December122012

Devil’s Bargain By Rachel Caine Review

Devil’s Bargain

Red Letter Days Book One

By Rachel Caine

 

All Jazz wants to do is drown her sorrows, her partner is in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, she has been shunned by most of the cops in the city, and she has just enough money left to get really drunk. While she is minding her own business a man comes up to her in his brand new leather outfit making him stick out like a sore thumb in the biker bar, but what is truly weird is the man knows her name and has an envelope for her. She has never been to this particular bar before and only just decided right before arriving.

Devil's Bargain (Red Letter Days #1)

I have to say it, I loved Jazz, she is a smart mouth who can back it up but there is so much more to her than just that she is kind and caring even if she pulls her gun first and asks questions later. I wasn’t sure what the story would be about as the synopsis I had read was fairly vague but it turned out to be a unique and fun read. I know Rachel Caine has also written the Morganville Vampire series, even though I have only read two of those I have to say that Rachel Caine is a truly surprising author. She has come up with two of the most original series that I have ever come across but not only that none of her books that I have read even come close to anyone else’s.  This book in particular you have great characters an amazing storyline all surrounding the good versus evil premise. This is certainly a must read and I look forward to what Rachel Caine has in store next. 

 

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

 

October172012

Path of Needles by Hannah Kollef Review

Path of Needles

Paths Book One

By Hannah Kollef

 

Seventeen year old Kat Finnegan is not your average teenager, she has grown up in a world full of art and culture in New York, goes to a private school, and has a twin brother. If this was not enough to make her interesting her father soon goes missing and she is pulled into a world that she always thought of as a Fairy Tale.

Path of Needles 

This novel is a young adult urban fantasy, whew what a mouthful, and is so much fun to read. Hannah Kollef has taken a classic tale in its original form and weaved a magnificent story in a modern setting. To further capture your attention in this novel and to guarantee you will continue on with the story the twin brother and sister are called “The Truth” and “The Lie” in the fey kingdom and their coming is referred to as the “Lost Prophecy” this is just the beginning of the story! I loved the characters and not only does Hannah Kollef suck you in with the main story she also fills the story full of emotional side stories that certainly keep you entertained as you go along, such as the sense of loss you feel over Kat’s father going missing. This is worth the read and I cannot wait for the next book to come out!

 

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

 

October162012

Hammered by Kevin Hearne Review

Hammered

Iron Druid Chronicles Book Three

By Kevin Hearne

 

The best thing that anyone has ever heard about Thor, the Norse God of Thunder, is that he is a douche. Not only is Thor a complete jerk to put it mildly, he is a bully and takes pleasure at other peoples pain. Now after centuries of this, it is about to bite him in the butt. Atticus, the last remaining druid, along with a werewolf, a vampire, a sorcerer, another thunder God, and a team of frost giants they will travel to Asgard and exact revenge on Thor.

Hammered (Iron Druid Chronicles, #3) 

One of the best things about this series is how outrageously funny it is, such as having a beer with Jesus as he makes fish and chips appear on everyone’s plates. This book goes into more details into some of the side characters that have been in and out of the other two novels and if you find yourself on team Thor at the beginning when you hear each of their stories you are ready for the biggest butt kicking you will ever come across. This novel is much more emotional than the others, I did not cry thank goodness but came very close. But this quick witted man’s man is definitely becoming one of my favorite characters.

 

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

 

October152012

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl Review

Beautiful Creatures

Caster Chronicles Book One

By Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

 

It started with a dream, he was desperate to save this girl he didn’t know Ethan had no idea what the dream meant until Lena showed up at school and everything fell into place. This was the girl from his dreams and for some reason he has such a strong connection with her they can even hear each other’s thoughts, but Lena warns him away from her. She only has five months until a terrible curse that has plagued her family will consume her too.

Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1) 

I didn’t know what to expect when I started this novel but it turned out to be such an interesting and original story. Not your typical paranormal young adult romance that has been circulated among the masses recently. The authors of this novel did such a wonderful job in creating a hauntingly beautiful romance full of past lives ghosts and “witches” they manage to encompass all of the best aspects of the fantasy genre. The authors also did a magnificent job in capturing the small southern town mentality it reminded me of some of the places I have lived before.  All in all this is a well written and beautiful book I hope book two proves to be just as entertaining.

 

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

 

 

October142012

Hexed by Kevin Hearne Review

Hexed

Iron Druid Chronicles Book Two

By Kevin Hearne

 

The last remaining druid Atticus O’Sullivan has been happy living in Arizona but now there is a coven of witches who are after his life and will stop at nothing even if it means killing his close friends in order to get to him. Not only does Atticus have to deal with witches but also demons are on the loose and bound to the area until he is dead. If Atticus is not careful there may not be any druids left in the world.

 Hexed (Iron Druid Chronicles, #2)

Snarky and accident prone Atticus O’Sullivan is a man’s man his weakness is women, very attractive women which adds to the hilarious nature of this series along with his dog Oberon whom he shares a mental link with and his old Irish neighbor you can’t help but laugh out loud at the situations Atticus finds himself in. With tongue in cheek comedy witty dialogue and an action packed story this is one book sure to please anyone unless you don’t have a sense of humor that is.

 

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

 

October132012

Special Offers By M.L. Ryan Review

Special Offers

By M.L. Ryan

 

Divorcee Hailey Parrish has been single for three years and has no interest in men, compulsive book hoarder she decides one day to buy a kindle; once she does she is bombarded by men. The kindle that she bought for a reduced price with “special offers” comes fully installed with a man who takes over residence inside her body until he can get back to his own.

Special Offers 

This is such a funny book! I of course had to read it after the author approached me, I mean a man in a kindle what more could a bookworm such as myself ask for? Unfortunately my kindles have never come with one. Not only does this novel have a paranormal aspect but also a science fiction approach with Sebastian, the man trapped inside Hailey, and his business partner Alex being from another world altogether where their bodies never die but their spirits move on. What makes this novel so much fun is Sebastian and Hailey are complete opposites and must manage to cohabitate the same body. This is truly a fun a quirky book though the cover does need a bit of work, do not let it fool you, this book is definitely worth reading!

 

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

 

October122012

Cannibal Island By Cornell DeVille Review

Cannibal Island

By Cornell DeVille

 

Richie’s father had become obsessed with finding the legendary Golden Disk and along the way it became Richie’s passion too. One day Richie comes across an older man who is trying to sell a map with an island on it that is shrouded in mist. Richie offers to buy it from the man and learns that there is more to the story of the map, the old man himself has been to this island and warns of cannibals but also tells Richie of the treasure to be found there.

Cannibal Island 

This is definitely a book for young men, it is full of action and adventure as you set sail on one of his father’s prized ships this story will literally take you around the world. I have never read a steam punk novel before but what I found out was I thoroughly enjoyed it, reminding me of DaVinci’s inventions that where before his time, such as LEO. If you don’t know what steam punk is, it is a sub-genre of science fiction for instance the movie with Will Smith called Wild Wild West is classified as Steam Punk where the technology is far superior than it was in reality. The author goes into a ton of details so you will know exactly what he is talking about as the story progresses, I loved how vividly he brought to life the ship, The Seahorse. All in all this is an amazing novel even if you aren’t a hard core steam punk fan.

 

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

 

October112012

Her Fearful Symmetry By Audrey Niffenegger Review

Her Fearful Symmetry

By Audrey Niffenegger

 

The mirror twins, Julia and Valentina Poole, receive a letter from their mother’s twin sister whom they have never met notifying them that Elspeth has passed away and in her will she has left them everything on the stipulation that they live in her flat in London and their parents are to never set foot in the place.  Soon after they arrive in London they begin to experience strange occurrences in their new home.

Not only is this story about the mirror twins it also revolves around Robert, Elspeth’s longtime lover, who lives downstairs and becomes quite friendly with Valentina, and Martin whom lives upstairs and is agoraphobic and highly OCD whose wife has just left him after twenty plus years because she cannot live this way any longer.

Her Fearful Symmetry 

This novel is actually really interesting, I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this novel. I know Audrey Niffenegger is famous for composing The Time Traveler’s Wife, but I have yet to read that novel after seeing the movie I know the book is sure to make me cry so I have a tendency to skip them. I didn’t expect to be so wrapped up into the story from the very beginning, or should I say the end? This novel starts with Elspeth dying, and then it follows her ghost into the house and everything she experiences from her point of view, which I absolutely loved! The only problem I had with this novel was the ending so I cannot go into too much detail, but it began to drag on and on. I mean when you finish the main conclusion and the story keeps going for another fifty pages that feels a bit too much to wrap up your loose ends. I did enjoy the conclusions though, there were just so many useless details thrown in. Other than that this is an interesting read, highly unique with an intense look at the bounds between twins, though it is highly predictable still enjoyable.

 

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

 

October102012

Diary By Chuck Palahniuk Review

Diary

By Chuck Palahniuk

 

After Misty Wimot’s husband attempts suicide and ends up in a coma her mother in law suggest she keep a diary for him, writing down all of the mundane things she can think of so that when he wakes up he will know what he has missed. Misty’s diary is full of anger at her husband as she finds messages he has sealed away in houses all over the island they live on, but soon her diary takes a dark twist as the islanders push her to paint again and once she does she soon winds up regretting her decision.

Diary 

This is the first novel by Chuck Palahniuk I have read so I didn’t know quite what to expect. I wouldn’t exactly classify this as a horror novel but it is twisted and demented that there cannot be another genre so fitting. The novel starts off sarcastic and mean but when your husband calls you a fat cow in messages he has left before he tries to kill himself, well needless to say you’d be pissed off too. When you hear about a woman who is surviving such an incident you would think there is no way I can understand how that character feels, but the author manages to bring each character to life so vividly you completely sympathize feeling each emotion she feels and wanting to play her drinking game right along with her. But the best part of the novel is the ending; with a spectacular twist that is sure to leave you going “What the heck?” this author definitely saved the best for last. I had thought I figured it out and then Chuck Palahniuk came out of left field with such an amazing twist I can’t wait to read more of his work.

 

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

 

October92012

The Excorcist by William Peter Blatty Review

The Exorcist

By William Peter Blatty

 

Ok so in case you have been living under a rock for the past forty years and have no idea what this novel is about, here is a brief synopsis. What begins with eerie noises and items being moved around turns into a mother’s worst nightmare when eleven year old Reagan soon begins to show signs of demonic possession.

The Exorcist 

It has been ages since I have seen the movie but I remember certain scenes that I am sure scarred many others as well as me. The book however is about ten times worse than the movie, it is scarier and more graphic than I had even thought possible. This is another novel I would highly recommend listening to the audio book, with narration by William Peter Blatty and Eliana Shaskan you are drawn thoroughly into the world Mr. Blatty created. I mean who tells a story better than the author himself? There are certain parts when the demonic voices will certainly send chills down your spine. If you haven’t read the book you definitely should, just be sure not to be eating I made that mistake during one of the more “graphic” scenes and I don’t recommend it!

 

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

 

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