Sunday, August 26, 2012

Trick or Treat Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery #3) by Leslie Meier

Trick or Treat Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery #3)Trick or Treat Murder by Leslie Meier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Haunted-house parties and ghostly galas…grinning pumpkins, mayhem and murder. It’s going to be one heck of a Halloween for Lucy Stone and Tinker’s Cove…

It’s October in Maine, and everyone in Tinker’s Cove is preparing for the annual Halloween festival. While Lucy Stone is whipping up orange-frosted cupcakes, recycling tutus for her daughters’ Halloween costumes, helping her son with his pre-teen rebellion, and breast-feeding her brand-new bay, an arsonist is loose in Tinker’s Cove. When the latest fire claims the life of the owner of the town’s oldest house, arson turns into murder…

While the townsfolk work to transform a dilapidated mansion into a haunted house for the All-Ghouls festival, the hunt for the culprit heats up. Trick-or-treat turns deadly as a little digging in all the wrong places puts Lucy too close to a shocking discovery that could send all her best-laid plans up in smoke…

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Another good read in the Lucy Stone Mystery series. I like Lucy probably because she is just a regular housewife with 4 kids and all the typical problems those of us in her situation have. I did not know who done it till the end, but I had my suspicions. Looking forward to more in the Lucy Stone cozy series.



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Thursday, August 16, 2012

Tippy Toe Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery #2) by Leslie Meier

Tippy Toe Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery #2)Tippy Toe Murder by Leslie Meier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


With three kids underfoot, a fourth on the way, and an oppressive heat wave bearing down, homemaker Lucy Stone is hardly enjoying an idyllic summer. But her preoccupation with swelling ankles, Bavarian creme doughnut cravings, and sewing endless sequins on ballet recital tutus gives way to dread when Lucy learns that her waistline isn’t the only thing that’s recently vanished from Tinker’s Cove…

The strange disappearance of a retired dance instructor has the tiny coastal town in a tizzy that turns to terror when a notoriously cantankerous shopkeeper is slain right on Main Street. Now Lucy’s up to her bulging belly in local suspects and red herrings. Eluded by a cold-blooded killer, with her due-date looming and the thermometer soaring, Lucy figures something has to break soon. With any luck, it won’t be her water…

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I enjoyed this second book in the Lucy Stone mystery series. Lucy Stone is a likable chatterer. The story was a bit dark as it deals with domestic abuse. The mystery itself kept me guessing to the end.



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Sunday, August 12, 2012

Winter's Storm: Retribution (Winter's Saga #2) by Karen Luellen

Winter's Storm: Retribution (Winter's Saga, #2)Winter's Storm: Retribution by Karen Luellen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Born into evil.
Raised for violence.
Searching for truth.

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In the second book of Winter’s Saga we meet Creed Young. He’s a metahuman, like Meg, Alik and Evan Winter, but unlike the Winter children, Creed wasn’t rescued by a goodhearted doctor from the experiments and traumas at the hands of the evil Dr. Williams. No, Creed wasn’t that lucky. Instead, he was raised along with hundreds of other metasoldiers in a militant compound to be a lethal, bloodthirsty assassin. His first assignment: To kill the thief, Margo Winter, who stole three children from Dr. Williams’ institute twelve years ago, and return those stolen assets.

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A great continuation of the Winter family saga. I would have to say that I enjoyed this one as much, if not a little more, than the first in the series. The plot is smooth and the characters are likable. I am glad that we got to know the other characters in the book besides Meg and the introduction of Creed was a great addition to the story.

Still a couple problems with the editing that takes away from the reading of the story. Wrong usage of homonyms, awkward switch of POV and one very obvious mistake in character name which prevents me from giving the book 5 stars, but overall a very enjoyable read and one that will have me buying the next book in the series.



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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Child of the May (Forestwife Saga #2) by Theresa Tomlinson

Child of the MayChild of the May by Theresa Tomlinson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


When Magda was just a baby, her mother was murdered, and her father John brought her to live in the woods with the Forestwife. Here she learned to heal sick people and became skillful in archery and fighting. Now Magda wants a life of adventure beyond the forest. When word comes that Lady Matilda and her daughter Isabelle are being held captive by the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, Magda is ready. This is the chance of a lifetime to join forces with her father John, and the mysterious Robin Hood and his band of outlaws. Little does Magda know that this is also a chance to come face to face with the scoundrel who murdered her mother.

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While this book started out very slowly and the main character, Magda, is very unlikable (selfish and whinny), about mid way through the book we get back into what made Forestwife so enjoyable. The struggle of the forest folk against the king. Definitely picked up the pace and regained the emotional connection that the beginning of the book had not supplied for me. I am looking forward to finding and reading the last book in this trilogy.



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Saturday, August 4, 2012

12|21|12 by Larry Enright

12|21|1212|21|12 by Larry Enright

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The world ends for someone every day. One day it will end for everyone.



I am a huge fan of post-apocalyptic books so relished the idea of reading this one. Overall I was drawn into the book. I enjoyed the fact that the author introduced us to the survivors one at a time as they came together. I was intrigued as the Survivors attempted to figure out what was happening. I was interested in the theories that Loeb was putting together, and then the end came along and I was left feeling shell struck and wondering, "What just happened?". I understand what the author was doing, but I was left a little disappointed that so many things were being left to my imagination. I almost felt like I was left to write the ending myself and decide what had happened and I am not sure that I like that. Overall a good read and I would recommend it as a quick, somewhat thought provoking read.



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