Season of the Harvest

Season of the Harvest by Michael R. Hicks
388 pages. Published 2011
Amazon: 4 stars
Me: 4 stars

I don't really read book descriptions. I read the title, look at the cover and skim the description. With Season of the Harvest I read a short description, and downloaded it to my Kindle for free, and forgot about it until now. Over the last couple of years I have really become interested in dystopian novels. I LOVE dystopian novels. When I read the title, and saw the cover I thought this was a dystopian novel.

I was incorrect. Turns out, it's science fiction. The only other Sci-fi book I've read is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and ONLY because it fit the category of a "book published the year you were born" in a book challenge I did. (And, now you know my age.) I did not like that book. Didn't really like the whole alien bit. In this book I just read, Season of the Harvest, I ALMOST stopped reading the book when I found out they were dealing with aliens. But, I'm glad I didn't. Although strange, I did enjoy this book.

It starts with an FBI agent, Sheldon, being killed in a mysterious way. Sheldon's good friend, Jack wants to find out who murdered his friend. In the process, two FBI agents are killed in Jack's apartment, and one turns up missing. Jack is rescued from his apartment by Naomi, a woman he only knows by name and knows is dangerous. After his rescue, Jack winds up in an old underground WWII bunker with Noami and her team of suspected terrorists, and Jack is on the FBI's most wanted list.

The action doesn't stop in this book. It's definitely a page-turner (or screen swiper, depending on the format you are reading), and the twists don't stop until the end.

You can purchase this book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your local bookstore.

Happy Reading!

The Salem Witch Tryouts

The Salem Witch Tryouts by Kelly Mcclymer
272 pages. Published 2006
Amazon: 4.5 stars
Me: 3.5 stars


This is a cutesy story of a teen trying to fit in to a new school and figure out who she is and which social group she belongs in. The part about Prudence and her family being witches adds drama and humor to this teenage book.

Ready to start her junior year of high school, Prudence, the straight A, head cheerleader, learns that she has to move from Beverly hills to Salem Massachusetts. Her brother, whom she refers to as Dorklock, is the reason for the move because he can't keep his magic under control. From their childhoods, Prudence and her brother weren't allowed to use their magic because it made their mortal father feel uncomfortable. Shortly after the move, Prudence enrolls in Agatha's Day School where she finds herself in all remedial magic classes. These classes will certainly not help her attain her goal of being "kewl", not to mention the fact that she is half-mortal which she is picked on for the first day.  Prudence tries out for the cheer leading team to try and climb the social ladder. She quickly learns the witch cheer leading is very different from mortal cheer leading.


You can purchase this book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your local bookstore.

Happy Reading!

The Paper Magician

The Paper Magician by Charlie Holmberg
224 Pages. Published 2014
Amazon: 4 stars
Me: 3 stars

This book is already rated one of the best books of 2015 so far. I got this book as a Kindle First. If you have Amazon Prime they give you the option to purchase one of four new books for free at the beginning of every month. I think it's a really cool program, and I can't turn down a free book.

I love books about magic, despite a Protestant background. In this book, the magic isn't paired with witches, but with magicians (but they kind of act like witches having spells and all).  These magicians aren't performance artists, this is how they make their living, and it's their life. These magicians can can only work with one medium, and are bonded for life to that material. Our main character, Ceony is a paper magician. It's the weakest of the elements.

Ceony graduated from Tagis Praff School for the Magically inclined at the top of her class.  This would normally grant her the power to chose what substance she works with, but in her case she was assigned to be a Folder of paper due to their low numbers.

Ceony must serve an apprenticeship for 2-6 years.  Ceony fells lucky to have her mentor because he treats her so well. But, her mentor, Emery Thane, leaves unexpectedly for a few weeks in to the arrangement. He comes back and (I'll tell you when you can read again) SPOILER ALERT Lira, takes Thane's heart. Ceony sets out after it. The entire middle of the book is her being trapped in his heart (literally) from a spell. She sees Thane's memories and hopes and fears, but will she be able to save him?

SPOILER OVER
I thought the middle of the book was a little weird, but it made sense for the story line. Although the book is the first in its series it ended nicely and all the loose ends were tied up.

You can find this book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, your local bookstore or you local library.

Happy Reading!

The Road From Gap Creek

The Road From Gap Creek by Robert Morgan
352 pages. Published 2014
Amazon: 4 stars
Me: 4.5 stars


The Road From Gap Creek is a continuation of the book Gap Creek. Gap Creek is one of my very favorite books. It's set in the southern Appalachian  mountains, during Julie and Hank's first year of marriage. The second book, The Road From Gap Creek, is told from their daughter's perspective.

I love the characters that Robert Morgan creates and the stories they tell.  Morgan crafts a book of unforgettable, yet ordinary characters.  The stories these characters provide about their way of life stays with the you for weeks after you put the book down.

Annie, one of Hank and Julie's children, narrates this book. She grows up and lives through the Great Depression and World War II.  Annie gives an interesting perspective on both situations since she tells the story from the point of view of someone living in the mountains.

I want to tell you about the whole story, but then I'd be giving away all of the anecdotes Annie gives the reader about growing up, living with her siblings, working hard, and getting married. I really just want you to read this book for yourself, starting with Gap Creek. 

You can purchase this book from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your local book store.

Happy Reading!