Bookie McBookerson

I'm Still Alive!!!

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:01:00 +0000

I just posted my first review since July. You might have wondered what happened to me. More than likely, you haven't even given it a second thought. :)

Well, it's just a case of life getting in the way. Plus, I have this horrible addiction to Facebook, I must admit. But I have lots of books to review, so I hope to get them read soon. Keep a look out for those.

Also, I'll be doing my next Bookie's Book Stash Giveaway really soon too. So definitely keep watching for that.

Thanks for being patient with me!

Review: Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:41:00 +0000

Any Given Doomsday
by Lori Handeland

My Rating:

Liz Phoenix has never had a "normal" life. Her psychic abilities have more often been a burden than a gift. Unfortunately for Liz, things are about to get even stranger and everything she knows about herself, her abilities and her loved ones will soon be tested.

It all begins when Liz has a psychic flash that leads her to the house where she was raised, along with other cast-outs, by a lady named Ruthie. When she gets there she finds that Ruthie has been brutality attacked and left to die.

Liz blacks out and finds herself in a hospital being visited by Jimmy, the man who broke her heart many years ago. With the help of Jimmy, Liz sets out to find Ruthie's killer and finds herself stuck in an age-old battle between good and evil.

This is a fast-paced read with lots of exciting action and steamy romance. I found the paranormal elements extremely interesting and well researched. The story had a good balance of serious moments and witty humor. Liz, the main character, is tough and independent but also shows a vulnerable side. Overall, she is very likable and I wouldn't mind getting to know her better.

My favorite character was Sawyer, a sexy mysterious Native American who helps Liz reveal her true potential. I hope to learn more about him in future stories.

I would definitely recommend Any Given Doomsday to other fans of paranormal romance. Just a little warning, this book does contain quite a few pretty graphic sex scenes. Although necessary to the story, I found them a bit excessive. For the most part, however, I enjoyed the story and I will be looking for other books written by Lori Handeland.

Review: Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:09:00 +0000

Say Goodbye
by Lisa Gardner

My Rating:

Having lost her mother and sister years earlier to a sadistic killer, Kimberly Quincy is no stranger to death and tragedy. As an FBI Special Agent on the Evidence Response Team, she deals with both on a daily basis. She is now 5 months pregnant and struggling with the logistics of becoming a mother and keeping the demanding job that she loves.

Unfortunately for Kimberly, things are about to take a major turn for the worse. A young prostitute named Delilah Rose contacts Kimberly with a shocking story that seems almost too terrifying to be true. Delilah fears that a dangerous individual, who goes by the moniker Mr. Dinchara (an anagram for arachnid), has done something horrible to her roommate. It seems that Dinchara has an obsession for spiders, prostitutes and various other unusual amusements. Due to the lack of evidence, Kimberly is reluctant to pursue the case, but she soon changes her mind when she finds out that Delilah is also pregnant. Motivated by sympathy for Delilah and the guilt that she still feels from the deaths of her mother and sister, Kimberly decides that she just can not turn her back on the obviously scared Delilah Rose. She teams up with Special Agent Sal Martignetti who has anonymously received the names of several other missing prostitutes that are also suspected to be connected to Dinchara. Together, they uncover a twisted web of deceit and murder that becomes increasingly dangerous with each step that moves them closer to the truth.

Please be aware that this book deals with some disturbing social issues such as rape, child abuse and prostitution. They are necessary to the storyline and, as noted by the author in the Acknowledgments section of the book, the information was obtained from actual cases. However, if reading about these subjects is upsetting to you, than you might want to pass on reading this book.

Say Goodbye is a well-plotted and extremely wild ride, filled with lots of thrilling twists and turns. About halfway through the book, when the pieces start to fall into place, I simply could not put this book down. The author leaves subtle clues throughout the story, but saves the big surprises to be revealed at the end.

I particularly enjoyed reading about Kimberly's hopes and concerns regarding her pregnancy. It helped to show a softer side of her character. It also added a great deal of tension to the story. Pregnancy can be a very emotional time in a woman's life, even for the toughest of us. Add to that, a life-threatening case, a strained marriage and an unwanted attraction for a coworker and you will have a definite recipe for disaster, or at the very least, a throughly entertaining story.

The little snippets of information about spiders at the beginning of each chapter adds a distinctly unique element to the story. I found these to be very interesting facts, most of which I had no prior knowledge of. They also added to the overall creepiness factor of the tale.

If you are looking for an intensely chilling, fast-paced read that is sure to keep you up all night, this book surely will not disappoint. Just be sure to leave your lights on and lock all the doors. You might also want to have a can of bug spray handy, just in case.

You choose - which book should be next for Bookie's Book Stash Giveaway?

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:28:00 +0000

Occasionally, I give away books from my personal shelf. This time I'm letting my readers decide which book I give away. None of the books are brand new, but all of them are in excellent condition and are popular titles.
Cast your vote soon!
Voting ends July 20th.

Which book should be next for Bookie's Book Stash Giveaway? ( surveys)

Review: The Richest Season by Maryann McFadden.

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:25:00 +0000

The Richest Season
by Maryann McFadden

My Rating:

After 25 years as the perfect corporate wife, Joanna has finally had enough. Feeling alone & unappreciated, she packs her bags and sets off on a quest to find some happiness in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. The Richest Season is a beautiful tale of sand, sea, happiness and heartbreak that will make you stop and think about what's really important in life. The characters and their relationships were very realistic and believable. There were many times when I shared a character's joy or pain. The author provided richly detailed descriptions of the beach at Pawleys Island. I could practically feel the sand between my toes! The only real drawback to the story was the predictability of the plot. I felt like I knew what was going to happen throughout most of the book. Overall however, I felt that this was a wonderful first effort by the Maryann McFadden.

Review: Bedlam, Bath and Beyond by J. D. Warren

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:13:00 +0000

Bedlam, Bath and Beyond (World of the Storm Ravens, Book 1)
by J. D. Warren

My Rating:

Samantha is living in a suburban paradise. She has a gorgeous house, the perfect husband and adorable twin sons. Problem is, she thinks it is all too perfect. As it turns out, she's right. In reality, her milkman is the sexy shapeshifting leader of the Storm Ravens, her husband is a homicidal maniac who isn't even human and the twin sons are actually blood thirsty hell boars that have been sent to track her down. Now, with a little help from the Cor (the sexy mailman who's not really a milkman) and the rest of the Storm Ravens, she's on a mission to reclaim her life and stop the bad guys.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a fast-paced read with lots of excitement and a bit of romance. There are lots of interesting characters and funny dialogue. The main character is intelligent, funny and very likable. However, there are a few things that kept this book from earning a full five stars. First off, the title and book cover have basically nothing to do with the story! While this is not necessarily a bad thing, you might be disappointed if you are expecting the shopping-themed chick-lit that the title & cover suggest. The only other negative I found is that romance is definitely lacking something. It started off well, but by the end, I wanted to see a stronger connection between Cor and Samantha. In my opinion, if you're gonna risk your life for someone, there better be some a strong bond that you share with them. Unfortunately, I don't think the author developed enough of one between the two main characters. This didn't detracted from the story enough to make that much of a difference and I definitely will want to read the next book in this series.

Books in this series:

Winner of bookie's Book Stash Giveaway for Odd Hours by Dean Koontz

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:08:00 +0000

Sorry I didn't post the winner sooner. I had to go to a funeral today :(
Anyway, today is July 1st & it's time to announce the winner of Bookie's Book Stash Giveaway for Odd Hours by Dean Koontz.

The winner is Lenda Swinhart! Congrats!

I'll be posting a new Bookie's Book Stash Giveaway soon, so check back or subscribe to my feed by using the links at the top of the page.

Review: Enchanted Inc. by Shanna Swendson

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:44:00 +0000

Enchanted Inc.
by Shanna Swendson

My Rating:

Ever since her move from Texas to New York, Katie Chandler has been seeing some weird things. Things like guys who appear to summon the subway with a flick of their wrist, young ladies who wear wings and seem to float above the ground and stone gargoyles that move from one building to another. Little does she know that her normally boring life is about to get really weird.

This book caught my interest on page one and kept it throughout the story. The heroine is an independent business woman with common sense and a great sense of humor. Just the sort of gal you'd like to be friends with. The rest of the characters, from an enamored frog "prince" to the legendary Merlin, provide an amusing and fast-paced tale.

List of books in the Katie Chandler series:

Bookie's Book Stash Giveaway - Odd Hours by Dean Koontz

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:06:00 +0000

I believe in passing on a good book once I'm through with it, so I'm offering a gently used hardcover copy of Dean Koontz's Odd Hours to one of my blog readers. All you have to do is fill out the form with your name & e-mail address (your e-mail address will be used for contest use only. It will not be given to any 3rd parties) and you're entered. I'll select a random user on July 1st, 2008. Good Luck!

Sorry, this contest has ended. Check back for a new giveaway coming soon.

Review: Shop till You Drop by Elaine Viets

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:14:00 +0000

Shop till You Drop
by Elaine Viets

My Rating:

Running from her ex-husband & the St. Louis legal system, Helen Hawthorne flees to Southern Florida. Unfortunately, the only place where she can find a job is at Juliana's, a snooty and exclusive clothing boutique with sizes too small for her and prices way too high. Despite the snobbery, Helen actually begins to enjoy working at Juliana's until she finds out her boss is engaging in a multitude of illegal activities, ranging from skimming the books to drug dealing. It gets even worse when murder is added to the equation. Now Helen is forced to find the killer before the secrets of her past are revealed.

This is a great start to the Dead-end Job series. The heroine, Helen, is a funny & intelligent woman stuck in a bad situation. If you've ever suffered the indignity of working in a retail job, you can probably relate to poor Helen's plight. In addition, there's a bevy of zany characters throughout the story to keep it moving, from the parrot-toting Peggy to purple-clad Margery. I'm looking forward to good things in the rest of the Dead-end Job series.

Books in the Dead-end Job series listed in order:

Review: Just Desserts by Barbara Bretton

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:34:00 +0000

Just Desserts
By Barbara Bretton

My Rating:

Legendary rocker Tommy Stiles just found out he is the father of the 38 year old baker/cake decorator, Hayley Goldstein. Finn Rafferty, longtime friend and lawyer for Tommy, goes to check Hayley out under the guise of hiring her to make a cake for an after show party. Unfortunately for Finn, he didn't plan on falling in love with her. How will Hayley, a independent but struggling businesswoman & mother of a fourteen year old, deal with this life altering news?

This is the first book I've read by Barbara Bretton and I have to admit, I picked it up due to the fact that it took place in New Jersey (yes, I am a Jersey girl). But truthfully, I really enjoyed this story. The writing is realistic with a little fairy tale thrown in to make it interesting. All of the characters are extremely well developed and you can't help but like the main character. This story is a great portrayal of the problems that arise when two adults with their own families and responsibilities fall in love with each other.

Review: A Girl's Guide to Vampires (Dark Ones Book 1) by Katie Macalister

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 03:14:00 +0000

A Girl's Guide to Vampires
(Dark Ones Book 1)
by Katie Macalister

My Rating:

Just before their trip to the Czech Republic to attend Goth-Fest, best friends Joy & Roxy decide to ask "The Goddess" for a little help in finding their true loves. Unfortunately for Joy, what she winds up with is a creepy premonition about a dark & dangerous stranger. At first she doesn't believe in the premonitions or in vampires at all, but as the visions get stronger and more detailed she becomes convinced there might be something to them. Who's making her see these visions? Is it the sexy and strong Raphael? The gorgeous but reserved, Christian? Or someone else all together?

The first thing I have to point out is that the back of the book has basically nothing to do with the book, so don't use it in your judgment to read it or not. Despite that fact that the book wasn't quite what I expected, I really enjoyed the read. It was some light, mindless fun with sexy, sizzling romance thrown in for good measure. I found the main character (Joy) likable and very funny. I would have liked to see a little more character development, however. I do definitely intend to continue with the rest of the series.

Here is a list of the Dark Ones series in order:

How to get free books - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 23:36:00 +0000

I created a lens on Squidoo about this topic, but I wanted to also include it on my blog, so here goes.

There are lots of places to get free books, you just have to know where to look. This post will focus on actual physical copies of free books, not ebooks.

Book Swapping Sites

Book swapping sites are a great place to get free books. Most are free to join. All you do is list your books, request the books you want and mail out the books that others have requested from you. I belong to several myself and I really love them.

(Note - italicized text is a description summary taken directly from each site. Pros & Cons are my opinions. I tried to be as unbiased as possible. I have only posted the swap sites that I am actually a member of.)
Book Mooch:: BookMooch is a community for exchanging used books. BookMooch lets you give away books you no longer need in exchange for books you really want.

Every time you give someone a book, you earn a point and can get any book you want from anyone else at BookMooch. Once you've read a book, you can keep it forever or put it back into BookMooch for someone else, as you wish.

Pros:

A very good thing about BookMooch is that you get a 10th of a point for each book you post to your inventory and each book you marked "received".

You get a point added to your account as soon as the another person requests a book from you. You don't have to wait to get the point until they receive it in the mail.

Bookmooch gives you the control of letting you decide who you would like to "mooch" each book from.

Bookmooch is the only site of the ones listed that allows members from countries other than the US to participate.

Cons:

Books are mooched on a "first come first served" basis. That means that you could wait forever to get a book on your wishlist if aren't able to mooch the book quick enough. However, this could work out in your favor if you spend a lot of time in front of your computer and get to check the site frequently to see if anyone has posted one of your wishlist books. (That's how I get most of my WL books.)

The site seems to be down more than any of the other sites and the forum is incredibly slow & cumbersome to navigate.

BookMooch does not offer credits for purchase. This can also be viewed as a good thing because BM is not profiting off a purchased credit for your book.


PaperBackSwap:: We are a group of readers who share books with each other (NOT just paperbacks) for nothing more than the cost of postage!

Pros:

You will receive 2 free credits when you add your first 10 books to your inventory.

You can purchase credits for $3.45 each if you need them.

It has been my experience that PBS has the books I want more than any of the other sites.

Book requests are taken in order that you add a book to your wishlist, so in most cases, you will eventually get a copy of the book you want.

They offer you the option of purchasing postage directly from their site (for a fee). If you use their postage, you will get your credit as soon as you mark the book "shipped".

PBS also has a great community forum with discussions & games.

Cons:

PBS doesn't give you control over who you get to request your book from, making it a little impersonal. Also, it makes it harder to have a book requested from you, especially if the book already has many copies in the system.

You will not get credit for your book until it is marked "received" by the requester, unless you purchase postage from PBS. You have to use PBS money to pay for their postage. You are charged a fee when you purchase PBS money ($0.50) and also when you use that PBS money to purchase postage ($0.43).

Does not offer international trading.


FrugalReader:: Get the books you want, when you want them, for as long as you want them. Three simple steps:

1. List books that you own for other members to request.
2. Request books from other members.
3. Mail requested books to other members and they do the same for you.

Our members enjoy reading, sharing and relating with one another. Join us as we share these passions while saving time and money. Check out our huge selection of great books and then find out why it's more fun to trade with FrugalReaders!

Pros:

You have the control of deciding who you will request the book from.

Great book search tool on the site. You can search for the normal values such as, author, title & ISBN and also some more specific values such as books listed since your last log in and books posted to specific trade groups.

When you post your book, you have the option of setting up for trade with restricted requesters or trade groups.

You can decide how many credits you will trade the book for. Defaults are 1 credit for paperbacks & 2 credits for hardcovers.

FR has an extensive forum with lots of games and giveaways.

Cons:

At certain times, the site runs extremely slow.

Of all the sites, FR seems to be the hardest to snag any of your wishlist books from.

Some people tend to get carried away & ask for an excessive number of credits for their books.

Does not offer international trading.


SwapTree:: Swaptree.com is an innovative new website where you can instantly trade the books, CDs, DVDs and video games you are finished with for the ones you want, all for free.

Simply list the books, DVDs, CDs, and video games you are done with and swaptree's trade algorithms will instantly find everyone who wants those items and show you everything they are willing to trade. Best part is, you only pay for shipping, which using swaptree's label service means you never have to go to the post office.

I have only just joined SwapTree so I can not offer Pros & Cons at this time. However, this is the only swap site that I am a part of that does not offer credits. You are actually swapping item for item with someone.

Here is a list of some other swap sites. I can't give you any info, because I'm not a member of any of them. BookIns, TitleTrader, & What's On Your Bookshelf

I'll be posting Part 2 of Where to get Free Books soon, so check back.

Review: Sit, Stay, Slay (Kendra Ballantyne, Petsitter Mysteries) by Linda O. Johnston

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:48:00 +0000

Sit, Stay, Slay (Kendra Ballantyne, Petsitter Mysteries, No. 1
by Linda O. Johnston

My Rating:

Kendra Ballantyne has been suspended from practicing law. She knows she's been set up but she can't prove it. As a favor to a friend, she winds up pet sitting and really enjoys it. She takes on more clients and everything is going great until she walks in to find one of those clients dead and that she's the top suspect. With the help of sexy PI Jeff Hubbard, she'll attempt to figure out who is killing off her clients.

This is the first book in the Petsitter Mysteries by Linda O. Johnston. Overall, it's an exciting, fast-paced cozy mystery with some romance thrown in to make it even more interesting. Kendra is a young, energetic and mostly likable character. Although, occasionally her attitude toward Jeff is a bit annoying. I have already picked up the second book in this series and have high hopes for it.

I'm jealous of today's Young Adult Book selection

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:28:00 +0000

Yesterday I went to the library to drop off a few books and maybe pickup a few new ones to add to my ever-expanding TBR pile. I've been listening to Twilight by Stephenie Meyer on audiobook (so far it's fantastic!) and was hoping that the library would have the next book in the series. So, I wandered into the YA section, or as it's called in our library, the "Teen Zone". It was a bit awkward walking into "Teen Zone" when I am clearly no longer a teen. Luckily, when I got there school hadn't gotten out yet so there weren't that many kids there to laugh at the old lady. (Alright, 32 isn't exactly old, but it feels like it when you're in "Teen Zone".) Anyway, I was amazed at the amount of books they had in the YA section. I remember in my young adult reading years all our library offered was 3 rounders of YA books hidden under the stairs. And they were definitely lacking variety. I didn't get the book I was looking for, but I did pick up Maximum Ride by James Patterson, which I thought looked interesting because it is based on the characters from When the Winds Blow & The Lake House, both of which I really enjoyed. The reviews on Amazon are mixed, so we shall see how it turns out.

Yard Sale Books

noreply@blogger.com (This Jersey Momma) — Sun, 25 May 2008 23:13:00 +0000

I got the opportunity to go to a nearby development-wide yard sale with over 70 houses participating. Of course, me being me, I was on the hunt for one thing. Books. I found a few good books in pretty decent condition. It amazed me that some people were asking for $1 a book for paperbacks from the 80s & 90s. I wonder if anyone bought any of them.

Here's some of the books I got:

Flesh and Bone: A Body Farm Novel by Jefferson Bass

Echo Park by Michael Connelly

The Killing Game by Iris Johansen

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger