Book Reviews

The Remingtons: Recipe for Love (Kindle Worlds Novella)

Posted on by The Novel Girl

Recipe for Love cover

Author: Jamie Lee Scott

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Kindle Worlds

Pages: 83

 

Diem Keegan owns Cupcake Diem, which she runs with her awesome assistant Reese. She has landed a dream client, with the wedding of the year, runway model Lili Crew. Lili and Diem were best friends in school, until Lili was discovered and dropped Diem. As high profile clients can sometimes be, Lili is demanding, and quite a handful. After a meeting at a high end hotel ends badly, Diem stops in at the hotel bar for a drink and some complaining about her client. The friendly bartender, however, turns out to be Sterling Crew: Lili’s brother, and the biggest developer in the city. Will this encounter end Diem’s dream wedding account, or will it land her more than she ever dreamed?

This was USA Today Bestselling author, Jamie Lee Scott’s, first endeavor in to the world of romance writing, and I think that she made the transition beautifully. The characters in this novella were just as well developed as those in her Gotcha Detective Agency series, and the writing was just as lovely. The story was engaging and attention grabbing, even for this reader, who doesn’t usually read romance. If you are a fan of romance, I think that this novella is a great story to dive in to.

 

 

Broken Souls (Unfortunate Souls, Book 2)

Posted on by The Novel Girl

Broken Souls cover

Author: Jade M. Phillips

Genre: Paranormal/PNR

Publisher: Jade M. Phillips

Pages: 276

 

Book two in the Unfortunate Souls series picks up where book one left off- with a cliffhanger. Guy Stone, the hunter of Unfortunate Souls, has fallen in love with the newborn teenage vampire that he saved, Ruby Carter. Not only has he fallen for her, he bonded to her when she saved his life. Despite his love for her, he did what he thought was best for her and took her to Tombstone to integrate with her own kind. Unfortunately, suspicions arose upon her arrival and Ruby was       imprisoned. Her hope was that Guy got away safely. Her hope was for nothing, though, because Guy was attacked as he was leaving and was also imprisoned in Tombstone, as well, unbeknownst to Ruby. He is facing sure execution, now. How will the unlikely pair make it out of this situation alive?

I enjoyed this book as much as, if not more than, the first book in this series (Unfortunate Souls). The world building and character development got even better in this second installment, in my opinion. This story is different than the normal “vampire story”, and I really appreciate this take on the genre fiction. I think that fans of this genre will really enjoy this series.

Out Through the Attic

Posted on by The Novel Girl

out through the attic cover

Author: Quincy J. Allen

Genre: Cross-Genre

Publisher: 7DS Books/Twisted Core Press

Pages: 248

 

I know that you guys have heard me say this before, but I will say it again: Short stories are my favorite thing to read! With this being a short story collection, and the author being Quincy J. Allen (who’s writing you’ll know, by know, I have a bit of an infatuation with!), I had really high expectations for this book. It did not disappoint in any way! These stories took me in multiple different directions, from reimagined history, to steampunk, to sci-fi, to horror…It has something for everyone and every mood. Since they are short stories, I won’t go too much in to the stories, or I will give them away, but I will tell you my favorites. The very first story, Family Heirloom, was a reimagined history where a brilliant slave engineer helped free slaves in an underwater ship. Cornelius was amazing! An ex-movie star dwarf (yes like the seven dwarves) telling his story of how he hit rock bottom and is now on the Queen’s hit list. Of course, I loved Lasater’s Lucky Left, as it was a lead in to Allen’s steampunk/western that I previously reviewed, Blood Ties. My other love in this collection was Baby Wei, wherein a scientist who lost her own child to SIDS goes to Atlanta to help in a SIDS project, which turns in to a crazy plot twist! These were just my favorites, but there was not one story in this collection that I did not like. I didn’t want to stop reading, and I was sad when it was over. Maybe that will hold me until Mr. Allen’s next book comes out this year, though! If you like your fiction in the genre category, you’ll love this. Pick up a copy!!

Unfortunate Souls (Unfortunate Souls, Book 1)

Posted on by The Novel Girl

unfortunate souls cover

Author: Jade M. Phillips

Series: Unfortunate Souls

Genre: Paranormal/PNR

Publisher: Jade M. Phillips

Pages: 234

 

Ruby Carter was a normal seventeen year old girl, until the night that her world was turned upside-down. With her emotions on high, she drove in to an oncoming storm straight to her death. Someone, however, decided that her death should not be permanent. Guy Stone is a hard as nails Captain in the FUSE Army, whose sole purpose is to hunt down what they deem “unfortunate souls” and dispatch of them. Their worlds collide on, what will be, a whirlwind of a ride when Guy finds Ruby in the midst of her change at the site of their latest battle. He can’t bring himself to kill her, as he is supposed to, but what will the two of them do?

This first book in the Unfortunate Souls series brings me back to the world of vampires for the first time in quite a while, and it turned out to be a pretty good trip back. This story was told from a two person narrative (Ruby and Guy) in the vain of Twilight, but has a very different story to tell. The author does a great job of fleshing out her characters and giving them their own voice. I felt that this book laid a very solid foundation for the series, and am very happy to have been asked to review it. If you are a fan of stories in the YA PNR genre, I feel that you will enjoy this book.

The Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus, Book 5)

Posted on by The Novel Girl

Blood of Olympus cover

Author: Rick Riordan

Series: Heroes of Olympus

Genre: Fantasy/Mythology/YA

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pages: 528

 

The final installment of the Heroes of Olympus series finds our Demigod Heroes still in the midst of their battle to stop Gaea from waking. The crew, still aboard the Argo II, are trying to make it in time to stop the Feast of Spes. Meanwhile, Reyna and Nico are attempting to get the Athena Parthenos to Camp Halfblood in time to keep Octavian from attacking and destroying the camp. Will our Heroes succeed in their quest?

I want to start this by saying that I am a HUGE fan of Rick Riordan, this series, and the Olympians series that preceded it. That being said, I was a little bit disappointed in this last book. It was almost as if Percy and Annabeth were moved in to minor character roles, after we have spent so many books becoming incredible invested in them. The final battle was also a little bit disappointing, in that it just didn’t seem like… enough. The final battle in The Last Olympian was much more what one expects from a final battle scene, in my opinion. I did enjoy the book, in that it was definitely a Riordan book, and was well written and incredibly descriptive. His wit and humor was definitely present, and I enjoyed the characters that were in the forefront. I just wish that there had been more Percy and Annabeth present in this one, as it was the last book. I am sad to see the series end, but I am excited to start the Magnus Chase series, since anyone that has followed Rick Riordan knows that Norse mythology is his favorite!

Bad Monkey

Posted on by The Novel Girl

bad monkey cover

Author: Carl Hiaasen

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Pages: 400

 

Andrew Yancey was a detective with the Monroe County Sheriff’s office, until an altercation with his lover’s husband got a little out of hand. Now he has been reduced to an Inspector on the “roach patrol”. He also has an arm in his freezer. The detective in him doesn’t believe the story behind this arm, though, and he believes that is he can prove and solve the murder it will buy his way back in to his badge. It won’t be that simple, though. He will have to wade his way through a horde of kooky characters including the deceased’s wife and daughter, ambitious (to a fault) real estate developers, the aforementioned (now ex) lover, a crazy voodoo priestess, and of course, the bad monkey.

This was my first Hiaasen read, and was recommended and loaned to me by a friend. It will definitely not be my last! The setting/world was beautifully built and easy to imagine, and the characters were so well developed. The story was entertaining, and laugh out loud funny in many places. It had stories within the main plot that kept the mind working, and enough questions within it that I really wasn’t sure what was going to happen. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky, Book 3)

Posted on by The Novel Girl

Into the Still Blue cover

Author: Veronica Rossi

Series: Under the Never Sky

Genre: Dystopian/Sci-Fi

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 400

 

In the conclusion of the Under the Never Sky trilogy, Aria and Perry must somehow unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders if their plan to make it to the Still Blue is to succeed. Sable and Hess are just as determined to make it to the Still Blue, and have abducted Cinder in their effort to do so. Aria and Perry now that time is running out to rescue Cinder and make it to the Still Blue before the aether storms trap them, but will they make it?

I enjoyed the conclusion to this trilogy, although I must say that the second book in the trilogy was actually more gripping than the conclusion. Don’t get me wrong, this novel was a good read and was very entertaining, it just didn’t grab me and hold me the way that Through the Ever Night did. It was a bit….predictable in many ways, but still fun. It ended the way that it should have, and I am now a Veronica Rossi fan.

 

House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus, Book 4)

Posted on by The Novel Girl

house of hades cover

 

Author: Rick Riordan

Series: Heroes of Olympus

Genre: Fantasy/Mythology/YA

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pages: 608

 

The end of Mark of Athena found Percy and Annabeth falling in to Tartarus, and the rest of the Demigod heroes promising to find the Doors of Death on the living side and meet them there to close them, so that they can stop Gaea from being raised. Percy and Annabeth must survive traveling through Tartarus, which is worse than traveling through Hades itself, in order to reach the doors on their side. The rest of the Seven have their own battles to fight before they can even reach the House of Hades, which they must fight their way through in order to reach the doors on their side. If either one fails, there will be no stopping the Giants from raising Gaea. Percy and Annabeth are facing sure death in Tartarus, until they get some unexpected help that just might get them through…

I have put off finishing the last couple of books in this series for a while now, obviously, but I am glad that I finally got back to them. I forgot just how much I love these books and these heroes! Riordan is a master of world building. I can picture everything that he is describing, and the visual of Tartarus is, just, wow… The writing is excellent in this novel, as it is in all of the ones before. I think he just gets better as he goes. I am anxious to finish up the next one, and see what happens with these Demigods. If you are looking for a fun series, and like Greek and Roman mythology and YA Lit, I recommend this series.

Quitters Inc.

Posted on by The Novel Girl

quitters inc cover

 

Author: Stephen King

Narrator: Eric Roberts

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Publisher: Phoenix Audio

 

Dick has an addiction problem: he eats too much, works too much, and smokes way too much. By happenstance, he runs in to an old pal at the airport who has kicked his habits, and offers him a way to quit his addictions: a place called Quitters Inc. Dick thinks that it is all probable a sham, but decides to check it out anyway. Before he knows it, Dick has signed up for a program that has severe punishment is he ever backslides on his smoking addiction. The consequences begin with mild electric shocks to his unsuspecting wife, and only get worse for his loved ones from there. Will Dick be able to quit his addictions in order to save his loved ones from to consequences of his shortcomings?

This is a wonderful short story, which was originally a part of King’s book of short stories titled Night Shift and then one of the stories in the movie Cat’s Eye. I loved this story! It wasn’t particularly creepy or scary, but it was definitely entertaining and kept me engaged while listening to it. If you enjoy King’s work, I definitely recommend this classic short story!

 

Tricky Twenty Two (Stephanie Plum, Book 22)

Posted on by The Novel Girl

tricky twenty two cover

Author: Janet Evanovich

Series: Stephanie Plum

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Bantam

Pages: 304

 

Stephanie is on the hunt for a Frat leader named Gobbles, who was arrested for beating down the Dean of students. He skipped out on his bond and is in hiding, but it doesn’t look like he has gone far. No one on campus will tell her where he is and she has a feeling that there is more to his story, especially after a few interactions with his faculty advisor- a crazy science professor. Ranger also asks her to help with security on the Linken’s, after Mr. Linken’s business partner is gunned down by an unknown person. Meanwhile, Stephanie’s personal life is a mess, because Morelli is having some major inner turmoil causing him to dump her out of the blue and consider changing careers.

This is the twenty-second book in this series, so the plot lines are getting a bit redundant, but it was much better than the last couple of books in this series were. There were some detail inconsistencies that were a bit annoying, for a reader who has read all of these books a pays attention to the little details (Rangeman has the wrong number of floors and his office was on the wrong floor, etc). Ranger’s character was a little flat in this book, for some reason. It was nice to see some growth potential in Stephanie and Joe’s relationship, and there were definitely still some laughable moments. One of the best parts of this book, for me, was seeing a different side of Steph’s mom! That was great! Overall, the book was, for me, what Evanovich’s books always are: a fun, short break from some of the more intense books. I’m looking forward to seeing where she goes from here with the story.