Blood Money, published by Champagne Books, tells the story of Azzam Abdullah, an Iraqi-born accountant living and working in London for Sun Corp.
Sun C...moreBlood Money, published by Champagne Books, tells the story of Azzam Abdullah, an Iraqi-born accountant living and working in London for Sun Corp.
Sun Corp has a squeaky-clean image, but only a handful of trusted employees know its true purpose: a front for global Islamic extremist terrorism.
When Azzam’s employer finds out Azzam’s been informing on him to the CIA, he kidnaps a woman from Azzam’s past to ensure his surrender.
A stranger in a foreign land, Azzam has the dubious honor of deciding between the life of one woman and the safety of millions.
I have to admit, nothing would make me come out of writing-hibernation faster than a request from Erika Mitchell to do a review of her newest thriller! I couldn’t have been more excited when her name popped up in my inbox the other week, asking if I’d be interested in reading her second book, “Blood Money.” From following her blog, I knew that it was going to be a doozy, and that she was very excited about it, so naturally I was as well.
Erika was gracious enough to stop by my personal blog to talk about her first novel, PWNED. If you need a refresher, it’s about a gamer-turned-fugitive who overcomes the nefarious plotting of his rival with the help of his gaming friends. One of whom happens to be wicked hot. Throw in some possibly-illegal international travel and some edge-of-your-seat tournament action (something I never thought I’d be typing!), and you’ve got a refreshing, witty thriller for a new generation of readers.
Most notable about the plot of PWNED was how (for me) it turned “Gamer” stereotypes on their head. That seems to be a general theme in Erika’s work, because she’s gone and done it again with Blood Money. If you’ve followed this book from the beginning (*ahem,* like me), you’ll know that the working title was “Enemy Accountant.” Which, wha?!? Because typically the word “accountant” does not exactly bring exciting things to mind. That, my friends, is where you’d be dead wrong.
As mentioned in the teaser above, Azzam is an accountant for a London-based corporation that is actually a front for an Islamic terrorist group. What we learn quickly, however, is that Azzam isn’t really down with the whole “murdering innocent people in the name of religion” thing, and has been working with the CIA for years to attempt to bring down Sun Corp. By knowing where the money goes and what it’s being spent on, he’s able to tip off his contact and keep the CIA one step ahead of his boss’s plans.
Unfortunately for Azzam, his boss didn’t become the head of a multi-billion dollar corporation without having some brains, and begins to be suspicious when his latest scheme goes awry. He has one of his “guns for hire” start looking into who could be leaking information, and that’s when things start to get REALLY interesting. What nobody counts on is an “Enemy Accountant” with honor and courage in addition to brains.
This book, even more than PWNED, had me absolutely hooked from the very beginning. It was a treat to escape from our recent blah winter weather into the intrigue and excitement of Azzam’s life, and a sweaty-palmed rush to see how Erika was going to bring the threads of her plot together. I was also blown away by what a departure this book was from her first novel- we got to spend a lot of time with Sean and Norman in PWNED, but they were our main points of view. We met other characters, but none with the depth and vitality of the people that chose to take up residence in Blood Money. They each had their own strengths and weaknesses, and watching those unfold throughout the pages was a delight. It was a great step in the evolution of Erika Mitchell as a writer, and guarantees that I will keep coming back for more of her stories.
(And if you’ve followed my reviews, you know that I’m typically NOT a ‘thriller’ person.)
After reading the end of this book, I had to come in and share the whole thing with Army Boy, because I was having trouble wrapping my head around it....moreAfter reading the end of this book, I had to come in and share the whole thing with Army Boy, because I was having trouble wrapping my head around it. It was that powerful. Mira Grant proves that you can achieve a true horror novel with subtlety, and having some of the worst scenes happening “off-screen.”
Shaun and Georgia Mason are given the chance of a lifetime when they’re picked to be the media coverage inside the Presidential Campaign of Senator Peter Ryman. There are a few differences to our current political climate, however.
One: The country is overrun with Zombies. Scientists simultaneously developed a cure for the common cold, and one for Cancer. When introduced, those beasties mutated to bring about the apocalypse in the form of Kellis-Amberlee, a virus that causes the dead to reanimate.
Two: Due to number one, everything is done completely differently in the United States. Blogging has exploded as a viable form of news, because it’s frequently the quickest to pick up a potential story and run with it. No filters or network affiliations, just the truth. In a harrowing time, that’s exactly what people want most.
Sean and Georgia are two thirds of a blogging team (the third being their friend Buffy, fictional writer and tech-guru extraordinaire) who are chosen to present the inside scoop on Senator Ryman’s campaign. Little do they know, they’re entering dangerous territory even by daredevil Shaun’s standards.
I don’t feel like it’s too much of a stretch to compare this book to one of my post-apocalyptic favorites, “The Passage” by Justin Cronin. Mira Grant’s world is realized just as fully, and I found myself wondering what the characters were up to each time I had to put the book down. And oh the characters- Georgia is steely and super-saavy, even when diving into the shark-tank of politics. She’s my new favorite to join my zombie apocalypse Justice League of Awesome and Not Dying. (I so did not just make that up off the top of my head.)(Yes I did.) Shaun wouldn’t be out of place on an episode of Jack-Ass, and the other staff of After The End Times are brought to life just as vividly.
Through the course of the political campaign, you get a real feel for the changes that have taken place across the country. There are nods of humor (Georgia and Buffy [real name Georgette] are both named after George Romero, considered one of mankind’s heroes for preparing them for the apocalypse via his cinematic work. Apparently “George” was the new “Katie” after the dead started rising), some truly harrowing scenes with the infected and some intriguing descriptions of the various necessary technical advances. Grant also doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to picking off her characters, something that when done well can be incredibly effective.
If you’re looking to start a new post-apocalyptic series, and in the mood for some zombie mayhem, this would definitely be the choice for you.
I was invited to read and review The Trajectory of Dreams (Due out March 1.2013) by Ms. Wolverton herself. I accepted immediately, whereas I usually o...moreI was invited to read and review The Trajectory of Dreams (Due out March 1.2013) by Ms. Wolverton herself. I accepted immediately, whereas I usually offer a book review to all our reviewers, I kept this one to myself because the author is local to me. I’m not far from Philadelphia and Ms. Wolverton is a Philadelphian herself. I jumped at the chance to support a local writer.
Trajectory is Ms. Wolverton’s first published novel and I have to say… bravo. In conversations with the author she shared with me how much fun she had writing the character of Lela. It is easy to see why. Lela is deliciously complicated. Highly protective of the work she is doing on behalf of NASA and supremely private, she tries to find the ways in which people may be trying to thwart her work to keep astronauts safe during their missions.
The shuttle explosion of Lela’s childhood is based on the Challenger, as anyone who has seen the video or remembers watching it happen, can recognize by the description. Ms. Wolverton purposely did not use the name Challenger out of respect for the families of those astronauts lost and, of course, the family of Christa McAuliffe – the teacher who was so excited to go into space and share her experience with her students. At first I questioned this as the description of the explosion that impacted Lela’s entire life was spot on to the Challenger… as the book went on I saw the wisdom in this decision. It was a good call on Ms. Wolverton’s part.
On the whole, this was a delightful read. And chilling. And as I neared the end… simply impossible to stop. I finished this book in the wee hours of Thanksgiving eve because I just couldn’t stop without knowing what happened. And now, on Thanksgiving Day… I think we can all be thankful for the budding career of Ms. Wolverton and her debut into the world published authors.
Stephanie Plum is back in action. She hasn’t found a “normal” job yet, so back to her cousin Vinnie’s bail bonds office she goes. A girl’s gotta pay t...moreStephanie Plum is back in action. She hasn’t found a “normal” job yet, so back to her cousin Vinnie’s bail bonds office she goes. A girl’s gotta pay the rent somehow, right?
Joe Morelli is back on the right side of the law this time, but his cousin is now the one that Stephanie is after. Since Joe comes from a large extended (and stereotypical) Italian family, Joe is also trying to track him down on his family’s behalf.
Thus Stephanie and Joe are now working towards the same goal. Sometimes, the two are found working together, and at times, they are working against each other. As they do so, the sexual tension between them increases.
Ranger is kick-ass, ex special forces, and an experienced bounty hunter. Ranger now steps in to help Stephanie out, and seems to be acting as a mentor. His regard for Stephanie is a bit like she’s the pain in the ass kid next door who wants to be included in things she’s just too young to be included in. But, he’s the kind of guy that doesn’t mind teaching the kid the ropes and then gets a kick out of seeing her try.
Much of the spookiness factor in this book comes from the plot twist of her receiving deliveries of random body parts. But this is coupled with the hilarity of Grandma Mazur. Stephanie must go and investigate funeral homes in an effort to match the body part with its deceased owner, and as seems to be a favored pastime of “The Burg’s” elderly, Grandma Mazur just happens to be going to many of the local funerals anyway to catch up with her friends.
Grandma Mazur really gets into the idea of being Stephanie’s partner. She fancies herself a fellow bounty hunter, and in this way, we begin to see who in the family Stephanie really takes after. Unfortunately Grandma Mazur is a handful, and feels completely justified in every outrageous thing she does. And if something goes wrong, don’t worry, it’s always someone else’s fault.
Plot twists abound, and the pace is fast. Pay attention, because Kenny Mancuso isn’t the only bad guy lurking around Trenton these days. This book was every bit as good as the first one and just as funny, no second book slump here. Janet Evanovich still had me laughing out loud, and once again telling Stephanie not to open that door.
This time the friendly and beloved neighborhood candy store owner, affectionately known as “Uncle Mo”, has fail...moreBack for round three, and just as good.
This time the friendly and beloved neighborhood candy store owner, affectionately known as “Uncle Mo”, has failed to appear at his court date. He was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, which apparently is so common in the area that it is a law most everybody ignores. And the people in the neighborhood are not about to help Stephanie bring in Uncle Mo in any way, shape, or form. -This rings true to real life. Some people are so loved by the local masses, that they are forgiven everything. And the locals are frustrating, yet funny in their attempts to preserve Uncle Mo’s freedom.
Stephanie keeps coming across dead bodies, one right after another. It becomes a running joke amongst the cops in town that if there’s a discarded body lying around somewhere, Stephanie will find it. -It’s creepy. It’s like she’s got some sort of dead body radar. If it hadn’t have become a running joke, it would have been annoyingly overdone. As it was, by the end I was rolling my eyes when she discovered yet another one.
It just so happens that the previous owners of those dead bodies all seem to have crime in common. It begins to look like Uncle Mo might be part of a vigilante group who are out to rid the area of drug dealers by taking matters into their own hands. This idea just seems to endear Uncle Mo to the citizens even more. -When this twist came into view, I started to cheer for Mo myself, but that feeling quickly passed. There’s something more sinister afoot. Thank goodness, because this kept my attention grounded in the mystery between my eyerolls concerning the number of dead bodies there were.
Grandma Mazur, while still as feisty as ever, plays a much smaller role this time around. Enter Lula, an overweight ex hooker turned file clerk in Stephanie’s cousin Vinnie’s bail bonds office. She talks all the talk of wanting to be a bounty hunter, but doesn’t quite walk the walk. -But instead of the reader feeling frustrated with the character of Lula, this reader found her hilarious and likeable. I didn’t see the incorporation of this character coming, yet she fits in beautifully.
Morelli has backed off hanging with Stephanie nearly altogether. Stephanie is bothered by this revelation. She doesn’t want a relationship with Morelli… or does she? She finds herself getting jealous when she suspects that Morelli has a girlfriend, and it bothers her that she’s jealous. Stephanie doesn’t know what she wants, but she knows she doesn’t want Morelli involved with somebody else. -Ah, yes, the personal love-life crises.
Ranger is still in the picture as a mentor. Stephanie turns to him for help when she decides that she needs to get her bounty hunter act together and get in shape. -This is funny. We get to see a whole new side of Ranger, and he’s a health-nut. But there’s something so… hot about him, I can forgive his lack of an ability to eat a doughnut.
You can feel Evanovich begin to really settle into the series. She’s getting to know certain characters on a deeper level, she’s unraveling Stephanie’s personal life a bit, and Stephanie’s quirks are beginning to show themselves more.
This was another fun romp with Stephanie Plum. Twists and turns and hilarity and dead drug dealers. She doesn’t walk through everything completely unscathed in this one, but Stephanie is tougher than she looks and doesn’t back down until the mystery is solved. She’s full of Jersey attitude. An enjoyable read!
I, for one, have lost count of the hours of sleep I haven't gotten because I've been up well past reasonable hours...more(cross-posted from The Readers Cafe)
I, for one, have lost count of the hours of sleep I haven't gotten because I've been up well past reasonable hours, telling myself I'll "just finish this chapter" when reading a good book (we've all said that at one time or another [this week], right?) Given this tendency of mine, Libriomancer delighted me in two different ways: first, because yet again I lost sleep, bargaining with myself at the start of every chapter, and second, because it's obvious that Hines really loves books, and I felt at times like I was reading the world's most interestingly-annotated "recommended reading" list. Seriously--I have half a dozen new books on my "to read" pile because I have read Libriomancer.
The concept of this novel sucked me right in. On its face, the "there are people with magical abilities, and they walk among us and have Very Interesting And Also Sometimes Dangerous stuff that they deal with" storyline is not new, but I loved the interesting twists and quirks the author incorporated into Libriomancer. In addition to the usual (heh) sorcerers, necromancers, and vampires that show up in these types of novels, Hines gives us libriomancers: people whose magical gifts stem from books and the collective belief of readers. I liked that some of the politics of this magical world are explained (case in point: how do they stop an untrained or malicious libriomancer from using, say, Tolkien's Ring of Power?), and I like that the protagonist's story isn't a "hero with perfect judgment rises to the occasion/fulfills destiny" story; Isaac is flawed, and while he is a gifted libriomancer, he has made significant mistakes in his past, which are a source of both frustration and growth for him. Oh, and also: remember those sorcerers, necromancers, and vampires? They are also presented with some interesting twists. For example, there isn't just one type of vampire in the world of Libriomancer. Instead, there are species of vampires that display the characteristics given to them by the authors of significant vampire stories throughout history. So Stephenie Meyer's sparkly, super-fast, super-strong vampires for whom daylight is just an inconvenience? Yep, they're here. Their introduction was my first laugh-out-loud moment when I read this book, but it wasn't my last!
In addition, Hines writes some wonderful characters. As much as I liked Isaac, I adored Lena Greenwood, a serious bad-ass with amazing backstory and depth of character. She is smart, compassionate, pragmatic, and Isaac's equal in every way--not a "damsel in distress" in the slightest (she saves Isaac's ass at least as many times as he saves hers). The supporting characters in Libriomancer are more richly detailed than I typically find, too: without derailing or unnecessarily bogging down the text, the reader gets glimpses into their personalities, quirks, and struggles. Also, hello diversity! These characters mirror real life, with varying ethnicity, gender identity, age, sexuality, degrees of neurotypicality (is that a word? It is now...) and physical ability--and none of these traits are presented as The Single Defining Characteristic of the character. It's just who they are.
Sure, Libriomancer can be campy; it's good fun to read, and the homage to (in particular) science fiction and fantasy is unapologetically front-and-center. For readers who aren't familiar with the seminal works of this genre, you may be a little adrift, but the author includes enough description to keep the story moving. I am not a huge SF/F reader in general, so I believe I may have missed out on some of the humor and finer points which probably added significance to the text, but I was able to keep up, and Isaac's (and Hines's) appreciation has caused me to reconsider some of these books (hence the "to-read" list). In later installments in the series--yes, it's a series, which did not bother me, because this book can stand on its own, even though there are clearly Issues Still to be Resolved with the larger story arc--I really hope to see some libriomancers who are drawn to different genres. When battling supernatural creatures, I'm sure SF/F is probably the safest bet, but it would be really interesting to see how another character would use a different genre of choice. Seriously, fending off a vampire with a memoir (just not Marley & Me, please), or Jane Austen, or a 1992 Honda Accord repair manual? I am so there.
The Verdict:Libriomancer is a fun, fast-paced adventure, with enough mystery to drive the story along, enough book nerdery to satisfy just about any reading fanperson, and enough humor to make the ride enjoyable. I would recommend that anyone who likes reading science fiction and/or fantasy give it a try, and for those who do not, I believe you still may find quite a bit to like. The plot isn't entirely resolved (naturally, this being the first in a series), but it stands on its own enough to make the wait for the second book bearable. I give Libriomancer four and a half out of five automatons (so watch out for that fifth one; it's only got its left side but I'm sure that makes it no less dangerous...) (less)
After reading this book, I've decided that I'd personally classify it as a "Paranormal Thriller with Romance Elements," since it's a little more descr...moreAfter reading this book, I've decided that I'd personally classify it as a "Paranormal Thriller with Romance Elements," since it's a little more descriptive than "Urban Fantasy," which is how it was described when I received it. It's also--surprise! (no surprise)--the first book in a series. Overall, I enjoyed Chosen, and would recommend it to others, though with a couple of reservations.
Denise Grover Swank has started a compelling and immersive storyline with this book. Her characters and their voices stand out: Emma--the sharp, adaptable mother lion--is my favorite, and Will was just irritating enough to get under my skin, though he improved upon acquaintance. I also liked that the author pays attention to motivation; very rarely did one of the characters do something that didn't make sense. Under intense pressure, they sometimes make the wrong decisions, but they are never wildly out of left field, and fit easily into the continuity of both the story and character development. Chosen is a solid book and an enjoyable (if tense!) read, and readers who enjoy car chases, characters with supernatural abilities, and an exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and loss, will find a lot to like in it.
There were, however, two drawbacks for me. First, I found both Jake's and Emma's characters to be somewhat problematic. Emma, despite her portrayal as smart, brave, and tender, seemed to be a character that "things happened to." She just kept getting new crises dumped in her lap with no chance to be proactive or to really make a difference in her circumstances, and I left the book feeling like she didn't really have much agency (and this was compounded by the fact that she was the only prominent female character. More women please!) I hope this changes in later books, because I really did like her. For his part, Jake was a confusing character for me. I felt like he wasn't really convincing as a five-year-old child (with the coping mechanisms, level of engagement with the world, and everything that goes along with that stage of development), special talents or no. Everything seemed to come just a little too easily for him for me to really believe his age. And second, even though Chosen is a Book 1, I was left a bit dissatisfied with the lack of resolution. Every explanation/reveal of part of the mystery led to more questions, the romance sub-plot clearly will continue to develop, and for as many minor victories as the protagonists have, their situation at the end of the book is fairly dire. Chosen wasn't a long book; if the second in the series, Hunted, is similarly sized, I think I would have preferred reading them together as one book, or as two books packaged as one volume. But, I'm also impatient, so there's that!
I will also add a couple of content notes, while being as non-spoilery as I can, for subject matter that may be disturbing to some readers. This book contains: gunfights and explosions which result in injury and death, a detailed description of visceral grief and mourning, and a depiction of rape (which didn't seem gratuitious to me, and was as respectful to the reader and the victim as possible). Those with sensitivities to these subjects may want to proceed with caution.
The Verdict:Chosen is urban fantasy on the "you can run, but you can't hide" thriller end of the spectrum. For fans of "chosen one/saviour" stories, who want edge-of-your-seat tension with very little reprieve, Denise Grover Swank's new series will deliver the goods. Don't expect much resolution in the first book, though; the cliffhanger will keep you coming back for more. I give Chosen 3.75 out of 5 black SUVs, which means one of them won't have the third row seats or cargo area, so plan accordingly and pack light. Oh, and I'll also add one "really?", because in a book that is clearly contemporary, there was NOT ONE "Emma Thompson? Like the actor?" line, from anyone. I was WAITING for it, I tell you!
Folly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank is the story of Cate, who once had it all and through a hailstorm of tragedies, finds herself single, homeless an...moreFolly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank is the story of Cate, who once had it all and through a hailstorm of tragedies, finds herself single, homeless and broke. She makes the trip from New Jersey to South Carolina and is taken in by her aunts who raised her. It is here that she starts over, builds and new life, and is deeply inspired by the playwrights Dorothy and DuBose Heyward (of Porgy and Bess fame).
Let me break this all down for you. First of all, the story starts off with Cate living in the lap of luxury in Jersey. She is richer than rich -- mansion and private jet rich -- because of her husband's work. She does not work, and instead complains about how unfulfilled her life is. Herumph. As someone living at the other end of the wealth spectrum, I found the complaining less-than-adorable. Then, when she lost it all and had to adapt to a life where -- GASP -- there was no one to cook and clean for her and she couldn't get her hair blown out three times a week in the salon? Yeah, I still wasn't feeling too sorry for the lady.
BUT, at this point, the story was already moving along nicely, and I barely noticed it took more than 70 pages for her to get to the "starting life over" point, which was actually the beginning of the real story.
I will admit, right up front, that I went into this book fully expecting to hate it. To me it sounded like Wife Swap meets The Make A Wish Foundation...moreI will admit, right up front, that I went into this book fully expecting to hate it. To me it sounded like Wife Swap meets The Make A Wish Foundation and it just seemed like it was going to be a train wreck I couldn't look away from. I was deliriously giddy to read it so that I could rip it to shreds.
Alas, I didn't hate this book. I really ended up liking it. It started out a little rough for me, but I expect that's mostly because I went into it with preconceived ideas of not liking it based on its premise alone.
"The Next Best Thing" IS the next best thing to come down the pike from seasoned and dependably enjoyable writer, Jennifer Weiner.
You cannot help but...more"The Next Best Thing" IS the next best thing to come down the pike from seasoned and dependably enjoyable writer, Jennifer Weiner.
You cannot help but fall in love with Ruthie and her grandmother. They are everything you want in characters you're going to spend several hours with. One of Ms. Weiner's biggest strengths is the realness of her characters. Reminiscent of Cannie Shapiro from "Good in Bed" and Rose Feller from "In Her Shoes" - Ruth Saunders just feels like anyone. It seems as though "The Next Best Thing" is coming to us with a back to basics style of story-telling that this author does so very well.
Like Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, Ashfall deals with an intensely plausible catastrophic event that changes the way the world exists as w...moreLike Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, Ashfall deals with an intensely plausible catastrophic event that changes the way the world exists as we know it. In this case, the eruption of the supervolcano beneath Yellowstone (which, YES, does exist and YES has erupted before) causes mass destruction and throws the United States into chaos.
Alex is a typical teenager, testing his limits in every way possible and eschewing family trips in favor of spending days playing World of Warcraft. When his home and town are decimated by the explosion of the volcano, he realizes that nothing is more important than being with his family, no matter what the cost.
His journey to get there brings him in contact with both the bad and good in humanity in startling ways. Mike Mullin has fascinating answers to whether the “system” we have in place in the case of a cataclysmic event would really serve us, or if humanity itself is too flawed to survive. In a notable quote, Alex remarks, “The volcano had taken our homes, our food, our automobiles and our airplanes, but it hadn’t taken our humanity. No, we’d given that up on our own.” (p. 344)
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