There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein. ~Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith
Nook, Kindle, paperback, and hardcover. I read them all.
GREAT READS IN 2014:
Nowhere to Run,by Jeanne Bannon gets 5 stars
I kindled this one, folks.
Romance with a twist
Getting to know the person you
think you're falling in love with can be a challenge, but finding out the guy you've
been swooning over is out to get you arrested for your sister's murder is
certainly a catastrophic hurtle to overcome in a budding relationship. And with
plot twists and turns in just about every chapter, this reader didn't know
whether to root for handsome guy who is a great kisser, or the law enforcement
guy who knows how to do his job.
Lily is beautiful, independent, a business owner, a proud woman who loves her
sister, but... then, she owns the business because
her sister is dead, she's independent because
she has to be in a town where
whispers follow her everywhere she treads. Yet she's also lonely, and kind, and
giving. Still...
...did Lily kill her sister? Does
the new guy in town really love her? This reader knows the answer, and for Lily,
there's nowhere to run.
Amazon
Wicked Power by DelSheree Gladden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
WICKED POWER by DelSheree Gladden gets 5 stars from me again.In the second in her series it's all about power. Intense, powerful and thought provoking with an ending that definitely leaves no room for passing up the third volume of this trilogy, WICKED POWER rolls toward a multifaceted climax that left me wanting more.
In book two, readers get to see the power behind the hunger in book one, and it's a multilayered, intense disruption in every facet of their lives.
Relationships, family, friends, love, pain—there is always pain—and a driving hunger for answers come together in a powerful conclusion that is sure to change the lives of Zander, Van, and everyone who knows them in the next episode of SOMEONE WICKED THIS WAY COMES.
I was memorized by the concept in book one, WICKED HUNGER,it carried over to book two, and I know Ms. Gladden will not disappoint in the next in the series. I will be waiting, but not so patiently :)
View all my reviews
This series just gets better and better with each addition. NIGHT BROKEN is a five star read full of pack angst and big surprises.
It hasn't been long since Mercy and Adam married and he
pulled the coyote into the pack, much to the disappointment of the wolf
shifters. Things still haven't settled. However, with Adam's love and his daughter
Jesse's help it was getting better. But as always, where ever Mercy goes a
cloud of chaos seems to follow.
This time it's Christy, Adam's ex-wife who calls with a
problem, a big scary problem, and things like burning buildings and a trail of
dead people follow the annoying human right to Adam's front door for help. Does
she know how to peak Adam's best Alpha quality, or what? Mercy finds herself at
Christy's mercy when Adam's ex moves back into their home and everyone gather's
to help. The pack embraces her, maw's salivating, because the way to a wolf's
heart is through its stomach and Christy can cook up palatable delights as well
as she can stir up a boiling pot of loyalty, seasoned with helplessness, fear,
guilt, lost friendships, and good old times.
As the creature gets closer and attacks get more
threatening, Tad jumps in to help and we get to see a side of the half-fae we
have never witnessed - so totally awesome! Stefan, the colorful vampire (one of
my favorite characters in this series) has a big surprise for Mercy that kind
of rankles, but hey, at least Mercy's family rallies to help: A brother (who
knew) makes an appearance with a prophesy of death and doom. That elusive
walking stick is back in the picture, a side conflict that sends Mercy
searching for her father, the mysterious and always so entertaining, Coyote.
You know he has to offer his...um, well, with Coyote it's hard to figure out
what exactly he is offering.
Once again, Briggs is the queen of pack politics and all
that is werewolf. She never disappoints with great action and imagery that
takes this reader right into the pack. Another really good read - I'm waiting,
as always, for the next in the series.
This series just gets better and better with each addition. NIGHT BROKEN is a five star read full of pack angst and big surprises.
Okay, so Charley Davidson
(love the name) is a consultant for her father, and Uncle Bob (Ubie—so
damn cute) who are cops. Although Charley is very bossy, outspoken, and
often clumsy (poor girl takes her share of falls), gets side tracked,
and wreaks havoc with the other guys on the police force, they keep her
on.
Why, you might ask? Well, Charley solves cases. How, you might ask? Well it really helps when you can talk to the murder victims. Charley is a grim reaper! No shit! She kind of catches them while their still fresh, does the explaining, guiding, sympathizing, empathizing, and finds and opens the |
I mean what's better than hearing right from the cadaver's mouth who wacked 'em? It doesn't get any easier than that, or at least you would think, right? Well, remember me mentioning the side track issues? Biggest one, Charley has a major heartthrob. Reyes—just hearing the name makes me quiver with anticipation—and while he's not dead, exactly, he's not alive, either. But honey, he sure know how to get the juices flowing. And that makes for a bit of a distraction. So what would you choose: Really good phantom sex? Or trudging around with dead people to their funerals, grieving relative's homes, crime scenes and stuff? No brainer, right? That's what I'm thinking.
Giving this one four stars, a cup of humor, a heaping tablespoon of hot sex, a smidgen of angst, and a few broken bones.
And still, Charley gets her man, ghost, whatever.
And still, Charley gets her man, ghost, whatever.
I kindled this one and I started laughing on the first page. I think I've found a new author to devour - I'm in for the ride. http://www.amazon.com/First-Grave-Charley-Davidson-Series-ebook/dp/B0044781TW/ref=wp_bs_1_B00CJ5FJ0A_kindle_edition
It's a tough life for witch Rachel Morgan, sexy, independent bounty
hunter, prowling the darkest shadows of downtown Cincinnati for criminal
creatures of the night.She can handle the leather-clad vamps and even tangle with a cunning demon or two. But a serial killer who feeds on the experts in the most dangerous kind of black magic is definitely pressing the limits.
Kindled - hit this series for the second time. It's even better than the first time around.
http://www.amazon.com/Good-Undead-Hollows-Book-ebook/dp/B000FC2RRC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1383249903&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Good%2C+the+Bad%2C+and+the+Undead+by+Kim+Harrison+++The+Good%2C+the+Bad%2C+and+the+Undead
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John BerendtMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A realistic view of Savannah's cobblestone streets, nightlife, and colorful locals - masterfully penned; an enjoyable read.
On one of my many visits, a local Savannah woman once told me, "The difference between "Southern" Charleston and "Southern" Savannah is, Charleston sips sherry on the porch with family and hides dirty laundry in the closet, while Savannah drinks whiskey with friends who wear their dirty laundry proudly.
View all my reviews
Sugar Man's Daughter by Lucy CroweMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This 5 star review is from: Sugar Man's Daughter by Lucy Crowe (Kindle Edition)
Fresh and original with a unique prose that makes Lucy Crowe's world a work of art. Her scenes incorporate all senses with stark reality—the closest you will get to a visual experience between the covers. Back street grit, 3D characters with intricate personalities that titillate and enrich the reading experience. Sugar Man's Daughter takes you deep into the gritty life of crime, corruption, and the dysfunctional relationships they cultivate; intense relationships that survive and thrive against all odds.
I will follow this author, and highly recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a well written, captivating piece of work.
In the Winds of Danger by Linda Ulleseit
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Beautifully written, IN THE WINDS OF DANGER is a visually captivating story filled with tension, espionage, treachery, jealousy and a fight for power. Add Romance, skillfully penned characters and enchanted winged horses and you have a very entertaining read.
As always, Ulleseit's scenes are filled with marvelous visuals that put you right there on the dusty streets of High Meadow in each shop, barn, and household with sight, smell, and sound. Her characters have depth and are unique, each with compelling personalities, and the winged horses (my favorite scenes) are spell binding, and captivate me with their beauty and grace.
View all my reviews
Beautifully written, IN THE WINDS OF DANGER is a visually captivating story filled with tension, espionage, treachery, jealousy and a fight for power. Add Romance, skillfully penned characters and enchanted winged horses and you have a very entertaining read.
As always, Ulleseit's scenes are filled with marvelous visuals that put you right there on the dusty streets of High Meadow in each shop, barn, and household with sight, smell, and sound. Her characters have depth and are unique, each with compelling personalities, and the winged horses (my favorite scenes) are spell binding, and captivate me with their beauty and grace.
View all my reviews
Five stars and an exuberant referral for Stephen Kings, Doctor Sleep – (I Kindled this) , on the top of my best reads list in 2013.
Whenever there's a thriller where innocent children are in danger, it captivates, intensifies the horror and stimulates hidden fears to rise like bile in the back of one's throat. And when the author is Stephen King one expects nothing but the best. No disappointment from this reader. From beginning to end I was enthralled. Fear and tension mounted and carried me through to the very end—one of the best endings (IMHO) that King has ever penned. What a gloriously scary, hair raised on the back of my neck at three in the morning, endings, ever!
The True Knot, soul sucking "vampires" camouflaged as senior citizens with names like Rose the Hat, Snakebite Andi, Grampa Flick, Silent Sarey, Crow Daddy, and Barry the Chunk travel in RVs (EarthCruisers) searching for Rubes (humans with the 'shining'), the younger the better. Killing them gives the steam-suckers immortality; the longer they torture, and the more bloody it becomes the more fear in generates. Thus, the stronger and longer the suckable steam lasts and the power it gives more potent. If there's too much steam for them to take, even better; they can store the remains in containers for when times are tough, or hell, maybe a midnight snack.
But Dan Torrance is back. You remember Dan, little guy on the trike mumbling "Redrum"(ЯEⱭЯUM) down the halls of the Overlook Hotel in Colorado. Or maybe you remember his father, Jack? Dan's psychopath daddy with the ax in The Shining? Dan's road may have been a hard one since his father's death, but he's still got enough steam to hear the cries of a little girl named Abra. The True Knot hears her too. After all, this little girl is special, the biggest shining the Knot has ever felt. And they want it – need it – in fact, the lively hood of the True Knot depends on Abra's steam.
This is one you'll think about all day and then read until the wee hours of the morning because you just can't put it down.
Way to go, King - another one I will put on my shelf to return to one day.
Five stars for The Hitchhiker – Audra Middleton
(I kindled it)
With a great cast of misfit sidekicks. an unusual gift, and
a new undercover (maybe off the record, like so totally and completely) new
job, Ainsley Benton is a protagonist you will fall in love with from page one.
Without giving any spoilers: Think about having this
super-duper blood that allows you to hitch a ride inside another human being and
see through their eyes. Now imaging you can feel their pain and hear their
thoughts. Okay, so now imaging the people you get to hitchhike inside are all
criminals. LOLOL And to make it even more enjoyable, the team formed to cover
your back are all crazy, zany oddballs!
My favorite of the bunch was Dove. He's kind-of-sort-of a
tadbit skitzo, hears voices, is OCDish, ADDish, brainiacish (like a fricken
walking talking computer in overdrive), but so darn adorable that you want to
give him a big cuddly hug—shame he doesn't like touching. Oh, did I mention he
has this terrible crush on Ainsley?
I recommend THE HITCHHIKER
for all ages - a light and amusing read.
Riveting and original, Wicked Hunger is a page turner.
Sister and brother, Vanessa and Zander Roth know only too well that self-control is important to the life they live and the lives of others around them because they were born with a wicked hunger; an uncontrollable hunger—the pain of others.
Imagine being a teen in high school where tempers are sure
to flair, fights are certain to break out and contact sports are part of the daily
curriculum. Any one of these issues can send either or both Roth teens into a frenzy
of overwhelming, overpowering need to intensify, and feed on, the pain in
others, real pain, the kind that usually ends in bloodshed.
While Zander uses the forceful contact sport, football to
temper his hunger, Vanessa wears herself out with a grueling dedication to
dance, and things seem to be manageable...until a new girl arrives at school.
Ivy.
As Zander sees it, Ivy is all cute and sexy, and full of mysteries
he wishes to delve into. The way Vanessa sees it, Ivy is all pushy, nosey, and
full of secrets that will be the death of him.
While Ivy captures Zander's every waking thought with
ravenous desire, the girl stirs Vanessa's anger, stimulates her hunger, and
forces her to dig deeper into Ivy's motives.
What Zander and Vanessa both discover could change their
lives forever.
DelSheree Gladden's first book in her new YA series Someone
Wicked This Way Comes is a riveting story of uncontrollable bloodlust
that turns dealing with family, friendships, trust, devotion and love into a WICKED HUNGER.
Find DelSheree and her books:
https://www.facebook.com/delsheree.gladden?fref=ts
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4305414.DelSheree_Gladden
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4305414.DelSheree_Gladden
On Twitter @DelSheree
Beautiful cover, beautiful book
What an amazing world Ms.
Middleton has built in WATCHER. Full of intrigue, unusual characters with
special gifts and a little girl that captures your heart from the moment you
meet her; a very special little girl with and amazing gift. Watcher can become one
with the foliage around her. Imagine being part of a mighty oak, or being able
to travel through the grass like a soft breeze.
The minute the holy man, Goran,
finds the little girl, Watcher, he's on his way to reaching the prophecy that
plagues him, and the reader is on a journey they will not soon forget.
Middleton's attention to detail, beautiful visuals, and well penned characters
make following Goran on his quest, a very entertaining pleasure. I kindled this one.
A five star review! I so much
enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the first page. Brom, inspired by Barrie's
Peter, and a line in the original novel; "'I forget them after I kill
them,' he (Peter) replied carelessly" brings a darkly tale and an often frightening
but whimsical Peter into present day with colorful language, the streets of New
York, and a very magical and vivid, Avalon. This is definitely NOT Walt's
Peter. The battles are bloody and real, the characters crude and vile, magical
and cunning. The children mesmerized and so totally lost. Every page is
wickedly entertaining. I kindled this one.
Loved the premise of this series and can't wait to see what Phoebe's sisters will bring to the Trilogy. Fristoe adds originality to the young adult genre with the Matlin triplets, born on the day of their mother's death, and all destined to have extraordinary gifts. Chloe will see the future. Lily will be a healer. And Phoebe will know when someone is lying.
Phoebe takes center stage in the
first book in the Trilogy. Imagine being a teen who can tell when her friends
are not telling the truth? Problem is, while her sister's gifts have always
been noticeable, Phoebe's has not presented itself yet, and when it finally does,
Phoebe's life will never be the same.
An excellent book for this relatively
new author, one I couldn't put down. Ms. Fristoe, I eagerly await book two in
the Touched Trilogy. Nooked this one:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lie-to-me-angela-fristoe/1113858399?ean=2940015805413
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lie-to-me-angela-fristoe/1113858399?ean=2940015805413
Anne Rice - The Claiming of Beauty: When I first
started reading this, I wasn't sure I was going to finish because right from
the beginning the repetitiveness of the cruel, sexually submissive acts put me
off. But very quickly, I began to see the masterfully brilliant fantasy world
Anne was building and became enthralled with the erotic fairytale she was
quickly, quite literally, fleshing out.The "Beauty" of the story is how the princess not only becomes aware of how much she loves the part she is playing but how quickly she recognizes it in others. Kudos to Anne Rice for her well written, no holds barred, and deliciously decadent fantasy.
Kindled this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Claiming-Sleeping-Beauty-Anne-Rice/dp/0452281423/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352822080&sr=1-1&keywords=the+claiming+of+Beauty
King's 49 page Novella, In
the tall Grass, written with Joe Hill, is a fast moving, riveting ride.
Although the ending reminded me of Tommyknockers (not one of my faves),
the meat of the story had me thinking Bachman was fighting King for first billing in this
one. As always, Stephen King knows how to stir fears with a signature that is always very distinguishable. Kindled it.
http://www.amazon.com/Tall-Grass-Stephen-King/dp/1442359889/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352653611&sr=1-1&keywords=In+the+Tall+Grass
Just started listening to this last night - love the audio
version! Saw the movie when it came out (and several times there after), read the book
somewhere in the 70s (those years are still a blur) and decided to purchase the audio
on Amazon this week.
I'm a bit quirky when it comes to audio. Either I love it (The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is a good example of an excellent narrator) or I hate it (Ever After by Kim Harrison is a good example of a really bad narrator). I returned that one after trying to listen to the first page... three times! As you can see in the below post, it put me off reading it. It was such a disappointment because I purchased the book to listen to on a trip to Florida and love Harrison's Rachel Morgan series. Anyway enough about my narration woes. I need to do a whole blog post on the good, bad, and the down right ugly side of audio books and get your thoughts on the subject. We'll get back to this issue.
So, Rosemary's Baby. Did you know Mia Farrow narrates? OMG she does Ruth Gordon's voice
perfectly! Come on! Who does Ruth Gordon's distinctive voice that well? I'm thinking no one but Ms. Farrow. Let me just say, it's a real pleasure to have Mia Farrow read me one of my all-time
favorites. I definitely recommend the audio!
I was sooo excited to get this one on my Kindle with the audio sync. Unfortunately the audio is soooo not Rachael and sooooo horrably wrong and (OMG almost nasal) that I returned that portion (sigh). It was a bit off putting. I'll jump back into the book shortly... I hope. For now, I can't get the awful voice out of my mind every time I start reading. LOL
http://www.amazon.com/Ever-After-Hollows-ebook/dp/B0089LOHT2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1363717941&sr=1-1&keywords=Ever+After
Check out my Faves in 2012:
A fun book with a southern twang of humor. What do Sweet Thangs, Orgasm Pie, and a murder in Brownsboro, TX all have in common? Tizzy Donovan. Tizzy is a small town girl, a widow, single mother, daughter to the best baker in town, sister to the county Sheriff, and also known as the local girl who talks to the dead. (I Kindled this one)
http://www.amazon.com/Laid-Out-Candle-Lit-Everett/dp/1618070053/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357938367&sr=1-1&keywords=laid+out+and+candle+lit
Ohmigod! In this engrossing journey into the lives of psychopaths and their infamously crafty behaviors, the renowned psychologist Kevin Dutton reveals that there is a scale of “madness” along which we all sit. So damn good!
(I Nooked this one)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wisdom-of-psychopaths-kevin-dutton/1111306292?ean=9780374291358
C. Thomas Flood is back and so are his turkey-bowling buds!
Evidently having Tommy as a moonlight buffet, boy-toy wasn't enough for Jody - Flood's vampire girlfriend - she's fanged him up for this one. There goes her food source and Tommy's a tad-bit apprehensive about the whole feeding thing. So in true Moore style, the character's antics are laugh out loud funny and way too easy to quote through Kindle Fire. Loved it.
(Kindled this one)
http://www.amazon.com/You-Suck-Story-Christopher-Moore/dp/0060590300/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352822960&sr=1-1&keywords=You+Suck
This is the first Mallory book I've read and I'm thrilled to have found a new author to tickle my paranormal humor cravings! (Nooked the a boxed special on B&N)
http://www.amazon.com/Kill-Warlock-Dulcie-ONeil/dp/1468119796/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352822618&sr=1-1&keywords=To+Kill+a+Warlock
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Blood Lust:Portrait of a Serial Sex Killer is a very intense, no holds barred, look into the life and conviction of a serial murderer. Like all of King's books, its detail oriented format allows the reader to feel part of the investigation. Blood Lust is a true story, and that only intensifies the visually-graphic, gritty-content that instills a fight or flight shudder factor as Gary King gives a large dose of reality.
This series just keeps getting better and better. Fang is more open - still mysterious, and the word "love" was tossed around. But something tells me the sexy wolf is going to make a come back. Enjoyed the read. Eager for more. This series is on my Nook.
Can someone choke themselves with their bare hands?
Oprah's the reason my kid thinks I want to drown him in the tub.
No children were harmed during the making of this film.
Tickling the Weiner.
Jeni writes:
I welcome the unexpected--thrive on the unusual. If only these were the definition of normal--unexpected, unusual--then the use of labels would cease to exist.
That is the day I look forward to with relish...
...atop a banana, with a bit of mayo, cilantro, peanut butter, and liver paté.
But that's not normal, you say?
Well I say, Normal's just a town in Illinois, south of Peoria, and north of Bloomington.
Bought the hardcover - very much enjoyed the read - an educating, laugh a minute.
http://www.amazon.com/Wish-Were-Engulfed-Flames-Raising/dp/1616084855/ref=sr_1_4_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353081909&sr=1-4&keywords=Jeni+Decker
Carla, Dex's (ahem) unwanted (ya think?) sidekick, on the other hand is a walking billboard of attitude, opinion, and control issues--says it like it is, does it her way, kinda gal.
Both have history, both are so totally dysfunctional, and the combination is a heady ride of delightful humor. Nooked it.
***Warning--truth in advertising--I'm Jeni's mother and I hope the kid is working on book 2.
http://www.amazon.com/Rigor-Mortis-Dex-Morneau-ebook/dp/B009177OIO/ref=la_B004WJRO36_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1353082473&sr=1-6
Moore's darkly funny humor makes this a must read. Skillfully crafted, colorful characters put in impossible situations; a sweet young man who falls in love with a vampire. Not a very good one either, she was bitten hours before they met, but hey, she's hot. And then there's 'The Animals', a group of fun loving, partying down, pot smoking, beer drinking, gun toting buds who work the night shift at your local grocery store. Do they get the job done? Ah – Kind-a-sorta – well not so much, but it's funny as hell watching them try. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention 'The Emperor', a street person, with two k-9 sidekicks, one of which has the uncanny ability to sniff out vampires. Now this could come in handy with a killer on the loose, bodies turning up blood drained and all. I'll be visiting this author again. Kindled this one.
Bloodsucking Fiends (A Love Story, #1) by Christopher Moore
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