Weekly Wrap 103110

This feature is inspired by The Story Siren's "In My Mailbox" posts.  Let me show you the books that I've come across in one way or another for the past (two) weeks ~ missed last week's post! 

Prisoners in the Palace

At Home: A Short History of Private Life

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While I really am on a self-imposed book buying ban, I couldn't resist these at the thrift store for a .25 each!  Especially the Jane Eyre book...

Jane Eyre

Obsidian Butterfly (An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 9)

The Duchess' Lover

Storm Cycle

 

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~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm

The Love Goddess' Cooking School

Winter Bloom

Clinton St. Baking Company Cookbook: Breakfast, Brunch & Beyond from New York's Favorite Neighborhood Restaurant

The Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect with Your Kids, One Meal at a Time

Blood Trinity: Book 1 in the Belador Series

**Thank you to Chronicle Books, Doubleday, Pocket Books, Gallery Books, Little Brown & Company and Grand Central Publishing.  

Review - She Smells the Dead by E.J. Stevens

TITLE:     She Smells the Dead (Spirit Guide, Book 1)
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    E.J. Stevens
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 168 pages
PUBLISHED:   Sacred Oaks Press, 2010
ISBN#:   978-0-9842-47523
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Author for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  It's the beginning of senior year and Yuki's psychic awareness of ghostly spirits is threatening to ruin her life. Her ability to sense spirits of the dead isn't glamorous like the ghost hunting on television.   

SHE SMELLS THE DEAD.


The smell impressions are becoming stronger. Yuki is being visited in her dreams, and she suspects that her friend Calvin is involved in something strange. To make matters worse her crush on Garrett is going unrequited, Yuki's friend Emma is on a rampage against bee oppression, and annoying Calvin Miller mysteriously disappears.


Will Yuki be able to focus her powers in time to save the lost soul who is haunting her? Meanwhile, who will save Yuki from following the spirits into the light?

MY TAKE:   I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I received it from the author, E.J. Stevens who is a master of dark poetry.  I wondered if this book would be a bit dark as well, but I was quite pleased in this fun and inventive story.

Yuki ~not Yucky, long u~ is an unusual protagonist.  She has the ability to smell dead people.  Not as in rotting corpses, but as in impressions that indicate something of the deceased's life ~ vinegar or roses are some examples.  As to her appearance, Yuki has her own sense of Goth style that will amuse many readers.  I got a kick out of visualizing each of her ensembles.  (Don't you just LOVE the cover by the way??)

Calvin and Emma are Yuki's best friends and confidants. Emma is a loyal and quirky animal-lover and environmentalist.  Calvin is becoming more and more mysterious.  They both know of Yuki's unusual ability as well as her major, major crush on nerd-boy Garrett.  Garrett barely takes notice of Yuki, much to Calvin's delight!  Calvin and Yuki learn more about their own spirit guides and their destinies as Samhain approaches.

This very entertaining story is a great addition to the YA market, appropriate for young readers and adults as well.  As one of those "adults", I am really looking forward to the next installment in the Spirit Guide series, "Spirit Storm" which is due out early next year.   
   
MY RATING:    4/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:   Amazon, The Book Depository, IndieBound

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Why? Because We Still Like You by Jennifer Armstrong

M-I-C see you real soon       K-E-Y Why? Because we like you 

M-O-U-S-E

TITLE:    Why? Because We Still Like You
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Author
INFO:    Hardcover, Non-Fiction, 256 pages
PUBLISHED:   Grand Central Publishing, 2010
ISBN#:   978-0-4465-45952
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  This book will tell the behind-the-scenes story of how The Mickey Mouse Club paved the way for all that came after, from its humble beginnings as a marketing ploy, through its short but mesmerizing run, to the numerous resurrections that made it one of television's first true cult hits--all through the recollections of those regular kids-turned-stars who made it a phenomenon. It will reveal, for the first time ever, the untold stories of Annette, Darlene, Cubby and Karen, Bobbie and the rest of the beloved cast. It will explore, through the reminiscences of former fans who grew up to be some of television's finest minds, what made the show so special. And it will examine why the formula the creators of the show invented is more relevant than ever, and whether we'll ever see yet another Club for a new generation.   

MY TAKE:   I am a big Disney fan so I was really looking forward to reviewing this book. I watched re-runs of this original cast when I was a kid.  Used to drive the parents nuts running around singing the song.  

I have to admit that I never watched the newer version of the show which launched Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, but I was surprised that there wasn't more details regarding it. Especially since they discuss the possibility of a newer version being created.

The book wasn't quite what I expected after reading the blurb from the publishers.  I didn't find it to be the exciting and gripping read they promised.  There wasn't as much depth as I was looking forward to either.  It seemed to skim over several issues and not delve more into what happened with some of these child stars other than Annette. 

Overall I felt it was a light, nostalgic look back at some of the "kids" that entertained many of us as kids ourselves.  It would be a nice, quick read for a fan of Disney or the Mouseketeers.
   
MY RATING:    3/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:   Amazon, The Book Depository, IndieBound

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Ecstasy in Darkness by Gena Showalter

TITLE:    Ecstasy in Darkness (Alien Huntress, Book 5)
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Gena Showalter
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 502 pages
PUBLISHED:   Pocket Books, 2010
ISBN#:   978-1-4391-7577-4
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  New York Times bestselling sensation Gena Showalter enthralls with a dark, tantalizing world of humans, otherworlders, powers beyond imagining, and a seductive vampire undone by his insatiable hunger for one woman. . . .

Growing up poor on New Chicago’s meanest streets, Ava Sans had two options: be the predator or be the prey. No contest. Now, working for Alien Investigation and Removal, she’s been ordered to capture the biggest, baddest warrior of all—a vampire too beautiful to be real, with the ability to manipulate time. Once the leader of the entire vampire army, McKell has been deemed savage and unstable, spurned even by his own kind.

To McKell, humans should be nothing more than sustenance. Yet the petite, golden-skinned Ava is a fascinating contradiction—vicious yet witty, strong yet vulnerable, lethal but fiercely loyal. Against his better judgment, McKell craves that loyalty, and much more. When the chase leads to seduction, McKell and Ava will race to discover the truth about his past. But the answers will come at a price, even for a woman who thought she had nothing left to lose. . . .  

MY TAKE:   I am a semi-rabid fan of Gena Showalter who I became acquainted with in my review of  "The Darkest Night" from the "Lords of the Underworld" series a few months ago.  I've started going through her backlist and am hooked!  This lady is an amazing author.  She really knows how to grab her readers and keep them entertained.

So, on to the newest gem!  Ecstasy in Darkness is the 5th installment in the "Alien Huntress" series.  (Just so you know, all of her books that I've read so far can be consumed as stand alone books or read in order of the series.  She provides plenty of backstory so a reader isn't lost if they're not being read in sequence.)

The heroine in this book is Ava.  She's little, she's tough, and she's an agent-in-training for Alien Investigation and Removal.  When she and her best friend Noelle are assigned to bring in the vampire McKell, things really start getting tough for Ava.  She fights her attraction for this amazingly gorgeous being while trying to fight her way to becoming a full-fledged agent of AIR.

I really liked Ava, for many reasons.  Her loyalty to her BFF Noelle was a lot of fun to read.  They are quite the pair.  Ava is scarred emotionally from a horrible childhood, but she is still hopeful, down deep.  She has the marshmallow core, she just can't afford to show it much.

McKell, or Viktor as he insists Ava call him, is a real pain in the rear in the beginning.  He's extremely arrogant and rather obnoxious.  The fact that he is blindingly beautiful just happens to be a plus.  McKell is fighting with his own demons regarding his upbringing and his place in this world.  He doesn't really have or want a home until he meets Ava.  She changes the brutal killing machine into someone who has something to fight for.

As usual, Ms. Showalter delivers with a fabulous plot, strong but likable heroines, beyond yummy males, steamy sex scenes, and a lot of humor ~ you'll love Hellina, btw!

I highly recommend this to Gena Showalter fans and those who enjoy a great paranormal romance filled with action. 
   
MY RATING:    4.5/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository, IndieBound

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Love Goddess' Cooking School by Melissa Senate

TITLE:    The Love Goddess' Cooking School
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Melissa Senate
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 325 pages
PUBLISHED:    Gallery Books, 2010
ISBN#:   978-1-4391-0723-2

HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS: 

Camilla's Cucinotta:   

Italian Cooking Classes

Fresh take-home pastas and sauces daily

Benvenuti (Welcome!)

Holly Maguire's grandmother was the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine–a Milanese fortune teller who could predict the right man for you, and whose Italian cooking was rumored to save marriages. Holly has been waiting years for her unlikely fortune: her true love will like sa cordula, an unappetizing old-world delicacy. But Holly can't make a decent marinara sauce, let alone sa cordula. Maybe that's why the man she hopes to marry breaks her heart. So when Holly inherits Camilla's Cucinotta, she's determined to forget about fortunes and love and become an Italian cooking teacher worthy of her grandmother's legacy.


But Holly's four students are seeking much more than how to make Camilla's chicken alla Milanese. Simon, a single father, hopes to cook his way back into his daughter's heart. Juliet, Holly's childhood friend, hides a painful secret. Tamara, a serial dater, can't find the love she longs for. And twelve-year-old Mia thinks learning to cook will stop her dad from marrying his phony lasagna-queen girlfriend.

As the class gathers each week, adding Camilla's essential ingredients of wishes and memories into every pot and pan, unexpected friendships and romances are formed–and tested. Especially when Holly falls hard for Liam . . . and learns a thing or two about finding her own recipe for happiness.

MY TAKE:   This was a very enjoyable book from the very beginning.  I found myself caring about the characters and becoming invested in their stories. 

Holly garnered a lot of sympathy and empathy from me in both her heartbreak and the loss of her beloved grandmother.  I could feel her pain and also her hope for the future. 

It took me a bit longer to warm up to Liam due to the fact that he was dating a "bobblehead" as his daughter (and eventually Holly) called her.  But once he got with the program, you couldn't help root for him and his daughter Mia.  She was a nice surprise in this lovely story.

I was very pleased that the author included many of the recipes that she referred to during the story.  My mouth was watering and my stomach was grumbling at many points due to her delectable descriptions and precise instructions.  I was jealous of the students in the cooking classes!

Great plot, endearing characters, and some great new recipes I'm trying soon ~ although I guarantee sa cordula won't be one of them.  I highly recommend this book to anyone.  I also think it would make an excellent book club selection as it already has a group guide included.
   
MY RATING:    4/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository, IndieBound

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Happy Birthday Mama

Today would have been Mom's 73rd birthday so I'm not posting anything except for Happy Birthday and I miss you.

We Have Winners

Congratulations to the two lucky winners of Annie Solomon's "Two Lethal Lies":

elaing8

Judy H

Both winners have been notified via email.  If you weren't the one of the lucky ones, you can still get your own copy.  Click on the cover below:

Two Lethal Lies

Thanks again to Annie Solomon and Hachette Books for this great giveaway.

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Blood Trinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love

Introducing the first book in an exciting new paranormal thriller series...

TITLE:    Blood Trinity: Book 1 in the Belador Series
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 519 pages
PUBLISHED:   Pocket Books, 2010
ISBN#:   978-1-4391-5582-0
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  Atlanta has become the battlefield between human and demon. All her life, Evalle has walked the line between the two. Her origins unknown, she’s on a quest to learn more about her past and her future.   

But when a demon claims a human and there’s no one else to blame, Evalle comes under fire. It’s no longer a question of learning about herself, it’s a question of survival. Through the underground of an alternate Atlanta where nothing is as it seems to the battleground of where her VIPER allies have become the force that is now hunting her, Evalle must prove her innocence or pay the ultimate price.


But proving her innocence is the least of her problems if she doesn’t stop the coming apocalypse. The clock is ticking and it’s about to become a lot hotter in Atlanta

MY TAKE:   I was very pleased to be able to participate in the blog tour for this great new series by these two very talented authors.  Thank you to Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love as well as Ayelet at Gallery for providing me the opportunity to review this fabulous introduction to the Beladors.

The numerous elements in this book will make it very appealing across many genres.  I would have a hard time classifying it into just one niche.  If pressed I might call it a thrilling romantic paranormal action-adventure in urban fantasy with shades of science fiction thrown in for good measure.  How's that for a new genre?  Well done ladies!

It is really an amazing book that I couldn't put down.  I was very much in Evalle's corner right from the start as she is wrongly accused of a crime by a fellow tribe member.  While she is on the run for her life and trying to learn about her origins, she is also pressed to find and protect an ancient artifact that will possibly save them all.  She's a very well-written heroine with a strong group of characters around her. Tzader, Quinn, Storm and Grady are all pretty cool customers. More, please. 

The Beladore world or sub-world that the authors have created is a very rich and detailed setting that almost seems real.  This wonderful new series has a strong foundation that I think is going to support many more new installments in the future (not too distant future, please..I'm already itching to read more).

I highly recommend you get your copy ASAP!  It's available now at local bookstores or online at the links below.  You may also read more about the authors and their upcoming offerings at their respective websites:  Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love
   
MY RATING:    4.5/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository, IndieBound

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.