The Sober Companion by Emily Ford

The premise of this book is very unique and interesting. Vampires exist in the good old US of A but after a horrible war between humans and vampires, the vampires must complete a rehab program to qualify as vampire Americans. A sober companion is assigned to each vampire undergoing the rehab. Throw in a 1000 year old curse that condemns two lovers who are vampire and human to relive the same scenario over and over but with an unexpected twist with the latest rebirth and you have a recipe for an original and thought provoking novel.
I have to admit that when I first read the information about the book I was not sure I would like it but I was surprised to find that I was drawn in from the beginning mainly because of the story line. I also found the "twist" very thought provoking and I appreciate how the author decided to deal with the delicate turn of events concerning the rebirth.
All in all, I found the book an interesting and fun read. Highly recommended for fans of the vampire genre. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Final Response by E.R. Yatscoff

The premise of the book is very interesting to me. A group of firefighters are hired by a company called Vulcan Security to stay in an abandoned Canadian city for the winter while everyone else heads south to avoid polar vortexes and storms called swirls. Their job is to protect the city from fire until the spring. Problems arise when the firefighters unwillingly become involved in a gang war and corruption on a scale they are not prepared for.
The book starts off a bit slow but then picks up. It is action packed and was actually fun for me to read as I live in the area where this all takes place.
I found the book to be very descriptive and informative with regards to fire fighting and I was able to picture the scene and what was happening very well due to the author's narration.
A couple of times the flow of the book was disturbed by a change from past to present tense but it was easy to get back into it. It is very minor and does not take away from the book at all. I found the book to be  very well written and I enjoyed how the author described the scene so well I could imagine it.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review and I want to thank the author for the opportunity.

Making It Home (Book One in the Time to Time Series) by Suzanne Roche

Overall, I found this book to be a lot of fun to read. The concept is interesting in that it involves modern day children who time travel to different time periods. I found the information simply stated (for children) and accurate. I am always looking for children's books that have a bit of historical fact in them which is why I chose this book. I honestly didn't notice the narrative part as a couple of other reviewers noticed but then I was more involved in the overall story itself which I fully enjoyed. I read this book on my kindle and did find that the photos and illustrations were a bit small so I would recommend to buy this book in paperback to get the full benefit. I am looking forward to the second book in this series (and would love to hear about Peri's adventure during the Salem Witch Trials). 
I was also impressed by the attempt to cover the topic of a blended family and the effect on various members involved. 
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

4 out of 5 stars

The Murder of William of Norwich by E.M. Rose

In 1144 the body of young William of Norwich was found. He had been tortured and then murdered by a person or persons unknown but for a variety of reasons blame was unfairly placed on the entire Jewish community. 
This incredibly well researched and well written book details the history of what is the first known accusation of ritual murder attributed to Jews in medieval times. It is an enlightening account of Jewish/Christian relations in this time period. I found it to be a fascinating read although some may find it a bit dry. Highly recommended for anyone interested in learning more not only about the origins of the blood libel but also a not so well known part of Jewish/Christian history.



4/5 stars

Dead Life Book 2 (Dead Life Series) by D Harrison Schleicher

I enjoy an action packed zombie novel and this book did not disappoint. It is the second installment in the series and if anything is even better than the first novel. My only gripe is that it is so short but then it keeps you hanging on until the next book comes out ;) I am hoping that there will be even more development of the main characters. A fast and fun read.

Four out of five stars.

The Homesman: A Novel by Glendon Swarthout

This was a refreshing and original take on the old west genre which examines a little known reality of the settlement of the west. Namely the experience of the women who either came with their families or on their own. Sometimes the women set to their tasks and lot in life successfully but other times the sheer isolation, poverty, and terrible losses they faced could completely overwhelm these brave women. What happened to these broken women is the basis of this book. The answer is a wagon train run by a homesman to bring these women back to civilization and their families. The story is heart breaking and sad. Anyone who is interested in the settlement of the west and the role that women played should definitely read this book.

Dead Life Book 1 by D. Harrison Schleicher

I found the book to be a fun and enjoyable read. It was a bit slow to start with but picked up quickly. Recommended for anyone who would enjoy a fast zombie read.