A Romance that is definitely worth reading!!

Let me start by saying, I am not a huge fan of Romance books. In the case ofBeautiful Disaster I am more than willing to make an exception. This book captured my interest from page one and held it throughout the entire book. More than just a romance book, Laura Spinella's debut novel contains an intriguing back story that grabbed the mystery/thriller loving portion of my brain and left me chewing on several theories as the story progressed. While this part of the story was by no means the main event, nor really even entirely fleshed out, it kept me reading through the more formulaic romance aspects of the book. And even that portion of the book was above average. Rather than being one dimensional, Spinella's characters were flawed, which only added to their allure. At some point in the book each character was poised to make choices that left me shaking my head and saying, "What were you thinking????" Did the story contain all the formulaic pieces of a typical romance? Yes, it did. BUT -- this was much more than just a boy and girl meet, fall in love, become estranged, get back together, and live happily ever after story. It was a richly told story about people, they choices they make, and the impact throughout their lives of those choices

Although a good one, not what I was expecting

How does a reader decide whether to read a book? A strange way to start a review, I know, but it is an intregal part of my rating on this book. If an author is new or unknown to me and my reading buddies, often I will choose to read or not read a book based on its published synopsis. Such was the case with The Ninth Step by Barbara Taylor Sissel. I had never given much thought to the title of the book, but it was apparent early in the story that it referred the the ninth step in AA's 12 step program, the one where a person makes amends. 

Let me just state upfront that the rating on this book has more to do with expectations and less to do with the quality of the story. I enjoyed the story of Cotton O'Dell and his quest to make amends in his life to those that were impacted by a single bad choice that he made. I thought the author did a good job with the character of Cotton, detailing his myriad of emotions as his quest for sobriety and redemption progressed. I actually think I would have liked the book a lot more if it had been marketed as such. At least then I would have known what to expect. 

I really wanted to give this book 4 stars, but just could not quite do it. Why? First of all, because the synopsis set up the story in a way that the author did not deliver. I felt that the story was really about Cotton and that Livie was a very minor player in the grand scheme of things. In fact, the best part of the story, Cotton's relationship with his mother, and with the Latimer family, isn't even mentioned in the synopsis, yet these are the relationships that make the meat of the story. I felt that there were many things in the synopsis that the author did not deliver on, while leaving out the things that really made the story fly. It was almost as is, somewhere along the line, a decision was made that the story would get a better following if it was marketed as a romantic redemption story rather than what it actually was. The chronicle of one man's quest to pull himself out of the thralls of alcholism and get his life back on track.

I just found a new Historical Mystery Author that I think you will love.

If you know me, you know that my two favorite genres are historical fiction and mystery/thrillers, so it was with joy that I was able to score a copy of The Book of Lost Fragrances by authorM.J. Rose. Although Ms. Rose is an established author, this is the first book of hers that I have read, and I must say, it combines the best of both genres. In this book M. J. Rose crafts an engaging story of Jac L'Etoile and her brother Bobbie, who are wrapped in the search for the mysterious lost book of fragarances that is so much a part of their family heritage. In the pursuit of this mystery the author takes us on a journey through time and across continents, bringing it all together is a satisfyingly interesting ending. Highlighting the story of the L'Etoile family of perfumers is a wonderful plethora of characters. In fact, there are so many characters in this book that at time I had to refere back to remind myself who was with whom. Normally this would bother me, but in this case, the characters were so interesting, that it was more of a joy than a problem. In fact, the vast number of interesting characters is one of the things that I most liked about this book. Though the characters came from areas that seemed to have no connection, you just knew they would all connect in the end, and the author did not disappoint in this respect. Add that with the fact that each one had an interesting back story that made them jump off the pages, and you have a wonderful ensemble that kept me turning pages to see where they would all end up. Suffice it to say that I thought this book was a very enjoyable historical mystery. M. J. Rose is a new author for me, but I will be eagerly looking up more of her work. In fact, when I started researching her work further, I found that this book is actually the fourth in a series called the Reincarnationist Series, so I will probably start with the first three books of that series. 

One caveat -- Although this book is part of a series, it read perfectly as a stand alone, and I am usually pretty strict about reading a series in order. The fact that I was able to follow the story line and enjoy this book without benefit of the first three books is a testament to how well written this book is. Kudos to MS. Rose.

ARE YOU FASCINATED BY THE HISTORY OF RUSSIA'S FINAL TSAR AND HIS FAMILY?

I first became acquainted with the writing of Robert K. Massie when I readNicholas And Alexandra back in the 70s. I have always been fascinated by history and royal families, and he has been a staple of mine as a writer. I recently finished The Romanovs: The Final Chapter and it was fascinating. About 1/3 of the book was dedicated to a discussion of what transpired after the bones were found in the late 80s, early 90s. It was a very political endeavor, as you can imagine and it was fascinating to read how they determined who the bones belonged to, and how they determined who was going to work with the bones. 
The next part dealt with imposters and after a few pages about some of the celelbrated cases, Massie spent the majority of this section on the Anna Anderson case, how is transpired and what the tried to do to verify who she was. This particular story has always fascinated me, so I liked this part of the book the best. 
The final two sections were pretty small, and Massie spent that time talking about who the remaining Romanovs are that were alive in the 90s and where they lived. This was followed by another small section with some highlights from diaries and journals illustrating what life was like while the Tsar and his family were imprisoned in the Ipatiev House in Ekaterinberg before the massacre. 
As usual, Massie did and excellent job of writing and researching and I found this book easily readable and fascinating. 

I am now primed to read his book on Catherine the Great!(

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by VANESSA DIFFENBACH

When I bought this book, I was expecting a very victorianesque book with alot of discussion on the meanings of flowers, and maybe even a little of the magical elements that are found in so many of today's books. That was not what this book was at all. What I found was a great modern day story about one girl's journey to be loved, and to believe herself loveable, and therefore able to love others. Although it was not quite what I thought it was going to be, I thoroughly enjoyed what it was. I thought the story of Victoria was compelling and interesting. I think I felt sorry for Victoria, even though I wanted to slap her some of the time. Elizabeth and Grant were easy to love, although at one point I thought that Grant was almost too good to be believed. And I thought that Renata and her family were a kick. What great characters the author peppered this book with.

I thought the story line was great also. It was poignant without being sappy and I liked the way that the author let you guess as to what the big deal between Victoria and Elizabeth was. Although I guessed what caused their break up before it was revealed, there were elements of the situation that the author was able to surprise me with.

Last comment is I have to give Kudos to the author on the ending. It was hopeful while still staying true to the characters and the tone of the story.  A  HEA ending would definitely not have fit this book. 

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A MUST READ: THE OLD MERMAID'S TALE by KATHLEEN VALENTINE

I have read several short stories by Kathleen Valentine, and I have enjoyed all of them. This is the first full length novel of hers that I have read, though. When an author is successful as a short story writer, I always wonder whether they can sustain that level of writing in a full length book. It is with great joy that I found that Kathleen Valentine is a wonderful success at both. In fact, this book will definitely be on my top books read in 2012 list. I was discussing the book with a friend, and we both agreed that this is not your typical romance book. In fact, we both felt that it is not really a romance book at all, but is instead a captivating love story. Being one of the best love stories that I have ever read, I cannot imagine a lot of other books overcoming it. 

The characters in this book are superbly developed. Each one has a uniqueness that draws you into their lives and sweeps you along the story line. In fact, I cannot even pick out a favorite character from the book as I loved each and every one of them. The book is set in the 1960's along Lake Erie and focuses on one city where the majority of the residents are connected to the Great Lakes maritime trade. With the combination of her wonderful characters and the beautifully written prose in the book, Ms. Valentine not only makes her love story compelling, but makes the world of these people come alive for the reader. Here are a couple of my favorite quotes:

"You can write down your dreams, make pictures of stars but that does not preserve the magic. Nothing captures those gorgeous glimmers of eternity. Yet love, like dreams and starlight, returns again and again in defiance of fears and foolishness" 

"Perhaps, I think, it is our longing, and our willingness to see beauty in the most humble of places, that makes us so irresistible to God. " 

I am now a steadfast fan of Ms. Valentine and look forward to reading more from her. If they are all as good as this one, I am certainly in for a treat.

A LITTLE MAGIC by VALERIE GILLEN

I was directed to this book a month or so ago by my reading group that interacts with various authors.  Valerie Gillen is a new author to me, so I was not sure what to expect from the book.  The premise of the story sounded interesting, so I thought I would give it a try.  I found this to be  a delightful read that I would target more for the middle school/YA crowd than adult reader.  The story line, characters and writing seemed perfect for that group, however, as an adult I still found the story engaging.  I liked the typical good vs. evil approach and felt interested in the characters, especially Siobhan and Alicia. It was a bit predictable in spots as I could definitely see where the story was headed, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of it. I think that this story could be fleshed out into a full fledged novel, and if handled correctly, even a good YA series. 

WISP by KEVIN R. MAZE

The subtitle of this book is "A Small Town Nightmare" and while the premise of the book would certainly be hard for any small town to deal with, I actually expected more of a nightmare quality.  If you are thinking that this book was a "Nightmare on Elm" street type of thrill ride, it is not.  What it is, though, is a captivating mystery thriller with a paranormal twist.  Things have been so quiet in Ellerton, Alabama for so long, that a spate of murders takes the small town Sheriff by surprise.  In his attempt to get to the bottom of things he is aided by his nephew, who just happens to be a reporter for a paranormal newspaper and in town for an interview.  In fact, the characters were the thing that I liked best about this book.  Maze fills his book with a number of characters that reek of small town personalities.  I was fascinated by the ease with which he gave these characters life and a presence.  The story line, though, left me a little disappointed.  Don't get me wrong.  It was a good story, and I will most likely read other books and stories by this author.  I did not dislike it.  I just expected something more.  There were mainly two things that didn't live up to my expectations in the story.  First, I felt Maze did not do an adequate job of describing the death scenes to really give this a horror bent.  Secondly, I kept waiting for certain elements of the story to tie together, but they never did.

All in all, I feel this is a good first effort by a new author, and will willingly read more by him.  In fact, I may like future books more as my expectations may be more realistic.

HEARTLESS by ALLAN LEVERONE

After reading a few of Allan Leverone's short stories and one of his books, I can say that he is a great new voice in suspense thrillers for me. In fact, I have mentioned to several of my friends that he can definitely hold his own with the likes of Stephen King or Edgar Allen Poe. I love the way that he develops both his characters and the story itself and things unfold. In both Heartlessand Darkness Falls, which I reviewed earlier, we think we know the characters and which way the story is going to develop, only to have the end remind us that things are never what they seem, at least not in suspense thrillers. In this story, the stunning twist at the end will make you sit up and say "WHAT!?"

Great job, Allan. Yet another success.

THE FIRST RULE OF TEN by GAY HENDRICKS AND TINKER LINDSAY

Tenzing Norbu, or Ten, is a dectective for the LAPD. Although he is commonly believed to be the rising star of the squad, Ten is tired of the LAPD. Then he is grazed by a bullet while answering a call. As he says, that is a wake up call. Ten quits and decided to become a PI and go out on his own. He quickly finds out that going it alone is no safer than being a detective for the LAPD. What follows is a classic mystery in the vein of those by such as Earl Stanley Gardner, Sue Grafton, or Micheal Connelly. Interestingly, Mr. Hendricks credits the same authors for inspiring him. If he was trying to emulate them, he was a success. As a pleasant surprise, Hendricks and Lindsay have given their main character a little twist to set him apart from the myriad of PIs out there in fiction land. Ten spent his formative years in a Tibetan monastery being raised by the monks, one of which is his father. This experience gives Ten a different way of looking at things, which he uses in his everyday life in various ways. In addition, though, Ten is not just a spiritual person, but very human and imperfect in addition. Following his thought patterns and actions was a thouroughly enjoyable experience as I read through this book. Add to Ten a cast of characters ranging from an ex-con techie sidekick to Tank the persian blue cat that shares Ten's life and you have a story that will draw you in and keep you turning the pages wanting to know how it all turns out. A wonderful first book by both Hendricks and Lindsay. I understand that it is the first in what is to be a series of books with Ten as the protagonist. I certainly hope so. I am looking forward to reading more about Ten and his cohorts.

THE HOLLOW HOUSE by JANIS PATTERSON

This book was a delightful mystery with a historical backdrop.  It reminded me quite a bit of a cross between a classic Gothic mystery and a game of Clue.  Like the game of clue the setting of the book is almost entirely restricted to the house.  Like the classic Gothic mystery there is a heroine who just happens to be hired to be a companion to an ailing lady, there are numerous family members who enter and exit the story, and there are the servants.  Plus a mysterious gentleman.  All of this adds up to a wonderful romp from Janis Patterson, who is a new author to me.  I found this story to be a wonderful escape with enough twists and innuendos to keep me interested in the outcome and enough classic heroes, heroines and villians to make the story enjoyable.  I am certainly looking forward to reading more from this author.

ISLAND OF WINGS by KARIN ALTENBERG

I have been a history buff since the dawn of time, or at least since I first read the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  I fell in love with being able to live life as others did, even if it was vicariously.  I picked this book because the New Hebrides Islands were an area that I had never explored before, which intrigued me.  I had read many books about and taking place in Scotland, but never anything in this particular area.   The first thing that amazed me about this book was the author's portarayal of the lives of the Islanders and how bleak it was.  The next amazing thing was that the Reverend McNeil and his wife were actaul historical characters, and not just fictional characters that the author used to describe the story.  The story of the lives of the Reverend and his wife was fascinating, as was the underlying history.  There were many characters that engendered both interest and sympathy.  In short, I was not disappointed in Karin Altenbergs portrayal of the lives of The Reverend McNeil and his wife, their time on the Island of St. Kilda, and the lives of the Islanders. As with a lot of the good historical fiction that I have read, this book has enticed me to read and learn more about the Reverend McNeil, the Island of St. Kilda, and the changes in the Church of Scotland that were occurring at this time.  In my mind there is no higher praise than that.  

THE TAKER by ALMA KATSU

When Lanny McIlvrae is admitted to the ER in the small town of St. Andrew, Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is intrigued. As she tells her story he becomes more and more involved. 

This is the debut novel by author Alma Katsu, and the beginning of the series or trilogy, I believe. I certainly hope so, as I think that Lanny still has a lot of story to tell, and Katsu has a lot of questions still to answer. There are so many things that I liked about this story, that I'm not sure what I liked the most. There were a number of fascinating characters throughout the book whose stories really drew me in. I found that as the book progressed, I was eagerly anticipating where the author was going to take me next. 

The synopsis for this books calls it "part historical novel, part supernatural page turer". While that is an apt description, I would say that it is part The Gargoyle, part The Historian, and part a story all it's own. All of which I would love to visit again and again.

FIVE DANCES WITH DEATH by AUSTIN BRIGGS

This book is the debut novel of a new series by author Austin Briggs, and if the title is any indication, I am expecting five books. I certainly hope that this is the case. Briggs crafts a beautifully written story centering around Wasp, the war lord of the Tlaxcalteca, a tribe of the Aztecs. This first book takes place as the various tribes of the Aztecs are warring with each other in the perennial fight for land and mastery within the Aztec nation. At the same time, the Spanish Conquistadors have just landed, which of course will complicate matters. 

I have had an ongoing love affair with the Native American cultures since I was in high school, including the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans of Mexico and South America. For my part, I think that Mr. Briggs captured both the mysticism and brutality inherent in the Aztec culture perfectly. He highlighted their belief in mysticism and use of hallucinogenic substances to further out of body experiences without making it seem too modern or 20th century. At the same time, he gave his characters personalities that allowed them to seem "modern" and not at all archaic. The perfect balance, in my opinion. 

Being the first book of the series, we were introduced to a lot of characters and ideas in this book that I am excited to see develop as the series progresses. In fact, my only complaint regarding this book was that the ending was rather sudden, definitely leaving me wanting more. I hope the second book comes out soon. 

PULLED by AMY LICHTENHAM

Although not my usual fare, this book grabbed me from page one and kept me going. Amy Lichtenhantells a poignant story that tugs at your heart strings. I was immediately engrossed in the lives of the main characters and their story of love and loss. Some might say that the story was too formulaic and the ending was predictable, and to some degree it was both of those things, but there was something about the story and the characters that made it easy to overlook what might otherwise be seen as shortcomings. I literally fell in love with Melanie and Daniel and actually think that they deserved the ending they were given. All throughout the book I found myself rooting for them. I think one of my friends who read it said that she thought it was aptly named as she felt "pulled" to read it. I heartily agree as there were times when I could not put it down. In fact, I finished it in two days. In one sitting I actually read 200 pages straight, it was that hard to put down. I will definitely be reading more by this author, for even though this is not my usual fare, I feel that Amy's contribution to this genre is a cut above the normal. 

KATHLEEN VALENTINE SHORTS

I just finished two short stories by Kathleen Valentine, who is fast becoming one of my favorite new authors.  These two particular short stories were bundled together on Smashwords and were perfect reads for the month of October.  The first story, Home Made Pie and Sausage, was a macabre tale that reminded me of the likes of Edgar Allen Poe at his quirky best.  It was deliciously horrible and the perfect Halloween read.  The second tale, Killing Julie Morris, was more of a classic mystery with a bit of a thriller bent.  I am glad that Kathleen bound these two stories together and offered them for the month of October as they were thoroughly enjoyable.

THE YIDDISH POLICEMEN'S UNION by MICHAEL CHABON

Although this is my first book by Michael Chabon, I have a couple of others to read and had heard a lot about him. Although I found this a pleasant read, I have to admit this book was not at all what I expected. I think that I expected somthing a little more cohesive, a little funnier, and full of some great wit and sarcasm. Instead I found a book that started very slowly and veered off course many times. For example, although the book began with the discovery of a murder, the author did not get to the meat of that story until about 200 pages into the book. In addition, that story was hidden among a lot of rambling, and sometimes confusing, discussion about the characters in the book. In my opinion, most of this discussion detracted from the actual story. Once the author actually got to the story of the murder investigation and the conspiracy surrounding it, I began to enjoy the story. It seemed though, that just as I was getting settled in, the authour would ramble off down another side track. In defense of the book, though, the characters were complex and unpredicatable, and the information on Jewish mysticism and culture was interesting. Overall, I felt the author's descriptions were colorful and engaging, and in that respect enjoyed his writing. There were a few gems in the book like when he referred to the Jewish in Alaska as "the Frozen Chosen", or his description of what it was like to sleep in a bed with a two and a four year old, or how a huge person could hurdle a tall fence. All in all, I felt it was an enjoyable read, but it just didn't quite live up to my expectations.

HER SISTER'S SHADOW by KATHARINE BRITTON

I recently finished this aptly named debut novel by new author Katharine Britton. The main premise of the book is a story of sibling rivalry between two sisters. The younger one, Lilli, has always felt that she was living int he shadow of her eldest sister, Bea, who she viewed as perfect, a goal she herself could never attain. As in many books of this type, though, Bea is not as perfect as she seems, and she certainly doesn't see herself this way. As the story unfolds, you find a wonderful story about families and the complex relationships between sisters. What sets this story apart from the usual "sister" stories are the wonderfully complex characters that Britton brings to life and the wonderful surprises that she encompasses in her story line. From the beginning I wondered exactly what the deal was betweeen Lilli and Bea, and how the other sisters fit in. I loved the way that the author let these relationships unfold, and let you get to know the characters, from the sisters to the quirky mother, to Russell, the boy next door. From the beginning of the story I was entertained, engrossed, and in the end, surprised with the story that Britton has crafted in this book.

DARKNESS FALLS by ALLEN LEVERONE

I have found a new favorite author for the thriller/horror genre.    Seriously, if you are a fan of mystery/thrillers, or horror, you have to read this author.  


Allan Leverone is a master storyteller in the tradition of many of the greats. I'm not sure if you would class Darkness Falls as a short story or a novella, as it is just over 50 pages long (e-book format). What I do know is that all 50+ of those pages tell an unforgettably creepy story. What starts out as a simple trip home to spend some time getting his life back on track, turns into a nightmare for Tyler Beckman. Once again, Allan Leverone scores with his combination of twisted story line and truly interesting characters. As in The Lonely Mile, he splits his characters between those that are normal and safe, and those that will haunt your dreams. And, as good as the entire story is, in my opinion the best part of Darkness Falls is the ending. All I will say, is that it looks like we have a new voice in the tradition of Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King on our hands. I can't wait for his next endeavor.

THE SKIN MAP & THE BONE HOUSE (books 1 & 2 of THE BRIGHT EMPIRE SERIES) by STEPHEN R. LAWHEAD

The Skin Map
I recently received an electronic copy of The Bone House by Stephen R. Lawhead. I have Mr. Lawhead's quartet on the Arthurian Legend and enjoy his writing. I found though, that The Bone House was the second book in his Bright Empires series and decided to start with the first book, The Skin Map. It appeared that the series was going to be mostly based on time travel, with maybe a historical fiction bent. What I found instead, was an intriguing fantasy story where the characters travel, not through linear time, but to alternate times in alternate worlds, each with their own reality. These realities may be the same as those of the "home world", as our world is called, or they may be different. The concept was intriguing enough to get me to continue with both the book and the series.

In this, the first of the series, the author spends a lot of time introducing and developing his characters, as well as the impetus of the story, which is a series of quests. As such, there is a lot of explaining the reason for the quest, the development of the characters and their stories, and the actual way that the ley travel used by the characters works. At times it may seem that the author is spending more time explaining and less time story telling, but stick with it. It is eminently worth it in the end.

I went from this book directly into the second book, The Bone House, and as I expected, the characters continue to grow and the story becomes more developed.  


The Bone House


The Bone House is the second book in Stephen Lawhead's Bright Empires series. The characters in this series travel through reality landing in other worlds and other times in their quest for The Skin Map (the title of the first book in the series) and the ultimate prize that it will reveal. If you think this books sounds like just another one of the many time travel books that are the current rage, it is not. In fact, the characters will tell you time and again that they are not merely traveling through linear time, but jumping to alternate worlds where the reality may or may not be the same as in our world. It is an interesting and intriguing proposition that the author is only beginning to reveal the effects of in this book.

If you have read the first book in this series, and I strongly suggest that you do, you will find many familiar characters here. You will also be introduced to some new players in the quest for the map and its ultimate prize. As the familiar characters continue their quest, we learn more about them, their lives, and their motives. The mix of familiar and new in the characters of the book was something that I felt kept the story fresh as well as building on the base that Lawhead had laid down in the first book of the series.

What I liked the most about this book is that it is not your typical epic fantasy adventure. Would I classify it as fantasy? Yes. But more than just fantasy, the Bright Empires series is an exploration by author Stephen Lawhead of human exisitence. Of where we come from and where we are going. What it isn't is non stop adventure. Don't get me wrong...there are sections where the characters find themselves in hot water and you find yourself turning the pages to see how, or if, they manage to get out of the situations they find themselves in. What I liked more, though, was the beautiful stories within the story. The stories of the individual characters. What motivates them and makes them who they are. I also like the brief glimpses of other times and places throughout history. How the people in those times and places might have thought and felt, and how the interactions of people from various realities may alter reality in all places.

In short, this book is a beautifully developed story of the human race in general, and the cast of characters in specific. While it may not make my top ten list of all time for fantasy books, it is an extremely enjoyable romp through time. I am now axiously awaiting book three which is scheduled for Sept. 2012.

THE MILL RIVER RECLUSE by DARCIE CHAN

When I read the synopsis of this book I was expecting the normal, run of the mill contemporary fiction book. In fact, what Ms. Chan has given us in her first outing as an author is more than that. She has a wonderfully descriptive writing style that is easy to read. Her descriptions of living with Social Anxiety Disorder, everyday life in a small Vermont town, and the landscape of Vermont are spot on.

The characters in the book are wonderfully developed. Most of them are flawed in some way. As Mary (the main protagonist) likes to say, "no one is perfect". It is these imperfections that Ms. Chan gives her characters, even the most subsidiary ones, that make them endearing. From early on, I felt that I was catching up with old familiar friends.

The combination of her descriptive writing and the development of wonderful characters makes this book a delightful read. I enjoyed it quite a bit and really hope that Ms. Chan will write more novels.

The bad news is that currently the book is only available as an e-book on Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble (not sure if it is other places as well). The good news is as such it is only .99, which is a real bargain for a book this good. I have no doubt as word gets around, though, that someone will want to publish it in print format.

THE LONELY MILE by ALLAN LEVERONE (If you like thrillers, you have to read this one.)

I have been trying to get to this novel for a number of weeks, ever since I downloaded it the end of July. My anticipation increased as more of my friends read the book and raved about it. When I finally got a chance to read it, I was not disappointed. This novel by Allan Leverone gripped me from the first page and held my interest all the way to the end. Serial kidnapper Martin Krall is the type of character that can really make a thriller. A total psychopath that is at times cruel and twisted, and at other times creepily pathetic. Throw in the other wonderful characters that populate this story and you become invested in their lives quite quickly. Who would't feel empathy for a man who, in trying to do what he thinks is right, ends up bringing hell into his family life. Or his daughter who, through no action of her own, is faced with every young woman's nightmare. The characters are compelling and vibrant. The story line, like all good thrillers, runs a mile a minute with twists and turns. From the beginning you have the feeling that something just isn't quite right, and as the story progresses, you get glimpses of things that only make those feelings stronger, until you get to the stunning conclusion of the book. What you end up with in the end is a real page turner with wonderfully drawn out characters and a story line that will keep you guessing. I guarantee that you will be on the edge of your chair through out this one, and you won't be able to put it down.

THE QUEEN'S PAWN by CHRISTY ENGLISH

Historical Fiction is probably my favorite genre. In addition, I love to read anything that has to do with royalty, fiction or non fiction. So a book with Eleanor of Acquitane, Henry II, Richard Lionheart, and Alais of France was right up me alley. Although Christy English was a new author to me, I expected the subject matter to be old and familiar. It was, but at the same time Ms. English was able to bring new life to an old friend. This was not just another story about Eleanor, but the story of Alais of France, a young girl who was sent from her home at an early age to live in Eleanor's court.

I have to state at the beginning, that while I expect historical fiction to be based in facts, for me it is really about the story. I get my factual data from non-fiction biographies and histories, and look to my historical fiction to draw me in with the story of the characters and times. This book certainly filled that criteria. I loved the story of Alais and how she grew from a timid little girl into a strong woman. Do I think that this story represents that total truth? No. Did I enjoy the story as it was told? Definitely. The women, both Eleanor and Alais, were strong characters. In addition, I loved the way the author made both Richard and Henry a bit vulnerable, even though, in the end, Henry stayed true to his ruthless character. Like a lot of the historical fiction that I love, this story made me want to read more about the Eleanor, Alais, Henry II, and Richard Lionheart.

Another kudo goes to the author for acknowledging and explaining her use of artistic license in telling the story contained in her book. I always read Author's Notes and Acknowledgments and was pleased to see Ms. English discuss the actual chronology or her divergences from them in her notes.

Bottom line, Ms. English is a great story teller. Her characters were well developed, the story line was interesting and compelling, and she gave the story a bit of a different focus, which made it fun to read. I am looking forward to reading her newest book about Eleanor in the near future.

claire-obscure by BILLIE HINTON

When I read the synopsis of this book, I was expecting to read the typical mystery/thriller. Girl meets boys, boy is a murderer, girl and friends have to solve the murder. Boy was I wrong. This book is nothing ordinary. It is the very complex story of a very complex cast of characters. Sometimes I loved them, sometimes I hated them, sometimes I was just disappointed in them. But always I was intrigued by them.

I could tell right away that this book was going to be a dark one. At the halfway point, I really had no idea how I was going to feel about the story in the end. At one point, I even contemplated whether I should finish it, but I couldn't turn away. It was like watching a train that is on the wrong track. You know it is going to wreck, you don't want to see it, but you can't turn away. The only thing that I will say, though, is that I couldn't read this book straight through. I had to read some each day, but read other things along with it.

This is the first book by Billie Hinton that I have read, but I will certainly be reading more. She really knows how to tell a story that keeps you involved. I loved her edgy descriptions, use of symbolism, and the complexity of the characters. I find that I HAVE to know what happens to these characters and hope to read the sequel to this one soon.

Kudos, Ms. Hinton. A very complex, very dark story!

FREE NOOKBOOK The Rich Man by Miroslay Halas

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rich-man-miroslav-halas/1105441171?ean=2940011490514&itm=19&usri=the%2brich%2bman

Genre: Flash Fiction

Who is the Rich Man?  He is a man who listens with an open heart. Included in this book are 10 stories from people that highlight the vagaries of today's society, such as lonliness, depression, etc.  Each story is ended with a thought provoking question from the author.

BEYOND THE GARDEN GATE by SAMANTHA WEILER (a short story)

I really enjoyed this short story by new author Samantha Weiler. The story was well written and interesting. I think the idea could be expanded to a great novel. In fact, at only 7 pages long,  I was just getting into the story when it ended. My only complaint was that it was too short! 


Samantha was the Summer Submission Contest Winner for Trestle Press.  I think she has great potential as a writer.  Please write more, Samantha!

THE WITCHES OF EAST END by MELISSA DE LA CRUZ

I finished this one on Tuesday. First, I have to say books about witches and magic in modern times really suck me in. I love them. This one was no different. The prologue intrigued me and got me interested right away. After the first 50 pages or so, though, I was afraid this was going to be more a paranormal romance book than urban fantasy, so I was a little apprehensive. I shouldn't have worried, though. The book was neither paranormal romance, nor your typical urban fantasy.

As for the characters, I think the three witches were my favorite characters, but I also really liked Hudson, Ingrid's friend at the library. In fact, my only complaint with the characters is that, other than the 5 really major characters, you really don't get to know any of the others that well. Some of the minor characters seemed like they would have interesting stories in and of themselves and I was a bit disappointed not to get to read more about them. I am hoping that changes in future books, as I am sure this is going to be the beginning of a series.

The story itself is not at all what I expected from the beginning of the book. There is a lot of Norse mythology contained in the story, which I really liked, and there are a couple of plot twists that I did not see coming. I really enjoyed those parts. In fact, I now want to read some Norse mythology to get some background on the information in this book. Any book that makes me want to read more about the subject gets high marks from me.

As for the ending, the epilogue makes it very likely that the author is setting things up for another book, so I figure this is going to be the first in a series. I am definitely looking forward to the next one.

BREAKING THE SILENCE by DIANE CHAMBERLAIN

I have heard about Diane Chamberlain for quite a while, but this is the first actual book that I have read by this author. I am not sure what I was expecting, but what I got was an amazing read from an author that I cannot wait to read more from.

This book is actually two stories. The first is the story of Laura Brandon. At the beginning of the book Laura's father has just died and her husband commits suicide. As a result, her 5 year old daughter Emma quits speaking. Laura's story centers mostly around her resolve to help Emma get over the pain and trauma of the two deaths that come so close together. It is the story of a mother's love for her child, confusion over exactly how to help her, and the resulting feeling of hopelessness for not being able to "make it all better". Ms. Chamberlain crafts a good story in this regard that will have you hoping for Emma and Laura to get their lives back on track.

The real story in the book, though, is the story of Sarah Tolley, a woman in her 70s who is suffering from Alzheimers. Laura promises her dying father that she will visit Sarah. A woman that she has never heard of before her father tells her his dying wish. Through Laura's visits to Sarah we begin to find out about Sarah's life story, and it is definitely a fascinating one. As the stories progress, we find out that all is not what it seems, until the final clue is revealed in the end.

I loved Sarah's story. I found it compelling and at times I actually wanted to skip the Laura and Emma parts and just get back to Sarah. As Sarah revealed more and more about her life, I found myself trying hard to guess where her story was leading, which is a real plus in my book. The more the story engages me, the more I want to know about the characters, the more I enjoy. And Sarah was definitely someone I wanted to read more about. Not that Laura's story wasn't good. It was definitely engaging also. And as the book continued, both stories really got me involved.

The best part of the book, I have to say, was the ending. The way that the author tied all the elements in the stories together to bring us to her conclusion was fascinating. In addition, she took the story in a direction that I never anticipated. In fact, at one point, certain elements of the story were revealed, and I actually pumped my fist and shouted, "Yes", much to the laughter of my son. Ms. Chamberlain is definitely a master at crafting a story and knows how to keep readers interested and engaged. I have several other books by her on my list and am anxiously awaiting a chance to read them.

TRUE GRIT by CHARLES PORTIS

As a younger adult, I loved the John Wayne classic version of True Grit. When I saw they were making a new version, I decided to watch the old, then see the new. The result was two very different movies, which then spurred me on to read the book. My quest was to see which movie more closely followed the original book version. So..I ordered it from the library and sat back to wait my turn.

The book version of this classic tale reads almost like a movie script. By that I mean that it consists mostly of either dialog, or of descriptions as told through the eyes of the female protagonist, Mattie Ross. Mattie is the thirteen year old daughter of an Arkansas rancher who is murdered when he goes to town to buy horses. Since she is the oldest child, and her father's right hand person, she is sent to Fort Smith to claim his body, but decided to stay on and avenge his murder. The result is an action story about three people chasing down a criminal in Oklahoma Indian Territory. Since the book is told through Mattie's voice, it is less of an adventure story and more of a character study of the people involved. Mattie Ross is a self assured, older than her years, head strong girl. She teams up with Marshall Rooster Cogburn, an almost washed up, grizzled U.S. Marshall who likes to shoot first and ask questions later. The third major character in the story is LeBeouf, a by the book Texas Ranger who is long on attitude and ego and just happens to be chasing the same criminal that Mattie is after.

The resulting story is an interesting read and a good story. Both movies stick pretty close to the book in both plot and dialog, with the newer version being a little more true to the details. As a result, if you have seen either movie, there is really nothing new to learn by reading the book. In fact, I really enjoyed the movies more than the book in this instance. 

DREAMS OF JOY by LISA SEE

This book was highly anticipated by me as I fell in love with Lisa See several years ago when I read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Since then I have collected all of her books, and though I have yet to read some of them, I have loved all of the ones that I have read. The most recent one to be read wasShanghai Girls, in which Joy, the main character in this book, is also present. I loved the story of Pearl and May and was anxious to read more.

This book did not disappoint. As always, this book was filled with Lisa See's wonderful prose, great characters, and amazing stories. I was captivated by the lives of the characters. I also really love the amount of research and knowledge that Ms. See puts into her books. With Snow Flower it was her detailed descriptions of the foot binding process that drew my attention. With Shanghai Girls it was the development of Chinatown in LA. With this book it is her detailed descriptions of life under Mao Tse Tung and the disconnect between the life of the Chinese authorities and that of the average Chinese citizen, especially during the Great Famine. She really made Communist China come alive for me.

This book was definitely hard to put down, from the beginning to its thrilling ending. I can't wait to see what Ms. See comes up with next, but in the meantime I will be catching up on other books by her that I have yet to read. She is a major talent in Asian literature, up there with the likes of Amy Tan and Gail Tsukiyama. 

EVENFALL by LIZ MICHALSKI

Liz Michalski is a new author for me, and contemporary romance books are not exactly my forte, but this one caught me from the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire story. There were several things that I thought were excellent about this book, and a few that I found disappointing. I enjoyed the characters of Andie, Cort, Gert and Frank. In fact, from the description of the book, I expected Frank to play a bigger role and was kind of disappointed that he wasn't more prevalent. In fact, my favorite parts of the book were the parts that dealt with the story of Frank and Gert and their short circuited romance. It was a typical story of love and loss, underscoring the adage that you only live once....there are no do overs. I felt that their story was much more compelling than what was happening in the current time. Luckily for me, most of the book dealt with that story and the effect that their relationship had on everyone over the years.

I have to say, though, that I did not particularly like the ending. Not because it was not well written, or didn't fit the story, but just because I wanted it to end differently in a few areas.

All in all it was a great story that kept me interested all the way through, but with a slightly disappointing ending.

ALTOGETHER DEAD by CHARLAINE HARRIS

I really enjoy these books for several reasons. I like Sookie, the ultimate "social outcast" and the world that she has found a way to fit into. Ms. Harris does a wonderful job of developing the secondary characters, and she always has some new ones to spring on the reader in each book. In addition, she is really good at divulging a little more about the supernatural world with each book. To me, if you want to keep your readers engaged, that is essential for a long series. My standard for this type of series is The Dresden File series byJim Butcher, and this one hold up to that one pretty well. 

In the seventh book of the series, we find Sookie up to her eyeballs in the land of the Supes again as she is off to Illinois to participate in a conference of the top vampires in the country. While there she gets to meet up with Barry Bellhop, the only other telepath she has met, again as well as spending time with her new main squeeze, who happens to be a weretiger. In addition, all the other players that we have grown to love are once again present. As usual, nothing that involves Sookie goes smoothly, and what is supposed to be an easy job to allow her an economic "cushion" turn bad and Sookie is faced with trying to set things right. And the end of this one definitely leaves you wondering and wanting more. 

Although these books are somewhat formulaic, the situations are varied enough, and the characters endearing enough, that one keeps reading to see what happens to everyone next. Reading the next book in the series is much like catching up with some old friends that you haven't seen for a while.

COLOR ME GREY by J C PHELPS

This book was billed as a romantic suspense book, although the synopsis made it sound more like a political thriller. As a result, I was not sure what to expect. What I found as I read it was a good thriller with an interesting story line. The main character, Alex Stanton, is a rich girl who has never been able to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. I found her to be spoiled and shallow at first, but once she got a job with a company of private mercenaries and became involved in the business her character became much more palatable. In fact, most of the characters in this book seemed to take a long time to get off the ground. I can only assume that this is due to the fact that this is the first book in a series and as such, the author didn't want to reveal too much about her characters. That she wanted to leave something for future books. The same might be said for the romance usually present in a romantic suspense book. In fact, the romance in this book was all verbal, with no real romance present at all. Again, this must be something that the author intends to develop in future installments. To me this is risky, as there was not really anything in the first book to invest you in the characters and entice you to continue on in the series. 

The best thing about this book was the plot line of the story, which I felt was good, but nothing spectacular. Usually my main criteria for a suspense book revolves around how easy the twists in the story line are to figure out. In this case, I saw them coming a mile away. 

Although I enjoyed this book, I am actually on the fence as to whether I will continue with the series. I may give the second book a chance and see how it goes. If the author doesn't develop the characters and romance any more in the second book, I will be out.

MIDNIGHT FEAR by LESLIE TENTLER

I read the first book by this debut author just last month, and really enjoyed it. Therefore, when I got the chance to read this one I jumped at it. I was anticipating another good mystery along the lines of the first book in the series. What I got, however, was an even better book than Midnight Caller. In the time that has passed between the writing of her first book and this one, the author has certainly honed her craft. This second book of the series had a more exciting story line with a myriad of possibilities for the antagonist, leaving the plot twists harder to figure out. Once the antagonist was finally revealed, I found myself cheering that I had guessed correctly, a sure sign that I was involved in the story.  


In addition, the characters seemed to have more personality making it even easier to get invested in their stories. The heroine, Caitlyn, had the perfect mixture of softness and backbone and her hero, Reid was the perfect strong but vulnerable leading man.  There were also a number of well developed secondary characters who played interesting roles throughout the book.  All in all, I had a really hard time putting this book down once I started to read it. I wanted the world to go away and just keep reading.  I think I may even have snapped at a few of my family members when they interrupted my reading time. 


If I really enjoyed the author's first book, I LOVED this one. I can't wait for the next installment from this author and hope that she writes many more books similar to her first two, and this one in particular.

PRELUDES & NOCTURNES by NEIL GAIMAN

I just finished my first graphic novel, Preludes and Nocturnes. It is the first volume in the Sandman series by Neil Gaiman. There are several reasons why I decided to try this book. One of my groups is doing a seasonal challenge where we are asked to read books outside of our normal genres. One of the genres I chose was graphic novels, and since the last few books I have read were not that good, I thought a short one would help get me back into reading. Finally, I have a friend who LOVES graphic novels and she recommended this series as one of the best. Since I like Neil Gaiman's books, I thought I would give it a chance. 

The reason that I don't usually read graphic novels is because, for some reason, I find the "comic book" style format very hard to read. That still held true for this book, especially since the page flow was not consistent from page to page. At times the pages were configured in columns, some of them in rows, and still others in more creative formats. To me, that interferes with the flow of the story. 

Another interesting aspect of this book was the different fonts used for each character. At first that took some getting used to, just like the page formats, but in the end, I actually liked this. The separate fonts seemed to give each character their own voice. 

Negating the above, though, my difficulty with the format was more than overcome by the story. The beginning novel deals with the story of Dream and how he is trying to rebuild his life after being held captive for decades. I found the references to old comic book heroes, mythology and religion, and magic really helped the story develop. In addition, the characters were interesting, and just enough was revealed about them to leave you wanting more. One of the most fun things, too, was the inclusion of all of the Dream/Sandman themed songs from through out the years. What does it say about me that I was familiar with most of them? 

All in all, I am putting this one in the win column, and plan to continue the series and see how the story develops.

BEAUFORT 1849: A NOVEL ABOUT THE ANTEBELLUM SOUTH by KAREN LYNN ALLEN

I am one of those people who really like historical fiction. I love reading books that transport me to another place and time and allow me to see the world through the eyes of the people who lived before me. My love affair began when I read the Little House on the Prarie books as a child, and was solidified in high school when I read James A. Michener's Hawaii. I have to disclose, though, that the period of history that I have read the least about is probably the Antebellum South. That is the time period for this book whose main character, Jasper Wainwright, finds himself back in his hometown of Beaufort, South Carolina in 1849 after traveling the world. From the synopsis of the book, the main story line is supposed to revolve around the fact that Jasper is falling in love with his cousin Cara, but that he has no love for the South and it's policy of slavery. 

I may be the only one, but I had a really hard time getting through this book. It sat on my shelf for days while I only read a few pages at a time. Partially this was due to the fact that I kept comparing it to other books about the South and slavery that I have recently read, namely Kindred by Octavia E. Butler and Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill, both of which had fascinating characters and a rich story lines. In comparison, I found this book lacking. To me, the author could have done a lot more with both the subject matter, and the main characters of Henry Birch, Cara Randall, and Jasper Wainwright. 

For example, in the publisher's blurb about the book it says "As cries for secession grow louder, Jasper works desperately to convince Beaufort planters that gradual emancipation and transition to a wage-based economy could avert the coming storm of war." Yet I found Jasper's attempts in this arena to be too short and too easily abandoned. I also found his inability to figure out that Cara's alter ego was being the writer of the anonymous letters to the Charleston Courier was unbelievable. Even I figured it out early on. In addition, I would have liked Henry Birch more if he wasn't such a perfect slave owner. I found his character unrealistic. Lastly, Beaufort is purported to be " the most hotheaded, secessionist city in the South" yet when neither party is injured in a duel between Jasper and another of Cara's suitors, the two men just shake hands and walk away. Really?? Does't seem to fit the "hot headed" category to me. 

I was fascinated, though, by the references to Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre and the way the women of Beaufort reacted to them. I also would have liked to have seen more of Cara's maid Minnie and Spit Jim, who seemed to be much more interesting than any of the other characters. But perhaps the most interesting thing in the whole book to me was the author's note about how the people of Beaufort abandoned the city in a very Pompeii like fashion when the war with the North started, and how the North used the town as a headquarter during the war. This fact is even alluded to in the synopsis of the book, but is never brought into the story. 

I know some have compared this book to Gone With the Wind. I would say that it is Gone With the Wind with all of the good parts and characters removed. To me, this book just did not deliver.

MIDNIGHT CALLER by LESLIE TENTLER

This romantic suspense novel is the debut book from new author Leslie Tentler.  Late night talk show hose Rain Summers is the daughter of a murdered singer from New Orleans who is credited with being goth before goth was a trend.   Special Agent Trevor Rivette is a native of New Orleans who left in his team and has spent the ensuing years trying to forget his childhood.  Now he is back and dealing with a case that involves Rain, but may also be personal.  As the case progresses, he finds that trying to protect Rain and identify his unsub may be more than he can handle on many levels.

Although I have read many romantic suspense novels throughout the years, it is not the genre that I read the most.  In fact, I think most of the books that I have read in this genre were probably written by Nora Roberts.  This one had an interesting plot line that kept me involved.  In addition, the characters of Rain and Trevor were quite interesting, and their personal stories were enticing.  I really enjoyed the mystery story line and although I figured out who the killer was before it was revealed, there were enough possible suspects to keep me guessing through a lot of the book.   Unfortunately, the  romance story line was a bit predictable, and the very end of the book fell a little flat for me.

All in all a good read from a new author, which I enjoyed enough to look forward to her next effort.

THE SECOND DUCHESS by ELIZABETH LOUPAS

Let me just say, Historical Fiction is perhaps my favorite genre of all, especially historical fiction about Royalty. I have been in love with it ever since I read Jean Plaidy back in the 70s (when not many people were writing HF about Royalty at all). As a result, I was really excited to get my hands on a copy of this book. I love finding new authors in this genre and have found several lately that are really good. Elizabeth Loupas certainly falls into that category. 

In The Second Duchess she tells the story of Barbara of Austria, the second wife of Alfonso d'Este, the 5th Duke of Ferrara. Barbara knows that she is not pretty, like his first wife, Lucrezia de Medici. She also knows that as a princess of Austria, she has no real choices in her marriage or her life, so she has decided to make the best of her marriage, whatever happens. Once she arrives in Ferrara, she quickly becomes embroiled in the mystery surrounding the death of the Duke's first wife, who rumors say was murdered by the Duke. 

There are several things that I liked about this book. For one, the book is told in the first person, alternating between the voice of Barbara and the voice of the dead Lucrezia. Although this can be problematic in some stories, Loupas does a great job with it. In this case, the use of the two voices only enhances the mystery and keeps you turning pages. I also liked the fact that the story presented in the book is not one of the main stream stories that have been done many times. Loupas' choice to pick one of the Italian Royal families that have had less exposure, and on top of that, a story that has not been overdone, is a really smart move in my opinion. Finally, Loupas does a wonderful job in creating characters that a reader can identify with, while still keeping them true to 16th century Italy. 

To my friends who love historical fiction, this books is a must read. I highly recommend it and am eagerly awaiting what Ms. Loupas comes up with next