Review: Speechless By: Hannah Harrington

Speechless by Hannah Harrington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Chelsea Knot has done - her mouth, her need for gossip, her need to fit in - she really opened up her mouth this time.
At a party Chelsea witnesses what she immediately must dish, by doing so she has affected more lives than she thought. When someone gets hospitalized in a hate crime because of her mouth, she shuts it.
Chelsea learns more about herself and the people around her than ever before. From the person she thought was her best friend, to the boy she has had a crush on for over a year - most of all, Chelsea is changing and developing into what she wants to be, not what was expected from her by her peers.
She learns the important message of thinking before speaking, making your words count, and allowing your actions to speak for you. She also learns the importance of forgiveness and that love is more important than hate.

An easy read filled with depth. The growth and development of such a character through self dialogue and the other characters - along with a subject matter that needs to have open discussion, a not to miss read.

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Review: Betrayal By: Gregg Olsen

Betrayal by Gregg Olsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Betrayal is the contiuation in the Empty Coffin Series and just like Envy, you will not be let down.

A murder has occurred in Port Gamble. During a Halloween party an exchange student, Olivia has been stabbed multiple times. Every one in the small community is on high alert, afterall it had to be one of them. Hayley and Taylor Ryan sense the disturbance and try as only they can to put the pieces together.

The inspiration of the story stands through the book, the Amanda Knox case. Brianna Connors, the girl whose house the murder was committed in, the room which Olivia's body was in, the girl who makes out with her boyfriend as investigators are collecting evidence, she even goes as far as doing yoga in the police interrogation room - not too hard to see the similiarities. But is Brianna guilty, her boyfriend?

The twins also start to uncover a few secrets that not only had their parents held shut, but possibly a few others, including Colton's mother. Opening up the past, brings more than they might be prepared for.

I really enjoy the writing style of Mr. Olsen, the characters, the mystery, the twists and turns. I recommend the Empty Coffin series for a great read, but even a social commentary.

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Review: The Unnaturalists By: Tiffany Trent

The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

You can see the inspiration of The Golden Compass within the pages of this book. The myths, the magical dust, the unique creatures - it's all here.
Vespa Nyx is hoping to follow in her father's footsteps in studying the Unnatural in the New London. Science and Order rules, or so the appearance of it, with Saints such as Tesla and Bacon, the old order seems washed away.
Hal Binon (aka Bayne) is off to uncover what is a conspiarcy that has lead him to the museum, and Syrus (a tinker) seems to hold a key.
It is not until the three gather that all is uncovered. Enter the world of witches, architects, tinkers, elements, and mythical creatures - it will be a good journey.
The book has twists and turns that one can enjoy, it can at times also seem disjointed - as if you missed a few pages, but you didn't. I wanted to like the reading process more than I did, but the storyline might be the thing that keeps me liking the book.

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Review: Third Grave Dead Ahead By: Darynda Jones

Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Remember that show Dead Like me? A cult classic, filled with humor, sarcasm, and drama. Get your weekly lesson of life through a dead girl carrying out her penance as a reaper.. I loved that show, and now I can understand the addiction I have to this series.

Charley Davidson is the grim reaper, but not in the historical sense that most of us have been raised to believe. She is the beacon of light that the dead must use as a gate into heaven. Charley is also a Private Investigator whose father retired from the Albuquerque Police and her uncle who still works there.

Being the reaper has its advantages especially in her line of work, afterall the dead easily find her and always have their tale to tell.

In this book Charley must deal with her father's demand to change jobs, Reyes Farrow's escape from prison, a husband that has a missing wife and a history of losing women in the past, a biker gang with a problem of someone poisoning their dogs, and the search for Earl Walker - the man Reyes was in prison for killing.

With excellent storyline that is a roller coaster ride, characters that are wonderfully written and so dimensional that they float off the page into life. You can not go wrong diving into this series.

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Review: Second Grave On The Left By: Darynda Jones

Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

OK, so I am officially addicted to this series.

Charley Davidson is the grim reaper, not like the old tales we have heard, she is also a PI and finds herself walking between the supernatural and the cases she has - oh, did I mention she is in love with the son of satan, Reyes Farrow.

In this book Cookie, Charley's assistant, pulls her into a personal case in regards to a missing person and the uncovering of a person that will go to extreme means to silence everyone involved in an incident over 10 years ago. Charley also finds that Reyes is being tortured by demons and he has made the decision to leave his body permanently.

Charley must solve one murder, fight off crazies, get to the bottom of serial murders surrounding a secret incident, to save the man that holds her heart and convince him to guide her to him.

I stayed awake to finish this, I couldn't put it down. With wonderfully developed characters and an amazing storyline with twists and turns - I dare anyone to picked Ms. Jones novels up and put them down.

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Review: First Grave on the Right By: Darynda Jones

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Meet the Reaper, that's right The Grim Reaper - her name is Charley Davidson. She is part time PI, part time consultant to the Albuquerque Police Department, and full time reaper. She is not the reaper that most have heard of, but she works as a beacon for the dead to reach the other side and they go through her.
Of course it is an everyday occurence when the dead show up and ask for help or closure, but when 3 attorneys from the same office, representing the same accused man.. well, Charley has to get involved.
The mystery of their deaths is nothing compared to the mystery of the otherworldly spirit that has been invading her dreams, her thoughts, and at times her shower.

Ms. Jones has a wonderful storyline that when you meet the characters they flow off the page into life. Moments of great wit and humor along with tense thrills and this readers tears this book is a great beginning to the series. I am addicted.

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Review: The Iron Wyrm Affair By: Lilith Saintcrow

The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Enter the steampunk world designed by Ms. Saintcrow - a world in which there is a war to gain control of not just Londinium but the whole country. With a new "child" queen Emma Bannon is called to service to protect the kingdom and uncover the conspiracies that reach out like a spiderweb throughout. Ms. Bannon is a Prime (top sorceress) and the man she must protect Archibald Clare is a mentath. With people trying to kill them to keep their plan going both Bannon and Clare must uncover everyone behind it and foil them.

The book was great ... in the beginning, pages flowed, chapters melded, but 200 pages in there was something disjointed that appeared within the pages. I liked the story and the storyline, I just wish that it was more enjoyable to complete.

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