Unstoppble - S.R. Johannes

Unstoppable - S.R. Johannes (author)

Overview: 

After everything that has happened, Grace moves to the Everglades to live with her grandmother, Birdee, and hang out with old man Rex, Birdee's "friend with benefits". Grace quickly befriends Dylan, Rex's nephew, and Dylan's girlfriend, Sadie, who is a die-hard teen activist. Sadie spends her time leading protests against the roadside zoos that run rampant in Florida with a total disregard for animals or the flimsy law.

One day while out in the marshes of the Everglades, Grace and her friends rescue an abused—and endangered—Florida panther. She and Birdee spend time rehabilitating the animal. But when the panther runs off, Grace follows it to Uncle Bob's, a large roadside zoo they all have been protesting. One that is illegally filled with a variety of endangered and exotic animals. Before she can rescue the panther, she and her friends are kidnapped by the ruthless owner and dragged deep into the Everglades for a hunting challenge. 

Only this time, Grace is the prey. 

During a sick game of cat and mouse, Grace and her friends are offered one chance at survival, but only if they reach civilization before being caught. With a small head start and very little supplies, only time and skill stand between the hunter and the hunted. But out in the Everglades, there may be more dangers than Grace realizes.

Against all odds, Grace must make it out alive and win, or everything she holds dear could be lost.

My Thoughts:

Unstoppable was a fast paced, action filled book. It was over way too quickly. Being an outdoor lover, I easily fell in love with the outdoorsy nature of these books and the conservation that is added throughout. You don't see these outdoor type books often enough these days. I think that is what draws me to these books. 

Grace is a little too impulsive and there are times I want to tie her up, just to make her stop for two seconds before running off wildly into danger as she is so good at doing. In reality, however, she is a great character. I love Mo, always to her rescue, her knight in shining armor, or should I say ranger in shining armor? I gotta admit, the bird stole the show for me.  Love, love, loved the bird in the book. What a crack up and I am pretty sure I would have reacted the same way Grace does to him. Hard not to love the little nuisance. 

This is a great series to check out if your looking for a change of pace from your typical reads. Highly recommend them.

Author's website: S.R. Johannes 

Flowers in the Attic Revisted

Flowers in The Attic - V.C Andrews (publisher)

Overview

A major Lifetime movie event—the novel that captured the world's imagination and earned V.C. Andrews a fiercely devoted fanbase. Book One of the Dollanganger Family series.

At the top of the stairs there are four secrets hidden. Blond, beautiful, innocent, and struggling to stay alive…

They were a perfect family, golden and carefree—until a heartbreaking tragedy shattered their happiness. Now, for the sake of an inheritance that will ensure their future, the children must be hidden away out of sight, as if they never existed. Kept on the top floor of their grandmother’s vast mansion, their loving mother assures them it will be just for a little while. But as brutal days swell into agonizing months and years, Cathy, Chris, and twins Cory and Carrie realize their survival is at the mercy of their cruel and superstitious grandmother…and this cramped and helpless world may be the only one they ever know.

My Thoughts:

I have always loved this book and when offered the chance to feature it, I jumped at it. This author is one my mom and I read together when I was a teenager and it brings back so many memories.  Imagine spending your life in hiding under the thumb of a crazy woman. Everytime I think about this book or re read it, it never fails to give me the creeps. A book that can do that over and over again is worth reading in my eyes.

It was re released because Lifetime has made a movie for it. I was not a fan of the first rendition but I do have higher hopes for this one and will be checking it out on Lifetime Movies January 18th.

Lifetime

V.C. Andrews