Book Review: Escape to Redemption by Peter M Parr

Author: Peter M Parr
Title: Escape to Redemption
Genre: Fiction
Pages: ebook
First Published: June 24th 2016
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Josie only had the gun to frighten Curtis Rook, but his son disturbed her. One startled reflex and now he's dead. Josie flees to Poland leaving her boyfriend Snaz to take the rap. A reformed criminal offers her refuge from the police and the chance to begin a new life, but she cannot hide from her guilt. As the stakes rise, Josie begins to realise that only her own forgiveness can set her free.




Can't help but love people stories especially when it comes to finding oneself after horrible events. This story not only follows Josie, but Snaz her "boyfriend". I put that in quotations, because he calls himself her boyfriend, she called him her friend and used him. Not really a shining relationship here. Josie finds out a haunting secret about Rook and his connection to her mom's death, so she decides to force Snaz to help her scare Rook. Sadly, it ends in blood and running from the law. 

Now...Josie...GAH I hated her face. She was such a horrible person especially before that night. She used boys to her advantage, she was nasty to her family, and she was selfish. Yes, I understand that she blames her dad for her mom's death, her stepmother was never really nice to her, and her brother turned on her. I get it, but she certainly didn't help. At the end she really did turn around and I respect her, but the beginning and middle I wanted to kick her.  

Poor Snaz and poor Pete....they were so used by Josie for her own selfish needs and desires. Especially Snaz. She used his feelings for her to force him into going with her and getting a gun. Yes, he should have been the bigger person and not let love/lust cloud his moral judgement, but you can't help who you love. 

I really liked this story. It felt like a soap opera at parts, but it felt SO realistic in others. I can't help wondering what I would do in certain situations. If I accidentally killed someone what would I think and feel? It's easy to reprimand Josie for running from the law, but we haven't been in that situation. Panic sets in and you bolt. It falls into the fight vs flight mentality. I'm sure I might run. IDK I would like to say I would own up to my crimes and take the punishments, but I really don't know. I think that is what I really liked about this book...it truly makes you think and connect with the characters even the nasty, selfish ones like Josie. 

Yes, I hated her. She made up for it, but still. 

This was a good book and I highly recommend it if you do like stories about people, forgiveness, growth, guilt, and redemption. The story had moments of soap operaness, but the rest was super realistic. It made me feel feelings and it made me think. I call that a win. ;D I shall stamp this with 5 stars. 

Book Review: The Bottle Imp by Robert Louis Stevenson

Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Title: The Bottle Imp
Genre: Classics, Short Story, Fiction and Horror
Pages: 56
First Published: 1891
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Been on my shelf so long - its collected dust...I can't remember)

Offering an engrossing spin on a time-honored theme--the risky business of making a pact with the devil--this short story is a radiant jewel. It recounts the mercurial lot of Keawe, a Hawaiian who purchases a bottle inhabited by an imp capable of granting any wish. Yet this enticing object holds a dark curse: anyone who dies with it in his possession will burn forever in hell. And here's the rub: one can sell the bottle only for less than its purchase price. Keawe rids himself of the bottle after acquiring a palatial home. But when he needs it again to ensure his happiness with a newfound love, its cost is, chillingly, one cent, and the responsibility of ownership becomes a good deal more complex.




Is it too early to start reading horror-type books? I mean...it is technically September now, so we should be good right? Haha. 

Anyways, I have a few stories from this author that I have been meaning to read for eons. I have a collection of a few of his short stories and a novel. All my life I heard he was good, so I was meaning to start reading his stuff. 

Okay. This wasn't too scary as we know it today. No blood, no guts, or anything like that. This was more of a psychological horror, because we all know we would justify purchasing that damn bottle. This bottle can grant wishes, but at a deadly cost. If you do not sell the bottle for cheaper than what you paid for before you die, your soul goes STRAIGHT to Hell for all eternity. So buying this bottle is pretty much a gamble with the devil. Which is an amazing concept of the age-old "selling your soul to the devil" theme.

I would like to sit on a high horse and say I wouldn't....but I have never faced the situation, so I honestly don't know. Humans are weak and we are greedy, greedy little brats. We have a tendency to not care of others...only our own selfish needs. 

Now, Keawe embodies this. He had needs and wants and when presented with this powerful bottle, he took it TWICE. Yes! The fool couldn't help himself TWICE! >_> Idiot. But greed is a powerful thing. 

The story and journey was entertaining for sure! I was creeped out and the thing inside the bottle horrified me a touch. 

This was almost, ALMOST a five star story, but the ending was a TOTAL FAILURE! So freakin' lame. The author totally blew it and took the cheaters way out. I totally called it, but I was hoping it wouldn't happen. Honestly? It ruined the whole short story. It took away all the horror aspect of it. Sure, the bottle lives on and whatnot, but still.....lame. 

90% of it was awesome, but the last bit was totally a failure. I'm rather upset with the author on this. SO LAME! However, I do find myself interested to read the others. Hopefully, they are better. Out of five stars, I stamp this with...mmmmmm....3 stars. 

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.

2) A person’s undoing

3) Joshua Templeman

Lucy Hutton has always been certain that the nice girl can get the corner office. She’s charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. Everyone except for coldly efficient, impeccably attired, physically intimidating Joshua Templeman. And the feeling is mutual.

Trapped in a shared office together 40 (OK, 50 or 60) hours a week, they’ve become entrenched in an addictive, ridiculous never-ending game of one-upmanship. There’s the Staring Game. The Mirror Game. The HR Game. Lucy can’t let Joshua beat her at anything—especially when a huge new promotion goes up for the taking.

If Lucy wins this game, she’ll be Joshua’s boss. If she loses, she’ll resign. So why is she suddenly having steamy dreams about Joshua, and dressing for work like she’s got a hot date? After a perfectly innocent elevator ride ends with an earth shattering kiss, Lucy starts to wonder whether she’s got Joshua Templeman all wrong.

Maybe Lucy Hutton doesn’t hate Joshua Templeman. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game. 

My thoughts:

Yes it was a good contemporary romance, just like any good contemporary romance. And no I did not feel it was as amazing. I guess I am in the minority there. But good is still good, and I really enjoyed it.

Lucy and Joshua work at a publishing house, they sit at opposite sides of a room, they stare at each other all day long and play the hating game. Awww the good old enemies to lovers premise.

Lucy is short, hates Joshua, and wants more than being just a PA.

Joshua has family issues, quit school and yes what does he want?

I did feel like Lucy hated him more, because Joshua was in it for the fun of it. Antagonizing her was his hobby. Everyone needs a hobby.

So the first half is about them hating each other. Then they grow to see the real people behind the hate and it turns into lust and love.

Conclusion:
It was cute and funny.

Cover
Eh

ebook, 384 pages
Published August 9th 2016 by William Morrow
Contemporary romance
Own

Book Review: Paradox Forged in Blood by Mary Frances Fisher

Author: Mary Frances Fisher
Title: Paradox Forged in Blood
Genre: Historical Fiction and Mystery
Pages: ebook
First Published: August 24th 2016
Where I Got It: My Shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion.)

A murder on Millionaire’s Row. 
A killer's chilling words, "Shh. I know where you live.” 
A woman tormented by her guilt-ridden past. 

A historical murder mystery, Paradox Forged in Blood is set in Cleveland, Ohio, during the late 1930s. Four decades after the murder of socialite Louis Sheridan, the cold case is resurrected with receipt of new evidence that transports detectives back to Nazi Germany. The only living witness, Ellen O’Malley, must confront a haunting secret and her complicit actions.




I legitimately finished this in two sittings. It was addicting. Not only was there the main murder mystery, but there were so many other mysteries at play. 

There were lots of stories and lots of characters at play. Sometimes it was confusing to remember who was who and who's story we were on. Lots of jumping around, but the author did a decent job keeping the reader on track. Everyone was connected in some way and seemed realistic. It was pretty cool how the author intertwined everyone. 

A part of me wished that the story stayed focused on Ellen's and maybe Frank's POV, but the story wouldn't have had all all the extra mysteries and story-lines involved. I did really like Sadie. However, there were some slow parts that could have been cut in order to keep the plot moving along. It sucks having to cut things, but sometimes its needed. It didn't hurt the story for me, because I LOVE people stories, but from a writing stand-point the plot was staled at some points. 

Now...the main mystery was the murder mystery. This was a headache to solve, but I pretty much guessed who it was, but I didn't realize WHO the murderer was....hard to explain, but the twist about the murderer was a shock. I didn't see it coming!! I had a different theory, but I knew it was a stretch. 

The mystery of baby Patrick frustrated me too and I had no idea. 

The mystery of Sadie's twin seemed an easy one, but the author got me there. 

The robbery mystery tied in nicely and it was who I thought it was going to be.

Was that all of them?  I can't remember now, but there was a lot going on at times, but the ending tied up everything nicely and I feel all the loose ends were knotted well. I'm glad the author revisited everything to make sure everything was nicely tied up. I hate loose ends!

In the end, this was a fun book. Lots of stories and lots of mysteries. Time does have a weird way of bringing out the truth and revealing mysteries. It may take decades or longer, but someday the truth will be dug up. There will some hiccups in the pace of the story, but overall I really did like this. I highly recommend it for people looking for a good people story and mystery novel. Out of five stars, I will stamp it with three.