{2013 TBR Pile Challenge - Review} Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

ISBN #: 978-1416989424

Page Count: 416

Copyright: October 13, 2009

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Book Summary:

(Taken from back cover)

When Nora and Patch are forced together as lab partners, Nora would rather fall to her death than put up with his elusive answers to her questions, his teasing, and his infuriatingly handsome face and hypnotizing eyes. It seems Patch was put on earth just to drive her crazy.

But before long, Nora's defenses start to break down as her curiosity about Patch heats up. Why does he always seem to be wherever she is and know exactly what she's thinking? How does he know what to say to both attract and repulse her? And what is up with those V-shaped scars on his chiseled back?

As their connection grows stronger, Nora's own life becomes increasingly fragile. Nora needs to decide: Is Patch the one who wants to do her harm or the one who will keep her safe? Has she fallen for one of the fallen?

Mandy's Review:

FINALLY!

I have finally read a TBR Pile Challenge book that I actually enjoyed!

I have always preferred stories containing angels over stories containing vampires, so I was hoping this was going to be one I enjoyed ... and it was.

When I first began reading it and Patch was introduced into the story, I must admit, I had a flashback of Twilight. You know where I'm talking about: Edward and Bella sitting beside each other in class, Bella can't breathe and all that hoopla. Despite the quick flashback, though, Nora and Patch's story is much better than Edward and Bella's. I mean, who wants a cold vampire when you can have a lusty hot-blooded fallen angel?

The dynamics between Patch and Nora are electric. They mesh well together. If I would've been Nora, there wouldn't have been any holding back on the "getting to know" Patch front (if you know what I'm talking about). Good for her for having her head together, though.

It seems like everyone in the world has read this book already, so you know how awesome this book is. I don't have to tell you. This is one series I will definitely be keeping in my personal library. And, if by some quirk of fate, you haven't read this book yet ... go get it now!

{Review} Confession by Richard Freis

ISBN #: 978-0988947412

Page Count: 218

Copyright: May 1, 2013

Publisher: Sartoris Literary Group

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

An intense and engrossing novel of psychological suspense set on the Mississippi Gulf Coast - and reminiscent of the darkly tangled familial relationships brought into prominence by Mississippi-born writer Tennessee Williams - Confession features protagonist George Burden, a distinguished attorney who finds himself at a crossroads as he approaches his 55th birthday. From outward appearances, it seems George is living an enviable life. But even with his devoted wife, affluent lifestyle, social prominence, successful career, and beautiful family, George is dogged by the worry that the choices he made were too easy and too safe.

His choice to begin an affair with Becca Talbot is anything but easy - and decidedly unsafe. A young woman who works in his law firm, Becca is a divorcee with a five-year-old son - and younger than George's youngest daughter. But for George, the affair is far more than just physical: he falls deeply in love with Becca.
During one passionate noon encounter at a local hotel, George announces that he wants to leave his wife and asks Becca to marry him - and demystifying the ambiguities of Becca's life. But that quest will lead George down a precarious path.

Lust, jealousy, rage, and envy are on a collision course - and even in the present day, George's past begins to bubble to the surface. When a violent confrontation ensues, George will not only learn the truth about Becca, he will learn the truth about himself. Might some secrets best be kept secret?

Mandy's Review:

Wow. There's crazy and then there's C-R-A-Z-Y. George is the C-R-A-Z-Y type. I don't know if he was going through a mid-life crisis or what, but this man needed to pull himself together and/or get some psychological help.

George has it all: dedicated wife, great children, money, prestige ... and then he screws it all up with a mistress. After hitting it one time, old Georgie-Porgie just couldn't handle the goodness of the cootie coo and went into freak-mode. Becca, to give her some credit, did tell him that she was not looking for anything serious. Apparently George must have thought his dunkin' stick was as good as Becca's velvety softness because he ends up proposing to her and thinking her as madly in love with him as he with her.

When you mess with crazy, honey, that's what you're going to get. Old George gets what is coming to him. I'm not going to tell you what happens but, let me tell you, Ms. Becca isn't as innocent as she appears to be. George can't handle the truth ("YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!" ... sorry ... A Few Good Men flashback) and winds up trying to kill himself. Whether he succeeds or not is up to you to find out.

So, basically, if you enjoy something that will mess with your head, then you need to read this book. Needless to say, I rather enjoyed it.


*A paperback copy was provided by the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review.

{Review} When Hell Came to Texas by Robert Vaughan

ISBN #: 978-1476715834

Page Count: 384

Copyright: May 28, 2013

Publisher: Pocket Books

Book Summary:

(Taken from back cover)

In the days after the Civil War, a solitary rider traveled the open frontier - but he wasn't alone, for Death seemed to travel with him. Or maybe it was the Devil himself who gave him the lethal pistol shot that earned him the name "Death's Acolyte." And when the stranger with the scarred face, who calls himself Ken Casey, rode into the peaceful Texas town of Wardell, maybe peace - for his own ravaged soul - was all he wanted. But in Wardell, all hell is about to break loose.

Awaiting a train shipment of gold, Angus Pugh and his army of outlaws, including notorious gunslinger Luke Draco, take the town hostage and kill a few innocent citizens as a lesson to any comers. Donning priestly vestments, Ken Casey, ordained man of the cloth, steps from the shadows to conduct the victims' funeral rites - and that's just his first revelation. For Casey can destroy souls as easily as he saves them, and earthly justice is delivered in gun smoke and blood.

Mandy's Review:

Westerns are certainly a genre that have fallen by the wayside. The old stories of men on horseback, challenging others to a duel, riding around the country seeking revenge on the people who have wronged them somehow. Well, guess what ladies and gentlemen ... if Robert Vaughan has any say-so, the Westerns genre will be making a comeback.

When Hell Came to Texas is reminiscent of the old westerns my grandfather would read. I really thought this book was a re-print from a previously written book from years ago, but I was wrong. This is brand-spanking new and I couldn't be more excited!

Ken Casey wants to live a normal, quiet life in a small town. Unfortunately, everywhere he seems to go there always seems to be someone who recognizes him and wants to involve him in some drama. Ken Casey is a man full of secrets and of surprises. He doesn't allow anyone close to him emotionally, which can lead to a lonely existence. When his employer and his daughter are threatened, Ken gets involved and takes care of business.

I do hope Robert Vaughan continues to write Westerns. If he does, the forgotten-about genre will definitely get a much-needed revival. If you miss reading the westerns written by Louis L'amour, Zane Grey, or any other similar authors, then you need to give When Hell Came to Texas a try. It will transport you back in time.


*A paperback was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

{Review/Giveaway} The Erlking by Rebecca Yount

ASIN #: B00AKHVIRM

File Size: 1056 KB

Page Count: 314

Copyright: November 30, 2012

Publisher: Independent Publisher; First Edition

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

Detective Inspector, Mick Chandra of New Scotland Yard, struggles to link the murder of the young wife of a popular British Member of Parliament to the seemingly random death by drowning in a north London canal of 8-year-old Josie Stephens. The forensic pathologist discovers that Josie was abused before she was murdered. Mick is informed by a Quaker Friend who knew Phoebe that she, too, may have been physically abused. Mick realizes he is getting close to the fire when his live-in love, American expatriate and renowned England-based concert pianist, Jessica Beaumont, is suddenly harassed. During a concert, someone even takes a shot at her. Seconded to the Yard's Pedophile Unit, Mick and his partner, Sergeant Elizabeth Chang, receive help in breaking the case. The Unit's chief informs Mick that a notorious pedophile ring is working out of north London, headed by someone who calls himself The Erlking. Day by day, more children are reported missing in north London. How is this linked to Phoebe's death? What is the connection between Phoebe and Josie? As Mick struggles to expose the identity of The Erlking, help arrives from a most unexpected source.

Kathy's Review:

This is the second Mick Chandra mystery that I have read, and I enjoyed this one just as much, if not more, than the first. Although this one deals with the dark subject matter of pedophilia, the mystery is engaging, the characters vivid and the action flows nicely. Yount does a nice job of setting up some red herrings throughout the novel, leading us down paths where we think one destination awaits us, only to find we are somewhere else entirely.

Although you get to know Mick and Jessica more in the first mystery, A Death in C Minor, I think a first-time reader could probably pick this up and follow along. You don't get to know Jessica as well in this book as you did in C Minor. This one is more about Mick and his friend Jaime Geller. A new character, Ethan Pidnar, also plays an important role in the book. I wounder if Ethan will be around for the next installment?

Regardless, I am hooked on this series, and anxiously await book three to see what kind of mystery Mick needs to solve next. I recommend you get on board, as well, especially if you love mysteries!


*An ecopy of this book was provided by the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review.

*As a side note: The third Mick Chandra book, The Ravenhoe Cauldron, will be released June 30, 2013!

Giveaway:

The e-copies of The Erlking will be gifted via a vendor such as Amazon, B&N, Kobo, etc. If you enter, please be sure that you are able to receive a gifted copy through one of these (or another) vendors.

The winners will have 48 hours to respond. If the winners do not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen in their place.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Review} Li'l Lingo Can't Rhyme Tuba by Jori Sams

ASIN #: B00BPDYMLO

File Size: 2646 KB

Page Count: 28

Copyright: March 4, 2013

Publisher: Writeious Books

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

Now you can enjoy bigger illustrations in this new English-only version of Li'l Lingo Can't Rhyme Tuba. Enjoy seeing Li'l Lingo jump off the page with fresh colorful images for kids.

Li'l Lingo eBooks create a fresh and colorful series for children. They are books children will want to read again and again. In this second book in the series, Li'l Lingo Can't Rhyme Tuba, Lingo knows her instruments. As a master of rhyme, though, she cannot find an ample rhyme for tuba. Laugh out loud as you read this eBook and observe Li'l Lingo annoy her friends in her efforts. Who will come to her rescue?

Mandy's Review:

I do like the fact that these books come in bilingual versions: English and Spanish. It's possible that there are children out there who will enjoy the simplistic story within. The colors in the artwork are vibrant and will draw your eye.

The drawings, while vibrant, appear as if a child drew them ... and perhaps they were. Maybe that is part of the author's way of drawing in children. I just know, as an adult, I didn't like them at all. For example, take a look at the cover. You can tell where Lingo is and where the front part of the tuba is, but what is all that yellow behind the tuba? Also, there's an angel depicted in one of the drawings in the story and it took me a minute or two of looking at the picture to see how exactly the angel's body was drawn. Again, this may be part of what is meant to draw children into the book.

The summary states that the reader will "laugh out loud as you read this eBook..." I didn't laugh. I'm not sure where the humorous parts were at. Perhaps I should have let my 8-year-old niece read it before writing this review so I could see how reading this book affected children. At any rate, as much as I hate to give bad reviews, I just do not like this book.


*An ebook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.