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Not Bad Exactly,
This review is from: The Palace Job (Paperback)
There is descent world-building, but at times the author confuses his world with our world and that can oull you out of the story. This is a magical world, not a place for computers. Yet in one memorable sentence, you get to see the character having his mind (or body) brought 'back on line'. I don't mind when fantasy writers mix the two worlds, but it should be consistent. The bias/prejudice and political talk started getting a little tedious once the points had been made. This novel could have done with some judicious cutting - it was quite long for what it ultimately ended up as. |
Followers
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes - Not Exactly Bad
Monday, November 18, 2013
Parasite by Mira Grant - Slow, Tiresome
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Zombies? Nah, Just Big Business!,
This review is from: Parasite (Parasitology) (Kindle Edition)
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Book Description
Publication Date: October 29, 2013
A decade in the future, humanity thrives in the absence of sickness and disease.
We owe our good health to a humble parasite -- a genetically engineered tapeworm developed by the pioneering SymboGen Corporation. When implanted, the Intestinal Bodyguard worm protects us from illness, boosts our immune system -- even secretes designer drugs. It's been successful beyond the scientists' wildest dreams. Now, years on, almost every human being has a SymboGen tapeworm living within them.
But these parasites are getting restless. They want their own lives . . . and will do anything to get them.
I feel one of the most important things a horror or sci/fi author needs to do is to have the ability to get their readers to suspend disbelief. Another important thing to be able to do, is to write sympathetic and likable characters. with Parasite I was unable to do either. I could not suspend my disbelief nor could I sympathize, empathize or even like most of the secondary characters, let alone Sal and Nathan the protagonists.
The idea pushing the story could have been an interesting one, had it not been done to death already. It was slow moving and tiresome in a 'been there, done that' sort of way. I ended up not caring one bit what happened to anyone.
To now that this appears to be a trilogy with this particular edition ending on a cliff-hanger, does not endear it to me.
What it did make me look at is how people are sterilizing themselves to the point that kids don't even get to play in the dirt much anymore!
I will not be reading the next books in the series/trilogy. *ARC Supplied by Publisher*
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
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4.5 Stars Classic and Elegant Quinn Novel,
Book Description
Publication Date: October 29, 2013
From Julia Quinn, the New York Times bestselling author of steamy historical romances, comes the third seductive installment of the Smythe-Smith Quartet, The Sum of All Kisses.
Sarah Pleinsworth can’t forgive Hugh Prentice for the duel he fought three years ago that nearly destroyed her family, sent her cousin fleeing, and left Hugh himself with a badly injured leg. That’s fine with Hugh, who can’t tolerate Sarah’s dramatic ways. But when the two are forced to spend a week together, they find that unexpected kisses, and mutual passion, may have the power to change both of their minds. Written with Julia Quinn’s trademark style, The Sum of All Kisses is a witty and lighthearted Regency romance.
This review is from: The Sum of All Kisses (Smythe-Smith) (Kindle Edition)
This was a detail-oriented book with a slight mystery woven in. Ms Quinn certainly paid attention to her characters. They are multi-layered and realistic for their time-period.It was fun visiting so many old friends, abut I have to say that the interactions with Sarah's sister's was not the fun and comic relief that it was most likely intended to be. The humor (and all Ms Quinn's books are of a humorous bent) came with watching the protagonists Sarah and Hugh going from absolutely hating each other and forced to make nice...to having a relationship develop almost without their noticing, but oh so obvious for the reader. I loved being in on the secret if you know what I mean This was an absolute "trademark" book for Ms Quinn, but not in a trite or hackneyed way. It is wonderful to be able to count on an author and know, book to book, that you are going to love what you read.*ARC Supplied by Publisher* |
Monday, November 4, 2013
Christmas at Caldwell Ranch
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A Very Good But Slightly Flawed Read,
This review is from: Christmas at Cardwell Ranch (Harlequin Intrigue) (Kindle Edition)
Although I can't say that this is the Christmasiest novel I have ever read, it sure was one of the most absorbing and entertaining.Tag Cardwell has been away from Montana for most of his life. He decides to go back and spend one more Christmas with his dad...maybe get to know his father a little better, do some Christmasy things, ski, etc - what he doesn't expect to do is to find himself embroiled in a murder for hire plot centering around what seems like everyone in this town! Tag also doesn't expect to fall for a math 'nerd' - yet he does and she (Lily McCabe) does to. It was a little speedier than I would have liked but the novel only spans a few days. The story is a strong one, the suspense and mystery are just perfect. However the characters themselves and the dialogue are a little overly dramatic...not too bad, just enough to make this a sometimes uncomfortable read The sex is only one scene and is delicately written. |
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Nice Cover But...
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Nice Cover But...,
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Saturday, November 2, 2013
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Unlikable Characters - Trite and Over-Written,
Book Description
Publication Date: October 29, 2013
Known for her heartwarming observations of family life, New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer showcases her beloved Nantucket’s snowy off-season in this emotionally gratifying and utterly entertaining story. Holidays on this Massachusetts island are nothing short of magical, and the season’s wonderful traditions are much loved by Nicole Somerset, new to Nantucket and recently married to a handsome former attorney. Their home is already full of enticing scents of pine, baking spices, and homemade pie. But the warm, festive mood is soon tempered by Nicole’s chilly stepdaughter, Kennedy, who arrives without a hint of holiday spirit. Determined to keep her stepmother at arm’s length—or, better yet, out of the picture altogether—Kennedy schemes to sabotage Nicole’s holiday preparations. Nicole, however, is not about to let anyone or anything tarnish her first Christmas with her new husband. Nancy Thayer’s wonderful tale reminds us that this is the season of miracles. Before the gifts are unwrapped, surprise visitors appear, and holiday joy comes to all, both naughty and nice.
This review is from: A Nantucket Christmas: A Novel (Kindle Edition)
A Nantucket Christmas: A NovelI was looking forward to reading this novel. It was short so it would have been a quick read during the busiest time of the year and it was about my favorite time of the year too. However, instead of the good, heartwarming story I expected I got instead a collection of dislikable characters and a dull and uneven story that had very little to d with family values and more to do with pure malice. This story was told using everyone's point of view, even a stray dog. Even Maddox a 3-year-old going on 40 was impossible to warm up to. The fact that this child was only 3 and his thought were that of an adult just sort of freaked me out a bit. Even the dog Snix was annoying, whinny and hard to like. Maddox's mother Kennedy was a pure conniving *itch that was maneuvering to get her father who had remarried for love, back with her uber beautiful and cold as ice mother Katya. The machinations this poor pathetic soul used to do this was just cruel. This was not the type of story I wanted to read to get into the holiday spirit. The fact that this short book ended on a `high' note (childbirth on Christmas Eve during a snowstorm, while the 3 year old has run away) was just hackneyed. Nicole-the stepmother was a character we should have been able to like, but she was too much the martyr to even warm up too. The men in this novel are clueless wimps. None of these character exhibited the least little bit of common sense. Who in their right mind allows a 3 year old to play outside in the winter alone? I don't care what Nantucket is like or how safe it is supposed to be.And that is just one of my complaints. This was a very fast read, chaste and unromantic, although touted as a romance - it is said that the author is (quoting from book description) "Known for her heartwarming observations of family life.", but with this novel I really have to wonder just what kinds of families is it that she is observing for her books. Read at your own risk! *ARC supplied by publisher* |
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