Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas & Jennifer Graham

Authors:Rob Thomas & Jennifer Graham
Publisher: Vintage
Date of publication:  March 2014

Ten years after graduating from high school in Neptune, California, Veronica Mars is back in the land of sun, sand, crime, and corruption. She's traded in her law degree for her old private investigating license, struggling to keep Mars Investigations afloat on the scant cash earned by catching cheating spouses until she can score her first big case.

Now it's spring break, and college students descend on Neptune, transforming the beaches and boardwalks into a frenzied, week-long rave. When a girl disappears from a party, Veronica is called in to investigate. But this is not a simple missing person's case. The house the girl vanished from belongs to a man with serious criminal ties, and soon Veronica is plunged into a dangerous underworld of drugs and organized crime. And when a major break in the investigation has a shocking connection to Veronica's past, the case hits closer to home than she ever imagined. 
 
I am a huge fan of Veronica Mars.  I loved the TV show and was sad when it was canceled.  I also loved the movie.  So, I was excited to read the first in a new series by the show's creator, Rob Thomas and author Jennifer Graham.  The book picks up right after the events of the movie, so if you haven't seen that yet, watch it first.  In fact if you haven't seen the show at all, I would get caught up first.  This book kind of assumes you know all about Veronica and her past.

For the most part, I liked the mystery  There was a lot of the humor from the show.  There was also a couple of twists that surprised me.  I liked the older and wiser Veronica as much as the high school student.  She is still her usual snoopy sarcastic self.  What I was surprised at was the change in the way the story was presented. The book was in third person and not narrated by Veronica as it is in the show.  That was a bit strange.  I had to wonder why the author chose to write the story this way.  I think what threw me even more for a loop was the audiobook was narrated by Kristen Bell who plays Veronica Mars.  It was just weird to hear her read a book and not "talk" to me like she does in the show.  Fans of the show will know what I mean.

Anyway Mr. Thomas has said that these books will be written within the continuous world of Veronica Mars.  I assume that means any more potential movies will take place after the books.  The next one, Mr. Kiss and Tell comes out next year.  I look forward to reading it!

Cowboys for Christmas anthology by Liz Talley, Kim Law, Terri Osburn

Authors: Liz Talley, Kim Law, Terri Osburn
Publisher: Intermix
Date of publication: November 18,2014

Claire, Georgia, and Mary Catherine couldn't be more different, but they promised they would be there for one another no matter what. And when they all gather in Holly Hills, Texas, for Mary Catherine’s Christmas wedding, they’ll find they have one thing in common: hearts that are about to be branded—by unforgettable cowboys.

In “Love Me, Cowboy” by Terri Osburn, wallflower Claire would be more excited about the wedding if it didn't mean running into Mary Catherine’s brother—the bull rider she once had a scorching one-night stand with…

Ivy League volleyball coach Georgia never wanted to see Holly Hills—or another cowboy—again. But a sexy veterinarian is making her rethink her vow to never marry a Texas man in “Kiss Me, Cowboy” by Liz Talley.

Claire and Georgia both think that Mary Catherine is getting hitched to the wrong man, despite how perfect he is. And in “Marry Me, Cowboy” by Kim Law, a local rancher with a wild reputation gives Mary Catherine a glimpse of what might have been—and what could still be...

Autumn and I were talking about getting into the Christmas mood the other day.  She mentioned that she has been looking for some Christmas themed stories to help get her there.  Cowboys for Christmas probably wouldn't be her cup of tea as I'm the romance reader, but it was definitely my cup of tea.  While not really a "holiday" book, I still enjoyed it.  It happens to take place before Christmas, but the holiday didn't really play a huge part any of the stories.

The three stories focus on three friends who are in town for a wedding.  Claire, Georgia and Mary Catherine have been friends forever.  Of the three women, I liked Claire's story the best.  I liked the friends to lovers part of her and Tyler's story.  I though their ending was sweet.  I felt like George's story was the most rushed and would have liked hers to be a little longer.  It was a little too much insta-love for me. Finally Mary Catherine's story was a great one about second chances.  I was rooting for her to make the right decision.  One that would be for her happiness, not everyone else's.

The book has a lot of humor and the writing styles of the three authors meshed very well together. The only thing I didn't care for was the rehashing of certain scenes.  I know that each time you get a different perspective, but it got a little repetitive at times.  I do recommend this one.  Any book with three sexy cowboys makes for a great read!

Joint Review: Get Even by Gretchen McNeil

Author: Gretchen McNeil
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Date of publication: September 2014

Bree, Olivia, Kitty, and Margot have nothing in common—at least that’s what they’d like the students and administrators of their elite private school to think. The girls have different goals, different friends, and different lives, but they share one very big secret: They’re all members of Don’t Get Mad, a secret society that anonymously takes revenge on the school’s bullies, mean girls, and tyrannical teachers.

When their latest target ends up dead with a blood-soaked “DGM” card in his hands, the girls realize that they’re not as anonymous as they thought—and that someone now wants revenge on them. Soon the clues are piling up, the police are closing in . . . and everyone has something to lose.



I thought Get Even was a fairly good YA story.  It was a little bit of a crazy premise, but who wouldn't want to make a club to get back at the bullies in school?  The story got a little convoluted at times.  I also felt like it got way too long.  I think if it would have been a little more direct instead of trying to take so many twisty turns more readers would probably like it.  All that said, I found myself interested in the story and the characters throughout the book.  I couldn't wait to find out whodunit.  This book is the first in a series.  The second book Get Dirty comes out next year.


I know that Autumn liked this book, but it ended up being a DNF for me.  I kept having to restart the book because I felt like I kept getting lost.  There were too many characters to keep straight.   The story also wasn't too believable.  Once I got to the part where the girls find the date rape video and decide not to turn it over to the police, I gave up.  Try it for yourself.  Maybe you'll like it more than me.

Gratitude Giveaways Hop

Welcome to the Gratitude Giveaways hop.  For a full list of participating blogs go here.

As our way to say thank you to all of our readers, we are making this really easy.  Just "like" us on Facebook to enter! (see the rafflecopter below for details)

We have 2 packs to give away.  2 lucky winners will be chosen (US Only Please)

Pack #1

Pack #2

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Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand

by:  Elin Hilderbrand
published by:  Little Brown and Co
publish date:  October 14, 2014

Kelley Quinn is the owner of Nantucket's Winter Street Inn and the proud father of four, all of them grown and living in varying states of disarray. Patrick, the eldest, is a hedge fund manager with a guilty conscience. Kevin, a bartender, is secretly sleeping with a French housekeeper named Isabelle. Ava, a school teacher, is finally dating the perfect guy but can't get him to commit. And Bart, the youngest and only child of Kelley's second marriage to Mitzi, has recently shocked everyone by joining the Marines. 

As Christmas approaches, Kelley is looking forward to getting the family together for some quality time at the inn. But when he walks in on Mitzi kissing Santa Claus (or the guy who's playing Santa at the inn's annual party), utter chaos descends. With the three older children each reeling in their own dramas and Bart unreachable in Afghanistan, it might be up to Kelley's ex-wife, nightly news anchor Margaret Quinn, to save Christmas at the Winter Street Inn. 

Is there anything I haven't already said about Elin Hilderbrand?  She's hands down one of my favorite writers.  Winter Street is her first Christmas novel.   Now that it's starting to get a little chilly outside in some parts of the world this would be a great book to snuggle up with and get in the holiday mood.

In Winter Street nothing in going right for the Quinn family.  Every family member is having their own personal crisis.  Despite that, they all have to put on a smile and carry on the tradition of the Christmas Open House at the Winter Street Inn.  I loved the idea of the Open House and it was portrayed so well.  It definitely got me in the mood for a good holiday party.

If you're looking for a book to read this holiday season Winter Street would be a great pick.  Or it would make a great present for the reader on your shopping list.  

Blog Tour: The Match Maker by Karey White

Author: Karey White
Publisher:Orange Door Press
Date of publication: November 2014

The Match Maker by Karey White (The Husband Maker #2)

(Summary contains spoilers if you have not yet read book #1 The Husband Maker)

It’s been six months since Charlotte and Kyle broke up, and the Husband Maker strikes again. Kyle is officially engaged, while Charlotte is still nursing a broken heart.

In an effort to get Charlotte out of her rut, she and her best friend decide it’s time for some good old-fashioned matchmaking. While Aleena arranges for Charlotte to meet up with a handsome Scottish tourist, Charlotte gets her two best friends together. But when sparks start to fly between Aleena and Angus, Charlotte is left feeling more alone that ever–at least until the charming Scotsman becomes more than just a safe, rebound guy and teaches her that maybe, just maybe, she can dare to open her heart again.

The Matchmaker is the second book in the "Husband Maker" series.  I reviewed the first book, The Husband Maker, back in July. I will say that I do recommend reading the first book before reading this one.  While I enjoyed The Husband Maker, I was sad to say that I was a little disappointed in the second book.  In this one, Charlotte finds out Kyle is engaged and takes a hiatus from dating.  Once she decides to put herself out there again, she meets Flynn from Scotland.  But Angus keeps acting weird toward her, even though she set him up with her close friend Aleena.

The one thing that I did like about this book was I felt that Charlotte does grow up a lot.  I felt like she learned more about herself and what she wanted from life and in a relationship.   I really liked Flynn,so I was disappointed to see that relationship fizzle out.  I was extremely unhappy with Angus. He acted like a supreme jerk to Charlotte when it was his own fault for never telling her how he felt about her.  The way he treated her at the end was appalling.  The book ends with a big cliffhanger with nothing resolved.  I have to wonder if this book could have been combined with the third book.  But I will have to see.  I really hope that Charlotte gets her HEA in the last book, The Wife Maker which comes out next year.  

About the Author 

Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist.

She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

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Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Throwback Thursday: The Mermaids Singing by Val McDermid

Author: Val McDermid
First published in 1995 by HarperCollins

This was the summer he discovered what he wanted—at a gruesome museum of criminology far off the beaten track of more timid tourists. Visions of torture inspired his fantasies like a muse. It would prove so terribly fulfilling.

The bodies of four men have been discovered in the town of Bradfield. Enlisted to investigate is criminal psychologist Tony Hill. Even for a seasoned professional, the series of mutilation sex murders is unlike anything he's encountered before. But profiling the psychopath is not beyond him. Hill's own past has made him the perfect man to comprehend the killer's motives. It's also made him the perfect victim.

A game has begun for the hunter and the hunted. But as Hill confronts his own hidden demons, he must also come face-to-face with an evil so profound he may not have the courage—or the power—to stop it...

I have watched Wire in the Blood, the BBC series based on this series of books. But, I had never given the books a chance.  I'm glad I did.  I enjoyed The Mermaids Singing.  I have always been a firm believer that the book is always better than the movie/tv show.  While I liked the tv show, I have to say the book was better.  

Reading the book gave me better insight into Tony Hill's character.  He is a brilliant psychologist, but he has some major flaws. He has a unique way of trying to get into the mind of the killer.  The "interview" was a little creepy.    I really liked the parts that involved the profile of the killer.  It was kind of cool how he put it together.  Sprinkled throughout the book are excerpts from the killers journals. Those were even creepier.  If you haven't read this series yet, I highly recommend it!

Blog Tour: The Heart Does Not Grow Back by Fred Venturini

Author: Fred Venturini

Publisher: Picador

Date of publication: November 2014

VERY SUPERHERO NEEDS TO START SOMEWHERE…

Dale Sampson is used to being a nonperson at his small-town Midwestern high school, picking up the scraps of his charismatic lothario of a best friend, Mack. He comforts himself with the certainty that his stellar academic record and brains will bring him the adulation that has evaded him in high school. But when an unthinkable catastrophe tears away the one girl he ever had a chance with, his life takes a bizarre turn as he discovers an inexplicable power: He can regenerate his organs and limbs.

When a chance encounter brings him face to face with a girl from his past, he decides that he must use his gift to save her from a violent husband and dismal future. His quest takes him to the glitz and greed of Hollywood, and into the crosshairs of shadowy forces bent on using and abusing his gift. Can Dale use his power to redeem himself and those he loves, or will the one thing that finally makes him special be his demise? The Heart Does Not Grow Back is a darkly comic, starkly original take on the superhero tale, introducing an exceptional new literary voice in Fred Venturini. 

I know I am going to be in the minority when I say I did not care for this book.  It wasn't any where close to what I was expecting. Initially, the book  plodded along through the developing relationship between Dale and Mack. Their friendship was odd as they were so opposite that it was hard to imagine them being friends in the first place.  But, hey, stranger things have happened, right?  Then the story got kind of weird and disturbing and I just couldn't read anymore.  Not a lot shocks me, but the "tragedy" scene was a bit over the top for me. I did read a little bit more, but once Dale started looking for a black market organ dealers, I was done. 

As I said, this book really wasn't for me.  But lots of other people seemed to like it, So, give it a try and see for yourself.

About Fred Venturini

Fred Venturini grew up in Patoka, Illinois. His short fiction has been published in the Booked Anthology, Noir at the Bar 2, and Surreal South ’13. In 2014, his story “Gasoline” will be featured in Chuck Palahniuk’s Burnt Tongues collection. He lives in Southern Illinois with his wife and daughter.

.

 Connect with Fred

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Fred Venturini’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, October 13th: Benni’s Bookbiters

Tuesday, October 14th: Books a la Mode – author guest post

Wednesday, October 15th: Read a Latte

Thursday, October 16th: Benni’s Bookbiters - an unofficial soundtrack

Monday, October 20th: Bell, Book & Candle

Wednesday, October 22nd:  My Shelf Confessions – Wonderfully Wicked Read-A-Thon Giveaway

Thursday, October 23rd: Saints and Sinners

Monday, October 27th: A Fantastical Librarian

Wednesday, October 29th: In Bed with Books

Tuesday, November 4th: Read-Love-Blog

Thursday, November 6th: Sweet Southern Home

Friday, November 7th: The Steadfast Reader

Monday, November 10th: Fourth Street Review

Monday, November 10th: Guiltless Reading

Tuesday, November 11th: Bibliotica

Wednesday, November 12th: From the TBR Pile

Thursday, November 13th: More Than Just Magic

Friday, November 14th: The Feminist Texican [Reads]

Monday, November 17th: A Book Geek

Thursday, November 20th: Bibliophilia, Please

Monday, November 24th: Tiffany’s Bookshelf

TBD: Book Marks the Spot

Joint review: SYLO by D. J . MacHale

Author: D. J . MacHale
Publisher: Razorbill
Date of publication: July 2013

Fourteen-year-old Tucker Pierce prefers to fly under the radar. He’s used to navigating around summer tourists in his hometown on idyllic Pemberwick Island, Maine. He’s content to sit on the sidelines as a backup player on the high school football team. And though his best friend Quinn tells him to “go for it,” he’s too chicken to ask Tori Sleeper on a date. There’s always tomorrow, he figures. Then Pemberwick Island is invaded by a mysterious branch of the U.S. military called SYLO. And sitting on the sidelines is no longer an option for Tucker, because tomorrow may never come. 

It’s up to Tucker, Quinn, and Tori to uncover the truth about the singing aircraft that appears only at night—and the stranger named Feit who’s pushing a red crystal he calls the Ruby that brings unique powers to all who take it. Tucker and his friends must rescue not just Pemberwick Island, but the fate of the world—and all before tomorrow is too late.  

SYLO ended up being just on OK read for me.  I was a bit underwhelmed by the story.  The characters were forgettable.  They are supposed to be freshmen in high school, but acted a lot older than that.  When I read a story like this, I do like to have a little bit of a clue as to what is going by mid book.  To be honest,. I'm still not sure what happened in the book.  The ending was a big cliffhanger let down with no real answers.  Not enough to make me want to continue with the series.  Honestly, there are better YA books out there.  I think you can skip this one.


I agree with Kari to some degree.  I started this one, so I'm probably going to keep on with this series because I'm going to have to find out who the heck SYLO is and what is going on.  This first book basically just did some character work, but did nothing in terms of explaining who the two sides were.  While Kari didn't particularly care for this book, I kind of liked it, but I can see why she didn't like it.  It was confusing.  It didn't explain a lot.  It ended in a cliffhanger and I don't like that.

Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death by Mark Reutlinger

Author: Mark Reutlinger
Publisher: Alibi
Date of publication: November 2014

Everyone knows that Rose Kaplan makes the best matzoh ball soup around—she’s a regular matzoh ball maven—so it’s no surprise at the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors when, once again, Mrs. K wins the honor of preparing the beloved dish for the Home’s seder on the first night of Passover.

But when Bertha Finkelstein is discovered facedown in her bowl of soup, her death puts a bit of a pall on the rest of the seder. And things go really meshugge when it comes out that Bertha choked on a diamond earring earlier stolen from resident Daisy Goldfarb. Suddenly Mrs. K is the prime suspect in the police investigation of both theft andmurder. Oy vey—it’s a recipe for disaster, unless Rose and her dear friend Ida can summon up the chutzpah to face down the police and solve the mystery themselves.

I was looking forward to an amusing and cozy read with Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death. It started out promising.  I initially liked the narrative and the characters.  The idea of a suspicious death by matzoh ball in a retirement community was an amusing one.   Sadly, the book ended up being a DNF for me.  I had a hard time keeping my interest in it.

The problem for me was that I felt it was too loaded with Yiddish terms.  The characters in the home live in a Jewish retirement community, but I felt like they were almost caricatures of themselves. Like the author was trying to constantly remind me that they were Jewish.  It got a little much after a while.  I did skip to the end to see the solution and I think had I read the whole thing, I probably would have felt cheated with the explanation for Bertha's death.

I think lovers of this type of mystery will love this book.  I normally do like a good cozy mystery, but it just wasn't for me.

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About the author:

Mark Reutlinger is the author of the novelMade in China and a professor of law emeritus at Seattle University. Born in San Francisco, Mark graduated from UC Berkeley and now lives with his wife, Analee, in University Place, Washington.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Mark Reutlinger’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, November 10th: From the TBR Pile

Monday, November 10th: Vic’s Media Room

Tuesday, November 11th: 2 Kids and Tired Books

Wednesday, November 12th: A Book Geek

Thursday, November 13th: Rhodes Review

Friday, November 14th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Monday, November 17th: Brooke Blogs

Monday, November 17th: Omnimystery News – author guest post

Tuesday, November 18th: Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries, and Meows

Tuesday, November 18th: Open Book Society

Wednesday, November 19th: Back Porchervations

Thursday, November 20th: A Chick Who Reads

Friday, November 21st: Bell, Book & Candle

Monday, November 24th: Dwell in Possibility

Monday, November 24th: Melina’s Book Blog

Tuesday, November 25th: Read Love Blog

Tuesday, November 25th: Words by Webb

Monday, December 1st: Buried Under Books

Thursday, December 4th: I’d Rather Be at the Beach

Blind by Rachel DeWoskin

by:  Rachel DeWoskin
published by:  Viking Juvenile
publish date:  August 7, 2014

Imagine this: You are fourteen, watching the fireworks at a 4th of July party, when a rocket backfires into the crowd and strikes your eyes, leaving you blind. In that instant, your life is changed forever. How do you face a future in which all your expectations must be different? You will never see the face of your newborn sister, never learn to drive. Will you ever have a job or fall in love? This is Emma’s story. The drama is in her many small victories as she returns to high school in her home town and struggles to define herself and make sense of her life, determined not to be dismissed as a PBK – Poor Blind Kid. This heartfelt and heart wrenching story takes you on Emma’s journey and leaves you with a new understanding of the challenges to be faced when life deals a devastating blow.

I was really excited to read this book.  Who doesn't love books about people overcoming adversity?  I thought this book was going to be all about Emma suffering this terrible tragedy and her struggle to rise above it.  Sadly, it wasn't totally about that.  Yeah, it was partly about that, but there was this whole other story thrown in that I wasn't understanding.

The other story line of this book was about a suicide that had happened.  While dealing with her blindness, Emma is also apparently struggling to understand this suicide.  So "naturally" all the kids at school start meeting at an abandoned haunted house to hash it out...because that makes total sense, right?   If you were recently blind would you want to be dragged through the woods to an abandoned house?  This part of the book was just not making sense to me.  

I felt like if the book had just stuck with Emma's story and her recovery, it would have been really good.  The suicide stuff was distracting and didn't make a whole lot of sense.  I'm kind of on the fence about recommendations.  If you read this book did you like it?  Did you think the subplot was distracting?