Monday, June 18, 2012

The Winner by David Baldacci (Audio)

The WinnerThe Winner by David Baldacci
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Revealing Eden (Save the Pearls Part One) by Victoria Foyt

Revealing EdenRevealing Eden by Victoria Foyt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 Stars. I wanted to like this book, I wanted to like it a lot! And for the first half I did. I found it intelligent, extremely unique, and unpredictable. However, about halfway through, the direction changed, and the “rules” that had been established seemed to be dismissed and forgotten, causing the book to lose sense. If Revealing Eden had been two separate books, they would have perhaps worked for me. Especially because the writing was good. The details were interesting, and the characters were pretty well developed.

Revealing Eden begins by introducing us to Eden. A pearl with a low mate rate. Pearl being someone who cannot survive above ground as well as a Coal in the post-apocalyptic heated world. The low-mate rate is due to her being undesirable because she is a Pearl. Due to mistakes made and the situation just being crazy, she is thrust onto the surface with her father and a beast man. Living in a jungle like setting she has to learn to survive and come to grips with all she has ever believed.

It was the part where Eden lived in a jungle, yet being a Pearl, that I had the biggest issue with. I thought she wasn’t supposed to be able to survive well on the surface? I also did not care so much for Eden’s personality. She was very wishy-washy and self-centered, and often did things without really putting much thought into it.

On the other hand, the world building in the beginning was magnificent! I have not read a book that began with such a creative premise. The way the people ate food underground, the regulated exercise. I found it fascinating. So overall, I would say, amazing premise, not so great follow through.

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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

If I Die by Rachel Vincent (Audio version)

If I Die (Soul Screamers, #5)If I Die by Rachel Vincent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 1/2 Stars! This series is a definite favorite of mine. Vincent has been very creative in her execution. Certainly a series to start from the beginning, though, IMO.

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Isle Royale by John Hamilton

Isle RoyaleIsle Royale by John Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3 1/2 Stars! I really enjoyed reading about some real landmarks in this fictional story. My family and I are taking our boat to Isle Royale this summer to explore, and plan on staying at campsites near where the author put parts of the novel. I have a few good "ghost" stories to tell around the fire now! :-)

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Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The Resurrected - Part Eight by Megan Hart

The Resurrected: Part EightThe Resurrected: Part Eight by Megan Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am really enjoying this monthly serial by Megan Hart. I am hoping she revisits some of the earlier characters again. Very addictive!

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The Resurrected - Part Seven by Megan Hart

The Resurrected: Part SevenThe Resurrected: Part Seven by Megan Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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The Resurrected- Part Six by Megan Hart

The Resurrected: Part SixThe Resurrected: Part Six by Megan Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Immersed In Pleasure by Tiffany Reisz

Immersed in PleasureImmersed in Pleasure by Tiffany Reisz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 Stars! What an imaginative tale by Tiffany Reisz! I loved it, and really had no idea what to expect. The Manhattan Mermaids is an elite, invite only, club. The women are beautiful, they entertain, but are not to be touched. They are all virgins. The main characters, Xenia and Derek, were just such fun getting to know. I loved their banter and conversation. Immersed In Pleasure was much less spicy than other Spice Briefs, but incredibly romantic. There seems to be much to explore in the Manhattan Mermaids, and I do so hope that Ms. Reisz will revisit them in future Spice Briefs. Loved this one!

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The Sex Slave Murders: The Horrifying True Story of America's First Husband-and-Wife Serial Killers by R. Barri Flowers

The Sex Slave Murders: The Horrifying True Story of America's First Husband-and-Wife Serial Killers (Sex Slave Murders)The Sex Slave Murders: The Horrifying True Story of America's First Husband-and-Wife Serial Killers by R. Barri Flowers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf

One Breath AwayOne Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 Stars for this fast paced, emotional thriller by Heather Gudenkauf! I found One Breath Away to be a daring novel, one that I was hesitant to read, yet curiosity took over. I really wanted to know what direction Ms. Gudenkauf would take this story, and decided to give it a shot. I am really glad I did! It is one of those gut-wrenching, can’t put down, must read in one-sitting kind of plots!

One Breath Away opens with a revelation that something has gone terribly wrong in the small schoolhouse in Iowa. We immediately meet Augie and her mother. Then Gudenkauf goes back in time to the beginning of the startling events. Piece by piece, the horrible situation falls into place. Even though the story was hard to read at times due the content, it was enjoyable to meet the characters, especially Mrs. Oliver, and seeing how they reacted and dealt with the nightmare. The author did an excellent job of developing them without overdoing it.

Ms. Gudenkauf paces her novel well, switching from various perspectives, keeping the viewpoints in real-time, and this reader constantly glued to the pages. One thing that did bother me about One Breath Away was that I easily figured who the gunman was. I would have prefered to have not known. Not sure if that was the author’s intention or not, however the clues were pretty big for me:-)

The publisher has picked the right time to release One Breath Away, as it is best read in one sitting. And what better time for that than summer?:-) Definitely recommend!

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