Reading with Tequila

A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris

2012-01-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris

2009, Ace

Series: Short stories from Sookie Stackhouse

Rating

Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris has re-imagined the supernatural world with her “spunky” (Tampa Tribune) Southern Vampire novels starring telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse. Now, for the first time, here is every Sookie Stackhouse short story ever written—together in one volume.

Stories include “Fairy Dust,” “One Word Answer,” “Dracula Night,” “Lucky,” and “Giftwrap.”

Why read: Love the series

What impressed me: I had expected a Touch of Dead to be companion stories that wouldn't really add anything to the world Harris has created. I was so pleased to find each story brought at least one extra piece of information that hadn't been revealed previously that added to the overall understanding of the Sookieverse. While nothing huge and major happened in any of the stories, they weren't just a rehashing of things fans already knew. These stories could be enjoyed by readers who haven't read the other Sookie Stackhouse books, yet won't disappoint longtime fans either.

What disappointed me: Nothing. I was thrilled with this compilation of stories.

Recommended: Sookie fans will need to read A Touch of Dead to get the tiny background details that weren't included in the novels.

Continue series: Absolutely. Sticking with Sookie until the very end.

206 Bones by Kathy Reichs

2012-01-26T10:00:00.000-05:00

206 Bones by Kathy Reichs

2009, Scribner

Series: Book 12 of Temperance Brennan

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Rating

Synopsis: There are 206 bones in the human body. And one shattering secret hidden among them. . .

Cold and alone, bound hands to feet, Tempe Brennan regains consciousness locked in a dark cell—or is she buried alive in a tomb?—and begins to reconstruct the twisted chain of events that led her to this terrifying place. Tempe and Lieutenant Ryan had recently accompanied the remains of a missing heiress from Montreal to the Chicago morgue, and suddenly Tempe is accused of mishandling the autopsy. After an incriminating phone call and another shocking death, Tempe’s unseen enemy closes in—even as the corpse of a second, and then a third, elderly woman turns up in the woods of Montreal. Who wants Tempe dead, or at least out of the way, and why? Who would resort to sabotage to destroy the secrets hidden in the bones? Only Tempe can uncover the truth—if she can escape the deadly fate someone has designed for her.

Why read: Love the series

What impressed me: Three dead women, seemingly unconnected, plus Tempe trapped means a whole lot of mystery going on. The details were easy to follow, the solutions always a surprise. And while I've always been a fan of Ryan, all of his scenes with Tempe's former in-laws were hilarious and made me love him even more.

What disappointed me: The back and forth between the past investigations and Tempe being trapped annoyed me. I think it was supposed to heighten the tension, but it seemed like Tempe just flailing around and passing out every couple of chapters.

Recommended: I definitely wouldn't suggest 206 Bones as your first Temperance Brennan book, but series fans shouldn't miss it.

Continue series: Yes. Sticking with Tempe to the end.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

2012-01-25T11:00:00.000-05:00

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

2011, Kensington

Series: Book 1 of Hannah Swenson

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Rating

Synopsis: Hannah Swenson already has her hands full trying to dodge her mother's attempts to marry her off while running The Cookie Jar, Lake Eden, Minnesota's most popular bakery. But once Ron LaSalle, the beloved delivery man from the Cozy Cow Dairy, is found murdered behind her bakery with Hannah's famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, her life just can't get any worse. Determined not to let her cookies get a bad reputation, she sets out to track down a killer.

Who would have the sheer audacity and the motive to kill the most punctual delivery man Hannah ever had? Topping the list is the high school football coach. What exactly was his wife doing, making the rounds with the milkman? Could Max Turner, owner of Cozy Cow Dairy, have had a secret he didn't want to share with his top employee? The more Hannah snoops, the more suspects turn up. Why has Lake Eden's most prominent prodigal son, Benton Woodley, just resurfaced? And what about the mysterious Mr. Harris who seemed interested in buying the property next to the dairy, but then disappeared? This is one murder that's starting to leave a very bad taste in Hannah's mouth. And if she doesn't watch her back, Hannah's sweet life may get burned to a crisp.

Why read: I love Diane Mott Davidson's culinary mystery series and wanted to check out more foodie cozies.

What impressed me: Mmm, cookies! I'm not much of a baker, but I do enjoy a good bakery. The Cookie Jar is a great setting for much of the discussion in the book and lends a lot of atmosphere to what would normally be straight dialogue. Hannah is a fun character and I loved the relationship potential between her and Mike. The mystery was great and I didn't figure it out until the very end.

What disappointed me: Hannah may be fun, but she's also sort of involved way beyond what she should have been, much like every cozy mystery sleuth. And I have very little faith in a police department where an officer would recruit her help, even unofficially. I get that Bill really needed the promotion, but why would he think Hannah was the right person to ask for help in any reality?

Recommended: Culinary cozy lovers will really enjoy Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder.

Continue series: Eventually. I definitely liked it enough to try another book or two.

Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

2012-01-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

2006, Signet

Series: Book 2 of Black Dagger Brotherhood

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Rating

Synopsis: In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war raging between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret bound of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Possessed by a deadly beast Rhage is the most dangerous of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetites. He's the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover-for inside him burns ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Owned by this dark side, Rhage fears the time when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him.

Mary Luce, a survivor of many hardships is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world and reliant to Rhage's protection. With a life-threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. She lost her faith in miracles years ago. But when Rhage's intense animal attraction turns into something more emotional, he knows that he must make Mary his alone. And while their enemies close in, Mary fights desperately to gain life eternal with the one she loves...

Why read: Bought the series box set

What impressed me: The side-story of Bella and Zhadist kept me completely enthralled. I loved the attraction and the agony of the two of them attempting to relate to each other. I wish the book had been solely focused on them as opposed to Rhage and Mary Luce. The brothers as a group continue to be greatly entertaining and their continued battle with the Lessening Society brings manly action to balance out the sexiness.

What disappointed me: Rhage's dragon was a little much, in my opinion. And Mary Luce could have been stronger and more sure of herself. I get that she is sick and therefore weak, but I'll ever understand these big, strong warrior male protagonists that are drawn to quiet, wallflower types.

Recommended: Yes. If you liked Dark Lover, you got to keep reading the series.

Continue series: Yep. I didn't love Lover Eternal quite as much as Dark Lover, but I still love the world and characters.

Triumph of the Walking Dead edited by James Lowder

2012-01-23T11:00:00.000-05:00

Triumph of the Walking Dead edited by James Lowder

2011, Smart Pop

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Rating

Synopsis: The Walking Dead gained national attention as AMC’s latest critically acclaimed drama, shattering the network’s previous premiere ratings highs and earning a second season renewal after its very first episode. But before its television debut, Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead was a comic phenomenon.

James Lowder, veteran editor and author in the horror genre and comics field, collects some of the biggest names in the zombie genre, along with other top horror and comics writers, to discuss the series on both page and screen.

Why read: Received for review

What impressed me: Many aspects of the comic books and TV show were discussed, both in relation to one another and as separate entities. I loved that there was a large focus on the comic storylines as they greatly differ from the show and have been around for much longer. I was afraid this book would just be a complete lovefest for the show because of its current popularity. It was a lovefest, but it really did only slightly touch on the show (as it should being there had only been one season at the time of writing) and embraced Robert Kirkman's initial vision.

What disappointed me: Everyone sort of agreed. Most of the Smart Pop books include essays with opinions and theories that are completely at odds with others. They usually contain ideas that will completely rile up hardcore fans, while at least making you think about things in a whole other light. In Triumph of the Walking Dead, beloved characters remain loved and praised, evil characters are pure evil without questioning their potential for good, and all in all, nothing came across as a potentially unpopular opinion.

Recommended: Definitely, as long as you've read the comic books and watched the show already. Those who haven't read the comic books will discover many spoilers, some of which will most definitely become part of the TV show.

Tricks of the Trade by Laura Anne Gilman

2012-01-20T11:00:00.000-05:00

Tricks of the Trade by Laura Anne Gilman

2011, Luna

Series: Book 3 of Paranormal Scene Investigations

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Rating

Synopsis: When magic goes wrong, who are you going to call?

The name's Torres, Bonnie Torres, and I'm a paranormal scene investigator—rooting out the truth about crimes of magic. It's dangerous and boring and scary and fascinating. Though not everyone in the Cosa Nostradamus is happy we're around, which can make things…tricky.

Working two cases—looking into a murder for the NYPD, and a rich man's break-in—should be well within our abilities. But when things start getting weird in the Electric Apple, Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations is stretched to the limits, trying to keep one step ahead and out of trouble. Add in rumors of a powerful creature gunning for us and it's not just our rep on the line this time—if we don't solve this case, everyone will suffer.

Fortunately, around here, when the going gets weird, the weird hire us.…

Why read: Requested from Netgalley

What impressed me: Bonnie and Ben. With each book, their connection (metaphysically or whatnot) becomes more and more evident. Their struggle against it becomes almost laughable, yet remains completely realistic. Now we're finally getting to the point where it needs to be accepted and where they can go from here since it's obviously not going away, but getting stronger. And now that the others are becoming more aware of the connection, a blatant move is going to be made. It has to be.

What disappointed me: As we go further along in the series, I find that the magic is being explained less fully. While this makes sense in the scope of any series, the originality of the magic in these books can make it a little difficult to follow sometimes where things aren't spelled out completely for the reader.

Recommended: For fans of the series, definitely. Others will want to start at the beginning to fully appreciate the character development.

Continue series: Yup. The cases themselves are always interesting, but I'm more than that, I find myself very invested in Bonnie and Ben's relationship.

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas

2012-01-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas

2010, St. Martin's Press

Series: Book 1 of Friday Harbor

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Rating

Synopsis: ONE LITTLE GIRL NEEDS A FAMILY One rain-slicked night, six-year-old Holly lost the only parent she knew, her beloved mother Victoria. And since that night, she has never again spoken a word.

ONE SINGLE MAN NEEDS A WIFE The last thing Mark Nolan needs is a six-year-old girl in his life. But he soon realizes that he will do everything he can to make her life whole again. His sister's will gives him the instructions: There's no other choice but you. Just start by loving her. The rest will follow.

SOMETIMES, IT TAKES A LITTLE MAGIC... Maggie Collins doesn't dare believe in love again, after losing her husband of one year. But she does believe in the magic of imagination. As the owner of a toy shop, she lives what she loves. And when she meets Holly Nolan, she sees a little girl in desperate need of a little magic.

...TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE Three lonely people. Three lives at the crossroads. Three people who are about to discover that Christmas is the time of year when anything is possible, and when wishes have a way of finding the path home...

Why read: Received for review

What impressed me: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor is a delightful, romantic holiday story. I loved how real it felt, between Mark's concern for the niece he is now raising and Maggie's guilt over the dead husband she's moving past. The characters were fantastic, especially Mark's brothers and I hope they are the focus of future books in the series.

What disappointed me: The book was very, very short - more novella length than an actual novel. I feel that the Maggie and Mark's lives could have been expanded upon more, especially since time (even weeks at a time) would pass unseen.

Recommended: Yes. A great contemporary romance with a wonderful holiday focus.

Continue series: Yes. I'm very interested to see if the books focus on the other Nolan men and would love to see more of Mark, Maggie and Holly.

27 Great Book Deals of the Week!

2012-01-18T16:28:00.000-05:00

Hardcover
6.80 Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

Paperback
4.00 Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures, Book 1) by Kami Garcia
4.00 Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Kindle
0.99 Girl's Guide to Witchcraft (Jane Madison Series) by Mindy Klasky
0.99 Strange Neighbors by Ashlyn Chase
0.99 Bumped by Megan McCafferty
0.99 Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski
0.99 Entwined by Heather Dixon
0.99 The Unidentified by Rae Mariz
0.99 Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts) by Stacia Kane
0.99 Nightwalker (Dark Days) by Jocelynn Drake
0.99 Hereafter by Tara Hudson
0.99 Vesper (Deviants) by Jeff Sampson
0.99 The Poison Diaries (The Poison Diaires) by Maryrose Wood
0.99 Withering Tights (Misadventures of Tallulah Casey) by Louise Rennison
0.99 Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
0.99 The Scent of Shadows (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 1) by Vicki Pettersson
1.99 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom
1.99 The Mark by Jen Nadol
1.99 The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham) by Julia Quinn
2.24 Dirty Little Secrets by C. J. Omololu
2.45 My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison
2.51 Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore
2.51 Need by Carrie Jones
2.99 Me, Myself and Why? by MaryJanice Davidson
2.99 Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors
2.99 Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane) by Jaye Wells

*All prices accurate at posting

Graveminder by Melissa Marr

2012-01-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

Graveminder by Melissa Marr

2011, William Morrow

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Rating

Synopsis: Melissa Mar is known to young adult readers as the author of the popular faery series Wicked Lovely. Her debut leap into adult fiction lands her in the small community of Claysville, a town where the dead walk free unless their graves are not properly tended. Into this eerie maelstrom, Rebekkah Barrow descends as she returns to a place that she once believed she knew

Why read: Received for review

What impressed me: Graveminder went places I never even considered until we were in the thick of things. It was a story that made sense piece by piece, but you never figured out what was coming beforehand. I loved the town and its rules and secrets. I absolutely loved the otherworldly aspects of the book and wish we could have experienced even more of it. This was a zombie novel that is nothing like any before it. I truly thought I wasn't going to enjoy it and found myself very excited by it in the end.

What disappointed me: Rebekkah rubbed me the wrong way most of the time. She was so back and forth with Byron, not from denial of her feelings, but rather from misplaced guilt over something that happened so many years before. She was strong one moment and weak the next. She wanted out of Claysville as soon as possible, but agrees to stay with almost no prodding. She was a tough character to care about because she was so hard to figure out what she actually wanted.

Recommended: Not the conventional bloody mayhem zombie novel, but I think most will find themselves pleasantly surprised by Graveminder.

Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong

2012-01-17T10:00:00.001-05:00

Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong

2011, Mira

Series: Book 1 of The Company of Angels

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Rating

Synopsis: Fledging guardian angel and yoga teacher Serena St. Clair dares enter Devil's Paradise nightclub on a mission—to retrieve the wayward Hollywood "It Boy" she's assigned to protect. But she's ambushed by the club's owner, arch demon Julian Ascher. The most powerful demonic entity in Los Angeles, Julian is handsome as sin, a master of temptation who loves nothing more than corrupting pleasure–seeking humans. He won't release the lost soul Serena is supposed to guard. Unless she accepts his dangerous wager…

After the disastrous way his human life ended, Julian vowed that no woman would get the better of him again. Yet this sexy–sweet angel, smelling of fresh ocean air and happiness, triggers centuries–old feelings. Now, their high–stakes game of seduction, where angels fall from grace and where demons fear to tread, will lead them either to an eternity in hell or a deliciously hot heaven.

Why read: Received for review

What impressed me: Serena was a wonderful main character for an adult angel. I specify for an adult angel because I tend to have very poor luck with featuring such creatures. I've fared much better with angel/demon YA books, so Where Demons Fear to Tread was a remarkable and pleasant surprise for me to read. Serena is naive, yet not so nobly holy as to completely shut down in the face of what would be considered sin. Julian revels in his ability to lead people on the path to their own destruction, but not to the point where he must corrupt everything for corruption's sake. The fire between them is potent and given both of their natures, you never quite know where things might lead. I found the entire story to be quite enjoyable.

What disappointed me: Serena wasn't perfect. She could from lusty to prude on a dime and we all know how aggravating that can me. Julian's habit of hurting Serena for her own good gets obnoxious quickly as well.

Recommended: Anyone looking for an angel/demon book where the lines of good and evil blur should check out Where Demons Fear to Tread.

Continue series: Most likely. I'm not sure I'll enjoy it if Serena and Julian aren't the main characters, but I'll probably give it a chance either way.

Spotlight Series: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8

2012-01-16T10:00:00.001-05:00

Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon (born June 23, 1964), is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, occasional composer and actor, and founder of Mutant Enemy Productions. He is best known as the creator and showrunner of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003), Angel (1999-2004), and Firefly (2002), which have also seen popular comic book adaptations, published by Dark Horse Comics and IDW.

I "discovered" the TV show around season 3 and immediately fell in love with the characters. I continued to be obsessed until the very end and often rewatch the DVD sets. Finding season 8 was awesome in itself. The fact that it had the same vibe as the TV show only made it even more exciting. I lust after season 9 without shame.

Important Characters to Know
Buffy Summers - Spent many years being the only (or just about only) vampire slayer. Now leader of a group of slayers. Unlucky in love. Big on puns. Superhero strength.

Willow Rosenberg - Originally shy and mousy. Very powerful witch. Lesbian. Also unlucky in love.

Xander Harris - Used to be kind of dorky. Lost an eye. No superpowers. Knowledge of military strategy. Also unlucky in love (see a pattern here?)

Dawn Summers - Former ball of energy turned human. Buffy's little sister. Whiny.

Rupert Giles - Buffy's former watcher and father figure. Slightly less stuffy than he used to be. British. Used to dabble in dark magics.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8 (in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

If you like the Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8 series, you should try:

The Angel: After the Fall series by Joss Whedon

The Fables series by Bill Willingham

The Serenity Graphic Novel series by Joss Whedon

The Y: The Last Man series by Brian K. Vaughn

The Runaways series by Brian K. Vaughn

Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry

2012-01-13T11:00:00.000-05:00

Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry

2009, St. Martin's Griffin

Series: Book 1 of Joe Ledger

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Rating

Synopsis: When you have to kill the same terrorist twice in one week there's either something wrong with your world or something wrong with your skills... and there's nothing wrong with Joe Ledger's skills. And that's both a good, and a bad thing. It's good because he's a Baltimore detective that has just been secretly recruited by the government to lead a new taskforce created to deal with the problems that Homeland Security can't handle. This rapid response group is called the Department of Military Sciences or the DMS for short. It's bad because his first mission is to help stop a group of terrorists from releasing a dreadful bio-weapon that can turn ordinary people into zombies. The fate of the world hangs in the balance....

Why read: Picked up a copy at BEA

What impressed me: I avoid books that involve the military and terrorism. They never seem to hold my interest. That said, Patient Zero, with its terrorists and covert governmental agencies blew my mind. It took a vast array of topics that don't interest me in the slightest and made me crave more. And it wasn't just the zombies I loved either, although there inclusion in the novel was a deciding factor in my reading this book. Joe Ledger is a normal man. Until he saw the zombies face to face, he never believed them possible. Now, he and his men are the only thing that can prevent the zombie apocalypse. What makes the novel easy to get sucked into is that Joe, for all his manliness and combat experience, doesn't just man up and get the job done. He questions things along the way. He worries for his own sanity. He joins the team, does the job, but retains his personality throughout. I can't wait to read his next adventure. Is it more zombies or something completely other?

What disappointed me: Not a thing.

Recommended: Absolutely. High powered action/adventure and zombie mayhem? It deserves a spot on most people's to be read piles.

Continue series: Definitely. I already have the second book on my shelf waiting to be read.

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

2012-01-12T11:00:00.000-05:00

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

2012, Tor Teen

Series: Book 1 of Article 5

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Rating

Synopsis: New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

Why read: Requested from Amazon Vine

What impressed me: I enjoyed Ember's time at the Rehabilitation Center. How it worked, the other people there, what exactly they were trying to achieve by locking girls up in this camp, all of it was very interesting. I wish she could have just stayed there.

What disappointed me: My biggest gripe with Article 5 is the basis for the story. While I found the synopsis very promising, I found myself disenchanted very early on in the book. The Moral Statutes that people must now follow could have made the book terrifying. The idea itself is terrifying. Unfortunately, the book focuses on a new statute that says children can't be born out of wedlock. That's all well and good, but then the government starts arresting parents and taking their children away. Children of all ages. Ember is seventeen, meaning her mother violated this statue almost two decades previous. Even in a horrible dystopian society, how is it realistic that the government would go after her mother? Really, it's just not all that plausible. Couple that with the fact that the majority of the story is Ember and Chase on the run, which just never works for me. They run, they argue, they find themselves in precarious situations and then run some more. The story was always moving, but never felt like it was getting anywhere.

Recommended: Not really. While the premise sounds fascinating, the book aggravates more than entertains.

Continue series: Most likely not.

15 Fantastic Book Deals of the Week! (Kindle Only)

2012-01-11T16:19:00.000-05:00

Kindle0.99 Dark Time (Mortal Path) by Dakota Banks
0.99 Bumped by Megan McCafferty
0.99 Entwined by Heather Dixon
0.99 Hereafter by Tara Hudson
0.99 Nightwalker (Dark Days) by Jocelynn Drake
0.99 Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski
0.99 The Poison Diaries (The Poison Diaires) by Maryrose Wood
0.99 The Scent of Shadows (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 1) by Vicki Pettersson
0.99 The Unidentified by Rae Mariz
0.99 Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
0.99 Vesper (Deviants) by Jeff Sampson
0.99 Witch & Wizard by James Patterson
2.51 Wicked Witch Murder (Lucy Stone Mysteries) by Leslie Meier
2.99 Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Kindle Bundles
1.99 High Heels Mysteries Boxed Set (Books 1-5) by Gemma Halliday

*All prices accurate at posting

The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls by Wendy Delsol

2012-01-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls by Wendy Delsol

2011, Berkley Trade

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Rating

Synopsis: The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls, once a haven for unwed mothers, is now a bed-and-breakfast that houses three generations of women-and their many secrets...

In the early 1960s, Ruby, a spunky unwed teen mother was wooed and won over by the founder of the McCloud Home. Now, forty years later, the historic property has been converted into an inn that Ruby runs with one of her daughters, Jill. When Jill's fourteen-year-old daughter begins to search for the identity of her father, she sets in motion events that will test the bonds that bind mothers, daughters, and sisters.

Jill unwittingly aids the forces of upheaval when she agrees to host the wake of the town matriarch. As the guests-including the matriarch's handsome nephew and Jill's vivacious, irresponsible sister Jocelyn-return to the small town, the convergence of people and memories uncovers rivalries, sparks romance, recalls heartbreak, and reveals a shocking family secret, one that could separate the McCloud women forever or lead them to the renewal of their powerful, enduring connection.

Why read: Picked up a copy at BEA

What impressed me: The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls completely took me by surprise. It was both fun, serious and even occasionally a bit scandalous. I loved the was the perspectives shifted between the women, Ruby in the past, Jill both past and present and Fee totally in the now. The mystery element really threw me through a loop in the best possible way. Mose than anything else, The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls is a touching, secret filled story of three women finding their way in a judgemental world. I loved every word.

What disappointed me: Absolutely nothing. Just perfect.

Recommended: Highly. The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls is women's fiction, with some romance and a bit of mystery peppered in. It's engaging and very hard to put down.

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

2012-01-10T17:00:00.000-05:00

Dark Eden by Patrick Carman

2011, Katherine Tegen Books

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Rating

Synopsis: Fifteen-year-old Will Besting is sent by his doctor to Fort Eden, an institution meant to help patients suffering from crippling phobias. Once there, Will and six other teenagers take turns in mysterious fear chambers and confront their worst nightmares—with the help of the group facilitator, Rainsford, an enigmatic guide. When the patients emerge from the chamber, they feel emboldened by the previous night's experiences. But each person soon discovers strange, unexplained aches and pains. . . . What is really happening to the seven teens trapped in this dark Eden?

Why read: Requested from Amazon Vine

What impressed me: I found the teens themselves to be interesting, especially how their fears effected them and how they related to each other. Nothing else really impressed me. The writing was good, as was the story as a whole, but nothing really leaped out as being so good it needs to be praised.

What disappointed me: The pacing was off. The build up was slow, too slow, which made the tension fizzle. I thought the treatments were more interesting than horrific, which was unfortunate being that the book kind of hinged on you believing these treatments were evil in some way. The ending was reminiscent of certain Stephen King novels, which is to say that what could have been a good sciencey horror book turned paranormal at the last minute. I love King, but I absolutely hate when he makes that move and the author here fairs no better.

Recommended: Not especially. It was okay. Nothing made this book stand out as something anyone would need to run out and get immediately.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

2012-01-09T12:00:00.000-05:00

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

2011, HarperCollins

Series: Book 1 of Shatter Me

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Rating

Synopsis: Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Why read: Requested from Amazon Vine

What impressed me: More than anything, I enjoyed Shatter Me because it was full of surprises. Every time I thought I understood what was going on, another layer was added. I loved the romance angle because it wasn't a love triangle, but I sort of wish it could have been. At least, if Juliette could have considered the bad guy, because he's so perfect in his evilness, you actually start hoping for his redemption. The male characters in Shatter Me shine, while not dragging the attention away from Juliette's importance. The entire novel is an intriguing battle between good and evil.

What disappointed me: I didn't especially enjoy the diary format of this book. It would have probably been less noticeable if not for the strike-through cross-outs.And Juliette's personality can be sort of grating at times.

Recommended: Anyone who likes dystopian societies where those in charge don't even pretend to be good anymore, along with anyone who likes main characters with superhero-esque abilities.

Continue series: Yes. I definitely want to see more of Juliette as she accepts herself and what she can do.

What Should I Read This Month? January 2012

2012-01-06T11:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to "What Should I Read This Month?" Every year I sign up for way too many challenges, list all the books I've been dying to read and then inevitably have to give up on some of them for lack of time. These polls let you tell me which of the selections I should definitely not miss.

This month's potential reads are:

Robopocalypse by Daniel Wilson

In the near future, at a moment no one will notice, all the dazzling technology that runs our world will unite and turn against us. Taking on the persona of a shy human boy, a childlike but massively powerful artificial intelligence known as Archos comes online and assumes control over the global network of machines that regulate everything from transportation to utilities, defense and communication. In the months leading up to this, sporadic glitches are noticed by a handful of unconnected humans – a single mother disconcerted by her daughter’s menacing “smart” toys, a lonely Japanese bachelor who is victimized by his domestic robot companion, an isolated U.S. soldier who witnesses a ‘pacification unit’ go haywire – but most are unaware of the growing rebellion until it is too late.

When the Robot War ignites -- at a moment known later as Zero Hour -- humankind will be both decimated and, possibly, for the first time in history, united. Robopocalypse is a brilliantly conceived action-filled epic, a terrifying story with heart-stopping implications for the real technology all around us…and an entertaining and engaging thriller unlike anything else written in years.

The Bar Code Tattoo by Suzanne Weyn

Individuality vs. Conformity

Identity vs. Access

Freedom vs. Control

The bar code tattoo. Everybody's getting it. It will make your life easier, they say. It will hook you in. It will become your identity.

But what if you say no? What if you don't want to become a code? For Kayla, this one choice changes everything. She becomes an outcast in her high school. Dangerous things happen to her family. There's no option but to run...for her life.

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

The story that launched Wells's successful career-the classic tale of the Time Traveler and the extraordinary world he discovers in the far distant future. A haunting portrayal of Darwin's evolutionary theory carried to a terrible conclusion.

Absolutely, Positively by Heather Webber

“Exposed” by a Boston Herald reporter, Lucy is suddenly the talk of the town. Long back-story short: Even though the rest of her Valentine ancestors were blessed by Cupid with psychic abilities, Lucy’s only special power lies in her ability to find things. This skill has proven quite a blessing for those who come to her matchmaking agency in search of finding their long-lost loves. Now that Lucy’s secret is out, she has more new clients than she knows what to do with. But soon a certain man of mystery steals Lucy’s spotlight…

No, it’s not Sean Donahue, the sexy fireman-turned-private-eye who’s stolen Lucy’s heart. It’s a masked man in a cowboy hat, dubbed “The Lone Ranger,” who’s been throwing handfuls of cash across the Common. Now all of Beantown’s abuzz. Can Lucy unmask the mysterious money man, track down all her clients’ old flames, and turn up the heat on her love life? Absolutely, positively…

January Review Book Giveaway

2012-01-05T14:00:00.000-05:00

Liar Moon by Ben Pastor

It Takes a Witch by Heather Blake (ARC, signed w/ bookmarks)

The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls by Wendy Delsol (ARC, signed to Jennifer)
Article 5 by Kristen Simmons (ARC)
Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry (signed to Jennifer)
Graveminder by Melissa Marr (ARC)
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas (ARC)

One winner will receive their choice, up to 4 so they fit in a box, of the above gently read books that I received for review.

Rules:

Deadline for entry is Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:59pm EST.

Giveaway is open to all US residents.

To Enter: (mandatory)

Follow this blog on Google Connect (see sidebar).

Fill out entry form below.

Extra Entries

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It Takes a Witch by Heather Blake

2012-01-05T10:00:00.000-05:00

It Takes a Witch by Heather Blake

2012, Signet

Series: Book 1 of Wishcraft Mysteries

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon

Rating

Synopsis: Darcy Merriweather has just discovered she hails from a long line of Wishcrafters - witches with the power to cast spells by making a wish. She's come to Enchanted Village to learn her trade but finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation...

Why read: ARC tour review

What impressed me: It Takes a Witch takes a fabulous new look at witches. Instead of being able to do spells off all kinds, its witches are specialized through their hereditary lines. The most interesting line in Enchanted Village is Wishcrafters, those who make peoples wishes comes true. Main character Darcy being a Wishcrafter and having to grant any statement that begins with "I wish" makes for huge possibilities for the future of this series. This novel has a double mystery, neither of which I foresaw the resolution to. And the familiars! And the love interest! And the surprise twist ending! I could go on and on. It Takes a Witch just wowed me.

What disappointed me: Not a thing. An absolutely perfect series starter.

Recommended: Most definitely. Paranormal cozy mystery fans will fall in love with Darcy Merriweather and Enchanted Village.

Continue series: Good lord, yes. You couldn't stop me if you tried.

Dead of Night by Jonathan Maberry

2012-01-04T19:00:00.000-05:00

Dead of Night by Jonathan Maberry

2011, St. Martin's Griffin

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon

Rating

Synopsis: A prison doctor injects a condemned serial killer with a formula designed to keep his consciousness awake while his body rots in the grave. But all drugs have unforeseen side-effects. Before he could be buried, the killer wakes up. Hungry. Infected. Contagious. This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang…but a bite.

Why read: Requested for review

What impressed me: If you've read Jonathan Maberry's Benny Imura series, you'll have already seen the magic he can work with zombies. In that YA series, he does well to convince readers that zombies are people. Here in Dead of Night, he goes further, by making a very evil man a zombie while allowing him to retain much of his consciousness. While zombie novels are often vehicles to deeper thought, Maberry manages to mix both the message with the gore to perfection. Thought provoking, while scary as hell, Dead of Night is a zombie novel not to be missed.

What disappointed me: Not a thing. Dead of Night is Maberry at his best.

Recommended: Absolutely. Zombie fans will love, love, love this novel.

17 Great Book Deals of the Week!

2012-01-04T17:28:00.002-05:00

Paperback
3.60 Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Paperback Box Set
5.18 The Immortals: Evermore, Blue Moon, Shadowland by Alyson Noël

Kindle
FREE Death Tidies Up by Barbara Colley
0.99 Witch & Wizard by James Patterson
0.99 Witch & Wizard: The Fire by James Patterson
0.99 Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
0.99 The Unidentified by Rae Mariz
0.99 Nightwalker (Dark Days) by Jocelynn Drake
0.99 The Scent of Shadows (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 1) by Vicki Pettersson
0.99 Bumped by Megan McCafferty
0.99 Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski
1.99 The Bachelor (Chandler Brothers) by Carly Phillips
1.99 Darkfever: The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning
2.33 The Dead That Walk: Flesh-Eating Stories by Stephen Jones
2.99 Insatiable by Meg Cabot
2.99 Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Kindle Bundles
1.99 High Heels Mysteries Boxed Set (Books 1-5) by Gemma Halliday

*All prices accurate at posting

Winners! December Review Book Giveaway and A Discovery of Witches

2012-01-02T15:57:00.000-05:00

The Winner of the December Review Book Giveaway is

Melaine McCullough

who chose Want to Go Private?, Crossed, Dark Eden, and Shatter Me

The winner of A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness is

Martha Lawson

Congratulations. Contact me at tantrumsandtequila@hotmail.com to claim your prize.

Reading with Tequila Book Club: January 2012 Selection

2012-01-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

The Reading with Tequila Book Club chose paranormal romance for January's genre. Our club selection:

Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong

If you'd to join us and discuss Where Demons Fear to Tread this month, come join us on the Goodreads Reading with Tequila Book Club group.

2011: Year End Report

2011-12-31T12:00:00.000-05:00

2009's report

2010's report

The Books

197 books
139 books in series
64 new series started
149 authors
107 authors new to me

Top 10 Books Read in 2011:

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Feed by Mira Grant
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between by J.A. Saare
Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter
Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry
The Waking Dead, Volume 1: Days Gone Bye by Robert Kirkman
Department 19 by Will Hill
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Top 8 Most Read Authors of 2011:

Robert Kirkman (14)
Susan Mallery (6)
Stephen King (5)
Jonathan Maberry (3)
Joss Whedon (3)
Kathy Reichs (3)
Kelley Armstrong (3)
L.J. Smith (3)

The 3 Worst Books Read in 2011:

Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese
Possession by Elana Johnson
Kraken by China Mieville

The Blog

Top 10 Countries by Visitors in 2011:

United States
Canada
United Kingdom
Norway
Australia
Philippines
India
Italy
Germany
Brazil

Top 10 Referring Sites in 2011:

Top 5 Search Terms in 2011:

Dystopia
Dobby / Dobby the house elf
Reading with Tequila
Ginny Weasley
Neville Longbottom

5 Best/Most Random Search Terms in 2011:

erotic severus snape
cougar hierarchy
4 months of celibacy challenge
she's got so much gut she don't need no balls
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5 Most Popular Reviews in 2011:

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Numbers by Rachel Ward
Romeo and Juliet and Vampires by William Shakespeare and Claudia Gabel

5 Most Popular "Other" Posts in 2011: