Book Reviews by Courtney Bauman

Roses Are Red by James Patterson

2013-05-19T14:17:00.002-05:00

The sixth installment in the heart-racing Alex Cross series.

I don’t know if I am sweating because it is hot in my house and I am drinking coffee, or if it is because of the emotional roller coaster that this book just sent me on.

I am guessing the latter.

This is probably one of the best suspense/thriller novels I have read in a long time. Probably since the second book in this series Kiss the Girls.

Alex Cross is put on a disturbing case involving multiple bank robberies and murders.

The problem – They are all organized by one person, The Mastermind.

Who is the Mastermind? He is an intelligent person that has access to all of the information he would ever need. How is this possible? Is this man someone inside of the FBI, the police force, or does he just have the best resources anyone could imagine? Well, you will just have to read it to find out…

We meet a new character in this one – Betsey. She is the head of the investigation from the FBI’s side. She is smart, witty, and an overall good person.

I really enjoyed how she and Alex worked together.

This was one of the most interesting cases I think. Just because we don’t figure out who is behind it until the end, so it is a mystery. It was mysterious, it was disturbing, and it takes you on a wild ride.

5/5 stars for sure. If I could choose one book out of all that I have read to receive a full 5/5 rating, this one would be it. It is a must read. But do yourself a favor and read the previous 5 Alex Cross books before diving into this one. It isn’t necessary, but just trust me on that.

Just…. WOW.

It is going to take me awhile to recover from this one.

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Read ahead for spoilers!

Christine leaving Alex for good nearly broke my little reader heart. I am glad he gets to keep the baby though.

I wanted Betsey and Alex to be a couple once the case was over….. THEN SHE GETS MURDERED. I just wanted to cry and scream. WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME MR. PATTERSON. WHY!

KYLE…. CRAIG?!?! WHAT. HOW IS HE THE MASTERMIND. I sort of speculated it while I was reading, because you never know what Patterson is going to throw at you. But I didn’t think that would actually happen. My mind= Blown.

Pop Goes the Weasel by James Patterson

2013-05-14T17:10:00.001-05:00

Alex Cross stars in this crazy novel Pop Goes the Weasel.

He encounters one of the craziest and unpredictable serial killers yet. Will this case prove to be too much for Cross to handle. Will they ever find the killer?

When Alex’s lover goes missing, his whole life is turned upside down, and his motivation to solve the case goes through the roof. He is taunted by The Weasel and can’t stand the thought that Christine may be dead.

In a case that has more victims than the police have answers, this turns out to be one of Cross’s worst cases yet.

Will he catch the Weasel once and for all? You have to read to find out!

One thing I really liked about this one is that we got a lot of insight into what was going on in the killer’s mind. It made it more interesting!

4/5 stars. It was a great read, but there were some parts in the middle that seemed to drag on a little long. Otherwise, it kept me captivated by wondering if they would find Christine alive.

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Dog Park by Deena Marie Kaylee

2013-05-12T20:52:00.002-05:00

Dog Park is a book to read if you want a feel-good story.

It is all centered around the love of pets and the importance of pets in life. And more than that, it is also a religious story as well.

As an animal lover myself, I really it make it enjoyed how the dogs took the main stage at different parts in this book, and it made it fun to read.

Bamboo and Brutus were the stars of this books just as love was in the stars for their owners.

It is a cute love story where two members and workers of a church come together by chance at a dog park, and their lives are never the same after that.

It brings comedy to the notion that first impressions are very important, but also shows how relationships can change when two people get to know eachother.

5/5 stars. It was short and sweet, and there were plenty of adorable doggy scenes!

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Black Book Part 2: Out of Time by Dylan Jones

2013-05-12T00:25:00.004-05:00

Sherriff Jack is back!

This installment of Black Book was more confusing than the first.

There were two different story-lines that were being shared, and the one with the President lost me after they were placed into Pods.

It seemed like they were aliens… or facing aliens. I am not really sure.

Then there was the story line that was centered around Jack. I think he was travelling back in time? Then he ends up with an old man that knows him, but he doesn’t know the old man.

It was intriguing, maybe because I was trying to figure out what was going on.

I am looking forward to reading the 3^rd installment, and maybe some of it will be cleared up.

2/5 stars. I just could not figure out what was going on half of the time, but it left off as a cliff hanger, and I want to know what happens next.

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Snow Day by Dan Maurer

2013-05-11T14:32:00.001-05:00

Snow day is a novella that is told like a spooky campfire story told to children. It also reads like it could be a child’s nightmare.

I really enjoyed the writing of this novella. Mr. Maurer did a wonderful job of setting the tone of the story. It was spooky throughout the whole story and had a hint of doom around each corner.

It tells the story of one snow day. Usually snow days are days that children love more than none other. What could beat getting out of school for the day and being able to play in the snow? Not much!

But when things go in a horribly wrong direction that leaves the main character haunted for life, snow days aren’t something to be excited over anymore.

Some parts are a little silly, and some parts are very gorey (the ending for sure!). But, there is just something about this story that keeps you holding on until the very end. It captivates your mind by drawing very explicit mental images, and I think that is where the skill of the writer comes in.

If you are into spooky and somewhat unsettling novellas, this one is for you!

5/5 stars. Kept me hanging on until the end, and Dan Maurer did a wonderful job with descriptive writing.

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12th of Never by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

2013-05-11T14:12:00.001-05:00

It is that time of year again --

My person is back! Lindsay Boxer and the rest of the Women’s Murder Club is back for the 12^th installment!

And as always, Mr. Patterson does not disappoint!

Lindsay has just become a mother, but she doesn’t get any time off. After having baby Julie, she is thrown right back into the hectic mess that is investigating homicides in San Francisco.

Claire’s job is on the line when a high-profile murder victim’s body disappears.

Cindy and Rich’s relationship hits a bump in the road.

And Yuki has the court case from hell!

One of the many things I loved about this novel was how many story lines were all intertwined with each other. Yet, in classic Patterson form, it doesn’t get confusing and all flows together.

Once a book series starts getting up in the double digits, you may expect the books to start getting worse, but it hasn’t happened yet here. This novel was just as exciting as 1-11 and it was hard to put down.

This is my favorite book series, and I was really excited when my pre-order copy came in the mail. The fact that the quality of the book still matches the earlier installments just reinforces why Patterson is my favorite author.

5/5 Stars. It lived up to all expectations, and of course…. Leaves you begging for the next book.

Click to purchase! Really... click it!

Women's Murder Club Series

Read ahead for spoilers!

I still don’t really like Joe and Lindsay together. Never have. And I don’t really have a good reason to justify my feelings.

I KNEW Morales was sketchy from the beginning, but I was not expecting the twist in the car pile-up accident with Fish.

The only thing that was really lacking from this one was badass cop Lindsay. Instead we got a lot of soft emotional momma Lindsay. Which is alright, every character needs a complete arc, but I’m hoping from some more bad-ass-ery out of Lindsay in 13.

F in Exams by Richard Benson

2013-05-05T14:17:00.000-05:00

Now that my finals week is over, and others are going through the stress as I am writing this. I thought I would bring this little book of comedic relief.

F in Exams brings laughs from reading what students write when they are clueless on exams.

It is something to keep your mind at ease if only for the little time that it takes to read it.

It is a short book, so don’t worry about it cutting into study time. Everyone needs a break every now and then, right?

Take a break from the stress in life and pick this up. It’s sure to make you laugh!

5/5 stars

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Black Book Part 1: The Devil's Blood by Dylan Jones

2013-04-10T18:07:00.000-05:00

Warning: If you don’t like gore, this may not be for you.

This short story is just part one of a larger series involving the protagonist, Sheriff Jack.

It introduces Jack coming face-to-face with evil, even the Devil himself.

It lays down a good beginning character arc for the Sheriff to introduce you to this character and understand the tone of the series.

Sheriff Jack is the bad-ass protagonist that you want in any action series, and when you finish part one, you will not be disappointes.

I enjoyed the feel and tone of this story. It is dark and mysterious. It is also full of action and gore.

5/5 – This series has a lot of potential, stay tuned for more!

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The Last Judges by Jedi Gong

2013-04-10T10:14:00.000-05:00

This book has elements of survival, war, and is semi-apocalyptic. And even more than than that, it is spiritual and paranormal. It offers a little bit of everything, and there is even some romance near the end.

This is a book that starts out by telling the stories of strangers that are all experiencing the weird natural disasters that are popping up all over the country.

Then, it turns into a book about destiny.

These individuals come together and learn how to survive these crazy events with limited resources, ...and a psychic.

It will take you on a crazy ride, and an emotional one at that. You will hate some characters and you will love others, but you will end up rooting for this group of strangers in the end.

It takes the story of the anti-christ and the mark of the beast to a whole new level. With witches and warlocks, mysterious twins, and a gun-happy girl with two pups, there is never a dull moment in this book. It will keep you hanging on until the very last page.

I enjoyed how every character had their own distinct personality. It made reading this fun because you got to know the characters along the way.

There are also two badass female characters, so that was fun as well!

I would give this a 4.5 just because of one highly uncomfortable moment which I will place in he spoiler section.

Other than that, it was well written. I felt a connection to the characters and was rooting for this group the whole way through.

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Read ahead for spoilers

The part that really disturbed me was when Cash came to visit the camp and he was hurting everyone. That wasn’t the disturbing part. It was disturbing when he was leaving and talking about taking Jade. It was just very uncomfortable to read.

When Dragon and Pyro first got to the camp, and Pyro went on his burning spree, I really disliked him. As the story progressed though, you see a different side to him, and he became a good character

Last Regress by Rachael Thorne

2013-03-11T18:29:00.000-05:00

This book is a wonderful combination of paranormal, Sci-fi, and romance. These are three different genres (though paranormal and sci-fi can sometimes go hand in hand), but the way they are woven together makes this story captivating.

The main character, Alyssa, works for a company that investigates the paranormal. She is interested in cases that are unusual and go unsolved.

When she opens the case file of the deceased Cain Andrews, her life is changed forever. Whether that is for better or worse is up to the reader to decide after finishing the book!

The story of Alyssa and Cain is wonderful, tragic, heart-breaking, and scary all wrapped up in one. You get a dose of everything.

There is also Alyssa’s best friend, Greg, He doesn’t believe anything Alyssa is going through, and after a while, as the reader, he begins to put doubt in your mind as well.

This book is written beautifully; the characters all have a wonderful story arc, and are completely developed. You have a sense of each of their personalities and feel as if you know them personally.

5/5 stars. Beautiful story, Wonderfully written.

It also leaves open the possibility for a sequel!

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Supernatural Freak by Louisa Klein

2013-02-18T21:03:00.001-06:00

The title of this book is very fitting. That is exactly what it is about, a supernatural freak. The main character is Robyn. She has abilities that no human has, and abilities that many people that do have supernatural abilities don’t have, and that makes her a target.

Many strange things happen around her that she has no explanation for, so she enlists the help of her wizard and witch friends, and also the ghost that conveniently lives in her attic.

This book is packed with action, but is also packed with tons of humor and wit, with a dash of romance... just a dash!

I find books a lot more enjoyable to read when there are good characters. That was the case with this one. I enjoyed all of the characters. They all had their own unique personalities, and they meshed well together to make this book exciting to read. You never knew what was going to come out of their mouths next.

Also, I wish I had an awesome ghost that lived in my attic.

5/5 This was thoroughly enjoyable. It was hilarious, it was suspenseful, and it was full of action! AND the characters were awesome!

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Capella Bright by Tara McCausland

2013-02-13T18:45:00.000-06:00

The end of this book is TERRIBL…….Y SUSPENSEFUL!

My jaw dropped as I read the last line.

If you like cliff hangers, don’t even read the rest of this review, just go directly to the link and purchase this book! I promise, you won’t regret it!

But I shall continue this… even though the top part should convince you right away to get it.

Moving on…

This book is geared toward young adults and features romance, family drama (that can be very relatable to some), and….. aliens again? Common theme here in February I see!

Actually, this book was fun to read after the last one I had read because they were both so DIFFERENT! It was kinda cool to compare the way the “others” were portrayed.

Anyways, the main character is Capella Maggie Hart. She meets the new kid in town, Alex, and there is a bond between them right away. One that neither of them could have possibly predicted the outcome of.

Maggie’s best friend has instant interest and is lusting over Alex. But he wants nothing from her. He is more interested in Maggie, quite to her surprise.

As they grow closer, the truth about who Alex really is comes out, and the rest of the book is a wild adventure involving Hunters, Pods, and strange guns.

Will Maggie and Alex be able to grow their budding relationship? Youll just have to read it to find out J

5/5 stars The character development was great. I grew super attached to them, and the story was just as good!

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Alien Tears by Darren Rogers

2013-02-10T16:23:00.000-06:00

This novel by Darren Rogers has a little bit of everything. Romance, violence, drama, and …… aliens?

When I began this novel the first thing I noticed was how long it was! But, once I began reading on, that was the furthest thing from my mind.

Alien Tears is centered (for the most part) around an individual named Mark. Mark seems like a typical teenage boy and starts falling heavily for a young lady named Tonya.

There is more to Mark than what you may think.

- - -

The aliens begin taking over Earth after one of their own is killed off by the government.

No one knows how to react, the president resigns, and people are dying by the bunches. The whole world is in chaos.

Would you know how to survive an alien invasion?

All they wanted was to make society better, but society rebelled and brought destruction upon themselves.

This novel reminded me almost of a modern day War of the Worlds.

It was an intense journey. One of happiness, sadness, and some… intimate moments as well.

4/5 stars There were a few grammatical errors that were distracting at times, but if you look past that (there may be a revised version out now), the story is great and will keep you hanging on until the end!

Click to purchase!

Read ahead for spoilers

I was annoyed when Myra turned around to get the stuffed animal for Deborah. I understand why she did it, but going back to a place where looters were going crazy was pretty much a death sentence in itself. Never mind the aliens coming in and actually killing them…

I also didn’t know whether I was rooting for the humans or the aliens. It was a weird feeling!

Once I got past the first part with Tonya and Mark, I had no idea why that part was there until they came back at the end and made everything come back full circle

Chief Complaint: Brain Tumor by John Kerastas

2013-01-26T13:17:00.000-06:00

Fun and enlightening with a side of emotion

I just want to start by saying this is one of the most humorous books that I have read in a while.

(this could be due to the fact that I usually read crime novels/thrillers… but moving on..)

John has a unique way of dealing with his diagnosis of a brain tumor. He uses humor.

He takes you through his diagnosis and procedures dealing with his tumor and makes it an interesting experience.

This book is great for anyone looking for a memoir of someone going through a similar experience or for family members as well. Whats great about it is that is also great for the average reader.

John has a great writing style that keeps you hanging on throughout the whole book. It is short as well, it only took me a few hours to read.

Clear an afternoon and pick up a copy. You will not regret it.

5/5 stars. I loved John’s sense of humor and his ability to tell his story through this.

Also, it takes place in Chicago, so I liked it even more… haha.

Click to purchase

Read ahead for spoilers

I was so sad when they had to put the dog down. Putting a pet down is so sad.

This Möbius Strip of Ifs by Mathias Freese

2013-01-25T21:16:00.001-06:00

This Möbius Strip of Ifs is not a book for those who do not wish to think a lot while reading.

This is a collection of short essays and memoirs by the author Mathias Freese. It is a very intellectual writing with a hint of emotion as well.

I found each different essay to be interesting in its own ways. Reading through each one was thoroughly enjoyable.

I find it hard to review books of this sort because they are all different. The writing styles are different, the subjects are different, and so on.

So, I will say this. If you want to pick up a book that reads sort of like an intellectual diary, I would pick this up.

Note that when I say diary, I am not lessening the effect of what Mathias has to say. I mean it in the way that he is the man behind each of these essays saying how he feels about different topics.

Overall 4/5 stars I really enjoyed it, but a few of the essays lost me. Bound to happen I supposed.

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Oil, The 4th Renewable Resource by Shawn Alli

2013-01-13T16:13:00.003-06:00

This book is in direct contrast with the one I just read in the way that it is really short! So much so that I got through it in only a few hours – with taking breaks as well.

Shawn Alli argues in his book the legitimacy of the oil shortage scare.

He provides many examples as well as in-depth research to further his arguments.

I feel like this book is very eye-opening. It is short, and easy to read. I believe it is a book that anyone interested in the topic or wanted to know more should pick up.

It should also be a side read in Universities, but Im not sure they would change their curriculum that easily. Maybe some day.

5/5 stars. For a book all about oil and fossil fuels (not a topic I enjoy TOO much), it was really interesting and kept my attention.

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Crochet Saved My Life by Kathryn Vercillo

2013-01-12T20:02:00.002-06:00

My first impression of this book – Wow, this is long!

Now, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sometime books must be long to achieve its goal. I feel like this one could have been condensed though. There were times where I felt that what I was reading was a bit redundant.

That being said, it was a very interesting book. I was wondering how a book completely about crochet could be interesting all the way through, but it was.

Kathryn explores many different mental and physical ailments that can be helped by the use of crochet. I didn’t know something so simple could help many symptoms of these complicated disorders. It was interesting to read each different section.

She gives a brief description of each disorder and then explains how the use of crochet helps different symptoms. She shares her own persona stories as well as stories of other individuals. I think this is what keeps the book interesting and not feeling like a text book.

Anyone who needs a new hobby, something to help a disorder you are suffering from, or if you already enjoy crochet, I would say you should pick this up and at least read the sections that pertain to you. Or you can just read it the whole way through.

3.5/5 stars. A bit redundant at times, and long – but, overall, it was very interesting.

Click to purchase!

Not a book review

2013-01-06T12:48:00.000-06:00

I know this isn't a book review but I have to post about it anyways.
The NHL and NHLPA have finally agreed to a tentative deal to end the NHL lockout!!
I am so excited. I just want my hockey back and my Blackhawks back out on the ice!

Sorry I just had to share this excitement!
-Courtney

The Life of a Stripper: 50 Exotic Dancers Confess Their Personal Experiences in the Adult Entertainment Industry by Romana Van Lissum

2013-01-05T16:20:00.002-06:00

As the title suggests, this book is a compilation of stories about Exotic Dancers’ experiences with their jobs.

Some are current dancers, and some are retired. No matter the age, they all have their set of stories.

Al of their stories seemed to be a little similar, but they were all different as well. It was interesting to read about the different circumstances that led them to joining this field of work as well as their good and bad experiences.

I feel like this book could be an eye-opener for those who think dancers are just drug-users and prostitutes. It is way beyond that. These are just girls that either need the money, or genuinely enjoy dancing. That’s why I feel this is a good book. It shows both sides of that.

I also feel like any aspiring dancer should read this just to see the experiences of other ladies.

Over all, I this was a really good book. It was really interesting.

5/5 stars

To purchase, click here

Sons of Suicide by Dan Andrews

2013-01-03T08:49:00.001-06:00

Sons of Suicide is a non-fiction novel told through the eyes of the author, Dan Andrews.

This book is the story of him as a young boy having to deal with the loss of his mother. She had committed suicide, and his life was never the same.

This tragedy made his childhood rough, but as he began to grow older and mature, he found a way to turn his pain into a positive thing. He decided that he wants to help others, whether through this book or by coaching in a gym.

Dan’s story is very real. It is one that not many people experience, but at the same time, too many people experience it. The pages of this book are filled with emotion that you may not find in many other writings. It was truly written very well.

Sons of Suicide is not a sob story. Dan isn't trying to get the world to feel sorry for him. It is quite the opposite. He is opening up and sharing his experience to show that it is possible to get through tragedy. You will always have the scar, but you can turn your life around and become a better person.

This is a great read, I loved every bit of it. It was emotional, sad, and happy as well.

5/5 stars. The writing was great, the purpose of the writing was even better.

Click to purchase!

Guilty Wives by James Patterson

2012-12-30T19:42:00.002-06:00

Patterson does it again!

He nails the suspense and mystery that are evident in the majority of his novels, and this one will take you on a crazy ride all the way to the end. I feel exhausted just reading it, but it was well worth it.

Imagine going on an innocent vacation with a few of your friends, and after a night out partying you wake up to being accused of the crime of the century.

You know you are innocent, but will your words mean anything?

This novel takes you on the journey of Abbie’s time in jail and her desperate attempt to prove her and her friends’ innocence.

You could not imagine what she has to go through while she is in prison, and it may leave you cringing in your seat.

This novel is pretty long with 400+ pages, but in normal Patterson fashion, the chapters are short, and it is really easy to get through. I didn’t want to put it down once I had started.

5/5 stars This was an excellent suspense novel and there was never a dull moment.

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Through the Crimson Mirror by Daniel Alexander Dinnie

2012-12-27T17:58:00.002-06:00

This book is interesting. It is a non-fiction/memoir book.

I feel like it read sort of as a journal, but was also trying to teach a few lessons through the author’s past experiences.

I felt like the beginning of the book was setting it up to be more about parenting from a child’s perspective, and while that theme did come up in every chapter, I don’t feel as though it was the main point of this book as I continued my reading.

It became more of a book about communication and how the author felt certain people in his life were not communicating properly, often referring to an ex-girlfriend and also bosses in the workplace.

So, at times I was a little confused as to what the actual purpose of this book was.

You can approach it in two ways, I think.

1. You read it as though it is just a memoir. The author is only telling his past experiences and what he has learned from them.

2. You read it as an educational book, but with a lack of real structure.

I feel like the intro set it up to be an educational book, but it ended up as a memoir, which as I said before was a little confusing. It wasn’t mainly focused on parenting like I feel it was set up to.

That being said, it was a very interesting read. The author gives interesting insights into the topic of correct communication.

He does state that you should read this book with an open mind, and I think if you remember that throughout, you will be able to take something away from it.

3/5 stars. The way it was set up didn’t really equal what it ended up being, but it was indeed an interesting read.

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Broken Christmas by David Henderson

2012-12-26T11:26:00.001-06:00

Broken Christmas is a compilation of short stories centered around Christmas.

Each story has its own feel and its own details that make them special in their own ways.
These stories are heartwarming and also heartbreaking all at the same time.

It is a great Holiday read though. It makes you grateful for what you have.

Now that it is the day after Christmas, and some of you have gotten some new reading tablets, I would suggest taking just a moment to relax and read this book. The stories are short, so it won't take long, but it will be worth it!

5/5 stars. All three stories were interesting, and none of them stood out more than another, they were all great.

To purchase, click here!

Merry Christmas, readers!

2012-12-25T19:09:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone. I hope everyone that celebrates had a wonderful day. I know I did. I was trying to get a review up today, but i got busy being with family. I hope you all forgive me :)

You can expect a review in the next day or two.

Again! i hope everyone that celebrates had a great Christmas!

And if you dont celebrate, well i hope yiu just had a great day.

thank you for reading everyone. I appreciate it!

-Courtney

This is amazing.

2012-12-21T20:33:00.001-06:00

The author of the book I just reviewed -- Addison Westlake is doing something very wonderful this year.

All author profits that she receives this year are going to a charity to help the families of the victims of the Newtown, Ct. school shooting.

This is an extremely self-less act by a wonderful author.
Please, with whatever leftover money you have from the holidays, pick up a copy. It is only a dollar, and not only do you get to read a great story, but you are helping others as well.
There is a link the the amazon page in the review post and I will put another one here.

Thank you all for reading.

Pick up a copy here!