Category Archives: Realistic

April 10, 2011 · 11:19 am

Sweet Possession (Sweet, #5) by Maya Banks

Purchased

There is nothing Connor Malone wants to do less than babysit the outrageous and out-of-control pop star Lyric Jones. But part of him relishes taming the celebratty songstress and showing her what it’s like to be possessed-body and soul-by one man. And though Lyric’s crazy antics nearly drive Connor to the edge, his quiet intensity penetrates her defenses, leaving them both vulnerable to the secrets that could topple Lyric from the stage. (from Goodreads)

I didn’t particularly like Lyric although she did improve as the book went on.  I did love Connor though.  I would like to sit down and read this series from start to finish.

I think there is probably going to be a spin off series starring Kane.

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April 8, 2011 · 6:19 am

Hotter Than Wildfire (Protectors, #2) by Lisa Marie Rice

Purchased

The world knows her only as Eve. . . .

Though her songs have sold millions she is an enigma, a bewitching mystery. But to former Delta Force operator Harry Bolt, she is an angel whose sultry, smoky voice brought him back to life after the nightmare of Afghanistan. Nothing else matters.

And now a scared, helpless beauty has walked through the door of his San Diego private security firm, running from something secret, something deadly . . . and Harry knows immediately that this is the woman who saved him. He is the last hope for this intoxicating siren without a past—not even in his hottest dreams did he imagine that the lady Eve could be so tempting, so achingly desirable. But though she burns to lose herself in Harry’s powerful arms, Eve is wary of trusting this tough, haunted ex-soldier who promises to protect her. Surrender could mean sweet ecstasy or certain doom. Can she open her heart, even if it means risking her life?

I fell in love with Lisa Marie Rice when I read her Midnight series.  Midnight Angel in particular is a favorite of mine.  This is the first book of the many of hers that I have read, that I liked just as much.  I am so glad I stuck with her.

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Filed under Contemporary, Erotica, Realistic, Romance

February 24, 2011 · 9:17 am

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black

Geektastic

Acclaimed authors Holly Black (Ironside)and Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof) have united in geekdom to edit short stories from some of the best selling and most promising geeks in young adult literature: M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, John Green, Tracy Lynn, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Wendy Mass, Garth Nix, Scott Westerfield, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr.With illustrated interstitials from comic book artists Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O’Malley, Geektastic covers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction, theater geeks, and cosplayers. Whether you’re a former, current, or future geek, or if you just want to get in touch with your inner geek, Geektastic will help you get your geek on! (from Goodreads)

I don’t normally read short stories because I don’t think there is enough to them to for plot or character development.  I only read this one because it is one of last years Teens Top Ten nominees and I am still trying to get through them.

Another reason I don’t like short story collections is that there is no consistency in quality or maybe interest is the better word.  This book is no exception.

I really liked the first story about a Star Wars fan and a Star Trek fan hooking up at a convention.  Their friends were appalled that they would associate with someone from the “other side.”  Since I am a fan of both series (although, Star Trek will always be my favorite), I got a kick out of this one.

There were just enough good stories in the collection to keep me reading.  I had to finish them all just in case there were additional gems to be found.

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Filed under Contemporary, Humor, Realistic, Romance, Young Adult

February 12, 2011 · 4:30 am

Fragile (Rafferty, #1) by Shiloh Walker

Six years after trading in his combat gear for hospital scrubs, Luke Rafferty is faced with things just as heartbreaking as those on the battlefield. The abused children being brought in by the pretty redheaded social worker tug at his soul like nothing he’s ever known.

For Devon Manning, being a social worker is a rewarding job, but also a constant reminder of her own troubled youth. Devon takes everything one day at a time-unable to form a relationship with anyone except the children she rescues.

When Luke meets Devon, he thinks he might have found what he’s been looking for, but in order to get the life he wants, Luke has to break through Devon’s emotional barriers and make her realize that his healing touch might be just the complication her life needs… (from Goodreads)

I did not read this book when it was originally released because I felt the subject matter would be too depressing.  Although I like Shiloh Walker, I decided to give it a miss.  However, when its sequel came out my interest was renewed.  I am so glad I read this one and I am even more glad I waited.  The two books really need to be read back-to-back.

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January 16, 2011 · 9:34 am

The Darling Strumpet by Gillian Bagwell

From Publisher for Review

This review was originally posted on Seductive Musings.  They requested me to be a guest reviewer and I was VERY flattered and of course, said yes.  Although a historical, this book is not one I would have probably ever picked up on my own.  I am very grateful I did so because it is an amazingly well written book about a time period I have little knowledge of.  The following description is from the publisher with my review following.

A thrilling debut novel starring one of history’s most famous and beloved courtesans.

From London’s slums to its bawdy playhouses, The Darling Strumpet transports the reader to the tumultuous world of seventeenth-century England, charting the meteoric rise of the dazzling Nell Gwynn, who captivates the heart of King Charles II-and becomes one of the century’s most famous courtesans.

Witty and beautiful, Nell was born into poverty but is drawn into the enthralling world of the theater, where her saucy humor and sensuous charm earn her a place in the King’s Company. As one of the first actresses in the newly-opened playhouses, she catapults to fame, winning the affection of legions of fans-and the heart of the most powerful man in all of England, the King himself. Surrendering herself to Charles, Nell will be forced to maneuver the ruthless and shifting allegiances of the royal court-and discover a world of decadence and passion she never imagined possible.

First of all, a thank you to Seductive Musings for asking me to guest review this book.  Although I read a lot of historical fiction, I tend to concentrate on the seventeen and eighteen hundreds.  The Darling Strumpet takes place in the latter half of the 1600s, so it is a new era for me. 

Oliver Cromwell is dead and the beloved Charles II has returned to England to take up his crown.  In the streets of London, a young Nell Gwynn runs away from her abusive mother and joins her sister in a brothel.  Who would ever expect the paths of the King of England and a lowborn child prostitute to cross?

I have very mixed feelings about this book.  I loved Nell and thought her life was described fairly honestly.  There was no attempt to romanticize her career as a prostitute and mistress.  She knew her existence was strictly at the whim of whatever man had her in their power, be he low born or royalty.  However, despite that, she had many male friends (including former lovers) who she kept due to her wit and loyalty.

Although Charles II was presented very sympathetically, I could not like him.  Infidelity has always been the sticking point for me and he had three mistresses, a wife, and numerous casual trysts.  This was all at the same time.  And yes, I do realize the morals of the time, not to mention the fact he was King are supposed to make a difference.

Of course, the book is based on historical fact.  Charles II did have multiple mistresses.  The author is only being true to the facts.

This is probably not a book I will ever re-read.  I don’t need to . . . I will never forget it.

According to her website, Gillian Bagwell spent twenty years researching this, her debut book.  The wealth of historical detail makes it obvious that the time was well spent.  Fortunately, we will not have to wait so long for her next book which is based on another woman in Charles’ life:  Jane Lane.  The September Queen is due to be published in November of 2011.

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Filed under Historical, Realistic, Romance

January 16, 2011 · 3:54 am

The Darling Strumpet by Gillian Bagwell

The Darling Strumpet: A Novel of Nell Gwynn, Who Captured the Heart of England and King Charles IIThe Darling Strumpet: A Novel of Nell Gwynn, Who Captured the Heart of England and King Charles II by Gillian Bagwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oliver Cromwell is dead and the beloved Charles II has returned to England to take up his crown. In the streets of London, a young Nell Gwynn runs away from her abusive mother and joins her sister in a brothel. Who would ever expect the paths of the King of England and a lowborn child prostitute to cross?

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I loved Nell and thought her life was described fairly honestly. There was no attempt to romanticize her career as a prostitute and mistress. She knew her existence was strictly at the whim of whatever man had her in their power, be he low born or royalty. However, despite that, she had many male friends (including former lovers) who she kept due to her wit and loyalty.

Although Charles II was presented very sympathetically, I could not like him. Infidelity has always been the sticking point for me and he had three mistresses, a wife, and numerous casual trysts. This was all at the same time. And yes, I do realize the morals of the time, not to mention the fact he was King are supposed to make a difference.

Of course, the book is based on historical fact. Charles II did have multiple mistresses. The author is only being true to the facts.

This is probably not a book I will ever re-read. I don’t need to . . . I will never forget it.

According to her website, Gillian Bagwell spent twenty years researching this, her debut book. The wealth of historical detail makes it obvious that the time was well spent. Fortunately, we will not have to wait so long for her next book which is based on another woman in Charles’ life: Jane Lane. The September Queen is due to be published in November of 2011.

(originally reviewed at Seductive Musings)

View all my reviews

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Filed under Historical, Realistic, Romance

January 10, 2011 · 3:35 pm

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

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It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend. (from Goodreads)

Okay, I don’t normally read much contemporary, realistic fiction.  I especially don’t read it in the YA area because they tend to be depressing.  At least that’s what I’ve always thought.

I obviously need to expand my horizons.

I read Along for the Ride because it is one of last years Teens Top Ten nominees and I am still trying to catch up on those.  I am not sure why I bother because the new nominees will be out in a few months (April 14, 2011, to be exact.)  Anyway, it did make the top ten list.

I am so glad I gave this one a shot.

The book takes place during the summer between high school graduation and whatever comes after . . . college, work, or “chicken salad.”  Read the book.  You’ll understand.

Cross posted to Irwin County Students READ!

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December 7, 2010 · 5:06 am

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

“Dead girl walking,” the boys say in the halls.
“Tell us your secret,” the girls whisper, one toilet to another.
I am that girl.
I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.
I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame.

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit.

I found this to be a very disturbing book.  Like a lot of women, I would like to lose some weight.  Fortunately, I have never been tempted by anorexia or bulimia, but I can understand how some people’s view of themselves is completely tied up in their appearance.

The main idea I got from this book is that you will probably regret the things you don’t do more than the things that you do.

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November 18, 2010 · 5:56 am

Heist Society (Heist, #1) by Ally Carter

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When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own–scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat’s friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help. For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in history–or at least her family’s (very crooked) history. (from Amazon)

I have been wanting to read Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls series since she began publishing them.  I just haven’t taken the time.  Heist Society, however, is on this year’s YALSA’s Teens Top Ten list so I went ahead and read it.  I am so glad that I did.

She is an excellent author.  There are all kinds of twists and turns, but none of them seem far fetched.  It was more of a “I should have seen that coming” or “Why didn’t I think of that?” style.

The ending was very satisfying with a definite option for a sequel, but no cliff-hanger.  I am so tired of cliff-hangers!  I found the following information on the author’s blog.

“The title for Heist Society 2 will be Uncommon Criminals.  Look for it in stores on June 21, 2011!” (from Ally Carter’s blog)

And yes, I am definitely moving her Gallagher Girl series closer to the top of my TBR list.

 

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Filed under Contemporary, Mystery, Realistic, Young Adult

November 16, 2010 · 7:11 pm

Theodora’s Diary: Faith, Hope and Chocolate (Theodora, #1) by Penny Culliford

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From the Back Cover

Saturday 8th May. Emergency!

It is 11:30 p.m. and I am suffering from an incredibly intense chocolate craving that will not leave me in spite of prayer, distraction activities and half a loaf of bread and butter. Got out of bed and searched the flat. No luck. Not even a bourbon biscuit. Not even a cream egg left from Easter. All the shops are closed so no nipping out to replenish supplies. Nothing else for it. I’m reduced to the chocoholic’s equivalent of meths—cooking chocolate.

It’s been one of those days for Theodora. Her mother has become the Greek equivalent of Delia Smith, her boyfriend would rather watch 22 men kick a ball around a field than go shopping with her, and chintzy Charity Hubble wants to pray for her. And of course, the crowning insult is her utter lack of chocolate. Join in her daily life with all of its challenges and joys, tears and laughter.

I have to admit I picked up this book because so many of my middle school girls were reading it.  I mean SO many!  I begin to have my suspicions that it might contain some content that was not entirely appropriate for their age.

I was totally wrong.  This is an excellent, funny, sometimes sad, but always enjoyable story.  Although Theodora is a single woman in her late twenties living in England, I could really connect with her.  I will definitely be reading the rest of the series:  Theodora’s Wedding and Theodora’s Baby . . . and they’re in that order too.

Of course, I still don’t know why the middle school girls love them so much?

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