Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Posted by Anonymous

Reviewed by: Elia Juarez

What I Read: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Ever since her parents died, 17-year old Emmerson can see ghosts just about everywhere she goes. The problem is, no one believes her, and her older brother has sent her to psychiatrists, psychologists, and hospitals trying to “help” her but the only thing that seems to help is heavy doses of medication that leave Emmerson feeling like a zombie. As a last ditch hope, Emmerson’s brother hires a man from an organization known as “Hourglass,” which claims to be experts in this sort of thing. That’s when Emmerson begins to the dangerous truth about what she’s really seeing, what she really is, and why this is all happening to her. 

What I Thought: Though it has an interesting premise and includes elements of both fantasy and science-fiction, this is pretty typical teen fare. Everyone is impossibly beautiful, impossibly rich and impossibly brilliant (even though none of them are even old enough to legally drink yet) and of course, there’s a kind of love triangle that starts to emerge by the end.

However, this is part of a series, and because of that, lots of strings are left loose, and frankly some of what happens here makes very little sense. Still, I want to give it the benefit of the doubt BECAUSE it is only book 1 of 3 and I am hoping a lot of my unanswered questions get answered before the series is over (book 2 is Timepiece and book 3 is Infinityglass). I did like the uniqueness of the premise, but too many characters seemed one dimensional. And the time travel elements just sort of seem scientifically unsound.

Readalikes: Possess by Gretchen McNeil

Or look this book up on NoveList!

Patron Picks! Summer Reading 2016 - Week 6

Patron Picks! Summer Reading 2016 - Week 6

Posted by Anonymous

Wow! We have a bumper crop of new reviews for the last week of the 2016 Summer Reading Program! Thanks to everyone for sending in their reviews. We will contact the winner of the last $10 gift card later this week. 

Here are the last patron reviews of SRP 2016!

Reviewed By: Mary H.
What I Read: Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: Based in Seattle, about a mom dealing with a nervous breakdown. Very funny read.

Reviewed By: Jeanette W.
What I Read: The Sackett Brand by Louis L'Amour
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: What a great book! Tell Sackett is heading west with his new bride when he is attacked, his wife murdered, and his outfit burned. He is a hunted man as he sets out to find the man who killed his wife. I love that this is a clean book with no foul language or sex. I for sure want to read more about the Sacketts.

Reviewed By: Linda P.
What I Read: Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: I enjoyed this book. It was a good mystery. I can't imagine what I would do if my child could not be found in the chaos of a shooting.

Reviewed By: Linda P.
What I Read: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: At first you think Ove is just an old, cranky, man who complains about everything and everyone, but by the end of the book you will wish that you could be more like Ove.

Reviewed By: Linda P.
What I Read: All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: I enjoyed this book but when I was nearing the end I couldn't help feel a sense of relief to have finished the book.

Reviewed By: Tom B.
What I Read: The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: This book was laugh out loud funny. By going on a journey through the main historical events of the 20th century, Allan Karlsson has certainly lived an eventful, out of the ordinary, crazy life.

Reviewed By: Tom B.
What I Read: The Smoke Is Rising by Mahesh Rao
What I Thought: I was disappointed with this. I didn't think this went together as a novel. The parts telling the story of a few main characters were fragmented, but well written. But the parts that were involved with the local 'politics' were tedious.

Reviewed By: Joann B.
What I Read: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: I think it's interesting that the main character, Rachel, challenges us to think about how much we assume about--and pre-judge--other people based on our limited knowledge of them. To feel pity, disgust, frustration, compassion, and so much more for one character is a rare thing.

Reviewed By: Joann B.
What I Read: The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought:  I found this book superficial and, at times, even boring.

Reviewed By: Joann B.
What I Read: All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: I found it to be jumpy and often disjointed. I am not a fan of the current trend of devoting one chapter to one character and the next to another and flipping back and forth.

Reviewed By: Joann B.
What I Read: Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought:  It was a good book but, I found the orphan trains to be an interesting and horrifying time in our history.

Reviewed By: Sue H.
What I Read: Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: I loved this book! It gave me a lot of information that I did not know.

Reviewed By: Sue H.
What I Read: The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: This is a great book. It is one of those that make a person ponder what they would do in such a situation.

Reviewed By: Deb D.
What I Read: Illegal: Life and Death in Arizona's Immigration War Zone by Terry Greene Stirling
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: This book was written in 2010. I found it interesting that the immigration debate is still going on now in Arizona. It clearly showed the struggles of the people on both sides of the story. It was a very personal book because the stories were about real people who were interviewed by the writer. It shared stories about the lives of people in Mexico, crossing the border, their stays in Phoenix and Arizona and the return home by some either by choice or deportation.

Reviewed By: Wendy P.
What I Read: Hidden Talent by Blanca D'Arc
What I Thought: In this Sci-fi romance life changes drastically for the main character when she is found hidden in a colony of alien horse trainers. Psychic abilities are unleashed and desires are unbelievable in this alien culture.

Reviewed By: Tammy T.
What I Read: 39 Clues: Nowhere to Run by Jude Watson
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: Just when Dan and Amy thought their life would return to normal, a new enemy has discovered the serum. He's trying to become the President while eliminating the kids. This was a great way to extend the series. It was a page turner and I had a hard time putting it down.

Reviewed By: Jenice H.
What I Read: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: I was surprise how different it was from the movie. It did have some same parts but in different places. I liked it, it was like picturing another movie in my head.

Reviewed By: Jenice H.
What I Read: Under Their Sky by Margaret Peterson Haddix
What I Thought: I liked so much that I can't wait for the second book to come out. It was mysterious, adventurous, surprised me every time, wouldn't expect what would come out next.

Reviewed By: Charlotte M.
What I Read: The Martian by Andy Weir
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: Very easy read. It was funny & kept me interested. There was a good amount of science to it, but it was written in a way that was easy to follow & understand.

Reviewed By: Sandra C.
What I Read: In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms by Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: Great literature! This book made me get my confidence back as a stay-at-home mom. Made me realize the importance of my presence for my family. My role as a stay-at-home mom is more valuable than any amount of money I can get at a job. I am my

Thanks again to everyone for sending in reviews this summer; having multiple perspectives on some of the same books this week was especially fun. Keep reading the Staff Picks blog all year round, and we'll open it up to patron submissions again next year!

Patron Picks! Summer Reading 2016 - Week 5

Patron Picks! Summer Reading 2016 - Week 5

Posted by Anonymous

There's one more week to participate in the Adult Summer Reading Program at the Yuma County Library District! Sign up at any library to receive a Reading Log. Read three books (or attend library programs) to be entered in a drawing to win a Kindle Fire. Complete a Reading Championship Challenge for another shot at the prize. Or write a book review for a chance at a gift card! Here's this week's entries:

Reviewed By: Mary H.
What I Read: That Summer by Lauren Willig
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: This book was about a young woman as just pieces together her past. It was a light read for me and I enjoyed it.

Reviewed By: Wendy P.
What I Read: Rena Drake by Liliana Hart
What I Thought: This book has a strong main character. Action packed with a reluctant love interest and internal conflicts from distinctional family members definitely keeps you turning pages. Oh by the way did I mention the main characters are dragons?!

Reviewed By: Wendy P.
What I Read: The Dragon and the Princess by Jo Beverley
What I Thought: A joy to read. A very creative blend of Renascence type settings mixed with the authors own dragon creation. Great read with minimal sex scenes and a focus on honoring one's commitments to the greater good of others verses self.

A big "thank you" to everyone who's sent a review thus far. How many can we get for our last week?

Patron Picks! Summer Reading 2016 - Week 4

Patron Picks! Summer Reading 2016 - Week 4

Posted by Anonymous

Happy Fourth of July! This is also the fourth week of Summer Reading, and we've received quite a few reviews this week. Thanks to everyone who's send a review in thus far! Don't forget - you can submit as many as you'd like for multiple entries into our weekly raffle.

Reviewed by: Whitney K.
What I Read: Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: This is the first book of the Drake Chronicles. It is about the preparation of 16-year-old Solage Drake's Blood Change. This is when she will join her parents & brothers as vampires. Solage & her best friend Lucy are always getting into dangerous situations. There is a prophecy that says after the Blood Change Solage will be the vampire queen. Because of this many want to kill Solage or marry her. This book is a page turner & leaves you looking for more.

Reviewed by: Wendy U.
What I Read: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: Speak was about a teenage girl who was friendless because she called the police to a party. A year passed until the truth was "spoken". She had been raped at the party and was too afraid to tell.
This is an excellent book for teens or women of any age. It may help the reader understand that letting your voice be heard is the first step in dealing with the crime and starting the healing process. It's ending helps her realize she was not alone and voices needed to be heard for a change to occur and the predator to pay.

Reviewed by: Celina L.
What I Read: Tinker Bell & the Pirate Fairy by Tea Orsi
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: Zarina got in trouble for misusing the pixie dust. Zarina tried one last experiment and the results don't disappoint her at all. The pixie dust turns change. She shares her experiment with Tinker Bell. She flew away and left Pixie Hole behind. One year past. And every fairy gathered to celebrate the Four Seasons Festival and a fairy entered through the back.

Reviewed by: Wendy P.
What I Read: Dominated by Maya Banks
Find It @ YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: This book is a sequel to Mastered. I was enthralled by the characters. Evangeline is a well thought out character. I even cried on her behalf. This book is erotic fiction and not for the easily offended.

Did you spend any of your Independence Day with a good book? Let us know!

Blameless by Gail Carriger

Blameless by Gail Carriger

Posted by Anonymous

Reviewed by: Becky Brendel

What I Read: Blameless by Gail Carriger

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Lady Alexia Maccon is a "preternatural", a woman born without a soul who can turn supernatural creatures mortal just by touching them. This is the third book of her adventures in a tongue-in-cheek, alternate version of the Victorian era, centering primarily upon an announcement of her pregnancy in the London gossip columns. Such rumormongering would be embarrassing enough on its own - Alexia shouldn't be capable of having a child with her husband, a werewolf, who refuses to believe the child is his - but the vampires of London fear what powers the baby might possess and are, as a result, out to kill her. Alexia may even have to flee as far as Italy, where she hears they drink (horror upon horrors!) coffee instead of tea.

What I Thought: In case the summary doesn't make it clear enough, this is not a book - or a universe - that takes itself seriously. Characters stand on propriety even when engaged in the most outlandishly swashbuckling feats, a carriage is attacked by a swarm of homicidal mechanical ladybugs, and a running gag develops where Alexia discovers a fondness for pesto (which is useful for repelling both vampires and werewolves - the garlic for the vampires, the basil for the werewolves). The humor is also, however, the primary reason to read the book: the dissonance between being placed in mortal peril and wishing one's opponents would politely state their murderous intentions, for example, makes action scenes laugh-out-loud funny instead of just thrilling, and everyone's fixation on tea is a fun parody of what's come to be seen as Victorian mores and manners. The characters also endear themselves immediately if you're in the mood for whimsy - Alexia is a thickset woman who wields a modified parasol as her weapon of choice, for example. There's a lot to like here if you're looking for beach reading.

Unfortunately, though everyone is amusing and charismatic, they're also (by and large) stereotypes. The foppish gay vampire may be hiding a brilliant mind behind that ridiculous facade, and may care deeply for each of the young men he's cultivated as "drones", but he's still both flamboyant and polygamous; the German scientist who studies preternaturals like Alexia may own a ridiculous, yappy, tiny dog, but he's still ultimately a mad scientist who treats his subjects as specimens and not as people. Carriger does a good enough job of making everybody likable (even the villains, usually through the use of more well-timed humor) for this not to grate as much as it might in other books, but it's present. A few notable characters buck conventions, however: Lord Maccon may be the brawny, proud Alpha of his werewolf pack, but his Beta is a compassionate, diplomatic "professor" who breeds sheep in his spare time. Overall, I'd recommend this book to fans of historical and comedic fantasy - especially those who prefer their supernatural creatures banding witty quips about instead of brooding.

Readalikes: The Discworld series by Terry Pratchett, for more humorous fantasy; the Immortal Empire series by Kate Locke, for more funny (if more gruesome) supernatural antics in Victorian England.

Or look this book up on NoveList!

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Posted by Anonymous

Reviewed by: Laurie Boone

What I Read: Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: An unnamed young man is interviewing the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac. The vampire recounts the story of his life before, during and after he was made a vampire by Lestat de Lioncourt in 1791 New Orleans.

What I Thought: I wanted to re-read this before reading the latest book in Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, Prince Lestat. This May 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the publication of Interview with the Vampire. I’m so glad I read it again because now I’m psyched to read the remaining four leading up to Prince Lestat. I have missed this kind of complex and gothic, yet luxurious style of horror writing. The vampires of the fiction sub-genre of paranormal romance have got nothing on Louis, Lestat, and Armand as they grapple with the nature of good and evil.

Readalikes: Luckily there are five books in the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. Also add Let Me In by John Ajvide Lindqvist, which has been made into two movies and a London stage production.

Or look this book up on NoveList!

Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn

Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn

Posted by Anonymous

Reviewed by: Andrew Zollman

What I Read: Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: The D'Artigo sisters are half-human and half-Faerie operatives from the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. But their mixed-blood heritage short-circuits their talents at all the wrong times.  One sister, Delilah, is a shapeshifter who can turn into a tabby cat. Another, Menolly, is a vampire who's still trying to get the hang of being undead.  And the last sister is Camille--a witch.  Except her magic is as unpredictable as the weather, which her enemies soon find out the hard way...

What I Thought: Being a fan almost exclusively of high fantasy or urban fantasy contemporary fiction, when I first got introduced to this series I was skeptical whether I would like it at all. As with all series of books, the first always has a lot of character and worldbuilding involved to set the tone and pace. Galenorn does a great job of fleshing out each sister’s personality, starting with Camille in the first book. She’s sexy and flirtatious but has a sharp edge to her personality and relationships. This is an urban contemporary fiction but has strong romantic tones and distinctly different character types. One of the best themes included with each character is the inclusion of flaws and quirks that make them unique or stand out. It contrasts well with the three sisters because they are inherently flawed from the start due to their dual natures.

The action is fast-paced and hits hard on the emotional side of the conflict in which Camille and her sisters become involved. If you like mystery or thriller themed books, Witchling has elements of each as the story progresses. However, the actual description of the fights can lack at times or be very brief with more emphasis on the end result and the condition of the characters afterwards.

If you like a story with strong ties between the characters you will certainly enjoy the interaction as the first book unfolds and in later books of the “Otherworld Series”. As I mentioned before there are strong romantic scenes in this book and later on in the series. If you are looking for a light romance or Christian romance this is not the book for you. There are adult themes throughout and the content and language matches these themes. There are also themes not commonly talked about or viewed as normal in the series related to relationships and archetypes in families; sometimes it can be hard to like the characters if you don’t have an open mind.

I really enjoy these books as a contrast to other series I read that either have strong negative tones or dark content. Whichling and the following books, even if they can be emotional at times, leave you refreshed or excited to read the next book in the series. I recommend this series for adult readers.

Readalikes: The Six-Gun Tarot by R.S. Belcher

Or look this book up on NoveList!

Hounded by Kevin Hearne

Hounded by Kevin Hearne

Posted by Anonymous

Reviewed by: Andrew Zollman

What I Read: Hounded by Kevin Hearne (Book 1 of the Iron Druid Chronicles)

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Atticus O'Sullivan, the last of the Druids, finds his peaceful life in Arizona shattered by the arrival of an angry Celtic god. He will stop at nothing to take an ancient magical sword from Atticus's possession.  A looming battle forces Atticus to call upon some unlikely allies for help. The battle pulls Atticus back into the spotlight of others' forces he was avoiding or running from for hundreds of years.

What I Thought: I didn’t know what to expect with this series.  Two of my friends had read it a while back so I thought I would give it a try.  If you’re a fan of urban contemporary fantasy fiction like I am, then this book is for you. The writing is similar to Jim Butcher with a little more emphasis on the history and mythological aspects of our world.  Everything involving the character or provided for the reader in the story is done in a way that is easy to understand.  This is done through concepts that explain how he interacts with others, fights, and uses his own talents.

You can tell by reading the books there is real effort by the author to pull both fact and fiction to make the story realistic and alive.  Hounded and all of the proceeding books in Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles are packed with wit and action.  Every action taken by Atticus entwines him further and further with his enemies and a past he was trying to avoid. Atticus’s actions and the consequences of his efforts add complexity to the story and his later interactions.

My favorite character in the series so far in Atticus’s dog and trusty sidekick, Oberon. He gives a new meaning to the word man’s best friend.

Readalikes: Six-Gun Tarot by R.S. Belcher

Or look this book up on NoveList!

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

Posted by Anonymous

Reviewed by: Andrew Zollman

What I Read: Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: During a time similar to our own but with the existence of magic and the supernatural in more evidence, Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack... and became one herself. Once turned, she found herself trapped and hounded in a new family, trying to pick up the pieces left of her life. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she's learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then one day something went wrong with the pack's mate and Charles Cornick, the enforcer--and son--of the leader of the North American werewolves, gets involved with her pack and her life.

Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. Right after Anna’s transition to Charles father’s pack in the Montana Valley, attacks matching a werewolf’s description start to pop up in the Cabinet Mountains. And it is Anna's inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf--a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all the pack...

What I Thought: True to the genres I like the read, Patricia Briggs's Cry Wolf is set in a urban contemporary world similar to our own. I would suggest reading her Mercy Thompson series before this one to get a grasp on the characters and content of the Alpha & Omega series due to how she traces back to key points and background information to explain situations and reasons for certain behavior. Even though the Mercy Thompson series follows a skinwalker and her life, there is a lot of information provided about werewolves and the forces surrounding them.

Cry Wolf was similar in writing to Briggs's other series in tone and direction. Most of her novels are fast-paced and involve a strong female protagonist facing long odds and difficult situations. Briggs's characters aren’t don’t whine, which I find refreshing, since most authors tend to portray the women involved with kid gloves or as damsels-in-distress.

Scenes and character back history can be pretty graphic for readers. The main character survives being assaulted and worse and the author uses those experiences as the basis for the character's personality. Additionally, the strong male characters portray excessive behaviors that would be on the extreme side of a normal individual.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and have since read the rest of the series. If you want complex back history, fun characters with contrasting personalities, and non-stop action, then this is the book for you. Briggs does tend to include some romance in her novels, but who doesn’t? If you do decide to pick up this book, I hope you enjoy it and continue reading.

Readalikes: Moon Called (Mercy Thompson Series) by Patricia Briggs or Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows Series) by Kim Harrison

Or look this book up on NoveList!

Those Who Hunt the Night by Barbara Hambly

Those Who Hunt the Night by Barbara Hambly

Posted by Anonymous

Reviewed by: Becky Brendel

What I Read: Those Who Hunt the Night by Barbara Hambly

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Ex-spy James Asher comes home one evening to find his entire household asleep and a foreign gentleman standing over his wife Lydia. The stranger, Don Simon Ysidro, claims to be a vampire interested in hiring Asher to solve a serial murder case - someone has been killing the vampires of Victorian London, and if Asher manages to discover whodunnit, Ysidro (probably) won't kill Lydia.

What I Thought: This book was the first in an ongoing series about Asher, his wife Lydia, and their relationship to the vampire Ysidro; the series at large stands out for being intelligent, thoughtfully-written vampire fiction, and this first novel is no exception. Hambly's vampires have a clearly-defined set of strengths and weaknesses that feels completely "believable" - no turning into mist or sparkling in sunlight here - and she's put a lot of thought into what might happen to a person's personality after spending hundreds of years as a nocturnal predator (Ysidro, for instance, barely ever seems to exert effort or express emotion- he simply does not care after hundreds of years in undeath). Her vampires therefore become both sympathetic - being a vampire sounds horrible - and genuinely creepy. Even their pathos might be a trap.

The humans hold their own pretty well, however. Asher has seen his share of horrors himself - he quit working as a spy after becoming disillusioned - and he's refreshingly forthright with Lydia about Ysidro's request. Lydia is a treat: she went to medical school at a time in which ladies simply Did Not Do such things, so her first reaction to learning that the undead exist is a desire to dissect one. She's also brilliant and an excellent researcher whose contributions solve the case. There's an ongoing current of unease as Europe prepares for World War I; the evils men can do even without turning into vampires is a constant theme and threat throughout the series.

Oddly enough, Hambly's plots suffer because her leads are so intelligent and methodical: she's admitted herself in interviews that she has to keep having unexpected issues pop up out of nowhere since otherwise Asher and Lydia would see every threat coming. The result can feel disjointed, and Those Who Hunt the Night's "big reveal" disappointed me: yes, Hambly'd alluded to the characters responsible, but not in any context that would give a hint they were connected to the case. The murderer in a mystery novel should be unexpected, but having them seem completely peripheral until the climax felt unfair to the reader.

Plotting difficulties aside, however, Those Who Hunt the Night is highly recommended to anyone who likes spooky, threatening vampires - or who wants intelligence from their speculative fiction. World War I is looming in the story's timeline, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to see whether that shoe has dropped yet, and how Asher, Lydia, and Ysidro become involved when it does.

Readalikes: Bram Stoker's Dracula, for the classic vampire story (and one with which Hambly's characters are familiar); Gail Carriger's Soulless, for another original (if far more humorous) take on vampires.

Or look this book up on NoveList!

Burning Down George Orwell's House by Andrew Ervin

Burning Down George Orwell's House by Andrew Ervin

Posted by Anonymous

Reviewed by: Laurie Boone

What I Read: Burning Down George Orwell's House by Andrew Ervin

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: A successful advertising executive, in an attempt to flee his inner demons by moving to remote Scotland, finds himself instead confronting demons of the ordinary human kind…and possibly a werewolf. Ray Welter made a fortune as an advertising executive whose ads promoted a toxic product. He got the idea from George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, a work with which Ray is strangely obsessed. When his marriage and life fall apart in Chicago, he decides to move into the house where Orwell wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four; a house located on the remote Scottish island of Jura. What seemed like a good idea at the time ends up having rather twisted (and darkly funny) consequences.

What I Thought: I picked this up to read based solely on the great title, but after reading for about ten minutes I knew this was going to be good. Ray’s desire to escape the ‘Big Brother’ world of technology and “civilization” is something a lot of modern people can relate to. Fortunately, or unfortunately for Ray, depending on how you look at it, the island of Jura is populated by eccentrics and other malevolently amusing characters who really stick it to Ray and his dream of escape. Ray took inspiration for his manipulative ad campaign from Nineteen Eight-Four, and then Ray ends up being manipulated himself by everything dark and light, sinister and hilarious, human and maybe not so human in George Orwell’s house on the island of Jura.

Readalikes: 1984 by George Orwell. Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux

Or look this book up on NoveList!

Patron Picks! Summer Reading 2015 - Week 4, Part 2

Patron Picks! Summer Reading 2015 - Week 4, Part 2

Posted by Anonymous

Here's the second half of the week's book reviews! July 18 is your last chance to submit a review for this blog, so read away!

Reviewed by: Tanya N.
What I Read: Grey by E.L. James
What I Thought: What a refreshing twist inside a mans point of view falling for someone. I preferred his version over her 50 Shades of Grey. Very interested to read a story already read from another point of view. Puts a new perspective on the story.

Reviewed by: Tanya N.
What I Read: 50 Shades Darker by E.L. James
Find it at YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: The basic story line is great. Imagine making 100,00.00 an hour. To be so rich and carefree with your spending. Yet being rich & powerful always creates enemies. I do wish authors would quit making women so insecure about themselves & having such a low self esteem. I do not believe that is an accurate description of most women in todays society.

Reviewed by: Tanya N.
What I Read: 50 Shades Freed by E.L. James
Find it at YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: Much more exciting than the other two. I found she tied all three together. Story line was very rich and intriguing. Love is a powerful emotion that can control your life. I did however not care for the start. I would have expected much more detail in the wedding and I don't care when authors time bounce. And although story line was good the climax of the book could have been prolonged. Ana is smarter than I expected.

Reviewed by: Merrilie J.
What I Read: 81 Days Below Zero by Brian Murphy
Find it at YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: This is the account of Leon Crane who was in the Army Aircorps during W.W.II, stationed at Ladd Airfield in Alaska. He and 4 others were testing a B-24 in Dec. of 1943. The plane crashed on a remote mountain - Crane parachuted out (the only survivor)! For the next 80 days he struggled, coming near death several times. He was saved by finding an abandoned trapper's cabin, fully provisioned. Ultimately he found a wilderness couple (with 3 children) who dog sledded him to a landing strip - It was a good book to read during our Yuma 100+ humid weather!

Reviewed by: Merrilie J.
What I Read: Dead Wake by Erik Larson
Find it at YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: This is an account of the sinking (by Torpedo) of the Lusitania, a very large ocean liner in the year 1915. There were 1,959 passengers and crewmen aboard. Of these only 764 survived. It (the ship) was attacked by a submarine captained by Walther Schwieger, an ace submariner in the German navy. This incident (and many others of similar ilk) was generally thought to be the reason for the U.S. joining the Allies in World War I, though that did not happen till the year 1917. A "subplot" of this book is the account of Pres. Wilson's wooing of Edith Galt, who he married in short order. Her role in American history is another story, which I am now interested in reading of.

Reviewed by: Mary H.
What I Read: Memories of a Dirt Road Town by Stephen Bly
Find it at YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: This was a light read - I enjoyed it - About a middle age woman going on an unplanned trip to a place she was at when she was ten.

Reviewed by: Mary H.
What I Read: The Mustang Breaker by Stephen Bly
Find it at YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: A light summer read - The second book of a series about a middle age woman in Wyoming on vacation and her love of horses and the Lord.

Reviewed by: Martha F.
What I Read: The Fold by Peter Clines
Find it at YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: It's an interesting story (in the "Mystery" category) with a lots of twist and turns - about a team of scientists has invented a device - they call it the Albuquerque Door. Using a cryptic computer equation and magnetic fields to "fold" dimensions, it shrinks distances so that a traveler can travel hundreds of feet with a single step.
It's kind of a sci-fi story with interesting characters, most of the time it was hard to put it down...

Reviewed by: Kile T. 

What I Read: Make Something Up by Chuck Palahniuk

Find it at YCLD: Here!

What I Thought: I quite enjoyed this collection of short stories. Chuck P. has a unique style & voice. He tends to push fiction to the edge. These stories are all at once poignant, sarcastic, funny, disturbing, graphic & grotesque. Adventurous readers will enjoy this book & the stories within.

Reviewed by: Carol H.

What I Read: The Fault in our Stars by John Green

Find it at YCLD: Here!

What I Thought: It was kinda sad but very good reading. I enjoyed it very much. Good book.

Reviewed by: Carol H.

What I Read: Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

Find it at YCLD: Here!

What I Thought: I really liked the love triange with Bella, Edward, & Jacob. How they both want to protect Bella. The battles were insane, they get married, have a baby and its all good reading.

Patron Picks! Summer Reading 2015 - Week 2

Patron Picks! Summer Reading 2015 - Week 2

Posted by Anonymous

Are you having a "super" summer? Here's this week's installment of book reviews written by YCLD patrons. Thanks to everyone who turned in a review.

Reviewed by: Jennifer B.
What I Read: Naughty Neighbor by Janet Evanovich
Find it at YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: This was a short read of 229 pages. I liked it; but; I think the book should have been longer. Louisa is physically attracted to her upstairs neighbor Pete Streeter. He is a screenwriter and he stole Louisa paper to check out a movie review. Louisa is a secretary to senator Alan Nolan Bishop and is thirty years old. She lost her job and now is trying to help Pete Streeter solve a missing pig mystery.

Reviewed by: Christine H.
What I Read: Night by Elie Wiesel
Find it at YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: Wiesel’s book Night is like a prose poem. Although a horrific poem it recounts his year in a concentration camp. Just fifteen at the time he and his family lived in Transylvania and it was near the end of the war the Jews of his little village were rounded up and sent to Auschwitz. Moved around in the very last days of the conflict he was moved to Buchenwald. Throughout their imprisonment he and his father had remained in contact now at the end his father died within hours of liberation.
He describes the hunger, the terror, the cruelty of guards and soldiers. But the greatest loss worse to him is the loss of man’s humanity to man. Even he at the end did not comfort his dying father.
He wrote the book so we will never forget. We should not.

Reviewed by: Christine H.
What I Read: A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olson
Find it at YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: If you are a fan of the Scandinavian writers Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbo you'll like Adler Olson.
This is the 3rd in the series and I have devoured them.
They are gritty crime dramas with serial killers, kidnappers and spree killers. Not for the faint of heart But the characters are well-rounded and make you want to know more about them.

Reviewed by: Norah C.
What I Read: Historias de Miedo by Carlos Trejo
What I Thought: This is a good book, it had me reading and very entertain this book is about scary stories based in real life is a book of stories of Paranormal activities, I would read it again, there's more books by this author that I'm going to read. I recomend this book to all people who is interested on paranormal activities.

Reviewed by: Diana A.
What I Read: The Bone Chamber by Robin Burcell
What I Thought: Its was interesting. Had a lota of make believe fiction. I like it it was very interesting and kept me reading.
I like it also because it was a mystery & it was a fantastic book.

Reviewed by: Diana A.
What I Read: Iqbal by Francesco D'Adamo
Find it at YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: Book was about children being sold into slavery to pay off parents debts which they are promise to return when debt is paid off but are not. They are treated bad espiacilly ones that are slow in carpeting work or other I thought this story is pretty sad. Children being treated bad and they never will be able to live lives as children should be. And the sad part is that this is happening still in foreign places and its call bonded salvery.

Reviewed by: Robin
What I Read: Farming by Gail Gibbons
Find it at YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: There are different types of farming there are animal farming and crops farming. I like this book cause I have a cousin who does the same thing and does the planting with seeds. I'm lucky to have a cousin to work with seeds.

Reviewed by: Danielle O.
What I Read: Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
Find it at YCLD: Here!
What I Thought: This is the best non-Fiction book I've read (Scriptures aside) Atul is an intelegent & compassionate Dr. who guides readers through what it means to age and die, or die of disease. He tells of how to help the aging and dieing live their best life possible. I think everyone should read this book. Ive read it twice.

Reviewed by: Lance B.
What I Read: Longarm and the Night Raiders by Tabor Evans
What I Thought: Enjoyed the book. Author keeps you reading. Always a surprise how the character gets out of his predicaments. I highly recommend this series.

Reviewed by: Lance B.
What I Read: Longarm and the 400 Blows by Tabor Evans
What I Thought: I enjoyed this book. The author keeps you guessing. Can go from slow point to action packed in one sentence. Keeps you wanting to read more.

Keep the reviews coming! Anyone can "Escape the Ordinary" by reading a book.

The Last American Vampire by Seth Grahame-Smith

The Last American Vampire by Seth Grahame-Smith

Posted by Anonymous

Reviewed by: Becky Brendel

What I Read: The Last American Vampire by Seth Grahame-Smith


Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Vampire Henry Sturges is searching for renewed purpose in the wake of his friend Abraham Lincoln's untimely death. The story of Henry’s past is brought to life by the urging of the author to recount the days after Abe’s end. To do so, Henry talks about his past and recounts his journey to the present. It is an extensive journey to be sure. Henry’s past follows most of the major events that take place in our world and helped to shape society to what it is today. His adventure leads use through time from before America was a country, to Reconstruction-era America and back east to Henry’s first home, Europe. Along the way he meets a venerable group of minds and enemies from his past. Expansive in scope and serious in execution, The Last American Vampire is sure to appeal to the passionate readers who made Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter a runaway success.

What I Thought: I am a HUGE history buff and enjoy reading about the past and past events. I like the fact that Seth Grahame-Smith took his time to dig into the smallest of details throughout history for his novel. I am always happy to read a twist on actual events that really happened but with a fictitious character. Seth has a way with stringing together events to make the preposterous possible and even believable for his audience. If you’re not a fan of history, and even if you are, this book if for you. Seth’s books do not focus on the flashy world of vampires and teenage romance, it has raw emotions throughout and real examples of human virtue and defilement throughout history.

Even if Henry isn’t a part of our actual history, the events discussed in the book are based on historic events. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to think about the past or has fun dissecting a book cover to cover. I would not recommend this to very young readers due to some of the content presented and the acts that really did occur in the novel throughout our history.

Readalikes: Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth-Grahame-Smith | The Strain by Guillermo del Toro | The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.

Or look this book up on NoveList!

The Taken by Vicki Pettersson

The Taken by Vicki Pettersson

Posted by Anonymous

Reviewed by: Andrew Zollman

What I Read: The Taken by Vicki Pettersson

Find It @YCLD: Here! 

What It's About: Griffin Shaw used to be a PI, but that was back in the 1960’s . . . and he was still alive. Fifty years later, he's an angel, but that doesn't make him a saint. While out on a take, one small mistake has altered fate, and now he's been dumped back onto the mortal mudflat to collect another soul—Katherine "Kit" Craig, a journalist whose latest investigation is about to get her clipped. Rebuking heavenly orders from Sarge (the Pure in charge of centurions), Grif refuses to let the red headed siren come to harm while he’s around. Besides, protecting Kit helps his chances to solve the mystery of his own unsolved murder. Griffin Shaw is overdue payback for the death of his beloved wife, Evie.

Joining forces, Kit and Grif’s search for answers leads beyond the bright lights of the Strip into the darker recesses of the cities night life. But a ruthless killer determined to destroy them isn't Grif's biggest threat. His growing attraction to Kit could cost them both their lives, along with the answer to the haunting question of his long afterlife . . .

What I Thought: For most people, 1960s nostalgia comes from the culture it embodied and not the negatives many people lived through at the time. The mob ruled the streets, the Vietnam War was a reality, and the country seemed like it was falling apart at the seams. This was the reality that Grif was reminded of, along with the death of his wife long ago.

Vicki Peterson does a great job mixing historical realities in the 1960s to the personalities of both Grif and Kit in the story. I really enjoyed Kit’s portrayal of a modern rockabilly and the way she interacts within that lifestyle is done really well. However, don’t let my comments fool you, this is a dark story with many twists and turns. It will take you on a ride through the highs and lows of Las Vegas and even into some of its darker corners and the people who rule over them. Enjoy reading about Grif and Kit as much as I have.

Readalikes: Something More than Night by Ian Tregillis

Or look this book up on NoveList!

Queen of the Dark Things by C. Robert Cargill

Queen of the Dark Things by C. Robert Cargill

Posted by Anonymous

Reviewed by: Andrew Zollman

What I Read: Queen of the Dark Things by C. Robert Cargill

Find It @YCLD: Here! 

What It's About: Screenwriter and noted film critic C. Robert Cargill continues the story begun in his acclaimed debut Dreams and Shadows in this bold and brilliantly crafted tale involving fairies and humans, magic and monsters -- a vivid phantasmagoria that combines the imaginative wonders of Neil Gaiman, the visual inventiveness of Guillermo del Toro, and the shocking miasma of William S. Burroughs. Six months have passed since the wizard Colby lost his best friend to an army of fairies from the Limestone Kingdom, a realm of mystery and darkness beyond our own. But in vanquishing these creatures and banning them from Austin, Colby sacrificed the anonymity that protected him. Now word of his deeds has spread, and powerful enemies from the past--including one Colby considered a friend--have resurfaced to exact their revenge. As darkness gathers around the city and time runs out, Colby has to turn to forces even darker than those he once battled for aid. C. Robert Cargill takes us deeper into an extraordinary universe of darkness and wonder, despair and hope to reveal the magic and monsters around us . . . and inside us.

What I Thought: C. Robert Cargill is all about the story and the characters. Although most of his creations aren’t perfect, it’s the defects and difficulties in their lives that he highlights to make them special. Colby’s character never really had a childhood like anyone else. He never quite fit in, and always shut himself away in a book rather than to deal with humanity and everyone outside his bookstore.

I liked that the author made him into a strong but subtle character with a deep intellect and understanding of his surroundings and the people he meets. The story traveled to far off lands and still hit close to home for each character and their own personal conflicts. I strongly urge you to read Dreams and Shadows  before this book. Even though they are separate novels you will have a greater respect for Colby and his outlook on life and the scary things he has seen in his travels.

Readalikes: Shaman's Crossing by Robin Hobb

Or look this book up on NoveList!

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Lauren Regenhardt

What I Read: Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

Find It @YCLD: Here!

What It's About: Seventeen-year-old Kennedy Waters discovers that she might be part of a secret society that was formed ages ago to fight the Illuminati.  The group, called the Legion, are set out to fight a powerful demon that is anxious to be released to wreak havoc upon the world.  Kennedy and her new group of friends, who are trained demon hunters, must set out to make sure that the demon and all his evil brothers and sisters are not unleashed.

What I Thought: Reader’s advisory: Do not read at night if you’re prone to nightmares! What a chilling and terrifying tale and it is amazing.  The characters are believable and charming.  Kennedy is a teenage protagonist that most teen girls will be able to relate to, with insecurities and a confusing love situation.  The twin brothers Jared and Lukas each make you fall in love with them for different reasons and Alara makes you want to wear combat boots and fight demons.  Priest is like the little brother you wish you had.  It’s an interesting play on the Illuminati as enemies to be defeated.  The group’s encounter with the different vengeance ghosts and deadly spirits are not for the faint of heart.  Fans of Supernatural will find several similarities.

Readalikes: The da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, Asylum by Madeleine Rouxa

Or look this book up on NoveList!

House of the Rising Sun by Kristen Painter

House of the Rising Sun by Kristen Painter

Posted by Yuma County Library

Reviewed by: Andrew Zollman

What I Read: House of the Rising Sun by Kristen Painter

Find It @YCLD: Here! 

What It's About: Augustine comes back to live the perfect life in the Haven city of New Orleans.  He rarely works a real job, spends most of his nights with a different human woman, and resides in a spectacular Garden District mansion paid for by retired movie star Olivia Goodwin, who has come to think of him as an adopted son. But when Augustine returns home Olivia gets attacked by vampires, and he knows his idyllic life has comes to an end.  It's time for revenge -- and to take up the mantle as the city's Guardian. To complicate things further Olivia's estranged daughter, Harlow, arrives. She hates being fae, but her powers are exactly what Augustine needs to catch the vampires. Can he convince her to help him in time? Or will the sparks between them send her running again?

What I Thought: Great spin off series from Mrs. Painter. However, no need to read the House of Comarre (although you will want to) to get into this world. House of the Rising Sun has plenty of action, mystery and world-building balanced by character-driven plot that makes it a great start to new series. The story starts a little bit slowly and you do grow to hate Harlow’s character at the start. However at about the 30% to 40% mark in the book, the story begins to move at a steady pace and never stagnates, and not once did I feel like I encountered the information dumps that plague some paranormal/urban fantasy series. A few unexpected twists lay the groundwork for a promising overarching storyline that made me feel like the ending came too soon. I am still looking forward to the second book, City of Eternal Night (Crescent City, #2).

Readalikes: Allison Pang – A Brush of Darkness Here!

Or look this book up on NoveList!