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Book Review: Playing with Fire by Tess Gerritsen

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Title: Playing with Fire

Author: Tess Gerritsen

Rating:  4 stars

Reviewer: Jennifer

I’ve only read Ms. Gerritsen’s Rizzoli and Isles series and have absolutely loved them. While Playing with Fire is a departure from that, I did find it to be a really quick and enjoyable read.

Julia Ansdell picks up “The Incendio Waltz,” while on a trip. When she sees it for the first time, she knows it’s an unusual composition. Once back home, while playing the piece, Julia blacks out and awakens to find her young daughter implicated in acts of surprising violence. Was Julia’s daughter really acting out and intentionally harming her? I found this aspect of the story intriguing and creepy. I imagined what my reaction might be if I thought my child were harming me … and that freaked me out.

When Julia travels to Venice to find the previous owner of the music, she uncovers a dark secret that involves dangerously powerful people—a family who would stop at nothing to keep Julia from bringing the truth to light. Um … sounds like a big part of the story doesn’t it? I didn’t think so. It was not well done in my opinion. It felt slapped together and wrapped up too quickly with not enough of the details the rest of the story was given.

There is also the story of Lorenzo and Laura. I enjoyed their story as well, finding it believable and interesting.

While there was that one aspect of the story I couldn’t quite believe, I found myself not being able to turn the pages fast enough because I wanted to know what was next.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Book Review: Return To Homecoming Ranch

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Title:  Return To Homecoming Ranch

Author:  Julia London

Format:  Kindle

I received this copy from Julia London’s street team, “London’s Ladies”, via Netgalley for  an honest review.

Rating:  3.5 stars

Read July, 2014
Reviewer:  Dottie

Summary:  In the second of Julia London’s Homecoming Ranch trilogy, we return to Pine River, Colorado to get to know Libby , another of the Tyler sisters, who have recently been brought together by their father’s death.  Libby, with the aid of her sisters, is trying desperately to figure out how to save their Dad’s run down ranch.  While doing this, Libby is also trying to figure out how to save her own life after a humiliating breakup with Ryan, whose two children she has been raising for the past four years, and loves as though they were her own.  This devotion to the children brings her nothing but trouble, and confrontation with handsome Officer Sam Winters, who is fighting his own demons.  It is inevitable that an attraction is formed between these two.

Review: I’m never disappointed with Julia London’s writing, and this is no exception. She always makes me feel for the characters, whether it be positive or negative. I’ve smiled and shed a tear or two.  I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment in this trilogy to see what happens with not only Emma, the third sister, but also with the rest of the characters from Pine River whose back stories have yet to be completed.

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Book Review: Now I See You by Nicole Kear

Title: Now I See You

Author: Nicole C Kear

Format: Kindle/Hardcover

Rating: 4 1/2 Pairs of Sunglasses

Reviewer: Jess

Summary:  Nicole Kear is just nineteen years old when suddenly she is given a life-changing diagnosis–she is going blind. Rather than falling apart, she decides on a bold course of action and makes her new motto “Carpe Diem” all while keeping her impending blindness a secret from all but her closest family. Continue reading “Book Review: Now I See You by Nicole Kear” →

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Revisiting Wonderful Book Memories–The Baby-Sitters Club

When I saw that Ann M. Martin was going to be appearing at Book Expo America/Book Con this week the little girl in me let out a shout of excitement. When I was in elementary school these were my absolute favorite books. I read them all over and over, even when I was really just a bit to old for them. Maybe this explains my adult love for YA novels? Continue reading “Revisiting Wonderful Book Memories–The Baby-Sitters Club” →

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Book Review: Outlander

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Title: Outlander

Author: Diana Gabaldon

Format: Audible/Kindle using Whispersync Voice.

Rating: 5 Kilts

Read: January 2014

Reviewer: Jess

Summary: The novel begins in 1945 shortly after the end of the war.  A former field nurse, Claire Beauchamp Randall is in Scotland reconnecting with her husband, Frank.  Claire and Frank are going through the normal awkwardness of becoming comfortable with each other  once again when something astonishing happens.  Claire is visiting one of the many ancient stone circles scattered about the countryside when suddenly she finds herself in the middle of a battlefield. In 1743.

My Review:
In which I finally meet James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser…

First a little background–I love historical fiction, especially when set in the United Kingdom and I’ve recently become interested in the Jacobite rebellions. I am not intimidated by long books or series, in fact I prefer them most of the time. I also tend to take recommendations from my friends fairly seriously. Knowing all that, I don’t really understand why it took me years to read Outlander.  Plus there’s the added benefit of hotties in kilts. Historical hotties in kilts. That should have been enough to convince me. Well whatever the reason, a group of my online book friends decided to read (or re-read) Outlander for our New Year’s read. What happened was a surprise even to me.

Going into the read, I knew little about the novel except that the romantic leads are Jamie and Claire, somehow Claire travels back in time to meet Jamie in all his kilt-god glory and the story really starts from that point. From the recommendations I’d gotten I expected a well written historical romance, a solid 4 star read. What I got was an emotional roller coaster of love, angst, torture, political intrigue and action. At any point in the book you could find me cursing the book or crying over it, usually both at the same time. Definitely not a fluffy historical romance.

I originally tried to write this review as soon as I finished the book but I was in such a daze from some of the chapters near the end it took a while longer before I could be articulate in any way. Now that I’ve had some time to think about it (and become obsessed in ways I didn’t quite expect) I still don’t know if I can express how wonderful this book is. There are so many characters to fall in love with in Outlander (not just Jamie) and I think that’s why I feel so compelled to continue reading. I dare anyone to read this without crying, laughing, hurting alongside and falling in love with each and every one of them.  What I can say for sure is I’m very glad I read this book and will have to thank my RKB friends for recommending it after I finish strangling them for doing it. Not only will I continue with this series, I know I will read this one again. At some point. With a bottle of scotch and a box of tissues.

 

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