Spinning Time

Book Review

Title: Spinning Time

Author: D.F. Jones

Rating: ★★★★

Date Published: May 2, 2017

Publisher: Jones Media

Genre: Romance/ Sci-Fi

Page Count: 303

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Synopsis:

Spinning Time, a time travel romance by D. F. Jones 

1948, Burkett Falls 
Southern debutante, Julia Boatwright has everything a twenty-one-year-old desires, a wealthy family, close friends, and a handsome fiancé until she plunges into the deep pools of Burkett Falls trapped in a natural time portal that propels her seventy years into the future. 

Will Julia find a way home before it's too late? 

My Thoughts:

I was sent an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

D.F. Jones has become one of my favorite authors her novels are always so different and enjoyable.  I’m not a big fan of sci-fi, but I’m a sucker for romance so I thought I would give it a shot and I found myself not being able to put it down. Spinning time takes place in 1948 Burkett Falls and it follows Julia Boatwright! I found Julia to be a very likable character her bubbly attitude always made me smile and the fact that she was a feisty little thing when need be (she would probably have my head for calling her little) was just a plus! I always love a character that’s a sweetheart but has an attitude when needed. Julia’s love interest Phillip is so swoon worthy! The way he treats her and looks for her when she disappears is the kind of man I would want to be by my side.

Julia disappeared in the falls of Burkett after she accidentally slipped and a current took her. She ends up in some sort of time portal that takes her to present time Burkett Falls, to her luck she is found by Andy, Phillips grandson. While all this is occurring, we are also introduced to Ruben who is a time traveler that lives in Lunar City; his mission is to protect Julia! I really Liked Ruben, he was such a strong character and despite his feelings he always did what was in Julia’s best interested without thinking about himself. I think Jones did an amazing job writing this book the characters were complex and the way she described the time traveling machines and portals was phenomenal. It also showed how much research and time was put into the novel, but with that said I did feel a little lost once in a while when it involved teach talk. The way both of Julia’s worlds intertwine and come together was so well done! Jones wrote the perfect amount of romance mixed with sci-fi elements and a bit of action, she also threw some surprises my way that had me at the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and absolutely loved the ending! I can’t wait to read more from Jones. If you have yet to pick up her novels what are you waiting for.

SandraTheBookWorm

Emotions

Book Review

Title: Emotions

Author: Arnulfo Cantarero

Rating: ★★★★

Date Published: May 15, 2013

Genre: YA Sci-Fi 

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Synopsis:

Jason Ariaz is not your average 22 year old. He has been genetically and cybernatically enhanced but that’s only the beginning. He is an emotionless extraterrestrial born to human parents and living among us. Both him and his implanted thinking computer were damaged on landing and must go through life as less than what they really are. The purpose of their mission: to gain permanent emotions from the more primitive society that is Earth. If he is successful, he will be the first of his species to do so in nearly 200,000 years.

Hope lies in the fact that he is capable of emotional episodes and he has been able to forge true friendships. However, he does have the chance of completing his mission if he can truly care for Ariel, the closest human in his life. But he better know his heart soon. Their lives are in danger of ending tonight, unless he can recover what his species has lost.

My Thoughts:

I was sent an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever wondered how it would be if we couldn't feel emotions. Our main character Jason doesn't have to wonder, because since the day he was born he has not been able to feel anything.  Jason as we learn in the beginning of the book is an emotionless extraterrestrial who was born to human parents after himself and his companion a computer he has implanted within himself were damaged on the way to Earth; all that Jason and computer recall is that their mission is to gain emotions, if he does he will be the first in his species to have permanent emotions in two hundred thousand years.

This is my first sci-fi read and I have to say I really enjoyed it and I felt that the romance was very minimal in this book, which is very rare in a YA book s. I really enjoyed the concept of the story and thought the author executed it very well. It's hard to imagine not being able to feel anything, but Arnulfo made sure the main characters was unmoved no matter what happened, there was some moments in the book that I just wanted to smack Jason in hopes he would have an emotional episode, yes there is some-times and places where Jason can have an emotional episode which is basically a taste of a certain emotion, but it doesn't last very long. I really liked all the characters in this book! I really enjoyed seeing their progress from teens to young adults and see all the character development they go through. There was only one thing that made give this book four stars instead of five and that was that at moments I felt that there was a big timeline jump from one scene to another and it left me a little confused, but no, this did not stop me from enjoying the book as a whole; with that said I have to say this book has a little of everything sci-fi, adventure, action, humor, romance and many other things. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a new sci-fi read with a very unique premise.  Also I really liked the ending it left me wondering what is going to come next. 

-SandraTheBookWorm

Timesurfers

Book Review

Title: Timesurfers

Author: Rhonda Sermon

Rating: ★★★★★

Date Published: September 13, 2015 

Publisher: K&R Books

Page Count: 293

Genre: YA Fantasy

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Synopsis:

"You’ve misunderstood. It’s not a choice. It’s a destiny." 

When fifteen year old Cate accidentally brings a dead cheerleader back to life her connection to the secretive Timesurfers is revealed. The Timesurfers travel through time and battle the powerful dark forces intent on manipulating history. Cate must discover her powers, choose a side and end a centuries old war. No pressure

My Thoughts:

I was sent a copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Cate has a normal life, well as normal as it can get; until one day after school something seems a miss. That is when Cate notices everyone seems to be frozen except three strangers walking towards her and her bus; soon after that day she finds out that they are Timesurfers and that she is one of them. Cate has to make a very difficult choice about who she will be joining the good Timesurfers who keep the past from being changed or the bad ones, who change the past so it will benefit them in the future.

WOW! This novel took me on an amazing ride! I fell in love with Rhonda's writing, the way she wrote her characters made me fall in love with every single one even the villains. I really liked how our main character Cate adjusted to the news and the changes in her life and her character development was superb. Let’s take a moment to admire the men in this novel gosh Austin and Jonah are such AMAZING characters they have me so conflicted, I don't know who I love more. Rhonda hit me with many twist throughout the novel and I must admit I didn't see any of them coming. This book is so different from any other time travel book I've read, the rules Rhonda set in place for time travelers and the way they travel is what makes the book stand out and just so unique. I loved every second of this book and recommend it to anyone who is looking for a new fun read. 

-SandraTheBookWorm

The Children Of Darkness

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Synopsis:

"But what are we without dreams?"

A thousand years ago the Darkness came-a terrible time of violence, fear, and social collapse when technology ran rampant. But the vicars of the Temple of Light brought peace, ushering in an era of blessed simplicity. For ten centuries they have kept the madness at bay with "temple magic," and by eliminating forever the rush of progress that nearly caused the destruction of everything. ~ Childhood friends, Orah and Nathaniel, have always lived in the tiny village of Little Pond, longing for more from life but unwilling to challenge the rigid status quo. When their friend Thomas returns from the Temple after his "teaching"-the secret coming-of-age ritual that binds young men and women eternally to the Light-they barely recognize the broken and brooding young man the boy has become. Then when Orah is summoned as well, Nathaniel follows in a foolhardy attempt to save her. ~ In the prisons of Temple City, they discover a terrible secret that launches the three on a journey to find the forbidden keep, placing their lives in jeopardy, for a truth from the past awaits that threatens the foundation of the Temple. If they reveal that truth, they might once again release the potential of their people. ~ Yet they would also incur the Temple's wrath as it is written: "If there comes among you a prophet saying, 'Let us return to the darkness,' you shall stone him, because he has sought to thrust you away from the Light.

connect with David Litwack

The author was very kind and answered some questions so my followers and fellow bookworms could get to know him a little better. Thank you so much!

What is your average writing day like? Do you have any strange writing habits?

I aim for two sessions a day of two hours each, but it varies with the stage of a novel. First drafts are hard, and I might go days without writing, and then get inspired and do three sessions in a day. Editing is different. I’ll sometimes edit ten hours a day, especially in later drafts and when a deadline is looming.

Do you write by hand or on a computer?

In my youth, I used a typewriter, carbon paper and white-out (for those who remember). Thank goodness, never again. With my constant need to revise and my poor typing skills, it’s the word processor for me.

Do you plot your books completely before hand or do you let your imagination flow whilst in the writing process?

I usually conceive of a new book as a series of images and scenes, daydreaming about them while I finish work on the prior novel. I maintain a notes file for the new novel and do a rough draft of these scenes—a  very rough draft, what some people call "scaffolding" or “riff writing” like improvisation in jazz. The file can get pretty chaotic. Every now and then I make a feeble attempt to organize it (when I’m finishing up a novel, I try to avoid distractions and stay focused on getting it out to the publisher). By the time I’m ready to start the new novel, I usually have about 20,000 words of loosely connected prose—20-25% of the eventual novel but probably 80% of its essence. I take a couple of months to read, edit and organize that file into a dense plot outline. Then I start a new file from scratch, cutting and pasting prose as appropriate.

It’s a messy process in the early going, but unlike those who start with a more organized outline, I need that amount of writing to get to know the characters and live in the story.

How long did it take to get from the ideas stage of the Seekers series, to the publication of all three books?

The Seeker series started out as a standalone novel called There Comes a Prophet. The initial idea came to me about eight years ago, and it was published in 2011. After producing two other novels, I decided at the urging of readers to go back and turn this standalone dystopian story into a trilogy. Prophet became The Children of Darkness(with a changed title, cover and publisher) and I’ve just published the second book, The Stuff of Stars. I’m hard at work on the third and final offering, to be called The Light of Reason.

Did you suffer from writer's block at any stage? How did you overcome it?

I sometimes think writer’s block is just another way of saying that writing a novel is really hard. I try to keep writing, even if I think it’s going poorly. Then I see how it looks the next day. I remind myself that I can always revise or just throw it away. Nothing’s worse than staring at a blank page.

Long walks are another good way to get the creative juices going. Whatever the case, I try to avoid just sitting there and staring at the screen. Write, read or go for a walk.

How did you come up with the name(s) for your lead character(s)?

Names matter, especially for a SciFi/Fantasy writer building new worlds. The names need to be consistent and reflect that culture. For the Seekers trilogy, where the people have been forcibly returned to something like our 15th century, I found the passenger manifest for the Mayflower, and borrowed names, mixing up first and last names to get ones like Nathaniel Rush or Thomas Bradford. All except for Orah. I wanted her to be different, a rebellious throwback to an earlier time. So rather than picking from the Anglo-Saxon, I chose a name with Hebrew roots. As an added subtlety, the name Orah means light.

Did you get anyone in particular to read your work before sending it to the publisher i.e. family member, friend etc.?

My wife reads everything I write once I get to a middling draft. In addition, for a number of years I belonged to a writing group. Then the final line of defense is an independent editor.

What is one thing that no-one would usually know about you?

I started writing seriously when I was seventeen and continued through most of my twenties. When career and family pursuits made writing difficult, I basically gave up, frustrated with my lack of progress. Thirty years later, with career done and family grown, I had no intention of writing again. But once I had time to daydream, the ideas started to flow. Now, in this second stage of my life, I’ve published four books and am hard at work on a fifth.

What other bloggers are saying about The Children of Darkness

A tightly executed first fantasy installment that champions the exploratory spirit." -- Kirkus Reviews
"The plot unfolds easily, swiftly, and never lets the readers' attention wane... After reading this one, it will be a real hardship to have to wait to see what happens next." -- Feathered Quill Book Reviews

"...a fantastic tale of a world that seeks a utopian existence, well ordered, safe and fair for everyone... also an adventure, a coming-of-age story of three young people as they become the seekers, travelers in search of a hidden treasure - in this case, a treasure of knowledge and answers... a tale of futuristic probabilities... on a par with Huxley's Brave New World." -- Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

"The quality of its intelligence, imagination, and prose raises The Children of Darkness to the level of literature." -- Awesome Indies

"...a solid fantasy-dystopian offering, one that is not merely written by some author looking for a middling entry to the genre, but excellently crafted by an artist looking to make his mark... A timely novel beautiful in the simplicity of its writing and elegant in its underlying complexity." -- Eduardo Aduna for Readers' Favorite

"I found the world-building surrounding the people of the Ponds so descriptive that I was transported to their homes and way of life, and when the trio embarked on their journey, I could clearly picture them every step of the way. If you're looking for a classic fantasy quest wrapped in a fascinating, dark archaic world, then this novel will not disappoint you." -- K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

-SandraTheBookWorm

Übermensch Release Day

(For Release on October 5^th, 2015)

Übermensch

By: Mathew Babaoye

From new author Mathew Babaoye, comes a science fiction debut set in a far future dystopian world, where the natural is artificial, the unreal is real, and one is either Master, or slave…

________________

TO SERVE IS ALL

The world is vast, a tapestry of sea and land and sky, representing resource, wealth, and almost endless possibility.

But the Masters would not share, and split the world into Domains, one for each of them, to do whatever they would with the land allotted, each section a realm of inviolate rule.

And, as for the rest of us…

We serve…

Gladly.

________________

Ubermesnch is the diary of a young posthuman, and a twisted coming of age story. Grand in scope, meticulous in detail, and a staggering work of imagination, experience it from the start, and learn the ways of service…

About the Author

Mathew Babaoye is a writer.

www.mathewbabaoye.com

Buy Me: Amazon

Add Me On Goodreads: Übermensch

Excerpt:

               I woke up ready to serve.…

Eyes blink repeatedly.

The oval cell is white and bare.

I am standing.

Memory slowly blooms…

“Attend,” orders a disembodied voice.

A portal irises open.

I step through, into a dim dark hall twinkling with floating motes of pale green luminescence.

Beneath: a blue glow forms, moving swiftly forward in a line…

I follow it.

Down the hall, and through another portal -

- into another white cell.

Turning…  I see the portal iris shut.

Successive waves of blue light pulse from floor to ceiling.

Brightness above.

I pass up and outside.

Wind blows soil-fragrance; puffy white clouds are arrayed in geometrically perfect lines across azure sky, rows of tended barley lined perpendicular below, blue leading forward through, towards a barn.

… something about this place is not quite right.

I pass by rows of barley, where -

Everything changes.

Wind howls at night on a dark city street, a lone streetlamp shining in the distance.

Something about this place is not quite right.

The blue leads me towards the light, passing by shuttered tenements…

… then turns, down a dark alley.

A menacing growl issues from the end.

I head towards it, where -

Everything changes.

A vast white square, surrounded by dark sky purpling, and breeze of thin air…

I turn.

Twelve identical beings - tall, black robed, grey-skinned, crowned with thorns - stand at the edge. In unison: they turn, eyes flashing.

“You will serve me.”

A shiver runs down the spine…

Pleasurable.

“I will serve.”

Each points to their feet.

“Kneel before me.”

I hesitate… then walk to the nearest.

And kneel.

I stand and walk to the next.

And kneel.

I stand and -

Overlapping laughter.

“The tweaks in your design are effective. You are different.”

All vanish - but one.

Something inside me… settles.

I walk before it.

And kneel.

“Rise.”

I stand.

It turns away, looking beyond the edge again.

I wait.

After a time: “what do you see?”

I come to stand beside it, looking beyond the… roof, of the Tower, across a landscape of mist, kilometers below. Far afield, where mist thins, are the silhouettes of twisted trees, the horizon glimmering shoreline, pre-dawn a pink blush.

“I see land.”

It frowns. “I am the Master. You see my Domain.”

I consider.

Yes, the Master owns. The Master owns the land. The Master owns the Tower.

The Master owns me.

“I did not understand the question,” I clarify. “Yes, I see your Domain.”

The Master looks at me intently. “What do YOU own?”

Anxiety. “I am not the Master. I do not own.”

“Relax.”

I relax.

The Master nods. “Certain emotional responses are to be expected, given your design.” A pause. “And my own. Hm.”

It walks from the edge, humming distractedly.

I follow.

A low thrumming…

We rise upon an upwelling white platform, tiers of white coming after, and white drips upward, silvering into bright screens, which float into wide orbit around a center-portal-ascending techno-throne…

… and all the rising smoothly stops.

The Master sits upon the throne.

I kneel. “Master.”

“Rise.”

I do so.

“You are as I hoped, strong and quick-thinking. But…” Grey lips purse. “I would prefer you to call me by my name.”

“What is your name?”

The Master smiles. “My name is Gabriel.”

“Yes, Master Gabriel.”

“You will be called Id.”

“Yes, Master Gabriel.”

The Master frowns. “Are you being impertinent?”

“Never!”

Still frowning. “The Tower is my home, and the place you will inhabit, at my will. Memories and knowledge of my Domain are implanted in you, but a tour by our sAI node will demonstrate that it took.”

I am suddenly standing meters back, bright-orbiting screens ahead, obscuring...

“Id,” calls a feminine voice.

I turn.

By the lowest tier, dawn warming red, floats a golden sphere…

“Let us begin.”

-SandraTheBookWorm

I Heart Robot

Book Review

Title: I Heart Robot

Author: Suzanne Van Rooyen

Rating ★★★★★

Page Count: 304

Date Published: March 31, 2015

Publisher: Month9Books

Genre: YA Sci-Fi 

Perspective: Duo Quinn & Tyri

Meet the Author: Suzanne Van Rooyen

Buy Me: Amazon, B&N, Book Depository

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Tyri wants to be a musician and wants to be with someone who won't belittle her musical aspirations.

Q-I-99 aka 'Quinn' lives in a scrap metal sanctuary with other rogue droids. While some use violence to make their voices heard, demanding equal rights for AI enhanced robots, Quinn just wants a moment on stage with his violin to show the humans that androids like him have more to offer than their processing power.

Tyri and Quinn's worlds collide when they're accepted by the Baldur Junior Philharmonic Orchestra. As the rift between robots and humans deepens, Tyri and Quinn's love of music brings them closer together, making Tyri question where her loyalties lie and Quinn question his place in the world. With the city on the brink of civil war, Tyri and Quinn make a shocking discovery that turns their world inside out. Will their passion for music be enough to hold them together while everything else crumbles down around them, or will the truth of who they are tear them apart?



My Thoughts:

The author and publisher Month9Books were kind enough to provide me with an E-copy in exchange for an honest review. I simply adored this book!! It made me cry tears of joy and sadness at the same time. It was such a beautiful read.

Quinn and Tyri had the same passion for music and they have been accepted to the Baldur Junior Philharmonic Orchestra, but that is where their similarities end. Quinn is a rogue robot whose whole life revolves around music and trying to be more human in a world where robots are fighting to be treated as equals. I really loved Quinn and his character development; he was such a sweetie and I loved how he wanted to fix the relationship between robots and humans peacefully. Tyri is your regular teenager, who just wants her mother to understand how important music is to her. Tyri is such a strong character; I loved how she never took crap from her boyfriend and how she saw the robots as more than just electronics. 

This book was written so beautifully, the world building and character development was just amazing! I loved it so much! The twists in this book caught me by surprise; I just loved how it kept me guessing.  I didn't want this book to end! When it did, I kept flipping the pages looking for more, but that ending, oh; that ending brought me to tears it was just perfect! I'm keeping my fingers crossed in hopes for a sequel. If you haven't picked this book up yet, I highly recommend you do! I love this book so much!!! 

-SandraTheBookWorm