November Reviews

The reviews came in fast and furious this month. Take a look at what your fellow readers had to say about November’s picks.

Castle
I really like the show Castle, and this book was just as good. I will be reading more of this series.
Mark

Rizzoli and Isles
I really enjoy reading the Rizzoli and Isles series. The books are action packed but not so scary that I can’t read them at night. Although some of the villains are pretty scary characters. The author gives us a look at both Rizzoli and Isles personal live and fully involve the reader in their stressful action packed careers. When I watched the television series I found the stories very much the same as the books, but they’ve added humor which makes both Rizzoli and Isles very down to earth and likeable.
Jane

Castle
The television show is one of my favorites. It has mystery and comedy, my two favorite things to watch on TV. I love to help solve the crimes. Castle is a loveable guy I have often thought about reading the books and now that I have read the reviews I will.
Steph

Rizzoli and Isles
I believe this may be the best suspense/serial killer novel of the 2001 crop. Although there have been some close competitors. I do not normally follow medical suspense, so I don’t know how well it compares in that genre. But I can’t imagine it being far from the top on most reader’s lists. While I am not normally a reader of medical thrillers, I intend to investigate more of Gerritsen’s work.
Lynne

Castle
This was a great, fast paced book. The writing was tight, the dialog fast paced, and the characters really jumped off the pages. I found it to be very visual. Reading this was like watching a great movie in my head. There are a ton of characters, and somehow none of them get lost in the shuffle. The writer really did a good job of keeping everything moving along.
Jack

Rizzoli and Isles
This was the first book by Tess Gerritsen that I had ever read, and it hooked me into her novels immediately. She is a medical suspense author like no other, and “The Surgeon” is a thoughtfully-woven tale that reveals her artistic skill in creating tension and unrelenting anxiety within the reader.
Melanie

Castle
I love the show Castle, so I was very excited to pick up this book — and I wasn’t let down. At first I wasn’t so sure about the inclusion of the Castle-type character (with the not-so-subtle name of Rook), but eventually the parallel to the show grew on me. The title character Nikki Heat is a strong, independent woman who can really kick some butt, and she made a good protagonist. I loved the “action scenes” in the novel in particular, and thought they were very well-written. Any fan of Castle should definitely pick this up.
Lindsay

November reading

November has arrived, and with that, new seasons of our favorite television shows. Many authors have had their books turned into movie or television hits. Some of those authors include Kathy Reichs, Stephanie Meyer, Stephen King, Jeff Lindsay and Fannie Flagg to name a few.

There is much controversy around some of these shows as they have been adapted to T.V and do not necessarily follow the story line or the writers have changed aspects of certain character traits. There are many blogs and message boards that are based on these differences.

I encourage everyone to not only discuss the books this month but to also share your opinions regarding the differences between the shows compared to the books; if you have seen them.

The books that we will be concentrating on this month are by Richard Castle and Tess Gerritsen. Both authors have had their novels turned into hit television series.

The Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series by Tess Gerristsen 
He slips into homes at night and walks silently into bedrooms where women lie sleeping, about to awaken to a living nightmare. The precision of his methods  suggests that he is a deranged man of medicine, prompting the Boston newspapers to dub him “The Surgeon.” Led by Detectives Thomas Moore and Jane Rizzoli, the cops must consult the victim of a nearly identical crime: Two years ago, Dr. Catherine Cordell fought back and filled an attacker before he could complete his assault. Now this new killer is re-creating, with chilling accuracy, the details of Cordell’s ordeal. With every new murder he seems to be taunting her, cutting ever closer, from her hospital to her home. And neither Moore nor Rizzoli can protect Cordell from a ruthless hunter who somehow understands—and savors—the secret fears of every woman he kills.

 

The Nikki Heat series by Richard Castle

A New York real estate tycoon plunges to his death on a Manhattan sidewalk. A trophy wife with a past survives a narrow escape from a brazen attack. Mobsters and moguls with no shortage of reasons to kill trot out their alibis. And then, in the suffocating grip of a record heat wave, comes another shocking murder and a sharp turn in a tense journey into the dirty little secrets of the wealthy. Secrets that prove to be fatal. Secrets that lay hidden in the dark until one NYPD detective shines a light. Mystery sensation Richard Castle, blockbuster author of the wildly best-selling Derrick Storm novels, introduces his newest character, NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat. Tough, sexy, professional, Nikki Heat carries a passion for justice as she leads one of New York City’s top homicide squads. She’s hit with an unexpected challenge when the commissioner assigns superstar magazine journalist Jameson Rook to ride along with her to research an article on New York’s Finest. Pulitzer Prize-winning Rook is as much a handful as he is handsome. His wise-cracking and meddling aren’t her only problems. As she works to unravel the secrets of the murdered real estate tycoon, she must also confront the spark between them. The one called heat.

November is coming fast!

We are starting back up in November, stay tuned for new books and genre ideas!!

May Reading

This month’s books are both the beginning of a series. I love starting a new series because I know that at least for a time, I won’t have to worry about finding a new author or book to read I can just follow the series until it is done!

Lavender Morning by Jude Deveraux

Jocelyn Minton is a woman torn between two worlds. Her mother grew up in a world of private schools and afternoon tea, but she married the local handyman. After her mother died when Joce was 5, her father remarried into his own class, and Joce was an outsider– until she met Miss Edi, 60 years older than she was, but a kindred soul. When Miss Edi dies, she leaves Jocelyn all her worldly possessions, which includes clues to a mystery that started in 1941, set in a small town in Virginia that Joce had never heard of. But, because of her benefactor’s notorious past, the townspeople know who Joce is, and they’ve plotted out her entire future, including who she is meant to marry. But Jocelyn has her own ideas about men and secrets that no one wants revealed.

And/or

Weekend Warriors By Fern Michaels

 Anger leads wealthy Myra Rutledge, who lost her daughter to a hit-and-run driver with diplomatic immunity, to found the Sisterhood, a secret vigilante group of women who have been unable to seek justice through lawful means. Assisting Myra in this effort are former MI6 agent Charles Martin and defense attorney Nikki Quinn, who was Myra’s daughter’s best friend. High on estrogen and hate, the women pinpoint their first target the Weekend Warriors, a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who brutally raped Kathryn Lucas, one of Nikki’s former clients.

Reviews for Safe haven

Here are the reviews for Safe Haven:

This certainly isn’t a traditional sappy love story that Sparks usually writes. Sure it has the love story and it’s set in North Carolina, but he puts in an element of danger. I have read all of his books and I love them all, however I am definitely tired of the “I love you” on the first date that practically occurs in all of his novels. The rest of this novel makes up for that quick love. It truly is impossible to put down. I made the mistake of starting it before bed, figuring I would read a few chapters and go to sleep – Well, I stayed up all night and finished it.
Lisa

I always look forward to a new Nicholas Sparks book, and Safe Haven was everything I expected. Safe haven is a great combination of love story, and thriller. I would highly recommend it. I can’t wait for his next book to be published.
Karen

Another great novel by Nicholas Sparks, read this in just a day and half – couldn’t put it down! About half way through it became predictable, but surprised me with a strange twist at the end. Definitely worth reading if you enjoy Spark’s books!
Carol

Although this book was a good and fast read, about 1/3 of the way into it Julia Roberts face kept coming to view in my mind. The story line of this book is all too similar to that of Sleeping with the Enemy. I enjoyed the book and would recommend to other readers. It had a little twist at the end which was nice. Not my favorite Sparks book only due to lack of originality with the plot.
Mary

Reviews for Magic Bites

Magic Bites reviews are in:

Magic Bites is what urban fantasy is all about! Ilona Andrews has written a tale that is not for the faint of heart as she is not afraid to take risks. There is little, if any, romance in this tale and the gore level is high. However, it is the phenomenal world building that makes Magic bites such a success. Ilona Andrews takes a darker approach to vampires and shape shifters and the complexity of her world is astounding.
Ashley J.

Kate Daniels is a great lead female character. She is the ultimate action heroine as she charges right into the thick of things. She is a bit brusque at times but Ilona Andrews does an excellent job at making Kate likeable in spite of her attitude. There is also a bit of a mystery surrounding Kate as tantalizing hints are dropped throughout the novel. This is a welcome entry to the urban fantasy genre. It is easy to forget that this is a first novel by Ilona Andrews as the tale is so well done. I can’t wait for the sequel as Magic bite is easily recommended!
Kelly

“Magic Bites” is an excellent read. It’s fast-paced and all the characters are interesting, regardless of how “fantastic”. There’s almost a romance, but it takes a big hit along the way. I’m hopeful in later books that Kate, who really keeps her emotions under tight control, can repair the promising relationship, for her own sake, if nothing else. Unlike some books which reveal everything in the first volume, this book leaves many things to learn in future stories, including the mystery of Kate herself.
Lynne

April reading

This month we have the option of Sci-fi/Fantasy or Romance.

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

and /or

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for magic… One moment magic dominates, and cars stall and guns fail. The next, technology takes over and the defensive spells no longer protect your house from monsters. Here skyscrapers topple under onslaught of magic; werebears and werehyenas prowl through the ruined streets; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst of knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds. In this world lives Kate Daniels. Kate likes her sword a little too much and has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, she must choose to do nothing and remain safe or to pursue his preternatural killer. Hiding is easy, but the right choice is rarely easy…

I look forward to reading your reviews and comments this month…. Enjoy!

Wicked Appetite reviews

This was a fun, easy book to read. The plot was a little out there but that’s what reading fiction is all about anyway. I enjoyed the quick and witty dialogue in Wicked and thought the action moved along quickly, no slow spots. Even the non-human characters Cat and Carl had interesting personalities and when not reading the book, I found myself wondering what they’d be doing next. The New England setting and Lizzy’s profession as a baker, adds to the interest and atmosphere.
Review by Lynne

I laughed throughout the entire book. I could not control myself. This book should be read perhaps on the beach or in a waiting room. It’s not a deep thinker; it’s just a very enjoyable experience. I will definitely read it again.
Review by Carol

 I just finished this book and loved it. It has just enough suspense, romance, and humor to make it a great read. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Review by J.P

Miss Peregrine’s Home for peculiar children reviews.

When I first started reading Miss P. I expected a haunting thriller, full of horror and danger. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised, with a fantasy/adventure story, combined with a very unique style of photography, which made the book better than I ever thought it would be.

Jacob Portman desires an adventurous life, much like the life his grandfather describes to him in various stories. However, when Jacob realizes that he can never have an adventurous life, he just tries to be normal and fit in. He’s not popular or extremely smart, and there doesn’t seem to be anything unusual about him at all; but when his grandfather dies and leaves Jacob a cryptic message, Jacob is sent on a hunt to find his grandfather’s past and ends up traveling all the way to Wales. Once there, Jacob discovers much more than he ever could have imagined about his grandfather and is thrown into the midst of a very peculiar situation. Ransom Riggs takes us on the journey through death, adventure, love and friendship.

The writing is so descriptive and evocative that I now question if the vintage photographs interspersed throughout the narratives are even necessary to the enjoyment of the story. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was apparently inspired by these weird photographs the author found, each with something so off-kilter about them that they can inspire multiple fantastic stories on their own. While I loved the photographs, they were a bonus rather than essential.

I thought the characters were really well-developed and thought out. The characters were complex, from Jacob to the peculiar children. I loved seeing all the different relationships unfold, and more than once found myself surprised about the revelations about some of the characters.

While the story is aimed at young adult readers, it is complex enough to entertain and thrill adult readers. For me, it felt much like the Lemony Snicket books, for an older audience. The story ends in such a way that makes me hope there will be a sequel.

I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did!

Review by Jocelyn.

This was a very unusual story, with fascinating vintage photos of peculiar people. Riggs has an amazing imagination and he creates a fictional world to intrigue curious minds.
Young Jacob takes us on an exciting journey full of surprises and adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It isn’t my usual genre and I probably wouldn’t have chosen this type of story on my own. Thank-you for introducing me to Ransom Riggs, a very peculiar person.

Review by Natalie

March reading

For March, you have the option to read one of two books (or both).

 

Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs. 
                
“A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.
It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.
A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.” Description courtesy of Amazon.com

and/or

Wicked Appetite, by Janet Evanovich.

You can take this out in either audio disc or hard cover!

“Life in Marblehead has had a pleasant predictability, until Diesel arrives. Rumor has it that a collection of priceless ancient relics representing the Seven Deadly Sins have made their way to Boston’s North Shore. Partnered with pastry chef Lizzie Tucker, Diesel bullies and charms his way through historic Salem to track them down—and his criminal mastermind cousin Gerewulf Grimorie. The black-haired, black-hearted Wulf is on the hunt for the relic representing gluttony. Caught in a race against time, Diesel and Lizzie soon find out that more isn’t always better, as they battle Wulf and the first of the deadly sins.” Description courtesy of Amazon.com

I am also still encouraging readers to make suggestions on future book club selections and to submit reviews on books that are not on the reading list.

 Happy reading everyone!