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in
booking_it
Books 10-14?
Man, it has been so long since my last update that I don't actually remember what all I've read. So um, let's see if I can reconstruct from memory over the next few days [ETA: I think I may have gotten them all, from Amazon reviews and old emails.]:
10. Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris
Harper Connelly has a supernatural ability to find dead bodies, and relive their last few minutes - no specifics, just circumstances. When she's called into the small town of Sarne, Arkansas, a string of new murders follow her discovery of a months-old body, and since she's stuck there anyway (as a possible suspect) she decides to do her own investigating. The mystery hinged on points that were a little cheesy, but the action was good, the characters were believable, and Harper's ability definitely makes for an interesting premise.
3.5 dead bodies out of 5
11. Kushiel's Justice by Jacqueline Carey
No, it's not the one that just came out, so yes, I'm still behind. This book follows Imriel on a quest to Alba to do his royal duty, and (in the tradition of Carey novels) all over the map with the aftermath. I never quite bought the great-and-grand love story Carey was selling with this one, but I was pleased to see some of the side characters' stories play out, and I enjoyed the questions raised and the moral struggles the main character faced.
4.5 Old Folk out of 5
12. Wraith by Phaedra Weldon
Zoe Martinique has an unusual gift - she can enter and leave her body, pretty much at will. It's the result of a traumatic incident (of course) but she's learned to adapt. So when she auctions of yet another "spy gig" on Ebay (usually it's jealous spouses or corporate moguls who bid) and ends up witnessing ANOTHER paranormal traveler murdering her subject... well she might be in over her head, but she's also curious. And quite possibly the only person who can do something about it.
4 puffs of smoke out of 5
13. All the Tea In China by Jane Orcutt
Although this promised on the cover to be a "Rollicking Regency" - this book was less fun and more thoughtful than I'd expected. It's also the first bit of Christian fiction that did not annoy the hell out of me with the preaching. It's well done, but the gear shifting made it a little less recommendable than I'd like, since it didn't quite fulfill my expectations.
3 tea leaves out of 5
14. My Guilty Pleasure by Isabel Sharpe
Joe Winfield is the rebellious daughter of a socialite, and a high-powered lawyer who makes the mistake of consenting to a one-night stand with her soon-to be boss right before he shows up at the office. It soon spirals into an out-of-control affair, which she can only hope will burn out with time. But then again, what if it's love?
I have to say, I didn't see the resolution coming on this one, which I liked. It's silly and cheesy, but fun.
4 tangled sheets out of 5
Books I tried and Failed to Read:
*In Defense of Food (Micheal Pollan) - interesting,but started repeating itself 1/3 of the way through
*Once Upon A Winter's Night (Dennis McKiernan) - a retelling of stupid and psyche that looked pretty good, but immediately pissed me off with obnoxious gender biases and an insipid heroine.
10. Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris
Harper Connelly has a supernatural ability to find dead bodies, and relive their last few minutes - no specifics, just circumstances. When she's called into the small town of Sarne, Arkansas, a string of new murders follow her discovery of a months-old body, and since she's stuck there anyway (as a possible suspect) she decides to do her own investigating. The mystery hinged on points that were a little cheesy, but the action was good, the characters were believable, and Harper's ability definitely makes for an interesting premise.
3.5 dead bodies out of 5
11. Kushiel's Justice by Jacqueline Carey
No, it's not the one that just came out, so yes, I'm still behind. This book follows Imriel on a quest to Alba to do his royal duty, and (in the tradition of Carey novels) all over the map with the aftermath. I never quite bought the great-and-grand love story Carey was selling with this one, but I was pleased to see some of the side characters' stories play out, and I enjoyed the questions raised and the moral struggles the main character faced.
4.5 Old Folk out of 5
12. Wraith by Phaedra Weldon
Zoe Martinique has an unusual gift - she can enter and leave her body, pretty much at will. It's the result of a traumatic incident (of course) but she's learned to adapt. So when she auctions of yet another "spy gig" on Ebay (usually it's jealous spouses or corporate moguls who bid) and ends up witnessing ANOTHER paranormal traveler murdering her subject... well she might be in over her head, but she's also curious. And quite possibly the only person who can do something about it.
4 puffs of smoke out of 5
13. All the Tea In China by Jane Orcutt
Although this promised on the cover to be a "Rollicking Regency" - this book was less fun and more thoughtful than I'd expected. It's also the first bit of Christian fiction that did not annoy the hell out of me with the preaching. It's well done, but the gear shifting made it a little less recommendable than I'd like, since it didn't quite fulfill my expectations.
3 tea leaves out of 5
14. My Guilty Pleasure by Isabel Sharpe
Joe Winfield is the rebellious daughter of a socialite, and a high-powered lawyer who makes the mistake of consenting to a one-night stand with her soon-to be boss right before he shows up at the office. It soon spirals into an out-of-control affair, which she can only hope will burn out with time. But then again, what if it's love?
I have to say, I didn't see the resolution coming on this one, which I liked. It's silly and cheesy, but fun.
4 tangled sheets out of 5
Books I tried and Failed to Read:
*In Defense of Food (Micheal Pollan) - interesting,but started repeating itself 1/3 of the way through
*Once Upon A Winter's Night (Dennis McKiernan) - a retelling of stupid and psyche that looked pretty good, but immediately pissed me off with obnoxious gender biases and an insipid heroine.