One month in to my summer reading, and I have managed to review some cool new books. On vacation, a weekend away, a day at the pool, an afternoon on the patio; all these can be enhanced by an interesting read!
Paperbacks are my go-to format of reading, especially in summer. Even though I take good care of my books, I do not have to freak out completely if I get a little sand in the creases. My nook, laptop, and phone, however, are not so summer-friendly. Besides, it's not very comfortable to read in the sun with electronic devices melting in my hands.
Lucci's List for Summer has a focus on independent authors and local (to me) authors. I have tried to include a variety of genres suitable for teens and adults.
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You can find many of these titles at your local independent bookstore. If it is not in stock, you can always ask for it to be ordered! The Waltham Public Library is a great escape from the heat, too!
Check out these nine reviews from books I read in July. If you have read a featured book, please contact me through my site and share YOUR thoughts!
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Happy reading!
PHILOSOPHICAL FICTION
"The Trouble With Being God" by William F. Aicher
"The Trouble with Being God" by William F. Aicher is an example of horror done right. I was cringing in disgust by the second paragraph. That’s great writing! Artful descriptions, eloquent dialogue, and truly grotesque scenes make this thriller a must-read.
SCI-FI
"Last Horizon: Collapse" by S.A. Gibson
"Last Horizon: Collapse"is a futuristic little house on the prairie. Time travel, teamwork, and some strange ways of coping with a loss of technology make for an entertaining read.
URBAN FANTASY
"Circle City Psychic" by Stephanie A. Cain
"Circle City Psychic" is the second book in the Circle City Magic series by Stephanie A. Cain. The characters and setting were seamlessly integrated in the beginning so I didn’t feel lost, even though I hadn’t read book 1. Really sweet brother and sister relationship WerewolvesCurrent events and modern society are unified in thoughtful and heart racing ways.Prejudice, police issues, LGBTQ rights, and mental illness are also powerfully highlighted. The book has a really sweet brother and sister relationship. And werewolves. Plus snazzy parties and realistic dialogue, a murder to solve, and wedding jitters.
ROMANCE
"Sacrifice" by Krys Adams
A military husband is less, and more, than he appears to be. A bereaved wife falls into depression and has close friends who are like family to help her. She and her friend open a bakery, which is a super fun place to work and meet people. A new romance begins. Things are sweetly improving then a series of strange accidents start happening to her and her friends. Just as she starts to enjoy life, her past comes back in a dangerous nightmare come true."Sacrifice" is well written and suspenseful.I enjoyed the friendships between the two main characters. The villains were those you love to hate.
HISTORICAL FICTION
"The Tin Box Secret" by Theresa Dodaro
Coming of age with a paranormal twist, "The Tin Box Secret" delves into modern themes of racism, domestic violence, and tumultuous friendships. Set in 1960s America, with flashbacks to the early 1900s, this tale grips the reader with breathtaking discoveries and nostalgic pain. I am looking forward to reading the next volume in "The Tin Box Secret" trilogy.
"The Artist" by Lyra Shanti
"The artist (The Lives and Loves of Apollo Antonius Vidali)" by Lyra Shanti incorporates poetry and romantic sexuality in a swirling tale.
"The Hamilton Affair" by Elizabeth Cobbs
This is a fictional retelling of the Hamilton family. The author poignantly described key issues of the era, which we in modern America still struggle with today. Racism, prejudice, women's rights, poverty, inequality, family struggles, and political upheaval were all addressed in thoughtful, insightful ways. Readers can relate current society to the pangs of history.What struck me most about this book was the author's boldness in addressing women's roles and health and realistic life. Not since "Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret," have I read a book in popular fiction that talks about menstruation as a normal and important part of womanhood. The Eliza character, who became Mrs. Hamilton, was written in a refreshingly feminist focus. She maintained her own personal hopes and dreams, and saw a future for herself in which she would live happily with no husband, if she could not marry someone to match her desire for wildness and sense of freedom.As a preteen, she was adopted into the local Iroquois tribe with the name "One-of-us" after she rushed into a fast flowing river to save a canoe. Throughout the book, there was the sense that she saw the Native Peoples as equals, and felt proud to be an honorary member of their community.The danger of childbirth and the tragedy of infant mortality was addressed as Eliza refused to leave her mother's bedside during a particularly difficult childbirth. Because Eliza loved the animals on the family farm, she had been able to witness calving. This was her sex education. On her wedding night, her mother presented her with sexy lingerie. I was stunned with the openness of the mother-daughter talk in that scene. As Eliza lay in bed waiting for her husband to join her, she promised herself she would do her "duty." She imagined all the animals she had seen copulating and wondered if it would be like that. Turns out, sex was way better than she ever imagined! In many ways, I read this as a "coming of age" type of book, shown from both Eliza's and Alexander's points of view. If the reader stopped 3/4 of the way through the book, it could end as a romance novel. The writing style was one I associate with "Young Adult" fiction. It was not particularly sophisticated, which could be a bonus to people who enjoy a quick read. In my opinion, this book is appropriate for a YA audience.
SHORT STORIES
"Her Demonic Angel" by Joy Mutter
"Her Demonic Angel" by Joy Mutter is a volume of wonderfully strange and dark tales with intriguing settings in a variety of genres.
"Three Early Stories" by J.D. Salinger
This small book of three short stories was a perfect summer read. Like a case study in personality, the characters were pure, powerful, and relatable to true, modern life. Almost every sentence could have been its own poem. Each story was illustrated by a series of drawings which provided a artist's glimpse into the main characters' appearances. I was surprised that my local library did not have a copy, and that the fiction librarian had never heard of it. The $9.99 paperback was well worth the price tag, although it seems steep for a 69 page book, in which every other page is blank.
