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I hate traveling! Such a hassle: moving luggage, living out of a suitcase, dealing with the cold, irritating relatives and not having the freedom to write. However, it did give me a great deal of time to read. I've finished four books this week. Here are three of my reviews. Please support these writers, you probably know them from their blogs.

NOTES FROM NADIR
Writer: Lisa Maliga
Blog: http://notesfromnadir.blogspot.com/
Kindle: here
Price: $2.99 (ebook) 
Genre: Literary Fiction

How I read it: Kindle

Synopsis: "Notes from Nadir" is Lisa Maliga's fictionalized tale of discovering that the past is never quite through with you -- even if you think it is. She's a determined writer who leaves her Midwestern home to become a Hollywood screenwriter. After years of working a series of temp jobs and almost making it in Los Angeles, financial troubles force her return to the flyover country she's renamed Nadir.
Lisa moves in with her ailing Mom, tries to find work, meets her relatives, and attempts to adapt to a much smaller city filled with memories of her younger, more hopeful self.
If noon is Zenith then Nadir is 6:30. And it was 6:29 and counting down. Way down.

My Thoughts: This book reads like a memoir and I think it's because it is. Honestly, I wasn't sure I could get through it because it started at an odd point in the character's life. However, after I started, I couldn't put it down. Seriously.

Why? It boils down to one thing: The writer is an amazing story teller. The way she describes even the most mundane events drew me in. I had to know what was going to happen next. I can't compare this book to any other books I've read because it isn't. If this isn't a true story, you'll believe it is.

The ending really surprised me and it left such a impact, I'm sure I'm not going to forget this novel in a long time. This is part one in the series. The second book is a must read for me.

Pick up this novel and support a debut author!

THE HATING GAME
Writer: Talli Roland
Blog: http://talliroland.blogspot.com/
Kindle: here
Price: $2.99 (ebook)
Genre: Chicklit

How I read it: Kindle

Synopsis: When man-eater Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she's confident she'll sail through to the end without letting down the perma-guard she's perfected from years of her love 'em and leave 'em dating strategy.

After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £200,000 prize? Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it's revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes.

Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end?

My Thoughts: I had no expectations going into this book. I don't normally read this type of genre so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised.

What did I love? I loved the intro of every chapter. Talli made up quotes and statistics to match each chapter and they're really funny! Also, I loved the relevance of the novel. She discussed the reality of reality shows and I thought added a uniqueness to her novel.

I have to admit, I didn't really feel a connection to the characters at first because the main character was a bit harsh (IMHO) however, by the end, I HAD to know what was going to happen to Mattie. The author explained the reasons why Mattie had issues with men and the men she picked were so humorous!

Pick up this novel and support a debut author!

DON'T FALL ASLEEP
Writer:  Laura Eno
Blog: http://lauraeno.blogspot.com/
Kindle: here
Price: $1.99 (ebook) 
Genre: Science Fiction/Thriller

How I read it: Kindle

Synopsis: In the 27th century, a select few have the ability to weave dreams for others. They ply their addictive trade, calling themselves Dream Merchants.

Rarer still are those who can assassinate people while they dream…

Newly arrived on Altair IV, Cassandra Dade works her profession as a Dream Assassin according to her own code of ethics. She's beautiful, rich and running from her past—a past which is about to catch up with her.

The partner she trains might be all that stands between her and mental destruction, a fate worse than death. But does his own secret agenda set them on a collision course with disaster?

My Thoughts: This is a science fiction novel. At first I thought it was written from a YA group but the content is a bit graphic for that. I'm not much of a science fiction/fantasy reader myself so I can't compare it to other books of the same genre.

It's set in the future and not on planet earth. Eno does not describe the planet and its race in much detail: They live in domes and the inhabitants look the same as humans on earth. The main characters come from earth. I didn't mind this because I'm more of a character/plot reader.

What you may like about the book: (a)It's got a similar theme to the newly released film Inception. If you like the concept of entering dreams, you may like this book. I think we will be seeing more and more books along this line and she's one of the first authors (to my knowledge) to write a trilogy about it. (b) Both of the characters are good-looking and for some readers it's important. (c) I really loved the background of the female main character. I only wished the author had discussed it more. Perhaps she will as the trilogy continues.

What you may not like: (a)The author spends a lot of time going on walks and exploring the planet. I found that these walks did not advance the plot and I wanted her to get back to the dreams. (b) Also, I wished the author had a stronger plotline. I didn't know what the MC's were striving for sometimes. I know one of the main characters was in training but I didn't feel the plot propelled me enough to keep reading. 

Pick up this novel and support a debut author!