Tag: The Hero Agenda series

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: My Summer Reading Plan 2019

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: My Summer Reading Plan 2019

Posted on by Jaymie

Last summer was something of a summer reading “FAIL” for me even though I read 69 books. I only read 2 of the six family challenge books I was assigned (I finally read a third later in the year). So this year, we are simplifying yet again for the Family Challenge. Here are some of the things I plan to read this summer.

Family Reading Challenge

We decided that this summer each of us will read the entire Harry Potter series again. It has been ages since we have read the whole thing, although my teen and I have re-read single books here and there. I might even read a couple of them from the illustrated versions we bought but haven’t enjoyed yet.

In addition to Harry, we are only picking one challenge book for each of the other people in the family. I gave both my husband and my teen a stack of books to choose from. If we were doing 2 or 3 books, I would have picked myself but I didn’t have “that one” book I wanted either to read. I have challenged my teen to read Powerless and my husband to read Polaris Rising. My husband and I both were thinking of Scalzi’s Lock In for the teen so he assigned that one. My teen chose #MurderTrending for both parents. And my husband chose Long Road to Mercy for me.  He’s always trying to get me to read more Baldacci!

We are also putting in “prizes” for this year, too, to see if that helps us actually finish the goal by July 31.

#Bookaday

Teachers, librarians and other book fanatics all over social media (Instagram, Twitter) choose to read a book each day of summer vacation. My #bookaday will run from June 1 to July 31, so 61 books in 61 days. And to help with that I have a Kindle full of Advance Reader Copies and my personal TBR pile for the summer.

TBR Books

My top priority for the summer is to get ahead on my review copies. These are some of the ones I am most excited to read.

 

These are some of the new books coming out in June and July that I hope to read.

 

And finally, these are some of the books I want to RE-READ this summer. I am craving a re-reading binge like no one’s business. I am hoping to get ahead on as much as I can in June so I can spend July on reading old favorites – some to get ready for sequels (Ash Princess, Kill the Queen, Lady’s Guide…) and the rest just because I love them.

Aliens Abroad
Ash Princess
It’s Not Me It’s You
Kill the Queen
A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder
A List of Cages
The Names They Gave Us
The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You
Polaris Rising
Prince in Disguise
The Way to the Stars

What are you planning to read this summer?

REVIEW: Relentless by Tera Lynn Childs and Tracy Deebs

REVIEW: Relentless by Tera Lynn Childs and Tracy Deebs

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

After the events of Powerless, Kenna and her friends are in trouble. Rebel’s dad took her and she is acting completely out of character. Draven has  been captured and arrested. He’ll have a sham of a trial so Rex Malone can make an example of him. Kenna’s mom is still missing.

Kenna is determined to find the truth and bring down the “heroes” who have been killing villains and dealing in secrets and lies. With the revelations from Powerless – and more yet to come – her team might have a chance to make things right. Or everything could blow up in their faces.

Review

It’s hard to summarize the second book in a duology (at least, I think this is the end of this series) without giving away some of the important plot twists from book one. This story picks up just a few weeks after the end of Powerless. The characters deal with the immediate issue of their friends’ captures, but the rest of the book is devoted to dealing with the main danger of heroes run amok with mad plans for power and control.

Kenna’s team has come together nicely. There are a couple new romantic relationships (including a gay couple) in the team which increases the tension and danger as they work their plans to take down the bad guys. Everyone is at risk. And there’s no guarantee everyone will make it out of the final confrontations alive.

I liked the blurring of the lines between “hero” and “villain” in both of these books. Kenna goes from a black and white thinker to someone who sees the shades of grey. So she realizes everyone with powers has potential to use their gifts to help others or to pursue their own ends. I wonder what criteria is used in this world for powered people to be marked as villain or hero.

The ending felt a little abrupt. I thought there might be a third book to sort out all the issues the group is facing. But in the end, all of the loose ends wrap up  (even though I would have liked more back story and some blanks in history filled in). Great action packed conclusion! (Some language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Powerless by Tera Lynn Childs and Tracy Deebs

REVIEW: Powerless by Tera Lynn Childs and Tracy Deebs

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

In a world of superheroes and super villains, Kenna is powerless. She lives and works in the hero world, though. Her mom is one of their best scientists. Her best friend’s dad is the President of the Superhero League. Even without powers, Kenna knows what side she’s on. Until that night in the lab…

Three villains break in one night when Kenna is working late. She fights back, even without powers. And the immunity serum her mom has been giving her secretly for years keeps the villains from using their powers against her.

Still, while she survives the attack, it raises a lot of questions for Kenna. What were the villains after? Why would one of them protect her? Why does her mom reference the same secret lab level the villains did and then try to pass it off as a misstatement? Is it possible that the heroes aren’t as awesome and flawless as Kenna always thought?

Maybe, if Kenna sneaks back into the lab, she can find some answers to her questions. Or maybe she will find her whole world turned upside down.

Review

I loved this superhero story! Kenna’s a great, strong character. Even without the protections others enjoy, she doesn’t back down from a fight. She reminds me of some of my favorite female characters from other stories. Even as she wrestles with the things she discovers, her first thought is doing the right thing, no matter what.

The world building is great. I feel like I only have the barest hint of the full picture of the heroes and villains in this story. So many things are yet to be revealed in book 2. I wish I could share more about the world and the story, but I’m afraid that will spoil the story for new readers. I will say I loved the set up  and the various reveals. The story is terrific.

I enjoyed the full cast of characters, not just Kenna. It’s an eclectic group – in powers and in personalities. The twists and turns of the story leaves the team in some disarray by the end. I will need the sequel, Relentless, as soon as possible! (Some language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½