Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books I Enjoyed That Weren't My Typical Genres or Were Out of My Comfort Zone

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful The Broke and the Bookish !



1 and 2: Cast of Shadows by Kevin Guilfoile, and Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland

 

These are both genre-defying novels, a little bit science fiction, a little bit fantasy, a little bit thriller, and both unlike anything I have read before or since.

3: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

I don't typically read much science fiction, but my dad and brother both told me I would love this book, and they were right.

4, 5, and 6: Pines, Wayward, and The Last Town by Blake Crouch

These were three more science fiction books that I absolutely devoured. I had gone in expecting them to be more mystery/thriller, but was pleasantly surprised by just how much I loved the deviation into science fiction territory.

7: What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe

I am not a science person, and I am especially not a math person. But this book, with all its physics and numbers, was entertaining, informative, and sometimes laugh out loud funny.

8: Death Cloud (Sherlock Holmes: The Legend Begins) by Andrew Lane

This one may come as a surprise on the list, as if you know me you know how much I love Sherlock Holmes. But I rarely read any prequels to the original canon, as one of my favorite parts of the Holmes stories is his friendship with Dr. Watson. This book was a good read though, and I plan to pick up the rest of the series someday.

9: Bones and All by Camille DeAngelis

While I enjoy horror novels, I normally avoid books that have a "squick" factor, in this case cannibalism. But this book was really well-written, and DeAngelis managed to make the main character likeable, sympathetic, and someone to root for.

10: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

This is way outside my usual reads, in terms of being so strongly science fiction, but it is my brother's favorite book of all-time, so I had to read it. I ended up finding it a really good read.

Shock and Awe (Sidewinders Book 1) by Abigail Roux

So first, the review, of Shock and Awe by Abigail Roux:

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not effect my opinion of the book or my review.

Shock and Awe is the first in the Sidewinder spinoff series,  spun off from the Cut and Run series, also by Abigail Roux (with earlier books co-written with Madeline Urban). I have not read the Cut and Run series yet, though I definitely want to after reading this book! And even though I didn't have a connection to the characters from earlier books in the original series, it didn't matter. I loved this book  anyway.

Shock and Awe follows the story of Nick and Kelly, best friends who served on the same Marine Force Recon Team for years. Kelly was shot in a previous Cut and Run book, and Nick has taken time off to help him as he heals. But Kelly is interested in far more than just resting up, and what originally starts as curiosity turns into something far deeper than either of them could have imagined.

This is a sweet, sexy m/m romance, with hints of the battle action and police work I imagine are more prevalent in the Cut and Run books. Kelly and Nick both feel likable and real, and Roux is very good at making readers feel their emotional and physical connection. This is definitely not a PG read, both because of language and sexual situations. These two men are hot, hot for each other, and hot together, but its their emotional bond that shines through the most.

The Passenger by Lisa Lutz

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. This did not effect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

I have been a fan of Lisa Lutz ever since her first Spellman Files book. When I heard she was coming out with a psychological thriller, one of my all-time favorite genres, I could not have been more excited. The Passenger did not disappoint.

When readers first meet their narrator, her name is Tanya Dubois, and her husband is lying dead at the foot of the stairs. Tanya chooses to change her identity and run, for reasons that gradually become clearer. Along the way, she meets Blue, who seems to be a kindred spirit, albeit one with her own deep dark secrets.

But the past is near impossible to leave behind, and Tanya struggles to know who to trust and where to turn. No matter where she runs, no matter who she becomes, something from her past refuses to let her go.

One of the best things about this book is how Lutz builds up suspense. The book is so tense, and so full of twists and turns, that reading it the time flies by. You simply cannot put it down. You have to know what "Tanya"'s secret is, and what will happen next. Lutz is an expert at dropping tantalizing hints and clues, just enough to keep a reader's rapt attention without giving too much away. There was one section of the book that actually made me gasp out loud, which to me is the mark of an especially good thriller.

I really hope that this isn't Lutz's last psychological thriller. She is an exceptionally talented writer, and her foray into this new genre has produced a great read.

Mix & Match ll Love-A-Thon 2016

One of my hobbies, outside of reading, is making graphics (especially icons) and fanvideos. So for today, I made some icons of book covers (from books I've talked about previously on this blog). Please feel free to take any for your own personal use, just please give credit :)

These are older, but these are two book trailers I've made, one for Thirteen Reasons Why, and one for And Then There Were None.

Thirteen Reasons Why:
    

And Then There Were None:

And Then There Were None

Love-a-Thon Introduction!

This is my first time participating in the Love-a-Thon, and I am so excited!

Here is a little bit more about me. I look forward to getting to know more about all of you!

1) What's your name?

Becca

2) Where in the world are you blogging from?

USA

3) How did you get into blogging in the first place?

I started keeping a personal journal on Livejournal, and realized that I really wanted a place where I could talk all books, all the time. I discovered this wonderful community and have loved being a part of it ever since!

4) How did you come up with your blog name?

It's a play on one of my favorite books, The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King-I wanted to make sure I got the word book in there somewhere ;) It's a non-canon Sherlock Holmes story, and I love Sherlock Holmes. When I came up with it, it just felt right, and I really liked the way it sounded.

5) What genre do you read and review the most on your blog?

Definitely mysteries-mysteries are by far my favorite genre. Included in this would be true crime and psychological thrillers as well. These are predominantly what I read.

6) What other types of posts do you do on your blog, apart from review?

I do themed book posts-I currently have a Five Friday Alphabet Series that is ongoing. I also do author interviews, and participate in Top Ten Tuesdays.

7) Best blogging experience so far?

This would have to be getting to interview one of my all-time favorite authors, Will Lavender. It was definitely one of those surreal amazing moments.

8) Favorite thing about the blogging community?

The blogging community has been so kind and welcoming, it's really been such a great experience. I've really enjoyed getting to talk books with fellow book lovers, as well as getting some new recommendations to add to my TBR list.


9) Name the 5 books you're most excited for this 2016!

It's so hard to pick just 5! I will go with books that came out/are coming out in 2016 that I haven't gotten to yet:

  

10) Name the 5 books you want to read this 2016 that you didn't get to in previous years.

Again, I'm terrible at picking just 5, but I will go with:

 

11) What's an underrated book or series that you think everyone should read?

These two books are genius-they are incredibly clever, creepy, well-plotted mystery thrillers that expertly tie in literary theory and psychology. 

12) Which book boy or girl would be your book BFF?

Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice

13) Which book boy or girl would be your book boyfriend/girlfriend?

Peeta Mellark, The Hunger Games series

14) Who would you recruit for your apocalypse squad? (5 characters max)

Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games series), Dimitri Belikov (The Vampire Academy series), Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), Flavia de Luce (Flavia de Luce series), Sherlock Holmes

15) Apart from reading, what are your other hobbies and interests?

I love traveling, writing, making fan videos, going to concerts, going to museums, going to sports events, making graphics, watching TV and movies, snuggling with my dog, seeing family and friends, meditating, coloring, and doing crossword puzzles. I'm also a Pre-K teacher and a babysitter and tutor, so I work with kids a lot. I love spending time with my family and friends as well.

16) Apart from book shopping, what else do you like shopping for?

Clothes and shoes, DVDs and CDs, Funko Pops and blind boxes, little things for my apartment

17) At a party, the DJ suddenly changes the song-and it's your song. What song would be playing?

All We Are by Matt Nathanson-I have some of the lyrics from that song tattooed on my shoulder.

18) Pick out either a book you want turned into a film/tv show, or a film/tv show you want turned into a book. 

I would love to have The Westing Game adapted into a miniseries. It was done as a movie once, but that version no longer seems to be available anywhere, and I would love to see a modern take on it.

19) What would your dream library look like?

I would want it to be giant, so it could also be my house. It would have the world's biggest mystery section, tons of comfy couches, hammocks, and chairs to curl up in, and a cafe where I could order whatever food and drink I wanted where I read. There would be lots of cozy blankets, and my dog would be able to sit with me on any of the furniture. And I would want rolling ladders-I've always wanted those!

20) Author you want to meet and sit down to tea with?

Agatha Christie! She's my favorite author of all time.

And to end, here is a picture of my dog Sherlock, wearing a Chanukah sweater:

Death of a Nurse by M.C. Beaton (Including Q&A and Giveaway!)

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. This did not effect my opinion of the book or my review.

In the 31st entry in the Hamish Macbeth mystery series, Hamish encounters, as the title suggests, the body of a nurse, who has been mysteriously murdered. But this is no straightforward crime. As other murders occur, and suspects pile up, Hamish begins to realize he is in the middle of a tangled web of greed and jealousy. He must also navigate his way through a complicated police hierarchy that seems to be becoming a little too every man for himself,, a situation that does not sit well with Hamish.

One of my favorite things about this book was the pacing. In lesser hands, the brisk speed of events could have come across as overwhelming, rushed, or even amateurish. But Beaton expertly navigates events at a fast clip, in a way that keeps the reader's attention and prevents them from ever being confused or bored. There is always something happening, some new lead to follow up on, or some new clue to unravel.

If you are looking for a cozy mystery packed with unique characters, and lots of twists and turns, this is definitely a book you want to look into.

And in fact, you can win a copy of the book from the publisher! Just enter the giveaway below. It's open to US residents only, and the winner will need to provide a mailing address to receive their prize. Winners must be over 18 or have a parent or legal guardian's permission to enter.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


I was also lucky enough to be able to conduct a Q&A with the author herself, M.C. Beaton!

 1) Scotland is almost a character in itself in your books. How does this setting influence your writing choices?

I find the geographical background of my books shapes the character of the detective. Hamish Macbeth, for example, is a Highlander.

2) How do you develop your mysteries and their solutions? Do you start with a murderer and victim in mind right away, and plant the clues, or do the clues lead you to a solution?

I present a skeleton plot to a publisher and then flesh it out with clues. Yes, I start with  murder in mind, rather than a murderer.

3) How did you come up with the character of Hamish Macbeth?

Hamish Macbeth was born on Fifth Avenue in New York. I had been on a fishing holiday in Sutherland and was full of ideas for a plot. My editor, Hope Dellon, asked for the name of my detective and I said Hamish Macbeth off the top of my head. The character is based on combination of two Highlanders I knew.

4)  What was your favorite book when you were a child? When you were a teenager? And now?

My favourite book as a child was The White Company by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. As a teenager, any Lord Peter Wimsey detective story by Dorothy Sayers. Now, too many favorites to list.


5) Are there any authors you admire or that are particular favorites?

 But particular favorites are Alexander McCall Smith, John Le Carre, Charles Cumming,  Josephine Tey, Eric Ambler, Nicholas Blake and Gladys Mitchell.

The Lies We Tell by Jamie Holland

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not effect my opinion of the book or my review.

In The Lies We Tell, Holland deftly explores the heady topics of loss, grief, truth, and lies.

Set in 1974, Martie and Blaire have just lost their father, and their mother has moved them to Wisconsin for a fresh start. Martie is obsessed with the symptoms of a heart attack (what her mother told her her father died from), as well as the case of two sisters who have gone missing from what used to be Martie's hometown. Blaire, the older sister, is acting out, their mother is evasive and defensive, and Martie fears things will never be the same again.

So she searches for the truth, about what really happened to their family. But as she begins to find out more and more, she realizes that the truth may truly be what finally breaks her.

I read this book in less than a day. The writing style is simple and flows well, and Holland has a deft touch for getting into the head of thirteen year old Martie and making her feel real to the readers. It's a gripping story as well. I had to keep reading not only to find out the truth, but to find out if Martie and her family would be okay, where they would end up in life.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, well-written read that tugs on your emotions and makes you think.