Mini Reviews on Wednesday

It's that time of year when I find myself playing catch-up a bit.  I love the idea of starting off the new year with a clean slate (when it comes to book reviews) but never find that it happens the way I plan.  Since I'm thirteen books behind, I've decided to write up some mini reviews.  I am thinking that this will also help me to share my thoughts on books that are part of a series which I really struggle to review while keeping spoiler free.

E is for Evidence by Sue Grafton was another very enjoyable installment in Grafton's alphabet series (is it accurate to call it that because I like it?).  In this one Kinsey finds herself under investigation thanks to an unexplainable deposit in her checking account and a questionable insurance claim.  Kinsey is in hot water but that isn't going to stop her from investigating and working to prove her innocence.

Kinsey is such an amazing main character.  She is smart, spunky and instantly likeable.  I love that this series is set back in a time period before technology was so advanced.  I enjoy watching Kinsey use her investigative skills as the mystery unfolds.  Each book in this series has been unique compared to the one before it all while staying true to Kinsey's character.  This book had me really worried about Kinsey at different points as she worked to prove her innocence.  And the storyline helped to ratchet up the suspense a few more notches as I waited for Kinsey to figure out exactly what was going on.  Just writing up my thoughts on this one makes me want to pick up the next book in this series.  If you are ever looking for an engrossing mystery series, than I would definitely recommend this one.  I do think that you should start at the beginning with A is for Alibi. 

Bottom Line:  A must read series and one of my personal favorites!

No Chance by Christy Reece is a romantic suspense that brings two young former lovers back together.  Skylar James finds herself in danger like she has never known after being kidnapped while trying to save a friend. Enter Gabe Maddox into the picture: former estranged lover hired to find Skylar and bring her back home safely.  Gabe and Skylar will both have to put the past to rest before they can truly find happiness again.

This was an enjoyable read at the time but looking back I've almost completely forgotten it.  I think that part of the problem that I had with the book was once again the character connection.  Whenever I don't connect with the characters, I find that the reading experience is a less memorable one or a book that I don't care for.  And I liked this book enough but it just didn't wow me like I had hoped.  The suspense was there but nothing that had me on the edge of my seat.  I did enjoy the romance between the two main characters as we watched them deal with their shared history.  It made it even better as they began to learn more about each other as they are now rather than the way they were back then.  Overall, if I did ratings I think that I would give this one 3 stars.  Not amazing but not a bad read either.  And a book I enjoyed enough to make me want to read more by this author.

Bottom Line:  An okay read but one that didn't blow me out of the water.

Secrets to the Grave by Tami Hoag brings back Anne Leone from Deeper Than The Dead as she is called in to act as the advocate for a young girl found laying across her dead mother's body.  Anne is swept away in this new mystery while still dealing with the after effects of the previous book's storyline (sorry trying not to share too much here).  The mystery of this book lies with with who the murdered woman was and uncovering all of her buried secrets.

I really, really enjoyed Deeper Than The Dead when I read it awhile back so I think that I went into this book with high expectations.  And while I found this book to be good/bordering on better than good, I never quite connected with this book either.  I just didn't like it as much as I did the previous book which really surprised me.  The suspense was there, the mystery was there, but for whatever reason I never connected. I feel like this is one of those "it's not you, it's me" moments.  That makes it sound like I didn't like this book (I did) but really I just didn't enjoy it as much as I expected to.  I did like the fact that many of the characters from the previous book were all still in this one.  I also appreciated how so much of what happened in the previous book tied into this one.  It made for a solid reading experience on that end.  And it made me look forward to eventually reading the 3rd book.  Hopefully, I'll have a better reading experience with the next book.

Bottom Line: A thriller that just didn't quite fit what I was looking for while still being enjoyable.  Mixed feelings anyone??

The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Twenty years ago, Jane Hudson left the Heart Lake School for Girls in the Adirondacks after a terrible tragedy. Now she has returned to the placid, isolated shores of the lakeside school as a Latin teacher, recently separated and hoping to make a fresh start with her young daughter. But ominous messages from the past dredge up forgotten memories that will become a living nightmare."

My Thoughts:

The Lake of Dead Languages was one of those books that pulled me into its' pages and left me thinking about it for days after.  After enjoying Arcadia Falls by this author a few years back, I had been meaning to read more by this author.  I'm so glad that I finally did as this book was even better than Arcadia Falls in my opinion.  Although I admit that after glancing over my review of the previous book, I'm surprised at the similar type of storylines/settings of these books.  Are all of Goodman's books set in private schools?  Or did I just manage to read the two that are?  Hmmm....I may just have to check that out.  Even though there are similarities between the two books, I didn't notice while reading this book at all.  Instead, I was caught up in the mystery of Heart Lake and learning about Jane's history with the school.  

Jane was one of those main characters whose motivation and intentions I never quite understood.  It lent an aura of mystery to her as I tried to figure out just who she was.  I loved the parts of the book that were her memories of her time at the school.  Once again, it made the book seem as if it was a story within a story but both stories intertwined and worked so well together.  There were aspects of this book that I found to be a bit predictable.  Rather than taking away from my enjoyment of the story, I instead was almost amused to find that I was right at figuring out parts of it.  And there were definitely parts of the story that I didn't see coming at all which ratcheted up the suspense level quite nicely.  The author created such an amazing setting and atmosphere that really made this book stand out for me.  I lived and breathed these pages while I read the book.  I loved the fact that I couldn't and wouldn't put this book down.  And after finishing, I thought about these characters for a few days after.  

Overall, this book solidified the fact that I will be reading all of this author's back-list of books.  And while this book wasn't perfect, it didn't matter to me as the author managed to create such an amazing reading experience for me.  This book quietly tugged me into its' layers and never let go.  The icy setting fit in perfectly with this time of year (and made me wish for some snow myself).  This was just a great read and one that I would highly recommend!

Bottom Line:  The setting and atmosphere made this book an unforgettable reading experience!

Disclosure:  Checked out from my local library.  Now to figure out which of her other books to read next...

Here is a link to my thoughts on Arcadia Falls if you are interested.

Dark Awakening by Kendra Leigh Castle (thoughts)

Dark Awakening was an enjoyable way to revisit one of my favorite paranormal romance authors.  Tynan MacGillivray is on the hunt for a special "Seer" that can help secure victory for the vampire clan that he works for.  Although he is considered to be an outcast among the vampires that he lives around and works for, he has a hope that finding this seer will make life better for him and his kind.  Until he meets Lily Quinn and his entire life changes...

There is nothing better than a good paranormal romance especially one written by this author.  I was completely enchanted with this book from the first page until the last.  Tynan is one of those tortured heroes that you can't help but love and root for.  I wanted to see him happy and in love, and Lily Quinn was the perfect match for him.  The chemistry between these two easily heated up the pages and had me cheering for them as a couple.  The storyline was fresh and original and I especially enjoyed the idea of Lucy being a Seer.  It was interesting to see some of the skills that she possessed and I'm guessing that we will see her develop more in future books in this series.  I'm just hoping that each book has a couple with a hot relationship like these two did.  Another thing that I appreciated with this book was the different "castes" or groups of vampires.  Tynan was a part of a group that was considered to be below other vampires which is one of the reasons that he was trying to make things better for his kind.  I really liked that about it him, it just endeared him to me all the more.  I found the ending of the book to be a strong finish even though it is part of a series which I really appreciated!  I get frustrated sometimes when authors leave too much open for the next book but luckily that didn't happen here.

What else to say about this book other than I loved it?  It was a fast paced read, I didn't want to set it down, and I wanted to read more about the characters after I was finished.    I'm eager to see what happens in the next book of this series.  In fact, I've already got it loaded onto my Kindle ready to go.  I'm a huge fan of this author and would definitely recommend this book to fans of paranormal romance.  If you haven't tried this author yet I would also recommend her MacInnes Werewolf trilogy.   

Bottom Line:  A must read author in my opinion!  And this book just serves to reinforce that!

Disclosure:  I checked this book out from my local library!

Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts (thoughts)

Blue Dahlia is the story of Stella Rothchild, a recently widowed mother of two, as she begins her new life at Harper House.  The newly hired manager at In the Garden Nursery, Stella is ready to start over and begin anew.  Roz, her new boss, asks Stella and her boys to move into Harper house with her as she adjust to her new job and new life. But rumor has it that Harper house is haunted and Stella is about to find out how true that rumor may be. 

I should start off by saying that I went into reading this book with moderately high expectations.  I've read plenty of books by Nora Roberts and never have been disappointed.  I especially enjoy her trilogies which is why I decided to give this one a shot.  Whatever my expectations on this book, I just never connected with the characters in this story which led to a mediocre reading experience for me.  I went into this book thinking that I was going to love it but instead found myself detached from it.  Everything about the storyline kept my interest but only to a certain extent.  I don't know how to explain it any other way other than to say I found myself disinterested at times.  I found the history and mystery of Harper house interesting but I wanted more.  I'm hoping that the next two books have more details in regards to this but I'm not sure if I'll end up taking the time to read them or not.  I did also enjoy the romance that developed between Logan and Stella.  It came across in a way that was not only realistic but hopeful.  I really liked that aspect of the book especially as there was an instant attraction between the two of them.  While I didn't love everything about the book, I ended up finding it to be an overall okay read.  Everything except the ending which felt too rushed for me.  I'm guessing that this is because it is a trilogy and the beginning of one at that.

Overall, an okay read but one that didn't live up to my expectations at all.  Does that even make sense?  I didn't hate it and felt mainly "meh" about it although it had some good parts.  Not really sure if I'll pick up the second book or not.  Part of me wants to just to see what happens next and because I want more history in regards to Harper house.  And part of me thinks that there are just too many other books out there that I really want to read.  So I'm undecided.  I'm only going to recommend this book if you are a HUGE Nora Roberts fan or fan of contemporary romance with slight paranormal aspects.  I'm sure that there are a lot of other readers that will enjoy this book way more than I did.  But there you have it...to each their own :)

Bottom Line:  An okay read that left me with mixed feelings.

Disclosure:  Checked out from my local library!

Untraceable by Laura Griffin (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Private investigator Alexandra Lovell uses computer skills and cunning to help clients drop off the radar and begin new lives in safety. Melanie Bess, desperate to escape her abusive cop husband, was one of those clients. But when Melanie vanishes for real, Alex fears the worst, and sets out to discover what happened. Using every resource she can get her hands on -- including an elite team of forensic scientists known as the Tracers, and a jaded, sexy Austin PD detective -- Alex embarks on a mission to uncover the truth."

My Thoughts:

I love a good romantic suspense and this book was exactly what I was looking for at the time.  It was a fast paced, easy read that kept me caught up in the mystery the entire time.  There were twists and turns that kept me guessing and a nice chemistry between the two main characters. As soon as I began this book I found myself intrigued.  Alex is one those main characters with a hint of mystery surrounding her.  She helps these women find new lives which is a constant source of danger for her and the reader can't help but wonder why and how she has gotten in to a profession like this.  Plus, there is a history between her and Nathan Deveraux that gives hints as to why there is such an intense chemistry between them but never is fully explained.  These kinds of things added together created an underlying layer of suspense that really added to the book for me.  I NEED to read the next book in the series just to see if more is explained.  Or to see what happens next with this series.  I'm not even sure which of those things I want.  I just know that this book was good enough that I will be reading more.  

All in all, this was a solid read for me.  It had me on the edge of my seat quite a few times and I was definitely reading as fast as I could.  I liked the chemistry that developed between Alex and Nathan and am hoping to see more of them in future books.  I think that I'm just eager to read more by this author in general.  Recommended especially to fans of romantic suspense or if you are looking for a fast-paced read!

Bottom Line:  A suspenseful read that left me needing more!

Disclosure:  Checked out from my lovely local library!

Dead Scared by S.J. Bolton (thoughts)

Wow!  Just wow.  Even now I find myself struggling to put into words just how much I enjoyed this book.  From the very first page and until the end I found myself utterly captivated by this book.  Dead Scared brings back DC Lacey Flint as she goes undercover at the notorious Cambridge college to investigate a recent string of suicides on campus.  Lacey is posing as a student in hopes of learning more about why these young students are choosing to end their lives in such unconventional and violent ways.  But Lacey soon realizes that she is in way over her head as her investigation spirals out of control.

I found this book to be so intense and creepy that I just couldn't put it down!  As soon as Lacey goes undercover the tone and atmosphere of the book goes dark and ominous which led to a deliciously good amount of tension.  I was turning the pages on my reader as fast as I could!  The author chose to switch viewpoints from character to character which worked well for me.  It kept me on my toes and definitely kept me reading for longer periods of time than I normally would.  I just can't emphasize how strong of a hold this book had on me.  This book was dark, it was thrilling, it was fast paced....it was everything that a good thriller should be.  It would have been perfect and an easy 5 star read for me if not for the ending.  The ending was a bit of a let down as it left too many things open.  When I finished I went back and reread and still felt the same way which was a bit disappointing.  I checked and there will be a 3rd book though which gives me some hope that we will get a bit more closure in the next book.  Overall although I found the ending mildly disappointing, the book itself was sooo good that it overrode any qualms that I had for it.  I need more Lacey Flint in my life!

Reading this book (and loving it so much) has catapulted this author and all of her books on to my must read list!  Seriously, I have plans to read anything and everything that she has written including all future books!  If thrillers with dark and creepy atmospheres are your thing, then you must give this author a try.  I strongly recommend that you begin with Now You See Me which is just as amazing of a book!  I honestly wouldn't be surprised if both of these books make it on my top ten reads of 2012 list.  And I'm gushing at this point so I'll end it with a very, very highly recommended!  Read it!

Bottom Line:  An AMAZING thriller!  That's all you need to know :)

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley.  My many thanks because this book was such a good read!

A Perfect Evil by Alex Kava (thoughts)

When I read the last page of A Perfect Evil, I wanted more.  No...scratch that....I needed more.  And I found myself frustrated that I didn't have the second book sitting right there ready to be read.  Because obviously I didn't know that I was going to NEED to read the second book instantly especially when the beginning of this book didn't really blow me away.  But by the end....oh the end just left me wanting to continue on and keep reading.  But I'm getting ahead of myself so let me tell you what this book is about.

A Perfect Evil is a thriller that begins when a young boy is found murdered after he had gone missing a few days earlier.  The murder is eerily similar to a couple of previous killings with the problem being that the convicted murderer for those crimes has been recently executed.  The question remains if the police have a copycat killer on their hands.  And then another boy goes missing....

I'm going to admit that at first I didn't think that I was going to like this book.  As a parent it is never easy for me to read books where the crimes being perpetrated are against children.  Plus, the author isn't afraid to share all of the gory details that went along with the killings and I started to pull away a bit as a reader.  The saving grace of the book for me was Maggie O'Dell and Sheriff Nick Morrelli.  Both main characters came across so realistically to me and both were flawed.  I loved that!  I found it all too easy to connect with both of the main characters which is always a positive in my opinion.  I found that for me these two made the book.  I loved the chemistry that developed between them, I appreciated the obstacles that they were up against, and I cannot wait to see what future books have in store for them.  Because nothing in this book was easy to figure out including the mystery itself.  And just when I thought that it was done and everything was figured out, I realized that there was more.  And maybe even a little more after that.  Let me tell you that these twists and turns really had me turning the pages.  I've already mentioned the ending but it bears repeating that the ending left me wanting.  I'm so eager to continue on that I'm already planning on grabbing the 2nd book when I visit the used bookstore next time.  Or if I decide I can't wait until then a library trip will be in order. 

Overall, this was a very solid thriller that was made better because of the main characters.  I liked that the author didn't give us all of the answers, and I found that it just made me more curious about future books.  My only warning before recommending this book is the violence against children issue.  If you are squeamish at all (and I was at times) when it comes to this, then you might not enjoy this book as much as I did.  I was able to get past it though mainly because of my curiosity and connection to the characters.  Otherwise, highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  A thriller that made me wish I had book 2 instantly!

Disclosure:  I bought my copy of this book from the used bookstore.  I just passed it on to my Mom because I thought it was that good :)

My Scandalous Viscount by Gaelen Foley (thoughts)

I honestly don't think that I could have read this book at a better time because My Scandalous Viscount fit my mood perfectly!  An entertaining romance that kept me immersed in its' pages, this book was a joy to read and exactly what I was looking for.  Carissa isn't your typical proper lady but instead is a bit of a nosy busybody that finds herself entangled with the infamous Viscount Beauchamp.  After Sebastian and Carissa find themselves caught up in a precarious situation, they end up being pushed into marriage.  But Carissa's nose for ferreting out secrets instantly lands her in trouble when she learns more about her new husband than she was intended to.  Will her knack for finding out "information" end up being helpful or will it end up destroying their marriage before it even begins?

I love a romance that sweeps me into its' pages and carries me away!  I love when the hero and heroine have instant chemistry even while fighting their attraction to one another.  And I love when an author does the unexpected and keeps me guessing throughout the book.  My Scandalous Viscount fit the bill for me with all three of these things which made it a surefire hit for me!  The heat between Carissa and Sebastian started from page one and didn't let up until the very end.  I was rooting for them to find their happy ever after (yes I know this is a romance but still) from the beginning of the book.  I really liked Carissa's character and found her to be quite spunky at times.  I love a good heroine with a backbone so for me she made the book that much better!  This is my first book by Gaelen Foley and I had no clue that it was part of a series.  Other than not knowing some of the back story that the author alluded to, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book at all.  In fact, it made me want to go back to the beginning and grab book one so that I could experience all of the other romances for myself.  My favorite thing about this book though was that I never knew what to expect next in regards to the storyline.  Every time that I thought that I knew what was going to happen, then the author took the story in a more unexpected route.  I loved that!  Yes, maybe it made it all slightly less believable but I honestly didn't care.  Because like I said before, I was immersed in the book and just along for the ride.  This was the perfect way to break up some of the darker books that I have been reading lately (IT, I'm looking at you!).

Altogether a delightful read and an author that I will read more of.  If the other books in this series have the chemistry in them that this one did, I will be set!  This is a book that I would highly recommend to fellow romance readers especially those who love historical romance!  And since reading this book out of order didn't take away from my enjoyment, I say start here or read from the beginning of the series.  It sure didn't matter to me.

Bottom Line:  The perfect read for a rainy day when you need a good romance to suck you in!

Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book thanks to TLC Book Tours.  The thoughts are my own but I do think that you should check out the other stops on the tour to see other readers' opinions :) 

Deadly Descendant by Jenna Black (thoughts)

Second books in a planned series are quite a tricky maneuver in my opinion as the world building has already been started in the first book and the series isn't ending.  Happily enough Deadly Descendant blew the first book out of the water in my opinion and left me wanting more!  In this installment, Nikki is up against a mysterious man who seems to be causing random fatal "wild dog attacks".  Interestingly enough, these aren't actual wild dogs but instead are deadly jackals which have the ability to harm even an immortal like Nikki herself.  Nikki will have to figure out who is controlling the jackals while also keeping herself out of harms way.  But who better than an immortal descendant like herself??

As soon as I cracked this book open, I knew that I was going to be well and truly hooked.  The story started off with a bang and just kept going throughout.  I love a book that keeps me turning pages without taking the time to check and see how far along I am or how many pages I might have left.  This was one of those books.  I just HAD to see what was going to happen next and I was finished before I knew it.  I loved that while Nikki is still learning about her new abilities and skills, her character grew stronger and more self confident in this book.  She was more kick-ass which is never a bad thing in my opinion :)  I also enjoyed the fact that the author took strands from the first story and really tied them into this storyline.  I'm curious to see what will happen in the next book especially in regards to Anderson and his wife.  Hmmm...the plot thickens.  And Jamaal.  Yum!  I seriously hope that we get to see more of his character in the 3rd book and learn more of his history.  I'm so intrigued!

Overall, this was an amazingly strong follow-up to Dark Descendant!  I. Need. More!  I love the way the author was able to continue on the storyline from book one without telling it all over again.  I'm anxious to see the way the ending of this book will play out in regards to the next book.  I want more of Nikki and Jamaal!  I just plain want more of this series!  The series is fresh and different from a lot of what is out there in urban fantasy which makes me like it all the more.  And I really enjoyed the fact that this book was darker and grittier than the first.  Because you should all know by now that I love a dark urban fantasy series.  My favorite!  Highly recommended!

Bottom Line:  A surprisingly good follow-up to Dark Descendant and actually WAY better than Dark Descendant if I'm being honest!

Disclosure:  Checked out from my local library.

So Pretty It Hurts by Kate White (thoughts)

So Pretty It Hurts had all of the ingredients of a good mystery in the making but unfortunately I found it to be lacking.  Part of this may be my fault as I'm jumping in to the middle of a series (which I absolutely hate) but I didn't realize when I picked it up that it was part of a series.  The story begins when Bailey Weggins goes on a weekend away with a close friend of hers to a house in the country.  Bailey finds herself closed in with a bunch of strangers including a famous model named Devin Barr while a snowstorm brews outside.  When Devin is found dead the real mystery begins...

Like I said previously, this book had all of the ingredients for a really good thriller or mystery.  An isolated house in the country, a snowstorm that cuts off contact with the rest of the world, a dead body....what more could you ask for?  For whatever reasons though, this book just didn't quite work for me.  One of my main problems that I had was that I never connected with Bailey.  I'm not sure that if I had read the previous books in this series if it would be an issue but I just never quite figured Bailey out.  Her actions and need to "figure out" the mystery just rang a bit false.  And I just didn't connect which took away from my enjoyment of the book.  On a more positive note, I really enjoyed the creepy setting that the author created with this book.  I loved the tense atmosphere during the time of the snowstorm and after Devin's body had been found.  The author has a knack for creating really great settings as I felt similarly when I read The Sixes by her.  I just wish that I had been more interested in the mystery and characters in this book.

Overall, I found that this just wasn't the book that I had been expecting.  I didn't hate it by any means but found it to only be an okay read.  If you are thinking about trying this author, I would recommend The Sixes instead which I found to be a much better read.  As for me, I think that I'll go back and start with book one in this series at some point.  Because I'm hoping that it will help with my lack of connection to Bailey and because the author has such a knack for great settings.  Recommended with reservations (unless you are already a fan of this series...then I'm sure that you will enjoy it more than I did).

Bottom Line:  A mystery that could have been so much more...

Disclosure:  I was sent a copy of this book from the publisher.  The thoughts are my own.

I thought I should share a link to my thoughts on The Sixes since I enjoyed this book so much more.

This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart (thoughts)

This Rough Magic is my first read by Mary Stewart but it definitely won't be my last! Lucy Waring is visiting her sister on the island of Corfu while also taking a break from her acting career. She believes that she is relaxing in paradise until strange events begin to occur. And when two young men both mysteriously drown while fishing, Lucy finds herself impossibly caught up in the mystery of what is happening on this island.

This Rough Magic started off slowly for me but I'm really glad that I stuck with it. The author had me thoroughly entranced by the end of the novel as I couldn't wait to see how it would all play out. Just trying to collect all of my thoughts on this book is amusing for me as I feel like I shouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did. Without giving too much away, there were many moments of unbelievability in this book that usually would have bothered me. Instead, I found myself both charmed with this book and the storyline that the author had created. For instance, the love angle between Lucy and another (sorry too spoiler-ey if I say who) happens within a matter of pages. One moment they hate each other and the next they are practically ready to exchange vows. I couldn't help but shake my head and smile though. None of the improbable (and there were a lot of them upon consideration) events took away from the story. Instead, it made it all a bit more magical which was how the island was portrayed itself. The ending of the book tied everything up quite nicely and left me ready to read more by Stewart.

All in all, quite an enjoyable read despite the slow start and improbability of it all. I am excited to have found a new author with a nice sized backlist of books for me to peruse. I'm definitely going to be reading more by this author! And this was also the perfect way for me to begin Carl's R.I.P. VII event as this book definitely fits! Recommended!

Bottom Line: A solid romantic suspense with magical qualities!

Disclosure: Checked out from my local library. I need to get on their catalog and see what other books they have by this author for me to read!

The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams (thoughts)

The Stranger You Seek was a book that caught my interest at page one and didn't let go until the very last page. Keye Street is a woman with many of her own demons, but she soon finds herself getting drawn deep into a murder investigation where the killer is taunting the police. Her past as a FBI profiler begins to come back to haunt her as she attempts to help with the ongoing investigation while unknowingly becoming one of the killer's targets. Of course, the question is if she can find the killer before he finds her.

I enjoyed each and every page of this book due to the underlying suspense that was constant throughout the book. From the very beginning, the author pulled me into the story with a creepy and horrifying murder that ratcheted up the suspense level right away. The novel continually kept me turning the pages as I tried to figure out who the killer could possibly be. I loved Keye Street as the main character for a variety of reasons but mainly because she was so scarred and troubled. The author did a great job of realistically portraying Keye's demons which made me want Keye to succeed all the more. I find that I love a good main character that has a few rough edges. That maybe isn't perfect but is working towards getting his or her life back on track. Keye was one of those main characters and I liked her all the more for it. I really appreciated that she wasn't apologetic for her darker past and I felt that the author did a good job of incorporating it into the novel.

The mystery itself was quite good. I didn't see the ending coming from a mile away. And I really liked that because I felt like the author wasn't afraid to pull any punches. I didn't expect that last page but I was presently surprised when it happened (those of you that have already read the book will understand). A good mystery will always suck me in and that is exactly what this book did. It had atmosphere in spades, solid characters with depth, and a killer ending! I couldn't ask for more. Except for there to be another book featuring Keye which apparently there is. How exciting!! I went into this book thinking it was a standalone to find out that it will be the beginning to a mystery series. I cannot wait to grab the second book and see what happens next! This was an awesome read that I highly recommend! And can I just say how much I love when I find a new author that I enjoy this much? So exciting (hence all of the exclamation points)!

Bottom Line: One of my favorite thrillers that I have read so far this year!

Disclosure: Checked out from my local library. I wish I had a bought a copy though because I will be recommending it a lot!

Still Life by Louise Penny (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montreal. Jane Neal, a local fixture in the tiny hamlet of Three Pines, just north of the U.S. border, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are certain it’s a tragic hunting accident and nothing more, but Gamache smells something foul in these remote woods, and is soon certain that Jane Neal died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bowhunter."

My Thoughts:

I'm so glad that I finally gave this mystery series a try! I found Still Life to be a quiet, easy read that pulled me in to the small town atmosphere where the book was set. In this book I found characters that I want to revisit again and again. I loved the setting that the author created so vividly. It all came across so realistically, and I instantly connected with the characters. The mystery was important to the story but not in the typical whodunnit way. It was more a study of the characters and the reasons behind their interactions with one another. I appreciated that the characters weren't portrayed without their own flaws. These flaws and differences added layers to both the mystery and the story. The ending of the book didn't surprise me completely but I was okay with that. It didn't bother me because for me what made the book was the experience of reading it. Allowing myself to get sucked down into the town that the author created while getting to know each character. I can't wait to go back and visit Three Pines in future books!

Overall, I found this book to be a very solid beginning to this mystery series. It isn't your typical edge of the seat, suspenseful mystery but rather a quiet, endearing book that still pulls the reader along. I loved it and can't wait for more! And I'll admit that I was super excited to see that I have a lot more books to look forward to :)

Bottom Line: A quiet but enjoyable read!

Disclosure: Checked out from my local library. I need to find more mystery authors like this!

Wicked As They Come by Delilah S. Dawson (thoughts)

Wicked As They Come tells the tale of Criminy Stain and his enchanted locket that brings Tish into his world. A world that is only available to her when she sleeps but is like something that she has never experienced before. Criminy is like no one that she has ever met especially when he claims that they are meant for each other. And when she finds herself unable to return to her own world, she sets out on an adventure with Criminy that she will never forget.

Wicked As They Come was a fresh and original story filled with a world that brought about new reading experiences for me as a reader. I went into reading this book with high hopes as every review that I had seen was mostly/extremely positive. And while the world that the author created was extremely fascinating, I never managed to connect with the characters. It left me feeling a bit shaky about my overall experience with the book.

One of the things that I liked about the book was the circus atmosphere and the world that Criminy lived in. It was both unique and engrossing and I found myself wondering what the author would come up with next. The book was filled with killer "blud" animals and all of the humans lived walled up in a city that was supposed to protect them from the "bludmen". This was all very different than anything I had ever read before. The author also used different plays on names of countries and continents to tie the world that she had created to our actual world. It made it fun to read and find those references. Everything about Criminy's world I enjoyed and the world building was my favorite part of the book. That being said, I was never able to connect to either of the main characters in the story. Tish and Criminy's relationship was precarious from the start for me and I spent a good portion of the book trying to figure out how it would work. It was clear from the beginning that Tish was going to have to choose between her world or Criminy's and I didn't like either choice by itself (sorry if that is a bit spoiler-ey). I also felt that the relationship that developed between them went too fast for me to really root for them as a couple. I just never connected, plain and simple, which left me wanting more.

All in all, I can understand why so many others have loved this book way more than I did. And you probably should check out some of those reviews if you are on the fence about this book at all because my opinion seems to be in the minority. I just didn't love this book like I hoped that I would. I liked it enough though to give the second book a try at some point when it comes out. Hopefully, another dip into Criminy's world will allow for me to connect and love the world like so many others. And if not, then that's okay too :)

Bottom Line: Just an okay read for me.

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book for review from the publisher. Obviously, my thoughts on it are my own.

In other news, does anyone else have a hard time writing negative or even semi-negative reviews? I swear this took me over an hour to write and even then I'm not sure if I expressed everything that I wanted to. Ugh! If only we loved every book that we read :) I seem to have broken through my HUGE reviewing slump though and considering that I am now 12 reviews behind...it couldn't have come sooner. I need a review-a-thon or something. Happy Sunday!

Deadline by Mira Grant (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Shaun Mason is a man without a mission. Not even running the news organization he built with his sister has the same urgency as it used to. Playing with dead things just doesn't seem as fun when you've lost as much as he has.

But when a CDC researcher fakes her own death and appears on his doorstep with a ravenous pack of zombies in tow, Shaun has a newfound interest in life. Because she brings news-he may have put down the monster who attacked them, but the conspiracy is far from dead.

Now, Shaun hits the road to find what truth can be found at the end of a shotgun."

My Thoughts:

I couldn't seem to coherently come up with my own summary of this book without giving away spoilers so I decided to use the above summary. I adored this book! Loved it so much that after turning the last page (and reading the little bonus section in the back) I was ready to start it all over again. I'm going to admit that I didn't think that it could live up to the amazingness that was Feed. But I'm happy to say that Deadline was JUST as good as Feed! That's two, blow me out of the water, recommend to everyone, AMAZING books that make up a trilogy. I cannot read Blackout. How could it possibly live up to these two books??? These may be two of my favorite books ever.

One of the things that I loved about Feed was how surprised I was that I fell in love with the book. It was just SO good and the ending...all of it knocked me over in reading ecstasy. When I started Deadline I was excited to be reading it but I was super nervous as well. I was sure that I wasn't going to enjoy it as much...there was just no possible way to love it as much as the previous book. But it instantly sucked me back into Shaun's world and I loved every minute of it! I keep using the word love but there is no other way to describe it. I adored each and every page of this book and was left wanting more. This book instantly skyrocketed to my top 10 reads of 2012...heck, it may be my favorite book that I read this year. I suppose it is too soon to tell but it could be. I haven't really told you anything about this book and I'm not going to. I think that you should go into reading these books with little to no knowledge of the plot so you have no expectations. Just expect awesomeness. And if you ask me for a book recommendation I'm probably going to mention these. Just saying :)

Bottom Line: An amazing read. An amazing 2nd book in this trilogy. One of my favorites easily! What else could you possibly need to know???

Disclosure: I purchased my copy of this book from the now closed Borders bookstore. BEST purchase ever!!!!

I wanted to leave you all with a link to my thoughts on Feed. Do you know what is even better than reading an amazing book? Having Twitter conversations about said amazing book with other book lovers who love it as well. Bliss!

The Key Trilogy by Nora Roberts (thoughts on a reread)

Way, way back in my college days I discovered Nora Roberts. I'm about 80% certain that was about the time that I also discovered and fell in love with her J.D. Robb series. Anyways, I can remember gobbling this trilogy down...impatiently waiting for each book to be released. Homework got shoved to the side on those days especially when I was deep into a book. Rereading this trilogy was a fun way to spend the week as I had a foggy memory in regards to the overall plot and once again found myself sucked into these books. These books were exactly what I needed when I was going through a slump in my reading and I'm now eager to go back and pick up some of her standalone novels.

Key of Light begins the trilogy and tells the story of Mallory and Flynn. This book sets everything up for the rest of the trilogy without giving too much away. I've always enjoyed the romance that develops between Mallory and Flynn even though Mallory can be a bit much at times. Overall, I found that it was just as good of a read as I remembered and I couldn't wait to pick up the 2nd book!

After finishing Key of Light, I couldn't resist making a trip to the used bookstore to grab the final two books in the trilogy. I was already good and hooked; ready to revisit the characters once again. Key of Knowledge is all about Dana and Jordan's relationship as they work together to find the second key. What I really like about this book is both the history and the tension between the two of them. It added to the story for me and really made me root for them to work everything out! That being said, this is my least favorite of the three books, but I'm hard pressed to tell you why. I still really enjoyed it and as soon as I set it down, I knew that I was going to be cracking the 3rd book open!

Key of Valor is the last book in the trilogy and ties the overall storyline up nicely in my opinion. The first time that I read these books I loved the final ending, and rereading it all made me feel the same way. Brad and Zoe's relationship is fun to read about especially as they are so prickly with each other from the very beginning. In the end, I was a bit sad to put these books down....I just wanted to keep reading. They went straight to my keeper shelf so I can reread them again at some point maybe a few years down the road.

Reading these books showed me once again how much I love taking the time to reread a favorite series. I'm definitely going to be revisiting Nora Robert's backlist in the future. It has been such a long time since I read any of her actual novels that I could probably reread them and not tell the difference. I'm thinking that my next rereads should be the Harry Potter series. I'm WAY overdue for some Harry Potter love! What's the last book you reread and why???

Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson (thoughts)

Royal Street begins right before New Orleans is hit by Hurricane Katrina and the world that D.J. (Drusilla) knows is changed forever. Because after the storm hits, D.J. finds herself caught up in a search for her mentor, Gerry, who went missing during the storm. Determined to not only prove Gerry's innocence but also find him, D.J. finds herself caught up in a dangerous mystery filled with creatures from the dark.

Royal Street was an intriguing beginning to this new urban fantasy series and it has caught my attention! One of the things that I enjoyed most about this novel is how the author intertwines Hurricane Katrina with the storyline to make an original urban fantasy read. The author uses and references the hurricane constantly throughout the book, and I loved how you could feel her love of New Orleans while reading. It really enhanced my enjoyment of the story. D.J. is a wizard and at the beginning of the story it comes across as if she is an inexperienced wizard. I liked that as the book progressed we were able to see her grow and her skills develop into something more. The author hinted at even more than we saw though and I'm curious to see how she grows and develops in future books. My only real problem that I had with the book was D.J.'s lack of confidence in herself and her skills. It wasn't constant throughout the book so it didn't take away from my reading experience but it was there. I'm hoping that as she grows in future books that she becomes a force to be reckoned with. Because you can just see that the skills and talent are probably there just waiting to be let out. And I will definitely be there to read the next book whenever it comes out :)

All in all, I found this book to be a pretty solid beginning to this new series. And now I'm eager to read more about D.J. and see where she goes from here. I'm curious to see what happens next...which is all you can ask from a book sometimes, right?? Recommended especially for fans of urban fantasy!

Bottom Line: It didn't rock my socks off but it was pretty darn good if I do say so myself!

Disclosure: My many thanks for an e-copy of this book thanks to the publisher and Netgalley!

The Janus Affair by Philippa Ballantine & Tee Morris (thoughts)

There are those books that suck you in completely and pull you deep down into their depths. When you stop reading it is almost painful because you were submersed in the world that you were reading about. And the characters....books like this make me feel like I know these characters. That maybe they were once intimate friends of mine. This is one of those books for me! Stepping back into The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences was like visiting old friends but only better because I swear that I enjoyed this book even more than the first!

I LOVED The Janus Affair! Loved it! Everything that I enjoyed about Phoenix Rising was back in this second book and there was more! That's right...more! In this book, Eliza and Wellington begin to secretly investigate the very odd and mysterious disappearances of a few leaders of the feminist movement. Secretly investigate because it seems like these disappearances are being ignored by the Ministry. And Eliza and Books are still in hot water for all of the trouble that they managed to cause from their last case. As always trouble is underfoot whenever these two get their hands on a good mystery.

One of my favorite things about this book was the growing and changing relationship between Books and Eliza. I'll try to be as spoiler-free as possible but it really was what MADE this book for me. I loved the fractures and misunderstandings that were abundant and played an important role in this book. I felt like each step of the book was leading up to something, and that something happened at the end of the book just like I had hoped! Did I say that I loved this book already??? I seriously did! I had a hard time putting the book down and found myself wondering how I am going to possibly wait for the next book to come out. Aack! I may end up rereading these two books to help hold me off until book 3 comes out. But back to my thoughts on it. The steampunk aspect was fun to read about it...I loved reading about all of the different gadgets and gizmos. Although there were a few times that the technical parts of explanation went way over my head, I felt like it really added to the story. I've got to add that I really like the mystery that is included in the interludes throughout the book. I feel like these interludes are giving us hints on whats to come in the series. It is very intriguing! Reading this book was such a fun-filled adventure with unexpected twists and turns and so much more! I can't get enough of these books and I'm really eager to see what kinds of trouble Eliza and Books can get into next. Because you just know that somehow they are going to get themselves in more trouble. It is bound to happen. And I'll be there to read all about it!!

All in all, a deliciously good read and a great follow-up to the 1st book! I highly recommend this series if you haven't tried it yet. Especially if you are thinking about dipping your toes in the steampunk genre. You won't be disappointed! As for me, I'm going to be impatiently waiting for the next book to come out. Highly recommended!

Bottom Line: An unputdownable read! Already a favorite series of mine and we are only on book 2!

Disclosure: I was lucky enough to receive an e-galley of this through Edelweiss and the publisher.

If you are interested, here is a link to my thoughts on Phoenix Rising, the first book of The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences.

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper (thoughts)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Maybe it was the Shenanigans gift certificate that put her over the edge. When children's librarian and self-professed nice girl Jane Jameson is fired by her beastly boss and handed twenty-five dollars in potato skins instead of a severance check, she goes on a bender that's sure to become Half Moon Hollow legend. On her way home, she's mistaken for a deer, shot, and left for dead. And thanks to the mysterious stranger she met while chugging neon-colored cocktails, she wakes up with a decidedly unladylike thirst for blood."

My Thoughts:

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs was a fun beginning to this paranormal romance series, and I'm eager for more! Jane is an unlucky librarian who wakes up as a vampire after going on a drunk bender. She's at a crossroads in her life when she becomes a vampire which makes her dealing with all of her new vampire traits that much more interesting. Jane has to deal with how to tell her family that she is part of the undead, finding a job that will fit her new lifestyle, and so much more. And the entire time she does it with both spunk and wit which I really enjoyed. Everything didn't come easily to her and I really appreciated that the author made her work for the things that she wanted. The relationship that develops between her sire, Gabriel, and her is both steamy and fun at the same time. I liked that they were basically dating and taking the time to get to know each other rather than just diving into bed right away. In fact, I think that one of the things I liked most about this book is that the author wasn't afraid to take her time with building this series. Things happened slowly at times but I have a feeling that it is all leading up to the next book in this series which is happily already sitting on my shelves. The mystery part of this book was interesting but a bit obvious. I didn't care though as I was more interested in watching Jane adjust to her new life as a vampire. And I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

Overall, I found this to be a solid beginning to this series! It had everything that I look for in a good paranormal romance including fun, well-developed main characters, a storyline with a bit of a twist, and of course a steamy romance :) This is my first book by this author but it won't be my last. I'm looking forward to continuing on with this series but I'm also hoping to begin her other series at some point. Definitely recommended to fans of romance!

Bottom Line: A paranormal romance with spunk and character. I want more!

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book for review from the publisher. My thoughts are my own :)

Gone by Mo Hayder (thoughts)

Gone begins like your average thriller with a car jacking and a kidnapping tied together in one. But this isn't your average kidnapping as the kidnapper seems to know exactly what the police are thinking before they can come up with any solid leads. Time is ticking...can Jack Caffery find the young girl before it is too late???

Gone is a gripping thriller that slowly grabs the reader and pulls them in tightly. By the end of the book I was hard pressed to put it down...I couldn't wait to see how it was all going to end. I gave a vague description of the summary because I didn't want to give too much away. The story begins with a young girl being inadvertently kidnapped when the car she is sitting in is stolen. But the carjacking is anything by random and questions instantly begin to rise as the lead detective begins to investigate. I really enjoyed how there were two different detectives working different angles of the kidnapping throughout the book. It was interesting because there was all of this back story and history between the two of them and it led me to so many questions that lent even more mystery to the story. I never knew what to expect next. I could never even guess what was going to happen. There were just so many questions while I was reading and I really enjoyed that. I actually didn't realize that this book is part of a series. It didn't detract from my enjoyment at all. I'm eager after reading this book to go back and start at the beginning to see how it all began. I'm hoping to learn more about Jack and some of the other characters in the book. Especially the mysterious, transient man that Jack looks to for answers. I was left with lots of questions in regards to him. This book ended up being more than I expected it to be, and I'm really glad that I took the time to read it!

Overall, I found this book to be quite an enjoyable read and I can't wait to continue on with this series. It started off slowly but easily swept me into its' pages. I really enjoyed the fact that it was part of a series but that I couldn't tell the difference. I would recommend this book to any fan of a good thriller or mystery. Recommended!

Bottom Line: A creepy thriller that will have you guessing the entire time!

Disclosure: I checked this book out from my local library. It is part of my attempt to read all of the 2012 Edgar Nominees. So far I have enjoyed each one that I have read!