Save By Roy:Patrick Roy and the Return of the Colorado Avalanche by Terry Frei and Adrian Dater

I received [Save By Roy] as an advanced readers copy. I am a HUGE hockey fan and have the utmost respect for Patrick Roy(although as a New York Rangers fan I hate him with a passion.) I was really excited to read this books and I was not disappointed. It was well written and was almost like a written version of 24/7 on NHL network. It had insider points of view that regular fans don't get. The fact that Roy managed to bring this team to the playoffs after being almost last in the league the season before (only Florida was worse and they don't count) in the amazingly tough Western Conference was amazing. All hockey fans should read this book (even if Roy made you cry when you were younger.)

Goodnight, Alaska by Harry Manners

Harry Manners is the author of the Ruins Saga. I subscribe to his newsletter the Pendulum Gazette because I was so impressed by his story telling. As a bonus he put a short story "Goodnight, Alaska" in his newsletter.

It is the story of one mans inner dialogue at the end of the world. He has lost everything and knows he is going to die but it is his choice how to handle it. I was reminded of [Richard Matheson] and the voice and tone of [I Am Legend] which is such a classic and strong point of view, even if it is a little creepy. (The actual short story by the way not the really bad movie with Will Smith that was nothing like the actually story.) I feel that [Harry Manners] is, if not there yet, close to being on the same level as Matheson. I hope he never lets Hollywood destroy his writing.

Angels & Arrows by Reyna Hawk

First off let me say paranormal romance usually is not my thing. Now that being said I really enjoyed [Reyna Hawk's] [Angels & Arrows] because it was not a typical paranormal romance. Yes that was part of it but there was cultural history and excitement as well. None of the "Oh woe is me my vampire boyfriend left me I am going to curl up and die." Maria is a fighter. A bit of a pessimist but really a fighter. It takes a bit for her to learn to trust and have faith but when she does evil spirits better watch out.

The Disease by George Hamilton

[The Disease] by [George Hamilton] was a medical thriller that pits government loyalty versus the good of humanity. I would like to say this was a post apocalyptic story  but sadly I can see events like this being possible today.

The characters of Olga and Ludmilla face choices that will not only affect them but possibly the entire world. The setting is an Eastern European nation while a pandemic rages. Ludmilla is a doctor and "Daughter of the Nation", while Olga her daughter is a dissident. Who can be trusted and what is the right choice are themes throughout this novel.

The Lamp Series Omnibus(Books 1-4) by Jason Cunningham

I received this book as a member giveaway through LibraryThing for an honest review. 

I was amazed by the characters in this series. They were so real but also had a uniqueness to them. [Jason Cunningham] did a magnificent job of taking you into the struggle between good and evil and showing you the shades of grey most of us get caught up in. [The Lamp Series Omnibus] as the name suggests is four complete novels that follow Violet, Levi, Jenny and Micah as they try to come to terms with what is right and wrong. Also they must decide how best to protect those they love.

As a comic book fan and someone who loves to read about struggles of conscience this series kept me coming back for more. I was vaguely reminded of [The Stand] except this was focused on one city.It is never made clear if it goes beyond. They mystery involved also keeps you on your seat.

[Cunningham] has written a must read for fans of many types of genres.

Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

I really enjoyed the first Cormoran Strike Novel. This one wasn't as good. I am not saying that [Silkworm] was bad but it was a little over written. There were a few too many red herrings that took away from the plot. Also unlike [Cuckoo's Calling] i actually figured out the perpetrator before they were identified. Still a good read especially for mystery fans.

I Survived True Stories: Five Epic Disasters by Lauren Tarshis

So anyone who knows me(or looks at my reading list) can see I love disasters. The [I Survived] series by [Lauren Tarshis] is a reading teacher's friend since it gets kids who don't read to pickup a book. I was really excited about [True Stories] because two of the events were little known (Children's Blizzard and The Great Molasses Flood) and two others were more contemporary. I liked the information given although I would love to see these written on a slightly higher level since I teach middle school.

I found it interesting that most of the sources that the author used were books I have read and have in my classroom. Hopefully I can use this book as a springboard to get kids to read something challenging just to learn more about it.

God of Ruin by Michael John Grist

[Michael John Grist] concludes the adventure of Ritry and his chord in [God of Ruin]. Again, as with the previous two books in this sonata, it seems confusing an may be hard to follow at first. This should not be read without reading the first two books as there are many references to the previous Sonata's. If you want a futuristic thriller that will make you think you really should check these books out but remember start with number one [Mr. Ruins].

Johnny Graphic and the Etheric Bomb by D.R. Martin

[Johnny Graphic and the Etheric Bomb] by [D.R. Martin] was an incredible adventure. In the classic sense of serial adventures from the 1940's the young cub photographer, who happens to see ghosts and is 12 yrs old, has to save the world from a horrible new bomb. Along with his sister, Melanie and other friends, they travel the world to solve the mystery and stop destruction. 

As a teacher who just spent the past three weeks teaching about the making of the atomic bomb this book seemed to parallel that with a 'ghostly' twist. (I know bad pun.) I will be looking forward to reading book two. Also did I mention besides ghosts there are zombies. Highly recommended.

A Plague of Shadows(#1 in A Harbingers of Light Series) by Travis Simmons

[A Plague of Shadows] by [Travis Simmons] was a very quick read. I really enjoyed the characters and the plot. I see it is called "A New Adult Dark Fantasy" but I do not see what makes it 'adult'. I usually equate that with content that I can't put in my classroom. I did not find any of that in this book. To me it was a simple battle of good vs. evil. I hope to read the next installment in [The Harbingers of Light Series].