Review: The Doomsday Equation by Matt Richtel

Product Description:

Computer genius Jeremy Stillwater has designed a machine that can predict global conflicts and ultimately head them off. But he’s a stubborn guy, very sure of his own genius, and has wound up making enemies, and even seen his brilliant invention discredited.

There’s nowhere for him to turn when the most remarkable thing happens: his computer beeps with warning that the outbreak of World War III is imminent, three days and counting.

Alone, armed with nothing but his own ingenuity, he embarks on quest to find the mysterious and powerful nemesis determined to destroy mankind. But enemies lurk in the shadows waiting to strike. Could they have figured out how to use Jeremy, and his invention, for their own evil ends?

Before he can save billions of lives, Jeremy has to figure out how to save his own. . . .

My Thoughts:
I wanted to read The Doomsday Equation because it was billed as "ingenious as the works of Michael Crichton". I'm going to have to highly disagree with that statement. The storyline had a lot of potential but the protagonist were just an annoying a-hole that was extremely rude to everyone around him. I hated him more than I cared about what happened in the story.

I actually put the book down halfway through and read another book before coming back to this one. Because the storyline had so much potential I thought I would try again and see if it got any better. A little over halfway through the action picked up and I was able to finish the rest of the it within 2 days but the ending was predictable and disappointing. Overall I wouldn't say I disliked the book but thought it was unsatisfying. 

Recommendation:
I wouldn't recommend this as there are too many well written techo thrillers out there to waste time on this one. Try Daemon by Daniel Suarez or Cyberstorm by Matthew Mather as alternatives.

Review: The Doomsday Equation by Matt Richtel

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2015/03/review-doomsday-equation-by-matt-richtel.html

Review: The Basilisk's Creed Omnibus by Eme Strife

Product Description:
Moving to San Francisco was a decision twenty-three year old Elisheva Tilton thought would change her hard life in Little Rock, Arkansas, for the better. Yet, Eli still finds herself living in shambles and being constantly stressed out just to make ends meet in the Big Bad Bay. 

And the stress only piles on when the most unusual of things begin to happen around her—including the mysterious disappearance of the Atlantic Ocean—and even more so when she strangely meets the unlikely individual who would irrevocably change her life forever; a gorgeous, unbelievably sexy, and sophisticated high-ranking soul reaper.

My Thoughts:
I have to be 100% honest. If the author hadn't followed up with me on the promised review, The Basilisk's Creed just may have ended up on my Didn't Finish list for 2014. It wasn't a terrible book it just wasn't my style of read. 

I always take into consideration that I'm reading fiction meant to entertain when outrageous things happen in the books. I usually bump heads with a friend in my book club when unlikely scenarios play out in the books we read. She thinks it ruins the story and I think its fun if I accept it as fiction but this one was a little too over the top. Pigs fly, the Atlantic ocean disappears and my favorite, Eli's landlord goes a little over board when told to go eff himself, are just a couple of things that go too far in my opinion. 

Overall it's a good story (with a lot of spice) and good writing but not my cup of tea.

My Recommendation:
I recommend this to any who enjoys urban fantasy with emphasis on the fantasy. 

Review: The Basilisk's Creed Omnibus by Eme Strife

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2015/01/review-basilisks-creed-omnibus-by-eme.html

Review: Dead Anyway by Chris Knopf

One afternoon Arthur Carhcart comes home to find his wife held at gunpoint by an unknown man that forces his wife to provide him with answers to five questions. Once he receives the answers both Arthur and his wife are shot and left for dead. Arthur's wife is killed instantly and although Arthur was shot in the head he lives.

Now Arthur is intent on finding out who killed his wife and why so he convinces the detective on the case to allow him to pretend he was killed and goes on the hunt.

Dead Anyway has a really great premise but unfortunately for me the story line was just too unbelievable. Arthur is a mild mannered market researcher who is dealing with limited functionality from being shot in the head and once he goes on the hunt for the killer he becomes some bad ass that hunts down killers for hire.

It seems like every time there's an obstruction he easily overcomes it even though he can barely handle elementary math. Need money? Purchase a super expensive vintage guitar collection to sell off one by one for money. Need a disguise? Become an expert in costume make-up. Need a way to get someone to talk? Expertly build a diabolical cage with the equipment conveniently available to him. Need a bit of help ? Easily get someone you've just met to abandon her life and become your partner-in-crime. Overall it was just to unrealistic for my tastes and even though there is a good enough cliff hanger to intrigue me I won't be reading the next book in the series.

Review: Dead Anyway by Chris Knopf

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2012/08/review-dead-anyway-by-chris-knopf.html

Review: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Blurb:
Deborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel, A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.

Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.

Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season.

My Thoughts:

I loved A Discovery of Witches (read my review) and was eagerly awaiting Shadow of Night but was a very dissapointed with the story. Diana and Matthew travel back to 1590 to search for Ashmole 782 and to find someone to help Diana get control of and learn how to use her magic more but the story just went off on historical tangents and almost no progress was made in either endevour until the very end. Several famous historical characters were thrown in to make the book more interesting but really I would have appreciated more story line dealing with Diana's magic and the search. The was just too much fluff and not enough meat in this story for me to enjoy this one as much as A Discovery of Witches.

Even with all that being said I'm still interested in reading the final book of this trilogy hoping that we finally get some resolution to the problems Diana and Matthew face.

Recommendation:
I wouldn't exactly recommend this one to anyone who hasn't read book one but if you have I'd say to save this one for a library read.

Review: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2012/07/review-shadow-of-night-by-deborah-e.html

Review: The Columbus Affair by Steve Berry

Product Description:
Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist Tom Sagan has written hard-hitting articles from hot spots around the world. But when a controversial report from a war-torn region is exposed as a fraud, his professional reputation crashes and burns. Now he lives in virtual exile—haunted by bad decisions and the shocking truth he can never prove: that his downfall was a deliberate act of sabotage by an unknown enemy. But before Sagan can end his torment with the squeeze of a trigger, fate intervenes in the form of an enigmatic stranger with a request that cannot be ignored.


Zachariah Simon has the look of a scholar, the soul of a scoundrel, and the zeal of a fanatic. He also has Tom Sagan’s estranged daughter at his mercy. Simon desperately wants something only Sagan can supply: the key to a 500-year-old mystery, a treasure with explosive political significance in the modern world. For both Simon and Sagan the stakes are high, the goal intensely personal, the consequences of opposing either man potentially catastrophic. On a perilous quest from Florida to Vienna to Prague and finally to the mountains of Jamaica, the two men square off in a dangerous game. Along the way, both of their lives will be altered—and everything we know about Christopher Columbus will change.

My Review: 
I have read and loved every single one of Steve Berry's books but I have to say that I was very disappointed in The Columbus Affair. The action was working along two different story lines that eventually merged into one but everything felt disjointed. I didn't connect with any of the characters. Tom wasn't the typical hero, his daughter Alle was spoiled and delusional and I totally disliked her character. One of the two bad guys became the character I liked the most, Bene Rowe, but I still didn't think the flow was right on his part of the story line. I think Mr. Berry just needs to stick to his Cotton Malone series and not try to offer up stand alone novels with new characters. 

One thing I do have to acknowledge about the book that was outstanding was the historical detail and research that went into the story. You can tell that Berry tried to keep the details as close to history as possible and that lent the whole book a feel of realism that I enjoyed. I recommend this one as a library read for die hard fans of Steve Berry otherwise I'd say try one of this other books before reading this one.

Review: The Columbus Affair by Steve Berry

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2012/04/product-description-pulitzer.html

Review: Under the Dome by Stephen King

In the small town of Chester’s Mill, Maine a pleasant fall day is suddenly disrupted by a dome appearing out of nowhere, cutting off the entire town from the outside world. No one knows why the dome came down, who made the dome appear or when it will disappear. With the dome in place the residents of “The Mill” have no choice to but to turn to the town leaders who are more crooked than any of the criminals their town has ever seen.

Fresh from reading and loving 11/22/63 (my review), I was excited about listening to Under the Dome. I wasn’t intimidated by the length even though it was over 34 hours which took me 21 days to listen to but I was sorely disappointed by the ending. Now I feel like all those hours were such a waste. The story was great in the beginning, had a good middle and a decent last part of the book but when the reason behind the dome was finally revealed I felt so let down. I’ll pass on recommending this one unless you’re one an extra-long road trip and can finish listening to it on one round trip.

Review: Under the Dome by Stephen King

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2012/02/review-under-dome-by-stephen-king.html

Review: Hell's Corner by David Baldacci

Camel Club member Oliver Stone wants nothing more than to lead a peaceful life under the radar as a cemetery caretaker but when he is asked by the president to take on a mission involving a Russian drug connection, Oliver has no choice but to go back to work for the government. Pondering his choices while sitting in Lafayette Park, directly across the White House, Oliver is witness to a bomb going off and suddenly he has a new task. Figuring out who planted the bomb and why.

Hell’s Corner is the fifth book in the Camel Club series which I’ve loved up to this point but this one was a little too over the top for me to enjoy. Oliver is an old man and we’re supposed to believe that there was no one else more qualified to deal with the Russians. There was an explanation that Oliver was “Old School” and those techniques were needed on this mission but I’m still not buying it. Thrown in the mission detour and fellow Camel Club members acting foolish and have to say that I think this series has jumped the shark and Baldacci needs to go back to writing the seriously twisted plots that made me a fan of his writing.

 

Review: Hell's Corner by David Baldacci

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2012/02/review-hells-corner-by-david-baldacci.html

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

In the distant future all teens must make a life changing choice when they turn sixteen. Society is now divided into five groups called factions. There are Abnegation (selfless) , which Beatrice Prior and her brother Caleb grew up in, Candor (honest), Dauntless (brave), Amity ( peaceful) and Erudite (intelligent). They are then initiated into their groups and taught all the rules of their faction all in effort to become the “perfect society”.

But Beatrice is one of only a few who don’t have a clear faction after taking the required aptitude tests. People like her are called Divergent and being Divergent is extremely dangerous so much so that she has to keep the results secret and choose a faction anyway. Shunning her family Beatrice chooses another faction, renames herself Tris and begins the long and hard initiation. But things in this so called perfect society aren’t what they seem and being Divergent means Tris can see past what the leaders want everyone to see and with the help of another Divergent she wants to make things right for her and family.

Divergent was another book that fell victim to the “Too much hype” curse. So many times I’ll read a book that has many, many positive reviews that claim the book was amazing while I struggle to get through it. People compared Divergent to The Hunger Games which I had just finished so I thought I would give it a try.

First off the story was just not too interesting. Without revealing any spoilers, while Tris is being initiated and trained she begins to hear rumors that two factions are gearing up to start war on another faction. On top of this she is trying to hide the fact that she is Divergent but there’s just not enough action to keep me entertained.

Secondly the story is just not believable enough for me. There is no way that society can be divided into just five groups. If this were realistic the factionless (people who don’t fit into any faction) would be the majority not the factions. Plus I’m supposed to believe that this perfect society relies on 16 and 18 year olds are going to lead the training and security of the faction. Where are all the adults?

Honestly if I was reading this one instead of listening to it on audio I would have given up but since it was audio I hung in to the end. Towards the last 1/3 of the book the pace picked up and I started to enjoy the book more but I was still disappointed that it didn’t live up to the hype. I would recommend this one for sci-fi fans as a library read or audio book.

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2012/01/review-divergent-by-veronica-roth.html

Review: Ark of Fire by C.M. Palov

When cataloging rare artifacts for the Hopkins Museum of Near Eastern Art, photographer Edie Miller witnesses a murder of the chief curator. Just as she bends down to check on some loose cable wires the murderer walks in and shoots the curator with no questions asked and steals an ancient Hebrew relic. Saved by her convenient hiding place Edie just makes it out of the museum alive where she sees the killer meet up with a D.C. policeman.

Fearing for her life she refuses to turn to the police because of what she saw. Instead she turns to the historian, Caedmon Aisquith who the curator was about to send Edie’s pictures to.

Together with Caedmon they realize who the killers are working for and what they are after… The Ark of the Covenant. But if Edie and Caedmon can find it first they’ll stop the killers from seeing their plans through to the deadly end.

Reading the endorsements on the cover of this book had me really looking forward to Ark of Fire. On the front cover is a blurb by Steve Berry one of my favorite action thriller authors and a blurb on the back cover from Karen Dionne describes the book as “Part Dan Brown, part Indiana Jones and part James Bond…” With the two things I was expecting a lot more from Ark of Fire.

It was a good story but a little too over the top. I can’t exactly explain some of the major aspects that bothered me without giving any spoilers away but a couple of small things that made me roll my eyes where just how many times Caedmon and Edie were saved by the killers being out of bullets or their gun jamming and how many times they escaped death and other horrific acts just in the nick of time. Not to mention the whole escaping from Washington D.C. to Europe. I found it hard to believe it was really that easy to flee the country with only $3,000 and a conveniently remembered passport with a killer breathing down her neck.

With those vents out of the way the storyline was pretty good and there was obviously a lot of action. I would recommend this one as loaner or library read for anyone who loves a good suspense thriller.

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review.

Review: Ark of Fire by C.M. Palov

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2009/12/review-ark-of-fire-by-cm-palov.html

Review: Undead and Unwelcome by MaryJanice Davidson

At the end of Undead and Unworthy, Queen Betsy Book 7, Betsy’s friend Antonia, a werewolf, selflessly threw herself in front of Betsy when Chief Hamlin tried to kill her. Even though the gun wasn’t loaded with silver bullets, the result was fatal. Now Betsy, her husband Eric Sinclair and her best friend Jessica are on their way to Cape Cod where they will deliver Antonia’s body to the pack of Wyndham werewolves that shunned Antonia in the first place.

Even though the pack never fully accepted Antonia, there is a lot of bitterness towards Betsy who they blame for her death and Betsy has some serious doubts about getting home without getting staked.

Meanwhile back at home trouble is brewing for Marc and Tina in the form of Betsy’s half sister Laura, the daughter of the devil herself!

First I have to say that no matter what, I am a huge Queen Betsy fan and I will continue to read each and every book in the series. Now that I have that out of the way I have to say that I was very disappointed with this book. I read it on one afternoon, in practically one sitting but there was just no “meat” to the story. I feel it just didn’t have enough of a plot to be a standalone book even with the dual storylines. It read like it a continuation of book 7 that was turned into its own book by adding the problems with Laura.

This is definitely not a standalone book in the series and I only recommend it if you’re already committed to the series like I am.

Update: I just now peeked at Amazon reviews after writing my own review. I’m not surprised that out of 21 reviews, as of today there are no 5 star reviews and the book only averages 2 ½ stars. I hope MJD takes note and gives us loyal readers a much better tale in book 9… if there is a book 9 that is.

Review: Undead and Unwelcome by MaryJanice Davidson

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2009/06/review-undead-and-unwelcome-by.html

Review: First Family by David Baldacci

Being the president’s niece has its perks so as a special treat Willa Dutton’s 12th birthday party was held at Camp David. But when the party was over and Willa’s family was back home the unthinkable happened, Willa was kidnapped and her family was left with one person dead and the rest either knocked out or drugged.

As a favor to the First Lady, private investigators Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are called in to assist in finding Willa’s kidnappers and bringing her home. In the middle of it all Michelle is dealt a major blow in her personal life and as the pair race to save Willa the truths they uncover lead all the way back to a surprising source.

Well first off I have to start out by saying I love David Baldacci and have read all his books but that’s what makes First Family a little bit disappointing. It’s a faced-paced thrill ride but in my opinion it just doesn’t live up to Baldacci’s previous books.

The bad guy is ho-hum. The good guy that ends up bad in the end is too unrealistic. Michelle’s personal situation seems to have no relation to the plot or the resolution. I feel that this could have been a much better book if there was less of Michelle’s drama and more work on the bad guys. Not one of my favorites from Baldacci but it’s still a recommended read as a library pick or borrowed book.

Review: First Family by David Baldacci

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2009/06/review-first-family-by-david-baldacci.html

Review: Priceless Memories by Bob Barker

With a 50 year television career, Bob Barker, is a familiar face. Beginning as a radio host Bob made the jump to TV with the audience participation show Truth or Consequences. He’s hosted numerous specials including Miss USA, Miss Universe and The Rose Parade. But of course he’s most famous for The Price Is Right.

In this audio book narrated by Barker himself he shares some of his most treasured memories starting from life on a Native American reservation to his stint in the military through his romance with his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Jo up to his retirement.

I was a little disappointed by Priceless Memories. Barker’s stories are repetitive and lackluster. With such a long career and knowing so many celebrities I was anticipating more interesting or humorous adventures. The best story he told was when he moved and his elderly dog escaped through an open door. It took two days and nights to finally track him down and thankfully there was a happy ending. In my opinion this one gets a pass as purchase but it might be a good library read.

Review: Priceless Memories by Bob Barker

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2009/05/review-priceless-memories-by-bob-barker.html

Review: Judge & Jury by James Patterson and Andrew Gross

All FBI agent Nick Pellisante’s hard work pays off when notorious mafia don Dominic Cavello is captured. Awaiting a trial that will surely convict him for life Cavello taunts agent Pellisante with his careless attitude.

Single mom and part-time actress Andie Echeverra, along with several other potential jurors, initially tries to get out of serving on the Cavello jury. Having been seated as juror #11 Andie rethinks the idea and steps up to the plate to fulfill her obligation as a juror.

When a horrifying incident leads to a mistrial it takes more than 6 months to re-seat a jury and begin the new trial but again Cavello is confident that he’ll be a free man soon and sets his escape plan in motion.

On leave from the FBI Pellisante takes his escape personal and makes it his goal to track down the ruthless killer. With nothing but vengeance on her mind Andie joins in the hunt.

…and my James Patterson audio book love affair comes to a screeching halt! I’ve enjoyed so many of his collaborations on audio in the last couple of months but this one was almost boring enough to put me to sleep. The action doesn’t start until the last few chapters in the book and the characters were way too bland for me. There was nothing about them to identify with and I feel that Andie’s reaction to **SPOILER ALERT - HIGHLIGHT TO READ** her son’s death was totally unrealistic. Lastly the love affair that develops between Pellisante and Andie was just too dull to be interesting. This one gets a pass from me.

Review: Judge & Jury by James Patterson and Andrew Gross

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2009/05/review-judge-jury-by-james-patterson.html

Review: Three bags Full by Leonie Swann

One morning a flock of sheep wakes to find their shepherd, George, with a spade stuck in his belly. In that instant they make the decision to find his killer no matter what. They begin by going over what they know so far relying on Miss Maple, the smartest sheep in their town of Glennkill, Mopple the Whale (he’s a sheep too) who has the best memory and Othello, the black ram who knows about the zoo and the world (author's words, not mine).

They carefully watch everyone who comes and goes while pretending to just be harmless sheep grazing the day away. As they follow the clues their suspect list includes the butcher, the priest, the religious fanatic Beth and Gabriel, another shepherd with a flock of sheep that snubs George’s flock. You can bet that even though some of them are not the brightest sheep in the world they work together and eventually find the true killer.

Oh boy, where to begin on this one?? The first few times I picked up the book I passed right out and I wasn't even counting the sheep. If it wasn’t for the fact that this was my book club selection and we met on Sunday afternoon I wouldn’t have made it past page 50. It finally picked up the pace almost halfway through and the last half somewhat made up for the beginning.

I think that part of the reason I disliked the beginning so much is that the book was originally written in German and translated to English and it didn’t flow well. The writing was a bit off and sometimes I’d have to read the same sentence or paragraph over again for me to get the meaning.

As far as positives I loved the way the sheep were smart but still did normal sheep things like getting into the forbidden vegetable garden and lusting after tomatoes at a picnic. I also loved the way the sheep revealed the killer but overall the story ending itself was pretty bad. I’m putting this one in the do not recommend column.

Review: Three bags Full by Leonie Swann

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2009/05/review-three-bags-full-by-leonie-swann.html

Review: Dramarama by E. Lockhart

At the tail end of her junior year in high school Sarah Paulson auditions for Wildewood Academy for the Performing Arts Summer Institute program (Drama Camp) and gets accepted. During the audition she meets Douglas Howard, Jr. otherwise known as Demi. Demi then dubs the name Sarah too boring and christens her Sadye and soon the two outcasts become inseparable friends.

Off to Wildewood the pair goes where they are quickly caught up in the dance, voice and acting classes while rehearsing for the end of summer stage shows. As Demi’s star begins to soar Sadye has to come to terms with the fact that her talent doesn’t hold up when compared to the more experienced students at Wildewood. Things get even worse for her as the bond with Demi starts to weaken when he sheds his reserved exterior and no longer has to hide his gay lifestyle from others.

Sadye’s unhappiness begins to show in the way she begins to question her teachers and in the way she treats her new friends. Soon her behavior threatens her friendship with Demi and her enrollment at Wildewood but can she reign it in before it’s too late?

The title, the cover and the product description led me to believe this would be one cute book but I was really disappointed. Dramarama had little drama and lots of nagging. Sadye doesn’t endear herself to readers with all the complaining. She’s in drama camp and she’s there to learn yet she has the nerve to confront her instructions one of whom is a Broadway director? Can you say improbable?

Another annoying thing is the fact that for a YA novel there is some questionable content about sex (nothing graphic but it still surprised me) and teen drinking. It was discussed nonchalantly. Typically when I see those subjects in teen books readers get the sense that the characters understand sex and drinking is taboo at their age not something cool to do.

Overall I say pass on this one unless you’re a huge theater fan. I think all the references to Broadway shows and the camp life would override the Sadye’s personality.

Review: Dramarama by E. Lockhart

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2009/05/review-dramarama-by-e-lockhart.html