Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Review Dashing Through The Snow by: Mary Higgins Clark

Title: Dashing Through The Snow
Authors: Mary Higgins Clark
Pages: 308
Format: ebook
Source: Purchase

 Description:

This was cute story for your christmas fancy. It was written by Mary Higgins Clark and her daughter Carol Higgins Clark. It's the story of co-workers who played the lottery always hopping to land a winning ticket. They were bummed when this year their boss the local store owner gives them a wedding picture of him and the 'skunk' his 2nd wife. When one of the co-workers disappears after the winners of the ticket is announced. Many speculate as to what happened to him.



From beloved mother-daughter duo Mary Higgins Clark, America's Queen of Suspense, and Carol Higgins Clark, author of the hugely popular Regan Reilly mystery series, comes Dashing Through the Snow, a holiday treat you won't want to miss.

In the picturesque village of Branscombe, New Hampshire, the townsfolk are all pitching in to prepare for the first (and many hope annual) Festival of Joy. The night before the festival begins, a group of employees at the local market learn that they have won $160 million in the lottery. One of their co-workers, Duncan, decided at the last minute, on the advice of a pair of crooks masquerading as financial advisers, not to play. Then he goes missing. A second winning lottery ticket was purchased in the next town, but the winner hasn't come forward. Could Duncan have secretly bought it?
The Clarks' endearing heroes -- Alvirah Meehan, the amateur sleuth, and private investigator Regan Reilly -- have arrived in Branscombe for the festival. They are just the people to find out what is amiss. As they dig beneath the surface, they find that life in Branscombe is not as tranquil as it appears. So much for an old-fashioned weekend in the country. This fast-paced holiday caper will keep you dashing through the pages!
My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this story, just enough to make people wonder when the sleuths will figure out where people are but not too much that it gets distracting during the holidays. It's also a great book written with out the foul language, which is a rarity. My rating on this book was a four cups
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Wishful Wednesday

It's time for the bluestocking guide's meme wishful wednesday when you list what books you are hoping to get your hands on.


I am wishing to read Torment by Lauren Kate too bad it's not out until Autumn 2010 so I'll have to wait.  What are you wishing to read?
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Monday, June 28, 2010

It's Monday what are you reading week #6



It’s that time when everyone shares what they have been reading and what they finished reading last week.  This meme is hosted by One Persons Journey through a World of Books.   
So this week I have read:
Piercing The Veil by Jackie Fullerton 
Fallen by Lauren Kate 
When the Wind Blows by James Patterson
I am hoping to read:
The Host by Stephenie Meyer  
Sudden Mischief by Robert B. Parker 
The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright  
My Gal Sunday by Mary Higgins Clark  
The Best Laid Plans by Sidney Sheldon

What are you reading this week?
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Friday, June 25, 2010

Review Piercing The Veil by: Jacquelyn Fullerton

Title: Piercing The Veil
Author: Jacqueline Fullerton
Pages: 209
Series: Anne Marshall Mystery #1
Publisher: A P Lee and Co.
Format: Kindle ebook
Source: Purchase

Description:

Tim is a snake. Be careful, Anne. This man will stop at nothing to get what he wants. In the tradition of Iris Johannsen, Jacqueline Fullerton weaves the supernatural and human greed into a tale of murder set against the backdrop of a sleepy little college town. Piercing the Veil has the unlikely crime-solving duo of court reporter, Anne Marshall, and her father’s ghost who is investigating Tim Sherman, a divorcing wealthy businessman suspected of hiding assets in an offshore account. In the process of trying to prove his deception, the duo may have set into motion events that result in the murder of a key witness in his divorce trial. Compelled by guilt to solve the murder, Anne Marshall and the dearly departed stumble into the killer’s path, putting Anne’s own life in jeopardy. You will fall in love with Anne Marshall and friends in this first of Jacqueline Fullertons murder mysteries!

My Thoughts:

Piercing The Veil is the prequel to Revenge Served Cold by Jackie Fullerton. This book is the story of Anne Marshall who's a steno taker in the divorce of Isabelle and and Tim Sherman. Anne knows in her heart that Sherman is a dirty man trying to hide money from his wife. She sets out with law group to find out what Tim Sherman is up to. When Tim Sherman's star witness is murdered, Anne sets out to prove it was Sherman who murdered her. Anne finds a ally in her deceased father who insists she has to find out what Sherman is up to. The ending is a complete surprise indeed.

I really enjoy Jacquelyn Fullerton's writing style it made you feel like you were a cohort in finding out what Sherman had done. I was actually surprised when it ended I thought it was gonna continue for another hundred pages or so. It had me hook line and sinker. I will definitely look for more work by this author. I gave it four cups cause I wanted more, but that is just me.
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Review Fallen by Lauren Kate


Title: Fallen
Author: Lauren Kate
Pages: 452
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Series: Fallen #1
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchase

Description:

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce – he goes out of his way to make that very clear. But she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret...even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, FALLEN is a page-turning thriller and the ultimate love story.


My Thoughts:

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori. Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at Sword & Cross boarding school in Savannah. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are screwups, and security cameras watch every move. Except Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--he goes out of his way to make that very clear. But she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret...even if it kills her. Dangerous, exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page-turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

I really enjoyed this book, although parts of it seemed like Twilight it was clearly very different the main character Luce is sent to boarding school as a last ditch effort to save Luce from pending doom of being a bad seed. Not that she is bad per se, bad thing happen around her that she can't explain or justify. Upon entering the school she falls into a tug of war between Cam, herself and Daniel. She feels pulled toward him, even though everything in her says he's not interested. Cam seems way too into her, making her feel good, but when that good turns bad Daniel is the one to save her time and again. What I found thrilling is the love story aspect of the story. And the character of Penn who's been attached to the Sword and Cross since her father was alive. She is able to show Luce things about Daniel, and geniounly becomes a friend to Luce.
I was saddened when the ending came about. And I don't get sad over most things, but for some reason this ending for one of the characters made me feel so bad for Luce. Over all a great read, I wish some of the bad characters got what they had coming, but like any book they love to keep you hanging.

Lauren Kate's next book Torment will be out in Autumn and I for one can't wait! I gave this one a five stars I could definitely read this over and over again.
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Follow my Book Blog Friday (2)



A new follow Friday type thing from Parajunkee


To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:
  1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
  2. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
  3. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
  4. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
  5. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
  6. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post! 
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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Review When the Wind Blows by: James Patterson

Title: When The Wind Blows
Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Little Brown and Co.
Pages: 416
Series: When The Wind Blows #1
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchase

Description:


With five previous number one megabestsellers to his name, James Patterson can take some risks. Acclaimed for his Alex Cross series — Along Came a Spider, Kiss the Girls, Jack & Jill, Cat & Mouse — Patterson strikes an entirely new chord with When the Wind Blows. A chilling suspense novel — perhaps too realistic for comfort — Patterson combines jaw-dropping scenes, heart-pounding plot twists, and memorable characters in one unforgettable package.

Set against a sinister backdrop of genetic engineering and illegal scientific experimentation, When the Wind Blows dares readers to test their notions of human evolution and medical science. Frannie O'Neill is a caring young veterinarian living in the Colorado Rockies, trying to erase the memory of her beloved husband's mysterious murder. It is not long before another neighbor suddenly dies, and FBI agent Kit Harrison arrives at Frannie's doorstep. Kit is hell-bent on solving the heinous case despite resounding protests from the FBI and the thrashing of his own internal demons.

Kit secretly pursues the investigation, yet witnesses keep turning up dead. Then Frannie stumbles upon an astonishing discovery in the nearby woods, and their lives are altered in ways they could never have imagined. Simply knowing the secret of Max — the terrified 11-year-old girl with an amazing gift — could mean death.

As more and more diabolical details are unearthed, the murderer's bloody trail ultimately leads the trio to an underground lab network, known as "the School." Here scientists conduct shockingly incomprehensible experiments involving children and genetic alteration.

But perhaps not so unfathomable: Doctors and medical researchers who have read Where the Wind Blows say the events described in this book could actually be a reality in the next 20 to 30 years. If not before.


My Thoughts:

When the Wind Blows is a new series by James Patterson which is the story of Max, and her friends who have special abilities. They are raised in 'the school', not a typical school by any stretch. The book opens with Frannie O'Neill and 'Kit Harrison'. Frannie is dealing with her inn-patient animal clinic, and getting over the loss of her husband. 'Kit Harrison' aka Tom Brennen who is trying to figure out what is going on with mysterious deaths in Colorado and crazy scientists. Soon Frannie meets Max but unaware of who she is or how she can fly. Most of the book is spent getting Max to trust them. Max has only ever dealt with people who lie, or harm others by 'putting them to sleep'. Kit and Frannie never falter in their love for Max or the other children.

I really enjoyed this book, a bit slow in some areas but it picks up and in the end you find you want more, or atleast I did. I was sad that the story ended. I think Patterson did a great job making the chapters small encase you have to stop to do something. It was a really great story. I could feel myself cheering when the bad guys got theirs. I rate this book five cups!

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Monday, June 21, 2010

It's Monday what are you reading week #5


This was a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Currently I am reading:
When the Wind Blows by James Patterson
My Gal Sunday by Mary Higgins Clark
Piercing The Veil by Jacqueline Fullerton

I am hoping to start this week:
The Lake House by James Patterson
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Fallen by Lauren Kate
The Host by Stephanie Meyer

I finished reading: 
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
Revenge Served Cold by Jackie Fullerton

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Thursday, June 17, 2010

Follow my Book Blog Friday



A new follow Friday type thing from Parajunkee


To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:
  1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
  2. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
  3. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
  4. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
  5. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
  6. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post! 

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Wishful Wednesday

I am wishing to read Torment by Lauren Kate and The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate.
I was finally able to get the Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (YEA!) so that made me uber happy.  What are you wishing to read?
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Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Review The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by: Stephenie Meyer


Title: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little Brown
Series: Twilight #3.5
Pages: 178
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchase

Description:

Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes, and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirt for blood...life before she became a vampire.

All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don't draw attention to yourself, and above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn't know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.

Then Bree finds an unexpected friend in Diego, a newborn just as curious as Bree about their mysterious creator, whom they only know as her. As they come to realize that the newborns are pawns in a game larger than anything they could have imagined, Bree and Diego must choose sides and decide whom to trust. But when everything you know about vampires is based on a lie, how do you find the truth?

In another irresistile combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.


My Thoughts:
 
Most of what we knew about Bree Tanner was learned in this book it tells what happened prior to Eclipse all from Bree Tanner's point of view. She was 15 when she was turned into a newborn vampire. All to be part of an army sent to destroy the Cullen's and kill Bella. Victoria, recruited Riley who recruited about 20-22 vampires to become the vampire army. It was well written you get insight to how he was with them, how the newborns wondered what was up. What the Voltori's involvement with this battle was all about.
What I didn't like was that it was too short, like the ending just popped up to fast. I mean we know how it ends, but it just felt rushed once the 5 days were mentioned. I think it could have been atleast a tad more longer. I think she opened us up to many characters whether or not we hear anything more about them that is yet to be determined.

What I did like was that Bree was independent she didn't want to fight. She knew something wasn't right. That there was more to it then what Riley told them. That the Voltori had a higher stake in this then what was mentioned. That Bree was able to full share her story with Alice (the mindreader). So if no one else knew atleast Alice knew Bree's story. I would like to see her write about Freaky Fred, or Diego, like what really happened to him. Overall a good book and a must read.
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Monday, June 14, 2010

It's Monday what are you reading? week #4

This was started by One person's journey through books  where we can share what we are reading this week.  And what we have finished reading.  So here goes:

Reading This Week:

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer(bought)
Fallen by Lauren Kate (bought)
The Third Rail by Michael Harvey (via FSB Media)
Spirit by Andrew Feder (ARC via the Cadence Group)

Last week was a bad week with everyone getting either sick or horrible allergies so I will hopefully have more in the read pile this week.

What are you reading this week?  What have you finsihed?
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Saturday, June 12, 2010

Review Club Dead by: Charlaine Harris


Title: Club Dead
Author: Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Orbit
Pages: 274
Series: Sookie Stackhouse #3
Format: Paperback 
Source: Purchase

Description:
Things between cocktail waitress Sookie and her vampire boyfriend Bill seem to be going excellently (apart from the small matter of him being undead) until he leaves town for a while. A long while. Bill's sinister boss Eric has an idea of where to find him, whisking her off to Jackson, Mississippi to mingle with the under-underworld at Club Dead. When she finally catches up with the errant vampire, he is in big trouble and caught in an act of serious betrayal. This raises serious doubts as to whether she should save him or start sharpening a few stakes of her own ..

My Thoughts:
 
Sookie Stackhouse is back again as we find ourselves heading back to Bon Temps. This time her beloved Vampire Bill is missing. This one sends Sookie to Memphis to inquire with her mind skills, what has happened to Bill Compton. So to sum it up. Sookie is a barmaid who hears what others think. She calls it her "disability" which it really isn't. She fell for Bill due to the fact she thought it was great that she couldn't hear what he is thinking. Her boss Sam Merlott has a crush on her. Her brother Jason Stackhouse has to be biggest player in the world. The only one looking out for Sookie in Club Dead is Eric the vampire who has Alcide Herveaux a werewolf to keep Sookie safe while in Memphis.

I like this book, as it shows what she would go through if she separated from Bill. There are ups and downs as with any of the Sookie stories, sometimes to much back drop is being explained to us. That can get rather annoying. I think how it showed Sookie with someone who is closer to her that she may realize. I am defiantly curious to see how these books play out. My rating is 4 java cups, as I think it would've been better if she had gotten angry at some of the right people.


For anyone who likes Sookie Stackhouse which book is your favorite and why?
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Friday, June 11, 2010

In My Mailbox

This is a meme created by The Story Siren.  I got my physical copy of:

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

Hopefully I will read these soon and be reviewing them sooner.  Stay Tuned.

 






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Book Blog Hop Week 4




If you want to check out some good blogs and get involved check out the Book Blog Hop. Check out the link here. You can see the rules and see if it something you would be interested in.

Information about the Book Blogger Hop:

Directly from Crazy for Books:ABOUT THE HOP:



In the spirit of the Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list below!!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Charlaine Harris "Dead in the Family” review

Charlaine Harris "Dead in the Family” review – the tenth Sookie Stackhouse novel.

Short intro into the series.
If you have read one of the Sookie Stackhouse novels you might want to skip this part.


Sookie Stackhouse series consists now of ten books and as far as I know the author is still on a roll. In every title you find the world “dead” because the books are simply teeming with dead, undead and barely dead. Let’s return to the main character, though – Sookie Stackhouse, a blonde waitress, who works in the Merlotte’s bar in a small town called Bon Temps in Louisiana. She could have been one of so many American waitresses if it wasn’t for her unusual gift or maybe even glitch - she can read people’s minds. This particular ability makes her life very colourful and difficult at the same time – she is not good in the presence of humans, especially prospective boyfriends (she can’t be fooled by their courtesy knowing practically everything they really think – just imagine that) so she hangs around vampires a lot because they are the only creatures which brains are closed (because…dead?) to her. Many vampires want Sookie to cooperate closely with them but she is less than willing – vampires in this series are devious and power-hungry creatures, they love domination and no atrocity is beneath their dignity – imagine having normal life in such a company. There are also other supernatural creatures, like werewolves and fairies, who would like to use (or abuse) Sookie’s mind-reading powers. Not to mention two ambitious FBI agents. To make things worse (and the reading more interesting) many sentient beings tend to crop dead around Sookie. Small wonder - some of them she has been forced to kill herself.

“Dead in the Family” synopsis

When dealing with such a big series it is almost impossible not to include any spoilers – especially that the plots of particular parts are interwoven with each other rather closely. I will try my best but I might spoil you a little bit here and there – sorry in advance!

Amelia the witch is out of Sookie’s house as she returns to New Orleans – she wants to forget the tragic death of her werewolf boyfriend, Tray Dawson. Sookie is still with Eric Northman, the vampire sheriff of her area, but she has some mental problems: shaking off the trauma after a bloody meeting with some really nasty faeries is no mean feat. Eric explains her why he failed to rescue her personally, as he intended. He has to be very careful indeed because after the death of his previous vampire superior the position of Area Five sheriff is a bit shaky. In the vampire world it usually means he and his loyal subordinates might be murdered cold-bloodedly any time soon. The new vampire king of Louisiana sends his envoy, Victor Madden, to keep a close watch on Eric. Victor seems to be only too eager to see Eric killed and disgraced – apparently he is after his position and some more independence. It doesn’t help that he also knows about Sookie’s special abilities and her bond with Eric, which , at least for the vampires, means nothing less than marriage. Meanwhile Sookie finds out that somebody buried a new body on her land. When a friendly pack of werewolves and her vampire friends dig the cadaver out, the whole problem becomes even more mysterious. She must try to solve this crime riddle because it seems somebody wants to put the whole blame on her. The fact that she has a new resident in her house makes her life even more complicated, and she simply couldn’t refuse a member of her family, could she? Additionally her cousin’s son, small Hunter, who has inherited the same powers as Sookie, is going to pay her a visit and once again she can’t say “no”. Eric might be a tiny bit busier too, having unexpected guests of his own. Will Sookie be able to multi-task with her usual astuteness after these all bad experiences so fresh in her mind? Will the bond with Eric will be an asset or a liability this time?

What I liked.

Plenty. The plot is good – not too complicated but complicated enough. Some might consider this part a bit tamer than the previous ones, but it was just rightly balanced for me. Some new characters are introduced and we learn more about others, only mentioned in previous installments. It all ends well but there’s still a lot of potential for the next part. I even appreciate the fact that the sex scenes were less detailed than previously.


What I didn’t like.
I do regret one character that ends up dead. I won’t tell you who because it would be a major spoiler but, getting to know them closer I wanted them around for longer and now I know my wish won’t come true. They’re dead. For sure.

The final verdict

A book you would love to read not only in the summer as it has it all: murder, mystery, fantastic creatures and realistic settings.
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Wishful Wednesday

Wishful Wednesday was created by the Bluestocking Guide to list books we are wishing to read.  So let's roll :)

I am wishing to read Dead in the Family: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel.

After enduring torture and the loss of loved ones during the brief but deadly Faery War, Sookie Stackhouse is hurt and she's angry. Just about the only bright spot in her life is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman. But he's under scrutiny by the new Vampire King because of their relationship. And as the political implications of the Shifters coming out are beginning to be felt, Sookie's connection to the Shreveport pack draws her into the debate. Worst of all, though the door to Faery has been closed, there are still some Fae on the human side-and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry... (LINK)
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Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Review Revenge Served Cold by: Jackie Fullerton

 Title: Revenge Served Cold
Author: Jackie Fullerton
Publisher: Thomas House
Pages: 287
Series: Anne Marshall Mystery #2
Format: Paperback
Source: The Cadence Group

Description:

Kathy Spence awakens in the middle of the night and finds herself in a living nightmare. Her husband has been run down and she is the primary suspect. With an eyewitness to the crime and proof that her car was the murder weapon, it appears to be an open and shut case. Terrified for her future, Kathy turns to amateur sleuth Anne Marshall for help. Believing in Kathys innocence, Anne launches her own investigation, uncovering proof of a conspiracy that reaches from Kathys past and threatens her own life. In a race against time, Anne must count on her close friends and even the ghost of her father to help her bring a killer to justice before its too late!

My Thoughts:

This book was sent to me via the Cadence Group and it's about a murder mystery. When Kathy Spence's husband gets murdered, who's the murderer. Kathy Spence has been hiding some ugly skeleton's in her closet. Mainly her ability not to be able to have children. Meanwhile the love shown between Kathy and Elliot is enough to over come the childless situation. When Elliot is murdered it becomes hard for Kathy's friend Shirley to even comprehend how Kathy can be blamed let alone be the prime suspect in his death. It's up to Anne and her classmates to figure what happened to their beloved Professor Elliot Spence.

This was a great read. It had humorous parts like listening to disputes while Anne makes sense of the real case she is working on. The bond between a father and daughter which can surpass a life and death bond. It kept you wanting to see how things were figured out and if the bad guys were ever going to get caught. And a 15 year old mystery connected the dots. Definitely a great read. Can't wait to see what the author will come up with next.
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Monday, June 7, 2010

In My Mailbox

In my mailbox today was
True Blood and Philosophy and

Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook by Phyllis Pellman Good.  Should prove to be interesting reads well atleast the True Blood one will.  The cookbook well I am always looking for some good recipes.  These were sent from FSB Media. I will be reviewing them both soon.
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It's Monday what are you reading? week #3


This is a great meme where I get to show you what I've read and what I'm going to read this week.
Last week was a little slow with the drastic high temps, so I read Club Dead by Charlaine Harris.


This week I plan to read and hopefully finish:
Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
Maximum Ride (The Angel Experiment) by James Patterson
Revenge Served Cold by Jackie Fullerton

What are you reading this week?
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Review: The House of Night series - first four parts

P. C. Cast, Kristin Cast: The House of Night series, the first four parts: „Marked”, „Betrayed”,„Chosen”, „Untamed”.
Synopsis (without major spoilers, I hope).

Have you ever read or watched any coming-of-age story? If so, the beginning of this series won’t be a big surprise because all such books and movies are bound to start in a similar fashion. Our main heroine is a sixteen-year-old high school student, Zoey Montgomery. One day she meets unexpectedly her fate in the form of a tattooed vampyre (sic! “y” no “i” – that’s the official version in the books) Tracker – he marks her as a new vampyre fledgling and, as a result, a Mark in the form of a sapphire Crescent tattoo appears between her eyebrows. From now on she faces just one alternative – either she joins other chosen girls and boys in the House of Night, a kind of a finishing school- cum- hatchery for adolescent vampyre fledglings, or she dies. The choice is simple, isn’t it?
Zoey’s parents are less than happy with her daughter. Her mother remarried three years ago and she chose a man who is clearly a Christian fundamentalist and belongs to a group called “People of Faith”. Although the name of the group is fictional you can recognize his type immediately: he is very pious in an ostentatious manner, knows everything best and wants to control everybody and everything around. Small wonder Zoey hates her step-father’s guts and even more she hates the fact that after the marriage her mom bent totally to her husband’s will and doesn’t really care about her and her siblings any more. The only solace is Zoey’s Cherokee maternal grandmother who understands the girl and helps her as much as she can. 
The House of Night proves to be a perfect opportunity to escape such a household. The school is really nicely located and the profs are as hot as you want a vampyre to be (think Edward Cullen and his family) – Zoey feels she found a new, better home and her place in life. She befriends many other fledglings, finding a boyfriend and some enemies too. There’s just one catch – at this school either you graduate or you die. Literally. Averagely one out of ten fledglings falls ill and bleeds to death as their body rejects the Change and apparently there is no cure or a second chance. Will Zoey and her friends make it? Nobody can guarantee that .Zoey is not an ordinary prospective vampyre, though – Nyx, the goddess of Night, has given her some awesome powers. That’s why Zoey’s Mark became coloured-in even before she starts her new school. Also she gets magically her own sapphire tattoos very soon and, as they characterize only a fully-grown vampyre, people start to treat her differently than other fledglings. She is immediately pronounced the school’s rising star but fame comes always at a cost - to get the drift think about Harry Potter and how he was sometimes annoyed by his tell-tale scar.
The headmistress of this school is called Neferet – she is also the High Priestess of Nyx and from the very beginning she takes poor Zoey under her wings. Neferet seems to be an epitome of a woman of success, a clever vampyre and a cool but caring mother; Zoey wishes several times her real mom was like her. After some time, though, she is forced to change her mind about a lot of things at school and also about Neferet herself. Of course evil never sleeps and even if it does, some power-crazy but intelligent creatures always find a way to awake it. It is one part of the fun, after all. Zoey, her friends and her enemies too, will soon have to decide what side they want to support and they have a lot at stake – more than some of them realize.

What I liked:

The plot is well-though-out and there are some twists and turns which can surprise even an experienced reader. The narration keeps you interested – as soon as you finish one part you want to start the next. Zoey the vampire-fledgling is still very close to Zoey the teen girl so I suppose many young readers will identify with her problems and dilemmas, especially concerning her love life. Zoey’s circle of friends provides a lot of comic relief and they are really a colourful bunch, including a cute gay boy and two girls which think and act the same although they are not and could not be siblings. The vampyre society is a nice example of matriarchy – let’s women rule, I like it even if it is only a fiction. What’s makes it better, not all good people are beautiful and not all baddies are ugly – it is a much-welcome change, defying plenty of clichés met even in those supposedly more ambitious books (think “Lord of the Rings”). The use of Cherokee mythology, not so widely known as the Greek or Roman equivalent, refreshes the plot and the two authoresses teach a great lesson on tolerance, exposing the hypocrisy of some so-called Christians (but the good and the evil sides are nicely balanced so nobody should complain I suppose).

What I didn’t like:

I would like to be given a more detailed description of how exactly the House of Night is organized. I am one of these nerds – I love to know how the things are done even in a fictional world full of fantastic creatures. After all, in every circumstances it is important who cleans the place, who cooks, who shops for food, who keeps the greenery in perfect order and so on. I lack such details here - we have been shown beautiful rooms and some tasty food but only one measly vampyre waiter so far…where’s the rest of the staff? An enquiring mind wants to know more.
There’s one more thing: I haven’t read the other books of the series (there are three more parts available as far as I know – “Hunted”, “Tempted” and “Burned”) but I’m afraid the outcome seems to be very predictable – Zoey and her friends are simply doomed to succeed. All of them. Of course following their struggles is one part of fun but still…I wish I was less certain about the end of the story and somehow I can’t. Perhaps Zoey has been made too powerful and too successful too soon? True, the girl is far from perfect and she does make mistakes - even rather huge mistakes, especially when it comes to her personal life –somehow, however, it doesn’t make the reader less sure about the outcome of the final evil vs. good fight. On the other hand, though, maybe such a certainty is the right thing in a series like this one.

The final verdict:

Nice recreational reading for the summer – neither too ambitious nor too shallow and trite. As a bonus you might catch some original vocabulary!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Guest Blogger and Reviewer

I have been in contact through e-mail with Anachronist she would like to do the House of Night Series the first four parts.  We are very pleased that she has reached out to offer her service like this, so keep your eyes open for her reviews

Friday, June 4, 2010

Book Blogger Hop Week 3


If you want to check out some good blogs and get involved check out the Book Blog Hop. Check out the link here. You can see the rules and see if it something you would be interested in.

Information about the Book Blogger Hop:

Directly from Crazy for Books:ABOUT THE HOP:

In the spirit of the Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list below!!

So get hopping! Crazy for Books Link

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Booking Through Thursday Week 1



Which do you prefer? Short stories? Or full-length novels?

Me personally I enjoy books that last more than a few hours I like a book I can really get into which usually is a full length novel. Shorter stories I feel like their story isn't fully told.
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Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Review The Lumby Lines by: Gail Fraser


Title: The Lumby Lines
Author: Gail Fraser
Publisher: NAL Trade
Pages: 319
Format: Paperback
Source: FSB Media

Description:

Nestled in the Northwest is a quaint little town that its quirky residents are proud to call home. With charming shops lining its one main thoroughfare, Lumby is home to the oldest apple tree in the county and the smallest bank in the state. And though it's hours from the nearest big city, you'll always find Lumby close to your heart....

Nearly destroyed by fire, Montis Abbey remains a ruin on the outskirts of Lumby. Once home to a resourceful order of monks, it stands abandoned, surrounded by its overgrown orchards. Then Mark and Pam Walker, a vacationing couple from the East Coast, stumble upon it -- and upon the answer to their prayers. Leaving behing their hectic lives to to restore the monastery and turn it into an inn is a dream come true.

But some residents of Lumby take a while to warm up to outsiders. One of them is irascible William Beezer, owner of The Lumby Lines -- the newspaper "worth the paper it's printed on." At every turn, he tries to hinder the Walkers' efforts. The couple soon learns that for every citizen like William, there are many more willing to lend a hand, and that Lumby isn't just a place, it's a way of life.


My Thoughts:  

I started a book I received through FSB Media. The story of The Lumby Lines is that it takes place in the Northwest. It tells the story of the Walkers who are hoping to turn Montis Abby into a bed and breakfast. The people are lumby are similar to people you would get to know in any small town. They have their ups and downs. For example Goats eating through money in the bank. Reading the Lumby news is quite hilarious in itself. The humor Gail Fraser uses in parts of this book are great. A must read. I definitely think anyone who reads the Lumby Lines will find themselves giggling. For more information on it check out the review section of the blog.
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