It’s been a most unpredictable week in our world and I hope this Sunday Salon finds everyone safe and enjoying the day. It’s time once again to talk about the books we’ve discovered during the past seven days.This Sunday Salon will be a bit different for me (I know, I keep changing). Today I’m delighted to be a part of author Michael F. Stewart’s Tribute Books Virtual Blog Tour for this YA release, ASSURED DESTRUCTION, by sharing my review.
Since this review is done as part of the author’s tour, I’ll also include some additional information about him and the giveaway being offered with his tour.
Assured Destruction by Michael F. Stewart
Sixteen-year-old Janus ‘Jan’ Rose and her mother own and operate Assured Destruction, a business that repairs/recycles or shreds your computer depending on what you need, out of their home. They are barely managing to stay afloat. With her mother in a wheelchair from MS, Jan does all she can to help out. But being a typical computer savvy teenager, Jan has a secret. Spending long hours with the computers, Jan has created her own ‘computer family’ from the hard drives she has neglected to shred. She has given each their own identify and calls them the Shadownet. Since the hard drives are technically stolen, if the police found out the family would lose their livelihood.
When vicious cyber attacks begin to happen to the real people behind Shadownet’s hard drives, Jan knows she’s responsible and must do something to stop it. Jan has to use all her tech savvy to find who’s responsible before she is the next victim and the attacks become deadly.
Not being very computer savvy, I was a bit apprehensive about reading a story where the protagonist is a tech wizard of-sorts. But the synopsis drew me in and I was captivated.
Author Michael F. Stewart has done a great job of creating a realistic teenager in Janus. Between her computer skills and her adolescent problems, Janus represents a typical teenager in so many ways. All of the characters are well-developed and engaging including the computer personalities.
ASSURED DESTRUCTION flows smoothly and at a steady pace. While the story is computer-related, you don’t have to be a computer geek to follow along. There are red herrings to keep you guessing in this intriguing YA mystery.
If you’ve ever wondered what your teenager was really doing on the computer, this story will definitely get your attention. ASSURED DESTRUCTION is an entertaining read with a protagonist you’ll want to see return in story after story.
Author Michael F. Stewart’s website is http://www.michaelfstewart.com/
Assured Destruction by Michael F. Stewart, Non Sequitur Press, @2013, ISBN: 978-, Paperback, 154 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of the author’s virtual blog tour. A digital eBook copy of the book was sent to me by the tour promoter in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: After crewing ships in the Antarctic and the Baltic Sea and some fun in venture capital, Michael F. Stewart anchored himself (happily) to a marriage and a boatload of kids. Now he injects his adventurous spirit into his writing with brief respites for research into the jungles of Sumatra and Guatemala, the ruins of Egypt and Tik’al, paddling the Zambezi and diving whatever cave or ocean reef will have him.
Stewart is a member of the International Thriller Writers and SF Canada, and the author of the Assured Destruction series, 24 Bones, The Sand Dragon, Hurakan, Ruination and several award winning graphic novels for young adults.
For more on Stewart and his writing, visit his website and find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. You can also follow his tour on his Tribute Books Blog Tour Page.
ASSURED DESTRUCTION is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle format, and on Goodreads.
Have I grabbed your attention about this thriller? I hope I have. If so, you can enter below for a chance to win one of 200 eBooks the author is giving away, as well as a $25 Amazon.com gift card (or PayPal cash).
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope you’re having a wonderful Sunday. Do you read many YA books? Now, remember to enter the giveaway below.
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Thanks, Mason, what a terrific review! If anyone has any questions, please ask away. :)
ReplyDeleteMason - Thanks for sharing this fine review. There is so much good YA fiction out there, and I salute anyone who encourages young people to read.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an awesome book! Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeleteMason, you're right. It really does make you wonder what teens are actually doing on the computer, LOL. Thanks for the great review of Michael's book :)
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