Tag: fiction

Books, great reads, Reviews

Naked In Death by J.D. Robb

debra

Hey everyone,

I know I am very late in starting this series, but better late than never!  This series is set in the not to distant future and stars Eve Dallas as a Lieutenant In New York and Roarke as a suspect in a murder mystery she is investigating.  I really enjoyed this story. The writing is tight and the plot has staying power.  I would expect nothing less from Ms. Robb, who I am sure everyone knows is Nora Roberts.  The plot moved right along and as someone who enjoys murder mysteries, I liked how the mystery unfolds. There is enough suspense in the plot to keep it interesting and enough suspects to give you something to figure out. (The bad person was in my top two suspects. Yay me!)  I also enjoyed how the relationship between Eve and Roarke plays out.  It was not rushed in my opinion (a personal pet peeve of mine).  Eve has to work through her emotions due to Roarke being a suspect.

If you haven’t started this series yet, give it a try.  I will be moving on to Book 2 very soon.

Happy Reading,

Debra

Books, great reads, Reviews

Shifter Planet by D.B. Reynolds

Karen

Shifter Planet Cover

This was my first book by D.B. Reynolds but not my last. I really enjoyed the world that she built, but let’s make this blog official, blurb first then a review.

Blurb:

Specialist Amanda Sumner is one of the first to make contact on the Earth-like planet Harp and discovers she’s the only Earthling, who can hear the trees sing in the strange forest. Determined to remain and learn more of the planet’s secrets, Amanda sets out to become part of the elite Guild there…

But there is a secret involving some Guild members-one that could get her killed.

Shifter Rhodry de Mendoza wants the Earthlings off his planet before they destroy it–even if that means denying what he feels for the fierce and lovely Amanda. The pair is thrown together in what becomes a fight for their lives. And they might just lose everything-including each other-in their battle for the right to live in peace.

Now the review: I loved this book! I have to admit in the beginning I was not a Specialist Amanda Sumner fan. I found her arrogant and annoying. For example she practically throws a hissy fit when she finds out there are shifters on the planet and no one told her. Really? This is one of they’re biggest secrets, your people have done nothing but harm but they should have told you because your breathing? That irritated me. But I loved Rhodry from go. He was protective and honorable, plus being smoking hot didn’t hurt. And truth be told Amanda grew on me, her personally became less entitled and more independent (it they’re a difference? Of course there is) which also coincided with the story really picking up. The less I worried about her the more I realized that this was a really good book. The world building was spot on, I was never confused about where they were or what something looked like. The relationship between Rhodry and Amanda was refreshing, instant attraction but not insta-love. And the story itself was great, just enough angst to make you want to read, just a little more.

I recommend reading this, the book comes out October 26th. Grab it, you won’t be disappointed. I did get a free copy from netgalley, so thank you for that!

Books, great reads, Reviews

Needing Moore Trilogy by Julie A. Richman

debra

Hey everyone,

This is a longer than normal review—I couldn’t decide what to leave out!!

I think this trilogy is possibly the best story I have read this year.  If you have not read it, you owe it to yourself to try it.

Two friendly warnings upfront:

  1. The story takes all three books to tell.  Books 1 and 2 are cliffhangers!! Be forewarned.
  2. This story has a lot of emotional upheaval in it, especially as it relates to the character of Mia.  Emotions, both good and bad, are very strong in this story.

Now, for a brief synopsis.  Schooner (I love this name) and Mia meet in college.  They are soul mates and know it.  Through a misunderstanding, the characters’ immaturity in knowing how to straighten out misunderstandings, and some devious behavior on the part of another character, they are torn apart and their lives take very different paths.  Twenty-four years later, they find each other again and are determined to be together.  The story starts present day and their lives are told largely in flashback, so to speak.  We learn what happened in college and their respective lives apart while they are re-discovering their relationship and figuring out how to make things work.  I laughed and cried throughout this story.  The moments of humor, largely due to a secondary character, are so very important, especially in contrast to the moments of total heartbreaking sadness that occurs as the story unfolds (see warning #2 above).

What I thought made this story so strong:

  1. The characters.  Obviously, Schooner and Mia are front and center.  They are well-developed throughout the story and we fall in love with them for who they were and who they become.  Mia in my opinion is a very strong female who is not afraid to tell Schooner what she thinks when he needs to hear it. Schooner is a wonderful character.  Also, all the secondary characters are completely essential to the story.  They all play an important role in the story of Mia and Schooner’s lives.  There are not any extra characters who just take up space.
  2. The story itself.  I don’t think the author uses any extra “filler” materials.  Everything that happens in the story (especially in Mia’s life) is important to how Schooner and Mia matured and developed as characters.  Life happens (the good, the bad, and the very ugly).  The author wasn’t just using up pages in the books.

This story is an emotional roller-coaster, but a ride well worth taking.  Do yourself a favor and if you decide to read it, go ahead and get all three books—you will need them.D

Happy reading,

Debra

Books, Out of the Box Blogs, Reviews

Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined by Stephenie Meyers

Les

As I am sure you have heard about this new book, Life and Death, that Stephenie Meyers is putting out for the 10th anniversary of Twilight. Now, I am a twilight fan, don’t hold it against me. I am however just pretty shocked and kind of angry that this is what she is choosing to give us, her devoted readers that made Twilight what it is today.

Her readers have begged for years since the talk began of doing the Twilight series from Edwards point of view. She allows someone to read one of the drafts and they betray her trust and release it, and now all of the fans have to suffer. Even though this wasn’t the only version in existence.

So the part that makes me angry is that here she is trying to sell us this mockery of a book instead of giving us the greatest gift that would have brought Twilight back to the fore front, which is Midnight Sun.

So, when do we finally get to have the book we are dreaming about? When is our loyalty to the books, movies, and entire franchise going to be rewarded? Or, is it that we just don’t matter as much as we thought, or would like to believe we do.

As a big Twilight fan, I refuse to be quieted by this scrap she is throwing us. I feel like she will always be waving the Midnight Sun bone in front of us like snapping dogs forever.

I am vowing right here and now that I will not purchase this book, I will not let it overshadow what she at one time said she would give us, her loyal fans, Midnight Sun.

Look, I know authors can’t give every reader what they want, but I believe that if you say you are going to deliver something, then you should hold up your end of the bargain, and we will hold up ours.

Peace

Les