Review 16: Up and In

Thank you Goodread's and Deborah Disney for letting me join the fun on this buddy read!

Up and In. Deborah Disney. 2014. [December] Harper Collins. 320. [Source:Contest through Goodreads copy provided by Netgalley]

First sentence: There is was again. That damned full stop.  How does so much passive aggression fit itself into such a tiny punctuation mark?

Premise/Plot: From Goodreads - A wonderfully wry tale about the pressure women put on themselves and one another to fit in, measure up and look glamorous while doing it. Distinctly middle class parents, Maria and Joe have committed all available income to giving their daughters Kate and Sarah the best education possible, which to them means attending the most exclusive girls school in the state. But when Kate befriends the spoilt and moody Mirabella, Maria finds herself thrust into a high society of champagne-swilling mother-istas she hasn't budgeted for. Saturday morning netball is no longer a fun mother-daughter outing, but a minefield of social politics. While the increasingly neurotic Maria struggles to negotiate the school mum hierarchy, Joe quietly battles a midlife crisis and Kate attempts to grow up as gracefully as possible (without having her life ruined by embarrassing parents). For every woman who has ever felt she may be wearing the wrong shoes, this is a book that will remind you - you're not alone

My thoughts:  First off let me start by saying that I participated in my very first buddy read with a group on Goodreads.com.  I enjoyed this book even though I kept bouncing back and forth between liking the main character Maria and shaking my head in abject disapproval for her handling of situations.  I personally have never been one to obsess about other people’s approval of me or their disapproval.  She is extremely flawed which makes her more believable and relatable I think.  She is so focused on what the other mothers of her social circle think and mean by every text, email, and face to face exchange she can’t see the forest for the trees.  We have her husband Joe supportive even while struggling with his own crises.  Then we have her daughters Kate and Sarah, Kate is the daughter that the drama centers around.  Then we have the wise sister-in-law who dispenses little tidbits of insight just at the right time.  Finally we have the ‘Bea’s’; Bea (the queen), Sonya (OCD control freak), Caitlin (the social brownnoser), Jen (follower), Nic and Lauren ( down to earth non-snobs). Ultimately this is a book from which we can all stand to take away the larger picture you just never know what someone else is going through at any given point so don’t take everything to heart all the time.

Rating 9/10

Recommendation:  Chick lit fans will like this, fans of character growth.

*I received a digital review copy for free from the author through a contest  in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Review 12: Elijah Hael: The Genetic Code

Elijah Hael: The Genetic Code. Steve Goodwin. 2013. [May] Software Development Pty Ltd. 304. [Source: Author through a Bostick email]

First sentence:  Nya, laying on her queen-size bed in the early hours of the morning, in silky maroon pajamas, whispered into the mobile phone held gently against her ear in her native Irish brogue: “Take your right hand and start undoing your shirt buttons from the top down – slowly: one button at a time.”

Premise/Plot:  From Goodreads - A dazzling, thought provoking, combination of faith versus secular beliefs, science fiction, spiritual warfare, action adventure and romance.

Yesterday’s gone. Tomorrow is a distant hope. Now means everything…

Nya struggled to believe her accomplishment. Nearly a decade’s work was all coming together. This was her moment. The Nobel Prize would be hers for the taking. Her work was going to change the face of bio-science forever.

The only problem was someone with an exceptionally dark desire wanted to twist her work for sinister purposes that would change the face of life on earth forever. And he was prepared to go to any lengths to get it.

Thus began a chain of startling events that would force Nya to place her trust in an unknown man whom she discovered from archived news reports … had died years ago.

Journey with Nya, a believer, as her faith is tested. Join Isaac, a non-believer, who questions his existence. Discover how they face death together in a remarkable adventure. An emotionally rich, adventure story which will delight those who quest personally challenging and thought provoking reads.

My thoughts:  Let me start by saying I loved this book.  It had a nice steady pace that kept you wanting more.  The interaction between the 3 main characters; Elijah, Castiel, and Sophia is believable.  This book is the second book in the Elijah Hael series however, you do not need to have read the first book to get this story it is completely stand alone.  This book was very emotional and I did find myself crying so be prepared for that.  Character development was spot on pacing was excellent and the story was engaging and immersive.  I just wish that it had ended that is really my only complaint I love falling into Elijah Hael’s universe.  Again I can not state how much I truly enjoyed this book!!!

Rating 9.5/10

Recommendation: Genuinely good writing and story telling seekers will find what they are looking for with this book.  Fans of the Elijah Hael series will love this installment. 

*I received a digital review copy for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*