3 Stars – Page 39 – Looking For a Good Book

December 21, 2016

DRAKE – Peter McLean

Don Drake is a hired killer. He currently owes a sizable debt to a demon and must perform another assassination to get rid of that debt. But things don’t go too well for Don in that assassination attempt. An innocent little boy is killed and the Furies start to pester him. Drake is ‘rescued’ by Trixie,… Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

December 20, 2016

2CREATE – Yoav Litvin

The subtitle of this book is misleading. It reads “Art Collaborations in New York City” which sounded really fascinating to me. But what it really is is graffiti artist collaborations. Still potentially really interesting, but not what I was expecting. Given that this book is about graffiti artist collaborations in New York City, it strikes… Continue reading

MYSTERY, NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Art, Biography, Book Reviews, Books, Memoir, non-fiction, Reviews

December 19, 2016

ATTACK ON AREA 51 – Mack Maloney

As you can see by the cover, this is the 17th book in a series, though it is the first one that I have read. It is a bit uncommon these days to find a book or a series that is akin to serial pulp fiction. Think back on the days (if you are old… Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, SHORT FICTION

3 Stars, Adventure, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

December 17, 2016

KOJIKI – Keith Yatsuhashi

Angry Robot is a publisher that I find I really like. I’ll gladly read anything that they publish and nine times out of ten I will be really impressed and thrilled with the book. But when they disappoint, they do so in a big way. This one disappoints. The opening chapter drew me and I… Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized, YA

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Mythology/Legend, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Young Adult

December 13, 2016

HER FROZEN STEPBROTHER – Rachel Kenley

When I request an ARC for review, I don’t always know quite what I’m requesting or what I will get. I figured that this would be a trashy romance (I was right) with a fair amount of sex (maybe less than a ‘fair’ amount) and be along the lines of a fairy tale or fable… Continue reading

ROMANCE, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, Romance, Sex

December 9, 2016

JIM BUTCHER’S DRESDEN FILES: WILD CARD – graphic novel

I’ve only read one of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files novels, but I’ve come to enjoy the graphic novels based on the popular Harry Dresden character. Wild Card is the latest in the graphic novel series and is much more ‘average’ than some of the others that I’ve read and reviewed. Wizard P.I. Harry Dresden comes… Continue reading

GRAPHIC NOVEL, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Graphic Novels, Reviews

November 30, 2016

WRITERS OF THE FUTURE, VOL. 31 – anthology

Although this is a long-running series and has produced a number of popular authors today, I have never before read any of the L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writer of the Future volumes. I am sorry for that because there really is some good writing inside (this volume, at least). But … …While there is some… Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Short Stories

November 23, 2016

PEPPER’S GHOST – William Auten

Pepper’s Ghost by William Auten is an ambitious coming of age novel as Charlotte Alexandra Long (“Alex”) struggles through a series of teen tropes but finds some answers in the circus sideshow where tricks serve as truths. This is one of the most difficult sorts of books to review. There’s nothing specific here that one can… Continue reading

Uncategorized, YA

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, Young Adult

November 21, 2016

THE FIRESIDE GROWN-UP GUIDE TO THE HUSBAND – Jason Hazeley & Joel Morris

‘Tis the season for parody and humor. This is a quick read, offering up a few good chuckles. Based on an old book series, Ladybird Books based in the United Kingdom, this series cleverly uses the original illustrations from the mid-twentieth century and adds new story. You know what you’re getting in to with the… Continue reading

HUMOR, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Humor, Reviews

November 18, 2016

ROOMIES – Sara Zarr & Tara Altebrando

Two high school seniors on opposite coasts (one in New Jersey, the other in California) have been assigned each other as roommates in the upcoming school year at Berkeley. Elizabeth (EB) is brash, rash, and impetuous. And just a little bit nervous about moving across the country to attend school. Lauren lives not too far… Continue reading

Uncategorized, YA

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, Young Adult

November 16, 2016

THE RIVALS OF DRACULA – Nick Rennison, editor

I’ve long known that Bram Stoker’s Dracula was not the only vampire story of its day … simply the best known. But until now, I had never read any of the other, contemporary works. But vampires, and other supernatural spirits were popular grist for the turn of the century writer. As editor Nick Rennison points out… Continue reading

Dark Fantasy/Horror, SF/FANTASY, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Horror/Dark Fantasy, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Short Stories

November 2, 2016

THE RINGMASTER’S WIFE – Kristy Cambron

Like a lot of readers today, I am drawn to books about or with a circus atmosphere. You can’t get much more circus than a tale about a woman with the Ringling Brothers. Rosamund Easling is born into a wealthy family, but as often happened (especially during this era), the family was looking at a declining… Continue reading

OTHER, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Literature, Reviews, Romance