Carole's Sunday Review: For all time - Caroline B Cooney

Author: Caroline B. Cooney

Title: For All Time (Time Travelers #4)

Genre: YA, Sci-Fi, and Historical Fiction

Pages: 272

Published: Oct 2001

Where I Got It: My Shelf (I honestly can't remember)

Annie Lockwood is testing Time. She’s traveled through it before, but always at Time’s bidding. Now she is asking Time to take her to the year 1899, when Strat is in Cairo. But Time doesn’t like to be tested. In what feels like a cruel joke, Annie is transported to ancient Egypt, thousands of years before Strat was born — to a world far removed from the one she knows. Meanwhile, in 1899, Strat is photographing the same pyramids that Annie walks among. But while Strat eagerly awaits Annie’s arrival, another visitor arrives: his father, Hiram Stratton, Sr., has come to Egypt to collect his son.

Powerless, Annie and Strat both look to Time. Can its force, which brought them together once, help them find each other again?

I swear my memory is getting so bad. I swear I read this and the other books in the series an eon ago...but after reading this I don't recall anything. Lucky me, though, this stands well as a stand alone so I was able to read this even though I couldn't remember the events of the past. 

This story follows a few characters. There is Annie who is from the 1990s and she has a special bond with Time..it likes to sweep her around. Strat is a young man in the 1890s whose dad is rich and crappy, so he decides to run away and become an archaeologist. Annie and Strat met in the past books and are in love. The author also included a couple side characters: Rennifer (a girl in Ancient Egypt), Camilla (a woman who dresses as a man to be a hired secret agent), and a couple others who got their two cents in. 

I felt bad for Annie and Strat. Time is a cruel wench who likes to put them together for a day or two and then tear them apart again. That would really stink. However, it was fun to cheer for them!

I really loved the interplay of all the different time periods and locations. The author did wonderful mixing everything together. The author did a good job at writing the different POVs. However, I do think that some of the POVs were not really needed and seemed to slow the pace of the story. The pace wasn't consistent. 

Also...I hated the ending. I get what the author was doing...but GAH *throws book*. Annie needs a kick in the butt. I felt bad for her, but I was so annoyed with her the entire time, but the ending made me loath her. Stupid chit. However, Strat was a cutie and I think he deserves a better everything...better family, a better lover, etc. Poor guy has had a hard time.

I am curious to see what happens next. I do recommend this even if you skip the other books. This was a fun book, but it did have some issues. I'll give this 3 stars.   

Best of April

Hi All! 

This is just a fun little meme that Carole and I are going to try  and do once a month. Give a little shout-out and "badge" of honor to our favorite book and movie of the previous month. This month we'll share our favorites of April.

Favorite movie:

For April, both Carole and I didn't have any winners for favorite movies.

Blodeuedd - "As for a fav movie, I do not think I have one. I have watched movies this month but not a single one has left a memory behind. There were good ones, but I can not remember what I have watched! So nothing this month."

Me - "I've only watched a couple of movies this month. I was mainly focused on watching TV shows and reading. None of the movies this month rated above 3 stars...so nothing this month for me."

Favorite book:

Carole's pick.................................Freud's Mistress by Karen Mack & Jennifer Kaufman

"I went into this one unsure, but I came out surprised. It was interesting to see Freud in this light and even though I still don't like him, I appreciated his story with these two women. Minna was a complex and fun character to learn about. For sure an addicting book..I couldn't put it down. "

Bloeduedd's pick is ..................................Tyrant's Throne by Sebastien de Castell

"I had read a few good fantasy books this month so it was hard for me to choose which one was the best one. Yes my best books this month were all fantasy. But this one wins. It was a good end to the series and I could not put it down."

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.

#FitReaders Check-In: April 28, 2017

FitReaders is hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog  and That’s What I’m Talking About.

Join in!
It's fun, it's good for you too :D

Sun 1 h walk
Mon  30 min walk
Tue  2 km bike 30 min walk
Wed  2 km bike
Thu  30 min walk, 4 km bike
Fri  30 walk

They promise more snow for Sunday and since it is still April, nothing strange with that. There might come  a flake or two early May too some years, but May is a spring month so that is strange when it does ;)

If you did not know already, I am pregnant, and due tomorrow...or whenever the baby wants to come out in the next 2 weeks.

At the moment of writing this I am scheduling Tell me something Tuesday posts so you will see discussion posts every Tuesday this spring and summer.

I have also been writing movie reviews so expect them soon on Fridays.

And I have also have time to read a lot so scheduling in those (it's awesome to schedule things isn't it! ;)

 So even if I do not have time to read books, then something will be up here. Because I do adore my little blog.

The Secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy - Julia Quinn

Sir Richard Kenworthy has less than a month to find a bride. He knows he can't be too picky, but when he sees Iris Smythe-Smith hiding behind her cello at her family's infamous musicale, he thinks he might have struck gold. She's the type of girl you don't notice until the second—or third—look, but there's something about her, something simmering under the surface, and he knows she's the one.

Iris Smythe–Smith is used to being underestimated. With her pale hair and quiet, sly wit she tends to blend into the background, and she likes it that way. So when Richard Kenworthy demands an introduction, she is suspicious. He flirts, he charms, he gives every impression of a man falling in love, but she can't quite believe it's all true. When his proposal of marriage turns into a compromising position that forces the issue, she can't help thinking that he's hiding something . . . even as her heart tells her to say yes. 

My thoughts:

Richard really was a dick about the whole secret thing. Not cool Richard, not cool. I get that he wanted to keep the whole thing a secret but...sigh..men!

Iris is pale, ok, so that is the reason why no one notices her. How freaking pale is she? I am thinking of a ghost girl now that people just see through. What is up with that? But she is nice, quiet, used to be overlooked. And when someone does notice her then she is all wtf. Who can blame her.

Richard has a secret, duh. He needs a wife, fast! We do not know the reason. He does not tell her the reason. Asshat that he is.

The reason was a good one, but, he did not go about it the right way. It was needed for the drama, but still.......

Conclusion:
Still,  it was cute, I read it fast.


Cover
I kind of like it

Mass Market Paperback, 378 pages
Published January 27th 2015 by Avon
Smythe-Smith Quartet #4
Historical romance
Library

Dark Matter - Blake Crouch

“Are you happy with your life?” 

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious. Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits. Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.” 

In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.

Is it this world or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.

My thoughts:

It was not amazing, but at the same time I could not put it down. I started reading it, and then I finished it. It was just impossible to put down, I needed to know what would happen.

It's about Jason who gets knocked out and wakes up in a strange place. And I was all wtf happened? A parallel universe? Cos here he is not married, he has no son, and he spent his life following his passion in science.

And that is the whole deal, wtf happened? What is this? And when he tries to find out, well then it got even more impossible to put down. And then it got real crazy.

Conclusion:
So there was something in the story that just pulls you in. I can still not say it's amazing. BUT it's amazing in the fact how it makes you unable to stop reading....strange really.

Cover
meh

Hardcover, 352 pages
Published August 11th 2016 by Macmillan
Fiction / sci-fi /suspense
Library

Tell me Something Tuesday: What has changed since you started blogging?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post here 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.

This week's conversation starter: 

April 25th: What has changed since you started blogging? 

Look at me, doing a discussion post.  I have been eyeing these for a while, and they are perfect now. I am writing this one in February because I thought it would be good to schedule a few things before the baby comes.

To the question!

Omg, what a tough one from the start. Changed? Changed for me? Changed for everyone? Ok, let's just do this.

For me personally, I have learned to DNF. Oh and say NO to books. I know I should be nice and send people a thank you but no email, but that would take so much time. At least they could read my policy before sending me stuff.

In the blogging world I have seen more and more drama and train wrecks. Both from authors and bloggers. Right when I am reading this it has been quiet for a while, and I so should not jinx that, a mega wreck is sure to come now.

I also feel like people are putting more pressure on themselves. This is meant to be done for fun, to talk about books with like minded people. But instead I see blogging burnout and reading burnouts all the time, And sure I have been doing this for 8 years and sometimes it feels tough, but I remind myself that it is a hobby, and that I love it.

I also feel that authors are more out there, and not always in a good way. I get these emails and it's basically read my book, post these links and do this and that. Not even a please or thank you. And then some get angry because their book is not getting enough of a spotlight, is it because their book is self pubbed, then it's the readers fault and they should read more self pubbed. But you know what, I read whatever I want, self pubbed or not. I read the books that interest me. And yes in the beginning I let myself get bullied by authors, but not now. No, I am not gonna change that 4 to a 5, wtf?!

I still love blogging. I love trying new genres and new authors. But I also feel there is so much more out there these days, and not in a good way.

Luci's BFF (Leevi)

Turbo Twenty-three - Janet Evanovich

Larry Virgil skipped out on his latest court date after he was arrested for hijacking an eighteen-wheeler full of premium bourbon. Fortunately for bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, Larry is just stupid enough to attempt almost the exact same crime again. Only this time he flees the scene, leaving behind a freezer truck loaded with Bogart ice cream and a dead body—frozen solid and covered in chocolate and chopped pecans.

As fate would have it, Stephanie’s mentor and occasional employer, Ranger, needs her to go undercover at the Bogart factory to find out who’s putting their employees on ice and sabotaging the business. It’s going to be hard for Stephanie to keep her hands off all that ice cream, and even harder for her to keep her hands off Ranger. It’s also going to be hard to explain to Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, why she is spending late nights with Ranger, late nights with Lula and Randy Briggs—who are naked and afraid—and late nights keeping tabs on Grandma Mazur and her new fella. Stephanie Plum has a lot on her plate, but for a girl who claims to have “virtually no marketable skills,” these are the kinds of sweet assignments she does best.

My thoughts:

I can not stop reading these books. But hey to be honest, this one was good for once. It has been a while.

I am still SOOOOOO tired of them.

A car was blown up as always

Lula was supposedly funny

Gran was supposedly amusing

Morelli was there for smexy times and lasagna

Ranger called her babe

She failed to catch skips

And for some reason SHE was the one Ranger sent undercover and then took her to find the killer. Srsly, I would take some with skills and not this miserable excuse for a human being.

But it was funny at times. It has not been funny for some time. Mostly annoying.

And I can not stop 

Paperback, 304 pages
Published November 15th 2016 by Headline Review
Stephanie Plum #23
Mystery
Library

Discussion: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Happy April everyone! This month Carole and I read and discussed "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close".  I am in red and Carole in purple. 

Author: Jonathan Safran Foer 

Title: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Genre: Fiction

Pages: ebook

First Published: April 2005

Where I Got It: library

Nine-year-old Oskar Schell is an inventor, amateur entomologist, Francophile, letter writer, pacifist, natural historian, percussionist, romantic, Great Explorer, jeweller, detective, vegan, and collector of butterflies. When his father is killed in the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Centre, Oskar sets out to solve the mystery of a key he discovers in his father's closet. It is a search which leads him into the lives of strangers, through the five boroughs of New York, into history, to the bombings of Dresden and Hiroshima, and on an inward journey which brings him ever closer to some kind of peace.

So this was Carole’s book but I chose it, and damn, it felt like we could have lots to talk about and love it. But I am bad at choosing (in my own opinion.) I get one good book a year, and as this is the last book for some time for us, I would have wanted to go out with THE BEST BOOK EVER. Ha, not gonna happen. To me it was a disappointment in the end. How did it go for you?

I am very bummed by this book. I LOVED LOVED LOVED THE MOVIE, so I expected the book to be the same and/or better. But nope...not the case.

I have not seen the movie so I can not have an opinion, but it has to be better than this so I believe you.

Maybe one day I can force you to watch it ;D. But the book? Meh. The beginning and ending were good, but the middle...no. I think this would’ve worked better as a short story to be honest.

Yes! Cos I did ...well, sort of like it at the beginning. The rambling, and I understood what he tried to create, but then omg, I got sooo annoyed. It was too much. He was trying too hard, even if it was not a long book it felt way too long.

The rambling was what did it in for me. Yes, the kid is a wiz and smart and 9 - 10. So he is bound to NOT be a writing genius. However, there needs to be a balance. Also, I don’t care how smart a kid is...they are not THAT smart and that perceptive of the world.

It felt like I had no time to breathe. Everything was a mess. The words kept coming at you. Oh and yes however smart he is, come on, his mum just let him do that. I do not care if he had bodyguards with him (which he had not), but his mum should still not have let him out even if he had had that. It was just crazy. A kid walking around NYC for 3 hours to get somewhere and then having to get back.

The mom was a crap parent in my opinion. I even thought that in the movie. I get she’s going through her grieving too, but yeah. And I get she took SOME precautions, but still...maybe give him a drive or something. NYC is not a place for a little kid to be alone roaming about. I grew up in the country and even my mom wouldn’t let me do anything alone, I’d have to go with an adult or a group of other kids. The mom was an idiot in this book.

At that age I would totally have been allowed to go places, little village. Nothing dangerous there. But this was like her sending me alone on the train to our capital, hell no. And our capital is TINY. I do not care how much she is grieving, that kid could have died.

Yessss. So negative points to her. Now...what did you think about the “big twist” with the old dude?

Considering that we never even met him before the twist was revealed, well yes I did not expect it, but it was also kind of anticlimactic. I was all whatever when I learned it, I wish they had shown him before.

Agreed. It was a cool twist, but it could’ve been done better. They did it differently in the movie and it worked WAY better. Another point to the movie. LOL

I do not know how it was done, but I can guess cos I would know a better one. Eh.

I will not spoil it  for you ;) But yes, you’d appreciate it more.

How did you like the flashbacks to the grandparents then?

It was okay..but I felt it took away from the kid’s story which is the main story. Maybe not having that would’ve slimmed down the story and made it easier to read.

I did feel it was unnecessary, who cares if his grandparents met during the war and then came here. Were strange and the kid obvi inherited that from his grandfather. I did not care for it at all. It was the kid’s story, not how his grandparents weren’t always happy...were they ever happy? So...that should have been left out.

Maybe it was a weird foreshadow to the kid’s future. He is going to be a disappointment to his wife and son...and then his son is going to die and he’ll finally come to his senses and come back. LOL. Maybe there is a sequel in the works. I hope not.

You are being really depressing now. What a fun future to look forward too.

Hehehe. But yes...sad bleak book in many ways. I did cry twice...in a way...i wish the story followed the Dad and his journey. I liked him a lot.

His dad’s journey would have been good and omg then I would have CRIED at the end. Now I was not moved at all, and I am pregnant. I cried at the store today when something went wrong.

Hahaha. My tears were because I remembered certain scenes from the movie. TOM HANKS NOOOOOO! *sobs*

Damn it, I wanna see this movie now….is it old? Might be hard to get then. Never seen it on tv either.

It is old-ish. It used to be on Netflix...IDK if it is anymore.hmmmmm. BTW - what did you think about the photos included? I liked them. The last pictures made me tear-eye because I remember that photo and the videos from the actual event. ;(

I did not have any! Omg, I missed out :/

Really??? I feel like it added some sort of clarity to the mad ramblings of the crazy 9 year and the insane grandfather. D:

Damn it. Oh well, you still did not enjoy the book as much as you wanted so I am sure it would have made it better- Maybe it would have stopped some skimming.

It still was not book of the year, but I liked it a hair more than you...only a hair. I think I gave it the same star rating as you though on Goodreads. LOL

And that was me being nice! I could appreciate what he tried to go, but for me it failed big time.

I have to agree. I see what he wanted but it was a bust. Folks...MOVIE was better. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth saying that, but gotta give credit where credit is due.

It is sad when a movie is better but it happens. I do not want to name names, but there are some big ones in there.

For sure! Anything else you can think of?

I was disappointed. I expected a heated debate from this one and it failed to live up to that.

I am bummed.

The end then :/

The sad, sad bitter end. Booo!!!!

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.

#FitReaders Check-In: April 21, 2017

FitReaders is hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog  and That’s What I’m Talking About.

Join in!

It's fun, it's good for you too :D

Sat 30 min walk

Sun 1 h walk

Mon 1 h walk, 2 km bike

Tue  2 km bike. 25 and 30 min walk

Wed  30 min walk

Thu  30 min walk, 4 km bike

Fri  30 and 25 min walk

Sat 30 min walk. 2 km bike

Finally, a sign of spring :D But yes it's still snowing now and then

Tyrant's Throne - Sebastien de Castell

Would you - could you? - uphold the law at the cost of those you love?

After years of struggle and sacrifice, Falcio val Mond, First Cantor of the Greatcoats, is on the brink of fulfilling his dead King's dream: Aline, the King's daughter, is about to take the throne and restore the rule of law once and for all.

But for the Greatcoats, nothing is ever that simple. In the neighbouring country of Avares, an enigmatic new warlord is uniting the barbarian armies which have long plagued Tristia's borders - and even worse, he is rumoured to have a new ally: Trin, who's twice tried to kill Aline to take the throne for herself. With the armies of Avares at her back, she'll be unstoppable.

Falcio, Kest and Brasti race north to stop her, but in those cold and treacherous climes they discover something altogether different, and far more dangerous: a new player is planning to take the throne of Tristia, and the Greatcoats, for all their skill, may not be able to stop him.

As the nobles of Tristia and even the Greatcoats themselves fight over who should rule, the Warlord of Avares threatens to invade. It is going to fall to Falcio to render the one verdict he cannot bring himself to decide: does he crown the girl he vowed to put on the throne, or uphold the laws he swore to serve? 

My thoughts:

Ok so I totally started this one the moment I got it. Not a second to loose. I dove right back into this world. And damn, it did throw quite the surprise at me.

The country is still a mess. I mean seriously, how can they ever make it better?! The Dukes are arguing. The Queen is a teen. And the common folk just want food on their table. But they have all made it this far, I am sure they can make it to the end then.

Falcio is just so rightful. It's gonna be the death of him. I am glad he has Kest and Brasti at his side. They make quite the force. No one can stop them. They are my fav 3 musketeers for sure ;) No one holds a candle to them. He is a good main character for sure.

And all the side characters I have come to like.  They really make the world and they are their own. They are fleshed out and easy to like...and hate. Damn that Trin, I just want for someone to end her.

Like I said before, there is a new baddie, it made for an interesting twist. And then there was that thing that happened too. I did not see it coming, but then again I always saw it coming one way or another.

I guess this was the final installment then? Sad. But it ended well, all those threads pulled together and I was happy with what I got.

A great series with awesome characters and an interesting world of saints and gods. Of intrigues and war. Assassinations and danger. The righteous and fallen. And there is always that feeling that makes you unable to stop reading. You have to race to the end to see if they all make it through this time around. Because you never know. 

Conclusion:
I do recommend this series. It is impossible to put down when you have started it.

Hardcover, 512 pages
Published April 20h 2017 by Jo Fletcher Books
Greatcoats #4
Fantasy
For review

A dance with Mr Darcy - Regina Jeffers

The reason fairy tales end with a wedding is no one wishes to view what happens next. 

Five years earlier, Darcy had raced to Hertfordshire to soothe Elizabeth Bennet’s qualms after Lady Catherine’s venomous attack, but a devastating carriage accident left him near death for months and cost him his chance at happiness with the lady. Now, they meet again upon the Scottish side of the border, but can they forgive all that has transpired in those years? They are widow and widower; however, that does not mean they can take up where they left off. They are damaged people, and healing is not an easy path. To know happiness they must fall in love with the same person all over again. 

My thoughts:

This one was tough, she really put them through a lot. I have never felt so sorry for poor Lizzy. Life dealt everyone a cruel hand.

Darcy never returned to Lizzy, though, not by his own choice. He was in a really bad accident and then he married someone else.

But that was not the really bad part. Lizzy was dealt a cruel fate by her marriage. Poor poor Lizzy. She was changed, but at the same time not. I liked how the author made her strong.

The biggest surprise in this book was Lydia. I actually liked her. It had been 5 years so she had the chance to grow up a bit.

Darcy and Lizzy meet again. She is not happy, but slowly they learn truths about each other, and he never stopped loving her. And she never stopped wondering what could have been.

I enjoyed this variation. It was different and they were different people now too. (

Kindle Edition, 180ish
Published March 21st 2017 by Regency Solutions
Pride and Prejudice variation
own

Early review: Too hard to forget - Tessa Bailey

Peggy Clarkson is returning to her alma mater with one goal in mind: confront Elliott Brooks, the man who ruined her for all others, and remind him of what he's been missing. Even after three years, seeing him again is like a punch in the gut, but Peggy's determined to stick to her plan. Maybe then, once she has the upper hand, she'll finally be able to move on.

In the years since Peggy left Cincinnati, Elliott has kept his focus on football. No distractions and no complications. But when Peggy walks back onto his practice field and into his life, he knows she could unravel everything in his carefully controlled world. Because the girl who was hard to forget is now a woman impossible to resist. 

My thoughts:

I read book 1, I did not read book 2, but I could easily read book 3. It's about the romance they find along the way after all. One sister stayed in her town in book 1, the rest of the siblings continued their road trip to honor their mum. A brother stayed behind in book 2 (even if I did not get to read his romance). And now only two siblings are left. Before I start with Peggy I so have to say that Belmont's and Sage's story looks to be great. What is his deal? I can not remember from book 1. They have something so raw and should just give in.

But this was Peggy's book. She has 4 failed engagements behind her and can not forget the football coach she loved back in College. A lot of time may not have passed but she has grown bitter and flighty. And hey I can see why when she goes to confront Elliott and make him ache for her. We get flashbacks from their romance and it was passionate and angry.

Elliott could not forget her either. And damn that man had issues, and religious guilt too. Move on man, you have nothing to be guilty over. He was so closed off and needed to be shaken.

Peggy just wants to move on but hey you are in still in love with him, you can not move on. But it is he who needs to change.

Lots of smexy times and dirty talk in this one, for all of you who like that ;)

Conclusion:
Raw lust and anger. Romance and two people finding each other again and letting themselves fall in love.

Cover
ok

Kindle Edition, 336
Expected publication: April 25th 2017 by Forever
Romancing the Clarksons #3
Contemporary romance
netgalley

It happened on Love Street - Lia Riley

Pepper Knight moved to Everland, Georgia, as step one in her plan for a successful legal career. But after this big-city gal's plans go awry, going home with her tail between her legs isn't an option. So when the town vet-and her sexy new neighbor-offers Pepper a temporary dog-walking job, she jumps at the chance. No one needs to know that man's best friend is her worst nightmare . . . or that Everland's hot animal whisperer leaves her panting.

The last thing Rhett Valentine wants is to be the center of small-town gossip. After his first love left him at the altar, he's been there, done that. These days, life is simple, just the way he likes it. But sultry southern nights get complicated once sparks fly between him and the knockout next door. When she proposes a sexy, secret fling-all the deliciousness and none of the prying neighbors-it seems too good to be true. And it is. Because Pepper's determined to leave Love Street, and when she goes, she just might take his heart with her . . . 

My thoughts:

I chose it because of the cover..what?! It's cute :D I make too many NG decisions based on cuteness when it comes to contemporary romance.

Pepper comes to a small town as a step in becoming a lawyer, but something goes wrong and she must stay in this small town. It's a cute town, a friendly gossiping town. Oh and the neighbour is a hottie. As for Pepper herself, she felt this need to take care of everyone, she was afraid to look like a failure and she is driven. She needs to chill.

Rhett the vet. Awww, I like a man who loves animals. He is hounded by the grannies of town to find a girlfriend ;) Haha, poor guy. He is a sweet guy.

They meet, they become friendly, they fall in lust. There is some drama in town. There are dogs. Treasure hunts and a good romance. Her sister shows up too and will find love in the next book, that will be interesting.

Conclusion:
A nice romance

Cover
Sweet

Kindle Edition, 368
Expected publication: April 25th 2017 by Forever
Everland #1
Contemporary romance
Netgalley

Carole's Monday Review: Skies Over Tomorrow - Constellation - Kelly B Johnson

Author: Kelly B Johnson

Title: Skies Over Tomorrow - Constellation

Genre: Sci-Fi & Short Stories

Pages: 286

Published: July 2004

Where I Got It: My Shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

The revised version of the entertaining and astute anthology. Preluding an epic adventure, six short stories highlight the Galactic Federation of Mars as the superpower of the future and showcase life under its rule, and together, reveal an adversity of the imagination with a looming alien invasion.

This is an anthology of six short stories about the future on Mars. For this review, I'll review each short story:

Sailing Home

This one follows Simone. She is ordered to kill this guy and his wife. She has a lot of internal conflicts especially when she finds something out. She is a soldier during the war, but she also is human and taking a life is still not easy for her. However, Burke is right...you gotta do what you are told to do especially during war. I loved the internal conflict tho and it really made me like Simone. This was a good intro into the world. 

5 stars

Alien Femme

This one follows Naomi who is a B human was created by Carmichael in his dead daughters imagine. B humans, at least from my understanding, are pretty much Androids who were created to be human slaves and workers. Naomi is an exception of sorts. I really liked Naomi. At the beginning, I was worried she was going to be weak and be "helpless" when she is separated from her love, but she is actually a badass, so yayy there. Now, I was really confused for the majority of this, but I was intrigued to learn and understand more. I especially want to learn more about B humans. Gah! I hated the ending...I must know what happens next!!!!!!!!

3 stars

Mars Conspiracy

This one mainly follows Felix and Wilkes. Poor Felix and Hoku. I just wanted them to be together. So sad. This was decent at the beginning until the end. The end was so good. I do want to learn more and see what happens next with these characters. I do feel like they are going to play a big role in the future. I do wish this had been a little shorter - it felt too long. 

3 stars.

The Ritual

This story follows Chiera and her gang. I had a hard time following this particular story. I wasn't a huge fan of Chiera...she annoyed me SO much. There was a lot of action going on, which I did enjoy, but the characters and story were meh to me. The ending was intriguing though. 

2 stars (the action-y bits added an extra star).

The Encounters

Now, this one follows Rehana, Vincent, and their crew. I liked Rehana and I am curious to learn more about her. There seemed to be a lot going on externally and in-between the lines. I was confused a lot of the time, but a good confused (if that makes sense). My confusion made me curious to want to know more and see what everything means for the characters. I wish it had been longer so I could get more a better understanding.

3 stars. 

Of Lords and Ladies

This one follows Lady Ayame. This country/society on Mars seems to be different than the other cultures on Mars. It felt more Japanese and more rigid. This society seems to be tougher and more strict on its people. Poor Lady Ayame. It was really sad, but it was really good. I do want to read more about this side of Mars. 

4 stars. 

**Prologue/Epilogue/Art**

First, the prologue was decent. It was a nice way to start. However, I really liked the epilogue and I feel that would've been a good intro to the short stories. Carmichael, I feel, is going to be the main baddie in future stories/books. 

Now..let's look at the art. The author provided some additional drawings at the end of the book. They are pretty good. Better than I can ever do, so I can't be a good judge on this aspect. They are basic and does a good job bringing to life some of the characters and technology of this futuristic world. 

Conclusion

In the end, this was a fun read. I liked the stories and they all showed interesting glimpses of the Mars society. I liked the first and the last stories the best. The rest were okay. I do encourage checking this out if you like Sci-Fi stories. After doing the math, the overall rating I shall give this is....3 stars. 

About Carole the Reviewer

What is there really to say? I am of course a lover of books, poetry, movies, plays, and music. Nothing is better than enjoying a cup of tea and immersing yourself in another world and forgetting about the world for just a little bit. My cat and chinchillas keep me entertained over here in Michigan (the mitten state of the USA). I'm game for any genre of book or movie. You can find me over at Carole Rae's Random Ramblings.