The island of Gotland is about to be full of tourists for the celebration of Midsummer, the Swedish Fourth of July when a woman is found murdered along with her dog. The panties of the woman are stuffed in her mouth. This crime keeps the police force very busy. Will Johann Berg, a journalist, be able to help Inspector Anders Knutas in his case or will he be brushed aside?
Ms. Jungstedt is a new author to me and unfortunately this is the only book of hers that is translated into English that I could find. I was pulled in by it being a Swedish author because I have Swedish ancestry and was curious to see how she would write and weave her story. I found it dark and sinister but wanting turn the next page to find out what was going to happen. The translator Tiina Nunnally did a very good job in keeping the suspense building. I was thoroughly impressed.
Johann Berg came off as arrogant. But once you were able to see through that you realized that he just wanted people to be safe. He finds love in the oddest of places yet he is still astonished by it. Inspector Knutas is a man with a mission. He really wants to prove himself to other people. He already has done so to his wife and so keeps plugging on. The other minor characters were wonderfully written and they all had their place.
The twist at the end surprised me once you found out the link to all the victims. You got glimpses of it throughout the entire story but it never made sense to me till the very end. I usually do not have sympathy for the killer but this is one time where I truly did and didn’t condone his killing but could see why he would lash out. This is one book I highly recommend and I hope to find more of her work translated very soon.
243 pages/mystery
I just started Blood Price by Tanya Huff which the TV series Blood Ties is based off of. :) After that I am not sure what I will read. :)
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
The Bone Thief
Lt. John W. Driscoll is having a tough time with the latest case. All the victims are brutally murdered and their bones are taken out. There is no connection that anyone can see. It all seems puzzling to him and he has people pestering him to solve this case since all of New York City is living in fear wondering who will be the next victim. He still has to deal with the tragedy in his own life and needs all the help he can get. Can he figure it out in time or will The Bone Thief get away?
Thomas O’Callaghan gives you vivid details and descriptions that will make your blood run cold. I was shocked at how vivid it was and had to not read the book while I was eating. That someone can have the imagination to write this just boggles my mind. It was a gripping story and I had to keep turning the pages to find out if the killer would ever get caught.
Lt. Driscoll is a flawed man and I really felt for him. He was trying to put together his own life while trying to solve the horrible crimes. Overloaded and wiped out, he was really doing his best work. He had a lot of help from other people and even a young girl. She was one bright thing and her name is Moira. I was thoroughly impressed with how much knowledge she had and how much she taught Lt. Driscoll. There was a lot of drama.
I was impressed with how the killer was able to keep his identity a secret. It was not easy but he was very intelligent. Mr. O’Callaghan is an ingenious writer who really knows how to write a page-turner. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series to review. I give this one a 4/5 and it had a nice ending that gave a great segue way into the next story.
377 pages/Mystery
Now off to read another romance. Yay! LOL
Thomas O’Callaghan gives you vivid details and descriptions that will make your blood run cold. I was shocked at how vivid it was and had to not read the book while I was eating. That someone can have the imagination to write this just boggles my mind. It was a gripping story and I had to keep turning the pages to find out if the killer would ever get caught.
Lt. Driscoll is a flawed man and I really felt for him. He was trying to put together his own life while trying to solve the horrible crimes. Overloaded and wiped out, he was really doing his best work. He had a lot of help from other people and even a young girl. She was one bright thing and her name is Moira. I was thoroughly impressed with how much knowledge she had and how much she taught Lt. Driscoll. There was a lot of drama.
I was impressed with how the killer was able to keep his identity a secret. It was not easy but he was very intelligent. Mr. O’Callaghan is an ingenious writer who really knows how to write a page-turner. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series to review. I give this one a 4/5 and it had a nice ending that gave a great segue way into the next story.
377 pages/Mystery
Now off to read another romance. Yay! LOL
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Hide by Lisa Gardner
Annabelle Granger is used to packing light and being on the run. She has been hidden for so long until an underground grave is found with six bodies in it. The problem is that one of them has a locket she got as a child so they are claiming she is dead. Annabelle knows otherwise but is she willing to come out of hiding to help solve a case? Bobby Dodge now works for the state police in Massachusetts. He needs to figure out who killed the six girls but the only person he has to help him is Annabelle. Not only is that tough but he has to team up again with D.D. Warren who he used to be lovers with. Can everything work or is someone in danger?
Lisa Gardner does it again! I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. I had to find out what was going to happen. Ms. Gardner knows how to suck you into a story till the very last sentence. Once the whole plot was laid out, I was frustrated that I had no clue that had done it. No unnecessary words were used but the time it took to figure out things seemed very real. That is one of the most important things I like about this author, she knows how to keep things looking real to me. It takes forever to get something researched but that is how it is in real life.
When I started this book, I had a feeling of deja vu. But then I realized I knew some of the characters because I read the book Alone. Once I figured that out, I felt like I had come home again. I loved these characters and it was great to read how things had changed for them and how they were moving on. Annabelle was my favorite. She really was trying to rebuild her life but circumstances beyond her control were keeping her back. Bobby Dodge was a man who still wrestled with things. But that is one of the best things about him; he really wanted to make sure he knew what he was doing. Other times, instinct kicked him and he just moved as fast as he possibly could. D.D. was her old stubborn self but it was nice to see that she had not let anything go to hear head.
You have to read Alone first because there is a ton of referencing back to it but it was a great book! I give it a 5/5 because this author never ceases to disappoint me. I was very impressed and I can’t wait to get through her other books. I highly recommend this one even though it is gruesome.
Now off to try to read 2 romance novels! AHHHHHHHH!
Lisa Gardner does it again! I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. I had to find out what was going to happen. Ms. Gardner knows how to suck you into a story till the very last sentence. Once the whole plot was laid out, I was frustrated that I had no clue that had done it. No unnecessary words were used but the time it took to figure out things seemed very real. That is one of the most important things I like about this author, she knows how to keep things looking real to me. It takes forever to get something researched but that is how it is in real life.
When I started this book, I had a feeling of deja vu. But then I realized I knew some of the characters because I read the book Alone. Once I figured that out, I felt like I had come home again. I loved these characters and it was great to read how things had changed for them and how they were moving on. Annabelle was my favorite. She really was trying to rebuild her life but circumstances beyond her control were keeping her back. Bobby Dodge was a man who still wrestled with things. But that is one of the best things about him; he really wanted to make sure he knew what he was doing. Other times, instinct kicked him and he just moved as fast as he possibly could. D.D. was her old stubborn self but it was nice to see that she had not let anything go to hear head.
You have to read Alone first because there is a ton of referencing back to it but it was a great book! I give it a 5/5 because this author never ceases to disappoint me. I was very impressed and I can’t wait to get through her other books. I highly recommend this one even though it is gruesome.
Now off to try to read 2 romance novels! AHHHHHHHH!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Earthly Joys by Phillipa Gregory
John Tradescat is a gardener for Sir Robert Cecil who is the advisor for King James I. He is given free rein on what he can put in his garden. He travels around and brings back rareities for England. He ends up marrying the woman he is betrothed to Elizabeth. Their relationship is a complex one because he feels so duty bound to his master. With all that is going on around them, they need to figure out their life together to make things grow and blossom.
Phillipa Gregory is an amazing author. This is the second book that I have read by her. This one seemed to drag a little more because there was so much more going on during the time of 1603-1625 in England. It was well described and sometimes too well with a lot of words I found unnecessary. The characters stuck to their beliefs but I think that they took some things too far. The picture was interesting and the relationship John had with someone in the book completely shocked me! I knew it was part of that time but didn’t expect it to involve the main character.
As I said before the characters were very belief oriented. With King Charles marrying Henrietta Marie from France and the battle between the Catholics and the Protestants was very interesting. John really became a man of some one else and not so much for his family until he was faced with some tough decisions. I disliked him through out the book and was furious with how he treated his family. But by the end of the book, he finally saw what was important but bowed to the nobility when it was needed.
Liberties were taken with history but the main things that were going on had to be true. I had a tough time getting through a lot of it because so much was happening in my life. I look forward to reading the sequel Virgin Earth to see what happens to John’s son John in Virginia and to find out the outcome when he returns to England. I give it a 5/5 because it really did captivate me but at times was slow.
440 pages/Fiction
Now off to reading Hide by Lisa Gardner and then two romance stories. :)
Phillipa Gregory is an amazing author. This is the second book that I have read by her. This one seemed to drag a little more because there was so much more going on during the time of 1603-1625 in England. It was well described and sometimes too well with a lot of words I found unnecessary. The characters stuck to their beliefs but I think that they took some things too far. The picture was interesting and the relationship John had with someone in the book completely shocked me! I knew it was part of that time but didn’t expect it to involve the main character.
As I said before the characters were very belief oriented. With King Charles marrying Henrietta Marie from France and the battle between the Catholics and the Protestants was very interesting. John really became a man of some one else and not so much for his family until he was faced with some tough decisions. I disliked him through out the book and was furious with how he treated his family. But by the end of the book, he finally saw what was important but bowed to the nobility when it was needed.
Liberties were taken with history but the main things that were going on had to be true. I had a tough time getting through a lot of it because so much was happening in my life. I look forward to reading the sequel Virgin Earth to see what happens to John’s son John in Virginia and to find out the outcome when he returns to England. I give it a 5/5 because it really did captivate me but at times was slow.
440 pages/Fiction
Now off to reading Hide by Lisa Gardner and then two romance stories. :)
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Prime Cut by Diane Mott Davidson
Goldy is at it again but this time her world really seems to be falling apart. She got a contractor to work on her kitchen but it was left in a mess. There is a second caterer in town that seems to be getting all her work and her hubby is at it again being a jerk behind bars. The only person that seems to be able to help her is her old teacher André. Will she be able to make things work because not much money is coming in or will she lose her business after all her hard work?
Diane Mott Davidson does it again with book 8 in the series. I love all the jokes and watching Goldy’s son Arch grow up. There were a lot of recurring characters and I felt like I was being with my family again. I love looking at the recipes she comes up with. She certainly knows how to keep your attention to find out who committed the crime in each book.
Goldy forever surprises me as a woman with resources. She certainly knows how to keep things afloat in times of trouble. Goldy figures things out faster than I can and I am always surprised at who the dangerous person turns out to be. I liked seeing Arch and boy is that kid growing up. Tom Schultz was back and he is my favorite cop. He doesn’t seem to mind pressure and somehow keeps Goldy in line. This time even his head is on the chopping block. Poor guy.
I am sad that I only have 5 books left in the series but this is one I truly enjoyed and loved the recipes! I can’t wait to see how the cliffhanger at the end of the book turns out. I give it a 5/5! This is one series that has grabbed me and I enjoy every book I read.
305 pages/Mystery
Now off to read two more romances and then I hope to squeeze in Eartlhy Joys by Phillpa Gregory. :)
Diane Mott Davidson does it again with book 8 in the series. I love all the jokes and watching Goldy’s son Arch grow up. There were a lot of recurring characters and I felt like I was being with my family again. I love looking at the recipes she comes up with. She certainly knows how to keep your attention to find out who committed the crime in each book.
Goldy forever surprises me as a woman with resources. She certainly knows how to keep things afloat in times of trouble. Goldy figures things out faster than I can and I am always surprised at who the dangerous person turns out to be. I liked seeing Arch and boy is that kid growing up. Tom Schultz was back and he is my favorite cop. He doesn’t seem to mind pressure and somehow keeps Goldy in line. This time even his head is on the chopping block. Poor guy.
I am sad that I only have 5 books left in the series but this is one I truly enjoyed and loved the recipes! I can’t wait to see how the cliffhanger at the end of the book turns out. I give it a 5/5! This is one series that has grabbed me and I enjoy every book I read.
305 pages/Mystery
Now off to read two more romances and then I hope to squeeze in Eartlhy Joys by Phillpa Gregory. :)
Monday, April 09, 2007
Book Winners and Hard Core Diaries by Mick Foley
I am going to start out the post by telling who the winners are:
Kris- I'll mail you out Madonna's of Leningrad maybe tomorrow. :)
Amanda- At Long Last Love is yours. :)
Booklogged- Exile is yours as well.
So would Amanda and Booklogged email me off my blog for your snail mail addy. :)
As for Herself it is still up for grabs so the first person to respond to this email who has not already won, I will mail it out to you. :)
Here is the review for Mick Foley's book:
Mick chronicles his most recent experience with the WWE from 2005-2006. The storylines that happened and how it all came to take place. His ideas, working with the creative team and Vince, and how he wanted to show the fans what he does besides wrestling when it comes to charities and his family.
I was thoroughly impressed with the writing. It was not anything fancy but then Mick does best when he keeps things simple and straightforward. All the different events he did and all the people he met really surprised me. I am not saying I didn’t know how in demand he is but more than anything I had no idea how much he gives back to the community. Yeah, he broke records with a lot of his matches but he would rather spend time with impaired children and help them feel better than anything else. He is proud of his wrestling, as he should be, but he has a full heart and loves to help others.
I had no idea he had written children’s books and will most likely see if I can find his Wrescal Lane book. I wish I had a way to contact him because this was a good read and I was laughing and crying. Some of the trips he took to Iraq and the medical facilities for the wounded soldiers really left me in awe. I know other WWE wrestlers and Divas do the most they can in giving back. They do show some of that on the show but getting a behind the scenes look was fun to see. I even enjoyed this book more than Bishoff’s because it came across as down to earth and not so much of a namedropper. It was truly Mick’s experience and this is the third one so now I may go back and read the other two. If you are a wrestling fan, this one is for you. Or if you want to get a better idea of what they do and have kids that are fans, please pick this book up. I give it a 5/5 because I learned a lot more and truly enjoyed it all! Well except for the porn star bit but then I am sure there are a lot of guys out there that are jealous that he met the woman.
371 pages
Well off to read some romance novels. :)
Kris- I'll mail you out Madonna's of Leningrad maybe tomorrow. :)
Amanda- At Long Last Love is yours. :)
Booklogged- Exile is yours as well.
So would Amanda and Booklogged email me off my blog for your snail mail addy. :)
As for Herself it is still up for grabs so the first person to respond to this email who has not already won, I will mail it out to you. :)
Here is the review for Mick Foley's book:
Mick chronicles his most recent experience with the WWE from 2005-2006. The storylines that happened and how it all came to take place. His ideas, working with the creative team and Vince, and how he wanted to show the fans what he does besides wrestling when it comes to charities and his family.
I was thoroughly impressed with the writing. It was not anything fancy but then Mick does best when he keeps things simple and straightforward. All the different events he did and all the people he met really surprised me. I am not saying I didn’t know how in demand he is but more than anything I had no idea how much he gives back to the community. Yeah, he broke records with a lot of his matches but he would rather spend time with impaired children and help them feel better than anything else. He is proud of his wrestling, as he should be, but he has a full heart and loves to help others.
I had no idea he had written children’s books and will most likely see if I can find his Wrescal Lane book. I wish I had a way to contact him because this was a good read and I was laughing and crying. Some of the trips he took to Iraq and the medical facilities for the wounded soldiers really left me in awe. I know other WWE wrestlers and Divas do the most they can in giving back. They do show some of that on the show but getting a behind the scenes look was fun to see. I even enjoyed this book more than Bishoff’s because it came across as down to earth and not so much of a namedropper. It was truly Mick’s experience and this is the third one so now I may go back and read the other two. If you are a wrestling fan, this one is for you. Or if you want to get a better idea of what they do and have kids that are fans, please pick this book up. I give it a 5/5 because I learned a lot more and truly enjoyed it all! Well except for the porn star bit but then I am sure there are a lot of guys out there that are jealous that he met the woman.
371 pages
Well off to read some romance novels. :)
Thursday, April 05, 2007
My March Reads and The Witches by Ronald Dahl
Here is my review:
A little boy visits his grandma in Norway, but once his parents die in a car crash she has full custody of him. So he has to go back to England where he goes to school and she tells him more about Witches and how to tell who is a Witch. They go on a short holiday to the coast and spend some time there. And he goes off to train his two mice but finds himself in the Witches’ convention. Will he make it out and if he does can he get rid of them?
Ronald Dahl is an imaginative writer. I first was appalled by the way Witches were described and how they wanted to get rid of children. It was a little over the top and scary as well. That part that cracked me up the most was the way the Most Grand Witch wanted to do in order to wipe out all the children of England. I just rolled my eyes. The story followed very well but the one thing I would have liked was to have a name for the narrator.
The little boy who told the story was very sweet. He really truly loved his grandma and she wanted the best for him even though it meant leaving her home country. The grandma was very wonderful and told interesting stories. I found it intriguing how she knew what she told but I’ll leave that up to you to find out.
I give this story a 4/5. It is my first banned book in a long time. I can see why people would challenge it because of the spells and the way that witches are portrayed in it. They are seen as evil and want to take your children away. I found it fun and enjoyable once I was able to get a clear picture of Dahl’s portrayal of Witches. I definitely want to read more by this author and very soon too I hope.
208 pages/Banned Book
I hope to get another one or two done this month and then maybe I'll read more. lol
Here is my stats and books read for this month. It took me awhile cause I had the number of pages messed up.
Most Likely To Die by Lisa Jackson, Wendy Corsi Staub, and Beverly Barton 3-01-07 through 03-02-07 A+
Dear John by Nicolas Sparks 03-02-07 through 03-03-07 C
The Castle in the Forest by Norman Mailer 3-03-07 through 3-06-07 B
A Much Younger Man by Veronica Wilde 3-06-07 A
A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber 03-06-07 through 03-07-07 A+
Lying with Strangers by James Grippando 03-07-07 through 3-08-07 A+
In the Wash by Rebecca Benston 03-08-07 A
Trouble by Jesse Kellerman 03-08-07 through 03-09-07 C
Savannah’s Hero by Diana Bold 03-10-07 through 03-11-07 A
Beguiled by Shannon Drake 3-11-07 A+
The Ghost and the Wolf by MC Scout 03-12-07 through 03-13-07 A
Slightly Psychic by Sandra Steffen 3-13-07 through 3-14-07 A
My Angel by Denise Shelton (178) 3-14-07 through 3-15-07 A
Consigned to Death by Jane K. Cleland 3-15-07 through 3-16-07 A+
Bogeyman by Gayle Wilson 3-16-07 through 3-17-07 A
The Enemy Stalks by Betty Sullivan La Pierre (TBR Challenge) 3-18-07 A+
Little Lady, Big Apple by Hester Browne 3-18-07 A
Castle in Spain by Kate Hofman 3-19-07 A
True Evil by Greg Iles 3-20-07 through 3-22-07 A
The Defense by Stacey Lynn Schlegl 3-22-07 A
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult 3-23-07 through 3-25-07 A+
Calamity Claresta by Irene Estep 3-26-07 A
Nettleflower by Teri Beckett and Chris Power 3-26-07 A
The Will by Reed Arvin 3-27-07 through 3-30-07 B
Not Another Dateless Valentine’s Day by Veronica Tower 3-30-07 A
Bewitching The Bachelor by Suzanne Marie Calvin 3-30-07 A
Blood Rite by Melanie Atkins 3-31-07 A
My stats:
Total Books read: 27
New Authors this Month: 22
Non-Fiction read this month:0
Fiction:26
Chunksters: 6
From the Stacks:2
TBR:1
Fresh New Books I bought: 5
Fresh New books sent to me:1
Pages read:7,647
Well off to get some writing done and maybe some reading too. :)
A little boy visits his grandma in Norway, but once his parents die in a car crash she has full custody of him. So he has to go back to England where he goes to school and she tells him more about Witches and how to tell who is a Witch. They go on a short holiday to the coast and spend some time there. And he goes off to train his two mice but finds himself in the Witches’ convention. Will he make it out and if he does can he get rid of them?
Ronald Dahl is an imaginative writer. I first was appalled by the way Witches were described and how they wanted to get rid of children. It was a little over the top and scary as well. That part that cracked me up the most was the way the Most Grand Witch wanted to do in order to wipe out all the children of England. I just rolled my eyes. The story followed very well but the one thing I would have liked was to have a name for the narrator.
The little boy who told the story was very sweet. He really truly loved his grandma and she wanted the best for him even though it meant leaving her home country. The grandma was very wonderful and told interesting stories. I found it intriguing how she knew what she told but I’ll leave that up to you to find out.
I give this story a 4/5. It is my first banned book in a long time. I can see why people would challenge it because of the spells and the way that witches are portrayed in it. They are seen as evil and want to take your children away. I found it fun and enjoyable once I was able to get a clear picture of Dahl’s portrayal of Witches. I definitely want to read more by this author and very soon too I hope.
208 pages/Banned Book
I hope to get another one or two done this month and then maybe I'll read more. lol
Here is my stats and books read for this month. It took me awhile cause I had the number of pages messed up.
Most Likely To Die by Lisa Jackson, Wendy Corsi Staub, and Beverly Barton 3-01-07 through 03-02-07 A+
Dear John by Nicolas Sparks 03-02-07 through 03-03-07 C
The Castle in the Forest by Norman Mailer 3-03-07 through 3-06-07 B
A Much Younger Man by Veronica Wilde 3-06-07 A
A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber 03-06-07 through 03-07-07 A+
Lying with Strangers by James Grippando 03-07-07 through 3-08-07 A+
In the Wash by Rebecca Benston 03-08-07 A
Trouble by Jesse Kellerman 03-08-07 through 03-09-07 C
Savannah’s Hero by Diana Bold 03-10-07 through 03-11-07 A
Beguiled by Shannon Drake 3-11-07 A+
The Ghost and the Wolf by MC Scout 03-12-07 through 03-13-07 A
Slightly Psychic by Sandra Steffen 3-13-07 through 3-14-07 A
My Angel by Denise Shelton (178) 3-14-07 through 3-15-07 A
Consigned to Death by Jane K. Cleland 3-15-07 through 3-16-07 A+
Bogeyman by Gayle Wilson 3-16-07 through 3-17-07 A
The Enemy Stalks by Betty Sullivan La Pierre (TBR Challenge) 3-18-07 A+
Little Lady, Big Apple by Hester Browne 3-18-07 A
Castle in Spain by Kate Hofman 3-19-07 A
True Evil by Greg Iles 3-20-07 through 3-22-07 A
The Defense by Stacey Lynn Schlegl 3-22-07 A
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult 3-23-07 through 3-25-07 A+
Calamity Claresta by Irene Estep 3-26-07 A
Nettleflower by Teri Beckett and Chris Power 3-26-07 A
The Will by Reed Arvin 3-27-07 through 3-30-07 B
Not Another Dateless Valentine’s Day by Veronica Tower 3-30-07 A
Bewitching The Bachelor by Suzanne Marie Calvin 3-30-07 A
Blood Rite by Melanie Atkins 3-31-07 A
My stats:
Total Books read: 27
New Authors this Month: 22
Non-Fiction read this month:0
Fiction:26
Chunksters: 6
From the Stacks:2
TBR:1
Fresh New Books I bought: 5
Fresh New books sent to me:1
Pages read:7,647
Well off to get some writing done and maybe some reading too. :)
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
The Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill
Judas Coyne is a man who collects odd things. Things most people wouldn’t collect. When his manager Danny tells him about a ghost for sale, Judas can’t resist. Little does he know that the ghost is after him to kill him. The ghost doesn’t want the past to come out. And before he knows it, the ghost is everywhere in his house and follows him wherever he goes. Judas wants to live and wants his girlfriend Mary Beth to live. But what lengths will he have to take to make sure that happens or as the book puts it the dead claims its own?
Joe Hill is an amazingly twisted writer. The idea of a ghost following Judas around had me pretty freaked out. I have read other paranormal novels before this but this one had me freaked out because the descriptions were so vivid. Joe Hill is the pen name of the son of Stephen King. I have to say that I was very impressed with this book. I have yet to read a Stephen King novel but if it is half as scary as this well I’ll really be freaked out. The whole idea of this book of buying a ghost just blew my mind.
Judas had a real attitude of not caring about anything. He had lost his wife; he had tossed his last girlfriend aside, and was about to do that to his current girlfriend. I could understand why he didn’t want to attach himself to anyone for very long but it didn’t seem to help in the long run. Mary Beth was a very strong woman who refused to leave even though she knew she might not live to see anything come of it. I couldn’t believe how perverted Craddock was once we saw his whole past revealed. He was one very sick man as well as scary. I really felt sorry for Anna, Judas’ past girlfriend who we see in a lot of flashbacks. She was a sweet woman but had no way out once she went home.
Creepy but good is how I would describe this book. I give it a 5/5 because it was exceptionally written and had me turning pages as fast as I could read them. I don’t normally like being as scared as I was while reading it but it was so fascinating I had to find out if Judas and Mary Beth would survive or die. There were a lot of secrets in Anna’s family or as Judas calls her Florida. Yet through it all she is the one who ends up helping them the most. This is a great book and one I recommend but don’t read it before going to bed. You may not get much sleep.
374 pages 5/5
Well off to read a much needed romance as well as watching American Idol and the results show for Dancing with the Stars. :)
Joe Hill is an amazingly twisted writer. The idea of a ghost following Judas around had me pretty freaked out. I have read other paranormal novels before this but this one had me freaked out because the descriptions were so vivid. Joe Hill is the pen name of the son of Stephen King. I have to say that I was very impressed with this book. I have yet to read a Stephen King novel but if it is half as scary as this well I’ll really be freaked out. The whole idea of this book of buying a ghost just blew my mind.
Judas had a real attitude of not caring about anything. He had lost his wife; he had tossed his last girlfriend aside, and was about to do that to his current girlfriend. I could understand why he didn’t want to attach himself to anyone for very long but it didn’t seem to help in the long run. Mary Beth was a very strong woman who refused to leave even though she knew she might not live to see anything come of it. I couldn’t believe how perverted Craddock was once we saw his whole past revealed. He was one very sick man as well as scary. I really felt sorry for Anna, Judas’ past girlfriend who we see in a lot of flashbacks. She was a sweet woman but had no way out once she went home.
Creepy but good is how I would describe this book. I give it a 5/5 because it was exceptionally written and had me turning pages as fast as I could read them. I don’t normally like being as scared as I was while reading it but it was so fascinating I had to find out if Judas and Mary Beth would survive or die. There were a lot of secrets in Anna’s family or as Judas calls her Florida. Yet through it all she is the one who ends up helping them the most. This is a great book and one I recommend but don’t read it before going to bed. You may not get much sleep.
374 pages 5/5
Well off to read a much needed romance as well as watching American Idol and the results show for Dancing with the Stars. :)
Monday, April 02, 2007
Atlantis Rising by Alyssa Day
Riley Dawson is a woman of many talents. She is a social worker doing her best to save one child at a time. Little does she know the mind connection she shares with her sister Quinn is actually something that the people of Atlantis share with each other only. Prince Conlan comes out of the water to get back Poseidon’s Trident, he feels a connection to Riley unlike he has ever known. Will they be able to figure out what is going on between them while finding the Trident or will their worlds cease?
Alyssa Day is an amazing author for writing what I consider a fantasy romance. You have shape shifters, vampires, and people from Atlantis. This book is my first by this author and I was very impressed. The passion and the heat were off the charts but then that is a romance. The thing that impressed me the most was the honesty and caring that they had for each other. It was wonderful to see and watch it grow.
Prince Conlan is not just a hot guy but he is someone who is willing to risk it all for love. But the thing is, he truly wanted to be with Riley and spend the rest of their lives together however long that was going to be. Poor Riley just couldn’t believe that she could share that kind of connection with anyone. It is not easily found but when it is, it is worth it. I really loved those two most of all. I also liked Alaric. Even though he was the high priest, he had his faults. He wanted to fight right away and jump into things without really thinking about them. Yet Conlan constantly had to pull rank. I didn’t like it but I could tell it was needed.
Good characters are in every book but these to me were exceptional. I love fantasy and the paranormal. This book kept me turning pages to find out what was going to happen and if Conlan and Riley were going to end up together as husband and wife. That is what they both wanted but because of the rules Conlan had to follow, it was not very likely that it would happen. This book rates a 4/5 for me because I couldn’t put it down. I cannot wait for the next story in the series, which unfortunately doesn’t come out till November. But I think I can wait till then. Please go look this up because it will be worth it!
280 pages
Now off to do a load of laundry and figure out my stats for last month. :) The page numbers got a little off. Yay fun!
Alyssa Day is an amazing author for writing what I consider a fantasy romance. You have shape shifters, vampires, and people from Atlantis. This book is my first by this author and I was very impressed. The passion and the heat were off the charts but then that is a romance. The thing that impressed me the most was the honesty and caring that they had for each other. It was wonderful to see and watch it grow.
Prince Conlan is not just a hot guy but he is someone who is willing to risk it all for love. But the thing is, he truly wanted to be with Riley and spend the rest of their lives together however long that was going to be. Poor Riley just couldn’t believe that she could share that kind of connection with anyone. It is not easily found but when it is, it is worth it. I really loved those two most of all. I also liked Alaric. Even though he was the high priest, he had his faults. He wanted to fight right away and jump into things without really thinking about them. Yet Conlan constantly had to pull rank. I didn’t like it but I could tell it was needed.
Good characters are in every book but these to me were exceptional. I love fantasy and the paranormal. This book kept me turning pages to find out what was going to happen and if Conlan and Riley were going to end up together as husband and wife. That is what they both wanted but because of the rules Conlan had to follow, it was not very likely that it would happen. This book rates a 4/5 for me because I couldn’t put it down. I cannot wait for the next story in the series, which unfortunately doesn’t come out till November. But I think I can wait till then. Please go look this up because it will be worth it!
280 pages
Now off to do a load of laundry and figure out my stats for last month. :) The page numbers got a little off. Yay fun!
Give a Friend A book WEEK
I saw this over at Booklogged's site and I loved it so now I am going to do it. I have 4 books to give away cause 2 of them are ARC's and two other ones I recieved for Reviews.
They are:
The Madonna's of Leningrad by Debra Dean. I want to keep this one but I jus don't have the room. It is really good about a woman's memory journey in Germany ikn 1941. It was a wonderful book.
At Long Last Love by Judy Bagshaw. This book is 7 short stories about BBW women overcoming challenges and finding love. They are really sweet.
Herself by Leslie Carroll. Another romance but this woman goes back to Ireland to find herself and finds so much more. It is beautiful but I just cannot keep it cause I don't think I'll ever read it again. lol
Exile by Richard North Patterson. It takes you on a thrill ride to Jerusalem and back to Washington D.C. I also enjoyed this one and you can find my review on this site.
Please note in your comments which one you want and I will draw names on the 9th. That way you have a week. :) Okay back to reading!
They are:
The Madonna's of Leningrad by Debra Dean. I want to keep this one but I jus don't have the room. It is really good about a woman's memory journey in Germany ikn 1941. It was a wonderful book.
At Long Last Love by Judy Bagshaw. This book is 7 short stories about BBW women overcoming challenges and finding love. They are really sweet.
Herself by Leslie Carroll. Another romance but this woman goes back to Ireland to find herself and finds so much more. It is beautiful but I just cannot keep it cause I don't think I'll ever read it again. lol
Exile by Richard North Patterson. It takes you on a thrill ride to Jerusalem and back to Washington D.C. I also enjoyed this one and you can find my review on this site.
Please note in your comments which one you want and I will draw names on the 9th. That way you have a week. :) Okay back to reading!
Friday, March 30, 2007
The Will by Reed Arvin
This one is the author of the month for my yahoo group. Here's my review!
Henry Matthews is working on a prestigious career at a top lawyer firm in Chicago. He gets a call to come back home to read a will his father put together 25 years ago. At first, he goes down to just read the will but soon it becomes more than just that. The son Roger wants to contest the will. Henry begins to doubt what he wants to do in life. He doesn’t want to see the person who benefits the most to get hurt because it was not only a shock to the town but to Henry as well when it came to who was named. So will he give up everything he has worked hard to get or will he just let things go and continue on with his life?
Reed Arvin is a fabulous writer. The story dragged in places but once everything was known about the connections that were made 25 years ago and all the players involved I had to find out what was going to see if justice would prevail. He is able to write very suspenseful scenes that make you turn the page. I was surprised how corrupt the town in the book is made out to be even though he did fictionalize it. I know there are people out there that are similar to the characters in the book but it still shocks me.
I really felt for Henry. He not only had to deal with his past but he had to learn to work through it. He had some tough decisions to make and figure out what was really important to him. There was someone helping him through the entire process and that was Amanda Ashton. I really liked her because she was fighting for what she believed in and showed him how good it felt to do so. Henry had to make the final decision but Amanda was there to support him when he needed her the most. Dealing with the skeletons in the closet is not an easy thing to do but Henry was a great man. He did have doubts but he made sure to call the one person who could help through it. I was really impressed.
In the beginning of the book, I was not sure if I would enjoy it. About half way through when the novel really started to pick up, I couldn’t put it down. I give it a 4/5. I really enjoyed this book and will read more by this author.
This makes my 15th Chunkster but I have only read 2 on my list. lol Need to work on it more. :)
Off to read 2 romance novels, one is really short so I will start with that one. :)
Henry Matthews is working on a prestigious career at a top lawyer firm in Chicago. He gets a call to come back home to read a will his father put together 25 years ago. At first, he goes down to just read the will but soon it becomes more than just that. The son Roger wants to contest the will. Henry begins to doubt what he wants to do in life. He doesn’t want to see the person who benefits the most to get hurt because it was not only a shock to the town but to Henry as well when it came to who was named. So will he give up everything he has worked hard to get or will he just let things go and continue on with his life?
Reed Arvin is a fabulous writer. The story dragged in places but once everything was known about the connections that were made 25 years ago and all the players involved I had to find out what was going to see if justice would prevail. He is able to write very suspenseful scenes that make you turn the page. I was surprised how corrupt the town in the book is made out to be even though he did fictionalize it. I know there are people out there that are similar to the characters in the book but it still shocks me.
I really felt for Henry. He not only had to deal with his past but he had to learn to work through it. He had some tough decisions to make and figure out what was really important to him. There was someone helping him through the entire process and that was Amanda Ashton. I really liked her because she was fighting for what she believed in and showed him how good it felt to do so. Henry had to make the final decision but Amanda was there to support him when he needed her the most. Dealing with the skeletons in the closet is not an easy thing to do but Henry was a great man. He did have doubts but he made sure to call the one person who could help through it. I was really impressed.
In the beginning of the book, I was not sure if I would enjoy it. About half way through when the novel really started to pick up, I couldn’t put it down. I give it a 4/5. I really enjoyed this book and will read more by this author.
This makes my 15th Chunkster but I have only read 2 on my list. lol Need to work on it more. :)
Off to read 2 romance novels, one is really short so I will start with that one. :)
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult
Ross is a ghost hunter who has never seen a ghost. He has been searching to reconnect with his dead fiancée Aimee. He never thinks he will feel anything again until he goes to Comtosook, Vermont and helps out a developer trying to find out what is going on at an ancient Abenaki Indian burial ground. The truth behind the events of this town will be nothing that anyone expects in this life or the next.
I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult and have met her in person 3 times. This one was different than all over books that I have read of hers. The writing style was the same and I enjoyed how the story flowed. This was one of my favorite types of stories dealing with the paranormal and that some of it was based on fact just made it that more interesting and appealing. She always is able to put true events in a way that pulls you in and you have to find out how the book is going to turn out.
The characters in this book were amazing. They all had hopes and dreams but I really didn’t have a favorite. I was rooting for all of them. They were different than any of the other characters that she had written and I really liked that a lot. If I had to pick a favorite it would be Ross. He really wanted to get some closure but he didn’t feel he had anything left to live for. I have known moments like that but I was impressed with how well he was able to deal with it.
This book was shocking from beginning to end but one of the best ones I have read so far. I can see why she said this was her favorite to write. It is so different but so enjoyable! I give this a 5/5 because I couldn’t put it down. It was that great! I can’t wait to read more by her cause I have quite a few to go still. Jodi is a wonderful writer and I enjoy everything she writes! She is a true fan in me!
That says it all right there. :) Off to read another romance. LOL
I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult and have met her in person 3 times. This one was different than all over books that I have read of hers. The writing style was the same and I enjoyed how the story flowed. This was one of my favorite types of stories dealing with the paranormal and that some of it was based on fact just made it that more interesting and appealing. She always is able to put true events in a way that pulls you in and you have to find out how the book is going to turn out.
The characters in this book were amazing. They all had hopes and dreams but I really didn’t have a favorite. I was rooting for all of them. They were different than any of the other characters that she had written and I really liked that a lot. If I had to pick a favorite it would be Ross. He really wanted to get some closure but he didn’t feel he had anything left to live for. I have known moments like that but I was impressed with how well he was able to deal with it.
This book was shocking from beginning to end but one of the best ones I have read so far. I can see why she said this was her favorite to write. It is so different but so enjoyable! I give this a 5/5 because I couldn’t put it down. It was that great! I can’t wait to read more by her cause I have quite a few to go still. Jodi is a wonderful writer and I enjoy everything she writes! She is a true fan in me!
That says it all right there. :) Off to read another romance. LOL
Thursday, March 22, 2007
True Evil by Greg Iles
I read this and really liked it!
Alexandra Morse is going through tough times. She lost her dad and then while her sister was dying she had to tell her that she was murdered. Alex couldn’t believe her ears but decided to check out what her sister said and that leads to her approaching Dr. Chris Shepherd. He’s even more difficult to convince than herself but he is the target. So not only does Alex have to dodge the FBI but also she has to convince Dr. Shepherd of what is going on and get his help. Will she be able to before the next killing happens?
Greg Iles does another wonderful book. I have only read two other books of his and enjoyed them just as much! He has a way of writing that keeps me going. I was impressed with the medical thriller.
Alex is a beautiful person who really wants to help people. Her superiors doubt her often but she works hard to find out the truth. I really liked Chris as well. He couldn’t believe what was going on in his life but he didn’t want anyone else to get hurt. The few other minor characters like Alex’s nephew Jamie and friends of Alex from FBI really helped round out the story very well.
I enjoyed this story a lot for being a chunkster. It is 512 pages of intrigue and suspense. I felt awful for how it ended in some ways because it was not good. At the same time, I was pulled in from the first sentence to the end of the book. I will need to read more of this author’s work. I give it a 4/5 since it not only seemed plausible but something that could happen down the line which is scary to think about really.
Now off to a much needed romance! lol
Alexandra Morse is going through tough times. She lost her dad and then while her sister was dying she had to tell her that she was murdered. Alex couldn’t believe her ears but decided to check out what her sister said and that leads to her approaching Dr. Chris Shepherd. He’s even more difficult to convince than herself but he is the target. So not only does Alex have to dodge the FBI but also she has to convince Dr. Shepherd of what is going on and get his help. Will she be able to before the next killing happens?
Greg Iles does another wonderful book. I have only read two other books of his and enjoyed them just as much! He has a way of writing that keeps me going. I was impressed with the medical thriller.
Alex is a beautiful person who really wants to help people. Her superiors doubt her often but she works hard to find out the truth. I really liked Chris as well. He couldn’t believe what was going on in his life but he didn’t want anyone else to get hurt. The few other minor characters like Alex’s nephew Jamie and friends of Alex from FBI really helped round out the story very well.
I enjoyed this story a lot for being a chunkster. It is 512 pages of intrigue and suspense. I felt awful for how it ended in some ways because it was not good. At the same time, I was pulled in from the first sentence to the end of the book. I will need to read more of this author’s work. I give it a 4/5 since it not only seemed plausible but something that could happen down the line which is scary to think about really.
Now off to a much needed romance! lol
Monday, March 19, 2007
Little Lady, Big Apple by Hester Browne
I finished this one yesterday but was feeling so horribly crappy that I just needed to get some sleep. So here is my review. :)
Melissa Romney-Jones is still working on her Little Lady Agency when her boyfriend Jonathon Riley gets a promotion to New York. He offers her a much-needed vacation and so she leaves her agency to her best friend Gabi and her sister Allegra. Her flat is being renovated so it is the perfect time to go? But once she gets to New York, she starts questioning her relationship with Jonathon since he is never there and requires her to help out with the dog that isn’t even his. She gets the opportunity to help out an old friend from England and decides to do it despite what Jonathon says because she needs something to do after all. But things seem to go from bad to worse and she wonders if life with Jonathon is a good thing.
Being the second book in the series, I was happy to be back with all the characters and the drama again. Ms. Browne has such a wonderful way of writing and I feel like I have come home. I have not been to England but Northern Ireland has quite a few of the same shops and sayings. The book really flowed and I enjoyed watching Melissa figure out what she really wanted in life as well as battling her family and friends for sometimes the simplest things.
Melissa is a very sweet and lovable person who can be too nice. But at the same time, she is very smart and knows what she wants. She may go about things in a different way but she gets the same results every time. Jonathon drove me bonkers in this book. Careers have their place but he really let himself be a pushover in some ways. I can understand being insecure because how a relationship broke up but he never seemed to deal with it and that made it worse for him. Gabi and Allegra had me laughing all the time because they really shouldn’t have been left with the Little Lady Agency but then Melissa didn’t have a lot of other options.
This book was fabulous and I enjoyed every minute of it. Little Lady, Big Apple was a great sequel to The Little Lady Agency and picked up the story very well then carried it through the entire book. I laughed, I cried, and found myself amazed how often Melissa got herself into awful situations. This book ranks a 4/5 because I really was impressed with how well it continued everything and how well it ended. But you’ll have to find that out for yourself.
Well off to read a review book. :) Oh more of my reviews for CTR are posted so if you feel like checking them out you can find them at this link:
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Reviewers/Krista.html
And then after you take a look at mine, please look at all the other great books people have reviewed by genre or other staff member. :) I have 6 books to review this time around so off to reading and reviewing!
Melissa Romney-Jones is still working on her Little Lady Agency when her boyfriend Jonathon Riley gets a promotion to New York. He offers her a much-needed vacation and so she leaves her agency to her best friend Gabi and her sister Allegra. Her flat is being renovated so it is the perfect time to go? But once she gets to New York, she starts questioning her relationship with Jonathon since he is never there and requires her to help out with the dog that isn’t even his. She gets the opportunity to help out an old friend from England and decides to do it despite what Jonathon says because she needs something to do after all. But things seem to go from bad to worse and she wonders if life with Jonathon is a good thing.
Being the second book in the series, I was happy to be back with all the characters and the drama again. Ms. Browne has such a wonderful way of writing and I feel like I have come home. I have not been to England but Northern Ireland has quite a few of the same shops and sayings. The book really flowed and I enjoyed watching Melissa figure out what she really wanted in life as well as battling her family and friends for sometimes the simplest things.
Melissa is a very sweet and lovable person who can be too nice. But at the same time, she is very smart and knows what she wants. She may go about things in a different way but she gets the same results every time. Jonathon drove me bonkers in this book. Careers have their place but he really let himself be a pushover in some ways. I can understand being insecure because how a relationship broke up but he never seemed to deal with it and that made it worse for him. Gabi and Allegra had me laughing all the time because they really shouldn’t have been left with the Little Lady Agency but then Melissa didn’t have a lot of other options.
This book was fabulous and I enjoyed every minute of it. Little Lady, Big Apple was a great sequel to The Little Lady Agency and picked up the story very well then carried it through the entire book. I laughed, I cried, and found myself amazed how often Melissa got herself into awful situations. This book ranks a 4/5 because I really was impressed with how well it continued everything and how well it ended. But you’ll have to find that out for yourself.
Well off to read a review book. :) Oh more of my reviews for CTR are posted so if you feel like checking them out you can find them at this link:
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Reviewers/Krista.html
And then after you take a look at mine, please look at all the other great books people have reviewed by genre or other staff member. :) I have 6 books to review this time around so off to reading and reviewing!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
The enemy stalks by Betty Sullivan La Pierre
This book was an amazingly quick read. I enjoyed it that much. Here is my review:
Tom Casey is settling into a new life with a new name. But there is a man out there who would rather see him die than live and his name is Dirk Henderson. Tom aka Jim Anderson used to be a secret agent but that had all changed after his wife had been murdered. He gets to know his new neighbor Jennifer Morgan and has to protect her before Dirk gets to the both of them. Is that going to be possible and if not what will he be able to accomplish?
This is my first book by Betty Sullivan La Pierre but certainly not my last. I can’t wait to see where these characters go in the next 8 books in the series. I found her writing to be simple but very effective. The story just kept moving and was not bogged down by a lot of details. I still got a sense of what was going on and I had plenty of details but everything was wrapped up nicely and not many questions were left unanswered.
I really liked Jim and Jennifer both equally. They were both looking to start over after tragedy and found it in the small community town. Jim was known as the Hawkman and I loved seeing how he would take such good care of animals of all types. I think he should be a veterinarian but he was going into private investigations. Maybe he’ll be able to get somewhere and I hope that it is successful.
I enjoyed this book immensely. It took me six months to get it but it was well worth the wait and now I want to go buy the rest of the series. It kept my attention that well. For those reasons I am going to give it a 5/5. The storyline was good, clean, and suspenseful because you weren’t sure what the outcome would be completely. You knew Hawkman had to live since it is the first in a series but what would happen to Jennifer was left up in the air.
Now off to read Little Lady, Big Apple by Hester Browne. :)
Tom Casey is settling into a new life with a new name. But there is a man out there who would rather see him die than live and his name is Dirk Henderson. Tom aka Jim Anderson used to be a secret agent but that had all changed after his wife had been murdered. He gets to know his new neighbor Jennifer Morgan and has to protect her before Dirk gets to the both of them. Is that going to be possible and if not what will he be able to accomplish?
This is my first book by Betty Sullivan La Pierre but certainly not my last. I can’t wait to see where these characters go in the next 8 books in the series. I found her writing to be simple but very effective. The story just kept moving and was not bogged down by a lot of details. I still got a sense of what was going on and I had plenty of details but everything was wrapped up nicely and not many questions were left unanswered.
I really liked Jim and Jennifer both equally. They were both looking to start over after tragedy and found it in the small community town. Jim was known as the Hawkman and I loved seeing how he would take such good care of animals of all types. I think he should be a veterinarian but he was going into private investigations. Maybe he’ll be able to get somewhere and I hope that it is successful.
I enjoyed this book immensely. It took me six months to get it but it was well worth the wait and now I want to go buy the rest of the series. It kept my attention that well. For those reasons I am going to give it a 5/5. The storyline was good, clean, and suspenseful because you weren’t sure what the outcome would be completely. You knew Hawkman had to live since it is the first in a series but what would happen to Jennifer was left up in the air.
Now off to read Little Lady, Big Apple by Hester Browne. :)
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Bogeyman by Gayle Wilson
Blythe Wyndham decides to go home to Crenshaw to start over. Her husband John has been dead for a year and Blythe really feels that going home is the best idea. But things change when she hears knocking on the windows. Things get progressively worse and Blythe decides to do some research on the house that they live in now. She finds out that the girl Sarah Comstock’s grandmother lived in there and that starts her wondering if the house still standing has a connection to the murder 25 years ago. With the help of Sheriff Cade Jackson, she does her best to try to separate events past and present so that they can get to the bottom of a murder before the killer could strike again.
This is the first book that I have read by Gayle Wilson and found myself captivated by the book. It was creepy but well written. I was impressed with the way all the events unfolded as well as how Maddie, Blythe’s daughter, knew what was going on but could not tell things except through the eyes of a little one.
The characters in this book were fantastic. I really felt for Blythe since I am a mom as well. I could understand her need to protect her daughter because I have the same instincts towards my son. Cade came across as very sincere and he truly wanted to see it all end. He was looking out for the community besides trying to help Blythe stay around to find out the truth. He was a sweetheart and I honestly felt compassion for him since he was in a situation that didn’t give much information either time.
Thrilling would not quite describe this book because it was more than that. It was suspenseful, full of twists and turns, and the outcome had me completely shocked. I never would have guessed in a million years who the bogeyman was. I was almost appalled by it but then you’ll have to read the book. I give it a 4/5 because at times it seemed almost over the top but reality hit home too. I highly recommend this one and can’t wait to read more by this author.
I am off to bed, still not feeling the best and shouldn't have pushed it today but I wanted to go to a book signing for Jodi Picoult. She was a sweetie as usual. :)
This is the first book that I have read by Gayle Wilson and found myself captivated by the book. It was creepy but well written. I was impressed with the way all the events unfolded as well as how Maddie, Blythe’s daughter, knew what was going on but could not tell things except through the eyes of a little one.
The characters in this book were fantastic. I really felt for Blythe since I am a mom as well. I could understand her need to protect her daughter because I have the same instincts towards my son. Cade came across as very sincere and he truly wanted to see it all end. He was looking out for the community besides trying to help Blythe stay around to find out the truth. He was a sweetheart and I honestly felt compassion for him since he was in a situation that didn’t give much information either time.
Thrilling would not quite describe this book because it was more than that. It was suspenseful, full of twists and turns, and the outcome had me completely shocked. I never would have guessed in a million years who the bogeyman was. I was almost appalled by it but then you’ll have to read the book. I give it a 4/5 because at times it seemed almost over the top but reality hit home too. I highly recommend this one and can’t wait to read more by this author.
I am off to bed, still not feeling the best and shouldn't have pushed it today but I wanted to go to a book signing for Jodi Picoult. She was a sweetie as usual. :)
Friday, March 16, 2007
Consigned to Death by Jane K. Cleland
Josie Prescott is doing well in her new life. But someone doesn’t want her around. She goes to meet a client at his house but no one answers the door. Josie doesn’t think much of it until Chief of Police Alverez shows up asking her questions. Being name the chief suspect only makes her want to work harder to clear her name. But can she before more tragedies occur?
Ms. Cleland is a writer who really impressed me. Since this is her first novel, I really enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the development of both. Having a love of antiques helped too, but I really appreciated the balance between Josie’s life and her work. I was left with very few questions and that made the book even better in my opinion.
Josie is a wonderful character. She’s honest, trustworthy, and has a gentle spirit. Her assistant Sasha is a great woman who compliments her very well. She truly helps her with the business and keeps things on track. Then there’s Chief Alverez. I’m not quite sure what to think of him. He still has a little mystery around him. Yet I look forward to hearing more of his story possibly in the next book.
Anyone who loves antiques, this is the book for you. Also if you enjoyed Mary Kay Andrews’ series in Savannah, you’ll like this one as well. I give this book a 4/5. It truly kept me guessing till almost the end. Josie’s sleuthing gives a little away but then she is trying to clear her name. I loved reading this book and can’t wait till the next one comes out.
This was a wonderful book and I really enjoyed it! I can't wait for Deadly Appraisals to come out to see what happens next. :) Now off to continue reading Bogeyman By Gayle Wilson. :)
Ms. Cleland is a writer who really impressed me. Since this is her first novel, I really enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the development of both. Having a love of antiques helped too, but I really appreciated the balance between Josie’s life and her work. I was left with very few questions and that made the book even better in my opinion.
Josie is a wonderful character. She’s honest, trustworthy, and has a gentle spirit. Her assistant Sasha is a great woman who compliments her very well. She truly helps her with the business and keeps things on track. Then there’s Chief Alverez. I’m not quite sure what to think of him. He still has a little mystery around him. Yet I look forward to hearing more of his story possibly in the next book.
Anyone who loves antiques, this is the book for you. Also if you enjoyed Mary Kay Andrews’ series in Savannah, you’ll like this one as well. I give this book a 4/5. It truly kept me guessing till almost the end. Josie’s sleuthing gives a little away but then she is trying to clear her name. I loved reading this book and can’t wait till the next one comes out.
This was a wonderful book and I really enjoyed it! I can't wait for Deadly Appraisals to come out to see what happens next. :) Now off to continue reading Bogeyman By Gayle Wilson. :)
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Slightly Psychic by Sandra Steffen
I just finished this book and here is my review. :)
Lila Delaney has never claimed to be a psychic but she has been known to have a few times where she has known things that no one else has. Well after having a dream about Hailey Baxter who has been missing, she decides to contact the police. Well when they find Hailey, she is tied up to a bed, like in her dream, but her fiancé is there as well. She falls apart and moves to Murray, Virginia to a house that she inherited. But an unsolved case there grabs her attention. But can she be of help or is she only slightly psychic?
Sandra Steffan is a wonderful romance writer. I found her story to be uplifting as well as enjoyable. I couldn't believe how clean it was but the tension was there and so was the passion. I loved the characters and found them to be very real. This was the first book I have read by her and her style is so refreshing.
Lila was my favorite not just because she was the main character. She got thrust into the spotlight and had to learn to deal with it. I was impressed with how well she handled things. Her best friend Penelope was something else though. She was a high society person but could stand on her own two feet. The antics of those two had me laughing throughout the book. I also really liked Joe McCaffrey. He happened to be the love interest of Lila but he had a hand in the unsolved case. He stood on the sidelines for a while assessing the situation and how Lila coming to Murray would affect the town. He was a sweetheart just was a very cautious one.
Ms. Steffan can write a good romance and I hope to read more by her soon. I give this book a 4/5. I am happy that a friend of mine had read it because that is how I found out about it. I love paranormal type books with a little romance too. I am a hopeless romantic since this book suited me very well. It was a very sweet and touching book that I highly recommend.
I am so glad Nancy read it. I don't remember what she thought of it but I enjoyed it a lot! Now off to another romance. :)
Lila Delaney has never claimed to be a psychic but she has been known to have a few times where she has known things that no one else has. Well after having a dream about Hailey Baxter who has been missing, she decides to contact the police. Well when they find Hailey, she is tied up to a bed, like in her dream, but her fiancé is there as well. She falls apart and moves to Murray, Virginia to a house that she inherited. But an unsolved case there grabs her attention. But can she be of help or is she only slightly psychic?
Sandra Steffan is a wonderful romance writer. I found her story to be uplifting as well as enjoyable. I couldn't believe how clean it was but the tension was there and so was the passion. I loved the characters and found them to be very real. This was the first book I have read by her and her style is so refreshing.
Lila was my favorite not just because she was the main character. She got thrust into the spotlight and had to learn to deal with it. I was impressed with how well she handled things. Her best friend Penelope was something else though. She was a high society person but could stand on her own two feet. The antics of those two had me laughing throughout the book. I also really liked Joe McCaffrey. He happened to be the love interest of Lila but he had a hand in the unsolved case. He stood on the sidelines for a while assessing the situation and how Lila coming to Murray would affect the town. He was a sweetheart just was a very cautious one.
Ms. Steffan can write a good romance and I hope to read more by her soon. I give this book a 4/5. I am happy that a friend of mine had read it because that is how I found out about it. I love paranormal type books with a little romance too. I am a hopeless romantic since this book suited me very well. It was a very sweet and touching book that I highly recommend.
I am so glad Nancy read it. I don't remember what she thought of it but I enjoyed it a lot! Now off to another romance. :)
Monday, March 12, 2007
Beguiled by Shannon Drake
Allison Grayson is a woman who loves to write. But after meeting the highwayman, she isn’t sure what she wants in life. Then once she finds out she is betrothed to another, she does not know what to do about it. She likes the highwayman but has never met her fiancé. She has no reason to go through an arranged marriage, because she finds them confining. But once she finds out her fiancé and the highway man are the same, she has to figure out if she wants to marry a liar or go out into the world without someone to protect her.
Heather Graham is fantastic and I think she did a great job with this book as Shannon Drake. I found the writing style a little different than in the other books I have read but I enjoyed it so much. I can see now why some authors have other pen names. I think it would have sold well under her real name but oh well. It is a fantastic book with wonderful characters.
The characters in this book are so much fun. I love the Victorian era as well as anything to do with books. Since the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle made quite a few appearances that made the book even more enjoyable. You can learn so much through fiction about that time period. Of all the characters, I enjoyed Ally. Not only because she is the main character but also for the fact that she is a sweetheart. She held to her beliefs and didn’t let much get in her way. She would listen to reason when she needed to but that seemed to be very seldom since she loved her independence. I don’t blame her, I love having my freedom but I can understand that when a murder is being solved, things have to done a little differently. I adored Sir Mark Farrow. Not only did he have pride and be able to help more than most people. He was one of the most charming male leads I have read in quite some time.
I highly recommend this book and give it a 5/5. I can’t wait to read more by Heather Graham/Shannon Drake. She keeps my interest from the very first sentence. I hope to read more by her soon! I still can’t believe I read the whole book in one day. It is 424 pages so not a small book. It was a wonderful read and one I got hooked into! This is a great author and I am impressed by everything she writes.
I guess I needed a little distraction from stuff going on in my life right now. Books always relax me and this one sure helped. :)
Heather Graham is fantastic and I think she did a great job with this book as Shannon Drake. I found the writing style a little different than in the other books I have read but I enjoyed it so much. I can see now why some authors have other pen names. I think it would have sold well under her real name but oh well. It is a fantastic book with wonderful characters.
The characters in this book are so much fun. I love the Victorian era as well as anything to do with books. Since the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle made quite a few appearances that made the book even more enjoyable. You can learn so much through fiction about that time period. Of all the characters, I enjoyed Ally. Not only because she is the main character but also for the fact that she is a sweetheart. She held to her beliefs and didn’t let much get in her way. She would listen to reason when she needed to but that seemed to be very seldom since she loved her independence. I don’t blame her, I love having my freedom but I can understand that when a murder is being solved, things have to done a little differently. I adored Sir Mark Farrow. Not only did he have pride and be able to help more than most people. He was one of the most charming male leads I have read in quite some time.
I highly recommend this book and give it a 5/5. I can’t wait to read more by Heather Graham/Shannon Drake. She keeps my interest from the very first sentence. I hope to read more by her soon! I still can’t believe I read the whole book in one day. It is 424 pages so not a small book. It was a wonderful read and one I got hooked into! This is a great author and I am impressed by everything she writes.
I guess I needed a little distraction from stuff going on in my life right now. Books always relax me and this one sure helped. :)
Friday, March 09, 2007
Trouble by Jesse Kellerman
Jonah Stem is a man who wants to help the world. He is working on becoming a doctor and one morning bright and early he hears a call for help. Jonah is able to rescue the woman but in the process gets himself hurt and kills the attacker. He is thrust into the limelight, which is not the greatest because he gets slapped with a lawsuit from the attacker’s family and then the victim Eve Gones becomes part of his life. At first, all seems to go well, but he begins to question himself as he gets to know her better. She won’t seem to leave him alone and he wonders what he really did on that night when he rescued her. Will he ever find out what truly happened and did he get himself into trouble?
Jesse Kellerman is a good writer. I just found the book at times slow and a little weird. Maybe that is what Mr. Kellerman was trying to do and so he did a great job. I didn’t have any problems following the story what so ever but it just seemed to drag occasionally. I found it well written just didn’t always grab me.
Jonah just found himself in an awful situation that only seemed to get worse. He was a good man who loved to help people. Yet Eve didn’t seem to care and took advantage of him. It was horrible. It was interesting to see what Jonah had to go through as a student but he was able to blow most of his superiors’ comments off. He really buckled down and focused. I really liked that about him.
As good as this book was at times, I can only give it a 3.5 out of 5. Partially because of how the book reeked of smoke, and it is a library book too! It made it very difficult to concentrate on the words but I was able to get past that. The book still wasn’t all that great. If you like thrillers, I would tell you to give it a shot. I had heard from others that it was not so great but I had to give it a try. Maybe someone else will like it more than I did.
I was hoping for something better because the book front seemed to intrigue me. Oh, well! On to the next book, another romance. :) lol
Jesse Kellerman is a good writer. I just found the book at times slow and a little weird. Maybe that is what Mr. Kellerman was trying to do and so he did a great job. I didn’t have any problems following the story what so ever but it just seemed to drag occasionally. I found it well written just didn’t always grab me.
Jonah just found himself in an awful situation that only seemed to get worse. He was a good man who loved to help people. Yet Eve didn’t seem to care and took advantage of him. It was horrible. It was interesting to see what Jonah had to go through as a student but he was able to blow most of his superiors’ comments off. He really buckled down and focused. I really liked that about him.
As good as this book was at times, I can only give it a 3.5 out of 5. Partially because of how the book reeked of smoke, and it is a library book too! It made it very difficult to concentrate on the words but I was able to get past that. The book still wasn’t all that great. If you like thrillers, I would tell you to give it a shot. I had heard from others that it was not so great but I had to give it a try. Maybe someone else will like it more than I did.
I was hoping for something better because the book front seemed to intrigue me. Oh, well! On to the next book, another romance. :) lol
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