Thursday, March 31, 2011

Fair Play

Author: Deirdre Martin
Series:New York Blades#2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: February 3, 2004
ISBN: 978-0425194577
Pages: 368





Summery:
 To the deep disappointment of her large family, PR princess Theresa Falconetti never dates Italians, men from her old Brooklyn neighborhood, or professional athletes. Michael Dante, winger for the Stanley Cup champion New York Blades, is all three--and he is head over heels for her. So when Theresa finds herself a buttoned-up lawyer, Michael is forced to take his game to the next level.

Review:
     Micheal falls for Theresa the first time he meets her and she turns him down flat..... and the second time and the third time and so on and so on.  It gets to the point where he just walks into a room and she gets pissed off and insults him and complains about his presence. Half way through this book I was wishing he would just tell her to go screw herself and move on. But no....Theresa is dating someone else and working on her issues with a therapist. Yes, that's about it. I like Deirdre Martin and I'll read her again but this didn't even feel like a romance to me.

Cover:
         I liked this one even thought its a cartoon. It looks good and implements many elements of the story.
Rating:
           D

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Vampire Empire: The Greyfriar

Author: Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith
Series: Vampire Empire: Book 1
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Publisher: PYR
Pages: 301
Release Date: 11/18/2010
ISBN: 978-1-61614-247-6





Summery:
In the year 1870, a horrible plague of vampires swept over the northern regions of the world. Millions of humans were killed outright. Millions more died of disease and famine due to the havoc that followed. Within two years, once great cities were shrouded by the grey empire of the vampire clans. Human refugees fled south to the tropics because vampires could not tolerate the constant heat there. They brought technology and a feverish drive to reestablish their shattered societies of steam and iron amid the mosques of Alexandria, the torrid quietude of Panama, or the green temples of Malaya. It is now 2020 and a bloody reckoning is coming. Princess Adele is heir to the Empire of Equatoria, a remnant of the old tropical British Empire. She is quick with her wit as well as with a sword or gun. She is eager for an adventure before she settles into a life of duty and political marriage to man she does not know. But her quest turns black when she becomes the target of a merciless vampire clan. Her only protector is The Greyfriar, a mysterious hero who fights the vampires from deep within their territory. Their dangerous relationship plays out against an approaching war to the death between humankind and the vampire clans. The Greyfriar: Vampire Empire is the first book in a trilogy of high adventure and alternate history. Combining rousing pulp action with steampunk style, The Greyfriar brings epic political themes to life within a story of heartbreaking romance, sacrifice, and heroism.

Review:
     This is a dark, Gothic, vampire fantasy. Different from the other books of it's kind with it's unique world building. Vampires that are so powerful but have a weakness in heat and humans that therefore live mainly in areas around the equator. The vampires in this tale are cold, cruel vicious race of the vampires. They feel they're superior to all things human and the humans that live in vamp lands are treated like cattle. The humans are inventive, creative and resilient but spiritually bankrupt and planning a world war to win back the planet.  I was thinking things like how much more powerful the vampires are than the humans but the humans have the power to feed and heal the vamps and so the vampires need them even though they despise them. I was wondering why is religion band if spirituality is such a powerful force and I was reminded of Romeo and Juliet toward the end, which I loved! The growth of Adele and Gareth both were satisfying to watch leaving me guessing at so many different outcomes for them and so I'm very much looking forward to book two.

Cover:
    Okay, I liked the airships in the background but the models are not how I imagined the characters to look.

Rating:
            B+

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Clockwork Angel

Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Infernal Devices
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: August 31, 2010
ISBN: 1416975861
Pages: 496
Genre: YA, Paranormal




Summery:
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gas lit streets. Only the Shadow hunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadow hunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadow hunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world.

Review:
    I had was immediately drawn into this creative, mysterious, Magical world! I enjoyed this book so much and was so sorry when it ended. Tessa is a smart, strong character. I liked that she didn't take any crap from anyone, not even her brother. Will is a puzzle, yes he is a jerk but that's just what he's going for. And James is a beautifully unique soul. I can not wait to watch their story unfold in the rest of the series.

Cover:
 Very nice romantic, steam punk look. And of course, I love the angel!

Rating:
               A

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Desires Of The Dead

Author: Kimberly Derting
Series: Body finder#2
Genre: YA,Paranormal
Publisher: Harperteen
Pages: 358
Release Date: March 2011
ISBN: 978-0-06-177984-8





Summery:
 Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered-and the matching imprint that killings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.
   As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous  obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend, Mike. Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

Review:
          I was hoping that this book would be as good as the first book in the series, The Body Finder. I was wrong, it was even better! The mystery was intriguing, the characters were interesting and the story was well paced and beautifully worded. I just have to say that I love Jay. He is such a great guy. I wish that Violet opened up earlier on to him but I think the story was more tense because she didn't. I also liked the new characters that were introduced, they kept me wondering what was going to happen next. I'm so looking forward to the next book. A great read!
Cover:
 The cover is okay, it matches the first. I had it on my desk at work and other people mentioned how pretty it was.
Rating:
        A

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Recent Disappointments

            I was so dissapointed. I couldn't finish either of these books. I tried but after forcing my self to read almost half  of each I got a point where I rolled my eyes and said out lound " Oh my God, you have got to be kidding me". Thats about the time I admit I've wasted money and stop wasting my time and trash it.

Rating:
          F









Friday, March 11, 2011

Author: Kiersten White
Series: Paranormalcy trilogy#1
Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: 8/30/2010
ISBN: 0061985848
Pages: 352




Summery:

Sixteen-year-old Evie's job is bagging and tagging paranormals. Possessing the strange ability to see through their glamours, she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. But when someone—or something—starts taking out the vamps, werewolves, and other odd beasties she's worked hard to help become productive members of society, she's got to figure it out before they all disappear and the world becomes utterly normal and normal is so boring.

Review:
   This was a really enjoyable teen read. The only thing that bothered me was some of the banter that went on in Evie's head got to be annoying. Maybe I expected her to be more mature than is normal for her age.Lend was great! He was a totally new and unique kind of being for me to encounter. It was refreshing to read a character with properties that I haven't thought about before.

Cover:
                 Not bad. Not great.
Rating:
            B

Thursday, March 10, 2011

The Winter of Red Snow





Author: Kristina Gregory
Series: Dear America
Genre: Children's historical fiction
Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 0439445531
Release Date: 1997




Summery:
 In her beloved diary, eleven-year-old Abigail Jane Stewart chronicles the despair and the hope of the winter of 1777 and 1778, when she witnesses the struggles of George Washington and his soldiers on the fields of Valley Forge.

Review:
    I have been having trouble finding a book good enough to finish lately. This book has been on my daughters shelf for 10 years. I've had my eye on it for a while and now I wish I had picked it up long ago. This short read was a nice break for me.  I like reading about this period in history and this book was well done. It was written to be appropriate enough for kids and engaging enough for an adult to keep turning the pages. I found myself disappointed when it ended. 

Cover:
      I love it. I also love the title.
Rating:
              B

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Body Check

Author: Deirdre Martin
Series:New York Blades#1
Genre:Contemporary romance
Publisher:Jove
Release Date: February 25, 2003
ISBN: 978-0515134896
Pages: 336



Summery:
 When persistent sports publicist Janna MacNeil butts heads with hockey team captain Ty Gallagher, they don't just crack the ice-they melt it!


Review:
   Another hit for Martin! I really enjoyed this book. The contemporary romance section is a little slim these days. I think they are more of a challenge for romance writers. There are less situation that present obstacles to couples now than there were in the past.  In "Body Check", Martin has given us two strong characters, each very likable. Both care very much for each other but are afraid that the relationship will risk careers that they both have worked so hard for. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Cover:
         Again, I'm not a fan of the cartoon covers. I wish it were a photo.
Grade:
            B

                                    


















Friday, March 4, 2011

The Society of S

Author: Susan Hubbard
Series:Ariella Montero#1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada
Release date: 2007
ISBN: 1416534571
Pages: 320
Genre: YA, Paranormal




Summery:
 What if everything you knew about your family was a lie: What if, when the lies began to crack, beneath them lay a truth so dark and deep, yet so compelling, that it pulled you inside? The Society of S, a character-driven literary mystery, is the future of vampirism, told in a voice that will haunt you---and make you think.

Review:
   This book was just okay for me. Some of the writing is so profound it feel like this could be an epic and then the characters turn out to be such a disappointment.
 Ari lives in a house that she isn't free to roam in, with a dad she really doesn't know and a cook that doesn't like her and it takes half of the book for her to start asking why. Her fathers lack of feeling towards her, his lack of reaction at her moms leaving and Ari's leaving and then showing up again all bothered me. Her mom's lack of  emotion and reaction bothered me too! And how come after everything is revealed, Malcolm is still hanging around? I just don't get these characters and how passive they all are, it killed the story for me.

Cover: I like it but the meaning of the dragonfly wasn't elaborated.

Rating:
             C

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Icebreaker

Author: Deirdre Martin
Series: New York Blades #9
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Pages:289
Release Date:2011
ISBN: 9780425239797






Summery:
 
 Attorney Sinead O'Brien's new client is Adam Perry, the star of the New York Blades. It's a good thing she doesn't date clients, especially jocks. Charged with assault on another player, the private, no-nonsense Adam knows this is his last shot at Stanley Cup glory. Sinead quickly discovers that there's a wounded man under that helmet, and she's falling for him-hard. Can they play on their feelings without penalties?

Review:
      This book was such a nice read. Sinead and Adam are both very emotionally guarded people. It was wonderful to see them open up and become vunerable. The relationship developed in a believable way and the story was sexy and sweet enough. I thought the dialogue was really good, real and fresh. I went and bought the first book in this series!
Cover:
   I love it ! The bicep on that cover kept me flipping back to look!
Rating:
               A