Review: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Author: Neil Gaiman
Publisher: William Morrow
Date of publication: June 2013

Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Let me start by saying that I think to properly experience The Ocean at the End of the Lane, you should listen to the audio version.  It is narrated by the author himself and he does a fantastic job of pulling you into the magic of the tale.  

That being said, I wanted something more out of the story.  Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it.  It would make a cool movie.  At the surface, the story is about a man who returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral.  While he is there, he visits the home of his childhood friend, Lettie.  He begins to remember the summer that changed his life. It's a fantastical tale told through the eyes of an avid reader. Witches, black magic, and spells make such  an unbelievable story that you have to wonder if it was all a child's dream. 

I was left with questions in the end.  Was it real or fantasy?  But, isn't that the funny thing about childhood memories as seen through the eyes of an adult?  How much of what we remember happened that way it actually did?  The book is really short so it can be read or listened to in a couple of hours.  I think fans of Mr. Gaiman will enjoy this one.  My favorite is still Neverwhere, but this one would be in my top 5 of his.

Throwback Thursday: How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks

Author: Kerrelyn Sparks
First published in 2005  by Avon

Roman Draganesti is charming, handsome, rich...he's also a vampire. But this vampire just lost one of his fangs sinking his teeth into something he shouldn't have. Now he has one night to find a dentist before his natural healing abilities close the wound, leaving him a lop-sided eater for all eternity.

Things aren't going well for Shanna Whelan, either. After witnessing a gruesome murder, she's next on the mob's hit list. And her career as a dentist appears to be on a downward spiral, because she's afraid of blood. When Roman rescues her from an assassination attempt, she wonders if she's found the one man who can keep her alive. Though the attraction between them is immediate and hot, can Shanna conquer her fear of blood to fix Roman's fang? And if she does, what will prevent Roman from using his fangs on her?


I was excited to try out an older vampire series for Throwback Thursday.  I've never read anything by this author and it seemed to get decent reviews.  I am sad to say that this book ended up being a DNF for me. The book was amusing at times, but the humor just didn't hold up the story for me.  I felt like certain scenes went on for way too long.  For instance, Roman needs his tooth fixed by sunrise, yet it took FOREVER for them to get to the dentist office to fix it.  It was almost like it wasn't that important.  I also didn't buy Shanna finding Roman dead and not being shocked when at sundown he was suddenly alive.  She was a bit clueless.  I got as far as Shanna meeting his harem and I just had to shut it off.  It was getting a little too ridiculous for me.  I also found the book very repetitive.  If Roman said "God's Blood" one more time, I think I was going to scream.  As I said a lot of people liked this one.  I'm just not one of them.

Blog Tour: Against the ropes by Sarah Castille

Author: Sarah Castille
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date of publication: September 2013

He scared me. He thrilled me. And after one touch, all I could think about was getting more…

Makayla never thought she’d set foot in an underground mixed-martial arts club. But if anyone needs a medic on hand, it’s these guys. Trouble is, at her first sight of the club’s owner she’s the one feeling breathless.

All sleek muscle and restrained power, the man they call Torment plays to win at any cost. Whether it’s in the ring or in the bedroom, he knows exactly when to use a soft touch and when to launch a full-on assault. He always knows just how far he can push. And he’s about to tempt Makayla in ways she never imagined…

Against the Ropes is a new twist on the rich guy/ broke girl genre that seems to be dominating the world of books lately. In this one, the rich guy had an alternate lifestyle as an underground MMA fighter. For the most part, I enjoyed the book.  Makayla and Max/Torment were good for each other.  Both of them definitely have issues stemming from childhood.  Makayla has a real aversion to violence.  She gets physically ill at the sight.  This kind of works against her when she takes a job as an EMT in Max's gym.  Max has the deep need to protect the people he cares about and this causes a lot of control issues between the two.  I liked Makayla, although I thought she did have some TSTL moments.  The situation she gets in with her friend toward the end of the book is proof of that.  I kind of didn't blame Max for walking away.  I was rooting for this couple to make it.  I really felt like they had a shot of working through their issues.

The book takes place in the world of underground MMA fights.  I don't know much about the sport, but I thought the author gave me enough to details to feel comfortable with the subject.  I'm not sure I could watch any of the fights either. I did have to wonder at Makayla's decision to work there as an EMT, since no doctor would risk their license by working in a place that had underground fighting.  If they wouldn't then why would she want to risk her EMT certification to do it?  Anyway, it's a good romance with fun characters.  I hope some of the other fighters have their own stories.  They seem like a great bunch of guys.

About the author:

Recovering lawyer, karate practitioner, and caffeine addict, Sarah Castille worked and traveled abroad before trading her briefcase and stilettos for a handful of magic beans and a home near the Canadian Rockies. Her steamy, contemporary romantic tales feature blazingly hot alpha heroes tormented or tattooed for your reading pleasure.

Website: http://sarahcastille.com
Twitter: sarah_castille
 

Review: True Love by Jude Deveraux

Author: Jude Deveraux
Publisher: Ballantine Books (Random house)
Date of publication: July 2013

Unbeknown to Alix, Jared has been charged with looking after her while she lives on the island—an easy task for him, considering the undeniable chemistry between the two. But Jared harbors secrets of his own, which, if revealed, may drive a wedge between the pair.

With a glorious Nantucket wedding on the horizon, sparks fly, and the ghosts of the past begin to reveal themselves—some of them literally. Finding their lives inextricably entwined with the turbulent fortunes of their ancestors, Alix and Jared discover that only by righting the wrongs of the past can they hope to be together.

True Love is the first book that I have read by this author.  If her others are like this one, I think I have found another romance writer that will soon become a favorite. I adored this book. Despite its length, I was able to fly through the story.  This is supposed to be a new series in the Montgomery-Taggert saga. Even though I haven't read any of those book, I didn't feel like I was missing anything.  Some of those characters show up toward the end, but I didn't feel lost.

I loved Alix and Jared together. Their personalities meshed so well together. I was happy that the angst didn't last for too long.   Alix comes to Nantucket island to live in Jared's house after his aunt dies.  While there, she learns more about the secrets that her mother and father have been keeping from he all of her life.  I'm not sure I still understood why they did that as it didn't really seem to serve any purpose.  I thought they were kind of selfish. Despite that, the romance is very sweet.  Jared is very sigh worthy.  I loved their HEA.

True Love isn't just a romance, there is also a ghost and a hidden treasure.  There are a few surprises featuring both.  I won't tell, it would ruin it.  The author has also given us some wonderful peripheral characters that I hope are featured in the next book.  I look forward to more of the series.  While I wait, I think I'll hunt up some of her early books to keep happy.

Blog Tour: Her Dear and Loving Husband by Meredith Allard

Author: Meredith Allard
Publisher Copperfield PressDate of publication: April 1, 2011

James Wentworth has a secret. He lives quietly in Salem, Massachusetts, making few ties with anyone. One night his private world is turned upside down when he meets Sarah Alexander, a dead ringer for his wife, Elizabeth. Though it has been years since Elizabeth’s death, James cannot move on.

Sarah also has a secret. She is haunted by nightmares about the Salem Witch Trials, and every night she is awakened by visions of hangings, being arrested, and dying in jail. Despite the obstacles of their secrets, James and Sarah fall in love. As James comes to terms with his feelings for Sarah, he must dodge accusations from a reporter desperate to prove that James is not who, or what, he seems to be. Soon James and Sarah piece their stories together and discover a mystery that may bind them in ways they never imagined. Will James make the ultimate sacrifice to protect Sarah and prevent a new hunt from bringing hysteria to Salem again?

Her Dear and Loving Husband was a pretty quick read.  The story flows easily while slowly revealing everyone's secrets.  Although, there are enough hints in the first part of the book that the secrets aren't too surprising.  For the most part, I enjoyed the book.  I thought the love story between James and Sarah was very sweet, yet passionate.  I would have liked to know more about James and how he became what he was.  Perhaps in the next book?  

Taking place in Salem, MA, the story includes a lot of the history about the Salem witch trials. I actually found these parts of the story very interesting.  They were woven into the story seamlessly and didn't take away from the overall flow of the book. This book is the first in a trilogy.  I'll be tracking down the other two to see how James and Sarah's story continues.  Although, I was very happy with the ending in this one and felt it could be a stand alone.

About the author:

Meredith Allard has taught creative writing and writing historical fiction workshops at Learning Tree University, UNLV, and the Las Vegas Writers Conference. Her short fiction and articles have appeared in journals such as The Paumanok Review, Wild Mind, Moondance, Muse Apprentice Guild, The Maxwell Digest, CarbLite, Writer’s Weekly, and ViewsHound. She is the author of the Loving Husband Trilogy, Victory Garden, Woman of Stones, and My Brother’s Battle (Copperfield Press). She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit Meredith online at www.meredithallard.com.

Meredith on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormeredithallard
Meredith on Twitter: https://twitter.com/copperfield101
Meredith on Google+: https://plus.google.com/101687256587444508026/posts?hl=en

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Please Don't Tell by Elizabeth Adler

by:  Elizabeth Adler
published by:  Minotaur Books
publish date:  July 9, 2013

Fen Dexter’s quiet life on the idyllic California coast is interrupted one stormy night when a blood-covered man shows up on her doorstep, claiming to have had a car accident. 

Despite the fact there's a serial killer on the loose, Fen says come on in, have dinner, and let me tell you all about my single nieces.  So the stranger, after spending the night at Fen's house, trots on down to niece Dr. Vivi's Emergency Room where she has finished taking care of the most recent victim of the serial killer and begins to worm his way into her life.

I didn't care for this book.  I didn't like any of the characters.  I couldn't stand Fen, I thought she was foolish and the advice that she gave her nieces was ridiculous at best.  None of them thought it was strange when some weirdo that showed up on their aunt's door, showed up in the niece's Emergency Room the next day?  I would have flipped out on my aunt for letting him in, not invite the guy to dinner.  What the heck was wrong with these women??  They all KNEW there was a serial killer out there.  The way they all talked to each other was so childish too.  "Vivi" was obviously an accomplished doctor and yet she allowed everyone to treat her like a child, that made me crazy.

Bottom line, didn't like it.  Wouldn't recommend it.  I haven't read anything else by Elizabeth Adler to compare it against.  I read some of the reviews on goodreads and other people seemed to like it, so perhaps it's just me.

Joint Review: In the After by Demitria Lunetta

by:  Demitria Lunetta
published by:  Harper Teen
publish date:  June 25, 2013

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

I'm going to take a moment here to point out all the ways that this book is like every other YA dystopian, specifically post-apocalyptic.  16ish female protagonist in a post-apocalyptic world taking responsibility for a younger sibling type character, all other survivors are bad until she is rescued by a government like entity where she instantly trusts some cute guy then (shocker!) finds out the government has some kind of deep dark secret.  Isn't that the plot of almost ALL YA post-ap coming out right now?

In the After follows the same story line.  There were some elements thrown in that I did like though.  I liked the fact that Baby was mute, so Amy and Baby developed a sign language between them.  The presence of the aliens wasn't as clear cut as initially seemed, and that was an interesting turn of events.  It wasn't one that I quite understood, but I can suspend disbelief for the sake of the story.  If this is the genre that you like to read, then I would recommend it, but know that it follows the formula.  I did like it overall, I don't want to take anything away from Demitria Lunetta or her work, but let's shake it up authors!  

Yes!  I am in total agreement with Autumn!  We need to shake things up a bit.  But, at least there wasn't the insta-love or love triangle that I have come to despise in YA.  Having said that, I liked In the After. I thought Amy was one of the stronger post-ap females that I have read about.  I liked how she took responsibility for Baby.  She was smart and wasn't happy with the status quo.  

I liked the twisted reveal at the end.  It answered a lot of questions that I had about what was going on.  The cliffhanger in the end gave me some insight into what may be coming for Amy in the next book.  I'll probably pick up the next one.  I want to see what happens to Amy and the citizens of New Hope.

Review: Wait for You by J. Lynn

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout, writing as  J. Lynn
Publisher: William Morrow
Date of publication: Septem,ber 2013

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

I have read a lot of New Adult books in the past year.  Some have been good and some have been bad.  Wait for You is one of the better ones.  I really enjoyed this book.  Avery has gone across the country to college in order to get away from her family and home town.  For most of the book it is obvious that Avery is hiding something from Cam.  It's not hard to figure out what happened to her when she was 14, but knowing the secret early didn't take away from the story.  

The characters were great. Avery hasn't had many life experiences so she is very cautious and she isn't naive.  She doesn't take chances   I was rooting for her to be able to find a soft place to fall because she hasn't ever really had that.  Through Cam and her friends Brittany and Jacob, she is able to find a new life and a real home.  I loved how she stuck up for herself in the end with her parents.  I just loved Cam. He was funny, sexy and just smitten with Avery.  He is also a smart boy because he realizes that when you find someone you can really care for, they are so worth fighting for. The banter between the two was fun to read!

This definitely isn't for the under 18 crowd.  There are some pretty hot and heavy loves scenes in the book.  But, if you are looking for a good New Adult novel to get started on, this one is so worth reading.

About the author:

# 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russel Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes Young Adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.


She also writes Adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

website, Facebook page, and Twitter account.

Tour schedule:

Tuesday, September 3rd: Why Girls Are Weird

Thursday, September 5th: Dear Brighton

Tuesday, September 10th: Schmexy Girl Book Reviews

Thursday, September 12th: Mom in Love With Fiction

Friday, September 13th: From the TBR Pile

Friday, September 13th: Tina’s Book Reviews

Sunday, September 15th: Cupcake on Books 

Monday, September 16th: Appraising Pages

Tuesday, September 17th: Sweet Southern Home

Wednesday, September 18th: Into the Hall of Books

Thursday, September 19th: Tiffany’s Bookshelf

Monday, September 23rd: Snowdrop Dreams of Books

Tuesday, September 24th: Ladybug Literature

Wednesday, September 25th: Books a la Mode

Friday, September 27th: Book Marks the Spot

Blog Tour: Snow Day by Dan Maurer

Author: Dan Maurer

Publisher: Black Rapids Press

Date of publication: April 2013

It happens each winter, and has for over 35 years. Every time the snow starts to fall late in the evening before a school day, the dreams begin again for Billy Stone. They are always the same – there’s a dark tunnel, and there’s blood, lots of blood, and someone is screaming.

Snow Day is a very spooky novella.  I wasn't sure what to expect going into the story.  I was sucked right in and loved it!  In the afterword, the author talks about how the story was inspired by campfire stories.  This one would be perfect for a night around the fire.  

Billy tells the story of one snow day when he was 10 and how it changed his life forever.  Things were so different back then.  "Don't leave the block" was all his mother ever told him.  For a 10 year old boy, that left a lot of wiggle room for finding trouble.  After finding a body in the basement of a neighborhood house, he finds himself in a fight for his life. I won't go any further because it's a story that will surprise you. I didn't expect the ending that I got!  I definitely recommend this short story.  Read it on a cold winter night and see if you don't get spooked like I did!

Want to listen to a portion?  Check out this free sample::

Free Audiobook Sample — Snow Day: Prologue


About the author:
 
Dan Maurer is an independent author, publisher, theater producer, director, and digital marketer. He is also a proud member of International Thriller Writers, Inc. and the Horror Writers Association. Throughout his career in publishing and marketing, he has been involved in the publication of bestselling titles such as John Grisham’s The Firm, Richard Price’s Clockers, and Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger’s Lost Moon, which became the film Apollo 13. As a digital marker, he has supported popular publishing brands including Curious George, Peterson Field Guides, and The Polar Express. He has also developed marketing strategies for many corporations, including Citizen, Dun & Bradstreet, RCN and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Dan is a member of an acclaimed New Jersey-based theater company and has won awards for his producing, directing and sound design. He lives with his wife and their daughter in Robbinsville, New Jersey.

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Throwback Thursday: Body Language by Suzanne Brockmann

Author: Suzanne Brockmann
First published in 1998 by Loveswept

 In a book that's steamy and sensual, witty and poignant, Suzanne Brockmann celebrates an unforgettable reunion between childhood buddies whose romantic destiny is definitely each other. He's always ridden off into the sunset before, unaware that his heart's desire was so close to home, but now that he'd figured out his dream, would she want the same?

Friends to lovers stories are always fun to read.  It's refreshing to see a couple who have known each other forever realize they should be together.  In Body Language, Clint and Sandy have been friends since they were young.  Tired of his rambling unattached lifestyle, Clint realizes that all he needs to make him happy is Sandy.  When he goes to confess his love, Sandy tells him she is trying to catch the eye of another man.  Clint agrees to help her woo him. 

I loved Clint.  He was just so genuine and so obviously in love with Sandy.  She annoyed me at times as I thought she came across as a bit superficial.  Theirs is definitely a case of not enough communication. The book probably would have been better a little shorter. I thought the need to keep their feelings from each other dragged on a little too long.  But, I did like their HEA.  There were some funny parts. I really liked the hairdresser.  He was very amusing.  I think any fan of  Ms. Brockmann will  enjoy this quick read.

Joint Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancy

by:  Rick Yancy
published by:  Putnam Juvenile
publish date:  May 7, 2013

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one. Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them.  The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see.

The 5th Wave tells the story of the Earth being taken over by aliens.  According to the story, it happens in stages, each being worse than the last, wiping out more and more human beings until there are very few left.  Cassie and her brother are two of the survivors, but they are separated and Cassie has to make her way back to her little brother.

Rick Yancy wrote a pretty twisted story with The 5th Wave.  Things that you think are true aren't necessarily.  The actions of the aliens are very insidious and have been set in motion long before the first wave occurs.  While I didn't particularly care for Cassie, I felt like she acted foolishly often times, I did like some of the twists and turns of the plot.  This would be a good book for the YA sci-fi fans out there.

I liked the book for the most part. I thought the concept was cool, but it was a little long.  The

book is told in alternating view points between Cassie and Ben.  There were two other viewpoints that I didn't think needed to be in the book since it was the only time they appear.    The twists were kind of cool.  I liked Ben and Ringer out of all of the characters.

The one thing that annoyed me about the book was that Cassie seemed like a take charge kick-ass girl in the beginning and then she meets Evan.  It's instant love.  I didn't think that was necessary and it ruined the flow for me.  I'll probably read the next one in the series.