The Perks Of Being A Book Addict discussion
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Currently reading 2023
Here is my 4.21 rounded to 4 stars review of 4th of July
by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
part legal thriller and part crime thriller
With the usual short chapters, this story progressed quickly with other members of the Women’s Murder Club putting in cameo appearances. It was fast-paced and filled with action. Additionally, it has a shocking twist that completely caught me by surprise.
The Best Bad Day Ever is a cute, simple children's book that shows how nothing looks right when we're having a bad day, until... Author/illustrator Marianna Coppo has made it clear, funny, and universal. Little kids will love it (as did I).
My review of Best Bad Day Ever with several illustrations
Robert Bryndza's latest novel, Fear the Silence, is a standalone thriller that takes place on a remote Croation island in wild, stormy weather. English doctor Maggie is alone and terrified!
My review of Fear the Silence
Here is my 4.38 rounded to 4 stars review of Burning Justice by Tee O'Fallon:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Romantic Suspense
Overall, this briskly paced novel was engaging and atmospheric with great characterization.
It isn't marketed as a thriller, but
Blood
by acclaimed Aussie Aboriginal author Tony Birch had me so nervous I couldn't stop reading. Little kids with a slack mother who keeps some seriously bad company makes for a scary read. Just terrific!
My review of Blood
Here is my 4.43 rounded to 4 stars review of Wild As a Wolf
by Paige Tyler:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Paranormal Romantic Suspense / Urban Fantasy
Overall, this book is emotionally-charged, full of danger, and intense; with a terrific romance and nonstop action. The plot is twisty and the first sentence had me rapidly turning the pages. The author introduces some new types of supernatural villains in this one.
The Kate Daniels' adventures continue with the surprise release of
Magic Claims by Ilona Andrews.This is the second story in the Wilmington trilogy. Chronologically,
it follows after the main series of 10 novels and before Blood Heir.
For those who have never read the UF Kate Daniels series, a new reader could start with the Wilmington trilogy to get a taste for Kate & team.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is my 4.24 rounded to 4 stars review of Shadow Dance
by Christine Feehan:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Paranormal Romantic Suspense / Urban Fantasy
Overall, this briskly paced novel was engaging and had great characterization. The significant amount of danger and action kept me fully engaged and made this a true page turner for me. It is a riveting story with protagonists that I liked and cheered on as their journey progressed and became ever more dangerous.
Here is my 4.41 rounded to 4 stars review of Harm’s Way
by John Gilstrap:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Political Thriller
Gilstrap has a way of writing thrillers that immediately grab your attention. He’s an excellent storyteller who combines a creative plot with gripping scenes and plenty of action and suspense. Overall, this briskly paced and explosive novel was tense, fast-paced, action-oriented, and scary to think about.
Here is my 3.77 rounded to 4 stars review of The Raging Storm
by Ann Cleeves:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Police Procedural
This was an atmospheric book with great characterization and a complex plot filled with secrets and tangled relationships. It is very character-driven and has a few slow spots.
When I link the title and cover, my post won't stick. But the review link seems to work."Calypso's Guest: A Short Story" is a unique, marooned-in-space retelling of Calypso's story from Homer's classic, The Odyssey. Pulitzer Prize winner, Andrew Sean Greer, combines tenderness with the Twilight Zone.
Here is my review of Calypso's Guest
My only regret with All the Devils Are Here is that Louise Penny set the story in Paris instead of Canada. All the family are together, though, and all are in life-threatening danger.
My review of All the Devils Are Here
Here is my 4.43 rounded to 4 stars review of Long Past Midnight
by Jonathan Maberry:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Horror short stories and a poem
Overall, this was a great collection of stories and one that kept me feeling the characters’ anxiety. While some are full of exciting scenes and plenty of action, others are more thought provoking. The world-building and characterization are terrific.
Here is my 4.43 rounded to 4 stars review of The Serpent in Heaven
by Charlaine Harris:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mix of mix of urban fantasy, western, action adventure, and alternate history
Exceptional characters, intense fight scenes, and family drama made this an entertaining read.
I finished The Prisoner. It was good, but not great. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... I am now still working on West with Giraffes. I am also reading both Anxious in Nevada and The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch. I really should put one of those two aside and work my way through one faster, but I probably won't. lol
David Nicholls is so good at showing awkward relationships where each person of a couple blows hot and cold at different times.
One Day
is St Swithin's Day, when a boy and girl, later as man and woman, plan to stay in touch or meet each year through their lives.
My review of One Day
One Little Word
is all it takes to avert a crisis, as these children discover when The Argument (monster) takes over their playground in this expressive little book.
My review of One Little Word with lots of illustrations
Here is my 4.59 rounded to 5 stars review of All the Dead Shall Weep
by Charlaine Harris:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Alternate History / Fantasy / Western
Exceptional characters, intense fight scenes, and family drama made this an entertaining read. This well-crafted story hooked me in the beginning and kept me turning the pages as I went on a rollercoaster ride through twists, drama, grief, and intrigue.
Magic BitesAfter reading the second installment of Kate Daniels: The Wilmington Years, I just had to do a re-read of the series. I found this audiobook version for Kate Daniels #1 made by Graphic Audio which uses a full cast to "perform" / read the book and includes sound effects.
My Review -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I recently enjoyed the seventh adventure with Master Mercurius (now Doctor, thank you very much!) in the Netherlands, 17th century. This time, author Graham Brack has him investigating a 'locked-room' Murder In Maastricht where he is supposed to be engaged in a debate about witches. An impossible crime scene? Witches?
My review of Murder in Maastricht
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I recently enjoyed the seventh adventure with Master Mercurius (now Doctor, thank you very much!) in the Netherlands, 17th century. This time, author Graham Brack has him investiga..."sounds good
Magic Burns Dramatized Adaptation : Kate Daniels 2 (Kate DanielsYes, Renée Raudman was a great narrator of Ilona Andrews's Kate Daniels series, but GraphicAudio made a really good version of Magic Burns Dramatized Adaptation : Kate Daniels 2 (Kate Daniels.
My Review -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Tammy wrote: "PattyMacDotComma wrote: "I recently enjoyed the seventh adventure with Master Mercurius (now Doctor, thank you very much!) in the Netherlands, 17th century. This time, author [author:Graham Brack|2...Sounds good"
It's a fun series, Tammy.
Great picture book! I loved The Story of Conservation: A first book about protecting nature. Illustrator Amy Husband's artwork adds delightful detail to author Catherine Barr's excellent and simple timelines and history.
My review of The Story of Conservation with several of the illustrations
Here is my 3 star review of Paper Targets: Art Can Be Murder
by Steve S. Saroff.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm an outlier on this novel. There are many 4 and 5 star reviews.
I am reading Pawn in Frankincense
by Dorothy Dunnett, book 4 of her magnificent and epic Lymond series set in the 16th century (from 1547 through 1558) all round Europe and the Levant region, encompassing events as England's "rough wooing" of Scotland, the 1552 siege of Gozo and Tripoli by the Ottoman Empire, the reign of Ivan the terrible, the struggle for power between Spain and France, etc. I have never ever encountered such an erudite, demanding, yet gripping historical fiction series. It is breathtakingly intense and adventurous. Originally the books were written and published between 1961-1975.
I am alternating between reading them on kindle and listening to the audiobooks, superbly narrated by Scottish voice actor, David Monteath.
Melindam wrote: "I am reading Pawn in Frankincense
by Dorothy Dunnett, book 4 of her magnificent and epic Lymond series set in the 16th centur..."I've never read her - they sound great!
If you have someone in your life who thinks they're hopeless, show them Beatrice Blue's cute book, Once Upon a Witch's Broom. It follows a pair of little witches, one confident, one anxious, from toddlerhood to old age.
My review of Once Upon a Witch's Broom with several of the illustrations
Now I have to read the next two! The Black House is the first of Peter May's popular Lewis Trilogy, and it was terrifying, moving, and compelling. Great read.
My review of The Black House
PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Melindam wrote: "I am reading Pawn in Frankincense
by Dorothy Dunnett, book 4 of her magnificent and epic Lymond series set i..."They are, they are! 😊
The 1st book The Game of Kings was the hardest nut to crack for me, with lots of obscure Latin/French/Spanish 16th century quotations of songs and verses, but by the 2nd book I go used to it. Plus the historical background and the political and personal intrigue is just great. 😊
Magic Strikes by Ilona AndrewsGoing through my re-read of the Kate Daniels series and #3 is where the series begins to gain momentum. It's a great jumping off point for new readers.
My Review -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Overall, this was fun and charming, but the ending was too quick and easily resolved in this slow burn romance for me. While there wasn’t enough depth to the plot for my tastes, I still enjoyed it.