A reader review blog { of genre fiction }
Book Reviews
All my blog reviews
The Sleeping Beauty, Mercedes Lackey
Jul 12th
The Sleeping Beauty is the latest in Lackey’s Five Hundred Kingdoms series. The Five Hundred Kingdoms are bound by The Tradition, a force that can and does manipulate people into various fairy tale roles, good and bad. In this instance, Princess Rosa’s mother, Queen Celeste died, leaving a grieving king who has spent years fighting
Nurse, Nanny…Bride!, Alison Roberts
Jun 24th
I’m writing about this book because I can’t get it out of my head since I read it a couple of weeks ago, but this isn’t a review. Nurse, Nanny …Bride! has one of the most ridiculous backstories I’ve ever read. It’s a Harlequin Medical Romance set in New Zealand. The hero is E.R. consultant Dr. Andrew Barrett, while the
My Mother Made Me!, Sharon Brain
Jun 16th
Once upon a time I read this book and remember it as being hilarious, and remember laughing aloud as I read it. I purchased it so I could re-read it. Sometimes it works out and the magic is recaptured. This time? Not so much.
The protagonist of My Mother Made Me! is Jane Tivik, a Canadian high schooler, and her friends Marna,
Adam’s Fall, Sandra Brown [1988 Romance]
Jun 16th
Adam’s Fall, Sandra Brown [Fanfare 1994 Reprint, 208 pages] is an early romance that actually reads well today outside of the datedness that is inherent in contemporary romance novels. It’s a real shame that this book isn’t available in ebook as I think it would do well. Sandra Brown is a favorite author of mine. I tend to
The Best Revenge, Justine Davis
Jun 3rd
The Best Revenge (Silhouette Romantic Suspense 2010) by Justine Davis is apart of her Redstone, Inc, miniseries. I had no idea how far back this series ran. The author has her own website, too. I’ve only read two titles in this ongoing miniseries: the one I’m reviewing now and Deadly Temptation. Cover comment: The hero looks
Good Girl or Gold Digger?, Kate Hardy
May 29th
The title, Good Girl or Gold Digger?, caught my eye, and since it’s by Kate Hardy, into the cart it went. It’s not the standard HP descriptive title, à la The Billionaire’s Virgin Mistress Secretary, so I noticed it even more. How can you not want to know if she’s a good girl or a gold digger? Maybe
The Three Evangelists, Fred Vargas
May 29th
The Three Evangelists (Vintage 2007) written by Fred Vargas and translated by Sian Reynolds. The Three Evangelists takes place in Paris, during the mid-1990’s. The story introduces three historians turned amateur sleuths. The author’s background in history and archeology are evidenced in the story.
This was a good read that started off well enough. The first mystery that’s
Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit [vol.4], Motoro Mase
May 23rd
Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit (2010), vol.4 is written and illustrated by Motoro Mase. It is rated M: Mature readers. List price is $12.99USA. Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit was originally serialized in Young Sunday manga magazine. After reading four volumes, this series is still captivating to me for several reasons 1)character driven stories and 2)
The Prodigal’s Return, Anna DeStefano
May 19th
After many mishaps that involved missing books and eye-rolling storylines, I have reviewed The Prodigal’s Return (HSR1358) by Anna DeStefano.
Eight years ago on prom night, 16 year-old Jennifer Gardner tried to stop Bobby, her boyfriend’s best friend, from driving drunk. She took his keys and he tried to kiss her, just in time for
Saving Francesca, Melina Marchetta
May 15th
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta is the author’s second published work set in her hometown of Sydney, Australia. I am working my way through her back list. I know she has recently released a fantasy novel, Finnikin of the Rock. Quite a big step away from the coming of age stories that she does so well. I can tell right
Looking for Alibrandi, Melina Marchetta
May 5th
Looking for Alibrandi (2006) is a YA contemporary novel written by Melina Marchetta. It’s available in digital as well as paper. The premise is a coming of age story that contains a nice, brief romance on the side. I found this book utterly compelling and hard to put down.
The author sets her story in her own backyard–the Outback. The story
A Certain Wolfish Charm, Lydia Dare
Apr 29th
Lily Rutledge has been the caretaker of her orphaned nephew, for since the deaths of his parents when he was six, and he is now 12. Within the past few weeks, Oliver, the young Earl of Maberly, has become moody, grown larger, and developed an enormous appetite. She doesn’t know what to do with him,
Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, Book 1), Tamara Pierce
Apr 27th
Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, Book 1) is the first book in the series written by Tamara Pierce, published by Simon Pulse. The targeted age group is 9 to 12 and the date of first publication: 1983 (240 pages). Publisher set digital price at $5.99 (print: $6.99).
This series and this author seems to be
Arrows of the Queen, Mercedes Lackey [Guest Review]
Apr 21st
Arrows of the Queen (Heralds of Valdemar) by Mercedes Lackey is the first book in the series. This guest review was written by Janet Webb aka @JanetNorCal for April’s TBR Challenge. No ebook could be found (cries)
*****
Thank you so much to my Canadian farmwife friend who very kindly gave me this book. Here’s the backcover description:
“Chosen
Inside Out, Maria V. Snyder
Apr 21st
Having read and loved Poison Study, I was glad to try Maria Snyder’s new book, Inside Out, a YA novel. The protagonist is Trella, a teenaged girl who toils as a “scrub”, a person designated as a cleaner of Inside, what appears to be a square-shaped biosphere made of sheet metal.
Scrubs are responsible for all cleaning, from laundry to the animal
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