US of Books Tour - Geek Love by Katherine Dunn **review by Serena M. Agusto-Cox**

Entertainment Weekly chose Geek Love for Oregon. The magazine said, "A twisted couple populate their freak show with their own children in this modern classic. It's weird, carnivalesque, and unnerving: not unlike Portland on a given night. Need more? Kurt Cobain was a fan."

Source: Audible
Audiobook, 15+ hours

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, narrated by Christina Moore, is a family saga of love, obsession, and revenge among the freaks at the Binewski traveling show. In many ways this novel reminded me of American Horror Story: Freak Show. Al and Lil populate the show with their own children, those they have disfigured by ensuring Lil drinks and subjects herself to all manner of poisons, insecticides, and other torturous devices. Their efforts to save the traveling carnival from bankruptcy requires more than traditional dwarfs and extraordinarily tall men and women. The Binewskis have concluded that the rise of basketball and other entertainments have made these traditional freak show

participants obsolete.

Much of this is narrated by Oly, an albino hunchback, as she recalls the past and her brother Arturo the Aquaboy, who became so consumed with jealousy, that he would do anything to be on top and take over the carnival from his father. Oly, despite being a hunchback, is on the outside of the clan, and she's treated more as a servant than a family member, even by the brother she loves beyond all reason. While her relatives seek to get by under Arturo's reign or escape it, Oly seeks to bind herself to him in the only way she knows.

Dunn's novel examines the love inside an family of freaks, but it really could apply to any family, especially if jealousies are allowed free reign and grow out of control. What's interesting is how much Oly is unlike her family in that she sees the "norms" as not something to be despised, but as something that could be loved. Her transformation and distance from her family is complete later on in the novel when she gives birth.

Christina Moore does an admirable job with the narration, and it is easy to follow each character. However, the setting in Oregon is not front-and-center and many times, readers will forget that the carnival is even in the state, particularly when other cities in other states are more frequently mentioned like Spokane. Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, narrated by Christina Moore, takes a while to get used to, and there is some very strong language and sexual content that some readers would not prefer. Overall, the novel was just plain odd.

RATING: Tercet (3 stars)

About the Author:

Katherine Dunn is best known for her beloved novel "Geek Love," which was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1989. She is also the author of the novels "Attic" (1970) and "Truck" (1971). A fourth novel, entitled "The Cut Man," has been in-progress for decades and was purportedly scheduled for a September 2008 release.

Dunn is also known as a prolific sports journalist in the field of boxing, and has written several articles on the subject.

Heart of a Savage by Lashanta Charles **Cover Reveal**

Romance – NA, Sports, Urban

Release Date: December 20, 2016

Bailey O'Malley has spent her whole life catering to others. Her introverted and nurturing personality wouldn't allow her to do anything else. She used to enjoy it. Taking care of people made her happy. Until her father died. Nothing mattered after that. In an attempt to protect her, her father gave Connor, her boyfriend, too much leeway and ended up trapping her. Connor was supposed to protect her, be her rock - some rocks need to be tossed as far away as possible. She only has one source of happiness now, her son, and if Connor doesn't get his way he'll take that joy from her as well.

Dominic Prince only has one mission in life: forget his past. Forget the pain, forget the drama, and forget the loss. He's guarded and secretive and that's the way he likes it and he was doing a damn good job of keeping it that way. Until her. Bailey showed up and his life became a minefield. He can't decide if he wants to kiss her or shake her, but he does know that he'll fight to keep her safe. He'll be as savage as he is in the octagon, outside of it.

Neither of them wants to allow cracks in their armor, but the past has a way of sneaking into the present. Their secrets will tear them to shreds. Hearts will be shattered, bonds will be broken, and what was done in the dark will come to light. Will they survive it?

About the Author

LaShanta Charles was born and raised in the small town of Orangeburg, SC. She has always been an avid reader of all genres, but Romance has always been her true love and is what inspired her to pursue a writing career. In high school, she began letting her classmates read the short stories that she would write and based off of their feedback, her passion for writing pushed her to become a published author. She published her debut novel, Lovely Lies, in 2013 and released the sequel, Lovely Lies 2, in February 2014. Her third novel, Splitting Karma, was released in October 2014. Currently, she is preparing to release her fourth novel, Heart of A Savage, with a prospective release date of December 20,2016. In recognition of her work, LaShanta was named National Black Book Festival's 2013 Best New Author and was nominated for 2013 Breakout Author of the Year through the African American Literary Awards Show. Lovely Lies was also awarded Most Underrated Book of 2013 for the Literary Scream Awards.

Currently she lives in Yelm, WA, with her husband and three children. She is pursuing a degree in English at Drury University and also serving in the US Army. Her hobbies include spending time with family, sleeping, reading, eating, and of course, writing. Her motto is “strive to excel, not to equal.”

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Madam President: The Secret Presidency of Edith Wilson by William Elliott Hazelgrove **Review**

Peek behind the scenes at Edith Wilson, the first woman president.
After President Woodrow Wilson suffered a paralyzing stroke in the fall of 1919, his wife, First Lady Edith Wilson, began to handle the day-to-day responsibilities of the Executive Office. Mrs. Wilson had had little formal education and had only been married to President Wilson for four years; yet, in the tenuous peace following the end of World War I, Mrs. Wilson assumed the authority of the office of the president, reading all correspondence intended for her bedridden husband and assuming his role for seventeen long months. Though her Oval Office presence was acknowledged in Washington, D.C. circles at the time--one senator called her "the Presidentress who had fulfilled the dream of suffragettes by changing her title from First Lady to Acting First Man"--her legacy as "First Woman President" is now largely forgotten.

William Hazelgrove's Madam President is a vivid, engaging portrait of the woman who became the acting President of the United States in 1919, months before women officially won the right to vote. A Selection of the History Book Club, Military Book Club and Conservative Book Club.

Review:

This was a fascinating read. I am so happy I had the chance to review this book. This story is about Woodrow Wilson's second wife Edith Wilson and how she took the role or job of keeping the government running smoothly as possible after her president husband, Wilson, was incapacitated after his stroke. Basically behaving as the President. I loved the history of this book, the page turning quality this book had, and showing that the right woman can be in the role of presidency. 
I personally tend to be analytical, and this book not only took my on an analytical exploration of this time in history, inside the white house, but allowed me to tap into my analytical side while reading the book. And lastly, I loved the twists and little pinch of secrecy that this story held, and not the secret that Wilson's wife basically held office...

I recommend this book!

I received the unedited ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Torn Asunder (North Korea #3) by Alana Terry **Review**

After graduating from the Secret Seminary, Hannah and Simon are ready to return to their homeland. Their training has equipped them to carry the gospel to a country ravaged by darkness and despair. If necessary, they’re even prepared to face the North Korean labor camps, but the hardest part of their mission isn’t the hunger, cold, and incessant danger. The hardest part is cutting off contact with one another. In this world of spies, secret police, and informants, Hannah and Simon learn that staying together won't compromise their ministry. It could cost them both their lives.

Two undercover missionaries delivering a single message of hope. Two Christians willing to die for the sake of the Good News. One love – more powerful than terror, more beautiful than life, and more dangerous than either of them could possibly imagine.

A love so strong, nothing but the grave could overcome it. 

***Torn Asunder is part of the Whispers of Refuge series branched off from Alana Terry’s award-winning debut, The Beloved Daughter. These suspense novels tell the stories of contemporary North Koreans and can be read together or separately from Alana’s other books.****

*****The link is for the other books in the series******

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This story was so good. It started out little slow and dry for me, but once I got to the second and third chapter, the pace quickened for me. I think a lot of people who aren't christian who read christian mystery books, such as this one, expect it to be light, corny, and a little cheesy. This was anything but that. Once you get into the story line, and build a rapport with the characters, it becomes intense and scary at times. Keeping you on your toes, at the edge of your seat. 
Just thinking about their journey...escaping North Korea just to be forced to return. This story (and series) shines a bright light on the love of Christ that people that are Christians have as well as the love between the two main characters, Hannah and Simon. I haven't read the other books in this series, but I am definitely going to now.  

This book/book series is recommended!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.