About Me

The story behind A Book A Week, and the reader behind the reviews.

It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Back in 2011, I was an avid reader who had somehow lost my way with reading. Between working and being a full-time student, reading for pleasure had slowly fallen by the wayside.

I wanted to change that. So I gave myself a New Year's resolution to read one book every week for a year. I started A Book A Week on January 1, 2012 as a way to hold myself accountable and share what I was reading along the way.

I didn't quite reach my goal that first year, but I kept reading. I kept reviewing. And all these years later, I'm still here, looking forward to whatever book comes next. Some years I crush my goals, some years I don't, but my love for a good book has never wavered.

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Hi, I'm Ethan

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

I'm a lifelong reader with a particular soft spot for mysteries and thrillers. I've always loved the genre, and I credit those stories—the twists, suspense, and need to know what happens next—with keeping me a reader as an adult. My reading has taken me in all kinds of directions since then, but I'll always come back to a good mystery.

I love creepy horror novels. A fascinating work of nonfiction can completely pull me in, too. And I've found plenty of favorites in science fiction, literary fiction, romance, and other genres I might never have picked up when I first started the blog. That's part of the fun. I never quite know what kind of story is going to grab me next.

When I'm not reading or writing reviews, you'll usually find me at home with my husband and our pets. I'm a classically trained musician and composer, an enthusiastic home cook, and a backyard gardener. There's usually a trip to look forward to or some new project that has caught my interest, too.

At the end of the day, I just really love books. There's nothing quite like discovering a story I can't put down or finding an author I can't wait to read again. Even when a book doesn't quite work for me, I still enjoy thinking about why and putting those thoughts into words. That's what keeps me reading, reviewing, and sharing it all here on A Book A Week.

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Review Disclaimer

Honest reviews, always.

Some of the books I review are ones I've purchased myself. Others are provided by publishers or authors in exchange for an honest review. Either way, what I write here is always what I really think.

Not every book is going to work for every reader, and that's part of the fun of talking about books. I'll tell you what worked for me, what didn't, and hopefully give you enough to decide whether a book might be right for you.

Good, bad, or somewhere in between, you'll always get my honest take.

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Have a question about the blog, a book you think I should read, or just want to say hello? I'd love to hear from you.

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I'm always open to considering books for review. I read across a pretty wide range of genres, though mysteries and thrillers tend to be particular favorites. If you'd like me to consider a book, send along a little information about it and why you think it might be a good fit for A Book A Week.

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Book Review

The Mansion by Ezekiel Boone

Friday, October 25, 2019

A Book A Week
Review / archive
Although it has officially been fall for a couple of weeks now, it seems that Texas has missed the memo. Sure, we flirted with a few cooler mornings, but the average temperatures have stayed in the high 80's to low 90's.  Needless to say, it has been difficult to get into the spirit of the season. In an attempt to "fall" into the season any way that I can, I turned to another seasonal mainstay, spooky stories.  The Mansion by Ezekiel Boone seemed like just what the doctor ordered.  After all, iced pumpkin spiced lattes can only take you so far!

Years ago, Shawn and Billy did the impossible. Fueled by a combination of youthful zeal and thirst to push the limits of technology, they jointly developed Eagle Logic. The pair secluded themselves in a shack on Shawn's family property. The dilapidated mansion lingered over their meager dwellings as they worked sleepless nights to realize their dream. While they had to settle a bit to conform with the realities of what was technologically feasible, Eagle Logic was still a huge success. Their system quickly became the most profitable in the world.

Years later, Billy is surprised to hear from Shawn. The pair had a falling out over the woman who soon became Billy's wife. Billy chose love, and Shawn chose the company. Shawn is the billionaire CEO of the largest tech company in the world. Billy is a recovering alcoholic with maxed out credit cards and chronic depression. Shawn will never admit to screwing Billy out of a large fortune and stake in the company, but he has to admit that Billy is the only person who can help him take his company to the next level. For Billy, the opportunity is too great to pass up, even if it means confronting the darkness of their shared past.

In The Mansion, Ezekiel Boone brings modernity and technology to a classic haunted house story. I've deliberately refrained from giving away too much plot because the book works better if you go in blind. I almost stopped reading this one at first. Boone takes a very long time to establish his characters and set up the main premise. To be fair, the characters are very well developed, and they have a rich history that adds to the believability of the story. Still, the book really doesn't get going until the second half. Once the Boone places his literary foot on the gas, he doesn't release it until the novel comes to a shocking end.  However flawed it may be, The Mansion is an adequate beginning to the spooky season.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2019, 33)

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6 Comments

Comments

  1. This sounds like a good read for the season.

    And I now have to get a iced pumpkin spice latte tonight lol

    Karen @ For What It's worth

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    1. You can't go wrong with a spooky read and everything pumpkin spice!

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  2. I give you extra points for sticking with it. I am terrible with slow starts, and usually give up, though I always worry that maybe I quit before the good part. I hope the weather by you catches up with the season

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    Replies
    1. I'm not sure this one is worth the effort, unfortunately.

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  3. This one was on my list for a while, but I never seemed to feel compelled to start it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you would have to be in the right mood for this one.

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