Have you ever lost a loved one? Whether it was a car accident, a long drawn out illness, or just the years slipped aw...moreThe Returned by Jason Mott Review
Have you ever lost a loved one? Whether it was a car accident, a long drawn out illness, or just the years slipped away and so did they, there is always a feeling of loss, of sadness, of wishing for just one more moment so you could say a final I love you.
In 1966 Harold and Lucille's only child, their son Jacob, slipped away from his birthday party and drowned in the river not far from their home. Harold and all the people at the birthday party spread out to search, which went on for hours. Finally, with dread in his heart, Harold is searching by the river, calling his son's name, when he spots him floating, dead. Cradled in his arms, Harold carries his cold, dead son home to his wife.
After the heartbreak of losing their only child, and with no hope to have another, Harold and Lucille slowly over the years learn to cope with their loss. Harold turns from religion, and seeks solace in hard work. Lucille turns to god and her large extended family to help her through.
The years pass, as years will, and now Harold and Lucille are many decades older, still together and still feeling the loss of their beloved son Jacob. A knock at the door of their old farmhouse is about to change everything that Harold and Lucille know, feel and think because on the other side of that door is their 8 year old son Jacob, returned.
This is not an isolated event, it is happening world wide. People of all ages, whether they were murdered like the Wilson family, drowned like Jacob or died peacefully, are all coming back. They have been labeled the Returned and no one can figure out what is going on. Is it a miracle from god? Is it a trick of the devil? Are they really even alive? Or for that matter are they even real?
As more and more of the Returned show up world wide, rumors and anxiety start to grow quickly. How many Returned are going to show up and what is their purpose? And now some of the Returned are disappearing just as abruptly as they arrived...
Great characters get woven into this wonderfully worded story. I could not put this book down! I was left guessing right up to the end as to the intent of the Returned and what was going to happen to them.
Very suspenseful, humorous in spots, and it really really made me think.
This is a powerful debut novel from Jason Mott and I will definitely be looking for more of his work. I recommend this book for anyone who likes a good strong story with solid, realistic characters and a mixture of suspense, humor and thought provoking questions.
I received my copy through GoodReads and my review was unsolicited.(less)
From the opening scenes to the closing lines, Get Ready for War is a study of cliches and stereotypes the likes of which I don't believe I have ever s...moreFrom the opening scenes to the closing lines, Get Ready for War is a study of cliches and stereotypes the likes of which I don't believe I have ever seen before in one book! I was so sadly disappointed with the writing and the characters. But by far the worst thing to me was all the negative African American stereotypes this book offered up.
London, Heather (Wu-Wu to her fans), Rich and Spencer are the Pampered Princesses of Hollywood High Academy. The four frenemies have been toppled from their lofty position and are all falling faster and faster with no stop sign in sight.
London is trying to find her girls but instead finds a group of younger girls sitting at the Pampered Princess' table in the cafeteria. After a wordy confrontation, London is compelled to start a brawl with the young girls, the whole while thinking that is only Heather, Rich and Spencer could handle their own drama, this wouldn't be happening.
While London is fighting for her and the rest of the Pampered Princess' money given rights to be the head clique in their school, Heather, Rich and Spencer are off fighting their own battles that include pregnancy, pill addiction, two timing boyfriends as well as parental problems.
Can London, Rich, Spencer and Heather pull themselves and their friendship together enough to pull themselves out of the downward spiral they find themselves in or will they end up at the bottom of the loser pile?
I felt the characters all lacked something, they all seemed very one dimensional. After reading so many negative things about each of the four lead characters (London, Rich, Heather and Spencer) I found it hard to find anything good about any of them or any of the other characters mentioned in the book. None stood out in any way and I just felt indifferent toward them all.
The storyline was one that has been covered many times before and there was nothing here that made it stand out. It was horribly predictable and there were no surprises.
What was much worse than the unsympathetic, one dimensional characters and the very slowwww moving, predictable plot, were all the negative stereotypes that were mentioned over and over again. And yes, I keep mentioning them simply because I was so thoroughly disgusted with them! This is not a novel I would recommend to anyone!
I received my copy through LibraryThing and my review was unsolicited.(less)
Legend of the Cathars by Judith Mann Review When I first picked up this book to read I had no true idea of what gnosticism was. So I did a little resea...moreLegend of the Cathars by Judith Mann Review When I first picked up this book to read I had no true idea of what gnosticism was. So I did a little research.
Gnosticism (from gnostikos, "learned", from Greek: γνῶσις gnōsis, knowledge;) is the dualistic belief that the material world should be shunned and the spiritual world should be embraced.
Man has three natures: the body, which is the abode of the soul; the soul which is the abode of the spirit; and the spirit which is the divine spark.
Judith Mann sets out to give us an honest overview of gnosticism, from the start of their spiritual journey, through the rituals and up to and including the Albigensian Crusade. The Roman Catholic Church was furious with the Cathars ability to practice what they preached, and standing firm against the corruption of the Catholic Church.
Now I have always had a big difficulty in reading about any group, be it religious, social economic or any other of the excuses people come up with in their attempts to make everyone follow only what they believe.
While this book won't be everyone's cup of tea, I must say that I have reserved 2 more books from my online library on the subject of the Cathars.
Judith Mann's writing skills have left me wanting to learn more about the Cathars and I would most definitely read more of her work.(less)
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS, STAYS IN VEGAS...unless Vegas was her name! Michael Harris- Chief Executive Officer- for Bio Algorithms is on fire! Handsome, yo...more WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS, STAYS IN VEGAS...unless Vegas was her name! Michael Harris- Chief Executive Officer- for Bio Algorithms is on fire! Handsome, young, married with 2 kids and realizing his dream of running his own company is fantastic. Being invited to be the keynote speaker at the Las Vegas Technological Expo is the feather in his cap and finally, finally he can show off his ultimate creation Venus! Venus is absolutely incredible. She can give you an answer to most questions about anything just by utilizing a few seconds of time looking someone over. She thinks faster than 20 computers linked together and to top it all of she's gorgeous and has a sense of humor. Even with top notch, layer upon layer security measures in place, Michael still worries about Venus being stolen from him. This 4 day conference in Sin City should bring him some much needed investors and contacts. He doesn't like being away from his family but as he tells his wife, "this is for our retirement". After Michael's speech, he meets several people, among them are Rachel, a beautiful mysterious woman who heard his speech; the mayor of Vegas and Jack, a financial adviser from Ohio. Michael heads back to his hotel room but can't seem to settle down. Lonely after talking to his wife on the phone, and too keyed up with the success of his opening speech, Michael makes a call, one that will change his life and the lives of everyone he holds dear. I love a good twisty, turny mystery filled with handsome men, gorgeous, seductive women and a good, solid plot with a few sub plots that all tie in together and make this an extremely entertaining, quick read! I received my copy through the author and my review was unsolicited.(less)
Paige Tailor was a smart, hardworking student whose biggest worry was getting through the day unnoticed my her schoolmates. She has no close friends b...more Paige Tailor was a smart, hardworking student whose biggest worry was getting through the day unnoticed my her schoolmates. She has no close friends but she has grown up sharing everything important to her with her mom. Her father had died years ago. She's always felt different then others her age, but has grown used to it, never considering even for a moment that her differences had more to do with her heritage. As far as she knows she is human, just like everyone else on the planet.
When strange things begin to happen to Paige, she is sucked into a whirl of confusion. While she is a straight forward kinda gal, the knowledge that she heard what Matt was thinking and promptly announced it to one and all in the class to hear, makes her a target for reprisal from Matt and Rachel.
Paige doesn't know yet that she is being watched by four werewolves disguised as people and tasked with reporting any strange occurrences that happen around Paige. One of the werewolves is disguised as Paige's classmate and feels this assignment is beneath her. She rebels against the order to leave Paige alone and goes after her to put a little scare into her. The situation backfires and Paige is left wondering what is going on.
When she finally comes clean with her mom about the odd things that have happened to her and of the werewolves watching her, she learns a startling truth about herself that she at first doesn't want to believe but soon comes to accept.
Paige and her mother travel to see her mom's parents whom Paige has never met. When Paige discovered she was part Fae on her mom's side, she was shocked then fascinated. when she met her grandparents she found it hard to take in that her grandparents were the King and Queen of Varulean law!
Now Paige must discover a part of herself she didn't know existed. She is ready to learn the ways of the Fae and her grandfather has entrusted her training to Naialah. Paige, already uneasy and uncomfortable from trying to understand and try to fit into the Fae way of life, feels a strange attraction for Naialah, one she doesn't understand.
Paige must come to terms with all the changes in her life and has to learn so much to become more accepted in the Fae world.
This was an original take on a standard story. A very detailed description of Fae life, werewolves and other supernatural beings. Also a good look at how an average teenager comes to grips with life changing information about herself.
The characters were very well fleshed out, my favorite being Paige as she showed us how a teenager can chose to react positively to news which could overwhelm someone less strong willed. I know that teenagers roll their eyes a lot but I found that this was used a little to often for my liking. Also I would like to see a bit more insight into some of the other characters and hope to see that in the next book in the series. A truly enjoyable read!
I received my copy of Black Moon from the author in exchange for my honest review(less)
Cat Sinclair is a former actress (not a very good one) now working as the office manager at her father's former business Knight Investigations. Cat's...more Cat Sinclair is a former actress (not a very good one) now working as the office manager at her father's former business Knight Investigations. Cat's biggest problem right now is she is bored, bored, bored! There is only so much filing, paying bills and answering phones a person can do before you're ready to scream. Cat has been after Will to allow her to become an investigator, but since she barely does her job, he sees no future in her becoming an investigator.
When Roberta Scarletti walks into the office Cat informs her of the company policy about not doing spousal surveillance. Roberta says it's not surveillance she needs, she wants them to find out where her soon to be ex husband hid her family's jewelry. Cat decides to take the case on, even though she isn't actually an investigator and the company doesn't do domestic disputes.
When the husband turns up dead and Cat is being followed and threatened, things start to heat up. Someone is out to get her she just can't figure out who. Trying to keep Will from finding out she is using company time to try and solve her case and using her mom's computer skills to help her figure out how to bug people's places are just a few of the humorous spots Cat gets herself into. Throw in a sudden office romance with her boss and things just keep heating up.
When Cat gets kidnapped by one of the very few people she really trusts, she finally realizes how much danger she is in. She needs to think fast and try to talk her way out of this mess before its to late!
A perfect easy, humorous read when you are laying on the beach, or relaxing on the couch. A great mixture of humor, sex, action, good guys and bad guys. A believable mystery with a couple of twists to keep you hooked.(less)
'Any day without a murder was a good day in New Orleans' were words to live by for Frank Renzi, a homicide detective stationed out of the Eighth Distr...more'Any day without a murder was a good day in New Orleans' were words to live by for Frank Renzi, a homicide detective stationed out of the Eighth District homicide office. Always short on supplies and detectives unfortunately there seemed to be an unending supply of crimes and bad guys. Four years ago Frank Renzi left the Boston police force and relocated to New Orleans. Most put the move down to his wife divorcing him but it was so much more than that. Not many know of the young girl who died because Renzi couldn't save her. He meets a fellow officer, Kelly O'Neil, and is instantly attracted to her and it would seem the feeling is mutual.He's trying to build a life in New Orleans and is finally thinking that maybe happiness can be his.
Then two back to back cases have him racing the clock to save a young girl and worrying about a stalker.
Brenda Scully, wonderful flute soloist whose career is starting to rise quickly, doesn't believe there is really a problem. Her manager/friend, Jake Ziegler believes someone tried to kill her on the anniversary of her parents' accidental death. As Renzi is talking with them both he realizes that they are both hiding something, Renzi's just not sure what it is. Before he gets any further the phone rings...a cop's down!
Promising to contact them the following day, Renzi heads out to the site of the cop shooting. An off duty policeman went into a convenience store for cigarettes and interrupted an attempted robbery. Using a female customer as a shield the two robbers shot the cop and took off with the woman customer and a stolen car.
After arriving at the scene of the officer shooting incident, Renzi runs down a young girl fleeing from the scene. He knows from witness reports that she wasn't inside the store but his cop instinct is telling him she is definitely involved and very, very scared. Renzi is determined not to lose another young girl, not on his watch!
As Renzi's time is taken up with his new lady friend, running down leads and generating new ones for both his cases, everything soon starts spiraling out of control. Now with the death toll rising in both of his cases, Renzi must use all of his training and instincts to solve both these crimes.
I found this to be an intriguing look into Frank Renzi's life as a homicide detective. With well developed characters, interesting plots (the 2 different crimes)and subplots (the interactions of the groups of detectives,and the groups of bad guys) and wonderful descriptions of the sights and sounds of a post-Katrina landscape and reality that the people of New Orleans are now having to face and deal with. I did find there was a little too much description of roads and directions to every place that Renzi went to and it didn't add anything, for me it actually took away because I felt myself losing interest in the reason Renzi was on his way somewhere but that is just one minor thing. I have not read Absolution (Frank Renzi #1) but will definitely be looking for it.
Great stand alone novel, I can see this becoming a wonderful detective series.(less)
A long career with the agency had Ky Robinson's abilities honed to a titanium point. He was tops in his field, usually working with his partner Tarina...moreA long career with the agency had Ky Robinson's abilities honed to a titanium point. He was tops in his field, usually working with his partner Tarina, in rounding up and eliminating the rogue debauchee, a vampire who clings to the old ways of obtaining blood. This time though Ky is on his own.
Tracking the rogue vampire to a seedy bar, Ky finds more than he bargainfor. with only moments to spare he saves the debauchee's intended victim but loses the rogue. While tending to the victim Daelyn, Ky believes he has found his heart-mate, his other half who completed him body and soul.
As Ky and Daelyn work toward finding the debauchee who is still at large, they are also trying to find their way with each other. With very different backgrounds and seemingly insurmountable problems surrounding them can they find the rogue and put a stop to his cruelty while at the same time finding each other?
A quick , enjoyable read. Plenty of action, good characters and an engaging story helped though it did seem to lag in a few spots for me. (less)
Su Ridley gives us an outstanding 5 star novel filled with wonderful characters and an intricate storyline that keeps you fully involved and unable to...moreSu Ridley gives us an outstanding 5 star novel filled with wonderful characters and an intricate storyline that keeps you fully involved and unable to put the book down.
Hayley Bannerman, a student at Cambridge University was out with friends, enjoying a pleasant day punting on the river. When the group of friends stops at a pub at the end of the day for a drink, Hayley decides to have a quick drink and then return to her room and do some studying. Charles West, an American enrolled at Cambridge, has been hanging out with the group for a few weeks, and he gives Hayley the creeps. Hayley accepts a drink from him after her friend says she will walk back with Hayley in 10 minutes. Suddenly feeling ill, Hayley is helped back to her room by her friend and Charles. When Hayley awakens sometime later she realizes that something is wrong, very wrong...
The Star Supreme travels from port to port moving cars for a Japanese motor company. Its a huge vessel with a large crew. Will Davies, a young merchant seaman on board the Star Supreme is helping to move around the cars due to a union problem that had left the dock short handed. As he is driving one of the older second hand cars up to level 4 he scraped the passenger side along the ship's wall. Thankfully another few scratches aren't going to make a difference to this old, beat up car. When Will parks the car, he checks the passenger side and notices a grey powder that seemed to be coming from a gash in the door panel. As he is walking away, Will notices one of the other crew men crouched down looking at the gash in the passenger door. He heads off to his small shared room where he starts to tell his cabin mate about what had happened but decides to keep quiet.
Is Hayley's attack an isolated incident or is she the victim of a suspected serial rapist who is also suspected of causing the death of another young woman? When Will Davies is found dead on board ship, it is claimed he died of a self inflicted drug overdose. Why would a health nut who's never been known to do drugs before suddenly start doing heroin?
Detective Inspector Jane Blackburn of the Cambridge police force has a lot on her hands. On her way home from a much needed weekend break, she is stopped by traffic officers on the M11 motorway. Thinking she should have been paying more attention to her speed, she was surprised when she was informed her office was trying to get in touch with her. Jane knows her team of hard working, dedicated officers wouldn't interrupt her weekend off without good cause but nothing could have prepared her for whats about to happen!
I really enjoyed how Su Ridley pulled the different stories together into one cohesive tale. The stories were well plotted with interesting twists and surprises and moved flawlessly from England to the United States. They were woven together in a very believable way. The international cast of characters, both good guys and bad, were described so well that I felt I knew them. The touches of humor and the beautiful classic cars added to the realism of the story. A solid 5 star novel!(less)
Glory has been raising her daughter alone since the loss of her husband in the war. Thankfully she owns the farm where...moreEsmeralda by Judith Leger Review
Glory has been raising her daughter alone since the loss of her husband in the war. Thankfully she owns the farm where her and Cassie, her daughter, live. Mr. Lanter is her hired hand and while Glory doesn't particularly like him, he does his job. Not many would live this far from town so she is happy he continues to work for her. Sheriff Will Moore, an old friend of both Glory and her deceased husband, stops by to check on her.
Cassie's best friend Esmeralda has been watching over Glory's family for as long as she can remember. Many people claim that Esmeralda has magical powers or that she is a witch but Glory knows better. Esmeralda is just an old weather beaten wooden statue that is slowly rotting away to nothingness.
When a scream pierces the mountain air, all that Glory knows or thinks she knows, is about to change.
A creepy short story very reminiscent of what was once upon a time found in an Alfred Hitchcock Presents collection. The storyteller pulls you in and keeps you focused until the hair raising end. Well worth the read!
I received my copy through the author in exchange for my honest review.(less)
Rise Up is a mixed bag collection of 24 short stories by CS. Fuqua. The stories include the sci-fi fantasies of Time Now, All the Brave Soldiers and B...moreRise Up is a mixed bag collection of 24 short stories by CS. Fuqua. The stories include the sci-fi fantasies of Time Now, All the Brave Soldiers and Big Daddy's Fast-Past Gadget; the supernatural thrillers Demons and Sand; family themed story Sibling Rivalry and my 2 personal favorites Luau and DTs.
Each story is scripted in such a way to draw you into the story right away and keep your interest until the sometimes surprising end.
I have always enjoyed short story collections and this one does not disappoint. Well worth reading! Some of my favorites include:
All the Brave Soldiers: Medical advancements aren't always a cool thing.
The Pinpoint Tune: Practical joker meets practical nurse
Time Now: How many times would you change the past to change the future?
The Tenor's Wife: Obesity can shorten a life, though not in the 'weigh' you think.
Big Daddy's Fast-Past Gadget: A gadget after my own heart (or car)
Demons: Finding the demon inside can sometimes set you free
Luau: A tasty introduction to a native party
Rise Up: Music can change emotions and feelings, among other things, if done correctly(less)
Elusive (Book #1 On the Run Series) by Sara Rosett Review
Zoe has always been a free spirit, preferring to take chances instead of always doing the saf...moreElusive (Book #1 On the Run Series) by Sara Rosett Review
Zoe has always been a free spirit, preferring to take chances instead of always doing the safe thing. Thanks to her aunt though, she has always valued owning property. Its one of the only long term responsibilities she has. When Zoe and her husband Jack divorced, the housing market was at its lowest point in years. Instead of losing money by selling the house they shared, they instead both still live in it, Jack has the upstairs and the front door and Zoe has the main floor and the back door. Its not ideal, but they've worked hard at ignoring each other and have so far made it work. It helps that Jack is sooo very predictable, down to what time he showers after his mid day run. Zoe spends her time doing copy editing from her house as well as a variety of odd jobs to make ends meet. She is so not the 9 to 5 kind of gal even though it would surely help her out of her financial problems. She'd rather walk the neighbor's dog than clock in and out of the county office where her good friend Helen works. Jack is partners in a small start up business GNR, Green Recyclable Services, with Connor, a man that Zoe can't stand. Connor takes care of all the accounts and lately things have been moving fast. GNR is on the fast track to becoming one of the fastest growing new companies, with very impressive increases in their market value. Jack walks into his office and the first thing he notes is a banking error...not just a small error but a millions of dollars error. And to make matters even worse, his gun, the gun that no one, not even Zoe, knows about is sitting on his paperwork. He realizes suddenly just how quiet the office is and goes to check things out.... Zoe is shocked and upset when the local police show up at her door looking for Jack, or any information she may have about him. They think he fell in a river during a storm and was swept away. As the police are looking for his body, Zoe goes to GNR to let Connor know what is going on. Suddenly, everything that Zoe thinks she knows has been swept away. Left reeling, she takes off on what will turn out to be the ride of her life. An entertaining tale with a great storyline, good characters a touch of humor and plenty of action. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I received my copy through LibraryThing Giveaway and my review was unsolicited.(less)
Johnny Twigum is in many ways your typical 11 year old boy. He has a couple of very good friends and does well at school. He has an older sister Jenny...more Johnny Twigum is in many ways your typical 11 year old boy. He has a couple of very good friends and does well at school. He has an older sister Jenny and a younger brother Josh. His parents, Margaret and Jonathon, love all 3 of their children very much. Jonathon's job takes him out of the country and away from his family a lot, although they have all learned to deal with it. There is one thing that is different about Johnny, he always seems to know what other people feel and think. He doesn't know if it is instinct or something different but he knows other people don't share that ability.
When news arrives that Jonathon was killed while working overseas, it devastates the family. Johnny's uncle Robert shows up at Johnny's birthday party but says he is leaving and he doesn't know if he will see them again. Johnny knows something is wrong, but he has never been able to read his uncle Robert, not like he does other people.
After an evil wraith materializes when Johnny is upset and then a friendly gnome arrives shortly afterward, Johnny knows his life is about to get much, much stranger. Forced by circumstances to leave their home, Johnny and his family take off, telling no one where they are going. With the strange little gnome and a new friend named Claude to help them the family is on their way. Where they are going and what will happen to them is all up in the air.
This book was difficult for me to really get into. With so many of the characters having names that start with J (there are 2 Jennifers, Johnny, Johnathan, and Jarvis) and 2 Garys it was hard to keep all the characters straight. And while the story was well written, I couldn't figure out if it was a book for the YA crowd or if it was an underwritten (not really sure how to say that correctly) adult story. Also I am the least technological person you would possibly ever meet and I had a tough time with the long scientific explanations.
I am giving this novel 2 stars simply because it was well written and I really appreciate the work that went into this book.
I received my copy through LibraryThing and my review was unsolicited. (less)
Seventeen year old Norman has been invisible his whole life. His parents have shielded him from life, never allowing him to make any decisions or have...moreSeventeen year old Norman has been invisible his whole life. His parents have shielded him from life, never allowing him to make any decisions or have any friends that might lead him astray from the path they have chosen for him. But Norman is tired of always toeing the line, tired of having no friends and never being able to make his own decisions. Norman has no idea how life changing missing his school bus ride home one afternoon will be. Zach, one of the popular kids whom Norman has always wanted to be accepted by, is behind the school smoking a joint. When Zach is friendly with Norman and suggests that they hang out one day, Norman is stunned. When Zach gives Norman a ride home and gives him his cell number so Norman can call him and they can 'hang' together sometime, Norman is elated...things are finally turning around for him! Norman's parents think Zach is terrific because he comes from the right background and gets straight A's but they don't know him the way Norman does. As Norman and Zach get to know each other better, Norman is at first all behind all the things Zach suggests. Norman starts to wonder though about Zach after a series of events make him question Zach's friendship. As Norman starts to draw away from Zach, things heat up and Norman is left wondering just how far Zach is willing to go, and how far he already has gone. A well written psychological thriller about two young men, friendship and how far one must go to find acceptance. I received my copy through LibraryThing Giveaway and my review was unsolicited. (less)
When Jacob Hawthorne is sent to Wellington Academy it was absolutely not what he wanted. Jacob feels he w...moreThe Keeper of the Dawn by J.B. Hickman Review
When Jacob Hawthorne is sent to Wellington Academy it was absolutely not what he wanted. Jacob feels he was sent away so he could not spend as much time with his grandfather whom his parents blame for Jacob's older brother leaving. Wellington started with the campus at Eastbridge but it is no longer there and instead they are stuck on Raker Island, apart from everyone and everything. The only access for most is by ferry, unless you happen to be Governor Forsythe who travels by helicopter.
On Jacob's first day, disappointed yet again by his father, he wanders away from the opening day ceremonies. Wandering off to the clock tower, part of the original hotel that is now the academy, he comes across Governor Forsythe's trouble making son Chris, and his buddy Roland Van Belle the third, disrupting all by ringing the bell 27 times. Although Jacob was only an onlooker to the bell ringing, he was punished as well.
Soon Jacob, Chris, Roland and Derek Mayhew, another young man sent to Wellington Academy by his parents, are known around the school as the Headliners. None of the boys feel they measure up to what their parents want and expect from them and all resent being sent away to boarding school. As the school year progresses, the boys become involved in doing what they can to disrupt the smooth flow of the school. When a presidential debate involving Chris' father is scheduled to take place at the school, the other boys know Chris is going to do something to disrupt the proceedings, they are just not sure what.
When Jacob suffers a crisis, his friends are the only ones who can help. They all understand that if they help, they will probably be sent off to other schools but they will not desert Jacob in his time of need.
I found this book at first difficult to get into. It seemed to move slowly and rather predictably. After a few chapters the story picked up and moved along at a much better pace. The characters were well formed and interesting, the setting had history and style and the story was well written and had a few unexpected surprises. An interesting addition to the coming of age books available. (less)
Rob Hamilton was a normal 10 year old boy in 1980's Bellshill Scotland. Along with his twin sister Cara he had the usual childhood experiences includi...moreRob Hamilton was a normal 10 year old boy in 1980's Bellshill Scotland. Along with his twin sister Cara he had the usual childhood experiences including some very strange dreams. He did though feel somewhat disconnected from other people but had learned to hide it well. Aside from his sister, Rob really only connected with his best friend Tom. It had hurt much more than he let on when Tom had to move away from Bellshill. Even worse though was waking up one morning to discover his parents had abandoned both he and his sister. So starts the long journey of Rob Hamiliton's adolescence and the discoveries of what can and what is possible in his life. Arif Ali was born in Westminster West London Hospital to loving parents Mimi and Azam Ali. Arif's mother is a doctor at the same hospital where he was born and his father owns and runs a little shop in Battersea. Azam goes through life with rose colored glasses on and a serene disposition. Nothing seems to faze him. Arif wishes he could be more like his father but as he grows up he starts to feel that his father is wrong and that there are times when you must fight for what yu believe in. He begs his parents to allow him to go to Pakistan to live with family for a short time so he can get to know all his relatives. What his parents don't know is that he has begun to listen more and more to more extreme religious doctrine and that that is his true interest. Will family love or extreme religious doctrine rule Arif's life? Kim Baker is a hunter of terrorists for the Counter Terrorist Agency (CTA). In 1974 Kim's husband Dave and their infant son Scott were lost when a terrorist bomb went off and destroyed the plane and all the people who were on the flight. When you lose the 2 people you love beyond all others to a terrorist's bomb, it is easy to push everything else aside. Its been 10 years since the bombing but catching terrorists consumes her every waking moment and invades every one of her dreams. She no longer has any interest or time in anything or anybody that doesn't have to do with her job. When the paths of these three very diverse people cross it will change all their lives and the course of history. Set over several years, the author weaves together three divergent stories into one cohesive climax. With some surprising situations, hair raising twists ,unexpected turns and a sprinkle of unusual powers there is a little bit of everything for everyone. At times I found that the story-lines bounced a little too much and was at times a bit confusing. A solid novel if you are looking for an ordinary boy facing extraordinary choices and discovering superhero powers. Also great for all who enjoy comics and graphic novels. I received my copy of Naebody's Hero from the author in exchange for my honest review.(less)
FREAK - any abnormal phenomenon or product or unusual object; anomaly; aberration.
Abby Maddox was Ethan Wolfe's long term girlfriend. She...moreFreak Review
FREAK - any abnormal phenomenon or product or unusual object; anomaly; aberration.
Abby Maddox was Ethan Wolfe's long term girlfriend. She has always claimed she had no idea that Ethan was a serial killer. After Ethan was exposed as a serial killer, Abby went on the run. Several weeks later she was picked up by the police. Cornered, she sliced Jerry's throat with the idea of getting away. She claims not to remember actually using the knife on him but swears it was self defense. Abby is serving her second year of a nine year sentence for the attempted murder of Jerry Isaac.
Dr. Sheila Tao, a psychology professor at Puget Sound State University, was in a serious relationship with Morris Gardner. Ethan Wolfe was her student and she had been having an affair with him for a few months. At first she had had no idea that the young lover she had taken was in actuality the Tell-Tale Heart killer, Seattle's notorious serial killer. She managed to survive being a prisoner of his for 3 weeks, and now, a year later, she and Morris have worked on their relationship and are discussing marriage.
When retired Seattle PD detective Jerry Isaac is asked by his old partner to meet him at the Sweet Chariot Inn he didn't argue. After viewing the dead and mutilated body of what was once a beautiful, vibrant young woman Jerry can't figure out what her murder has to do with him, or why he was even there.
Abby Maddox claims to know something about this newest homicide but wants certain concessions to her prison sentence and will only speak with Sheila Tao and Jerry Isaac.
Is this the start of another serial killer, one looking for Abby Maddox's approval? Is Abby telling all she knows about the murder or is she holding something back?
A gripping, chilling thriller that will hold your attention and make it very difficult to put down. Just when you think you have things figured out something unexpected happens and it twists another way. Great characters, smooth suspenseful story and enough happening to keep you intrigued. Some may find it too graphic, I myself thought it worked extremely well with the story.
I received my copy through GoodReads FirstReads program and my review was unsolicited.(less)
Dr. Kate Denby has almost everything she could hope for...a wonderful son, a challenging career that allows her time to pursue her love of research, a...more Dr. Kate Denby has almost everything she could hope for...a wonderful son, a challenging career that allows her time to pursue her love of research, a good relationship with her ex-husband Micheal and the ongoing support of her mother-in-law Phyllis. So when Noah Smith continues to contact her both at home and at work to try to get her to come to work for him, she keeps turning him down. She has no interest in changing her job, her home and her life.
Suddenly, Kate Denby's neat orderly life is in a whirling tailspin as Noah Smith, accused of blowing up his pharmaceutical lad and killing almost 100 people, is listed as dead. Her life continues to spin out of control as people around her get hurt or die. Feeling out of her depth and out of control, she grabs a lifeline that is thrown to her from beyond the grave. But will this be her salvation or her undoing?
Racing against the clock to finish testing on a revolutionary drug, the clock is quickly running out of time...
While this book was written several years ago, it holds up well. There is little that dates this book, the characters are well written and believable and the story moves along fairly quickly though there were some spots that I found to drag on. My biggest problem with this novel is that well the storyline has changed, as have the characters names, it is the exact formula as several of her other novels. And well she does do this kind of writing well, this novel was just a little bit slower to move along than some of the others.
WARNING: EXPLICIT SEXUAL SCENES, EXPLICIT LANGUAGE Not suitable for younger readers
On here way to teach her ENG 102 class, Corey Reyman was forcibly m...more WARNING: EXPLICIT SEXUAL SCENES, EXPLICIT LANGUAGE Not suitable for younger readers
On here way to teach her ENG 102 class, Corey Reyman was forcibly moved into a limo by some very large men. No one around her seemed to notice her screams. Warned by Seth, the man in charge, that no one will help her and that no one will believe she is gone, she settles down to await her fate. She is taken to an extremely luxurious compound in a suburb of Chicago. Once inside, Corey is led through many secret passages until she's stopped outside a door with a monitor showing what was occurring on the inside of the room.
Corey watches a very naked Roan Wynne, chained to the wall. Seth, who claims himself to be an omnipotent god of evil, says that Roan has less than an hour to live unless Corey beds him. Roan is a Mayhem demon and he needs intercourse with Corey to trade energy which Roan needs to survive. Seth implants a suggestion in Corey's mind to think that Seth is looking out for her and that Roan was just a good man in pain. She and Roan co-join and when they are finished both fall into a deep, deep sleep.
Corey awakens in her own house with Roan sitting beside her. She is incredibly worried and afraid. Roan tells her not to be, that he is there to take care of her. Roan needs to make Corey understand just how much he needs her to survive and he wants to do it in a way that makes Corey want to be with him. Given that he is a Mayhem demon and the strongest magi on earth, it shouldn't be to hard, except he hadn't taken Corey's very independent, distrustful nature into account.
Things could get very rough for both Roan and Corey as they learn more about each other and as they come to care for each other. There is always someone or something that seems to stand in the way.
I liked that there where many interesting characters, Roan is a Mayhem demon, Corey as the very smart, independent professor who doesn't want Roan in her life, Seth, who is looking for the family he hasn't seen in 400 years and many others, make for a very interesting story. The story pulls you in and keeps you reading, although there are some parts that I found to be a bit confusing.
What I didn't like was the start of the novel, it could use some work. It seemed to start halfway through the chapter and it took a while for everything to make sense. And while I do like there to be many interesting characters at times there were just too many to keep track of.
All in all, this was a very interesting novel, one I would classify as an erotic urban fantasy novel. I would warn anyone who doesn't care for graphic sex or language to avoid this book, and it is definitely not for younger readers.
If Goodreads had 1/2 stars, I would give this 3 1/2 stars.(less)
These 5 short stories by Jeff Shelby all share one thing, someone is out of time.
Sparring Partner: When Lucy Montoya first saw the cabin in Mistwillow...moreThese 5 short stories by Jeff Shelby all share one thing, someone is out of time.
Sparring Partner: When Lucy Montoya first saw the cabin in Mistwillow her boyfriend Scott had talked her into renting, she thought it would make them both happy. But instead Lucy has another nose bleed and Scott he seems to be half out of his head with worry.
Frozen in Time: Elizabeth, Joe and Lauren are going to have a great Christmas as long as a dream is only a dream and not the start of a nightmare.
Jacked Up: Thirty years as a homicide detective has taken its toll. Jack Foye needs 4 more days until he's done, until he retires, until he can finally relax. Why then is he running, gasping for breath, sweating profusely? He just needs more time!
Twisted Sister: Brittany and Anastasia rob the check cashing store so they can move to LA. But only one of the sisters need acting classes. Will the real twisted sister please stand up and take a bow?
The Beginning of the End: Liz's brother is out of time and the only one who can help him is Noah, Liz's boyfriend. How do you help someone who has used up all their chances?
I enjoyed this collection of short stories. Each story had a twist or two and each was clearly written. I also liked that each of the stories had an 'out of time' theme, but that each story was completely different from the others. (less)
Resurrection is the second book in the Guardians of Vesturon series and it picks up where Survival (Book 1) left off.
Maddie is in serious trouble and...more Resurrection is the second book in the Guardians of Vesturon series and it picks up where Survival (Book 1) left off.
Maddie is in serious trouble and knows she is dying. Maddie's not sure how this psychopath Darryl Carter found her, but she knows just how sick and twisted he is. The last time she tangled with him, he shot her twice with his crossbow and left her for dead. This time he promises to make her suffer much, much more before he kills her and takes delight in showing her just how he means to do that.
With the last of her quickly fading strength she uses her mind to send out a call for help to Rayn, a Vesturon with whom she shares a special connection. Rayn Varrister is her soul mate and he is imprisoned on Vesturon awaiting trial for helping her once before. Maddie knows that there is very little chance that Rayn will actually hear her calling for help and at first she is ready to give up.
When she realizes that she is hearing Rayn's voice, she knows she must hang on. She must survive to see Rayn again!
Surviving her second ordeal with Darryl, she is again indebted to Rayn and his family. While she is recovering, she keeps thinking about the 'dream' she had about her mother and what her mother said to her. Proving that what her mother told her is true, Maddie is at first shocked and a little angry, then she becomes curious. Will this information help Rayn to be released from imprisonment? Will Maddie and Rayn's relationship survive through all the turmoil in their lives, including the threatened invasion of Earth by the Xanthians?
Once again I was very impressed with the descriptions of the various settings of the book, including the Unforgiving Forest, the palace and the heptamorg. The characters have all been expanded, which is something I always look for in a book series. The storyline continued where it had left off in Book 1, but could still be read as a stand alone book. There were touches of action, romance, mystery, supernatural and aliens throughout which were blended well into the story. I look forward to reading more of this series.
I received my copy of Resurrection from the author and my review was unsolicited.(less)
If you are looking for a well written, feel good book with a touch of spiritualism, look no further. Bill Rolfe delivers a book filled with hope, comp...moreIf you are looking for a well written, feel good book with a touch of spiritualism, look no further. Bill Rolfe delivers a book filled with hope, compassion and strength.
Daniel Clay seems to have it all - a beautiful corner apartment in a high rise anyone would be proud to live in, a prestigious job with an even more prestigious firm in New York, a love of the work he does and the thrill of being considered for a coveted position as a partner in his firm. He has dated a few women, but none had been serious and lately with trying to land a big client for the firm he has stopped even doing that. To everyone he seems to have it all, except one man, Art Rothschild.
Art has been in the business for forty years. He saw Daniel's potential and had brought Daniel to the firm and mentored him. While he knows that Daniel can do the job he is worried that Daniel takes no personal time, and works day and night. He had 3 rules for business success that he had passed on to Daniel. He reminds Daniel of these rules and tells Daniel that to stay ahead of everyone, he needs to consider his personal life.
Daniel has been approached by an attorney about some relative, an uncle, that has supposedly lived in England and has passed away. As Daniel has never heard of this uncle, he at first thinks its a scam. When he finally meets with the attorney, he decides to take some personal time and travel to England. His uncle had left him a house near Canterbury and Daniel decides it would be a good idea to go there, see the house, and at the same time, take stock of his life and his priorities.
Daniel arrives in England, finds the house needs a large amount of work and decides to stay a few weeks to get started on repairs. One room of the house, on the second floor, is amazing and the view from all the windows in that room is spectacular. Daniel hurts himself while trying to do a repair, and meets Claire, a palliative care children's nurse. She asks something of Daniel that he is not sure he can do but searching inside himself, he agrees.
The wonder of the amazing room with the spectacular view, the enlightenment that comes to Daniel through his contact with Claire, Brenda and the palliative children, and the miracles that happen when you least expect them will keep you reading to the end.
A very well written book, with touches of romance, spirituality, loss, faith and love make for a very interesting read. The book makes you think of your own life, your own priorities and what faith is truly about. I didn't like that it was a little cliche at times and I found the ending rather abrupt.
A very touching story that left me thinking about miracles.
I received my copy of The Living Room by the author in exchange for my honest review. (less)
(Alexyon Rayn Devvan)Rowan Yarrister IV is a tall handsome man with black hair and green eyes. He is the son of the Great Leader and certain things ar...more (Alexyon Rayn Devvan)Rowan Yarrister IV is a tall handsome man with black hair and green eyes. He is the son of the Great Leader and certain things are expected of him. When he lays eyes on the beautiful blonde who is the kitchen maid, he reminds himself that she is not of his class and therefor not an appropriate mate for him. But she makes his heart sing and he wants her as his mate for life.
Annalise Drakkar is a gorgeous blonde haired, blue eyed woman who is of the serving class and is afraid to be seen with Rowan. She needs her job badly and if it is reported that they were seen together she could lose it.
Rowan and Annalise know they are a perfect match for each other, even though they are of different classes. They are prepared to fight the system for as long as it takes so that they can be together. With everyone against their union it is going to take a miracle for them to be together.
A great short story that is good as a stand alone story and even better as a prequel to the Guardians of Vesturon Series.(less)
Survival Book 1 of the Guardians of Vesturon Series Review 2nd edition A.M. Hargrove
Maddie has had a sad life. An only child, she lost her mom when she...moreSurvival Book 1 of the Guardians of Vesturon Series Review 2nd edition A.M. Hargrove
Maddie has had a sad life. An only child, she lost her mom when she 11 years old in a horrific automobile accident. Her dad was terrific, and they spent all their time together. Her dad taught her to love the outdoors, and they camped and hiked whenever they could, no matter what the weather. When she was 18 and in her final year in high school, she got the news that her dad had suffered a heart attack at work and had passed away. As both of her parents were also only children, and her grandparents had been long dead, Maddie was on her own. Due to her age, she was able to stay in the family home and finish her final year in high school.
Deciding to go to Western Carolina University, she shares a dorm room with 3 other girls. Catherine, January and Carlson are her new roommates and Catherine (Cat) and Maddie become very close. Cat and Maddie both like to hike and camp.
At Christmas time, Maddie decides to hike on the mountains close to her school and then drive down to the Florida Keys. Her plans change suddenly when she meets Darryl Carter.
Darryl Carter is not a nice man. He is a highly trained marksman and an even more skilled ghost in the forest. While serving in the army, he realized he liked to kill people and that he is very, very good at it. When he sees Maddie, he knows she's his kind of girl, the kind he likes to torture. After spending time in Darryl's company, Maddie knows its only a matter of time until she is dead. She needs to call on all her reserves to get away from Darryl and find her way back to the trail. She breaks away and runs for her life but Darryl is an expert marksman and she feels searing pain in her calf then her shoulder. She's falling as everything around her goes black.
Upon awakening, the first thing Maddie sees is her dead mom who tells Maddie that she is destined for great things and that she needs to stay calm. As she falls into unconsciousness again, she can't feel her legs and can hear a low murmur that sounded like many people whispering. Who were these people and why are they helping her? Was she alive or had she lost her mind? And who is this Guardian, this Rayn Yarrister? How can a man this perfect be real and how can he read her mind? And always niggling at the back of her mind are two things, why can't I feel my legs and where is the horrible man, Darryl, who did this to her.
Although I found the story slow to start it soon picked up speed and carried me along to the end. The descriptions of the Appalachian Trail, the mountains and all the different characters are very well done. I grew up doing a lot of hiking and camping and these descriptions are particularly well done. The story itself had a good mix of fantasy, mystery, romance and suspense. I did find that the story did lag at certain points. The characters were very complex and well written. I did find that after time I got tired of Maddie's preoccupation with herself and with Sharra's always mixing up slang words and being corrected for it.
All together a great read for the YA audience and a solid foundation for the Guardians of Vesturon Series. (less)
When Beth Lamonte was a junior in high school she had cherished the dream of going on to an art college in Boston after graduating high school. She wa...moreWhen Beth Lamonte was a junior in high school she had cherished the dream of going on to an art college in Boston after graduating high school. She wanted to live of off her paintings, selling the shoreline and lighthouses paintings that she adored doing. But somehow along the road to adulthood, reality and a need for order and money intervened and she took a scholarship in New Mexico and earned her CPA. After time she believed this to be her true calling and her paintings where packed away and forgotten. She married, worked harder, smiled less and less and then one day, it was all over.
With the loss of all she had come to hold dear, Beth knows she has been given a second chance. Picking a new home was as easy as using a pin, closing her eyes and going to the town closest to the pin. Virginia Point, Maine has roughly 1500 residents, 1501 counting Beth. She has rented an old cottage by the shore owned by Rod Thompson, found a place to sell her art work in town and is so ready for a new start!
On her first night in the old cottage, she sees a lone firefly dancing. As she sleeps, she is troubled by disjointed dreams involving her long dead father. When she sees the firefly a second time she has a feeling of dread wash over her, and tries hard to hide from what she keeps telling herself is a firefly, but she is wrong.
The firefly keeps trying to get Beth to follow it to a very secluded beautiful beach. As Beth has become accustomed to the firefly and suspects it is more than just a regular firefly, when it again wants Beth to follow, she finally does. In the beautiful cove, wrapped in several layers of plastic Beth finds a book. It is what the firefly has been pushing her towards all along. Beth continues to have troubling dreams.
In a town full of eccentrics, including local jeweler Kenny McLeary and Lou and Mary Schmidt, owner/operators of The Virginia Point Cove Bed and Breakfast, Beth is finding it hard open up to people and ask questions. Now that she has the book, if she wants to find out anything about it she will need to.
The book turns out to be a diary, Katherine's diary. While Beth at first has no luck finding anything out about Katherine or the diary, she soon finds herself embroiled in a decades old mystery, one with very sinister undertones.
The author paints a very vivid picture of the main coast, the vastly changing and fluidity of the ocean and the wonderful gardens at The Cove. The characters are that wonderful mix of eccentrics often found in small artistic towns. The story at times ran a little slow, but was none the less a great little read. An adult coming of age, with mystery, a touch of romance and the acceptance one can find within oneself. (less)
Peridot Martin, 18 and taking a year off before starting college (taking what she isn't sure) works at the Whistle...moreSmart Mouthed Waitress by Dalya Moon
Peridot Martin, 18 and taking a year off before starting college (taking what she isn't sure) works at the Whistle a restaurant in Vancouver where rudeness by the serve staff is part of the dining experience. One particular day it seems to Perry that everyone around her is in love except her. She has never had a boyfriend and decides that before she gets much older she will lose her boyfriend virginity among other things...
Perry has a rather unconventional view on life due in a large part by her famous mother Jade. Her family are very loving but also extremely open which can be somewhat embarrassing in front of other people. Perry's mother is away for a few weeks and it is Perry's job to take care of her brother and father.
When Perry decides she needs a change to go along with her new desire to have a boyfriend, she decides to cut of the dreadlocks she has had for years. With the shedding of the long twists of hair, guys start to look at her in a new way. Crossword Puzzle Guy comes into the Whistle on Monday mornings and he is suddenly looking at Perry like she's a new girl. He invites her to an art show where she meets Crossword Puzzle Guy's best friend.
Now she's got 2 guys talking to her, and while she likes one as a friend, the other is the one who sets her heart to beating fast. With her best friend in a new relationship with someone Perry doesn't see eye to eye with, she has to find someone else to talk to.
With all the changes she is going through the last thing Perry needs is to see photos of her beautiful mom kissing a gorgeous man who isn't her father. And her brother at 15 is way to young to be involved with anything even close to being illegal. How will Perry manage her way through all this and still hook the man of her dreams?
A very funny story, written by Perry after the story is over. I enjoyed the characters, with just enough good and bad qualities in each to make them believable, a great storyline and a great look at Vancouver BC. The story flowed smoothly and never seemed forced. A good read.
I received my copy through LibraryThing and my review was unsolicited.(less)
As the crowned King in Bacovia, it is up to Tarren to ensure that his son and heir, Eryk, be married and with his own heir before to much longer. As E...moreAs the crowned King in Bacovia, it is up to Tarren to ensure that his son and heir, Eryk, be married and with his own heir before to much longer. As Eryk is already 25, it is long past time he settle down and start taking an interest in the kingdom. Erik has no interest in running the kingdom, at least not yet, and even less interest in finding a bride. He enjoys his hunting, games and a different lady to dance with every night. He and his father have been arguing for a week now and while it is good to have his friend Branden by his side, he is constantly suggesting his sister Alexius be the perfect queen for Eryk. While Eryk likes Alexius, he has grown up with her and is not very interested in having her by his side. However if things keep going on as they have been, she may do to get his father off his back.
After a double assassination attempt on both Tarren and Eryk, which results in Rupert, Turren's bodyguard from Evendell, to be stabbed with a poison tipped dagger. As he lies in a comma near death, Tarren knows it is time to send a letter to the Jakob, king of Evendell to inform him of Rupert's imminent demise and to request a replacement bodyguard.
Very few people know of Evendell's pact with Bacovia, started many, many centuries ago. Evendell has trained assassins, born to the job and trained all their lives so that one day they will hopefully be sent into battle. In their pact with Bacovia, they provide bodyguard/assassins for the royal family and in return, Bacovia provides their army in any conflicts with other kingdoms along their borders. It is a pact that is unbreakable, being forged by magic long ago.
Princess Aislynn is sent to Bacovia from Evendell to take part in the Ball being held shortly for the Prince. She is one of the chosen few of Evendell that have received assassin training her whole life and with her eesprind, in the shape of a wolf named Cheta, she and a few select others will be traveling undercover to protect the king Tarren and his son, the heir apparent Eryk.
As the action heats up, one man dies and others are harmed. What chance does Aislynn have against an unseen number of trained assassins who seem to be willing to stop at nothing to remove the king and the prince. Someone knows who she is and now her life is also in danger. Once the killings are stopped who will emerge the ruler of the kingdom?
An interesting read. the story lagged in places and some of the characters lacked depth. As well, the prince's radical change was highly unbelievable and not really in keeping with his character at the start of the novel. I did enjoy the descriptive scenery and the eesprinds where interesting and a nice change. With some improvement of character development I could see myself reading if this series continues.(less)
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