This is a stand alone book by the author with a great synopsis, so I had to read it. It also makes up my letter 'K' for the A-Z challenge this year.
SynopsisAt the end of a long day battling street traffic, bike messenger Jace Damon has one last drop to make. But en route to delivering a package for one of L.A.'s sleaziest defense attorneys, he's nearly run down by a car, chased through back alleys, and shot at. Only the instincts acquired while growing up on the streets of L.A. allow him to escape with his life—and with the package someone wants badly enough to kill for.
Jace returns to Lenny Lowell's office only to find the cops there, the lawyer dead, and Jace himself considered the prime suspect in the savage murder. Suddenly he's on the run from both the cops and a killer, and the key to saving himself and his ten-year-old brother is the envelope he still has—which holds a message no one wants delivered: the truth.
In a city fueled by money, celebrity, and sensationalism, the murder of a bottom-feeding mouthpiece like Lenny Lowell won't make the headlines. So when detectives from the LAPD's elite robbery/homicide division show up, homicide detective Kev Parker wants to know why. Parker is on the downhill slide of a once-promising career, and he doesn't want to be reminded that he used to be one of the hotshots, working cases that made instant celebrities of everyone involved. Like the case of fading retty-boy actor Rob Cole, accused of the brutal murder of his wife, Tricia Crowne-Cole, daughter of one of the most powerful men in the city, L.A.'s latest "crime of the century."
Robbery/Homicide has no reason to be looking at a dead small-time scumbag lawyer or chasing a bike messenger...unless there's something in it for them. Maybe Lenny Lowell had a connection to something big enough to be killed for. Parker begins a search for answers that will lead him to a killer—or the end of his career. Because if there's one lesson he's learned over the years, it's that in a town built on fantasy and fame, delivering the truth can be deadly.
I did not think I was going to like this book when I first started it mainly because of our main protagonist Kev Parker, which was a pretty disappointing thought considering I love Hoag's writing. He seemed a lot like Lucas Davenport, a character written by John Sandford that I really did not care for at all. A very over the top egotistical guy. But despite that, I liked the plotline so I kept on reading. The book got a lot better the further I went in the story. A lot of great mystery with a twist that I would never have guessed and it flowed really well. It was a pretty engaging story.
Now for the characters, all I can say is that they definitely will grow on you. Each one with their own little quirks that annoyed the hell out of me, but somehow it ended up that I could relate to them in one way or another. There was quite the mix of characters, from orphans to Chinese fish marketers to bike messengers. All of them were quite unique and well developed. Kev Parker, the main detective, just really bothered me for the first quarter of the book, and then he kind of shifted to a point where I got to see the real him and ended up liking him a lot. So that made me happy. Not all that flawed, but he had that potential. I am sure our Author could right a prequel/sequel to this and bring out all sorts of issues he may have.
I can recommend this to anyone who likes a good mystery, or to anyone who is a Hoag fan and wants a stand alone to read. Well written with plenty of action and excitement.
I chose this book specifically for the A-Z challenge since it is a stand alone book. This is also a first time read for me with this author.
Synopsis Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara's beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it's too late.
I did really love the synopsis of this book and it is the reason why I wanted to read it. I did find that the build up of this story was really very slow, and it seemed that it took over half the book to really get interesting for me. There were some really good parts to the story that had me glued, but, I really felt like the story was not explained very well as I read it, so I had to go back and read some parts over in order to grasp what I originally missed. I literally had to do the whole 'scratch my head' thing. I am still kind of confused because of timelines and such. Also, I have read books like this before but did not find them anywhere near as confusing as this one. I almost feel like I should have caught on to it, but didn't.
The characters were ok in this book, but not really all that relatable to me and I think that is because of the way they were wrote. Also their perspectives switched back and forth when the times switched from before to after, which I think kind of took away from them and the story in a way. It is hard for me to explain exactly what I am trying to say.
I can't really recommend this book to anyone since it was really just ok for me. Just the whole way it was wrote was confusing when you finally hit the end of the book which really forced me to go back and reread things. I gotta say that I am glad it is over.
This is the first book in the You series. I am not sure how many books will be a part of these series though. I do know that the 2nd book, Hidden Bodies came out earlier this year and I look forward to reading it. I actually chose this book to add to the A-Z challenge list and I am glad I finally got to it. This is also a first time read for me with this Author.
SynopsisWhen a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.
There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance” meeting.
As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.
When I read the synopsis of this book, the plotline drew me in right away because it seemed so twisted. I mean what is better than reading a thriller that involved a book store? I did find there to be some slow spots in this book, but I feel like the uniqueness of the story kept my attention very well. I do quite enjoy the writing style of this author. As you read you never really know where the story is going to take you. It constantly made me rethink what I was thinking about what was going on. If that makes any sense. I was seriously glued to the pages due to an almost grotesque need to see what was going to happen when I turned the last page.
As for the characters, well they all seem to be real head jobs if you ask me. All of them had their own exclusive issues, and I had to wonder how they were even able to survive in this world, or perhaps maybe they they are actually the reason that the world is the way that it is. It makes you speculate which is at fault when you put yourself in their places, and believe me that is what the author is capable of doing with this story. Were they relatable? or likable? Not really, but they were kind of unusual and unique. They were the type of characters you had to know about and I think the author does a good job showing who they were. I know I did catch myself rooting for our 'bad guy' Joe, a time or two, but that was because the other characters were just as screwed up and you really can't help yourself.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers, but a thriller without a lot of action. This is mostly about mind games, and some peeps with highly unhealthy mental statuses. It is definitely worth the read and you should pick it up.
I chose this book for my letter 'X' in the A - Z challenge this year. I got this book free from Amazon and it is a part of a series.
Ok so what I learned from this book was to be sure not to rush choosing a book for a challenge and also be sure to read the synopsis of a book before deciding this is one for you. LOL This really lacked the part about 'xombies' or undead as we know them, this was all about sex, and very distasteful sex at that. LOL. Sex with a zombie or 'undead' is disturbing enough in it's own right.
The characters development was non existent, there was no building them up, it was like they were just there. I don't think I have to say that they were not very relatable, or believable, but I will say it, they were not either of those things.
If you decide to read this because it was free and it is the letter 'X' like I did, enter at your own risk. One good thing about this is the fact that it was less than 30 pages. Needless to say I will NOT be going further into this series.
I read this book for both the series-a-thon and a read along with some friends. This is book #5 of the Grant County series. I must say I quite enjoyed it and it is probably my favorite so far of this series. I look forward to the final book in the series, Beyond Reach.
SynopsisThe victim was buried alive in the Georgia woods–then killed in a horrifying fashion. When Sara Linton and Jeffrey Tolliver stumble upon the body, both become consumed with finding out who killed the pretty young woman. For them, a harrowing journey begins, one that will test their own turbulent relationship and draw dozens of life into the case.
For as Jeffrey and Sara move further down a trail of shocking surprises and hidden passions, neither is prepared for the most stunning discovery of all: the identity of a killer who is more evil and dangerous than anyone could have guessed.
The synopsis of this book told me I would really enjoy it. I can only imagine what it must be like to be buried alive. It makes me panic just thinking about it. So right off the bat you get those feelings of impending doom and it draws readers in from the start and keeps the reader engaged till the very end. The imagery is amazing, almost to much sometimes because I would feel every single emotion that goes along with books that have so much intensity. I found this series to be somewhat more brutal than I had first anticipated, but it made the story that much more exciting. One of things I have enjoyed the most about this series, having already read The Will Trent series, which comes after this one, is how much the Author has grown with each book and then onto the Will Trent series.
The characters I think are my favorite part of the series, they are developed so well. Some I absolutely love and others I may be on the fence about, but one thing I know for sure, is that the author knows how to make her characters both relatable, realistic and believable. You learn so much about them as you read each book. Readers will become a part of their lives and them, a part of readers. I could feel every emotional moment, every bit of the pain or sadness or rage. It fills me up so much I thought I could just burst to the point of really having to take a break. Very well done!
I recommend this whole series to everyone who loves mystery or thrillers. Karin Slaughter needs to be read, she is one of the most gifted female writers that I have had the pleasure of reading. I look forward to every single book that she has written.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the first time I have read anything by this author.
Synopsis
Murder. Money. Revenge.
Outwardly, Ben Stephens appears to be a normal, hard-working family man. In reality, his life has been in turmoil since the murder of his wife, Alice, seven years ago. The killer was never caught.
Now re-married - to the woman he was having an affair with while still married to Alice - Ben’s life is once again spiralling out of control, and he’s become heavily indebted to an unscrupulous criminal who is baying for Ben’s blood.
When Ben’s estranged twin sister, a police detective, unexpectedly returns to his life, asking too many questions for comfort, it becomes clear that without action, Ben’s life will soon reach a crisis point from which there will be no return.
In order to avoid falling further into the mire, Ben must examine the past if he is to survive the present - but just how much pressure can one man take before he breaks?
I was unsure about the plot of the story when I started to read it. I do have to say though that this is a very fast paced story. It moves very quickly and will keep the attention of most readers. I am just not sure if it was the story for me. I love thrillers, but I did like the 'mobbish' elements to this story. The mystery in the story however, was good, I enjoyed that part of it a lot. Although it was somewhat predictable I did enjoy it for the most part. I found the imagery to be very good in this story as well. It sets the scene up nicely for readers when you can envision things that are happening in the story, like you are living it.
I have to say I did not like the main character of this story at all. I am sure though that it was the authors intention for Ben to be viewed this way. At one point you want to feel bad for him, but then he does something that made me want to kill him myself. He seemed to not be very good control of himself most of the time and seemed to think that he was right in his thinking no matter what. I did enjoyed the female characters a bit more though. They were pretty strong, well developed characters.
This could have easily been a 5 star book had I liked the character, but really he just annoyed me if anything. It also could have easily been a 3 star rating, since I did not like the mob feel to the book, but because of the other elements and the fast paced action it keep my attention well so gets the 4 star rating. I can recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers/mystery. It will keep readers engaged.
I chose this book to cover a challenge in the Read Your E-reader read-a-thon. I was not sure about this book at all since I really don't do all that well with urban fantasy, but I did really enjoy the story quite a bit. I found it interesting for sure. I received this book for free from Amazon and it was definitely worth the read.Synopsis
After her parents and twin brother died a year ago, Lucy Kincaid was determined to put together a normal life for herself. With her heart set on college life, Lucy’s dreams of medical school are dashed when a rabid bear attacks her in the middle of suburbia. When Jens, a handsome yet irritable stranger, saves her life, Lucy’s gratitude is cut short when he abducts her, taking her to a land filled with people and creatures she remembers from bedtime stories she assumed were just Scandinavian folklore.
Jens takes Lucy to a world she never expected, and cannot escape. Undraland is teeming with oversized garden gnomes, warrior elves, Nøkken, Fossegrimens, and worst of all, Sirens. Lucy goes further and further down the rabbit hole until she signs up to join a band of thieves bent on taking down Pesta, the last Siren.
Like I stated in the beginning of this review, I was not real sure about reading this book, but the plot was really intriguing and sucked me in from the start. Readers meet a lot of different magical creatures and such in Undraland. I found that the pacing was exceptional in this story which made the book go really fast for me. It was easy to follow and completely swept me away because it was so engaging. There are a lot of different element in this book for readers to enjoy. Mystery, magic, romance and much more. There is a pretty huge cliffhanger that leaves me wanting more of the story.
I really enjoyed all the characters, my favorite of course being Lucy. She is a pretty strong spirited character and she does not take much from others, she speaks her mind when necessary. Jens, the male protagonist got on my nerves from time to time because he is kind of harsh at times where Lucy is concerned. I think though as you read you understand why he says what he says or does what he does. This is not a book where you take the situation too seriously because it is simply a story IMO. There are several characters in this story and you have to decide who you trust and who you do not and hope for the best. I am on the fence about a couple of characters, so we will see once I continue on with the story.
I chose this book to read for a specific challenge in the Read Your E-reader read-a-thon, which was Trick or Treat challenge, read an e-book would not normally read and hope that it is good. Well this is not normally something I would read so I really did not know what to expect. This is also a new author for me. I was surprised that I enjoyed the book.
SynopsisThere’s complicated. And there’s Rowen Sterling.
After numbing pain for the past five years with boys, alcohol, and all-around apathy, she finds herself on a Greyhound bus to nowhere Montana the summer after she graduates high school. Her mom agreed to front the bill to Rowen’s dream art school only if Rowen proves she can work hard and stay out of trouble at Willow Springs Ranch. Cooking breakfast at the crack of dawn for a couple dozen ranch hands and mucking out horse stalls are the last things in the world Rowen wants to spend her summer doing.
Until Jesse Walker saunters into her life wearing a pair of painted-on jeans, a cowboy hat, and a grin that makes something in her chest she’d thought was frozen go boom-boom. Jesse’s like no one else, and certainly nothing like her. He’s the bright and shiny to her dark and jaded.
Rowen knows there’s no happily-ever-after for the golden boy and the rebel girl—happily-right-now is a stretch—so she tries to forget and ignore the boy who makes her feel things she’s not sure she’s ready to feel. But the more she pushes him away, the closer he seems to get. The more she convinces herself she doesn’t care, the harder she falls.
When her dark secrets refuse to stay locked behind the walls she’s kept up for years, Rowen realizes it’s not just everyone else she needs to be honest with. It’s herself.
The plot of the story was that got me to read this book since it really was something I would not normally read and fit the challenge well. I expected that it would be full of instalove, over the top sex and most certainly a love triangle of some kind, so I was not looking forward to reading it. I was pleasantly surprised that it was none of that. It was a very realistic and believable story. I found that the pacing was great and flowed really well. There were even parts that pulled on my heart strings. I found a part of the "near end" of the story a little predictable but it really did not take away from the story all that much.
I just really enjoyed the characters, they were all developed well throughout the story. I found that Rowen was a very relatable character which made her very realistic. I think that she was probably my favorite character of all of them. Only one thing kind of bugged me about her and that was her always thinking the worse. I know that is part of her character, but it could be toned down just a tad bit. Jesse was also a great character, he was a great match for Rowen, also pretty relatable. There are even characters in this story that we as readers get to hate.
I recommend this book to everyone. If I can read this and enjoy it, I feel like everyone can, so give it a shot. It tells a great story and it is pretty thought provoking.
I read this trilogy to cover a challenge for the Read Your E-reader read-a-thon. The challenge is to read a book about a house. In this case it was a haunted house. This is a first time read for me with this author and I really enjoyed his writing style. I did not read the bonus chapters that were included. They were along the lines of what a novella would be.
Synopsis
For nearly three and a half centuries, the Boylan House has stood at the end of Meeting House Road. And something in that house has been killing boys for centuries.
The town of Monson is a quaint and quiet New England town. Yet the house the Boylan House is terrifying and has been for as long as anyone can remember. Adults put the thing out of mind and ignore the fears of their children, admonishing them to stay away.
Too many boys have vanished into the swamps behind the house. Bodies never recovered. Nothing ever recovered. The families are left with their memories and the disturbing thought that the Boylan House had something to do with it.
Mason Philips knows better than that. He knows that there’s something in the house. Something evil. Something hunting children from time to time.
And Mason has decided that it’s time for the killing to stop.
The plot was great for this trilogy with a story that surrounds a house, The Boylan House. A house that has been responsible for the death of many boys in which the town did not want to believe. What is not to like about that? I love the imagery of this story which brings out the creepiness that I love in a book like this. It was well done. The pacing was also very good, allowing the story to flow really well.
The characters were ok, but I have to say that this was more plot driven than character driven. Not too many characters to have to remember, and the ones that were present were pretty likable. I think that both the protagonists and antagonists are written pretty well. I did not find them particularly relatable, but they were believable.
I am rating this book a 3.5 stars. I think had the characters been a bit more relatable I could have rated this a little higher. Definitely fun and worth the read though if you like to read books about haunted houses.
