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Review Date: 3/13/2005
Bloody g. fun, dur! (As Bridget might say!) You must try this! I think that its actually funnier than the 1st one - I have this book on CD and I listen to it all the time on trips and such. Funny, Witty, & Warm, just like the original - slide into Bridget's absurd little world for a while! Of course if you're expecting anything even vaguely resembling reality - read an Al Franken book instead!
Review Date: 12/4/2007
Helpful Score: 3
I agree with other reviewers who felt this one had a disjointed plot...it dragged.
The first book in the series, Staying Dead (followed Curse the Dark #2, Bring It On book #3, and Burning Bridges #4), was pretty good, but since then...the only new things to happen since the first book's introduction to the novel idea of current users and to the fatae/human distrust were the developing romance with Sergei and the introduction of The Silence, Sergei's former "Skulls"-like masters of the universe group.
Now, having read all the books, including the last book (Burning Bridges) I feel like I was strung along to an obvious conclusion. The development was slow and could have been done in one really good fast-paced book instead of dragged through three less-than-mediocre sequels.
I've decided to pretend that Staying Dead was a really good stand-alone novel, and that the rest never existed.
The first book in the series, Staying Dead (followed Curse the Dark #2, Bring It On book #3, and Burning Bridges #4), was pretty good, but since then...the only new things to happen since the first book's introduction to the novel idea of current users and to the fatae/human distrust were the developing romance with Sergei and the introduction of The Silence, Sergei's former "Skulls"-like masters of the universe group.
Now, having read all the books, including the last book (Burning Bridges) I feel like I was strung along to an obvious conclusion. The development was slow and could have been done in one really good fast-paced book instead of dragged through three less-than-mediocre sequels.
I've decided to pretend that Staying Dead was a really good stand-alone novel, and that the rest never existed.
Review Date: 9/22/2005
Helpful Score: 1
Newbery Medal Winner, part of the Just For Boys series.
From the back: This is a legend sung by the people of Hikueru - this is the story of how a boy's courage grew and of how he finally returned home exhausted in body, but strong and fearless in spirit - truly Mafatu, the Stout Heart.
From the back: This is a legend sung by the people of Hikueru - this is the story of how a boy's courage grew and of how he finally returned home exhausted in body, but strong and fearless in spirit - truly Mafatu, the Stout Heart.
Captivated by the Tycoon (Whittakers, Bk 4) (Silhouette Desire, No 1775)
Author:
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
22
Author:
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
22
Review Date: 1/26/2007
Helpful Score: 1
A little predictable but cute. Matchmaker tries to resist the urge to keep her best client to herself. He's got other ideas.
Review Date: 7/24/2008
Heinlein, the Dean of Sci-fi - what more can be said?
Review Date: 8/21/2005
Great Series. I've read every book by Robert Parker. I think he does the best dialogue in the business! The TV series, Spenser for Hire, starring the now deceased Robert Urich, was based on this series. A fast, smart, funny read.
FROM THE COVER:
The search for a Mafia princess's errant spouse lands Spenser - "one of detective fiction's best hard-boiled gumshoes" (People) - on the firing line in a gangland turf war.
When big time Boston hoodlum Julius Ventura approaches Spenser and his redoubtable sidekick, Hawk, about locating his only daughter's missing husband, it's clear he's not telling them the whole truth about the blushing bride and the ardent groom. In fact, he may be lying.
So begins an odyssey into the netherworld of disorganized crime: from the throne rooms of crime lords to the Vegas strip; from two-bit wiseguys with a genius for dangerous liasons to gangsters' molls in jeapardy; from larceny to homicide. And that's just for openers. All to soon, it becomes clear that what's at stake is not young love, but control of gangland Boston. Spenser and Hawk find themselves dead-center in a circus of violence whose shadowy ringmaster is all too familiar to a private eye with a past.
Set against the bright lights and seamy side streets of Las Vegas, Parker's latest novel proves that "he can still create characters who live and dialogue that talks" (The New York Times Book Review).
FROM THE COVER:
The search for a Mafia princess's errant spouse lands Spenser - "one of detective fiction's best hard-boiled gumshoes" (People) - on the firing line in a gangland turf war.
When big time Boston hoodlum Julius Ventura approaches Spenser and his redoubtable sidekick, Hawk, about locating his only daughter's missing husband, it's clear he's not telling them the whole truth about the blushing bride and the ardent groom. In fact, he may be lying.
So begins an odyssey into the netherworld of disorganized crime: from the throne rooms of crime lords to the Vegas strip; from two-bit wiseguys with a genius for dangerous liasons to gangsters' molls in jeapardy; from larceny to homicide. And that's just for openers. All to soon, it becomes clear that what's at stake is not young love, but control of gangland Boston. Spenser and Hawk find themselves dead-center in a circus of violence whose shadowy ringmaster is all too familiar to a private eye with a past.
Set against the bright lights and seamy side streets of Las Vegas, Parker's latest novel proves that "he can still create characters who live and dialogue that talks" (The New York Times Book Review).
Charming the Snake: Savage Scavenge / Seducing the Saint / Carte Blanche
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
33
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
33
Review Date: 10/24/2007
Helpful Score: 3
This is all the authors of the fantasy chiklit genre that should actually write decent stuff...and yet...it sucks. It has the feel of self-published internet fiction...or fanfiction or something equally pathetic. I wouldn't have touched this if not for the "big name"...and MJD's story was the best of the three...but all were poorly written and eye-rollingly predictable. Just MHO, of course.
Review Date: 11/12/2007
Helpful Score: 3
Really quite exceptional in this genre. Fairly colorful & accurate Chinese cultural idiosyncracies make this a very different sort of read. The characters are much more finely drawn than in the usual shallow romance, IMO.
Basically about a half Scot/half Chinese girl...a young woman in the trading city Canton, she is made to pretend to be a young man by her uncle so that she can act as a liaison/translator with the "foreign devils" that come to trade. Her half-life as neither man or woman begins to chafe when she meets a handsome Scottish trader who is floundering in the midst of some murderous Chinese plots, making this a not-typical romance with a dash of intrigue, a sprig of martial arts action, and a healthy dose of historical flavor.
As the romance continues and they travel to Scotland together, they face the prejudice and censure of his family toward his mysterious slant-eyed bride...very interesting, as someone who has had to put up with that sort of thing - like the heroine, I am half-Chinese. Don't think that my identification with the character is the only reason I liked the book, it isn't - its basically very engaging and well written - my only criticism is that I felt that the end was a bit contrived and abrupt....it felt like the author's editor called and said something like, "oh, well, you've really got to wrap this one up then! We've got a deadline!" But still, a very enjoyable effort!
Basically about a half Scot/half Chinese girl...a young woman in the trading city Canton, she is made to pretend to be a young man by her uncle so that she can act as a liaison/translator with the "foreign devils" that come to trade. Her half-life as neither man or woman begins to chafe when she meets a handsome Scottish trader who is floundering in the midst of some murderous Chinese plots, making this a not-typical romance with a dash of intrigue, a sprig of martial arts action, and a healthy dose of historical flavor.
As the romance continues and they travel to Scotland together, they face the prejudice and censure of his family toward his mysterious slant-eyed bride...very interesting, as someone who has had to put up with that sort of thing - like the heroine, I am half-Chinese. Don't think that my identification with the character is the only reason I liked the book, it isn't - its basically very engaging and well written - my only criticism is that I felt that the end was a bit contrived and abrupt....it felt like the author's editor called and said something like, "oh, well, you've really got to wrap this one up then! We've got a deadline!" But still, a very enjoyable effort!
Review Date: 5/18/2006
Audio book ...learn Mandarin Chinese. Very good actually - I am Chinese, lol, so I should know. Pronunciation is very accurate. Methods are concise. With introduction by famous linguist Charles Berlitz.
"Based on the famous US military accelerated language-learning method developed for US government personnel preparing for overseas duty. Stressing conversationally USEFUL words and phrases, this course offers: Approx. 70 minutes of guided practice in greetings, introductions, requests, and general conversation at hotels, restaurants, and places of business and entertainment." "Native voices...all phrases spoken in Chinese AND English." Everything you need to travel!
"Based on the famous US military accelerated language-learning method developed for US government personnel preparing for overseas duty. Stressing conversationally USEFUL words and phrases, this course offers: Approx. 70 minutes of guided practice in greetings, introductions, requests, and general conversation at hotels, restaurants, and places of business and entertainment." "Native voices...all phrases spoken in Chinese AND English." Everything you need to travel!
Review Date: 11/5/2007
This western romance is sort of a semi-sequel to For the Roses, one of Julie Garwood's best, "featuring the unforgettable frontier family, the Claybornes of Blue Belle, Montana" (named after a depressed Lady of the Evening - not the picturesque flower). Also on that list - you MUST try The Wedding. From the BACK COVER: Cole Clayborne had always walked a dark path and flirted with a life of crime. While his three brothers chose to settle into married life, Cole rebelliously refused to be tied down...
Review Date: 11/5/2007
Helpful Score: 1
Very good - and there's a good related book, Changeling Prince, which tells the story of this heroine's troubled werewolf companion. NOT your typical werewolf and magic story. Well written adventure tale full of magic and mayhem, with a strong female protagonist. More in the vein of a classical Grimm fairy tale - would definitely like to read sequels!
Review Date: 2/1/2008
Helpful Score: 1
Since I really liked this book, I kept hoping that this author would come out with another...
This is a very odd little tale. There's very little of classic romance in it, and the strength of the meandering little narrative is more in the extremely good writing and dry wit of the heroine. I don't know how to put it other than to say that if a less gifted author had attempted this story, it wouldn't have been strong enough to hold your attention, but as it is, it manages to pull you right along.
Ella, once ensconced in the castle begins to see shapes out of the corner of her eye...the ghosts of more than twenty dead wives of the Drachenfels waiting to greet her and make her one them...unless she can find a way to lift the curse.
This is a very odd little tale. There's very little of classic romance in it, and the strength of the meandering little narrative is more in the extremely good writing and dry wit of the heroine. I don't know how to put it other than to say that if a less gifted author had attempted this story, it wouldn't have been strong enough to hold your attention, but as it is, it manages to pull you right along.
Ella, once ensconced in the castle begins to see shapes out of the corner of her eye...the ghosts of more than twenty dead wives of the Drachenfels waiting to greet her and make her one them...unless she can find a way to lift the curse.
Review Date: 9/22/2005
From the Just For Boys series.
From the Back Cover:
There are two things that 16-year-old James cares most about: his artwork and Heather Nichols, who hardly knows he exists.
In a last-ditch attempt to gain Heather's attention and prove to himself that he has artistic talent, James comes up with a plan. It involves painting the world's most perfect $500 bill and taking Heather on a very, very expensive date. But the outcome of James' plan is hardly what he expects!
From the Back Cover:
There are two things that 16-year-old James cares most about: his artwork and Heather Nichols, who hardly knows he exists.
In a last-ditch attempt to gain Heather's attention and prove to himself that he has artistic talent, James comes up with a plan. It involves painting the world's most perfect $500 bill and taking Heather on a very, very expensive date. But the outcome of James' plan is hardly what he expects!
Review Date: 11/13/2007
Helpful Score: 8
The first 83 pages, a story by LKH, is a waste of your time if you're already an Anita Fan, as it's just the beginning of the novel Incubus Dreams.
Dead Girls Don't Dance is a typical Mary Janice Davidson offering...not as good as the story of Dr. Sophie in the Bite Anthology (which actually had a bit of charm) featuring many of the same authors. Its just a mindless little bit of brain candy, and frankly, it sounds just like all her other stories. Vampires and their humans who act goofy/ditzy while Queen Betsy bitches endlessly about how inconvenient and annoying her immortality is and how much she loves shoes. Snore.
Originally Human, by Eileen Wilks, was actually the only standout in this volume, and it made me want to go out and find other things by this author. A blessedly original look at the supernatural, this time our heroine is a succubus and our hero...well, she finds him wounded and naked on the beach, a refugee from another dimension...and I won't ruin it for you, but let's just say he's NOT your typical werewolf/demon/vamp or similar.
If you are a fan of Eileen Wilks World of the Lupi series, these characters are tangential... existing in the same universe and making an appearance, very briefly, but their origins are never explained.
Rebecca York's story, Burning moon, was just ok. A bit predictable, and just not very original. Werewolf, check. Psychic, check. Murderous psycho keeping them on their toes, and apart, check. Vengeance, check.
Dead Girls Don't Dance is a typical Mary Janice Davidson offering...not as good as the story of Dr. Sophie in the Bite Anthology (which actually had a bit of charm) featuring many of the same authors. Its just a mindless little bit of brain candy, and frankly, it sounds just like all her other stories. Vampires and their humans who act goofy/ditzy while Queen Betsy bitches endlessly about how inconvenient and annoying her immortality is and how much she loves shoes. Snore.
Originally Human, by Eileen Wilks, was actually the only standout in this volume, and it made me want to go out and find other things by this author. A blessedly original look at the supernatural, this time our heroine is a succubus and our hero...well, she finds him wounded and naked on the beach, a refugee from another dimension...and I won't ruin it for you, but let's just say he's NOT your typical werewolf/demon/vamp or similar.
If you are a fan of Eileen Wilks World of the Lupi series, these characters are tangential... existing in the same universe and making an appearance, very briefly, but their origins are never explained.
Rebecca York's story, Burning moon, was just ok. A bit predictable, and just not very original. Werewolf, check. Psychic, check. Murderous psycho keeping them on their toes, and apart, check. Vengeance, check.
Review Date: 4/9/2007
Book 2 in the Circle trilogy. A satisfying 3 part read.
...In which our 6 adventurers, who have been training diligently and who formed a more cohesive unit in book one, go through the stone circle called the Dance, to the land where one of them is destined to rule, and where they will at last fight the great Battle foretold by the Goddess Morrigan, with only a short time to raise an army with which to defeat the Queen of the dark vampire forces.
This installment, of the 3, has the heaviest focus on romance, as one couple was drawn together in book 1, now 2 couples kindle a bit of passion before armageddon...
...In which our 6 adventurers, who have been training diligently and who formed a more cohesive unit in book one, go through the stone circle called the Dance, to the land where one of them is destined to rule, and where they will at last fight the great Battle foretold by the Goddess Morrigan, with only a short time to raise an army with which to defeat the Queen of the dark vampire forces.
This installment, of the 3, has the heaviest focus on romance, as one couple was drawn together in book 1, now 2 couples kindle a bit of passion before armageddon...
Review Date: 11/14/2007
Helpful Score: 5
I'm fairly certain that this woman is the worst writer in her genre...how do these people get published? I tell you, it gives an aspiring writer hope - if SHE can do it...
Ridiculously overdone and insipid dialogue (here's an actual sample), "...Hear Me! Join With Me! Save Me Now! ...You must join with me to save me from this monster tearing insanely at my flesh!" And, even more horrifying, "Laughing, coughing, they broke apart and swam to the surface, the horrors of the day drowned in the depth of their love."
Oh. My. God. Save yourselves! This is actually the second book I've tried by this author (an EVIL friend kept telling me they were great) and it just gets worse and worse...yet, strangely, people still buy her books. Better you than me!
Ridiculously overdone and insipid dialogue (here's an actual sample), "...Hear Me! Join With Me! Save Me Now! ...You must join with me to save me from this monster tearing insanely at my flesh!" And, even more horrifying, "Laughing, coughing, they broke apart and swam to the surface, the horrors of the day drowned in the depth of their love."
Oh. My. God. Save yourselves! This is actually the second book I've tried by this author (an EVIL friend kept telling me they were great) and it just gets worse and worse...yet, strangely, people still buy her books. Better you than me!
Review Date: 10/26/2006
I didn't like this as much as the other books in the Madonna Key series. Too predictable.
Review Date: 5/14/2007
Horrifyingly bad. Kenyon is unreadable. I don't know why everyone likes her books so much. Absolute tripe. Talk about milking a franchise to death.
Review Date: 11/28/2007
Helpful Score: 1
VERY different vampyre tale. Excellent, but feels more like fantasy than traditional vampire horror. Leads to the 2 sequels, but quite easily good enough for a stand alone novel as well.
Mysterious lands where an evil Queen, destroyer of the guardians of the lands, steals young boys and twists them into Darkangels, pale predators who sweep over villages and steal 12 maidens to be their brides. Stealing the souls of the brides leaves them helpless wraiths wandering their husband's castle in torment...and the last young woman a Darkangel steals cements his power. The last girl stolen, Aeriel, thinks there may be something in the beautiful and terrible Darkangel that could be saved, and begins to feel more sympathy than horror toward his poor brides, and the starved and maltreated stone gargoyles that guard his Mountain castle.
Mysterious lands where an evil Queen, destroyer of the guardians of the lands, steals young boys and twists them into Darkangels, pale predators who sweep over villages and steal 12 maidens to be their brides. Stealing the souls of the brides leaves them helpless wraiths wandering their husband's castle in torment...and the last young woman a Darkangel steals cements his power. The last girl stolen, Aeriel, thinks there may be something in the beautiful and terrible Darkangel that could be saved, and begins to feel more sympathy than horror toward his poor brides, and the starved and maltreated stone gargoyles that guard his Mountain castle.
Dates From Hell: Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil / The Claire Switch Project / Chaotic / Dead Man Dating
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
508
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
508
Review Date: 10/24/2007
The ONLY good one is the Kim Harrison - this is an early story of Ivy Tamwood, the Tamwood Vampire who keeps Rachel out of too much trouble...and wants to find a blood balance with her in the series. In this story, Ivy is less certain and powerful than we've ever seen her...she's just finding her feet and Rachel is barely mentioned as a "new partner" she's been assigned. I liked this and it was a nice background on the relationship between Ivy and Piscary that plays so large a part in the later novels...what did he do to her to make her so unbalanced...and cause her inability to feed without sex?
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