Bruce Castle

Cheryl reviewed a book.

“Dikeledi’s sister Lesego has not come home from school. It has been hours. Dikeledi fears something has happened to her sister. She tries to get the police to search for her but they think that Lesego is a runaway. No one takes an interest until another girl goes missing and her father gets...”

“Dikeledi’s sister Lesego has not come home from school. It has been hours. Dikeledi fears something has happened to her sister. She tries to get the police to search for her but they think that Lesego is a runaway. No one takes an interest until another girl goes missing and her father gets involved.

Detective Kudu and his new partner, Samantha Khama investigate the disappearances of the two girls. What they find is a witch doctor that is making muti out of human remains.

Deadly Harvest is my first introduction to a detective Kubu mystery and the writing duo of Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip as Michael Stanley. I have to say that after reading this book I am very impressed by this duo. This book was way better then I thought it would be. Mr. Sears and Mr. Trollip have developed a good formula for their writing. I could not tell where one left off and the other one began.

I like detective Kubu. However another person I was drawn to was his new partner, Samantha. Samantha helped to bring the human aspect to this story. Whereas Kubu was the more level headed one and could bring good insight with his experience as well.

The storyline featured in this book was scary. I can picture this exact situation still happening in some parts of the world. Thus this is another reason why I was so intrigued in reading this book. Don’t let your chance slip away without reading Deadly Harvest!
”

Sailon reviewed a book.

“Genetically created to be the ultimate assassin Chandler now finds herself on the run from the very government she wants to preserve.

The new president has delusions of world domination and he doesn't care how many innocents die in his plot. Coming up against a team with the same...”

“Genetically created to be the ultimate assassin Chandler now finds herself on the run from the very government she wants to preserve.

The new president has delusions of world domination and he doesn't care how many innocents die in his plot. Coming up against a team with the same training, Chandler will have to put faith in people she's sworn to kill, make impossible decisions and lose what she holds most dear. The tension is high. Life as we know it is on the line and Chandler with her sisters must fight the battle of her life.

There is a fine line between evil and good intentions and the gray in between. Chandler must face her demons and reconcile her actions in the name of good before it destroys her.

I loved this book. I was plastered to the pages and white knuckling my kindle during the entire adventure! I ravenously enjoyed the various points of view, especially discovering the insight of both the heroines as well as the other characters. Sex, action, heroes/heroines, diabolical evil intentions for the “greater good”, this book had it all.

Three is the ultimate high octane, combat filled, adult action thriller. With a multiple point of view writing style, Three is a nail biting plot from start to finish. Excellent book! Brilliant writing! Emotion provoking work of art!

This Series consists of:
Flee
Exposed: A Thriller Novella
Spree
Three

Author's Works in Reading Order
SHOT OF TEQUILA
EXPOSED
HIT
WHISKEY SOUR
BLOODY MARY
RUSTY NAIL
DIRTY MARTINI
ABANDON
SNOWBOUND
PUSHED TOO FAR
NAUGHTY
FLEE
SPREE
THREE
FUZZY NAVEL
CHERRY BOMB
SHAKEN
STIRRED

I received this ARC copy of Three from Amazon Publishing - Thomas & Mercer in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication June 25, 2013.

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”

Sailon reviewed a book.

“After a failed attempt at rescuing her twin sister, Janet of Mar has been working for Bruce King of Scotland as a spy. She is posing as a nun, currying messages about the English war intent. A vital piece of King Bruce's effort, her plans are interrupted when a handsome highland warrior comes...”

“After a failed attempt at rescuing her twin sister, Janet of Mar has been working for Bruce King of Scotland as a spy. She is posing as a nun, currying messages about the English war intent. A vital piece of King Bruce's effort, her plans are interrupted when a handsome highland warrior comes to her rescue...whether she wants it or not.

Ewen “Hunter” Lamont has been serving on King Bruce's elite guard, hoping to restore his family's name and properties. As one of the best trackers in the king's army, Hunter was chosen to search out a missing carrier. The same woman that fired all his sensual desires even when he thought her to be a nun. Bringing her home might be difficult but returning her for an arranged marriage to might be the hardest thing he ever has to do.

Two extremely strong, intelligent characters with similar goals clash like the titans...watching the developing relationship between Janet and Hunter was magnificent. I loved seeing Hunter's perceptions slowly change, discovering the value, strength and ability of the woman in his care...while it was amazing to have a woman portrayed with such capable and masterful abilities in a historical romance.

I truly enjoyed The Hunter. You'd need a chain saw to cut the romantic tension in this story. Their was plenty of action and sword play but what I found most riveting was the emotional connection to the characters. I absolutely loved Janet, her ability to adapt and thrive through any circumstance made her a heroine to make all woman proud. Ewen was the dark and brooding highlander with a touch of emotional baggage. Monica McCarty created the perfect recipe for a fabulously entertaining historical romance.

This ARC copy of The Hunter was given to me by Random House - Ballantine Books in exchange for a honest review. Publication Date June 25, 2013.”

Eric Wilson finished reading a book. (see 2 more books added to shelf)

Katy now owns a book. (see 2 more books added to shelf)

Katy reviewed a book.

“Book Info: Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy/Metaphysical Thriller
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Anyone to whom it appeals
Trigger Warnings: violence, murder, suicide

My Thoughts: This is a very strange—but absolutely amazing—book, full of mysteries and hallucinations. The...”

“Book Info: Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy/Metaphysical Thriller
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Anyone to whom it appeals
Trigger Warnings: violence, murder, suicide

My Thoughts: This is a very strange—but absolutely amazing—book, full of mysteries and hallucinations. The reader never quite knows if something is really happening or not, which can lead to a bit of confusion at times, but the story is beautifully written, with gorgeous language. In many cases, at least for me, this can make all the difference between loving a book and being so confused I can't finish it. An example of the sort of writing I'm talking about:
“The immense windows that made up the north-facing wall were tinted so that the entire scene had an aura of man beating materials into a sterile kind of submission. A bank of elevators shone behind the security guard's head in a vicious silver beam, but dinged cheerfully. Clones in every kind of suit moved around like ichor in the fat, hardened, corporate arteries, their leather shoes clicking impatiently.”

Described as a metaphysical thriller, I've added “dark urban fantasy” to it, due to the monsters and mayhem that lurk at the edges of the story. Or do they? Again, I was never quite sure what was real, what had really happened, and what was just a dream in the main character's mind.

I spoke to the author of this book shortly after I started it to tell her I was enjoying it, and she wrote back to let me know that there are lots of little clues sprinkled throughout the book, things that will help with understanding the rest of the trilogy as it is released.

This is a trippy little story. It was certainly not what I was expecting from JournalStone, but I absolutely loved it. If you're interested in metaphysics, Buddhism, enlightenment, or just a wonderful story, check out this book. I'm already looking forward to reading it again, when the second book in the trilogy is released. Highly recommended.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this e-book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer's program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: After a messy divorce and the suicide of her younger sister, Lilith Pierce sets about the responsible task of cleaning up Eva's final mess. She orders the casket, cleans the apartment, but is plagued by a frighteningly prophetic conversation preceding Eva's death. When Lilith begins to investigate the bizarre details of Eva's life, she has no idea the path of personal transformation she has embarked upon. Down the rabbit hole, she dives, into a world of strange powers, koan-spouting immortals, and dangers to humanity only she seems destined to prevent.

"Angels, Demons, villains, vampires . . . they don't stand a chance."

Stephenson's "Snow Crash" meets "Siddhartha" in this fascinating metaphysical thriller from debut author Kristina Meister. "Craving" is a suspenseful tapestry woven through with the golden threads of myth, philosophy, and sarcasm, exploring the nature of love, faith, and how ideas can change the world.”

Laurie S plans to read a book. (see 3 more books added to shelf)

Cheryl reviewed a book.

“Helen and Rachel McCallister are sisters. They only have each other now that their parents are gone. For years Helen has been jealous of Rachel and her beauty. Due to Rachel’s blindness, she can not tell any different what Helen is telling her when she tells Rachel that she is ugly. Helen’s lies...”

“Helen and Rachel McCallister are sisters. They only have each other now that their parents are gone. For years Helen has been jealous of Rachel and her beauty. Due to Rachel’s blindness, she can not tell any different what Helen is telling her when she tells Rachel that she is ugly. Helen’s lies grow when she creates this world around Roam filled with flesh eating birds and other monsters. However Helen could never know what her story was actually doing to Rachel until Rachel makes an announcement that will change both of their lives.

I was curious about this book. I thought I would give it a chance. Wow, I am so glad that I did. I almost missed out on a great book. I found myself not reading this book fast enough. What with life getting in the way!

I can not imagine depending on someone like Helen. She was so bitter towards Rachel. However I am glad that as the story went on Helen did turn a new leaf and became a better person and one that I actually liked. Due to Helen’s meanness towards Rachel I instantly liked Rachel.

There are two stories happening in this book. There is the one involving Rachel and Helen and then there is the other one involving Elijah and his slave Ming Kai. This story was just as captivating. It was fascinating to get to learn how Roam was discovered and got to be the place it was. The Kings and Queens of Roam is a book not to be missed! It is filled with lots of wonderful characters and a magical place.
”

Sailon reviewed a book.

“Many of our friends at Thunder Point are about to face unexpected challenges and The Newcomer gives us a front row seat.

Sarah is up for transfer and wonders how she will be able to transplant Landon in his senior year of high school or leave Cooper. Cooper has a life altering...”

“Many of our friends at Thunder Point are about to face unexpected challenges and The Newcomer gives us a front row seat.

Sarah is up for transfer and wonders how she will be able to transplant Landon in his senior year of high school or leave Cooper. Cooper has a life altering circumstance to face and his decision will effect his life forever.

Mac and Gina are in love but they are about to face old demons from the past and situations beyond their control.

First loves will be tested, some will make it and some end in tragic heartbreak. Can true love overcome? You're going to have to check out The Newcomer and find out, I'm so glad I did!

Robyn Carr writes books that make you feel like you are coming home. Heartwarming, sincere, real characters that become friends from the moment you open the pages of her books. Emotionally captivated to every up and down in the character's lives, The Newcomer is a journey of love, heartache and growth. Brilliant writing Robyn Carr, you captured the soul of a small Oregon town and poured it into this fabulous book for us to share.

This ARC copy of The Newcomer was given to me by Harlequin MIRA in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication June 25, 2013.”

Sailon reviewed a book.

“Amaranthe and the whole gang have returned to the capital. There goal is to raise support for the Emperor and help build a better government. Since most of the populace believe Sespian dead, many rival factions of the military leaders have come to make their bid for ruler.

Amaranthe...”

“Amaranthe and the whole gang have returned to the capital. There goal is to raise support for the Emperor and help build a better government. Since most of the populace believe Sespian dead, many rival factions of the military leaders have come to make their bid for ruler.

Amaranthe plan include...discovering Sicarius's hertiage and prove that Sespian has a right for leadership, destroy the Behemoth, build an army and win the popular vote of the people...of course this is all in a days work for Amaranthe. An Amaranthe plaque with PTSD from her torture at Pike's hands.

I could go on and on about this story but I don't wish to give anything away so I'm ending my summary there...

What can I say, I'm a HUGE fan of The Emperor's Edge Series! Of course, I was thrilled once again with this newest addition...now I'm anxiously awaiting Part 2. As with Lindsay Buroker's stories, this is a highly complex plot with lots of action, hysterically witty banter and a fabulous cast of characters. I truly loved this story, I find myself flying through the pages to discover what comes next while still wishing there was more. This has been an adventure I will definitely be taking again, Re-Read Worthy should be in the title.”

Laurie S rated a book.

• Rated 2 stars

Sailon reviewed a book.

“Guilianna Hathway is a successful attorney. Her focus is to represent woman and children and her newest case is not different. Guilianna is representing a woman with a negligence suit against the sex club, Club Tabu. Her client was allegedly drugged raped after leaving the club. To...”

“Guilianna Hathway is a successful attorney. Her focus is to represent woman and children and her newest case is not different. Guilianna is representing a woman with a negligence suit against the sex club, Club Tabu. Her client was allegedly drugged raped after leaving the club. To investigate this club, Guilianna goes under the covers...oh, I mean under cover in Club Tabu. Little did she realize that Mitchell Prince, Club Tabu's attorney and co-owner recognizes her and her perfect sub tendencies immediately.

Mitchell Prince is Chief Counsel for Club Tabu, co-owner and a Dom with a capital D. Hathway has been a thorn in his side for months. So when she strolls into his club, he can't help but play a little...he never was expecting to find the perfect sub behind that cut throat attorney with attitude.

Letting Mitchell in control forces Guilianna must face the demons from her past. Will she run from her desires? Can Mitchell show her the happiness in giving up control? Check out the steaming hot BDSM read Master Prince the second book in the Master of Tabu Series.

Master Prince is a BDSM Erotic Romance. Although there are strong aspects of sexual behavior, Gray Dixon hits the mark with the relationship building/romance between the characters. A Dom with heart, Mitchell Prince and a wounded woman fighting for rights of the down trodden, Guilianna Hathaway, makes a great erotic read.

This copy of Master Prince was given to me by Gray Dixon in exchange for a honest review.”

Sheri A reviewed a book.

“As well known an author as Maeve Binchy was, her last book (written just before her death in 2012) was the first of her books that I'd read. I didn't really know what kind of books she wrote, but the synopsis of A Week in Winter looked interesting, so I thought I'd give it a try. I've since...”

“As well known an author as Maeve Binchy was, her last book (written just before her death in 2012) was the first of her books that I'd read. I didn't really know what kind of books she wrote, but the synopsis of A Week in Winter looked interesting, so I thought I'd give it a try. I've since learned from a few online friends who were fans of hers that many/most of Ms. Binchy's books featured the same characters or places. Having finished A Week in Winter, I am left wishing there would be a next book in the series about Stone House and Stoneybridge, where most of this story takes place. Reading about Stone House and its environs made me want to stay there, to walk the Atlantic Coast of Ireland and visit the pubs.

I'll be honest--I was not immediately captured by this book. In fact, I'd just finished reading Barbara Kingsolver's Flight Behavior the night before starting this novel, and I found Ms. Binchy's writing paled in comparison to Ms. Kingsolver's. I found the writing in this book too simplistic--almost comically so, at first. But, eventually, it was the charm of Ms. Binchy's storytelling, her locales and her characters that won me over. In the case of Flight Behavior, I felt that amazing writing elevated an otherwise less-than-stellar book. In the case of A Week in Winter, it was the storytelling that elevated the book.

Each chapter of the story is told from a different person's perspective. Most of the characters are converging at an inn called Stone House for its opening week, so you see them from the staff's perspective and from the perspective of the other guests. One character may seem dull or rude, or just not very interesting until you read THEIR chapter and learn their backstory...why they were acting that way at that particular time. This added layers and interest to the story, not to mention to the characters. Each character had his/her time to be explored, which I enjoyed.

Will I go back and read earlier books by this author? I can't quite say just yet. I definitely ended A Week in Winter on a better note than I started it, but I'm not sure if that is enough to motivate continued interest in this author. Perhaps, if I find there are other books about these characters (especially Chicky Starr) and this locale, I may well check them out at some point.

If you are already fan of Maeve Binchy's work, I suspect you will enjoy this one. ”

Sheri A reviewed a book.

“Until I was offered Damocles to review, I hadn't read a science fiction book in over 20 years. I had been an avid SF reader once, but there came a time when I was no longer able to find the kind of SF I enjoyed. It seemed that everything was leaning more toward fantasy and I was never much of a...”

“Until I was offered Damocles to review, I hadn't read a science fiction book in over 20 years. I had been an avid SF reader once, but there came a time when I was no longer able to find the kind of SF I enjoyed. It seemed that everything was leaning more toward fantasy and I was never much of a fan of that, so eventually I drifted away from the genre.

Happily, Damocles was right up my alley. It involves deep space exploration, first contact with an alien species (on THEIR turf) and a character-driven story. I found Damocles a very satisfying, very "human" story about two species trying to figure each other out so they can communicate and share information. While the Dideto look very little like us, their society, beliefs and philosophies are similar enough to ours to provide a foundation. There are military conflicts and social and religious faux pas, but mostly there are people who eventually stop focusing on how they are different and learn to enjoy one another.

If you are looking a lot of action, this is not that. The majority of the book involves five Earthers and a handful of Dideto quietly working together. The two main characters are Loul, a "nobody" Dideto who was demoted after voicing his theories about a possible alien visit, and Meg, the linguistics and protocol officer on the Damocles, the ship that has brought the Earthers on a very long journey through deep space.

How do two people who don't know one another's language learn to communicate? This was one of the best aspects of the story for me. The arduous process of trying to find common ground and the glee of finally understanding even one word. The process that Meg uses for this was interesting to me. There was a sense of fun about the story that I really enjoyed as well.

Should Loul trust Meg when she says this is a peaceful visit? That it is just the five Earthers and not an invading army? How does one trust another when they don't fully understand what the other is saying? Read and find out.

Recommended! ”

Sheri A reviewed a book.

“Twenty or more years ago, science fiction was my genre of choice and Ben Bova was one of my favorite authors in the genre. Until recently, when I reviewed Damocles, I hadn't read any SF since my Ben Bova days. So, as soon as I finished Damocles, having very much enjoyed it, I looked on my Kindle...”

“Twenty or more years ago, science fiction was my genre of choice and Ben Bova was one of my favorite authors in the genre. Until recently, when I reviewed Damocles, I hadn't read any SF since my Ben Bova days. So, as soon as I finished Damocles, having very much enjoyed it, I looked on my Kindle for other SF that I may like. I searched for Ben Bova to see what he was up to and purchased this book.

The story of Farside was interesting enough to keep me reading, especially as things got more tense in the final third. I liked the character of Grant Simpson who, while flawed, was one of the most interesting characters. I felt that he was the real heart of the story. There aren't a lot of other likeable characters in this book, so if you're a reader who wants to be able to like most of the characters in a book, you may want to steer clear of this one.

There are four female characters in the book and I wasn't happy with the way any of them were drawn. One is a pathetically weak doormat, despite being a highly educated astronomer. One, the foremost expert on nanomachines on 2 planets, is described as much for her physical hotness as for her expertise. The other two are largely weakly-drawn stereotypes...can't say more without ruining the story.

The writing in Farside was as stale and predictable as Damocles was fresh and original, but then I hadn't read SF in 20 years, so your mileage may vary. The ending of Farside was a PROFOUND disappointment--trite and treacly, tied up with a bow like a sappy Lifetime movie. BLECH.

Just barely 3 stars. ”

Sheri A now owns a book. (see 9 more books added to shelf)

Sheri A reviewed a book.

“When I started The Tin Horse, I was interested in this family and stories of emigrating from the Old Country to America. The Greensteins, central characters of the story, settle in the community of Boyle Heights on Los Angeles' East Side. Now, Boyle Heights is almost entirely Latino but, in the...”

“When I started The Tin Horse, I was interested in this family and stories of emigrating from the Old Country to America. The Greensteins, central characters of the story, settle in the community of Boyle Heights on Los Angeles' East Side. Now, Boyle Heights is almost entirely Latino but, in the 20s and 30s of Barbara and Elaine Greenstein's childhood there, it was a predominately Jewish community.

Elaine and Barbara are twin sisters, but they couldn't be any more different. I related to Elaine, the "good girl" of the two. She did what she was told, never thinking (without her sister's influence, that is) of doing anything risky. Barbara, in contrast, lived on the edge. No being safe for her! One of the story's central themes is Elaine's heartbreak when, at 18, Barbara runs away and separates herself not only from the family, but from her twin. (Note: This is not a spoiler--it is noted in the synopsis on the product page.)

The family saga part of this story reminded me a bit of the multi-generational family saga portion of Jeffrey Eugenides' book, Middlesex. The Tin Horse, however, did not keep me interested like that book. Once I got past the part where Barbara leaves in The Tin Horse, it started to get sloggy for me. I never found it a quick flowing read from the start, but after that point it got even slower. I got to where I dreaded picking it up and would even start new books rather than continue with this one.

This is a real shame, because the writing is quite good. I see that there are substantially more 5-star reviews of The Tin Horse than any other rating, so that would appear to mean that most people didn't have the trouble I did staying interested in this story. Had this story kept my interest, it would have easily gotten 4 stars; since it didn't, I felt I had to give it 3.

If historical fiction and family sagas are your preference, you are likely to enjoy this a lot more than I did. ”

Sheri A reviewed a book.

“Jeffery Deaver is my favorite mystery/thriller writer and books in his Lincoln Rhyme series are generally my favorite to read. These stories rarely take Lincoln Rhyme away from his native Manhattan, but this one definitely does. In fact, he is away from Manhattan for much of the first half of...”

“Jeffery Deaver is my favorite mystery/thriller writer and books in his Lincoln Rhyme series are generally my favorite to read. These stories rarely take Lincoln Rhyme away from his native Manhattan, but this one definitely does. In fact, he is away from Manhattan for much of the first half of this story. The place he goes is so incongruous to the character of Lincoln Rhyme that it adds a good bit of humor, logistical difficulty and even danger--in and around Nassau in the Bahamas. It also marks one of the first times that Lincoln and Amelia are separated by some distance and for some time--she remains in Manhattan working her end of the case while he goes tropical.

I would not consider The Kill Room one of the best Jeffery Deaver books or even one of the best Lincoln Rhyme books, but it definitely kept my interest from page one. I loved the change of locale, especially in that I've been to Nassau and environs several times. Also, having Rhyme and Sachs separated and both working on the case from different angles was interesting and, at times, tense.

In most Rhyme books, Rhyme is in his element (in his Manhattan townhome), he has the crime's evidence in hand to study, and people know and respect him so they do what he says. In this book, that paradigm gets turned on its head. The scene of the (primary) crime is in the Bahamas, so he isn't on home turf, doesn't have the evidence in hand and has to deal with the Bahamaian authorities (who may not do things as he'd like them done).

If you have never read Jeffery Deaver or the Lincoln Rhyme series, I wouldn't suggest you start with this one (The Bone Collector is the best place to start). If you are already a Deaver and/or Rhyme fan, I think you'll enjoy The Kill Room. ”

Eric Wilson is now reading a book. (see 2 more books added to shelf)

Katy now owns a book. (see 3 more books added to shelf)