Part mystery, part romance, part paranormal twists. This is definitely what I’d call a cozy mystery—there’s a mystery to be solved and Lila is an amateur. But it is also strong on romance, a woman finding her place in a new town, and there’s a bit of a paranormal aspect as well. Just the kind of book I love to read! What did I think? Oh. My. Gosh. I loved this. It needed a better proofreading—and the errors pulled me out of the story. It […]
A Clever & Not too Freaky Zombie Book! Some zombie books are just too much—too freaky, too scary, too much blood and guts. For example, The Walking Dead. (Yes, I know. It’s a tv show, not a book.) After the first season, I quit watching because it quickly became a weekly bloodfest and I just got tired of it. The Undead Road by David Powers King is NOT like that. It’s a wonderful story of family, courage, friendship and loyalty, set against a backdrop of […]
A Sweet End to a Wonderful Series This is the last book in the June series. I have read all of them and loved each one. In the first book, Finding June, June is only 16 and starting a career as an actress. It is definitely a Young Adult novel and would be enjoyed by teen readers and adults who like YA fiction. Over the course of the books, Chasing June (book 2) and Catching June (book 3), June grows older, goes to college, and […]
The Power of the Matchmaker series will be 12 books, each by a different author, to be released one a month in 2016. Pearl the Matchmaker is the common thread between all the books, and this is her story. Although this is classified as a clean romance with a touch of magical realism, there is, in fact, not much romance in it at all. Rather, it’s a story of broken hearts and how Pearl becomes a matchmaker. At only 60 pages, it is a quick […]
Grandson Approved! I was lucky enough to go to the release party for Mysteries of Cove: Fires of Invention. I took three of my grandsons (ages 8, 7 and 5). Backstage with J. Scott Savage We got to go backstage to meet Mr. Savage. There were several other authors there too, most notably Brandon Mull (the grands love Fablehaven and The Candy Shop War) and James Dashner (they didn’t know who he was but were very impressed that his books have been made into […]
This is the first book that I’ve read by Christine Kersey. I liked it. Courtney is in college and her mother has recently moved out of state, so this is her first time on her own. Her mother has taught her well. But when Courtney witnesses a gang-related murder and is then threatened by the killer, she is at a loss for what to do. Honestly, I would be too. The reader experiences a lot of Courtney’s internal debate as she tries to do what […]
For me to like a contemporary romance, there needs to be a “something.” It’s hard for me to put my finger on what the “something” is but I do know it’s not the romance itself. The best I can do is say it’s got to be either highly character driven and the characters are fun or interesting, or there’s something of depth there. This one has both. While 99% of the book was light and fun, there’s a very serious topic and scene that makes […]
This book was recommended by friends who know I love Young Adult dystopian/futuristic stories. While the geek in me loved the tech in this book (there are days when I think I might prefer a world like that), and I could certainly appreciate the references to 70s/80s culture (Rush 2112 was my favorite album in high school), this is going to be a slow read for teens and a lot of parents will not approve. We see the world from the point of view of […]
Isabel Stone as back at it—trying to earn a living as a private detective in a crazy world of vampires, werewolves, and now ghosts! This second book in the series did not disappoint—well, except for the fact that the next book doesn’t come out until 2016. The dialog and characterizations were wonderful. As with book 1, Chasing Daylight, I loved the sassy voice of the main character, Isabel. She had me laughing so many times. This woman is tough as nails, but has a soft […]
I loved this book! I was immediately hooked into the story and could not put it down! Isobel Stone is a great character—strong and sassy. She is no shrinking violet, and it’s a good thing because life just won’t give her a break. Her father dies and she puts her own dreams aside to take over his private investigating company. She’s left at the altar by her fiancé. Her mother and sisters rely on her for emotional and financial support. And then there are the […]
Amy Harmon calls her books romances, but I really think there needs to be another designation for her stories. Because while romance is part of her stories, they are so much more! They contain the whole of life—dreams, disappointments, struggles, triumphs and failures—all wrapped up in lovely prose that sinks into your soul. Take this for example: “True beauty, the kind that doesn’t fade or wash off, takes time. It takes pressure. It takes incredible endurance. It is the slow drip that makes the stalagtite, […]
I loved this book! Book 1, Descendant, was great. We learn about Abby’s powers as she does–and realize that there is a mysterious connection between her and Kye, beyond the blooming romance. In this book, we learn even more about this connection. The more time they are together, the faster they die. On the flip side, being apart is physically painful. An interesting set-up. Abby and Kye feel very real to me, the characters are well-developed and talk and act just like real teenagers. Well, […]
I loved this story! Yes, it’s the typical “I-just-found-out-I’m-special” type YA paranormal story—but this one is funny and clever. It incorporates some of the Swedish mythology, which was new for me and fun. It starts with a group of cheerleaders “hanging” Allyson on her birthday, which just happens to be a few days before Halloween. Allyson, being a typical teenager and clueless about her powers, wreaks havoc upon them. It’s awesome! Trying to wrap her brain around the fact that she’s a witch, learning to […]