This is a simple, cute, and enjoyable read. This chick loses a bet with her sister that results in her joining a dating service. They hook her up withThis is a simple, cute, and enjoyable read. This chick loses a bet with her sister that results in her joining a dating service. They hook her up with Max and Max gets her all riled up and makes her feel sexy, something she's never experienced before..
But the guy's always getting strange cell phone calls and there's something going on.. Sam (the heroine) realizes it too late though.. the cops are already chasing them by the time she realizes that Max isn't Mr. Nice Guy.
The story doesn't end there, however. There's another surprise in store for her and perhaps the dating service thing isn't all bad.. I suppose this story could be a message about being careful with those dating services. Take some precautions. ...more
Just didn't work for me. I found myself disappointed for two reasons:
1. I really enjoyed the banter between the hero and heroine in Chasing Fire and hJust didn't work for me. I found myself disappointed for two reasons:
1. I really enjoyed the banter between the hero and heroine in Chasing Fire and had somewhat expected more of that between these two. However, I found the hero, Simon, very unlikable and his comments rude rather than witty.
2. As funny as this is going to sound coming from me, there was way too much repetition about dog training. "Distract, replace, discipline, repeat..." I get it. I got it the first five times. There really is no need to bash me over the head with it over and over.
I recommend this to anyone who ever had an interest in Mythology in their school days. I remember being fascinated and when others in school whine andI recommend this to anyone who ever had an interest in Mythology in their school days. I remember being fascinated and when others in school whine and complained, I immersed myself in stories of Apollo, Zeus, and Athena, my favorite.
This is a cross between a historical novel and Mythology. Berry tells a story of Medusa very thoroughly and in an engaging manner. There's so much more to the "monster" than simply snakes for hair and the ability to turn men into stone. What made Medusa?
The author of this novel has done a great job of combining Puerto Rican history with an entertaining modern day tale of 4 teenagers. I hesitate to useThe author of this novel has done a great job of combining Puerto Rican history with an entertaining modern day tale of 4 teenagers. I hesitate to use the word "paranormal" here because to me, paranormal is vampires and werewolves (which I hate). I am going to use the word "magic" instead to describe the twist.
Gabby is a young Puerto Rican girl growing up in NY. Her mom works for this snooty, rich white family with a daughter Gabby's age, Molly. Molly is actually very lonely and dying for real friends and though it's rough going at first, the two girls become friends. Enter Gilberto, another Puerto Rican American kid and an absolute honey bunny and you got some jealousy issues... When the three of them take a trip to PR at the age of 12, another young PR man enters the scene, Juan. More jealousy builds up and this time, the result is a life changing experience.. as Gabby gets hurt and begins to experience strange visions related to the island of enchantment.
This one left me reeling... It has a lot in its favor. This is one of those books that I found myself asking, "Why is it self pubbed? This is good stuThis one left me reeling... It has a lot in its favor. This is one of those books that I found myself asking, "Why is it self pubbed? This is good stuff..."
First of all, even though the narrator is male, I loved his voice. I loved the way he showed his story, not told it. He drew me in, had my sympathizing, and wondering what was going to happen to him next. Second, I could not for the life of me figure out what was going to happen. Just when I thought I had the entire story figured out... it went a totally different path.
The narrator is Stephen, the time is the 1970s. He has been picked up by the police and is being interrogated about the death of his father and why he and Ruthie, an African American girl, are running from the law. Shephen sits there and tells his and Ruthie's story and what a story!!
Stephen's dad is a reverend who is one man in public and an abusive man at home... "It made me sick the way people fawned over him like he was heaven incarnate. He fooled everyone into thinking he was just simply angelic. In public, his light brown eyes would glisten and gleam with kindness and sincerity, but at home, I was sure those eyes were from Satan himself."
Stephen seeks comfort from the abuse at home with his neighbor, Ruthie. He grows up with Ruthie and falls in love with her.. Despite their difference in skin color, he wants to marry her... but it seems his dad has something to say about that.
The dad winds up dead... family secrets are revealed and they are shocking... and Stephen and Ruthie end up on the run. Are they able to be together? Are they arrested? I'm not saying.
A shocker of a book and a quick read. The author doesn't overburden it with unnecessary details to make it a door stopper....more
A decent yarn. I found this entertaining, mysterious, and dark.
Abigail is a servant in the home of wealthy man. There's an invalid son coming back frA decent yarn. I found this entertaining, mysterious, and dark.
Abigail is a servant in the home of wealthy man. There's an invalid son coming back from war, a wealthy man dying of grief, a cruel housekeeper, a cook that drinks the cooking sherry (figure of speech), a butler hiding his master's secrets, and a maid that is dallying with another families' coachman. It's all the workings for a good scandalous mystery.
Except for one incident, the story never even leaves the house. This did not hurt the story in any way, however. There's a ghost and Abigail thinks it's her dead mother trying to tell her that she was murdered. Abigail is most certain that the evil housekeeper was the murderer.. but if she's wrong.. and doesn't realize it in time, then Abigail could very well be next.
Slightly long winded and predictable, but still a good yarn. Had a rather gothic feel to it. Loved the hand prints appearing out of no where, very spooky. ...more
I don't do paranormal really, but I was drawn to this because of I love tats and the idea of them coming alive is too cool. As I began reading, my eyeI don't do paranormal really, but I was drawn to this because of I love tats and the idea of them coming alive is too cool. As I began reading, my eyes rolled at the vampires and werewolves, but I was expecting them. However, when a half man/half deer enters the story, that was too much for me. I bailed....more
I am officially a fan of Christina Courtenay. Here’s the deal: I rarely read romance, don’t do the damsel in distress bit, and can’t stand virginal woI am officially a fan of Christina Courtenay. Here’s the deal: I rarely read romance, don’t do the damsel in distress bit, and can’t stand virginal women, but I enjoy Courtenay’s writing style very much and love the banter and flirtaciousness between her couples and her suspenseful storylines.
In this novel, the virgin is Jess and the experienced, dashing. . . I can’t use the word “rogue” here cause he is actually a compassionate, kind, funny man who happens to be good in bed. . is Killian. I wanted to marry Killian myself. There’s nothing not to like about him! Anyways, Jess is under her stepfather’s thumb. She suspects him of wrong doing involving the company she was supposed to inherit upon her father’s death. When Killian shows up on their doorstep as a merchant in training, Jess enlists the handsome man’s aid in getting to the bottom of the secrecy and lies, paying him with little kisses.
Killian has a situation as well. His cousin wants him dead and any woman he marries, any child he bears is on the death list as well. His cousin wants to inherit… all that is to be Killian’s. The two marry for convenience sake and get off to a rough start, but soon become very close friends. The problem is Jess reacted very badly the first time they did the horizontal mambo.. a prime example of how the relationships around us affect our own.
“It had happened, exactly what she didn’t want – she had fallen under a man’s spell, unable to withstand him in any way. She had allowed Killian to do whatever he wanted with her, had been prepared to give in to his every command as long as he didn’t stop what he was doing. She had, to put it baldly, been helpless, the way her mother was helpless to resist Robert.”
So Jess and Killian must get past this mental hurdle/crutch in their relationship while 1. traveling to China and back on a merchant venture, 2. Thwarting an evil cousin’s intentions, and 3. Proving the company is Jess’s and grasping it from her evil step father.
This novel is not as exciting and fast paced as Courtenay’s second work, The Scarlet Kimono, which I read first. Still very enjoyable, however, and takes place in Scotland (a wee bit), Sweden, and China.
Favorite quote: “She sensed that here was a man who didn’t look down on her, despite his constant teasing. Knowing someone valued her as a person, not a chattel, was a powerful aphrodisiac. ...more
Could just be me... but I found this too hard to get into and not very thrilling for a thriller. It's a great premise, but it had so much other detailCould just be me... but I found this too hard to get into and not very thrilling for a thriller. It's a great premise, but it had so much other detail thrown in.. unneccesary details not related to the story line that I found myself skimming.
I don't need to know what kind of suit the man wears, nor what he did, where he ran, what he ate prior to the "big meeting." Also things were thrown in that had me scratching my head in confusion. Chicks boxing.. love it, but why is it there?
Also.. There is every single detail of action.. from doors opening to stepping inside.. Just didn't flow well for me.
And come on... A nice cop taking a statement from a woman reporting a missing person is not going to just out of the blue say, "let's go" and motion to a vehicle, have you get in and buckle up and THEN declare you are going to the morgue.. No. No. No.
This has pretty good ratings though and I'm more into historical books so don't take my word for it. I do like an occassional thriller novel here and there.. just didn't care for this one in particular.
Here's a quote that got a reaction out of me though: "her jet black hair was short and spiky. She also had silver rings in both eyebrows. Rudker didn't understand how any of that was supposed to be attractive."
This book had me totally scared. No joke. One night as I was reading this in bed, I got to the pictures of ghostly orbs and began reading about Dan GuThis book had me totally scared. No joke. One night as I was reading this in bed, I got to the pictures of ghostly orbs and began reading about Dan Guthrie's demon ghost and I got scared. I had to set the book aside for fear that it would give me nightmares..
Two words come to mind as I attempt to describe this book. Spine-tingling and informative. Don't believe me? Ask my husband. The entire time I was reading this book, I was turning to him and either telling him about the Winchester Mansion or making spooky ghost noises or repeating the Lizzie Borden chant and adding my own evil laughter.
This is a lovely and informative novel. The setting is India, both 1947 and 1858. There are five love stories in a way.. There's the heroine, Evie andThis is a lovely and informative novel. The setting is India, both 1947 and 1858. There are five love stories in a way.. There's the heroine, Evie and Martin. They are married with a five year old boy. Their marriage was wonderful until Martin went to serve in WW2... now things are falling apart. Evie thought that coming to India would bring them closer together, but they have simply "exported" their unhappiness... In order to save their marriage, Martin must get rid of his inner demons and both of them must learn to live for joy..
This is the first in a new police detective series, the detective being a tough, but realistic woman named Alex. Her partner is another tough chick, CThis is the first in a new police detective series, the detective being a tough, but realistic woman named Alex. Her partner is another tough chick, Casey. Her boss is also a strong woman, Kate, and throughout the novel, one strong, remarkable, or ballsy woman after another enters the picture. There's Gina, a Mafia boss who smokes cigars and has people kidnapped. There's Megan, a dog trainer that usually gets her way and flashes her boobs at drive thru employees. (It's hillarious. You have to read it to understand.)
Alex is talked into investigating a closed case by her friend Meg. There's a chance a man is wrongly imprisoned and about to die for a crime he did not commit. Unfortunately for Alex, however, the lead detective on the old case is now a very high up officer on the force....
Didn't get into this.. It simply isn't my kind of book. The love at first sight, the stirrings in the loins, the experienced man, virginal woman.. I jDidn't get into this.. It simply isn't my kind of book. The love at first sight, the stirrings in the loins, the experienced man, virginal woman.. I just don't dig that stuff. ...more
How many of you have had a passionate love affair/relationship in your life that you simply could never completely get over? Perhaps too many things wHow many of you have had a passionate love affair/relationship in your life that you simply could never completely get over? Perhaps too many things were left unsaid, leaving the constant feeling of "unfinished business." Perhaps he or she rocked your boat like no one else has since. Whether it was lust or love, he or she is the one person you never forget. Even years later, married to someone else entirely, you still think about and wonder about that person.
This is the problem Katherine has.. she cannot get over the summer fling she had with the wealthy Nicholas when she was 16. Twelve years later, she is a successful architect, a strong woman (except for the fact she's still pining over this fruitcake...), but lonely....
I honestly like this author. This is the second Farran book I have read. I really enjoy his characters. He doesn't do the "damsel in distress" bit, buI honestly like this author. This is the second Farran book I have read. I really enjoy his characters. He doesn't do the "damsel in distress" bit, but writes about strong women. In this case, the heroine, Jenny, isn't all that tough in the beginning... but as the story unfolds, she grows some balls.
Jenny is a book worm who works for a publishing company. She wears a skirt everyday, rides a bicycle with a flower basket, and hasn't been laid in five years. "She had become trapped reading other people's work, assessing and crushing other's dreams. Her own dreams remained cloistered, like some pariah that she was too afraid to release."
I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. It had a rough beginning. A whole bunch of characters were introduced at once and who they were was very vagI was pleasantly surprised by this novel. It had a rough beginning. A whole bunch of characters were introduced at once and who they were was very vague. I was beyond confused.. Who is who? What's this woman's problem? What is it with this woman and a piece of cement? But I scratched my head and read further..
It's a novel about four different women, each with their own problems to overcome.
My personal favorite is Thelma. She's a very large African American woman who has been ridiculed and abused her whole life for being fat. She decides to rise above her "station" in life, to prove to others that she is more than a fat woman of color. She is determined to be an architect and is just finishing up school. She should be happy, right? Not totally...
Disappointing. I was expecting more aviation considering it's a 500 some page book. Seems to me, however, that though the novel is ABOUT a bunch of woDisappointing. I was expecting more aviation considering it's a 500 some page book. Seems to me, however, that though the novel is ABOUT a bunch of woman ATA pilots, it focuses very little on their careers and the war and instead focuses on their sex lives. If they aren't "doing it," they're talking about "doing it" or thinking about "doing it" or writing letters about "doing it." And some of the girls are doing it with the other girls' men or doing it with numerous men. Basically, the book is about women's emerging sexuality and promiscuity during WWII.
I did like the bits about Lumber Jills. I never realized that there was women cutting down trees to make telephone poles during WWII. I knew all about the land girls, the WACS, the WASP, the ATA, but I never heard of the Lumber Jills, till now.
And Izzy's war.. was constantly debating what to tell her parents. That's all, really....more
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