Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Genre:   Fiction, Mystery Suspense

Read an excerpt

Release Date:  June 2012

Series: None

Publisher:  Crown Publishing Group

Author Website:

Pages:  432

Source: Purchased

Rating:  Three Flowers Of Love

Book Blurb

Marriage can be a real killer.

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?
   As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

Review: This Time Will Be Different by London Tracy

Genre:   Romance

Release Date:  August 2012

Series:  None

Publisher: Undercover Press

Author Website:  http://www.londontracy.wordpress.com

Pages:  220

Source:  ARC From Author

Rating:  Three Flowers Of Love

Review: Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

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Genre:   Paranormal

Release Date:  May 2012    

Series:  Southern Vampire Mysteries/Sookie Stackhouse Novels, Book #12

Publisher: Ace/Penguin

Author Website: http://www.charlaineharris.com/

Pages:  336

Source:  Purchased

Rating:  Four Flowers Of Love

Book Blurb

It’s vampire politics as usual around the town of Bon Temps, but never before have they hit so close to Sookie’s heart…

Review: The Mermaid's Pendant by LeAnn Neal Reilly

Genre:  Fantasy, Romance, Fiction

Published:  March 2010

Publisher:  Zephon Books

Format I Read:  Paperback

Pages:  572

Author Website:  www.nealreilly.com

How I Got It: reviewed for Pump Up Your Book Tours

Book Summary:

Inspired by the beloved classic The Little Mermaid, THE MERMAID’S PENDANT is a modern fairy tale about growing up and discovering who you are—and what you believe in. At times lyrical, this novel is a fantastic journey filled with magic, myth, romance, and adventure.

Four years after John Wilkerson claims the mermaid Tamarind for his wife, they have an idyllic marriage that depends on a talisman that she crafted on their island paradise. But Tamarind learns a painful truth: it takes more than legs to live on land and more than magic to sustain a bond. When the talisman breaks, she and John are forced to rely on themselves instead of magic.

Three wise women play key roles in the young lovers’ journey to mature love. Ana, Tamarind’s aging mentor, casts spells and performs seductions to keep the lovers apart. Valerie, an expat jewelry maker cum fairy godmother, works her own magic to bring them together. Lucy, their widowed neighbor, grounds the couple in the realities of marriage, parenting, and family.

THE MERMAID’S PENDANT is a story for anyone who has ever believed in the transforming power of love.

My Thoughts

The Mermaid’s Pendant is like the adult version of The Little Mermaid. It still has the magic of the fairy tale, but Leann Neal Reilly takes the classic tale and tests the happy ever after

romance.  

Tamarind is the naive mermaid that gives up everything she knows to live a human life with John.  With the help of Ana, a local witch, Tamarind goes through the motions of winning John’s heart from two other women that he is already involved with.  Yeah, when the two meet, John already has a girlfriend and has just started a fling with someone else.

Although John is already juggling two women, he’s still drawn to Tamarind and after much drama, they finally get together.  That’s where the real story begins.

I was seriously intimidated by the size of this book when I first got it. As I read it, there was so much going on in the lives of Tamarind and John that I felt the book actually should have been longer. 

Their relationship made my head hurt.  It started out strong with them knowing each other’s mind and mood, but became so strained because they didn’t trust each other.  At times, their daughter could sense that something was seriously wrong when they couldn’t.  I was confused about that part, but it kept the story interesting.

The ex girlfriend and the witch created the most the strain with Tamarind and John’s relationship.  I kept waiting for a knock down drag out session with the ex and a magical showdown with the witch, but the events that got rid of them were unexpected twists.  

My  Rating

I give The Mermaid’s Pendant four flowers of love.  The book was very well written and easy to follow.  The characters development was good.  At times, parts of the story did get a little wordy and drawn out, but overall I enjoyed the story.

 

Review: Tempting The Enemy By Dee Tenorio

Title:  Tempting The Enemy
Author:  Dee Tenorio
Series: None
Published:  June 14, 2010
Genre:  Paranormal Romance
How I Got It:  ARC ebook from Net Galley


Book Summary
The man of her dreams...or her worst nightmare. Only one can win her soul.


Detective Pale Rysen, an Alpha, is determined to secretly rebuild the Wolf packs from the ashes of genocide. So when a killer starts picking off young females looking for sanctuary, it’s his job to protect them. Forced to work with a hated enemy, he fears his cover is about to be blown.


Jade-Scarlet’s membership in the powerful Order of the Sibile has always been controversial. A half-wolf, Jade’s unstable psychic powers are a constant disappointment to her mercenary handlers. When her oracle commands her to work with Pale, Jade sets out to prove herself...even if it means challenging the enigmatic shifter.


Yet Pale triggers more than her curiosity. He sends her into Heat, which could mean losing control of her gifts—something she can’t allow. As the number of victims rise, so does the danger. A murderous darkness wants them both dead. But even if they stop the killer, how long can they fight each other?


My Thoughts
This was my first read by Dee Tenorio and I was pleasantly surprised with it. If I have to chose one thing that I like about this book, it would be Pale.

Pale is a true alpha male.  I loved the fact that he acted the part, but didn't broadcast it to everyone and expect them to bow down to him.  And while you could tell that his temper was always thin as wind, he always managed to keep himself in check.  He especially kept himself together when dealing with his mate, Jade.

Jade was a likeable character.  She was a strong woman and could hold her own if she needed to.  She did have periods where I wanted to smack her.  I mean who complains when they've got someone as hot as Pale all but drooling over them?  No one.

The fact that those two were made for each other is an understatement.  They are both from different walks of life, but they still seemed to fit together perfectly as if nothing else mattered.

At times it was so frustrating to see them fight their attraction tooth and nail, but in the end, they more than made up for it.

I also liked the mystery that was presented in this book.  The killer's identity was a wonderful twist.  I thought I saw the killer' identity a mile away, but was totally wrong.  I love it when an author keeps me guessing.

My Rating
Tempting The Enemy is a good quick read.  If you love Alpha males, please don't miss this one.  I give it three flowers of love because I wanted more!

Read an excerpt



1/2

Review and Giveaway: Eternal Kiss Of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost

Title:  Eternal Kiss Of Darkness
Author:  Jeaniene Frost
Series:  Night Huntress World, Book #2
Released:  July 27, 2010
Genre:  Paranormal Romance
How I Got It:  Purchased paperback (sorry Book Ban)

Book Summary:
An immortal war has been brewing in the darkness…and now one woman has stumbled into the shadows. Chicago private investigator Kira Graceling should have just kept on walking.  But her sense of duty refused to let her ignore the moans of pain coming from inside a warehouse just before dawn.  Suddenly she finds herself in a world she’s only imagined in her worst nightmares. 

At the center is Mencheres, a breathtaking Master Vampire who thought he’d seen it all.  Then Kira appears—this fearless, beautiful…human who braved death to rescue him.  Though he burns for her, keeping Kira in his world means risking her life, yet sending her away is unthinkable. 

But with danger closing in, Mencheres must choose between the woman he craves, or embracing the darkest magic to defeat an enemy bent on his eternal destruction. 

My Thoughts
Eternal Kiss Of Darkness is the second book in The Night Huntress World Series, which is a spinoff of The Night Huntress Series (featuring Bones and Cat).  While I wasn't madly in love with the first book of the series, I couldn't not pick this one up.

Jeanine Frost is just one of those authors that creates such amazing book boyfriends, that you just can't stop reading her books.  So anything remotely related to Bones, I will gladly loose sleep until the last page has turned.

And if you are not familiar with Bones, I must insist that you stop what you are doing and run out and pick up The Night Huntress series ASAP.

Anyhoo, I loved  this story.  It had romance and action.  But, most importantly it had the infamous master vampire, Mencheres.  I especially loved him.  He was patient with his lady love and deadly as hell to his enemies.  He has officially earned his spot on my book boyfriend list.  With him being Bones's Grandsire and everything, how could I not.  I loved it everytime Bones called him "Grandsire".  Such a sexy great, great, great, and then some grandpa.

Kira I was not crazy about, because she started out with kickass heroine potential, but the feeling fizzled.  She had a few moments where I thought she was going to make a comeback, but that fizzled too.  Given the background that she had, she held her own so I do see potential.  Hopefully  her character will develop a lot as she adjusts to her new environment.

I was disappointed with the ceiling sex.  I was really looking forward to this book coming out because I had hear so much about it.  I almost tore the book apart trying to get to that scene.  It was okay, but for Mencheres to be a 4500 year old vamp, I felt like his sex should have blown the infamous Chapter 32 clean out of my mind.  Kira should have been bowlegged, bruised and  then some. Or at least passed out for a couple of days.  I'm just saying.

My Rating
I give it four flowers of love.  It was no Bones and Cat, but very entertaining.  It will hold me until I get my next fix of B and C, which is suppose to be released February 2011.

Read first six chapters here

Other Reviews of this book:
Smexy Books
Smokin' Hot Books
Wicked Little Pixie

Contest Alert!!!

Because sharing is caring, and I'm still celebrating my one year of blogging, I have decided to give away my copy of Eternal Kiss Of Darkness.  All you need to do to enter is

1. Be a follower of my blog (thru Google Friend Connect) 
2. Post a comment (include your email addy)

You can earn extra entries by tweeting (2pts)about the contest or blogging or posting(1 pt) it in a sidebar on your blog.  You must include a direct link to your tweets and posts or they will not count.  Contest is open to US residents and will end August 31. Winner will be randomly selected and emailed.  If winner has not contacted me in 72 hours, another winner will be selected.  Good luck!

Contest Closed

Review: The Hypnotist by M. J. Rose

Title:  The Hypnotist
Author:  M. J. Rose
Series:  The Reincarnationist Series, Book 3
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Release Date: May 1, 2010
How I Got It:  ebook from Net Galley

Book Summary:
An FBI agent, tormented by a death he wasn't able to prevent, a crime he's never been able to solve and a love he's never forgotten, discovers that his true conflict resides not in his past, but in a…Past Life.

Haunted by a twenty-year old murder of a beautiful young painter, Lucian Glass keeps his demons at bay through his fascinating work as a Special Agent with the FBI's Art Crime Team. Currently investigating a crazed art collector who has begun destroying prized masterworks, Glass is thrust into a bizarre hostage negotiation that takes him undercover at the Phoenix Foundation—dedicated to the science of past life study—where, in order to maintain his cover, he agrees to submit to the treatment of a hypnotist.

Under hypnosis, Glass travels from ancient Greece to 19th century Persia, while the case takes him from New York to Paris and the movie capital of world. These journeys will change his very understanding of reality, lead him to question his own sanity and land him at the center of perhaps the most audacious art heist in history: the theft of a 1,500 year old sculpture from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

My Thoughts:
When I was approached by Pump Up Your Book Tours to review The Hypnotist, I admit that I was a little skeptical.  While my favorite genre to read is romance, I do appreciate a good mystery and suspense novel every now and then.  So, I stepped out of my little genre box, and into the suspenseful world of M. J. Rose.

The Hypnotist is the third book in the Reincarnationist Series.  At first, I found the book to be a little hard to follow.  It seemed like every chapter introduced me to so many different people that I couldn't connect any dots to tell me what was really happening.  Before I could figure out who each person was and how they related to the plot, the chapter ended and I was left to stew in frustration.

While I knew the action and mystery brewing in the background was leading me to something great, it was still frustrating because my mind couldn't wrap around anything solid yet.

Slowly the plot was introduced, and the book snowballed into a super good read.

I liked The Hypnotist because it reminded me that I have neglected a lot of good mystery and suspense novels.  This book was so chalk full of murders, whodunits, and what ifs that despite my confusion, it kept me reading.

Just when I thought I'd put all the puzzle pieces together, M. J. Rose picked them up and threw them back in my face.  To me, this book read like a good episode of Law and Order.  You think you know what's going on, but you really don't.

What I didn't much care for about this book was that I felt like I was on an art history tour.  I'm all for culture and art enhancement, but too much focus and explanation and I'm liable to tune it out.  I felt like I was being guided by someone that loved art history so much, they got an orgasm just talking about it.  So, if you love art history, you will probably enjoy this book a little more than I did.

My Rating
I give this book 3 1/2 flowers of love because it was a good book.  It took me awhile to really get into it, but I would recommend it.  What I don't recommend is that you read this book as a stand alone.  It had too many "should have been there moments" for me that I felt like I needed to read the other books in the series to get a full understanding of certain situations.

Other books in The Reincarnationist Series
The Reincarnationist
The Memorist


Other reviews for this book:
The Book Vixen
Fiction Vixen
Cajun Book Lady