This is book #5 in the Jesse Stone series. I am behind a little bit on getting these read, but I am catching up. I read this book many years ago before I knew it was part of a series. So it was nice getting back to it and remembering the story. Each of the books are getting more enjoyable than the last. Since these are different cases in each book I will post the synopsis to this.
SynopsisParadise, Massachusetts, police chief Jesse Stone faces the case of his career in the newest novel in the bestselling series.
When a woman's partially decomposed body washes ashore in Paradise, Massachusetts, police chief Jesse Stone is forced into a case far more difficult than it initially appears. Identifying the woman is just the first step in what proves to be an emotionally charged investigation. Florence Horvath was an attractive, recently divorced heiress from Florida; she also had a penchant for steamy sex and was an enthusiastic participant in a video depicting the same. Somehow the combination of her past and present got her killed, but no one is talking-not the crew of the Lady Jane, the Fort Lauderdale yacht moored in Paradise Harbor; not her very blond, very tan twin sisters, Corliss and Claudia; and not her curiously affectless parents, living out a sterile retirement in a Miami high rise. But someone-Jesse-has to speak for the dead, even if it puts him in harm's way.
Although I did not find the plot of this one quite as exciting as the last couple, I still really enjoy the writing style of this author. He makes it easy to enjoy his books. They are so fluid, so easy to follow, none of this confusing stuff. Something else that I really like is that he always uses a lot of dialogue in his books, and that makes them flow really well.
I am really loving Jesse's character a lot. He has the feel of a Will Trent or maybe a Cormoran Strike type. Either way he is well developed and gets better with each book. The author introduces a wide array of character types in his books, a very diverse cast of characters. It makes the story more interesting and exciting too.
I recommend this series to mystery lovers. Even though the first couple are slow, it does pick up with each book. Very enjoyable series, and I look forward to the rest of them.
This is book 2 to the Freak series. I am not sure if there are to be anymore books, but it sure does feel like there will and I will be first in line for that one.
I am not going to include the synopsis to this review because of it being the second book to the series. I have to say that the author really stepped it up with this one, I enjoyed it much more than the first one. There were some pretty grisly scenes in this one so be aware of that, definitely not for the faint of heart. It was also pretty dark and disturbing. I loved it. So far both of these books flowed really well and I really enjoy the authors writing style a lot. It had some pretty unexpected twists and turns that were quite enjoyable as well. It has somewhat of a cliffhanger too which opens up another book rather easily. I guess we will see with that one.
The characters are fabulous. Jerry and Danny remind me a bit of Strike and Robin from the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith. I think that is why I enjoyed them so much. I found them to be very well developed. Then there are the psychopaths, and let me tell you, they are pretty terrifying. I really enjoyed their roles in this series so far. We get to see so much more from Abby Maddox and what makes her tick. I really enjoyed this up close and personal look into her life. I look forward to more from all of them in any upcoming books.
I recommend this book/series to anyone who likes a good psychopathic thriller, because this one will have ya turning the pages pretty quickly. I am giving this book a 4.5 star rating.
I have had this book forever and finally decided to get it read. I was feeling like a creepy thriller so this was the perfect book to choose. So glad that I finally got to this one.
SynopsisIf he can’t have her . . .
Dr. Sheila Tao is a professor of psychology. An expert in human behavior. And when she began an affair with sexy, charming graduate student Ethan Wolfe, she knew she was playing with fire. Consumed by lust when they were together, riddled with guilt when they weren’t, she knows the three-month fling with her teaching assistant has to end. After all, she’s finally engaged to a kind and loving investment banker who adores her, and she’s taking control of her life. But when she attempts to end the affair, Ethan Wolfe won’t let her walk away.
. . . no one else can.
Ethan has plans for Sheila, plans that involve posting a sex video that would surely get her fired and destroy her prestigious career. Plans to make her pay for rejecting him. And as she attempts to counter his every threatening move without her colleagues or her fiancé discovering her most intimate secrets, a shattering crime rocks Puget Sound State University: a female student, a star athlete, is found stabbed to death. Someone is raising the stakes of violence, sex, and blackmail . . . and before she knows it, Sheila is caught in a terrifying cat-and-mouse game with the lover she couldn’t resist—who is now the monster who won’t let her go.
Loved the storyline to this book. That is what really drew me into it. It has the feel of the Gretchen Lowell series by Chelsea Cain. I really enjoy these 'psychotic driven' thrillers. It turned out much different than I first thought it would. I really love thrillers that can surprise me like this one did. It also helped that it had great pacing and was so fluid to read. I also really liked the writing style of this author and I especially liked the cliffhanger at the end, which is really what has driven me to just go ahead and read the next book in the series, Freak. I am looking forward to the continuation of this story.
I really liked the characters as well. I think they were well written and pretty sure they will show up in the next book. At first I was a little unsure about the main protagonist, Sheila, and if I was going to like her and who she was. I was on the fence for a little while, but as the story moved on she grew on me and I began to understand who she was. There were a lot of great characters in this story. I really enjoyed the PI and wished there would have been more of him. So I am hopeful I can read more about him in the next book.
I recommend this to anyone who loves these thrillers involving psychopaths and their warped minds! It does get a little sexually explicit in some parts of the book, but not really over the top. Definitely worth the read!
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is book #2 in the series and I have to say I liked this one more than the first one.Synopsis
Olivia Miller is off to college at NHU with her boyfriend, Cameron McClain. She’s looking forward to having freedom from her parents. But now that they’re in a new place and around new people, will Olivia turn out to be one of those clingy, possessive girlfriends? Will she be able to find her own way?
College is a time for figuring out who you want to be, what you want to do, but as she tries to adjust to the unfamiliar environment, she realizes she’s led a pretty sheltered life. Embracing the college culture isn’t as easy as she expected it to be. It doesn't help that sometimes things—and people—aren't what they seem, especially her roommate.
"... for all I knew, the other girls were there to reinvent themselves, just like Ann was. It would be hard to get to know people if everyone was on a mission of personal transformation!"
When things get difficult and confusing, Olivia retreats back into her pre-college insecurities and loses her perspective. At her worst, things spin out of control, and she messes up something that's really important to her. What's it going to take to pull her out of the dark place she finds herself in? Thankfully her former boss and mentor, Mrs. K, helps her figure out what she’s searching for and brings her Christian faith into focus.
"I hadn't realized that was what I'd been missing. ... It ... all held a certain magic for me."
"... the push I needed in order to figure things out."
Now, is it too late, or can she recover what she's lost? While she’s still trying to work all that out, she gets a frantic call from her sister, Emma, who’s upset about their mom. Will Olivia’s newfound, yet fragile, confidence to be of any help? Can she continue to build on her Christian faith, and will she ever work up the nerve to confront her father’s judgmental and critical attitudes?
Even though this was a bit romancy for me I did enjoy the plot quite a bit. I really like the authors writing style. It is quite fluid and very easy to follow. At first I thought the book could have ended much sooner than it did, but I actually got pretty wrapped up in the story and got a bit swept away after discovering there was so much more to the story than the romance between our protagonists. There were several life issues that were addressed in this story. Issues like abuse, anger management, sex, relationships, religion and more. This does read like a Christian Fiction which is fine for me, I quite enjoy that, but if you are put off by that then you may struggle through the story, but I did not find it preachy at all.
I liked the characters a lot more in this one. I felt like I got to know so much more about them in this installment and I really like who they are and how they deal with real life issues. They almost read like characters from an Ellen Hopkins book which is fantastic. Most of them were very realistic and quite likable. And then you have those who you just want slap around a bit. All are developed quite well I think.
I recommend this book/series to anyone who likes YA Romance or even those who enjoy Ellen Hopkins. I am hopeful that I will be able to review the next book in this series as I am quite attached to these characters. Since I really enjoy physical copies of books over my Kindle, I have high hopes that these books will come to paper so I can get the series for my library.
Wow this was a real quick read for me. Read it in about 6 hours and really enjoyed this one which is book 2 to the Series of Unfortunate Events. I enjoyed this one more than the first one and I am hoping the series continues to get better.Synopsis
Dear Reader,
If you have picked up this book with the hope of finding a simple and cheery tale. I'm afraid you have picked up the wrong book altogether. The story may seem cheery at first, when the Baudelaire children spend time in the company of some interesting reptiles and a giddy uncle, but don't be fooled. If you know anything at all about the unlucky Baudelaire children, you already know that even pleasant events lead down the same road to misery.
In fact, within the pages you now hold in your hands, the three siblings endure a car accident, a terrible odor, a deadly serpent, a long knife, a large brass reading lamp, and the reappearance of a person they'd hoped never to see again.
I am bound to record these tragic events, but you are free to put this book back on the shelf and seek something lighter.
With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket
The plotline to this book continued down the dark path and I must say that I think these could be a little to dark for middle school kids, but as an adult I really quite enjoy them. They are so fluid, easy to follow and mysterious as well. I also find them to be very fast paced which keeps the stories very exciting.
I think the characters are pretty well developed for only being book 2. I have to say I just love the kids in this book. They are maybe a tad bit smarter than you would expect from a 14. 12. and 2 year old, so we will just call them geniuses. I feel as though I am interacting with them when I am reading these books because I get so engrossed in the story. Count Olaf is a very bad man and one of those characters you love to hate and wish ill will upon. He is written very well and can make any reader seethe with hatred.
I recommend this book/series to anyone who likes middle grade stories that are along the darker side but still flow well. They really are a great pleasure to read and I look forward to the rest of the series when I finish collecting them all.
This book #4 in the Jessie Stone series. I found this one to be so much better than the prior 3. I think at this point the Author was finally settling into the story and getting to know hi characters much better.
SynopsisI decided to write my own synopsis for this book because the one that comes with it is just not very pleasing at all.
In this story we have a couple who are thrill killers and they get a real kick out of killing the residents of Paradise. After several murders Jesse begin to put two and two together and the closer Jesse gets to figuring out who they are. the pair decide to set their sights on him.
I really enjoyed the plot of this story. I found it to be much more exciting and a lot more action then the previous books in the series. I was glad to see that the author finally took the series up a notch and I hope it stays that way with the rest of them. One thing that I really love about Parker's writing is the fluidity of the story telling. I find the author is quick and to the point. I love that there are not long processes between each clue when our protagonist is trying to figure things out. It keeps the story exciting when it moves at such a great pace. There is also a lot of dialogue which also keeps the story moving and I love that.
I have to say that I love Jesse Stone. He is not perfect, and he has many issues, but he is not whiny. He goes on with his life as takes things as they come. He does not feel threatened by the bad guys and just takes the bull by the horns and gets the job done. I love that about his character. I am sure I will love him more with each installment to the series. There are many great characters in the series to enjoy, but I have to say I do not care for Jesse's ex-wife at all. She stays around so that he can beat himself up over her, so he wont forget her. She is toxic to him and that is what makes her character great to hate.
I recommend this to anyone who loves mystery. The first 3 books are a little slower, but I think they are worth the read just to learn about Jesse himself if nothing else. This one picked up a lot and I look forward to the rest of the series.
I was really excited to get to this book since it is the last full length novel to the Ever After High series. This series is full of novellas as well and not sure that I will read those. I found I did not enjoy this one as much as the other 2 I have read, but it was still enjoyable.
SynopsisAt Ever After High, everyone is expected to sign the Storybook of Legends, pledging to follow in their fairytale parent's footsteps. But when Raven Queen came along, things became fairy, fairy confusing. Now no one's destiny is certain, not even for the most royal of them all, Apple White. When a mysterious being from Wonderland begins to infect Ever After High with a strange magic, everything goes topsy-turvy. The students transform into animals and objects, palace mice talk, and the beautiful green grounds on campus fade to black-and-white. Lizzie Hearts, Wonderland's future queen, Cedar Wood, daughter of Pinocchio, and Madeline Hatter, heir to the Mad Hatter's Hat and Tea Shoppe, seem to be the only ones who haven't completely lost their heads. It's up to them to save their best friends forever after from a curse that threatens to give their school-and their lives-a very unhappy ending.
This book continue the story of consequences of the first 2 books and I love how they continued, rather than making a new story. SO now there is a 'mysterious being' wreaking havoc in Ever After. I don't wanna get into who this being is since this is a continuation of the story. I really liked the excitement again in this installment. I also love how all of these books were so fluid and entertaining.
As before the characters are so fun and addicting. I love them all and all their quirks and flaws and of course their strengths! I think they are so very relatable, especially to kids who may read this series! Even though they are fairy tale characters, they feel very real when reading their stories. I love that they are not over the top characters, that makes me happy.
Since I did not enjoy this one quite as much as the other 2, I am rating this one 3.5 stars. It is still definitely worth the read. A nice wrap up to the Ever After High series. Not sure if I will take on all the novellas in this series. I recommend this of course to everyone who likes to read Middle grade and also those who enjoy fairy tales as well. The series is very different and very fun!
