C.C. Thomas's Blog, page 15
January 16, 2014
Deader is Better
All Together Dead: Sookie Stackhouse #7 by Charlaine HarrisParanormal Romance
I just love this series! It never gets old to me.
Sookie has taken up with Quinn. Don't get me wrong--I like him and the sex scenes are hot, but...he's no Eric! When is Eric coming back??? Gross. Bill is still around. Stalker, much? Of course, when Bill, Eric, and Quinn are all in one place with Sookie, delicious things happen.
Sookie has been "hired", read forced, to attend a vampire convention and act as a human Geiger counter for the vampire queen of Louisiana, measuring what humans are thinking but not saying. The vampire queen, 14-year old Sophie Leclerq, just happens to be on trial for the murder of her new husband, which happened in the previous book. Of course, when you get that many vampires together, somebody is bound to wind up dead. And, now Sookie has to solve that crime too.
Although this one wasn't quite as good as #6, I still loved it. I hope the author isn't waning--I hate that. There was plenty of action and adventure and romance and death-defying and I loved that Sookie always has to be her own hero. My favorite part (in this book and every book) is when Eric saves Sookie. I love that they are two magnets who can't help that attraction. Sookie gets deader, and better, with each new book.
I just love this series! It never gets old to me.
Sookie has taken up with Quinn. Don't get me wrong--I like him and the sex scenes are hot, but...he's no Eric! When is Eric coming back??? Gross. Bill is still around. Stalker, much? Of course, when Bill, Eric, and Quinn are all in one place with Sookie, delicious things happen.
Sookie has been "hired", read forced, to attend a vampire convention and act as a human Geiger counter for the vampire queen of Louisiana, measuring what humans are thinking but not saying. The vampire queen, 14-year old Sophie Leclerq, just happens to be on trial for the murder of her new husband, which happened in the previous book. Of course, when you get that many vampires together, somebody is bound to wind up dead. And, now Sookie has to solve that crime too.
Although this one wasn't quite as good as #6, I still loved it. I hope the author isn't waning--I hate that. There was plenty of action and adventure and romance and death-defying and I loved that Sookie always has to be her own hero. My favorite part (in this book and every book) is when Eric saves Sookie. I love that they are two magnets who can't help that attraction. Sookie gets deader, and better, with each new book.
January 15, 2014
Perfect for Tech-Savvy Teens
Defriended: Point Horror #1 by Ruth BaronTeen Horror
This had a very unique storyline. Kids who are really savvy with technology will get into this. For the rare teen who doesn't at least have a cell phone, it might be hard to relate. It reminded me a little of the MTV show "Catfish", except gone very wrong!
Jason has an online flirtation going on with Lacey. She's cute. She's funny. Can she really like Jason? She seems too good to be true. Maybe she is. Lacey refuses to see Jason in person--and he soon figures out why after doing some research. She's dead. This launches a mystery for Jason. He has to find out if his mystery girl is alive (and the Facebook memorial page is a joke), or if she's dead and someone is playing a cruel hoax on him. This is a mystery that Jason will have to uncover if he wants to know the truth about Lacey. But, the more he learns and knows about Lacey, the less he realizes he knew her. But, if it wasn't Lacey he knew, who was it? Jason and his friend use technology and old-fashioned detective work to find out the truth. These parts are hilarious and are a nice break from the creepiness.
The front cover was perfect for enticing reluctant readers--very scary! This is definitely PG13, and a book for teens and older. It's perfect for teens who are heavy in social media.The book kept me hooked all the way through. I wanted to find out what was going on right along with Jason. I didn't guess where this was going or how it was going to end.
This had a very unique storyline. Kids who are really savvy with technology will get into this. For the rare teen who doesn't at least have a cell phone, it might be hard to relate. It reminded me a little of the MTV show "Catfish", except gone very wrong! Jason has an online flirtation going on with Lacey. She's cute. She's funny. Can she really like Jason? She seems too good to be true. Maybe she is. Lacey refuses to see Jason in person--and he soon figures out why after doing some research. She's dead. This launches a mystery for Jason. He has to find out if his mystery girl is alive (and the Facebook memorial page is a joke), or if she's dead and someone is playing a cruel hoax on him. This is a mystery that Jason will have to uncover if he wants to know the truth about Lacey. But, the more he learns and knows about Lacey, the less he realizes he knew her. But, if it wasn't Lacey he knew, who was it? Jason and his friend use technology and old-fashioned detective work to find out the truth. These parts are hilarious and are a nice break from the creepiness.
The front cover was perfect for enticing reluctant readers--very scary! This is definitely PG13, and a book for teens and older. It's perfect for teens who are heavy in social media.The book kept me hooked all the way through. I wanted to find out what was going on right along with Jason. I didn't guess where this was going or how it was going to end.
January 7, 2014
A Sad Goodbye
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest: Millennium #3 by Stieg LarssonThriller
I saved this book for several years, knowing it would be the last one by Larsson and I just hated saying goodbye to all the characters, especially Lisbeth. I always feel such sadness when I end a series, especially one that is truly over with no hope of a comeback. While I have read that another author is going to take up the series, it just won't be the same without Larsson at the helm.
At this book opens, Lisbeth is lying in a hospital bed with a bullet in her brain--just where the last book left off. When she awakens from her coma, she finds her father, and the man who tried to repeatedly kill her, in the same hospital just a few doors down. It's a race to see who will be mobile first--to strike like a deadly cobra. Oh, the tension from a hospital bed! Genius!
I have always loved the character of Lisbeth. There are so many reasons for her to engage in self-pity, but she refuses to become a victim and, instead, becomes an advocate for womens' rights. For a change, though, Lisbeth can't do this all on her own. She has to call Mikael for help--who comes running right away. Love that guy! This story ties all the loose ends up with a bow. Nothing is left out or left unanswered. I loved that Larsson didn't have a chippy/happy ending for everyone. Some books, some characters, just don't get that and that is exactly, perfectly right here.
Even though I saved it for years, this book was not a disappointment. It truly lived up to my expectations. I am only disappointed there will be no more. I have been reading some other Swedish authors but none come close to Larsson. If you know of a another author like this one, please, oh please, pass along a new recommendation.
I saved this book for several years, knowing it would be the last one by Larsson and I just hated saying goodbye to all the characters, especially Lisbeth. I always feel such sadness when I end a series, especially one that is truly over with no hope of a comeback. While I have read that another author is going to take up the series, it just won't be the same without Larsson at the helm.
At this book opens, Lisbeth is lying in a hospital bed with a bullet in her brain--just where the last book left off. When she awakens from her coma, she finds her father, and the man who tried to repeatedly kill her, in the same hospital just a few doors down. It's a race to see who will be mobile first--to strike like a deadly cobra. Oh, the tension from a hospital bed! Genius!
I have always loved the character of Lisbeth. There are so many reasons for her to engage in self-pity, but she refuses to become a victim and, instead, becomes an advocate for womens' rights. For a change, though, Lisbeth can't do this all on her own. She has to call Mikael for help--who comes running right away. Love that guy! This story ties all the loose ends up with a bow. Nothing is left out or left unanswered. I loved that Larsson didn't have a chippy/happy ending for everyone. Some books, some characters, just don't get that and that is exactly, perfectly right here.
Even though I saved it for years, this book was not a disappointment. It truly lived up to my expectations. I am only disappointed there will be no more. I have been reading some other Swedish authors but none come close to Larsson. If you know of a another author like this one, please, oh please, pass along a new recommendation.
January 6, 2014
ARGHHHH!
Nevermore: The Final Maximum Ride Adventure #8 by James PattersonFantasy
I hate to stick with a series, through thick and thin, for years and years, only to have the author drop the ball at the end. But, that's just what happened here. Typical James Patterson! So, really, it's my own fault for expecting more. Such laziness from this author. He had so many loose ends to tie up and he took the lazy way out.
There's nothing new in this last one. Same old characters. Some constant, pointless fighting. Same "Save the World from____" (I forget what because there have been so many reasons.) Some things that were confusing and were solved, not really by plot resolutions-just by bad writing: Maya, Max's weird clone/twin; problems with entire human population; and, EVERYTHING on planet Earth. You want unbelievable? How about a tsunami and an asteroid as a way to solve some problems.
The best thing about the book is that it's over. Or, is it? If James Patterson can make a buck on it, it will be back so, of course, the ending is left a little open. And, Max, once such a strong female character, has turned into a two-timing, fly-off-the-handle, stubborn whine bag. She's very unlikeable in this book. It's so disappointing. I want a refund for the time I wasted reading all these. It would have been a better ending if everyone had died--that way, I wouldn't feel like they're out there, waiting on me. Because I will NOT read a new series with these characters!
I hate to stick with a series, through thick and thin, for years and years, only to have the author drop the ball at the end. But, that's just what happened here. Typical James Patterson! So, really, it's my own fault for expecting more. Such laziness from this author. He had so many loose ends to tie up and he took the lazy way out.There's nothing new in this last one. Same old characters. Some constant, pointless fighting. Same "Save the World from____" (I forget what because there have been so many reasons.) Some things that were confusing and were solved, not really by plot resolutions-just by bad writing: Maya, Max's weird clone/twin; problems with entire human population; and, EVERYTHING on planet Earth. You want unbelievable? How about a tsunami and an asteroid as a way to solve some problems.
The best thing about the book is that it's over. Or, is it? If James Patterson can make a buck on it, it will be back so, of course, the ending is left a little open. And, Max, once such a strong female character, has turned into a two-timing, fly-off-the-handle, stubborn whine bag. She's very unlikeable in this book. It's so disappointing. I want a refund for the time I wasted reading all these. It would have been a better ending if everyone had died--that way, I wouldn't feel like they're out there, waiting on me. Because I will NOT read a new series with these characters!
January 5, 2014
My Favorite Killer
Joe Pike #2: The First Rule by Robert CraisThriller
This second book in the series was just as good as the first one. And, yay--Elvis Cole is back as wingman!
When an ex-military friend of Pike's is brutally slaughtered along with his young family, Pike sets off to avenge the murder and find the killers. Along the way, though, Pike and others start having questions about his late friend. Was he the doting father, happy husband, successful businessman he appeared to be or a cold-blooded mercenary thief who got what he deserved? Pike ignores the evidence. He ignores advice. He relies on his memories and his gut instinct to guide him to the truth.
The action in this book never stops, from beginning to end. If you've read the Elvis Cole series, know that this series has a completely different tone. Cole is humorous and friendly, which gives his book a warm feeling. Cole is someone you want to grab a beer and have a pizza with. Pike is like cold, hard steel--a killing machine. As a reader, you can't get close to him. So, these aren't as good as the Cole books but are pretty good nonetheless. It's a good escapist read, definitely a beach read. The plot is pretty basic: revenge at all costs. So, you can pick it up and lay it down without getting lost. As always, there's another story behind the story, which usually involves a foreign mob run amok. I will definitely keep on reading these, if only to catch those glimpses of Elvis Cole!
This second book in the series was just as good as the first one. And, yay--Elvis Cole is back as wingman!
When an ex-military friend of Pike's is brutally slaughtered along with his young family, Pike sets off to avenge the murder and find the killers. Along the way, though, Pike and others start having questions about his late friend. Was he the doting father, happy husband, successful businessman he appeared to be or a cold-blooded mercenary thief who got what he deserved? Pike ignores the evidence. He ignores advice. He relies on his memories and his gut instinct to guide him to the truth.
The action in this book never stops, from beginning to end. If you've read the Elvis Cole series, know that this series has a completely different tone. Cole is humorous and friendly, which gives his book a warm feeling. Cole is someone you want to grab a beer and have a pizza with. Pike is like cold, hard steel--a killing machine. As a reader, you can't get close to him. So, these aren't as good as the Cole books but are pretty good nonetheless. It's a good escapist read, definitely a beach read. The plot is pretty basic: revenge at all costs. So, you can pick it up and lay it down without getting lost. As always, there's another story behind the story, which usually involves a foreign mob run amok. I will definitely keep on reading these, if only to catch those glimpses of Elvis Cole!
