SPOILER ALERT: IN THIS REVIEW I UNABASHEDLY GIVE UP SOME OF THE GOODS...
Call me crazy but second books in series often feel waftish to me. After a first good book takes off like a cannon's BOOM! a second installment can feel like the wafting smoke from that cannon ball and not quite as satisfying or as impressive. The Clockwork Wolf was sadly waftish for me.
Amanda Quick is one of those authors you feel as though you wait ages for despite the fact she publishes one to two books a year! Her books are always a treat and Garden of Lies, though not a perfect rating from me, is a very solid 4 boxes of love. Amanda normally writes continuations in the many series she has going - not just as author Amanda Quick but also as author Jayne Anne Krentz. The Krentz books are futuristic but I always prefer the Quick series because...
This book was recommended by author Gail Carriger whom I absolutely love as a writer. I am still learning all the different nuances of steampunk and can now add this series to my list. What I liked about this book was how the relationship between Kit and Lucien (the aforementioned deathmage) stayed with me and how I wanted to read more about them and/or any adventures they have together. Full points to Lynn on writing a feisty but...
I always drool and count down the days to any new book by Sophie Kinsella. Usually all the extra liquids and counting down of days is totally worth it. Usually. In this case, I was disappointed. It reminds me of a memorable disappointment that is still sharp from my school days. Without pointing any direct fingers I will only say it happened vaguely between grades 1-5. This was way before any smart boards or I-thing technology in classrooms. I remember being so excited because my teacher had set up a felt board in the front of the classroom. It had various blues for the sea and a couple of fishing boats. This was high tech in the 80's. The teacher...
This book reminded me why I need to read. I took this book out from the library three weeks ahead of Thanksgiving. It was also time for the Elmvale Fall Fair ergo lots to do and the two weekends prior to all this my husband had planned a full Sat and Sunday in Toronto and then a birthday weekend getaway for our family. It ended up being more busy than usual for me and at night I'd read for a mere 2-5 minutes then fall into bed. Funny enough, as the weeks went by I...
Fun with a capitol "F" applies to this snazzy little novel. There is great over the top befuddling clumsiness that leads to some classic comedy sections. I was laughing and happily sharing the glee with my girls from this book. I love a book with some feisty banter and these two characters just can't seem to ever rub the 'right' way with what they say and do. Great fun in these pages. This isn't an...
I loved this book when I bought it in 2010 and I've loved rereading it three times since then. Janet is a powerhouse writer and her Stephanie Plum series is great, her co-writing projects so/so good, her Alex Barnaby series is also quite good, but her Lizzy and Diesel series holds the most praise from me by far. Taken separately, the elements...
In the first few pages of this book I almost gave up and set it down for good. With such a stellar rating from me, what was the initial problem? Language. Being a mother of impressionable youth, I don't swear. Alright, let's be honest, sometimes you just have to and in those cases I have come up with my own versions such as, Sugar Shack! and Fridge Monkey Magnets! So here is Bobbie Faye and her five-year-old niece living with her and Bobbie is cussing in front of her. Luckily the niece goes off to school so it is adult ears only that are treated to her blazing vocabulary (it eventually slacks off as the story takes shape) but still, swear words are grounds for me to put the book away without reading further. With nothing left on my to-read pile, I persevered with Bobbie thru the muck of her initial potty mouth and I'm so glad I did! This book is...
Wowza am I loving this series! Don't Hex with Texas is my favourite so far due in large part to the setting of Cobb, Texas. Being a small town girl myself this was all quite familiar and it was a nice change of scenery from big, bustling New York. It has been such a delight to walk the path of Katie and Owen's relationship. Even at the end of book four, it is...
Once, when my son was quite young, he wanted something very badly and was jumping on the spot to get it right away. To remind him of his manners I asked him, "What's the magic word?" he responded with a loud, proud, exuberant, "Abra-ka-dabra!" Technically he was correct, and though it made me laugh, it didn't carry the same reward as, please. I've been on a bit of a kick lately reading books laced with a touch of magic and this series...
