Psychotic State Book Reviews

Guest Author: DANIELLA BRODSKY

2012-01-27T08:58:00.000-08:00

I am happy to welcome Daniella Brodsky, author of the newly re-released Princess of Park Avenue, to Psychotic State Book Reviews for her first visit. Welcome, Daniella!

A Message from Daniella

Dear readers new and old,

I am thrilled to announce the re-launch of one of my favorite backlist titles: PRINCESS OF PARK AVENUE on sale NOW. For those of you who became fans later in the game, I am calling this launch series my 'Dirty Literary History'. The name is tongue in cheek and only an attempt to let you know that it's a bit more lighthearted and comedic than my current work. But it's got the same power to teach us something about ourselves that I believe all good art (if I may be so bold) does. And I'm going to go out on a limb and toot my own horn here once again (I know! You don't even recognize this Daniella, right?) . . . As I read through to re-edit PRINCESS (because I'm a perfectionist and love to see how much I've learned in the last decade too), I laughed my ass off (figuratively; I still have an ass, so don't worry). The story is funny, and the observations about pop culture's ugly side seem all too relevant today.

For those of you who've been with me since THE GIRL'S GUIDE TO NEW YORK NIGHTLIFE days (or even the days when I wouldn't go anywhere without my Minnie Mouse), and maybe even attended that fabulous launch party with all the free booze in the middle of a blizzard (maybe even won a ritzy prize to take home), I'd love to hear your thoughts on how this Brooklyn v. Park Avenue love story fits into your view of Daniella Brodsky's body of work. To me, PRINCESS is about the stunning contradictions in each of us. But no matter which way I look at it, Lorraine Machuchi was - - and still is - - one of my favorite characters, and I hope you enjoy spending some time with her in this revamped edition . . . as much as I have. Any guesses on which real life personage the Pizza Boy may have been inspired by are totally welcome (and will most likely be denied). As for who would play Lorraine in a film version, my vote goes to Anne Hathaway - - she's from Brooklyn! If you'd like to make a pick or just want to say hey, visit the PRINCESS OF PARK AVENUE Facebook page. For info on my other titles, visit my website.

The great thing about the democratization of the book industry is that we all have a voice - - which means we have influence over the kinds of books that make it in today's marketplace. If you've enjoyed any of my books, please tell the world via a review or a "like" at any of my Amazon book pages, which can be found via my author page. You wouldn't believe how influential one opinion can be today. However you make your voice heard, it's an exciting time!

Keep reading!

XO,
Daniella Brodsky

Author Bio

Daniella Brodsky was born in Queens, New York, in the town of Little Neck, which is as notoriously tagged as the inspiration for West Egg in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby as it is for being the Queens town with the least street cred: "Isn't that on Long Island?" No, it isn't.

The good news is that she now lives in Australia, where nobody is likely to argue the credibility of either claim, possibly even far enough to assert a stake in the Little Neck Clam fame too. Unfortunately, it appears she's inherited a new problem though. "Where in Australia do you live?" "In the capital." "Sydney?" "No, Canberra." "Never heard of it." Right.

In between, Daniella's lived in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Long Island, Las Vegas, London, Connecticut, and Washington D.C. She earned a BA from New York University in Greenwich Village, where creative writing instructors first hinted she may actually have something there. She was unconvinced, but kept being drawn back. Mere blocks away, it was in 2000 that she officially told that doubting voice to shove it when her first novel, Diary of a Working Girl, was published. Diary of a Working Girl was adapted by Disney for the feature film Beauty and the Briefcase, starring Hilary Duff, and debuted on ABC Family Network on April 18, 2010.

Daniella's subsequent novels - - The Velvet Rope Diaries and Princess of Park Avenue - - soon followed (and all originally published by Penguin). It was with the release of her fourth novel Fear of Driving that she explored new geogrphical territory and understood how powerful a place can be in a story. When she left New York for rural Connecticut it was a fertile time for her imagination - - driving, seeing how pumpkins grow on vines, not in a box at the corner bodega, deciding whether it's safe to tiptoe past twelve deer on the way to her car.

Her new home in Australia offers novel experiences galore and she's discovered travel to be the most nourishing food for a creative mind.

Her first young adult novel, One Trick Pony, was published in hardcover in 2007. Back when she could stay out past 10:30, Daniella was also the creator and author of The Girl's Guide to New York Nightlife series as well as a freelance magazine journalist. She has been featured on Good Day New York, The WB Morning News, NPR and in The New York Times, The New York Post and The Hartford Courant. Her nonfiction work has been published in leadiong publications such as Time Out New York, The New York Post, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan, Shape and Self.

Daniella continues to be fascinated by what makes us who we are and what we can do about it. She is working on three new novels and a non-fiction title about writing.

Book Review: PRINCESS OF PARK AVENUE by Daniella Brodsky

2012-01-26T05:49:00.000-08:00

BOOK DESCRIPTION: You can take the girl out of Brooklyn, but can you take Brooklyn out of the girl?

Lorraine Machuchi has held on tight to her Brooklyn home, and to Tommy, the neighborhood guy she's been pining over for years. But the very guy she tossed everything away for just told her he'll never wind up with her - - a girl who's not going anywhere.

That's the kick in the pants she needs to cross the bridge to Manhattan, where she starts coloring hair at a swank salon. There she meets a new and fascinating species: The Park Avenue Princess. Sure, their $400 cashmere sweaters, charity balls for poor girls with small boobs, and "sexy" yoga are a bit over the top for someone like Lorraine, but sometimes even a Brooklyn girl can learn to love her own inner princess.

My Review
The above synopsis reads like a great little chick lit book, the premise sounds fun and the cover is great, isn't it? I wanted to like Princess of Park Avenue and I can't say I disliked it but something just didn't click for me and it left me with mixed feelings.

I found myself reading quickly through parts, as well as having to reread certain sections, because the book seemed to feel a bit lethargic. There were sections that left me questioning why they were included as they seemed to slow the pace down.

Being horribly anal about spelling and grammatical errors, the copy of Princess of Park Avenue I received made me distracted and, at times, I was busier noticing the errors rather than investing myself into the book.

I had a hard time connecting with Lorraine and considering that, it's the likeliest reason that the book just didn't do it for me. Perhaps if I had been able to relate to Lorraine, the typos would not have bothered me so much.

I didn't care for Tommy and it left me puzzled that Lorraine would devout so much of her life to him - - 20 years! While we have all had our "Mr. Wrongs" I was frustrated that a woman over thirty was pining after a man who made it so clear that he would never give her what she wanted. And while, happily, Mr. Right did show up I wanted Lorraine to realize it much sooner than she did.

I did like Lorraine's relationship with her friend Chrissy - - it was nice to read of a friendship laced with somewhat derogatory nicknames meant affectionately, and two friends who had been such for a long time. The Bobbsey Twins, indeed.

I also really enjoyed reading of Lorraine's Park Avenue apartment - - I would just love to have such incredible, borrowed digs! Even with the impossibly big Pooh-Pooh!

And I have to give Princess of Park Avenue originality points for the e-Bay style introductions to each chapter, with items from Lorraine's past up for sale. Each item somehow tied in to what happened in the chapter. It was a cute idea and did make me smile.

So although Princess of Park Avenue wasn't my cup of tea it may be an enjoyable read for you.

The Princess of Park Avenue is available for purchase at major booksellers now, including Amazon. I am an Amazon affiliate. If you make a purchase through my link, I will receive a small commission.

Review copy of this book provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. In no way did the provision of the book affect the outcome of my review.

With thanks to CLP Blog Tours for including me on this virtual tour!

Visit CLP's blog tour page for Princess of Park Avenue and leave a comment for your chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!

On a Break!

2012-01-25T11:39:00.000-08:00

Lana Turner & John Garfield from The Postman Always Rings Twice

Between the holidays, traveling and then suffering with the flu, I gave myself a much needed break (which explains the lack of posting around these parts recently).

Have no fear! I am back and ready to go, with a review tomorrow of Daniella Brodsky's Princess of Park Avenue, a guest post by Ms. Brodsky on Friday, as well as reviews of What Would Jane Austen Do?, Dreaming of Mr. Darcy, Natural Selection, The Black Shard, among others and all coming soon!

Happy Wednesday!

Book Review: THE GILDER by Kathryn Kay

2012-01-07T16:44:00.000-08:00

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Set against the exquisite backdrop of Florence, Italy, The Gilder is a compelling and beautifully wrought novel of secrets, friendship, betrayal, and the simple choices that change us forever . . .

In Marina Nesmith's skilled hands, even the most tarnished picture frame or objet d'art can be made perfect once again. Her life, too, seems flawless, at least on the surface. But more and more, Marina is conscious of what she lacks - - someone to share her joys and sorrows with, confidence in the decisions she's made, and the courage to tell her teenage daughter, Zoe, the truth about her father.

Then Marina is invited to return to Florence, where she lived years before while learning her trade as a gilder. In those heady days, she wandered the city's picturesque streets, marveling at the masterpieces in the Duomo and the Pitti Palace. In the church of Santa Croce, she met Thomas, an American photographer who, along with his wife Sarah, introduced Marina to a thrilling, bohemian world of art and beauty. Through them, she also learned about love, lies, and the way one mistake can multiply into many. Now, as her past and present collide, Marina will finally have to move beyond the intricate veneer she's crafted around herself, and find the life that she - - and Zoe - - have been looking for.

My Review
I am an armchair traveler and I am crazily attracted to books that take place in England, France and/or Italy. So I jumped up and down to accept The Gilder for review. And while I enjoyed The Gilder, I didn't love it the way I hoped I would.

Let's start with the good. First, the cover. It's just gorgeous. I love the vibrant red of the door and shutters, I love the flowers and vines draped across the building. It is just so European; it speaks to me and makes me want to pick up the book and delve right in.

As I mentioned above, I love books set in Europe. The Gilder excels at this particular point, bringing Florence, Italy to life in vivid, spectacular fashion, from descriptions of the narrow streets to the architecturally stunning buildings to the breathtaking art to the mouthwatering foods. Truly, the city of Florence should be paying Ms. Kay a commission for her selling of it as any reader will immediately want to book tickets to this incredible city after reading the book. I know I did. I have always wanted to visit Italy and now I am fairly itching to get on the next plane out.

Another positive point of The Gilder is main character Marina. She is frustrating at certain points in the book, yes, but aren't all our friends at some times? Marina is painfully real and to me, that makes her more likable. Ms. Kay's writing of Marina is so fluid that Marina's joy at experiencing Florence the first time feels like a personal recounting - - the sights and smells almost literally come alive from the page. Likewise, Marina's pain and tragedy are told with the frank rawness of an open wound. I sympathized with her over her no-win situation and actually wanted to give her a hug.

Ms. Kay's writing is warm and passionate and she made me care about her characters and, again, she made Florence, Italy come alive. It was a pleasurable few days spent with Ms. Kay and her book of this exciting, incredible city.

So why didn't I love the book? I'm not sure exactly why. Other than the colorful descriptions of Italy, I liked the second part of the book better than the first. There were certain portions of the first section that dragged a little bit for me. I am on the fence about the book's ending, which made sense but was still frustrating.

In spite of these issues, I would still recommend The Gilder for lovers of books that take place in Europe and/or books about the arts. It's a pleasant diversion and an absolutely lovely look at Florence.

The Gilder is available for purchase at major booksellers now, including Amazon. I am an Amazon affiliate. If you make a purchase through my link, I will receive a small commission.

Review copy of this book provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. In no way did the provision of the book affect the outcome of my review.

With thanks to Crazy Book Tours for including me on this virtual tour!

Upcoming Virtual Tour Stops for The Gilder:

1/10/2012 - CelticLady's Reviews
1/11/2012 - Novel Reflections
1/12/2012 - Practical Frugality
1/14/2012 - The Bookish Mama
1/15/2012 - Sherri's Reading Jubilee
1/16/2012 - Books in the Burbs

Giveaway Winner: CREEP

2011-12-21T20:48:00.000-08:00

And the lucky winner of Creep, autographed by author Jennifer Hillier, is . . .

heather

Congratulations! I will be emailing you directly to get your mailing address for your new book.

A big THANK YOU to all who visited my blog and entered this giveaway. I do appreciate each one of you taking the time to visit and post here. I hope you all will stick around for future giveaways, reviews and interviews.

Thank you to author Jennifer Hillier for making this giveaway possible.

Compliments to randomizer.org for selecting the lucky winner.

Happy reading!

Happy Birthday, Jane!

2011-12-16T07:24:00.000-08:00

Today marks the 236th birthday of the lovely and beloved Jane Austen and there is plenty of celebrating going on!

It is launch day for Abigail Reynolds' newest Austenesque work, Mr. Darcy's Letter. Isn't the cover just gorgeous? Visit Abigail's post here to enter a drawing to win your own copy of Mr. Darcy's Letter.

My Jane Austen Book Club and November's Autumn are throwing an Austen's Birthday Soiree. Visit My Jane Austen Book Club or Austenprose for details and participating bloggers.

Sourcebooks has an e-book promotion aptly titled A Darcy for Everyone! The following 14Austen inspired books will be priced at only $1.99 until Friday, December 30:

A Darcy Christmas – Carolyn Eberhart, Sharon Lathan and Amanda Grange

The Darcys & the Bingleys – Marsha Altman

Darcy’s Voyage – Kara Louise

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star – Heather Lynn Rigaud

The Man Who Loved Pride and Prejudice – Abigail Reynolds

Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One – Sharon Lathan

Mr. Darcy Goes Overboard – Belinda Roberts

Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife – Linda Berdoll

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre – Amanda Grange

Pemberley Chronicles – Rebecca Ann Collins

Pemberley Ranch – Jack Caldwell

Searching for Pemberley – Mary Lydon Simonsen

Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy – Sara Angelini

Darcy and Fitzwilliam – Karen V. Wasylowski

All titles and information may be found here.

Readers, what will you do to celebrate Jane Austen's birthday? I am considering curling up with the Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle version of Pride and Prejudice tonight. It's my absolute favorite and Colin is my favorite Mr. Darcy of all time. Or perhaps the Emma Thompson/Kate Winslet version of Sense and Sensibility - - Colonel Brandon breaks my heart every time.

Author Interview: VICTORIA SIMCOX

2011-12-15T07:19:00.000-08:00

Today I am pleased to welcome Victoria Simcox, author of the newly released The Black Shard, to Psychotic State Book Reviews. Welcome, Victoria!

Thank you for this interview, Victoria. Can we begin by having you tell us why you chose children’s fantasy to write?

VS: Ever since I was a small child I have always loved fantasy and fairy tales. Now that I’m an adult, juvenile and young adult fantasy are still my favorite genres to read. I chose to write a children’s fantasy because I have a great imagination that I felt I’d like to put to good use. I also love children and the fact that they have such vivid imaginations and a sense of wonder. Being an elementary school art teacher, I get to hear all about the books my students are reading, and I love how excited they get when they explain their favorite stories to me.

Did you outline before you wrote your book or did you just go with the flow?

VS: I definitely go with the flow, but I do plan things loosely, and I do go back through my manuscript at times to change situations and plots.

Who was your favorite character in The Black Shard and why?

VS: I have many favorites, but one I loved creating was Werrien, because in the beginning of the story, in The Magic Warble he starts out as your typical good looking, self-centered, teenaged boy, but as the story progresses he becomes kinder, more sensitive, but yet still physically strong.

What was the inspiration behind the story? Where were you when you came up with the idea?

VS: I remember I was sitting in the movie theater, watching the first Harry Potter movie, when I envisioned my main character Kristina walking down a snowy sidewalk. At the time that’s all of the story I had. I went home that night and wrote my first page not knowing where the story would go.

Thank you for this interview, Victoria. Can you tell us where we can find out more about you and your wonderful new book?

VS: Yes, for sure! www.theblackshard.com

If someone is interested in checking out the first book in the series, where can I send them?

VS: I'm glad you asked me that because even though The Black Shard can stand alone as its own story I recommend reading the first book, The Magic Warble (www.themagicwarble.com). There are also quite a few reviews for The Magic Warble on Amazon http://tinyurl.com/22ty2ld

Still looking for that perfect gift for the reader (child or adult) who loves fantasy, a la Harry Potter or The Chronicles of Narnia? The Magic Warble and The Black Shard would make an excellent choice! Read my review of The Magic Warble here; my review of The Black Shard is coming up in the next few days!

About THE BLACK SHARD

Kristina's stay at summer horse camp is horrible to say the least, and it's all because Hester and Davina are there as well, making her life miserable. When Hester's cruel prank goes terribly wrong, it's actually what sends the three girls back to the magical land of Bernovem. In Bernovem, Kristina is very excited to see her former friend, Prince Werrien. When he invites her to sail with him on his ship to his homeland Tezerel, putting it simply, Kristina can't refuse.

Reunited with her gnome, dwarf, animal, fairy friends ... and best of all, Werrien, things seem like they couldn't get any better for Kristina. But when Werrien becomes fascinated with an unusual seeing stone, the ''Black Shard'', Kristina is haunted by a ghostlike old hag. Struggling against suspicion, guilt, illness, and ultimately the one who wants to possess her soul, Kristina will see it's in her weakest moment that she will encounter more strength than she has ever known.

About THE MAGIC WARBLE

Dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, and an evil queen all these and more can be found in The Magic Warble, an enchanting tale of adventure and friendship.

Twelve-year-old Kristina Kingsly feels like the most unpopular girl in her school. The kids all tease her, and she never seems to fit in. But when Kristina receives an unusual Christmas gift, she suddenly finds herself magically transported to the land of Bernovem, home of dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals and the evil Queen Sentiz.

In Bernovem, Kristina not only fits in, she's honored as ''the chosen one'', the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz's control. But it s not as simple as it seems. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous ''Magic Warble,'' in its final resting place. And she must travel through the deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by the queen s ''zelbocks'' before she reaches her destination. Guided by her new fairy friends, Clover and Looper and by Prince Werrien, a teenage boy, as well as an assortment of other characters, Kristina sets off on a perilous journey that not only tests her strength but her heart.

Book Review: POISONED LOVE by Caitlin Rother

2011-12-13T06:02:00.000-08:00

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Kristin Rossum had everything going for her: Beauty, brains, youth, and the start of a brilliant career in toxicology. But the 24-year-old daughter of accomplished academics from Claremont, Calif., was torn between three relationships: one with her husband, who was found not breathing with red rose petals sprinkled over his body; one with her married boss; and one with crystal methamphetamine, an old friend with whom she had become reacquainted. In the true crime thriller Poisoned Love, Pulitzer-nominated investigative journalist Caitlin Rother tells the story behind the “American Beauty murder” case, a cautionary tale that illustrates how an obsession for passion, a fatal attraction to crystal meth and easy access to dangerous narcotics can devastate not just one life, but many others in the process. This updated edition explores the psychological aspects of this complex case, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the investigation and major players that the public never got from the mainstream media. The 496-page book reveals e-mails, diary entries, letters and other court evidence that lend insights into Rossum’s character, as well as 16 pages of new developments about her appeals, which raise forensic questions about her conviction.

My Review
Fans of the true crime genre will rejoice with another entry to add to their library, Poisoned Love by Caitlin Rother. In the style of Ann Rule, a true crime favorite of mine, Ms. Rother delves deep into the background and psyche of not only the accused but the victims as well and provides painstaking detail of the crime, the trial and the aftermath.

Reading Poisoned Love will make it clear to the reader that Ms. Rother spent an inordinate amount of time on her research and with admirable results. Every person introduced in her work has a voice, not just "friend of the victim", "co-worker of the accused", etc. This is perhaps the strongest point of Poisoned Love in my opinion - - rather than merely being "the victim", Greg de Villers is presented as a real human being, with thoughts, dreams and aspirations and you feel sadness and even grief at his life ending prematurely. Ms. Rother also does a good job at presenting the de Villers family's sense of loss and helplessness as Greg's brother Jerome fights to prove his brother did not take his own life.

The accused, Kristin Rossum, remained an enigma for me even after finishing the book. She exemplified the brainy beauty who should have had it all but threw it all away for drugs, for an illicit affair, and/or for narcissism. She was frightening to a degree in her cold natured indifference and the void that seemed to be present in her makeup.

While Ms. Rother's attention to detail is commendable, for some readers it may be a bit too much. The book itself is hefty (coming in at just under 500 paperback pages) and there were a few sections where I felt it dragged a bit and portions could likely have been minimized or cut so as to keep the story moving fluidly.

Even having watched a true crime program or two on this case and knowing the outcome, I was drawn into the book and learned many facts of the case I had not previously known. In short, I thought Poisoned Love was extremely well written and researched and one of the better true crime books for those who want an in-depth look at the case rather than merely glorified violence.

I would not hesitate to recommend Poisoned Love to a true crime buff or to any reader looking to explore the genre. Caitlin Rother is certainly an author to watch out for and one that will be on my "must read" list.

Poisoned Love is available for purchase at major booksellers now, including Amazon. I am an Amazon affiliate. If you make a purchase through my link, I will receive a small commission.

EXCERPT FROM POISONED LOVE

Paramedic Sean Jordan and his assistant, April Butler, had just finished a quick dinner at Rubio’s, a fish taco restaurant, when they got a call at 9:23 p.m.: young male down, not breathing and no pulse. The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) had purchased the La Jolla Del Sol complex about a year earlier as off-campus housing, so the 911 call went first to the campus police dispatch center.
“My husband is not breathing,” Kristin Rossum told the dispatcher.
Jordan and Butler carried their gear up the stairs to the second-floor apartment, where they found Kristin standing in the living room, crying and talking to the 911 dispatcher on a cordless phone. She motioned them to the bedroom, where her husband, Greg de Villers, was lying on the floor, flat on his back. His slim, six-foot, 160-pound body was dressed in pajama bottoms and a T-shirt. His skin was pale, and his lips were blue around the edges. Red rose petals were scattered on the carpet around his upper torso, with a single stem and stamen next to him.
Jordan started setting up next to Greg’s left arm. Butler squeezed into position, setting aside an unframed wedding photo of the couple, which had been propped up against the base of the bureau, as if someone had positioned it just so.
Greg looked a little nervous in the photo. He smiled for the camera with a quiet contentment, all dressed up in his tuxedo and striped cravat, his dark brown hair slicked back and his blue eyes shining. Kristin looked radiant, her shiny blond locks pulled up under a white-flowered tiara, and a veil trailing down her back. She wore a string of pearls with her white dress, which had short lace sleeves that covered her shoulders, and she held a bouquet of pink and white flowers tied with bows of ribbon. They both seemed so very happy as Greg declared his supreme devotion to her in front of their friends and family.
In all the commotion, the wedding photo got moved to the top of the chest on Greg’s right side, next to a blue plastic cup of clear, odorless liquid that looked like water. And a yellow cup, also containing clear, odorless liquid, rested on a nightstand on the opposite side of the bed.

Review copy of this book provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. In no way did the provision of the book affect the outcome of my review.

With thanks to Pump Up Your Book! for including me on this virtual tour!

To celebrate the release of Caitlin Rother’s new release,Poisoned Love, she is offering one signed copy of her of her book at Pump Up Your Book’s 1st Annual Holiday Extravaganza Facebook Party on December 16. Plus, one copy of her next book, Naked Addiction! Click here for details!

Upcoming virtual tour stops for Poisoned Love:
Wednesday, December 14

Book reviewed at Mad Moose Mama

Thursday, December 15

Book reviewed at Colloquium

Friday, December 16

Book reviewed at Bookspark

Chat with Caitlin at Pump Up Your Book December Authors on Tour Facebook Party!

Weekend Wrap Up: December 11, 2011

2011-12-11T18:53:00.001-08:00

Happy Sunday! I hope you have had a wonderful week. Amazing to think that we only have one more weekend before Christmas!

On Monday, I posted my review of Dara England's The Magic Touch.

On Tuesday, I posted my list of favorite childhood books for The Broke and the Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday.

On Wednesday, I posted a free preview of Amanda Usen's new book, Scrumptious.

On Thursday, I hosted an interview with author Charles Rosenberg.

On Friday, I posted my review of Charles Rosenberg's Death on a High Floor.

On Saturday, I posted giveaway winners for Cloudburst and the Black Sun's Daughter series, as well as a giveaway for Jennifer Hillier's Creep.

On Sunday, I posted my review of Sarah Kernochan's Jane Was Here.

How did your book week go?

Book Review: JANE WAS HERE by Sarah Kernochan

2011-12-11T06:47:00.001-08:00

BOOK DESCRIPTION: A mysterious young woman calling herself Jane turns up in a small New England town. She claims a fragmentary memory of growing up in this place, yet she has never been here before in her life. Upon her arrival, strange and alarming things begin happening to some of the town's inhabitants. As Jane's memories reawaken piece by piece, they carry her back to a long-buried secret, while the townspeople hurtle forward to a horrific event when past and present fatally collide.

Jane Was Here , by Sarah Kernochan, is an incredible book on so many levels. It's a puzzle that will leave you shuffling the pieces and trying to make them fit up until the very end; a tale of a broken romance; a story of the dynamic of a small town and it's motley group of core residents; a father and son struggling to find a bond; and a mysterious woman who brings it all to a head.

As a person who is interested in the subject of reincarnation, Jane Was Here was a treat to delve into, to consume and to luxuriate in. There are many possibilities when reincarnation is the theme of your work and Jane Was Here takes a unique and marvelous route, with a wonderfully fulfilling payoff. So intoxicating was this story that I read the entire book in one sitting, not willing to let it go until I knew all.

History fans too will enjoy the flashbacks to the little town of Graynier circa 1853. I particularly enjoyed making comparisons between the Graynier of today and when the characters had memories or visions of that time past. There is a portion of the book about midway through that gives a great amount of detail on Jane of the past; I cannot say more than that without giving away important aspects of the story. Trust me when I say that those portions are satisfying and heartbreaking.

The characters in Jane Was Here were somewhat of an anomoly. I either found them fairly to flat out unlikable or so perplexing that I could not get a read on them. And yet I was still utterly intrigued by their plight and their plot and wanted to know, needed to know, what was going to happen to them. I am still puzzled by the Jane of the book's title; even after reading the final page questions remain.

Not that this is a negative. In fact, isn't it wonderful that a day or more after finishing Jane Was Here, I am still contemplating it, turning the story and possibilities over in my mind? In this reader's opinion, having a story stay with you after you turn the page is a hallmark of a great tale.

The story is the strongest part of Jane Was Here, with Ms. Kernochan adeptly weaving each character's backstory, past and present, to a brilliantly spun literary web. Ms. Kernochan's experience as a screenwriter has served her well here; her prose is as powerful as her plot. Her characters sound like real people having true conversations and going about normal, average lives.

Happily, too, Ms. Kernochan's descriptive narrative is equally powerful, leaving the reader with a very clear and concise mental picture of Graynier and its residents.

Jane Was Here begs you to curl up with it, get comfortable and settle in with a cup of tea and a blanket, although do not mistake it for a cozy mystery. It does have some strong language and sexual scenes that are necessary to the book's ebb and flow but the book also manages to possess a nostalgia and an allure to it as well. It's an intriguing, consuming story that will leave you hungry for more.

Jane Was Here is available for purchase at major booksellers now, including Amazon I am an Amazon affiliate. If you make a purchase through my link, I will receive a small commission.

Review copy of this book provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. In no way did the provision of the book affect the outcome of my review.

With thanks to Crazy Book Tours for including me on this virtual tour!

Upcoming virtual tour stops for Jane Was Here:
12/12/2011 -- Mental Foodie
12/13/2011 -- Tiffany's Bookshelf
12/14/2011 -- Book of Secrets
12/15/2011 -- Endlessly Bookish
12/16/2011 -- Sinnful Books
12/18/2011 -- Proud Book Nerd
12/19/2011 -- True Book Addict/Castle Macabre
12/21/2011 -- WV Stitcher
12/23/2011 -- Reader Girls

About Author Sarah Kernochan

Sarah Kernochan received early acclaim for her Academy Award winning documentary Marjoe. She then recorded two albums for RCA as a singer-songwriter. In 1977, her first novel Dry Hustle was published. Returning to film, she scripted the the film Nine and ½ Weeks, Impromptu, Sommersby, What Lies Beneath and All I Wanna Do, which she also directed. She received a second Academy Award in 2002 for her short documentary Thoth. 2010 brought the re-issue of Dry Hustle as an ebook, and a third album of songs. 2011 brings us to Jane Was Here; Sarah’s first love and teenage ambition – a novel about reincarnation.

Giveaway: CREEP by Jennifer Hillier

2011-12-10T22:21:00.001-08:00

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Pulsing with the dark obsession of Radiohead’s song “Creep,” this taut thriller—Jennifer Hillier’s superb debut—rockets from its seductive opening to a heartpounding climax not easily forgotten.

If he can’t have her . . .

Dr. Sheila Tao is a professor of psychology. An expert in human behavior. And when she began an affair with sexy, charming graduate student Ethan Wolfe, she knew she was playing with fire. Consumed by lust when they were together, riddled with guilt when they weren’t, she knows the three-month fling with her teaching assistant has to end. After all, she’s finally engaged to a kind and loving investment banker who adores her, and she’s taking control of her life. But when she attempts to end the affair, Ethan Wolfe won’t let her walk away.

. . . no one else can.

Ethan has plans for Sheila, plans that involve posting a sex video that would surely get her fired and destroy her prestigious career. Plans to make her pay for rejecting him. And as she attempts to counter his every threatening move without her colleagues or her fiancé discovering her most intimate secrets, a shattering crime rocks Puget Sound State University: a female student, a star athlete, is found stabbed to death. Someone is raising the stakes of violence, sex, and blackmail . . . and before she knows it, Sheila is caught in a terrifying cat-and-mouse game with the lover she couldn’t resist—who is now the monster who won’t let her go.

To read my review of Creep, please go here.

Thanks to the lovely Jennifer Hillier, author of Creep, I have a brand new, autographed copy of Creep available for one lucky reader!

To enter, simply leave me a comment telling me the scariest or most frightening book you've read and you're entered to win! Be sure to leave your name and email address (or at least indicate that your email address may be found in your profile). NO EMAIL ADDRESS = NO ENTRY!

No P.O. boxes. No Military APOs. This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada only. My apologies to my overseas friends.

Contest to end on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 11:59 P.M. PST and the lucky winners drawn by randomizer.org on Sunday, December 18, 2011.

Good luck!

(And to throw my own hat in the ring, so to speak . . . the scariest book I've ever read would have to be The Night Stalker by Philip Carlo. I wouldn't even sleep in the same room with the book.)

Giveaway Winner: BLACK SUN'S DAUGHTER SERIES

2011-12-10T22:13:00.001-08:00

And the lucky winner of the Black Sun's Daughter series of books by M.L.N. Hanover is . . .

Mary@ Sweeping Me

Congratulations! I will be emailing you directly to get your mailing address for your new book.

A big THANK YOU to all who visited my blog and entered this giveaway. I do appreciate each one of you taking the time to visit and post here. I hope you all will stick around for future giveaways, reviews and interviews.

Thank you to Melissa Gramstad and Simon & Schuster for making this giveaway possible.

Compliments to randomizer.org for selecting the lucky winner.

Happy reading!

Giveaway Winner: CLOUDBURST

2011-12-10T21:58:00.001-08:00

And the lucky winner of a brand new copy of Cloudburst by V. C. Andrews is . . .

Cindy C. Bennett

Congratulations! I will be emailing you directly to get your mailing address for your new book.

A big THANK YOU to all who visited my blog and entered this giveaway. I do appreciate each one of you taking the time to visit and post here. I hope you all will stick around for future giveaways, reviews and interviews.

Thank you to Melissa Gramstad and Simon & Schuster for making this giveaway possible.

Compliments to randomizer.org for selecting the lucky winner.

Happy reading!

Book Review: DEATH ON A HIGH FLOOR by Charles Rosenberg

2011-12-08T20:02:00.001-08:00

BOOK DESCRIPTION: When much-despised Marbury Marfan senior partner Simon Rafer turns up dead, with an ornate dagger buried between his shoulder blades, it comes as a surprise to no one. Rafer had recently been on the warpath, clearing out the "dead wood" partners from the firm, not to mention any associate who dared cross him. A thousand attorneys, scattered across four continents, had good reason to want Rafer in the ground, but homicide Detective Spritz has his eye trained on only one--senior partner Robert Tarza, with his shadowy connection to a rare and infamous ancient coin. Robert and his friend and colleague--and maybe a bit more--Jenna are soon forced to play detective themselves, in a race to find the real killer or killers before Spritz assembles what looks to be an airtight case. But in the end, only Jenna's trial skills will stand between Robert and a free room at San Quentin.

If Death on a High Floor is any indication of author Charles Rosenberg's future efforts, Scott Turow and John Grisham should be prepared to admit one more to their club.

Yes, Death on a High Floor was that good. This book was highly addictive from page one, an absorbing and all-consuming legal thriller extraordinaire that manages to stay fresh and exuberant and avoid being just another entry in the genre. Despite the opening murder, and the "whodunit" aspect, this is - - surprisingly - - a fun book. There is definitely a mystery involved, as well as the pressure on main character Robert to find out who really killed the much disliked Simon in order to save his own skin, but the ride to the conclusion proves to be an enjoyable one.

I liked Robert as the slightly intrepid (at least when it comes to matters where he is the client) sleuth, not always so deftly attempting to clear his own name while tracking down an actual killer. He isn't your garden variety hero, a serious and sixty-ish attorney, but he works. And he works well with the younger and sassier senior associate Jenna, who wants to see justice done as much as she'd like a partnership.

The chemistry between Robert and Jenna was entertaining and, oftentimes, amusing. Theirs wasn't a romantic chemistry but the sort that produces the type of banter found between siblings. I must say that it was a refreshing change to not have a love interest/romance side story to plump up the plot or push the story along.

Not that it would have been needed here. The story moved along at a generous and steady pace, with little drag time. While at first glance the book can seem a bit thick and even overwhelming for the less eager reader, Death on a High Floor will move at such a pace and so captivate you that you will reach the conclusion before you know it, grateful and happy to know the resolution and ending but sad that the story has ended.

This is author Charles Rosenberg's debut fiction work (he has written nonfiction works previously) and he comes out of the gate a winner. Being an attorney himself, he has written what he knows and his expertise allowed him to fluently describe the inner workings of a high powered and prestigious law firm - - the "high floor" type of firm, as described in the title - - as well as the mechanics of the courtroom and trial preparation. Those scenes were realistic and I especially appreciated seeing the courtroom from Robert's point of view as a defendant, rather than attorney, but with an attorney's mentality and vision.

Mr. Rosenberg's greatest strength, in my opinion, is his dialogue. Always crisp, sharp and engaging, not only do the exchanges bring the already brilliant characters to supreme fruition but they make Death on a High Floor nearly impossible to put down. It's well written, entertaining and includes a nice subplot on rare coins and coin collecting.

If you enjoy legal mysteries and thrillers, I would not hesitate to recommend Death on a High Floor. With the holidays fast approaching, it makes not only a nice gift but a perfect airplane/vacation read - - although in substance, it is much more than that.

Job well done, Mr. Rosenberg. I anxiously await your next book!

Death on a High Floor is available for purchase at major booksellers now, including Amazon. I am an Amazon affiliate. If you make a purchase through my link, I will receive a small commission.

To read my interview with author Charles Rosenberg, please go here.

Giveaways, Contests & Prizes!

In celebration of Charles Rosenberg’s new release, he will be appearing at Pump Up Your Book’s 1st Annual Holiday Extravaganza Facebook Party on December 16. More than 50 books, gifts and cash awards will be given away including a paperback copy of of Death on a High Floor! Visit the official party page here!

Review copy of this book provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. In no way did the provision of the book affect the outcome of my review.

With thanks to Pump Up Your Book for including me on this virtual tour!

Upcoming Virtual Tour Stops for Death on a High Floor:

Monday, December 12

Interviewed at Examiner

Tuesday, December 13

Book Giveaway at Reviews By Molly

Wednesday, December 14

Guest blogging at Night Owl Reviews

Thursday, December 15

Book reviewed at SOS Aloha

Friday, December 16

Book reviewed at Mad Moose Mama

Chat with Chuck at Pump Up Your Book December Authors on Tour Facebook Party!

Author Interview: CHARLES ROSENBERG

2011-12-07T22:14:00.001-08:00

Today I am happy to welcome Charles Rosenberg, author of the newly released Death on a High Floor, to Psychotic State Book Reviews to discuss fiction versus nonfiction, where and how he writes and his upcoming second novel.

Hi Charles, welcome to Psychotic State Book Reviews! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me and my readers.

Let’s talk about your new book, Death on a High Floor. Did you get the idea from true events or did the idea come to you in a dream, etc.?

CR: The idea was generated, not by real events, but by thinking about what it would have been like had I stayed in a single law firm from age twenty-five to age sixty (which is Robert Tarza's age when the novel starts). So it was, in a sense, a projection of the likely psychological state of a comfortable "lifer," as Robert calls himself in the opening sentence. Of course, I didn't stay in the same firm myself. I left my partnership in my first firm during my twelfth year there. So it's a projection of a path not taken.

How much of yourself did you write into the character of Robert?

CR: That's always a hard question. Robert has my "voice," certainly and, I like to think, a certain degree of my humor about the world of law and the world in general. He also, inevitably, has a lot of my knowledge about how law firms and the court system work. But he's much stuffier and more formal than I could ever be.

What would you say is Robert’s greatest strengths and greatest weaknesses?

CR: His greatest strength is his ability to assess things calmly and rationally and to act rationally (he does it for his clients all the time). His greatest weakness is his inability to act rationally when he is not personally in control of the situation -- which is exactly what happens to him when he becomes the target of a murder investigation. The result is a series of bad decisions.

Did your background as a script consultant come in handy when writing Death on a High Floor?

CR: Yes, over the years I got to read more than 400 dramatic TV scripts, with great dialogue written by great script writers. So, in what is perhaps a reverse for first-time fiction writers, I found it initially easier to write dialogue than to write description, although I quickly learned to write description, too. The result, I think, is that Death on a High Floor has a lot of crisp, fast-moving dialogue. Which helps make the novel move very quickly, despite covering a lot of ground.

I also learned a lot about plot structure and what it takes to make a scene dramatic.

Your previous books have been nonfiction - - The Trial of O.J. Simpson: How to Watch the Trial and Understand What’s Really Going On and as a contributing author to Lawyers in Your Living Room: Law on Television. Is writing fiction more difficult or easier than writing nonfiction?

CR: I don't think one is easier or harder than the other. They're just different. In writing non-fiction, you need to be extremely careful to make the facts you're describing pristinely accurate. In fiction, you still need to pay close attention to reality, but you have a good deal more leeway to bend reality slightly to suit the needs of drama.

You have a busy legal career in addition to your writing career. How do you balance the demands of a busy law practice, teaching, writing and your personal life?

CR: It's sometimes difficult to achieve the balance. But I think what happens is that you learn to prioritize. In my own case, personal life and law practice come first. Then teaching and then writing. That's because in the first three, I have obligations to other people. In writing, the obligation, prior to publication, is only to myself. So sometimes writing needs to get put on the back burner for awhile.

Please share with us details about where you write. Do you have a dedicated office space? Are you neat and organized or do you have your own “system”?

CR: I don't have a dedicated home office space. I tend to write whenever/wherever I have the time and the inclination -- at my law firm, at home, on an airplane, on vacation, etc. But I'm aware that that approach is a very modern one made possible by a relatively light notebook computer (I use a Sony VAIO). With the notebook nearby, the latest draft is always available to work on with the click of a mouse. In the age of typewriters the wherever/whenever approach would have been much more difficult. On the other hand, I've thought about the fact that most of the great 19th century novels were written with a pencil, a dip pen with steel nib, or a fountain pen. And before that, with a quill pen. It's amazing to me anyone got it done, although I think there are still writers today who write in longhand on paper.

Do you have any quirks or peculiarities while you write that are absolute necessities?

CR: Not really, although I find it very useful to be able to use Google Street View to look at places I'm describing, even if I've personally been there. It helps both to refresh my recollection and to make sure what I'm describing hasn't changed since I was last there.

What is the single best piece of advice you can offer a struggling writer?

CR: Just finish it!

I understand you are working on a second novel. Care to share some details with us?

CR: I've written about 70% of a thriller/murder mystery that is partly set in the White House and other venues in Washington, D.C., plus partly in France and Italy. It's not a sequel to Death on a High Floor, but is a more classic thriller. Nor is it about lawyers or the courts, although there is a lawyer character who makes a brief cameo appearance. Unlike Death on a High Floor, it's written in the third person. I've also been thinking about a sequel to Death on a High Floor, using some (but not all) of the same characters and introducing a couple of new ones.

Do you have time to read yourself? If so, what authors do you enjoy?

CR: I read a lot. I recently finished the novel Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese, which I liked quite a bit. Before that, I read Ann Patchett's State of Wonder. On a recent vacation, I read Joel Goldman's legal thriller, Cold Truth and the sci-fi novel Twin-Bred, by Karen Wyle. Both quite good. On the non-fiction side, I just finished the Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson and am now making my way through The Emperor of All Maladies, A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee.

What is a normal day in the life of Charles Rosenberg like?

CR: It really depends on the day. Mostly, it involves doing the many things lawyers do a lot that don't involve courtrooms: talking with clients on the phone, writing and responding to emails, meeting with people (clients, partners, staff, other lawyers, friends) and writing whatever else needs to be written. One thing I've noticed is that on some days I tend to drive around Los Angeles a lot for various meetings. That may be why several scenes in Death on a High Floor take place in cars moving on the Freeways. Another thing I've noticed is that the Curse of the Smart Phone (instant access to email, texts, phone calls, the Net, etc.) makes my days much more chopped up than they used to be. No more waiting for the mail to come, having the leisure to draft a reply and waiting a couple days for the response.

And now for some random questions . . .

Baseball or football?

CR: Baseball.

Chocolate or vanilla?

CR: Chocolate chip.

At the movies, popcorn or candy?

CR: Popcorn.

The beach or the mountains?

CR: Mountains.

John Grisham or John Lescroart?

CR: Neither. Scott Turow.

If you could represent one infamous/famous defendant, who would it be and why?

CR: Mary Surratt, who owned the boarding house in Washington, D.C. in which John Wilkes Booth and the other conspirators plotted the assassination of Lincoln and the attempts on the lives of other members of the government. She was convicted of being a co-conspirator and hanged. I would want to represent her because I think she was likely not guilty, and the period at the end of the Civil War would have been an interesting time to be a citizen and a lawyer.

And lastly, if you could use one word to describe Death on a High Floor, what would it be?

CR: Intimate.

Thank you so much, Charles, for taking the time to answer my questions. Best of luck to you with Death on a High Floor!

My review of Death on a High Floor to be posted on Friday, December 9!

Readers, here is a question for you. . . what famous trial would you have liked to attend? I think I would have liked to attend the trials for silent film star Roscoe Arbuckle. Not only was there little hard evidence against him and some very questionable character witnesses but I would have loved to have seen Hollywood and San Francisco in the Roaring Twenties!

About Charles Rosenberg

Charles B. (”Chuck”) Rosenberg has been the credited legal script consultant to three prime time television shows: L.A. Law, The Practice and Boston Legal, as well as The Paper Chase (Showtime). During the O .J. Simpson criminal trial, he was one of two on-air legal analysts for E! Entertainment Television’s live coverage of the trial. He also provided commentary for E!’s coverage of the Simpson civil trial. He is also the author of the book The Trial of O.J. Simpson: How to Watch the Trial and Understand What’s Really Going On (Publishing Partners 1994) and is a contributing author to the book Lawyers in Your Living Room! Law on Television (ABA Publishing 2009).
He has taught extensively as an adjunct law professor, including at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, the Loyola Law School International LLM Program in Bologna, Italy, the UCLA School of Law, the Pepperdine School of Law, and the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA.
A graduate of the Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review, Chuck currently practices in the Los Angeles area. He has been a partner in several law firms, including a large international firm. Currently, he is a partner in a three-lawyer firm. Chuck and his wife have lived in Los Angeles since the early 1970s. He is at work on a second novel.
His latest novel is Death on a High Floor.
Visit his blog at http://charlesrosenberg.wordpress.com. Connect with him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=820177073.

About Death on a High Floor

No one is surprised when Simon Rafer, the much-despised managing partner in the large international law firm, Marbury Marfan, turns up dead – with an ornate dagger buried between his shoulder blades. Rafer, an abusive boss, had many enemies, but the prime suspect becomes firm senior partner Robert Tarza, at least according to one Detective Spritz. With Jenna James, his friend and colleague, Tarza sets out to find the real killer or killers before Spritz assembles enough evidence to put Tarza away for life.
That’s the supercharged premise of attorney-writer-legal analyst Charles “Chuck” Rosenberg’s first novel, DEATH ON A HIGH FLOOR. But wait, there’s more. The plot also revolves around an infamous ancient Roman coin, the “EID MAR” (Ides of March) denarius, which Brutus struck, complete with double daggers on the back, and handed out to his troops to celebrate his assassination of Julius Caesar. The question becomes, is it real or fake? Call it “Presumed Innocent” meets “The Da Vinci Code.”
Rosenberg, who has extensive experience as a legal script consultant to prime-time TV legal dramas, has been inspired by best-selling legal thriller writers like Scott Turow and John Grisham, but equally by TV producers like Stephen Bochco (“L.A. Law,” “Hill Street Blues,” “NYPD Blue”) and David E. Kelley (“The Practice,” “Boston Legal,” “Ally McBeal,” Harry’s Law”), as well as old time detectives like John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee. He also provided full time legal analysis for E! Entertainment Television’s live coverage of the O.J. Simpson criminal trial as well as commentary for E!’s coverage of the Simpson civil trial. He started writing DEATH ON A HIGH FLOOR in the mid-2000s.
“The novel was in some ways an attempt to integrate several parts of my life – working as a lawyer, covering the Simpson trial for TV, consulting on dramatic TV scripts, etc.,” Rosenberg says. “I’ve been involved in trial work, but I’ve also taught a lot of adjunct law courses, including Law and Popular Culture – a course about the image of lawyers in the media and how accurately lawyers are depicted in the movies and on TV. So in writing my own novel I had the special challenge of being as accurate as I could be within the constraints of fiction.”
The novel’s title stems from the fact that glitzy, high-end law firms, such as the one Rosenberg describes, “are always on the high floors of tall buildings,” he says. “In many ways, this is a fall-from-grace novel. Tarza, accused of murder, in a sense falls from high up, socially and financially, because of that. He eventually ends up with an eccentric criminal defense lawyer from what you might call the low-floors.”
The appeal to readers of DEATH ON A HIGH FLOOR is simple, Rosenberg maintains. “There’s a large market for courtroom dramas. Lots of people like them because courtrooms are the perfect place for drama – conflict and resolution, all in one small room.” Rosenberg also hints that there will be a sequel to DEATH ON A HIGH FLOOR.

Giveaways, Contests & Prizes!

Free Preview: SCRUMPTIOUS by Amanda Usen

2011-12-07T06:50:00.001-08:00

Sourcebooks has some exciting and wonderful stuff coming up as we speed ahead into the holiday season! First up is a free three chapter preview of the new (January) release, Scrumptious by debut author Amanda Usen.

The free preview can be found at these links:

http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/scrumptious-free-excerpt.html

http://www.amazon.com/Scrumptious-EXCERPT-Free-ebook/dp/B006CU2A0K

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scrumptious-excerpt-amanda-usen/1107766551?ean=9781402273216&itm=1&usri=scrumptious+excerpt

The book has received great early praise from the following publications and you can read more about the story below.

“In the small but expanding niche of foodie romance, Usen’s debut rules the kitchen with lip-smacking prose and rowdy protagonists who put Iron Chef to shame...the pacing, emotion, and erotic exuberance all sparkle.”
- Publishers Weekly

“In her superbly crafted debut, Usen blends together two realistically complicated protagonists, a well-realized culinary setting (complete with mouthwatering descriptions of food), and plenty of incendiary love scenes. The resulting literary dish is a smart, sexy, simply irresistible contemporary romance.”
- Booklist

“The title perfectly summarizes the feel of this book. Both the main characters and the culinary dishes are described in such a way that readers can practically taste, see and feel every word. Usen has a way with words and it translates to a solid storyline with great sex scenes.”
- RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

TALL, DARK & DELICIOUS

Joe Rafferty is just as mouthwatering as the food he cooks. But if he thinks he's going to waltz in and take over her kitchen, he's denser than a thick slice of chocolate ripple cheesecake. Marly has invested too much of her life in Chameleon to hand off the restaurant to someone else—especially a cocky-as-all-get-out superstar chef. But there's no denying the man knows how to light her fire. Question is: Can she have the sizzle without feeling the burn?

Doesn't this sound yummy? I am definitely headed over to download the preview to my Kindle.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Childhood Favorites

2011-12-06T17:58:00.001-08:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature at The Broke and the Bookish, because over at The Broke and the Bookish, they love lists!

This week's topic is Top Ten Childhood Favorites. This being my first Top Ten Tuesday, I am thrilled with the list!

In no particular order, here are my Top Ten, with series noted:

Mirror of Danger by Pamela Sykes. This was a book I found by chance on the shelf at B. Dalton and spent my allowance money to buy. Absolutely loved it because it dealt with time travel, the supernatural and the Victorian era.

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous. Okay, so regardless of whether or not this book was complete fiction, when I was growing up it was considered gospel and the book literally scared the pants off me and terrified me of any and all drugs. I think I read it annually as a teen and it petrified me each and every time.

Mommie Dearest by Christina Crawford. No, this isn't a juvenile book but I can't recall how many times I checked it out of the library and read it. I have loved classic movies as long as I can remember and Joan Crawford has long been a personal favorite. I was fascinated by her daughter's tale of life with the legend, even if I now believe it was exaggerated and flat out made up for a buck.

To All My Fans, With Love, From Sylvie by Ellen Conford. I loved all of Ellen Conford's books so choosing just one isn't easy. It was a toss up between Hail, Hail, Camp Timberwood and this one. I loved this one because it took place in the 1950s and the heroine (Sylvie) is a teen who is hoofing it to Hollywood to become a movie star. I loved the descriptions of the 1950s and the Hollywood connection.

Flowers in the Attic Series by V. C. Andrews. This is the series that I became utterly and unapologetically obsessed with. Heck, I'm still obsessed, even today. Just looking at the book brings back feelings of being a young teen. This was our version of late night Cinemax before Cinemax was invented. Many, many hours were spent reading and discussing Chris and Cathy and mooning over Chris.

Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Loved these books, loved the Michael Landon show and loved tales of life in Walnut Grove. Who didn't want to be Laura Ingalls when she was a girl? She was the frontier's answer to Elizabeth Bennet.

Anything by Judy Blume. Growing up in the 70s, you couldn't avoid Judy Blume. From the adolescent girl's bible, Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret to her collection of Fudge books to even the "naughty" Forever, a Blume book was a must-have. She talked about subjects that were considered taboo at the time - - masturbation, puberty, divorce.

Anything by Lois Duncan. As an early lover of the supernatural and paranormal, I adored Lois Duncan's books. The ones that stand out most are Daughters of Eve, Down a Dark Hall, Summer of Fear, Stranger with My Face (which was made into a horribly cheesy tv movie starring Linda Blair), Killing Mr. Griffin, I Know What You Did Last Summer and (quite possibly my absolute favorite) Locked in Time. Ms. Duncan was quite prolific and her stories were considered dark for the time (1970s/early 1980s).

Anything by Beverly Cleary. From The Mouse and the Motorcycle to Henry and Ribsy to the Beezus and Ramona books and continuing on into Fifteen and The Luckiest Girl, Beverly Cleary met your literary needs from the early to late elementary school years.

My Sweet Audrina by V.C. Andrews. Yes, again with Ms. Andrews. With My Sweet Audrina she proved that the Flowers in the Attic series wasn't a flash in the pan. This book is a stand alone and it completely defines a gothic horror. Like Flowers, I read it many, many times.

Honorable Mentions:

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

Hanging Out with Cici by Francine Pascal

Ghosts I Have Been by Richard Peck

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Patterson

The Cat Ate My Gymsuit and The Pistachio Prescription by Paula Danziger

Anything by Marilyn Sachs

So how about you? Any books on my list that would make your Top Ten?

Book Review: THE MAGIC TOUCH by Dara England

2011-12-05T13:33:00.001-08:00

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Fairy godmother Ambrielle is having an off year. Placed on probation by the fairy council, she’s going to have to perform a miracle in twenty-four hours in order to stay in the godmothering game. Her assignment? To help a reluctant young bachelor woo back his ex-girlfriend while turning his failing career around. But with her stubborn charge fighting her at every turn and her godmother license on the line, is Ambrielle about to lose her first battle? One thing’s for sure, she’s not going to hang up her wand without a fight.

The Magic Touch by Dara England is a fun little book - - but keep that in mind. It's a little book. It's described as "a short story" on the cover and a "novelette" elsewhere and neither description is an understatement. In fact, the brevity of the story is its sole weakness in my opinion. In a tale that can be read in half an hour or less there is little time to delve into the characters' backgrounds, motives and personalities - - which is truly a shame in this case because both Ambrielle, the fairy godmother, and Danny, her stubborn male assignment, were ripe for more inspection.

The reader is given some basic background on Ambrielle and I would have thoroughly enjoyed chapters on her backstory, as well as the other fairy godmothers she references. Some are traditional, some are modern, some are hippies - - what fun it would have been to read about them in their element. I also would have appreciated more of Ambrielle's attempts with Danny and her taking over his apartment and life while she was turning his life around.

Danny too had a backstory but we were provided precious little of it. Due to the nature of the short story, we entered the tale after Danny had already lost his girlfriend and his job was the pits. If The Magic Touch was an average length novel we may have been able to meet Danny prior to his breakup and actually learn to care about him through his travails. We may also have been able to meet Charlotte, his girlfriend, and know more about her - - anything about her, actually - - other than she was Danny's girlfriend.

I also would have liked to been privy to the results of Ambrielle's work at the conclusion of the story.

All that said, was there any benefit to The Magic Touch? Absolutely! I loved the fairy godmother concept and I was delighted that Ambrielle wasn't the stereotypical fairy godmother of lore but rather a young, modern day version. She didn't wear a big pastel colored ballgown or wings and her magic wand was cleverly disguised in her handbag. Danny didn't take her at her word and accept the fairy godmother angle immediately and Ambrielle had to prove her worth to him.

In short (pun fully intended), the overall concept of The Magic Touch was a good one, if not wholly original. It made for a cute and quick read and one that left me wishing for more. More fairy godmothers, more Ambrielle and more on Danny's future after his fairy godmother's interference. Maybe Ms. England will be listening and will expand the story?

The Magic Touch is available for purchase as an e-book for the Kindle at Amazon. I am an Amazon affiliate. If you make a purchase through my link, I will receive a small commission.

FTC Disclosure: This book came from my own personal collection. I was neither compensated nor paid in any way for this review.

Book Review: FAMILY STORMS and CLOUDBURST by V.C. Andrews

2011-11-23T19:15:00.001-08:00

BOOK DESCRIPTION: In the eye of the storm . . .

Living on the streets with her destitute mother, selling knickknacks and trinkets just to survive, Sasha Porter dreams of someday having a normal life, with a real house and family. But she never dreamed a devastating tragedy would bring her those very things: on a stormy night by a rainspattered highway, a speeding car veers out of control, striking and killing her mother and badly injuring Sasha.

. . . is anywhere truly safe?

In the hospital, Sasha is whisked off to a fancy private suite at the request of wealthy Mrs. Jordan March, a complete stranger who keeps watch by Sasha’s bedside and insists she come live at her family’s sprawling, luxurious mansion. Sasha soon learns Mrs. March never recovered from the loss of her daughter Alena, and with nowhere else to go, Sasha agrees to use Alena’s room, sleep in her bed, and wear her clothes. But someone will make sure that Sasha never takes Alena’s place: a jealous sister dead set on making Sasha’s life a living hell.

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Fate swept Sasha Porter into the lap of luxury, and into a torrent of bitter lies and shocking betrayals—all revealed in the riveting new novel CLOUDBURST (Pocket Star Books; October 25, 2011; $7.99) from bestselling author V.C. Andrews^®.

Since being taken in by wealthy Mrs. Jordan March and living in her exquisite home like a daughter, Sasha Porter’s traumatic past—destitute on the streets, and the shattering accident that killed her mother—seems like a fading nightmare. Beautiful and sophisticated, as bold and daring as her “sister,” Kiera March, Sasha still keeps her mother’s wise words close to her heart: never fully trust anyone. Inside her privileged new world, it’s advice that will prove more precious than gold.

Against the wishes of Jordan’s husband, Donald, Sasha attracts the attention of Ryder Garfield, a shy, handsome athlete, and maneuvers her way into his heart. But Ryder’s hidden torment soon explodes in a horrific tragedy that pulls Sasha into a flood of guilt and despair. And when someone she thought she could trust targets her vulnerability, Sasha recalls her mother’s warnings—and a violent storm of dark deceptions and shocking family secrets is unleashed. Will she sink or swim?

When I think back to my adolescence, V.C. Andrews always pops into my mind. She was my absolute favorite author, with her Dollanganger/Flowers in the Attic series being the first set of books I became absolutely obsessed with. I still remember the thrills and excitement of a new V.C. Andrews release and hurrying to the local B. Dalton (pre-Barnes & Noble and Amazon) to pick it up as quickly as I could and staying up late into the night to devour it. Such were my emotions when I was asked to read and review Family Storms and Cloudburst, the two entries in the new "Secrets" saga - - thrills, excitement and a flashback to my teen years.

For those readers not in the know, author V.C. Andrews passed away in 1986, leaving her family to hire a writer to continue her legacy with outlines of future stories. Sadly, those sketches left by Ms. Andrews seem to be long gone.

Perhaps it's unfair for me to rate these books against the Flowers in the Attic series - - my absolute favorites - - but I can't help but do so. No one would accuse V.C. Andrews' writing of approaching Shakespearian levels; in fact, she was the late 70s/early 80s generation's Stephenie Meyers. She was a storyteller of addictive proportions, creating absolutely unforgettable characters and giving her tales a creepy, gothic factor. Family Secrets and Cloudburst fall short in this regard, although not for lack of potential.

The premise is good enough - - homeless young girl taken in by an obscenely wealthy family shrouded in secrets and with a young daughter who died tragically and a living daughter, spiraling out of control, who not only is responsible for the accident that placed Sasha in her family home and took her mother away from her but who deeply resents her.

I can't help but think if this book had been written and published 25-30 years ago, a deep dark secret would have been revealed about the younger daughter's death, one of the housekeepers might have been a Rebecca-esque Mrs. Danvers and perhaps Jordan Marsh may have literally tried to turn Sasha into her deceased daughter. Alas, none of this came to pass.

Similarly, in Cloudburst, several interesting storyline opportunities were passed up or allowed to slowly peter out. Characters that could have and should have been fleshed out were not; some issues were dragged out to nearly painful proportions.

Sasha was a confusing heroine for me. I liked her better in Family Storms although her ignorance at times was confounding. In Cloudburst she didn't seem like the best kind of friend and frankly, I couldn't understand how she kept the friends she had or why any of them would want to befriend her. I wanted to like her more than I did but she was so frustrating at times that I wanted to pull at my own hair.

I was disappointed with the ending of Cloudburst, which felt more like a non-ending to me. I waited for the trademark V.C. Andrews twists and turns and they simply were not forthcoming. Also missing was the gothic feel so apparent in early Andrews works, like the Flowers in the Attic series and the stunning stand alone, My Sweet Audrina.

Purely cosmetic and shallow but I loved the covers from the earliest Andrews books - - they added to the stories and told tales of their own. I don't particularly care for the more recent covers that feature simple photos. They are rather dull and honestly, the model(s) on the covers look(s) much too old to be Sasha.

That said, these are still V.C. Andrews books and, as such, they make great vacation books, or a good book to curl up with on a cold and rainy day. They won't be the filet mignon of your library but they are a quick fast food burger and will satisfy your literary cravings.

Family Storms and Cloudburst are available for purchase at major booksellers now, including Amazon. I am an Amazon affiliate. If you make a purchase through my link, I will receive a small commission.

Review copy of this book provided by Simon and Schuster in exchange for a fair and honest review. In no way did the provision of the book affect the outcome of my review.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Thanks to the lovely Melissa Gramstad of Simon & Schuster, I have one copy of Cloudburst to give away to a lucky reader!

To enter, please leave me a comment and let me know what your favorite V.C. Andrews book or series is.

For an additional entry each, like my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter and/or subscribe to Psychotic State Book Reviews via Feed Burner.

Blog, Tweet or Facebook this giveaway (leaving a link) for an additional 2 entries.

Winner to be drawn at random via randomizer.org. Shipment to U.S. and Canadian addresses only.

Deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. PST Friday, December 9, 2011.

Good luck to all!

Giveaway Winner: JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT

2011-11-23T14:50:00.001-08:00

And the lucky winner of a brand new copy of Jane Austen Made Me Do It by Laurel Ann Nattress is . . .

Mama Zen

Congratulations! I will be emailing you directly to get your mailing address for your new book.

Thank you again to author Laurel Ann Nattress for making this giveaway possible. Please visit Laurel Ann at her blogs, Austenprose and Jane Austen Made Me Do It, as well as Facebook and Twitter. Click here to read Laurel Ann's guest blog at Psychotic State Book Reviews.

Compliments to randomizer.org for selecting the lucky winner.

Happy reading!

MAILBOX MONDAY: November 15, 2011

2011-11-15T20:32:00.001-08:00

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house during the previous week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists! Mailbox Monday is being hosted at the Mailbox Monday blog for the month of November.

Here is what I received last week:

Poisoned Love by Caitlin Rother (received for book tour with Pump Up Your Book)

SYNOPSIS: On November 6, 2000, paramedics answered a call to find Kristin Rossum, 24, sobbing. Her husband, Greg de Villers, wasn't breathing and she claimed he had overdosed on drugs after learning she was leaving him. But family and friends who knew of Greg's distaste for drugs weren't buying Kristin's story--particularly the idea that he would take his own life.

The daughter of a well-to-do California family, Rossum was a brainy blonde beauty whose talent for toxicology had won her a post at the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office. But her sweet smile masked a dark side. She'd developed a taste for methamphetamine in high school, and six months after her marriage to Greg, she'd begun seeking secret trysts with other men.

At the time of her husband's death, Rossum was engaged in an illicit affair with her married boss. Investigators found that the Medical Examiner's Office was missing supplies of meth and fentanyl, the narcotic that had killed her husband. With each clue discovered, another piece of Rossum's "good girl" façade fell away. What the world would eventually see was the true face of a murderer--and the hand of justice. . .

Dreaming of Mr. Darcy by Victoria Connelly (received from Sourcebooks for review)

SYNOPSIS: Fledgling illustrator and Darcy fanatic Kay Ashton settles in the seaside town of Lyme to finish her book, The Illustrated Mr. Darcy, when a film company arrives to make a new adaptation of Persuasion. Kay is soon falling for the handsome bad boy actor playing Captain Wentworth, but it's the quiet screenwriter Adam Craig who has more in common with her beloved Mr. Darcy. Though still healing from a broken heart, Adam finds himself unexpectedly in love with Kay, but it will take more than good intentions to convince her that her real happy ending is with him.

Death on a High Floor by Charles Rosenberg (received for book tour with Pump Up Your Books)

SYNOPSIS: When the much-despised Marbury Marfan senior partner Simon Rafer turns up dead, with an ornate dagger buried between his shoulder blades, it comes as a surprise to no one. Simon was an abusive boss and had recently been on the warpath, clearing the "dead wood" from the legal firm he treated as his personal fiefdom. Nearly a thousand attorneys and associates, scattered across four continents, had good reason to want Rafer dead, but homicide Detective Spritz has his eye trained on Marbury Marfan partner Robert Tarza, in particular. Tarza and his friend and colleague---and maybe a bit more---Jenna are soon forced to play detective themselves, in a race to find the real killer or killers before Spritz finishes assembling a collection of evidence that will make a very credible case against Tarza.

What goodies arrived in your mailbox last week?

Giveaway: BLACK SUN'S DAUGHTER SERIES by M.L.N. Hanover

2011-11-13T19:12:00.001-08:00

UNCLEAN SPIRITS (BOOK ONE): In a world where magic walks and demons ride, you can't always play by the rules.

Jayné Heller thinks of herself as a realist, until she discovers reality isn't quite what she thought it was. When her uncle Eric is murdered, Jayné travels to Denver to settle his estate, only to learn that it's all hers -- and vaster than she ever imagined. And along with properties across the world and an inexhaustible fortune, Eric left her a legacy of a different kind: his unfinished business with a cabal of wizards known as the Invisible College.
Led by the ruthless Randolph Coin, the Invisible College harnesses demon spirits for their own ends of power and domination. Jayné finds it difficult to believe magic and demons can even exist, let alone be responsible for the death of her uncle. But Coin sees Eric's heir as a threat to be eliminated by any means -- magical or mundane -- so Jayné had better start believing in something to save her own life.
Aided in her mission by a group of unlikely companions -- Aubrey, Eric's devastatingly attractive assistant; Ex, a former Jesuit with a lethal agenda; Midian, a two-hundred-year-old man who claims to be under a curse from Randolph Coin himself; and Chogyi Jake, a self-styled Buddhist with mystical abilities -- Jayné finds that her new reality is not only unexpected, but often unexplainable. And if she hopes to survive, she'll have to learn the new rules fast -- or break them completely....

DARKER ANGELS (BOOK TWO): In the battle between good and evil, there's no such thing as a fair fight.

When Jayné Heller's uncle Eric died, she inherited a fortune beyond all her expectations -- and a dangerous mission in a world she never knew existed. Reining in demons and supernatural foes is a formidable task, but thankfully Jayné has vast resources and loyal allies to rely on. She'll need both to tackle a bodyswitching serial killer who's taken up residence in New Orleans, a city rich in voodoo lore and dark magic.

Working alongside Karen Black, a highly confident and enigmatic ex-FBI agent, Jayné races to track down the demon's next intended host. But the closer she gets, the more convinced she becomes that nothing in this beautiful, wounded city is exactly as it seems. When shocking secrets come to light, and jealousy and betrayal turn trusted friends into adversaries, Jayné will soon come face-to-face with an enemy that knows her all too well, and won't rest until it has destroyed everything she loves most....

VICIOUS GRACE (BOOK THREE): When you’re staring evil in the eye, don’t forget to watch your back . . .

For the first time in forever, Jayné Heller’s life is making sense. Even if she routinely risks her life to destroy demonic parasites that prey on mortals, she now has friends, colleagues, a trusted lover, and newfound confidence in the mission she inherited from her wealthy, mysterious uncle. Her next job might just rob her of all of them. At Grace Memorial Hospital in Chicago, something is stirring. Patients are going AWOL and research subjects share the same sinister dreams. Half a century ago, something was buried under Grace in a terrible ritual, and it’s straining to be free. Jayné is primed to take on whatever’s about to be let loose. Yet the greatest danger now may not be the huge, unseen force lurking below, but the evil that has been hiding in plain sight all along—taking her ever closer to losing her body, her mind, and her soul. . . .

KILLING RITES (BOOK FOUR): Jayné Heller has discovered the source of her uncanny powers: something else is living inside her body. She’s possessed. Of all her companions, she can only bring herself to confide in Ex, the former priest. They seek help from his old teacher, hoping to cleanse Jayne before the parasite in her becomes too powerful. Ex’s history and a new enemy combine to leave Jayne alone and on the run. Her friends try to hunt her down, unaware of the danger they’re putting her in. Jayne must defeat the past, and her only allies are a rogue vampire she once helped free—and the names thing hiding inside her skin.

Thanks to the lovely Melissa Gramstad at Gallery Books/Pocket Books, I have A COMPLETE SET of The Black Sun's Daughter Series, Unclean Spirits, Darker Angels, Vicious Grace, and Killing Rites (due out November 29, 2011) to give away to a lucky reader!

To enter, simply leave me a comment with your name and email address (or at least indicate that your email address may be found in your profile). NO EMAIL ADDRESS = NO ENTRY!

For additional entries:

+2 New blog followers
+1 Current blog followers
+2 New subscribers to Psychotic State Book Reviews via Feed Burner
+1 Current subscribers to Psychotic State Book Reviews via Feed Burner
+2 New Psychotic State Book Reviews Facebook follower
+1 Current Psychotic State Book Reviews Facebook follower
+2 New Twitter follower
+1 Current Twitter follower
+5 Repost or re-Tweet giveaway (leave link)

Please be sure to note if you are a current follower, new follower, etc. so that you get proper credit. Please leave a separate comment/post for EACH entry and a valid email address with each entry.

No P.O. boxes. No Military APOs. This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada only. My apologies to my overseas friends. Only one copy per household.

Contest to end on Black Friday, November 25, 2011 at 11:59 P.M. PST and the lucky winners drawn by randomizer.org on Saturday, November 26, 2011.

Good luck!

October Readathon: WINNERS!

2011-11-12T15:37:00.001-08:00

At long last, I have the winners for the October Readathon, THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT. I apologize for the delay.

Because I had a relatively small turnout with some "repeat offenders" (and many thanks to you!) I put all the bloggers'/reviewers' names in a list and let Randomizer select them in order of 1 through 8. Winner 1 will get her choice of book from the list of available books, then we will go to Winner 2 who can choose from the remaining books and so forth. Without further ado, the following are the winners in order:

1. Petra @ Hazel the Witch

2. Lovely Lit

3. Nikki at Close Encounters

4. Sweet Marie83

5. Teresa @ Read All Over Reviews

6. Joy Renee

7. Cassandra @ Book and Movie Dimension

8. Michelle @ Castle Macabre

Congratulations!! Ladies, please click here to view the post with the listing of books. I will email Petra first and once she selects her book, I will then contact Lovely Lit and so on.

Compliments to randomizer.org for selecting the lucky winners.

Happy reading!

CONQUER CANCER FUNDRAISER

2011-11-12T13:35:00.001-08:00

My very dear friend Sherri Lacy was recently diagnosed with cancer. Sherri is a fighter (one of the many reasons I love her) and has a large, loving group behind her, supporting her and her family as she begins this battle. Because treatments can be costly, I am donating all proceeds from the sales of my products until the end of the year to Sherri and her family.

If you are looking for holiday gifts, or would like a unique and personalized bag, tote, storage accessory and/or stationery and note cards, please visit my website.

You can also find information on THE CONQUER CANCER FUNDRAISER Facebook page.

If you'd like to donate to this warm and wonderful lady without purchase of a product, please contact me for further information.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post and I ask that you please keep Sherri and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Book Review: BURIED SECRETS by Joseph Finder

2011-11-05T16:37:00.000-07:00

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Joseph Finder introduced Nick Heller, a "private spy" who finds out things powerful people want to keep hidden, to widespread acclaim from the critics and wild enthusiasm from the readers, in the New York Timesbestselling novel Vanished. Now, in Buried Secrets, Nick Heller returns, finding himself in the middle of a life-or-death situation that's both high-profile and intensely personal.

Nick has returned to his old home town of Boston to set up his own shop. There he's urgently summoned by an old family friend. Hedge fund titan Marshall Marcus desperately needs Nick's help. His teenaged daughter, Alexa, has just been kidnapped. Her abduction was clearly a sophisticated professional job, done with extraordinary precision. Alexa, whom Nick has known since she was young, is now buried alive, held prisoner in an underground crypt, a camera trained on her, her suffering streaming live over the internet. She's been left with a limited supply of food and water and, if her father doesn't meet the demands of her shadowy kidnappers, she'll die. And as Nick begins to probe, he discovers that all is not quite right with Marshall Marcus's business. He's being investigated by the FBI, he has a lot of shady investors, his fund is in danger and now he has a lot of powerful enemies who may have the motivation to go after Marcus's daughter. But to find out who's holding Alexa Marcus hostage, Nick has to find out why. Once he does, he uncovers an astonishing conspiracy that reaches far beyond anything he could have imagined. And if he's going to find Alexa in time, he will have to flush out and confront some of his deadliest opponents ever.

I have been a fan of Joseph Finder's for many years, appreciating his action-a-minute books, complete with mystery, intrigue and characters you can really root for. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review Buried Secrets and it did not disappoint.

Fair warning - - if you are claustrophobic or have anxiety thinking about being entrapped in some fashion, Buried Secrets at the least will make you squirm and, at worst, will be downright unreadable. The mental and emotional torture depicted on the pages is so intense that it's painfully disturbing. And yet I wasn't able to put the book down.

Nick Heller, the private investigator in the midst of all the action, is a terrific character this reader quickly and easily warmed up to and wanted to succeed. He's smart, he's wily and determined and he's not going to give up until he gets what he wants. He also has a delicious sense of humor that brings some much needed lighter moments to the book.

Finder is an adept and skilled writer, one of the best thriller novelists out there. If you haven't read one of his books, I cannot encourage you enough to give him a try. He knows how to pen tension like no other and some of his scenes will literally make your skin crawl. He does not waste a page, a paragraph or a word. You will find some of the tightest, taunt writing out there in a Joseph Finder novel.

Finder places plot twists throughout like indiscriminate land mines, making the book unpredictable, explosive and swiftly paced. Reading Buried Secrets is like running a mad dash or being involved in a high speed chase - - your heart will pound, you will be moving on adrenaline and when it's over you will be physically spent. But the exertion is well worth it.

Reading Buried Secrets, like reading any Finder novel, is an event, plain and simple. And one you won't want to miss.

This is the second book in a series featuring Nick Heller (Vanished being the first) and I look forward to Finder's next outing with the intrepid PI. Even if you haven't read Vanished, Buried Secrets will be an addiction you won't be able to shake.

Buried Secrets is available for purchase now at major booksellers including Amazon. I am an Amazon affiliate. If you make a purchase through my link, I will receive a small commission.

Review copy of this book provided by Amazon Vine in exchange for a fair and honest review. In no way did the provision of the book affect the outcome of my review.