Monday, August 29, 2011

Review: Smokin' Seventeen


Smokin' Seventeen
Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I enjoyed this book more than I did Sizzling Sixteen. Sizzling Sixteen seemed to drag a little and wasn't as enjoyable, but in Smokin' Seventeen, I found myself laughing at Stephanie and the crew.

The story was interesting and watching Stephanie try to avoid her mother's matchmaking attempts was fun. Hopefully, the next book will be better as well.



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Review: Dead Even


Dead Even
Dead Even by Brad Meltzer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Dead Even was ok. I struggled with this book to get it finished. I just couldn't get into either the story or the characters. I guess that I expected more from Brad Meltzer. I'll try something else that he has written and, hopefully, that will be a better experience than this was.

Disappointing...




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Review: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter


Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I have to say that I did enjoy this book. I wasn't sure, but the title intrigued me and I had to read it. It's an interesting premise of Abraham Lincoln being a vampire hunter throughout his life.



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Review: Fatal Consequences


Fatal Consequences
Fatal Consequences by Marie Force

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is the first Marie Force book that I have read and I really enjoyed it. The characters pulled me in right from the start which is always a good sign for me with a new author. I enjoyed the interaction between Sam and Nick. In some ways, they reminded me of Eve and Roarke from J. D. Robb's In Death Series which I love.

I didn't want to put this book down. The story and characters kept pulling me back to read whenever I needed to put it down. When I find a book or series that does that, I need to read more by that author. Since this book is the third in a series, I am going back to read the first two books. I am looking forward to seeing how these characters develop over time.

FTC Notice: I obtained an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley.



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Review: The Mogul's Maybe Marriage


The Mogul's Maybe Marriage
The Mogul's Maybe Marriage by Mindy Klasky

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I have to say that I thought that this was a little "heavy" for a Harlequin romance. When I pick up a Harlequin, it's because I am looking for something that is easy to read and won't engage my mind that much. This book dealt with some serious issues that, while interesting to read about, I'm not normally expecting to have to deal with in a Harlequin.

Having said that, this book was well written and I did like the characters. The characters were engaging and how they handled their situation was interesting. They did have me laughing at some of their antics, especially with Daisy.

I did enjoy this book, it was just heavier then I wanted/was expecting to read.

FTC Notice: I obtained an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley.



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Review: The Fifth Kingdom


The Fifth Kingdom
The Fifth Kingdom by Caridad Piñeiro

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I obtained a copy of this book from NetGalley. The premise of the story caught my eye and intrigued me. I greatly enjoy reading about other cultures, especially their history so I was looking forward to reading The Fifth Kingdom. I was not disappointed.

The characters were enjoyable and well written. I enjoyed traveling through Mexico with Bill Santana, a CIA agent, and Dr. Deanna Vasquez as they searched for Deanna's long, en-strangled mother, Miranda, and the location of Montezuma's lost tomb, which Miranda claims to have located before disappearing.

The chemistry between Bill and Deanna was fun to watch. Their romance was a interesting foil to the mystery of finding her Miranda and the possibility of finding Montezuma's tomb. Ms. Pineiro did a great job of blending Mexican history and the search of Montezuma's lost tomb into this suspense.

FTC Notice: I received an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley.



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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Guest Post - Elizabeth Parkinson-Bellows

A journey in to the wandering mind of Azra’s Pith…

I was sort of a space cadet as a kid― always in my own little world. I had stories running through my head all the time. The main presence in all my adventures was this lonely, wandering soul on a never ending journey of great importance.

I never thought about it then, but I’ pretty sure the wandering hero (sort of) was a reflection of me, and the magical adventures I wanted to take. When I read THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE by C.S. Lewis, I turned into a tireless seeker of portals. The thought of entering another realm through my closet was fantastic! The ideas for the Azra’s Pith series were always there, I just never thought to write them down until my son was born. Alexander Drake became crystal clear – he was my wandering hero.

A couple of the characters are loosely based on personalities that have stood out in my life. Of course, I exaggerated or understated them depending on the personality. Beatrice (Alexander’s Grandmother) is based on my grandmother. She lived in an old yellow house in the woods. Some of my fondest childhood memories were created during my visits there. Ferdinand, the fearless hopper, and Julien, the wise and somewhat silly empyrean wizard are both part of my imaginary cast of characters that have been with me for years.

I started out with the intention of writing short stories to read to my son and the series evolved from there. When I finished the final chapter of part one, I already knew how the entire series would unfold. I’m on part three and trying my best to take my time. I don’t know how I will feel when it all ends.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Review: Alexander Drake's Extraordinary Pursuit

Alexander Drake's Extraordinary Pursuit Alexander Drake's Extraordinary Pursuit by Elizabeth Parkinson Bellows My rating: 4 of 5 stars I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The title sounded interesting so when I was given the opportunity to read a copy of this book, I took it. The main character, Alexander, is spending time at his grandmother's house while his father is away on a trip. While exploring the woods around her house, he stumbles onto the entrance to another world. The story takes you on his journey through this world as he tries to learn more about the mother that he never knew. The story and characters are well written and interesting. I was able to quickly read this book because I was caught up in the story and Alexander's journey. I am looking forward to reading about what happens to Alexander next. FTC Notice: I obtained an electronic copy of this book from the author to review as part of her Virtual Book Tour. View all my reviews