Review: A Will To Murder by Hilary Thomson

Title: A Will To Murder
Author: Hilary Thomson
Source: This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:
A wealthy patriarch by the name of James Boyle dies an unexpectedly bizarre death and his relatives gather for a reading of his will- only to begin dying off one at a time. Long lost Boyle relative Bradley Smith with his reluctantly dragged-along reporter friend Eric Maxwell, eventually solve the puzzle.

This book had a very interesting story-line and it was incredibly intriguing. However, there are a few things I didn't like about the book. I found it to be quite slow during some parts and it was oddly unsatisfying. In all honesty, it is not a book I would read more than once. Now, I am not saying that it was a bad book, I'm just saying that it wasn't the right book for me as a reader. If you are a fan of comedic mystery thrillers, then I would recommend this book to you. The story in itself was very alluring and appealing. The start was a little slow in my opinion, but as the mystery starts to unravel, you get a captivating sense of curiosity that compels you to keep reading. 
Most of the story is written in the opinion of Arthur, a little boy with adorable childish problems and it was wonderful to see the world through his eyes for the most part. The beginning and end of the novel were my favourite parts and the author did a fantastic job of keeping your interest piqued throughout the course of the story. The plot was incredible. Lastly, I would like to compliment Ms. Hilary Thomson for her lovely, detailed and humorous style of writing. 

Review: Gather Sticks Along The Way by G. Tyler Mills

When God commanded Abraham to carry Isaac up the mountain, the boy was told by his father to gather sticks to build an altar. With each piece he gathered he unknowingly contributed to his own sacrifice. But before the blade would fall an angel of God would appear. The entire parable hinged on Abraham’s faith in God’s plan and his determination to carry it out with his own hands.

Charles is an average man. He has a loving family and is solid in his own beliefs. But his faith is soon tested with the loss of his son and Charles becomes a man driven by the need for answers. He needs to know what happened to his child and is prepared to do anything to find out. As simple actions by multiple individuals begin to unfold, a tragedy is formed and Charles is caught in the middle. Throughout it all he knows he is not alone. He knows God is with him. As Charles begins to see signs of what he believes to be the truth behind his son’s disappearance, he’s unsure if these come from God or if they are just coincidences. Is it his vengeance that propels him or is he just doing God’s plan? His faith will either see him through this catastrophe or cause him to lose all he has left.

Beautifully written and humorous, this is a fantastic book written by a very skillful author. Gather Sticks Along The Way was a book unlike any I have become accustomed to reading, but very enjoyable none-the-less. The story portrayed a man who was blinded by his strong faith and belief in God. Searching for answers, he believes that God has intervened when opportunities to get these answers arise. But only at the very end do you find out if it really was God's plan for Charles or simply his own decisions. Unexpectedly thought-provoking, this book presented topics worth thinking about and Mr Mills has provided perfect descriptions in his novel of those uneasy subjects. 

Even though the novel was relatively short, it still contained plenty of detail and was easy to read.  Definitely a book to read from cover-to-cover in one sitting. During some parts of the book, suspense is present and you cannot help wondering how the story will play out. The story line was steadily paced throughout the entire novel and I could not have asked for a better closure to the story. The ending was definitely not something I was expecting and I love it when that happens. It was sensational. Thank you Mr Mills for bringing such a fantastic book into the world. 

Links;

Visit G. Tyler Mills official website at http://gtylermills.com/.

Review: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (SPOILER ALERT)

Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic
Year of Release: 2010
ISBN: 9781407109374
Source: Purchased
Number of Pages: 455
Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games, not once, but twice, and still she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy is sure to get your heart pounding.
I'm going to start this review by reminiscing about the first two books. In The Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place in the annual Hunger Games. She wins in an attempt to defy the Capitol, saving fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. The two must put on an act as star-crossed lovers. But Peeta does not have to act. He is already there. 
In the second book, Catching Fire, Katniss finds out the Capitol is angry with her for her actions resulting in her and Peeta becoming victors. The Capitol wants revenge. They have lit a spark that may turn into a full-out rebellion by the districts. With the lives of her family and friends on the line, Katniss must make one more desperate attempt to convince all of Panem that her actions were not made to defy the Capitol, but to save the lives of herself and Peeta because she is so madly in love with him. But she must deal with her conflicted feelings after she finds out that her best friend, Gale, is also in love with her. 
 Now, in the final installment, Mockingjay, President Snow has declared a war between the Capitol and the districts. Katniss has accepted the role of the Mockingjay, therefore becoming the face of the rebellion. She must kill Snow if the districts are to win the war and their freedom. But who will die in the process? And who will she decide to love, Peeta- her stronghold and the one person who understands what she is going through or Gale- her best friend who can read her mind like nobody else and the one person who she truly feels safe with? 
I cannot believe I have already reached the end of this trilogy. It's sad, when you finish a book that you absolutely adore, because it makes you feel as if a chapter of your own life is ending. I cannot stress enough how much I love these books and from my last two reviews, I don't doubt that you are sick of hearing me say it. As soon as I began reading, I was completely immersed in the brilliant world Suzanne Collins has created. In this book, we get to meet some new characters, say goodbye to old ones and even get to view some in a new light. These books are a fantastic mixture of paranormal, love and romance, suspense and action. I was holding back tears throughout the entire book and probably went through an entire tissue box when I finally let myself cry. 
The ending of the trilogy was beautiful. So perfect. So mesmerizing. This is definitely a book to read more than once without becoming tired of. If you have read these books, I would love to hear your thoughts, so either comment or email me!    

Review: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic
Year of Release: 2009
ISBN: 9781407109367
Source: Purchased
Number of Pages: 472
"But when the Capitol decrees that only one tribute can live and you have the audacity to challenge it, I guess that's a rebellion in itself." 

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark became the victors of the annual competition called The Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead they have become the poster children for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts the both of them right in the bull's-eye for the merciless revenge by the Capitol. 

The heart-stopping sequel to The Hunger Games was absolutely brilliant. For a second time, Suzanne Collins has delivered a flawless novel that perfectly picks up exactly where the first book left off. Add in a love triangle and a few twists that no one expected and you have yourself the perfect book to occupy yourself with for a few days. After reading the first book, you'd never think that Collins would be able to squeeze another two books out of it. But the story is just beginning. As Katniss begins to accept herself as the symbol of hope and defiance for the tortured and starving districts, she knows what she must do to save the people she loves. 

I am so happy to have discovered these books. When I saw that they had been recommended by Stephanie Meyer, I knew I was in for a great read. I wasn't disappointed. For the past few days I have been in a sort of trance of sorts, where all my time consisted of either reading this book or thinking about it. There's like this constant tug at the back of my mind that keeps pulling me back to these books. And I haven't even finished the trilogy yet! 

My review on the last book in the series, which will be posted in just a few days no doubt, will be a little longer and detailed, but for now, all I can say is that I am enjoying reading these books immensely. For those of you who have not read them, here is a message only to you: go read them. 

Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic
Year of Release: 2008
ISBN: 9781407109084
Source: Purchased
Number of Pages: 454
Winning will make you famous. Losing means certain death. 
In a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed. When sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is a second nature.
I. Love. The. Hunger. Games. I might even make myself a t-shirt that reads ' THE HUNGER GAMES FOREVER.' As soon as I finished this book, I mentally hit myself for not finding it earlier. I literally read the entire book in one day. I could not put it down. The suspense was constant and during the minuscule amounts of time where my nose was not stuck in this book, I was thinking about it. I kept getting that bubbly, excited feeling you always get when you read a book that is so truly amazing it makes your heart stop. The Hunger Games is definitely a book to read from cover to cover in one sitting because you won't be able to stay away from it.
Filled with plenty of action, suspense and unexpectedly, romance, this is one book that will have you hooked from the very first page. My heart was racing so fast while I was reading, I'm surprised it didn't explode! There is absolutely nothing to criticize this book on. Nothing. Suzanne Collins is an absolute genius, how she managed to write a book so perfect is beyond me. The plot and the characters felt so alive, I had to keep reminding myself that it was just a story.  To my utter excitement, I feel very reassured that the tale will go on as there are still another two books in the series. The Hunger Games trilogy. Has a ring to it, don't you think? I am now counting down the days until the film hits the cinemas and am beside myself with the fact that the release date falls two days before my birthday. What a nice gift it would be to see The Hunger Games as a birthday present. I hope my parents are reading this.
Even Stephanie Meyer loves this book. "The story kept me up for several nights in a row, because even after I was finished, I just lay in bed wide awake thinking about it... The Hunger Games is amazing." You have to trust the judgement of the woman who created Twilight and the entire vampire/werewolf phenomena. The main character, Katniss, is just beautiful. She's courageous, determined, persevere, intimidating, noble... the list goes on. This book managed to get a few laughs and even a few tears out of me near the end, which I was in no way prepared for. I felt like I was living the story and it is very rare that I find a book that does that to me.
I highly recommend this book. I recommend it so highly, you can't even reach it. :)
Links;     
Watch The Hunger Games official movie trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgssLmsOa2s
Visit the website:
http://www.thehungergames.co.uk/
Let the Games begin.

Review: Liar by Justine Larbalestier

Title: Liar
Author: Justine Larbalestier
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Year of Release: 2009
ISBN: 9781741758726
Source: Purchased
Number of Pages: 330
Secrets. Lies. Murder. Betrayal.
Micah Wilkins is a liar. But when Micah's boyfriend, Zach, dies under brutal circumstances, the shock might be enough to set her straight. Or maybe not. Especially when lying comes as naturally to her as breathing. Was Micah dating Zach? Did they kiss? Did she see him the night he died? And is she really hiding a family secret? Where does the actual truth lie? 
I'll start by listing a few words that came to mind as I was reading this book - odd, weird, strange, different, questionable, bizarre, unusual and extraordinary. Different is probably the most bold world I would use to describe this book. It's a good different, though.  The story line was different, but the way the book was set out was unlike any novel I have read before. The book is sectioned into three parts. In order, they are - Telling The Truth, Telling the True Truth and The Actual Real Truth. The story revolves around the death of Micah's boyfriend, Zach. We go back and forth between before his death and after. There are also little, well I wouldn't call them chapters, more as divisions, where the author gives us a little insight into the history of Micah, the history of her family and the history of her school. 
The book is set out like a recount. Micah is telling her story to you and you need to decide from the start whether or not you trust her and believe what she is telling you. Will you believe the story of a compulsive liar? Imagine it like a letter. A 330 page letter. Back and front. You'll be in for a few shockers so it's probably best not to read this in a public place - unless you don't mind people staring at you as your mouth falls open and you say 'OH MY GOD!' 
The ending I loved. The last sentence... wow. Miss Larbalestier really knows how to get you thinking. As soon as I started reading, I was hooked and found myself gasping for the truth. And when I reached the end, which was about five minutes ago, I was going back over everything I had read. If you're a fan of mystery and suspense novels or if you're into the supernatural, I would highly recommend this to you. From the author of How To Ditch Your Fairy and the Magic or Madness trilogy comes Liar, a psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat until you get the truth.  
Visit Justine Larbalestier's official website;  http://justinelarbalestier.com/ 
and her blog; http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/.