Monday, June 27, 2011

Review: The Harlot by: Saskia Walker

The HarlotThe Harlot by Saskia Walker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


An amazing erotic novel has been found. Ms. Walker delivers a wonderful turn paging storyline, well written characters, and steamy scenes.

Jessie Taskill is the "Harlot of Dundee", a woman with a past and a secret. Gregor Ramsay is a man on a mission of revenge upon the person he blames for his family's demise. The moment they meet sparks are ignited and as he prepares her to seduce Ivor Wallace, Gregor finds himself under her spell. She is being hunted and accused of witchcraft, he is chased by ghosts, with each page you hope it will end with love healing all.

I must say this book was a rare and wonderful treat. It is so rare to find an erotic novel that has dimension to the characters and an unique storyline that actually takes up the pages and allows scenes to flow.



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Review: The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by: Lauren Kate

The Betrayal of Natalie HargroveThe Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


This book was hard to get through, the main character, Natalie Hargrove is a social climbing monster with only one thought.. or all thoughts that only pertain to herself and how superficial she is. After a party her and her boyfriend, the very rich Mike King, prank the competition for the prince of the ball a boy from her past, Justin Balmer, which leads to his death. It is the unraveling of Natalie, those around her, and the repercussions of all the actions she makes along the way to cover it up.
I could not sympathize with the main character at all, it took all of my patience to make it finally into the true story - beyond make up and hair and bluh bluh fillers- 70 pages at least... but it is a fast read and if you have nothing better to do to make you feel better about you being you..



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Review: Wither By:Lauren Destefano

Wither (The Chemical Garden, #1)Wither by Lauren DeStefano

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It's a new world, one where girls no longer grow into adulthood but are doomed to die by 20 and boys at 25 - the solution, marry them young to reproduce as a cure is sought. Enter the world of sister wives, of young girls stolen away from all they once new to be the brides of one man-child, thanks to the payment of his father.

The story is told by Rhine, one of a twin (her brother is left behind.. wondering), with a unique feature of one eye blue one eye brown, orphaned by scientist parents, stolen away to be the bride of Linden, whose father, Housemaster Vaughn is the shiver of evil as a shadow is in darkness. Rhine is one of three brides brought to Linden as his first wife dies, Rhine un/fortunately has a resemblence to her. Cecily, the redhead, is the child, and is the ever pleasing... Jenna, the brunette, is the oldest, whose sisters were killed in front of them and holds the pain of life within her - Rhine, the blonde, holds hope of escape, sometimes losing herself in the prison of the house they all are in, losing herself in the illusion of the holograms, but with the friendship she makes with a servant Gabriel and the promises she keeps to Lindon's first wife, Rose, and Jenna.. Rhine can not lose herself.

There is a creepiness that seeps through the pages as you continue to read this book. The storyline is unique and the words so beautifully written. The dimensions given to not just Rhine, but all the wives shows a wonderful writer. I can't wait to read the next in the series.



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Monday, June 20, 2011

Review: Hourglass by:Myra McEntire

HourglassHourglass by Myra McEntire

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


A new book about Time Travel with a fresh new voice, this is the first book written by Ms. McEntire and has that new feel. There are times that the novel feels rushed and has holes within almost as big as the wormholes and theories that she tries to present within it's pages - but the story is good, the villians are somewhat unexpected. I do wish that the story was stronger but I can hope that Ms. McEntire has just given the reader a taste of what she can do.

Emerson has lost her parents, is in the custody of her brother and his wife, and has only begun to tap into the powers that she has. Having been seeing the dead for a while, her brother, Thomas hires Michael from the Hourglass (an Institute for special people and the studies within) to help Em with this. The sparks between the two are undeniable neither is the tie that binds them from the past, present, and future. When Em is needed to help travel to save an important part Hourglass and the Team, she risks everything to do it.



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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Review: Don't Breathe A Word by: Jennifer McMahon

Don't Breathe a WordDon't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Beware of dark shadows, the Dark Faerie Prince, and even those you thought you could trust..

The book flips chapter by chapter from present day to fifteen years ago as the web of mystery began and begins to unravel. Lisa taken fifteen years ago by the faeries as everyone had come to believe mysterious brings the people that were brought together that summer, back together. Her brother Sam, Phoebe (who years ago was brought to the scene and has a history of her own that twines and unravels), Evie (their cousin), and a couple of kids from the neighborhood... all grown up now can they beat the shadows that lurk in the mysterious forest home or has the shadow made a home elsewhere, can they get Lisa back, can they uncover the truth setting them free or make them all prisoners.

A quick read, I love how this was written. Suspects, mystery, hoping, and the possiblity of believing.. but there is a darkness that keeps the pages turning and swirling in your mind making sure that you have to finish this just in time, before lights out.



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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Review: Fire by Kristin Cashore

Fire (The Seven Kingdoms Trilogy, #2)Fire by Kristin Cashore

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I did not read Graceling..the first book in this series, yet this book truly stands alone and is more than enjoyable.

Enter into a world filled with monsters that have power that prey, filled with war and espionage and treachery, filled with those human-monsters that can control your mind and gracelings that have their own specialized talents - by entered thse pages you enter the world of the Dells.

It is the brink of war when we meet Fire, a human-monster with the power to read and control other minds with her own and her "beauty". Ms. Cashore has created amazing secondary characters to bring out Fire.. for as the book develops, the characters that Fire surrounds herself with do too. The beginning, she is within her hometown, her best friend and lover Archer, the only things that she knows. Being brought to the King City by Prince Brigan, Fire becomes ignited. New place, new job, new people. She learns more about herself and those around her, she becomes empowered. A great development of Fire growing into womanhood through self-control, self-worth, grief, happiness, and love.



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Thursday, June 9, 2011

Review: Reckless by Cornelia Funke

Reckless (Reckless, #1)Reckless by Cornelia Funke

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Ms. Funke has taken the reader into the Mirrorworld - another place in this outstanding novel. A story of Jacob Reckless, a treasure hunter of glass slippers, golden orbs, dragon scales, and things that you only thought were "fairy tales" who must set off to find a cure for what is ailing his brother, Will. Will has been attacked by the Goyl, stone creatures that turn men into stone having them forget what they once were and becoming now the hunters rather then the hunted of old they have scores to settle in this other world. Will is turning into the prophesy of The Dark Fairy, a Jade Goyl. Jacob, Clara (Will's love), Fox (Celeste, a shape-shifter), and Valiant (a dwarf) embark on an adventure that takes them into themselves and through obstacles to cure Will. Can love be the answer to drive this force?

What a wonderful woven read filled with adventure, interesting placements of known fairy tales. I highly recommend this read.



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Review: Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

ScarsScars by Cheryl Rainfield

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Scars is a deep felt account of Kendra who takes us through the book in first person account of her scars both internal and external. Having a lack of true support system at home in her mother, she finds mother figures in that of her therapist and art teacher, both which she opens herself and her wounds to in a subconscious level. Kendra was abused. Now as she is putting those memories together her abuser is stalking her, leaving her messages to leave this be, to leave it alone. All this pain, all this neglect, all this abuse... Kendra also abuses herself, to relieve that pain, those memories, she cuts herself. She finds herself in love and receiving love with a girlfriend, Meghan; her art gets displayed and starts to sell. Soon stress crashes pieces together and the way Ms. Rainfield wrote this keeps you right there with Kendra.

I really liked this story. It was very raw and written with a note of hope at the end. There is also a lot of resources listed to help you if you or someone you know is involved in self injury or abuse.



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Review: The Seduction of Miranda Prosper

The Seduction of Miranda ProsperThe Seduction of Miranda Prosper by Marissa Day

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I think I could possibly give this 1.5 stars for there was somewhat a plot. Miranda is found at a ball to be the catalyst for the two sorcerers, Corwin (dark and giving), and Darius (light and mysterious). To enter into the power that is her own and theirs manage de trios run rampant amongst what one might consider a plot. An evil Fae made a deal for thirteen catalysts to be delivered, many have gone missing, other sorcerers destroyed, can the three of them uncover who is behind the plot and prevent it without losing Miranda.



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Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Review: Cut by Patricia McCormick

CutCut by Patricia McCormick

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Told in first person, a fictional tale about a girl named Callie in a residential treatment facility, Sea Pines for self-mutilation. Ms. McCormick writes the internal dialogue, the interactions and personal responses of the character to not just her family, but her therapist, but also her peers in the program. The reactions and actions of cause and effect are easily examplified through those peers and family members. For such a serious subject matter I found this book a little campy, trying to end on a good note and be an easy read, not truly touching on the harder subjects that is truly encountered in self mutilation. I wouldn't recommend this for anyone trying to understand this disorder or at all.



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