Review - Garden of Secrets by Barbara Freethy

TITLE: Garden of Secrets
   
AUTHOR:    Barbara Freethy
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 368 pages
PUBLISHED:   Pocket Star Books, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  Dr. Charlotte Adams is torn between two men. Rev. Andrew Schilling is her past, a high-school romance that went drastically wrong. But he's back in town now and part of her present — along with newly-divorced Police Chief Joe Silviera, whom she's been powerfully attracted to for months. The question is, which man is her future — and Charlotte has to face and accept her past before she can build a life with Joe.


MY TAKE:    In January, I discovered Barbara Freethy and her Angel's Bay series when I read and enjoyed my review of At Hidden Falls.  I was drawn into the characters and the town immediately and wanted more.


Garden of Secrets is the fifth and final installment in Ms. Freethy's series set in the fictional town of Angel's Bay on the Central California coast.  As with the other books in the series, this one can be read alone.  I'm a sucker for stories in a series so I suggest reading all of them simply for the whole experience and enjoyment.


The people that populate this little town as well as the angels that are responsible for the name are what make this such a heart-warming and fun series.  The author has filled her tale(s) with characters that tug at your heart and make you wish you lived there with them. I had already decided that I really liked Charlotte from the last book.  She has a big heart and tries to help everyone else out while ignoring her own pain and past.  Her biggest problem is trying to decide which of the gorgeous men who are pursuing her is the one she should take a chance on.  I have to admit that I was rooting for Joe even back in the first book when he was still with Rachel.  Charlotte's first love Andrew just never did it for me.  I disliked him from the moment he showed up.  I had a hard time with Charlotte forgiving him so easily and spending so much time with him.  


The mystery and murder storyline was well done.  The author kept me guessing until right near the end.  I liked it when so many of the threads started to come together and several of the stories/issues were resolved.


I recommend this book as an enjoyable read with just the right touches of romance, intrigue and magic to appeal to everyone.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Pre-order your copy now:  Amazon, The Book Depository, Barnes & Noble

    

~~~~~ 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 Taker by Alma Katsu

TITLE:    The Taker
AUTHOR:    Alma Katsu
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction,  437 pages
PUBLISHED:   Gallery, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  True love can last an eternity...but immortality comes at a price..


On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting another quiet evening of frostbite and the occasional domestic dispute. But the minute Lanore McIlvrae—Lanny—walks into his ER, she changes his life forever. A mysterious woman with a past and plenty of dark secrets, Lanny is unlike anyone Luke has ever met. He is inexplicably drawn to her . . . despite the fact that she is a murder suspect with a police escort. And as she begins to tell her story, a story of enduring love and consummate betrayal that transcends time and mortality, Luke finds himself utterly captivated.


Her impassioned account begins at the turn of the nineteenth century in the same small town of St. Andrew, Maine, back when it was a Puritan settlement. Consumed as a child by her love for the son of the town’s founder, Lanny will do anything to be with him forever. But the price she pays is steep—an immortal bond that chains her to a terrible fate for all eternity. And now, two centuries later, the key to her healing and her salvation lies with Dr. Luke Findley.


Part historical novel, part supernatural page-turner, The Taker is an unforgettable tale about the power of unrequited love not only to elevate and sustain, but also to blind and ultimately destroy, and how each of us is responsible for finding our own path to redemption. 

MY TAKE:    Debut author Alma Katsu has come onto the literary scene in a big way.  Her new novel The Taker is one of those books that will fit on the shelves of several different genres:  historical fiction, paranormal, thriller, fantasy, romance, mystery, etc.  I really am having a hard time choosing just one niche to put it in on my own bookcase. 

I must admit that I didn't know exactly what to expect from this book.  A lot of the really early hype likened the author's style to that of Anne Rice and a few others.  While I can see why they might mention these other authors and/or stories, it might take away from the fact that this is a truly original tale.  Ms. Katsu has taken elements of myth, history and fairytale to create a new masterpiece for readers to delve into and not want to return from.


The Taker is a fantastic story with multi-dimensional characters that drive an exciting and intriguing plot.  It is definitely a dark story, but with the odd moments of brightness. The author has a beautiful writing style that flows effortlessly from one character to another and from the past to the present and back.  I like the technique of flashing back into the past to tell the historical aspects of Lanny's life.  It is an effective way to educate the reader of the events that led her to be in the present sitting in Luke's emergency room, asking for his help.


Lanore/Lanny is a courageous woman who has been through hell.  Even though she has 200 years of bad choices behind her, she still holds out for love and what it promises.  Adair is very seductive and I can see why he would be so hard to resist as well as easy to despise.  I did actually feel bad for him when I read how he became immortal.  It was a bit ugly.    Lanny's unrequited love Jonathan is, quite simply: a putz.  I wanted to just whack him up alongside the head on a regular basis.  But then we come to Luke.  While Luke has his own share of issues, he is the stability that Lanny has been searching centuries for.  Maybe together they can figure this out.  


The ending is not quite what I expected.  It was a tad bit abrupt and I was definitely left wanting much, much more.  I was quite happy when another reader told me that there is a sequel planned.  Can't wait for it.


While I highly recommend this enticing new story, I do want to caution that it is an ADULT novel.  The paranormal aspects are most likely going to appeal to younger readers (as will the gorgeous covers - I WANT one of those UK copies!), but there are some heavy sex scenes that include violence and multiple partners as well as actual rape. This aspect does not take away from the story by any means, it is just part of the tale and is intended for a mature audience.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

On sale now:  Amazon, The Book Depository, Barnes & Noble

~~~~~ 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 - Dark Taste of Rapture by Gena Showalter

TITLE:    Dark Taste of Rapture (Alien Huntress 7)
AUTHOR:    Gena Showalter
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 451 pages
PUBLISHED:   Pocket Star Books, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  With one caress, he can give unforgettable pleasure . . . or unending pain. . .
 
Hector Dean is shaved, tattooed, and totally ripped—and he has a deadly secret. He is a walking weapon, capable of killing with a single brush of his fingertips. Little wonder he’s determined to remain on his own. But Noelle Tremain is a temptation like no other. She is beautiful and rich, with a party girl smile that hides a shocking vulnerability, and from the beginning his sizzling attraction to her is undeniable. For the first time, his stone-cold resistance is tested. But to be with her, he risks destroying her.
 
When a wealthy businessman is murdered in New Chicago’s seediest district, the two are partnered, and there’s no escaping what they both want: each other. Yet neither Hector nor Noelle knows what to fear more—the killer case, or their own lethal desires. . . .

MY TAKE:    I just started reading Gena Showalter's books last fall.  I quickly became addicted to her stories.  One of my first reviews in this genre and of one of her tales was Ecstasy in Darkness ~ which I also bestowed a 4.5 JEWEL rating upon.  She has become one of my favorite authors.  I am making my way through her backlist and enjoying myself immensely.

The latest and greatest in the Alien Huntress series is the story of Noelle and Hector.  Fans will remember Noelle as Ava's bestest buddy from Ecstasy in Darkness.  Their deep friendship and the fantastic, laugh-provoking banter definitely left fans wanting more from this terrible twosome.  So Ms. Showalter came through with Dark Taste of Rapture.  She found the perfect man for feisty Noelle in Hector.  He is the dark to her light as well as the straight man to her snarky sense of humor.  They bring out the best and the worst in each other.  The sexual tension in this story is very high and hot!

As with the other books in the series, this book stands alone well.  Of course I would suggest reading all of them simply because they are outstanding.  They all deliver action, humor and steam in large doses.  Must reads for lovers of paranormal romance.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

 

 

 

 

~~~~~ 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 - Paradise Rules by Jimmy Gleacher

TITLE:    Paradise Rules
AUTHOR:    Jimmy Gleacher
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 292 pages
PUBLISHED:   Gallery, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:    TRUE OR F A L S E ?



It’s only a week into summer break and already seventeen-year-old Gates has . . .

a) Hustled millionaires on the golf course

b) Tried to stop his mother from having a(nother) nervous breakdown

c) Promised to lose his virginity with his girlfriend, Mel . . . which would be great if he hadn’t already lost it to his forty-year-old godmother

d) Almost killed a man


Yeah, Gates has a lot of secrets, but he’s determined to keep his heart true. When he’s not swinging golf clubs like a pro, he reads pulp fiction to old folks at the retirement home. And despite his occasional slip-ups—drinking before noon and sneaking glimpses through his sexy godmother’s open negligees—Gates only has eyes for Mel. But she knows he’s hiding something, and she’s beginning to lose her patience.


Just as Gates is about to spill his shameful secrets, he gets tangled up in a golf club scandal that jeopardizes his dreams of a normal life. He’s never been a fighter, but this time he finally pushes back at the world—which could have been a breakthrough but turns into an epic fail. Probably because Gates fights back dirty. Now his life is on the verge of ruin, and he’s got no one to turn to for help.

Or so he thinks. Because what Gates is about to discover might hit him with the most amazing shock of his life.

MY TAKE:    This was a fun book to read with quite a few laughs and definitely some groans thrown in.  Gates isn't a bad kid by any means, he just doesn't always think with his brain.  (Of course that describes how many 17 year old males?) 

The characters that populate this book are very well written.  Many of them come across as people that we might have in our own lives.  Gates is a very sympathetic kid as he really does have a great heart.  He loves his girlfriend Mel and really does try to do things right by her, it just doesn't always go well.  The fact that he goes to the retirement home on his own and has a close relationship with an old man there is one of his bright spots.  Some of his choices in other areas shine a light on his age and his homelife.

Gates' mother is pretty much useless.  I flat out didn't care for her at all.  Then we have his godmother who is a real piece of work.  Alicia is just wrong wrong wrong - on many levels.  I won't delve into it as her issues are a large piece of the story.  It is a very interesting part she plays. 

The plot moves along quickly and it really isn't until close to the end of the book that I figured out where it was going.  The author does a nice job of keeping the intensity up and the action flowing.  I enjoyed how everything played out and I do hope that Mr. Gleacher is working on a sequel.  

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

 

~~~~~ 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 Wedding Wager by Jane Feather

The Blackwater Brides Trilogy continues.....

TITLE:    A Wedding Wager
AUTHOR:    Jane Feather
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 447 pages
PUBLISHED:   Pocket, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Book Tour

FROM GOODREADS:  New York Times bestselling author Jane Feather again delights with her new book in this entrancing Georgian trilogy featuring three noble brothers who are offered a preposterous opportunity to restore their family’s mortgaged lands. An eccentric uncle promises a lavish inheritance, but only if each marries—thus redeeming—a fallen woman. And if even one brother fails to fulfill the old man’s decree, none will gain the windfall.

Lady Serena Grantley was born to the nobility, but fortune's whim placed her in control of her gamester stepfather, who uses her beauty to lure young men to his gambling tables. Serena even dismissed her first love, the Honorable Sebastian Sullivan, at her stepfather's command. But when he attempts to force her into a liaison with a dissolute earl, Serena resolves to do his bidding no more. Sebastian is the only man who ever captured her heart, and it is to him she turns. . . .


Torn between family loyalty and the woman he loves, Sebastian faces a devilish dilemma. His uncle is ailing, and time is running short. Desperate to find a solution, Sebastian conceives a dangerous plan—a wager that could bring him and Serena happiness at last . . . or separate them forever.

MY TAKE:    This second installment of the Blackwater Brides Trilogy is an enjoyable, stand alone read.  The premise of the series is that three noble, almost impoverished brothers are directed to find and marry three "unacceptable" women.  They are told to find fallen women who have taken the wrong path and try to redeem them and bring them into society.  This directive is from their dying uncle who promises to bequeath each of them a small fortune if they can accomplish their task. 

The first book, Rushed to the Altar is the story of the oldest brother Jasper.  He does his part finding his beloved Clarissa.  The catch is that ALL three of them must accomplish this before the old man dies.  This part of the story begins with Sebastian reminiscing about his lost love Serena. Things start turning upside down for him when he runs into her in person after three long years apart.  Some things have changed while others are still the same.
  
I enjoyed this story, quickly finishing it in an afternoon while I was hiding inside under the air conditioner.  Even though it is part of a series, there was plenty of background information provided to become fully immersed in the story.  While the main plot of the story/series is the three brothers in a race against time to find "suitable" women to marry, there are several other subplots occurring as well.  It makes for a fun read as you try to figure out exactly what some of the characters are really up to.

The characters were likable and easy to get to know.  It was refreshing that they were also all different.  Jane Feather doesn't create cookie-cutter characters.  She writes stories about individuals who all have their own agendas and concerns.  Besides Sebastian and Serena, I got a kick out of young Abigail.  She was another girl with a mind of her own.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it: 

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon and The Book Depository

 

 

~~~~~ 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.