Throwback Thursday: In Serena's Web & Raven on the Wing by Kay Hooper

The cover on this throwback from Ms. Hoopr is very giggle worthy.  How can you look at the cover and not giggle?  I am a big fan of Kay Hooper and have read most of her books, both old and new.  She is a great writer.  So, I was a little disappointed in this first book in her Hagen series.  In Serena's Web (First published in 1987 by Loveswept) was a very underwhelming story.  Not much happens.  It had the great potential to be a good romantic suspense, but the suspense fell very flat.  The reader never really has the sense that Serena is in any danger until the very end.

When I started the book, I felt like I was missing something.  Almost like I had walked into a movie about 30 minutes after the opening credits. Eventually things are explained, but by then it was too late for me to even care.  The characters were pretty boring.  Serena is a smart woman, but came across to me like a spoiled debutante.  She is in love with Brian, so she tries to make him jealous by flirting with another man.  Really? She is 26, not a 16 and still in high school.  Brian seems to want her but is ambivalent about it through most of the book.  Even the HEA at the end was a bit boring.  Honestly, I was more intrigued by Josh and his penchant for blondes than I was by Serena and Brian.

I'm never one to give up on a series if the first book is so-so.  So I did end up reading Raven on the Wing (First published in 1987 by Loveswept), which is Josh's story. This one was much better than the first in the series.  I loved Josh and Raven.  Josh is literally knocked over by pretty brunette, Raven and it is love at first sight.  He will do everything he can to win her heart and make her his.  The problem is that Raven seems to be living a double life. 

There is pretty good suspense plot woven into this romance.  I loved the twist at the end!  The reader is also introduced to Josh's friends/employees who look to be the subjects of the later books.  I knew all I had to do was trust in the author and the books would get better.  I'm looking forward to catching up with the rest of the series.

Blog Tour: Giveaway & Review of Missing Rebecca by John Worley Simpson

Giveaway Details:
Mr. Simpson has generously offered 1 e-copy of Missing Rebecca to one lucky winner.  Just leave a comment with a valid e-mail to enter.  This will end October 16, 2012.

Author: John Worsley Simpson
Publisher: CreateSpace
Date of publication: March 2012

After a whirlwind romance, Liam and Rebecca marry, knowing almost nothing of each other's backgrounds. Only months later, on an afternoon shopping trip to a mall in the Buffalo, New York, suburb of Cheektowaga, Rebecca vanishes, seemingly abducted. Or did she make herself disappear? Was the marriage a sham? Was Liam a dupe? This is a novel of high crimes and dark shadows, involving the immensely profitable drug industry in which exclusive access to the market for a medication can mean billions of dollars, and holding on to that exclusivity might lead to lies, deceit, corruption, payoffs, and even murder.

Missing Rebecca has something for everyone.  Intrigue, action and many twists and turns.  It will keep you on your toes and keep you guessing.  What would you do if your wife of two months disappeared?  Would you regret not getting to know her better? Liam Peters has had a whirlwind romance with his new bride and now it seems she has been kidnapped from the mall...or has she left with a secret lover?

I liked the idea behind this book.  I always enjoy a story that keeps me guessing. I was drawn in right away because I wanted to know what happened to Rebecca.  However, I had a hard time keeping interest in the book at times. I felt like there were too many passages that felt like information dumps.  For me, it really disrupted the flow of the book.  I found myself skimming passages to move the story along.

Even though the book didn't work well for me, doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a shot.  It is an interesting story and I think most people will enjoy it.

About the author:

JOHN WORSLEY SIMPSON is a crime-fiction writer. John was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, emigrated to Canada at the age of four and grew up in Toronto, He has been a reporter and editor in major newspapers and news services in North America, England and Ireland. He is married and lives in Newmarket, Ontario.

 AUTHOR SITES:  

Website (http://www.johnworsleysimpson.ca)  

Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/johnworsleysimpson)

 Twitter  (https://twitter.com/#!/jworsim)

Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway Phantom Shadows by Dianne Duvall

Giveaway details:
Ms. Duvall has generously offered one lucky winner a signed copy of her choice of one of the first three Immortal Guardians books + swag. Just leave a comment with a valid email address to enter!.  I'll leave this open until October 14. Good luck!

Author: Diane Duvall
Publisher: Zebra
Date of Publication: October 2012

Dr. Melanie Lipton is no stranger to the supernatural.
She knows immortals better than they know themselves, right down to their stubborn little genes. So although a handsome rogue immortal seems suspicious to her colleagues, Sebastien Newcombe intrigues Melanie. His history is checkered, his scars are impressive, and his ideas are daring. But it’s not his ideas that have Melanie fighting off surges of desire . . .

When I finished reading Phantom Shadows, I was sad and happy at the same time.  Happy because I LOVED the book and sad that I have to wait so long for the next one.  Ms. Duvall has done it again.  The third installment in the Immortal Guardian series was just so good. I am so loving this series and the characters. Not only are the books well written, they are filled with action, romance, humor and very hot and sexy immortals!  What's not to love?

Bastien Newcombe has come along way from the first book.  While most of the other Immortals still dislike him, they are slowly starting to trust him.  Dr. Melanie Lipton wants to get to know him a lot better.  I loved these two together.  Melanie is a great match for Bastien.  I loved her forwardness and determination.  It really seemed to throw Bastien for a loop.  In addition to their love story, the rest of the Immortal family plays a big part in this book.  It was nice to see and have the others involved. I won't say how, but Ami plays a huge part.  She is one of my favorites in the series, so I was thrilled she was in the book.

While the ending was a sweet HEA for Bastien and Melanie,  the book left me wanting more!  It's not a cliff hanger in the traditional sense, but having to wait to see how Ami's situation will play out is going to drive me crazy! I did find out that Richart is getting his own novella, In Still Darkness,  in May, 2013 in the anthology, Predatory.  I'll be stalking Amazon for that because it will have to tide me over until Etienne's book comes out in September, 2013.

If you are a fan of paranormal romance or you are looking to try something new, definitely try this series out.  I would recommend reading it in order, so start with Darkness Dawns (my review) and then Night Reigns (my review).  You won't be sorry!

Don’t miss Dianne’s big kindle contest!  In addition to the giveaway here at From the TBR Pile, she’s giving away THREE Kindles (or Kindle Gift Cards if you already have one) to celebrate the release of PHANTOM SHADOWS.  Click on the banner for details!

Visit Dianne

Dianne's Website:  http://www.dianneduvall.com

Blog:  http://dianneduvall.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dianne-Duvall/248355201895532

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/DianneDuvall

Youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVcJ9xnm_i2ZKV7jM8dqAgA?feature=mhee

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4400405.Dianne_Duvall

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/dianneduvall

Blog Tour: Deep Connections by Rebecca Graf

Author:Rebecca Graf
Publisher: Silver Tongue Press
Date of Publication: August 2012

Just as love appears, so does the darkness. With her heart reaching out for one man, Brenna finds herself the target of an unknown stalker. Who is he? What does he want? How far will he go for her? Death is an option. Brenna discovers more than she bargained for and learns that the stalker will kill for her. It all comes down to decisions, and no matter what she chooses it will demand sacrifice and someone's blood.

I was immediately intrigued by Deep Connections when I read the synopsis.  Then, I was immediately sucked into the story. I read it in an afternoon.  Brenna and Slaton were really great together.    I loved Slaton's protective nature. The romance between them was very sweet and sensual.  It's a pretty clean romance though, nothing more than kissing. 

Deep Connections builds up to the paranormal aspect slowly.  I liked that about the book. The reader isn't given an information dump right in the beginning of the book.  It added to the mystery of what is going on.  The shifter world that Ms. Graf has created is intriguing   I hope that she delves into the tribe and its history more in the next book.  The scene in the woods where the wolves all kept Brenna warm in the cold was very endearing!

The book ends in a cliffhanger. I look forward to the next book in the trilogy!

About the author:

Rebecca Graf worked as an account for 20 years before taking a chance at a dream. Starting off with writing online, she began to build a reputation and a number of followers. Now, she has one children's book, A Gift for a Mouse, published with Deep Connections being her first adult novel. She lives near Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her husband and three children as well as two cats, Oreo and Cookie, and two dogs, Bug and Mocha. Rebecca has started her own publishing company, Silver Tongue Press, with two partners. Their goal is to help new authors to achieve their dreams. She also spends her days crocheting and knitting....

Email: writingwithsuccess@gmail.com

Website: www.abookloverslibrary.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RebbecaGraf

Twitter: @rebeccagraf

Review: The Red Book by Deborah Copaken Kogan

by:  Deborah Copaken Kogan
published by:  Hyperion
publish date:  April 3, 2012

The Red Book is the story of 4 Harvard roommates coming together for their 20th reunion.  It tells the story of Mia, Jane, Clover, and Addison.  Not just them, but their families and other people in their graduating class.  All the triumphs that graduates from are expected to have over 20 years and all the surprising failures that they've experienced.

Mia was a fantastic stage actress in college and she married a fantastic director.  She expected to have a fabulous career as an film actress.  Four children, 2 commercials and 1 home renovation later, her life isn't exactly where she expected it to be and the reunion changes her life drastically.  Jane, a recent widow, comes to the reunion on the heels of her mother's death just after finding out her new boyfriend cheated on her...only to meet her former husband's lover.  Addison, an experimental lesbian in college, is coming to realize that maybe she wasn't experimenting after all and her marriage to her husband is falling apart.  When she gets arrested on the way to the reunion, the troubles of her marriage are brought in to full focus and it's her former lesbian lover that bails her out and helps her to put her life on the right path.

I wasn't sure I was going to like The Red Book.  I'm not a huge fan of "Chick Lit", women's relationship literature, whatever you want to call it, but The Red Book was great.  It was hysterically funny at times.  Mia's son and Addison's daughter hooked up in Jane's basement at one point and I was dying laughing at the whole scene.  Read the book just for that part alone.

The Red Book was very well written.  I liked the way that it was organized.  The real  Red Book is a Harvard Publication that comes out every 5 years to update alumni with what everyone is doing.  So this Red Book had entries like that Red Book.  The audiobook was awesome too.  I highly recommend it.

I hope Mrs. Kogan is hard at work on her next fiction book, because I'm excited to read it!

Review: Ruins of Lace by Iris Anthony

by:  Iris Anthony
publisher:  Sourcebooks
publish date:  October 2, 2012

The mad passion for forbidden lace has infiltrated France, pulling soldier and courtier alike into its web. For those who want the best, Flemish lace is the only choice, an exquisite perfection of thread and air. For those who want something they don’t have, Flemish lace can buy almost anything––or anyone.

My history was a little bit rusty.  I had no idea that lace had been outlawed in France in the 1600s.  The Ruins of Lace was a little bit of a history lesson for me.  The one thing the book didn't really explain was WHY lace had been outlawed.  A little bit of internet exploration gave me the answer.  Bottom line, it had to do with only having nobility showing off their wealth and no one else.  Google Sumtuary Laws for more explanations and other places where lace was outlawed, including the early American Colonies.

On to this particular book, The Ruins of Lace is told from many viewpoints, from the people wanting the lace, to the lacemaker, to the lace smugglers.  At times I felt like there were too many viewpoints and storylines to keep track of, but it really did help give an overall picture of what was really going on at the time.  My favorite character and viewpoint was the dog.  I loved that idea of telling the story from the eyes of the lace smuggling dog. 

As a somewhat crafty person, I could really appreciate the craft of lacemaking and my heart really went out to the lacemakers.  Their conditions as described in the book must have been madness inducing.  However, reading the book also made me want to look into how to make Flemish Bobbin Lace. 

I really liked this story and I think it will appeal to a large audience.  I'll definitely be recommending this book to the historical fiction fans and the needleworkers in my life.

Review: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

by:  J.K. Rowling
published by:  Little, Brown, & Co.
publish date:  Sept. 27, 2012

When Barry Fairweather dies it opens up a casual vacancy on the city council.  A casual vacancy is defined as a situation in which an unexpected opening occurs on a political board, as in the case of a death or disqualification.  Mr. Fairweather's death throws the town of Pagford into turmoil to say the least.  The town has been divided for many years over the issue of "The Fields" and under which jurisdiction they should reside.  Do the residents of The Fields reside in Pagford and use their resources or do they belong to the neighboring, larger town of Yarvil?  Currently the populace of The Fields is made up of low income, government dependent residence so many in Pagford would like to see them sent to Yarvil, Barry Fairweather is a popular resident of Pagford and he came from The Fields and he has made many good argument about why the people of Pagford need to take care of the people of The Fields.  The death of Barry Fairweather heralds a change in the weather for the anti-Fields clan and they are eager to fill his seat with a candidate sympathetic to their cause.

Initially, I had a problem with keeping all the characters straight and which side of the issue they fell.  Then, I realized it didn't really matter.  The book wasn't really about that.  The book was about all these people struggling to survive in this little town.  There was the married Indian doctor in love with another man and her bullied daughter.   The desperate housewife that finds sexual gratification in much younger men.  There are also the children of the town who do some really crazy things to escape the pressures of their parents.  Plus, all the other characters floundering in the wake of Barry Fairweather's death.

I was somewhat disappointed in this book.  I don't know what I was really expecting, but this wasn't really it.  There were a few times when I felt like putting it down in favor of something more exciting, but I knew if I did I probably wouldn't pick it up again.  So I stuck it out and the ending did make up for the less than thrilling beginning and middle.  I know a lot of us were secretly hoping for a few flashes of the Harry Potter world and there are definitely NONE of those.  This was a very realistic book and it was dark and depressing...it was sad.  I can't take anything away from JK Rowling's writing talent though.  It was wonderfully written, despite the fact that I didn't particularly care for the story itself.

Banned Books Week:Throwback Thursday Edition Coraline by Neil Gaiman

While preparing for Banned Books Week, I was trolling the internet and came across The University of Connecticut's banned books page.  In the "youth" tab, they listed Coraline (2002, HarperCollins)as a challenged book.  It has been challenged for age appropriateness and is thought to be scary for younger children.  I wonder how many of those younger children have seen the movie Coraline.  In my house, Coraline is a family favorite.  I, for one, had seen the movie but never read the book. I picked up the audiobook version at the library and dug right in. Honestly, compared to Henry Selick's movie interpretation, the book is pretty mild.  I would think that seeing Coraline on the big screen would frighten children more than the book. 

Coraline is a great character!  She is precocious, smart and very brave.  The book has an important lesson.  Things may seem better on the other side, but you always pay a price.  So, you better be careful what you wish for.  It is also a great commentary on parents of today who are too caught up in their own lives to realize they aren't paying enough attention to their children.  Are there some scary scenes in the book? Yes, probably for some kids they would be scary.  I believe it all comes down to parental responsibility and knowing what your child is reading.  As well as, knowing what your child can handle at his or her age.  I, for one, know my 6YO will love this book. He is a huge fan of the movie.

I am a huge fan of Neil Gaiman. I can't wait to share this book with my kids.   My favorite book, by far, from him is Neverwhere.  If you haven't read that one, definitely try it out.

Review: 3 Novellas by Marisa Dobson

Today, I have 3 novellas by Marisa Dobson.  They have been recently reissued as ebooks. If you haven't had a chance to read them check them out!

When Danielle Bradworth inherits a house from an Aunt she barely knew, her life is changed forever. Family secrets and a threatening potential buyer for a house she doesn’t want to sell could equal disaster for Danielle.

A handy man living in the groundkeeper’s cottage could do more than restore the house to its former glory. He could also restore her heart … but will she let him?

Restoring Love (Sunshine Press, August 2012) is a very sweet story about new beginnings.  Danielle inherits her aunt's house and decides to move in and make a start fresh.  The bonus is the handsome man living in the guest cottage on the grounds.  Mason is a breath of fresh air and there is an instant attraction between the two.  I liked them together. 

My only complaint about this story is that I wish it had been longer. I felt like it was a little rushed. But then, I usually feel this way about novellas. I wanted to know more about Danielle and her family secrets.  I also wanted to get to know Mason a little better. The tension between Danielle and James added a nice thriller element to the story.

Fate always knows when you’re ready for love.

The past is catching up with Aspyn Layton. The father she never knew passed away and she is left to deal with his estate. An unexpected snowstorm has her stranded at the one place she didn’t want to be—her father’s house—with a naked man.

Snowy Fate ( Ruby Lion Press, 2011) is a paranormal romance. .  Aspyn's father left when she was a little girl and now she has inherited his estate.  To top that off, she gets stuck in a snow storm and a naked man shows up.  The attraction between Aspyn and Damon is heated and very strong.  Damon knows that Aspyn is his mate, he just needs to convince her.  Through her father's journal, she learns the truth about herself.  The problem is that the truth is hard to swallow.

I thought this one was just perfect in length.  There was enough background that I felt I knew the characters well and their attraction was believable.  Fate has a way of making a HEA very real.  I definitely recommend this one!

Meg Harper is tired of living in a box created by her overprotective brothers because of her ability to see guardian angels...

Jay Wilder a lion shifter so wrapped up in the guilt of not being able to save his friend that he might lose everything...

Can Meg and Jay save each other or are they destined to live half a life?

Learning to Live (Ruby Lion Press, 2012) was an interesting novella.  Meg can see guardian angels.  However, they are everywhere and are driving her crazy,.  She comes to a resort to try to get some peace and quiet.  There she meets Jay who happens to be a shifter.  There is more than meets the eye with him, however.  He has a secret that he is reluctant to share with Meg.  Initially, I thought their story was a bit rushed, but after their back story is explained, I could see how they were fated to be together.  Thankfully, Meg is able to see beyond the past and realize her family is full of Neanderthal brutes.  Honestly, I'm not sure how Meg lived with her overbearing family for so long.  I was happy with her decision in the end.   

If you are looking for some quick and enjoyable reads, try these three by Ms. Dobson.  I look forward to seeking out her other works.

Review: Midwinter's Blood by Mons Kallentoft

@Rebis

I jumped on the Scandinavian Writer bandwagon like two years ago and I haven't found one I didn't like.  Mons Kallentoft is the next Swedish writer that I took on and I wasn't disappointed.  (And OMG check him out)

His first American release is Midwinter Blood.  Thank you publishing people for releasing the first book in the series first!  I really don't like when the first book released in the US is like the 5th book in the series.

Midwinter Blood is about the case of an obese man found hanging in a tree on a cold, lonely morning.  He has been cut and beaten and his body is frozen in the tree.  Malin Fors is the detective on the case.  She, along with her coworkers, are tasked with finding out who the man was and what happened to him. 

The story is told through shifting viewpoints, mostly Malin's but sometimes the victim's as well.  I liked the victim's voice.  I thought that was an interesting approach to take. 

Malin is a complex character that is so compelled to do her work that it is putting her personal relationships in jeopardy.  She shares custody of her teenage daughter with her ex-husband.  She's so embroiled in her world that she doesn't see that her daughter needs attention.  The flashbacks with her ex-husband I felt were unnecessary and made the book overly long.  The weird relationship she had with her dad didn't make much sense to me and again the squabbling between them just added more pages to the book and not element to the story.

Midwinter's Blood incorporated a lot of the elements that make the Scandinavian writers so interesting.  The cold was a constant factor throughout.  The deep history of the area was present in the book.  Old world religions came in the play in this book as well.

I did find myself skimming the last quarter of the book because I felt like it was just going on forever.  I did like Midwinter's Blood though and whenever the 2nd book is released I will keep reading this series.   Hopefully it'll be a little trimmed down in comparison to this book.

Review: The Raising by Laura Kasischke

Author: Laura Kasischke

Publisher: HarperCollins Perennial
Audiobook: Blackstone Audio
Narrator: Renée Raudman
Date of Publication: March 2011

Last year Godwin Honors Hall was draped in black. The university was mourning the loss of one of its own: Nicole Werner, a blond, beautiful, straight-A sorority sister tragically killed in a car accident that left her boyfriend, who was driving, remarkably—some say suspiciously—unscathed.


This book was a lot different than I was expecting.  I thought I was getting a ghost story, but instead I got an intriguing mystery  with conspiracies and some ghost story elements.  The Raising was a pretty good book.  The year before, Nicole Werner was killed in an accident, but now people are still seeing her.  The one witness to the accident swears that the newspaper account has reported what happened incorrectly.  No one will listen to her.  Nicole's boyfriend, Craig, has been blamed for her death, but he can't remember what happened.   

The truth about that night is told through flashbacks as well as through the perspective of several characters.  Sometimes, I find this confusing, but the author made the time changes flawless.  I really had no idea what to expect in the end and was pretty surprised by the ending.  My only disappointment was we aren't told definitively what really happened to Nicole.  The reader is left with a few questions. Personally, I decided that I liked Mira's explanation and chose to believe that is what transpired. The epilogue, I felt, was unneeded and kind of took away from the story.  Had I skipped it, I would have been more satisfied with the ending.

This book has been on my TBR pile for a while.  I finally was able to find an audio version of the book. Renee Raudman did a wonderful job narrating.  This is that first book I have read by Ms. Kasischke. I look forward to seeking out more of her works.