Why, yes, I am lumping three Linda Lael Miller books together for a second time. I'm doing this because the three books form a trilogy and I feel like they belong in the same review.
So without further ado, synopsis for McKettrick's Luck (from amazon.com):
The first installment in Miller's new trilogy features the present-day descendants of the heroes from her earlier McKettrick novels; fortunately, the new generation fills in admirably. Cheyenne Bridges makes a reluctant return to her hometown of Indian Rock, Ariz., her job hinging on whether she can persuade her high school flame Jesse McKettrick to sell some of his land for her employer's condo development deal. Jesse, a confirmed bachelor and committed poker player, refuses outright to sell his land—at the same time he refuses to acknowledge the feelings that Cheyenne stirs up in him. Miller's ability to bring a cast of characters to life is on full display here, as Cheyenne must decide whether to use whatever means necessary to get Jesse to sell the land or surrender to the hunky rancher and join his team. Though her plot twists are somewhat predictable, the veteran romance author doesn't disappoint in her sizzling love scenes and fine sense of place.
Synopsis for McKettrick's Pride (from amazon.com):
The only wide-open space Rance McKettrick wants to see in his future is his hometown in his rearview mirror. The down-to-earth ex-rancher is determined to make a fresh start with his two young daughters—and leave his heartbreaking loss and family's successful corporation far behind.
He sure doesn't need Indian Rock's free-spirited new bookstore owner Echo Wells confusing his choices—and raising memories he'd rather forget. But her straightforward honesty and reluctance to trust is challenging everything Rance thought he knew about himself. And when their irresistible attraction puts their hearts on the line, Rance and Echo must come to grips with who they really are to find a once-in-a-lifetime happiness.
Synopsis of McKettrick's Heart (from amazon.com):
In the third in Miller's McKettrick Men series, Keegan, divorced from his cheating wife, meets Molly Shields, a literary agent who gave up for adoption the son she had by a married man, when Psyche Ryan, the adoptive mother of Molly's son Lucas, summons Molly to Indian Rock, Arizona. Widowed Psyche has terminal cancer and wants Lucas to be raised in her home by his biological mother. Molly jumps at the chance. Keegan, Psyche's lifelong friend and executor of her estate, wants to raise Lucas and doesn't trust Molly, so he is appalled when Psyche imposes the requirement that Keegan and Molly marry. Love and blazing sex ensue in this satisfying romance.
General review of this series:
I love Linda Lael Miller's books. She creates characters who you can really care about. Sound cheesy? Why yes, it is. That's the best part about romance novels, isn't it?
My favorite book in the series was the second, McKettrick's Pride, about Rance and Echo. Horrible names, yes, but truly lovable characters. Simply put, the opposites attract element in this book hooked me from the beginning. The minor characters in this book also made it a richer experience for me.
My favorite character in the series was Jesse from McKettrick's Luck. He was just my favorite romance hero type. Bad boy turned good with a heart of gold. And a cowboy. Read the book. I promise you'll understand what I mean.
My least favorite element of the series was the story in the third book. I found Keegan's affections switching from one woman to another confusing. His devotion to Psyche was sweet, but it made it hard to focus on the love story between Keegan and Molly.
Overall, this was a great series full of fun characters and lots of steamy romance.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Review #11: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Synopsis (from amazon.com):
When Clay Jenson plays the casette tapes he received in a mysterious package, he's surprised to hear the voice of dead classmate Hannah Baker. He's one of 13 people who receive Hannah's story, which details the circumstances that led to her suicide. Clay spends the rest of the day and long into the night listening to Hannah's voice and going to the locations she wants him to visit. The text alternates, sometimes quickly, between Hannah's voice (italicized) and Clay's thoughts as he listens to her words, which illuminate betrayals and secrets that demonstrate the consequences of even small actions. Hannah, herself, is not free from guilt, her own inaction having played a part in an accidental auto death and a rape. The message about how we treat one another, although sometimes heavy, makes for compelling reading.
Review:
There is so much more to this book than the above synopsis alludes to. This book is not only about the way we treat one another and the decisions we make, but also deals directly with the issue of suicide and those left behind. I think the biggest question that those affected by a suicide is why? Why did it happen? Why did it happen? What led to the person's choice to take his/her life? And maybe most of all, what could I have done to stop it from happening?
All of these questions are going through Clay's mind before he even receives the tapes. He had a crush on Hannah, and he didn't ever really act on his feelings, although she apparently liked him as well. Upon listening to the tapes, Clay gets the answers he so desperately wanted, no matter how hard they are to listen to.
This book was a fascinating read, and incredibly well done. The subject matter may not appeal to everyone, but if you give it a chance, I assure you it will be well worth your time.
When Clay Jenson plays the casette tapes he received in a mysterious package, he's surprised to hear the voice of dead classmate Hannah Baker. He's one of 13 people who receive Hannah's story, which details the circumstances that led to her suicide. Clay spends the rest of the day and long into the night listening to Hannah's voice and going to the locations she wants him to visit. The text alternates, sometimes quickly, between Hannah's voice (italicized) and Clay's thoughts as he listens to her words, which illuminate betrayals and secrets that demonstrate the consequences of even small actions. Hannah, herself, is not free from guilt, her own inaction having played a part in an accidental auto death and a rape. The message about how we treat one another, although sometimes heavy, makes for compelling reading.
Review:
There is so much more to this book than the above synopsis alludes to. This book is not only about the way we treat one another and the decisions we make, but also deals directly with the issue of suicide and those left behind. I think the biggest question that those affected by a suicide is why? Why did it happen? Why did it happen? What led to the person's choice to take his/her life? And maybe most of all, what could I have done to stop it from happening?
All of these questions are going through Clay's mind before he even receives the tapes. He had a crush on Hannah, and he didn't ever really act on his feelings, although she apparently liked him as well. Upon listening to the tapes, Clay gets the answers he so desperately wanted, no matter how hard they are to listen to.
This book was a fascinating read, and incredibly well done. The subject matter may not appeal to everyone, but if you give it a chance, I assure you it will be well worth your time.
Review #10: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
Synopsis (From amazon.com):
The numb voice of a teen who has been devastated by five years of captivity and compliance, a girl who has been named "Alice" by her abductor, relates her grim story. At 15, she still believes the threat by which Ray controlled her when she was almost 10 and he walked her away from a school field trip: he's made it clear that if she bolts he will kill her family. The trauma of multiple rapes on a child is portrayed, as is Ray's ongoing need to control her and his daily, multiple demands for sexual submission. Now that she's a teen, Alice is being starved; his disordered logic tells him that this will keep her a little girl. His control over her is so absolute that, although she can leave his apartment during the day and goes on her own to have a wax job, her only rebellion is to steal small amounts of food. When Ray decides it is time for a new little girl, Alice complies by locating a likely next victim. In the process she meets a needy teen boy and a police officer, both of whom suspect she is in trouble and want to help her, but all does not end happily.
Review:
This book was extremely hard to read because of the subject matter. I think Elizabeth Scott took on an enourmous task when tackling this topic. When I got done with the book, I definitely had a lot to think about.
I am linking to another blogger's review because I think she does a fantastic job explaining why it is one of her favorite books.
http://hookedonyabooks.blogspot.com/2010/05/review-living-dead-girl.html
The numb voice of a teen who has been devastated by five years of captivity and compliance, a girl who has been named "Alice" by her abductor, relates her grim story. At 15, she still believes the threat by which Ray controlled her when she was almost 10 and he walked her away from a school field trip: he's made it clear that if she bolts he will kill her family. The trauma of multiple rapes on a child is portrayed, as is Ray's ongoing need to control her and his daily, multiple demands for sexual submission. Now that she's a teen, Alice is being starved; his disordered logic tells him that this will keep her a little girl. His control over her is so absolute that, although she can leave his apartment during the day and goes on her own to have a wax job, her only rebellion is to steal small amounts of food. When Ray decides it is time for a new little girl, Alice complies by locating a likely next victim. In the process she meets a needy teen boy and a police officer, both of whom suspect she is in trouble and want to help her, but all does not end happily.
Review:
This book was extremely hard to read because of the subject matter. I think Elizabeth Scott took on an enourmous task when tackling this topic. When I got done with the book, I definitely had a lot to think about.
I am linking to another blogger's review because I think she does a fantastic job explaining why it is one of her favorite books.
http://hookedonyabooks.blogspot.com/2010/05/review-living-dead-girl.html
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Review #9: Julie/Julia by Julie Powell
Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously.
Review:
My desire to read this book came after I saw the movie. Normally I like to read a book before I see the movie, but in this case I just really wanted to see the movie. After I watched it, I got curious about the book.
The book is mainly a nonfiction memoir of a year of obsessive cooking. There are little elements of creative nonfiction interspersed throughout when Julie Powell imagines dialogue and scenarios that Julia Child lived based on her husband's letters and such.
The contrast between Julia Child's life and Julie Powell's life is not so great in the book because the book is mainly just about Julie Powell. And while I definitely enjoyed the Julia Child part of the movie, I sincerely enjoyed getting to know Julie Powell through the book. She was much more entertaining in the book with a much fouler mouth. Reading her descriptions of some of the cooking situations, like trying to get the marrow out of a cow bone or making a beef aspic, made the book grossly hilarious.
I would say to anyone who enjoyed the movie that the book is a must read.
Review:
My desire to read this book came after I saw the movie. Normally I like to read a book before I see the movie, but in this case I just really wanted to see the movie. After I watched it, I got curious about the book.
The book is mainly a nonfiction memoir of a year of obsessive cooking. There are little elements of creative nonfiction interspersed throughout when Julie Powell imagines dialogue and scenarios that Julia Child lived based on her husband's letters and such.
The contrast between Julia Child's life and Julie Powell's life is not so great in the book because the book is mainly just about Julie Powell. And while I definitely enjoyed the Julia Child part of the movie, I sincerely enjoyed getting to know Julie Powell through the book. She was much more entertaining in the book with a much fouler mouth. Reading her descriptions of some of the cooking situations, like trying to get the marrow out of a cow bone or making a beef aspic, made the book grossly hilarious.
I would say to anyone who enjoyed the movie that the book is a must read.
Review #8: Faking 19 by Alyson Noel
Faking 19 by Alyson Noel
Review:
I know that some of these reviews are short, but I'm mainly writing these for myself as a way of remembering the 100 books I am reading this year. If anyone happens to read them, I'm sorry if they aren't more detailed.
I read this book because I was reading other books by Alyson Noel, and I had read some favorable reviews comparing this book to Feeling Sorry For Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty.
While both books do deal with teens with broken lives and how each teen struggles to fix those lives. However, Faking 19 fails to bring depth to her main character, Alex.
Alex does a lot of whining and even when she sees that her friend, M, is in a terrible downward spiral she doesn't take action. Even after M lets her mother think that Alex stashed drugs at M's house, Alex doesn't do anything. She simply floats through the book.
I really didn't enjoy this book much. It felt flat, and unconvincing.
Review:
I know that some of these reviews are short, but I'm mainly writing these for myself as a way of remembering the 100 books I am reading this year. If anyone happens to read them, I'm sorry if they aren't more detailed.
I read this book because I was reading other books by Alyson Noel, and I had read some favorable reviews comparing this book to Feeling Sorry For Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty.
While both books do deal with teens with broken lives and how each teen struggles to fix those lives. However, Faking 19 fails to bring depth to her main character, Alex.
Alex does a lot of whining and even when she sees that her friend, M, is in a terrible downward spiral she doesn't take action. Even after M lets her mother think that Alex stashed drugs at M's house, Alex doesn't do anything. She simply floats through the book.
I really didn't enjoy this book much. It felt flat, and unconvincing.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Review #7: Liar by Justine Larbalestier
Liar by Justine Larbalestier
Review:
I'm not going to post a synopsis for this book because I don't know that I could find or write a synopsis that would adequately explain this book.
The main character in the book is a girl named Micah, who tells you right off the bat that she is a pathological liar. That said, she promises that she is going to tell the truth to you, the reader, because it is important that you understand what happened and that you believe her.
What happened? Well, that's the main mystery of the book. Micah's supposed boyfriend (secret boyfriend actually) was found dead in the park after he had been missing for several days. As the story unfolds, Micah tells you that he was murdered.
The narration is told in Micah's voice in an extremely conversational tone. The plot jumps back and forth between the present and the past, adding to the confusing nature of the story.
I have never read a book before where I doubted everything the narrator told me. It was a fascinating experience as a reader. By the end of the book, I will admit, I really began to doubt everything Micah said because there was just so much about it that wasn't even plausible. And yet...there was a part of me that desperately wanted to believe her.
I highly recommend this book even if you aren't into thrillers or young adult books. It's just a fascinating read.
Review:
I'm not going to post a synopsis for this book because I don't know that I could find or write a synopsis that would adequately explain this book.
The main character in the book is a girl named Micah, who tells you right off the bat that she is a pathological liar. That said, she promises that she is going to tell the truth to you, the reader, because it is important that you understand what happened and that you believe her.
What happened? Well, that's the main mystery of the book. Micah's supposed boyfriend (secret boyfriend actually) was found dead in the park after he had been missing for several days. As the story unfolds, Micah tells you that he was murdered.
The narration is told in Micah's voice in an extremely conversational tone. The plot jumps back and forth between the present and the past, adding to the confusing nature of the story.
I have never read a book before where I doubted everything the narrator told me. It was a fascinating experience as a reader. By the end of the book, I will admit, I really began to doubt everything Micah said because there was just so much about it that wasn't even plausible. And yet...there was a part of me that desperately wanted to believe her.
I highly recommend this book even if you aren't into thrillers or young adult books. It's just a fascinating read.
Review #6: Art Geeks and Prom Queens by Alyson Noel
Art Geeks and Prom Queens by Alyson Noel
Synopsis:
Rio Jones is the new girl at an exclusive southern California private school. She is drawn to kids in the art crowd initially including Jas, who quickly becomes her romantic interest. When the most popular girl in school decides to befriend Rio, her life quickly spins out of control.
Review:
This book was a quick, snappy read, and definitely enjoyable for the most part. The characters were a little two-dimensional at times, and a great deal of the plot seemed lifted directly from "Mean Girls." Still if you aren't looking for total originality, this is a fun read.
Synopsis:
Rio Jones is the new girl at an exclusive southern California private school. She is drawn to kids in the art crowd initially including Jas, who quickly becomes her romantic interest. When the most popular girl in school decides to befriend Rio, her life quickly spins out of control.
Review:
This book was a quick, snappy read, and definitely enjoyable for the most part. The characters were a little two-dimensional at times, and a great deal of the plot seemed lifted directly from "Mean Girls." Still if you aren't looking for total originality, this is a fun read.
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