Entree **** of *****
Christopher Voss is a young man who has never had a job that he truly
loved or a woman who he wanted in his life long term. He's an only
child, not close to either parent, whose father's job took him abroad
more than he was home. When Christopher's father is murdered in
Toulouse, a city in the south of France, Chris takes a trip there to
unravel his father's murder, finish his business transactions, and bring
his body home. For the first time in his life, Chris has a purpose.
Unravelling his father's murder and closing up his business are no easy
tasks and once his plane lands, Chris finds himself in a rollicking
adventure that involves his father's past in the French Foreign Legion,
attempts on his life, his father's intriguing and immensely profitable
business, residence in a lovely old hotel, Russian mobsters, the French
police, sexy women and several mysterious organizations searching for
the document that his father had in his possession before he died. Two
weeks in the South of France is an exciting, intriguing tale of suspense
that leaves Chris wondering if he will ever make it back home. The
supporting cast is great and the book is a fast read, one that you don't
want to put down. My only gripe is that the book was not well edited.
For me, poor punctuation and grammar detract from the tale.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
A Death Displaced
Entree **** of *****
Nicholas Crystan is living a rather dull life, working in a retail store part time and still missing his mother after her unexplained disappearance left he, his father and brothers reeling years before. Since her disappearance, Nicholas has been exploring different paths to spiritual fulfillment but has not found any explanation of things that fits his life view. Despite the fact that he is surrounded at work by Wiccans and others who believe in the occult, he still is not sure what he believes until he is struck by a premonition of the accidental death of a woman that becomes reality a few days later when he saves Juliet Maystone from the death he has foreseen. Juliet, the independently wealthy owner of a coffee shop and a gorgeous woman starts to have her own supernatural encounters and later seeks Nicholas out to give him a message from his deceased mother. From that point, Nicholas and Juliet are bound for an adventure with the supernatural that shakes both of their lives to their very foundations. By seeking out the secrets of a beautiful manor that is rumored to be haunted will Juliet and Nicholas solve the mystery of the disappearance of his mother? Are their new abilities simply flukes that later disappear? Has Juliet’s “displaced death” created new lives for Nicholas and her? The characters in this book are well developed. Through Nick, the author deals with the very real issues of dysfunctional families, depression, loneliness and unfulfilled lives. The occult offers mystery and drama to the book, allowing disparate characters to interact effectively and realistically. I look forward to the other books in the Lansin island series.
Nicholas Crystan is living a rather dull life, working in a retail store part time and still missing his mother after her unexplained disappearance left he, his father and brothers reeling years before. Since her disappearance, Nicholas has been exploring different paths to spiritual fulfillment but has not found any explanation of things that fits his life view. Despite the fact that he is surrounded at work by Wiccans and others who believe in the occult, he still is not sure what he believes until he is struck by a premonition of the accidental death of a woman that becomes reality a few days later when he saves Juliet Maystone from the death he has foreseen. Juliet, the independently wealthy owner of a coffee shop and a gorgeous woman starts to have her own supernatural encounters and later seeks Nicholas out to give him a message from his deceased mother. From that point, Nicholas and Juliet are bound for an adventure with the supernatural that shakes both of their lives to their very foundations. By seeking out the secrets of a beautiful manor that is rumored to be haunted will Juliet and Nicholas solve the mystery of the disappearance of his mother? Are their new abilities simply flukes that later disappear? Has Juliet’s “displaced death” created new lives for Nicholas and her? The characters in this book are well developed. Through Nick, the author deals with the very real issues of dysfunctional families, depression, loneliness and unfulfilled lives. The occult offers mystery and drama to the book, allowing disparate characters to interact effectively and realistically. I look forward to the other books in the Lansin island series.
Monday, September 24, 2012
3 Freshmen
Entree ****of *****
his was a wonderful collegiate coming of age story. It’s their first year at a midsized college in California when three men meet and decide to become roommates. They guys are really very different: one is the son of a migrant worker, the first in his family to go to college, another is the brilliant, well educated son of a famous trial lawyer who wants to go into comedy, and the third is a basic math geek. Despite their differences, they develop and strong and enduring friendship. The book is set in the exciting and fascinating year of 1969 when the first draft for Vietnam was held, when people were seriously experimenting with drugs and free sex. Seen through the eyes of Stan, the Hispanic kid who is there on scholarship, this is a great coming of age story. Stan faces the normal challenges standard to all of the guys his age while dealing with the confusion of having to learn all about living in a world that he never even knew existed. His friendship with Darius and Lenny is the stabilizing influence on his life while his new girlfriend is a complication that he never anticipated. Will Stan make it in college? Will these early friendships survive? Read 3 Freshmen for the answers and for a lot of fun.
his was a wonderful collegiate coming of age story. It’s their first year at a midsized college in California when three men meet and decide to become roommates. They guys are really very different: one is the son of a migrant worker, the first in his family to go to college, another is the brilliant, well educated son of a famous trial lawyer who wants to go into comedy, and the third is a basic math geek. Despite their differences, they develop and strong and enduring friendship. The book is set in the exciting and fascinating year of 1969 when the first draft for Vietnam was held, when people were seriously experimenting with drugs and free sex. Seen through the eyes of Stan, the Hispanic kid who is there on scholarship, this is a great coming of age story. Stan faces the normal challenges standard to all of the guys his age while dealing with the confusion of having to learn all about living in a world that he never even knew existed. His friendship with Darius and Lenny is the stabilizing influence on his life while his new girlfriend is a complication that he never anticipated. Will Stan make it in college? Will these early friendships survive? Read 3 Freshmen for the answers and for a lot of fun.
Friday, September 21, 2012
The Blackened Cottage
The Blackened Cottage is a beautifully conceived and executed gothic novel by A. E. Richards.
Richards
has managed to interweave all of the excruciatingly bleak, painful, and
horrific elements of the classic gothic novel into her new book. The
heroine, Lisabeth Cutteridge has been moved by her father to a gloomy
cottage in the woods, far from civilization. Lisabeth is lonely and
terrified by her father's descent into madness. Because her mother has
disappeared from their lives, Lisabeth is bound to her father, despite
his madness, in order to care for her young brother, Eddie. An odd
disfigured girl named Bethan is her only friend, a true friend who comes
to her rescue after Charles Cutteridge sends Eddie to London to
boarding school and imprisons Lisabeth to force her marriage to a
repulsive Frenchman, Jean Bernard. Lisabeth runs away through the woods,
escaping not only her father but also a madwoman living in the woods
who believes Lisabeth to be her long dead daughter. Lisabeth catches the
eye of a psychopath whose intentions for her are deadly dark but
manages to escape to London with the help of an itinerant preacher and
his servant, Jojo. The
atmosphere created in the book is gloomy and horrific. Our emotional and
imperiled heroine suffers from nightmares and a past she cannot
remember and encounters madness and evil at every turn
in her quest for escape and peace. Will Lisabeth ever find the true
escape that she craves or will she spend the rest of her life running
from both real and imagined horrors until her life ends in tragedy?
Saturday, September 15, 2012
The Whining Mill
Entree ***** of *****
The title of the book is lousy but that is the only thing about the book that is disappointing. For an animal lover, like me, this book is a must read. From the very first chapter, the author, David I. Schoen, draws you into the charming mystery tale. Veterinarian Mark Canis (what a perfect name) is a vet with a special ability to communicate with animals. Not in a Doctor Dolittle fashion but in a way where he can feel the emotions running through higher level animals (no luck communicating with goldfish...). Mark is a happy fellow living the dream. He has a beautiful girlfriend, Sarah, with whom he is deeply in love and the only complication there is that he dated her best friend years before they met. His practice is successful, he has friends, amongst them Carlo a retired ex-cop, a sister and parents he loves, and he even gets along well with his girlfriend's parents! Life is a dream until suddenly things start going wrong for him. It starts with a conversation between Sarah and Stefania, her best friend about a guy named Craig - THE Craig. Next he meets a gorgeous blonde with a sick Great Dane who has just broken up with a guy named Craig. He generously helps her with her dog, making his girlfriend jealous and suspicious. But Mark's a really nice guy who would help anyone out. Next he gets a threatening letter, his practice is trashed, he feels animal emotions emanating from an old mill, and Sarah finds him naked in bed with her best friend. But he's innocent, honest, he is, even as things keep heading south. The Whining Mill is beautifully written with tons of humor from its protagonist, a truly nice guy. Can Carlo help Mark resolve the problems and find who trashed his practice and his life? Is Craig a real menace to Mark and Sarah's relationship? What part does that old mill play in all of Mark's new troubles? Can he get himself out of hot water with his girlfriend and live happily ever after? Believe me, you will really be pulling for Mark in this phenomenal treat of a tale - or it that a tail? I really encourage you to read this delightful and well written book.
The title of the book is lousy but that is the only thing about the book that is disappointing. For an animal lover, like me, this book is a must read. From the very first chapter, the author, David I. Schoen, draws you into the charming mystery tale. Veterinarian Mark Canis (what a perfect name) is a vet with a special ability to communicate with animals. Not in a Doctor Dolittle fashion but in a way where he can feel the emotions running through higher level animals (no luck communicating with goldfish...). Mark is a happy fellow living the dream. He has a beautiful girlfriend, Sarah, with whom he is deeply in love and the only complication there is that he dated her best friend years before they met. His practice is successful, he has friends, amongst them Carlo a retired ex-cop, a sister and parents he loves, and he even gets along well with his girlfriend's parents! Life is a dream until suddenly things start going wrong for him. It starts with a conversation between Sarah and Stefania, her best friend about a guy named Craig - THE Craig. Next he meets a gorgeous blonde with a sick Great Dane who has just broken up with a guy named Craig. He generously helps her with her dog, making his girlfriend jealous and suspicious. But Mark's a really nice guy who would help anyone out. Next he gets a threatening letter, his practice is trashed, he feels animal emotions emanating from an old mill, and Sarah finds him naked in bed with her best friend. But he's innocent, honest, he is, even as things keep heading south. The Whining Mill is beautifully written with tons of humor from its protagonist, a truly nice guy. Can Carlo help Mark resolve the problems and find who trashed his practice and his life? Is Craig a real menace to Mark and Sarah's relationship? What part does that old mill play in all of Mark's new troubles? Can he get himself out of hot water with his girlfriend and live happily ever after? Believe me, you will really be pulling for Mark in this phenomenal treat of a tale - or it that a tail? I really encourage you to read this delightful and well written book.
The Chalk Girl
Entree *****of *****
I love Carol O’Connell’s books and wish she were more prolific.
But like anything truly wonderful, her books are always worth the wait and I
was horrified to find that I had missed one of her treasures for so long after
its publication. The New York Times said of this that “there is the shockingly
underexploited Carol O’Connell, whose Kathy Mallory, a scarily smart, ice-blond
stunner on New York City’s Special Crimes Unit, is as fine a fictional creation
as the crime genre offers.” The Chalk Girl is Mallory at her best.
Kathy Mallory (don’t all her Kathy!), NYPD detective is a highly functional sociopath with a horrific childhood, so when a little girl appears in Central Park: red-haired, blue-eyed, full of smiles and sunshine except for the blood on her shoulder, we can anticipate that this will be a really interesting challenge for Mallory.. The blood fell from the sky, says the child, while she was looking for her uncle, who turned into a tree. At first, they thought she was a lost child, but then they found the body in the tree.
For Mallory, newly returned to the Special Crimes Unit after three months' lost time, the child is certainly a fascinating case as well as a kindred spirit. Charles Butler, the unattractive but brilliant and independently wealthy psychologist who has been hopelessly in love with Mallory for years is torn between what is necessary to solve the crime and protecting the special little girl who has temporarily been put in his care from further damage – even if he has to get in Mallory’s way.
Kathy Mallory (don’t all her Kathy!), NYPD detective is a highly functional sociopath with a horrific childhood, so when a little girl appears in Central Park: red-haired, blue-eyed, full of smiles and sunshine except for the blood on her shoulder, we can anticipate that this will be a really interesting challenge for Mallory.. The blood fell from the sky, says the child, while she was looking for her uncle, who turned into a tree. At first, they thought she was a lost child, but then they found the body in the tree.
For Mallory, newly returned to the Special Crimes Unit after three months' lost time, the child is certainly a fascinating case as well as a kindred spirit. Charles Butler, the unattractive but brilliant and independently wealthy psychologist who has been hopelessly in love with Mallory for years is torn between what is necessary to solve the crime and protecting the special little girl who has temporarily been put in his care from further damage – even if he has to get in Mallory’s way.
The Map of the Sky
Entree *****of *****
If I could be a world class writer, I would want to be a writer like Felix J. Palma or Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Both write beautiful, lyrical, intricate novels that are superbly spun and satisfying tales. Their books are long, so you can stay immersed in the fantastical world they create for a long time. often, i wish that their books would never end and that they could write far more quickly to accommodate my passion for their writing. Now to the story at hand.
Make sure that you read The Map of Time before you read The Map of the Sky. Palma is an absolutely brilliant, lyrical writer who pays homage to the Victorian era in which his novels are places by writing stylistically in the manner of that time. He should really thank his interpreter, too, because the translator captures every nuance of the story that Palma tells.
The Map of the Sky is told in three parts, each distinct, but intertwined. Author H.G. Wells, plays a role in each. The dire events of this novel are kicked off innocuously, as Wells meets an American writer who has published a horribly written novel using The War of the Worlds as its basis, for lunch. Wells wants to tell the man off, but when his counterpart offers to show him a real Martian, Wells is hooked. The story rapidly moves from the preserved specimen in the British Museum to back story of the museum specimen- a horrific tale of the failure of an Antarctic adventure from which only two members survived.
The second section of the novel brings Wells to the center of the story, and reintroduces a character from the last book with a new name. It’s the man who created the time travel experience that angered Wells so much in the Map of Time. This millionaire has the impunity to ask Wells to help him create the beginning of The War of the Worlds to impress the young woman with whom he has fallen deeply in love so that she will marry him. Of course Wells refuses to even answer the letter but when the initial invasion occurs exactly as Wells wrote it, both Wells and his nemesis end up as suspects in the eyes of the Special Cases division of Scotland Yard. However, this is not the hoax that was planned but the real invasion of London and the rest of the world by aliens.
The third part of the novel takes place two years later, and here the story again revisits a secondary character from The Map of Time. In this section, his tale is the center of the story, but it serves to move the whole narrative towards its outstanding, complex and absolutely brilliant conclusion.
If I could be a world class writer, I would want to be a writer like Felix J. Palma or Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Both write beautiful, lyrical, intricate novels that are superbly spun and satisfying tales. Their books are long, so you can stay immersed in the fantastical world they create for a long time. often, i wish that their books would never end and that they could write far more quickly to accommodate my passion for their writing. Now to the story at hand.
Make sure that you read The Map of Time before you read The Map of the Sky. Palma is an absolutely brilliant, lyrical writer who pays homage to the Victorian era in which his novels are places by writing stylistically in the manner of that time. He should really thank his interpreter, too, because the translator captures every nuance of the story that Palma tells.
The Map of the Sky is told in three parts, each distinct, but intertwined. Author H.G. Wells, plays a role in each. The dire events of this novel are kicked off innocuously, as Wells meets an American writer who has published a horribly written novel using The War of the Worlds as its basis, for lunch. Wells wants to tell the man off, but when his counterpart offers to show him a real Martian, Wells is hooked. The story rapidly moves from the preserved specimen in the British Museum to back story of the museum specimen- a horrific tale of the failure of an Antarctic adventure from which only two members survived.
The second section of the novel brings Wells to the center of the story, and reintroduces a character from the last book with a new name. It’s the man who created the time travel experience that angered Wells so much in the Map of Time. This millionaire has the impunity to ask Wells to help him create the beginning of The War of the Worlds to impress the young woman with whom he has fallen deeply in love so that she will marry him. Of course Wells refuses to even answer the letter but when the initial invasion occurs exactly as Wells wrote it, both Wells and his nemesis end up as suspects in the eyes of the Special Cases division of Scotland Yard. However, this is not the hoax that was planned but the real invasion of London and the rest of the world by aliens.
The third part of the novel takes place two years later, and here the story again revisits a secondary character from The Map of Time. In this section, his tale is the center of the story, but it serves to move the whole narrative towards its outstanding, complex and absolutely brilliant conclusion.
Giving Up the Ghost: A Story About Friendship, 80s Rock, A Lost Scrap of paper and What it Means to Be Haunted
I thought that I would love this book - after all, I can relate to a lot
of Eric's life. I love 80s music but not as much as he. I believe in
ghosts but not as much as he and my journey to functioning as a
productive adult in the world was a bit of a challenge, too. Giving Up the Ghost was an
easy read, and it was really heartbreaking through the tough times
that he lived. This is an open and honest look at friendship, mental
illness, and the pitfalls of self medicating to control your fears. His
parents obviously truly loved him but had no idea how to help him until
he hit rock bottom. I truly appreciated his journey back to confront
places that were supposedly haunted to try to resolve what he knew to be
true in his mind and experience with the "hauntings" of others. By the
way, he can't keep doors shut for fear of what lies behind them while I
can't leave closet doors open for the same reason. Weird, huh?Anyway, I thought I would love the book but didn't. It was okay but was not compelling and didn't live up to its hype.
The Ghost of Squire House
Entree **** of *****
Jennifer Barrett, a lovely but very lonely young woman who has been estranged from her fast living, narcissistic mother. After her mother's death, she finds that she has inherited a gorgeous house on a hill overlooking the ocean. With only one friend and a job that she doesn't really like, it's an obvious choice to move into Squire House, originally built by Paul Squire and artist. However, Paul Squire has remained in the house long after his death and liking his solitary company, has run off everyone who tired to live in Squire House - until Jennifer. This is a sweet story that is a modern update of the Ghost and Mrs. Muir. It's not quite as charming as the original story but it is well written and an easy read.
Jennifer Barrett, a lovely but very lonely young woman who has been estranged from her fast living, narcissistic mother. After her mother's death, she finds that she has inherited a gorgeous house on a hill overlooking the ocean. With only one friend and a job that she doesn't really like, it's an obvious choice to move into Squire House, originally built by Paul Squire and artist. However, Paul Squire has remained in the house long after his death and liking his solitary company, has run off everyone who tired to live in Squire House - until Jennifer. This is a sweet story that is a modern update of the Ghost and Mrs. Muir. It's not quite as charming as the original story but it is well written and an easy read.
Easy Innocence
Entree **** of *****
At the murder scene of a young teen, a mentally disabled young man is found holding the weapon and covered in her blood. The lawyer for his defense is sure that he did not do it and hires Georgia Davis, ex-cop and now and PI, to try to find evidence to prove it. Through her search she finds herself trying to put together clues that seem to be buried in the very upscale and political North Shore and believes more and more that her client really is innocent. Full of twists and turns blocking her at every turn, Georgia has a difficult time breaking through the barriers of the elite of North Shore of Chicago. This excellent murder mystery takes a clear look at the world of high stakes land development, political influence and teen prostitution by upper middle class girls looking for easy cash and thrills – thrills that can end up getting them killed. Libby Fischer Hellman really knows the North Shore of Chicago and her audience.
At the murder scene of a young teen, a mentally disabled young man is found holding the weapon and covered in her blood. The lawyer for his defense is sure that he did not do it and hires Georgia Davis, ex-cop and now and PI, to try to find evidence to prove it. Through her search she finds herself trying to put together clues that seem to be buried in the very upscale and political North Shore and believes more and more that her client really is innocent. Full of twists and turns blocking her at every turn, Georgia has a difficult time breaking through the barriers of the elite of North Shore of Chicago. This excellent murder mystery takes a clear look at the world of high stakes land development, political influence and teen prostitution by upper middle class girls looking for easy cash and thrills – thrills that can end up getting them killed. Libby Fischer Hellman really knows the North Shore of Chicago and her audience.
The Dry Grass of August
Entree **** of *****
The Dry Grass of August is a wonderful, well written story that explores family relationships, love and racism. The main character is Jubie, a 13 year old girl living in Charlotte, North Carolina in the late 1950s. Jubie is taking a trip down South with her, mother, her siblings and their black maid Mary. Her mother has been really upset and fighting with her father recently, so they take a trip, apparently to see their uncle. The book explores the racism of 1950's Florida and Georgia and familial relationships, but its beauty lies in the character of Jubie, a charming, bright girl on the cusp of budding womanhood. Jubie's love is truly "color blind" and her devotion to those she loves proves that she will be a true woman of worth.
The Dry Grass of August is a wonderful, well written story that explores family relationships, love and racism. The main character is Jubie, a 13 year old girl living in Charlotte, North Carolina in the late 1950s. Jubie is taking a trip down South with her, mother, her siblings and their black maid Mary. Her mother has been really upset and fighting with her father recently, so they take a trip, apparently to see their uncle. The book explores the racism of 1950's Florida and Georgia and familial relationships, but its beauty lies in the character of Jubie, a charming, bright girl on the cusp of budding womanhood. Jubie's love is truly "color blind" and her devotion to those she loves proves that she will be a true woman of worth.
The Devil's Game
Entree ****of *****
The Devil’s Game is a little hard to get into at first. The first few chapters are slow but after that the book is fascinating and thoroughly twisted. Crazy Patient X definitely has some serious mental issues. Unfortunately, the psychologist who is supposed to be helping Patient X isn’t much saner than her patients. Ambitious psychologist Dr. Gloria Pike thinks her new patient is the one she has been waiting for to bring her fame and fortune with her groundbreaking new therapy. Rachel Pendelton is on the verge of living her dream, graduating and a finalist for her dream job. Unfortunately, Rachel has an admirer. At first, it’s nothing major, but when she starts to find intimate gifts in her locked apartment, things get weird fast. Rachel doesn’t have an admirer, she has a stalker. The author is clever enough to have several secondary characters that fit the profile so figuring out who is the stalker is tough. Psychotic patients, stalkers, a nutso psychotherapist with serious father issues, and Rachel student are the intriguing players in The Devil's Game.
The Devil’s Game is a little hard to get into at first. The first few chapters are slow but after that the book is fascinating and thoroughly twisted. Crazy Patient X definitely has some serious mental issues. Unfortunately, the psychologist who is supposed to be helping Patient X isn’t much saner than her patients. Ambitious psychologist Dr. Gloria Pike thinks her new patient is the one she has been waiting for to bring her fame and fortune with her groundbreaking new therapy. Rachel Pendelton is on the verge of living her dream, graduating and a finalist for her dream job. Unfortunately, Rachel has an admirer. At first, it’s nothing major, but when she starts to find intimate gifts in her locked apartment, things get weird fast. Rachel doesn’t have an admirer, she has a stalker. The author is clever enough to have several secondary characters that fit the profile so figuring out who is the stalker is tough. Psychotic patients, stalkers, a nutso psychotherapist with serious father issues, and Rachel student are the intriguing players in The Devil's Game.
The Death Instinct
**** of *****
Jed Rubenfeld is a brilliant writer who is the master of his niche. This is the second book in his Freud series and although Freud does not have a major role in this book, his role is still interesting and important to the tome. This
is an action-packed adventure based on an actual event -- a major terrorist
attack in Manhattan on Sept. 16, 1920, that killed 400 people. A battle-scarred
surgeon who studied with Freud, a brilliant NYPD investigator, and a mysterious
French woman with whom the surgeon is falling in love are the main characters
in this taut thriller. The novelist has also included people from the actual historical
time frame, including Sigmund Freud and Marie Curie. The three protagonists
witness the explosion and then find themselves wrapped up in the investigation
as well as in challenges of their own making. This is a wonderful and
compelling read!
Darker Still
Entree *****of *****
Darker
Still was delightfully strange and charming. Natalie Stewart, the book's unique
protagonist, was smart, quick-witted, brave, and unique to her age. Natalie is
a middle classed girl, mute, and enchanted by a new picture that is on loan to museum
of which her father is curator. The painting is of the young, gorgeous Lord
Denbury who disappeared shortly after the painting was finished. Lord Denbury,
however is not really gone; he is locked into his portrait. Natalie finds that
she can be drawn into the portrait and that with Lord Denbury, she can speak.
He needs her help, though because time is running out and he will soon be
trapped in the painting forever. The secondary characters are all wonderfully
drawn and unique. This book is charming, mysterious and a wonderful read. Leanna
Renee Hieber, you have a new fan!
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