Wednesday, April 09, 2014

New Additions To The TBR Pile In March

March saw the arrival of several titles to review at The Bookworm News & Reviews. Spring is going to be a very busy time, I think. :)

Title: Broken Hearts, Fences And Other Things To Mend by Katie Finn
Description: Summer, boys, and friendships gone sour. This new series has everything that perfect beach reads are made of!

Gemma just got dumped and is devastated. She finds herself back in the Hamptons for the summer—which puts her at risk of bumping into Hallie, her former best friend that she wronged five years earlier. Do people hold grudges that long?

When a small case of mistaken identity causes everyone, including Hallie and her dreamy brother Josh, to think she’s someone else, Gemma decides to go along with it.

Gemma's plan is working (she's finding it hard to resist Josh), but she's finding herself in embarrassing situations (how could a bathing suit fall apart like that!?). Is it coincidence or is someone trying to expose her true identity? And how will Josh react if he finds out who she is?

Title: Dog Gone, Back Soon by Nick Trout
Description: When Dr. Cyrus Mills returned home after inheriting his estranged father's veterinary practice, The Bedside Manor for Sick Animals, the last thing he wanted was to stay in Eden Falls, Vermont, a moment longer than absolutely necessary. However, the previously reclusive veterinarian pathologist quickly found that he actually enjoyed treating animals and getting to know the eccentric residents of the tiny provincial town-especially an alluring waitress named Amy.

So Cyrus is now determined to make Bedside Manor thrive. Not an easy goal, given that Healthy Paws, the national veterinary chain across town, will stop at nothing to crush its mom-and-pop competitor. And the rival vet practice isn't Cyrus's only competition; a handsome stranger shows up out of nowhere who clearly has a mysterious past with Amy. To top it off, Cyrus finds himself both the guardian of a very unique orphaned dog and smack in the middle of serious small town drama.

This charming sequel to The Patron Saint of Lost Dogs is a wild and delightful ride through one jam- packed week, where Cyrus must figure out how to outsmart the evil veterinary conglomerate, win back Amy's heart, solve several tricky veterinary cases, find a home for an orphaned dog, and detangle himself from an absurd case of mistaken identity. DOG GONE, BACK SOON brims with Nick Trout's trademark humor, charm, and captivating animal stories, and is proof that all dogs, lost or not, on four feet or two, deserve a second chance.

Title: He Texted: The Ultimate Guide to Dating in the Digital Era by Lisa Winning and Carrie Henderson McDermott
Description: You’re a busy, intelligent, modern woman. You stay on top of work e-mail. You “like” all the baby photos your sister posts on Facebook. You found your dream job through LinkedIn. But when your crush texts you “Sup?” every few days, yet never asks you out, what the hell does that mean?

These days, dating is more confusing than ever. Friending? Following? Liking? Poking? Linking? LOLing? WTF? In an era when FaceTime is no longer the same as face-toface, it’s no wonder you can’t tell if he’s into you or just really into his iPhone.

This hilarious and essential guide from the founders of HeTexted.com—with totally straightforward guy sight from the HeTexted Bros—will help you autocorrect your digital dating life, from decoding your Facebook friendships, to reading the intentions behind guys’ perplexing texts, to deciding when—if ever—you should text him first. It’s He’s Just Not That Into You for the digital age and What to Expect When You’re Expecting . . . a second date—all in one invaluable package!

Title: Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes
Description: Catherine has been enjoying the single life for long enough to know a good catch when she sees one. Gorgeous, charismatic, spontaneous - Lee seems almost too perfect to be true. And her friends clearly agree, as each in turn falls under his spell. But there is a darker side to Lee. His erratic, controlling and sometimes frightening behaviour means that Catherine is increasingly isolated. Driven into the darkest corner of her world, and trusting no one, she plans a meticulous escape. Four years later, struggling to overcome her demons, Catherine dares to believe she might be safe from harm. Until one phone call changes everything. This is an edgy and powerful first novel, utterly convincing in its portrayal of obsession, and a tour de force of suspense.

Title: Pretty Reckless by Jodi Linton
Description: Welcome to Pistol Rock, Texas where everyone knows secrets last about as long as the sporadic west Texas rain showers.

Laney Briggs has long been considered reckless by the denizens of her hometown, but she’s finally turned it all around—she’s happily engaged to the local veterinarian and she’s become a Pistol Rock deputy sheriff. Everything’s fine and dandy—until a dead body turns up and her ex, Texas Ranger Gunner Wilson, decides to stick his boots into the town’s first murder case. Of course, the troublesome cowboy’s rugged good looks and T-shirt-straining muscles are already leaving Laney knee-deep in hot water, but she’ll be damned if she lets Gunner trample all over her turf. She’s decided that, instead of conflict, she wants a contented, steady life with her vet—a life in which Gunner Wilson and his seemingly endless ability to undermine her resolve and her libido plays no part. Still, it’s hard to keep her head as forbidden sparks ignite and suspicions arise between old rivals and old flames. And when the bodies start to pile up, Laney has to ask the lethal bad boy for a hand—and a truce in exchange for his help. But after uncovering the pack of lies surrounding not only her job but her heart… Having an ex-boyfriend as an ally might not be the best idea, but it’s certainly the most reckless, and Laney has always been pretty reckless…

Title: The Adventures Of Jillian Spectre by Nic Tatano
Description: Welcome to the Mystic Quarter...

Jillian Spectre knows what happens after you die.

Because the seventeen-year-old mystic seer can see the future of her clients even after they've passed on. And that's not even her coolest power...

She can be in two places at once. Problem is, her heart can only be in one.

Supernatural abilities aside, she's a typical high school senior torn between two guys. But that gets put on the back burner when she discovers the father she had long assumed was dead is actually alive, with unique powers of his own. He's a technopath, with the ability to interface his mind with technology. And he's got a plan to take down society.

Unless Jillian can stop him.

THE ADVENTURES OF JILLIAN SPECTRE is the story of a very special girl who learns that the power of love is more important than supernatural powers.

Title: The Body In The Woods by April Henry
Description: In this new series told from multiple perspectives, teen members of a search and rescue team discover a dead body in the woods.

Alexis, Nick, and Ruby have very different backgrounds: Alexis has spent her life covering for her mom’s mental illness, Nick’s bravado hides his fear of not being good enough, and Ruby just wants to pursue her eccentric interests in a world that doesn’t understand her. When the three teens join Portland County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, they are teamed up to search for a autistic man lost in the woods. What they find instead is a dead body. In a friendship that will be forged in danger, fear, and courage, the three team up to find the girl’s killer—before he can strike one of their own.

This first book in April Henry’s Point Last Seen YA mystery series is full of riveting suspense, putting readers in the middle of harrowing rescues and crime scene investigations.

Title: The Broken by Shelley Coriell
Description: He took her life, but left her alive.

Three years ago, reporter Kate Johnson was the first victim—and only survivor—of the Broadcast Butcher. Scarred both physically and psychologically by the brutal serial killer, Kate lives life on the run, knowing that one day, he will find her and finish what he started.

In the pursuit of justice, you sometimes have to step outside the law.

Agent Hayden Reed spends his life chasing monsters. The only way to stay sane is to detach, but the second the Broadcast Butcher case crosses his desk, Hayden knows this is the case that might just cost him his soul. To catch this vicious murderer before he strikes again, Hayden must find Kate and earn her trust. For it's her darkest secrets that hold the key to stopping this madman once and for all . . .

Title: The Burning by Jane Casey
Description: A determined young police constable goes it alone against an enigmatic killer and her bosses in a series debut for fans of Sophie Hannah and Tana French...

The Burning Man. It’s the name the media has given a brutal murderer who has beaten four young women to death before setting their bodies ablaze in secluded areas of London’s parks. And now there’s a fifth.

Maeve Kerrigan is an ambitious detective constable, keen to make her mark on the murder task force. Her male colleagues believe Maeve’s empathy makes her weak, but the more she learns about the latest victim, Rebecca Haworth, from her grieving friends and family, the more determined Maeve becomes to bring her murderer to justice. But how do you catch a killer no one has seen when so much of the evidence has gone up in smoke?

Maeve’s frenetic hunt for a killer in Jane Casey’s gripping series debut will entrance even the most jaded suspense readers.

Title: The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook by Matt Dunn
Description: "It's not me-it's you."

After ten years, Jane's had enough of Edward Middleton. "You've let yourself go," she tells him. "So I'm letting you go too."

Determined to get her back, Edward realizes he must learn how to make women want him again. But right now, he's the kind of man who puts the "ex" in "sexy." One thing is certain: if he's going to be Jane's Mr. Right, he needs to turn himself around. From Atkins to Waxing, Edward begins working his way through the makeover alphabet.

But is a change in appearance what Jane really wants? Can cuddly Teddy really become sexy Eddie? Or is there more to the dating game than meets the eye?

Title: The Word Exchange by Alena Graedon
Description: A dystopian novel for the digital age, The Word Exchange offers an inventive, suspenseful, and decidedly original vision of the dangers of technology and of the enduring power of the printed word.

In the not-so-distant future, the forecasted “death of print” has become a reality. Bookstores, libraries, newspapers, and magazines are things of the past, and we spend our time glued to handheld devices called Memes that not only keep us in constant communication but also have become so intuitive that they hail us cabs before we leave our offices, order takeout at the first growl of a hungry stomach, and even create and sell language itself in a marketplace called the Word Exchange.

Anana Johnson works with her father, Doug, at the North American Dictionary of the English Language (NADEL), where Doug is hard at work on the last edition that will ever be printed. Doug is a staunchly anti-Meme, anti-tech intellectual who fondly remembers the days when people used email (everything now is text or videoconference) to communicate—or even actually spoke to one another, for that matter. One evening, Doug disappears from the NADEL offices, leaving a single written clue: ALICE. It’s a code word he devised to signal if he ever fell into harm’s way. And thus begins Anana’s journey down the proverbial rabbit hole . . .

Joined by Bart, her bookish NADEL colleague, Anana’s search for Doug will take her into dark basements and subterranean passageways; the stacks and reading rooms of the Mercantile Library; and secret meetings of the underground resistance, the Diachronic Society. As Anana penetrates the mystery of her father’s disappearance and a pandemic of decaying language called “word flu” spreads, The Word Exchange becomes a cautionary tale that is at once a technological thriller and a meditation on the high cultural costs of digital technology.

Title: Treading On Dreams by Jeff Gardiner
Description: Donny is obsessed with his housemate, Selena – but his love is unrequited. He enthusiastically accepts her willing friendship, which only fuels his deepening fantasies.

Jaz is their crazy landlord who likes sleeping with women – lots of them. He takes pleasure in educating the once innocent Donny in the hedonistic pleasures of sex, drugs and rock’n’roll. It blows Donny’s mind.

Selena is engaged to Melvin – the perfect man – but is also keen to befriend the ever-demanding Donny ... until she falls pregnant and her wedding looms.

Donny expresses his true feelings at the wedding, causing mayhem and anger. But there remains a chink of hope: perhaps Selena’s marriage to Melvin is not quite as perfect as it seems.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

REVIEW: Ever After by Kim Harrison

Title: Ever After (The Hollows #11)
Author: Kim Harrison
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date: January, 2013
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Description: The ever after, the demonic realm that parallels the human world, is shrinking. If it disappears completely, so does all magic. It's up to witch-turned-daywalking-demon Rachel Morgan to avert catastrophe and keep life from changing... for the worse.

While saving the world is important, it isn't Rachel's only motivation. There's also the small fact that she caused the ley line to rip in the first place, setting off a chain reaction of unfortunate events. That little mistake has made her life forfeit unless she can fix it. It's also made her more than a few enemies, including the most powerful demon in the ever after—a terrifying entity who eats souls and now has an insatiable appetite for her. He's already kidnapped her friend and goddaughter to lure her out, and if Rachel doesn't give herself up soon, they'll die.

But Rachel has more than a few impressive and frightening skills of her own, and she isn't going to hand over her soul and her life without one hell of a fight. She's also got a surprise: elven tycoon Trent Kalamack. With this unlikely ally beside her—a prospect both thrilling and unnerving—she's going to return to the ever after, kick some demon butt, rescue her loved ones... and prevent an apocalypse before it's too late. Or, at least that's the plan...

My Thoughts: I had a hard time reading this book because knowing this series is nearing the end made the reading so much more bittersweet. This series has been so much fun to read and I will miss Rachel and her friends when it is over. With Ever After, the reader is given a lot to wade through. Rachel has been blamed for causing the ever after to begin shrinking. In case you are just now tuning in, the ever after is the demonic realm where Al lives. Ku’Sox is the one to blame but he has manipulated the other demons into believing Rachel has done it and if she doesn’t fix it, they will kill her and “allow” Ku’Sox to fix it. Ku’Sox is a tool and I despise him, but he is an excellent villain and this series needed one. Unfortunately, he kidnaps Ceri and Lucy to draw Rachel out to kill her. Trent and Al started out villainous, but they aren’t so much anymore. Nick started out decent but has turned into a tool as well, but he’s weak in mind and spirit and I don’t foresee him as much as a threat to Rachel. Without giving anything away, I will say that Nick deserves every bad and painful thing coming to him when the karma bus runs him over, backs up and runs him over again.

Rachel and Trent work very closely in this installment and if I had been told in the first book that there would be major chemistry of a romantic nature between them, I would have projectile vomited all over the place. I don’t know what happened here. I didn’t think I could ever see Trent in any other light than vile and manipulative. He has been the source of most of Rachel’s problems throughout the whole series. But I am weak and now I am intrigued to see what happens with them. Do I want to see Rachel with Trent? I don’t know. Do I want to see Rachel with Al? See the previous answer. Trying to figure out Al and Trent is nearly impossible. I have serious trust issues with both of them, but like a moth to a flame, I am compelled to come closer even though there is a huge chance I will get burned.

Jenks is still my favorite and I never tire of him and all of his kids. If anyone deserves a happy ending in this series more than anyone, it’s him. Ivy is a hot mess and with Felix as an enemy, Rachel and Jenks should get the heck out of Dodge and distance themselves as far from Ivy as possible. We get to see more interactions with the gargoyles in this installment and I really enjoyed that. Bis is an interesting character and finding out more about him and meeting his relatives was enjoyable.

My Final Verdict: Fans of this series will enjoy this story and if you are new to the series, it is vital that the series be read in order. The characters are easy to relate to and I found myself caring about what happens to them, but you will miss a lot of character development if you don’t read them in order. This story packs a punch that left me reeling. I laughed and cried and got angry while reading this book. I am eagerly looking forward to the next book to see what Rachel, Trent, Al and Jenks get into next. Knowing them, I am sure it will be intense and I am looking forward to going along for the ride.


Friday, March 14, 2014

REVIEW: Boss Girl by Nic Tatano

Title: Boss Girl
Author: Nic Tatano
Publisher: Harper Impulse
Publication Date: February, 2014
Genre: Chick-Lit

Description: Sydney Hack is the single, thirtysomething VP of news for a failing network… and she also has a taste for younger men.

She soon realizes a whole lot of over-thirty female viewers do as well, so she sets out to give these women what they want; a chiseled, trophy buck in his twenties sitting on the anchor desk next to a woman…

Just.

Like.

Them.

With nothing to lose she does the unthinkable; along with three female managers who happen to be her best friends she brings out the casting couch and turns it into a sleeper sofa. Doesn't matter that the men have no television experience. As long as they look good. And there’s a hint of romance in every newscast.

Ratings skyrocket as a result, but Sydney and her female cohorts discover something else along the way…

True love is not always age appropriate.

My Thoughts: I was provided with a complimentary copy of Boss Girl in exchange for an honest review. Nic Tatano is a new to me author and I have been intrigued for many years by the male author’s perspective in the chick-lit genre. I find the story lines refreshing and daring so if you are hesitating to read a chick-lit by a male author, let me stop you right there and save you from making a very big mistake.

With Boss Girl, Mr. Tatano takes the age old “casting couch” mentality and hurls it out the window in a bold and hilarious manner by putting women in the dominant positions for a change. It’s about time, I say! Men have been using this tactic for years and it’s high time the tables were turned, so to speak. Men who want to work for these women now find themselves being required to sleep with these women as part of their job. It should come as no surprise to anyone that these men are completely willing participants. This story centers mainly on Sydney Hack, the VP of a network struggling to compete in the ratings market. She decides to start pairing older female anchors that can’t get hired anywhere else because of their age with younger, hot men, regardless of their resume. The only references Sydney and her best friends want to check are those in the boudoir. The secondary characters of Rica, Neely and Jillian bring this story to hilarious levels as these women are all sampling the offerings and even have a draft event to decide who gets who.

I didn’t know what to expect when I first read the description but I decided to keep an open mind. My first thought was this sounds like erotica, but it’s not. For a story that features sex as the main plot device, there are no crude, graphic or descriptive play by play narratives. Mr. Tatano does a brilliant job of giving the reader just enough for their imagination to kick in with the rest. The characters are amazing, strong, successful women who want what all women want. To be accepted, respected and treated well. To be judged on merits and successes, not on bra size or age. This story also is about relationships…the ones that are difficult and the ones that occur when they least expect it.


My Final Verdict: So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and get this book. I am looking forward to reading everything Nic Tatano writes. If you want a story with strong characters, sassy dialogue and hilarious plots, Boss Girl is an excellent choice.


Wednesday, March 05, 2014

New Additions To The TBR Pile In February

Wow, February saw a lot of new additions to my pile, thanks in great part to Net Galley and the numerous requests for reviews I have gotten. I am actually ahead of schedule with my annual reading goal so the usual stress and anxiety I feel when I acquire more than I am reading is not present. Here are the new additions to my book family, in no particular order...

Title: Boss Girl by Nic Tatano
Description: Sydney Hack is the single, thirtysomething VP of news for a failing network… and she also has a taste for younger men.

She soon realizes a whole lot of over-thirty female viewers do as well, so she sets out to give these women what they want; a chiseled, trophy buck in his twenties sitting on the anchor desk next to a woman…

Just.

Like.

Them.

With nothing to lose she does the unthinkable; along with three female managers who happen to be her best friends she brings out the casting couch and turns it into a sleeper sofa. Doesn't matter that the men have no television experience. As long as they look good. And there’s a hint of romance in every newscast.

Ratings skyrocket as a result, but Sydney and her female cohorts discover something else along the way…

True love is not always age appropriate.

Title: Drink Slay Love by Sarah Beth Durst
Description: Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire... fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil... until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops.

Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist), and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl's family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King's feast -- as the entrees.

The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends—especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache—to be slaughtered? Then again, she's definitely dead if she lets down her family. What's a sunlight-loving vamp to do?

Title: Ever After by Kim Harrison
Description: The ever after, the demonic realm that parallels the human world, is shrinking. If it disappears completely, so does all magic. It's up to witch-turned-daywalking-demon Rachel Morgan to avert catastrophe and keep life from changing... for the worse.

While saving the world is important, it isn't Rachel's only motivation. There's also the small fact that she caused the ley line to rip in the first place, setting off a chain reaction of unfortunate events. That little mistake has made her life forfeit unless she can fix it. It's also made her more than a few enemies, including the most powerful demon in the ever after—a terrifying entity who eats souls and now has an insatiable appetite for her. He's already kidnapped her friend and goddaughter to lure her out, and if Rachel doesn't give herself up soon, they'll die.

But Rachel has more than a few impressive and frightening skills of her own, and she isn't going to hand over her soul and her life without one hell of a fight. She's also got a surprise: elven tycoon Trent Kalamack. With this unlikely ally beside her—a prospect both thrilling and unnerving—she's going to return to the ever after, kick some demon butt, rescue her loved ones... and prevent an apocalypse before it's too late. Or, at least that's the plan...

Title: Never Google Heartbreak by Emma Garcia
Description: When her fiancé Rob breaks off their engagement for the third time, Viv does what any girl would do - she Googles heartbreak.

Confronted by tales of misery, she decides to set-up her own self-help website for the broken-hearted. But as Viv passes through the three essential stages of grief (denial, vodka, disastrous haircut), she becomes determined that it's not too late to try and get Rob back.

When things get out of hand after a drunken declaration of love at an extremely inappropriate moment, Viv's scruffy, tequila-swilling best friend Max is there to pick up the pieces. Viv starts to realise that maybe the real thing has been under her nose all this time, and now - one ex and a massive error of judgement later - she has to face the question:

What's the craziest thing you'll do for love?

Title: Sugar Spun Sister by Anna Garner
Description: Life isn’t exactly sweet for Cricket Whittier. Her boss hates her, her work is soul-destroying, and the sexy guy she’s hooking up with doesn’t want to date her. But this girl is far from hopeless. When Cricket’s in the kitchen with her ice cream maker and a few choice ingredients, her troubles slip away as she becomes a delectable dessert-designing powerhouse. She loves it so much, she dreams of opening her own ice cream shop one day.

As it turns out, “one day” just might be closer than she thinks. Propelled by the help and encouragement of her best friends, Lindsay and Nora, Cricket starts making plans to set up shop. Which is easier said than done what with the internal squabbling, the sky-high costs, her parents forecasting failure and her increasingly complicated love life. Despite all these hurdles, will Cricket be able to make her sweet dreams come true?

Title: The Divorce Papers by Susan Rieger
Description: Twenty-nine-year-old Sophie Diehl is happy toiling away as a criminal law associate at an old line New England firm where she very much appreciates that most of her clients are behind bars. Everyone at Traynor, Hand knows she abhors face-to-face contact, but one weekend, with all the big partners away, Sophie must handle the intake interview for the daughter of the firm’s most important client. After eighteen years of marriage, Mayflower descendant Mia Meiklejohn Durkheim has just been served divorce papers in a humiliating scene at the popular local restaurant, Golightly’s. She is locked and loaded to fight her eminent and ambitious husband, Dr. Daniel Durkheim, Chief of the Department of Pediatric Oncology, for custody of their ten-year-old daughter Jane—and she also burns to take him down a peg. Sophie warns Mia that she’s never handled a divorce case before, but Mia can’t be put off. As she so disarmingly puts it: It’s her first divorce, too.

Debut novelist Susan Rieger doesn’t leave a word out of place in this hilarious and expertly crafted debut that shines with the power and pleasure of storytelling. Told through personal correspondence, office memos, emails, articles, and legal papers, this playful reinvention of the epistolary form races along with humor and heartache, exploring the complicated family dynamic that results when marriage fails. For Sophie, the whole affair sparks a hard look at her own relationships—not only with her parents, but with colleagues, friends, lovers, and most importantly, herself. Much like Where’d You Go, Bernadette, The Divorce Papers will have you laughing aloud and thanking the literature gods for this incredible, fresh new voice in fiction.

Title: The Harlow Hoyden by Lynn Messina
Description: Miss Emma Harlow hasn’t earned the reputation as a hoyden for nothing, so when the Duke of Trent discovers her in his conservatory stealing one of his orchids, he’s isn’t surprised—charmed, delighted and puzzled, yes, but not surprised. It is Emma who is amazed. She has naturally concluded that the man reading in the conservatory must be the country cousin (who else in London would actually read?) and is quite vexed to discover that he is the Duke of Trent himself—imagine, stealing the duke’s prize Rhyncholaelia digbyana under his very nose!

But her vexation doesn’t last long. For Emma is a practical young lady with a mission: to end her dear sister Lavinia’s engagement to the villainous (and dreadfully dull!) Sir Waldo Windbourne, and she thinks that the famous libertine is just the man for the job. If he would only seduce her sister away from Sir Waldo…. Well, not seduce exactly, but flirt mercilessly and engage her interest. Perhaps then Lavinia would jilt the baron. The Duke of Trent is resistant, of course. Despite his reputation, he does not toy with the affections of innocents. And besides, it’s not her sister he longs to seduce.

Title: Tweethearts by Nicole Haddow
Description: Jemima Starler loathes her job writing for the pregnancy magazine Placenta Monthly. To break the monotony, she writes scandalous tweets about the magazine industry as her secret online identity, Maghag. Thankfully, she also has her cute and talented housemate, Samson, to keep life interesting. When her editor stoops to a new ethical low, Jemima's reputation is suddenly on the line. She must find a way to carve out a new career, but it's hard to focus when Samson's mixed signals are driving her crazy. And when her handsome housemate is plucked from obscurity to star on a new reality TV show, everything changes. It's time for Jemima to trust her feelings instead of believing what she sees online, but has she missed her chance?

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

REVIEW: Angel's Tip by Alafair Burke

Title: Angel's Tip (Ellie Hatcher #2)
Author: Alafair Burke
Publisher: Harper
Publication Date: August, 2008
Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Description: In a city full of victims . . . it's hard to choose just one.

Fresh-faced Indiana college student Chelsea Hart is so excited to spend the final hours of her spring break in the VIP room of an elite New York City club that she remains behind when her girlfriends call it a night. The next morning, as her concerned friends anxiously pace their hotel lobby, joggers find Chelsea's body in East River Park, her wavy blond hair brutally hacked off.

NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher catches the case and homes in on the group of privileged men who were last seen plying Chelsea with free-flowing alcohol. But before she can even gather the preliminary evidence, the gruesome murder is grabbing headlines and drawing unwanted media attention to the department. So when Ellie builds a tight case against Jake Myers, a young hedge fund manager, the department brass and the district attorney's office are elated: the case will soon be cleared, the media will tout the department's quick work, and Ellie will be a dream witness at the trial against Myers.

But Ellie has her doubts. Chelsea's murder is eerily similar to three other deaths that occurred nearly a decade ago: the victims were young, female, and in each case, the killer had taken her hair as a souvenir.

Ellie's investigation pulls her into a late-night world of exclusive clubs, conspicuous wealth, and hedonistic consumption. And her search for the truth not only pits her against her fellow cops but also places her under the watchful eye of a psychopath eager to add the prideful young female detective to his list.

My Thoughts: I usually prefer my mysteries and thrillers on audio. For me, the tension, suspense, anxiety and, yes, sometimes fear are more heightened through the audible performance of the narrator. If done correctly, it makes the story more enjoyable for me. Unfortunately, not every audiobook has provided the nail-biting edge of my seat anticipation. When this happens, I find it a struggle to continue the book. Depending on the story’s subject matter, I may give up on the book entirely or start over with a print edition. I decided to start over with Angel’s Tip. This is the second book in the Ellie Hatcher series and she is a character that intrigued me in the first book, Dead Connection.

This book picks up not long where the first one ended, so I recommend you read this series in order to maintain character and storyline continuity. Ellie has new challenges in this story as well. She still has to prove herself in a Unit where she is the least experienced and where her boss appears to hate her and everything about her. She is given a new partner and she and J.J. Rogan have to learn to work together as a team while getting to know one another. She is also trying to process where her relationship with Peter is going and she still lives with her brother, Jess. A pretty average and typical day in the life of an NYPD Homicide Detective.

As with the last book, I think Ellie is a fantastic character. She maintains her composure when she is face to face with people who are openly hostile, like her boss or with people whose motives I certainly question, like her boyfriend. I enjoy the teamwork and budding friendship between Ellie and Rogan and the domestic relationship between her and her brother. Ms. Burke does an amazing job of creating characters with depth and personalities that are a joy to get to know and understand.

Ellie and Rogan’s first case involves the murder of a college student from Indiana who is visiting Manhattan on her spring break. She has been strangled and stabbed repeatedly and her hair has been chopped off. Ellie and Rogan quickly identify a suspect and the Department is satisfied that the case has been solved. The more Ellie looks at the case, however, the more she doubts that they have the right suspect. She begins following up on similar cases that her last partner was working on that happened decades ago. With the assistance of her partner and ADA Max Donovan, Ellie is trying to race the clock to put the pieces together before this psychopath claims another victim.

This story was very complex and it was impossible for me to figure out who the killer was. When Ellie figures it out, my reaction was “Huh? Where did she come up with that?” I had not even come up with a near guess, but that’s really OK. I don’t want to be the one to have to figure it out. It takes all of the enjoyment of the story away from me. I enjoy not knowing and being surprised and even shocked when it is revealed. Even better, the adrenaline doesn’t stop with the big reveal. The story kicks into high gear as the stakes have gone up once Ellie knows. I give Ms. Burke a double high five for ripping the rug out from under me.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a very good story that I am glad I stuck with. This book will appeal to fans of J.D. Robb’s Eve Dallas series or James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club series. If you enjoy strong female protagonists who are not afraid to get their hands dirty and have guts and courage, I recommend this series. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see what Ellie gets into next and who she gets into it with.


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

REVIEW: Sugar Spun Sister by Anna Garner

Title: Sugar Spun Sister (Sweet Dreams #1)
Author: Anna Garner
Publication Date: December, 2013
Genre: Chick-Lit

Description: Life isn’t exactly sweet for Cricket Whittier. Her boss hates her, her work is soul-destroying, and the sexy guy she’s hooking up with doesn’t want to date her. But this girl is far from hopeless. When Cricket’s in the kitchen with her ice cream maker and a few choice ingredients, her troubles slip away as she becomes a delectable dessert-designing powerhouse. She loves it so much, she dreams of opening her own ice cream shop one day.

As it turns out, “one day” just might be closer than she thinks. Propelled by the help and encouragement of her best friends, Lindsay and Nora, Cricket starts making plans to set up shop. Which is easier said than done what with the internal squabbling, the sky-high costs, her parents forecasting failure and her increasingly complicated love life. Despite all these hurdles, will Cricket be able to make her sweet dreams come true?

My Thoughts: The biggest element I look for when I pick up a Chick-Lit title is fun. Sugar Spun Sister by Anna Garner dishes up a winner that will have fans lining up for seconds and thirds.

I adored the main character, Cricket Whittier. She is someone I could easily relate to and someone who I would be friends with. I really enjoyed the scenes with her and her two best friends, Nora and Lindsay the most. I got a really good sense of how close this trio is and how far they will go to be there for one another and help someone achieve their dreams.

Cricket works for a horrible man who demeans her work and person on a daily basis. She has a hook-up buddy that fills the immediate physical need for intimacy, but doesn’t have any substance for a long term future. After receiving an ice cream maker from her brother, she begins experimenting with various ingredients and flavors and tests them out on her friends and family. She would love nothing more than to leave the job and boss from Hell and open her own ice cream shop.

When her dream becomes a reality within her grasp, Cricket has to make a lot of decisions that will affect not only her life, but the lives of the people around her. It surprised me that not everyone in Cricket’s life was supportive of her dream but I thoroughly enjoyed the process she and her friends go through to get the shop up and running.

This book had so many laugh out loud moments for me that I thoroughly enjoyed. Before reading this book, I had no clue what dragon fruit is, but I will never be able to look at it again without thinking of this book and Cricket’s kitchen counter and laughing myself silly.

With the exception of Cricket’s despicable boss and Nora’s husband (maybe he is redeemable), I loved all of the characters, some more than others, but would definitely love to see more of Cricket’s brother, Sage. Their interactions were priceless.

My Final Verdict: If you are looking for a fun book filled with witty dialogue and laugh out loud scenes that will give you a feel good warm fuzzy at the end, then look no further than this book. Eating your favorite flavor of ice cream while reading is purely optional.


Friday, February 07, 2014

Vampire Academy Movie

The movie looks a little more humorous than the book, but I am definitely going to give it a look when it comes out!


Sunday, February 02, 2014

REVIEW: The Search by Nora Roberts

Title: The Search
Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: Putnam
Publication Date: July, 2010
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Description: The #1 New York Times-bestselling author presents a riveting novel where a canine search and rescue volunteer fights danger and finds love in the Pacific Northwest wilderness.

To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life-a quaint house on an island off Seattle's coast, a thriving dog-training school, and a challenging volunteer job performing canine search and rescues. Not to mention her three intensely loyal Labs. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a nightmare...

Several years ago, Fiona was the only survivor of the Red Scarf serial killer, who shot and killed Fiona's cop fiancé and his K-9 partner.

On Orcas Island, Fiona found the peace and solitude she needed to rebuild her life. But all that changes on the day Simon Doyle barrels up her drive, desperate for her help. He's the reluctant owner of an out-of-control puppy, foisted upon him by his mother. Jaws has eaten through Simon's house, and he's at his wit's end.

To Fiona, Jaws is nothing she can't handle. Simon, however, is another matter. A newcomer to Orcas, he's a rugged and in-tensely private artist, known for the exquisite furniture he creates from wood. Simon never wanted a puppy-and he most definitely doesn't want a woman. Besides, the lanky redhead is not his type. But tell that to his hormones.

As Fiona embarks on training Jaws, and Simon begins to appreciate both dog and trainer, the past tears back into Fiona's life. A copycat killer has emerged out of the shadows, a man whose bloodlust has been channeled by a master with one motive: to reclaim the woman who slipped out of his hands...

My Thoughts: Nora Roberts once again delivers a wonderful story with a perfect blend of romance and suspense laced with humor. Fiona and Simon were fantastic characters that perfectly balance each other. I thoroughly enjoyed watching their relationship develop and blossom and the dogs were my favorite part of the story as the catalyst that brings them together.

My only problem with this story was the ending. The entire book builds up the suspense of an ultimate showdown between Fiona and RSK2. The means and lengths to which he goes gave me the impression that the terror Fiona felt the first time would be child's play compared to what this maniac had in store for her. The suspense reached nail biting edge of my seat levels for me so I was very shocked and disappointed at the anti-climatic ending. As a result, I can't give this story a full 5 stars.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this story delivers a great story filled with memorable characters and adorable dogs, which is always a plus for me. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense and likes animals more than they like gripping action and don't mind an intense build-up with a soft ending.


Saturday, February 01, 2014

New Additions To The TBR Pile In January

A New Year begins with a bang and I am off to a good start with new book additions!

Title: Second Chance by Martha O'Sullivan
Description: Lindsay Foster has convinced herself that marrying Paul Webster is the right thing to do. But now that Brian Rembrandt is standing in front of her again, undressing her with his eyes, she finds herself torn between the life she's always wanted and the man she'll always love.

Brian's up for that fight; he's used to getting what he wants. And he's never met a rule, or a woman, that couldn't be broken. So when Lindsay won’t come to him, he goes to her.

But it's more complicated than that.

This love triangle has an extra side. Lindsay's best friend Moira Brody has a game-changing secret. And she's not the only one. The chain of events set in motion on the tranquil shores of Lake Tahoe come to an astonishing end on a foggy San Francisco night. And alter the course of four lives forever.


Title: The Book Of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern
Description: This is a story about how tomorrow can change what happens today...

Tamara Goodwin has everything she ever wanted and she never has to think about tomorrow. But suddenly her world is turned upside down and she has to leave her glamorous city life for a new one in the country. However, Tamara is soon lonely and longing to return home.

Then a travelling library arrives in the village, bringing with it a mysterious leather-bound book locked with a gold clasp and padlock. What Tamara discovers within its pages takes her breath away and everything starts to change in the most unexpected of ways...


Title: The Search by Nora Roberts
Description: The #1 New York Times-bestselling author presents a riveting novel where a canine search and rescue volunteer fights danger and finds love in the Pacific Northwest wilderness.

To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life-a quaint house on an island off Seattle's coast, a thriving dog-training school, and a challenging volunteer job performing canine search and rescues. Not to mention her three intensely loyal Labs. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a nightmare...

Several years ago, Fiona was the only survivor of the Red Scarf serial killer, who shot and killed Fiona's cop fiancé and his K-9 partner.

On Orcas Island, Fiona found the peace and solitude she needed to rebuild her life. But all that changes on the day Simon Doyle barrels up her drive, desperate for her help. He's the reluctant owner of an out-of-control puppy, foisted upon him by his mother. Jaws has eaten through Simon's house, and he's at his wit's end.

To Fiona, Jaws is nothing she can't handle. Simon, however, is another matter. A newcomer to Orcas, he's a rugged and in-tensely private artist, known for the exquisite furniture he creates from wood. Simon never wanted a puppy-and he most definitely doesn't want a woman. Besides, the lanky redhead is not his type. But tell that to his hormones.

As Fiona embarks on training Jaws, and Simon begins to appreciate both dog and trainer, the past tears back into Fiona's life. A copycat killer has emerged out of the shadows, a man whose bloodlust has been channeled by a master with one motive: to reclaim the woman who slipped out of his hands...

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Speak Outlander Lesson 3: Mo Nighean Donn





Squeeeeeee!!!!   : )

REVIEW: The Book Of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

Title: The Book Of Tomorrow
Author: Cecelia Ahern
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: December, 2009
Genre: General Fiction

Description: This is a story about how tomorrow can change what happens today...

Tamara Goodwin has everything she ever wanted and she never has to think about tomorrow. But suddenly her world is turned upside down and she has to leave her glamorous city life for a new one in the country. However, Tamara is soon lonely and longing to return home.

Then a travelling library arrives in the village, bringing with it a mysterious leather-bound book locked with a gold clasp and padlock. What Tamara discovers within its pages takes her breath away and everything starts to change in the most unexpected of ways...

My Thoughts: The Book of Tomorrow is another story by a very talented author who continues to amaze me with the scope of her talent.

The Book of Tomorrow revolves around Tamara, a young girl coping with the sudden death of her father and loss of her home. She and her mother are forced to move away from all of her friends to live with her aunt and uncle.

Tamara soon meets a boy who drives a travelling library van and he gives her a leather bound book. At first, Tamara is disappointed to discover the pages inside the book are empty, but the magic begins the next day when she opens the book and discovers her own handwriting on the pages detailing the events of tomorrow before it happens!

I wasn't sure I was going to like Tamara at first. She comes across as a very spoiled brat carrying a lot of bad manners and hostility. The more I got to know Tamara, I realized how much pain she is in over her father's death and the circumstances surrounding it, the guilt she feels and her fear at her mother's withdrawal into a near catatonic state.

This story has a lot of very interesting secondary characters that round out the plot and made it much more intriguing. I quickly got pulled into anticipating what events would be described in the pages for Tamara to discover and try to either alter or allow to occur.

I asked myself several times while reading this book if I would want to know in advance what tomorrow brings and I couldn't come up with a definite answer. The idea is very appealing and frightening at the same time. Knowing what is coming forces Tamara to grow up a little bit faster, while making some hard decisions.


My Final Verdict: Fans of Cecelia Ahern's work will enjoy this story immensely. The Book of Tomorrow wasn't my favorite out of the many by her that I have read, but I highly recommend it for its unique story and interesting characters.


Wednesday, January 15, 2014

2013 Reading Wrap

Another year has come and gone and the best part of the reading year is upon me as I get to look back and evaluate what I read and how my stats measured up. Unfortunately, 2013 found me reading less and giving up on more books than I did in 2012. I read 37 books and gave up on 4. My goal was to read 50 books in 2013 and I reached 84% of my goal. At the end of 2013, I had to come to the conclusion that I have been kidding myself and setting myself up for massive disappointment by committing to a goal of 50 or more books. I’m lowering it quite a bit for 2014.

Goal for 2014: 40 books

The biggest change to my reading in 2013 was the addition of Travel, Non-Fiction (both spiritual and humorous) and Self-Help. In addition, 2013 saw me adding several Christmas holiday themed books, which I normally do not do. In 2013, I read less Mystery / Suspense / Thriller and more Chick-Lit. I usually get at least one James Patterson in, but I didn’t this time around. There were several Christmas themed books, but I will classify them under Chick-Lit since the primary genre for them fits there. The Young Adult genre was non-existent for me in 2013. That comes as a surprise as I usually am drawn to their fun and interesting plots. Overall, there wasn’t a lot of deviation from my usual reading tastes or preferences.

I was fortunate to come across many new to me authors in 2013 which is always a joy as well as reading multiple titles by favorite authors. Here's how 2013 stacked up:

Chick-Lit: 12
Contemporary Romance: 2
Cozy Mystery: 1
Historical Romance: 1
Mystery / Suspense / Thriller: 10
Paranormal Romance: 5
Romantic Suspense: 3
Urban Fantasy: 2
Non-Fiction: 2
Self-Help: 1
Travel: 1
Young Adult: 0
Other Fiction / Literature: 1

A big shout out to the authors who were new to me and the authors that made multiple appearances in my reading year:

New To Me Authors In 2013
Mali Apple
J.K. Beck
Alafair Burke
Todd Burpo
Anita Clenney
Michele Gorman
Wendy Holden
Catherine Jinks
Jan King
Chrissie Manby
Christy Nicholas
Tim Sandlin
Sherry Soule
Linda Wisdom
Anya Wylde

Authors Read Multiple Times In 2013
Michele Gorman
J.D. Robb
Nora Roberts
Karen Rose
Kate White
Anya Wylde


My selection for the best reads of 2013 in the order they were read are:

You Don’t Know Jack by Erin McCarthy
When Blood Calls by J.K. Beck
Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo
Dead Connection by Alafair Burke
Haunted by Kelley Armstrong
Scream For Me by Karen Rose
Deadly Legacy by Robin Burcell
Delusion In Death by J.D. Robb
The Witness by Nora Roberts
The Night I Got Lucky by Laura Caldwell
Return To Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux
Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich
Everything In Its Time by Dee Davis
The Accidental Virgin by Valerie Frankel
Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost
Fourplay by Jane Moore
Bella Summer Takes A Chance by Michele Gorman
Calculated In Death by J.D. Robb
Christmas Carol by Michele Gorman
The Christmas List by Chrissie Manby
Kill For Me by Karen Rose
Ireland: Mythical, Magical, Mystical: A Guide To Hidden Ireland by Christy Nicholas
So Pretty It Hurts by Kate White
Penelope by Anya Wylde
The Eggnog Chronicles by Carly Alexander
The Racketeer by John Grisham
The Dangers Of Mistletoe by Theresa Alan


Here's hoping 2014 will be a more productive year!

Monday, January 13, 2014

REVIEW: Lying To Meet You by Anna Garner

Title: Lying To Meet You
Author: Anna Garner
Publication Date: September, 2013
Genre: Chick-Lit

Description: Does being in a relationship make you a hot commodity in the eyes of would-be suitors?

Chloe Lane is about to find out. When her childhood pal, Ethan Webster, asks her to play the part of his girlfriend in order to test this theory, she reluctantly agrees. As a work-crazed fashion designer, boutique owner and soon-to-be reality show judge, Chloe has no time for a real boyfriend, but being part of a faux pair will do just fine. Not that she has any intention of trying to attract someone else.

However…

Opportunity unexpectedly knocks when Chloe meets fellow reality judge, William Shannon. Super successful and super sexy, this high-powered entrepreneur inspires Chloe to test Ethan’s theory herself. Now, on top of keeping her fashion business productive, carving out a new role as a television personality, maintaining a fake relationship and attempting to lay the groundwork for a future relationship, she’s lying to William, lying to her friends, lying to her family and quite possibly lying to herself. Will Chloe be able to keep it all together, or are things about to explode?

My Thoughts: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Lying to Meet You was a very cute and entertaining story by new to me author Anna Garner about an up and coming fashion designer who lands a gig as a judge on a reality television show. Over dinner one evening with her childhood friend, Ethan, they discuss the topic of being attractive to the opposite sex only when they are in a relationship. Deciding to test the theory, they agree to pretend to be in a relationship. Ethan has his eye on a coworker and Chloe is quite smitten with William Shannon, a fellow judge on the reality show.

I really enjoyed the premise of this story. Chloe and Ethan’s ruse could result in several outcomes, to my way of thinking. They could learn that their theory proves bupkis and they are no more attractive to others regardless of their relationship status. They could learn that the theory is true and they both get the relationship they are wanting. They could learn that this theory brings them closer together and they develop feelings for one another or the whole thing blows up in their face and not only does it destroy their friendship, but brings down a whole hot mess from all of their friends and family who have been lied to about this project. Exciting, isn’t it? I was quite literally rubbing my hands together in gleeful anticipation to read this book.

I absolutely loved Chloe and Ethan. As friends, they have a great relationship, very close and comfortable, like you would expect to see of life-long friends. I enjoyed their easy dialogue with one another and their companionship. As a pretend couple, I got such a kick at watching them try to come up with cute pet names for one another, having “dates” (I will never look at Karaoke the same again) and being lovey dovey in front of friends and family.

My Final Verdict: As a new reader to Anna Garner’s work, I give her a high-five for delivering a story that immediately drew me in and kept me connected to the story and the characters. I will definitely be on the hunt for more of her work. Fans of contemporary romance and the chick-lit genres will find this story appealing and a lot of fun. If you are already familiar with Ms. Garner’s work, Lying to Meet You will provide another enjoyable experience for your reading adventures. If you are new to her work, this book is an excellent choice to begin.


Thursday, January 02, 2014

REVIEW: Caught by Harlan Coben

Title: Caught
Author: Harlan Coben
Publisher: Dutton
Publication Date: March, 2010
Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Description: 17-year-old Haley McWaid is a good girl, the pride of her suburban New Jersey family, captain of the lacrosse team, headed off to college next year with all the hopes and dreams her doting parents can pin on her. Which is why, when her mother wakes one morning to find that Haley never came home the night before, and three months quickly pass without word from the girl, the community assumes the worst.

Wendy Tynes is a reporter on a mission, to identify and bring down sexual predators via elaborate-and nationally televised-sting operations. Working with local police on her news program Caught in the Act, Wendy and her team have publicly shamed dozens of men by the time she encounters her latest target. Dan Mercer is a social worker known as a friend to troubled teens, but his story soon becomes more complicated than Wendy could have imagined.

In a novel that challenges as much as it thrills, filled with the astonishing tension and unseen suburban machinations that have become Coben's trademark, Caught tells the story of a missing girl, the community stunned by her loss, the predator who may have taken her, and the reporter who suddenly realizes she can't trust her own instincts about this story-or the motives of the people around her.

My Thoughts: A very fascinating riveting story that drew me in immediately. Several plots are occurring simultaneously in this book that appear to be separate and individual but begin to connect together. A missing teenager who vanishes in the middle of the night without a trace and leaves the entire community baffled. A social worker’s arrest as a sexual predator of children opens up more questions than answers. I was prepared to dislike Wendy Tynes initially. She struck me as a Nancy Grace type of journalist looking for explosive headlines and bright lights and assuming her target was guilty without due process. The story weaves in and around the characters of this story to make the reader unsure of their own convictions. Several times while reading this book I was positive that Dan Mercer was a pedophile and had killed the missing girl, but a few pages later, I began to doubt and then start the process over again. This book really made me think about the criminal justice system in this country, when it works and works well, and also when it doesn’t.

This book is also about rash decisions and how they can alter lives forever. Decisions made by Haley, Dan, Wendy and others lead to actions by others that cause a tsunami effect of destruction in their wake. This book showed me that nothing is ever as it seems on the surface but all too often, people go with that perception and make judgments based on it.

Harlan Coben is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors to turn to when I want a story that packs a solid punch but still manages to surprise the reader. This story brought out a range of emotions in me while reading. Everything from anger and shock to fear and sorrow combined with some tears and laughter will give the reader a thoroughly entertaining, though exhausting experience.

My Final Verdict: If you enjoy James Patterson, I highly recommend you try Harlan Coben. He is definitely a master of his craft. Find a comfortable chair, kick off your shoes and settle in for a thrilling adventure when you open this book. You won’t want to put it down.


Tuesday, December 31, 2013

New Additions To The TBR Pile In December

The end of 2013 sees only one new arrival to my Kindle, which will be reviewed next month.

Title: Lying To Meet You by Anna Garner
Description: Does being in a relationship make you a hot commodity in the eyes of would-be suitors?

Chloe Lane is about to find out. When her childhood pal, Ethan Webster, asks her to play the part of his girlfriend in order to test this theory, she reluctantly agrees. As a work-crazed fashion designer, boutique owner and soon-to-be reality show judge, Chloe has no time for a real boyfriend, but being part of a faux pair will do just fine. Not that she has any intention of trying to attract someone else.

However…

Opportunity unexpectedly knocks when Chloe meets fellow reality judge, William Shannon. Super successful and super sexy, this high-powered entrepreneur inspires Chloe to test Ethan’s theory herself. Now, on top of keeping her fashion business productive, carving out a new role as a television personality, maintaining a fake relationship and attempting to lay the groundwork for a future relationship, she’s lying to William, lying to her friends, lying to her family and quite possibly lying to herself. Will Chloe be able to keep it all together, or are things about to explode?

Saturday, December 28, 2013

REVIEW: The Dangers Of Mistletoe by Theresa Alan

Title: The Dangers Of Mistletoe
Author: Theresa Alan
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: October, 2007
Genre: Chick-Lit

Description: A Christmas kiss can lead to so much more...

Happy Holidays? Are you kidding? For two sisters mired in part-time jobs from hell, resentful stepkids, needling parents, and disastrous home improvement projects, the Christmas season promises to be anything but merry...until they discover what a little holiday magic can bring...

Amber Taylor has no time for love this year. She's gone from corporate maven to under-paid massage therapist in record time, and right now there's nothing going on but the rent. Seems the only way she can earn a living is by handing out cheese samples at the local Cheese Haus. Pretty pathetic, huh? 'Tis the season...for cheese? Pass the eggnog...

Amber's sister Emily is the golden child. She's always seemed to have it all --- a husband, kids, and house --- everything Amber doesn't. But this Christmas she's got nothing but problems, like two bratty stepkids who can't stand her, and a mother-in-law who likes her even less. Things are looking decidedly Grinchy this holiday season...

Bah humbug! A sprinkling of Christmas magic and a whole lot of QT with that special someone under the mistletoe can still ring in a happy new year for Amber and Emily...though mistletoe can be unpredictable --- and the results may vary…

My Thoughts: Cute Christmas themed story with alternating points of view between two sisters and their struggles during the Christmas season to find perfection.

I enjoyed each perspective that really focuses overall on the message about appreciating what you have in life and it's up to all of us to find happiness because perfection is just an illusion.

Though Amber and Emily are sisters, they couldn't be more different than night day. Amber is struggling in New York City to make her massage therapy business successful while worrying how she is going to make her rent payment. Coming up with money to go back home for Christmas just adds to her financial stress.

Emily is a new bride and step-mother to two young children. In a rash decision, Emily volunteers to host Christmas in her new home, never realizing how much work the house needs to make it holiday and company ready. On top of that, she's still trying to adjust to the addition of three new people full-time in her life and her step-daughter isn't making any of the transition easy for anyone.

Each chapter alternates with a different perception so I really enjoyed seeing first hand how each sister deals with their stress and frustrations. The author does a very good job of illustrating it so well, I felt like I was there with them.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this book was very enjoyable and hits the mark on holiday spirit.


Saturday, December 14, 2013

REVIEW: The Racketeer by John Grisham

Title: The Racketeer
Author: John Grisham
Publisher: Doubleday
Publication Date: October, 2012
Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Description: Given the importance of what they do, and the controversies that often surround them, and the violent people they sometimes confront, it is remarkable that in the history of this country only four active federal judges have been murdered.

Judge Raymond Fawcett has just become number five.


Who is the Racketeer? And what does he have to do with the judge’s untimely demise? His name, for the moment, is Malcolm Bannister. Job status? Former attorney. Current residence? The Federal Prison Camp near Frostburg, Maryland.

On paper, Malcolm’s situation isn’t looking too good these days, but he’s got an ace up his sleeve. He knows who killed Judge Fawcett, and he knows why. The judge’s body was found in his remote lakeside cabin. There was no forced entry, no struggle, just two dead bodies: Judge Fawcett and his young secretary. And one large, state-of-the-art, extremely secure safe, opened and emptied.

What was in the safe? The FBI would love to know. And Malcolm Bannister would love to tell them. But everything has a price—especially information as explosive as the sequence of events that led to Judge Fawcett’s death. And the Racketeer wasn’t born yesterday . . .

Nothing is as it seems and everything’s fair game in this wickedly clever new novel from John Grisham, the undisputed master of the legal thriller

My Thoughts: When I want a story that keeps me on the edge of my seat guessing what is coming next before having the rug ripped out from under me, I know choosing a John Grisham novel will fit the bill.

What begins as a story about a man who has spent the last several years in prison turns into a novel of intrigue and suspense as the main character, Malcolm Bannister, finds himself in the center of a high profile case involving the murder of a federal judge. In exchange for his freedom and federal protection, Malcolm agrees to provide the identity of the murderer in addition to why the judge was killed.

The most interesting thing about this story for me is how the story takes on a life of its own with the numerous plot twists and turns. As each layer of this intricate and complicated plot is peeled back, I found myself more and more surprised.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story if you are a fan of mysteries or thrillers that surprise you throughout the story.


Thursday, December 12, 2013

Outlander Original Series

This is really a dream come true as I have long wished to see this wonderful series brought to life on the screen.  It's finally coming true and will air in 2014!  I cannot wait!

Monday, December 09, 2013

REVIEW: The Eggnog Chronicles by Carly Alexander

Title: The Eggnog Chronicles
Author: Carly Alexander
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: October, 2005
Genre: Chick-Lit

Description: They've Made Their Lists. . . Celeb obituary writer Jane Conner can sum up a person's life in three hundred words. She could sum up her love life in even less: Great sex = great time. Commitment = annoyance overload. But with the holidays bearing down like a freight train from You Screwed Up-ville, Jane's about to get a second chance she never expected. . .

...Checked 'Em Twice. . .

Ricki Conner has run her life on signs from the universe, and right now, she's looking for guidance about her boyfriend, Nate. He keeps reassuring her that his divorce will be final by Christmas. So why is there still no ring on Ricki's finger?

. . .But Who Says "Naughty" Can't Be Nice?

When the pregnancy test turns pink, it's a good sign. . .unless you've had wild ex-sex with your former boyfriend while the current one was out of town. Now, Emma Dee gets to ladle out the eggnog while saying, oh by the way, I'm pregnant with another man's baby--drink up, everybody!

Christmas. It's a time for going into debt, dates from hell, and maybe even a miracle or two. And for three women on the brink of potential holiday disaster, it just may be the season to toast the best times of their lives. . .

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this story that is actually three stories in one. Each story features a different central character each facing a very difficult situation. I really liked that even though each story is uniquely different, they all flow together.

Each character, Jane, Rikki and Emma are all desperately in need of a Christmas miracle and I loved how each character faces their dilemma head on.

My Final Verdict: Readers looking for the perfect Christmas theme book will enjoy this story that brings the magic and joy of Christmas alive


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I am not a professional reviewer, but I love to read and share my opinions on my reading with others who are interested. I work full time but my ideal perfect day would be to curl up with a good book. The majority of the books I review here are from my private collection and my reviews are provided purely for entertainment purposes. I receive no compensation whatsoever for sharing my thoughts and review on any book. If you would like me to review your book, please email me at sharalsbooks@yahoo.com Happy Reading! :o)