I have (at the time of beginning this post) 8 minutes until the end of October.
That said, it's time for the monthly round up.
The grand total this month? 31.
And I just realized that means I'm averaging a book a day.
Grand total for the year (so far): 208.
Which says a few things.
The biggest and brightest being, what the heck am I doing with my life?
The second being, when do I do homework?
Oh, yeah, right now.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Homeport
Homeport is an older Nora Roberts book.
It stars Dr. Miranda Jones, a...well, she does something with verifying dates on old pieces of art, and Ryan Boldari (great names, both of them), an art gallery owner and gentleman burglar.
Miranda is an uptight, cautious woman who only believes in science. When she's called to Italy by her mother to authenticate a bronze statue, she believes she's found an undocumented Michelangelo.
Somehow, the press finds out, and the piece is transferred to another facility. She's sent home to Maine in shame, only to be robbed (you'll never guess by who...).
When the small bronze statue that was taken from the museum Miranda works at is found to be a fraud, Miranda and Ryan have to work together to find out who hates Miranda so much that they would kill 3 people and steal priceless works.
It's a fun romp, seeing Miranda and Ryan get together. She's so...anti-everything unorganized, and he...well, he's a second story man. Going with the flow is essential.
Also, I really like Andrew, Miranda's brother. Yeah, he's an alcoholic, but he's trying so hard to get over it! That doesn't mean that I support him looking to Annie as his savior, but he's trying. Which is important too.
Good story line. I remember not being able to figure out who it was the first time, and even forgetting the second.
This is way past the second time I've read it, so I'm sitting here reading it going, "I know who did it! I know who did it!"
But can I mention that it drives me crazy that the killer has to be crazy? It makes me sad.
Oh, and the kind of ick factor when you finally find out who it is? Big time shudder.
It stars Dr. Miranda Jones, a...well, she does something with verifying dates on old pieces of art, and Ryan Boldari (great names, both of them), an art gallery owner and gentleman burglar.
Miranda is an uptight, cautious woman who only believes in science. When she's called to Italy by her mother to authenticate a bronze statue, she believes she's found an undocumented Michelangelo.
Somehow, the press finds out, and the piece is transferred to another facility. She's sent home to Maine in shame, only to be robbed (you'll never guess by who...).
When the small bronze statue that was taken from the museum Miranda works at is found to be a fraud, Miranda and Ryan have to work together to find out who hates Miranda so much that they would kill 3 people and steal priceless works.
It's a fun romp, seeing Miranda and Ryan get together. She's so...anti-everything unorganized, and he...well, he's a second story man. Going with the flow is essential.
Also, I really like Andrew, Miranda's brother. Yeah, he's an alcoholic, but he's trying so hard to get over it! That doesn't mean that I support him looking to Annie as his savior, but he's trying. Which is important too.
Good story line. I remember not being able to figure out who it was the first time, and even forgetting the second.
This is way past the second time I've read it, so I'm sitting here reading it going, "I know who did it! I know who did it!"
But can I mention that it drives me crazy that the killer has to be crazy? It makes me sad.
Oh, and the kind of ick factor when you finally find out who it is? Big time shudder.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Eloquent Silence
When I can't sleep, I have a bad habit of picking up a book and reading until I can. Tonight I picked up Sandra Brown's Eloquent Silence because it was shorter.
Okay, here's what you need to know. She (Lauri) is teacher for deaf students. He (Drake Rivington, which I thought was awesome) is a (you have to be ready for it) soap star. He also has a daughter (Jennifer) who is deaf. He hires Lauri to move from New York to Arizona to privately tutor Jennifer.
Of course, there's this really strong attraction right from the beginning. Both are widowers. The difference? Drake is still in love with his dead wife, while Lauri was glad (in a non-creepy, non-black widow kind of way) that her husband died (she was sad at first, I swear).
Anyway, as Drake is in New York, filming, Lauri and Jennifer are bonding in Arizona.
Then Drake comes to Arizona. They (of course) become lovers after (many annoying) near misses, and (are you ready?) when her parents (a minister and his wife) show up unexpectedly at the house, Drake tells them (as to save her reputation) that they got married!
Oh my gosh. It all kind of spirals out of control from there. A reporter shows up, and suddenly everyone knows.
And she's mostly okay with it until Jennifer goes through the boxes of the dead wife's things, and Drake flips.
He leaves for New York, and when he come back, they hash it all out.
The best part of this book? The cheesy romance lines. "Drown me in your love, Drake!" (Oh man...so inappropriate...).
I can't even keep going, because the best ones are really, really inappropriate (especially given the context...oh my gosh), and I try to keep this (at least mostly) family friendly.
Anyway, it was fine. Good for an (inappropriate) laugh, but a fine story line too. Characters who were a little annoying, but not overly.
I liked it just fine.
Okay, here's what you need to know. She (Lauri) is teacher for deaf students. He (Drake Rivington, which I thought was awesome) is a (you have to be ready for it) soap star. He also has a daughter (Jennifer) who is deaf. He hires Lauri to move from New York to Arizona to privately tutor Jennifer.
Of course, there's this really strong attraction right from the beginning. Both are widowers. The difference? Drake is still in love with his dead wife, while Lauri was glad (in a non-creepy, non-black widow kind of way) that her husband died (she was sad at first, I swear).
Anyway, as Drake is in New York, filming, Lauri and Jennifer are bonding in Arizona.
Then Drake comes to Arizona. They (of course) become lovers after (many annoying) near misses, and (are you ready?) when her parents (a minister and his wife) show up unexpectedly at the house, Drake tells them (as to save her reputation) that they got married!
Oh my gosh. It all kind of spirals out of control from there. A reporter shows up, and suddenly everyone knows.
And she's mostly okay with it until Jennifer goes through the boxes of the dead wife's things, and Drake flips.
He leaves for New York, and when he come back, they hash it all out.
The best part of this book? The cheesy romance lines. "Drown me in your love, Drake!" (Oh man...so inappropriate...).
I can't even keep going, because the best ones are really, really inappropriate (especially given the context...oh my gosh), and I try to keep this (at least mostly) family friendly.
Anyway, it was fine. Good for an (inappropriate) laugh, but a fine story line too. Characters who were a little annoying, but not overly.
I liked it just fine.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The Spellman Files
Ok, so I heard about this one from my mother. The Spellman Files is the first of the series by Lisa Lutz. Curse of the Spellmans is second, and the third is coming out next March (Revenge of the Spellmans).
Let me just tell you...hilarious. So funny.
It's about a family (the Spellmans) who are PI's. Well, all of them except David.
Let me explain. There's Olivia, the mother who hates dentists (for good reason). Al is the ex-policeman-turned-PI. David is their oldest son, and he's "perfect" who's a lawyer. Isabel (out heroine and the one who tells the story) is the "problem child" who didn't attend college but stayed with the family business. Rae is the youngest, and the product of having two much older siblings. There's also Uncle Ray, who's an unabashed nut and addictive...well, everything.
Anyway, it's so funny. Izzy starts dating a dentist (and, I know he's Guatemalan, but when he says he's a dentist, I always think of the elf from Rudolph the Red-nosed reindeer), but she tells him she's a schoolteacher. Not a PI.
And such follows the madness of the wars between Ray and Rae, between Izzy and her parents, between Izzy and Rae, and watching David pay off his little sister.
Until, that is, Izzy gets caught up in a 12 year old missing persons case, and Rae goes missing.
Then they meet Inspector Henry Stone.
Did I mention some of Izzy's odd character flaws? She's addicted to old episodes of "Get Smart" (I'm wondering how she felt about the movie...), keeps track of her ex-boyfriends by listing their names, their professions, and what their last words are. Oh, and she prefers to enter by a window instead of by the door.
Numbers 6 and 9 need explained, but it's funny.
Oh, and privacy? Completely overrated in other people, but utterly necessary in your private life. Without it, madness occurs.
Let me just tell you...hilarious. So funny.
It's about a family (the Spellmans) who are PI's. Well, all of them except David.
Let me explain. There's Olivia, the mother who hates dentists (for good reason). Al is the ex-policeman-turned-PI. David is their oldest son, and he's "perfect" who's a lawyer. Isabel (out heroine and the one who tells the story) is the "problem child" who didn't attend college but stayed with the family business. Rae is the youngest, and the product of having two much older siblings. There's also Uncle Ray, who's an unabashed nut and addictive...well, everything.
Anyway, it's so funny. Izzy starts dating a dentist (and, I know he's Guatemalan, but when he says he's a dentist, I always think of the elf from Rudolph the Red-nosed reindeer), but she tells him she's a schoolteacher. Not a PI.
And such follows the madness of the wars between Ray and Rae, between Izzy and her parents, between Izzy and Rae, and watching David pay off his little sister.
Until, that is, Izzy gets caught up in a 12 year old missing persons case, and Rae goes missing.
Then they meet Inspector Henry Stone.
Did I mention some of Izzy's odd character flaws? She's addicted to old episodes of "Get Smart" (I'm wondering how she felt about the movie...), keeps track of her ex-boyfriends by listing their names, their professions, and what their last words are. Oh, and she prefers to enter by a window instead of by the door.
Numbers 6 and 9 need explained, but it's funny.
Oh, and privacy? Completely overrated in other people, but utterly necessary in your private life. Without it, madness occurs.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Out of the Shadows
Out of the Shadows is a paranormal romance/thriller by Kay Hooper. It's part of the FBI/Bishop Special Agent group.
Actually, this is the one starring Bishop, making it one of my favorites.
Anyway, Sheriff Miranda Knight lives in a small town where teens are being murdered. After the third teen has gone missing, she calls in the FBI's new department, one that's a little...unorthodox.
Noah Bishop, Tony Harte, and Dr. Sharon Edwards all come.
The trick? The new department is all psychics, and Bishop is the one in charge.
Of course, Bishop and Miranda have a past...one that makes Miranda the only person left for her little sister Bonnie.
And while a madman is trying to clean-up after his mistakes in this town, Bishop and Miranda are not only trying to find him, but trying to protect Bonnie from him, dealing with a creepy and angry spirit that's haunting all the local Ouija boards, and trying to figure out their relationship (I still think it's creepy when Bishop calls her "love." He's not that kind of guy.)
You can pick up any of these novels and not be too lost (I started with the latest one published at the time, Sleeping With Fear, which continues to be my favorite), though apparently the newest trilogy actually have an overarching story line. So there you go.
Actually, this is the one starring Bishop, making it one of my favorites.
Anyway, Sheriff Miranda Knight lives in a small town where teens are being murdered. After the third teen has gone missing, she calls in the FBI's new department, one that's a little...unorthodox.
Noah Bishop, Tony Harte, and Dr. Sharon Edwards all come.
The trick? The new department is all psychics, and Bishop is the one in charge.
Of course, Bishop and Miranda have a past...one that makes Miranda the only person left for her little sister Bonnie.
And while a madman is trying to clean-up after his mistakes in this town, Bishop and Miranda are not only trying to find him, but trying to protect Bonnie from him, dealing with a creepy and angry spirit that's haunting all the local Ouija boards, and trying to figure out their relationship (I still think it's creepy when Bishop calls her "love." He's not that kind of guy.)
You can pick up any of these novels and not be too lost (I started with the latest one published at the time, Sleeping With Fear, which continues to be my favorite), though apparently the newest trilogy actually have an overarching story line. So there you go.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Valley of Silence
And the conclusion. In this third novel, Nora Roberts pits light against darkness, as with all great tales.
Yeah...they speak with that old English type-talk, and it tends to run through my head very well. Sorry if it comes out.
Anyway! This one takes place almost exclusively in Geall, with only a brief side trip to New York at the very end.
Moira become queen (something no one expected, right?), and the big battle happens.
Lilith and Lora (who I always want to call Lorna, and I don't know why) spend a lot of time together (they're close), plotting and planning to take over the world. Thankfully they kill off Davey. Kid gives me the creeps.
Anyway. With all the fighting, preparing for battle, and loss, there is a bright spot. You got it. Cian and Moira fall in love. Though, both know it's going to end with the battle. Either they'll die there, or they can't be together (he's a vampire, and she's a queen. It would never work).
So come the big fight, many are lost (over 500, but all the vampires, save Cian), but they win (of course. It does have to have a happy ending. It's a NR novel), and all 6 of the circle live.
Larkin and Blair move to modern-day New York, Glenna and Hoyt to the home that Hoyt grew up in, but in modern-day Ireland, not the 12th century. Cian goes to New York and spends almost 2 months drunk and wallowing. Moira tends to her country (her country. She's a queen).
Then, of course, Morrigan comes and offers Cian a choice. And what can he do except accept a boon from the gods?
Sigh.
I always like the big battle scenes the best.
Yeah...they speak with that old English type-talk, and it tends to run through my head very well. Sorry if it comes out.
Anyway! This one takes place almost exclusively in Geall, with only a brief side trip to New York at the very end.
Moira become queen (something no one expected, right?), and the big battle happens.
Lilith and Lora (who I always want to call Lorna, and I don't know why) spend a lot of time together (they're close), plotting and planning to take over the world. Thankfully they kill off Davey. Kid gives me the creeps.
Anyway. With all the fighting, preparing for battle, and loss, there is a bright spot. You got it. Cian and Moira fall in love. Though, both know it's going to end with the battle. Either they'll die there, or they can't be together (he's a vampire, and she's a queen. It would never work).
So come the big fight, many are lost (over 500, but all the vampires, save Cian), but they win (of course. It does have to have a happy ending. It's a NR novel), and all 6 of the circle live.
Larkin and Blair move to modern-day New York, Glenna and Hoyt to the home that Hoyt grew up in, but in modern-day Ireland, not the 12th century. Cian goes to New York and spends almost 2 months drunk and wallowing. Moira tends to her country (her country. She's a queen).
Then, of course, Morrigan comes and offers Cian a choice. And what can he do except accept a boon from the gods?
Sigh.
I always like the big battle scenes the best.
Dance of the Gods
In the continuing series that is utterly unbelievable in the Circle trilogy, I just finished Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts.
In this one, our six continue to train in modern day Ireland, including numerous trips to the cave to irritate Lilith (our big bad vampire). After rescuing some of the humans, almost killing Larkin more times than I can count, and trying to kill Blair off just a couple times for kicks, they head to Geall, the land of Moira and Larkin.
Oh, did I mention that Larkin is a shape-shifter? Not just one animal, he can turn into anything from a unicorn to a rat to a dragon. A big, gold dragon. It's pretty fun.
Oh, and he and Blair get together in this one.
Anyway, in Geall Moira is waiting for her time to try to pull the sword from the stone (a la "The Sword in the Stone") to see if she is going to be the next ruler. Her mother was queen, until she was killed by vampires and Moira went to Ireland to learn to fight.
Every one else is trying to help the Geallians train to become an army worthy of a vampire army. Well, everyone but Cian. He's busy just being a vampire and trying not to scare too many of the locals. He does, however, now have a cloak (that either makes him look like Zorro or like a bad B movie vampire impersonator, depending on who you ask) that lets him go out in the sun. How fun!
Again, more visits from the goddess, more fighting, more coming to terms with the fact that you really can have someone who loves you, no matter what your profession is (Blair is a demon hunter. Her last fiancee didn't take to well to that...he died this book).
Anyway, I'm a big fan.
Oh! And, Nora Roberts has started doing this thing where in her trilogies, in the second book, the two remaining characters (you know, the two who haven't fallen in love yet, but will in the third book, you just know it) kiss.
So, after Moira has killed one of the vamps who killed her mother, she tries to kill the second, but Cian kills him for her, and she gets mad to yell at Cian, and to shut her up, he kisses her.
And then you know...
In this one, our six continue to train in modern day Ireland, including numerous trips to the cave to irritate Lilith (our big bad vampire). After rescuing some of the humans, almost killing Larkin more times than I can count, and trying to kill Blair off just a couple times for kicks, they head to Geall, the land of Moira and Larkin.
Oh, did I mention that Larkin is a shape-shifter? Not just one animal, he can turn into anything from a unicorn to a rat to a dragon. A big, gold dragon. It's pretty fun.
Oh, and he and Blair get together in this one.
Anyway, in Geall Moira is waiting for her time to try to pull the sword from the stone (a la "The Sword in the Stone") to see if she is going to be the next ruler. Her mother was queen, until she was killed by vampires and Moira went to Ireland to learn to fight.
Every one else is trying to help the Geallians train to become an army worthy of a vampire army. Well, everyone but Cian. He's busy just being a vampire and trying not to scare too many of the locals. He does, however, now have a cloak (that either makes him look like Zorro or like a bad B movie vampire impersonator, depending on who you ask) that lets him go out in the sun. How fun!
Again, more visits from the goddess, more fighting, more coming to terms with the fact that you really can have someone who loves you, no matter what your profession is (Blair is a demon hunter. Her last fiancee didn't take to well to that...he died this book).
Anyway, I'm a big fan.
Oh! And, Nora Roberts has started doing this thing where in her trilogies, in the second book, the two remaining characters (you know, the two who haven't fallen in love yet, but will in the third book, you just know it) kiss.
So, after Moira has killed one of the vamps who killed her mother, she tries to kill the second, but Cian kills him for her, and she gets mad to yell at Cian, and to shut her up, he kisses her.
And then you know...
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Morrigan's Cross
Okay, so sometimes, you just have to re-read a book.
The thing about Nora Roberts is that she really likes books that take place in Ireland. They're second only to New York, but that's because she has an entire series that takes place there (running over 25 books at this point, I believe).
Anyway, I was trying to figure out what to read this morning (because I was so disappointed by Temperatures Rising yesterday, I wanted something I could count on), and I grabbed this one just out of fun.
So, I re-read it. Now, it's a little odd, I'll give you that. It's about 6 people who have to make it work to keep an evil vampire from taking over the worlds. They're charged by Morrigan, an Irish warrior goddess.
The charge starts with Hoyt, a sorcerer from (are you ready for it?) Ireland in the 1100s. He goes to modern day New York to find (here we go) his twin brother who was turned into a vampire about a week before he left.
Confused yet? In New York, he meets Glenna, a witch. The three of them, along with King, who's a friend of Cian (the brother...I love his name), head to Ireland to set up camp in Hoyt and Cian's old house.
It's keeps going. There they rescue Moira (another great name) and Larkin. Moira is a scholar and soon to be queen of a different world (probably more like Ireland mid-1500 or so, without the potato famine, and if they had never been thrown over by the English) called Geall. Larkin is her (ready?) shape-shifting cousin.
After a time, Blair comes to find them as well. Blair is a modern day Buffy, but she's not the only one. It's (come on now) the family business.
Now, all that unbelievableness aside, it's a great story. A little overdone in some parts, but oh-so-much fun.
Plus, when Glenna and Hoyt (not so great names, either one) get together (you know, have sex, fall in love, get hand-fasted, which is like marriage), flames have a bad tendency to burn hotter and brighter.
Not to mention, in the first book, we almost kill Hoyt twice, Glenna at least twice, Moira and Larkin at least once, Blaire is good at holding her own, and Cian at least twice.
Plus, there's the infighting, emotional family crap, reluctance, fighting of emotion, and all sorts of joys things they need to get through.
So much fun.
The thing about Nora Roberts is that she really likes books that take place in Ireland. They're second only to New York, but that's because she has an entire series that takes place there (running over 25 books at this point, I believe).
Anyway, I was trying to figure out what to read this morning (because I was so disappointed by Temperatures Rising yesterday, I wanted something I could count on), and I grabbed this one just out of fun.
So, I re-read it. Now, it's a little odd, I'll give you that. It's about 6 people who have to make it work to keep an evil vampire from taking over the worlds. They're charged by Morrigan, an Irish warrior goddess.
The charge starts with Hoyt, a sorcerer from (are you ready for it?) Ireland in the 1100s. He goes to modern day New York to find (here we go) his twin brother who was turned into a vampire about a week before he left.
Confused yet? In New York, he meets Glenna, a witch. The three of them, along with King, who's a friend of Cian (the brother...I love his name), head to Ireland to set up camp in Hoyt and Cian's old house.
It's keeps going. There they rescue Moira (another great name) and Larkin. Moira is a scholar and soon to be queen of a different world (probably more like Ireland mid-1500 or so, without the potato famine, and if they had never been thrown over by the English) called Geall. Larkin is her (ready?) shape-shifting cousin.
After a time, Blair comes to find them as well. Blair is a modern day Buffy, but she's not the only one. It's (come on now) the family business.
Now, all that unbelievableness aside, it's a great story. A little overdone in some parts, but oh-so-much fun.
Plus, when Glenna and Hoyt (not so great names, either one) get together (you know, have sex, fall in love, get hand-fasted, which is like marriage), flames have a bad tendency to burn hotter and brighter.
Not to mention, in the first book, we almost kill Hoyt twice, Glenna at least twice, Moira and Larkin at least once, Blaire is good at holding her own, and Cian at least twice.
Plus, there's the infighting, emotional family crap, reluctance, fighting of emotion, and all sorts of joys things they need to get through.
So much fun.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Temperatures Rising
So, I went from surprisingly stellar CF to a huge letdown romance. I'm just that kind of person, I guess.
Anyway, I just finished Sandra's Brown Temperatures Rising, an old one (1989!), so a straight romance.
Let me just say, Scout was very obsessed with Chantal's breasts. They came up at least once a page.
Anyway, Scout is an engineer working on a resort in the islands off Hawaii when he's kidnapped by Chantal, a beautiful native woman. He's accidentally shot, knocked out, and dragged to their village.
Chantal is a brilliant geologist who's village needs a new bridge. She kidnaps Scout so he'll build it for them. It's a rocky road (he doesn't want to, she ends up burning the bridge down so he will), never mind the fact they're both so attracted to each other that it's practically killing them.
I wasn't all that impressed. The writing was only okay, the plot line despicable, the characters unbelievable and annoying.
None of the great twists I've come to expect from a Sandra Brown, but then again, it is an early one before she had her style set.
Let me just say, I doubt I'll be reading it again.
Anyway, I just finished Sandra's Brown Temperatures Rising, an old one (1989!), so a straight romance.
Let me just say, Scout was very obsessed with Chantal's breasts. They came up at least once a page.
Anyway, Scout is an engineer working on a resort in the islands off Hawaii when he's kidnapped by Chantal, a beautiful native woman. He's accidentally shot, knocked out, and dragged to their village.
Chantal is a brilliant geologist who's village needs a new bridge. She kidnaps Scout so he'll build it for them. It's a rocky road (he doesn't want to, she ends up burning the bridge down so he will), never mind the fact they're both so attracted to each other that it's practically killing them.
I wasn't all that impressed. The writing was only okay, the plot line despicable, the characters unbelievable and annoying.
None of the great twists I've come to expect from a Sandra Brown, but then again, it is an early one before she had her style set.
Let me just say, I doubt I'll be reading it again.
Something New
So, on her website, when Mom talks about a book she read, she puts the author in the labels section.
I decided that could be a stellar idea.
That way, instead of having to search through all my posts to find out if I've reviewed anything else by them, you can just click on their name at the end of a post.
Of course, I read a lot of things that don't end up here, or other books by authors I have reviewed. I have a documented amount of over 600 books read. If you're curious, just ask me. I'm always more than happy to talk books with anyone who wants to.
I decided that could be a stellar idea.
That way, instead of having to search through all my posts to find out if I've reviewed anything else by them, you can just click on their name at the end of a post.
Of course, I read a lot of things that don't end up here, or other books by authors I have reviewed. I have a documented amount of over 600 books read. If you're curious, just ask me. I'm always more than happy to talk books with anyone who wants to.
Embrace Me
So, Carter, who is Lola's fiancee, lent Lola the book Embrace Me by Lisa Samson. Lola read it, and then told me that I had to read it, so she left it on my bed yesterday. I'm done with it now, and let me tell you---amazing.
Okay, so the story goes back and forth between a man and a woman. The man (Drew) happens in 2002/2003, and the woman (Valentine) happens in 2008/2009.
Here's your warning--this is a blatantly Christian novel. Big talk about Jesus and praying and redemption and the Church.
That said...
Drew is an ex-pastor who did everything wrong. He was kind of in it for the right reasons, but mostly for the wrong ones. When we meet him, he's left his mega-church and is living at the beach. He's detailing his sins for Father Brian, even though Drew isn't Catholic. It's a sad story of a man who wants power and approval, and will do anything to get it.
Valentine works in a Sideshow. Her face has been burned, and she dresses up in a green costume to become the Lizard Woman. Her best friend is Lella, the legless-armless woman. Val is bitter about her past, and churches in general.
It's the off-season in Val's time, so they're hanging around Mount Oak at the owner's house. A bunch of them who work in the sideshow stay together in the off-season.
Anyway, while Drew is working through his issues, so is Val.
It's amazing. Well written, well twined together, the story line is amazing. While the end gets a little cheesy, it is still poignant and beautiful.
I was a little sad that Gus stuck to his vows, but that's the (usually pushed aside and beaten up) romantic in me.
Oh, and let me just say that, for the record, the sins they deal with are things we all deal with. Wanting more. Greed. Unforgiveness. A likelihood of putting ourselves and our wants before anyone or anything else.
I loved it.
Okay, so the story goes back and forth between a man and a woman. The man (Drew) happens in 2002/2003, and the woman (Valentine) happens in 2008/2009.
Here's your warning--this is a blatantly Christian novel. Big talk about Jesus and praying and redemption and the Church.
That said...
Drew is an ex-pastor who did everything wrong. He was kind of in it for the right reasons, but mostly for the wrong ones. When we meet him, he's left his mega-church and is living at the beach. He's detailing his sins for Father Brian, even though Drew isn't Catholic. It's a sad story of a man who wants power and approval, and will do anything to get it.
Valentine works in a Sideshow. Her face has been burned, and she dresses up in a green costume to become the Lizard Woman. Her best friend is Lella, the legless-armless woman. Val is bitter about her past, and churches in general.
It's the off-season in Val's time, so they're hanging around Mount Oak at the owner's house. A bunch of them who work in the sideshow stay together in the off-season.
Anyway, while Drew is working through his issues, so is Val.
It's amazing. Well written, well twined together, the story line is amazing. While the end gets a little cheesy, it is still poignant and beautiful.
I was a little sad that Gus stuck to his vows, but that's the (usually pushed aside and beaten up) romantic in me.
Oh, and let me just say that, for the record, the sins they deal with are things we all deal with. Wanting more. Greed. Unforgiveness. A likelihood of putting ourselves and our wants before anyone or anything else.
I loved it.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
The Crush
So, in my hurry to get to work today, I forgot to bring the book that I'm nearing the end of. Good thing there was a book sale nearby and I picked up 20 (20!) books today.
I started reading The Crush by Sandra Brown when I had 15 minutes before my shift started.
When it starts out, you know exactly who the killer is, who the woman is, and who the man is. It's kind of nice, knowing all that right off.
With all that in mind, all you have to look out for in this book is the emotional twist.
Here's what's different about this book. They (Rennie and Wick) don't get together until really, really close to the end. It's refreshing, and a little disconcerting. The killer is a sane sort of crazy. The twists in his case (I really thought he was still with them by the beach when they get called away!) are very well done as well.
What's not so stellar: killing the other doctor right off. A little sad. The 4 page into on the security guard's issues...we only see him in the second chapter and never again. Waste of time, in my book.
Oh my gosh! Where Wick shoots Oren? Amazing! I couldn't believe it!
Yeah, in case you missed it, I'm a fan.
I started reading The Crush by Sandra Brown when I had 15 minutes before my shift started.
When it starts out, you know exactly who the killer is, who the woman is, and who the man is. It's kind of nice, knowing all that right off.
With all that in mind, all you have to look out for in this book is the emotional twist.
Here's what's different about this book. They (Rennie and Wick) don't get together until really, really close to the end. It's refreshing, and a little disconcerting. The killer is a sane sort of crazy. The twists in his case (I really thought he was still with them by the beach when they get called away!) are very well done as well.
What's not so stellar: killing the other doctor right off. A little sad. The 4 page into on the security guard's issues...we only see him in the second chapter and never again. Waste of time, in my book.
Oh my gosh! Where Wick shoots Oren? Amazing! I couldn't believe it!
Yeah, in case you missed it, I'm a fan.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
A Question
So, here's my problem, followed quickly by the question I am pondering.
I've been reading a bunch of those Nora Roberts early novels, the ones that they've re-released as 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 novels. The one I'm currently reading has 3, and the third one I've read before.
At least 3 times.
So here's my question.
If I skip the last book in the book, does it still count as reading it?
Because, normally, I don't count something if I don't finish it. Whether I have 100 pages left or just 10, it doesn't count until I close the book, every single chapter read.
So, does it count this time, or still not?
I'm thinking not.
I've been reading a bunch of those Nora Roberts early novels, the ones that they've re-released as 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 novels. The one I'm currently reading has 3, and the third one I've read before.
At least 3 times.
So here's my question.
If I skip the last book in the book, does it still count as reading it?
Because, normally, I don't count something if I don't finish it. Whether I have 100 pages left or just 10, it doesn't count until I close the book, every single chapter read.
So, does it count this time, or still not?
I'm thinking not.
Monday, October 13, 2008
The Hollow
As promised, I just finished The Hollow by Nora Roberts.
In this second one, we meet (get to know better, really) Fox and Layla. Fox is a lawyer who is best friends with Cal (Blood Brothers) and Gage (The Pagan Stone) has been fighting the Big Bad Evil the last 21 years of his life.
What's different about Fox? He fell in love before, with Carly. And she came to Hawkin's Hollow during the Seven.
Layla works at a boutique in Mew York, until she ups and leaves to come to Hawkin's Hollow to fight the Big Bad without even knowing why. She's a little scared (being the only outsider with no close ties), but determined.
In this one they have a lot more attacks, but they aren't all that scary. Don't know if it's my already low expectations (I was seriously disappointed the first time I read this one), or they just weren't stellar.
Even the last one, the one that's supposed to be huge and the ultimate scare of the book was...well, a little flat.
So now we wait for The Pagan Stone starring Gage and Cybil, who have promised each other that they won't fall in love. Yeah...that's going to happen.
In this second one, we meet (get to know better, really) Fox and Layla. Fox is a lawyer who is best friends with Cal (Blood Brothers) and Gage (The Pagan Stone) has been fighting the Big Bad Evil the last 21 years of his life.
What's different about Fox? He fell in love before, with Carly. And she came to Hawkin's Hollow during the Seven.
Layla works at a boutique in Mew York, until she ups and leaves to come to Hawkin's Hollow to fight the Big Bad without even knowing why. She's a little scared (being the only outsider with no close ties), but determined.
In this one they have a lot more attacks, but they aren't all that scary. Don't know if it's my already low expectations (I was seriously disappointed the first time I read this one), or they just weren't stellar.
Even the last one, the one that's supposed to be huge and the ultimate scare of the book was...well, a little flat.
So now we wait for The Pagan Stone starring Gage and Cybil, who have promised each other that they won't fall in love. Yeah...that's going to happen.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Blood Brothers
Blood Brothers is the first in the latest trilogy by Nora Roberts (look for a review of the second, The Hollows coming soon, and the third, The Pagan Stone sometime in December).
So, it starts out telling you about the killing of a man in the 1600's. Then it moves on to 1987 (Wow...the 80's...), and telling you about a really bad thing that happened when three 10 year old boys met in the woods.
So, there's this big, bad, evil demon out to get everyone, and for a week every July, every seven years, everyone in their town goes absolutely violently nuts.
So the three boys have to take care of the town.
Well, this time (the third time) is coming, and three women come to town. (Who's not surprised?)
Book 1 is about Caleb and Quinn. He's the responsible boy-scout, who gets visions into the past. She's writes books about haunted places, and she's come to Hawkin's Hollow to tell the story of what happens.
She never expects to be part of the equation on how to beat the big-bad-evil, though. And she doesn't plan on falling in love, either.
Who doesn't love the curve balls that get thrown into the lives of characters?
Anyway--what I like about this one. Cal's a really good guy. All the time. Gotta appreciate that.
What I didn't like-- So incredibly easy to see what's happening. All the major plot points are transparent. Not to mention, Quinn is brash, even for a NR character. She needs to take a chill pill.
These books could be so much stronger! I hope the last one is better.
So, it starts out telling you about the killing of a man in the 1600's. Then it moves on to 1987 (Wow...the 80's...), and telling you about a really bad thing that happened when three 10 year old boys met in the woods.
So, there's this big, bad, evil demon out to get everyone, and for a week every July, every seven years, everyone in their town goes absolutely violently nuts.
So the three boys have to take care of the town.
Well, this time (the third time) is coming, and three women come to town. (Who's not surprised?)
Book 1 is about Caleb and Quinn. He's the responsible boy-scout, who gets visions into the past. She's writes books about haunted places, and she's come to Hawkin's Hollow to tell the story of what happens.
She never expects to be part of the equation on how to beat the big-bad-evil, though. And she doesn't plan on falling in love, either.
Who doesn't love the curve balls that get thrown into the lives of characters?
Anyway--what I like about this one. Cal's a really good guy. All the time. Gotta appreciate that.
What I didn't like-- So incredibly easy to see what's happening. All the major plot points are transparent. Not to mention, Quinn is brash, even for a NR character. She needs to take a chill pill.
These books could be so much stronger! I hope the last one is better.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Best Kept Secrets
I really am on a Sandra Brown kick.
Okay, so this one was...weird. In a kind of creepy way. Alexandra Gaither (Alex), a public defender in Austin (I think), Texas, goes back to her hometown when her grandmother falls into a coma. Her reasoning? She wants to figure out who killed her mother, Celina.
It's one of three men. Angus Minton, ruling patriarch and general good ole boy; Junior Minton, his lackadaisical son who just isn't up to his standards; or Reede Lambert, the sheriff and son that Angus never had.
Of course, Reede and Junior were both in love with Celina, and all three were best friends. And no, neither was Alex's real father (Thankfully. That would have been icky).
Anyway, Alex is uncovering all sorts of bad things, including the wretched truth about her mother, all the while (let's all say it together...) finding herself wildly attractive, then falling in love with Reede.
Yeah, a slight ick factor. Even worse is the fact that Junior totally wanted her.
I'm amazed Angus didn't get in there and confess his wild lust as well.
Anyway, the story went well. I was vacillating between the actual killer and the other one who it might be.
Well written, though a touch slow. Again, the slight ick factor of Alex and Reede getting together. Not to mention that Reede is really kind of an ass. Junior is a playboy.
It's not that they don't have redeeming qualities, I just had trouble with them getting together. She seemed smarter than that.
It's always nice to be wrong though.
Anyway, not stellar. Not terrible, but not stellar either.
Okay, so this one was...weird. In a kind of creepy way. Alexandra Gaither (Alex), a public defender in Austin (I think), Texas, goes back to her hometown when her grandmother falls into a coma. Her reasoning? She wants to figure out who killed her mother, Celina.
It's one of three men. Angus Minton, ruling patriarch and general good ole boy; Junior Minton, his lackadaisical son who just isn't up to his standards; or Reede Lambert, the sheriff and son that Angus never had.
Of course, Reede and Junior were both in love with Celina, and all three were best friends. And no, neither was Alex's real father (Thankfully. That would have been icky).
Anyway, Alex is uncovering all sorts of bad things, including the wretched truth about her mother, all the while (let's all say it together...) finding herself wildly attractive, then falling in love with Reede.
Yeah, a slight ick factor. Even worse is the fact that Junior totally wanted her.
I'm amazed Angus didn't get in there and confess his wild lust as well.
Anyway, the story went well. I was vacillating between the actual killer and the other one who it might be.
Well written, though a touch slow. Again, the slight ick factor of Alex and Reede getting together. Not to mention that Reede is really kind of an ass. Junior is a playboy.
It's not that they don't have redeeming qualities, I just had trouble with them getting together. She seemed smarter than that.
It's always nice to be wrong though.
Anyway, not stellar. Not terrible, but not stellar either.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Charade
Apparently, I'm on a Sandra Brown kick. A new Sandra Brown kick. That's impressive for me.
Okay, just I just finished Charade, a mid-90's Sandra Brown novel.
It starts out detailing the last days of 3 patients who give up their hearts for organ donation, and the first day of a heart recipient. From there it gets odd.
We're following Cat Delaney (who else used Delaney as a last name? And Gannon? I swear, repetition will make me crazy until I figure this one out...), the recipient. She's a soap opera actress before her transplant, and after does a 4 minute piece on a news show to help kids in need of adoption. He is Alex Pierce, ex-cop current writer.
While Alex and Cat are falling in love, she's being stalked by a person who has killed everyone that has had a heart transplant on the day that Kat did. He's killing them to set one heart free.
Okay, so I liked this book. A little slow at first (the first 5 chapters totally threw me...kept going in and out of characters that I didn't see the point to, plus I didn't realize it was a medical drama). After that, when it finally settled into it's rhythm, it was good. Cat is a spitfire, which is always fun (and a redhead...just like Allison from Thursday's Child...hmm...wonder how many redheads Sandra Brown writes about...), and Alex is haunted.
Anyway, they (somehow) figure out a myriad of things, which leads to the big revelation...that I'm not going to give you. Needless to say, I totally forgot about it until they brought it back up.
However, when everyone thought Alex was the killer (of course he's not...it's a Sandra Brown novel. They just have to accuse him to get the heroine alone so the real killer can find her!), I'm sitting here going, "It's not him! You're looking for the lover, it's not him! I don't care what the evidence says, you've got it wrong!"
And!! I was so excited! I knew who it was! Though, at the end, she did throw in a minor twist as to who it could have been, but instead, it was who I though! Yes!!
Anyway, I approve.
Okay, just I just finished Charade, a mid-90's Sandra Brown novel.
It starts out detailing the last days of 3 patients who give up their hearts for organ donation, and the first day of a heart recipient. From there it gets odd.
We're following Cat Delaney (who else used Delaney as a last name? And Gannon? I swear, repetition will make me crazy until I figure this one out...), the recipient. She's a soap opera actress before her transplant, and after does a 4 minute piece on a news show to help kids in need of adoption. He is Alex Pierce, ex-cop current writer.
While Alex and Cat are falling in love, she's being stalked by a person who has killed everyone that has had a heart transplant on the day that Kat did. He's killing them to set one heart free.
Okay, so I liked this book. A little slow at first (the first 5 chapters totally threw me...kept going in and out of characters that I didn't see the point to, plus I didn't realize it was a medical drama). After that, when it finally settled into it's rhythm, it was good. Cat is a spitfire, which is always fun (and a redhead...just like Allison from Thursday's Child...hmm...wonder how many redheads Sandra Brown writes about...), and Alex is haunted.
Anyway, they (somehow) figure out a myriad of things, which leads to the big revelation...that I'm not going to give you. Needless to say, I totally forgot about it until they brought it back up.
However, when everyone thought Alex was the killer (of course he's not...it's a Sandra Brown novel. They just have to accuse him to get the heroine alone so the real killer can find her!), I'm sitting here going, "It's not him! You're looking for the lover, it's not him! I don't care what the evidence says, you've got it wrong!"
And!! I was so excited! I knew who it was! Though, at the end, she did throw in a minor twist as to who it could have been, but instead, it was who I though! Yes!!
Anyway, I approve.
Thursday's Child
While I like the newer Sandra Brown novels, the old ones tend to annoy me. I picked up Thursday's Child because I am a child of Thursday (as in, I was born on one).
Anyway, in this one Allison and Ann are twins, and Ann wants to get a breast enlargement, so she convinces Allison to be her around her fiancee for the next few days.
The only problem is that when Davis, Ann's fiancee, introduces "Ann" to his best friend, Spencer, they fall immediately in lust. "Ann" (really Allison) is trying to pretend like she doesn't feel it, and Spencer is trying to figure out why she's faking it with Davis.
About halfway through it comes out that "Ann" is really Allison, and when Ann actually is.
After that, Allison and Spencer spend their time on his boat, trying to prove one of Allison's theories right. That two superior parents can make an intellectually superior baby.
When Spencer has to leave for work, Allison is desolate. They meet up again at Ann and Davis' wedding, and when Spencer finds out she's pregnant, he's thrilled. Love declared, marriage proposed and accepted, all's well that ends well.
Again, it was cute, but not all that challenging (something I actually missed).
Oh, and I agree with Allison. The title is based on an old poem that goes like this:
Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe and good and gay.
Allison says, 'Thursday's child has a long way to go to catch up with everyone else."
Anyway, it was cute, but not stellar. Be wary of explicit sex scenes, because that's what Sandra writes.
Anyway, in this one Allison and Ann are twins, and Ann wants to get a breast enlargement, so she convinces Allison to be her around her fiancee for the next few days.
The only problem is that when Davis, Ann's fiancee, introduces "Ann" to his best friend, Spencer, they fall immediately in lust. "Ann" (really Allison) is trying to pretend like she doesn't feel it, and Spencer is trying to figure out why she's faking it with Davis.
About halfway through it comes out that "Ann" is really Allison, and when Ann actually is.
After that, Allison and Spencer spend their time on his boat, trying to prove one of Allison's theories right. That two superior parents can make an intellectually superior baby.
When Spencer has to leave for work, Allison is desolate. They meet up again at Ann and Davis' wedding, and when Spencer finds out she's pregnant, he's thrilled. Love declared, marriage proposed and accepted, all's well that ends well.
Again, it was cute, but not all that challenging (something I actually missed).
Oh, and I agree with Allison. The title is based on an old poem that goes like this:
Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe and good and gay.
Allison says, 'Thursday's child has a long way to go to catch up with everyone else."
Anyway, it was cute, but not stellar. Be wary of explicit sex scenes, because that's what Sandra writes.
Smoke Screen
Smoke Screen is the latest novel by Sandra Brown.
As with all Sandra Brown novels, you can’t trust anyone, except of course the one you’re falling in love with. Don’t mean to be rude, but that’s how it always works.
Anyway, in this one, Britt Shelley, a TV reporter, wakes up next to a dead man, Jay. When she can’t remember the night before, or how he ended up dead, things take a dark turn. She’s accused of killing him, but before she can be arrested, is kidnapped by Raley Gannon.
Gannon tells her his story of waking up next to a dead girl after a party at Jay’s house, with a lot of similarities, they agree to go hunting together to find out just what happened.
As usual, there are a million twists and turns that no one saw coming. From the party-boy who just wanted to clean his conscience, to the Attorney General who may or may not have played a part in the cover up, you’re never quite sure what Sandra is going to throw at you. But I liked this one.
As with all Sandra Brown novels, you can’t trust anyone, except of course the one you’re falling in love with. Don’t mean to be rude, but that’s how it always works.
Anyway, in this one, Britt Shelley, a TV reporter, wakes up next to a dead man, Jay. When she can’t remember the night before, or how he ended up dead, things take a dark turn. She’s accused of killing him, but before she can be arrested, is kidnapped by Raley Gannon.
Gannon tells her his story of waking up next to a dead girl after a party at Jay’s house, with a lot of similarities, they agree to go hunting together to find out just what happened.
As usual, there are a million twists and turns that no one saw coming. From the party-boy who just wanted to clean his conscience, to the Attorney General who may or may not have played a part in the cover up, you’re never quite sure what Sandra is going to throw at you. But I liked this one.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Identical
Why I expect any Ellen Hopkins novel to be rather straight forward is absolutely beyond me, at this point.
I know, after reading all of her books, that there's going to be a major twist. And I mean major.
I just finished her latest, Identical, about twin girls who are living in the wake of a brutal crash. We know that someone didn't make it, but we don't know who.
Kaeleigh is "the good girl." She dresses well, doesn't smoke, doesn't sleep around, but is also quiet and keeps to herself. Her only friend is Ian.
Raeanne is "the bad girl." She sleeps around, does drugs, causes trouble, and has no real friends either.
It's what's below the surface of their Normal Rockwell lives that is disturbing.
The truth behind the accident, behind their grandparents, about what goes on behind closed doors with their father.
Ellen Hopkins is not your average writer. Stylistically, she doesn't write like anyone else. Instead of paragraphs, chapters, and the usual, she writes in the form of poetry.
It's something I found appealing from the very beginning.
Breaking Dawn, Part 2
I re-read Breaking Dawn today.
Yes, I started at lunch and finished just now. Yes, I worked for a while in there, and did some homework. I even took a break to eat and count change and a couple other things. But I still read the whole thing today.
Anyway!
I re-read Breaking Dawn today. It's much better the second time around. The first time, you're too busy going, "What do you mean Bella's pregnant? Jacob imprinted on Nessie? And why wasn't the battle scene...well, a battle?"
After letting it marinate for 2 months (hey, I waited to required amount of time. Even 2 extra days. Give me a break), and reading Stephenie Meyer's answers to reader's questions, it was much better.
You just have to suspend belief for a few hours. What's great about some books (the Anita Blake series, for instance), is that you can almost see it actually happening. It's realistic. Even the vampires and were-wolves, you can see how it just might happen (the Sookie Stackhouse books do this really well too).
The problem with kids/young adult books? They ask you to suspend reality more often. So after giving myself to the book, letting my world fall away and replace it with Bella and Edward's world...it was better.
Easier to see happening, easier to believe.
Of course, knowing what happens doesn't hurt.
The week before Breaking Dawn came out, I literally called Mom and said, "I'm worried that Bella and Edward won't end up together. Stephenie wouldn't do that to us, would she?"
Mom laughed. I was serious.
I'm really glad they end up together.
And I laughed out loud when Bella found out about Jacob calling Renemsee "Nessie." It's just too funny that that is what sets her off.
Yes, I started at lunch and finished just now. Yes, I worked for a while in there, and did some homework. I even took a break to eat and count change and a couple other things. But I still read the whole thing today.
Anyway!
I re-read Breaking Dawn today. It's much better the second time around. The first time, you're too busy going, "What do you mean Bella's pregnant? Jacob imprinted on Nessie? And why wasn't the battle scene...well, a battle?"
After letting it marinate for 2 months (hey, I waited to required amount of time. Even 2 extra days. Give me a break), and reading Stephenie Meyer's answers to reader's questions, it was much better.
You just have to suspend belief for a few hours. What's great about some books (the Anita Blake series, for instance), is that you can almost see it actually happening. It's realistic. Even the vampires and were-wolves, you can see how it just might happen (the Sookie Stackhouse books do this really well too).
The problem with kids/young adult books? They ask you to suspend reality more often. So after giving myself to the book, letting my world fall away and replace it with Bella and Edward's world...it was better.
Easier to see happening, easier to believe.
Of course, knowing what happens doesn't hurt.
The week before Breaking Dawn came out, I literally called Mom and said, "I'm worried that Bella and Edward won't end up together. Stephenie wouldn't do that to us, would she?"
Mom laughed. I was serious.
I'm really glad they end up together.
And I laughed out loud when Bella found out about Jacob calling Renemsee "Nessie." It's just too funny that that is what sets her off.
Friday, October 3, 2008
This Could Be A Problem
Okay, so here's the problem. I read really fast.
Wanna know how fast? I read A Lick of Frost by Laurell K. Hamilton in under 3 hours. Yeah, I've read it before, but still. 274 pages in under 3 hours. I was even a little horrified (by my reading speed, not the book).
I'm not going to recommend it, not because I didn't like it, but because it's probably not anything that anyone I know would read. If you ever want to know my opinion on LKH books, or even just on one series or the other, ask me, but not here.
Wanna know how fast? I read A Lick of Frost by Laurell K. Hamilton in under 3 hours. Yeah, I've read it before, but still. 274 pages in under 3 hours. I was even a little horrified (by my reading speed, not the book).
I'm not going to recommend it, not because I didn't like it, but because it's probably not anything that anyone I know would read. If you ever want to know my opinion on LKH books, or even just on one series or the other, ask me, but not here.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
The End of September
The end of September brings about a rather disappointing monthly list. At least, compared to last month.
Although, it's the second best month I've had all year, so I can't even complain about it.
22 books this month. 10 of which I've already read. Which means that there were 12 new ones. 12! Very nice.
Of course, it's all fiction. One of these days, I really am going to get around to reading more nonfiction. Probably more after I graduate. Or something.
Although, it's the second best month I've had all year, so I can't even complain about it.
22 books this month. 10 of which I've already read. Which means that there were 12 new ones. 12! Very nice.
Of course, it's all fiction. One of these days, I really am going to get around to reading more nonfiction. Probably more after I graduate. Or something.
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