Top 5 Wednesday: Top 5 Favorite Self-Published Books

This week's Top 5 Wednesday is our Top 5 Favorite Self-Published Books. This post is going to be very disappointing, because I don't have 5 Favorite Self-Published books. I don't read that many Self-Published books, and when I do, it's because the author and their work got popular enough for a publishing house to pick them up. So, for this post I really only have one book/series that I know for sure started off as self-published. Maybe in the coming years I'll read more self-published books.

1. The First Days (As the World Dies Book 1) by Rhiannon Frater: I loved this book so much. It's zombies, I love zombie, end of the world books. This is the first book in a series, and I've read the first two books. I really need to read the third because I know I'll love it. This series might not be everyones thing, but it's what I like. It follows two women as the zombie outbreak occurs. They come together and then meet up with other survivors. If you like The Walking Dead, I think you'll like this. Now this series started off life as being self-published and got really popular, eventually getting picked up and re-released by a publishing house. It's so good.

So that's the only self-published book I could think of to put on this list. I know of other self-published books, but I couldn't put them on my favorite list because I haven't read them yet. Like one day, I'm gonna get around to reading something by Amanda Hocking. Her name is like synonymous with self-publishing success. If you know of any good self-published books, let me know. I obviously need to broaden my horizons.

So that's my Top 5 Wednesday. What are your favorite self-published masterpieces? Let me know in the comments below. If you want to join in on the Top 5 Wednesday fun, you totally should. Each Wednesday is a new topic to consider and enjoy. Check out all the other Top 5 Wednesday-ers here!

Review: Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix

Title: Horrorstor

Author: Grady Hendrix

Published by: Quirk Books

Released: 2014

Summary: Welcome to Orsk! The number one furniture superstore in the USA. Visit our store and experience the Orsk way of life.

Amy works at Orsk, but don't go to her if you want a happy Orsk employee story. She's just working there until she decides what she wants to do next. Weird things have been happening at her store. Every morning, employees walk in to find broken furniture, dirty furniture, and broken odds and ends. This Orsk location is losing money and the big wigs want to know why.

When Amy is approached by Deputy Manager Basil with a proposition, she's suspicious. Amy's not Basil's biggest fan. She's pretty sure Basil is just looking for a chance to fire her. Basil has been put under a lot of stress to find out what's going on at the store between closing and opening hours. Basil asks Amy to work a dusk-til-dawn shift with him and Ruth Anne to find out just what is going on at Orsk.

My Thoughts: I flew through this one so fast and had such a good time reading it. It was fun and had this weird, creepy edge to it. I wasn't expecting the brand of creepy that it introduced. I knew it was supposed to be a scary/haunted house type book, but it was more scary weird than I expected. This was a lot of fun.

One thing that I've come to expect from Quirk Books is really cool designed reads. Reading one is an experience. All the added design extras just make the books that much more fun to read.

I wasn't necessarily the biggest fan of our main character Amy. She wasn't a happy person from the start and just has this way of disliking people for no real reason. She has this beef with Basil, the deputy manager, and I think she just dislikes him because he's slightly younger than her and a deputy manager. From what I saw of Basil, he seemed like a nice guy that was kind of looking out for Amy. So yeah, Amy wasn't my favorite character ever.

I also enjoyed all the little hidden extras in the story. I loved the showcasing of Orsk furniture at the start of each chapter and the subtle changes as the story goes on. I also found it funny how each item number contained a 666. Those were just fun, little extras.

I also enjoyed the scary story told in this book. It was different than what I was expecting; more disturbing, scary, and weird. I very much enjoyed it. I think the odd scariness elevated the story a little. It was just a fun weird and I enjoyed it.

Horrorstor was a whole lot of scary fun, I flew through it and very much enjoyed the journey. I'd definitely recommend it for a fun, Halloween read.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

Welcome to Orsk, the store that will never let you leave! Mwahahahaaa

Reading Right Now! (#47)

This week's Reading Right Now! is...

Title: Shadowlands (Shadowlands #1)

Author: Kate Brian

I am on page 209 and am roughly 62% through this book

This one is very twisty, turn-y, and mysterious. I've really been enjoying it. It's about this girl named Rory Miller who is targeted and attacked by a serial killer. It's a killer who has been on the loose for years and has never been caught. Rory manages to get away and alerts the police, but of course the killer has flown the coop. Rory and her family aren't safe anymore, so the FBI puts them in witness protection. Their new cover places them on this idyllic coastal/island town. The only two ways on the island are by boat or by ferry. This island isn't exactly as it seems though. There is no internet or cell reception on the island. They've entered a dead zone, with no way to get in touch with any friends or family. And Rory has attracted the interest of the popular kids on the island for reasons unbeknownst to her. Uncovering this island's secrets is going to be Rory's next mission.

This book is soooo fun to read. It's really fast-paced and quick, and the mystery just has me guessing. There's this mysterious/eerie sort of vibe that runs through the whole book, and I'm just really enjoying it. It's the first book in a trilogy and I'm definitely going to be picking up the others ASAP, so I have them when I finish this one. At this point, I'd definitely recommend this for a read.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! Tell me what you're reading. Or if you've read this book, tell me your thoughts on it. 

Review: Patient Zero (Joe Ledger Book 1) by Jonathan Maberry

Title: Patient Zero (Joe Ledger Book 1)

Author: Jonathan Maberry

Published by: St. Martin's Griffin

Released: 2009

Summary: When Joe Ledger kills a terrorist, he sure doesn't expect to get attacked by that same terrorist later in the week. Joe is yanked from his life and job, and is recruited to join a special organization called DMS, whose main goal is to protect the security of America from the living, and as of now, the dead. Joe and his special team of operatives must find and neutralize a group of terrorists who plan on releasing a zombie pathogen on the American population. Patient Zero is full of action, adventure, and sends thrills and chills to readers now imagining the horrors of zombies and terrorists.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this first book in the Joe Ledger series. It was full of action and thrills as Joe and his team combat a terrifying enemy never before seen on Earth.

I feel like I misled myself on this book because I went into it expecting a full blown, zombie novel, and while it did contain some of the zombie mayhem that I love, it also contained a lot more. This novel wasn't just a zombie novel, it also contained military, terrorists, action, thrills, intense fight scenes, and secret government organizations. This is not a zombie novel, instead it is an intense thriller that shows the horrors that could ensue if terrorists ever got their hands on dangerous disease pathogens and tried to unleash them on the American populace. Terrorists using zombies as a weapon of mass destruction is terrifying.

Maberry did a great job writing an edge-of-your seat thriller, where the fate of humanity rests upon the shoulders of Joe Ledger and his elite team.

It was hard for me to connect with Joe Ledger sometimes. Throughout the majority of the novel, he was a little too macho man for me. Also, he seemed to have no problem jumping into this secret organization and leading a team, which he had never done before. I also questioned his ability to figure things out so quickly. Joe Ledger seems to be more superhuman than the mortal guy he's supposed to be. Those were my only issues with the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of it, even though military thriller books aren't my go to reads.

I really enjoyed Joe Ledger's adventures and can't wait to see how he saves the world in the next one. If you're looking for a crazy, thrill ride, Patient Zero is it!

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.8/5

Terrorists + Zombies = Terrifying!

Top 5 Wednesday: Top 5 Favorite Fandoms

Fandoms are so much fun. Knowing you love a book, tv show, video game, and knowing there are other people out there that you can gush about it with is just so satisfying. This Top 5 Wednesday is all about our Top 5 Favorite Fandoms (books, tv, movie, etc) I'm not sure I have a full five, but I've definitely got a couple to talk about!!

  

5. The Gone Series by Michael Grant: I love this series. It was so much fun to read and experience. Pure craziness in books. I also had a couple friends that I could gush about this series with. It might not be the biggest fandom I'm involved in, but maybe that's what makes it the most special. I really felt like a true fan instead of one of those people that just jumps on the bandwagon because it is popular. I also recommend this series to anyone and everyone because I want them to experience the pure awesome that it is.

4. Hart of Dixie: I love this show so much. Got sucked into it one day while scrolling through Netflix and wasn't able to escape until I watched every season on there. Then I would go on twitter and tweet while the 4th season was playing on the CW. Sadly, it got canceled, but I love it so much. My friends and family can attest to how wrapped up I got in this show. And also just Wade, so cute.

If you would like to gush over this show with me, you can watch all 4 seasons on Netflix. It's a perfect sort of romantic comedy show that's just a lot of fun. It will make you want to move down south and find your own Bluebell, Alabama.

3. Pirates of the Caribbean: These movies kickstarted my obsession with pirates. This was something that I could gush over with my friends and was just so much fun to watch. I'm excited for the 5th movie coming out eventually. Hopefully it can capture the magic of the other ones and they can bring back some characters that I love. Also Jack Sparrow, Captain Jack Sparrow.

2. The 100: Love Love The 100 so much!! And this fandom is really fun to be a part of. It really just has hit it's stride. It's one of those fandoms that is passionate about the show and who they want to end up together on it. Sure there is some conflict over who should end up with who. And some fandom members can get a little mean with the fighting. But it's so fun to live tweet during the show and just react to what's happening together. Also Bellamy Blake is everything <3 <3

Season 3 premieres January 21st at 9:00 eastern. Mark it on your calendars. It's been such a long, long wait. 

1. Harry Potter: This is the first fandom that I ever became a part of and it's the fandom that I'll be a part of forever. I grew up with Harry Potter. I became friends with kids who loved Harry Potter just as much as me. We went to the book releases, saw the movies together, gave each other Potter nicknames. Harry Potter will always hold a special place in my heart and was kind of a once in a lifetime sort of thing. It was so much fun discussing our theories as the books were coming out and just talking about books. Harry Potter will always be my number one.

So that's it for my Top 5 Favorite Fandoms this Wednesday. If you want to join in on the Top 5 Wednesday fun, you totally should. Each Wednesday there is a new topic to consider and enjoy. Check out all the other Top 5 Wednesday-ers here!

Updates, Explanations, and Other Stuff

You might have noticed that my blog has been a little barren of new posts over the past couple weeks. That was because I went to visit family for Christmas and just was too lazy to schedule any posts. Yes, I am that time of person. Very very lazy. But I am back from Christmas and holiday visiting and am hoping to get back into the swing of things. Doing better with my posts and all that stuff. Being able to schedule posts is one of the best things ever. I think if that option wasn't available to me, my blog would just be so so sad.
I'm also going to try and do better with my Top 5 Wednesday posts. Sometimes I just let those posts slip right past my mind. I enjoy doing them and just need to get better about posting them.
Also, I'm up for other ideas on what you'd like to see on my blog. I have other hobbies and don't know if you'd want to see that on the blog. Tell me your suggestions.
I also thought I'd mention some of my other obsessions and stuff I'm excited for in this post. First and foremost, The 100 is coming back for Season 3 on January 21!!!! Less than 20 days until I get to watch it again. For those that don't know, I'm obsessed with this show.

Also I have a very big OTP that comes from this show. People I ship so hard that it's sad. Bellarke!!

And also just Bellamy, he's so cute and probably my favorite.

So anyway, January 21 at 9:00 pm eastern time needs to be added to your calendar. If you've never heard of The 100 before and would like to watch the show from the beginning, Seasons 1 and 2 are on Netflix and they are awesome. Please consider checking the show out because I need more people to gush over it with. And join me on the Bellarke side.

Because I'm one of those people that television and Netflix just takes over their lives, I've also been super obsessed with the show Person of Interest. I've developed a little bit of a crush on John Reese. 

This show is soooo good. I'm a little scared that it might get cancelled because Season 5 is only going to have 10 episodes and premiere later on in the season. I think I heard that it might come on in the summer, but I'm not sure. It would really suck if it got cancelled just after I have become so obsessed with it. Watch this one on Netflix too. Soooo good and the first 4 seasons are on Netflix.

So that's my updates and then pretty much just my ramblings about shows I'm obsessed with and fandoms. Please join me in gushing over all my favorite things.

Review: Illusive (Illusive #1) by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Title: Illusive (Illusive #1)

Author: Emily Lloyd-Jones

Published by: Little, Brown And Company

Released: July 2014

Summary: The MK virus was one of the deadliest to hit the globe. It killed people all around the world and spread like wildfire. A race was on to find a cure, a vaccination against this deadly disease. When Praevenir hit the market, people lined up for the vaccination. It protected against the MK virus and that was all that mattered, who cares if it hadn't gone through all the FDA tests. Then the side effects hit. Side effects that the world had never seen before. A small, small percentage of the population developed immunities such as: levitation, mind reading, illusions, and other powers. Ciere is an immune and she was blessed or cursed with the gift of illusion. Her immunity makes her a hunted target. The government wants to use her and her gift to their advantage. Ciere instead turns to a life of crime with her mentor Kit. Then the day comes when they become embroiled in something far bigger than they bargained for.

My Thoughts: This was a good time. The whole concept was really cool and fun. I love anything and everything with super powers, and super powered criminals are even better. This was a fast-paced, fun adventure and I really enjoyed reading it. In a way, this kind of felt to me like a distant relative of one of my favorite books Vicious. I felt like I was getting to experience the lives of people with special abilities that Eli hadn't managed to kill yet. Yeah, I liked this and with that ending, I definitely want the sequel soon.

One thing that did drive me crazy at first was having no idea how to pronounce the main character's name. I hate that feeling of seeing this weird name that I have no hope of pronouncing right. It bothers me. Especially when it's a name that I can't figure out on my own. Ciere was that name for me. I actually googled it to figure out how to say it, and I'm so glad that I did. For anyone else with the same hangup as me, it's supposed to be pronounced like Sierra minus the a.

I really enjoyed our band of criminals. The running, evading, and plotting. I thought the world was pretty interesting to read about.

Super powers are always a win. And I really liked the development of the characters. It was interesting to see villains morph into people I didn't hate, some I even rooted for. I am interested to hear more about Daniel in the next book. I wish I could have seen him with Kit and Ciere before he got separated, just so I could gauge what their relationship was like. They might be criminals, but they were also a family.

Really enjoyable book. Fun premise with a really addictive, page-turning quality. Yes, this was good.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

Super Powered Fun!