The Black Song Inside is a crime thriller that really grabbed my attention from the get-go. I don't normally read books like this, but I am glad at jumped at the chance. We follow a couple named Atticus and Rosemary. They are both private investigators, so they have seen their fair share or chaos. But chaos has a whole new meaning when Atticus' ex-girlfriend, Claire causes a stir. Claire contacts him and happens to drop his name to some of the most dangerous men in the Tijuana Cartel. Atticus and Rosemary are put to the test when they must run for their lives when caught between two madmen.
This was quite a fun read, It was full of mystery and suspense that kept me at the edge of my seat. I really loved our main characters, Atticus and Rosemary. Atticus is a P.I. most try to avoid. He is a certified badass. I loved his humor and how smart he was. He really understood the criminals he was up against. Rosemary was a favorite though. She was in the army and lost her leg. She always stays in her home because she suffers from PTSD. She was behind the wheel of the car that blew up when she lost her leg. But she doesn't let that stop her. She is definitely one of my favorite heroines. Her one week spot really was her adopted brother, Johnny. Johnny gets into a lot of trouble. He is always running with the wrong crowd. Atticus knows he will never change, but Rosemary is still holding hope. I felt bad for her when it came to Johnny. You can see she loves him and wants to help him. There are a lot of characters in this book, but never once do you get them confused.
This story was really fast paced. This book isn't for everyone though. Clark made quite a realistic and gritty thriller. You could almost count this as a horror. Our characters have sadly been blackmailed in the middle of a war in the cartel. They don't know the why or the who. They need to get to the bottom of it before more people get killed or themselves killed. The villains are terrifying especially the one we first meet, The Priest. The Priest believes he is the right hand of God. Everything he does are directions given to him by the voice in his that he thinks is God. I love that we get chapters from his POV. It was scary as hell being in his head though.
This was an incredible story. It had me on the edge of my seat. The last few chapters were amazing. It was like watching an action movie. This book was wonderfully balanced. It was very raw and I loved the laughs that were thrown in with that. This book was full of action and great lead characters that were so freaking awesome. Atticus and Rosemary are such a great couple. I would love to see them tackle crime again. Like I said, this isn't my typical read, but it was so worth it. Definitely check this read out and I know you will love Atticus and Rosemary just as much as me....more
Easter's Lilly is an interesting read that follows a young woman's spiral into the mob world. Lilly is young and doesn't have a lot of life experience. She falls for a guy named Johnny that has quite the record. He is a drug dealer and quite possibly, a murderer. She has been warned to stay away from him from her father (who is a cop), that he is very dangerous. But her not listening has major repercussions. She is quickly sucked into a world she never thought she would enter. A world where drugs and murder are the norm. Lilly is now on the run for her life and who she is running from is the last person she would expect.
Oh boy. Talk about 180 degrees (maybe not a complete 180, but it is better from where I started). My feelings for this book went from one extreme to another. I have to say I ended up liking it, but it took a while to get there. This book was very close to being my very first DNF (Did Not Finish). Why, you may ask? I will tell you why. Lilly! Freaking Lilly! I couldn't stand her. I could probably write an essay on all the notes I wrote when she did something stupid and man, there were a lot. You guys know Bella Swan is the bane of my existence, Well, Lilly made Bella look like a genius. I understand she was naive, but there is a thin line between naive and stupid, and I think Lilly crossed it quite a few times. She was selfish as hell and I just couldn't put up with her anymore. Something awful happens to the man she supposedly loves and instead of crying or asking questions like a normal person, her first thing to say is. "I am all alone". This was ridiculous since she still had family who she abandoned (after a near miss), but again, it was all about a man, She just never acted the way someone would in extreme situations. After the incident, she turns around and starts thinking about the two other men that immediately enter her life after that. Her head always seemed to be in the clouds or something. But I stuck with this book even though I couldn't stand Lilly.
Close to the halfway point, the book started to change because we started to focus on other characters. Enter the most interesting and dangerous family ever, the Montiago brothers. We meet the men that are meant to protect Lilly. Hector, Max and Diego. Diego is the most dangerous one and the leader. He is married to Lilly now and wants her protected by his brothers, Hector and Max. Her and Max develop quite the connection in the book. As a matter of fact, she has great connections with all the men in this book and I don't get it. Lilly gets easily confused and falls in love with whoever is in her personal space. I didn't understand why the men were fighting over her. Even Hector (who I am so in love with), points out the things I am thinking. He talks about how confused Lilly can get and how she doesn't seem to understand certain situations. I loved all the men even Diego who you will hate and for good reason. The men carried this book well. Their mob life was scary and insane. Even amongst all their chaos, I love that they had personalities and were able to joke around, Hector and Max especially. Lilly doesn't deserve any of them, she just doesn't.
Like I said, the story kicks up nearly halfway when things with Diego really go south and we meet Jorge, who is also a fellow criminal (a very scary criminal). Things between Lilly and Max heat up and they know that if Diego found out, someone will definitely be dead. The FBI are now involved with their life and better yet, Lilly's dad is involved. They are on the run and Diego and Jorge are on their tracks. People are dropping like flies and worse yet, it seems as though they can't trust a lot of their friends. Someone has ratted them out and has been spying on them. It was quite a thrilling read to say the least. I couldn't believe where the book went. My mouth hit the floor.
I could go on all day about Lilly. Now I will say, she slowly starts to show some spine later on in the book. The book really is about self-discovery, but Lilly does have some ways to go. I don't dislike her quite as much as I did in the beginning, but I am still not a fan. She still makes some very dumb decisions for me. Like I said, the men were amazing. This book would have gotten 5 stars if we followed them instead of Lilly. They were just so entertaining. They can be badasses one second and have me smiling the next. This book was thrilling and intriguing. I am glad I didn't give up on it like I thought I would. As much as I am not a fan of Lilly's, I did feel for her and her story. Serrano managed to make this book frustratingly fascinating. I have never seen anything like it. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a romantic suspense featuring some insanely sexy mobsters. But be warned, if you like strong females, you will have some issues here like I did. I know this all is a growing experience for Lilly, so I am looking forward to seeing her snap out of it and know what she wants in the future. I am very curious about this series. This book ends on quite a cliffhanger and I do want more. ...more
Running into the Darkness follows a second year resident named Samantha. She is great at her job and does all she can to help anyone and everyone. She sadly can never save the ones she loves since she has lost everyone close to her. Her grandmother has just died, she was killed. Samantha wants to find whoever is responsible. But her digging turns up some very disturbing news about her past and will now set her future. Samantha is about go on a ride she never expected to take.
Well, this definitely surpassed my expectations and more. This was quite the page-turner. Our main character Samantha was very likable. She was strong, but traumatized to say the least. What she learns about her family and where she came from was one thing. Learning how definitely raised some demons. I love that from the beginning we know Samantha is no stranger to intense environments. When she is thrust into the life of a spy with a group known as the Elite, she takes it better than I would have. But then again she has no choice, so might as well suck it up. She has her worries, but I love that she is able to handle herself.
I love how this story progressed. It is much more than a thriller. There are a lot of mysteries that will rattle your brain. We know that Samantha has found something awful about her past. But the person behind it all is insane and that is just the beginning. Political thrillers aren't something I usually gravitate towards, but I am happy I jumped at the chance to review this. You will be shocked just how deep this story goes and how complex it is. This is one of those reads that will be very easy to spoil, so I will stop rambling.
This is definitely worth checking out. Even if you are like me and prefer Urban Fantasy or Science Fiction, I would still tell you to read this. This book will get your heart racing and your brain going a million miles a second. The twists and bombshells will keep you more than entertained. Running into the Darkness is one hell of an engaging read you won't soon forget....more
Amazing Grace follows a veteran named Tammy. She is way down on her luck. She feels like she has nothing to live for after what she has done in the Special Forces. Tammy is miraculously saved by a little girl and is given a second chance at life. That chance leads her to the unlikely career as a pastor, but not just any pastor. She is slowly becoming a force in the city fighting against local gangs in her area and saving would-be gang members from going down the wrong path. Tammy's meddling, however, brings on terrible consequences when an arms dealer that goes by the alias, Demonis Alumno, will stop at nothing to destroy Tammy and everything she loves.
Goodness gracious! This book really took me by surprise. I don't usually read Crime Thriller reads, but I jumped at the chance when I was approached by the author to review this. This book has surpassed my expectations and more. I love a book that gives you those, "Oh sh*t!" moments and this book had plenty.
This book wastes no time putting you on an emotional rollercoaster. We learn that our main character Tammy has done something that she can't live with. She plans to kill herself. While working with the Special Forces, she had to make a tough decision that will haunt her forever. But she is saved when a little girl named Anna comes to her apartment to help save her grandmother. That little girl now means everything to her. I loved how close they have gotten and how it seems they have saved each other. There may be a tear or two for sure. Tammy was just a great main character, you will be rooting for her. She is tough and even though she has been through a lot, she is willing to do anything to help someone. She uses all she has learned in the Special Forces against the crime in her city. She is not your typical pastor at all and that made it all the more fun. The other characters were amazing as well. I love how close they all have become and the support they show for Tammy. They know Tammy is the female Rambo and I love how they accept her even though she is too hardheaded for her own good.
This story was just action packed. I could see this as a film or something. I didn't expect this to be so action-packed and it made me love it more. Tammy is a no-nonsense kind of chick. When she saves one of her students from the church from being attacked by a gang, word gets out that she is no run-of-the-mill pastor. She is quickly deemed a hero and that has made her a target. Demonis Alumno does not like this pastor cleaning up the streets and taking out their gang members. Demonis is ruthless and evil (hence the name) and anyone that is of no use to them is tortured and/or eliminated. Tammy has been up against terrorists and isn't afraid of Demonis, she is just afraid of what they will do to those close to her. Tammy finds out that Demonis is on to her and won't let anything stop her. Demonis isn't your regular crime lord either. She has connections in very high places and has something very big planned that could possible ruin more than just the city.
Once you start this book, you will not be able to put it down. The action is exciting, the characters are lovable and feel like people you know, the twists are mind-boggling, and the story was well put together. This is such a great story of courage and standing up for things that truly matter. The villain is just as intriguing as well. They scared the hell out of me. I always say villains should be just as interesting as the good guys and Hellvig did a great job their as well. I can't tell you what happens, of course, but you will love where this story goes. It will knock you right out of your chair. This is definitely a favorite of 2013. A must read even if thrillers aren't your thing....more
Ghostly Summons follows a man named Lars Kelsen who has a chip on his shoulder. That chip being death. Lars has a psychic ability which he doesn't really believe in. He believes his “ability” is more of an illness. He gets “visits” from people who want him to find their killers. They don't go away until he solves their murders. He gets one visit from a rich woman. This visit will force Lars to face things he rather not face and do things he rather not do.
I really enjoyed this read. It is nice coming across a paranormal mystery read as intriguing as this one. This is my first read by Karr and I would love to read more by him. Karr has a great knack for storytelling. The way this book is written, you really feel like you are in the book with the character. Karr gives such detailed descriptions of Lars' surroundings. Oh Lars! Our introduction of Lars alone was quite an experience. The man is quite tortured. He has lost everything. His loss has made him one tough shell to crack. You will instantly have a connection with Lars even though he may depress some. He loss his son and that loss has ruined him. This has clearly made him far from perfect. Before he became a programmer, he was a crime reporter. He had a tendency to bend the rules a bit to get things done. But to be fair, he was usually on track. He also doesn't like being bothered by the ghostly visits either. Even though he can solve their murders, he wants nothing to do with them or anyone for that matter except Hooper the dog.
I love the story that Karr has given us. Lars is approached by a rich dead woman named Jeannette. She appears to him naked and clearly beaten to death. She needs Lars' help to solve her murder. But it is quite the mystery to uncover. Her case is bringing back the need of his old job of investigative reporting. I love seeing what Lars is willing to do to get the job done. He knows how to be charming to get what he wants and when all else fails, planting devices or evidence seems to also get the results he wants.
I would recommend this to fans of paranormal or mystery reads. This book balances the two out very well. Karr is a great writer and again, he really knows how the reel the reader in. The story moves at a great pace especially with the fight scenes.I loved the action in this book along with the suspense. I would love to see this as a series. Lars is just such a great character, one book just isn't enough....more
The Tortoise Shell Code is a story about a lawyer named Anthony and his friend Joe. His friend is in a lot of trouble with his bank. He got a loan to pay for his brand new boat, but is running dry on paying it back. But Joe has a set up that can make it look like the boat sank and get the bank, well bank owner, off his back. But things do not go according to plan and people die. Joe gets Anthony on the case to help him, but through forces unknown to them, Anthony too is put in the hot seat. Anthony is now on the search to find who has framed him and Joe.
Wow! This read took me by surprise. What a thrilling read. I really loved our characters. Anthony was a super smart lawyer and he was an honest man. I love the flashback we got of how he and Joe met. And we also get his story with Cheryl which was quite the story. I won't give it a way, but it is heartbreaking and it is essential to the story. We also meet Joe and the hard spot he has been put into about the boat. He doesn't know that the banker who involved has a few tricks up his sleeve, He sends someone to spy on Joe's boat while it goes out to sea. While the spy is on the boat, tragedy strikes and that tragedy is placed on Joe's shoulders. Everyone thinks he had the boat blown up to get the insurance money since he was in such debt. I love how the story goes and how it connects everything between Anthony, Joe and the people around them.
I am going to try my best not to give you guys too much info because this is a story that will be very easy to spoil. I honestly don't know what to tell you that won't give the story away, it is that big of a thriller. I love the idea of framing Anthony. He is working on a novel that literally came to life and that little story gets him into major trouble. I love how Asaro tied that in. It was so simple but had major repercussions. It was brilliant. Anthony does get enlightened along the way and comes up with something that not only keeps him sane, but could help the world around them. It was an amazing part in the second half of the book.
As I said, I can't spoil this. It is just too good. The characters were great and well developed. You will be rooting for them until the end. This read was very mysterious and thrilling. After the first couple of chapters, it really picks up. I love all the layers we uncover with each chapter. It was such a thrilling ride. I was so engrossed in this story, I finished it in 2 days. Suspenseful, mysterious, and just plain captivating. I highly recommend this read to seekers of suspense. Seriously, check this book out now. You won't be sorry. ...more
Upload is a story that follows a teen after he has stumbled on something tragic. He has witnessed a terrible crime and has caught it all on film. He doesn't know where to go with his find, but he shows his best friend Bennie who has great computer skills. As they dive further into the mystery, they find out they have gone too far and end up getting into more trouble than they thought possible. They are now in for the fight of their lives' and must do whatever it takes to save themselves along with those they love.
This was a very thrilling and emotional read. Honestly, how is this not a movie? As a matter a fact, do any of you remember that ridiculous and inane film, Untraceable? It came out back in 2008 and it featured Diane Lane? A film that was also a cyber thriller. It was supposed to be anyway. Well this is a much better and much smarter version of that film. Upload was just one hell of a read that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.
Our main characters are Jay and Bennie. They are teenage boys who know a thing or two about computers. Jay is struggling with the loss of his mother and, technically, the loss of his father. Since his mom dies, his father is barely coherent and is in a deep depression. Bennie is a hacker. He loves his computers but doesn't get a lot of human connection. He is handicap. He has been in a wheelchair for most of his life. I love the friendship between Jay and Bennie. They were almost like brothers. They had their quirks, but they were a lot of fun together. When Jay records the tragedy that took place, Bennie is the first person he goes to. They were both very smart and I love how they were able to uncover the mystery of the murder that took place. The villain Sturgeon was scary as hell. He uses his computer skills to catch government officials and respected citizens to blackmail them so they can give him money. He also has no issue killing people who get in his way or just irritate him.
The story was just amazing. It is nice seeing a mystery/thriller through the eyes of teenagers. I love how what seems like a one time murder turns out to be a huge organization. As I said, Jay and Bennie are very smart and tech savvy. Through that they were able to crack and hack through the operation. They didn't know how close to home it would hit though. I love the use of technology in this book. It plays a huge role in this story and it was quite brilliant what Tobin came up with. People could take something that is meant to be helpful and change the way we do things, but decide to use it to play God. I love twist this story takes. It is so hard to talk about mystery reads because any little thing could spoil the story. And boy what a story this was.
Upload is a story worth reading and re-reading. It is fast paced and well written. The mystery was just top notch. The last few chapters of this book had my mouth dragging on the floor. I cried, I laughed and I was in shock. I felt just about every emotion in the last few chapters. I mean that was just incredible. Upload is a wonderful story about two teens learning about loss, love, courage, greed and everything else life throws at us. I highly recommend this read for anyone looking for great mystery, great character development, and just an overall great story. ...more
Taking the Highway is an interesting look into future Detroit. In order to ride the high-tech, superfast highways of Detroit, they need Fourths for carpooling. Fourths are hired hitchhikers. They are charming, entertaining and easy to get along with as their job requires. But when Fourth and detective Andre LaCroix is called in one night to look at a dead body dumped in the Oh-Zone, he quickly realizes a pattern; someone is killing Fourths. His peers believe he is reaching and is making things personal, but Andre knows something is up and will fight to show
I really enjoyed this story. Definitely an interesting science fiction read. I love the idea of this futuristic Detroit. Mead did a great job with giving us this mystery of the dead Fourths and terrorists attacks. For a science fiction read, it felt very real. It wasn't that hard to imagine a world like this because there are some aspects of it I can see taking place. Hell, we are almost there when you think about it. We also get a fair amount of action in this book which added more excitement.
Our protagonist Andre was a lot of fun. You are never sure what he may say or do next. I especially enjoyed the banter between him and Sofia. She was a no nonsense kind of woman that gave Andre a run for his money. I also liked Andre and his brother Oliver. Oliver was a bit self-absorbed and was very much Mr. Hotshot. But he is likeable I must say. They were total opposites, but that just made it all the more entertaining when they were together. There were a lot of great pairs in this book. The chemistry is where this book shines for me. I love the interactions between these characters because the dialogue is great. It just leaps off the page and makes the book feel more real even though it is sci-fi.
As much as I enjoyed this read, I had some issues for sure. My main issue right off the back was actually how far along in the future are we exactly. I know this is future Detroit, but I have no idea if this is 10 years from now, 20, 30, the book doesn't specify. Also this book gives us a lot of tech jargon out of the gate and it takes a few chapters before you grasp what they are talking about. This could make certain scenes a bit hard to understand. Also I would have liked more on the characters. I would love some back stories, but I can overlook that since I still ended up loving them anyway. I got a feel for them.
This is a mystery, so I am trying very hard not to give anything away. But trust me, it is worth reading about. Plenty of twists and turns. It will keep you guessing for a while and I like that a lot. Besides some of the confusion I had in the book with just the general feel of Detroit and the world in general, this was a pretty good read. There wasn't a dull moment that is for sure. The characters were lively and had a lot of personality and chemistry. This was a bit more mystery than sci-fi, but it is still a great read for fans of either genre. Definitely check this one out....more
Brilliant! That is really the only word I have to describe this book. Primal just takes you to a place that is fast paced, aggressive, emotional, and well...primal (couldn't help it). This is a story I will be telling everyone to read because I think it is essential for people to. This may not be based on a real story, but it felt that way. You get an instant connection these characters and the situation that has been forced on to them. One of my favorite reads this year and I can guarantee that it will most likely be one of yours as well.
I love our characters. It feels so real. I couldn't help but just imagine myself and people I know as these characters. It is hard not to place yourself in this book. Our main character Alison is a school teacher, a wife, and a mother. She is a sweet and loving woman who likes to bury herself in books. To treat her son for his birthday, they go on a fishing trip at an old cabin. Sadly, they were not aware of the prisoner (who is on death row) who escaped with his equally psychotic brothers heading at the same lodge. Alison finds herself outside looking in while her son and husband are trapped inside with the murderers. Alison starts off scared, but something quickly takes over her and she will fight to the death to save her family. And all of this happens in the first half of the book. There is not just one climax and then it is over. There is so much more.
I love how we dive into her family and how their lives are after what happened as well. Her husband Hank loves her so much and like at the lodge, he feels helpless to help Alison. There is so much disconnect between them. Hank was a great supporting husband and seeing him struggle with himself and with trying to connect with his wife was heartbreaking. I was most proud of their son Jimmy. Being a kid, he is able to look at the situation in a different way. The more he shares it with his friends, the more he feels like he was part of a game and it doesn't scare him. Then we have Ben, the main criminal. He was nothing like his brothers, he knew the right things to say, how to be calm and had great instincts and it made him more terrifying. All the brothers put you on edge, but Ben was just too calculating.
This book started off as a screenplay which has been purchased by James Cameron himself and for good reason. This book would make a fantastic film. The plot in Primal will have your face buried in it. The suspense and the intensity is almost staggering. You will have a hard time taking your eyes away from it. The story is just incredible because it shows things from both sides. We have Alison trying to save everyone in the cabin and we have the new her adjusting to life after the chaos. Just reading this, you feel all the emotions they are going through and with Alison, it is the toughest. She is lost, full of fear, anxiety, and anger. I won't give too much away, but I couldn't blame her.
Primal is a book that will be stuck in your head for a very long time. It forces you to ask yourself, “What would you do? How far are you willing to go to save those you love?” This is one hell of a debut. Serra has quite honestly written a classic. She even even takes it all a step further by showing us the aftermath. I mean how do you adjust to life after something like this? Can you ever find balance? Can you ever get back to what is normal? Primal definitely strikes a chord especially if you are a mother. This is an intense, psychological thriller that will leave a mark. It holds no punches and it will leave you breathless. If you are looking for a thriller to add to your bookshelf, look no further. Primal is an absolute must read....more
Geocaching? What the hell is geocaching? That was the first question that popped in my head when I started this. But man, I am glad I found out about it. It is such an interesting hobby. It is actually a treasure hunt. People use cell phones/GPS to locate hidden containers that are called geocaches. First To Find (aka FTF-a term of when you are the first to find a cache) is about a woman named Margarita who is a geocacher (is that what they are called, I have no idea). One night she gets the coordinates to a cache from an anonymous member and stumbles on the body of a fellow friend. Margarita and others don't believe it is the accident some claim it to be. So it is up to Margarita and her best friend to find out who and what killed their friend.
I had a blast with this book. It was such a fun read. This is a murder mystery I know I will be reading again. Margarita was a great lead character. She was a very clever woman. She knows how to create puzzles for the caches and she reads in between the lines. My favorite character though was Bindi. Bindi is Margarita's close friend and roommate. She has a condition (I say superpower). Her nose is extremely sensitive to smells, she can only handle so much and she knows people by their scents. But Bindi's sense of humor nearly killed me in this book. You never know what she will say next. If she were real, I would instantly become friends with her. Her and Margarita were quite the duo in this book. Very memorable characters.
The story was a lot of fun to read. I was invested very quickly. By the end of the first chapter, I was at the edge of my seat. Graham's murder reveals so much about those around town. Everyone and no one had a reason to kill a sweet and nerdy 60-something year old man. I love that we also have a mystery about the missing statue. I love how Talbot adds in that plotline to the murder. I am so good at pinpointing who the bad guy is way before they are revealed. This book had me stumped.
This book is just full of memorable characters and memorable scenes. First To Find is not your typical mystery read which made me love it more. Even if geocaching is brand new to you (like it is to me), you will love this story. And anyone who is a Doctor Who fan definitely deserves my stamp of approval (loved the jagrafess bit). This book just had all the right elements for me. It was exciting, suspenseful and funny. I can't wait for more. Highly recommended....more
Time Out is the sequel to Foolish Games. We continue to follow Joie and her friends who are on tour with the band, the Grimm Brothers Band. Joie and Hawkins have gotten even closer after their major brush with death. Joie thinks the worst thing she has to worry about now is how to convince people she and Hawkins are a couple and she isn't just some plain-Jane fan. And she has to deal with Hawkins' ex-fiance. On top of all that, terrorists attacks are hitting way too close to home and it seems they are getting too close to the band.
Wow, what a sequel this was. This was even better than the first one. Joie and Hawkins have grown so well together in such a short amount of time. I love them together. Oh how much I love Hawkins. He is book boyfriend worthy. Joie has great taste. Then we have Riley who still is the best character ever. I love the relationship brewing between him and Harlow. Harlow is slowly breaking out of his shell because of Riley since he isn't officially out of the closet yet. Most shocking of all was Lizzie. I couldn't her in Foolish Games. She wasn't just self-absorbed, she was the queen b***h. I mentioned how I couldn't even understand how Joie was friends with her so long. But Lizzie was actually great in this book. She does have her moments for sure though, nothing like how bad it was in the first book. But she makes up for it when we meet Gwen. Gwen is Hawkins ex-fiance and she has come to stir a lot of stuff up. A lot more than you could imagine really. Lizzie does a great job sticking up for Joie when Gwen is around.
The plot in this book was just amazing. I love how much bigger Spiegel and Summers made this story. In Foolish Games, we had someone terrorizing the band. This time around, things are much worse. Terrorists have been attacking venues that would be normally used by the Grimm Brothers Band. When an attack hits close to home, they are visited by the FBI. But something may or may not be wrong concerning agent Vance. And the immense danger of what is happening threatens to drive a wedge between Joie and Hawkins.
I enjoyed this book so much. The only complaint I have is that there were times when Joie's insecurities made me mad. She lets Gwen's spitefulness drive her crazy and over the edge at times. One of the things I loved about Joie was how at ease she was with herself. She let the success of Gwen drag her down. So she was a bit annoying at times in that aspect. But she still has a lot of backbone. We see that after the grocery shopping scene. I can't say what happens, but she is a smart girl and it shows.
This was a great sequel. I am so in love with this series. The story is out of this world. I love the climax at the end, I did not see that coming at all. It was epic to say the least. The very end of this book was very shocking. Oh, I want to know where this is going. Joie and Hawkins have a lot of work to do, but I love that they will do it together. If you want an exciting and thrilling YA series, this is the perfect choice....more
Brilliant! That is really the only word I have to describe this book. Primal just takes you to a place that is fast paced, aggressive, emotional, and well...primal (couldn't help it). This is a story I will be telling everyone to read because I think it is essential for people to. This may not be based on a real story, but it felt that way. You get an instant connection these characters and the situation that has been forced on to them. One of my favorite reads this year and I can guarantee that it will most likely be one of yours as well.
I love our characters. It feels so real. I couldn't help but just imagine myself and people I know as these characters. It is hard not to place yourself in this book. Our main character Alison is a school teacher, a wife, and a mother. She is a sweet and loving woman who likes to bury herself in books. To treat her son for his birthday, they go on a fishing trip at an old cabin. Sadly, they were not aware of the prisoner (who is on death row) who escaped with his equally psychotic brothers heading at the same lodge. Alison finds herself outside looking in while her son and husband are trapped inside with the murderers. Alison starts off scared, but something quickly takes over her and she will fight to the death to save her family. And all of this happens in the first half of the book. There is not just one climax and then it is over. There is so much more.
I love how we dive into her family and how their lives are after what happened as well. Her husband Hank loves her so much and like at the lodge, he feels helpless to help Alison. There is so much disconnect between them. Hank was a great supporting husband and seeing him struggle with himself and with trying to connect with his wife was heartbreaking. I was most proud of their son Jimmy. Being a kid, he is able to look at the situation in a different way. The more he shares it with his friends, the more he feels like he was part of a game and it doesn't scare him. Then we have Ben, the main criminal. He was nothing like his brothers, he knew the right things to say, how to be calm and had great instincts and it made him more terrifying. All the brothers put you on edge, but Ben was just too calculating.
This book started off as a screenplay which has been purchased by James Cameron himself and for good reason. This book would make a fantastic film. The plot in Primal will have your face buried in it. The suspense and the intensity is almost staggering. You will have a hard time taking your eyes away from it. The story is just incredible because it shows things from both sides. We have Alison trying to save everyone in the cabin and we have the new her adjusting to life after the chaos. Just reading this, you feel all the emotions they are going through and with Alison, it is the toughest. She is lost, full of fear, anxiety, and anger. I won't give too much away, but I couldn't blame her.
Primal is a book that will be stuck in your head for a very long time. It forces you to ask yourself, “What would you do? How far are you willing to go to save those you love?” This is one hell of a debut. Serra has quite honestly written a classic. She even even takes it all a step further by showing us the aftermath. I mean how do you adjust to life after something like this? Can you ever find balance? Can you ever get back to what is normal? Primal definitely strikes a chord especially if you are a mother. This is an intense, psychological thriller that will leave a mark. It holds no punches and it will leave you breathless. If you are looking for a thriller to add to your bookshelf, look no further. Primal is an absolute must read. ...more
Thanks to Leyane for asking me to review this. I honestly had no idea what I was missing. This book was quite the page-turner jammed packed with the world's most amazing and borderline psychotic characters ever. Then again, can't expect anything less from Las Vegas.
From page one the book instantly puts you in the action. A girl who works for the Las Vegas hotel Treasure Island Hotel has seemingly fell out of a helicopter. But it makes no sense since she was talking about bettering her life. It is up to head of customer relations, Lucky, to dissolve the problem without much publicity. It is her job to keep things under wraps. I love how deep the mystery went with this book. What seems like a run-of-the-mill accident turns out to be much much more given that the creep of a helicopter pilot, Willie the Weasel, decides to run and hide.
There is also more concerning who the creep is working with. Since it is mentioned he isn't the brightest. They are looking for his partner as well. I also love the suspicions surrounded the new head of security, the sexy Paxton. There are plenty pieces given in this book and Coonts handled them beautifully. I was so into this story, I really didn't want it to end.
As I said, the characters are not of the usual variety and that is what makes this book even better. Lucky definitely matches to the beat of her own drum. She has her head on straight and does what she can to protect those around her even those that may or may not deserve it. But it is in the job description. I love the chemistry between her and Paxton. I liked Paxton but he was very fishy in the book. It was fun trying to figure out his secrets and he has plenty.
But most surprising of all is the romance in this book. You think Paxton is the guy. Nope, the romance actually develops between Lucky and her best friend Teddie. Teddie is a well-known cross-dressing impersonator. You read that right. I loved this because not only were they truly a match made in Las Vegas heaven, but it really changes your perspective. I love that Coonts did stray from the usual male personas we are so use to. It really put a smile on my face because Teddie is a blast.
This is high recommendation for those that love a good mystery mixed with plenty of witty dialogue and out of this world characters. I hear the books get better and better, so I am definitely going to start book 2 next. If you are a fan of the Stephanie Plum series, I think you should start this immediately. It is full of laughs and very unforgettable characters. If you want a read that is beyond entertaining, get a copy of this book right now. ...more
Banshee Charmer is about a woman named Kiera, but everyone calls her Mac. She is a homicide detective for the Chicago Police Department, specifically the Freak Division. She takes care of the supernatural cases. You see, the world knows about the paranormal. The witches, vampires, demons and more live and work out in the open. The case Mac is working on involves women drained not of their blood, but of their energy. Problem is, it might be the work of an incubus, a supernatural creature that no one believes in because they went into extinction a very long time ago. So Mac's hands are tied. And worse, a sexy OWEA agent winds up in her house to help her, but is he trustworthy? Mac doesn't know that either.
I was asked by Stacey O'Neale to review this book. I jumped at the chance since the book sounded so interesting. And it definitely was. This is Tiffany Allee's first book and she did a phenomenal job. The characters were great and had depth. Mac is a great heroine. She takes care of business and doesn't take a lot of crap. Aidan was hot and charming. This book was 137 pages long and Allee managed to get such an incredible chemistry between her leads. They were heating up the pages, let me tell you.
I liked the plot. I won't lie, I figured out the secret halfway through. It was predictable. That doesn't take away from the story, mind you. You still want to know where the secret plays into the story. I was still at the edge of my seat. But I do this a lot. You don't want to watch Castle or any cop show/movie with me. I always figure it out before anyone. Ever watch that super sad Sean Penn movie, Mystic River? I knew who the killer was in the first half hour. Trust me, no one would have thought of it. Sorry about the rambling there. Nonetheless, predictability is pretty much my only compliant.
This is a wonderful debut by Tiffany Allee. The world is incredible and well put together. I definitely got lost in this book. You really get a lot for a book that is a little over 100 pages. That is always my compliant with short stories, we don't get enough depth or they don't feel layered enough, this definitely doesn't fit that mold. Allee manages to mix police procedural, urban fantasy, mystery and paranormal romance beautifully. Allee is clearly talented and I will be keeping my eyes on her. You should do the same. ...more
Stephanie Plum has only been a bounty hunter for 5 months, but she has already earned herself a reputation as trouble magnet. But the pressure is really on for her now since she has to arrest the town’s saint, Moses (Uncle Mo). He has been Trenton’s Candy Man, owns his own shop that sells candy and ice cream to the kids and it is even known as a safe place for them to hang out. But what is supposed to be a simple bust on minor charge (carrying concealed) soon becomes explosive for Plum when Uncle Mo is beginning to look less and less like the town saint. But that doesn’t stop Uncle Mo’s supporters from showing Plum how much they don’t want Mo gone and this puts Plum in even more danger than she thought.
Oh, how much I love this series. Again, I so regret how long it took for me to start it. I am not sure I would classify this as Chick Lit or not, but it is something I think both men and women will find entertaining. Plum is still Plum, always in the wrong place at the right time (you read that right). I love how her strange hunches send her to the correct places, even though what occurs isn’t the best of situations, it helps. I love how crazy things get. Everything seems so normal and BAM, Plum is surrounded by dead bodies, drug dealers, bullets, and a rocket launcher. Yes, a rocket launcher!
I got the abridged version again, but in this one there wasn’t much of Grandma Mazur which is greatly disappointing, but we do get more Lula. I really loved her. Adding more of her made up for not having a lot of Mazur (still wanted her though). She becomes Plum’s unwanted sidekick, but she was loads of fun. I couldn’t stop cracking up at the amount of things she would say to and about the criminals they needed to bust. One of my favorite scenes was when they had to catch some kid working at the mall. The fight between him and Plum/Lula was hilarious. Seeing two chicks having mustard squirted on them and trying to take down a guy in a chicken suit is just priceless.
We also meet some of Lula’s interesting friends who might be crazier than she is, but made this even funnier to listen to. And of course, there is Joe Morelli, but he is acting surprisingly weird around Plum. He has been after her since the beginning, but now he is acting like they are just buddies. This leads to some sexy and once again very frustrating scenes. Why Evanovich do you continue to tease us? As much as I enjoy Morelli, I am most curious about the character Ranger though. Something quite sexy about him, he definitely screams alpha and I want more. We are definitely going to see more of him.
Don’t have much more to say without spoiling things. This book was great. This series is yet to disappoint. I can’t possibly put it down. If you haven’t started it, you must. No way can you get bored with this series. Going on ridiculous chases with some of the most unusual characters ever, plus the loads of laughs, this is a definite hit....more
I was given the opportunity to review this book a few weeks ago from the author himself. I have never heard of this author or this book, so I was surprised to have been asked. But now I am ashamed that I haven’t heard of it sooner. This book was sexy, scary and downright thrilling.
The Last Ride of the Reverse Cowgirls is a book full of werewolves, vampires, wizards, and other things that go bump in the night that roam the streets. Our main character, Andy Sutton, is a cop for the supernatural and he is a werewolf. He specializes in catching the supernatural in his realm and he travels to our world to catch a wizard acting like an idiot. But that is nothing compared to the vampire who is roaming free. He seduces and kills women during very passionate moments. Not only that, but he is also cleaning out their bank accounts and no one knows how he is able to do it without even leaving a trace. Andy needs to catch him before humans find out what is really going on and before even more women die.
Wow, what a surprise this was. So action packed and unexpected. I loved our characters. Andy was a great lead character. He takes his job seriously and he has his own demons to face, both literally and figuratively. Being on a first name basis with the devil himself is really not a good start. His “boss”, Scanton, has an agenda and he doesn’t trust him. Scanton also happens to be best friends with the devil. But Andy knows the man will use what is left of his family against him, so that is why he is sort of powerless against him.. Andy can’t see his family because he faked his death. They can’t find out what he is. Also Andy has a girlfriend, but he meets Isabella, the human detective that wants to catch the serial killer as much as he does. He has to battle with his feelings for her.
One thing this book did that I liked but at the same time didn’t like was when we followed our villain’s side. We actually don’t get much point of view from the vampire even though he is the serial killer. Everything we see is through the vampire’s right hand man, Stepan. He is human and does everything the vampire asks him too. He has a track record of stealing from people and he is very good at it. I liked that we got things from his point of view. How he doesn’t like being the vampire’s pet, but knows he would easily be destroyed. We see that it is him that is the real brains behind the operation. I love where the story goes between him and the vampire. Stepan can’t have his own life while being the vampire’s pet and things take a turn when Stepan finds a woman he falls for and knows what could happen if the vampire ever found her.
The plot got more and more complicated with each chapter from both the protagonist and antagonist. Their stories flowed well together, but the book truly could have been split and either story would have been just as satisfying. We see how both of these men are suffering from the world’s they have been forced into. Stepan couldn’t defeat the vampire, so he didn’t have much say about being “friends” with a serial killer. Andy was turned into a werewolf when he didn’t want to be one. I thought Anderson did a good job showing the dynamics between these characters.
Overall, this was a pretty great read. The world, well worlds, Anderson has created were incredible. This book would have been just as great even without the paranormal aspect, so if the supernatural isn’t your thing, you would still enjoy this. The ending to this book had me reeling, in a good way. The only things that would make me upset is if Anderson didn’t make a sequel to this. Please do, Mr. Anderson. If don’t I will cry and I look ugly when I cry, you don’t want that on your hands do you? Nonetheless, get this book. It is so worth the ride. No pun intended (okay, maybe a little)....more
What happens when you are offered $10000 to search for coffins? Well you take it, duh! This is exactly what happens to our great Plum in the second installment of the Stephanie Plum series, Two for the Dough. Plum is still getting the hang of the bounty hunting thing searching for a man who shot a friend of his. But by chance, due to crazy Grandma Mazur’s obsession with funerals, Plum is offered a job to find 24 missing coffins. But it comes to Plum’s attention that the man she was already looking for might be involved with the coffins and he just happens to be related to Joe Morelli, fellow cop and Plum’s old fling.
I actually think I like this book more than the first one. I ended up with the abridged version yet again which means I missed plenty but the basics. Still doesn’t mean this was any less amazing. It was funnier and the plot was a little more action packed and fast paced. Evanovich did such a great job, yet again. Plum is still unlearned, but she is getting things done with help from friends and non-friends. I like that even though Plum seems to attract trouble, she pulls through things like you wouldn’t believe. I love that she isn’t an absolute expert at it yet. It is nice to follow her through her experience. The way she goes about things is a bit unconventional, but she gets things done.
As much as I love Plum though; Grandma Mazur stole the show for me in this book. Even when a scene is supposed to be sad or awful even, the things she does and say had me in tears from laughing so hard. For instance, as I mentioned, she has a thing for going to funerals. She follows the obituaries in the newspapers like no one’s business. It is her weird form of entertainment. Now as you can guess there are rules at these viewings, but she always manages to break them. For example, there was a closed casket viewing of a man who was shot, but Grandma Mazur wanted to see the bullet holes. So she just happened to trip on the rug, hit the lid of the coffin and it just happened to pop open. Then there was the scene with the mailed penis. Don’t even get me started on the Jewish penis. I know this is weird, but trust me, it was funny. Grandma Mazur is a relentless, conniving, gun-slinging old lady. And you are going to love her for it.
The bad guy Kenny was creepy as hell and I couldn’t believe he was related to Joe. I think Plum handled him well even though I think was silly trying to take him down on her own. But she had help in some unlikely places. I like Joe sometimes, but like Plum, you can’t get over the feeling he always has an agenda. He always seems to know where Plum is on her stakeouts, what she is doing. When she found out how, I love the way she took her revenge. Worst way for any man, funny as hell to any woman.
Overall, don’t miss this book. Actually, don’t miss this series. Like I said, this was better than One for the Money which I completely loved. We get to know more of our characters. We get more action. We get more laughs. Also anything that involves an old lady pulling a gun out of her purse during a chase is pure gold as far as I am concerned. ...more
A name I have probably heard more times than my own, Stephanie Plum. With the new release of the seventeenth book, Smokin’ Seventeen, I thought, “I should get on this”. Proud to say I did. I see why it is such a popular series. Plum doesn’t have special powers, she isn’t supernatural, has no idea how to use a sword or a gun, but she is a great heroine because she has balls of steel. She is funny as hell and does things without thinking them through first which is even more entertaining. Chick lit isn’t my thing, but there is so much more to this and I am definitely glad I got on this wagon.
One for the Money is about a woman named Stephanie Plum. She is just lost her lackluster job and is in danger of losing her place. Plum hears that a reward of $10000 will be given if out if a bounty hunter can find a man who is in trouble with the law. When she hears that it is an old high school fling of hers, Joe Morelli, (someone who used her and she paid back by breaking his leg with her car), she definitely thinks that it will be worth it. So she decides to become a bounty hunter pretty much overnight. But while investigating, she finds that a simple issue of finding and bringing in Morelli is a part of something far dangerous than she thought.
I truly enjoyed the hell out of this. Unfortunately, when I downloaded this from the library, it didn’t tell me that it was the abridged audiobook. This means instead of getting the entire book (8 hours’ worth), I ended up with roughly 3 hours. So I missed a lot of content which is disappointing, but from the 3 hours that I got, I still loved it. This book was just fun and had me cracking up left and right.
The plot was very good. I didn’t know what I was getting into when I started this and that was great. Plum is a divorced young woman living in New Jersey (I will save the Jersey jokes for another time) and she is in a tough spot. She is taking on something bigger than herself and runs into a boxer who is creepy as hell. But I love how Evanovich doesn’t make this as scary as it can be. She manages to makes this lighthearted (mostly). There are scenes that will freak you out, but Evanovich doesn’t make this a horror even though she could have easily. Think of Odd Thomas, just without the supernatural creatures and with lots of laughs, then you have Stephanie Plum.
The characters are a riot. I love Plum’s family. They are your typical overreaching, Jersey family. I love how Plum’s mom keeps telling her all about the people she should date and the jobs she should get. She never lets up. I read that her entire family is insane, but as I said, I got the abridged version, so I didn’t get much from the rest of her family members. I am definitely going to get the book because they sound like lots of fun. I really liked Morelli. He was a dog sometimes, but he was likable. I loved the interactions between him and Plum. They were truly two halves of a whole. They deserve each other, they were evenly matched. The book was also read by actress Lori Petty who did a great job bringing the Jersey in the book. It added just another level for me.
Overall, this book was fun. I am happy I finally got around to reading it. Couldn’t believe just how awesome this book was. It is a mixture of mystery, crime, thriller, and comedy. Great action packed plot, lovable characters, laughs and just a breath of fresh air. This is the beginning of a great relationship. Can’t wait to see more of you Ms. Plum....more
Blood Law is about a world, our world, which is aware of the existence of vampires. Now like humans, vampires need their own policing. This is where Alexandra Sabian comes in. She is an FBPI (Federal Bureau of Preternatural Investigation) agent. She works along with humans to in vampire related murders. But this investigation hits close to home with Alex when the murdered vampires hold a strange resemblance to the way Alex’s father was murdered. It has been about 40 years since his death and his murderer was never found, so Alex is more determined than ever.
I really enjoyed this book. The plot was pretty good. It sort of reminded me of the second season of True Blood, just from the cops’ point of view. I love how the story builds up. From the first chapter, it is dark and gruesome. Alex finding out that the man possibly responsible for her father’s death might be in Jefferson, sends her into a world spin. Not only does she have to put up with a town that is split on vampires, including the town sheriff who might know more about the crimes than he is letting on. Alex also must face the reinforcements, her ex-fiancée Varik. Things between them ended brutally and he was supposed to be retired, so seeing him is a big shock.
Like plenty of other reviews I have seen, I too couldn’t believe this was Holmes first book. This is just so intricate and layered, I couldn’t believe it. The way she writes almost reminds me of J.R. Ward’s or Adrian Phoenix’s style. We get everyone’s point of view, from the main characters to the villains and those in between. I love that. I like that we can follow what everyone is doing and trying to get an understanding as to why they are doing it.
The characters in the book were all incredible. Alex was a great heroine. She actually reminded me a lot of old Anita Blake. She is tough, takes no bullshit, and she will find her man no matter what while still trying to rescue those close to her. I love Varik, he and Alex may be in a six year patch, but he never gives up on her no matter how piss she is. I love finding books where the characters already have a history, it is rare and it adds more depth to them. Love others characters like Alex’s brother, Stephen, who hates Varik’s guts because of what he did. Then there is Tasha, she is Alex’s partner whose loyalty is really tested in this book. She definitely has some demons to face and Holmes wrote it in a way that she will have an even bigger part in things to come I believe. I truly can’t wait.
The only thing I liked and disliked about this book was the actual vampire aspect of the book. Weird, I know, but let me explain myself. I love that the world knows about the vampires and they are fitting in well with society. But in effect, the vampires are quite humanized. I mean, I love they aren’t the dark and cold beings we are used to seeing, but they have powers. Problem is if they use them, they will be punished for it. This couldn’t be truer for Alex who can sometimes see and feel the last few moments of someone’s life (and she can see ghosts). But I think because she has to try and keep her vampire self in check, she can’t do more with them. But I believe that we will see more of her powers in play.
Like I said, this is an amazing debut by Holmes. Again, can’t believe this is the lady’s first book. This was a page turner for me. The twists and surprises will leave you in a state of awe. There are two characters in particular (neither are the actual killer who is very disturbed) who do and hide things that I would not have seen coming. I recommend this even if you aren’t a fan of Urban Fantasy. It is still a great Thriller....more
OH MY GOD! This was…AMAZING!!! I love Urban Fantasy (well, duh) and I have been looking for something different and fresh. And I found it right here. Mind Games was fun, refreshing, unique, and very exciting. This is so going on my favorites list.
I loved all the characters in this book. I felt so bad for Justine being thrown in the middle of everything. I think being a hypochondriac kept her a bit sheltered and scared of a lot of things. But I liked her, if not for her, this book would have ended very differently. I liked all the other characters, they made me smile. But like Justine, you don’t know whether to trust them or not. I wasn’t a fan of Justine’s boyfriend, Cubby, I really don’t think he supported her as much as he could have. I could sort of understand, still I wanted to punch him. I loved Shelby and how quickly she and Justine become best friends. They really look out for each other in this book. I liked the character of Simon and I really wanted to know what his story was with Packard. Well him and all the other side characters that all were a blast in this book.
I loved the plot to this book. I love the idea of instead killing and/or punishing a criminal, why not fix them? Infecting people with their own fear is just a brilliant idea. I loved the whole Disillusionist group and how everything worked together, well more or less. I love seeing the change in Justine, seeing that she isn’t so afraid anymore. Seeing her learn to give away her fear, it is just so interesting. But I also liked how this worked with the ending and I definitely know it will play a part in the books to come. When is nice too nice? Is rewriting someone the best way to fix them? Is it good or bad? There are little questions that get raised here and I can’t wait to read more to find out what is next. God I loved this!
My only real complaint, well not much of a complaint because I like it, is the cover. I love it, but it gives off the wrong impression. When I saw the cover, I thought, “Hell yes, another badass chick in leather”, but that is not the case really. Justine is thrown into this world and doesn’t even use any weapons, except her brain. She isn’t a badass, she can’t be given her condition has her limited. And the cover makes you think the opposite of that. So those expecting a sort of Kate Daniels-esque book, this isn’t quite along those lines even though it is still action-packed. This book is very supernatural, but there aren’t any supernatural creatures, just supernatural powers.
This book truly took me by surprise. The last 10 or 11 chapters had my mouth dragging on the floor because I wouldn’t have guessed that even if my life depended on it. I love where this book goes and don’t get me started on the love interest (I won’t say who because that is a huge spoiler), but it is unexpected to say the least. I honestly can’t put into words how satisfied I was with this book. I swear you will not find anything like this out there. Thank you so much Crane and Kristin (mybookishways) for this book. One of the best books I have read this year....more
Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)
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