Elly Griffiths 2 for 1: A Room Full of Bone & A Dying Fall

Ellie Griffith's 6th book is coming out this month and I thought to myself, "Wait, what?? When did books 4 and 5 come out??"  I've reviewed books 1-3 here on this blog, because I rather like her books here are the links in order:  1. The Crossing Places 2. The Janus Stone 3. The House at Sea's End.


I read these two books back to back and here are some observations.  There's a scene that can almost be taken word for word from one book right out of the other.  They both talk about how Ruth is trying to leave the house, but her home phone is ringing.  Her home phone never rings since all her friends and family all have her "mobile" number, but something tells her to answer it anyway.  I thought I had mistakenly started reading the wrong book, the two passages were so similar.  Secondly, I don't think Ruth eats anything other than pasta.  She's always cooking pasta, eating pasta, serving pasta.  She's always complaining about being overweight, maybe try laying off the pasta.
 Mix it up a bit Ruth, try a salad.  Go crazy and eat a hamburger, just as long as there's no pasta involved.

About the books individually, A Room Full of Bones tells the story of the discovery of the body of a medieval Bishop.  The people involved with the discovery seem to be dying off at an alarming rate.  Does it have something to do with the Bishop or does it have something to do with the museum hoarding the bones of Aborigines.  A group called the Elginists are becoming increasingly threatening about getting the bones of their people back to their homeland and are wanting Ruth to help them with their quest.

A Dying Fall is all about King Arthur and the possibility that his bones may have been discovered by a colleague of Ruth's.  However, he was killed shortly after his discovery, but not before he could get a message out to Ruth asking for her help.  It seems he came across some revelations about King Arthur that would completely rewrite the history books and the local hate groups shut him down before he could make his findings known.

Despite my observations, I love Elly Griffiths' books.  Ruth is one of my favorite literary characters.  She's kind of like the Indiana Jones for middle aged working moms.  The next book, The Outcast Dead, is out and I will definitely be reading it for sure!!

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

by:   John Green
published by:  Dutton Books
publish date:  January 2012

I've been thinking a lot about this book because so many people are so in love with it.  There are a lot of people talking about what a remarkably profound book it is and how wonderful it is.  I didn't really get that feeling from it.  So, I've been wondering why I didn't feel that way about it.  Much like Fifty Shades of Gray, I feel like this is a bandwagon book.  It gets a lot of word of mouth talking up from non-readers, so it becomes this big thing.  Then the "experienced readers" kind of sit around bewildered by the response because either they already knew about this thing and have been sitting on the bandwagon for ages or they know it's not really worth getting on the bandwagon because there are way better things out there.  In terms of this book, I fall in the second category.

I'll say what I liked first.  I expected it to be super sad all the time, like read it with a tissue box kind of sad.  It wasn't really.  There were some great bits of humor throughout the book.  Parents were present in this YA book.  Cancer/dying/illness wasn't glamorized in this book.  It was hard and lingering and unpleasant.  There was a realistic portraying.  It wasn't romanticized.

I didn't like the way the characters interacted with each other.  I didn't like the way they talked to each other.  It was cute for the sake of the book, but it wasn't realistic.  How many people talk to each other that way?  Highly educated adults don't speak to each other that way, I doubt high school children are going to. 

Anyway, that's my two bits about this book.  What did you think?

Blog Tour: Her Summer with the Marine by Susan Meier

Author: Susan Meier
Publisher: Entangled Bliss
Date of publication:  March 2014

The last person Ellie McDermott wanted to run into after returning to her hometown is Finn Donovan, her high school nemesis and the guy she crossed the line from enemies to lovers with one night years ago. Now ex-military, tattooed, and still sexy as hell, Finn is a complication Ellie doesn’t need—she needs to concentrate on saving her family business.

Finn’s entire life, Ellie was there, going head-to-head with him in every class, bee, and test. So it’s no surprise she’d show up just as he was about to take over her father's struggling business. It is a surprise, though, that his attraction to her is even more explosive than it had been. Acting on their attraction is one thing, but Finn has to turn a profit to save his own family, and nothing—not even love—will get in his way. 

Her Summer with the Marine was not like I was expecting.  It ended up being just an OK read for me.  It felt like it took a while to get going. Ellie is back in her home town because her father's Alzheimer's has gotten worse.  She decides she needs to keep the family business running in order to pay for his nursing home fees.  Finn runs the competition.  He wants to buy her out in order to save his own business.  They have  been in competition with each other ever since grade school. The attraction between the two is probably the better part of the book.  Although, it did feel a bit forced to me at times.

Normally, I probably wouldn't have had a problem with a little friendly competition.  It can make for some great tension.  But when I found out the businesses in question were funeral homes, I was a bit disturbed.  The one up-man-ship that these two displayed when promoting their business was kind of creepy and distasteful.  I didn't like that part at all. Who goes trolling for business at a funeral?  

I also had to question some of the decisions that Ellie makes in the book. She knows nothing about running a funeral home or accounting.  She has a full time job in advertising.  Yet, she decides to keep the business open because it would mean spending more time with her father.  A father who doesn't remember her half the time.  Why not sell the business and move him to a facility closer to her apartment? She doesn't even like funerals or anything that goes along with them.

The book has gotten some good reviews, so I'll just have to chalk this one up as a not for me book.  Give it a try and see what you think. Check out what others on the tour are saying here. 

About the author:

A one-time legal secretary and director of a charitable foundation, Susan Meier found her own personal

‘bliss’ when she became a full-time novelist. She’s visited ski lodges and candy factories for “research” and works in her pajamas.
But the real joy of her job is creating stories about women for women. In her sixty published novels, she’s tackled issues like infertility, losing a child and becoming widowed. Her favorite stories are those that inspire laughter through tears.
Susan lives in western Pennsylvania with her own hero, their son and two fabulous felines, Sophia Maria Lolita Conchita Chiquita Banana and Fluffy.

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Blog Tour: Interview, Giveaway & Review TURNED by Virna DePaul

Today, we have an exciting character interview from the main characters from Turned by Virna DePaul. Enjoy it after my thoughts on the book.  We are also giving away an advanced copy of the book.  See the Rafflecopter below for details. (Us & Canada only)

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Author: Virna DePaul

Publisher: Bantam (Random House)

Date of publication: April 1, 2014

Welcome to a mesmerizing world where vampires hide among humans. This centuries-old species has its own rules, code of conduct, and taboos. Only the FBI knows that vampires exist—and although the Bureau agrees to keep their secret, it also plots to give humans the upper hand.

Turning mortals into vampires is forbidden.  But there are creatures who refuse to play by the rules.

Ever since he was turned, FBI special agent Ty Duncan has had one mission: bring rogue vampires to justice. As a recruiter for Belladonna, a shadow agency formed to keep vampires in check, Ty must tap Ana Martin, a troubled ex–gang member and one of the few mortals who can infiltrate places that his kind and the law cannot. From their first encounter, Ty fights a hunger to make Ana his own.

When Ty claims to have information about Ana’s missing sister, Ana has no choice but to trust this captivating stranger who awakens her deepest desires. But as she and Ty climb the heights of pleasure and passion, an enemy is conspiring to destroy them both.  Can Ana help Ty find his humanity in a love that could heal them both, or will their passion lead them into a darkness impossible to escape?

My thoughts:

Turned is the first in a new series by Virna DePaul.  I really enjoyed the book and the world that this author has created.  Although, I do have to confess that I'm not a hundred percent sure of what is going on in the world.  There were parts that were a bit vague, but I think that will work itself out in future books.  Vampires are real, but  no one knows about them except the FBI.  They are born or turned.  The book wasn't too clear on how the turning happens so hopefully that will be explained more later on.  I think in the first book, it is hard sometimes to build the world completely without boring the reader.  So while I wanted to know more, I was happy the book wasn't too detailed right away.

I loved Ana and Ty.  Ty has been turned against his will and hates what he has become.  He has to recruit Ana to help the FBI in their work.  The attraction for both is instant.  I thought they were good for each other.  The other characters were interesting and I look forward to reading their stories.  I think this is a good start to a great series.  I can't wait for the next one to come out!

Thank you Kari for having me here today! Ty and Ana, the hero and heroine from Turned, my upcoming paranormal release, are excited to do their first public interview with you. 

Ty is an FBI special agent who was forcibly turned into a vampire.  He’s not only struggling with the loss of his humanity, but his strong feelings for Ana, a woman he’s been ordered to recruit for the Belladonna Agency.  Belladonna is a black ops organization formed to hunt down vampire criminals.  Ana is a former gang member trying to live a quiet life – but that’s all blown to hell when Ty arrives!

I hope your readers enjoy Ty and Ana and have a chance to enter the giveaway.

What one word best describes you?

Ty: Hot

Ana: Really Ty?!

Ty: What? My mistake. I thought I was supposed to be describing you, princess.

Ana: I’d pick “fighter to describe myself.

Ty: My mistake again. Let me correct myself. Hot fighter.

Ana: That’s two words, but thank you. We still need one word that describes you.

Ty: Relentless--when I set my sights on something I never give up.

Ana: Now that’s the truth!

What was your first thought about each other after your first meeting?

Ty: Mine

Ana: Asshole

Ty: That’s the best you’ve got?

Ana: *smiles sweetly* How about massive asshole?

Ty: You know you wanted me! You wanted me so much you pulled a gun on me in a dark alley and then rubbed your hands all over me.

Ana: I was searching you for a gun. One I found by the way. And took from you!

Ty: Only because I wanted you to take it so I could take it back…after I kissed you.

Ana: But only after I made you work for it.

Ty: I’ll work for eternity for the chance to kiss you, princess.

Ana: Me, too, Ty. *Tears up* Next question, please.

What would we find under your bed?

Ty: Since we’re almost always in it… nothing.

Ana: *Sighs* And if you actually ever did look…nothing. Especially not any monsters hiding under the bed. Ty cleaned house, including all the monsters from my life.

Ty: Oh princess…

Ana: It’s true.

What makes you happy?

Ty: Ana *smiles*

Ana: Ty *smiles*

It’s Virna again! Ty and Ana are heading out on another dangerous mission followed by some hot romance. I hope you’ll get to know them better in Turned!

About the author:

Virna DePaul is a USAToday and New York Times bestselling author of steamy, suspenseful fiction. Whether its vampires, a Para-Ops team, hot cops or swoon-worthy identical twin brothers, her stories center around complex individuals willing to overcome incredible odds for love. Bedding The Wrong Brother is a #1 Bestselling Contemporary Romance, and is followed by Bedding The Bad Boy. Her PNR series with Random House launches on April 1, 2014 with Turned. She loves to hear from readers at www.virnadepaul.com

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Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the 4th Annual Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop Co-hosted by Books Complete Me & Kathy from I'm a Reader, not a Writer  (March 17th to 24th)
You are at stop #14.  For the full list of participating blogs go here.

We have 4 prizes today to 4 lucky winners.  To enter just fill out the Rafflecopter below.  US only please.  Good luck and thanks for visiting!

Pack #1:  Help for the Haunted by John Searles & Red Hill by Jamie McGuire

Pack #2: Rome & Rule both by Jay Crownover

Pack #3:  Carniepunk (Anthology) & Ghosts by Gaslight (Anthology)

Pack #4:  The Little Bride by Anne Solomon & Havisham by Ronald Frame

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Hard as it Gets by Laura Kaye

Author: Laura Kaye
Publisher: Avon
Date of publication: November 2013

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge.

Hard as it Gets introduces a set of ex-soldiers who are searching for a way to get their good names back and prove they were set up.  The first book is Nicholas and Becca's story.  Becca's brother is missing and she seeks out Nick to help her find him.  The problem is that Becca's father was Nick's former commander.  The very one who set Nick and his team up.  

I liked the overall premise of the story.  Nick and the other guys were interesting.  They have all gone their separate ways after being disgraced.  I think it will be interesting to wathc the guys wok out their differences and find their way back to being friends and a team.  I loved Becca and Nick together.  The story takes place only over a few days, so the romance is kind of fast, but I believed it.  Their chemistry was off the charts!

There is a lot of humor in the book.  I loved all of the names that kept going around for the dog.  I won't tell you what they finally settle on, but it was fitting and very cute!  There is also some great action.  Do they find Becca's brother?  You'll have to read to find out.  I look forward to reading the next book in the Hard ink series, Hard as You Can.

Water Walker by Ted Dekker

Author: Ted Dekker
Publisher:
Date of publication:

My name is Alice Ringwald, but the man who kidnapped me says that's a lie.

Thirteen-year old orphan Alice Ringwald has no memory beyond six months ago. The only life she knows is the new one she's creating one day at a time with the loving couple that recently adopted her and gave her new hope.

That hope, however, is shattered one night when she is abducted by a strange man. In a frantic FBI manhunt, he vanishes.

So begins Water Walker, a modern day parable that examines the staggering power of forgiveness, and reminds us that it's possible to live free of the hurt that keeps our souls in chains.

Water Walker is the second in the Outlaw series by Ted Dekker.  I reviewed the first book, Eyes Wide Open, back in January.  I enjoyed that book and was looking forward to this one.  As with the first one, Water Walker was released in four parts.  I really wanted to like this book.  Unfortunately for me, I had a hard time getting into it.  I lasted about half way through.  

I found the book slow and kind of confusing. I'm not sure where the book was going. I was looking forward to the FBI chase and maybe finding out more about the years that Alice couldn't remember. Sadly, the book skipped 5 years ahead and a hidden trust fund and weird cult leader came into play. That left me disappointed. I found the religious cult aspect over the top.  Also, Alice/Eden is supposed to be off the charts smart, but she didn't ever think to escape with her little brother?  She also took it on the kidnappers' word that this woman was her birth mother.  I found that hard to believe. The book has gotten a lot of good reviews. I just think it wasn't for me.  

Joint Review: Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

by: Richelle Mead
published by:  Dutton Adult
publish date:  June 4, 2013

In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.  When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger.

When I started this book, I was under the impression that it was a YA book.  It wasn't until afterwards, when I was discussing it with Kari that I realized, that duh, it wasn't.  So that changed my impression of it.  I kept thinking that the sex scenes were a little graphic for YA and that the language was a smidge on the coarse side, not that YA is shy about language, but it was just a little odd.  But for an adult book it was a a bit more acceptable.  I thought the story overall was interesting story.  I think it would have been a little better if it got more in depth about the religions that Justin was supposed to be investigating and less about the political atmosphere.  The caste system difficult to understand.   The relevance of a lot of the political information given was lost on me.  However, I liked the characters and their interaction with each other.  If it doesn't take too long for the next book to come out, I'll probably give it a read.

For the most part, I liked the overall story.  I just felt like it was longer than it needed to be.  Yet, for the length of the book, I am still not sure I understand the world that the author created.  It was a mix of dystopian and supernatural with a changed world, genetics and gods.  Yeah, it was a bit confusing at times.  I did like the characters.  I especially liked Mae.  I thought she was seriously kick-ass.  As for the love scenes, I thought they were pretty underwhelming and could have been left out.  If you are going to include a scene like that, then make it at least a bit interesting.  The one thing I liked was the twists in the end and the solution to the mystery.  The ending left things wide open for the sequel.  I just hope there is no love triangle in the next book!

Throwback Thursday: Little Miss Innocent? by Lori Foster

Author: Lori Foster
First published in 1999 by Silhouette Books\

Dr. Daniel Sawyers was undeniably drawn to the very woman he most disapproved of. But Lace McGee, a supposed expert on matters of love-physical love, that is-had shown him nothing but steely resistance. So Daniel asked the brazen beauty for lessons in the bedroom. Herbedroom. So what if he was already masterful at pleasing women-he'd fake it! For Daniel had to satisfy his overpowering desire to touch Lace, to glimpse the depths of her soul, to know if uncertainty filled her gaze only to keep him at bay...or to protect a secret innocence.

Little Miss Innocent is one of Ms. Foster's early books.  It's the first of three books about the Sawyer siblings.  I have really liked most of what this author has written, but I can't really say I liked this book all that much.  I didn't really feel the connection between Lace and Daniel.  Other than being told there was tension, I wasn't feeling it. 

Daniel and Lace spent too much time arguing.  Daniel supposedly disapproves of Lace because of her job as a sex therapist and radio talk show host.  Yet, he is drawn to her.  Why?  I thought her character was annoying.  I felt like whenever they were getting along, she would totally misread his intentions and pick a fight.  That got tiring. I also didn't understand the reason behind pretending to be naive about sex.  I found that too awkward to work.  Their HEA was kind of underwhelming and I didn't feel like this was a couple that would stay together for very long. 

 Maybe the book was just too short.  Had it been longer, there might have been more room for the characters to be explored a bit more.  I'm on the fence about whether or not I'll continue with the series.  If you want a good earlier series, try her Buckhorn Brothers series.  That is great!

Blog Tour: Some Like it Wild by M. Leighton

Author: M.Leighton
Publisher Berkley/NAL, Penguin Group
Date of publication:  March 2014

Laney Holt is a preacher’s daughter. A good girl. Her only goal was to get married, have babies, and live happily ever after, just like her parents. Only that didn’t happen. The two people closest to her betrayed her, and Laney’s dreams came crashing down. Now she’s left with an empty space she doesn’t know how to fill. Until she meets Jake Theopolis, a daredevil with a death wish who has heartbreaker written all over him.

Jake has no interest in thinking beyond the here and now. All he wants out of life is the next rush, the next “feel-good” thing to keep his mind off the pain of his past. His latest rush? Showing Laney there’s more to life than being a good girl—and that going bad can be so much fun. Her only concern now is how she can ever hope to satisfy the wild side of a boy like Jake. She’s looking forward to trying. And so is Jake.

Some Like it Wild is the second book in the "Wild Ones" series.  I didn't have enough time to read the first book, The Wild Ones, before reading this one for my review.  But at no time did I fell like I was missing out on anything.  I think that these could be read as stand alone books. Some Like it Wild was a pretty quick and enjoyable read.  I was able to read it in one sitting.  I definitely will be going back to read the first book now!

I liked the characters.  Laney has lived her whole life under the microscope of her town because she was the preacher's daughter.  I didn't blame her for wanting to break out of her shell.  I was surprised it took her so long!  I felt bad for her for the way she was treated by her father.  I was pulling for her to stand up to him and was glad that she did.  Jake feels he is unlovable. It's no wonder when he has grown up being told that every day by his father.  Laney and Jake were good for each other.  Their relationship was hot and heavy, but fun to watch.  One of my favorite parts of the book, was when Shane got what was coming to him.  I thought that it took her way too long to give him what he deserved.  

About the author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

www.mleightonbooks.com

Twitter: mleightonbooks

Joint Review: The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

by:   Jennifer McMahon 
published by:  Doubleday
publish date:  February 11, 2014

West Hall, Vermont, has always been a town of strange disappearances and old legends. The most mysterious is that of Sara Harrison Shea, who, in 1908, was found dead in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her daughter, Gertie. Now, in present day, Ruthie lives in Sara's farmhouse with her mother, Alice. Alice has always insisted that they live off the grid, a decision that suddenly proves perilous when Ruthie wakes up one morning to find that Alice has vanished without a trace. Searching for clues, she is startled to find a copy of Sara Harrison Shea's diary hidden beneath the floorboards of her mother's bedroom. As Ruthie gets sucked deeper into the mystery of Sara's fate, she discovers that she's not the only person who's desperately looking for someone that they've lost. But she may be the only one who can stop history from repeating itself.

I'm a fan of Jennifer McMahon, I've enjoyed all her books so far.  I was excited about this book because it was a little bit of a departure from her previous books.  This one had more of a historical aspect to it and I like that.  My opinion is that this is her best book so far.  It had all the creepy, scary, supernatural things that she works into a book so well, but this one had a better developed story to go along with why these supernatural occurrences were happening.  Personally, the historical part of it was much better, than the present day.  That part of the book was much more sinister and seemed to really capture the mood of The Winter People.

Compared to Don't Say a Word, which was a DNF for me, this book was much better.  I thought the book was really creepy.  I liked the back and forth between the past and the present.  I was also happy that there were alternating points of view.  That made the book more interesting.  There were a few things about Ruthie that I thought I had figured out about halfway through, but I was wrong.  I like when that happens.  The couple of twists thrown in were surprising.  There were also some pretty gruesome scenes, but that added to the sinister and creepy feel of the book.  I do recommend this one.  It's made me want to try again with this author.