Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Case One: Olivia Land, youngest and most beloved of the Land girls, goes missing in the night and is never seen again. Thirty years later, two of her surviving sisters unearth a shocking clue to Olivia's disappearance among the clutter of their childhood home.
Case Two: Theo delights in his daughter Laura's wit, effortless beauty, and selfless love. But her first day as an associate in his law firm is also the day when Theo's world turns upside down.
Case Three: Michelle looks around one day and finds herself trapped in a hell of her own making. A very needy baby and a very demanding husband make her every waking moment a reminder that somewhere, somehow, she'd made a grave mistake and would spend the rest of her life paying for it--until a fit of rage creates a grisly, bloody escape.
As Private Detective Jackson Brodie investigates all three cases, startling connections and discoveries emerge. Inextricably caught up in his clients' grief, joy, and desire, Jackson finds their unshakable need for resolution very much like his own.
It is an interesting idea, having a private detective commissioned to solve three cases that the police could never solve. What is interesting is what he discovers is often different than the actual result. We get all kinds of perspective, from Jackson himself, the victims and the perpetrators. The odd thing for me was how much sex was discussed in this book, if they weren't talking or fantasizing about it, they were doing it. It was a bit odd to hear these very prim and proper Brits talking about sex. Plus it didn't feel at all erotic but rather detatched.
Almost all the various cases become intertwined with one another in a very interesting way. I would try another of her novels to see if she writes different types of books.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Date with the Other Side by Erin McCarthy
Boston Mcnamara has been sent to small town USA in what he views as a punishement. Add to this, he finds himself renting a haunted house, has a rather quirky land lady and oh, yeah, locked doors mean nothing to sexy Shelby, resident ghost tour guide.
Shelby is making ends meet by taking people around her small town on a personal guided tour of hunted houses. Cuttersville is loaded with them and her grammy just so happens to own many of them. She is in for the shock of her life when she brings her tour to "the white house" only to find it not haunted by spooks but instead occupied by one sexy man. Of course Boston is not thrilled to be caught without a stitch on by Shelby and her faithful followers. Throw in her granny that wants Shelby to find a man, an ex-husband who wants to get remarried and ghosts everywhere!
Lots of pretty good sex scenes too. Shelby claims to have never had an orgasism. So of course Boston takes this as challenge to prove her wrong. The ghosts seem to be attracted to them when they are together so it helps break the tension so to speak when a ghost cow moos right at a crucial moment.
These two are truly opposites so can they put aside their differences and see what they have in common to make this have a happy ending. Fun read.
Boston Mcnamara has been sent to small town USA in what he views as a punishement. Add to this, he finds himself renting a haunted house, has a rather quirky land lady and oh, yeah, locked doors mean nothing to sexy Shelby, resident ghost tour guide.
Shelby is making ends meet by taking people around her small town on a personal guided tour of hunted houses. Cuttersville is loaded with them and her grammy just so happens to own many of them. She is in for the shock of her life when she brings her tour to "the white house" only to find it not haunted by spooks but instead occupied by one sexy man. Of course Boston is not thrilled to be caught without a stitch on by Shelby and her faithful followers. Throw in her granny that wants Shelby to find a man, an ex-husband who wants to get remarried and ghosts everywhere!
Lots of pretty good sex scenes too. Shelby claims to have never had an orgasism. So of course Boston takes this as challenge to prove her wrong. The ghosts seem to be attracted to them when they are together so it helps break the tension so to speak when a ghost cow moos right at a crucial moment.
These two are truly opposites so can they put aside their differences and see what they have in common to make this have a happy ending. Fun read.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Behold the Man by Michael Moorcock
This novella won the 1967 Nebula Award.
Karl Glogauer travels back in time two thousand years, meets John the Baptist, and then seeks Jesus Christ himself. This is a very intense read. At first I thought Ok, a time travel novel. Then as you see how Glogauer interweaves himself in this timeless story I became amazed by it. It is really hard to discribe my thoughts and emotions while reading this. Wow!
This novella won the 1967 Nebula Award.
Karl Glogauer travels back in time two thousand years, meets John the Baptist, and then seeks Jesus Christ himself. This is a very intense read. At first I thought Ok, a time travel novel. Then as you see how Glogauer interweaves himself in this timeless story I became amazed by it. It is really hard to discribe my thoughts and emotions while reading this. Wow!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Dirk & Steele Series
by Marjorie M. Liu
EYE OF HEAVEN
DARK DREAMERS
RED HEART OF JADE
Book 2
Shadow Touch
A private detective who picks up people's memories through touch, Artur Loginov isn't entirely surprised when he's kidnapped and imprisoned in an asylumlike facility; his former days as a Russian mobster taught him to believe he'd come to a bad end. But he's surprised to find the other prisoners are paranormally gifted as well--including Elena Baxter from Wisconsin, able to perform miraculous healings and now stunned to realize she's no longer alone in the world. Aided by a pair of shape-shifters, Elena and Artur escape only to discover their captors' sinister goal--and that they are the only ones who can thwart it.
Interesting book. I had no idea it was part of a series. But as far as I can tell this stands on it's own. It defintely leaves you wanting more. I liked the suspense and erotic nature and while it had violence nothing was graphically described. I like erotica that let's you imagine how it all goes. Kind of a cross between Laurell K. Hamilton and Charles De Lint. Now I want to read the first book to see if can find out more about this world.
Book 1
Tiger Eye
Psychically sensitive tourist Dela Reese browses for treasures at Beijing's Dirt Market, where an old woman sells her a riddle box for only one yuan. Surprisingly, when Dela opens the box back in her hotel room, a gorgeous seven-foot-tall warrior appears, bearing 2,000-year-old weapons. The warrior, Hari, has been cursed for two millennia to serve as a slave - bereft of his power to shape-shift into a tiger - to anyone who opens the box. Assassins follow Delilah and Hari from Beijing back home to the U.S., where Dela and Hari soon find themselves in the midst of a war between Chinese crime syndicates. The reappearance of Hari's age-old nemesis, the Magi, who has been searching for Hari since he was imprisoned in the box, jacks up the suspense
by Marjorie M. Liu
EYE OF HEAVEN
DARK DREAMERS
RED HEART OF JADE
Book 2
Shadow Touch
A private detective who picks up people's memories through touch, Artur Loginov isn't entirely surprised when he's kidnapped and imprisoned in an asylumlike facility; his former days as a Russian mobster taught him to believe he'd come to a bad end. But he's surprised to find the other prisoners are paranormally gifted as well--including Elena Baxter from Wisconsin, able to perform miraculous healings and now stunned to realize she's no longer alone in the world. Aided by a pair of shape-shifters, Elena and Artur escape only to discover their captors' sinister goal--and that they are the only ones who can thwart it.
Interesting book. I had no idea it was part of a series. But as far as I can tell this stands on it's own. It defintely leaves you wanting more. I liked the suspense and erotic nature and while it had violence nothing was graphically described. I like erotica that let's you imagine how it all goes. Kind of a cross between Laurell K. Hamilton and Charles De Lint. Now I want to read the first book to see if can find out more about this world.
Book 1
Tiger Eye
Psychically sensitive tourist Dela Reese browses for treasures at Beijing's Dirt Market, where an old woman sells her a riddle box for only one yuan. Surprisingly, when Dela opens the box back in her hotel room, a gorgeous seven-foot-tall warrior appears, bearing 2,000-year-old weapons. The warrior, Hari, has been cursed for two millennia to serve as a slave - bereft of his power to shape-shift into a tiger - to anyone who opens the box. Assassins follow Delilah and Hari from Beijing back home to the U.S., where Dela and Hari soon find themselves in the midst of a war between Chinese crime syndicates. The reappearance of Hari's age-old nemesis, the Magi, who has been searching for Hari since he was imprisoned in the box, jacks up the suspense
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
2176 series
Book 2
Day of Fire by Kathleen Nance
Day Daniels, a Mounty, lives in Canada. But for over a century it's been closed off, quarantined. Now, in 2176, its people thrive. The country still needs peacekeepers, though-and the Mounties are there. Be It All. Do It All. Those are the high-tech police force's twin mottos. They're Day Daniels's mottos, too.
Someone or something called the Shadow Voice is broadcasting treason, and Day's determined to stamp it out. When her partner is murdered she is determined to discover who did it and put them away for life. Seeking a source with information, Day enters the techbar, Flash Point. There she meets Lian, a civilian bartender. Quickly she discovers that Lian Firebird is neither of those things but an enigmatic government operative and shaman. He is trying to discover the source of a new strain of small pox and becomes her partner. He offers-no, insists-upon joining her trek to the legendary Citadel.
But she needs Lian to gain access to the UCE territory to discover the true source of the threat and save the world in the process.
Interesting book. I liked the futuristic aspects of it and am curious to read some of the others in the series.
Book 1 - Legend of Banzai Maguire by Susan Grant
Legend of Banzai Maguire by Susan Grant
We start in 2006 as U.S. Air Force fighter Bree "Bonzai" Maguire is preparing for a routine patrol between North and South Korea. She feels a shiver of apprehension and soon finds her foreboding to be well founded when she and her wingman, Cam, are trapped by a mad scientist and frozen alive—until treasure hunter Ty Armstrong rescues her 170 years later. Bree awakens to a new era in human history, one enhanced by advanced technologies but bereft of freedom. Almost immediately, Bree is stolen from Ty by the prince of the Kingdom of Asia, Kyber, who offers her innumerable luxuries. Bree knows, however, that she's little more than a treasured pet to him. Desperate to find her wingman, Bree turns to Ty, but she soon learns that he's as helpless as she and that his country, formerly the U.S. but now the bloated and unstable United Colonies of Earth, is even worse than Kyber's benevolent dictatorship.
Both are told to watch the shadows and sure enough when the mysterious Shadow voice takes over all communications Ty and Bree use the opportunity to escape to find out who and what the shadow voice is all about. Unfortunately we don't learn too much about that part as there are 4 more books in the series.
Book 3 - Shadow Runners by Liz Maverick
Book 4 - Power of Two by Patti O'Shea
Book 5 - Scarlet Empress by Susan Grant
Book 2
Day of Fire by Kathleen Nance
Day Daniels, a Mounty, lives in Canada. But for over a century it's been closed off, quarantined. Now, in 2176, its people thrive. The country still needs peacekeepers, though-and the Mounties are there. Be It All. Do It All. Those are the high-tech police force's twin mottos. They're Day Daniels's mottos, too.
Someone or something called the Shadow Voice is broadcasting treason, and Day's determined to stamp it out. When her partner is murdered she is determined to discover who did it and put them away for life. Seeking a source with information, Day enters the techbar, Flash Point. There she meets Lian, a civilian bartender. Quickly she discovers that Lian Firebird is neither of those things but an enigmatic government operative and shaman. He is trying to discover the source of a new strain of small pox and becomes her partner. He offers-no, insists-upon joining her trek to the legendary Citadel.
But she needs Lian to gain access to the UCE territory to discover the true source of the threat and save the world in the process.
Interesting book. I liked the futuristic aspects of it and am curious to read some of the others in the series.
Book 1 - Legend of Banzai Maguire by Susan Grant
Legend of Banzai Maguire by Susan Grant
We start in 2006 as U.S. Air Force fighter Bree "Bonzai" Maguire is preparing for a routine patrol between North and South Korea. She feels a shiver of apprehension and soon finds her foreboding to be well founded when she and her wingman, Cam, are trapped by a mad scientist and frozen alive—until treasure hunter Ty Armstrong rescues her 170 years later. Bree awakens to a new era in human history, one enhanced by advanced technologies but bereft of freedom. Almost immediately, Bree is stolen from Ty by the prince of the Kingdom of Asia, Kyber, who offers her innumerable luxuries. Bree knows, however, that she's little more than a treasured pet to him. Desperate to find her wingman, Bree turns to Ty, but she soon learns that he's as helpless as she and that his country, formerly the U.S. but now the bloated and unstable United Colonies of Earth, is even worse than Kyber's benevolent dictatorship.
Both are told to watch the shadows and sure enough when the mysterious Shadow voice takes over all communications Ty and Bree use the opportunity to escape to find out who and what the shadow voice is all about. Unfortunately we don't learn too much about that part as there are 4 more books in the series.
Book 3 - Shadow Runners by Liz Maverick
Book 4 - Power of Two by Patti O'Shea
Book 5 - Scarlet Empress by Susan Grant
Monday, November 13, 2006
Second Sight by Amanda Quick (aka Janye Ann Krentz)
Photographer Venetia Milton is a spinster by Victorian standards. Economically strapped, she's also the sole support of her aunt and younger siblings. Things start to look up when she is chosen to photograph a collection of artifacts belonging to the Arcane Society, a 200-year-old clandestine organization founded by an alchemist. The collection is housed in an isolated gothic mansion, and Venetia finds herself there in the company of handsome and mysterious Gabriel Jones. Deciding that it's now or never for love, Venetia seduces him, only to lose the man of her dreams in a fire set by a nefarious enemy.
Venetia resourcefully moves on, opening a portrait shop and assuming the persona of Gabriel's grieving widow. The talented Mrs. Jones becomes the toast of London, but with Gabriel soon showing up on her doorstep very much alive, Venetia adapts herself again. Now to the former widow reunited with her assumed dead husband. Miffed, she consigns him to the attic, but their chemistry quickly reignites; while tracking down one murderous, blackmailing thief after another, they steal opportunities for fervent encounters in the garden, in the carriage, in the society's mansion and at home.
I enjoy her books especially her more science fiction books she writes under Jayne Castle. But I enjoy reading any of her books she comes out with. She is a fun and easy read.
Photographer Venetia Milton is a spinster by Victorian standards. Economically strapped, she's also the sole support of her aunt and younger siblings. Things start to look up when she is chosen to photograph a collection of artifacts belonging to the Arcane Society, a 200-year-old clandestine organization founded by an alchemist. The collection is housed in an isolated gothic mansion, and Venetia finds herself there in the company of handsome and mysterious Gabriel Jones. Deciding that it's now or never for love, Venetia seduces him, only to lose the man of her dreams in a fire set by a nefarious enemy.
Venetia resourcefully moves on, opening a portrait shop and assuming the persona of Gabriel's grieving widow. The talented Mrs. Jones becomes the toast of London, but with Gabriel soon showing up on her doorstep very much alive, Venetia adapts herself again. Now to the former widow reunited with her assumed dead husband. Miffed, she consigns him to the attic, but their chemistry quickly reignites; while tracking down one murderous, blackmailing thief after another, they steal opportunities for fervent encounters in the garden, in the carriage, in the society's mansion and at home.
I enjoy her books especially her more science fiction books she writes under Jayne Castle. But I enjoy reading any of her books she comes out with. She is a fun and easy read.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Code Name series by Christina Skye
Code Name: Princess
2nd book in the Code Name: series. This one features navy SEAL Hawk MacKenzie and hotel investigator Jess Mulcahey (sister to FBI agent Summer Mulcahey, the heroine from Nanny). The pair come together under tumultuous circumstances when Jess, pretending to be minor royalty, bribes a hotel manager into upgrading her to a nicer room, which turns out to be Hawk's digs. Although the hotel has changed locks, it doesn't deter Hawk, who gains entry with a "highly illicit piece of technology" and catches her in the shower.
Hawk is hot on the trail of a stolen government lab animal, and Jess is afraid the hotel staff will seek revenge on her for a bad review. Neither has the time or patience for the other's drama, but they are thrown together time and again in the genre's usual fashion-chasing the bad guys through the fog and rain of Washington State's Olympic Peninsula, easing sexual tension in a stalled hotel elevator and tracking down the lab animal, an adorable koala bear.
I like romance books that feature characters from other books. It was interesting how the murder part of this book is skimmed over leaving one almost to feel it didn't really happen. The main focus is on the two characters as their characters clash and sizzle at the same time. I'll look for her other books.
Code Name: Princess
2nd book in the Code Name: series. This one features navy SEAL Hawk MacKenzie and hotel investigator Jess Mulcahey (sister to FBI agent Summer Mulcahey, the heroine from Nanny). The pair come together under tumultuous circumstances when Jess, pretending to be minor royalty, bribes a hotel manager into upgrading her to a nicer room, which turns out to be Hawk's digs. Although the hotel has changed locks, it doesn't deter Hawk, who gains entry with a "highly illicit piece of technology" and catches her in the shower.
Hawk is hot on the trail of a stolen government lab animal, and Jess is afraid the hotel staff will seek revenge on her for a bad review. Neither has the time or patience for the other's drama, but they are thrown together time and again in the genre's usual fashion-chasing the bad guys through the fog and rain of Washington State's Olympic Peninsula, easing sexual tension in a stalled hotel elevator and tracking down the lab animal, an adorable koala bear.
I like romance books that feature characters from other books. It was interesting how the murder part of this book is skimmed over leaving one almost to feel it didn't really happen. The main focus is on the two characters as their characters clash and sizzle at the same time. I'll look for her other books.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Bubbles Betrothed by Sarah Strohmeyer
Bubbles Yablonsky has hung up her curling iron for good, the ex-hairdresser and takes her new career seriously. The Lehigh News-Times reporter is willing to risk a contempt-of-court charge rather than surrender the notes from her interview with accused murderer Julia "Crazy Popeye" Simon. Popeye's poisoning in her jail cell makes the police think maybe she didn't kill high school principal Rudolph Schmidt, even though podiatrist Cerise May found the bag lady in her waiting room with her hands down the administrator's throat. And they think Bubbles's notebook may help them find out who did kill Schmidt, and whether the killing is connected to May's ex-boyfriend, Polish mafioso Karol Smolak.
Of course, keeping her mother Lulu out of trouble and helping daughter Jane fill out her application to Princeton take up most of Bubbles's spare time, so it isn't until the judge fines her $1,000 per minute until her notes resurface that she decides she'd better find out who killed Schmidt. But Bubbles doesn't reckon with the biggest distraction of all: AP photographer Steve Stiletto, who plunks a diamond on her finger and asks her to pretend to be his fiancée so he doesn't get sent to London.
Typical crazy murder and mayhem follow Bubbles where ever she goes. The whole fake engagement was kind of annoying and really didn't add much to the story. Bubbles is always fun but I miss her salon days.
Bubbles Yablonsky has hung up her curling iron for good, the ex-hairdresser and takes her new career seriously. The Lehigh News-Times reporter is willing to risk a contempt-of-court charge rather than surrender the notes from her interview with accused murderer Julia "Crazy Popeye" Simon. Popeye's poisoning in her jail cell makes the police think maybe she didn't kill high school principal Rudolph Schmidt, even though podiatrist Cerise May found the bag lady in her waiting room with her hands down the administrator's throat. And they think Bubbles's notebook may help them find out who did kill Schmidt, and whether the killing is connected to May's ex-boyfriend, Polish mafioso Karol Smolak.
Of course, keeping her mother Lulu out of trouble and helping daughter Jane fill out her application to Princeton take up most of Bubbles's spare time, so it isn't until the judge fines her $1,000 per minute until her notes resurface that she decides she'd better find out who killed Schmidt. But Bubbles doesn't reckon with the biggest distraction of all: AP photographer Steve Stiletto, who plunks a diamond on her finger and asks her to pretend to be his fiancée so he doesn't get sent to London.
Typical crazy murder and mayhem follow Bubbles where ever she goes. The whole fake engagement was kind of annoying and really didn't add much to the story. Bubbles is always fun but I miss her salon days.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)