Reading with Tequila

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

2012-02-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

2011, Feiwel & Friends

Series: Book 1 of Razorland

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Rating

Synopsis: WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first Deuce thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

Why read: Bought after reading lots of positive reviews

What impressed me: I loved the unique touches of the novel, like how brats names were chosen. I also really enjoyed the slow build romance aspect of the book and how it was never a love-triangle or insta-love. The romance wasn't a given at any time, but rather a vague possibility that had everything standing in its way.

What disappointed me: I really dislike when an author creates an intriguing society only to abandon it early into the story. I loved the way brats were grouped and it was really sad to have that entire hierarchy presented only to not be able to experience it fully. Instead, it was a tease that drew me in only to find this was another dystopia that built a fascinating world only to be mostly on the run. The running and then fighting and then running some more never works for me.

Recommended: Hardcore fans of dystopia who won't mind the on the run scenes.

Continue series: Maybe? The world created was so different that I retain high hopes of something similar in the future of the series.

14 Great Book Deals of the Week!

2012-02-03T13:23:00.000-05:00

Paperback4.00 Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
4.00 Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Kindle
0.99 Nightwalker (Dark Days) by Jocelynn Drake
0.99 Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts) by Stacia Kane
0.99 Cloaked by Alex Flinn
0.99 The Scent of Shadows (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 1) by Vicki Pettersson
0.99 Withering Tights (Misadventures of Tallulah Casey) by Louise Rennison
1.99 Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey
2.99 Demon Song (The Blood Singer Series) by Cat Adams
2.99 Blood Song by Cat Adams
2.99 Siren Song by Cat Adams
2.99 Infinity: Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon
2.99 Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors
3.03 Girl Parts by John M. Cusick

*All prices accurate at posting

What Should I Read this Month? February 2012

2012-02-03T11:00:00.000-05:00

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.

Last month Robopocalypse won with 27% of the vote.

This month's potential reads are:

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Phoebe Kendall is just your typical Goth girl with a crush. She’s strong and silent…and dead.

All over the country, a strange phenomenon is occurring. Some teenagers who die aren't staying dead. But when they come back to life, they are no longer the same. Feared and misunderstood, they are doing their best to blend into a society that doesn’t want them.

The administration at Oakvale High attempts to be more welcoming of the “differently biotic." But the students don’t want to take classes or eat in the cafeteria next to someone who isn’t breathing. And there are no laws that exist to protect the “living impaired” from the people who want them to disappear—for good.

When Phoebe falls for Tommy Williams, the leader of the dead kids, no one can believe it; not her best friend, Margi, and especially not her neighbor, Adam, the star of the football team. Adam has feelings for Phoebe that run much deeper than just friendship; he would do anything for her. But what if protecting Tommy is the one thing that would make her happy?

Shop Till You Drop by Elaine Viets

Once on the fast track to success, Helen Hawthorne is now going nowhere fast. She traded in her chic life for a shabby one. And now she's on the run, jumping from city to city and dead-end job to dead-end job, trying to stay one step ahead of her past...

After two weeks as the new salesclerk at Juliana's, Fort Lauderdale's ultra-exclusive clothing boutique, Helen still feels out of fashion. And since the only crime likely to be committed around here is being old-or worse, looking old-Helen figures she's safe. Until she discovers the manager has been embezzling money and selling designer drugs along with the designer clothes. Add murder to the mix-and Helen's dead-end job is downright deadly.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

February Review Book Giveaway

2012-02-02T11:00:00.000-05:00

Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong (ARC)

Triumph of the Walking Dead edited by James Lowder

Sadie Walker is Stranded by Madeleine Roux (ARC)
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (ARC)
Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson (signed to Jennifer)

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 Wednesday, February 29, 2012 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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+3 Grab my button (in right sidebar) and post it on your blog. If you already have my button, that counts.

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Winner: January Review Book Giveaway

2012-02-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

The winner of the January Review Book Giveaway is

Jennifer @ Fictitious Musings

who chose to receive It Takes a Witch, Article 5 and Patient Zero

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

January 2012 in Review

2012-02-01T12:05:00.000-05:00

Received for Review

So Pretty It Hurts by Kate White

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Wicked as They Come by Delilah S. Dawson

The Marked by Inara Scott

Spellcaster by Cara Lynn Shultz

Overbite by Meg Cabot

Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas

Bought

Perfectly Plum edited by Leah Wilson

Coffee at Luke's edited by Jennifer Crusie

Dark Time by Dakota Banks

How Not to Make a Wish by Mindy Klasky

The Unidentified by Rae Mariz

A Taste of True Blood edited by Leah Wilson

Read

Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong
Sadie Walker is Stranded by Madeleine Roux
The Marked by Inara Scott
Triumph of the Walking Dead edited by James Lowder
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter
Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward
The Darkest Pleasure by Gena Showalter
Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward
Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson

Reviews

Dead of Night by Jonathan Maberry
It Takes a Witch by Heather Blake
Shatter Me by Tarereh Mafi
Dark Eden by Patrick Carman
The McCloud Home for Wayward Girls by Wendy Delsol
Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry
Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong
Graveminder by Melissa Marr
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas
Tricks of the Trade by Laura Anne Gilman
Triumph of the Walking Dead edited by James Lowder
Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward
Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke
206 Bones by Kathy Reichs
A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris
Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs
Sadie Walker is Stranded by Madeleine Roux

Reading with Tequila Book Club: Februaru 2012 Selection

2012-02-01T11:00:00.000-05:00

The Reading with Tequila Book Club chose mystery for February's genre. Our club selection:

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

If you'd to join us and discuss The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes this month, come join us on the Goodreads Reading with Tequila Book Club group.

Sadie Walker is Stranded by Madeleine Roux

2012-01-31T10:00:00.000-05:00

Sadie Walker is Stranded by Madeleine Roux

2012, St. Martin's Griffin

Series: Book 2 of Zombie

Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon

Rating

Synopsis: MONTHS AGO THE WORLD ENDED…

…when an unknown virus spread throughout North America and then the world, killing millions of people. However, that is where the horror only started. The dead began to rise and when they rose they had an insatiable appetite for the living. A new hell had been unleashed on earth and the fight for survival had just begun.

Sadie Walker is one of the survivors in this new world. Living in north Seattle behind barrier that keep the living in and the dead out, she trying to get back to a normal life, while raising her eight-year-old nephew, if anyone even knows what “normal” is anymore. Then everything goes sideways when Shane is kidnapped by a group of black market thieves and they bring down a crucial barrier in the city while trying to escape, and flood the city with the walking dead. After rescuing her nephew, Sadie and Shane escape Seattle on the last remaining boat, along with other survivors. However, now they must face the complete chaos of a world filled with flesh eating zombies and humans who are playing with a whole new rule book when it comes to survival in their journey to find a new place that they can call home.

Why read: Received for review

What impressed me: I loved Allison Hewitt is Trapped and was ecstatic to hear there was going to be a sequel. I really liked that Sadie Walker is Stranded didn't follow the aftermath of Allison's story, but rather was a wholly separate story of a survivor who had heard of Allison's fight against the zombies. I liked that when things got tough for Sadie, she asked herself "What would Allison Hewitt do?" It sort of solidified Allison as the source of hope for other survivors that she seemed through her blog in her own book. I also liked the will they or won't they vibe of the romance between Sadie and Whelan. There was an interesting mystery in Stranded, but I actually found the entire living situation leading up to the resolution to be completely fascinating.

What disappointed me: The two major settings, at sea and on a secluded island, didn't quite work for me. I tend to lean more towards zombies in civilization. And I didn't completely love the resolution of the mystery. It was surprising and sort of shocking, but I guess I had a hard time believing it was plausible.

Recommended: Definitely. Roux has a gift for writing the human experience during a zombie apocalypse.

Continue series: If there are more, I'll definitely be reading them.

Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs

2012-01-30T10:00:00.000-05:00

Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs

2010, Scribner

Series: Book 13 of Temperance Brennan

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon

Rating

Synopsis: John Lowery was declared dead in 1968—the victim of a Huey crash in Vietnam, his body buried long ago in North Carolina. Four decades later, Temperance Brennan is called to the scene of a drowning in Hemmingford, Quebec. The victim appears to have died while in the midst of a bizarre sexual practice. The corpse is later identified as John Lowery. But how could Lowery have died twice, and how did an American soldier end up in Canada?

Tempe sets off for the answer, exhuming Lowery’s grave in North Carolina and taking the remains to Hawaii for reanalysis—to the headquarters of JPAC, the U.S. military’s Joint POW/ MIA Accounting Command, which strives to recover Americans who have died in past conflicts. In Hawaii, Tempe is joined by her colleague and ex-lover Detective Andrew Ryan (how “ex” is he?) and by her daughter, who is recovering from her own tragic loss. Soon another set of remains is located, with Lowery’s dog tags tangled among them. Three bodies—all identified as Lowery.

And then Tempe is contacted by Hadley Perry, Honolulu’s flamboyant medical examiner, who needs help identifying the remains of an adolescent boy found offshore. Was he the victim of a shark attack? Or something much more sinister?

Why read: Love the series

What impressed me: I loved Tempe in Hawaii. I loved her vacationing with her daughter and I loved seeing her work in a new place with a different group of people. I absolutely loved Tempe and Ryan spending time together, with their respective kids, and not having everything be sort of overwhelmed by work as it usually is. The mystery was completely unforeseeable. I thought I had it figured out a couple of times, but was always proven wrong.

What disappointed me: I'm sort of getting sick of Tempe constantly being in danger. At the rate she's going, you'd expect her to have a constant security detail.

Recommended: Yes. Series fans will love the great balance between mystery and Tempe's personal life.

Continue series: Definitely. However long the series lasts, I'm sticking with it.

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

Website / Goodreads / Amazon

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

Website / Goodreads / Amazon

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

Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon

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

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon

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.