Friday, June 27, 2014

Review: Snowblind by Christopher Golden


Snowblind by Christopher Golden raised many emotions as I read the book, which is what the best writing does. For example, I experienced tenderness reading as new love bloomed and as parents loved their children. And then anguish and despair as people lost loved ones. On the surface it is a monster story with creatures of severe icy winter storms ready to attack people who see them. But it is also a story of how the survivors handle the loss of their friends and relatives, and how they handle it when another storm of epic proportions sweeps in again 12 years later.

From Goodreads:
"Now, as a new storm approaches twelve years later, the folks of Coventry are haunted by the memories of that dreadful blizzard and those who were lost in the snow. Photographer Jake Schapiro mourns his little brother, Isaac, even as---tonight---another little boy is missing. Mechanic and part-time thief Doug Manning's life has been forever scarred by the mysterious death of his wife, Cherie, and now he’s starting over with another woman and more ambitious crimes. Police detective Joe Keenan has never been the same since that night, when he failed to save the life of a young boy . . . and the boy’s father vanished in the storm only feet away. And all the way on the other side of the country, Miri Ristani receives a phone call . . . from a man who died twelve years ago.

As old ghosts trickle back, this new storm will prove to be even more terrifying than the last."

The characters are well written. It's interesting to see how 12 yrs changes them and in some cases surviving the loss of someone else changes them as well. There are both good and bad characters and kids as well as adults. I found myself chilled by the story's happenings as I read. It might as well have been a fall or winter day instead of summer. There is a lot I would like to say, but it would end up being full of spoilers. The plot moves along well. It gets faster as the storm progresses. I was impressed with the job that Christopher Golden did with this novel. Stephen King must have been as well since he gave him a blurb for the book. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for excellence in writing a horror story with a different view of snow storms and the creatures that might dwell therein.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #44 - Black Rook by Kelly Meade



"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 


This week I am anticipating the July 15, 2014 released of Black Rook by Kelly Meade by Intermix books. The loup garou or werewolves and magic users live side by side with humans. 

The trilogy is called Cornerstone Run. According to the author, the reason for this is: You’re probably curious what the heck Cornerstone Run means. Cornerstone is the name of the small Pennsylvania town where about eight hundred loup garou live and work and basically try to keep humans from knowing they exist in the world. Twelve other sanctuary towns like it are spread out throughout the country, each led by an Alpha. And a run is their word for “pack.”
This comes from her Kelley Meade tumblr blog, My Alter Ego.

The plot synopsis from Goodreads: 
She never saw this coming…

Brynn Atwood is a low-level Magus whose unpredictable precognitive powers have made her an outcast among her people—and an embarrassment to her highly-regarded father. After a frightening vision in which her father is murdered by a loup garou man, Brynn decides to prove herself by finding the killer, and stopping them at any cost.

Her target is Rook McQueen, the son of a small-town loup garou Alpha. Despite being the youngest of three, Rook is first in line to inherit the role of Alpha, a duty he isn't sure he's capable of fulfilling. When Brynn finally meets Rook, she doesn't expect the attraction that draws her to him—and him to her.

No longer believing him a murderer, Brynn and Rook strike an alliance to find her father's real killer. But when his older brother is targeted by an unknown enemy, Rook will have to choose between his growing feelings for Brynn and his duty as the future Alpha of his community.

You can read chapter one of Black Rook on her Kelly Meding blog now. And the book Black Rook has a preview of the next title in the trilogy, Gray Bishop, which should be available October 21, 2014. The third book, White Knight, is targeted for release January 1, 2015.

What book are you waiting on this week?

Tardy Teaser Tuesday - Waking the Dead by Heather Graham

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of 
Rules:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t    give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR    Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser comes from Heather Graham's Waking the Dead which was released March 25, 2014 by Harlequin MIRA. This is book #2 in the Cafferty and Quinn series. 

I'm reading the Kindle edition. I can't resist 2 teasers this week.  The first teaser is a short character description of one of the supporting characters. It comes from location 531 about 14% into the book. 

Natasha, also referred to as Mistress Labelle was a renowned voodoo priestess in the Quarter. Danni had known her as long as she could remember - and loved her like a wonderful, eccentric aunt for every one of those years.

The second teaser is Natasha making a prediction:

"In the shadows, in the corners, in the most Stygian places... evil was born. There was one who knew, and he guided the other, and there was a bright stain of blood against the darkness... and it's coming here. It's coming to New Orleans."

I can't resist the book, I have to know what's going to happen next. And I love the spookiness of it and that it takes place in New Orleans. 

What was your teaser this week?

Friday, June 20, 2014

Quickie Review: An Etiquette Guide to the End Times by Maia Sepp

An Etiquette Guide to the End TimesAn Etiquette Guide to the End Times by Maia Sepp
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Olive has a somewhat tongue in cheek advice column on Etiquette to the End Times. The Core, government, wants to turn it into a radio program. The day after they approach her with what could be construed as bribes, they turn around and do things like take away the extra chickens she has. And they threaten to do more. More adventures follow not only to her, but also to her neighbor Camilla who is a loyal friend to her.

What I liked best about this novella is that there was a sense of humor about this dystopian story. It's by no means all fun and games, but there is still humor involved. And I thought Olive and Camilla were good characters and enjoyable to follow. I would read other books by this author. I would recommend this book for people who enjoy dystopian stories and scifi. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novella in exchange for my honest opinion.

View all my Goodreads  reviews

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #43 - Poison Promise by Jennifer Estep


"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

This week I was having a hard time choosing which book to feature. One of the titles is coming out in the UK this July, but there is no word yet on when it will be available in the States (The Seventh Miss Hatfield). So, I am going with the one that is going to be available in the U.S, soon. 


Poison Promise is #11 in Jennifer Estep's New York Time's best-selling Elemental series. It is due out July 22, 2014 from Pocket Books. The series features assassin Gin Blanco otherwise known as the Spider. She controls the elements of Ice and Stone and uses this magic along with her other talents on any job she accepts. From the author: " When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone."

In Poison Promise, from Goodreads: There’s a new drug on the streets of Ashland, and its name “Burn” sums up the potent effect it has on its users. When one of her restaurant employees is threatened by dealers of the drug, Gin steps in to set things straight.

Jennifer Estep's website also has on the book's webpage a synopsis written from Gin's point of view and a rather healthy sample of the book from Chapter One.

What I like about this book: It's urban fantasy. I enjoy reading about Gin Blanco who is careful about picking her battles, but don't mess with her family or friends. And I like knowing that there is at least one more book to come in the series. 

So, What book are you waiting on this week?

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Teaser Tuesday - An Etiquette Guide to the End Times by Maia Sepp

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of 
Rules:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t    give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR    Lists if they like your teasers!

Published June 6th 2014
This week's Tuesday Teaser comes from An Etiquette Guide to the End Times - a Novella by Maia Sepp released June 6, 2014 by Maia Sepp. 

From 33% through on my Kindle:

"I don't know, maybe the Apocalypse doesn't start with a plague," the man sitting in front of us says as he fans himself... "Maybe the Apocalypse is not enough water and power and no good jobs and no new Xboxes, ever."

"You're right," Camilla says, nodding decisively, a playful expression in her eyes. "Just because there's no zombies doesn't mean the world's not ending."

The novella is dystopian scifi, but there is humor to it as well. I am still reading it, so I can hardly give away the end. I really like the characters of Olive, the writer of the advice column, and her next door neighbor Camilla.

So what's your Tuesday Teaser this week?

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #42 - The Hawley Book of the Dead by Chrysler Szarlan



"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

This week the book I am waiting on is The Hawley Book of the Dead by Chrysler Szarlan. I enjoy reading books where there is magic in the family, particularly among the female descendants. And I love a good New England setting. Combining both makes me think witches, but time will tell. This is a debut novel which makes it interesting; and it sounds promising. Goodreads says: "For fans of "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane "and "A Discovery of Witches" comes a brilliantly imagined debut novel brimming with rich history, suspense, and magic." 

Hardcover368 pages
Expected publication: September 23rd 2014
 by Ballantine Books 
From the publisher:
"Revelation “Reve” Dyer grew up with her grandmother’s family stories, stretching back centuries to Reve’s ancestors, who founded the town of Hawley Five Corners, Massachusetts. Their history is steeped in secrets, for few outsiders know that an ancient magic runs in the Dyer women’s blood, and that Reve is a magician whose powers are all too real.

Reve and her husband are world-famous Las Vegas illusionists. They have three lovely young daughters, a beautiful home, and what seems like a charmed life. But Reve’s world is shattered when an intruder alters her trick pistol and she accidentally shoots and kills her beloved husband onstage.

Fearing for her daughters’ lives, Reve flees with them to the place she has always felt safest—an antiquated farmhouse in the forest of Hawley Five Corners, where the magic of her ancestors reigns, and her oldest friend—and first love—is the town’s chief of police. Here, in the forest, with its undeniable air of enchantment, Reve hopes she and her girls will be protected.

Delving into the past for answers, Reve is drawn deeper into her family’s legends. What she discovers is The Hawley Book of the Dead, an ancient leather-bound journal holding mysterious mythic power. As she pieces together the truth behind the book, Reve will have to shield herself and her daughters against an uncertain, increasingly dangerous fate. For soon it becomes clear that the stranger who upended Reve’s life in Las Vegas has followed her to Hawley—and that she has something he desperately wants.

Brimming with rich history, suspense, and magic, The Hawley Book of the Dead is a brilliantly imagined debut novel from a riveting new voice."

What book are you waiting on this week?

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Teaser Tuesday - Snowblind by Christopher Golden


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of 
Rules:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t    give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR    Lists if they like your teasers!

Kindle Edition320 pages
Published January 21st 2014 
by St. Martin's Press 

Today's Teaser comes from Snowblind by Christopher Golden. So far I am finding it a chilling tale much as Stephen King's quote says, "Snowblind is instantly involving and deeply scary. It will bring a blizzard to your bones (and your heart) even in the middle of July. Throw away all those old "it was a dark and stormy night" novels; this one is the real deal."

My teaser comes from the Kindle version about 8% in. 

"You know," she said as she unlocked the door and then pulled it inward, snow flying in her face, "I really can take care of myself."
    But, in truth, she could not.
    And it was not her son at the door.

So, what's your Teaser for this Tuesday?


Saturday, June 7, 2014

Review: Madam by Cari Lynn and Kellie Martin

Kindle Edition336 pages
Published February 25th 2014 by Plume
Madam: a Novel of New Orleans by Cari Lynn and Kellie Martin, based on a true story, is the story of Mary Deubler as she becomes Madam Josie Arlington.

Mary was more or less born into the world's oldest profession. Both her mother and her grandmother followed the same calling out of necessity. The same was true of Mary as she plied her trade as an "alley whore" on Venus Alley. But, as various opportunities arose, she steeled her herself and took them, not wanting to be under the control of her pimp any longer.

This is also the tale of the creation of "Storyville", the red-light district or the Tenderloin. And the book has cameo appearances by some Jazz and Blues greats such as Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton. There is also the appearance of the photographer E.J. Bellocq.

There is a lot of history in this book, but there is still a creative touch. The authors explain in the afterward what is history and what they changed or embellished. For that reason alone, it's an interesting book if you are a fan of Jazz Age New Orleans. The descriptions of the city are fascinating and often sensory oriented - smells, sights, textures, sounds.

A lot of time is spent on the becoming of Josie Arlington, not so much on how she is as a Madam. She worked hard to come up in the world, I expected to see more of how she acted as a Madam. More of an explanation for why she is the way she is at the beginning of the book. It felt like the bit about her life ended rather abruptly.

Mary and those closest to her were the best fleshed out characters. The other major Madam in the book was also painted well, if in an unflattering light. The plot is slow in parts. Other parts zip along well. It took me longer than I would have liked to finish the book because of the slow parts. Still, overall, it's a good book - interesting plot, characters, and details. The inclusion of photographs from the time period is a nice touch.

I liked the book, but I didn't love it. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. I would recommend it most for people who have an interest in New Orleans history, particularly in the oldest profession and the creation of the red-light district. It is gritty. I would not call it a romp, though it does have it's light-hearted moments. It is a realistic view of what life was like for a prostitute at that time in history.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #41 - Jackaby by William Ritter



"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

This week I am waiting on Jackaby by William Ritter. It's his debut novel expected out September 16, 2014 by Algonquin books of Chapel Hill.They pretty much had me sold when the blurb read, "Doctor Who meets Sherlock in William Ritter's debut novel, which features a detective of the paranormal as seen through the eyes of his adventurous and intelligent assistant in a tale brimming with cheeky humor and a dose of the macabre."

 Here's what the publisher has to say about the book: 

Jackaby sighed and drew to a stop as we reached the corner of another cobbled street. He turned and looked at me with pursed lips. “Let’s see,” he said at last. “I observed you were recently from the Ukraine. A young domovyk has nestled in the brim of your hat. More recently, you seem to have picked up a Klabautermann, a kind of German kobold attracted to minerals. Most fairy creatures can’t touch the stuff. That’s probably why your poor domovyk nestled in so deep.”

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary--including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it’s a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--deny.

So, what book are you waiting on this week?