OK, it has been a while since I read the previous book in the series but I felt like I was missing something as I read. The Harbourns are quite obviou...moreOK, it has been a while since I read the previous book in the series but I felt like I was missing something as I read. The Harbourns are quite obviously guilty of a lot of crimes prior to the start of the book. I find it hard to believe that they are all still free however I'm not familiar with the Austalian justice system. The judge's prejudices seemed a bit unrealistic to me too, would he really be allowed to act in that manner and get away with it for so long?
I really enjoyed the first 3 books but this isn't up to par.(less)
I love Kelley Armstrong's werewolves and this was no exception with the addition of an adolescent werewolf, going through his first change. Although n...moreI love Kelley Armstrong's werewolves and this was no exception with the addition of an adolescent werewolf, going through his first change. Although not the main subject of the trilogy, I thought Derek was one of the stronger characters. Reading this knowing about the 'Otherworld' probably makes you see situations differently, like the knowledge of the pack and the cabals. I really hope Chloe and Derek appear in one of her other books. They're definiately set up to cross paths.(less)
When Maura Isles meets a handsome man at a fundraiser, she welcomes a bit of harmless flirtation. Or that’s what she thinks. The next day she wakes up...moreWhen Maura Isles meets a handsome man at a fundraiser, she welcomes a bit of harmless flirtation. Or that’s what she thinks. The next day she wakes up on her couch with no memory of how she got there. Had she really drunk that much? When Rizzoli turns up at her door with questions, Maura starts to worry. A dead man has been found in the park and he has her business card.
John Doe is a digital short in Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles series. I’m not sure the plot suited itself to a shorter format as it started out like a full length novel and then had to speed up to get everything wrapped up by the end. There are some situations that lend themselves to short fiction but a serial rapist and a cold case seem a bit much to wrap up in a couple of days.
Saying that, it’s a good little read to pass an hour or so and will help keep fans going until the next instalment, Last to Die, is out later this month.(less)
Allegra is a paranormal investigator whose big toe itches when something paranormal is nearby. Other than that she has no special powers and she's a l...moreAllegra is a paranormal investigator whose big toe itches when something paranormal is nearby. Other than that she has no special powers and she's a likeable, down-to-earth heroine. It's a fun paranormal mystery read and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Allegra has a hunky guardian angel who she nicknamed Casper as a child. He pops in and out of the story as he's otherwise engaged in attending an angel awards ceremony. It's not, however, a romance.
I haven't read the first book, Allegra Fairweather: Paranormal Investigator, but I think South of Salem is perfectly readable as a standalone novel.(less)
Lover Awakened follows the brother that I was most interested in as a character in the first book; Zsadist. His past is revealed and we learn why he’s...moreLover Awakened follows the brother that I was most interested in as a character in the first book; Zsadist. His past is revealed and we learn why he’s like he is and the reality behind his reputation. With a background of abuse, the other brothers think he’s beyond redemption but Bella won’t give up on him. This was my favourite book of the series so far; Zsadist’s reluctance in the sex department prevents some of the over-the-top sex scenes as well.(less)
I started reading this and got a bit concerned as I'm not familiar with Ovid's Methamorphoses however it is only one story, which is explained in the...moreI started reading this and got a bit concerned as I'm not familiar with Ovid's Methamorphoses however it is only one story, which is explained in the book> I realised I did know the myth of Iphis and Ianthe after all. There's certainly a style to the writing in this book and it was enjoyable to read even if the plot was a bit airy. It did highlight the prejudices against homosexuality and how even people who think they can accept still feel uncomfortable with it (displayed in Anthea's sister's chapter).(less)
Like others have said, this final book doesn't bring anything new but it is a wrapping up of bits from the first 4 books. So often series leave things...moreLike others have said, this final book doesn't bring anything new but it is a wrapping up of bits from the first 4 books. So often series leave things hanging or unexplained so I think it's a satisfying enough end. I'm glad there will be other books in the same world.(less)
Claire is only sixteen but she's clever and has been accelerated in school twice so she's heading off to university early. Whilst she got accepted to...moreClaire is only sixteen but she's clever and has been accelerated in school twice so she's heading off to university early. Whilst she got accepted to several top schools, her parents think she's too young to go out of state so she has to go to the small university in Morganville. When she makes the popular girl in the dorms feels stupid, she soon becomes the victim of incessant bullying and starts to fear for her life. She's determined to find a room off campus where she feels safe but little does she know the secret of Morganville. It's run by vampires.
For those of you thinking “oh no, not another soppy teen vampire series” Morganville is run by proper vampires, that would rather eat students than date them. Despite the dangers of the vampires, Clare's fears of bully Monica are the strongest and her feelings are of helplessness. One thing I enjoyed was the fact that, other than the vampires, the characters live a pretty normal student/young adult existence, with a small repertoire of meals, part time jobs and not a lot of money for clothes.
And a warning, the cliffhanger ending will leave you reaching for the next instalment.(less)
Mercy goes back to her roots, learns about her father and about her coyote side... all whilst on honeymoon. Plus there's something sinister in the riv...moreMercy goes back to her roots, learns about her father and about her coyote side... all whilst on honeymoon. Plus there's something sinister in the river that can't be ignored and that walking stick returns for some more action. An improvement on the previous book, sad that I'll now have to wait for the next.(less)
Government conspiracy, religious cult and supernatural radio chat show all rolled into one. Despite the silly titles of these books, they're shaping u...moreGovernment conspiracy, religious cult and supernatural radio chat show all rolled into one. Despite the silly titles of these books, they're shaping up to be a good urban fantasy series. Read it in one sitting.(less)
A very moving book about WW2 from the viewpoint of ordinary people in Germany. The narrator is Death and is not at all gimmicky. It somehow gives a mo...moreA very moving book about WW2 from the viewpoint of ordinary people in Germany. The narrator is Death and is not at all gimmicky. It somehow gives a more neutral view to the events yet still having empathy. I loved the 'inserts' of the books Max made for Liesel.(less)
Windfall is the fourth book in the series and picks up from the end of Chill Factor. Jo has quit the weather wardens and is now working as a lowly wea...moreWindfall is the fourth book in the series and picks up from the end of Chill Factor. Jo has quit the weather wardens and is now working as a lowly weather girl. She doesn't even get to wear a bikini but instead is forced into hideous foam suns and clouds for her strangely accurate yet deeply unlikable boss. If that wasn't bad enough, her sister turns up on her doorstep husbandless, homeless and above all without her extensive wardrobe. She can't turn her away despite the fact that she has to do something about David, who at the end of the previous book, wasn't in great shape at all.
Amongst all that, there are two pretty good characters introduced; a cop with questions who just won't leave Jo alone and Eamon, her sister's rebound target. I feel these books sometimes take a little too long to get going and if you're not into weather then I can imagine they can seem a little slow but I found I couldn't put it down once it got going.(less)
Tess is running away from her old life. She's not even sure where Cleveland is when she hurriedly accepts a job as a housesitter in Saltburn-by-the-Se...moreTess is running away from her old life. She's not even sure where Cleveland is when she hurriedly accepts a job as a housesitter in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, she's not even sure Joe offered her the job when she said she was on her way. She turns up at his old, large house with a baby in tow and her only possessions boxed up in her car. She's the best of a bad bunch of applicants so Joe lets her stay despite her having no idea what she's doing and she's quite obviously hiding something.
It's quite clear from the start that Tess has money problems and she's terrified of it catching up with her. As the title suggests, it's all about secrets and that it's often better to get them out in the open than letting them fester away. Tess is keeping a variety of secrets from Joe and her new friends but many of them seem quite inconsequential things to be scared about. This is often the way when someone keeps secrets for so long. Maybe it all seems a little too easy to sort things out once she starts confessing though.
Joe also has his secrets. He works abroad a lot, building bridges, and has women waiting for him in every country. Upon returning he doesn't feel like his house is home. The bridge building metaphor was perhaps a bit overdone in places and Joe's voice wasn't consistent. There's be the odd soliloquy or internal thought that didn't sound like him at all. I'll accept that he had a lot of thoughts go through his head when he has his relationship epiphany but the words on the page seemed unlikely.
I liked the setting of a Northern seaside town, it makes a nice change from London and the location adds to the story as well. Overall an enjoyable and undemanding read.(less)
Ed is a nineteen year old cab driver. His life is pretty empty, he plays cards with his friends, is in love with a girl who doesn't want him back and...moreEd is a nineteen year old cab driver. His life is pretty empty, he plays cards with his friends, is in love with a girl who doesn't want him back and has a mother who shows him no love. When he stops a bank robbery he becomes a local hero and a playing card arrives in the post. Written on it are three addresses and corresponding times.
It is a story of how little things can make huge differences in people's lives. Ed sees himself as a messenger. He goes from address to address, working out what is wrong in each person's life. Some things are small and some things are huge. He gets into trouble but he also finds friends.
It reads a little like a collection of short stories. As always for a book group read, I left it last minute and had to read in one go. I wonder if I would have preferred dipping into, reading one address at a time as the linking elements between the stories didn't pull it together enough. Each individual story is heart-warming and delivers a positive message. Overall I found it a rather sweet book.
As most of you will know Markus Zusak as the author of The Book Thief, it is tempting to compare the two. This is a very different novel but that doesn't make it bad. (less)
London City is alive. When Beth and her best friend Pen are caught spraying graffiti at their school, Pen turns Beth in. Reeling from the betrayal, Be...moreLondon City is alive. When Beth and her best friend Pen are caught spraying graffiti at their school, Pen turns Beth in. Reeling from the betrayal, Beth stumbles into another London, one where railwraiths transport memories of passengers, where the lights are living glass people who dance at night, where the statues are imprisoned men, repaying their debts to their absent goddess, and where a danger threatens the very essence of the city that no one sees. And that city has a son.
Wow, I’m not sure how much I can express my love of Tom Pollock’s hidden London without spoiling the discovery for others. It reminds me of how children’s imaginations create worlds out of the incredibly mundane environment that surrounds them, street lights can be beautiful and exotic women that dance and flirt and real dangers such as trains and barbed wire can be turned into monsters.
After Beth’s ride on the railwraith she meets Filius, son of Mater Viae, the goddess who the creatures of London worship. At first, she takes him for a dirty street urchin but she saves his life and he hers and she finds herself following him further into his world, where Reach threatens the existence of those who have called the streets home for centuries. Reach is the god of cranes; they appear on the horizon wherever he is erecting his mirrored skyscrapers, something residents of London will know well. Reach represents progress destroying the character and essence of London.
Meanwhile, Pen has her reasons for her betrayal to Beth and her story is a sad one. She sees Beth’s paintings on the walls and follows her, with no inclination of the danger she could be in. Amongst the story of the city there are some very real themes threaded throughout and I think Pen’s parting words sums things up perfectly. Beth’s father is also suffering from deep depression after the loss of his wife and Beth’s mother and now he must face the idea that his daughter is lost too. There are some incredibly touching moments amongst the fantastical.
There is also a spattering of humour, mostly from the wonderful character of Victor, a homeless Russian who offers his translation services and whose friendly manner evolves into a sort of surrogate father figure for Beth. This lightens what is otherwise a dark, yet utterly brilliant tale.
There’s no denying that The City’s Son put’s the urban into urban fantasy, the setting being crucial. Scenes may be a little disturbing for younger readers although I’m not sure it’s being marketed towards young adults despite the teenage characters.(less)
Another pacey read in the Morgan Kingsley series. The 'sex scenes' seemed a bit contrived but enjoyed the character development and the plot seemed ov...moreAnother pacey read in the Morgan Kingsley series. The 'sex scenes' seemed a bit contrived but enjoyed the character development and the plot seemed overall more thriller than romance.(less)
Will Trent is working undercover in Macon, disguised as tough biker Bill Black. But that doesn’t mean he can’t stop at a gas station for an iced Coke....moreWill Trent is working undercover in Macon, disguised as tough biker Bill Black. But that doesn’t mean he can’t stop at a gas station for an iced Coke. Whilst waiting for his drink, an armed robbery takes place. Will just can’t let the bad guy get away, or can he?
Busted falls before the new Karin Slaughter novel, Unseen, and gives a bit of an inkling of what Will is up to however it’s not necessary to read it if you’re working through the series. For a digital short, it contains a good full investigation. It’s a case of right place, right time, for Will to end up getting involved when he shouldn’t have been there. Amanda is pissed off and Will wants to do the right thing, even if his alter ego would walk away. Having characters you already know, suits these sorts of short form tales as you don’t need to spend time on character development. (less)
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