This was a little on the strange side in that I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to know what happened next, but at the same time, wasn't reallyThis was a little on the strange side in that I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to know what happened next, but at the same time, wasn't really interested in what was going on. Does that make sense? I didn't really care for the characters, as Jazz and Rocky weren't all that likable. And their boss really was Creepy, in more ways than one!
Jazz and Rocky are the newest recruits in a strange organization, where they are bound together as partners in more ways than one. They more or less have to learn on the job, as their boss is dead. Not that he stops supervising them....as death doesn't seem to slow this agency down.
They are taught various methods to help in their new job, not that they really know what their job is. And all of the methods are old school, so they sometimes have to improvise.
There are monsters and bad guys and patriotism(!), all leading up to an epic battle. There's always an epic battle, isn't there? Couldn't really work up much excitement, but it may have been because everything was wrapped in the American Flag. Or because things were hard to keep track of. Or I was just bored.
I didn't like the ending as it just....ended. Very dissatisfying. I don't mind a cliffhanger, but this was more like running into a brick wall. Or the author suddenly realized that he had used up his whole allotment of words!
This was a quick read and wasn't all that bad, but didn't knock my socks off. Couldn't work up much interest in the characters and as I tend to like characters more than non-stop action, that could be why the book didn't rate higher with me.
Merged review:
This was a little on the strange side in that I couldn't stop reading because I wanted to know what happened next, but at the same time, wasn't really interested in what was going on. Does that make sense? I didn't really care for the characters, as Jazz and Rocky weren't all that likable. And their boss really was Creepy, in more ways than one!
Jazz and Rocky are the newest recruits in a strange organization, where they are bound together as partners in more ways than one. They more or less have to learn on the job, as their boss is dead. Not that he stops supervising them....as death doesn't seem to slow this agency down.
They are taught various methods to help in their new job, not that they really know what their job is. And all of the methods are old school, so they sometimes have to improvise.
There are monsters and bad guys and patriotism(!), all leading up to an epic battle. There's always an epic battle, isn't there? Couldn't really work up much excitement, but it may have been because everything was wrapped in the American Flag. Or because things were hard to keep track of. Or I was just bored.
I didn't like the ending as it just....ended. Very dissatisfying. I don't mind a cliffhanger, but this was more like running into a brick wall. Or the author suddenly realized that he had used up his whole allotment of words!
This was a quick read and wasn't all that bad, but didn't knock my socks off. Couldn't work up much interest in the characters and as I tend to like characters more than non-stop action, that could be why the book didn't rate higher with me....more
Buzz Books are one of my favorite ways to discover new books! Here are the titles from this edition that caught my eye:
How To Walk by Katherine CenterBuzz Books are one of my favorite ways to discover new books! Here are the titles from this edition that caught my eye:
How To Walk by Katherine Center:
This one sounds sad, but left me wanting more. Margaret has her whole life ahead of her with a loving fiance, dream job, bright future, but then it's suddenly ripped away. How will she cope? What will she do next? Will she be able to go on?
Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall:
Not my usual type of read as I'm not a big fan of stalkers or jealous ex-boyfriends, but the writing grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go! Mike and V used to date, but now she's marrying another man. To be honest, they both sounded like jerks. But V doesn't seem to know that Mike doesn't believe they really broke up and is just waiting for the right moment to "rescue" her. Just like the bar game they used to play, where he'd be the jealous boyfriend chasing off anyone flirting with her. Now I'm wondering what Mike will do next?
Good Luck With That by Kristan Higgins:
Three overweight teenage girls meet at summer camp and become lifelong friends. Sixteen years later, one of them winds up in the hospital, morbidly obese. Before her body gives out, she makes her friends swear to a deathbed promise. What was in the envelope? What had her friends promised? Definitely left me wanting to find out what happens next!
This I Know by Eldonna Edwards:
Grace is the daughter of a small town Evangelical pastor and has a gift, although some seem to think it's a curse. Grace knows things. Things that she shouldn't. Like when a little boy drowned in a nearby lake. Or that her mother is pregnant again. And there's also the small issue of talking to her twin brother, even though he died at birth. Another sample that left me wanting more!
Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney:
Woman wakes up in a hospital. She's in a coma, so can't communicate with the people around her. What happened? Was she in an accident? Why can't she remember? And why is she so sure that her husband had something to do with it? Inquiring minds want to know!
Tell The Machine Goodnight by Katie Williams:
Intriguing story about a woman who works as a Contentment Technician for a company that knows what will make you happy after a simple cheek swap. A machine spits out recommendations. Check everything off the list and you'll be happier! With a 99.97% approval rating, there's gotta be something to it. There's also her relationship with her unhappy bulimic son, but I was more interested in learning more about her job.
A Handful of Happiness by Massimo Vacchetta:
A non-fiction story about an Italian veterinarian who discovers his new life's passion while caring for an orphaned baby hedgehog. How could anyone resist a baby hedgehog?
Already looking forward to the next batch of samples!
Merged review:
Buzz Books are one of my favorite ways to discover new books! Here are the titles from this edition that caught my eye:
How To Walk by Katherine Center:
This one sounds sad, but left me wanting more. Margaret has her whole life ahead of her with a loving fiance, dream job, bright future, but then it's suddenly ripped away. How will she cope? What will she do next? Will she be able to go on?
Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall:
Not my usual type of read as I'm not a big fan of stalkers or jealous ex-boyfriends, but the writing grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go! Mike and V used to date, but now she's marrying another man. To be honest, they both sounded like jerks. But V doesn't seem to know that Mike doesn't believe they really broke up and is just waiting for the right moment to "rescue" her. Just like the bar game they used to play, where he'd be the jealous boyfriend chasing off anyone flirting with her. Now I'm wondering what Mike will do next?
Good Luck With That by Kristan Higgins:
Three overweight teenage girls meet at summer camp and become lifelong friends. Sixteen years later, one of them winds up in the hospital, morbidly obese. Before her body gives out, she makes her friends swear to a deathbed promise. What was in the envelope? What had her friends promised? Definitely left me wanting to find out what happens next!
This I Know by Eldonna Edwards:
Grace is the daughter of a small town Evangelical pastor and has a gift, although some seem to think it's a curse. Grace knows things. Things that she shouldn't. Like when a little boy drowned in a nearby lake. Or that her mother is pregnant again. And there's also the small issue of talking to her twin brother, even though he died at birth. Another sample that left me wanting more!
Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney:
Woman wakes up in a hospital. She's in a coma, so can't communicate with the people around her. What happened? Was she in an accident? Why can't she remember? And why is she so sure that her husband had something to do with it? Inquiring minds want to know!
Tell The Machine Goodnight by Katie Williams:
Intriguing story about a woman who works as a Contentment Technician for a company that knows what will make you happy after a simple cheek swap. A machine spits out recommendations. Check everything off the list and you'll be happier! With a 99.97% approval rating, there's gotta be something to it. There's also her relationship with her unhappy bulimic son, but I was more interested in learning more about her job.
A Handful of Happiness by Massimo Vacchetta:
A non-fiction story about an Italian veterinarian who discovers his new life's passion while caring for an orphaned baby hedgehog. How could anyone resist a baby hedgehog?
Already looking forward to the next batch of samples!...more
Love catching up with the ladies from OOPs, but The Accidental Unicorn is a little different from the other books in the series.
For starters, Oliver sLove catching up with the ladies from OOPs, but The Accidental Unicorn is a little different from the other books in the series.
For starters, Oliver seems to have a unicorn horn growing out of his forehead.
Complete with glitter.
After drinking a unicorn frappuccino.
Weird, right?
But all in all, Oliver is a good guy and the ladies swoop in to help him figure things out. One of the people they reach out to for help is Vinnie, a Greek mythology professor who may be able to shed some light on the subject.
Vinnie also happens to be a descendant of the goddess Hecate. No powers, but she is immortal. So she's got that going for her.
The trouble is, unicorns are rare. So rare that no one knows much about them. So Vinnie and the ladies of OOPs are playing it by ear, trying to track down old legends and second-hand gossip to dig up any useful information on how to help Oliver.
Meanwhile, word about the new unicorn has leaked out and Oliver's life is in danger.
On top of offering an unending supply of glitter, it seems that a unicorn's horn also has healing powers.
So yeah, bad guys would love to get hold of Oliver!
Loved getting to know Oliver and Vinnie! And had a blast getting reacquainted with the ladies of OOPs! Wanda is still pregnant, Marty is still Marty and Nina? Well, Nina is the same smart-mouthed vampire with an attitude that we all know and love!
The Accidental Unicorn is a great addition to the Accidental series! Fun, fast-paced, and as well written as everything Dakota Cassidy writes. I highly recommend this quirky read!...more
Witches Get Stitches is book 9 in the Witchless in Seattle series and picks up right where book 8 left off. Love it when a series does that!
While the Witches Get Stitches is book 9 in the Witchless in Seattle series and picks up right where book 8 left off. Love it when a series does that!
While the lovely Miss Dakota recommends reading the series in order to fully understand the backstory and history of each character, you can still read it as a standalone if you like. But I agree that you should read them in order, just for the richer reading experience.
The story opens with the dashing ex-spy, ex-ghost Winterbottom recuperating from rejoining the living. Unfortunately, he’s a less than ideal patient, driving Stevie mad with his constant demands.
Despite being a grumpy, impatient patient, Winterbottom is still a sweetheart and encourages Stevie to take a break. Maybe go to Seattle to check out a new vintage clothing store that just opened?
Since thrift shopping is her weakness, Stevie reluctantly agrees. On the condition that they call her immediately if anything happens.
Too bad she never makes it inside the store once she gets there. Especially since there’s this really cute, vintage Givenchy dress in the window….
Next thing she knows, Stevie wakes up dead!
At least, that’s what she assumes when she finds herself on Plane Limbo. Good thing Arkady, the other ex-spy in her life, is there so she doesn’t have to face this newest crisis alone.
Stevie, Winterbottom, Arkady, and Belfry try to figure out what happened to Stevie, where her body is, and whether or not she’s really dead or if this is just another misfire from one of her spells.
And they need to hurry if they don’t want Stevie to wind up a permanent resident of Plane Limbo!
Love, love, love this series!
Stevie is a great character and I’ve loved seeing her get back on her feet after losing her witch powers! And Belfry is one of my favorite characters, as who wouldn’t love a sassy talking bat?
Witches Get Stitches is a fast, fun read with a quick moving plot, great characters, awesome as usual writing, and Dakota’s trademarked sense of humor.
With ghosts, ex-witches, talking bats, sexy ex-spies back from the dead, and an intriguing mystery, this series has something for everyone! Highly recommended!...more
The Escape Room starts off with an intriguing idea, then takes an unexpected turn that I didn’t see coming!
Quick word of advice if you haven’t read thThe Escape Room starts off with an intriguing idea, then takes an unexpected turn that I didn’t see coming!
Quick word of advice if you haven’t read this one yet – skip the prologue. I’ve never really understood prologues to begin with, but this one sort of ruined the ending for me.
The story starts off with four investment bankers arriving for a last-minute Friday night meeting. Odd, but they were used to their company pulling their strings so show up when and wherever they’re told.
Finding out that their mandatory meeting is actually an escape room challenge, they’re less than pleased. Assured it will only take an hour, they resign themselves to the exercise and get in the elevator.
The chapters alternate between the present day escape room and the story of Sara Hall, which takes place in the past. Each chapter is labeled so it’s easy to keep track of each storyline.
Sara was a talented business school graduate who, because of a downturn in the economy, had a hard time finding a job. We first meet Sara during an interview. We quickly learn that the man interviewing her is a first class jerk who is only going through the motions. Poor Sara.
Meanwhile, the elevator lights go out as soon as the doors close, leaving the four bankers in the dark as the car quickly rises. Finally stopping at the 70th floor, the doors fail to open and the lights stay off. A message pops up on the small monitor, welcoming them to the escape room.
Game on.
The story pops back and forth between the escape room and Sara’s story. We follow along as Sara finally lands a job, working with the same team currently stuck in the elevator escape room.
Of the two stories, I was more interested in Sara’s. Getting a behind the scenes glimpse of life in the fast lane of investment banking was fascinating!
You know the old Fitzgerald quote that the rich are different than you and me? Well, this book more or less proves it. The money that these people throw around is amazing! And a little sickening.
Sara even mentions that her induction class was nothing short of a seduction, with generous gifts, gourmet meals, and lots of little perks. Getting them all used to the high life. By the end of the week, the entire class was fully indoctrinated into the cult-like worship of greed.
Make no mistake, these are not nice people. The more I got to know Vincent, Jules, Sylvie, and Sam, the less I liked them. Even Sara, who starts off likable and relatable, soon gets caught up in the lifestyle.
As the clues in the elevator escape room get more and more personal, tensions start to rise. While these people may have worked together as a team for years, they do not like or respect one another. At all.
And learning about Sara’s journey from bright young star to “gone, but not forgotten” was something else!
Really enjoyed the ride on this one.
Good writing, interesting (if not exactly likable) characters, and a decently paced plot, all added up to a fast, fun read!...more
Marty's Horrible, Terrible, Very Bad Day is the 17th book in the Accidentally Paranormal series, but you don't have to read the previous books to enjoMarty's Horrible, Terrible, Very Bad Day is the 17th book in the Accidentally Paranormal series, but you don't have to read the previous books to enjoy this one.
Marty, Nina, and Wanda are the founding members of OOPS (Out In The Open Paranormal Support), who help accidental paranormals cope with their new lives. The three best friends were accidentally turned into a werewolf, a vampire, and a werewolf/vampire (or is it vampire/werewolf?), so they can relate to the problems new accidentals face.
The story picks up shortly after The Accidental Mermaid, with Marty in a coma at the hospital. She had a heart attack and stroke, which is odd for an immortal. Even odder is that the grim reaper assigned to collect her soul, Rocky, refuses to take Marty's soul.
Rocky is convinced that a mistake has been made, so goes undercover at the hospital to keep an eye on Marty and make sure no other reaper collects her soul before Rocky can figure out what's going on.
Knowing that mistakes rarely happen and that her superiors have confirmed that Marty is on The List, Rocky is still convinced that it's not Marty's time. To complicate matters further, one of Marty's doctors is the Phoenix that Rocky has had a crush on for decades. Uh-oh!
Is Marty being on The List a mistake or is Rocky risking her life & career for no reason, simply because she's an OOPS fan? And will Dr Sexypants the Phoenix light Rocky's fire, or is she doomed to crush on him from a distance forever? Inquiring minds want to know!
At under 200 pages, this is a fast, fun read! Loved hanging out with the OOPS girls again, even with one of them in a life-threatening coma....more
After I've Gone reminded me a little of The Future of Us in that the main character gets a glimpse of their future via Facebook. Only instead of a briAfter I've Gone reminded me a little of The Future of Us in that the main character gets a glimpse of their future via Facebook. Only instead of a bright future, Jess sees condolence messages on her timeline. Because she died. Whoa! Talk about future shock!
Convinced at first that it's a cruel hoax, Jess begins to wonder if it's all in her head since she's the only one who can see the messages. After having a breakdown when her mother died several years ago, Jess isn't sure if this is real or if she's cracking up again. But what if it IS real?
While I really liked the fun, feisty Jess we meet at the beginning of the story, I did not like the person she became after becoming Lee's girlfriend. I know he was supposed to be incredibly charming, but I never warmed up to Lee or saw any of his so-called charm.
The story flips back and forth between narrators with Facebook updates in between. It's nice to get different viewpoints of what's happening, but frustrating as well.
Jess is still young and can be forgiven for some of her behavior, but why won't she listen to her best friend? Why won't she listen to her gut when Lee starts to change? Especially in this day and age. Her behavior drove me crazy!
Several of the decisions Jess makes don't make sense and can't be excused by her youth and inexperience. While the premise is intriguing, I don't think the story fulfilled its potential. The future Facebook posts were never explained and some of them felt a little contrived.
Still an okay read, I didn't really like the main characters or the ending. The author is talented though and knows how to write, so there's that. After I've Gone gets a 3/5 rating as I did still enjoy it when all was said and done....more
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