Sunday, March 30, 2014

Cured (Stung, #2) by Bethany Wiggins

Cured (Stung, #2)Cured by Bethany Wiggins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Now that Fiona Tarsis and her twin brother, Jonah, are no longer beasts, they set out to find their mother, with the help of Bowen and a former neighbor, Jacqui. Heading for a safe settlement rumored to be in Wyoming, they plan to spread the cure along the way--until they are attacked by raiders. Luckily, they find a new ally in Kevin, who saves them and leads them to safety in his underground shelter. But the more they get to know Kevin, the more they suspect he has ties to the raiders. He also seems to know too many details about Jacqui and her family—details that could endanger them all. For the raiders will do anything they can to destroy the cure that would bring an end to their way of life. Bethany Wiggins’s reimagining of our world after an environmental catastrophe won’t fail to stun readers.
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I enjoyed this book much more than the 1st. While the main characters of 'Stung' are part of this story, the are more supporting actors than main characters. The story is about Jack/Jacqui who has lived with her parents and brothers outside of the wall for the last 4 years trying to survive the raiders who have become prevalent since the bee virus. In order to survive Jacqui has to pretend to be a boy. When her older brother Dean leaves to help get Fo's mother to safety and never returns Jacqui decides to go look for help. She enlists the help of Fo, her boyfriend Bowen and her brother Jonah in her search for her brother.

This story was a can't put down read that I finished in one day.



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Saturday, March 29, 2014

Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story by Leonie Swann

Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective StoryThree Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story by Leonie Swann

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A witty philosophical murder mystery with a charming twist: the crack detectives are sheep determined to discover who killed their beloved shepherd.

On a hillside near the cozy Irish village of Glennkill, the members of the flock gather around their shepherd, George, whose body lies pinned to the ground with a spade. George has cared for the sheep, reading them a plethora of books every night. The daily exposure to literature has made them far savvier about the workings of the human mind than your average sheep. Led by Miss Maple, the smartest sheep in Glennkill (and possibly the world), they set out to find George’s killer.

The A-team of investigators includes Othello, the “bad-boy” black ram; Mopple the Whale, a merino who eats a lot and remembers everything; and Zora, a pensive black-faced ewe with a weakness for abysses. Joined by other members of the richly talented flock, they engage in nightlong discussions about the crime and wild metaphysical speculations, and they embark on reconnaissance missions into the village, where they encounter some likely suspects. There’s Ham, the terrifying butcher; Rebecca, a village newcomer with a secret and a scheme; Gabriel, the shady shepherd of a very odd flock; and Father Will, a sinister priest. Along the way, the sheep confront their own all-too-human struggles with guilt, misdeeds, and unrequited love.

Three Bags Full is already an international hit. “It’s rather as if Agatha Christie had re-written The Wind in the Willows, and I ended by loving it, ”Jane Jakeman wrote in The Independent. Funny, fresh, and endearing, it introduces a wonderful breed of detectives to American readers.

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This book was definitely outside the norm of what I typically read. I love mysteries, but never read books that have animals as the main characters personifying humans, so this was new for me. While I enjoyed the story, I can't say what kept me reading exactly. I enjoyed reading about the personalities of the sheep as they attempted to, in their own way, solve the murder of their shepherd. I enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery, and had fun trying to keep up with the way that the sheep viewed human activities. As a mystery I would not give the book very high ratings, but for it's interesting take on how sheep view the world it is worth the read.



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Saturday, March 22, 2014

In the After (In the After #1) by Demitria Lunetta

In the After (In the After #1)In the After by Demitria Lunetta

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.
And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.

Rebellious, courageous, and tender, this unforgettable duo will have you on the edge of your seat as you tear through the pulse-pounding narrow escapes and horrifying twists of fate in this thrilling debut from author Demitria Lunetta.

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Totally enjoyed this read recommended by my 14 year old daughter. Wonderful post apocalyptic story that was just right for both teens and adults. Amy is a wonderful main character, the story line is intriguing and I can not wait to read the sequel!



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Sunday, March 16, 2014

Nightingale's Lament (Nightside, #3) by Simon R. Green

Nightingale's Lament (Nightside, #3)Nightingale's Lament by Simon R. Green

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In the Nightside, the hidden heart of London where it's always 3 AM, Detective John Taylor must find an elusive singer known as The Nightingale. Her silken voice has inexplicably lured many a fan to suicide--and Taylor is determined to stop her, before the whole neighborhood falls under her trance. But to catch the swift-winged Nightingale, he'll have to hear the deadly music--and survive.

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This was another interesting tale of the Nightside. A few new characters. I loved Dead Boy!! Overall an interesting series that I look forward to continuing!



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Saturday, March 8, 2014

Agents of Light and Darkness (Nightside, #2) by Simon R. Green

Agents of Light and Darkness (Nightside, #2)Agents of Light and Darkness by Simon R. Green

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The New York Times bestselling author takes readers back to the Nightside.

A quest for the Unholy Grail-the goblet from which Judas drank at the Last Supper-takes private eye John Taylor deep into the secret, magical heart of London...called the Nightside.

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I am definitely enjoying getting to know that characters better. We learn a lot about Shotgun Suzie as well as Razor Eddie in this book.

Very much enjoying this series!



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Saturday, March 1, 2014

Something from the Nightside (Nightside, #1) by Simon R. Green

Something from the Nightside (Nightside, #1)Something from the Nightside by Simon R. Green

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Barnes & Noble Review
Something from the Nightside is the first book in Green's Nightside sequence, a hard-boiled mystery that chronicles the life of John Taylor, a down-and-out private detective with supernatural abilities who specializes in finding lost things in Nightside. The realm of Nightside is "the secret, hidden, dark heart" of London, a subterranean world where time and reality have no meaning, a place where it's always three o'clock in the morning and something dangerous is most definitely lurking right around the corner.

When a desperate blonde comes to John searching for her runaway daughter, he takes the case, although it means returning to his place of birth, Nightside. John has been living in "the real world" for five years, and returning to Nightside means being reacquainted with old friends like Razor Eddie, Punk God of the Straight Razor, and Shotgun Suzie, a leather-clad bounty hunter. But the first rule in Nightside is never trust anyone…

Like Green's popular Deathstalker novels, Something from the Nightside is thoroughly enjoyable. John Taylor and his group of homicidal friends are guaranteed to entertain (and terrify), and although this novel has a satisfying ending, it's obvious that Green is setting the table for a much bigger, more complex conclusion.

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This was a quick, enjoyable start to a new series for me. Little bit mystery, little bit fantasy, little bit horror. All my favorite genres mixed into one. I like the characters and look forward to reading more about John Taylor and figuring out just who he is.



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