Month: October 2015

Review of A Witch’s Path by N. E. Conneely

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A Witch’s Path
Book 2 in A Witch’s Path series
By N. E. Conneely

Star Rating: 
Genre: Fantasy
Number of Pages: 240

Season Read: Fall

Synopsis:(From Amazon)21570552
After a near death experience, Michelle has vowed to do her job, magical assistance for the police, and leave the heroics to someone else. Besides, life should be settling down for her since the trolls have been captured and the sorceress was neutralized. Unfortunately, the power behind the sorceress wants her dead, Elron starts acting funny, a magical creature wreaks havoc on a town, and there’s trouble with the werewolves. As if that wasn’t enough, the clans have started to notice her power and she has more reasons than ever to fear the clans.

Things go from bad to worse when Michelle’s best friend is abducted, and she must decide between her friend and her vow to stay out of dangerous situations.

A Witch’s Path is the sequel to Witch for Hire and continues the story of Michelle and Elron.

Review:
Wasn’t really sure what I felt like reading, but I suddenly remembered that Witch for Hire had a sequel/was the beginning of a series, so I bought A Witch’s Path and decided to read on.  Oh my goodness!  While there are some lulls in the novel, predominantly over description that is simply unnecessary, and some grammatical/editing errors, this series is a gem!  I absolutely adore the characters and find them easy to relate to (though I forget what colour Michelle’s hair is, perhaps because her friend Amber’s hair is always described in such detail).  Although I had a slight hunch over one of the big bad evils to emerge, it floored me when I found out exactly who it was.  Definitely not a novel to be missed!

61P034pMUPL._UX250_Author Bio: (From Amazon)
I live in North Georgia with my dog and a mountain of books. We sweat through the summer and freeze through the winter. Life as we know it comes to an end when so much as a single snowflake falls out of the sky.

For fun, I play with my dog, read, knit, crochet, paint, tie-dye, and do origami. I make a great pizza. I’m negotiating with my roommate over sea monkeys and working on a vegetable garden.

Black tea and water are my favorite beverages. I’m a huge fan of the Big Bang Theory, Castle, and Arrow.  A few of my favorite authors are Ann Bishop, Mercedes Lackey, Patricia Briggs, Tamora Pierce, Raymond E. Feist, and Christine Feehan.

Also check out N. E. Conneely’s Amazon page.

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Review of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

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Little Women
By Louisa May Alcott

Star Rating: 33ca69cabaa0cbc84d3d2435e6201f63
Genre: Fiction/Classical
Number of Pages: 280

Season Read: Fall

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
Following the lives of four sisters on a journey out of adolescence, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women explores the difficulties associated with gender roles in a Post-Civil War America.

Review:
When I was younger I read the Great Illustrated Classics version of this novel, and I loved it.  The kindle version of this novel is free, so I would greatly recommend a purchase, though I do have a leather bound edition from Barnes and Noble.  This novel has a great way of showcasing many difficulties that people have while growing up, and I love that it is often the girls’ mother who teaches them lessons about their behaviour.  Although there are some sad parts, I do believe everyone has to deal with separations and trials in life, and it is better to be prepared.  While I did not particularly like the shift between the first half and the second half of the novel, in which Alcott breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the audience, I can understand why she did.  Like Jo, Alcott is not capable of keeping her opinions on her writing to herself.

I would also add that while there are a lot of various renditions of Little Women in film my absolute favourite is the 1933 edition with Katharine Hepburn, which you can find here.  I will likely write a review of the movie and how close it is to the book in the near future.  I absolutely adore the movie, so much so that I purchased the DVD (because my VCR ate a VHS, so my VHS version of this movie is no longer watchable).

Louisa_May_Alcott_headshotAuthor Bio: (From Wikipedia)
Louisa May Alcott (/ˈɔːlkət, –kɒt/; November 29, 1832 – March 6, 1888) was an American novelistand poet best known as the author of the novel Little Women (1868) and its sequels Little Men (1871) and Jo’s Boys (1886).[1] Raised by her transcendentalist parents, Abigail May and Amos Bronson Alcott in New England, she grew up among many of the well-known intellectuals of the day such asRalph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau.

For a more detailed biography of Lousia May Alcott, please visit her wikipedia page, but if writing a paper, don’t use Wikipedia as a source.

 


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Review of Side Jobs: Stories from the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

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Side Jobs: Stories from the Dresden Files
Short stories from The Dresden Files
By Jim Butcher

 

Star Rating: 
Genre: Fantasy
Number of Pages: 432Side-jobs-by-jim-butcher

Season Read: Summer

Synopsis:(From Amazon)
Here, together for the first time, are the shorter works of #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher-a compendium of cases that Harry and his cadre of allies managed to close in record time. The tales range from the deadly serious to the absurdly hilarious. Also included is a novella exclusive to this collection that takes place after the cliff-hanger ending of the April 2010 hardcover, Changes. This is a must-have collection for every devoted Harry Dresden fan as well as a perfect introduction for readers ready to meet Chicago’s only professional wizard.

Review:
I highly disagree with the synopsis.  Go read the first book first.  It’s awesome.  The whole series is awesome.

As for the reviews: what can I say without giving away important plot points?  Some of the short stories I liked more than others, but they were all good.  I liked getting to see more into Harry’s relationships with both his brother and with Billy and Georgia.  Harry is so REAL, that it’s no wonder Chicago would go crazy without him.

Author Bio:
The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

 

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Review of Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones

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Castle in the Air
A Companion to Howl’s Moving Castle
By Diana Wynne Jones

 

Star Rating: 
Genre: Young People
Number of Pages: 400

Season Read: Late Spring/Early Summer

Synopsis:(From Amazon)castle-in-the-air-by-diana-wynne-jones
Young merchant Abdullah leads a humble life. Or he did until a stranger sold him a threadbare—and disagreeable—magic carpet. Now Abdullah is caught in the middle of his grand daydreams. Waking one night in a luxurious garden, he meets and falls instantly in love with the beautiful and clever Flower-in-the-Night. But a wicked djinn sweeps the princess away right before Abdullah’s eyes, leaving the young man no choice but to follow. This is no ordinary quest, however, for Flower-in-the-Night isn’t all the djinn has stolen. Abdullah will have the so-called help of the cantankerous carpet, a cranky genie in a bottle, a dishonest soldier, and a very opinionated black cat. Will this motley crew be able to find the djinn’s mysterious dwelling and rescue a castle full of princesses?

Review:
Howl’s Moving Castle was sheer perfection.  While this novel is set in the same world, and many of the previous enchanting characters resurface, it seems removed from the amazing setting we came to love.  Abdullah may be easy to relate to, given that he is always lost in a daydream, but he seems otherwise boring.  His family is horrid, and although Abdullah does find a quest, it is half by luck that he does.  While the adventure was interesting it took quite a while before the characters from Howl’s Moving Castle became prevalent.

Nevertheless, looking forward to see what the third book connected to these two is like!

Author Bio:
Diana Wynne Jones has had a career spanning four decades, and for more information about her, please visit her Amazon page.

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Review of Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward

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Stepbrother Dearest
By Penelope Ward

Star Rating: 
Genre: Romance
Number of Pages: 246

Season Read: Late Spring/Early Summer

Synopsis:(From Amazon)stepbrotherdearest
You’re not supposed to want the one who torments you. When my stepbrother, Elec, came to live with us my senior year, I wasn’t prepared for how much of a jerk he’d be. I hated that he took it out on me because he didn’t want to be here. I hated that he brought girls from our high school back to his room. But what I hated the most was the unwanted way my body reacted to him. At first, I thought all he had going for him were his rock-hard tattooed abs and chiseled face. But things started changing between us, and it all came to a head one night. Then, just as quickly as he’d come into my life, he was gone back to California. It had been years since I’d seen Elec. When tragedy struck our family, I’d have to face him again. And holy hell, the teenager who made me crazy was now a man that drove me insane. I had a feeling my heart was about to get broken again.

Stepbrother Dearest is a standalone novel. **Contains graphic sexual content and harsh language. It is only appropriate for adult readers age 18+

Review:
This book is a doozy!  There is so much in this novel that it is, indeed, a true piece of art.  Though it is a romance novel, there are so many other underlying events tackled and experienced that one cannot help but fall in love with Elec a little.  Elec hasn’t had an easy life.  He’s never had a normal life.  While trying to get used to the hardened guy is hard, learning why he became so standoffish and cool is easy when one understands his family life.  Though he and Greta have their differences, it’s impossible to deny their forbidden romance is completely perfect, and one can only hope for a happily ever after.  Well written, this book will have you reading into the late hours of the morning.

AuthorPenelopeWard Bio:
Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career. Penelope lives for reading books in the new adult genre, coffee and hanging out with her friends and family on weekends. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 10-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and an 8-year-old boy, both of whom are the lights of her life. Penelope, her husband and kids reside in Rhode Island. She is also the author of My Skylar, Jake Undone, Gemini, Jake Understood and Sins of Sevin due out in 2015.

You can also find more of Penelope Ward’s works on her Amazon page
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Review of As Black as Ebony by Salla Simukka

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As Black as Ebony
Book 3 in The Snow White Trilogy
By Salla Simukka
Translated by Owen Witesman

Star Rating: 

Genre: Mystery, Young Adult

Number of Pages: 208

Season Read: Summer

Synopsis:(From Amazon)As-Black-as-Ebony
After a harrowing summer in Prague, Lumikki Andersson is back in Finland at her prestigious art school, concentrating on graduation. She lands the lead role in the school’s modern-day adaptation of “Snow White” and finds herself facing a new distraction—Sampsa, the boy playing the role of the huntsman, who has an undeniable allure that makes Lumikki conflicted about what, and who, she wants.

As Lumikki starts falling into something more than just her role on stage, a shadow is cast over the production when she begins receiving creepily obsessive love notes. Lumikki can’t ignore the increasingly hostile tone of her admirer’s messages, and when the stalker threatens mass violence at the play’s premiere, Lumikki knows she must discover who is behind the menace and stop the person at all costs.

With a foe who has a heart as black as ebony, does Lumikki have any hope of saving those she loves?

Review:
I was the first to admit that I had been quite disappointed with the second book in The Snow White Trilogy, White as Snow.  It had seemed so short!  The book itself, the mystery within, had been awesome.  Now, the concluding book, is perfection.

Lumikki knows that something is wrong with her.  It has nothing to do with having to become her namesake on stage, though she finds that to be a bit odd.  She has to fight through what she feels in her heart, and what she thinks she remembers from her past.  Someone out there has done a great deal of investigating her, and she doesn’t want that person to harm her or the people she is closest to.  While she thinks of a particular few who might have the potential to stalk her, the truth is far more explosive than anyone likely would have considered, proving that Simukka really does have a knack for incredibly interwoven stories.

simukkaAuthor Bio: (From Amazon)
Winner of the 2013 Topelius prize, Salla Simukka is an author of young adult fiction and a screenwriter. She has written several novels and one collection of short stories for young readers, and has translated adult fiction, children’s books, and plays. She writes book reviews for several Finnish newspapers and she also writes for TV. Simukka lives in Tampere, Finland.

Photo Credit: Karoliina Ek

 

 


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Review of Victoria House by Denise Moncrief

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Victoria House
Haunted Hearts Book 2
By Denise Moncrief

Star Rating: 
Genre: Mystery, Supernatural/Paranormal, Murder
Number of Pages: 359

Season Read: Summer

Synopsis:(From Amazon)Haunted by a dark mystery in her famcoverLH2-1ily’s past…

When Tori Downing takes possession of the abandoned Hamilton estate on the longest peninsula on Lake Jefferson, Arkansas, she avoids revealing her connection to the ill-fated Hamilton family. Is the glowing image that shimmers in the second floor window of Victoria House the ghost of Victoria Hamilton? Can Tori handle moving into a house with paranormal activity…again?

Tormented by a scandal she thought she’d left behind…
Until she leaves her career at the Arkansas State Crime Lab behind, she never even considers moving to Lake Jefferson, but the fallout from scandal gives Tori a very good reason to escape to Hill County and refurbish and restore the old family mansion. She settles into her new life…until the old accusations from her past start resurfacing.

Attracted to a man haunted by secrets of his own…
Drawn together to solve the murder of Jared Crenshaw, Tori and Lt. Grayson of the Hill County Sheriff’s Department dive into a tangled web of jealousy, deceit, and revenge as they attempt to solve both crimes, Jared’s death and the mysterious death years ago of Victoria Hamilton. Grayson’s past keeps interfering with his present, causing turmoil in both his professional life and his personal life. Can their love survive revealing the truth—from both the past and present—surrounding the tragedies at Victoria House?

Review:
I read the first book in the Haunted Hearts series, Laurel Heights, a while back.  This book, while entertaining, seems to merely fill in bits and pieces of what happened in Laurel Heights from the standpoint of other characters.  The plot overall was good, but I felt as if all the mentions of Laurel Heights were tedious as I had already read them.

When confronted with Victoria House’s own peculiar problems, I was enraptured.  There were so many twists and turns that I truly wasn’t sure who the bad guy was until near the end, and even then, the “why” was always a bit out of reach, never to be found.  A good and quick read, but would have been nicer if it hadn’t been so entwined with a previously read book.

 
MoncriefAuthor Bio: (From Amazon)
Suspense, She Writes

Where the road to happily ever after takes a suspenseful detour.

Want to know a little bit more about Denise? She’s a Southern girl who has lived in Louisiana all her life, and yes, she has a drawl. She has a wonderful husband and two incredible children, who not only endure her writing moods but also encourage her to indulge her writing passion. Besides writing romantic suspense, she enjoys traveling, reading, and scrapbooking.

Accounting is a skill she has learned to earn a little money to support her writing habit. She wrote her first story when she was a teen, seventeen handwritten pages on school-ruled paper and an obvious rip-off of the last romance novel she had read. She’s been writing off and on ever since, and with more than a few full-length manuscripts already completed, she has no desire to slow down.

Learn more about Moncrief and her books by visiting her Amazon page.


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Review of The Ghost Bride: A Novel (P. S.) by Yangsze Choo

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Star Rating: 
Genre: Fantasy
Number of Pages: 384

Season Read: Summer

Synopsis:(From Amazon)ghostbride
Li Lan, the daughter of a respectable Chinese family in colonial Malaysia, hopes for a favorable marriage, but her father has lost his fortune, and she has few suitors. Instead, the wealthy Lim family urges her to become a “ghost bride” for their son, who has recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at what price?

Night after night, Li Lan is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, where she must uncover the Lim family’s darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family.

Review:
This book allows the reader to travel back in time to a place they may have only had a hint of knowledge of.  Choo expertly describes the place that Li Lan lives, allowing the reader to vividly see the streets and goings on.  The myths and old wives tales of the village are so completely intertwined with the story that one cannot help but become enraptured.

As someone brought up in western culture, there were times that I found myself a bit confused with all of the names and connections between the characters of the great Lim household, but that did not diminish the story overall.  The core of this story is Li Lan herself, her desires, and what she thinks will bring her future happiness.  While Li Lan learns more of herself and more of the past, she has to make a choice of what will be best for her in the long run: to go with the expected and hard fought for future, or step out into a completely new reality.

 

chooAuthor Bio: (From Amazon)
Yangsze Choo is a fourth generation Malaysian of Chinese descent. Due to a childhood spent in various countries, she can eavesdrop (badly) in several languages. After graduating from Harvard University, she worked as a management consultant and at a startup before writing her first novel. THE GHOST BRIDE, set in colonial Malaya and the elaborate Chinese world of the afterlife, is about a peculiar historic custom called a spirit marriage.

Yangsze lives in California with her husband, two children, and a potential rabbit. She loves to eat and read, and often does both at the same time.

You can always see more of what Choo has published by going to her Amazon page.



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Another great update coming

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Some of you may be wondering why I continually fall behind on writing book reviews, especially if I am always reading.  I wonder this myself.  In this particular case, I wasn’t feeling the best and therefore became a stowaway with my kindle and a bag of cough drops.  Perhaps I should begin posting short snippets of what I’ve read so that you know what reviews to look forward to.  Let me know in the comments below if you like that idea.

No matter what: keep reading, keep dreaming, and always try to do what you love.

-Lizzy