Book Review: Mercenary by David Gaughran

Author: David Gaughran
Title: Mercenary
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: ebook
Expected publication: June 4th 2014 
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon Freebie)



Lee Christmas gets drunk and falls asleep at the throttle of his locomotive, plowing straight into an oncoming train. Blacklisted from the railroad and his marriage in tatters, he flees New Orleans on a steamer bound for the tropics. 

In Honduras, he begins a quiet new life. But trouble has a way of finding Christmas. With unrest sweeping the countryside, he's kidnapped by bandits. Soon, he finds himself taking sides in an all-out civil war--as leader of the rebellion. 

To my surprise...this is based off a real story. Huh. Learn something new every day. 

But yes Lee is a piece of crap. I say this with what I know from the book. Maybe there is more to the real story? Maybe not? But I am going based on the book here. Lee messes up his career for being an idiot drunk. Ruins every single marriage he gets and he KNOWS why, but doesn't do anything to fix it. The only thing he is good at is killing and leading an army. Oh and he is good at drinking too. 

The story was interesting enough. However, it was hard to really like the story because of Lee. Yes, yes, I always say I like complex characters and I do like a good baddie and a story about an anti-hero. But oh my goodness how I hated Lee. A drunk idiot. You can't label him as an anti-hero and you can't say he is complex. He was a simpleton who has no one to blame but himself for his misery in life. STOP MARRYING PEOPLE AND STOP HAVING BABIES!!! Just be content with being a mercenary! That is all you are good at. Sighs. 

The writing was good and I wouldn't mind reading more by this author. I should do some research on this Lee fellow, but ugh. I have a feeling this story was pretty on point. We shall see though. 

In the end...the story was an interesting read, but it was hard to really like it because of the main character. He was an idiot. I wanted to kick him. I don't blame his wives for dumping his butt. I'll give this 2 stars. 

Tell Me Something Tuesday: CLIFFHANGERS

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

Cliffhangers: Do they compel you to read more or steer you away?

Oooooo the dreaded cliffhanger. As a writer, I do love writing them...but as a reader....NO. A big fat noooooo! 

Let me explain my answer.....

If I had really enjoyed a story, cliffhangers do not steer me away. They annoy me and they leave me screaming NOOOOOOO. I have to read the next one just to make me feel better especially if I have the next one ready to go. If I have to wait a year or more for the next book? I get really, really mad. HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO YOUR BELOVED READER! MONSTER! I SAY MONSTER! *shakes fist*

Now, if I barely liked the story or was meh. The cliffhanger will steer me away. I will not read more. I get annoyed and say I do not care. Even if I do want to find out what happens next, I'll not read it. Sorry. 

Poor Mamyia all exhausted and whatnot while I am trying to work! It is so nice now having two days to work at home. ^_^

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: Freakling by Lana Krumwiede

In twelve-year-old Taemon’s city, everyone has a power called psi — the ability to move and manipulate objects with their minds. When Taemon loses his psi in a traumatic accident, he must hide his lack of power by any means possible. But a humiliating incident at a sports tournament exposes his disability, and Taemon is exiled to the powerless colony. The "dud farm" is not what Taemon expected, though: people are kind and open, and they actually seem to enjoy using their hands to work and play and even comfort their children. Taemon adjusts to his new life quickly, making friends and finding unconditional acceptance. But gradually he discovers that for all its openness, there are mysteries at the colony, too — dangerous secrets that would give unchecked power to psi wielders if discovered. When Taemon unwittingly leaks one of these secrets, will he have the courage to repair the damage — even if it means returning to the city and facing the very people who exiled him? 

Audio CD, Unabridged, 7 pages

Published October 9th 2012 by Candlewick on Brilliance Audio (first published July 1st 2012)

Psi Chronicles #1

Fantasy Middle Grade

My thoughts:

'Another MG one, but I was really surprised when I read that this one was MG. There was violence, death, threats of violence and even a hint of a threat of sexual violence (or am i to assume that the person just wanted to kill the other person for fun which is still horrific). I get that the main character is 13 so I guess that makes it more MG then, but, since it is labelled as MG some really young readers could read it. But maybe kids these days are more used to things. Still, I would say this one is more for younger YA readers. Cos no, there is not that much violence. YA has more, but I still feel like it was a bit to dark for MG. I mean an 8 year old could read this and they just kill a kid like that and torture people so...maybe I am the only one that feels like this. It was just such a change from the other MG I just listened to.

Speech over. 11 up absolutely. Not under that. But older YA would find it too simple so yes it lies there in the shadow land of upper MG, lowerYA

Is this a fantasy world? Is it our world? No idea. I do like when things are clearer cos I always wonder. Is it dystopia? Sci-fi? Interesting mix at least. A world where a group of fanatics (yes I will call them that) left and made a mountain (why no one come over the sea and takes a look I have no idea), and then they live there using psi powers they got. Which to me seems to exhausting. They can do NOTHING by hand. Not eat, not going to the toilet I assume. NO lifting. Nothing. I wonder how they make babies, I guess they can touch then...or? Cos the kid keeps saying that no one touch each other. You do not want to know what I am thinking now. Touch is a sense. Why take away that completely?

Anyway, this kid Taemon loses his powers and is sent away. I liked him, though he really should just have killed his psycho brother. That does make it MG, he was so damn nice.

There is an evil guy who is evil and Taemon will obvi save the world.

Interesting world and a nice story, even if, I mean come on people, touch is a sense!

Narrator Nick Podehl

I liked his voice and omg the voice for Tae's sociopath of a  brother, yes he sounded evil!

Joint Audiobook Discussion: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Hello all! Blodeuedd and I will be discussing "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon. Blodeudd is in orange and I am in red. 

Author: Sandhya Menon
Title: When Dimple Met Rishi
Genre: YA & Romance
Pages: audiobook
Published: May 30th 2017
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Freebie)


Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?


Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.

Look, for June is Audiobook month Carole and I will try our first Audiobook together! We chose this one cos I had heard great things about it. And yes, it was actually that good too, at least I thought so ;)

Happy Audiobook month! And yes! I enjoyed it a lot!! Good pick ;)

We did good for once, phew! I guess this was the only good book this year then. WHat should we discuss first?

Yess the first really good one of the year so far and we are in June! WOAH! But let us see….let’s start with the narrators. We had two of them. One for Dimple’s POV and one for the cutest guy “alive”. I adored the narrators. What did you think?

Obviously I am not the person to ask, I have the BIGGEST voice crush on Vikas Adam *happy sigh* I kind of wanna make babies with his voice. There I said it. I love his voice. Love love love love it. Hihi. Ok yes I am smitten. So yes he was good, ahem.

*serious face* The other narrator whom I can not even recall the name of, sorry! But Vikas! Was good too.

Omg yes. His voice was beautiful and smexy. Hehe. He really was the best pic for our male hero. His girl voice made me chuckle though. 

I thought the same when I listened to a certain other series he narrated, and then I got used to it, but yes they are still amusing ;) I did like that they did it this way. Cos it really was HIS and HERS pov so they could not have done it any other way.

Agreed. I must listen to more by both of them. They really brought the characters alive! I did not feel like I was listening to an audiobook. It felt like I was listening to a show. So good, so good.

Then we both agree, great narration :) And sure, maybe I would have liked it as much if I read it, or maybe I would not have. I feel like the narration pushed it for me to great.

Yes. The story was good, but I feel the narration gave it an extra star for me. The story was good from page one. Those darn parents ;) I felt bad for Dimple, but she made me mad being all mean to Rishi!!!! HE IS AN ANGEL YOU WICKED WOMAN! *shakes fist*

I did wanna slap her at the end. Rishi loves you you stupid idiot! *shakes fist too* But I did like her parents, sure, it was not cool what they did, but they would never have forced her. They just tried to nudge her and it gave us the BEST opening. Omg I snorted when they met.

I did fall for her parents and especially her dad. They are just trying to help wicked Dimple. It was rude not to tell her, but they know she would’ve just said forget it. And yes, that meeting was the best in romance history. And he still wanted to stick around!!!???? Love him.

Oh yes, adore him! If I had met a Rishi, awww, a cute nerd! Gold! He tried so hard, gotta love him. I liked how he loved his own culture.

Yes, I liked that too. They are sooooo different, but so similar that they are the perfect couple. What did you think of his brother and Dimple’s roomie?

I was not sure about him at start, but then we saw this other side to him and I got him. The roomie, well I wanted to kick her too. Stupid idiot. But then I forgave her.

Agreed. A part of me thought the brother was going to fall for Dimple and Rishi would have to kick his little butt. Hehe. But yes, the roomie was sweet but blinded by lust for the “cool” kids. Sighs. Poor girl.

I did love how they called them Aberzombies (the bad peeps in the story). Hehe, cos they so were! Ugh, I hated them

Me too. They made good “baddies” though. I was hoping one of them who seemed to be not TOO bad would change sides and lead the charge against them. Not real life though. WHICH I must say...the author did a good job keeping this realistic. All the awkward 18 year old moments and dramas that seem so serious but isn’t.

It did give good normal drama. I got why the roomie wanted to be cool. It was all well written and felt real.

Yes, I understand her wanting to be friends with them. Things change out of High School...but at the same time they don’t.

I am stuck now, nothing more to say, ugh, think think…..heeeeelp!

Ooo. I was reading some reviews on Goodreads. There were some complaints about how people felt that the author didn’t spend enough time with the app and their development about it. They complained that the author glossed over it just to get to the romance parts. What do you feel? I felt it was well balanced and I came to read a romance...not a story about how to code an app….

They did not spent a lot of time on the app no, I mean they did, but not in the story. Though would we really want page after page about coding? I was fine with the romance. They still talked about it.

Yes, there was a good balance. The author would spend a couple of pages throughout the book about their class and app and whatnot. Also, this is a YA, but it never felt YA.

I guess it is NA *eyeroll* I just do not get NA! Sorry NA lovers. The edges tend to be so blurry there.

NA?

New adult. Out of HS and in the world. Which they were, but it still could be YA. But not really adult.

Ahhh I am so out of the loop sometimes...I swear I live in a cave. Hehe. But yeah...IDK. It was a good story. The ending had me mad...and then happy...but then mad again because I WANT MORE! I want a short story or maybe Rishi’s bro’s story. That would be fun.

Same. MAD, and then happy. A story about his brother, hmmm, dunno, since we know things that might happen. No surprise there for me.

I am just curious how the bro’s chica (will not give spoilers here) will fit in. I am curious about that aspect mainly. She is not someone the parent’s would’ve picked for him.

True, but then he is not really the “perfect” son either so maybe they are lenient. But yes in that way it would be interesting. But you know we would just get mad if they did not like her. Cos they like each other and they are happy so they should be happy.

I agree. I think the parents will like her after a couple of meetings...but the rest of the family? That will be a bumpy ride. Even a short story will settle my curiosity for sure.

Narrated by Vikas then sure ;)

It better be! He can play the brother. Or just do the whole narration. Haha. I would be fine with that.

Yes! Lol, are we done? Next book will suck for sure now

Don’t say thatttt!!!!!!! LOL! But yes, this was a good one and I am happy our first audiobook discussion ended well.

Yay, yes I am glad it worked out.

The end?

The end, Kaj is looking at me with narrow eyes cos he has waited for us to go grocery shopping. He skipped Coffee for it ;)

Hehehe sorrrrrrrrryyyyyy Kaj! *sips on my own coffee*

Running now, byeeeee

Byezzz

About the Authors

Carole and Blodeuedd have been blogging a long while now. The last couple of years the epic duo have been discussing books, watching movies, and even wetting the pen and sharing their stories with the worldwide web. They both love cats, chocolate, and a good story.