Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich

I loved this book. If you've read any of the between the numbers books in the Stephanie Plum series, you will already know and love Diesel. Janet Evanovich has a way of making you fall in love with her characters from the very beginning of the book. Written in the same sense of humor as the Plum series, this book will keep you intrigued the entire way through. I feel like I need a little Diesel in my life.

Switched by Amanda Hocking

I received this book through as an advance reader's copy. I really enjoyed it. It was a nice change from the vampires and werewolves that seem to saturate today's media. I liked that it was part of the supernatural world but also a part that I was not familiar with currently. The story begins with a seemingly normal girl trying to find her way into a normal life after moving yet again. As the back story appears, we learn there were serious parental issues and she is now living with her older brother and aunt. After meeting a mysterious guy at her new school, she learns that she may be what is called a changeling. Without giving too much of the story away, I will say that the book was engaging and kept me very interested. I read this book in a matter of hours and it was very hard for me to walk away. The ending was one that I won't forget. It left me wanting more, as all good books should. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars only because I feel like there could have been a little more depth and it moved so quickly. Wendy was lost in the new life she found and I was equally lost because of the lack of backstory at times and the quickness of the chapters. I do think that this story is definitely worth reading though. I highly recommend it.

Life, interrupted.

 

So I keep saying that I’m actually going to keep blogging but somehow, life happens and gets in the way of all my plans.  But hey, I’m one semester closer to graduating from college, have a new job, two small children and a house full of chaos.  I do the best I can.    I’ve been reading a lot of fiction written by people just like me.  Not exactly fan fiction but not top notch, best seller material either.  It’s actually pretty decent.  I think I may try my hand at that one of these days.  Right now I’m dealing with a two year old who’s learning to potty and gets upset when you take her diaper off even though she’s told you four hundred times she has to go pee and a four year old who really should think about a career in law. 

One Bloody Thing After Another by Joey Comeau

I was able to read this book through ECW Press.  I honestly don't know what to think.  The book was convoluted and almost impossible to follow.  I don't know what the author was aiming for, nor whether or not he attained it.  The snippets of story left out big gaping holes and I felt lost the whole time.  The story is set up in minuscule glimpses into the lives of three different characters who cross paths during the story. This story would appeal to readers who like horror, or gory stories told in a very unique way.  Personally, this is not something I would read again.  I don't absolutely hate it but I just felt like something was missing.  It's probably from what I came in to the story expecting-a fully told story that has a beginning, middle and end.  That's not at all what this story contains. 

The Hypnotist by MJ Rose

This book was a bit of a surprise.  I did not honestly think that I would like it as much as I did.  The main character has many levels.  He is consumed with the death of his childhood girlfriend.  The book involves past lives and how they relate to the present.  The statue that is a main part of the story is called Hypnos.  It was created in Persia long ago.  The Iranian government has claimed ownership even though it is currently in the possession of the Met.  It was left to the Met by a donor who claimed that he received the statue through legal means.  The Iranian government concocts a plan to get the statue back, legally or no. Another group learns that the statue is connected to some things called Memory Tools.  One of the interesting things in the story is that we learn so little about the tools.  They are something on the edge and somehow in the middle of the book.  The story is slow in places but it is definitely something that I would recommend to anyone who likes mysteries or any story out of the ordinary. 

Dark and Disorderly by Bernita Harris

I received this book as an advance reader through Carina Press.  Many thanks to them for introducing me to this wonderful character and story.  I absolutely adored Lillie.  She was strong in the face of many obstacles.  This was a very intriguing novel.  I enjoyed the fact that even though John Thresher, the psi-investigator, was very handsome, Lillie did not throw herself upon his "masterful manhood."  She was a very strong character in her own right without depending on a man to make her that way.  Lillie is what's called a Talent, which means that she has powers that can't be explained.  She works for the city as a paranormal who's job it is to be, well, a ghostbuster.  Her job is not an easy one and it is not as understood as she would like.  Ghosts have become a menace in the world recently and something has to be done.  Her husband recently died under suspicious circumstances and she is haunted by a series of events that are deadly and not accidents.  I was entranced and read this book really quickly.  I can't wait for the next step in this series.  I hope this is a series because I would love to see more of Lillie and John Thresher.  The author left just enough unanswered questions to make this be something I would look forward to reading.  Well done, Ms. Harris.

The Mermaid's Mirror by L K Madigan

As always, I read this book through netgalley.com.  It was an interesting premise for a story but it just didn't hold my interest.  I slogged through it but never really got into it as I normally do.  The story is about a girl who lives with her dad and stepmom near the beach.  Her dad won't teach her to surf even though he was a pro once upon a time.  She goes against her dad's wishes and learns how anyway.  She finds out that her mom is not gone like she believed and enters a new world.  She has to make an important decision about where she belongs.  I couldn't give this story as much praise as I'd like.  The writing was slow in some parts.  I'd give this book 3 out of 5 stars.