Teen Reads Week: Angel Burn

by:  L.A. Weatherly

published by:   Candlewick Publishing

publish date:  May 24, 2011

Willow knows she’s different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into the future and know people’s dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. She has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow than Willow herself. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces, and that he’s one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil. In the first book in an action-packed, romantic trilogy, L..A. Weatherly sends readers on a thrill-ride of a road trip - and depicts the human race at the brink of a future as catastrophic as it is deceptively beautiful.

They’re out for your soul . . . and they don’t have heaven in mind.

I've been reading a lot of mixed reviews of this book.  I happened to really like it.  I did listen to the audiobook and maybe that made a difference, I don't know.  The reader did a really good job on this one.  She had a really youthful voice which worked well for teenage characters.

As for the story, I thought it was a really unique story.  Angels come from an alternate world and it's a dying world.  They come to Earth to feed off of humans.  Alex is an Angel Killer and he's been charged with killing Willow, but he can't for a variety of reasons.  Of course, they fall in love.  This is where the fact that it was a YA book drove me a little crazy.  It was very PG.  Two teenagers alone in a cabin in the middle of the woods...I think that could have gotten a little R rated, but of course it didn't.  I was sitting there thinking that Alex must have been a saint to endure all their togetherness and not even get to second base.

On the other hand, this IS YA, so of course, it's the start of a Trilogy.  I'm sure there's more in store for Alex and Willow in the future and perhaps they'll have some time to engage in a more physical relationship.  I will say that the plus side to this series is that no Love Triangle has popped up. 

I will be on the look out for the next book in this series which is Angel Fire.  Expected publication is December 27th, 2011.

Teen Reads Week: My Lunatic Life

Author: Sharon Sala
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books  ( August 2011)

She plays for Team Spirit. High school senior Tara Luna's got all the usual teen problems: a new school, her attraction to a hunky guy, feuds with the Mean Girls, being regarded as an oddball outsider-PLUS she has psychic powers, a duo of protective, meddlesome ghosts AND an angry, threatening teen girl ghost who wants Tara to solve her murder-or else. Now you know why she calls this "my lunatic life.


I am a big fan of Sharon Sala's books.  I have read most of them. When I saw that she was delving into the YA genre, I was very curious.  My Lunatic Life is the first in a new series  that  features 17YO Tara Luna.  She is a psychic who has also has 2 ghosts who are her best friends.  She has moved around most of her life with her Uncle Pat who raised her.  


Tara is a great character.  She is confident, headstrong and responsible.  Used to being the new girl, she doesn't let the teasing from the popular girls get to her.  She isn't afraid to stand up for herself. I loved the two ghosts that follow her around, especially, Millicent.  She adds some nice comic relief to the mix as she is constantly mixing up common slang words.  The mystery  of who kidnapped Bethany wasn't easy to figure out since the reader has to figure it out along with Tara through her visions.  That aspect is always a plus for me.


This was a great set up for the series. Since it did end in a cliffhanger, I look forward to the next one which I think is coming out soon.  I want to know more about Tara and her family "gift".  I only have 2 complaints about the book.  First, I hate the cover.  The outfit that she has on is not what Tara in the book would wear as she is more the jeans and T-shirt kind of girl.  I often wonder if the cover artists read the book first.  Thigh highs, really? The second thing is that I felt like the writing itself was not up to Ms. Sala's standards.  It was almost like it was "dumbed down".  I'm not sure if this was a deliberate attempt to try to appeal to the YA reader or not.  I hope the next book goes back to her level of writing that I know she capable of in her "adult" books.


In any case, I do recommend this one for all YA readers. It was a short book, so it can be read pretty quickly.   It is clean, so no sex, swearing or violence. I think Tara will be a favorite character in the future.

--Kari

Teen Reads Week: Forbidden

by:  Tabitha Suzuma
published by:  Simon Pulse
publish date:  June 28, 2011

She is pretty and talented - sweet sixteen and never been kissed. He is seventeen; gorgeous and on the brink of a bright future. And now they have fallen in love. But ...They are brother and sister.

This book deals with a big taboo.  Incest.  Is is appropriate for YA?  Maybe, maybe not?  Personally, I didn't find this book objectionable for older, mature teenagers, but I might not want say, like a 13 year old reading it. 

The situation in this book wasn't one where two strangers fall in love and they find out later that they are brother and sister and have been separated by something like adoption.  This is a brother and sister who live together.  They're forced into the roles of mother and father to their younger siblings when their father leaves and their alcoholic mother becomes increasingly absent. 

Adding to the situation, Lochan, while brilliant and gorgeous, has several social anxiety problems.  He only feels safe at home.  Maya is very sympathic to his problem.  The mess they're in and the circumstances seem to draw them together. 

I found this book to absolutely heart breaking.  By the end I was so incredibly sad for Lochan and Maya.  There were parts I had to read over because I was shocked at what was happening to them.  It's worth the read because it'll make you think and it's one of those books that will stay with you.

To Be Sung Underwater

by:  Tom McNeal
published by:  Little, Brown & Co.
publish date:  June 2, 2011

Judith Whitman always believed in the kind of love that "picks you up in Akron and sets you down in Rio." Long ago, she once experienced that love. Willy Blunt was a carpenter with a dry wit and a steadfast sense of honor. Marrying him seemed like a natural thing to promise.

But Willy Blunt was not a person you could pick up in Nebraska and transport to Stanford. When Judith left home, she didn't look back.

Twenty years later, Judith's marriage is hazy with secrets. In her hand is what may be the phone number for the man who believed she meant it when she said she loved him. If she called, what would he say?

I haven't read anything by Tom McNeal before, but from now on he will be on my list of authors to watch for.  I absolutely adored To Be Sung Underwater.  I had the audiobook going in my car and I couldn't wait to get in my car to hear more of this story.   The reader did an awesome job.

The story is told in alternating time periods.  It goes back and forth between teenage Judith and present day, married Judith.  In the beginning I didn't particularly car for the present day Judith, I only wanted to hear teenage Judy's story.  After awhile, I accepted you couldn't have one without the other.  Once Judith left for college, I didn't even want to know the teenager anymore.  I so despised her.   As you can tell my feelings for Judith were all over the place. 

The thing that remained constant was my affection for Willy.   He was a good man, but he just wasn't good enough.  He might have provided for Judith, but he would have tied her down.   I felt really bad for the woman who eventually became his wife, to always live in that shadow and know it.

This book has one of my new favorite passages:  "For you, I was a chapter--a good chapter, maybe, or even your favorite chapter, but still, just a chapter--and for me, you were the book."  It was heartwrenching!

Blog Tour - Review and Author Interview- When No One is Watching

Today, we have an interview with author, Joseph Hayes, promoting his book, When No One is Watching.  Welcome Joseph!

Author:Joseph Hayes
Publisher: Synergy Books

On the eve of announcing his run for Congress, a charismatic Chicago politician causes a deadly accident. Panicked, he frames his best friend, a good-hearted alcoholic, and flees the scene. As one man tries to pick up the pieces of his shattered life, the other embarks on a meteoric rise to political stardom. But when a dogged detective digs deeper into the case, the political superstar must decide just how far he is willing to go to keep his dark secret and avoid an explosive scandal that could ruin him and rock the entire nation. In this suspenseful thriller, author Joseph Hayes asks, is "the greater good" just a lie we tell ourselves to justify the sins we commit when no one is watching?

 My Thoughts:  When No One is Watching is a well written and intriguing book.  It explores the issues surrounding morality and friendship.  I did enjoy the book, however, I had a hard time liking Blair.  I was angry at him for what he gets away with for so long.  While the incident did help "save" Danny's life, I'm not sure he would have been grateful once he learned the truth.  The ending left me wanting more because I felt it was a bit unfair and I felt let down.  It wasn't the HEA that I was hoping for.  Despite that, I do recommend this one. I think that is will affect everyone a bit differently.  It is a novel that really makes you think. 
  
Mr. Hayes was kind enough to answer some questions for us.  Enjoy!

Kari: What inspired you to become a writer?

Joseph: I've wanted to become a writer almost as long as I can remember. I was a voracious reader when I was young and really took great pleasure in a well written and engaging story, so I think it was a fairly easy leap to make from reader to writer. I remember being in college and thinking that it would be great fun to write fiction for a living. However, there were two problems with that plan: (1) I didn't know whether I could make a living at it, and (2) at 19 years old, I didn't have any compelling stories to tell. As a result, the idea of becoming a writer was put on the back burner, although it remained on my bucket list. By the time I got into my mid-forties, I had a wealth of experience to draw from based on my personal and professional experiences. In addition, I felt that clock ticking, so a few years ago I just decided that there was no time like to present to turn this dream into a reality. Therefore, I sat down and wrote every day until I completed my first novel. Almost immediately after finishing that one, I began my second novel.

Kari: Where did you come up with the idea for your book?

Joseph:  The story was inspired by my father's life. He was an alcoholic who drank for the first 30 years of his adult life and then spent his remaining 30 years devoting his life to helping fellow alcoholics find lasting sobriety through the AA program. He was a real world hero who touched many lives and really made a difference, in a very quiet humble way. I dedicated this book to the multitude of quiet heroes just like him who who selflessly devote their lives to this cause. Because most of them do it in a very unassuming manner, I tried to make the story more interesting and suspenseful by weaving it into a political thriller. In addition, since my professional responsibilities include the role of chief ethics officer for a large company, the subject of ethics is near and dear to my heart. Therefore, I also wanted to create something of a morality tale dealing with ethics, personal responsibility and making a difference.

Kari: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?

Joseph: I hope to publish my next novel in the very near future, perhaps by year-end. It is a legal thriller entitled Consequential Damages. Among other things, it explores some of the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of our legal system, including trial by jury, and the far-reaching consequences that can result from an erroneous verdict.

Kari: Who is your favorite literary character and why?

Joseph: That's easy: Atticus Finch, because he personifies both integrity and courage. I really like the quiet, humble type of hero. That is one of the reasons I have great fondness for Danny Moran, the protagonist in When No One is Watching. He is very much cut from the same cloth.

Kari: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and why? 

Joseph: Hmmm ... that's a tougher question. I guess I would say a dolphin. I love the ocean. I really enjoy snorkeling because it provides a window to the magnificent world undersea. I also love surfing, a sport that I took up at the age of 30 after moving to San Diego. Seems to me that being a dolphin would provide the opportunity to constantly enjoy both of those pastimes. I'm not big on seafood, though, so that could be a problem!

About the Author:

Joe Hayes is a native of Chicago. He grew up in a family of eight children in the Beverly neighborhood on Chicago’s Far South Side, where the Irish-Catholic heritage and influence was strong and visible. Joe attended St. Barnabas Elementary School, Brother Rice High School and De Paul University before leaving Chicago to attend law school in California, at UC Berkeley. Since graduating from Berkeley, he has practiced law in Chicago, San Diego and Houston. Joe currently serves as chief ethics officer and assistant general counsel for a large, publicly held company based in Houston, Texas, and is widely recognized as one of the foremost experts in his field.  In his professional capacity, he has written extensively about legal and ethical issues and frequently speaks about such issues before employee and industry groups. When No One is Watching is his first work of fiction. His second novel, a legal thriller entitled Consequential Damages, is expected to be published next year.

Joe currently resides in The Woodlands, Texas, with his wife, Susan, and their three children, Amy, Sean and Erin.

Blog Tour: The World As We Know It

by:  Joseph Monninger
published by:  Gallery Books
publish date:  July 7, 2011

A lifetime of friendship begins the day brothers Ed and Allard save Sarah from drowning in an icy river near their rural New Hampshire home. Though their paths diverge through the years, the connection between the three endures until a heartbreaking tragedy in the remote mountains of Wyoming forces Sarah and Allard to confront the unthinkable. In their grief, they find themselves on separate journeys that test the enduring bonds of their relationship and time’s unremitting power to heal. Poignant and transformative, The World as We Know It is subtle and heartrending—a love story of friendship, nature, and the surprising twists that can alter our destinies forever.

Grab the tissues for this one.  Some of the events are expected.  It says so in the synopsis, that there's heartbreaking tragedy.  The ending was a sweet little surprise that I didn't really expect.

Animal rights plays a big part in this book, and at times I felt like it was overshadowing the story.  I found that a little strange especially after I read the little Q & A with the author at the end because it didn't seem like he had strong feelings on animal rights.   For example, what was the purpose of the blind horse Billy in the story?  Was he supposed to be some kind of representation of Allard and his healing process? 

I did really enjoy this book.  I almost always love Gallery Tour Picks.  This book would be a perfect choice for a snowy day in front of the fire.

Throwback Thursday - Home for the Holidays

Author: Johanna Lindsey
First Published in 2000 by HarperCollins (audiobook by Brilliance Audio)


Left to handle the rumors other family's bankruptcy and impending eviction, Larissa Ascots wishes for a merry Christmas seem to be in peril for the first time in her sheltered life. A charming would-be "benefactor,"Vincent Everett, the Baron of Windsmoor, has offered to shelter Larissa and her young brother. But more than Yuletide spirit seems to have inspired the baron's generosity.From the moment he first set eyes on Larissa, the highborn rogue was bewitched. And now that she has taken up residence in his home, he aches with wanting her-a most unfortunate state of affairs, since the proud beauty obviously despises him ... and since Vincent has sworn to seek a righteous vengeance on the Ascot family.

But Christmas is a time of miracles, after all. And even two rival souls can be touched by the spirit of forgiveness in these magical days and showered with precious gifts of tenderness, love, and ecstasy unbound.

It has been a long time since I read a Johanna Lindsay novel. I used to read them secretly in my senior year in high school as a secret indulgence.  I know I used to think that she was really racy, but this one was pretty mild.  Vincent Everett is bent on revenge against a man who he thinks caused his brother to kill himself.  He evicts the man's family and upon seeing the daughter, Larissa, he decides to give them a place in his home and seduce her.  At this point, Vincent wasn't scoring high marks with me. 

Overall, I'm not sure I liked this story all that much. I'm not sure Vincent ever really redeemed himself in the end.  He was supposed to be a smart man, but instead of fully investigating his brother's death and his business, he let emotion get in the way.  Even though he knows his brother had always been a screw up. I thought that Larissa was just a bit naive. I felt no compassion for her after she basically gives up her virginity to a man she barely knows and then is upset to discover he has no intention of marrying her.  I did feel she was justified in hating him once she finds out his real motives for taking her in.  I can't say that it was something I would have easily forgiven.


I listened to the audio version of the book.  I did enjoy the narrator,  Laural Merlington, and it was a very quick "listen".  If you missed this one,try it out.  You might like it more than me.

--Kari

Blog tour & Giveaway - Whatnots and Doodads

Giveaway details:

Thanks to the author, Stacey Kennedy, I have been authorized to give away 1 e-book version of Whatnots & Doodads.  Just leave a comment with a valid e-mail and I will randomly pick 1 lucky winner.  The contest will run until October 16, 2011.  Since it is an e-copy, I can open it internationally. Good luck!

Author:Stacey Kennedy
Publisher:Liquid Silver Books

For Bryanna, a witch from the Asheville Coven, magic is on the fritz. Shunned by her coven and her boyfriend Layton for her unruly magic, she seeks a new life for herself. It just so happens, fate steps in and brings her to Strange Hollow–a place where being different is not only acceptable, but encouraged.

When Bryanna arrives in Strange Hollow, Zeke, a demon gone good, is burning with Hell’s fire over her. Not only has she set his world ablaze, but he’s found one soul he can save. He’s determined to free her from the insecurities that have damaged her soul.

Together they experience lava-hot passion as they weave their way through a tornado of emotions. But when Layton returns for her, will Zeke’s attempts to break the unworthy cage woven around her be enough to keep her in Strange Hollow forever?

I have never read anything by Stacey Kennedy, but after reading this novella, I will be seeking out her other offerings.  I really enjoyed Whatnots and Doodads.  This little story has a lot packed into it: sexy supernatural beings, hot steamy loves scenes and laugh out loud humor. Strange Hollow is a place I would love to visit.  What would be better than a place with misfit supernatural beings, where you are not judged and can be yourself?  The chemistry between Zeke and Bryanna leaps off the pages and grabs hold.  Ms. Kennedy's erotic scenes are well written and tastefully done.  My only complaint is that I wanted more!  I hope that Ms. Kennedy will do more stories about Strange Hollow.  With a town full of misfits, there have to be dozens of stories waiting to be told!

I definitely recommend this one.  I think any lover of erotica will like this novella. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Kennedy in the future!

--Kari



About the Author:

Stacey Kennedy’s urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance Ebooks Bestseller lists. If she isn’t plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she’s got her nose deep in a good book. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband. Be sure to drop her a line at www.staceykennedy.com, she loves to hear from her readers.

Those Across the River

by:  Christopher Buehlman
published by: 
publish date:  September 6, 2011

Failed academic Frank Nichols and his wife, Eudora, have arrived in the sleepy Georgia town of Whitbrow, where Frank hopes to write a history of his family's old estate-the Savoyard Plantation- and the horrors that occurred there. At first, the quaint, rural ways of their new neighbors seem to be everything they wanted. But there is an unspoken dread that the townsfolk have lived with for generations. A presence that demands sacrifice.

It comes from the shadowy woods across the river, where the ruins of Savoyard still stand. Where a longstanding debt of blood has never been forgotten.

A debt that has been waiting patiently for Frank Nichols's homecoming...

The first thing you should know if you should decide to read this book is that it is set in the 1930s.  I was unclear on that when I started reading it and I kept wondering why everyone was talking so weird.  Once I got that little fact straight in my head, it made a lot more sense and it read beautifully. 

Mr. Buehlman's talent is clearly in creating a mood.  The emotions throughout this book were so strong.  The sense of dread and dispair that settles over the town is captivating.  This was one of the things that kept me reading this book.

The period between when the reader realizes there's a bad guy and finds out who the bad guy is feels really long.  What the bad guys are is a little disappointing, but there's only so many paranormal type creatures to go around I guess. 

This was one of the best horror novels I've read in awhile.  I will say it is very R rated though.  Language, violence, sex are all on the explicit side.  There's not a whole lot of any of it, so don't get the impression that it's a raunchy book, but what there is, particularly of the violence, is graphic. 

Adrenaline

by:  Jeff Abbott
published by:  Grand Central Publishing
publish date:  July 1, 2011

Sam Capra—Brilliant CIA agent, loving husband, soon-to-be father—loses everything that matters to him in a horrifying moment in London. An unknown enemy has set him up as a traitor. However that enemy has targeted the wrong man. Escaping from the CIA, Sam goes on a desperate hunt for the killer who stole his family and to save his kidnapped wife and child. But the destruction of Sam's life was only step one in an extraordinary plot—and now Sam must become a new kind of hero.

This was one of my favorite audiobooks this year.  It was an excellent action thriller.  Adrenaline is the perfect title for this book because it was non-stop from page one. 

Kevin Collins was the narrator for this audiobook and he did a fantastic job.  He really captured all the intensity that this book was holding in.  I found myself driving slow everywhere I went so I could listen to this longer because I would be hanging on the edge of my seat.  There was never a good place to stop listening because it always sounded like it was on the verge of something explosive happening. 

The story was great.  It had some twists and turns that I wasn't expecting.  It was one of those books where I was talking back to it in disbelief.  I looks like this is the first in a series so I can't wait to read the next one!

A Crack in Everything

Author: Angela Gerst
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (September 2011) Audiobook by Blackstone Audio

Susan Callisto is pushing thirty and taking stock. Before she traded financial security at a Boston law firm for sandals and jeans in Waltham, she specialized in real estate law. Now she has reinvented herself as a political consultant for ordinary people seeking low level office. Her income may be dicey, but Susan loves her new life—until her boyfriend, Detective Lieutenant Michael Benedict, dumps her without a goodbye. Not one to mope, Susan uses humor and perpetual motion to keep away the pain.

So when biotech high roller Charles Renfrow offers her a huge retainer to advise his political campaign, Susan is wary. Why would a scientist stalking the human genome want to be mayor of a small Massachusetts town?

Rumor has it that Renfrow’s biotech company is dumping deadly waste and that a child has died. On her way to confront him, Susan instead finds the body of his gorgeous assistant. Assigned to the case, Michael reenters Susan’s life. Soon mayhem rains down: Susan herself is attacked, an elderly client is beaten and left for dead, and a child is abducted.
When Michael’s suspicions settle on Susan’s favorite candidate, she elbows her way into the investigation. She hopes to prove Michael wrong, and to her peril, she does. Now, with her own life on the line, Susan uncovers the crack in everything.

I will admit that I was a little skeptical going into this book.  You never know what you will be getting with an author's first book.  I was very pleasantly surprised.   This mystery in this book it exciting!  It has plenty of murder, suspects, twists, turns and surprises. There are several things happening at once and they don;t seem to be connected.  I loved how the author brought it all together to tie things up. The ending...wow!  Let's just say that the ending made my jaw drop in amazement.  I never saw it coming!

 Ms. Gerst has created a great character in Susan. She is a down-to-earth, smart and very relatable character. I liked her relationships with her friends and her loyalty to them.  I know that this is a character I look forward to getting to know in later books.  I hope that future books give more of her background.  I think that was the one thing that I was missing, more back story on Susan that might explain why decided to leave the big law firm and go into politics.  The other thing was romance.  I wanted more interaction between Susan and Michael. 

I definitely recommend this one.  I listened to the audio and the narrator was great.

--Kari