Archive for April, 2011

“Babydoll,” a non-review

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

Review book courtesy of Penguin Group

 

To recap: when I put up a “non-review,” it means I couldn’t finish a book. I’m not going to review it on Epinions or Amazon, and this isn’t going to be a full-on review, but I don’t mind telling you folks here why I decided not to finish it in case that information is useful to you. Just keep in mind that my judgment isn’t based on the entire book. In this case I made it through a little over a hundred pages before I decided it wasn’t worth finishing.

Saylor Oz is a Brooklyn sex therapist who somehow manages to get mixed up in mysteries. Most recently, her roommate’s brother has gone to jail for three murders he didn’t commit—models who were killed and had locks of their hair removed. Saylor is convinced the murders have something to do with an old adult movie called Bad, Bad Babydoll, but no one believes her. So it’s time for her to strike out on her own and solve the case.

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Posted in Chick-lit, Non-Reviews, Romance & Erotica, Thriller, Adventure & Mystery | Permalink | 2 Comments »

“Cold Touch,” Leslie Parrish

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

Pros: Chilling, thrilling, and blood-stirring
Cons: Some genre standard elements, but they’re handled very well
Rating: 5 out of 5

Review book (uncorrected proof) courtesy of the author
Expected release date: July 5, 2011

 

Olivia Wainwright, daughter of wealthy and influential parents, hasn’t had such a perfect life. A kidnapping-turned-violent when she was young left her with the unwanted ability to relive the last two minutes and ten seconds of a person’s life simply by touching their remains. She’s found she can use this ability to help catch murderers when no other means will do, but she never uses it unless she absolutely has to. Because each time she does, she dies a little more inside.

Savannah detective Gabe Cooper is working a cold case: a set of remains found in the wall of a burned-out building. Olivia can’t help but get involved, as she suspects the body may be linked to her own kidnapping. Convincing Gabe to let her help, however, will be another matter; like most people, he thinks her so-called psychic abilities are a crock. Still, despite his disbelief, he can’t get the strong-willed, gentle woman off of his mind. He just needs to decide whether he can let go of everything he’s ever believed in order to solve his case and have a chance at love.

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Posted in Horror & Paranormal, Romance & Erotica, Thriller, Adventure & Mystery | Permalink | 3 Comments »

“Well of Sorrows,” Benjamin Tate

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

Pros: Gorgeous worldbuilding; excellent characters; fantastic setup; spellbinding storytelling
Cons: Seems to start a bit slowly, but it’s definitely worth the buildup; may be a bit grim for some
Rating: 5 out of 5

Review book courtesy of Penguin Group

 

Colin and his parents fled across the seas to escape a coming war, only to find themselves unwelcome in their new home, beholden to the wrong Family in a town ruled with an iron fist. Eventually they’re faced with a choice—live in squalor, and probably die, in New Andover, or agree to head an expedition inward on the continent with the purpose of expanding the local Family’s power base. Unfortunately this continent is already occupied, and the occupants aren’t happy to have visitors.

Colin survives a devastating attack with the help of the denizens of a mysterious forest and the powers of a miraculous well. That well has changed Colin forever as a consequence, giving him strange and ever-growing powers. Now he might be the only person who stands a chance of saving all of the various nearby peoples from the dark Shadows and Wraiths that seek to devour everything.

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Posted in Fantasy | Permalink | 1 Comment »

“Deadly Dreams,” Kylie Brant

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

Pros: Nice slow buildup of both the murder plot and the romance
Cons: Odd sudden appearance of psychic abilities in the series; somewhat predictable bad guy; too many haunted/”damaged” women in this series
Rating: 3 out of 5

Review book courtesy of Penguin Group

 

Risa Chandler was one of Adam Raiker’s brilliant forensic criminologists before the incident that shattered her faith in herself. Since then, she’s been hiding out at her mother’s home in Philadelphia. Now that her physical wounds have healed, Adam has oh-so-helpfully suggested to the police that they enlist her aid in finding a serial killer. She doesn’t want to help, but her dreams have returned: prescient dreams that show her the deaths whether she wants to be involved or not.

Detective Nate McGuire doesn’t understand why he’s been told to take Chandler along with him on this case, but she quickly impresses him with her usefulness, so he reins in his skepticism. Ever so slowly the two of them find themselves drawn to each other, but Risa knows Nate would never believe her if she told him about her dreams. And she might never get the chance, since the killer has her in his sights.

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Posted in Horror & Paranormal, Romance & Erotica, Thriller, Adventure & Mystery | Permalink | No Comments »

“After Hours: Tales from the Ur-Bar,” ed. J. Palmatier and P. Bray

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

Pros: Interesting premise; enjoyable stories
Cons: Inconsistent use of premise
Rating: 3 out of 5

Review book courtesy of Penguin Group

 

Many centuries past, an alewife was cursed to tend her bar forever, never aging nor dying. Her only recourse was to find someone who would agree to take her place. When she transferred her duties to Gilgamesh, he accompanied the bar in its transitions from place to place and time to time, always present to shape the destinies of those who stepped inside its doors.

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Posted in Fantasy, Horror & Paranormal, Science Fiction | Permalink | No Comments »

More reviews soon…

Friday, April 8th, 2011

A few minor issues have delayed reviews for the last couple of weeks, but there should be more very soon now! Plenty to come!

Posted in Notes & Upcoming | Permalink | No Comments »