An American Cage by Ted Galdi

Synopsis:

Three inmates break out of a maximum-security prison in Texas, one of them Danny Marsh, a suburban kid in his twenties who landed in jail because of a crime he never intended to commit.

An American Cage follows Danny and his two escape partners over a twenty-four-hour period as they struggle to cross Texas to freedom in Mexico. On this dangerous journey, Danny has to evade the rabid Texas authorities, and even worse, the schemes of one of his closest allies, who isn't who he seems.

Review:

So I managed to read this book in like 6 hours, it was so good I really couldn't put it down so it wasn't much of a surprise for me to read it all in one go. 

Danny Marsh is 24 years old, after one error of judgment one night after a dinner out with his colleagues he ends up behind bars at Crick Maximum Security Prison located in Texas. He was often a victim of panic attacks until he was housed with a new cellmate, the soft spoken Professor Phil Zorn who's forty-ish and a neuroscience researcher and was able to offer Danny father-like support and encouragement. It is then no surprise that when Phil plans a prison break, Danny, as well as ghetto raised Monty Montgomery support the escape plan.

I don't want to run through the book bit by bit and ruin it from anyone so I'll leave it there but as soon as you open the book you are thrown right into the action, it's a gripping piece of writing all the right way through. We see all of this over a 24 hour period, the time is filled by great characterizations and relentless action which helps the time pass super quickly. The characters are perfectly crafted and well developed throughout the story which juts makes it all the more wonderful. 

Although there are three main characters and point of view, we see some of the story through other characters eyes which only deepens the link between story and reader. It was lovely to see the book broken up by changes in the POV which helped give the reader a look a all angles of the story including the police and the family of those involved. 

I wasn't expecting the ending to play out like it did, it was a great surprise and I actually loved it more than I probably should. This books was truly great, even much so that on Instagram where I was hosting a book tag in August I named this book my favourite book of the year so far. Ted Galdi crafted a great book with great characters and executed it all perfectly and even though I didn't know what exactly to expect from this book when I first opened it, I fell in love with what came from it in the end. I cant give this book anything less that the 5/5 it deserves, and I can only recommend this book to anyone out there who wants to be surprised and immersed in action.

Than you to Ted who provided a copy of the book for an honest review, it was an honour.

Chasing Eveline - Leslie Hauser

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Ivy Higgins is the only student at Carmel Heights High School who listens to cassettes. And her binder is the only one decorated with album artwork by 80s band Chasing Eveline. Despite being broken-up since 1989, this rock band out of Ireland means everything to Ivy. They’re a reminder of her mom, who abandoned Ivy and her dad two years ago. Now the music of her mom’s favorite band is the only connection she has left.

Even though Ivy wavers between anger and a yearning to reconnect, she’s one-hundred percent certain she’s not ready to lose her mom forever. But the only surefire way to locate her would be at a Chasing Eveline concert. So with help from her lone friend Matt—an equally abandoned soul and indie music enthusiast—Ivy hatches a plan to reunite the band.

The road to Ireland won’t be easy, though. And not just because there is no road. Along the way they’ll have to win over their Lady Gaga-loving peers, tangle with some frisky meerkats, and oh yeah, somehow find and persuade the four members to play a reunion gig. It’s a near-impossible task, but Ivy has to try. If she can’t let go of the past, she’ll never be able to find joy in the present.

Review:

Chasing Eveline is the story of a 16 year old girl named Ivy, one day her mother got up and just left her, leaving her to be raised by her father even though he himself is dealing with the loss and abandonment.

Ivy has only 1 connection  with her mom and that is through her mom's favourite band from the 80s called Chasing Eveline. All of the songs take her to a place with her mother where the memories are fresh and they are happy.

Together with her friend Matt who himself is struggling with a break up, try to get Chasing Eveline back together and they try to get the band new love from teenagers in creative ways and it made my heart melt how determined they both are in these activities because it was just that important to them. In the end they meet a boy named Sean who they quickly become friends with due to his love for the band too. Up to this point as a reader you really don't know which way this book is going and let me tell you there's plot twists in there.

The best part of this entire book to me was that it was a realistic story told about a teen girl dealing with pain and grief. She was strong in her broken heartedness. She was strong and determined and so real. The ending of the book was perfect, I mean they struggle hard throughout so any sort of reward at the end was going to be worth it but the end was such a great reward for them. Its a story of friendship and love, family and acknowledgment and acceptance. Just pure brilliance.

I feel as though this is YA novel that anyone can read no matter their age. Its heart warming and heart breaking, food for the soul, sewn together with love and written so perfectly. I cried and laughed, I experienced emotions with these characters and their lives, a great book does this and Leslie has done an amazing job here.

For all of this alone it is a 5/5 from me and a recommendation to anyone, I believe there is so much more for me to say but I can't quite put it into perfect enough words to express it. I really hope that I can read more of Leslies work in the future because Chasing Eveline with stay with me.