"The Bunker Diary" by Kevin Brooks

The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brooks is about six people who are taken and put in an underground bunker.  Why?  They do not know.  It is told by a young boy who was the first to be put in the bunker.  I found it interesting how they all got along and as time went by, their reactions to their circumstances.  This is a fast YA read that I enjoyed.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"The Music Box" by T. Davis Bunn

The Music Box by T. Davis Bunn is about a widower (Carlson) and his 8^th grade daughter (Melissa) who move to start a new life in a small hill country town.  Angie, a childless, lonely widow, who is the girl’s eighth grade school teacher, is still grieving the loss of her husband.  This is Christian fiction, so I give you one guess as to what happens.  Both Carlson and Angie are guarded and slowly learn to open up with others and share themselves.

This is a short book about grieving and moving on, with the hope that life will get better.  It is predictable from the start and I did not care for it.  The only reason I read it was because it was my husband’s book so wanted to read it before giving it away.  We will not miss it!  (2 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline is GREAT--We Both Liked It!

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is an amazing YA book set in 2044.  The world has so many problems that people spend most of their time online in a virtual world called OASIS.  The main character is a high school boy named Wade who participates in a contest in OASIS that its originator made up before he died.  The winner gets his wealth because he has no family to leave it to.  Wade lives with his aunt who doesn’t really care about him  in her trailer but has a secret hiding place in an abandoned van buried under a heap of cars not too far away.  He lives like a hermit, attending school online and his only friend is in the virtual world.  The story is told by him.  The book would have been good with just the online contest, but when a huge corporation plays too in the hopes of gaining control of the OASIS to use for their own profit, the stakes go up and so does the suspense.  Wade and his online friends become targets!

I am late to the party on this one, but so glad I finally read it!  I was totally immersed in this amazing book!  It flips back and forth between the virtual world and the adventure of trying to win the contest by being the first to find the hidden egg and the real world where Wade goes on a real life adventure in order to win the game.  There is the mystery surrounding the clues on the hunt as well as the mystery of who the people are behind the avatars.  It was great to see how Wade changed throughout the book and became a caring person with real friends!  This is a fun read and I can only imagine how much fun the author had writing it!  The themes in this book are honor, friendship, working together, and making the world a better place.  Anyone who appreciates video games and 1980 pop culture would enjoy this book too as it is masterfully woven into the plot.  This is a page turner for me—LOVED IT!      
(Karen's review, 5 stars) I even did a video review of this one!  https://youtu.be/YX1TCnurYgU

Gerard's review posted 8/30/2011, 5 stars:
WOW! Ready Player One is about a young man named Wade who spends all of his time in OASIS, a site on a computer that lets you escape from your real life. He wants to win the ultimate prize, a massive fortune and power to the person who can find the egg by solving the puzzles along the way. To do this, he will have to leave OASIS for a time and enter the real world. Can he do it? Can he win the ultimate prize? I liked this book a lot—not one of my favorites though. Don't know why it was classed as a “sizzler” at the library, but it was. I think it would appeal more to guys than women.

Joining Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop this week for the book review topic.

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Where They Found Her" by Kimberly McCreight

Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight is like a roller coaster ride! All the characters were very believable. A body of a newborn is found near a college in a wooded area. Molly is called by her boss to report on this for the town's local paper. She is trying to get over the loss of her own baby. It is told by women in this small town who have events in their lives that are better kept hidden but do connect them.

I Loved this book! I also liked Constructing Amelia by this author. She is two for two.
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!

"Red Rising" by Pierce Brown

Red Rising by Pierce Brown is a YA book about life on Mars but with a dystopian flavor.  The main character, Darrow, works in the mines and is a Red.  He is pretty happy with his life, has a wife and is close to his family.  His father was hung though and when he realizes the Reds are really slaves for the Golds, he becomes bitter.  His wife shows him a better place and sings a song that seals her death.  Darrow, is "chosen" to infiltrate the Golds by having surgery to make him appear more like them and make him stronger too so he can change things and free the Reds.

I read it because it's my husband said it's kind of a combination between The Hunger Games and Ender's Game which I loved.  The first half of the book seemed to drag along for me and the second half is all the test games for determining who will get positions of power among the Golds.  I felt the character development was shallow but liked the action part of this book.  To me this book seemed like a takeoff of The Hunger Games but it fell way short in my opinion.  I think guys would like this one more than women. This is the first of a series, but I won't be reading the rest of these.
(Karen's review 4/4/15, 3 stars)

Red Rising by Pierce Brown is a science fiction book that centers on a young man named Darrow on Mars.  He is a Red and works for the greater good.  His wife finds out that the Reds are really slaves to the Gold. When Darrow's wife is killed, he vows revenge on the Gold by becoming a Gold himself to bring them down.

Entertainment Weekly gave this book an A+ and they are spot on!  Think Enders Game and Hunger Games combined.  This is book one of three and I highly recommend it!
(Gerard's review posted 2/14/14, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!