Review: Big Sky Country & Big Sky Mountain by Linda Lael Miller

Linda Lael Miller is a wonderful romance writer.  Every time I read one of her book, I have the deep urge to go live on a ranch, if only I could convince my family to go along with my fantasy!  This year, she has released the first two books of her "Swoon-Worthy Cowboys" series.  Big Sky Mountain and Big Sky Country. Ms. Miller has created a wonderful town full of interesting characters with loose tongues and long memories. 

Big Sky Country (Harlequin May, 2012) is Slade and Josyln's story.  Sheriff Slade Barlow is the unacknowledged illegitimate son of a wealthy rancher in town.  Now that his father has died, Slade finds out that he has been left half of his father's inheritance.  The other half belongs to his half brother Hutch.  The two men don't get along.  While navigating this new relationship with his brother, Slade finds out that Joslyn Kirk is back in town.  Joslyn's step father swindled a lot of the town's people of out millions in a ponzi scheme and Joslyn is back to try to make things right.

While the story was enjoyable, I felt the romance was really secondary to the story. The first half of the book is set up and character building.  At times it dragged a little.  Then when it did pick up, it was over and Slade and Josyln had found their HEA.  While they had known each other for years, I still had a hard time figuring out when they fell in love.  Toward the end of the book, two whole months are skipped over.  I felt a bit cheated.  I would have liked to see more of the romance between Slade and Joslyn.  They barely spend time together that the reader sees.


For the first in the series, it didn't wow me.However, it is worth recommending for the character interactions alone.  I loved the relationship between Slade and his step daughter Shea.  That alone just melted my heart.  I also loved Opal.  She seems like such a warm personality and the kind of woman who would always be ready with a big bear hug if you needed one.   Slade's brother Hutch seems like such a troubled soul and I looked forward to reading his story next in Big Sky Mountain.

Big Sky Mountain (Harlequin, July 2012) is Hutch and Kendra's story. I liked this one more than the first one.  I felt more of a connection with Hutch and Kendra and their relationship.  They have a history and previous relationship, so that may be why I believed their love story more.  I'm not sure either of them ever really fell out of of love with the other.  I was really rooting for their HEA.

Kendra has been out of town for a while and has returned the adoptive mother of a 4 year old daughter.  I admired Kendra for how she fought for Madison and made gave her a home.  I don't think a lot of people would have done what she did.  Madison was a very sweet little girl and I loved how she melted Hutch's heart.

All of the characters that you grew to love in Big Sky Country return in this one.  Opal is as wonderful as ever.  Hutch and Slade's relationship is growing stronger.  The next book in the series, Big Sky River, comes out next year.  I look forward to visiting the town of Parable again!

Author Interview: Paradise Misplaced by Lisa April Smith

Today, as part of the official launch of her newest book, Paradise Misplaced, I have the pleasure of hosting Lisa April Smith.  Make sure to come back tomorrow for my thoughts in Paradise Misplaced.

Kari: Great to have you here, Lisa.  

LAS:  Thank you for inviting me, Kari.     

Kari: Paradise Misplaced is the sequel to Exceeding Expectations and I understand that fans have been begging you to hurry up and release it. I’m not surprised. Reviews for Exceeding, including mine, have been amazing. If you haven’t read it, people, do it now!

LAS: Reviews have been wonderful. Overwhelming! The book (EE) hadn’t been out more than a week or so before I received a Facebook post telling me that she “LOVed” Exceeding Expectations and that I should “not waste time.” I needed to “get busy and finish the sequel.” So many readers have been good to me – with reviews, e-mailing fun and fabulous comments. It’s a high better than chocolate.

Kari: Frankly, the first thing I was drawn to were the covers of both books. Great choices.

LAS: Thank you. Frankly, I obsess over my book covers. Let’s just say that the graphics designer and I have many animated conversations over each cover before we finally agree.  

Kari: I hear you have another exciting announcement for us. Something for readers who prefer the paper-and-ink books they can hold, or don’t own a Kindle, Nook, iPad, etc.  

LAS: I do. Very exciting! Keeps me up at night exciting. Exceeding Expectations is now also available as a paperback on Amazon.com. And if it isn’t available as a paperback at Barnes&Noble.com today, it will be very soon.  

Kari: What about Paradise Misplaced? Will that be available in paperback too?

LAS: Absolutely! We’re working on that as well. It’s all part of my grand mission to become America’s Next Top Author.   

Kari: If you haven’t read Exceeding Expectations, avid reading Friends, do it today. It’s always more enjoyable to read a series in the order it came out. Now you have a choice to read EE either as an e-book or paperback. Great having you here, Lisa. I’ve included a brief description of Paradise Misplaced below. But for more about all your books, I recommend visiting your website http://www.LisaAprilSmith.com.

LAS: Many many thanks to you and your loyal followers – my favorite kind of people, people who enjoy reading.

 

Kari: We’re all wishing you the best of luck on your goal to become America’s Next Top Author.   

All the unexpected twists and suspense, danger and crime, romance and sizzle, that kept readers of Exceeding Expectations turning the pages long into the night, are back in Paradise Misplaced, along with Charlie, Jack and Naomi – three unforgettable characters.   

In Manhattan, being recently dumped by her soulmate becomes the least of Charlotte (Charlie) Morgan’s problems after she is shoved off a subway platform in front of an oncoming train. Her modeling career seems over and she may not walk again. Throughout her lengthy hospital stay the police have no success finding her assailant or determining a motive. A handsome detective recovering from similar injuries is assigned to be her physical therapy partner. Fearing that her unknown attacker will try again he urges her to draw up list of possible suspects – anyone she might have angered or rejected. Eliminating those who don’t fit a compiled description leaves just one possible suspect, an untouchable power broker with a famous art collection.    

In Buenos Aires, Jack, the loveable lothario/conman, in his quest for his next wealthy wife, is romancing wealthy women he meets at a fashionable hotel where he isn’t a registered guest. To finance these activities he ever-so-gently exploits tourists and the local land barons. But whether he succeeds, falls short or fails miserably, readers can rely on sexy Jack to be entertaining.       

In Israel, understandably bitter Naomi, working on an archeological dig, seeks temporary relief from her demons in hot casual affairs. Unwilling to be yet another in a series of her lovers, a rough-hewn widowed farmer relentlessly pursues her.

Will Charlie, Jack and Naomi meet? Will a story that begins on three continents end in triumph or disaster? No predicable ending here. You’ll have to read the book to find out.

Review: The Last Minute by Jeff Abbott

by:  Jeff Abbott
published by:  Sphere Books
publish date:  July 3, 2012

Sam Capra has one reason to live: to rescue his baby son from the people who abducted him.  Now the kidnappers have offered a deadly deal: they'll surrender Sam's child...if Sam finds and murders the one man who can expose them.

The Last Minute is the sequel to last year's Adrenaline.  Adrenaline was awesome, I loved the audiobook.  My post about it is HERE.  The audiobook for The Last Minute is just as good.  The narrator, Kevin Collins, comes back for this book as well and does a great job. 

The Last Minute picks up where Adrenaline ended.  Sam is now the owner of a string bars around the world as his cover for working for Mila and The Round Table.  Sam is still looking for his son Daniel, then the organization that kidnapped him offers Sam a deal.  They'll hand over his son if he'll kill Jack Ming.  If you read Adrenaline, you'll remember Jack Ming as a hacker.  The catch is that he has to work with Leonie, another hacker, and her incentive is that they've taken her child as well.

The Last Minute was just as good as Adrenaline, but it got a little long.  There's a section of the book dedicated to telling Mila's story and I found it to be a little distracting.  I understood the purpose of it, but I felt like it could almost be it's own book or short story.

Speaking of short stories, there is one in the Sam Capra series.  It's called Sam Capra's Last Chance.  As of right now, it's available on Amazon for $1.99.  It's a bridge between the first book and second book.   Definitely worth the read if you're a fan of this series!

I'm really interested to see where this series is going to go.  What's going to happen with Sam's wife?  How are the new characters going to play out in the future, particularly Leonie?  Bring on more Sam Capra!

Throwback Thursday: Aftershocks by Catherine Coulter

Author: Catherine Coulter
First published in 1985 by Silhouette

When Dr. Elliot Mallory meets magazine model Georgina Hathaway, everything seems perfect. They love the same jokes, enjoy the same sports and have incredible chemistry together. But their worlds are so far apart--Elliot is ready for a home and family just as Georgina's career is starting to take off. Can they make it work, or will Elliot lose the best thing that has ever happened him?

After reading a number of early historical books by Ms. Coulter, I figured I'd give one of her early contemporary romances a try.  I can't say that I really enjoyed Aftershocks that much.  It started out great.  Elliot meets and flirts with "George" at a volleyball game.  There is a definite attraction between the two of them.  There is a bit of a mystery around George and who she really is.  Then we find out that she is a model, 23 and very inexperienced.  She has chosen Elliot to show her "the ways of loving".  At this point I was rolling my eyes. 

Neither character was very likable.  I thought Elliot was just too old fashioned in his ways of thinking. He acts way to old for his age.   George just came across as a spoiled brat who got everything she wanted.  Her behavior and downward spiral in the end was just ridiculous.  Ms. Coulter is a wonderful writer and has much better writings out there.  I think you can safely skip this throwback.  You won't be missing much.

Review: Butter by Erin Jade Lange

by:  Erin Jade Lange
published by:  Bloomsbury
publish date:  September 4, 2010

A lonely obese boy everyone calls "Butter" is about to make history. He is going to eat himself to death-live on the Internet-and everyone is invited to watch.

I was really interested in reading this book.  I had it on pre-order so I got started the day it came out.  I think it was my morbid curiosity kicking in that made me want to read this book so bad.  That's kind of a freaky idea to eat yourself to death live on the internet.

The book is about a 423 lb. boy with the unfortunate nickname of Butter.  He spends his life in a self-imposed isolation despite his mother's and music teacher's best efforts to draw him out.  Even the kids at school leave him alone out of pity.  The only times Butter is happy is when he's playing his saxophone and when he's online talking to his crush under his online alter-ego.

Once Butter finally makes it known that he is going to eat himself to death online and makes it known to the school, he starts getting the attention that he realizes he's been craving.  He gets to sit at the popular table.  His crush is finally starting to notice him.  But is the new found fame worth it?  Is it for the right reasons?  What happens when he reveals who he really is to his crush?

I flew through this book.  It was well written and the characters were definitely memorable.  Butter was relatable at times and frustrating at times, but I always wanted to know what he was going to do next. 

Other than language, there weren't any big red flags in terms of parental warnings.   Butter would be ok for most teens.

Book Spotlight: The Baby Matrix by Laura Carroll

Today we are spotlighting author Laura Carroll's new book, The Baby Matrix. 

Check out the giveaway! Ms. Carroll, as part of her tour, is giving away a Kindle Fire.  To enter just leave a comment below and then fill out her rafflecopter on this page.


Author: Laura Carroll
Publisher: Self
Date of publication: May 2012

n the movie The Matrix, the character Morpheus offers two pills to Neo—if he takes the blue pill, he will go on with life as he has before, believing what he has always believed. If he takes the red pill, he will find out what the “matrix” really is, and many of his earlier beliefs will be shattered. When it comes to taking a hard look at a specific set of beliefs about parenthood and reproduction that has driven our society for generations, The Baby Matrix is the red pill.
We commonly think our desire to have children boils down to our biological wiring, but author Laura Carroll says it’s much more than that. Unlike other books on parenthood, The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Minds From Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood & Reproduction Will Create a Better World takes a serious look at powerful social and cultural influences that drive the desire for the parenthood experience, and lays out why we need to be very aware of these influences to make the most informed decisions about parenthood.

The Baby Matrix looks at long-held beliefs about parenthood and reproduction, and unravels why we believe what we believe. It lays out:

-the historical origins of beliefs about parenthood and reproduction
-why many of these beliefs no longer work for society or were never true in the first place
-why we continue to believe them anyway
-the prices society pays as a result

The Baby Matrix shows us how we got here, brings to light what is true, which includes knowing about the powerful influence of “pronatalism,” and explains why society can no longer afford to leave pronatalism unquestioned.

“This is not a book about convincing people not to have children,” says Carroll. “I want people to be very aware of the long-held social and cultural pressures, and be able to free themselves from those pressures when making parenthood choices. This will result in more people making the best decisions for themselves, will foster a society in which those who are best suited to become parents are the ones who have children and one that knows what it means to bring a child into the world today.”

This book will make you examine your own intentions and beliefs, will rile you, and might just change your mind. Whether you are already a parent, want to become a parent, are still making up your mind, or know you don’t want children, you’ll never think about parenthood in the same way.

The Baby Matrix is a must-read for anyone interested in psychology, sociology, anthropology, parenting issues, environmentalism, and social justice. But most of all, it’s for anyone, parent or not, who reveres the truth and wants the best for themselves, their families, and our world.

Check out the trailer:

About the author:

Laura Carroll is the author of The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Minds From Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood & Reproduction will Create a Better World, Families of Two: Interviews With Happily Married Couples Without Children by Choice, and Finding Fulfillment From the Inside Out.

In addition to writing nonfiction books, she has worked over the last 15 years as a business and litigation psychology consultant and used her expertise in behavioral sciences, psychology, and communications to advise business, legal, and nonprofit professionals on their communications strategies and goals.

Laura is a seasoned leader of personal and professional development seminars, and has appeared on a variety of television shows, including Good Morning America and The Early Show. She has been a guest on many radio talk shows to discuss social science topics.

You’ll also find her online at her nonfiction book site, LiveTrue Books, and her top blog, La Vie Childfree.

Visit Laura Carroll on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LauraCarroll88
Like Laura Carroll on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheBabyMatrix

You Don't Want to Know by Lisa Jackson

Author: Lisa Jackson
Publisher: Kensington
Date of Publication: August 2012

 Almost everyone, including Ava’s semi-estranged husband, assumes the boy drowned after falling off the dock near their Church Island home.  Ava has spent most of the past two years in and out of Seattle mental institutions, shattered by grief and unable to recall the details of Noah’s disappearance. Now she’s back at Neptune’s Gate, the family estate, her strength slowly returning. But as Ava’s mind comes back into focus, she can’t shake the feeling that her family, and her psychologist, know more than they’re saying. Are they worried for her well-being—or anxious about what she might discover?


 I thoroughly enjoyed You Don't Want to Know.  I will readily admit that I didn't figure this one out until Ava did. I thought I had it figured out in the beginning, but I was so wrong!  I think this book would make a great movie.  It reminded me of the 1944 movie Gaslight with Ingrid Bergman.  You know the main character is sane, but things keep happening that you start to wonder if she really is slowly going crazy. I really don't want to say much more about the plot.  Aside from making her look crazy, someone is trying to set her up as a murderer.  Ms. Jackson throws so many twists and turns into this book that you will not know who to trust. 

I loved Ava's character.  I felt for her every time she thinks she sees or hears her missing son.  I think losing a child would be enough to make her go out of her mind.  All of the other characters in the book seem a little shady.  All of them have a motive to want to drive Ava out of her mind and back into the hospital.  I was so rooting for Ava to get back on track and figure out what was going on.

The only thing I didn't like about the book was the "romance" between Ava and Austin Dern.  I wasn't exactly sure when they were supposed to have fallen in love.  Aside from an attraction, I just didn't see it.  Everyone kept mentioning that she looked like she was in love with him.  How and when did it happen?  Honestly, I think it would have been fine to leave out that whole side plot. While it was a nice addition to the ending, the book really didn't' need it.  

I know fans of Lisa Jackon's books will enjoy this latest stand alone novel.  Want to know if Noah is still alive?  Is Ava going crazy?  Read the book and find out!

Review: Speechless by Hannah Harrington

by:  Hannah Harrington
published by:  Harlequin Teen
publish date:  August 28, 2012

Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Chelsea is the one of the most popular girls in school, second only to her best friend.  She is a self proclaimed gossip hound.  Then at a party she stumbles on secret that she knows that she should keep, but immediately spills to the other guests at the party.  It leads to someone getting beaten nearly to death.

Chelsea, feeling remorse over her actions, tells her parents what happen who in turn call the police.  This leads to Chelsea's social suicide at school.  Everybody is mad at her for not leaving things alone.  So she takes vow of silence because it's safer than talking.

I think I might be one of the few people that didn't totally hate Chelsea in the beginning.  Yes, she was a self-absorbed mean girl, but I also saw her as just a kid.  I never felt like she intended for anyone to get hurt and didn't understand that there would be actual consequences for her actions.  Throughout the book Chelsea grew up a lot.  She learned a lot about not only forgiving others, but also herself.

Speechless was a great book.  I really enjoyed the whole thing.  The characters were very relatable and their relationships believable.  This was particularly well done with the love interests.  Often in YA they are too rushed, but I felt like in this book it moved along at a rate it probably would in real life.

There were a few mature situations in this book, but overall it wasn't too bad.  I don't think it needs any parental warning labels if it's in the hands of a somewhat mature teen reader.

Want to read more reviews of Speechless?  Check out:
LadyBug Storytime
Nick's Book Blog

Review: Psycho USA by Harold Schechter

by:  Harold Schechter
published by:  Ballentine Books
publish date:  August 7, 2012

In the horrifying annals of American crime, the infamous names of brutal killers such as Bundy, Dahmer, Gacy, and Berkowitz are writ large in the imaginations of a public both horrified and hypnotized by their monstrous, murderous acts. But for every celebrity psychopath who’s gotten ink for spilling blood, there’s a bevy of all-but-forgotten homicidal fiends studding the bloody margins of U.S. history.

I have a little bit of an obsession with serial killers.  Actually, it's not as bad as it used to be.  However, when I saw this book come up I knew it was right up my alley.

Psycho USA was very well organized.  For the most part it was arranged chronologically, but occasionally grouped killers by type.  The chronological order was pretty interesting.  It helped the reader to see how crimes changed (or didn't) over time or how they might be influenced by historical events. 

I've read several books by Harold Schechter and he is definitely well researched on the subject.  One little extra in this book were some of the broadsheet accounts and ballads that might have been sung about the murders.  I found those to be particularly interesting.

This is a great book for research purposes or just for morbid curiosity.  I definitely recommend it for those interested in true crime

Review:The Unholy by Heather Graham

Author: Heather Graham

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Date of Publication: June 2012

The 1940s: Hard-boiled detectives and femmes fatale are box-office gold. In one iconic scene, set in a deserted museum, the private eye arrives too late, and the buxom beauty is throttled by an ominous Egyptian priest. Now: The Black Box Cinema immortalizes Hollywood's Golden Age in its gallery of film noir tributes. But the mannequin of that Egyptian priest is hardly lifeless.

I have really liked the "Krewe of Hunters" series so far, but The Unholy (Krewe of Hunters #6)  was just an OK read for me.    I did enjoy the murder mystery with the "locked room" mystery plot. Those are always fun to try to figure out.  I really thought I had it all figured out, but I was way off base! I love when that happens!

I liked Madison's character and the idea that she can see and talk to dead people. I just couldn't get over the fact that Madison was visited by and talked to the ghost of Humphrey Bogart.  It made the whole thing a little hokey and I found myself taking the story a little less seriously...at least as seriously as you can take any ghost story. I think if a lesser known 40's or made up actor had been used I would have bought it more. It also could have been the narrator's poor imitation of Bogey's voice that irritated me as well.

The romance between Sean and Madison was just OK.  I didn't really feel it and thought it was a little forced. The book might have been better without it entirely.  Normally, I like a little romance in my paranormal suspense, but I would have been OK without it here.  I do look forward to reading the next one, The Unspoken, which was released back in July.

Throwback Thursday: Don't Say a Word by Barbara Freethy

 

Author: Barbara Freethy
First published in 2005 by Signet

While preparing for her wedding, Julia DeMarco comes across a famous photograph of a little girl in front of a Russian orphanage-and sees her own eyes staring back at her. But Julia is not an orphan, nor was she adopted. She knows where she comes from-or does she? Suddenly, the people she has loved and trusted are tainted by suspicion. The one person who is willing to help her is reckless photographer Alex Manning, who will journey with her toward the dangerous truth-while trying to hide a secret of his own.

I'm surprised that this book has never been made into a movie.  If done correctly, I think it would be an awesome mystery.  What would you do if you saw, hanging in a museum, a photo of yourself as a child?  The photo was taken in an orphanage in Russia.  Only you have never been to Russia.  Julia believes that she is the little girl in the famous photo.  As she starts to delve deeper into her past, things her mother told her about her life don't add up.  People are starting to follow her. The mystery in this book was really good.  There are a few twists that I didn't see coming.

This book isn't just suspense, it has a nice romance.  Alex and Julia have great chemistry together.  I loved their ending.  The only thing I didn't like about the book was the reaction of Julia's sister and fiance.  I thought they were jerks for the way they treated her.  Why wouldn't they support her in trying to find out the truth.  Especially when things start to not add up in regards to Sarah, Julia's mother.  At any rate, this is a great msytery and defintiely one to pick up if you missed it the first time around.