Blue Haven by Lisa King

Book Description:

Welcome to Blue Haven, the world’s most lucrative condo corporation—so exclusive that only five lucky residents live in this lush, tropical paradise, housed in a top-secret location.

Among them is twenty-five-year-old Aloe Malone, an introvert and former waitress who traded bussing tables for lengthy sleep-ins, ocean dips, Michelin-star restaurants, spectacular sunsets, and unlikely new friends—all thanks to a spurious lottery win.

Life’s good.
Damn good.

That is, until Aloe discovers a journal.

Seemingly left by a past resident named Eloise whose entries are both sad and evoking, Aloe quickly suspects there’s more to Blue Haven than meets the eye.

Her suspicions are confirmed when visions arise, gruesome hallucinations she can’t understand, followed by a strange yet familiar man lurking in places he shouldn’t. Something’s wrong. Or maybe it’s all in her head. Regardless, she vows to uncover the truth.

Except someone wants to keep her quiet, and it’s the last person she ever suspected.

Blue Haven is a science-fiction thriller that explores what innovation can achieve—and destroy—despite the best intentions. King’s imaginative world building and use of moral ambiguity make this page-turning novel a thought-provoking thrill that’s impossible to put down

My Thoughts:

This is one of those books that once you start, you won't be able to put down.  So so good!  I can't even tell you how much I enjoyed it.  I really wasn't certain what to expect from the sci fi thriller tag, but it was a pleasant surprise.  I loved that I wasn't sure what was going to happen next and the thriller aspect was done so amazingly well.

Aloe is a good character and Blue Haven is amazing...in concept.  I really feel like I lived this book and I am just still reeling from it.  Not figuring out a book from the start is a nice thing and I totally recommend this one to those who love thrillers.  You won't be disappointed. 

5/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via PUYB.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Shadow of the Gypsy by Shelly Frome

 

Book Description:

A nemesis out of the past suddenly returns, forcing Josh Bartlett to come to terms with his true identity.

Josh Bartlett had figured all the angles, changed his name, holed up as a small-town features writer in the seclusion of the Blue Ridge. Only a few weeks more and he'd begin anew, return to the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut and Molly (if she'd have him) and, at long last, live a normal life. After all, it was a matter of record that Zharko had been deported well over a year ago. The shadowy form Josh had glimpsed yesterday at the lake was only that—a hazy shadow under the eaves of the activities building. It stood to reason his old nemesis was still ensconced overseas in Bucharest or thereabouts well out of the way. And no matter where he was, he wouldn't travel thousands of miles to track Josh down. Surely that couldn't be, not now, not after all this.

My Thoughts:

Such a good, good read.  If you like mystery and suspense, you will love this book.  There are so many twists and turns that I wasn’t sure which way it was going.  I LOVE that.  It wasn’t a cookie cutter mystery but a well written one.

The characters were great.  I liked the authors writing style and descriptions.  This is one of those books that you are going to read and sit there afterwords saying wow.   Such a good read.  

5/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw by D. A. Mucci

Book Description:

Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw is the first in an action-packed series perfect for readers who love an impossible mission led by an unlikely hero.

The coming-of-age story follows teenager Ignatius (nicknamed “Iggy”) who finds himself transported to a medieval world filled with magic. In the Kingdom of Skye, Iggy develops special powers and accomplishes quests in an effort to find his way home, fighting the evildoers along the way. While the genre is fantasy and the setting includes magic, mythological creatures, celestial races, and different lands, action-adventure is the undercurrent of the writing style, unveiling clues and surprises as the plot unfolds.

This YA fantasy is perfect for both teens and adults, as it gently reminds us that we are responsible for our destiny - and the most unexpected people can be the best teachers.

My Thoughts:

This was a really good read.  Iggy isn't having the best of times in high school and there are some uncomfortable issues going on.  But he doesn't know who he truly is and suddenly he is in the Kingdom of Skye.  There is a lot going on in this book and it has plenty of action.

I loved that the author put a lot of thought and effort into the Kingdom of Skye.  You can tell the world building here was done well and I enjoyed it.  There are twists and turns in the plot and it kept me guessing and reading.  I loved that it was a larger book so I didn't feel that the story was rushed at all.  I'm ready to read the next one!

4/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via PUYB.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.