everything from the nature of viral sharing, to the taming of Internet trolls, to why Yoda, bacon and cats are such popular memes. Takei isn’t afraid to tell it likes he sees it, and to engage the reader just as he does his legions of fans.

Both provokingly thoughtful and wickedly funny, Oh Myyy! captures and comments upon the quirky nature of our plugged-in culture. With Takei’s conversational yet authoritative style, peppered with some of his favorite images from the web, readers should be prepared to LOL, even as they can’t help but hear his words in their heads in that unmistakable, deep bass.

First line: How in the world did a common, everyday exclamation come to be so associated with me?
Last line read: Giving someone like Tracy any more stage time for his weird, sad rant would solve nothing.

Overall Impressions: I've been following George Takei's Facebook page for a while and enjoying his posts, so when I heard about his book, I had to check it out. Poignant and humorous, Mr. Takei talks about how he has taken over the internet, so to speak. I loved how it felt like he is talking one-on-one in the book. Also, it's a great example on how social media can help from a business end. I don't normally read non-fiction books and memoirs, but Mr. Takei definitely has me hooked!

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

Hook Me: Jack of Hearts by Candace C. Bowen

Title: Jack of Hearts
Author: Candace C. Bowen
Publisher: Seven Realms Publishing (March 21, 2013)
Genre: Historical Mystery

Book Description: This time, Jack the Ripper has messed with the wrong girl...

During the height of the Ripper Murders, eighteen year-old Katherine Kelly arrives from Wales in search of her older sister, Mary. When the Metropolitan Police refuse to help her, she takes matters into her own hands. Combing the seedy alleys of Whitechapel, Constable Edward Stanhope searches for the notorious killer terrorizing his beat. Joining forces, Edward and Katherine soon discover the closer they come to finding Mary, the closer they come to finding Jack.

First line: "Murder in the East End!"
Last line read: "What did your father do?"

Overall Impression: Jack the Ripper and that time still fascinates me, so I have to say the intrigue of the infamous killer has helped hook me to the storyline. I enjoyed the interactions between Katherine and Edward. Katherine, in particular, has a lot of spunk. The plot is intriguing too. However, there were a few writing pet peeves that kept pulling me out of the story (overuse of participial phrases and names in dialogue).

Would I keep reading?: A strong maybe.

Hook Me: Trials of Artemis by Sue London

Title: Trials of Artemis
Author: Sue London
Publisher: Graythorn Publishing (March 12, 2013)
Genre: Historical Romance

Book Description: Loving Lord Lucifer...

An independent bluestocking sneaks into a library to read rare Greek texts and ends up with a husband instead.

Jacqueline “Jack” Walters loves archery and Greek military history. In her third season she has failed to inspire so much as one marriage proposal and is planning to settle into the quiet life of a spinster.

Gideon Wolfe, Earl of Harrington, has been avoiding marriage but a case of mistaken identity in the library has left him saddled with an argumentative and unwilling fiancee.

First line: Jacqueline Walters barely suppressed a sigh as she looked around the ballroom.
Last line read: "I wonder if you do."

Overall Impression: I don't usually read historical romances, but I'd heard good things about this one and I was impressed. I easily related to Jack and enjoyed her exchanges with Harrington. And London had a way of making Thucydides very fun to read. It's a steamy and enjoyable sample, and I promptly went and purchased the entire book.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

Hook Me: The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson

Title: The Emperor's Soul
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tachyon Publications (October 11, 2012)
Genre: Fantasy

Book Description: A heretic thief is the empire’s only hope in this fascinating tale that inhabits the same world as the popular novel, Elantris.

Shai is a Forger, a foreigner who can flawlessly copy and re-create any item by rewriting its history with skillful magic. Condemned to death after trying to steal the emperor’s scepter, she is given one opportunity to save herself. Though her skill as a Forger is considered an abomination by her captors, Shai will attempt to create a new soul for the emperor, who is almost dead.

Probing deeply into his life, she discovers Emperor Ashravan’s truest nature—and the opportunity to exploit it. Her only possible ally is one who is truly loyal to the emperor, but councilor Gaotona must overcome his prejudices to understand that Shai’s forgery is as much artistry as it is deception.

Brimming with magic and political intrigue, this deftly woven fantasy delves into the essence of a living spirit.

First line: Gaotona ran his fingers across the thick canvas, inspecting one of the greatest works of art he had ever seen.
Last line read: She found this aged man as difficult to read as a book in Svordish.

Overall Impressions: Man, Brandon Sanderson is awesome when it comes to fantasy. He makes his characters and worlds come to life. What impresses me the most is his ability to create a new magical system and make it sound completely plausible! His books are definitely going on my to-read list.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

Hook Me: You Know What You Have to Do by Bonnie Shimko

Title: You Know What You Have to Do
Author: Bonnie Shimko
Publisher: Amazon Childrens Publishing (March 26, 2013)
Genre: YA Horror

Book Description: This quirky, appealing YA novel turns formulaic teen fiction on its head as funny, feisty fifteen year-old Mary-Magdalene Feigenbaum (otherwise known as Maggie) suddenly faces more than the usual typical YA concerns: a voice in her head that is telling her to kill people. Not just anyone—each time the target is someone who has done something terrible to a person Maggie cares for. You know what you have to do, the voice commands. Maggie struggles to resist, but the voice is relentless.

With rising suspense, this story of psychological horror introduces a narrator whose own unique voice and irreverent humor are unforgettable—an unlikely hero fighting a desperate battle against incomprehensible evil.

First line: I will always carry the guilt for what I've done.
Last line read: When I see him around town, he's always alone. 

Overall Impression: I have to admit the voice pulled me into this story. Mary-Magdalene is a bit snarky and sarcastic at times, even though she's pulled by the guilt of what "the voice" makes her do. The book reminds me a bit of a horror movie, and I love horror movies, even the cheesy ones.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

Hook Me: The Flight of the Sorceress by Barry S. Willdorf and Blogging Vacation

Title: The Flight of the Sorceress
Author: Barry S. Willdorf
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing (October 18, 2010)
Genre: Historical Fiction

Book Description: Falsely accused of sorcery, pursued across the crumbling Roman Empire by a tenacious bishop, the sorceress barely escapes the death by stoning.

It is 410 A.D. Rome is in decline. Church and state unite in a desperate attempt to preserve the Empire, instituting oppressive measures against women, eliminating religious dissenters and enslaving the poor. Books are burned, Teachers censored. Creativity crushed. A Dark Age falls across Western Europe.

But two women resist.

First line: Glenys was roused from sleep by pounding at the door.
Last line read: "I have a wife and baby."

Overall Impressions: I'm embarrassed to admit this, but this book has been on my to-read list for a LONG time, about since it was published. I do love history, though, particularly around the time of Ancient Rome, even though this book takes place a little past my expertise. The book is well-written, and I enjoyed the characters, particularly Glenys and Hypatia. Their struggles to deal with their time are intriguing, and I want to know more about these two extraordinary women.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

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Next week, I am taking a vacation from the day job, so I've decided to take a blogging vacation too. I'll be back with my next book review on Monday, August 5!

Hook Me: Seer of Mars by Cindy Borgne

Title: Seer of Mars
Author: Cindy Borgne
Published: April 14, 2011
Genre: Science Fiction

Book Description: Sixteen year old Ian Connors is a psychic working for Marscorp, the biggest bully organization on Mars. His job is to use his ability to uncover secrets or hidden bases of other organizations so the Marcs can conquer them. Even though he’s been brought up to believe this is normal, he soon discovers the ugly reality of war. He hates the suffering and death caused by a vision he reported to the admiral. Ian feels responsible after finding a hidden base of a small organization that was only trying to survive.

In order to redeem himself, Ian vows to never let anyone use his ability for death and destruction again. His goal is to escape and live in peace, but the leaders monitor him closely and defectors are known to mysteriously disappear. Despite his age, inexperience and few allies, he refuses to give up. He must outwit a cunning admiral and a powerhouse organization, or he will remain a pawn and forever separated from those he loves.

First line: Aboard the Admiral's flagship, I enjoyed the view through the small cabin porthole.
Last line read: Static blasted over the radio, but gradually I managed to tune into the voices.

Overall Impression: Although this one was a bit of a slow starter for me, I quickly grew to care about Ian, Nate, Clare, and the other characters. The worldbuilding is fascinating, since the characters live on Mars. Conflict is visible and does well to increase the pace and tension.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!