It has been many weeks (ok… months) since I was able to bring you a book view due those pesky gremlins have killed my laptop. I now have to use the library computers for the most part and they was in the process of bringing the new ones on line.
It’s not that I haven’t been reading, quite the contrary. I’m now trying to reconstruct my list of “Read” books as the notebook I had my info. has gone away after a pot of coffee was spilled on it when my hands was giving me grief. I have probably close to a healthy dozen or so to do the write-ups on. So I will most likely divide them in to several parts. So please bare with me as I rack my brain to get the marbles to run into each other and make a connection.
First up is Keri Arthur’s “Circle of Death: A Damask Circle Book 1” series by Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell and comes to me via Net Gallery for my honest opinion.
Description
VISIONS OF TERROR
Sixteen teenagers taken from their homes. Eleven bodies recovered, each completely drained of blood. Some believe vampires are responsible. Jon Barnett knows that what’s happening is far worse. Sent by a group of paranormal investigators known as the Damask Circle, Jon quickly becomes enmeshed in a web of black magic and realizes he needs help. But fate gives him only one choice.
Madeline Smith has retreated to an isolated farmhouse, afraid of the abilities she cannot control—abilities that have killed. But when a “ghost” brings a warning of danger and her nephew goes missing, Maddie not only has to leave her haven, she has to place her trust in a man who is neither ghost nor human. As the noose of sorcery tightens, the search for the teenagers becomes a race against time. But the greatest danger to Maddie and Jon could be the intense feelings they refuse to acknowledge but cannot ignore.
Well I liked this book so much that I went out and had my little village library order the set to add to our Keri Arthur collection. It was hard to be patient waiting for them to come in. I’m sure they were happy when the books came in … just having to hear “Are they here yet?” every week. I’m currently 2/3’s of the way through the 3 book. LOL. So at the point of being Captain Obvious – yes I give All 3 books a resounding 5 out of 5 stars. For “Circle of Fire” , “Circle of Death” and “Circle of Desire”. If you are a Keri Arthur fan you can’t miss this trilogy!! Here is what books 2 and 3 look like. Again they too get those 5 out of 5 stars.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Next we have a wonderful vet/dog story from Nick Trout. This book is from Hachette Books via Net Gallery for my honest opinion as usual they are mine & only reflect upon the thoughts that this book invoked in my own happy place of my own making.
Description
When Dr. Cyrus Mills returned home after inheriting his estranged father's veterinary practice, The Bedside Manor for Sick Animals, the last thing he wanted was to stay in Eden Falls, Vermont, a moment longer than absolutely necessary. However, the previously reclusive veterinarian pathologist quickly found that he actually enjoyed treating animals and getting to know the eccentric residents of the tiny provincial town-especially an alluring waitress named Amy.
So Cyrus is now determined to make Bedside Manor thrive. Not an easy goal, given that Healthy Paws, the national veterinary chain across town, will stop at nothing to crush its mom-and-pop competitor. And the rival vet practice isn't Cyrus's only competition; a handsome stranger shows up out of nowhere who clearly has a mysterious past with Amy. To top it off, Cyrus finds himself both the guardian of a very unique orphaned dog and smack in the middle of serious small town drama.
This charming sequel to The Patron Saint of Lost Dogs is a wild and delightful ride through one jam- packed week, where Cyrus must figure out how to outsmart the evil veterinary conglomerate, win back Amy's heart, solve several tricky veterinary cases, find a home for an orphaned dog, and detangle himself from an absurd case of mistaken identity. DOG GONE, BACK SOON brims with Nick Trout's trademark humor, charm, and captivating animal stories, and is proof that all dogs, lost or not, on four feet or two, deserve a second chance.
This story’s tone is reminiscing of Alf Wight’s “All Creatures Great & Small” series that he wrote under the pseudonym of James Herriot. And I say that with the highest regards from the fond memories of my childhood when I was sure to read the series at least once a year and glue myself to the TV when it was aired. But I’ve digressed. The story has me relating to the character of Cyrus Mill’s; as it shows him for all his flaws and struggles with a delightful twist realism and humor. Proving that writing about something that you know can have the ability to draw a reader along in it’s even-paced speed.
Somehow or another it escaped my notice that this is a “second in a series” book. I was able to pick up the story without feeling like I was missing half the story. This stood alone very well. I recommend this book to everyone rather they are animal lovers or not. I curled up with book, coffee and a couple of cats and enjoyed a “good” read on a couple of rainy days. I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5 as start my adventure of tracking down more of Mr. Trout’s books.
---------------------------------------------------------
Description
He took her life, but left her alive.
Three years ago, reporter Kate Johnson was the first victim-and only survivor-of the Broadcast Butcher. Scarred both physically and psychologically by the brutal serial killer, Kate lives life on the run, knowing that one day, he will find her and finish what he started.
In the pursuit of justice, you sometimes have to step outside the law.
Agent Hayden Reed spends his life chasing monsters. The only way to stay sane is to detach, but the second the Broadcast Butcher case crosses his desk, Hayden knows this is the case that might just cost him his soul. To catch this vicious murderer before he strikes again, Hayden must find Kate and earn her trust. For it's her darkest secrets that hold the key to stopping this madman once and for all . . .
Here is another ARC e-book from Net Gallery through Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in exchange for my honest opinion that as usual; doesn’t reflect in any way upon all those people that make this book possible and be taken with a grain of salt.
WOW!!! It gripped me right out of the starting gate!! Sometimes the balance of Thriller & Romance walks a double-edged sword only to fall heavier on one side than the other. Shelley Coriell has found that balance quite precisely with her rollercoaster ride that is her character – journalist Kate Johnson. If you are looking for a great crime thriller story like the ones have us glued to on the television for several hours – look no further. The hunt for Shelley’s other books is on and I wait with bated breathe for the next one in the series! 5 stars without hesitation!
-------------------------------------------------------
This book comes to me as an ARC e-book from Net Gallery and Random House Children’s Delacorte Press in exchange for my honest review.
Description
Secrets. Scandals. ESP. A terrific and sexy new novel about a group of Tribeca teens from Sarah Mlynowski that will immediately appeal to fans of realistic fiction as well as readers who enjoy a little magic.
We weren't always like this. We used to be average New York City high school sophomores. Until our homeroom went for flu shots. We were prepared for some side effects. Maybe a headache. Maybe a sore arm. We definitely didn't expect to get telepathic powers. But suddenly we could hear what everyone was thinking. Our friends. Our parents. Our crushes. Now we all know that Tess is in love with her best friend, Teddy. That Mackenzie cheated on Cooper. That, um, Nurse Carmichael used to be a stripper.
Since we've kept our freakish skill a secret, we can sit next to the class brainiac and ace our tests. We can dump our boyfriends right before they dump us. We know what our friends really think of our jeans, our breath, our new bangs. We always know what's coming. Some of us will thrive. Some of us will crack. None of us will ever be the same.
So stop obsessing about your ex. We're always listening.
I hate to say this about any book – but this one fell flat for me. May be it was the concept that all the characters acted like immature and petty high school-ers that were very superficial … almost click-ish … that turned me off from the story. I just couldn’t relate at all and that is possibly due to my personal background during the time I went through high school I made myself read the whole thing for the sake of the review. To me it has no appeal with it’s fourth person writing that had me looking for an invisible mute button. If this was the effect the writer had attended, then she succeeded. I am stuck between “didn’t like it” and “it’s okay” to average out to a limp 1.5 stars out of 5.
Well there we have it folks! I have a wide range of star ratings that is as diverse as the books themselves. I hope you have enjoyed my reviews and I’ll be bring you more on Wednesday as I continue to read more books and make new notes about the ones I have read. Until next time…
Toodles,
Tricia
No comments:
Post a Comment