Awaken Me Darkley by Gena Showalter
Part of the Alien Huntres series
It's sometime in the future, and aliens have been residents on Earth for more than 70 years. Enter Mia Snow, head of the New Chicago Police Department's Alien Investigation and Removal Agency, as she and her crack crew try to solve the latest string of extraterrestrially induced murders. This particular killer favors handsome young men with dark hair and dark eyes. Mia knows that the culprit is one of the dreaded Arcadians, the most clever and deadly species of all.
However, when her second-in-command--and best friend--Dallas Gutierrez is mortally wounded, and only Arcadian Kyrin en Arr, the prime murder suspect, holds the key to his survival, Mia has to make a hard choice between her ethics as a cop and her love for her friend. To make matters worse, she is physically attracted to Kyrin, and suddenly, her black-and-white world has gone all swirly gray.
Interesting book and it might be a series eventually from what the author wrote at the end of the book. It was a good mix of Buffy the Vampire slayer and erotica.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Rei Shimura Mysteries by Sujata Massey
Salaryman's Wife
Rei Shimura is a 27-year-old English teacher living in one of Tokyo's seediest neighborhoods. She doesn't make much money, but she wouldn't go back home to California even if she had a free ticket. Her holiday, to an ancient castle town, is marred by the murder of the beautiful wife of a high-powered businessman. Who killed Setsuko Nakamura, and why is Hugh Glendinning, the handsome Scottish lawyer who works with Setsuko's husband leaning so hard on Rei for help? Rei suspects the police aren't looking in the right places, so she does. What she discovers is blackmail and deceit going back 50 years.
This is the first in the series featuring Rei Shimura, Japanese American living in Tokyo. I read this book probably 7 years ago as my friend Karen recommended it to me. I completely forgot who did in until it was revealed at the end. Plus we see how Rei gets her start on collecting antiques as this is major part of her life in future books.
2. Zen Attitude
3. Flower Master
4. Floating Girl
5. Bride's Kimono
6. Samurai's Daughter
7. Pearl Diver
8. Typhoon Lover
9. Girl in aBox
Salaryman's Wife
Rei Shimura is a 27-year-old English teacher living in one of Tokyo's seediest neighborhoods. She doesn't make much money, but she wouldn't go back home to California even if she had a free ticket. Her holiday, to an ancient castle town, is marred by the murder of the beautiful wife of a high-powered businessman. Who killed Setsuko Nakamura, and why is Hugh Glendinning, the handsome Scottish lawyer who works with Setsuko's husband leaning so hard on Rei for help? Rei suspects the police aren't looking in the right places, so she does. What she discovers is blackmail and deceit going back 50 years.
This is the first in the series featuring Rei Shimura, Japanese American living in Tokyo. I read this book probably 7 years ago as my friend Karen recommended it to me. I completely forgot who did in until it was revealed at the end. Plus we see how Rei gets her start on collecting antiques as this is major part of her life in future books.
2. Zen Attitude
3. Flower Master
4. Floating Girl
5. Bride's Kimono
6. Samurai's Daughter
7. Pearl Diver
8. Typhoon Lover
9. Girl in aBox
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
Paul Fisher is legally blind. He wears glasses so thick he looks like a bug-eyed alien, and kids tell a story about how he blinded himself by staring at an eclipse of the sun. But Paul doesn’t remember doing that. And he doesn’t mind the glasses, because with them he can see. Can see that his parents’ constant praise of his brother Erik, the football star, is to cover up something that is terribly wrong. But no one listens to Paul. Until his family moves to Tangerine, FL.
Tangerine is like another planet, where weird is normal. Lightning strikes at the same time every day. Underground fires burn for years. A sinkhole swallows a local school. And Paul the geek finds himself adopted into the toughest group around–the soccer team of his middle school. Suddenly the blind can see, geeks can be cool, and–maybe–a twelve-year-old kid can finally face up to his terrifying older brother.
This was an incredibly intense read. I listened to it on CD in the car. It is a mix of Paul's observations of his life with him memories of his past.
Paul Fisher is legally blind. He wears glasses so thick he looks like a bug-eyed alien, and kids tell a story about how he blinded himself by staring at an eclipse of the sun. But Paul doesn’t remember doing that. And he doesn’t mind the glasses, because with them he can see. Can see that his parents’ constant praise of his brother Erik, the football star, is to cover up something that is terribly wrong. But no one listens to Paul. Until his family moves to Tangerine, FL.
Tangerine is like another planet, where weird is normal. Lightning strikes at the same time every day. Underground fires burn for years. A sinkhole swallows a local school. And Paul the geek finds himself adopted into the toughest group around–the soccer team of his middle school. Suddenly the blind can see, geeks can be cool, and–maybe–a twelve-year-old kid can finally face up to his terrifying older brother.
This was an incredibly intense read. I listened to it on CD in the car. It is a mix of Paul's observations of his life with him memories of his past.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich
Alexandra Barnaby, aka Barney, hails from Baltimore working in an insurance office. She donned mechanic's overalls in her father's garage during summer breaks from college. Her younger brother, Wild Bill, shares her passion for cars, and now he's disappeared from Miami, along with NASCAR star Sam Hooker's boat, the Happy Hooker. Evanovich doesn't mind showing her romance roots, as Barney and Sam start off snarling at each other; as any reader can tell, they have to team up (a) to save Bill and (b) to enjoy delicious sex.
You can't help but compare this with Stephanie Plum novels that Evanovich writes. So it would get a little annoying to see a lot of the same trends but not as well done going on in this novel. I tried really hard to pretend I hadn't read any of the Plum books but it was impossible to do so. I finished the book but it didn't leave me wanting more like the Plum books do. I laughed and enjoyed it but now I'm done and can move on with my life.
Alexandra Barnaby, aka Barney, hails from Baltimore working in an insurance office. She donned mechanic's overalls in her father's garage during summer breaks from college. Her younger brother, Wild Bill, shares her passion for cars, and now he's disappeared from Miami, along with NASCAR star Sam Hooker's boat, the Happy Hooker. Evanovich doesn't mind showing her romance roots, as Barney and Sam start off snarling at each other; as any reader can tell, they have to team up (a) to save Bill and (b) to enjoy delicious sex.
You can't help but compare this with Stephanie Plum novels that Evanovich writes. So it would get a little annoying to see a lot of the same trends but not as well done going on in this novel. I tried really hard to pretend I hadn't read any of the Plum books but it was impossible to do so. I finished the book but it didn't leave me wanting more like the Plum books do. I laughed and enjoyed it but now I'm done and can move on with my life.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Stained by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Jocelyn (aka Joss) has two boys in her life.
* Gabe has shared fourteen years of growing up next door. He's a "golden boy, an all-star". Yet now, in the spring of 1975, he's missing, disappeared on the brink of senior year at Weaver High. The whole town is set to go searching for him.
* Benny has only been in New Hampshire since January, yet for Joss, he's the answer to a long held prayer to be someone in somebody's eyes. She loves them both.
The book is told from Joss's point of view both her past and her present. We see how she has evolved to the person she is in the present. Joss feels that her soul is stained because she never got her first communion. She loves Gabe who will never love her back. She is passionately involved with Benny who feels guilty for everything they do and makes her feel that she is the temptation leading him astray. The catholic church has a lot to play in the novel as we see Joss's journey for the truth but often the truth will not set you free. This is a painful but beautiful book to read as it ends with hope.
The ending quote from the book pretty much sums it up.
"I look down at myself, stained by color. No. Not stained. Celebrated. And it occurs to me that perhaps souls are like prisms. Prisms that allow us to see clearing into the soul of another and, at the same time, recognize our own glorious light."
Jocelyn (aka Joss) has two boys in her life.
* Gabe has shared fourteen years of growing up next door. He's a "golden boy, an all-star". Yet now, in the spring of 1975, he's missing, disappeared on the brink of senior year at Weaver High. The whole town is set to go searching for him.
* Benny has only been in New Hampshire since January, yet for Joss, he's the answer to a long held prayer to be someone in somebody's eyes. She loves them both.
The book is told from Joss's point of view both her past and her present. We see how she has evolved to the person she is in the present. Joss feels that her soul is stained because she never got her first communion. She loves Gabe who will never love her back. She is passionately involved with Benny who feels guilty for everything they do and makes her feel that she is the temptation leading him astray. The catholic church has a lot to play in the novel as we see Joss's journey for the truth but often the truth will not set you free. This is a painful but beautiful book to read as it ends with hope.
The ending quote from the book pretty much sums it up.
"I look down at myself, stained by color. No. Not stained. Celebrated. And it occurs to me that perhaps souls are like prisms. Prisms that allow us to see clearing into the soul of another and, at the same time, recognize our own glorious light."
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Freakonomics: a rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? How much do parents really matter? What kind of impact did Roe v. Wade have on violent crime?
These are the kind of questions Levitt asks. He studies the riddles of everyday life-from cheating and crime to sports and child-rearing — and whose conclusions regularly turn the conventional wisdom on its head. He usually begins with a mountain of data and a simple, unasked question. Some of these questions concern life-and-death issues; others have an admittedly freakish quality.
Steven D. Levitt is the Alvin H. Baum Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago, where he is also director of The Becker Center on Chicago Price Theory. Stephen J. Dubner is an award-winning author and journalist who lives in New York City. Dubner comes to know Levitt through an interview and together they wrote this book. I listened to it on CD and Levitt was the narrator.
This book has many thought-provoking questions such as did Roe vs. Wade impace violent crime in the late 1980's? This was a hard thing to think about but it did make me think how events in our lives really unfold. I found the chapter on the Ku Klux Klan most interesting not because the authors thought they were like real estate agents but how one man brought them down by selling their secrets to the Superman radio show. The ending was most shocking as well. I will say this while much of what Levitt has to say is kind of out there it made me look at things differently. I think I'll need to read it again - this time in print form.
Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool? What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? How much do parents really matter? What kind of impact did Roe v. Wade have on violent crime?
These are the kind of questions Levitt asks. He studies the riddles of everyday life-from cheating and crime to sports and child-rearing — and whose conclusions regularly turn the conventional wisdom on its head. He usually begins with a mountain of data and a simple, unasked question. Some of these questions concern life-and-death issues; others have an admittedly freakish quality.
Steven D. Levitt is the Alvin H. Baum Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago, where he is also director of The Becker Center on Chicago Price Theory. Stephen J. Dubner is an award-winning author and journalist who lives in New York City. Dubner comes to know Levitt through an interview and together they wrote this book. I listened to it on CD and Levitt was the narrator.
This book has many thought-provoking questions such as did Roe vs. Wade impace violent crime in the late 1980's? This was a hard thing to think about but it did make me think how events in our lives really unfold. I found the chapter on the Ku Klux Klan most interesting not because the authors thought they were like real estate agents but how one man brought them down by selling their secrets to the Superman radio show. The ending was most shocking as well. I will say this while much of what Levitt has to say is kind of out there it made me look at things differently. I think I'll need to read it again - this time in print form.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Urban Shaman by C. E. Murphy
Joanne Walker, born Siobban Walkingstick, is returning to Seattle from her Mother's funeral in Ireland. On the plane home, as pilots are making a final pass into the city, she sees a woman being attacked at a church. After her plane lands she finds the first cab and tries to discover if what she saw was real or her imagiation. She is a mechanic-cop for Seattle PD. She discovers that she is becoming a shaman.
In her search for the truth she runs head on into Cernunnos, an ancient Celtic god and leader of the Wild Hunt. She has three days to learn to use her shamanic powers and save the world from the unleashed Wild Hunt. No worries. No pressure. Never mind the lack of sleep, the perplexing new talent for healing herself from fatal wounds, or the cryptic, talking coyote who appears in her dreams. Will she decide to ride with the hunt or work to destroy them?
This was a pretty good read. It took me several weeks to read it so it really didn't grab me but I wanted to finish it.
Joanne Walker, born Siobban Walkingstick, is returning to Seattle from her Mother's funeral in Ireland. On the plane home, as pilots are making a final pass into the city, she sees a woman being attacked at a church. After her plane lands she finds the first cab and tries to discover if what she saw was real or her imagiation. She is a mechanic-cop for Seattle PD. She discovers that she is becoming a shaman.
In her search for the truth she runs head on into Cernunnos, an ancient Celtic god and leader of the Wild Hunt. She has three days to learn to use her shamanic powers and save the world from the unleashed Wild Hunt. No worries. No pressure. Never mind the lack of sleep, the perplexing new talent for healing herself from fatal wounds, or the cryptic, talking coyote who appears in her dreams. Will she decide to ride with the hunt or work to destroy them?
This was a pretty good read. It took me several weeks to read it so it really didn't grab me but I wanted to finish it.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Love, Lies & Liquor by M.C. Beaton
17th Agatha Raisin mystery
Agatha still carries a torch for her ex-husband, James Lacey, who is once again living next door. He invites her to a terrible bbq with his snobby friends. For once Agatha stands up for herself with James and leaves him with his rude friends. He then invites her on holiday to make up for the bbq. Unfortunately, the surprise destination is a rundown British seaside town, Snoth-on-Sea, in which James has fond memories of visiting as a child.
After an altercation a fellow guest at their hotel is murdered, strangled with Agatha's scarf. So Agatha is determined to clear her name. But fefore Agatha can make much headway in her investigation, two more guests are killed.
Typical Agatha style but for once stands up for herself when it comes to James and the other men in her life. While Agatha will never be perfect, she is starting to value her self worth.
17th Agatha Raisin mystery
Agatha still carries a torch for her ex-husband, James Lacey, who is once again living next door. He invites her to a terrible bbq with his snobby friends. For once Agatha stands up for herself with James and leaves him with his rude friends. He then invites her on holiday to make up for the bbq. Unfortunately, the surprise destination is a rundown British seaside town, Snoth-on-Sea, in which James has fond memories of visiting as a child.
After an altercation a fellow guest at their hotel is murdered, strangled with Agatha's scarf. So Agatha is determined to clear her name. But fefore Agatha can make much headway in her investigation, two more guests are killed.
Typical Agatha style but for once stands up for herself when it comes to James and the other men in her life. While Agatha will never be perfect, she is starting to value her self worth.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Agents of Light and Darkness by Simon R. Green
John Taylor is back in Darkside - this time he is commissioned by a priest named Jude to finding the unholy grail, not for the cup that Jesus drank from, but the other cup, the Judas Cup, which provides both ultimate power and ultimate corruption.
If it was just John Taylor and an ugly silver cup this would be a piece of cake for John - find it and return it to the Vatican, who will hide it from all the powers, human and otherwise. But no such luck - everyone is after it. Demons, gangsters, and angels - thousands of them, good and bad, all prepared to end the universe to gain the cup. Knowing he is out of his depth, Taylor brings Shotgun Suzie on board, and together they challenge Armageddon.
It is funny as angels from both heaven and hell are after the cup and both are determined to torture, kill and destroy anyone who gets in the way. These angels appear as ordinary gray suited bankers or accountants until they burst into flames turning those who look into a pilar of salt. Except if you are holding the Speaking Gun, in the beginning God created things by calling their name, which can destroy things by Speaking their name. It will also kill angels. Go figure? Of course Taylor gets his hand on it from the nazis.
Green's books are not long but he manages to crame a huge amount of horrible images in it. I skim through those parts as I usually like the beginning and the ending makes me want to read more about Taylor. I know this is a pretty big series so will try another one out.
More in the series.
3) Nightingale's Lament
4) Hex and the City
5) Paths Not Taken
6) Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth
7) And Follow Darkness Like a Dream
John Taylor is back in Darkside - this time he is commissioned by a priest named Jude to finding the unholy grail, not for the cup that Jesus drank from, but the other cup, the Judas Cup, which provides both ultimate power and ultimate corruption.
If it was just John Taylor and an ugly silver cup this would be a piece of cake for John - find it and return it to the Vatican, who will hide it from all the powers, human and otherwise. But no such luck - everyone is after it. Demons, gangsters, and angels - thousands of them, good and bad, all prepared to end the universe to gain the cup. Knowing he is out of his depth, Taylor brings Shotgun Suzie on board, and together they challenge Armageddon.
It is funny as angels from both heaven and hell are after the cup and both are determined to torture, kill and destroy anyone who gets in the way. These angels appear as ordinary gray suited bankers or accountants until they burst into flames turning those who look into a pilar of salt. Except if you are holding the Speaking Gun, in the beginning God created things by calling their name, which can destroy things by Speaking their name. It will also kill angels. Go figure? Of course Taylor gets his hand on it from the nazis.
Green's books are not long but he manages to crame a huge amount of horrible images in it. I skim through those parts as I usually like the beginning and the ending makes me want to read more about Taylor. I know this is a pretty big series so will try another one out.
More in the series.
3) Nightingale's Lament
4) Hex and the City
5) Paths Not Taken
6) Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth
7) And Follow Darkness Like a Dream
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Family Tree by Sheri S. Tepper
Police officer Dora Henry talks to the trees, and they listen. They also provide her with fruit out of season and guard her bicycle. Why they do these things, she's not sure, but she doesn't have time to worry about it: three geneticists have been murdered and clues are in short supply.
She's also going through a painful divorce from her abusive husband, Jared, after two years of sterile, sexless marriage--and Jared has vowed that he won't let her go and has begun stalking her. The trees, meanwhile, are springing up everywhere, ripping up streets, kidnapping unwanted babies and acting like sentient beings. Dora's story represents only half of what's going on in this tale, however. In a parallel narrative set 3000 years in the future, Opalears, a young slave in a quasi-Arabic society, accompanies her master on a quest to seek interpretation of an ancient prophecy. As they travel, they are joined by others on their own quests. Eventually, Opalears and her companions also run into sentient trees.
When the future peoples come into Dora's world, everything becomes clear. Dora must work with the future peoples to save the future and maybe even herself.
It's been a long time since I read any of Tepper's work. It deals with many controversial topics such as controlled populations, animal testing and intelligence, and deforestation. She is an excellent storyteller and while not one of her best works it is still thought provoking.
Tepper wrote as B. J. Oliphant & A. J. Orde in the 1990's writing two different mystery series.
Police officer Dora Henry talks to the trees, and they listen. They also provide her with fruit out of season and guard her bicycle. Why they do these things, she's not sure, but she doesn't have time to worry about it: three geneticists have been murdered and clues are in short supply.
She's also going through a painful divorce from her abusive husband, Jared, after two years of sterile, sexless marriage--and Jared has vowed that he won't let her go and has begun stalking her. The trees, meanwhile, are springing up everywhere, ripping up streets, kidnapping unwanted babies and acting like sentient beings. Dora's story represents only half of what's going on in this tale, however. In a parallel narrative set 3000 years in the future, Opalears, a young slave in a quasi-Arabic society, accompanies her master on a quest to seek interpretation of an ancient prophecy. As they travel, they are joined by others on their own quests. Eventually, Opalears and her companions also run into sentient trees.
When the future peoples come into Dora's world, everything becomes clear. Dora must work with the future peoples to save the future and maybe even herself.
It's been a long time since I read any of Tepper's work. It deals with many controversial topics such as controlled populations, animal testing and intelligence, and deforestation. She is an excellent storyteller and while not one of her best works it is still thought provoking.
Tepper wrote as B. J. Oliphant & A. J. Orde in the 1990's writing two different mystery series.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner
Kate Klein, an "accidental mother of three" in suburban Connecticut, misses New York City and just doesn't seem to fit in with all of the expensively dressed mommies. A former journalist, Kate is bored staying at home until the day she is invited to lunch at a neighbor's house and finds the woman's body lying in a pool of blood. With the help of her outrageous best friend and a detective, a former flame from New York, she swiftly begins her own investigation into the murder, uncovering plenty of suburban secrets along the way.
This felt very sex and the city goes to the suburbs to me. It was fun and reader did a great job using various voices for the different characters. I just found the main character, Kate, really annoying. She whined about being a mother, she whined about being married, she whined about not having a good mother figure, she whined about her husband not being home, then whined when he was. I think you get the picture. She has great friends and family, personally more then she deserves with how she goes on and on about life. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the book, I just got tired of her "voice".
Kate Klein, an "accidental mother of three" in suburban Connecticut, misses New York City and just doesn't seem to fit in with all of the expensively dressed mommies. A former journalist, Kate is bored staying at home until the day she is invited to lunch at a neighbor's house and finds the woman's body lying in a pool of blood. With the help of her outrageous best friend and a detective, a former flame from New York, she swiftly begins her own investigation into the murder, uncovering plenty of suburban secrets along the way.
This felt very sex and the city goes to the suburbs to me. It was fun and reader did a great job using various voices for the different characters. I just found the main character, Kate, really annoying. She whined about being a mother, she whined about being married, she whined about not having a good mother figure, she whined about her husband not being home, then whined when he was. I think you get the picture. She has great friends and family, personally more then she deserves with how she goes on and on about life. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the book, I just got tired of her "voice".
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Harry Sue by Sue Stauffacher
At eleven years old, Harry Sue Clotkin already has a couple of strikes against her. She's the only child of convicted felons and her best friend is a quadriplegic who won't come out of his tree house. Her plan so far is to tough up and head for the joint. But before she can start the life of crime that will land her in the joint with her mom, Harry Sue needs to save a swarm of little kids from evil Granny Clotkin, whose in-home daycare should be labeled hazardous to your health. In addition, Violet Chump could use a good Samaritan, and Jolly Roger Chlorine and his crew need to learn that girls like Harry Sue do not take it on the chin.
Like Dorothy in her favorite story, The Wizard of Oz, Harry Sue's got a long journey home. And she could use some help. Add Baba and J-Cat to Homer Price, and you have a crew only slightly less strange than the lion, the tin man and the scarecrow.
The cover is what attracted me to this book with a little girl looking through red jail bars. At first I thought it might be just another one of those sarcastic books for kids. But I quickly realized that this character while wanting to be bad just can't be. You end up cheering for her to succeed by the end. The author's notes at the end were very interesting as well.
At eleven years old, Harry Sue Clotkin already has a couple of strikes against her. She's the only child of convicted felons and her best friend is a quadriplegic who won't come out of his tree house. Her plan so far is to tough up and head for the joint. But before she can start the life of crime that will land her in the joint with her mom, Harry Sue needs to save a swarm of little kids from evil Granny Clotkin, whose in-home daycare should be labeled hazardous to your health. In addition, Violet Chump could use a good Samaritan, and Jolly Roger Chlorine and his crew need to learn that girls like Harry Sue do not take it on the chin.
Like Dorothy in her favorite story, The Wizard of Oz, Harry Sue's got a long journey home. And she could use some help. Add Baba and J-Cat to Homer Price, and you have a crew only slightly less strange than the lion, the tin man and the scarecrow.
The cover is what attracted me to this book with a little girl looking through red jail bars. At first I thought it might be just another one of those sarcastic books for kids. But I quickly realized that this character while wanting to be bad just can't be. You end up cheering for her to succeed by the end. The author's notes at the end were very interesting as well.
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