To Parts Unknown - John Anthony Miller

                To Parts Unknown is a thrilling book with so much action that it should be a movie. Set in 1942 in Singapore during the Japanese invasion, George is a journalist trying to escape memories of his dead wife. George meets Thomas, a mysterious man who seems to have unlimited resources, know everyone and has intel on military operations. George also comes across Lady Jane who is also, like George, trying to escape parts of her past. All three must try to flee Singapore before the Japanese invade. The book follows these three along their journey as well as other interesting characters as they jump from trains, kill enemy soldiers and, for two characters, fall in love. It is a very fast paced and edge-of-your-seat book. I loved the setting of Singapore during the war and a particularly poignant part involving a singing little girl before a bomb hits. The author described the scene so well that it was heart breaking and really brought home how horrible war was for these people. The author obviously did a lot of research about life on Singapore during this time and it really added to the believability of the book. The characters were also wonderful and even though I suspected Thomas’s secret, there were still some twists near the end. This book absorbed my attention and I couldn’t put it down. The cover fit the time period of the book and it read perfectly on my ereader. I can’t wait to read more written by John Anthony Miller.

Hope For Garbage - Alex Tully

                Trevor has had his fair share of tragedies in his young life so it’s no wonder he finds solace in The Box, his uncle’s garage, where he fixes up items he has found in the trash and then donates them to people in need. With above average intelligence, poor self-esteem and lack of money, Trevor’s life isn’t easy, but then he meets Bea. Bea is pretty, smart and rich but she has her own problems, mainly two parents who don’t care about her or each other. Trevor and Bea form a beautiful relationship but then something happens that rips everyone’s lives apart and changes things forever. Hope For Garbage is a good read and would be of particular interest to teenage girls. It has a good looking guy, a pretty girl and romance, everything most girls look for in a story. It is an easy read and fairly fast to get through. The story is entertaining enough that it keeps the reader from wanting to put the book down.  The characters are believable as is the dialogue, something not always achieved by young adult authors. It is in digital format as well as paperback. I read digital and it formatted well to my ereader. The cover caught my eye and the book is well worth reading.

A Walk in the Sun - Lisa Dominique Machat

                A Walk in the Sun is the first book written by new author Lisa Dominique Machat and it is quite a good one. Set in the 19^th century, Nicholas is seventeen when he is attacked and becomes a vampire. Deeply in love with Elena, he takes her to Paris where their love is tested as evil forces try to destroy them. This is quite a short book (198 pages) compared to most I’ve read in this genre but, although compact, the story is very well written and enjoyable to read. It moves quickly with an easy flow and excellent character development. The reader is introduced to Nicholas’s life before he becomes a vampire and follows his love with Elena. There’s also an interesting twist at the end that I wasn’t expecting and Nicholas’s story is left open so that there may be future books about his adventures. Although mainly a romance there is also a fair bit of mystery and action for those seeking those genres. I love the setting of Victorian England and 19^th century Paris as described by the author. The book formatted to my ereader very well and the cover was interesting. This is a fast paced action and romantic book that is sure to entertain.