The Book Resort Reviews

Review: City of Ashes ~ Cassandra Clare

2010-04-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

Title: City of Ashes

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy

Copyright: March 2008

Pages: 496

Source: Publisher

Series: Mortal Instruments Series, #2

ISBN-13: 9781416914297

ISBN: 1416914293

Rating:

Synopsis:

Welcome back to the exotic world beyond the shadows...

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace.How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

Review:

Whoa, baby! City of Ashes is a breathtaking sequel, to Clare's 2008 epic debut, City of Bones! City of Ashes is a powerfully written adventure that holds on to your senses & fails to let go. This is 3D reading come to life in the form of the written word. Whew!

The action in City of Ashes is much more foreboding & the momentum is unrelenting, Clare delved deeper into her writer's arsenal to produce this phenomenal follow up. Ms. Clare's got skills and this definitely proves her debut wasn't a "fluke.

City of Ashes proves w/o a shadow of a doubt, Clare didn't succumb to the dreaded "sophomore slump" so many writer's often end up tangled in. *Applause* Applause*

Clare's well developed characters are a smooth blend of ruthless, vibrant, manipulative and courageous beings. Blockbuster proportions enfolded inside 496 pages of tantalizing goodness is what City of Ashes transmits.

I have to say, that there is a revelation to the series that totally grosses me out but for some reason, I think there is much more to this divulgement than what was disclosed.

City of Ashes launches the story arc into the stratosphere with the second installment of Clare's Mortal Instrument saga.

Check out Clare's fabulous website here!

♥ & Respect Books ~ read often & help others to do the same =9.

2009-2010 © The Book Resort ~ All rights Reserved Worldwide

Review: Guilt by Association ~ Susan R. Sloan

2010-04-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Guilt by Association
Author: Susan R. Sloan
Pages: 544pp
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Release Date: January 1996
ISBN-13: 9780446603065
ISBN: 0446603066
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: My Personal
Rating:

Synopsis:

From Barnes & Noble

In 1962, when Karen Dern was raped by a young man from a wealthy, powerful family, no one believed her. Now, 30 years later that same man is about to become America's next president...unless Karen can find some way to get her story heard.

Review:

Sloan's powerfully scribbled debut is a compelling story that left me paralyzed w/ fear, filled w/ rage & empowered!

Sloan knows how to write dynamic novels. It is still one of my wishes, for Sloan to once again grab her laptop to share her gift w/ the world. It has been far too long since Sloan released a new page-turner.

Guilt by Association is a POWERFUL read. In 1962, Karen, an innocent, intelligent, beautiful collegian is barbarously assaulted in New York's City's Central Park by a Harvard Law student she has just met @ a Christmas party.

Sloan skillfully juxtaposes Karen's disturbed evolvement during the years w/ her professional triumphs & a candid peak behind-the-scenes of California political aspirant Robert Willmont, Karen's vile rapist.

Sloan's characters are inimitable & well developed. The supporting players have their own riveting voice.

Guilt by Association is absorbing from the beginning & remains tight as it winds to an enthralling finale.

♥ & Respect Books ~ read often & help others to do the same =9.

2009-2010 © The Book Resort ~ All rights Reserved Worldwide

Review: Between Husbands & Friends ~ Nancy Thayer

2010-04-11T17:58:00.001-04:00

Title: Between Husbands & Friends
Author: Nancy Thayer
Pages: 320pp
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN-13: 9780312974220
ISBN: 0312974221
Release Date: January 2001
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: My Personal Library
Rating:

Synopsis:

Lucy met Kate when they were both young wives and mothers. In the years since, the two women and their husbands and children have become inseparable, spending every August together in a house on Nantucket. Lucy and Kate, each other's most trusted confidantes, have shared their secrets, from the mundane to the shocking--but there's one explosive secret that Lucy has kept to herself.As August once again approaches, Lucy must confront the truth she has kept hidden all these years. Now, in the midst of an unexpected family crisis, she must make a decision that could shatter all of their lives.

Review:

This was my first Nancy Thayer read. I loved the setting. It was the setting, Nantucket, that piqued my interest because the plot seemed to be a bit too "been there, done that" for me. What can I say, I am a book snob (let's not even wonder if it spills over into my personal life... my blog is a reflection of me in many ways... ;p). LOL!

Lucy & Kate BFF... The drama free friend & the one bringing all the drama...

You know, the difference between day & night type friend? Yet it just works... similar yet different but it all connects. Yep, that's the relationship between Lucy & Kate.

It took me a bit longer to warm up to Lucy, but Kate was a slam dunk! Lucy & Kate were inseparable. They were more than friends -- more like sisters from the heart. They shared secrets, blended their families and every August spent their time on Nantucket.

Thayer did an incredible job of weaving together the tapestries of their lives. Thayer's noteworthy narrative vacillates between the couples' present & their linked past is impressive.

Between Husbands and Friends is a poignant work of fiction that not only touches but nests inside your heart.

LQQking for a gripping read for the beach -- Thayer penned the one to read while slathered in SPF as the waves roll in & out. Between Husbands and Friends is a tale loaded with deceit, secrets, loyalty and the true bond of friendship.

Check out Nancy here!

♥ & Respect Books ~ read often & help others to do the same =9.

2009-2010 © The Book Resort ~ All rights Reserved Worldwide

Review: Under the Boardwalk ~ Carly Phillips

2010-03-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Under the Boardwalk

Author: Carly Phillips

Series: Costas Sisters Series, #1

ISBN-13: 9780446615808

ISBN: 0446615803

Pages: 304

Release Date: July 2005

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Genre: Romance

Source: My Personal Library

Music playing: Feels Like Tonight ~ Daughtry

Rating:

Synopsis:

Ariana Costas may be a college professor in Vermont, but she's still a Jersey girl at heart-at least according to her lovable, eccentric Greek family. Then her twin sister, Zoe disappears
and her Jersey roots tug hard. Soon Ari is back home, ducking bullets and, to her chagrin, getting rescued by a hunk in a black leather jacket. Detective Quinn Donovan takes one look at the windblown beauty-and then looks again. If this lady isn't Zoe Costas, it's someone who looks exactly like her. Suddenly, Ari's in trouble deeper than the Atlantic at high tide, and Quinn is trying to protect her without spilling his well-guarded secrets ... as déja vu just might become the love affair of a lifetime.

Review:

Fun! What a quirky cast of characters. I laughed so much my sides ached. Phillips definitely knows how to blend humor, hi jinks & searing heat into 304 pages.

Brava, Ms. Phillips for bringing on the smoldering sexual intensity. Whoa, baby!

Under the Boardwalk weaves together a tapestry that is rich w/ lovable, eccentric & vibrant characters. The action is endless & the plot fast-paced.

I loved Ari & Quinn. Spicy... spicy now! Oh, I'm sorry, Quinn came to mind ;p. Whew! Is it hot in here?! It is 29 in NY so... it's gotta be Quinn :9. Thank you, Ms. Phillips, for bringing the sizzle!

Let me say, just because Ari hails from 'Jersey doesn't mean she is a generic version of Plum. Nope, she is definitely a vivacious character who is no one's second banana! I'm not into the Plum series but have read enough to say nahhh!

Under the Boardwalk is a charming, hilarious adventure not to be missed.

With the warmer weather approaching, Under the Boardwalk is definitely one to be added to your summer beach reading list (if you can hold off) :).

Check out Carly's website here!

Winter Escapes Widget

2010-02-22T16:28:00.001-05:00

Review: When Dreams Bleed ~ Robin Cain

2010-02-10T03:58:00.001-05:00

Title: When Dreams Bleed
Author: Robin Cain
Pages: 366
ISBN-13: 978-0984289806
ISBN: 0984289801
Release Date: December 2, 2009
Publisher: Empty Nest Publications
Genre: Mystery w/ a twist of Romantic Suspense
Source: Robin Cain
Music playing: Billie Jean ~ Michael Jackson
Rating:

Synopsis:

He’s amassed money, success, and is now accumulating women, but someone out there thinks he’s gone too far.

Who is seeking revenge and why? His wife? His mistress? Or the shadow who’s been following his every move?

Just when he thinks he has anticipated his opponent’s next move a tragic car accident leaves him paralyzed, his life’s work is being stolen and his wife has disappeared. Just how far will someone go to teach him the correlation between deception and despair?

Review:

First I want to start off this review by saying I read this incredible page turner three times. Yes, three! Why did I read the prolific Cain's knockout debut (Hmmm... not certain I buy this is a debut from the taut, well delivered suspense de force, but it is Ms. Cain's first novel ~ or so she claims. Who am I to say. I mean, it's her story & she's sticking to it! Psst!I still think she is a literary grand dame using a pseudonym. LOL!).

When Dreams Bleed definitely showcases that Cain is a star rocketing the stratosphere.

Cain pulls you in & leaves you holding your breath from the first page. When Dreams Bleed is a well-crafted novel that doesn't need to go for over the top histrionics to weave an intriguing tale. Cain's innovatory thriller builds to a spine-tingling crescendo w/o losing rhythm.

I was mesmerized by Cain's savvy storytelling abilities. In a word: imaginative.

When Dreams Bleed is definitely going to place Cain high on the rank of novelists who create riveting mysteries. Cain's characters are intriguing, authentic three dimensional beings that explode like a Shakespearean play.

Brava to Cain for skillfully penning a lean, swift & captivating plot that doesn't give up as it reaches the end. Let's see how fast you turn the pages ;).

When Dreams Bleed is as gripping as a Sandra Brown novel. All I'm saying is, Cain has the talent to nip @ Brown's heels! I love Ms. B but competition is good for the creative soul.

Cain's symmetry of romance & machinations is a delicious blend of cunning!

When Dreams Bleed is deftly plotted w/ a twist that Cain pulls off as completely viable & ingenious! Now, you know why I reread it 3x's!

1. Blown away.
2. Wait a sec.
3. WOW!

Grab a copy of When Dreams Bleed but if you start it in the evening... plan on staying up all night long!

Visit the terrific Robin's website & blog!

Follow Robin:

Twitter!

Order When Dreams Bleed here or from Amazon!

Shout out to my Tia Nora for the tip on this breathtaking novel! Besos y abrazos!!!

***Warning! Holding your breath while reading this taunt thriller will definitely be detrimental to your health! The Book Resort & Robin Cain are not liable for any readers keeling over!***

All content © The Book Resort 2009-2010

Review: Too Hot To Sleep ~ Stephanie Bond

2010-01-16T15:52:00.002-05:00

Title: Too Hot to Sleep

Series: Harlequin Temptation (Blaze) # 787

Author: Stephanie Bond

ISBN-13: 9780373258871

ISBN: 0373258879

Pages: 224

Release Date: June 2000

Publisher: Harlequin

Genre: Romance

Source: My Personal Copy

Rating:

Synopsis:

THE DAYS WERE HOT...

Nurse Georgia Adams can't sleep - and it's got nothing to do with the local heat wave. She's got a lukewarm boyfriend, a nonexistent love life - and she's frustrated, really frustrated. So she decides to take the edge off by calling her boyfriend for a little phone flirtation--and a lot more! Only, she doesn't realize she's dialed the wrong number!

...BUT THE NIGHTS WERE SCORCHING

Police officer Ken Medlock can't sleep, either-his libido is in overdrive thanks to his sexy midnight caller. He's captivated by her voice - and when he meets and recognizes her the next day, he realizes he has to have her in his bed-not at the end of his phone line. But first he has to convince Georgia that her wrong number has turned into a very right connection...

Review:

Scorching! Fiery! Searing! Blistering! Sizzling! How do we spell the incomparable Stephanie Bond's, Too Hot to Sleep? C-a-l-i-e-n-t-e!

Let me start off this review by saying, Stephanie Bond is one of my absolute favorite authors. She can write anything & it is juicy, riveting & difficult to put down. Bond's books are like chocolate ~ a delicious, wicked pleasure! I keep a stash of her books around for emergencies sorta like breaking the glass moments. Bond is definitely a must read author, an auto buy & the girl to go to when I am in a reading slump or just in a petulant mood.

Stephanie Bond is a gifted writer who not only has a way of making you fall in love w/ the hero -- Bond makes you ache to be the heroine.

Meet Nurse Georgia Adams. Georgia is in an apathetic relationship w/ her boyfriend. She definitely needs a dose of sultry to bring the sexy back. Georgia decides to take the advice of a friend & calls her lukewarm boyfriend late @ night & begins what she believes is a way to make their relationship pop... some harmless, tantalizing phone sex. What she doesn't realize is that her calls have been going to the wrong man. Uh oh! Can we say whoops?!

Enter sexy Officer Ken Medlock, Ken is awakened by a sensuous voice on the phone... a voice that's cooing to him that she isn't wearing panties. Ken is jolted wide awake by this juicy tidbit. He's extremely overwhelmed by this seductive call & is too bewildered to enlighten the smokin' femme fatale that she's dialed a wrong number. Let's not forget, he is absolutely loving every single moment of this mix up.

I don't want to ruin your fun @ reading this charming romance by giving away too much. I will say I would love a sequel...

Psst! I am even willing to bribe the awesome Bond w/ delectable chocolates. *Hint*Hint*.

Bond's writing muscle simply radiates w/ her vivacious, intriguing & feisty characters. She is a genius @ displaying each character's viewpoint. Brava to Bond for making the heroine & hero easy to connect with. The sparks ignite & Georgia & Ken explode. Boom Boom Pow!!!

You definitely need to cool yourself down w/ lots of ice water, the a/c or just head out into the frigid air to cool down. Trust me on this ;-p

Too Hot to Sleep is definitely a must to have on your shelves.

Read an excerpt here

Check out the absolutely awesome Stephanie Bond's website

here.

Review: Absolute Fear ~ Lisa Jackson

2010-01-11T15:49:00.001-05:00

Title: Absolute Fear
Author: Lisa Jackson
ISBN-13: 9780821779361
ISBN: 0821779362
Pages: 480
Release Date: March 2008
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Source: My Personal Copy
Rating:

Synopsis:
For the past three months, Eve Renner has struggled to remember the night she was nearly killed and her lover was tried for murder. She remembers getting the anxious call from a friend from her past: "Meet me at the cabin. I've got evidence." She remembers seeing that friend lying in a pool of blood. And she remembers a horrifying glimpse of her lover Cole Dennis's face as a gunshot plunged her into darkness. Now, her memory and emotions scarred, Eve has returned to New Orleans to forget the past. But the past will not be forgotten. Eve's shattered memory has helped Cole walk on murder charges just as a new series of killings begins.The latest murders are bizarre and baffling. The victims are killed in a ritual fashion, a series of numbers tattooed into their bodies. 212. 101. 111. 323. There is no clue to their meaning, no connection to the victims except one: Our Lady of Virtues Hospital, the crumbling old asylum that was once the scene of unspeakable madness. For Eve, it was a second home as a child. Her father was a doctor there, and she spent hours exploring its secret chambers, hidden rooms, and forbidden passageways. Somewhere in its decaying rooms lies the key to a terrible crime, a betrayal beyond imagining whose echoes are now being felt with a vengeance - a crime that seems to lead to Eve herself. And the only man she can trust with the search is Cole, her former lover and, just possibly, a cold-blooded killer. As forgotten memories begin to surface, bodies are found and each twist leads to another terrifying piece of the puzzle. Someone is watching, planning, luring her back to the ruins of Our Lady and the shocking truths hidden there - someone who has been waiting for this moment to strike. He is deadlier than she knows. For the sins of the past must be revealed, the crimes brought to justice, and the price paid - in blood.

Review:

Absolute Fear picks up where Jackson's beyond creepy Shiver left off. Jackson's frighteningly delish New Orleans series*, brings back the awesome detective duo Bentz & Montoya. Unfortunately, with that we revisit the disturbing Our Lady of Virtues Asylum. *Cue sinister music*. Really!
While Absolute Fear is part of a series, it’s not a prerequisite to read the other books in this outstanding series. Although, before immersing yourself in this spine-tingling indulgence, I would suggest it since there are countless components from the previous books that are exposed.
Allow me to introduce you to, Eve Renner. Eve is the adopted daughter of the head of Our Lady of Virtues Asylum.*shivers*. Eve used the hospital as her playground along w/ her best friend Roy Kajak.. Eve unearths Roy's dead body & is almost killed herself.
Now, let me introduce you to Cole*sigh*. I was definitely enjoying all things Cole ;p. LOL!
Absolute Fear is an incredible thriller filled w/ nail biting suspense that is sure to steal your breath away.

Check out Lisa's

website

!

Grab a copy of Absolute Fear:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Borders

Indie Store Finder

Powell's

*NEW ORLEANS–DETECTIVES BENTZ & MONTOYA:

HOT BLOODED
COLD BLOODED
THE NIGHT BEFORE (which overlaps into the “Savannah Series)
SHIVER
ABSOLUTE FEAR
LOST SOULS
MALICE (April 2009)

Happy New Year!!!

2010-01-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

Review: Dark Crusade ~ Lori Devoti

2009-12-31T00:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Dark Crusade /Unbound Series

Author: Lori Devoti

ISBN: 13: 9780373618095

ISBN: 0373618093

Pages: 288

Publisher: Silhouette

Series: Silhouette Nocturne Series, #62

Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance

Source: My Personal Library

Rating:

Synopsis:

Exiled rogue shapeshifter Kerr Vik once saw being transported to Gunngar as a fresh start. Until the one person he most regretted leaving behind--captivating witch Heather Moore--stumbles through the portal...and finds herself right in the middle of a witch hunt. Heather has courageously come to Gunngar to redeem herself. But Kerr knows that if she braves it alone...she will die.. He must somehow send her back through the portal. And it's not long before a collision of truth, love and duty complicates Kerr's mission by forcing him to choose sides: should he save this forbidden love or protect his honor?

Review:

Lori Devoto is amazingly gifted. This gal's got talent like nobody's business but mine... & yours ;). Dark Crusade is the Fourth in Devoti's Unbound series & held me absolutely spellbound! I was living Heather's life & was mesmerized by the wickedly delicious Kerr. Kerr definitely appeared three dimensional thanks to Devoti's flawless characterization. Brava, Ms. Devoti!

Heather Moore is a witch who was exiled from the human world to Gunngar for her role in helping to overthrow the Garm Council. She must count on Kerr, a garm (wolf shapeshifter) for protection from a malicious elf named Marina ~ who wants all witches dead. Did I mention that the scrumptious Kerr is a wolf shapeshifter?! *Whistle* I am just lovin' the call of the wild & all of nature's beauty ;-)! Ha~ha.

Devoti's alternate world is scintillatingly vibrant & teeming w/ pulse pounding excitement!

Devoti created an unscrupulous cast of characters that will leave you wanting to take them on yourself! She painted them effortlessly w/ a cimmerian & sinister veneer!

Now, let me say the sexual tension... is beyond sizzling! Shameless!

Dark Crusade is definitely a captivating read for packed in under 300 pages... so, my suggestion? Grab the entire Unbound series!

Hurry & grab your copy of Dark Crusade:

Read Excerpt

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Books~A~Million
Powell's

Check out Lori's website here!

About Lori:
Lori Devoti worked for three different newspapers in two different states before deciding to stay home with her children and begin writing fiction. The author of urban fantasy, contemporary romance and paranormal romance, Lori has been a finalist for many awards including the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award. She lives near Madison, Wisconsin with her husband and children as well as two dogs.

Review: Tricks ~ Ellen Hopkins

2009-11-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Tricks
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Pub. Date: August 2009
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Format: Hardcover, 640pp
Age Range: Young Adult
ISBN-13: 9781416950073
ISBN: 1416950079
Source: Simon & Schuster
Rating:

Synopsis:

"When all choice is taken from you, life becomes a game of survival."

Five teenagers from different parts of the country. Three girls. Two guys. Four straight. One gay. Some rich. Some poor. Some from great families. Some with no one at all. All living their lives as best they can, but all searching...for freedom, safety, community, family, love. What they don't expect, though, is all that can happen when those powerful little words "I love you" are said for all the wrong reasons.

Five moving stories remain separate at first, then interweave to tell a larger, powerful story -- a story about making choices, taking leaps of faith, falling down, and growing up. A story about kids figuring out what sex and love are all about, at all costs, while asking themselves, "Can I ever feel okay about myself?"

Review:

Tricks emotionally siphoned me beyond the point of sheer exhaustion. Once again, Hopkins delivers the goods by fearlessly seizing a tenebrous societal problem. Hopkins doesn't just illuminate the sabulous side of teen prostitution, she amplifies, humanizes & intensifies like the beacon of brilliance emanating from the Great White Way!

Tricks is a disturbingly heartbreaking novel that showcases just why Hopkins is the sovereign virtuoso when it comes to navigating the literary sphere.

Tricks is not a sugarcoated attempt @ addressing the increasingly current trend of teenagers coerced into selling themselves to survive. Tricks accurately illustrates the downward spiral of teens in the prostitution or "escort" service realm of sex for money.

I was repulsed to the point of retching not only when I was reading but when images of this electrically charged novel circumnavigated my brain when all I wanted was for the visions to circumvent. My skin crawled, my heart ached, my soul perished, and my spirit was shattered.

No matter how much Philosophy Gingerbread Man hot salt scrub I used, I still felt dirty. I just couldn't shake the grime seared into my very core. I was battered, bruised, broken & all I wanted was to be smothered in love & ensconced in the tenderness of a family just like Ellen's beautifully scribed lost souls.

Hopkins brought me beyond tears, I was raw inside & raging w/ a spectrum of emotions. I just wanted to hug Cody, Eden, Ginger, Seth, and Whitney. I wanted them to know I cared, I wanted to tell them I loved them & everything would be OK!

I am as far removed from the damaged, lost souls living a life of turning tricks & searching for what many take for granted but I understood their execrable actions.

Tricks left me spirtually bankrupt & it all is because Ellen knows how to penetrate the nucleus of human nature.

Tricks did not kick off like a house afire, it took time to simmer as Hopkins excavated the incomparable cast. The character development is unparalleled. Ellen's reprehensible prelude to the demoralizing pilgrimage these dispirited teens endured left me immersed in their orbit... struggling to get out w/a modicum of self-worth.

Tricks is written in Ellen's trademark verse writing. Ellen's striking poetry is seductive.

While I do understand the subject matter in Tricks may not be for everyone, it is definitely not to be missed. We can't continue to bury our heads in the sand & pretend this isn't happening in our neighborhoods. Yes, it is happening, in your town, on your block & it may be going on in your own home!

Grab a copy of Tricks:

Amazon

B&N

Borders

Indie

Simon & Schuster

Check out Ellen's website here.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the review copy. Thank you, Nicole, most of all!

Review: When You Went Away ~ Michael Baron

2009-10-27T00:00:00.002-04:00

Pub. Date: October 2009
Publisher: The Story Plant
Format: Mass Market Paperback
368pp
ISBN-13: 9780981956800
ISBN: 0981956807

Synopsis:

Only a few months ago, Gerry Rubato had everything he thought he needed from life. He was passionately in love with his college sweetheart after nearly twenty years of marriage, he had a bright, independent-minded daughter, and he had the surprising addition of a new child on the way. Then everything changed with stunning rapidity. With little explanation, his daughter ran away with her older boyfriend. Then, only a month after giving birth to their son, his wife died suddenly.

Now, Gerry needs to be everything to his infant child while he contends with two losses he can barely comprehend. And when a woman walks into his life as a friend and their relationship verges on something more, Gerry must redefine all that he knows about himself, about love, about loyalty, and about his dreams.

Review:

When You Went Away is simply breathtaking! When You Went Away is a beautifully written novel that will warm you deep inside.

When You Went Away is an extraordinary saga of one man's powerful journey through life from the heartbreaking sorrow & devastating loss of his soul mate, the distressing heartache of his daughter, Tanya, who ran away w/ an older man & raising his infant son, Reese.

When You Went Away is a poignantly written tale that is vibrant in details, crisp in detail and emotionally driven.

Told from Gerry's point of view, the beginning of Baron's brilliant novel focuses on his anguish, ennui & turmoil as he struggles w/ surviving, living for his son, finding his way & moving on.

Baron's writing is fluid. His characters are fully developed, smooth & vivacious . Baron is a gifted scribe who goes deep inside the reader & ignites a spark that electrifies the spirit!

Gerry's communication w/ his daughter, Tanya is genuine, raw & tender. Baron handles the struggles that Gerry endures effortlessly.

When You Went Away is an exquisite literary nugget not to be missed!

Author’s Website

Read an Excerpt

Many thanks to Joy Strazza, Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting, Michael Baron & The Story Plant for sending me a free copy of this book for review.

Silent Killer ~ Beverly Barton

2009-10-14T19:53:00.002-04:00

Pub. Date: September 2009
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 384pp
ISBN-13: 9781420100501
ISBN: 1420100505

Synopsis

In A Town Full Of Secrets

To most people, men like Mark Cantrell are fine, upstanding pillars of the community, completely beyond reproach. But their killer knows better. They are sinners of the worst kind, and they must burn on earth before they burn in hell. . .

Trusting The Wrong Person

Eighteen months after her husband's unsolved murder, Cathy Cantrell has returned to her Alabama home, eager to build a new life for herself and her son. But pieces of her past are everywhere-including Jackson Perdue, the town's deputy sheriff. The spate of recent deaths-each victim burned in the same horrifying manner-leave Jack and Cathy in no doubt that a serial killer is at work, one whose rage grows more vicious each day. . .

Can Be Fatal. . .

Now as a twisted killer moves in for a final, brutal act of vengeance, buried crimes are coming to light once more. And this time, justice will be swift, merciless, and as silent as the grave. . .

Review

Silent Killer is one exhilarating read. Barton has penned quite a mind-blowing tale.

Cathy & Jackson are intoxicating. I loved them.

Cathy suffered a breakdown after she witnessed her husband, Mark, burn to death. Cathy checked herself into a mental health facility to deal w/ the heinous savagery of her husband's murder.

Cathy also relinquished custody of her son.

Not too long after Cathy returns to town to reunite w/ her son.

Also returning is, Jackson Perdue, a man who once owned Cathy's heart. Jack returns to town, despite vowing never to set foot in Dunmore, Alabama again.

Jack is smart enough to know better than to say never. Jack accepts a position as a deputy.

He is assigned Mark's "cold case". While investigating Mark's barbaric murder, the killer attacks repeatedly. The target? Clergymen.

Barton's narration through the killer's eyes was vividly creepy. I was more than a bit squeamish.

In Silent Killer, Barton deftly shines a light on why she is a force in this genre ~ she just ratchets up the creep factor & delivers skin crawling, menacing, dastardly psycho villains effortlessly.

Brava, Ms. Barton, Brava & thank you!

What I love most about Jack & Cathy is the fact that they are so darn fiery, sensual & oh, so wounded. Their affection, respect, raw emotion & lust singe the pages. This is why I love romantic suspense so much. Not just any romantic suspense, romantic suspense that is well crafted, engaging, wickedly savory & keeps you reading ~~late into the night~~ wee into the morn.

Silent Killer is a spine-tingling novel teeming w/ thrills, peril & gruesome nuggets.

Silent Killer is rife w/ suspicion. The danger intensifies. So, is anyone safe in the town of Dunmore? Barton has you hooked from the beginning, wondering who to trust & wondering if so & so was innocent. Definitely the indelible mark of a phenomenal scribe.

Silent Killer is a terrifying, sinister ride.

Hurry! Grab a copy of Silent Killer!

Psst! Double check your locks!

Visit the delightful Beverly Barton's website & enjoy the thrills she is noted for!

Check out the UK cover!

Thank you, Beverly, for the review copy.

Lovestruck Summer ~ Melissa Walker

2009-10-12T19:31:00.001-04:00

Pub. Date: May 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Paperback, 272pp
Age Range: 12 and up
ISBN-13: 9780061715860
ISBN: 0061715867

Synopsis:

Austin Music Fest

Yay, summer in Austin!

Good food, good times. Fun for everyone!

Okay, living with my sorority-brainwashed cousin, who willingly goes by "Party Penny," is not exactly what I had in mind.

All your favorite bands

But the cute musicians I've met totally make up for it . . . like Sebastian. Swoon.

All ages welcome

So why can't I stop thinking about Penny's friend All-American Russ and his Texas twang??

Saturday & Sunday, from noon to midnight

Don't wait up!

Sunny days, late nights and a vacation full of possibilities...

This is the story of Quinn, an indie rock girl who came out to Austin, Texas for a music internship.

She also plans to spend long, lazy days in the sun at outdoor concerts--and to meet a hot musician or two. Instead, she's stuck rooming with her sorority brainwashed cousin, who now willingly goes by the name 'Party Penny.' Their personalities clash, big time.

But Sebastian, a gorgeous DJ, definitely makes up for it. Sebastian has it all: looks, charm, and great taste in music. So why can't Quinn keep her mind off Penny's friend cute, All-American Russ and his Texas twang?

One thing's certain: Quinn's in for a summer she'll never forget!

Review:

Lovestruck Summer is one of my all time favorite books. Walker is a genius! This is the way romantic comedy is supposed to be written. Breezy, charming, fun, kicky & memorable.
I feel butterflies flitting in my stomach just thinking about this darling treasure.
Priscilla Quinn Parker ~ Quinn ~ is a fiery, saucy, indie music lovin' chick.

" I live my life in headphones. That way, I can control what I let in."

I just loved this book so much, I didn't want it to end. I was inhaling it until I was closing in on the end. I slowed my reading pace just to savor Walker's delicious nugget.
Walker captured the essence of Quinn & created an impressive spitfire. She is just fun!
I laughed, cried, fell in love & had a blast!

With an industry over saturated w/ paranormal this & paranormal that, Walker's Lovestruck Summer is a refreshing sparkling romantic getaway.

Walker is one gifted writer, she's able to create appealing, invigorating, whimsical three- dimensional characters who rocket off the page.

Quinn is simply remarkable, utterly misguided & thoroughly magnetizing. Quinn’s progression from a snotty show-off into a more unbiased young woman was skillfully devised.

"But really, it's the big picture that overwhelms me: Penny has gone Texas."

Penny aka "Party Penny" is more than Quinn's cousin or your typical sorority babe. She has her own depth, appeal & spunk! I am eager to read more about Penny & hope Walker considers revisiting this character again. *Hint* ; ).

Penny's dog, Miss Tiara is a riot!

" Oh, Miss. Tiara's a boy" whispers Penny, lowering the dog's ears. "He just likes to be in drag, and he prefers to be referred to as 'she'. There's a really cool cross-dresser named Leslie who walks around town, and Miss. Tiara has just taken to him as a role model."

Penny’s irritating frat-boy/wannabe-cowboy friend & next door neighbor, Russ (sigh) is the guy that no matter how hard Quinn tries she just can't seem to shake. Russ is the one who stimulates her senses, makes her question her beliefs & makes her feel. Russ is always calling Quinn "Priscilla" which steams her to no end. When he starts calling her "Cilla", I am in love ; 9! Let me just say, I so wanted to be Quinn ; )!

Here are a few quotes that made me feel those butterflies in my stomach go bananas:

" You know, when you smile I just want to kiss you," he says.
"I'm sorry I said that," he says, "about the kiss."

"Okay," I say, not sure how to respond.

"I meant it," he says softly. his face hovering just inches above mine. He pauses for a moment there and I stare at his big blue eyes.

Two beats later, he pulls back, sits up, and says, "But I'm sorry I said it."

Chrissy, Penny's friend & neighbor ~ Russ's roommate ~ is more than a buxom, dippy blonde. She definitely is the definition of "never judge a book by its cover".

Walker delivered a striking punch in this feel good read. Walker filled this 272 page light read w/ more substance than a 500 page tome. Brava, Walker!

There has been a bit of buzz on the cover. Some love the bubble gum cover others roll their eyes @ the cutesy presentation; the cover depicts summer romance in the HarperTeen "Beach Reads" category. I love it! I love the "beachy" look & the colors are darling! Afterall, it captures the essence of Austin's Barton Springs perfectly.

You really should grab a copy of Lovestruck Summer. Whenever you need a pick me up, escape or to just feel good inside, Walker's Lovestruck Summer is the perfect prescription.

Psst! If you usually rebuff romance, please give this book a chance to illustrate it is Walker's characters that make Lovestruck Summer radiate.

Check out Melissa Walker's website here.

Order here.

Benny & Shrimp ~ Karen Mazetti, Sarah Death (Translator)

2009-10-12T03:00:00.000-04:00

Pub. Date: July 2009
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Paperback, 224pp
ISBN-13: 9780143115991
ISBN: 0143115995

Synopsis:

Why is it so impossible to get a relationship between two middle-aged misfits to work? The answer lies in the story of Shrimp, a young widowed librarian with a sharp intellect and a home so tidy that her jam jars are in alphabetical order; Benny, a gentle, overworked milk farmer who fears becoming the village's Old Bachelor; and an unlikely love that should not be as complicated as it seems.

Review:

How much are you willing to sacrifice for love? What would you give up for happiness? Would you compromise -- meet half way for that one individual that stirs your soul? Caresses your spirit?

Allow me to introduce you to Benny & Shrimp. Benny's a Swedish farmer, a 30 year old country boy, w/ cows, calves & sheep. Shrimp ~ Desiree ~ is a widowed Swedish librarian, who happens to be a vegetarian.

Benny's searching for a farmer's wife & Shrimp wants someone cultured.

Enter a cemetery of all places.

Benny's grieving the devastating loss of his mother & Shrimp's mourning the painful loss of her husband.

So, how on earth did these two to get together??? One day she smiled @ him & he smiled back...

Told in alternating viewpoints w/ heartache & hilarity, Benny & Shrimp deliver their story from their own standpoint.

Mazetti brilliantly crafted the short chapters showcasing Benny & Shrimp's outlook.

Kudos to Mazetti for describing the same moment they remembered things but just like in "real" life it was somewhat different.

Mazetti's writing is extraordinary. Sarah translated Mazetti's Swedish prose to English phenomenally w/o losing any of the mettle or vibrancy of the genuine love, frustration, pride, fear & tenderness these two wounded spirits feel.

As Shrimp voices, "Love makes others into doves, gazelles, cats, peacocks, but I -- quivering, wet and transparent - am your jellyfish."

I couldn't put down this quirky novel & found myself wondering what was going to happen next to the charming Benny & delightful Shrimp.

The cliffhanger ending leaves me eager for more...

This is a heartwarming story that proves love is for everyone!

Thank you, Caitlin @ FSB Associates for the review copy!

Turn Up the Heat: Jessica Conant~Park & Susan Conant

2009-10-08T00:25:00.001-04:00

Pub. Date: March 2008
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
Format: Hardcover, 288pp
Series: Gourmet Girl Series, #3
ISBN-13: 9780425219478
ISBN: 042521947X

Synopsis:

Chloe Carter has a lot on her plate-exams for grad school are coming up, and her chef boyfriend needs her support as his fledgling trendy restaurant comes into its own. The staff of Simmer gets along like petits pois in a pod, everyone pulling pranks on one another now and then. Everyone, that is, except for Leandra, a waitress who treats the busboys like chopped liver-and can never take a joke. One morning, Leandra's dead body is found in a fish truck. So people start to wonder: was this just a prank gone awry? Or did somebody actually want her to sleep with the fishes?

Review:

Turn Up the Heat is the 3rd adventure in the savory Gourmet Girl culinary mystery series by noted mother-daughter scribes, Jessica Conant-Park & Susan Conant.

Turn Up the Heat shines a light on the restaurant industry & what goes on behind the scenes in our neighborhood kitchens by showcasing the lush, elegant, Simmer.

Jessica & Susan do a steller job sketching restaurant life & this is the best installment yet.

Turn Up the Heat is on fire w/ juicy tidbits on what makes or breaks a restaurant. Yummy goodness.

The whimsical cast enriches the series & are in no way padding for Chloe.

Appaulse to the talented duo for illustrating just how essential the characters are to making the Gourmet Girl series meld.

Chloe is an engaging, fiery, irresistible & fun character. She is definitely one of my favorites.

Now as much as I adore Chloe, I also love reading about the other quirky players.

Adrianna is a sheer delight. I'd love to spend the day just hanging out w/ her. I love the warm bond Chloe & Adrianna share ~ Lucy & Ethel comes to mind, as does Grace & Karen. I look forward to an even bigger role as the series progresses because she is just too much fun.

Owen. Owen. Yes, he is definitely one capricious spirit. I must say, he keeps me on my toes.

Psst! Love the name "Daily Catch", guys.

I enjoy the vibrant atmosphere the Gourmet Girl series has going on. I always feel like I'm on vacation visiting friends in trendy Beantown.

Turn Up the Heat is expertly plotted & brimming w/ red herrings. Love it! I just love a good 'ole fashioned whodunit where everyone is a suspect & you haven't got a clue. Kudos, ladies for this absorbing tale.

Turn Up the Heat is wickedly ambrosial, you will not be disappointed.

Simmer Down ~ Jessica Conant~Park & Susan Conant

2009-10-07T06:16:00.001-04:00

Pub. Date: March 2008
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 304pp
Series: Gourmet Girl Series, #2
ISBN-13: 9780425220894
ISBN: 0425220893

Synopsis:

Chloe Carter's boyfriend, Josh Driscoll, is prepping for the opening of Simmer, Boston's hottest new restaurant. But at a fund-raiser featuring samples of Josh's cuisine, a trendy club owner is found bludgeoned to death-by Josh's state-of-the-art, professional-grade food processor, the ominously-named Robocoupe.

By opening night at Simmer, the list of suspects is almost longer than the line to get in. And Chloe is struggling to solve the crime before the final course is served.

Review:

How do you spell fun? S-i-m-m-e-r D-o-w-n! The 2nd installment in the delightful Gourmet Girl series is even zanier than the first. Conant~Park & Conant are more in sync & @ ease w/ their hilarious heroine Chloe. Let me tell you, friends, she is definitely full of energy. Spending time w/ Chloe is like hanging out w/ your bestie. I do my best not to sip anything while flipping the pages for fear of ruining the book... just a lil' warning ; ).

Simmer Down is as yummy as a brownie straight from the oven. It is a fast-paced read filled w/ hijinks. I just lose myself in the pages & consider the Gourmet Girl series one of my all time favorite comfort reads.

I am a moody reader & when I just can't find something to whet my appetite, I reach for a Gourmet Girl Mystery. I just adore Chloe.

Simmer Down is an animated adventure bubbling w/ humor, charm & straight out screwball comedy. You will bolt from your seat as soon as the last page is read to devour the next whimsical stew Chloe has gotten herself into.

Chloe is a well developed protagonist. Where this mother & daughter team shine is in creating engaging characters. Every character is entertaining, witty & just riotous. From the most charismatic cast member to the most unruly, these ladies keep you turning the pages.

What this duo does best is endear Chloe to the readers, foibles & all. Chloe is not your "cookie cutter" heroine, you know, all pulled together & just waiting for a body to "appear". No, she's authentic, appealing, intelligent, unassuming, self-conscious, whimsical, vacillating & exposed. She is me, she is you ~ she is every woman riding this wave we call life.

The writing is smooth, the witticism skillfully crafted & Josh... well decadent!

I think they are the perfect recipe like REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS!

When I first read Steamed, I thought Lindsay Lohan would make an excellent Chloe but unfortunately, she would be more of a hindrance & I want to see this series thrive on the screen.

Isla Fisher would make one fantastic Chloe on the big screen but if Lifetime or Hallmark did a TV verison, Amy Davidson has it hands down!

City of Ashes ~ Cassandra Clare

2009-09-29T22:07:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pub. Date: March 2008
ISBN-13: 9781416914297
Age Range: Young Adult
464pp
Series: Mortal Instruments Series, #2

Synopsis

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go -- especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father.
To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings -- and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

Review:

City of Ashes is the 2nd installment in Cassandra Clare’s enticing young adult Mortal Instruments trilogy.

City of Ashes picks up where City of Bones ends.

Warning: If you haven’t already read City of Bones, I highly suggest reading it first, rather than starting with City of Ashes since it’s not really a story that is considered a stand-alone.

I will do my best not to pepper this review w/ spoilers because I don't think it is fair to ruin your reading pleasure.

City of Ashes kicks off like the fireworks during a Macy's 4th of July celebration! Clare grabs hold of you & pulls you into the whirlwind supernatural adventure that is this astounding read.

Clare delivers City of Ashes in 3rd person but is mostly from the delightful & empowering Clary's perspective. Clare does a phenomenal job showcasing Clary's perplexity @ all that is going on around her Shadowhunter sphere.

Let me warn you, City of Ashes is an enthralling read & you will be hard pressed to put it down. Simply, Clare's Mortal Instruments Series reads like an epic flick ~ electrifying!

What I love about Clare's writing is the delectable vibrancy sprinkled through out this fetching novel. City of Bones is stuffed w/ explosive action, dripping w/ topnotch tension & juicy goodness. The world of the Shadowhunters is charged w/ titillating nuggets that is not just breathtaking but makes your head spin.

Clary's bff, Simon, definitely is one riveting member in this launching. He really did shatter the mold. Clare took the term "bring it" for the intriguing Simon & certainly did.

The brother & sister Shadowhunter team , Alec & Isabelle are utterly enthralling. I truly enjoy reading about them.

Magnus Bane is a mesmerizing player & one of my faves.

Now, I will address the pink elephant in the room by saying everything isn’t always what it seems (thank you, Cassandra).

I have to be honest, the incestuous tones between Clary & Jace made my stomach roil & my skin crawl but things aren't always what they seem.

Hurry up & grab a copy of City of Ashes!

Check out Cassandra Clare's website.

Check out Cassandra Clare's blog.

Review: Coffeehouse Angel ~ Suzanne Selfors

2009-09-25T22:19:00.000-04:00

Pub. Date: July 2009
Publisher: Walker & Company
Format: Hardcover, 288pp
Age Range: Young Adult
ISBN-13: 9780802798121
ISBN: 0802798128

Synopsis

When Katrina spots a homeless guy sleeping in the alley behind her grandmother’s coffee shop, she decides to leave him a cup of coffee, a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, and some pastries to tide him over. Little does she know that this random act of kindness is about to turn her life upside down. Because this adorable vagrant, Malcolm, is really a guardian angel on a break between missions. And he won’t leave until he can reward Katrina’s selflessness by fulfilling her deepest desire. Now if only she could decide what that might be . . .

Coffehouse Angel is a fairy-tale nestled between the pages of Selfors charming novel.

Katrina is absolutely captivating. Selfors' setup showcasing Katrina's heart, soul & desires was sensational. Selfors not only delivered the goods, but made me acknowledge my own hidden aspirations.

Katrina is a sweetheart & her emotions are so precise you actually experience her distress for the coffeehouse’s growth & well-being.

Selfors' touching prose is so authentic, you find yourself feeling powerless because you want to help keep grandma's coffeehouse afloat & you just can't jump inside the book to do it.

Selfors did a topnotch undertaking describing the picturesque town & its capricious dwellers.

Psst! I wanted to destroy the nefarious Java Heaven.

I'll admit as much as I adored Katrina, there were times I became frustrated @ her ennui.

I just wanted to ~~shake~~ tell her she had the capability to do things on her own ~ w/0 depending on others to come to the rescue & Selfors exhibits it effortlessly. Hats off to Selfors for this uneasy feat!

Coffeehouse Angel is an irresistible read for teens, tweens & anyone in search of a tale as scrumptious as hot cocoa loaded w/ marshmallows!

Quick! Grab a copy of Coffeehouse Angel & feel the magic envelop you!

Check out Suzanne Selfors website!

I love this cover! Thank you to the art department for doing a remarkable job casting the model ~ she definitely captures the Scandinavian essence of Katrina.

The model is beautiful & I am curious to know who she is. I am also going to keep my eye out for future covers she may grace.

Thank you so much to Anna & Walker books for the review copy!

Give Up the Ghost ~ Megan Crewe

2009-09-25T03:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Pub. Date: September 15, 2009
ISBN-13: 9780805089301
Age Range: Young Adult
256pp

Synopsis

Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts to “breathers.” Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable. They know the dirt on everybody . . . and Cass loves dirt.

She’s on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of all of the poseurs in her school. But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass’s whole scheme hangs in the balance. Timwants her help to contact his recently deceasedmother, but Cass is less than enthusiastic.

Kicking and screaming, Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim’s life. And she’s more surprised than anyone when she realizes that maybe some living people aren’t so bad if she’d only give them a chance.

Review:

Give Up the Ghost is an impressive debut. Give up the Ghost isn't just a "ghost story" filled w/ boo & spook.

Crewe's spectacular jaunt into Young Adult territory is a fascinating sojourn about a teenage girl as she struggles w/ teenage angst & blossoms into her own.

Crewe's flawless writing is displayed as Cass not only deals w/ but accepts her heartbreaking past.

Crewe knocks it out of the park w/ her authentic teen dialogue & situations ~ I wonder if Crewe is secretly a teen poising as an adult.

Give Up the Ghost illustrates Cass's brittle family dynamics. Crewe eloquently handled Cass's role in the family after the death of her sister, Paige.

Paige is a brilliantly written character who is a standout on her own. The scenes between Cass & Paige were raw, authentic, heartrending & substantial.

Crewe's literary strength shines when Cass begins to muster the courage to be herself & to genuinely care about something in her world.

Tim was a well drawn character who made my heart ache. He was so heartfelt you just endured his emotions.

Bitzy & Norris were also intriguing players & I think the book would of been deeply enhanced if Crewe delved further into their background.

Bitzy & Norris were delightful, whimsical & they shined in every single scene.

Crewe's Give Up the Ghost flows like hot lava oozing over a Hawaiian volcano!

Give up the Ghost is a fresh, fast-paced, fun read that introduces us to the sassy & charming Cass.

The only reason it didn't receive a 5 was because I wanted just a little more to happen between Cass & Tim. I waited w/ bated breath but... the scene didn't arrive. Grrr...

I want to say, thank you to Henry Holt for the review copy & Megan for the awesome read.

I want to acknowledge the art department for the incredible job they did on the cover, it is stunning ~ absolutely GORGEOUS!!!

Quick! Grab a copy of Give Up the Ghost!

Check out Megan Crewe's website!

Swim the Fly ~ Don Calame

2009-09-24T17:07:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pub. Date: April 2009
ISBN-13: 9780763641573
Age Range: Young Adult
352pp

Synopsis

Fifteen-year-old Matt Gratton and his two best friends, Coop and Sean, always set themselves a summertime goal. This year's? To see a real-live naked girl for the first time — quite a challenge, given that none of the guys has the nerve to even ask a girl out on a date. But catching a girl in the buff starts to look easy compared to Matt's other summertime aspiration: to swim the 100-yard butterfly (the hardest stroke known to God or man) as a way to impress Kelly West, the sizzling new star of the swim team. In the spirit of Hollywood’s blockbuster comedies, screenwriter-turned-YA-novelist Don Calame unleashes a true ode to the adolescent male: characters who are side-splittingly funny, sometimes crude, yet always full of heart.

Oh, my! Don Calame is one of the most humorous writers to walk this universe. Swim the Fly knocked me out. I was so immersed in Calame's witty prose, I just found myself turning the pages rapidly & it still didn't seem fast enough.

Swim the Fly is a must read for both males & females. Matt & his lovable cohorts get themselves into so many priceless scenarios you will be rolling so much your sides will ache. You will shake your head @ their hijinks, nod as their shenanigans ebb & flow & you find yourself relating to their comical teenage adventures.

Calame is an artisan when it comes to creating characters. Each individual had an unrivaled
trait & a voice that was intrinsic to each personality. Don't let me get started on Matt's grandfather ~ he alone delivered uproarious scenes that made my sides throb.

Swim the Fly is a phenomenal novel. I was so engaged w/ the adventures of the Calame's sidesplitting players, I was reluctant to reach the ending. It. Was. That. Hilarious.

I can't wait to get my hands on the next whimsical treat Calame delivers!

Run, don't walk , to grab a copy of Swim the Fly!

Check out my interview w/ the campy Don Calame here.

Visit Don's website.

Thank you, Candlewick, for this awesome book to review.

Wolves in Chic Clothing ~ Carrie Karasyov & Jill Kragman

2009-09-23T22:27:00.000-04:00

Pub. Date: April 2005
Publisher: Broadway Books
Format: Hardcover, 272pp
ISBN-13: 9780767917803
ISBN: 0767917804

Synopsis

Julia, a hip, downtown salesgirl at Pelham’s jewelry store, finds her social life turned on its head when she is asked to deliver a necklace to the store’s young heiress, Lell Pelham, on Lell’s wedding day. Beguiled by Julia’s earnest cluelessness and her vintage-chic vibe, Lell and her gang adopt Julia, and “Eliza Doolittle” her into passing as the heiress to a family fortune, just for a laugh. Dazed by the whirlwind of trust funds, pedigrees, Cosmopolitans, and penthouses in her new world, Julia is unprepared for the ardent advances of Lell’s husband—or the vicious claws her new “friends” develop when they decide Julia is an ingrate, and demote her from society goddess to penniless cling-on with one well-timed editorial. Suddenly, she must return the borrowed couture clothes and try to remember who she was before the body snatching took place. Hilarious and completely addictive, Wolves in Chic Clothing is a modern-day rags-to-riches-and-back-again fairy tale that will leave fans stamping their Manolo Blahniks for more.

Wolves in Chic Clothing is as delicious as a banana split oozing w/ hot fudge, caramel & butterscotch!

Forget Chick Lit, I'm talking juicy Gossip Lit. Yum! Dig in!

Set against the glittering backdrop of New York City, Karasyov & Kargman co-author a tale dripping w/ wicked goodness.

Welcome to the lush, decadent society sphere that few live but many dream of making it their own.

Ahhh, the glitz & glamour of the beautiful people, wrapped in ravishing clothes, dining @ extravagant restaurants, shopping @ posh boutiques & living the moneyed life. *Sigh*.

Wolves in Chic Clothing's irresistible Julia goes from ingénue to trendsetting sweetheart unexpectedly.

Genteel Lell Pelham, heiress of Pelham's, leader of the highbred hyenas is about to stroll down the aisle.

Psst! WHATEVER YOU DO, PLEASE, DO NOT PICTURE PARIS HILTON!

Yes, polished Lell has landed the "perfect chap" in Willoughby Banks, a man w/wandering eyeballs, a passion for Lell's assets & the determination to ingratiate himself into the blue blood realm.

The rest of the players have interesting stories that Karasyov & Kargman showcase smoothly.

Subsequently, Julia realizes that the opulent life of the Big Apple's blooming aristocracy isn't as amazing as it appears.

Karasyov & Kargman do such an outstanding job w/ narration, you will find yourself not only yearning to live the life of the well-heeled but living it as you turn each scrumptious page!

Bone Cold ~ Spindler

2009-09-20T01:41:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Mira
Pub. Date: March 2001
ISBN-13: 9781551667942
512pp

Synopsis

She thought the nightmare was over...
Twenty-three years ago, Anna North survived a living nightmare. A madman kidnapped her, cut off her pinkie, then vanished. Today Anna lives in New Orleans, writing dark thrillers under another name. She finally feels safe.
But it was only just beginning.
Suddenly Anna's quiet life takes a frightening turn. Letters start to arrive from a disturbed fan. Anna is followed, her apartment broken into. Then a close friend disappears.
Anna turns to homicide detective Quentin Malone, but Malone's more concerned with the recent murders of two women in the French Quarter. But after a third victim is found—a redhead like Anna, her pinkie severed—Malone is forced to acknowledge that Anna is his link to the killer...and could be the next target.
Now Anna must face the horrifying truth—her past has caught up with her. The nightmare has begun again.

Erica Spindler writes hair raising chillers like nobody's business! Bone Cold was my first Spindler novel & the rest is history.

I am the first in line to get the latest Spindler novel ~ I am so hooked on Spindler's creepy thrillers, I pre~order her books.

Psst! I even secretly hope it ships early (as long as it doesn't mess up her sales).

Bone Cold is an outstanding page turner that will leave you breathless!

Spindler interlaces so many gripping twists & turns you will find yourself reading deep into the night ~ just triple check the locks.

What Spindler does flawlessly is plait the pieces together to create a high octane suspense novel that makes sense. No filler to distract you, Spindler delivers incomparable attention grabbing chills that will leave you craving more.

Bone Cold introduces the intriguing Malone family & kicks off w/ the delicious Quentin. *Sigh*.
Bone Cold is a compelling novel that chilled me to the bone. Spindler distributes a fast paced, explosive, action infused, creepy read that is an outstanding standout!

Spindler's characters are an eclectic blend of charm, humor, intrigue, warmth & straight up deranged you just can't stop yourself from wanting to know what exactly makes them tick.

Spindler doesn't just toss a few procedural terms @ you for the sake of "sounding" good, she really does an extensive amount of research & it is skillfully showcased in her writing.

Spindler is also proficient when it comes to executing credible details.

Kudos to Spindler for always making me become part of the story everytime I read one of her captivating novels.

I just couldn't put Bone Cold down, infact, I inhaled it in one sitting. Spindler's novels are addictive, compelling & highly recommended when you want a spellbinding tale that will curl your toes.

Bone Cold is an addictive read & definitely one for your keeper shelves!

Hurry! Grab a copy of Bone Cold!

Check out Erica's terrific website.

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs ~ Molly Harper

2009-09-16T02:38:00.000-04:00

Synopsis

Maybe it was the Shenanigans gift certificate that put her over the edge. When children's librarian and self-professed nice girl Jane Jameson is fired by her beastly boss and handed twenty-five dollars in potato skins instead of a severance check, she goes on a bender that's sure to become Half Moon Hollow legend. On her way home, she's mistaken for a deer, shot, and left for dead. And thanks to the mysterious stranger she met while chugging neon-colored cocktails, she wakes up with a decidedly unladylike thirst for blood.

Jane is now the latest recipient of a gift basket from the Newly Undead Welcoming Committee, and her life-after-lifestyle is taking some getting used to. Her recently deceased favorite aunt is now her ghostly roommate. She has to fake breathing and endure daytime hours to avoid coming out of the coffin to her family. She's forced to forgo her favorite down-home Southern cooking for bags of O negative. Her relationship with her sexy, mercurial vampire sire keeps running hot and cold. And if all that wasn't enough, it looks like someone in Half Moon Hollow is trying to frame her for a series of vampire murders. What's a nice undead girl to do?

Move over Charlaine Harris 'cause Molly Harper's nipping @ your heels faster than the horses crossing the finish line @ the Kentucky Derby.

Harper's Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs is an entertaining debut brimming w/ humor to the point of overflowing. This is topnotch hilarity!

If Sookie Stackhouse had a cousin, it'd definitely be saucy Jane Jameson!

I want to start out by saying I am not a vampire fiction groupie. I read what I love & usually love what I read. Usually! I am an extremely moody reader. No wonder the charming ladies decided to bestow me w/ that royal title -- lol : p.

I find the genre becoming saturated w/ watered down versions, blatant knock offs & snooze fests galore. Sadly, too many authors are chasing the elusive dream of recreating something that has garnered success for others instead of listening to their muse & creating their own literary blockbuster. That said...

Enter Molly Harper! Harper delivers comedy so effortlessly you will be laughing out loud from the first page.

Harper has created an engaging cast of characters. Every individual is well crafted, intriguing & riotous. Every riveting player hanging out in Half Moon Hollow is three dimensional & nobody's sidekick.

Jane is a feisty heroine that is not only energetic she is a bookworm! Love it!

When Jane gets laid off from her librarian job, due to "budget cuts" she expects a bit of green in the form of a severance check. Wrong. Instead of a severance payment she gets a twenty-five dollar gift certificate to a bar. Yep, nothing like a little "courage" to get you through the hard times.

So, when Jane heads home after drowning her sorrows in Electric Lemonades & meeting a tall, dark hottie...

Her car dies in the middle of the night -- basically keels over. What does Jane do?

She starts to walk home but is mistaken for a deer. Did I mention it is the middle of the night?

Jane gets shot in a case of drunk drive by deer-hunting...

That is all you are getting from me because I don't want to spoil it for those who are rushing out to grab a copy or ordering it online ; p.

Y'know, Harper just may have created the humorous vampire chick-lit subgenre in Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs.

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs is the book to grab when you are thirsting for a rollicking read & a new author to adore. This series is just good 'ole f-u-n!!!

You can visit the author’s website here or blog here.

To purchase a print copy of Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs from Amazon click here or from Barnes & Noble click here.

The Jane Jameson series:

Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs

Nice Girls Don’t Date Dead Men

Nice Girls Don’t Live Forever

Some Girls Bite ~ Chloe Neill

2009-09-16T02:30:00.001-04:00

Synopsis

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was Merit's. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker—and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she's traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan "Lord o' the Manor" Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries' worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude— and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan's attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone's still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war—and there will be blood.

Some Girls Bite is the kick off novel in the Chicagoland Vampires Series. Chloe Neill makes her delicious debut penning this fantastic new urban fantasy series situated around the adventures misadventures of the delightful Merit. Oh, did I mention that she happens to be a reluctant initiate for the Windy City's Vampire denizens?

Narrated in the first person (which I am not always thrilled to read) Neill does a fantastic job weaving this engrossing novel through Merit's eyes.

Neill definitely goes beyond the new breed of vampire chick-lit territory that has staked (couldn't resist ; p) its claim on this increasingly popular sub genre.

The story line is peppered w/ juicy plot twists that can rival the best Hollywood blockbuster.

Some Girls Bite is a fast paced read bursting @ the seams w/ a medley of mystery, romance, hilarity & adventure!

Neill's characters are alluring & each well thought out player can carry their own in this charming debut.

Applause to Neill for doing a terrific job sprinkling in supernatural creatures to spice it up even more!

Vampire --fanpire-- fiction fans will definitely place Some Girls Bite on their keeper shelves!

Visit Chloe @ chloeneill.com.

Crazy Beautiful ~ Lauren Baratz-Logsted's

2009-09-15T05:35:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pub. Date: September 2009
ISBN-13: 9780547223070
Age Range: Young Adult
208pp

Synopsis

In an explosion of his own making, Lucius blew his arms off. Now he has hooks. He chose hooks because they were cheaper. He chose hooks because he wouldn’t outgrow them so quickly. He chose hooks so that everyone would know he was different, so he would scare even himself.
Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don’t scare her. They don’t keep her away. In fact, they don’t make any difference at all to her.
But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering.
Or maybe she’s just a girl who needs love just like he does.

Lauren Baratz-Logsted's exposition is breathtakingly beautiful. I found myself aching @ the raw emotion & losing myself in the sheer creative brilliance that is Crazy Beautiful!

I didn't read Crazy Beautiful, I devoured it! I must admit, I started to drag my feet as I was reaching the end. Why? Because Crazy Beautiful is so hypnotic (thank you my GH lovin' literary angel, Lauren Baratz-Logsted)!

Crazy Beautiful is an unparalleled fairy tale. Baratz-Logsted's interpretation of Beauty & the Beast is absolutely arrestive.

Told w/ a modern twist, Crazy Beautiful will have you believing anything & everything is possible thanks to Baratz-Logsted's striking & charismatic prose.

Crazy Beautiful is told in alternating point of views, which is not only refreshing but allows readers to experience the deeply intense emotions that cover Lucius & Aurora like second skin.

Baratz-Logsted weaves an enthralling tale of fractured teens who are destined to be. Not in some mushy/gushy/eye rolling/syrupy/words on paper/teen heart tripping/"who are you again?" /third rate/ straight to DVD nightmare!

Baratz-Logsted scribes a cultivated novel resplendent in exquisiteness! Lucius & Aurora are soulmates. You will become enchanted, bewitched & ravenous for more.

Baratz-Logsted's provocative duo are extremely well written, you can't help but wish them to exist outside of the pages she skillfully crafted.

Every player in Crazy Beautiful is vital to the story ~ the novel just couldn't propel smoothly w/o every cast member sustaining the life Baratz-Logsted created for this remarkable tale.

Crazy Beautiful is rich w/ a sense of strong family dynamics. Aurora's relationship w/ her father is well orchestrated & a breath of fresh air. Lucius' place in his family is realistic & well developed & the author deserves kudos for not sugar coating his role.

I absolutely loved the mall scenes w/ his sister. Misty is a dynamic character & I'd love to see her get her own story.

Crazy Beautiful is a fast, emotional read w/ a unique take on a classic tale.

Now since Baratz-Logsted lightly touched upon Lucius' back story, I am hoping visions of a prequel dance in her head. Hint ~hint! I wouldn't mind if it was told in alternating perspectives as we experience life w/ Aurora's mom.

I loved Lucius! He was such an enthralling character; he simply jumped out of the pages. He was absolutely a three dimensional player. I adored Aurora! She was authentic & not so sweet you develop sugar shock. Aurora popped out of the pages, too. It was like watching a play.

Despite some of the dark undercurrents, Baratz-Logsted shines w/ humor.

As much as I wanted to add a seashell w/ my 5 rating, I didn't. Why? I wanted more. Much more. I wanted to see Lucius & Aurora outside of the school environment & was spoiled when they had dinner.

To me the end was a bit rushed & I felt a bit cheated because I fell in love w/ these mesmerizing characters, I wanted more Lucius & Aurora. I know there is more to these two & I hope Baratz-Logsted doesn't forget to tap into a prequel & a sequel because this defintely showcases characters worth knowing!

Hurry! Grab your copy of Crazy Beautiful!

Check Lauren out @ http://www.laurenbaratzlogsted.com/.

Identical ~ Ellen Hopkins

2009-09-08T03:48:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pub. Date: August 2008
ISBN-13: 9781416950059
Age Range: Young Adult
576pp

Synopsis

Kaeleigh and Raeanne are 16-year-old identical twins, the daughters of a district court judge father and politician mother running for Congress. Everything on the surface of their lives seems Norman Rockwell perfect, but underneath run deep and damaging secrets.Kaeleigh is the good girl-her father's perfect flower, something she has tried so hard to be since she was nine and he started sexually abusing her. She cuts herself and vomits after every binge, desperate to feel something normal. Raeanne uses painkillers, drugs, alcohol, and sex to numb the pain of not being Daddy's favorite. Both girls must figure out how to become whole, but how can they when their world has been torn to shreds?

Ellen Hopkins has a natural gift for writing so poignantly you don't just read the words on paper, you become the words she so eloquently delivers.

Hopkins writing style is so naked & sincere it simply steals your breath away. Identical is told in free verse & sometimes that form of free verse utilizes pictures or poems w/i poems to convey it's message -- simply brilliant.

I knew where Hopkins was going w/ the storyline & it made me ache inside. I was not just an outsider looking in but was experiencing all the heart wrenching emotions Kaeleigh & Raeanne endured thanks to Hopkins' seamless stratagem.

It was difficult reading about what the father was doing to one of the daughters. I had a difficult time w/ it because it hit too close to home. All I am saying is, the cycle of abuse is a violently vicious one!

Hopkins' descriptions are remarkably riveting & powerfully fervent you may have to write a memo w/ the words "exhale" in bold print!

I am not going to give away the design of Identical, you are going to have to read the book for yourself. Hopkins' Identical is definitely not a book to be missed.

I have heard mumblings that this book is "graphic" but I ask myself as I type this, "Is this book anymore graphic than what you endured @ the hands of your uncle @ the tender age of 9?" My answer... No!

I believe Hopkins deserves kudos for shattering the glass ceiling w/ her groundbreaking prose, ripped from the headlines storylines & richly poured lyrical exposition.

Identical needs to be on every library shelf in the universe, given as gifts to young girls & parents across the globe.

While imitator's dip their toes, literary doyenne Hopkins plunges right in!

Grab a copy of Hopkins' Identical.

Check out Ellen's website.

While My Pretty One Knits ~ Anne Canadeo

2009-08-29T00:07:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group
Pub. Date: May 2009
ISBN-13: 9781416598091
272pp

Synopsis

The Black Sheep Knitters -- Maggie, Lucy, Dana, Suzanne, and Phoebe -- meet once a week without fail, sharing the varied and colorful skeins of their lives as much as knitting tips, recipes, and small-town gossip, and creating an intricate, durable pattern of friendship. Now a shocking murder has peaceful Plum Harbor, Massachusetts, in knots -- and the Black Sheep women must herd together to protect one of their own from a scandalous frame-up.
Maggie Messina, beloved owner of the Black Sheep Knitting Shop, is thrilled to be hosting a workshop for one of her former students, now a celebrity in the knitting world. But the celebration is upstaged when Amanda Goran, the owner of the rival Knitting Nest, is found dead in her shop on the other side of town.
Maggie had reasons to dislike Amanda, a thorn in her side ever since Maggie's shop surpassed Amanda's in popularity. Then again, it wasn't hard to dislike Amanda -- the contentious woman, whose marriage was on the rocks, seemed to specialize in causing misery all over town. But the pointed evidence has a detective casting a suspicious eye on Maggie. She may be a whiz at knitting, but can she keep the police from needling her before her shop, her reputation, and her circle of friends become unraveled?

Knitting mysteries are the latest "whodunits" to saturate the shelves. It seems every cozy writer wants to try their hand weaving one making the sub-genre blend together in a knot...

Enter the stellar Anne Canadeo w/ her exemplary mystery debut While My Pretty One Knits.

Delightful. Enchanting. Humorous. Impressive. Witty. Those are just a few adjectives to describe Anne Canadeo's effervescent cozy debut, While My Pretty One Knits.

I absolutely adore this series. I couldn't put it down & when I was closing in on the ending I hid it. Yes, I did! I recently moved off the island & moved up to gorgeous northern New York & hid it in my huge house; ). Well, I tried to hide it but the engaging cast of characters whispered for me to hang out w/ them @ the Black Sheep Knitting Shop. When I tried to ignore them they poked me w/ a knitting needle. Ouch! OK, it was more than one knitting needle. Geez, knitters are a crafty bunch ; ).

While My Pretty One Knits is a dynamite introduction to an energetic new cozy mystery series.

Canadeo's writing flows effortlessly off the page & the enchanting, fun, ingenious cast steals the show.

Canadeo knows how to absorb the reader w/ a skillful, fast-paced plot. The characters are well-developed & Canadeo knows how to create a cast of characters you care about.

All you need is a cup of hot cocoa overflowing w/ marshmallows, a crackling fire, a throw & you have an impeccable cozy evening (cheese, fruit, wine & crackers may enhance your reading pleasure).

Canadeo showcases her sharp writing skills. She is a brilliant new addition to the cozy genre.

When I reached page 249 it was bittersweet. Infact, I am in a bit of a diva monster mood (grumpy sourpuss) because I have to wait until December for Knit, Purl, Die. Grrr... Where are those knitting needles when I need them?

While My Pretty One Knits is a perfect summer read for all of those scrambling to make the most of summer as it draws to a close but it is also an excellent read to curl up w/ as fall arrives.

I really wish I could visit Plum Harbor, Massachusetts & visit all the terrific friends Canadeo vibrantly created. I really want to spend time w/ adorable Tink & Matt -- *sigh*!

While My Pretty One Knits was so richly penned it has made me interested in learning to knit. Really! Moi, who can barely lace her kicks.

I loved this book so much that I imagine myself as a character visiting the Book Review & the Black Sheep Knitting Shop.

Non-knitters will revel in the picturesque surroundings.

While My Pretty One Knits is a tightly stitched novel not to be missed!

Hurry & grab a copy of While My Pretty One Knits. It's as relaxing as a day @ the shore!

The Real Real ~ Emma Maclaughlin & Nicola Kraus

2009-07-15T02:54:00.000-04:00

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pub. Date: May 2009
ISBN-13: 9780061720406
Age Range: 12 and up
320pp

Synopsis

Imagine there was never a Laguna Beach, a Newport Harbor, the shimmering Hills. Imagine that your hometown—your school—is the first place XTV descends to set up cameras.

Now imagine they've trained them on you.

When Jesse O'Rourke gets picked for a "documentary" being filmed at her school in the Hamptons she's tempted to turn down the offer. But there's a tuition check attached to being on the show, and Jesse needs the cash so she can be the first in her family to attend college. All she has to do is trade her best friend for the glam clique she's studiously avoided, her privacy for a 24/7 mike, and her sense of right and wrong for "what sells on camera." . . . At least there's one bright spot in the train wreck that is her suddenly public senior year: Jesse's crush has also made the cast.

As the producers manipulate the lives of their "characters" to heighten the drama, and Us Weekly covers become a regular occurrence for Jesse, she must struggle to remember one thing: the difference between real and the real real.

Let me start off by saying I am not really into reality TV @ all! I find it to be a tad torturous. I do watch The Real Housewives in all its incarnations & The Real Housewives of Orange County is my fave! Hands down The Real Housewives of Orange County is a guilty pleasure. I don't consider it reality foolishness, I rather think it is me hanging out w/ older galpals. I don't give a hoot about The Hills unless they have eyes. I only want to lounge @ a beach -- Laguna or Jones!

I do believe that Lauren & Kristin were the most promising to emerge from fakeality TV. I am a real television lover & think there is way too much "reality" on the small screen & miss the days of must see TV. I do tune into DWTS while channel surfing. Idol - fugetaboutit!

So, imagine my surprise when I found myself loving Emma Maclaughlin & Nicola Kraus' The Real Real! I wondered if the fact that it was set on Long Island played into my adulation.

Hmmm. What about the fact I am 20-25 mins from the coveted Hamptons. Nah! I was raised on the Island & I'm not impressed. So, what was it that had me enjoying my time w/ Jesse? Jesse!

Emma Maclaughlin & Nicola Kraus' YA debut is a winner! The Real Real is real real impressive. Emma Maclaughlin & Nicola Kraus skillfully advoided getting caught up in a cache of redundancies & over the top histrionics! Brava ladies! Brava!

The Real Real is the perfect beach read but make sure to set a timer to roll over & slather on the SPF because you will definitely become part of The Real Hampton Beach happenings.

I loved how Maclaughlin & Kraus mentioned the CW when mentioning the fictitious Park Avenue Confidential -- juicy goodness like a crisp, succulent gala apple. Delish.

Maclaughlin & Kraus created characters that are genuine -- whether they are genuinely good or greedy fame & fortune seekers.

Jesse is an amazing, caring & intelligent young adult who has integrity. She has morals - yep, imagine a reality star that isn't caught up w/ the fake fake! Yippee! Hats off to Maclaughlin & Kraus for this endearing quality in the delightful Jesse!

Drew is also a refreshing addition who is charming & diverting. Toss in the wicked fame & fortune hunters & you've got a spectacular read.

The Real Real isn't brimming w/ mindless fluff & senseless drivel. The Real Real delivers a message behind the tantalizing tale.

Maclaughlin & Kraus penned an edgy, entertaining & savvy look into the world of reality TV w/ The Real Real.

The Real Real is not to be missed missed.

Grab a copy of The Real Real & enjoy the dog days of summer!

Check out Emma Maclaughlin & Nicola Kraus @ www.emmaandnicola.com/.

Pandora's Daughter ~ Iris Johansen

2009-07-13T00:07:00.003-04:00

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub. Date: April 2008
ISBN-13: 9780312368050
384pp

@ the age of 15, Megan Blair was orphaned & raised by her Uncle Phillip. Now an Atlanta pediatrician, Megan hears terrified voices.

Disclosure arrives when childhood friend Neal Grady, who is now a shadowy government agent, appears to apprise Megan of her psychic powers. Neal is also there to warn her: Molino-the merciless villain who murdered Megan's mother, concluding her touch killed his son-is targeting Megan next.

Molino thinks Megan was born to an ancient Sephardic family of psychics & plans to force her to reveal the location of the Ledger, a book that contains the family's secrets & finances. Molino then plans to kill her, if Megan, Neal and Neal's sidekick, Jed Hartley, don't get to him first.

Looks like another dud from the camp of Johansen. I think it is best to stick to the books featuring Eve Duncan & company !

Bottom line, this was . Boring!

It was a contractual fulfillment plain & simple. Johansen was trying way to hard to make a name for herself in the paranormal arena. NOT! Johansen better stick to telling stories she knows how to write or shut down the computer.

Check out Iris' books featuring Eve & the interesting characters Johansen is capable of creating @ http://www.irisjohansen.com/index.html.

You've Been Warned ~ James Patterson & Howard Roughan

2009-07-08T22:41:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Pub. Date: September 2007
ISBN-13: 9781615563913
384pp

Synopsis:

Kristin Burns is making her way in New York City. Her photos are being considered at a major Manhattan gallery, she works by day with two wonderful children, and the man of her dreams is almost hers for keeps. But just as everything she's ever wanted is finally within reach, her life changes forever--with one murderous nightmare. Kristin wakes up every morning from the same chilling, unforgettable dream. And suddenly, it's visiting her during the day too. As her life turns stranger by the minute, Kristin is haunted and terrified. Is it all in her head? Or is the nightmare becoming her life? Kristin searches desperately for what's real through the lens of her camera, only knowing two things for sure: that no place is safe and the fate of everyone she loves lies in her hands.

It is obvious Patterson is going for quantity & not quality in this bizarre but boring attempt @ infusing supernatural elements into You've Been Warned.

I think he was trying to branch out into the supernatural arena -- maybe it was my mind trying to grasp the dreadfully peculiar happenings.

Patterson's signature short chapters, ~~speedy~~ nonsensical storyline & ever present co-author is packaged into a snoozefest.

You've Been Warned...

Grab the Tylenol.

~~Walk~~ Run away!!!

I ♥love♥ Patterson's Alex Cross series but this novel is best stored away for when there is a toilet paper shortage!

Check out James Patterson @ www.jamespatterson.com.

Eyes Like Stars ~ Lisa Mantchev

2009-07-08T03:39:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pub. Date: July 2009
ISBN-13: 9780312380960
Age Range: Young Adult
368pp
Series: Theatre Illuminata Series

Synopsis:

All her world's a stage.

Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.
She's not an orphan, but she has no parents.

She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own.

That is, until now.

Enter Stage Right

NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie.

COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE'S sidekicks.

ARIEL. Seductive air spirit and Bertie's weakness. The symbol of impending doom.

BERTIE. Our heroine.

Welcome to the Theatre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Theatre by The Book--an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family--and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

Open Curtain

Looks like Eyes Like Stars may be the breakout read for 2009!

Lisa Mantchev's Eyes Like Stars kicks off like ~~gang~~ glitter busters!

It is hard to fathom Eyes Like Stars is Lisa Mantchev's debut. With Mantchev's lyrically stunning prose you are taken to a bewitching world resplendent in drama, humor, romance & whimsicality.

Mantchev is a phenomenal storyteller. Eyes Like Stars is an inspired novel overflowing w/ luminosity.

Mantchev has created a delectable cast of alluring, amusing, salty & sprightly characters.

Mantchev's audience will just crave even more from The Théâtre Illuminata. There are times when you can't seem to turn the pages fast enough & there are times when you want to ease up because when you reach the end of Mantchev's engaging fairy tale you will be chomping @ the bit for Book Two in The Théâtre Illuminata trilogy.

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is as effervescent as champagne bubbles on New Years Eve. Bertie is capricious, determined, fun-loving & vibrant.

Mantchev's description of the fairies is spot on! Fairies are adorable, devilish, frolicsome & pugnacious. Brava to Lisa for capturing the precise essence of Cobweb, Moth, Mustard Seed & PeaseBlossom.

Eyes Like Stars is strikingly scribed with Mantchev's fervent & scintillating dialogue. The storyline is an imaginative & an authentic fantasy extravaganza!

Whew! Mantchev possesses the goods to create a mystical contemporary fairy tale that would make Hans Christian Andersen rush to The Théâtre Illuminata for front row seats!

I do want to mention some may be confused in the beginning of Eyes Like Stars w/ all the scene changes & théâtre jargon but trust me once the stage is set -- you will enjoy the show!

Lisa Mantchev is a visionary talent & you will not be disappointed!

I'd like to share one of my favorite quotes:

"The only reason I'm friends with any of you is because I outgrew the vonTrapps, one annoying Austrian at a time"

Grab a copy of Eyes Like Stars.

Eyes Like Stars should be packaged with an eye mask, cucumbers, cupcakes & scrumptious fudge : }.*Hint*. lol.

Don't say I didn't warn you...

So, wanna Taste the Bad Candy ?!

The Demon's Lexicon ~ Sarah Rees Brennan

2009-06-26T04:05:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pub. Date: June 2009
ISBN-13: 9781416963790
Age Range: Young Adult
336pp

Synopsis

Nick and his brother, Alan, have spent their lives on the run from magic. Their father was murdered, and their mother was driven mad by magicians and the demons who give them power. The magicians are hunting the Ryves family for a charm that Nick's mother stole -- a charm that keeps her alive -- and they want it badly enough to kill again.
Danger draws even closer when a brother and sister come to the Ryves family for help. The boy wears a demon's mark, a sign of death that almost nothing can erase...and when Alan also gets marked by a demon, Nick is desperate to save him. The only way to do that is to kill one of the magicians they have been hiding from for so long.
Ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nick starts to suspect that his brother is telling him lie after lie about their past. As the magicians' Circle closes in on their family, Nick uncovers the secret that could destroy them all.

Ok, let me say the Winchester brothers can definitely take Nick & Alan to the next level. Am I the only one who connected the dots? C'mon, admit it... you did. If not... Ah! Light bulb moment. LOL.

Sarah Rees Brennan's The Demon's Lexicon is definitely movie worthy. Listening Hollywood? Spielberg? Howard? Lucas? Bruckheimer? Just sayin'...

Brennan's Ryves brothers are unequivocal, well written & intriguing! Brennan could of just written half the literary pyrotechnics & The Demon's Lexicon would still be electrifying!

Brennan's debut is the just the tip of many great works of fiction to come from this amazing scribe.

Nick is a determined character w/ an acerbic wit that distinguishes him from the standard male leads in today's young adult fiction. Vision's of Potter dance in my head. Nick could be distant kin to the incomparable Potter boy. I don't know, there is just something that sits on my shoulder & pokes me w/ this slight comparison.

The Demon's Lexicon is set in contemporary London rich w/ action, raw w/ emotion & a dark, fast-paced read. Infact, you may find yourself sneaking off to read The Demon's Lexicon because you just have to know why...

Nah... you'll have to read it to find out. Nope! No spoilers from me.

Nick's raw personality is engaging & Alan... well... WOW!!!

Mae is a secondary character tossed in as the "it girl" you know, the one that catches the Ryves' brothers eyes... Well, there is more to Mae than being the prize to the boy w/ the most toys. She is a strong willed character w/ spunk & a fierce devotion to her brother Jamie. Jamie is an interesting character & I am restless to learn more about him in the second installment.

Mae & Jamie are not just filler Brennan tossed in to move the plot along, they are magnetic players that shine on their own.

Brennan's The Demon's Lexicon doesn't just toss everything @ you & leaves you shaking you head in disbelief, it builds to a crescendo. Well, not to spoil any of the pulse pounding deliciousness... the pinnacle is shattering! 'Nuff said!

Brennan does an excellent job unraveling secrets. Brennan's twists & turns propels the plot to spine tingling heights! Kudos to Brennan for making The Demon's Lexicon read like a 3D film.

Please, pass the popcorn & diet vanilla Pepsi!

Nick is an arrogant teenage boy who comes across unlikable, but you just smirk @ his 'tude & find yourself loving & hating him. So, Nick tends to be an enthralling character you love to hate!

Alan is alluring & that's all you're getting from me!

Brennan pens a world of body inhabiting demons, nefarious magicians & tosses in whimsy to make The Demon's Lexicon so darn entertaining!

Nick & Alan's mom's intermittent presence made me want mom around more, but Brennan did a marvelous job creating her. Nick's strife & turmoil pulsated so intensely I kept holding my breath! Just thinking about it now has my skin prickling.

The Demon's Lexicon's ending is mind-blowing!

So, grab a copy of The Demon's Lexicon!

Check out Sarah:

http://www.sarahreesbrennan.com/

http://sarahtales.livejournal.com/

http://www.myspace.com/sarahreesbrennan

Sweet Love ~ Sarah Strohmeyer

2009-06-24T00:19:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: June 2009
ISBN-13: 9780451226907
368pp

Synopsis:

Betty Mueller believed she did right by secretly ending her daughter Julie's relationship with Michael Slayton, a wild, older neighborhood heartthrob. Twenty years later, Betty has come to realize her mistake. Workaholic Julie is now the single mom of a teenager—and Michael, the one man who could make her happy, has been out of her life for the past two decades.Determined to make amends, Betty schemes to reunite the couple in a dessert class. And with the love of her mother and daughter, her own determination, and lots of chocolate, Julie's chance for romance is all the higher...

I LOVE Sarah's Bubbles series. I am a Bubbles head & proud of it (yes, I am a yahoo carrying member). I am also going to say, my heart belongs to the Bubbles series & nothing Sarah writes will be as good as Ms. Yablonsky's hilarious series! For real! I mean, hello Bubbles Unbound scooped up the Agatha Award for best first novel in 2001.

That said & out of the way, I will say Sarah has whipped up a savory morsel in Sweet Love. This is Sarah's best stand alone to date.

Sweet Love is delectable. Sarah Strohmeyer has created a beautifully written novel that dares you to care & get invested in Julie's life. Julie is a single mom doing her best to do the right thing. When I think of Julie, the word mosaic comes to mind.

Sweet Love is a heart-rending novel rich w/ emotion. Michael is a brilliant gem. He simply steals the show. Julie's mom, Betty, reminds us just how precious our mom's are. Strohmeyer hits a home run delving into the heart of mother/daughter dynamics. Strohmeyer shimmers as she tenderly & realistically gives us a peek into the lives of Julie & Betty. *Tissues*.

Sweet Love is a quick read that packs an ardent wallop. Strohmeyer's writing is so riveting, you can't help but empathize w/ Strohmeyer's delghtful cast of characters.

Strohmeyer's Sweet Love is as frothy as a chocolate soufflé. Sheer bliss.

Sweet Love is a bit slow to simmer but as soon as Michael appears the book bubbles over w/ yummy goodness.

Strohmeyer tosses in a plot twist @ the end that took me by surprise. Kudos to Sarah for penning such a charming novel that invites you into the hearts & souls of the sweetest characters to come along in a long time.

The cover is heavenly, huh? Magnolia bakery anyone...

Check out Sarah @ http://www.sarahstrohmeyer.com/.

Wanna...

Read the Prologue

Bake...

Sweet Love Dessert Recipes

Quickly...

Buy The Book

Swoon ~ Nina Malkin

2009-06-22T22:28:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pub. Date: May 2009
ISBN-13: 9781416974345
Age Range: Young Adult
432pp

Synopsis

Torn from her native New York City and dumped in the land of cookie-cutter preps, Candice is resigned to accept her posh, dull fate. Nothing ever happens in Swoon, Connecticut...until Dice's perfect, privileged cousin Penelope nearly dies in a fall from an old tree, and her spirit intertwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge. And while Pen is oblivious to the possession, Dice is all too aware of Sin. She's intensely drawn to him -- but not at all crazy about the havoc he's wreaking. Determined to exorcise the demon, Dice accidentally sets Sin loose, gives him flesh, makes him formidable. Now she must destroy an even more potent -- and irresistible -- adversary, before the whole town succumbs to Sin's will. Only trouble is, she's in love with him.
What do you do when the boy of your dreams is too bad to be true?

Got Edge? Yes! Got Steamy? Yes!

Nina's Malkin's Swoon is a rich, sinister novel that is not to be missed. Definitely not your cookie cutter YA paranormal novel. Malkin carves a stone & inserts gritty goodness into the young adult paranormal genre. Dare I say, sinfully scrumptious! Yes, I dare say, Malkin's Swoon is sinfully scrumptious w/ a twist of naughty!

Candice (Dice) is an engaging character that makes you sit up, take notice & give a darn about her & her fevered emotions. Dice is not flat, flavorless or insipid like some "popular" paranormal characters (thank you, Ms. Malkin). Dice is effervescently sketched, savvy & abundantly layered. Kudos to Malkin for introducing a heroine we all can root for.

Malkin is a story connoisseurs high end goods. She knows how to create well developed characters & an atmosphere that is hauntingly decadent. Malkin has skills & Swoon displays them.

Dice's feelings for Sin may be really distorted but you do sympathize -- some may even identify with -- her rationale. Thanks to Malkin's superb writing you empathize w/ Dice's fervent emotions instead of thinking Dice is a demented head case.

Swoon packs a wallop & remains w/ you long after you close the book. Malkin has delivered a provocative tale.

A definite addition to your reading list this summer & one to keep handy for rainy days.

Psst! Sex & drugs are an everyday occurrence to young adults & Swoon does allude to those issues, so keep it in mind when recommending this book to adolescents.

Hurry & pick up a copy of Swoon & enjoy the entrancing world of Nina Malkin.

Check out Nina @ http://www.ninamalkin.com/

How to Buy a Love of Reading ~ Tanya Egan Gibson

2009-06-19T02:22:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: May 2009
ISBN-13: 9780525951148
400pp

Courtesy of Tanya Egan Gibson & Dutton/Penguin:

To Carley Wells, words are the enemy. Her tutor’s innumerable SAT flashcards. Her personal trainer’s “fifty-seven pounds overweight” assessment. And the endless reading assignments from her English teacher, Mr. Nagel. When Nagel reports to her parents that she has answered “What is your favorite book” with “Never met one I liked,” they decide to fix what he calls her “intellectual impoverishment.” They will commission a book to be written just for her—one she’ll have to love—that will impress her teacher and the whole town of Fox Glen with their family’s devotion to the arts. They will be patrons— the Medicis of Long Island. They will buy their daughter The Love Of Reading.

Impossible though it is for Carley to imagine loving books, she is in love with a young bibliophile who cares about them more than anything. Anything, that is, but a good bottle of scotch. Hunter Cay, Carley’s best friend and Fox Glen’s resident golden boy, is becoming a stranger to her lately as he drowns himself in F. Scott Fitzgerald, booze, and Vicodin.

When the Wellses move writer Bree McEnroy—author of a failed meta-novel about Odysseus’ failed journey home through the Internet—into their mansion to write Carley’s book, Carley’s sole interest in the project is to distract Hunter from drinking and give them something to share. But as Hunter’s behavior becomes erratic and dangerous, she finds herself increasingly drawn into the fictional world Bree has created, and begins to understand for the first time the power of stories—those we read, those we want to believe in, and most of all, those we tell ourselves about ourselves. Stories powerful enough to destroy a person. Or save her.

Tanya Egan Gibson's intriguing debut How to Buy a Love of Reading is w/o a doubt an engrossing novel.

Gibson's cast of characters are engaging, delightful & interesting. Gibson's writing is truly beautiful.

Juggling all the characters points of view while keeping How to Buy a Love of Reading flowing smoothly instead of tumbling into murky verbiage is where Gibson shines.

Gibson's players are painted w/ rich, robust colors mesmerizing you right from the start. The characters simply soar from the page performing just for you.

Gibson hit the nail on the head showcasing the wealthy lifestyles of Long Islanders. It is rather sad how the rich try to out "money" their own but it is an ongoing occurrence. Gibson's unique take on what money can & can not buy is forceful. Can money really buy a love of reading? As a reader, I'd love to have an unending flow of money (listening book universe) to buy books, bookcases, book gadgets & airfare to attend all of those ultra fabulous book events. Granted, money can buy me all the books on the planet but a hunger for it money just can't buy. My fervor for reading stems from the core of who I am; infact, it shapes who I am in a lot of ways.

Gibson does a sensational job incorporating a lot of modern concepts into How to Buy a Love of Reading. Gibson highlights the obsession many individuals have w/ reality television by skillfully showcasing Carly's obsession w/ the unimaginative genre.

Gibson integrates How to Buy A Love of Reading w/ hot social topics as the novel prudently deals w/unrequited love, weight, body image, self-esteem, alcoholism & drug abuse.

Despite the fact that Gibson's vastly well written & intricate characters are financially affluent, emotionally & spiritually they are impoverished beings. Kudos to Gibson for unmasking the crux of the moneyed & spotlighting the creatures they sincerely are.

Gibson's players may start out as shallow well-heeled hoi polloi but Gibson's eloquent writing unveils a depth to the characters that is delightfully surprising!

Bottom line, literature is something that inspires you, extends your awareness, enhances your life & gives you choices beyond compare!

How to Buy a Love of Reading does start off rather measured but takes off & doesn't let go.
Gibson has you so engaged you find yourself lost in the lives of Carley, Bree & Hunter. So, if you are having trouble @ the beginning, whatever you do... don't give up!

I still find it hard to believe this is Tanya Egan Gibson's debut novel. Where's Ashton? Tanya, am I being punk'd?

Hurry, grab a copy of How to Buy a Love of Reading!

Check out Tanya's awesome website @ http://howtobuyaloveofreading.com/.

The Elite ~ Jennifer Banash

2009-06-14T02:21:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: June 2008
ISBN-13: 9780425221570
Age Range: Young Adult
256pp

Synopsis

From the top, you can see everything . . . except yourself.When Casey McCloy steps into the elegant Bramford building, she's overwhelmed. Fresh from the Midwest, she's moved to New York's Upper East Side to live with her grandmother and attend the prestigious Meadowlark Academy. Here all that matters is who you know. The girl to know is Madison Macallister: popular, pretty, platinum blond. She's not just Casey's new classmate and neighbor; she's an icon. So Casey aims to get in with Madison and her gorgeous gal-pals from the start. As the reigning queen of coolness, Madison is capable of destroying reputations with one well timed whisper. Better to be on her good side.But after a city-haute makeover from her new frenemy Madison, Casey is wearing the right clothes, saying the right things, and meeting the right people-including Drew, the boy-about-town who Madison thinks belongs to her and her alone.

Hmmm... Another series about a Midwestern beauty moving to NYC. Another series featuring more rich, beautiful, bratty teens.

Excuse me, haven't we done this before? Yes! Unfortunately, many times over! Excessively!

Enter Jennifer Banash. JB has skills. Ms. Banash extinguishes the competition w/ her Manolo's then struts down to Bergdorf's to pick up a pair of Corset Bootie 's (Dior), a Stella McCartney Piercing Tote & a Kooba Blake Leather Shoulder Bag (love)! Banash is clearly a rock star & the others pale in comparison screeching karaoke.

Like movie theater popcorn w/ extra butta, a foot massage, a sundae w/ caramel, marshmallow & cherries ;P; a shopping spree @ Christian Louboutin, Victoria Secret & Sephora. Jennifer Banash has a sure fire hit w/ her fabulous Elite series.

Banash's characters are authentic, unique & interesting. Every player has a tale to tell & it is not just filler... it's substance. Banash was brilliant crafting the chapters in alternating points of view. It brings all the characters front & center. No kibbles & bits for the secondary characters...

Banash illuminates every cast member w/ a glow of their own. The Elite isn't just about "poor" Casey & snotty Madison doesn't overshadow the novel w/ her grandstanding & diva tantrums...

Jennifer deftly displays every character's voice & allows them to be genuine characters not high society caricatures! Applause!

Sophie & Phoebe aren't Madison's accessories they are three dimensional young adults w/ intriguing lives w/ secrets to confront, endure & disclose.

Now, I'm not going to leave out the tidbit that the begining of The Elite was a bit slow going but once Banash sets the members up...away we go!

Some may grouse @ the designer brands dripping off the pages, but it is a way of life in the world of big bucks! Eventually, Banash eases up on the labels & gives us the true grit.

Drama, check! Scandal, of course! Fashionista's, come hither... The Elite is a must to toss into your tote!

Kudos to Banash, she didn't wave a La Perla garment & make Casey uber pop. Nah, just wouldn't be believable. Double kudos to Banash for the way she piloted Drew ~ spot on!

Jennifer's characters are extremely well developed. Madison is one of the nastiest something ~ somethings, but Banash writes w/ such emotion, you can't help but feel empathy for the bratty prima donna!

Madison tells it like it is & remains true to form. Casey seems to lose herself once stepping foot in NYC. She is too easily manipulated & I wondered @ times if she left her smarts back home.

Grrr.... I hate when a intelligent female loses sight of herself for a guy or a clique. Weak! Casey needs to toughen up if she's going to make it in the big A. Casey has the backbone to make it... she is just finding her way in Gotham city.

Banash has a hit on her hands & a mean pair of stilettos on her feet!

Check out Jennifer @ www.theelitebooks.com or on MySpace.

Hurry, grab a copy of The Elite @

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Wings ~ Aprilynne Pike

2009-06-11T00:03:00.000-04:00

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pub. Date: May 2009
ISBN-13: 9780061668036
Age Range: 12 and up
304pp

Synopsis

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.
Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.
In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

Let me start this review off by saying, I don't give a hoot if Stephanie Meyer endorses this book or not. This is Aprilynne's creation & not Ms. Meyer's! That said, let's get to it.

Fairies. Hmmm... Is this going to be a theme authors & publisher's are going to inundate us with until the next trend takes flight? Spare me. While I'm venting let me say, I'm not impressed with the copycat plots & the lack of original themes lining up bookstore shelves across the globe.

Enter Aprilynne Pike & her debut novel Wings. So, is the buzz fluttering around this bestselling novel authentic or hype? I must say, you need to read Wings yourself before you rush to make judgements based on the blurb by Meyer. Lovers of Meyer's will flitter to Wings based on her backing, however, haters will dig in their heels & deny themselves the opportunity to experience Pike's young adult fiction, Wings.

Pike's inimitable insight into the universe of faeries is momentous. Pike unearths a provocative symmetry between fantasy & reality. Wings is an enchanting contemporary fairy tale w/ the precise synthesis of excitement, humor, romance, friendship & peril.

Wings does start slow & there are some lengthy moments but Pike builds momentum as the story unfolds. Pike's writing is velvety & flows serenely.

Written in the third person, Wings showcases all the thrilling occurrences in a wider lens. Kudos to Pike for not falling into the first person point of view.

I have not read anything as one-of-a-kind as Pike's Wings; I am extremely interested in finding out where Pike is leading Laurel on this fun journey. Nope, no spoilers from moi!

Wings delves into an alluring land of mythology in which Pike navigates skillfully. Pike's unusual progression made me suspend disbelief. I may have a vivid imagination, but am a bit jaded.

Pike's take on mythology is fun & believable. Heck, Pike can teach mythology if all else fails & she will no doubt captivate her audience. I don't think Pike has to close her laptop or put the cap on her pen.

Unfortunately, Pike's characters aren't as powerful as they could be. I understand this is the first of four books & I do see Pike finding her footing & writing them w/ the vibrancy & angst I know she is capable of. Pike has it, so she needs to show off her dramatic chops by holding nothing back in the rest of the series.

Laurel needs to come in to her own & become more dimensional. I really want to see more depth to Laurel ~ beauty only goes so far. David is charming & I want Pike to delve deeper into what David is all about. Tamani. Tamani is magnetic. He is simply electrifying, like fireworks lighting up the night sky. Does that make me fall into Team Tamani? Not quite. Team David's got it going on, but... Let's see where Pike is taking her story. No spoilers coming from this review.

Wings is an enthralling paranormal fantasy that is written for young adults but younger teens can read this beguiling tale.

Pike is a welcome new voice & if Wings is any indication she will be doing blurbs for up & coming YA talent in no time.

Psst! Isn't the cover riveting?!

Check out Aprilylynne's website @ http://www.aprilynnepike.com.

Secrets of My Hollywood Life ~ Jen Calonita

2009-06-08T21:44:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pub. Date: May 2007
ISBN-13: 9780316154437
Age Range: Young Adult
256pp
Series: Secrets of My Hollywood Life Series

Synopsis

What if... Your picture was taped inside teenage boys' lockers across America, your closets were bursting with never-worn designer clothing, and the tabloids constantly asked whether you were losing your "good girl" status?It's a glamorous life, but sixteen-year-old Kaitlin Burke, costar of one of the hottest shows on TV, is exhausted from the pressures of fame. Then she hits on an outrageously daring solution, one that has to remain top secret or it will jeopardize everything she's ever worked for.

Jen Calonita is my new bff... Shhh! She just doesn't know it! I mean, we are both from Long Island. We think Kaitlin & Liz are awesome.

Secrets of My Hollywood Life is a cute, breezy read that is all about fun! Fun! It is really refreshing to just curl up w/ a kicky read that is just darn enjoyable! No vamps or zombies running around ~ Yay! Jen is like a glass of lemonade when the sun is blaring on your skin... revitalizing!

Jen writes as if she was born w/ a Bic™ attached to her hand. I was just pulled in to Kaitlin's world which is more than Hollywood fluff. Love it! Liz is the friend we all want in our world. Liz is a delightful character that needs her own chronicles. *Hint*.

Calonita's characters are authentic & not over the top "Hollyweird"( Jen must of been lurking about w/ notebook in hand to get the delicious goods on life as a teen & in Hollywood!).

The Los Angeles school district should make Jen's series a reading must in their school curriculum.

Hmmm, I wonder how long it'll be before Disney or Nick come banging on Calonita's door. Anyone willing to place bets it won't be too long?

Believe it not, I found myself relating to *gulp* Kaitlin's bratty co-star, Sky Mackenzie! Yup, I did. I loved Kaitlin but Sky was wicked fun! My diva side does rear its adorable head @ times.

I loved to hate Sky; Jen really made me feel all of Kaitlin's emotions. For me, that is what reputable writing is all about! Calonita made me want what Kaitlin wanted. Jen's writing was so vivacious, I was living Kaitlin's life. I was having a blast living the glam life! Jen gives you a yummy glimpse inside the inner celeb circles ~ guilty pleasure @ its best.

Applause to Calonita for writing a story that is charming, entertaining, interesting & spirited.

If you're looking for a beach read that is breezy & fun Secrets of My Hollywood Life is the book to tote along to the shore, pool, to camp or wherever you happen to be this summer!

Love chick-lit? Secrets of My Hollywood Life has a spunky chick-lit vibe.

Oh, one more thing! I absolutely adore Jen's covers!!! I love them!!!

Check out Jen @ www.jencalonitaonline.com.

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments Series #1) ~ Cassandra Clare

2009-06-05T03:19:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pub. Date: February 2008
ISBN-13: 9781416955078
Age Range: Young Adult
512pp
Series: Mortal Instruments Series, #1

Synopsis

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing — not even a smear of blood — to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Wow! Utterly astonishing! I know you've heard it all before but Cassandra Clare's Young Adult debut City of Bones is scrumptious!

City of Bones is an epic fantasy expedition that seduced me from the beginning & made me turn into something resembling Jello (the red one)! Yes, I was shivering from my ~~Neiman Marcus~~ Target slippers to my corkscrew curls.

City of Bones was a fast-paced read that was jam-packed w/ action so dynamic I was flushed from excitement. Whew!

City of Bones is not your usual young adult tale littered w/ fluff or recycled plots resembling some overdone vampire theme. Over that. City of Bones is a vivacious saga resplendent in dialogue. Cassandra Clare penned an enthralling safari & her Mortal Instruments series exhibits
Clare is one exceptionally talented scribe.

Clare's rendering of Clary as an unparalleled, three-dimensional, empowering heroine is simply a breath of fresh air (am I the only one who thinks Clary Fray is an uber chic rear kickin' fantasy version of Cassandra Clare).

City of Bones is plush in ambiance. Clare simply excels in this gripping young adult fantasy.

City of Bones is as opulent as the highest budget Hollywood production; infact, the book just seems to come to life. It was an electrifying read.

Clare held nothing back when she created this mesmerizing legend. City of Bones delves in dealing w/ family secrets & coming-of-age themes w/ a deft hand. City of Bones melds humor, romance & magic into exquisite subplots that seem immeasurable.

One word to describe Clare's arresting tale? Spellbinding!

Clary's puzzling feelings for Jace are written w/ compassion & understanding. Kudos to Clare for handling all the perplexing emotions Clary experiences poignantly.

Clare pulls you into her vibrant world of Shadowhunters, demons, faeries, humans, vampires & werewolves! Whew! Genius!

I did have a few things figured out way before they were unveiled in the story, but that's because I have a vivid imagination.

City of Bones was like watching a movie ~ so darn theatrical ~ it was breathtaking!

What I love especially about City of Bones is the third person narration! Aahh, Clare showcases more than one character’s experiences! Love that!

City of Bones is truly a jaw-dropping experience.

Just in case you've missed the boat, grab a copy of City of Bones & be prepared for a thrill ride like no other.

Check out Cassandra @ http://www.cassandraclare.com.

Cracked Up to Be ~ Courtney Summers

2009-06-01T03:17:00.000-04:00

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub. Date: December 2008
ISBN-13: 9780312383695
Age Range: Young Adult
224pp

Synopsis

Perfect Parker Fadley isn’t so perfect anymore. She’s quit the cheerleading squad, she’s dumped her perfect boyfriend, and she’s failing school. Her parents are on a constant suicide watch and her counselors think she’s playing games…but what they don’t know, the real reason for this whole mess, isn’t something she can say out loud. It isn’t even something she can say to herself. A horrible thing has happened and it just might be her fault. If she can just remove herself from everybody--be totally alone--then everything will be okay...The problem is, nobody will let her.

I find it hard to believe Cracked Up to Be is Courtney Summers' debut. The writing is breathtakingly unforgettable.

Cracked Up to Be is definitely not a light~hearted read. I was stunned speechless.

Summers stretched her literary muscles & crafted not any "teen angst fluff", but a lyrically spellbinding tome!

I'm not going to summarize the plot for fear it will ruin your reading pleasure. In fact, I don't want to discuss much of Cracked Up to Be for fear of tipping off too much.

Courtney Summers is an author that has a natural gift for telling a story; she doesn't need bells & whistles to get her point across. As I was burning through the pages, I kept wondering, "where on earth has Courtney Summers been?"

Courtney's riveting prose will hypnotize you from the first page.

The players lining Cracked Up to Be are mesmerizing, but Parker is resplendent w/ every hue shimmering like stained glass.

Parker's narration is nourishingly illustrative, which Summers generates deftly. Parker seems to "have it all" but things aren't always what they seem. Parker has a fierce longing for approval & a hunger for love which isn't over the top or wishy washy.

Kudos to Ms. Summers for hitting a home run w/ Cracked Up to Be.

Cracked Up to Be is a profound story w/ rich layers you unearth while turning the pages!

I thought I had it all figured out, but I didn't. I'm usually spot on but Summers got me good!

Summers vividly showcases that it isn't all that it's "cracked up to be" being a youth in today's society. Summers' somber view makes you sit up & take notice. Cracked Up to Be is an alarming introspection into the barbarity of high school life.

Cracked Up to Be is definitely a novel to remember long after you close it.

Check out Courtney @ http://courtneysummers.ca/blog/.

Grab a copy of Cracked Up to Be. Definitely a novel to remember look after you close it.

Prism ~ Faye Kellerman & Aliza Kellerman

2009-05-29T22:40:00.000-04:00

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pub. Date: June 23, 2009
ISBN-13: 9780061687211
Age Range: 12 and up
272pp

Synopsis

Prism takes us to a slightly alternate universe in which medicine and health care do not exist, and in which sick people are allowed to die without any care. Set in New Mexico and California, the novel features three teens who fall through a cave at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico while on a field trip. They are plunged into a frightening parallel universe--seven weeks in the past, in which their "normal" worlds of family and high school remain the same...except for the fact that no medicine exists and when people die in the street they are picked up and disposed of.

Where do I begin? I am a bit speechless. Prism was simply amazing! Prism was so wickedly delicious I had to pinch myself to make sure I didn't have the most awesome of dreams.

I mean, was this a Jerry Bruckheimer production? Was I on the Warner sound stage? This book definitely has what it takes to make it to the silver screen.

Psst! I have a feeling Prism won't take too long to make it to the big screen.

Now, I'm not sure how much I want to divulge since this is a stunning book w/ so much going on.

Faye & Aliza Kellerman definitely have a best seller in Prism. While Faye is no stranger to the list, Aliza will definitely make her best seller debut this summer w/ her break out Young Adult novel, Prism.

Prism has an eclectic array of action, adventure, suspense, chills & thrills. Prism is like riding the cyclone unbelted during a black out. Really!

Aliza & Faye definitely know how to formulate characters. Kaida is my fave. I found myself not just relating to her but understanding her. The characters in Prism are exceptionally written.

The players are lavishly coated, extremely authentic & incandescent. The cast is sweeping w/ real adolescent expectations, imperfections & misgivings. The teens are not written by some adult "remembering" their teen trials & tribulations, but by a bona fide teen. Bravo!

Faye & Aliza have entered the YA arena w/ this gripping debut. While Faye's name is on the cover, it is Aliza's striking aura that takes center stage. Prism has a distinctive voice that is so different from Faye's usual compelling drama you know you've stepped into Aliza's literary orb.

Aliza is a luminous star on the rise. Prism is just a morsel of what Aliza has in store for reader's looking for ingenious stories that make your brain do imaginative calisthenics.

At times, Prism left me holding my breath. Prism has a soulful inflection that speaks volumes for an artistic sixteen year old making her literary inauguration!

Throughout most of Prism, the characters are superbly three-dimensional ~ from time to time even four-dimensional! ~ and move along smoothly through the narrative.

Faye & Aliza left me shaking my head because this mother-daughter duo set the benchmark for how we should look @ parental author collaborations.

Prism is an outstanding read! A definite must for all ages.

The plot is absolutely striking & it poses the question, "What if ?" " What if ? " "What if"... Utterly chilling!

Trust me there was a "Do Not Disturb" vibe while I was curled up w/ this baby!

Faye & Aliza are exquisite storytellers, seizing your attention from the first page. Aliza & Faye used a kaleidoscope of color to saturate this vibrantly rich tome w/ spine-tingling paranormal suspense.

So, get comfy, grab a tight grip & prepare for an awesome adventure from the minute you open Prism!

Prism will be released on 6/23. Hurry! It's available for Pre-order now.

Check out Faye @ www.fayekellerman.net.

Aliza's website is still under construction.

Dead On ~ Robert W. Walker

2009-05-28T18:11:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Gale Group
Pub. Date: July 17, 2009
ISBN-13: 9781594147814
322pp
Series: A Marcus Rydell, Kat Holley PI Thriller

Synopsis

PI Marcus Rydell is set on rehabilitating his chaotic life. Dr. Kat Holley seeks an impetuous vengeance on a psychopath who has ruined both their lives.

Together Marus & Kat reach common ground & learn to respect & understand one another. Kat & Marcus grow closer as they join forces to set things right. Oh, yeah, there's Paco ~ a delightful black dog that steals the show.

Marcus has to come to grips w/ a past he refuses to acknowledge. Kat pulls Marcus into a dangerous hunt in the inky forests to capture a cold, calculated, twisted former marine, Iden Cantu.

Psst! Iden's face is located next to the words "certifiable demented loon"! Really! I was so spooked I thought I saw infrared reflecting off my windows while reading.

Did I dare look? Heck No!!! Geez! Hel lo! I'm from Noo Yawk! Let the freak play Rambo in my yard ~ have @ it twisted nutty bar!

The book kicks off w/ a high octane throttle. Marcus Rydell is about to have a pistol sandwich when a kid in trouble thwarts Marcus from digesting the metallic condiments.

Like a house on fire, Dead On takes off & doesn't burn out until the conclusion, by then you want some more flames coming your way.

Marcus Rydell is a terrific character. A real man w/ genuine issues. No watered down protagonist in this roller coaster thriller! Kudos to Walker for making everything flow like melted butta!

Walker's descriptive expertise is absolutely astonishing! Applause to Walker for accomplishing this skillful talent so darn effortlessly.

Walker knows how to write gritty scenes like he's been hanging out w/ nefarious scum in the seediest of locales.

Walker also knows how to pen riveting characters who just make you feel you are living their lives ~ good & bad characters alike. His writing grips you like a python & you are hooked!

Kat Holley isn't your dainty maiden or damsel in distress. She is a powerful character that kicks butt & tells it like it is. This is definitely a welcome addition when so many female protagonists are just written as curvy cupcakes.

Dead On is definitely a strap on your seat belt thriller. The suspense element is akin to TNT. I found myself not just reading it but wanting to read it. I will scope out his Gaslight series because of this impressive thriller.

Looking for an action packed, frightening read this summer? Dead On is loaded w/ thrills, excitement & a strong cast.

Grab a copy of Robert W. Walker's Dead On & get to meet Marcus, Kat & Paco.

Dead On will be available July 17th!

Pre-Order a copy of Dead On if you like breathless suspense!

Check out Robert @ www.robertwalkerbooks.com

Perfect Chemistry ~ Simone Elkeles

2009-05-27T18:10:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Walker & Company
Pub. Date: December 2008
ISBN-13: 9780802798220
Age Range: Young Adult
368pp

Synopsis

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

Simone Elkeles is an accomplished storyteller. Perfect Chemistry introduces us to the riveting world of Brittany Ellis & Alex Fuentes. The cover is reminiscent of West Side Story w/ Romeo & Juliet whisked in. The plot may be a timeless one of star crossed lovers, rich girl/poor guy but that's where the similarities end.

Perfect Chemistry is a compelling story filled w/ passion, promise & hope. Elkeles crafted a fast-moving, emotionally tense & heart-wrenching love story.

Perfect Chemistry is skillfully narrated in alternating voices showcasing Brittany's heartfelt conflict w/ achieving perfection while her world is rippled w/ tumultuous waves while trying to make her precarious family whole. Alex's abrasive sphere is filled w/ despair, turmoil & a membership into the seedy world of gangs.

Gangs? Gangs? What the heck? Hmmm... How on earth can a gang member be a hero? OK, Elkeles, bring it on. Let me give ya a tip, Ms. Elkeles, I'm a high maintenance, in depth, pampered snob & don't do gangs, ghetto or discount, so let's see what you're made of.

Oh, Elkeles, don't you dare script together a cheese bookwich either.

So, I opened up Perfect Chemistry late last night & did not stop until the wee morning hours. It was dark but the birds were singing along w/ my heart. Beautiful work, Ms. Elkeles. Not only did you bring it, you served it to me Serena Williams style. I had my own Kleenex for the gripping tale & I did shed a few tears. Oh! OK! There were more than a few, but you know that.

Elkeles writing is absolutely mellifluous. Perfect Chemistry delves into the gritty gang environment & Elkeles delivers . Elkeles describes the hideous under belly of gang life as if she went undercover to gain insider info because it is that darn chilling! She did not glide over Alex's life but excavated it à la Indiana Jones. Applause to Ms. Elkeles for delving into the heart & soul of these gripping characters. She did not give us a watered down love story either. She scribbled a three-dimensional story that is matchless, hard to put down & even harder to duplicate.

Perfect Chemistry is a pungent novel filled w/ action, drama, romance & lessons learned not crammed down to make a statement or to say "The End".

Perfect Chemistry is an emotional read & richly displays genuine love knows no boundaries.

After closing Perfect Chemistry, I took a breath. I didn't want the journey to end. Elkeles showed her prowess from beginning to end. I felt as if I lived Alex & Brittany's lives. I was spent w/ emotion & it was glorious!

Perfect Chemistry displays you can't judge a book by its cover. Elkeles illustrates love emanates from deep within & labels have no place in the purist of hearts!

It is one of those books you want to read again & again & again...

So, what are you waiting for? Hurry! Grab a copy of Perfect Chemistry!

Check Simone out @ www.simoneelkeles.net!

Psst! I just adore her site :}.

Sugar Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen Series #6) ~ Joanne Fluke

2009-05-26T23:18:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Pub. Date: October 2005
ISBN-13: 9780758206824
352pp
Series: Hannah Swensen Series, #6

Synopsis

The holidays are the icing on the cake for bakery owner Hannah Swensen. Surrounded by her loved ones, she has all the ingredients for a perfect Christmas—until murder is added to the mix...
When it comes to holidays, Minnesotans rise to the occasion—and the little town of Lake Eden is baking up a storm with Hannah leading the way. The annual Christmas Buffet is the final test of the recipes Hannah has collected for the Lake Eden Holiday Buffet Cookbook. While Hannah is baking the day’s goodies at The Cookie Jar, the evening’s plans begin to jell. Start with the best Lake Eden culinary creations, add two of Hannah’s “sometime” boyfriends, a pinch of her ready-to-pop pregnant sister, and a dash of her mother and new significant other, an actual British lord, and what do you get? A recipe for disaster, but the juiciest ingredient is yet to come...
The recently divorced Martin Dubinski arrives at the buffet with his new Vegas showgirl wife—all wrapped up in glitter and fur. His ex-wife, however, seems as cool as chilled eggnog. And when Hannah’s mother’s antique Christmas cake knife disappears, its discovery in the décolletage of the new—and now late—Mrs. Dubinski puts the festivities on ice.
With everyone stranded at the community center by a blizzard, Hannah puts her investigative skills to the test, using the ingredients at hand: half the town of Lake Eden—and a killer. Now, as the snowdrifts get higher, it’s up to Hannah to dig out all the clues—and make sure that this white Christmas doesn’t bring any more deadly tidings…

Guess what? This yummy novella includes over twenty-five original recipes! Delicious :p!

Hannah Swensen Rocks! It's that simple. I love Hannah ~ what's not to love?!

Joanne Fluke's first holiday mystery is an enticing read. I devoured it in one sitting.

Sugar Cookie Murder is a well thought out mystery that isn't your typical cozy. Sugar Cookie Murder is an extremely tempting read that is half mystery & half cook book.

Sugar Cookie Murder is brimming w/ scrumptious recipes that would make Julia Child smack her lips & shout, "Whoa! Talk about mouthwatering goodness"!

Fluke's veritable brilliance simply glows in this delectably captivating series. Sugar Cookie Murder whisks up a little mystery, a murder, tasty recipes & a deeper look @ the fascinating characters that reside in the charismatic Hannah Swensen Mystery series.

Fluke has created an absorbing character in Hannah Swensen; she not only charms but warms your heart like a delicious cup of cocoa.

Lake Eden, Minnesota is a town that has a lot charm & the characters are irresistibly engaging.

Joanne is a gifted storyteller that electrifies Hannah Swensen w/ every book she pens.

Quick! Grab a copy of Sugar Cookie Murder.

Check out Jo's site @ www.murdershebaked.com.

All The Way Home ~ Wendy Corsi Staub

2009-05-23T21:02:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Pub. Date: April 2007
ISBN-13: 9781420100389
416pp

Synopsis

Lake Charlotte. A quiet little town in upstate New York. People still talk about the summer ten years ago when four teenage girls mysteriously disappeared. No one remembers that summer more vividly than Rory Connelly. Her older sister Carleen vanished from her bed in the middle of the night, never to be seen again. When she left Lake Charlotte, she vowed never to return. But now, ten years later, Rory Connelly is coming home.. "It's only supposed to be for the summer. Rory has to cope with her mother's slow descent into insanity and her rebellious teenage sister Molly. The arrival of Barrett Maitland only makes things worse. The handsome stranger knows too much about the past and is constantly asking Rory questions.. "Then, on the anniversary of the very first disappearance, another teenage girl vanishes. Once again, Lake Charlotte is gripped in fear, and for Rory, it's the past nightmare revisited. Only this time, her own life is in jeopardy. For walking through the streets of the town, wearing a familiar face, is a cunning killer with a chilling personal message:. "Welcome home, Rory. You've been gone such a long time, but now that you're back, you're never going to leave Lake Charlotte again....".

Let me start off by saying Wendy is one of my absolute favorite writers. She writes those creepy thrillers like nobody's business. I love that she sets her books in our home state of NY. So, I'm a tad biased there.

I think of Wendy as a Gothic scribe for the now generation. Yep, no heaving bosoms, no heavy garb & no men treating her heroines like children or a fragile bird... puh-lease!

Wendy takes her heroines to the next level where the protagonist is in charge. Yes, the ladies are confident, intelligent, powerful, engaging, witty, attractive, and authentic! They don't need a man to survive in this world... they have them to add extra flavor to their lives. If they want their bosoms to heave that is the heroine's choice to bare her assets. Unfortunately, danger & suspense looms wherever these ladies go. Love it!

Rory is an incredibly drawn character. I felt all of her emotions & held my breath in some scenes. I'm still waiting for her to return somewhere... someday. Hint :]. Rory is one of my favorite empowering leading ladies. She felt like family. I warmed to her instantly.

When I want to sink my teeth into top-notch suspense, Wendy always delivers the goods.

Wendy knows how to create characters that are entertaining. She doesn't let up when her characters get pulled into the spookiest of situations. She doesn't overkill the menacing plights either. She writes all of her characters w/ an in depth look into their psyche & you see where the characters are coming from. Wendy doesn't "tell" she shows.

I especially enjoy reading Wendy's books when there is a thunder storm raging.

Psst! I stash a new book away for just that occasion. Really!

Barrett was an engaging addition & was well thought out.

I felt the charm & macabre of Lake Charlotte wash over me.

All The Way Home is a remarkably worthy chilling tale.

Mary Higgins Clark may be the Queen of Suspense, but Wendy Corsi Staub is the Duchess!

Wendy Corsi Staub is skilled @ delivering astonishing endings. Her shuddersome killers are often concealed in plain sight. However, Wendy does an expert job of keeping them disguised until the exact second that she has chosen to unmask them. Voilà! Crazy eerie.

If you like your thrillers to really put a fright in you, All The Way Home is the book for you. Wendy Corsi Staub is scary scribe extraordinaire.

All The Way Home is definitely a page turner & it is brimming w/ red herrings!

Wendy's trademark is ominous suspense w/ an sinister twist.

Quick! Grab a copy of All The Way Home before the thunder claps.

Check out Wendy @ www.wendycorsistaub.com

Bulls Island ~ Dorothea Benton Frank

2009-05-22T19:21:00.000-04:00

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pub. Date: April 2008
ISBN-13: 9780061438431
352pp

Synopsis

After twenty years, Elizabeth "Betts" McGee has finally managed to put her past behind her. She hasn't been home to beautiful South Carolina and untouched Bulls Island since the tragic night that ended her engagement to Charleston's golden boy, J. D. Langley.
And why is that? Really, this is the story of two old Southern families. The Langley family has more money than the Morgan Stanley Bank. And they think they have more class. The Barrett family made their nineteenth-century fortune in a less distinguished manner—corner grocery stores and liquor stores. It's no surprise that when J.D. and Betts fall in love and decide to marry their parents are none too pleased. And when the love affair comes to an end, everyone is ready to place blame.
Now twenty years have gone by and Betts, a top investment bank executive, must leave her comfortable life in New York City to return to the home she thought she'd left behind forever. But spearheading the most important project of her career puts her back in contact with everything she's tried so hard to forget: her estranged sister, her father, J.D., and her past.
Once she's home, can Betts keep the secret that threatens all she holds dear? Or will her fear of the past wreck her future happiness? And what about that crazy gator? All will be revealed on Bulls Island.

Sunblock... check. Bottled water... double check. Shades... got 'em! Cooler... 'course. Towels... Duh! Flip flops... on. Hand sanitizer... x's 2... u betcha! Disposable wipes... oh, yeah. Brimmed hat... reluctantly grumble yes 'cause it messes my 'do, but I refuse to look like a prune, so on it goes. Lifejackets for the ~~yacht~~ boat. Swimwear... Swimwear... Swimwear... shoot! Did I really need that ~~2nd~~ 3rd ~~sliver~~ slice of key lime pie? Yes! It's not my fault Memorial Day weekend arrived so darn soon. Grrr.... : /

Let me remove the Doritos & pack healthy snacks... wait, I'll take a few individual packages for portion control. Yeah, that's it.

Now that we're ready to hit the shore... Yes, we're kicking off summer w/ Dorothea Benton Frank's Bulls Island.

So, grab your lemonade, iced tea, mint julep & let's relax as the South Carolina scents intoxicates, invades & seduces you.

Let the balmy breeze caress your sun kissed body as the sun's radiance penetrates your warm skin.

I'm not going to mince words. This book is fabulous. JD Langley is titillating. Southern ambrosia!

I think I need an iced drink... make it a double. Heck, just pass me the cubes! (Yes, I'm spoken for but this spicy tamale wants to know one thing... Does Dot actually know a "real" life JD??? Why! Why? You ask... uhhh... inquiring minds want to know. Geez!)

Bulls Island is Southern charm @ its finest!

Betts McGee ~ love that stripper/poker ace name ~ is a force to be reckoned with. Dare I say a hybrid of a Koala bear, gator & pit bull. She is a splendid heroine. Betts has an admirable spirit & an incredible heart.

JD's mama, Louisa Langley is an intimidating bitch! This matriarch was born w/ talons & tries to reign over her son, daughter-in-law, hubby & Charleston society. Think about a Southern Queen mum. Cool visual, eh?

Frank's characters are so believable ~ the secondary have a voice that shines as bright as the main. No one in Frank's watercolor palette gets watered down. She knows how to formulate well fleshed characters ~ flaws & all.

This chick can write. Dorothea created a world of magic & I was a Southern Princess.

Opening up Bulls Island was pure bliss. I was whisked to the South Carolina Lowcountry. I envisioned beautiful American Oystercatchers, loggerheads, painted buntings, gorgeous endangered red wolves & running ~ screaming ~ from gators (not cool).

I smelled the briny salt air & walked along the palmetto grass. I dreamed of cycling along the wide, sandy roads that traverse the island. Frank's lush setting made me want to pack some toiletries, round up my pets & head down to South Carolina. After settling down, I'd hop a ferry to Bulls Island. I wanted my body to kick back in the sultry lowcountry because that was the only part of me that wasn't there. Frank's rhythmic writing had me enjoying the southern warmth & genial hospitality she imagined.

I was pulled into the captivating family dynamics. Frank wrote about the Langley & McGee drama effortlessly. She did not drop the ball once writing it from Betts & JD's viewpoint. It unfolded smoothly. No easy execution. Kudos to Dorothea for the mellifluous transition.

Betts deserves an award for taking so much drama from her future mother-in-law from the land of fire & brimstone... I would not have been as classy. Just think of those fantasy scenes Jennifer Lopez had in Monster-in- Law! Just sayin'...

Reading Bulls Island was a sweet vacation. It was escapism @ its best. This is one of the beach reads for the season. I mean, how could you not love juicy secrets & lies that aren't yours?

The Southern community does do secrets & lies w/ panache.

For me, the ending was a bit too easy. I wanted a bit more. I guess I didn't want to say goodbye to the characters. The epilogue tied it together magnificently, but I wanted more Betts & JD before the epilogue made me say my tearful goodbyes.

Hello... Ms. Frank? A sequel would do me a world of good.

C'mon show your Southern charm & toss me a crab cake.

So, grab a copy of Bulls Island.

Some book stores may have broken their street date of 5/26 & it may be out now;].

Well, I declare! Git it!!!

What a terrific way to kick off the long weekend of sun & fun, huh?

Check out the awesome lyrical poet @ http://www.dotfrank.com

PB available on May 26

Candy Apple Dead ~ Sammi Carter

2009-05-21T23:12:00.001-04:00

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
Pub. Date: September 2005
ISBN-13: 9780425205327
240pp
Series: A Candy Shop Mystery

Synopsis

Abby Shaw has returned to her hometown of Paradise, Colorado--leaving behind a career in corporate law and a cheating husband--to take over her aunt's candy shop, Divinity. But her sweet new life quickly turns sour when a fellow merchant dies in a fire. With all clues pointing to arson--and Abby's brother as the number one suspect--she must sink her teeth into finding the killer.

What could be more delish than a mystery series that takes place in a candy shop? Adding pizza, cheese & baked goods is the only thing that comes to mine. Oh, talk about sheer deliciousness.

Sammi Carter's Abby Shaw is the latest amateur sleuth to join the ranks in the cozy mystery genre.

Candy Apple Dead is a luscious read.

I enjoyed getting to know Abby in this tempting debut. I loved the small town feel of life in Paradise, Colorado.

Carter created a likable heroine who has chutzpah. Abby seems to have no fear & thrusts herself right into the thick of things.

While Abby does stick herself into the midst of some precarious situations & you often wonder,"what the heck is she doing?" it makes sense.

Granted, it is a bit frustrating but you can't help but root for her as she tries to get to the bottom of the murder. Which is what makes her a believable & endearing protagonist. You just want Abby to persevere.

The characters are interesting & not all syrupy sweet. Love that!

The family dynamics between Abby & her brother are intriguing. You want to know more about what lies beneath all of their tension. You want to know what makes Wyatt behave the way he does. Why two children growing up under the same roof veer off into two very different paths.

Carter pens Wyatt in a way where you want to know what makes him tick ~ you just want to know more about him, his wife & children.

As for Abby, you want her to have it all. She is charming, sassy & smart.

Candy Apple Dead is an entertaining mystery. The clues are drizzled about evenly & it is a fast, fun read.

Carter's Candy Apple Dead kicks off the Candy Shop Mystery series & this series shows bright promise.

My only gripe was the ending. It seemed to end a tad too abruptly. For me, the big reveal was more like, "Huh?" it just didn't click well enough for me.

Perhaps, a few more pages would of done the trick?!

So, grab a copy of Candy Apple Dead & enjoy the savory goodness.

Check out Sammi @ www.sammicarter.com or http://sammicarter.blogspot.com/

Large Print Edition

A Peach of a Murder: A Fresh-Baked Mystery ~ Livia J. Washburn

2009-05-21T19:43:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: October 2006
ISBN-13: 9780451219749
272pp
Series: Fresh-Baked Mystery

Synopsis

All year round, retired schoolteacher Phyllis Newsom is as sweet as peach pie-except during the Peach Festival, whose blue ribbon has slipped through Phyllis's fingers more than once... Everyone's a little shook up when the corpse of a no-good local turns up underneath a car in a local garage. But even as Phyllis engages in some amateur sleuthing, she won't let it distract her from out-baking her rivals and winning the upcoming Peach Festival contest. She and all the other contestants guard their secret, original recipes with their lives-and talk a whole lot of trash. With her unusual Spicy Peach Cobbler, Phyllis hopes to knock 'em dead. But that's just an expression-never in her wildest dreams did she think her cobbler would actually kill a judge. Now, she's suspected of murder-and she's got to bake this case wide open.

A Peach of a Murder kicks off Livia J. Washburn's mouthwatering Fresh-Baked Mystery series. Yummy!

Let me tell you straight away, you will definitely be on the hunt for a Peach Festival & some heavenly peach-pie piping hot from the oven. Oh, go ahead, toss on a few scoops of ice cream. I'm not Paula Deen so homemade is not necessary for this foodie. Good 'ole Turkey Hill or Blue Bunny does the trick. Crazy good!

I read A Peach of a Murder w/ my faux Texas accent which is actually quite good... thank you JR Ewing!

Livia's description about life in Weatherford, Texas is unbelievable. I wanted to go visit the gritty, broiling Texas climate in search of a Peach Festival. Which is a plus whenever I'm reading any book, but especially a cozy! If the author pulls me off the island & plunks me down into their fictional town it is definitely a winner.

Washburn has an uncommon way w/ words & knows how to create a stirring tale. A Peach of a Murder is a delectable debut. Washburn doesn't toss nonsense into a baking pan & expect it to taste good. It is good because all the ingredients to prepare a well written & interesting story is included in this pungent cozy.

What I thought was impressive was the way Washburn weaved the mystery, showcased the ladies various degrees of friendship, introduced a man in their enclave & touched on a very delicate matter. A Peach of a Murder isn't your standard whodunit, Washburn seasoned it w/ layers of twist & turns.

Washburn showcased her writing chops by encompassing different story lines & crocheting it all together in a delightful bow.

A Peach of a Murder has a terrific cast of characters. Phyllis isn't the only witty character to grace the pages of Washburn's baking debut. I'm not a fan of the Golden Girls... the theme song is torture enough. I just can't get into those biddies, yet I picture Rue McClanahan as Eve. 'Nuff said!

A Peach of a Murder is a zesty start to an engaging series. Phyllis made me ache for my grandma who passed away when I was 8. For me, 23 years is too long to be w/o a grandma & while reading this baked delight she wasn't too far away.

So, what 'cha waiting for? The Peach Festival to pass ya by? Grab a copy of A Peach of a Murder. After all, Weatherford is the Peach Capital of Texas.

I also love the cover. I just wanted to jump in & voilà end up picking peaches @ Newt Bishop's Orchard.

Psst... I'm a cover tart!

Check out Livia @ www.liviawashburn.com or Check out Livia's blog.

A little treat...

PHYLLIS’S SPICY PEACH COBBLER

1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 1/2 tablespoon minced candied ginger
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup water
4 cups sliced peaches
Preheat oven to 375º. Combine cornstarch, minced candied ginger, brown sugar, and water in saucepan. Cook until thickened and then add peaches. Cook until peaches are hot, about 5 minutes. Pour into buttered 9” pan making sure the ginger is evenly contributed.

Basic Pie Crust for 1 (9-inch) pie crust.

1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons ice water
1 teaspoon granulated or turbinado (raw) sugar

Mix flour and salt in chilled bowl, then cut shortening into the flour with a pastry cutter, until mixture resembles the texture of tiny split peas. When the mixture is the right texture, add the ice water and combine with a fork. Quickly gather the dough into a ball and flatten into a 4-inch-wide disk. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

Remove dough disk from refrigerator. If stiff and very cold, let stand until dough is cool but malleable. Using a floured rolling pin, roll dough disk on a lightly floured surface until it’s bigger than the pan. Transfer dough by carefully rolling it around the rolling pin, lift and unroll dough, centering it over the fruit. Vent crust, and sprinkle granulated or turbinado (raw) sugar on top to give a delightful sparkling appearance.

Bake cobbler for 50 minutes or until golden brown.

The candied ginger gives this dessert a warm zesty taste.

Enjoy!

Better Off Wed: An Annabelle Archer Mystery ~ Laura Durham

2009-05-20T20:07:00.000-04:00

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pub. Date: January 2005
ISBN-13: 9780060738310
256pp

Synopsis

The murder of a particularly difficult mother-of-the-bride has cast a pall on wedding planner Annabelle Archer's latest triumph — and suspicion falls heavily on her sometime-business partner and friend Richard Gerard. Annabelle knows that even her trusted wedding emergency kit won't be able to salvage their careers if she and Richard can't find the real culprit.
It's no easy task since the slain matron was perhaps the most hated socialite in D.C., but Annabelle navigates through the city's colorful wedding industry and powerful social scene on the deadly trail of a killer. Always the bridal consultant and never the bride, she's seen her fair share of bouquet tosses. But there's no telling what surprises a ruthless killer will throw her way if she gets too close.

One word... Depends®.

Now that that little matter is mentioned I can continue on my merry way.

" I just hope the MOB is happy".

Goodness, Laura Durham is friggin' hilarious... or she is related to Lucille Ball. Either way Better Off Wed is a rip-roaring adventure. Yep, this chick knows her comedy like Joan Rivers knows plastic surgery & the Don knows hair pieces. Yeah, Laura is gifted w/ comedic timing & she knows where to deliver it in a book.

Better Off Wed was given as gifts to anyone who wanted a good read. Which isn't always easy to find in a world filled w/ books w/ not much going on. Which is totally not eco cool.

Memo! Please stop wasting paper on drivel!

Better Off Wed is a tumultuous expedition in hilarity.

Laura Durham is a real-life wedding planner who held nothing back penning Better Off Wed.

Annabelle is charming, amusing & a sheer delight. Annabelle did not come from a ream of one dimensional amateur sleuths. Nope. Not even close. Annabelle owns "Wedding Belles" ~ love the name ~ & this is where the comedy & murder sprouts.

Annabelle's friend Richard is wickedly uproarious! In a nutshell... strap on some Depends®!!!

I was laughing so hard I thought I was losing it... okay, losing more of it.

Durham does an excellent job pointing the finger @ everyone... but pulls the ultimate illusion making the culprit a surprise. Applause & a bouquet of a medium-bodied cabernet sauvignon for that delectable feat.

Durham's Better Off Wed won the 2005 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Not surprised! Read it & see for yourself.

The characters are quirky ~ from Kate to yummy Detective Reese. Whoa! It's getting hot in here. Spicy! He's enough to make you want to hop an Amtrak to DC.

The twists & turns keep you turning pages. It's a fast read & when you reach the last page you want to immediately grab For Better or Hearse Annabelle's 2nd wedding adventure.

Oh, you better just order To Love and To Perish to round out the screaming romp you'll be having & the men in the white coats can be eco-friendly & make one trip = Q!

Check out Laura @ http://www.lauradurham.com/! This way she can get to stepping on updating it ; ].

Read Excerpt

Grab a copy of Better Off Wed!

MysteryLovers.com

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

Independent Mystery Booksellers

Booksense.com

* The Book Resort owns no stock & is not affiliated w/ Depends® &/or Kimberly-Clark.

*** The Book Resort is affiliated w/ the Beach Giggle Princess & all rights are reserved for the red carpet chica!

Nutty as a Fruitcake ~ Mary Daheim

2009-05-19T23:04:00.000-04:00

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pub. Date: August 2000
ISBN-13: 9780380778799
272pp
Series: Bed-and-Breakfast Series, #10

Synopsis

Hillside Manor's neighbors all adored proprietor Judith McMonigle Flynn's festive suggestion to deck the halls and houses in their cul-de-sac with eye-catching Christmas finery -- except Enid Goodrich.The grumpy old humbug refused to cooperate.Then someone cooked her Christmas goose -- silencing Enid's objections with a handy hatchet. Though Judith's already got a lot under her tree -- what with Holiday business booming and the anticipated unwanted arrival of hubby Joe's soused ex-spouse -- she's not about to let murder mess up what's left of her seasonal spirit. With the help of irrepressible cousin Renie, Judith's determined to wrap up this case for Christmas -- and expose the Scrooge-slayer who felt strongly that the only Goodrich is a Deadrich.

Mary Daheim's Bed & Breakfast series is definitely one of the best amateur sleuth series written.

The Hillside Manor Bed & Breakfast is definitely thriving w/ action, adventure, mayhem, merriment & ...murder. Yep, there seems to be bodies scattered all about the Pacific Northwest.

Just be prepared when you check in.

Judith McMonigle Flynn is too much...fun. She's absolutely exhilarating! Her cousin Renie is bubbling over w/ exuberance. The two together is the perfect definition of the term
"madcap hijinks".

Nutty as a Fruitcake is a side-splitting experience. I laughed so hard I just couldn't control my fits of laughter.

I tend to make sure I'm not alone reading this delightful cozies in public. One may think I'm balmy for roaring the way I do.

Nutty as a Fruitcake is the 10th Bed & Breakfast mystery. The creative Mary Daheim pulls no punches w/ the characters, plot & mystery.

Kudos to Daheim for keeping the series fresh w/o recycling previous storylines!

Nutty as a Fruitcake is a must read for cozy mystery lovers because it's a truly delightful experience. Wickedly delicious!

Judith's mother Gertrude is unquestionably a remarkable standout!

Long-time readers of the series will absolutely adore Nutty as a Fruitcake & new readers will no doubt want to pick up the earlier books in this whimsical series!!!

Check out Mary @ www.authormarydaheim.com.

No One to Trust ~ Iris Johansen

2009-05-18T18:21:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Bantam Books
Pub. Date: August 2003
ISBN-13: 9780553584370
301pp

Synopsis

He is the most terrifying of killers: ruthless, cunning, charismatic. And he has the means to get whatever he wants. And what Rico Chavez wants most is Elena Kyler—and he wants her dead. Trained as an assassin, Elena didn’t need anyone to survive. But now she finds herself on the run from one dangerous man and turning for help to another.

Sean Galen was a man without illusions. He knew it was only desperation that caused Elena to accept his help—a mother’s desperation to save her young son from a psychopath father who would raise their son in his own chilling image. And yet he was determined to get this woman who had never been able to trust anyone or anything in her whole life to accept him as her ally. But both Galen and Elena know that Chavez’s power and wealth mean there is no place they can be safe and no one they can trust—not even each other. Already Chavez’s assassins and connections to those in the highest positions of power have turned this into a war with no rules.

With two shocking acts of brutal violence, Chavez shows he will stop at nothing and that nothing will stop him. Soon a trail of horrifying murders will follow Galen and Elena across country to a last stand and a shattering showdown. For Chavez is a master of control and he wants more than just to take Elena’s life. He wants her alive long enough to see him destroy everyreason she has for living. He wants her to turn against everything and everyone she ever believed in. He wants her to commit the ultimate act of betrayal. And by the time he is through, he wants her to beg him to take the only thing she’ll have left to give: her life.

I enjoy reading Ms. Johansen but No One to Trust left me wanting...

a. To toss it out... fast!
B. To SCREAM!!!
C. To say,"What the... hay!"
D. To make sure Iris did in fact write this book???
E. To use it as tissue to wipe the tears of hysteria from forcing myself to read just one more page.
F. To lQQk for the VISINE®.
G.To run naked through the countryside to detoxify my system.

No One to Trust lacked significance. For me, there was no nitty-gritty.Elena Kyler did nothing to make me care about her life or her situation. Bor~ing!

I continued reading hoping it would get better. It didn't.

I just wasted good reading time on babble. I found myself wanting to do other things instead of reading Ms. Johansen's novel. I thought it was more fun to pour honey on myself & sit under a bee's nest.

Reading is all about perception, so many may enjoy this ~~bunk~~ book, but I enjoyed my time w/ the bees. Buzz~Buzz!

Check out Iris Johansen @ http://www.irisjohansen.com

Murder of a Small-Town ~ Denise Swanson

2009-05-17T22:27:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Signet
Pub. Date: July 2000
ISBN-13: 9780451200556
256pp
Series: Scumble River Mystery Series

Synopsis:

When Skye Denison left Scumble River years ago, she swore she'd never come back. Now, having been fired from her job, jilted by her boyfriend and rejected by her credit cards, she has reluctantly returned....

Immediately, Skye's determination to keep a low profile as the new school psychologist is assaulted by an army of small-town busybodies and well-meaning family members who can't wait to pry into her life, dole out advice, and volunteer her services in the Chokeberry Days festival.

And when the fair erupts in chaos and controversy, the Cow Chip Bingo sabotaged and the jelly contest ruined, Skye closes the event down altogether by finding a dead body....

The deceased, who at first appears to be the elderly host of a beloved children's TV program, and a dear, sweet thing, turns out to be quite different — a sexy young woman with a wild past and more secrets than are in Aunt Minnie's Jello Surprise. And if this stunning revelation weren't enough to intrigue Skye's inner snoop, soon her own brother is accused of the crime....

Denise Swanson had me laughing so hard tears rolled & rolled... & rolled again! This series is hysterical. Skye is friggin' hilarious!

My favorite was the Cow Chip Bingo. I had to wipe the tears away. It was unbelievably uproarious!

I would combust into fits of laughter telling anybody & everybody about the wickedly delicious Scumble River series.

Watching Skye Denison return to her hometown was enjoyable. Skye is definitely well loved & is welcome w/ open arms. Of course, there are a few sarcastic comments made about her extra padding ~ she put on a few pounds while away from home.

Skye offers to be a jelly judge at Chokeberry Days, a local tradition that had me doubling over from laughing so hard. Some Scumble River residents advocate it as a way to bring revenue into the town, while others oppose it, groaning it is bringing a little too much change.

Swanson knows how to create characters who are a vibrant mix of personalities. Skye's a quick-witted woman w/ an abundance of intuition into human frailty. Swanson does an excellent job keeping Skye credible.

Skye's dichotomy of indecision is spot on. Skye's thrilled to be home embracing her family's nurturing affection, yet disillusioned by her own feelings of inadequacy. Which Swanson does an extraordinary job describing. Bravo to Denise!!!

Denise Swanson's Murder of a Small-Town depicts life in a small town effortlessly. I wanted to pack my bags for a weekend stay w/ Skye & the rest of the quirky Denison's.

Murder of a Small-Town Honey is a charming, rapid paced mystery that will leave you absolutely impatient for your next visit to Scumble River.

Hurry pick up a copy of Murder of a Small-Town Honey...

Warning! Refrain from noshing or drinking while reading!!!

Check out Denise's website @ www.deniseswanson.com/

Mum's the Word ~ Kate Collins

2009-05-17T19:56:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: November 2004
ISBN-13: 9780451213501
304pp
Series: Flower Shop Mystery Series, #1

Synopsis

Abby Knight is the proud owner of her hometown flower shop, but a new low-cost competitor is killing her profits-and a black SUV just rammed her vintage Corvette in a hit-and-run. She's determined to track down the driver, but when the trail turns deadly, the next flower arrangement might be for her own funeral.

Abby Knight is an intelligent, engaging character that is wrapped in spark & humor. She is a welcome addition to the amateur sleuth genre.

The mystery genre is saturated w/ writers chomping @ the bit to find their place in a market that many enter but few remain.

Where standouts are few & far between. Trust me. I am a cozy mystery aficionado.

I am picky when it comes to my mysteries. Downright critical actually but Abby Knight shines!

Mum's the Word kicks off the first of the Flower Shop Mysteries & what an amusing story.

Kate Collins does a terrific job linking a lot of interesting ribbons into her delightful plot.

Mum's the Word is a smartly crafted, well written mystery. Kate does an excellent job keeping it entertaining as she steers a course of mayhem, family dynamics, fun & humor.

Abby is a feisty protagonist who speaks her mind & sticks her nose in places she shouldn't. She is extremely likable & her scenes w/ her family are hilarious.

Enter Marco Salvare... hotness. Marco is dark, enigmatic, esoteric being that adds to the series.

Did I mention hot hot?

The chemistry between Abby & Marco was like watching a fireworks display. Enough said!

Marco! Quick let me grab an icy bottle of water.

Abby's flower shop, Bloomers, is a rare gem. Her employees are enthralling.

Collins writes w/ a warmth that enhances this adorable series.

Kudos to her for the cozy feel that covers you from the first page.

Collins characters are charismatic, witty & truly enchanting!

Once I started reading Mum's the Word it was difficult to put down.

While visiting New Chapel, Indiana, take a walk around the square & grab a bite @ Marco's bar & grill. Dee. Lish!

Head on back to Abby's for a chat w/ Grace, Lottie & Abby while sipping on tea & munching on some scrumptious baked goods. Yum! Even say hi to Jillian on her way out... or yours.

Although the mystery was somewhat obvious to figure out, there are more than enough bumps & zigzags in the road that I didn't see everything coming @ me.

Mum's the Word is an exhilarating new series that should be added to everyone's reading list.

Grab a copy of Kate Collins fabulous Mum's the Word. You won't be disappointed. Well, you may if you don't have the next in the series.

So, scoop up a copy of Slay It With Flowers while you're @ it ~ to follow Abby on her next sleuthing adventure.

Check Kate out @ http://www.katecollinsbooks.com/.

Pick Your Poison ~ Leann Sweeney

2009-05-16T19:37:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date: May 2004
ISBN-13: 9780451210319
272pp
Series: Yellow Rose Mystery Ser.

Synopsis

Out of school, out of work, and out of motivation, Abby Rose is contemplating her life and wondering what to do next. It's the kind of situation that would get some girls down, but luckily Abby's got a heart the size of Texas -- and a bank account to match...

When Abby discovers her gardener, Ben, dead in the greenhouse one afternoon, the emptiness of her own life hits her like a glass of ice-cold Texas tea. Ever since her father died, she's been mooning around the pool, making herself as useful as a junebug on a daisy. When the sexy detective from the Houston P.D. tells her it was poison that killed Ben, Abby realizes what she needs to do with herself: solve a murder. Little does she suspect that the answers to her questions about Ben's death will unlock secrets about her own past -- and might change her entire future...

Pick Your Poison is an outstanding debut!!! Leann Sweeney has penned a saucy, sassy, lovable character in spitfire Abby Knight!

Leann delivers the goods & there is no sleuth like Abby ~ she is a standout!

It's hard to believe Pick Your Poison is Leann's first mystery. I wondered if she was writing incognito.

Trust me, I did my own bit of sleuthing to make sure Sweeney wasn't writing under a hush~hush pseudonym. Yes, it is that splendid.

Leann's setting is a character all its own. I wanted to loll poolside w/ Abby, Webster & Kate. I'd sip on Raspberry Lemonade w/ crushed ice while kissing Webster in between dips in the luxurious pool.

Yes! I imagined living in River Oaks. I wanted to visit Houston & Galveston while reading this delightful series.

Leann described the setting so distinctly she deserves recognition for that alone. I felt the scorching Texas heat cloying me like molasses.

Pick Your Poison showcases impressive characters. Abby may be an amateur sleuth by cozy standards but there is nothing amateur about Abby! Pick Your Poison has absorbing characters that make you give a darn!

Despite the fact that Leann Sweeney is one of my absolute favorite authors, I will tell you a little too much is given early on, but it is a debut & she has only gotten better as the series progressed.

Now that that's out of the way...

Pick Your Poison is chock-full w/ action, mystery, romance & an uproarious fun time!

I don't know about you, but in today's erratic economy where on earth can you find a boisterously wild & exciting adventure for $6.99?

Grab a copy ~ copies to keep around for gifts is even better ~ of Leann Sweeney's Pick Your Poison.

Pick Your Poison is top-notch! Leann Sweeney deserves a platinum dagger.

Leann doesn't try to write funny~ it is a natural talent.

Leann is one of my comfort reads... no matter what she takes me away from it all.

~~"Don't Mess with Texas"~~ "Don't Mess with Abby Rose"!!!

Psst! Leann's new Cats in Trouble series is out now. Grab a copy of The Cat, the Quilt, and the Corpse while you're @ it.

Just don't forget my gal Abby!!!

Check out Leann @ www.leannsweeney.com

Buy from Amazon

The Yellow Rose Mysteries series is now available through Recorded Books & Audible.com.

Blue-Eyed Devil ~ Lisa Kleypas

2009-05-15T20:13:00.000-04:00

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub. Date: March 2009
ISBN-13: 9780312351656
352pp

Synopsis

MEET THE BLUE-EYED DEVIL

His name is Hardy Cates. He’s a self-made millionaire who comes from the wrong side of the tracks. He’s made enemies in the rough-and-tumble ride to the top of Houston’s oil industry. He’s got hot blood in his veins. And vengeance on his mind.

MEET THE HEIRESS

She’s Haven Travis. Despite her family’s money, she refuses to set out on the path they’ve chosen for her. But when Haven marries a man her family disapproves of, her life is set on a new and dangerous course.

WATCH THE SPARKS FLY. . . .

Two years have gone by. Now Haven has come home. This time, she is determined to guard her heart. And Hardy Cates, a family enemy, is the last person she needs darkening her door—or setting her soul on fire.

It begins w/ a kiss...

Haven Travis' chance encounter w/ the delicious Hardy Cates in the wine cellar @ her brother's wedding ignites a spark that propels into an explosion.

However, the detonating kiss isn't enough to derail her plans to marry Nick.

Haven's marriage to Nick is far from what she imagined. He transforms from a gentle, caring husband into an abominable combustible egomaniac.

I will say up front, there were a few scenes that were disturbing. For some readers it may mean the end of the book. With that said, I urge you to continue as this needs to be addressed to demonstrate the brutal scenes of domestic violence Kleypas was brave enough to shine a light on.

At times, I was left paralyzed as I experienced life through Haven's eyes. I cried & was left raw. It was that emotionally driven. I just wanted to erase a lot of the intense feelings or hit delete to make Haven's heartache go away.

Haven's struggle to find her own identity & acknowledge that what happened to her was not her fault is beautifully delivered.

Lisa pens an ultra sexy story. Blue-Eyed Devil displays how priceless Lisa Kleypas' writing is.

The love story will rob you of your breath.

Check Lisa out @ http://www.lisakleypas.com/

Sugar Daddy ~ Lisa Kleypas

2009-05-15T17:31:00.000-04:00

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub. Date: March 2008
ISBN-13: 9780312351632
432pp

Synopsis

SHE’S FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS

Liberty Jones has dreams and determination that will take her far away from Welcome, Texas—if she can keep her wild heart from ruling her mind. Hardy Cates sees Liberty as completely off-limits. His own ambitions are bigger than Welcome, and Liberty is a complication he doesn’t need. But something magical and potent draws them to each other, in a dangerous attraction that is stronger than both of them.

HE’S THE ONE MAN SHE CAN’T HAVE

When Hardy leaves town to pursue his plans, Liberty finds herself alone with a young sister to raise. Soon Liberty is under the spell of a billionaire tycoon—a Sugar Daddy, one might say. But the relationship goes deeper than people think, and Liberty begins to discover secrets about her own family’s past.

Liberty Jones grew up enmeshed in poverty in a rural Texas trailer-park, the child of a widowed mother w/ a mysterious past & a parade of no-good boyfriends.

Liberty Jones took my breath away. She was an amazing character. I was Liberty Jones. I experienced every single facet of her life. Liberty Jones is one of my absolute favorite heroines of all time.

Blossoming Liberty is sharp, persevering & prepared to work fiercely to make her dreams come true.

Enter Hardy Cates ~ blush ~ the boy down the street who embossed himself firmly in Liberty's heart @ the tender age of 13.

Lisa Kleypas knows how to braid a story. Kleypas' plot is irresistible. It remains gripping from start to finish ~ even as it spans over a decade of metamorphosis.

Kudos to Kleypas for not skimping on a thing.

Lisa's gracefully possessed dialogue glints. The well designed characters surge from the page & electrify.

Sugar Daddy is romance @ its best. Liberty Jones's rise from the trailer park to life in a Texas mansion is one to savor.

Lisa Kleypas sparkles in her hardcover debut. Sugar Daddy is also her first foray into contemporary romance.

Sugar Daddy is a story to treasure. Don't forget the Kleenex!

Check out Lisa @ www.lisakleypas.com

A Murderous Glaze ~ Melissa Glazer

2009-05-14T22:08:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Berkley Trade Pub
Pub. Date: November 2007
ISBN-13: 9780425218365
224pp
Series: Clay and Crime Mystery Ser.

Synopsis

A new series takes shape-the debut of the Clay and Crime mysteries. Includes directions for a pottery project! In Maple Ridge, Vermont, Carolyn Emerson planned to ease into her golden years running her paint-your-own-pottery shop, Fire at Will. She never expected to uncover a dead body in the shop, and she certainly didn't plan on a drop in live clientele. Now it's up to Carolyn and her shop's pottery club, The Firing Squad, to help clear her name. But can she find a killer and more customers without her own brush with death?

A Murderous Glaze is the first in the new Clay and Crime Mystery series & to add extra fun includes clay-crafting tips. How cool is that?

Fall is w/o a doubt my favorite season. Vermont + Autumn = HEAVEN!!!

A Murderous Glaze was a charming & entertaining read. The cozy atmosphere was spot on.

Melissa Glazer did a wonderful job describing autumn in Maple Ridge, Vermont; I felt the sigh of the crisp fall air on my cheek. I reached for my fleece throw while reading this enjoyable mystery.

I envisioned the golden fall trees w/ a touch of white caps on the Vermont mountains. I wanted to hike down to Fire At Will & ask Carolyn to give me a private session.

Trust me, I need a one-on-one class when I attempt to ~~mash~~ make a clay project @ Fire At Will. I mean, I want to hang out w/ the Firing Squad & have all the delicious treats & yummy beverages the Firing Squad brings to their sessions... I don't want to be banned from all the fun.

I love my mysteries w/ a theme or craft ~ especially since I'm craft~challenged. Yes, it is true. I can make the simplest of crafts look like dreck! My stick figure resembles a snake. Yet, I can draw Marc Brown's Arthur. Go figure.

Melissa Glazer gives me my craft fix. I loved learning about the craft. I recommend this series for lover's of cozies, themed-cozies, fun cozies & a darn good relaxing read.

Carolyn Emerson is a fiftyish protagonist that is filled to the brim w/ vivaciousness.

Carolyn's assistant David simply steals the show. He is an absolute standout!!! David needs a series of his own. *Hint ~ Hint* Melissa.

Hannah, David's mom & Carolyn's best friend, is a cheerful, lovely welcome addition. Hannah's presence adds to the story.

Carolyn's husband Bill is an extremely well written character. He has a voice of his own & isn't just Carolyn's hubby for aesthetics. Kudos, to Melissa Glazer for the interesting talent Bill carves out for himself.

I love the premise of a a pottery based mystery. Refreshing!

A Murderous Glaze is a fast-paced, engaging cozy w/ some twists & turns to keep you guessing.

Carolyn Emerson definitely makes a pleasurable sleuth.

A Murderous Glaze is just the start of a fascinating series. An amusing read!

Hurry... go pick up a copy of A Murderous Glaze!!!