Review - Ghost For Sale by Sandra Cox

TITLE:    Ghost For Sale
AUTHOR:   Sandra Cox
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 178 pages
PUBLISHED:   Lyrical Press, 2015
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS: Caitlin King can't believe that her shopaholic cousin actually bought two ghosts off of eBay. But she can't ignore the truth when she starts seeing sexy Liam O'Reilly, who's been dead for over a hundred years. He's a fascinating specter, and the more time Caitlin spends with him, the closer they become - sending them both spiraling into a star-crossed tailspin. No matter how desperately they long for each other, there's just no future with a guy who's already stopped breathing. 

In order to help Liam and his twin sister, Anna, leave their earthly limbo and cross over into the light, Caitlin must find the ghost of Anna's fiance. But a malevolent spirit is dead set against Anna moving on. Now Caitlin will have to unravel the mystery surround the twins' past lives in order to keep Liam's spirit safe - even if it means sacrificing her heart in the process. 

MY TAKE:    I had high hopes that this book would be a fun, quick read. The premise sounded entertaining. Unfortunately it just didn't live up to what I had thought it would.

The biggest issue I had would have to be the characters. I just could not get enthused about or warmed up to Caitlin. I just really didn't care for or about her. She's a spoiled little rich girl with way too many men in her life. She, along with the men and other characters were simply one dimensional. I didn't connect with a single one. 

I did score it a little higher than "just OK" because my curiosity was peaked by the mystery of why Liam and Anna were being held here. That part of the story is interesting.
  

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Ghost for Sale can be found at

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

~~~~~ 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 - Wedding Matilda by Heather Hiestand

TITLE:    Wedding Matilda (Redcakes Book 6)
AUTHOR:    Heather Hiestand
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 254 pages
PUBLISHED:   Lyrical Press, 2015
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS: Sugared violets, buttercream...but he craves her kisses most of all...  

Orphaned as a boy, Ewan Hales is proud to make his living as secretary to the manager at Redcake's Tea Shop. But the startling news that he's heir to the Earl of Fitzwalter changes everything. While tendering his resignation to lovely Matilda Redcake, however, Ewan is struck by her spirit, the luscious bow of her lips - and a realization, Matilda might not marry a working man - but will she wed a future nobleman?

Ewan's unruly hair and roguish kisses are tempting, but Matilda has far too many problems to consider romance. With sabotage at a cake factory threatening the family empire, she must focus her considerable willpower on keeping Redcakes from ruin - until she learns that her young son has been kidnapped. Together, she and Ewan must uncover the truth before they can savor the sweet freedom of love....

MY TAKE:   I was not familiar with the author or her delightful Redcake family before being sent this book for review. I usually don't like to come into the middle of a series, but this book is very much a stand alone read, and an enjoyable one at that. It is an easy read that flows from one scene to another and has definitely drawn me in to wanting to know more about this family and their adventures.

One of the things I noted in this book was that the story wasn't all pure romance. There was a lively thread of mystery and suspense running through it as well. I enjoyed trying to guess who the bad guys were and what would happen next. I also liked the fact that the sex scenes weren't overly or gratuitously done. It can be tiring if the main characters are always jumping into bed and there is no real story other than that. Ms. Hiestand's book is nothing like that. The scenes are natural feeling and fit well in the storyline. It makes for a believable progression with just the right amount of spark.

I highly recommend this book and am personally looking forward to starting in on the other books in this story. 
  

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

You can grab your copy of Wedding Matilda in print or ebook HERE.  Plus check out the rest of the series and get to know the Redcakes.

~~~~~ 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 + Giveaway - Reign of Madness by Lynn Cullen

TITLE:    Reign of Madness

AUTHOR:    Lynn Cullen
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 421 pages
PUBLISHED:   Putnam, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Blog Tour

From the author of The Creation of Eve comes a tale of love and madness, royal intrigue and marital betrayal, set during the Golden Age of Spain.

FROM GOODREADS:  

Juana of Castile, third child of the Spanish monarchs Isabel and Fernando, grows up with no hope of inheriting her parents' crowns, but as a princess knows her duty: to further her family's ambitions through marriage. Yet stories of courtly love, and of her parents' own legendary romance, surround her. When she weds the Duke of Burgundy, a young man so beautiful that he is known as Philippe the Handsome, she dares to hope that she might have both love and crowns. He is caring, charming, and attracted to her-seemingly a perfect husband.

But what begins like a fairy tale ends quite differently.

When Queen Isabel dies, the crowns of Spain unexpectedly pass down to Juana, leaving her husband and her father hungering for the throne. Rumors fly that the young Queen has gone mad, driven insane by possessiveness. Who is to be believed? The King, beloved by his subjects? Or the Queen, unseen and unknown by her people?

One of the greatest cautionary tales in Spanish history comes to life as Lynn Cullen explores the controversial reign of Juana of Castile-also known as Juana the Mad. Sweeping, page-turning, and wholly entertaining, Reign of Madness is historical fiction at its richly satisfying best.

MY TAKE:   The history of Spain and its royalty was mostly unknown to me until reading this book.  I had heard of Isabella and Ferdinand of course, but not many details.  While Reign of Madness went a long way to change that, it was also an enjoyable read. 

Lynn Cullen has focused on a point in history that is still surrounded by more questions than answers, almost 500 years later.  It continues to be a mystery what really happened to Juana during those four and half decades of imprisonment.  I enjoyed the author's vision of what the Spanish Queen may have gone through. 

One of the things I learned from this story was that Isabella had actually been the power in Spain, not Ferdinand.  The glimpse into their personal life was very interesting.  It is a real shame that poor Juana didn't get to benefit from her mother's strength and teachings.  If she had, a completely different history may have unfolded. 

The story moved along at a brisk pace and I was kept turning the pages, wanting to know more. I recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and those who want to read a really good story.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Visit author Lynn Cullen at her website: lynncullen.com or at Facebook

Thanks to the generosity of the author and Lisa of TLC Book Tours, we have a copy of Reign of Madness for one lucky reader!

• US/Canada residents only
• No PO Boxes
• Must be 13 years old or more
• Leave a comment telling me if you're familiar with Juana the Mad, be sure to leave your email address
• Drawing ends 8/29/11, midnight PST
• Winner will have 72 hours to respond to notification

 
~~~~~ 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 - What Language Is by John McWhorter

TITLE:    What Language Is
AUTHOR:    John McWhorter
INFO:    Hardcover, Non-Fiction, 228 pages
PUBLISHED:   Gotham Books, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Blog Tour

 
FROM GOODREADS:  New York Times bestselling author and renowned linguist, John McWhorter, explores the complicated and fascinating world of languages. From Standard English to Black English; obscure tongues only spoken by a few thousand people in the world to the big ones like Mandarin - What Language Is celebrates the history and curiosities of languages around the world and smashes our assumptions about "correct" grammar.

An eye-opening tour for all language lovers, What Language Is offers a fascinating new perspective on the way humans communicate. From vanishing languages spoken by a few hundred people to major tongues like Chinese, with copious revelations about the hodgepodge nature of English, John McWhorter shows readers how to see and hear languages as a linguist does. Packed with Big Ideas about language alongside wonderful trivia, What Language Is explains how languages across the globe (the Queen's English and Surinam creoles alike) originate, evolve, multiply, and divide. Raising provocative questions about what qualifies as a language (so-called slang does have structured grammar), McWhorter also takes readers on a marvelous journey through time and place-from Persian to the languages of Sri Lanka- to deliver a feast of facts about the wonders of human linguistic expression.

MY TAKE:    John McWhorter has brought us an original and upbeat look at language.  The full title tells it all:  What Language Is (And What It Isn't and What It Could Be).  I knew this book would be interesting, I just didn't realize it would also be fun. 

With tidbits such as the fact that the written word is only about 5500 years old versus the 150000 years of the spoken word; we are taken on a wild linguistical journey from Ancient Greece and beyond.  The study of language has the propensity to be a dry subject but with McWhorter guiding us it becomes fascinating and a bit clearer in some aspects.  I learned much about this fabulous tool we use to communicate.

I really liked the style of writing.  The author doesn't "write down" to his audience or even "dummy it up" for us.  He makes linguistics available and approachable to the average reader.  His love of language definitely shines through in this delightful book and gives us much to ponder. 

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Get your copy at The Book Depository

Be sure to visit the other blogs on this fun and enlightening tour.   
~~~~~ 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 Lens and The Looker by Lory S. Kaufman

There's hope for the future,

but what about the past?

TITLE:    The Lens and the Looker
AUTHOR:    Lory S. Kaufman
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 322 pages
PUBLISHED:   The Fiction Studio, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Book Tour

  

Pump Up Your Book Tours

FROM THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:  It’s the 24th century and humans, with the help of artificial intelligences (A.I.s), have finally created the perfect post-dystopian society. To make equally perfect citizens for this world, the elders have created History Camps, full sized recreations of cities from Earth’s distant pasts. Here teens live the way their ancestors did, doing the same dirty jobs and experiencing the same degradations. History Camps teach youths not to repeat the mistakes that almost caused the planet to die. But not everything goes to plan.


In this first of a trilogy, we meet three spoiled teens in the year 2347. Hansum almost 17, is good looking and athletic. Shamira, 15, is sassy, independent and an artistic genius. Lincoln, 14, is the smart-aleck. But you don’t have to scratch too far beneath the surface to find his insecurities.


These three “hard cases” refuse the valuable lessons History Camps teach. But when they are kidnapped and taken back in time to 1347 Verona, Italy, they only have two choices; adapt to the harsh medieval ways or die. The dangers are many, their enemies are powerful, and safety is a long way away. It’s hardly the ideal environment to fall in love – but that’s exactly what happens. In an attempt to survive, the trio risks introducing technology from the future. It could save them – or it could change history.

MY TAKE:    This is an exciting new series in the YA genre that will appeal to readers of various ages.  I think it's another one of those stories that shouldn't be "pigeon-holed" into just one genre or classification.  While it's being marketed towards YA readers, I think dystopian, historical fiction, time travel, romance, adventure and science fiction aspects are also well represented in this work by Lory S. Kaufman.  As an adult who enjoys all of these genres, including YA; I found this to be a great read.
  
I'm an avid reader of historical fiction.  When I saw the description of this story, I jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour.  One of my favorite books/movies is Timeline by Michael Crichton.  It involves a group of archaeologists who are thrown back into medieval France and must learn to survive without their modern amenities.  This story reminded me of that in a vague way and I am happy to say I'm not disappointed.  It's a fresh take on the "fish out of water" syndrome. 

A History Camp where youngsters are taught to learn from the mistakes of the past is a fantastic idea.  I love that our three main characters are pretty much hard-ass delinquents who are spoiled and quite jaded.  They do their best to get in their own way and cause even more problems for themselves and the adults who are trying to help them.  It was fun watching the three of them grow and change their perceptions of themselves and the privileged life they came from.  None of them were especially likable at the start.  I found myself caring what happened to them quickly as the story progressed and their hardships began piling up on them.

The extensive research done by Mr. Kaufman is very apparent from the beginning.  He mixes historical facts in with the fictional tale seamlessly.  I learned a lot about Verona and much of medieval life without feeling like I was being "taught".  The story was enjoyable and educational and I became attached to many of the people who made the tale come alive for me.  While Hansum is the one we spent the most time with in the story, I am hoping to hear more from Shamira and Lincoln in the upcoming books.

I highly recommend this story and the entire series. The The Lens and the Looker  is available now.  I look forward to continuing on the adventure with Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln in the next installment The Bronze and the Brimstone - available TOMORROW ~ June 7th! 

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon and The Book Depository

You can learn more about the author and the series by visiting:
History-Camp
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

I'm excited to also be on the tour for the second book in the series: The Bronze and the Brimstone  on June 24th.  Be sure to check back in to see what's next in this exciting Verona Trilogy.

 
~~~~~ 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 + Giveaway - Ten Beach Road by Wendy Wax

TITLE:    Ten Beach Road
AUTHOR:    Wendy Wax
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 404 pages
PUBLISHED:   Berkley, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from TLC Book Tours for review and Blog Tour
  

FROM GOODREADS:  Madeline, Avery, and Nikki are strangers to each other, but they have one thing in common. They each wake up one morning to discover their life savings have vanished, along with their trusted financial manager- leaving them with nothing but co-ownership of a ramshackle beachfront house.

Throwing their lots in together, they take on the challenge of restoring the historic property. But just as they begin to reinvent themselves and discover the power of friendship, secrets threaten to tear down their trust-and destroy their lives a second time.

MY TAKE:    I found this to be a satisfying and enjoyable read.  The story of these three women who are initially strangers and ultimately friends is one that will strike a note with most female readers. 

The full range of emotions are pulled into play when reading this story.  I felt sympathy, sorrow, disgust, humor, hope and much more.  The author did a very nice job of bringing us into these ladies' lives and having us journey with them as they find their own strengths.  I think Kyra, Maddie's pregnant daughter ended up being one of my favorite characters.  She seemed to bring a balance into the house even though she was dealing with an unplanned pregnancy and problems of her own. 

While this isn't a sugary, fluffy story; it is a book that I felt good about after I finished.  I'd say it would make a good beach read only because it is one that you can get lost in and spend an afternoon with.  Due to some language and sexual inferences, I wouldn't recommend this to young readers.  It would fall into a young adult/over 14 range I think.
  

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon and The Book Depository

I'd like to thank Berkley and Lisa at TLC Book Tours for including me on this blog tour as well as for providing one lucky reader their own copy of Ten Beach Road.  Here's the details:

• Must be 13 or older
• US Residents only
• Leave a comment with your email
• No PO Boxes
• Ends May 17th
• Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email

Learn more about Wendy by visiting her website or find her on Facebook.

The next two stops on this blog tour are: 

Wednesday, May 11th: Reviews from the Heart
Thursday, May 12th: Book Club Classics

 
~~~~~ 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 + Giveaway - Treasure Me by Robyn DeHart

TITLE:    Title  Treasure Me
AUTHOR:    Robyn DeHart
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 315 pages
PUBLISHED:   Forever, 2011

SOURCE:   Received from Hachette for Review and Blog Tour

 

FROM GOODREADS:    The Legend Hunters . . .The Men of Solomon's meet in secret, their very existence only a rumor among the best of Victorian society. They are treasure hunters, men of wealth and title, seekers of myths and legends. And no legend is as captivating as the Loch Ness monster . . .

Graeme Langford, Duke of Rothmore, has always been torn between his beloved Scottish homeland and his duty to the English Crown. Yet his is truly an adventurer's soul-and he's determined to find a long-lost stone hidden near Loch Ness.

Bookish Vanessa Pembrooke heads to the Highlands to prove the existence of the legendary beast. Instead she finds the first man who has ever shared her hunger for adventure. Soon Graeme and Vanessa are fighting a dangerous battle as well as their own simmering attraction. As their passion grows, so does the danger. Ultimately, they must risk everything to keep the cursed stone out of a murderer's hands. But can they survive without losing the greatest treasure of all-their love?

MY TAKE:    Fun is the first word that comes to mind when thinking about this book.  It is a truly light-hearted treat full of laughs and high adventure.  It moves along at a fast pace and keeps you turning the pages, ready for more.

Robyn DeHart has created an outstanding saga in her Legends Hunters series.  (This book can be enjoyed immensely on its own as well as being the third book of the set.)  It is full of mystery, romance, fantasy, Scotsmen :), adventure and FUN!  There were several laugh out loud moments in this story.  The author is a master at creating threads in a story that go opposite directions, run alongside each other, intersect and then finally tie together. 

The characters immediately pull you into their world.  You root for Graeme in his search for the stone and for his desire to find balance with his duty to the crown and his love of Scotland.  Vanessa is quite the heroine.  You feel like you're right there with her as she stoically deals with heartbreak while searching for proof of Nessie.  What she ends up with is far more than she could have ever imagined. 

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository

   

Seduce Me,   Desire Me,   Treasure Me

The author and Hachette Books have generously offered to treat THREE of you a copy of

Treasure Me for your very own.  Easy peasy entry:

• You must be 13 years old or older
• Open to citizens of the US and Canada
• NO PO Boxes
• Leave a comment WITH your email address on this post
• Contest ends on 3/25
• Winners will have 48 hours to respond
• One prize (of this title) per household

 
~~~~~ 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.