Tara Chevrestt's Blog, page 70

A Bandit's Betrayed Heart (Blood Blade Sisters #3) by Michelle McLean

I loved book one of this series and liked book two, but this one somewhat annoyed me.

The third Blood Blade sister is chasing after their former butler, whom she's been pining for for seven years. It's like this chick can't take a hint. He left you and never came back. He persistently pushes you away. I think it's time to move on, girl.

Despite all her bravado and heroic acts in the past as a vigilante/bandit, I found her to be weak, whiney, and well, bratty. When the object of her affections pushes her away--and trust me, she throws herself at him constantly--she begins dallying with a dangerous politician to make him jealous. Seriously? What are you? Fifteen?

On top of that, there were lots of unexplained things that bugged me as I kept reading. 1. How is Finn covering the tribal tattoos on his face? They didn't have laser surgery back then. Is he wearing makeup? *It's later revealed he is, but considering the makeup options they had back then...* This takes place just after the Civil War. They didn't have the makeups we have now. 2. If he can cover them so easily, why did he not cover them back when he needed legal employment? Or when he worked on a ship and had to avoid certain people because of them? If he can cover them now, he could have covered them then, and thus, avoided a life of crime. It just doesn't make sense. 

I also have to add that the romance between these two was underdeveloped, perhaps because it happened in the past. We just know they love each other. We don't know why, what connected them in the first place, etc.

Though I disliked the first 35% of this, I finally began to like Lucy as the book continued--but I still think she's a stalker. I mean, she does stay here and harasses poor Finn. That is stalking. Anyway, she connects with Lilah, a former slave (Lilah needs her own book!) and starts a school for those less fortunate. Naturally, the Southerners aren't pleased with this and Lucy has to take on the Klan.

Lucy pulled out a shotgun and then reached up again for the ammunition. "I'm not letting anyone terrorize me on my own property. Let alone a bunch of cowards running around in their night sheets."

As the tale continues, with Lucy running after Finn, defending her school, and getting in the mess of all messes, she grows tougher and it all gets a bit more fun (especially when she fights bad men off despite the fact she's tied to a chair) and less irritating, but I stand by my previous complaints. I also hate how willing Lucy is to throw Lilah under the bus, 'cause that's what it is...

Conclusion: fun and entertaining, but not my favorite sister or tale. There's really no banditry.

I received this via Netgalley.

Somewhere in France: A Novel of the Great War by Jennifer Robson

As I read this, I was reminded of Downton Abbey, most probably because I recently caught season one. But this heroine, Lily, so reminds me of Sybil. Now, remember, I've only watched season one, but I see in this book and in that season of DA, the tiniest little crack between aristocracy and "the working class".

During this time period, the Great War, that crack came to be. Aristocrats such as Lily wanted to make a difference, realized how trivial and silly and spoiled their lives were. Some wanted to work. Lily is expected to marry well and as the Dowager on DA would say, "You cannot have opinions until you are married. Once you are married, your husband will tell you what your opinions are!" Or something like that. That's the kind of family Lily comes from and she rebels and she joins the WAACs and becomes an ambulance driver in France.

Not many young ladies would leave a life of kept luxury and wealth to drive a lorry or ambulance in a muddy war zone. I really liked and admired Lily as I read. I enjoyed reading every bit of her experience as she steps over that crack, ditches her title, lives on pennies, works for a bus line, interviews with the WAACs, helps train her comrades, goes to France. I enjoyed every moment. I enjoyed watching her realize all she'd taken for granted, the way she'd appreciate a hot bath, a cup of tea.

And yes, she has a romance with her brother's best friend, a doctor. This was...okay. I liked him at times; didn't like him at others. I became a tad uncomfortable when they hooked up in the room her missing brother paid for. It felt to me a highly inappropriate time for that. It did not feel as though they were coming together in grief. I certainly think a telegram would have sufficed.

I even liked their letters to and from each other. I thought it quite cute when even though they were stationed at the same place, he wanted a letter from her, as they weren't allowed to speak. This was a sweet romance.

I have to say, however, there was an odd disconnect of sorts with the war itself. I kept thinking of what all an ambulance driver during that time would see, the soldiers she may accidentally bond with, the pain she may feel upon their passing, and yet, there were no side stories involving these men. We didn't meet or get to know any wounded, which is odd as this is a hospital.

I'd have appreciated some stories involving the patients and soldiers. Her brother was a character, but we learned so little of what he was facing. Just brief snippets.

But all in all, I feel this was a fine piece of historical fiction. It drew me into the time period, made me think, and honors the women who served as ambulance drivers during this "Great" War. It's a also a wonderfully strong heroine who knows what she wants and obtains it and believes in duty.

I received an ARC of this via Edelweiss.

Sink or Swim by Stacy Juba

First of all, I must say, this cover is somewhat misleading. It makes me think of pirates, ships, adventure. It made me feel that more of the novel would be dedicated to the reality show itself than actually was. Truth is, the show ends on the first page practically. The book itself is just a story about a woman being stalked and trying to figure out who is ruining her life. What starts as gifts becomes crazy notes and invasion of her life. Oh--the murders of two of her fellow contestants.


But it's fast paced, entertaining, and it kind of has a theme/moral. Don't think you can be famous, don't expect to be on TVs around the world every week, and not accept the repercussions, such as having your privacy invaded or in this case, picking up a stalker or two.

She'd bought fame for a price. She couldn't expect the world to have her money and esteem, yet have her privacy level remain the same.

I liked this. It was an entertaining read and only took a day, though it was a day off work. Every now and then it's nice to pick up something that doesn't take four days of your time. But I am disappointed there wasn't more of the reality show. I like reality TV in books, just don't watch them. Yes, I know, that's weird. LOL

However, I must say I really like the heroine though sometimes she's a bit dumb and acts too rashly, without thinking. She hated to be seen as a coward. When the press said she "ran away", she fought to prove them wrong. She faced her fears and the bad guy. She gets a gun and learns how to use it.

This is a strong n sexy heroine. She also doesn't need a man, though there is two men skirting around her, potential love interests, if she decides she wants them. She doesn't hesitate to push them away when she feels it's necessary or even draw a gun on one.

I also appreciated the moral about not getting sidetracked from your dreams/goals by insta-money/fame. That's an important thing to remember.

But I'm disappointed somewhat in whodunnit. I like some hints. I like to make a list of suspects as I read and there were no clues at all pointing to the real culprit. It just came out of nowhere. While I hate being able to figure it all out by page five, I like to at least be somewhere in the vicinity and with this, that wasn't possible.

I bought this on Amazon.

Starter House by Sonja Condit

Quick summary: Lacey and Eric are expecting a baby and when she is drawn to a particular house, he makes it happen.

They should have kept looking.

Seems bad things happen in this house. People fall down the stairs and die. Kids drown in the tub. Women lose their feet. Moms kill their babies. Husbands go insane. And there's this bratty little boy who appears to keep Lacey company while Eric works all day...but there's something really sinister about him. Is the house haunted? If so, what can she do about him and will the ghost kill her baby?

This book was just plain weird. The characters were weird. The happenings were weird--not scary for a long time, just weird. And at times, the writing was a tad weird. I'd be left feeling confused, as though I'd missed something. What happened to who was not always clear. At one point, I was like, "Wait a minute. She just said she stopped you both from falling down the stairs, so why is that dude going to the hospital in an ambulance? What??"

And the conclusion: also weird. I give it points for not being what I expected, but it's so far-fetched and not explained. I mean, I can understand and fathom ghosts; I can't quite get what it turns out to be.

And since I'm already complaining, let me also add the characterizations are poor. There's a serious lack of emotion and their personalities are inconsistent. It's as though the author could not make up her mind if she wanted this person to do this or that. Or perhaps the characters were intended to come off as confused. If so, that was successful.

BUT despite all that, I found myself intrigued. I read to the very end. I wanted to know what happened. I can't say any of the people grew on me; can't say I cared about any of them--not even the heroine, but I wanted to KNOW what happened, good or bad.

And towards the end, I finally felt some nail-biting fear. "EEEK. What are you gonna do?? OMG. He's gonna get you..."

But it took a long time to get to that point and it's a very slow-moving book. It's not what one expects from a horror.

I'm torn between a two and a three, because while I didn't care for it and was glad when it was over, it IS suspenseful. It kept me guessing, kept me on the edge of my seat. But the characters...I really hated all them. Eric is an arse with no personality. When he does have personality, he's a snot. Lacey is...well, surprisingly slow for a teacher. It takes forever for the lightbulb to come on with her and she does dumb things that would NOT be my first choice in those situations. Harry is a jerk. Ella Dane..is so weird, it's hard to fathom, but out of all of them, I liked her the "best". And Lex...and his wife...just...WTF? Do people like this exist?

So...even though I actually read the whole thing, which is rare for a book I dislike...

I received this via Edelweiss.

My Reading Radar 12/28/2013

Let's see what I either acquired or added to my wishlist this week...

You all know I love my lady gladiators, so this one made the list. Much thanks to Netgalley. Barbarian Bride by Eva Scott. I read her book The Last Amazon this year and enjoyed it.


On the bloody ground of the Colosseum, she fights to save her life. In the treacherous boxes above, he fights to save their love.

Though Klara didn't love the man who was to be her husband, she didn't want him murdered, and she vows to track down the man who committed the crime. Sickened that she'd been attracted to the mysterious Roman, Klara tracks Lucius Aurelius to the fringes of the Roman Empire, only to find that they've both been trapped in a clever plot to overthrow Klara's father, the Chief of the Huns.

Klara is separated from Lucius, captured by slavers and sold to a gladiator school. She is the only one who can save herself, by fighting for her freedom. Lucius can ensure her battle is easier, but only by sacrificing himself. How much is he willing to give up for the fiery woman he's come to love.

***
Another Netgalley find and possible strong 'n sexy heroine: The Deadliest Lie by June Trop.
She's a brilliant alchemist-with a talent for solving mysteries. 
Miriam bat Isaac is a budding scholar in first-century CE Alexandria, though her dreams seem doomed. Who in her household or among her father's Shabbat guests stole the scrolls containing the Alchemical League's valuable formulas? Perhaps the thief was even her frantic father, on the cusp of financial ruin, eager for Miriam to end her dalliance with a handsome jeweler and marry into an honorable and wealthy family. Or her rebellious brother, intent on raising money to travel to Capua so he can enroll in the Roman Empire's most renowned gladiator school. Or her faint-hearted fiance, who begrudges her preoccupation with alchemy and yearns for their forthcoming marriage? 
And how did the thief manage to steal them? Miriam is not only faced with a baffling puzzle, but, to recover the scrolls, she must stalk the culprit through the sinister alleys of Alexandria's claustrophobic underbelly. The Romans who keep a harsh watch over her Jewish community are trouble enough. 
Miriam is based on the true personage of Maria Hebrea, the legendary founder of Western alchemy, who developed the concepts and apparatus alchemists and chemists would use for 1500 years. 
***
Spotted on Amazon Vine: Prayers for the Stolen by Jennifer Clement.
Ladydi Garcia Martínez is fierce, funny and smart. She was born into a world where being a girl is a dangerous thing. In the mountains of Guerrero, Mexico, women must fend for themselves, as their men have left to seek opportunities elsewhere. Here in the shadow of the drug war, bodies turn up on the outskirts of the village to be taken back to the earth by scorpions and snakes. School is held sporadically, when a volunteer can be coerced away from the big city for a semester. In Guerrero the drug lords are kings, and mothers disguise their daughters as sons, or when that fails they “make them ugly” – cropping their hair, blackening their teeth- anything to protect them from the rapacious grasp of the cartels. And when the black SUVs roll through town, Ladydi and her friends burrow into holes in their backyards like animals, tucked safely out of sight.

While her mother waits in vain for her husband’s return, Ladydi and her friends dream of a future that holds more promise than mere survival, finding humor, solidarity and fun in the face of so much tragedy. When Ladydi is offered work as a nanny for a wealthy family in Acapulco, she seizes the chance, and finds her first taste of love with a young caretaker there. But when a local murder tied to the cartel implicates a friend, Ladydi’s future takes a dark turn. Despite the odds against her, this spirited heroine’s resilience and resolve bring hope to otherwise heartbreaking conditions.

An illuminating and affecting portrait of women in rural Mexico, and a stunning exploration of the hidden consequences of an unjust war, PRAYERS FOR THE STOLEN is an unforgettable story of friendship, family, and determination.

***
Spotted on my favorite blog, Unusual Historicals, this one is now on my wishlist. The Golden Lynx by C.P. Lesley. 

Russia, 1534. Elite clans battle for control of the toddler who will become their first tsar, Ivan the Terrible. Amid the chaos and upheaval, a masked man mysteriously appears night after night to aid the desperate people.

Or is he a man?

Sixteen-year-old Nasan Kolychev is trapped in a loveless marriage. To escape her misery, she dons boys' clothes and slips away under cover of night to help those in need. She never intends to do more than assist a few souls and give her life purpose. But before long, Nasan finds herself caught up in events that will decide the future of Russia.

And so, a girl who has become the greatest hero of her time must decide whether to save a baby destined to become the greatest villain of his.

Historical Perspective in Fantasy, A Guest Post from Tonya Cannariato

First, I want to thank Tara for the opportunity to stop by her blog and chime in on two of the themes we’re apparently both fascinated by: Strong female characters and historical settings.

My Red Slaves series was inspired by the six years I spent living with my family behind the Iron Curtain, first in Moscow, and then in East Berlin from 1978 to 1984. My father was a diplomat, so our regular supper conversations were sprinkled with the meaning of representing American values in countries that had different views on personal liberty and possibilities than the idealized American vision of those. So culture clash and what you could grow up to become were never far from my thoughts as a little girl.
My mom, in particular, always reminded me of my five-year-old response to the question of what I wanted to be when I grew up: I had said “a nurse.” When she asked why not a doctor, I had said “because only little boys can be doctors.” I’m not sure what inspired that very young view, but my mom and dad made sure I understood those limitations were not in their world view, and they hoped I would aspire higher than they could imagine.
For some reason, this translated into a female protagonist who grabbed on to that aspiration and hardened herself against anything she perceived might hold her back from her ambition. My protagonist was also imbued with my love of books and reading, so she became a researcher—not exactly a power profession, though it does come with its own kind of cut-throat competition. Her inner demons meant she fought against her emotions, focused on a scientific approach, and was rather an abrasive character who had a lot of growing to do.
While Anne’s strengths are non-traditional, they are also rooted in the time from which she springs. Born in the 60s, at the height of flower-power, she tries, still, to embody the 80s power woman, setting aside emotions and pretending like she can be a man. Her path is not easy, yet she plows forward with determination and loyalty.

The other half of the story’s drive comes from what Katherine Kurtz dubbed crypto-history. I love the concept that if we had a slightly more magical perspective, there would be hidden explanations for the reason behind certain historical events. The clash between magic and science, then, is one of my major themes. Could it be that there was an arcane reason Communists were able to maintain their repressive holds on their people? If that was the reason, what would happen to those magical beings when the Communist leash was broken?
With those two questions, my imagination has taken flight. The world you’ll see in Red Slaves is not that far distant in time, and should be recognizable to people born even in the early 80s who have some memory of the bipolar world the US and the Soviet Union had constructed. The immediate post-Soviet economic difficulties and cultural realities were as true-to-life as I could make them based on my own memories and research. The pure fantasy about dragons, was, I’m sure, sparked by my life-long love of Anne McCaffrey’s Pern. Mash those up, and you find something I haven’t seen anywhere else, and has been a lot of fun for me to imagine and write.
Your turn: How do you identify strength in abrasive characters? How much of what you lived as a child could you replay in a historical fiction setting?
***
A voracious reader since she was a toddler, and an ordained spiritualist, Tonya Cannariato has now presided over the marriage of her love of reading and her love of writing. She's lived a nomadic life, following first her parents in their Foreign Service career through Africa, Europe, and Asia, and then her own nose criss-crossing America as she's gotten old enough to make those choices for herself. She's currently based in Milwaukee with her three loves: her husband and two Siberian Huskies. She suspects her Huskies of mystical alchemy with their joyous liberation of her muse and other magical beings for her inspiration. She loves to sleep, to watch her interesting dreams, some of which are now finding new life in written form.
Dust to Blood:
Sparks are flying between researcher Anne Crosby and no less than nine men--but it's not what you think. Whenever these nine amnesiacs touch anyone, electrical mayhem results. More surprising: all of them have dust instead of blood in their veins, even though they're quite alive. It's Anne's job to track down who and what these men are, even though she takes a dim view of the supernatural.

Her research takes Anne to Russia and the discovery of the devastating magical source behind the former Soviet Union's power--a source the resurrected KGB wants back. Anne must stop them, and they'll do anything to stop her.
Blood to Fire:
Researcher Anne Crosby came to Russia to solve the mystery of amnesiac Ivan Krempenski. Instead, she became part of the mystery. Never a believer in the paranormal, Anne discovers Ivan's true dragon form-and her own.

The old Soviet Union once held Russian dragons captive, siphoning off their magic to cement their power. The resurgent KGB believes enslaving them again will return the Communists to their former might.

New mates Anne and Ivan must learn to control their bewildering new abilities, stay one step ahead of the KGB, and restore their kind before dragons slip into myth...or slavery.

Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week: Kiera McBroom

Title: Skin Deep (Eternal Forces #1)
Author: Megan D. Martin
Heroine: Kiera McBroom

Kiera is a woman who has faced a lifetime of being over-weight, as a child she was teased mercilessly by the other kids, and when she became an adult, her abusive boyfriend took their place. When she finally escaped the people who put her down, she finds herself faced with an opportunity to be skinny—for the first time in her life. She used to be the person who let people walk all over her, but with the magical opportunity of getting a new body, Kiera is confronted with the reality that the way she has been living her life, hiding out, has been toxic for her all along. She has to learn that there is nothing wrong with being herself, and fighting for the people she loves…and most of all—herself. Loving herself is the biggest wall that holds her back from the future she has always wanted. Kiera learns that there is more to life than having a hot bod and that being strong, and being herself can be the sexiest thing about a woman.
Blurb:
What would you do to have the body of your dreams?

Kiera hates being overweight and hides behind thick layers of clothing. One night, her friends present an opportunity that seems impossible to believe. With a single spell, she can have the thin physique she's always coveted.

But all magic comes with a price: no sex or she'll revert back to her old body. Kiera accepts the cost. It's not like she has men lined up at her door. Obeying this one tiny rule isn't difficult at all—until the night she meets Cain, a were-tiger and a soldier with the Eternal Forces.

When a slew of unexplained murders forces Kiera and Cain together, they'll have to face the horrors of their pasts. Will Kiera realize she is worth more than her outward appearance? Or will she make the wrong the choice and lose everything—including her life?

Season's Greetings

The Secret of Magic by Deborah Johnson

Reading this novel was like studying a piece of art. It makes the reader feel a gamut of emotions and like a connect-the-dots, you try to figure out how it all comes together. And though it doesn't tie itself up in a tidy bow in the end--this is about real life, after all, you're somehow left feeling satisfied.

You walk away from it with your life more enriched than before the book appeared in your hands.

In a nutshell: an African-American woman is trying to make it as a lawyer with the NAACP, working for Thurgood himself. She has a lot to prove. In her case, it's not so much white people standing in her way, but men in general. Even her own co-worker scoffs at a woman lawyer. So when she goes down to Mississippi aka the Jim Crow South to investigate a tragic case, she must succeed.

'Sides, something about that soldier in the picture is speaking to her.

That soldier was a decorated WWII Veteran coming home from Italy. That soldier was asked to give up his seat on the bus to a Nazi POW. Why? Because his skin was dark.

That soldier refused and he was beaten to death. And that's the case. Welcome to Mississippi, eh?

What a hateful time that was. Enter a bigoted, wealthy woman who claims she's doing all she can but really won't go against the white folks'. I did not like Ms. Calhoun and the only reason I'm taking away a star is I feel I missed something with her. I couldn't figure out why Regina warmed to her. The lady was a racist who wouldn't even address Regina appropriately with a miss. I felt like the woman was confused about what she believed and perhaps that was the intended effect. The lady didn't really do anything for anyone; just tried not to make waves when waves needed to be made. Darned placed needed a typhoon.

Enter the time of segregation, separate drinking fountains, and a world in which if you're rich and white, you can do as well please, including commit murder and walk away.

We meet a variety of characters, but my favorite was def Regina. What a strong, amazing woman, a woman who doesn't get scared and run away, but keeps on facing things down as she tries to get justice for a man she never knew. All around her, nobody gives a straight answer to anything. The mystery is riddles, vague references, insinuations.

What was important to Regina was that she'd gone into that courthouse. She'd gone up those stairs all by herself and she'd asked for what she wanted. Openly, in plain view of anybody standing there watching, she--Regina Mary Robichard--had defied that Confederate flag.

I can't say I always understood the references to the old published book either. But I enjoyed this story tremendously. We must never forget this stuff really happened, that white men pulled black men off buses and beat 'em to death, that hatred ruled an entire group of people, that others stood up for themselves and sought justice, that there was hope in a time where there didn't appear to be any reason for it.

I gotta add this story also--as inappropriate as this will seem, it is a frustrating and enraging and sad tale--made me laugh. Those Southerners and their Raginas. LOL

I'm not going to summarize anything more. There's action, history, laughter, tears, and at times, you'll scream with rage and want to throw the book against a wall, but it's an important piece of history and I think this author found a fantastic way of sharing it with us. Oh--and DO read the author's note at the end. It's fascinating, as she talks about her grandfather fighting for equal pay in Missouri, the real-life and very sad case about the soldier, and Constance Baker Motley, the lady lawyer for the NAACP who inspired Regina's character. Constance was a real trailblazer and I guarantee that after reading this story, you'll want to find out more about her.

I won this on LibraryThing.

Confessions of a Hostie: True Stories of an International Flight Attendant by Danielle Hugh

I liked some of this and didn't like some of it. It's about 50/50. The first half made me laugh or chuckle and was told in a witty manner. I appreciated some of the irritating passenger stories and learning a flight attendant's schedule and how easy it is to get sick and all that, but really, I'm disappointed to say, not much of it really takes place on the plane/s.

She goes on and on about shopping. I got so sick and tired of hearing about her shopping. To be honest, she came across as a snot, especially when she said stuff like this, "I've been to so many lavish and properly organised weddings that had a 50-50 meal choice and missed out on my choice. Yet, these people, with a ticket that costs less than what I paid for my last pair of shoes (Lady, just WTF kind of shoes are you buying? I can pay up to 600 bucks or more when I fly. Middle-class people don't find that cheap.), feel they have been personally victimized if we cannot offer them the beef choice."

I'd like to say that without those "cheap" passengers, you wouldn't have a job or a paycheck. 

She began to come across as rude, stuck-up, and patronizing, as though she looks down on those of us who cannot afford Manolo Blanicks, or whatever they are.

Then it was sex with a pilot and how horrible a dresser he is and how cheap, yet she calls him anyway?

I'd have preferred she stuck to airplane mishaps, passenger incidents, and kept her shopping and sex life to herself. And her clothes--it was like she constantly wanted to rub in what brands of clothing she was wearing. On and on about boots and D&G... I guess you could say this memoir came across as bragging.

I question some of this though. Having worked in the commercial airline industry, I'm familiar with the pay scale. Ten years ago, a brand-new pilot was fortunate to make 15 to 20k a year. Flight attendants can't do much better. Yet she acts as though they are rolling in dough. Um.... I'm confused.

Then she begins to go on and on about a married flight attendant she has a crush on. It felt like chapters were dedicated to this guy when all I wanted to do was get back to the in-flight dramatics. I almost abandoned ship at this point. But then it went to the flight to Hawaii and got interesting again. I had to laugh out loud at some of the things Damien said to passengers.

S0 some of it was good; some of it not so good. I don't consider it a total waste of time. I really enjoyed some parts, but really disliked others. I don't think I'll read book two because of this. 

I think Heather Poole's Cruising Attitude was a better telling of a flight attendant's life. It stuck more to the point.

My favorite part and LOL moment is about "crop dusting".

'You know, when you are out in the cabin and need to fart. Not by choice, but out of necessity. Well, if you let it all out in one go, that could be a problem. So what you do is crop-dusting, you know, just little quiet ones sprayed over a big area. That way even if they smell, the passengers don't know where it has come from and you are long gone by the time they can blame you for it.'

I received this via Netgalley.