Book Review: Pedal (Louis K. Lowy)

Pedal

by: Louis K. Lowy

Genre: Contemporary, Women's Fiction

Forty-nine and single. Fired from her lifelong passion: teaching music. Stripped of her self-worth. Can she reclaim her life through bicycle racing? Joanne Brick's thirty years as an elementary school music teacher evaporated into the rising sea of layoffs. A lifetime of dedication gone. At forty-nine, single with an ailing mom and bitter divorced sister, the future looked bleak. Family relationships soured as conversations moved to "the lettuce zone"-cold and crisp. Then one day, while cleaning out the garage for a yard sale, inspiration struck as she dusted off an old long-forgotten bicycle. And when she took her first ride she knew it was time to sink or pedal. "Onward! That was the answer that had eluded her earlier. There was dignity in that word. There was hope." Never a sports fanatic and sorely out of shape, Joanne was barely able to ride straight, but she took up bicycle racing because it added purpose to her life. "Joanne increased her own speed. The wind whipped her face. The whirring of the spinning spokes and chains rose in pitch as she spun faster. She was flying again, beyond failed careers, spurned lovers, regrets, and mistakes. She spun even quicker. Her breath came in swift, hard grunts." She pedaled past unemployment, failed relationships, family drama, and career loss. Her life began to fill with new friends, an inspirational Desert Storm vet turned cycling coach, and a sleek new physique from all the training. Then she ran into a brick wall in the form of Sheila Dominary, a women's bike racing adversary. Will Joanne regain her confidence as she pedals toward redemption, romance, adventure, and life beyond unemployment? Pedal is an inspirational journey. It is a contemporary story that deals not only with family relationships, but also with life's turning points and how ordinary people handle them.

**WE WERE GIVEN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

I have so many things to say about this book! Pedal is such an inspirational and uplifting story. No one would have blamed Joanne for giving up, after losing her job.....the only thing she ever really did....at the age of forty-nine, BUT SHE DIDN'T. The passion that she developed for bicycle racing was admirable. I instantly found myself rooting for her, smiling at her accomplishments, and shedding a few tears as she struggled.

I think that the one thing that stood out the most was how easy it was to relate to all of the characters. Whether you're a middle-aged and recently divorced individual, someone who had the rug ripped from beneath your feet (wondering what the hell you're supposed to do now), the has-been who got an unfair break, a widow/widower, or anything in between, I can promise that this book has some of the best written and relatable characters you'll come across.

You may be wondering if someone who knows little, or nothing, about bicycle racing could enjoy a book that's main focus is well.....bicycles and racing. The answer is a resounding YESSSSSSSSS!! I am not ashamed to admit that before picking up Pedal I knew virtually nothing about the world of bike racing and cycling coaches, but that didn't stop me from submerging myself into a new unknown. I quickly realized that Louis K. Lowy had my back and would provide me with just enough information to make me understand what the characters were experiencing, without providing so much background that I felt like I was drowning.

Thank you, Mr. Lowy, for showing me that passion, drive, and determination doesn't have to die with age, that we aren't defined by the titles we obtain, and that life is worth living...to the fullest...regardless of our age. You successfully made me reevaluate my level of determination, and made me wish that I didn't leave my bicycle behind, in Italy.

As always, you can find all of the good stuff below.

Until next time.....

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Author Spotlight: P.S. Malcom

Author of Stuck on Vacation with Ryan Rupert

When did you start writing?

From the moment I learnt to write.  I was actually writing stories before I   could write words, but in the shapes of ‘squiggles’ and ‘pictures’ and I used to verbally explain the stories to people.

Do you have any writing rituals?

Not really, but I do write better in the evening, so I do have a habit of preventing myself from writing until it gets late.

What’s your all time favorite book?

I have no idea.  There are so, so many books that I love, all for different reasons.  I could never pick just one.

What is one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?

My age.  I look way younger than I am and I dislike wearing makeup, so I look even younger.  I’m 18, but people often think that I’m 14.

Where did the inspiration for Stuck on Vacation with Ryan Rupert come from?

When I went on holiday to an island with a friend a few years ago, I had a massive crush on this guy who I knew would never like me.  I kept thinking about how ironic it would be if I ran into him and how a relationship could have blossomed.  I quickly realized the story was actually pretty decent, and I could easily reshape it into an actual novel, and include some of the actual events from the holiday in the novel.  Alas--Ryan Rupert was born!

Are any of the characters based off of anyone in your personal life?

Aubany is strongly based off of myself...especially fear wise….but she is ten times more exaggerated.  Ryan is only based off of someone look wise...that same crush I mentioned.

What’s something that we can look forward to in book #2?

A death. *smiles innocently*

Stuck on Vacation with Ryan Rupert releases today!

BLURB: Aubany Winters' life soon becomes a nightmare when her mum gets cancer and has to leave for California with her dad. Left with her neighbours, the Ruperts, and to her displeasure, their son Ryan, she finds herself forced to tag along on their family vacation to Nula Island. There's just a few problems, like her fear of the ocean, her and Ryan's mutual hatred for each other, and the psycho girl who is trying to kill them. 

Will Aubany overcome her fears? Will she and Ryan ever stop hating each other? Or will their flaws and disagreements lead them right into the enemy's hands?

  

Book Review: Daddy's Little Girl (Mary Higgins Clark)

Daddy's Little Girl

By Mark Higgins Clark

Genre: Mystery (Crime, Murder), Contemporary, 

Suspense 

Ellie Cavanaugh was only seven years old when her fifteen-year-old sister, Andrea, was murdered near their home in Oldham-on-the-Hudson, a rural village in New York's Westchester County. There were three suspects: Rob Westerfield, nineteen-year-old scion of a wealthy, prominent family, whom Andrea has been secretly dating; Paul Stroebel, a sixteen-year-old schoolmate, who had a crush on Andrea; and Will Nebels, a local handyman in his forties.


It was Ellie who had led her parents to a hideout in which Andrea's body was found -- a secret hideaway in which she met her friends. And it was Ellie who was blamed by her parents for her sister's death for not telling them about this place the night Andrea was missing. It was also Ellie's testimony that led to the conviction of the man she was firmly convinced was the killer. Steadfastly denying his guilt, he spent the next twenty-two years in prison.

When he comes up for parole, Ellie, now an investigative reporter for an Atlanta newspaper, protests his release. Nonetheless, the convicted killer is set free and returns to Oldham. Determined to thwart his attempts to whitewash his reputation, Ellie also returns to Oldham, intent on creating a Website and writing a book that will conclusively prove his guilt. As she delves deeper into her research, however, she uncovers horrifying and heretofore unknown facts that shed new light on her sister's murder. With each discovery, she comes closer to a confrontation with a desperate killer.

Gripping and relentlessly compelling, Daddy's Little Girl, a portrayal of a family shattered by crime, reflects Mary Higgins Clark's uncanny insight into the twisted mind of a killer and is further evidence of why she is America's favorite author of suspense.

The first three or four chapters were boring, you didn't really get any information about anything that was going on. After those, you get down to the nitty-gritty and find out all the details you'd been waiting for.

Once you get down to it,  I thought the book was extremely interesting. It was one of those books that holds your interest; you just don't want to put it down. It was edge-of-your-seat suspenseful toward the end.

Overall, the story really wrapped up nicely. There weren't any loose ends that I could think of. I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone 16+ who enjoys action-packed crime thrillers.

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Book Review: The Marijuana Project (Brian Laslow)

The Marijuana Project

by Brian Laslow

Genres: Mystery, Thriller/Suspense

THE MARIJUANA PROJECT a novel about medicine and morality aka "a security expert’s journey through the ethical weeds." 

Sam Burnett, a savvy security expert, is hiding in the catwalk of a medical marijuana production facility he has been hired to protect, caught in a surveillance plan he never thought he’d face. 

In fact, Sam, a conservative family man who travels the country as a highly sought after security expert, doesn’t even approve of marijuana and wonders why he’s still working there. 

Over the course of two years designing, implementing and operating the entire security program for MedLeaf, Sam faces one moral conflict after another. 

Does he favor using medical marijuana to relieve a variety of physical symptoms, easing anxiety and providing pleasure? 

Or does he see it as an invitation to more serious drug use, mental instability and irresponsible, even dangerous behavior? 

You could call it a security expert’s journey through the ethical weeds. 

At first, Sam realizes that medical marijuana needs to be protected from ending up in the wrong hands and that taking the job means he can be home much more than before. 

But even the positive things Sam learns about medical marijuana are at odds with his religious upbringing and his conservative views about drug use, legal or otherwise. 

When his son’s best friend is killed in a car accident caused by a driver under the influence of medical marijuana, Sam reaches his breaking point and takes matters into his own hands, which leads to a potentially dangerous confrontation with his employers and a group of unknown provocateurs. 

In the end, he must decide if he can personally continue to participate in the protection and perpetuation of this industry. Sam Burnett’s dilemma is similar to that of millions of Americans. His story will resonate for all those struggling to make sense of this changing landscape in our society.

I was intrigued when I initially read this books blurb.  My stand on medical marijuana is the complete opposite of Sam's, and I couldn't wait to envision what it must be like on the other end of the spectrum. 

Sam, a security genius, is a firm believer that marijuana (medical or otherwise) shouldn't be something that is legally sold.  His moral belief is put to the test when he is offered the opportunity to provide security for MedLeaf, a medical marijuana grow facility.  Sam takes us for an unforgettable ride on his moral roller coaster.   

The Marijuana Project was phenomenally written.  Brian Laslow included enough information, to ensure that the readers didn't get lost along the way.  If you're looking for an exciting read, one that shows real moral struggles, then this could possibly be the book for you!
  

Purchase this book through

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Indiebound

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Brian's Website & Blog

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Book Review: Ukiyo (Mela Ciano)

Blud Ukiyo

By Mela Ciano

Genres: Urban Fantasy

Archaeology professor by day, backup shooter by night…

On a routine assignment, Ukiyo finds herself dragged into a world of danger and deception when she is forced to pull the trigger and kill a man. Torn between the agency that funds her research and a man she knows nothing about, she has to choose sides in a secret war that dates back hundreds of years.

Guardian, protector, and her own personal demon…

Burislav vowed to watch over her, but hiding his cursed birth right ends up being a secret that could cost Ukiyo her life. When he’s forced out of the shadows after more than twenty years, keeping her safe isn’t as easy as he thinks.

Pre-Review talk, my loves. This is important! This will be our ONE HUNDREDTH REVIEW! We have posted one HUNDRED reviews on CommonBookSense! Can you believe this! It hasn't even been a year! Our goal is to have 200 before we're only a month away from our year blogaversery. Thank you to everyone who has stuck around for our inconsistent postings and the blabberings we call reviews. Thank you and hello to all of the new people who have just discovered our little page of the internet (get it? Page, like a book page?)! To honor our 100th review, we're going to be revamping the blog a bit, just making everything a bit more summery. And, for the next 100 reviews (well, at least mine), I'll post a  'Question of the review'! Hopefully some of you will answer in the comments!

To 100 more <3

This book surprised me. Based solely on the blurb, I honestly wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it or not....but I did, I did, I diiiiiddd. I'm such a sucker for books with mysterious-bad-boy characters. Especially books with a strong female lead....And strong Ukiyo is....and hot/myaterious Buri is!!!!

I can't say very much without giving anything away, but this book will be worth your time. It's action-packed and full of unique (and very developed) characters.

The plot stayed consistent...with some plot twists here and there, which are always much appreciated. The author did a very good job with her foreshadowing. I liked it.

I really liked her twist on standard fantastical creatures....very, very creative views of them.Totally changes the typical Twilight view of things.

The biggest thing for me when reading a book has to be the descriptive text. Without it, readers are seeing nothing but darkness. I didn't see a spot of darkness, or even shade, in Ukiyo. The way the author describes feelings and appearances continually amazed me. I felt like I was THERE, like I was breathing in the characters and their hopes and fears.  I felt like I could hear the rustle of the leaves, feel the wind brushing past; I was THERE, guys! Seriously, it was astonishing.

Now, for the question that must always be asked: Will you read the next book??

Heck yeah! I will FOR SURE read the next book! Sadly, unless it's sent in via review request, I won't be able to get to it pretty much until next year haha.

Anyway, the links, and the QOTR (question of the review) will be below. I hope to see you at our TWO hundredth post!
 I hope to get to know some of you! Keep your noses in the pages! I'll blog you lovelies later!!

Have you read Twilight? How old were you? Has your opinion changed on it since you first read it?

My answer:

Yes, I've read Twilight. 

I was in 5th grade, so about ten?

 Yes! I thought they were the best books ever (besides Harry Potter), I read my copy of Breaking Dawn so many times that the front hardcover BROKE OFF! Now, I don't care for it much. I started reading books that, in my opinion, are better written.

What about you?

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Sandy's review of Mela's 'Break The Chains'

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What We're About To Do (June 27, 2016 ~ July 1, 2016)

**Our 100th review!!**

(Review) Ukiyo by Mela CianoArchaeology professor by day, backup shooter by night… 

On a routine assignment, Ukiyo finds herself dragged into a world of danger and deception when she is forced to pull the trigger and kill a man. Torn between the agency that funds her research and a man she knows nothing about, she has to choose sides in a secret war that dates back hundreds of years.

Guardian, protector, and her own personal demon… 

Burislav vowed to watch over her, but hiding his cursed birth right ends up being a secret that could cost Ukiyo her life. When he’s forced out of the shadows after more than twenty years, keeping her safe isn’t as easy as he thinks. 

(Review) The Marijuana Project by Brian Laslow

THE MARIJUANA PROJECT a novel about medicine and morality aka "a security expert’s journey through the ethical weeds."Sam Burnett, a savvy security expert, is hiding in the catwalk of a medical marijuana production facility he has been hired to protect, caught in a surveillance plan he never thought he’d face.

In fact, Sam, a conservative family man who travels the country as a highly sought after security expert, doesn’t even approve of marijuana and wonders why he’s still working there.

Does he favor using medical marijuana to relieve a variety of physical symptoms, easing anxiety and providing pleasure? Over the course of two years designing, implementing and operating the entire security program for MedLeaf, Sam faces one moral conflict after another.

Or does he see it as an invitation to more serious drug use, mental instability and irresponsible, even dangerous behavior?

But even the positive things Sam learns about medical marijuana are at odds with his religious upbringing and his conservative views about drug use, legal or otherwise.

You could call it a security expert’s journey through the ethical weeds.

At first, Sam realizes that medical marijuana needs to be protected from ending up in the wrong hands and that taking the job means he can be home much more than before.

In the end, he must decide if he can personally continue to participate in the protection and perpetuation of this industry. Sam Burnett’s dilemma is similar to that of millions of Americans. His story will resonate for all those struggling to make sense of this changing landscape in our society. Have you ever wondered what would happen if you were suddenly transported from your world into another, with no way of every getting home

again? When his son’s best friend is killed in a car accident caused by a driver under the influence of medical marijuana, Sam reaches his breaking point and takes matters into his own hands, which leads to a potentially dangerous confrontation with his employers and a group of unknown provocateurs.

Author Spotlight: P.S. Malcolm

(Review) Daddy's Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark

Ellie Cavanaugh was only seven years old when her fifteen-year-old sister, Andrea, was murdered near their home in Oldham-on-the-Hudson, a rural village in New York's Westchester County. There were three suspects: Rob Westerfield, nineteen-year-old scion of a wealthy, prominent family, whom Andrea has been secretly dating; Paul Stroebel, a sixteen-year-old schoolmate, who had a crush on Andrea; and Will Nebels, a local handyman in his forties.

It was Ellie who had led her parents to a hideout in which Andrea's body was found -- a secret hideaway in which she met her friends. And it was Ellie who was blamed by her parents for her sister's death for not telling them about this place the night Andrea was missing. It was also Ellie's testimony that led to the conviction of the man she was firmly convinced was the killer. Steadfastly denying his guilt, he spent the next twenty-two years in prison.

When he comes up for parole, Ellie, now an investigative reporter for an Atlanta newspaper, protests his release. Nonetheless, the convicted killer is set free and returns to Oldham. Determined to thwart his attempts to whitewash his reputation, Ellie also returns to Oldham, intent on creating a Website and writing a book that will conclusively prove his guilt. As she delves deeper into her research, however, she uncovers horrifying and heretofore unknown facts that shed new light on her sister's murder. With each discovery, she comes closer to a confrontation with a desperate killer.

Gripping and relentlessly compelling, Daddy's Little Girl, a portrayal of a family shattered by crime, reflects Mary Higgins Clark's uncanny insight into the twisted mind of a killer and is further evidence of why she is America's favorite author of suspense.

(Review) Pedal by Louis K. Lowy

Forty-nine and single. Fired from her lifelong passion: teaching music. Stripped of her self-worth. Can she reclaim her life through bicycle racing? Joanne Brick's thirty years as an elementary school music teacher evaporated into the rising sea of layoffs. A lifetime of dedication gone. At forty-nine, single with an ailing mom and bitter divorced sister, the future looked bleak. Family relationships soured as conversations moved to "the lettuce zone"-cold and crisp. Then one day, while cleaning out the garage for a yard sale, inspiration struck as she dusted off an old long-forgotten bicycle. And when she took her first ride she knew it was time to sink or pedal. "Onward! That was the answer that had eluded her earlier. There was dignity in that word. There was hope." Never a sports fanatic and sorely out of shape, Joanne was barely able to ride straight, but she took up bicycle racing because it added purpose to her life. "Joanne increased her own speed. The wind whipped her face. The whirring of the spinning spokes and chains rose in pitch as she spun faster. She was flying again, beyond failed careers, spurned lovers, regrets, and mistakes. She spun even quicker. Her breath came in swift, hard grunts." She pedaled past unemployment, failed relationships, family drama, and career loss. Her life began to fill with new friends, an inspirational Desert Storm vet turned cycling coach, and a sleek new physique from all the training. Then she ran into a brick wall in the form of Sheila Dominary, a women's bike racing adversary. Will Joanne regain her confidence as she pedals toward redemption, romance, adventure, and life beyond unemployment? Pedal is an inspirational journey. It is a contemporary story that deals not only with family relationships, but also with life's turning points and how ordinary people handle them.

(Review) I'll Be Damned by Casey Keen
A sister kidnapped.

An impending war between Heaven and Hell looming around the corner.

A Grand Witch who has no idea what she is.

The Prince of Darkness’s obsession in claiming her.

Two sinfully gorgeous men pulling her in two different directions.

As the owner of the coffee shop Déjà Brew in Savannah, Georgia, Anna thought her life was ordinary. That is until her sister is kidnapped by a demon, prompting two handsome men to march into her life unexpectedly. Valen, the sinfully gorgeous, overprotective werewolf who is Anna’s sworn guardian and Roman, the most handsome and powerful Warlock in the entire Netherworld. 

Suddenly, her world is stripped of everything she knows and replaced with frightening news about who she really is - a powerful Grand Witch. Now, it’s up to her to draw out her dormant magic, rescue her sister and stop an impending heavenly war threatening to eradicate the human race all while staying alive.

This is our line up for this week! We hope you guys enjoy this week's reviews and posts!! <3

Our Week In Review ( June 20, 2016 ~ June 24, 2016)

Book Review: Bees In Loretta's Bonnet (Lois Wickstrom)

Bees in Loretta's Bonnet

By: Lois Wickstrom

Genre: Children's

 When Loretta dropped her armload of firewood on the hearth, a mysterious tube fell from between the logs. It was a leafcutter bee nest. Loretta took it back out to the woodpile and watched as holes appeared. But where were the bees?

She found more holes appearing in leaves on her rose bushes. And even some of the rose petals. But where were the bees?

Leafcutter bees are more efficient than honey bees for pollinating gardens. The book includes instructions for building a nest that may lure wild bees to your yard.

**WE WERE GIVEN A COPY OF THIS BOOK, IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

So, before I begin I must say that I am not at an age where I am 'qualified' to read children's books....but we're very welcoming on CommonBookSense, so I review them anyway ('sides, it's not like there's a 5 year old running a book review blog...who am I kidding, this is the internet.

Anywho, onto the review!

Bees in Loretta's Bonnet is an easy to understand children's book. I can see it being in elementary school libraries. I especially liked the little how-to at the end. I can see teachers using it in their classrooms. Personally, Shell and I have enough bees migrating from our bee-keeping-neighbor's yard to keep our non-existing flowers looking spiffy, so I didn't try it...It did look rather simple...again, like you'd see in a elementary classroom....or maybe a biology class.

The subject matter is very easy to follow and understand. I think I could have read it in second grade, but I think it'd be enjoyable for kids that're like....six to nine? I don't know, I was reading Harry Potter and Twilight when I was ten (I actually finished both series in a semester, so my A.R. goal was reached within the first week of a new quarter....Go small(er) Kailei!), so I'm not a proper judge of these things.

Overall, this is a good book to get your children. I really liked the colorful art work, it tied everything together nicely.

As always, all the links will be below! The author sent us a physical copy of this book, so if you would like us to host a giveaway with it, comment on this post, or our tweet/facebook post!

Keep your noses in the pages, my lovelies. I'll blog you later!!

Purchase this book through

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IndieBound,

or

Smashwords

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