Behind the Gates by Eva Gray (Tomorrow Girls Series)

The first in the Tomorrow Girls four book series, Behind the Gates sets the background for a near-future post-war world where young teens are sent away to safety.  North America struggles to survive a war with the mysterious group known as  The Alliance.  Canada is rumored to be saturated  Alliance agents.  Our main character Louisa, has grown up sheltered from the war due to the advantaged provided by her wealthy parents.  Her best friend Maddie is a somewhat more aware of how harsh life can be.  Her parents are both soldiers and not nearly as well off as Louisa's family.  The wealthy are able to send their children off to safety by paying for admittance into secret boarding schools.  Not even their parents will know where they are located. Communication is forbidden.

Louisa is nervous about being sent away to a boarding school -- but she's excited, too. And she has her best friend, Maddie, to keep her company. The girls have to pretend to be twin sisters, which Louisa thinks just adds to the adventure! Country Manor School isn't all excitement, though. Louisa isn't sure how she feels about her new roommates: athletic but snobby Rosie and everything's-a-conspiracy Evelyn. Even Maddie seems different away from home, quiet and worried all the time. Still, Louisa loves CMS -- the survival skills classes, the fresh air. She doesn't even miss not having a TV, or the internet, or any contact with home. It's for their own safety, after all. Or is it?

I wasn't expecting much from this book other than a quick read and hopefully some smart-not-silly female protagonists.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I fell easily into the narrative, travelling along with Louisa and Maddie.  Hints of tension lace the story from the beginning preparing the reader for the big reveal.  Louisa feels safe at her new school and even enjoys the unusual but exciting classes.  Still,  she and her roommates can't help but notice that there's something odd about their classes and surroundings.

I liked this book not only for the characters and plot, but because it is clearly written for brand-new teens.  The popularity of dystopian novels has captured the interest of many of my younger students whose  comprehension and reading maturity have not yet reached the level in the most popular titles.  Eva Gray managed to bring to life a dystopian world without the violence and bloodshed and moral ambiguity found in much of the genre.
She also manages to leave the reader hanging on the last page, prompting a mad rush to get the next in the series.

How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You

OK.  I admit it.  I picked this up because of the title.  Working in libraries, I have the stereotypical pet.  Um, I may have 3 of them (Hey the first one needed a buddy and the second one came with his own roommate.  They used the line, "no one wants him" and YES, I fell for it).  Three cats is a lot.  and when they all pile on when I hunker down with a book, I occasionally glance up to see all 3 staring at me.  Intelligently.  Suspiciously.  Like maybe I just caught them at something.  So yes, I picked up this book because of the title. And perhaps a bit of paranoia.  Stop by http://theoatmeal.com/ and checkout the rest of Oatmeal's work.

source:  http://theoatmeal.com/

46. Beauty and the Beast

There is something wonderfully pleasing about picking up a childhood favourite as an adult.  To revisit old friends and relive adventures with a fresh eye brings a sense of comfort.  While flipping through my Kobo VOX I noticed that I had a copy of Beauty and the Beast in there.  Credited to Anonymous, this was not the sing-song Disney version  - which I never really took to - but one that felt quite grown up.  With formal wording and the suggestion of emotion, I fell back into a familiar space where I could curl up in my oversized chair and, snuggled in a hand sewn quilt, allow my imagination and empathy take me into that old-world setting.  It is a place where promises are still intrinsic with honour and a good heart can triumph.

 This  version seemed to be an expansion of the one I lovingly read by Marianne Meyer. The illustrations drew me in then and today it remains my favourite visual for this tale. With soft lines and rich colours, Mercer Meyers illustrations breath life into the characters and speak more of Beauty's spirit than the words could do. I am drawn to her capacity for appreciation, shown during her days at the Beasts home for the riches in the house, the artistry of the gardens, the birds she befriends and the for the kindness and restraint she recognizes in the beast.   Meyers illustrations reflect the emotions I have when reading this story.   Usually classified as a fairytale, I have always thought of this as a love story.  A pure and honest love story. I have a mini-swoon each time I read, or even remember it.

45. Jemima J. by Jane Green

Jemima Jones is overweight. About one hundred pounds overweight. Treated like a maid by her thin and social-climbing roommates, and lorded over by the beautiful Geraldine (less talented but better paid) at the Kilburn Herald, Jemima finds that her only consolation is food. Add to this her passion for her charming, sexy, and unobtainable colleague Ben, and Jemima knows her life is in need of a serious change. When she meets Brad, an eligible California hunk, over the Internet, she has the perfect opportunity to reinvent herself-as JJ, the slim, beautiful, gym-obsessed glamour girl. But when her long-distance Romeo demands that they meet, she must conquer her food addiction to become the bone-thin model of her e-mails-no small feat. 
With a fast-paced plot that never quits and a surprise ending no reader will see coming, Jemima J is the chronicle of one woman''s quest to become the woman she''s always wanted to be, learning along the way a host of lessons about attraction, addiction, the meaning of true love, and, ultimately, who she really is.



*possible spoilers (if you look hard)
I had read this novel  in 2001 or so and had very fond memories of it.  It was my introduction to author Jane Green , who has become one of my go-to authors..sort of like comfort food for rainy days.  Revisiting it this week, I found myself surprised at how dated certain aspects were: the introduction of the internet, mention of celebrity couples Tom Cruse and Nicole Kidman  and Demi Moore and Bruce Willis as a happily married ideals, and the detailed descriptions on fashions (now outdated, even in text). 
I also noticed in this reading, the use of a voice-over narrator that had been forgotten since my last visit.  I couldn't decide if it was quirky in a soap opera way - the author talking to the reader in between first person narration by the two main characters, or annoying in that same soap opera way.
These two points aside, I still enjoyed the story.  I find my perception has changed over the years as well.  During my first reading ten years ago, I identified greatly with Jemima  and cheered her on at every turn.  This time around, my cheers were interspersed with flashes of reason and logic regarding her weight-loss regime and her evolving self-image.  On the surface  the changes she made were great fodder for the genre but I found myself impatient for Jemima to reach her epiphanies and find her equilibrium in the world.  The ending still held the satisfaction I was seeking, although this time around it felt short as I found I wanted more details between the last chapter and the epilogue.
Ten years later the heart of this book  held up for me.  I wonder how I will view it in another five or ten years?

44. What a Gentleman Wants by Caroline Linden

Marcus Reese, Duke of Essex, has spent most of his life pulling his twin brother out of trouble. An occasional thank you would suffice; instead, his resentful sibling forges his name to a marriage license and presents him with an unwanted wife. She's a vicar's widow with a mind of her own who may be the first person in Marcus's well-ordered life to make him feel. . .completely out of control.
Hannah can't help but curse her own idiocy. Dire straits have led her to the altar with a gentleman she hardly knows. Played for a fool, she's embarrassed, furious, and worse, married to an equally outraged stranger--an exasperating man who unleashes all manner of emotions in Hannah, not to mention unwanted desire. Reluctantly, she agrees to play the wife until he can sort out the mess. But the nearness of the undeniably attractive Duke and the passion in his black eyes unsettles her well-guarded heart--making her want to do so much more than "act" the role of blissful bride. . .

This was a pleasant read with well written characters, humour and all the drama and refuse-to-admit-we-have-attraction a good romance requires.  I particularly enjoyed that the female characters did not fall headlong into stereotypes of the period or genre.  They remained feminine, somewhat bound by societal rules but also had intellect, compassion and strength.  Hannah, as a vicar's widow, is able to explain some of her meeker behaviours on upbringing and her station during her first marriage yet leaves no doubt as to her true feelings and is willing to bypass propriety when warranted.  Linden writes her as a flushed out character who has a belief code that she lives by but who also has true emotions, reactions and considers    her instinctive reactions against public expectation rather than  swooning or turning to hysterics as other authors would have her do.   Marcus and David Reece are also more than stereotypes once you turn a few pages, bringing dimension to the various relationships in this novel.  The inclusion of Hannah's daughter, Molly, is handled very well.  She serves as motive for Hannah's actions and as a means to explore the personalities of several characters by way of their interactions with her.  Any good romance needs some drama to sustain it and Linden opens the story with a dramatic trickery that forces our reluctant lovers together.  She is correct in knowing that more adventure is needed later to urge the characters to their final realizations, but the sub plot concerning counterfeit money and a nefarious challenger to out hero did not fit as well as it could have.  Hinted at from the beginning, too little detail was given to the reader until the end.  It made it hard for this reader to care very much about this part of the story.  The only merit I found in this 'mystery' was in the brief interactions between brothers David and Marcus and then between  Hannah and Marcus.  I did enjoy seeing the brothers interact as a team rather than their usual adversarial relationship.  A nice Saturday read...and yes, I am curious about the continuation of the Reece family romances in What a Rogue Desires (David's story) and A Rake's Guide to Seduction (little sister Celia's story).  Perhaps I'll look one of them up some other Saturday.

41-43. Kobo romance freebie reading spree

When I first bought my Kobo Vox I rushed to take advantage of the free books available.  They generally fell into two categories: lengthy classics and Harlequin-type romances.  This weekend I decided to move some of those romances from the "to-read" shelf to the "read & done" shelf.  Here's the list:

The Bride's Baby by Liz Fielding
Mercenary and the Marriage Vow by Doreen Roberts
Perception by Angela Verdenius
Once a Cowboy by Linda Warren
Hide in Plain Sight  by Marta Perry
Dancing in the Moonlight by Raeanne Thayne
Baby Bonanza by Maureen Child
Baby, I'm Yours by Stephanie Bond
Speed Dating by Nancy Warren

Most of these titles follow the standard formula for Harlequin books: Contentious first meeting, instant lust, sudden unexpected feelings of love on her part, refusal to admit feelings on his part, numerous misunderstandings, angst, and in the final pages they actually talk, realizing they could have solved all this and got on with their lives on page 5, and happily ever after.  Sometimes this can be an enjoyable 1-2 hour long read but often I finish shaking my head and eyes sore from rolling so much. Clichés, sickly-sweet sentiment, ridiculous misunderstandings.  I find that unless there is a substantial plot to accompany the romance story I become close to infuriates with  the man-handling, controlling behaviour and refusal to have a honest conversation.

I'll add to this list the Loveswept romance: I Do by Mallory Rush a.k.a. Olivia Rupprecht.

Mostly because I don't think it deserves it's very own post.  In the case of  I Do, I fell victim to the ever popular 'replacement cover'.  Always one to be intrigued first by the book cover, I saw this and figured...why not?
After reading the book I had a suspicion so I googled the book and located THIS!




SOL--He Promised Her Forbidden Pleasures.... 

He'd nearly died in a foreign land, and in a moment of madness he'd married the woman whose letters had given him a reason to live. But when Sol Standish faced his bride for the first time, he knew he should release her from her vows. Mariah Garnet trembled when her husband stepped off the plane, wildly excited at meeting Sol, but deeply ashamed of the deception that had made her his wife.
Irresistible Temptations
Innocent, passionate, unrestrained in her hunger for the sensual gifts he offered, Mariah was a mystery Sol itched to unveil, but was her reckless courage strong enough to heal a man whose scars ran so deep? Desperate for the trust of his wanton angel, Sol demanded the truth she'd kept from the man who shared her soul. Could he make her believe he'd let no one take her from him, that she was his answered prayer
SOL is his name...and he does start out in the book thinking he actually is Sh*t .Outta .Luck.

I read this book and thought that I may injure myself from the almost constant eye-rolling.  Such cheesy lines and that old story...almost underage girl, innocent and sweet falls for older, hardened, dominating man.  I actually laughed out loud a few times over utterings such as "He realised he was the wind beneath my wings" blah blah

...okay.  All complaining and making fun aside, I admit I did read the whole thing.  In one sitting.  And it was kinda fun.  If you can embrace or even revel in the cheese factor then I Do is actually a bit of fun!

39. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

38. Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman

What a cool idea!  Intermixing journal entries and a video diary to tell a story. This feels as though it was inspired by the Blair Witch Project.  The format  feeds the tension and suspense.  No third party narrative to foreshadow or explain beyond what the Ryan ans Sarah know.

Skeleton creek is broken into two parts - Ryan's text in the book, and Sarah's videos on a special website, with links and passwords given throughout the story. Skeleton Creek is a book and a movie at the same time. The format contributes greatly to the series appeal.


Carman uses suspense and fear to drive the plot.  The concern that housebound Ryan has for Sarah as she investigates alone creates the urgency this story needs. The grainy video provides a horror movie feel (although the acting could be much better!).  The special effects are effective.  In fact, they may be too much for younger, more sensitive viewers.  The back and forth from text to video also feeds the urgency of the situation by echoing the emotions of the main characters.  As they  hide their searching from their families and wait for 'safe' moments to send messages, the readers need to switch from reading to firing up the computer echo  those actions.


A great mystery ghost story for middle school to teen readers!

Book 1: Skeleton Creek

After an eerie accident leaves Ryan housebound and forbidden to see Sarah, their investigation takes two tracks: Ryan records everything in his journal, while Sarah uses her videocam in the haunted woods beyond Skeleton Creek.

Ghost in the Machine

Clues from Ryan’s journal and Sarah’s videos all point to one thing: someone will do anything to stop them from uncovering the deadly truth. 200 pages, nine videos, and a shocking end to the story that started a revolution in reading.

• The Crossbones

  Ryan and Sarah Have solved one mystery . . . only to find themselves trapped by another. At first it seemed that the crossbones was a secret society limited to Skeleton Creek. But now new facts are being unearthed — with new dangers attached.

• The Raven

  Ryan and Sarah have solved old mysteries. They’ve followed clues all over the country and underground. They’ve investigated secret societies. They’ve found their answers.
  Or so they thought. Because there are still some secrets that Ryan and Sarah haven’t uncovered yet. And there’s still a shadowy figure standing in their path…someone who doesn’t want Ryan and Sarah digging up any more of the past.

• 
  

37. If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't) by Betty White

It-girl Betty White delivers a hilarious, slyly profound take on love, life, celebrity, and everything in between. 

Drawing from a lifetime of lessons learned, seven-time Emmy winner Betty White's wit and wisdom take center stage as she tackles topics like friendship, romantic love, aging, television, fans, love for animals, and the brave new world of celebrity. "If You Ask Me" mixes her thoughtful observations with humorous stories from a seven- decade career in Hollywood. Longtime fans and new fans alike will relish Betty's candid take on everything from her rumored crush on Robert Redford (true) to her beauty regimen ("I have no idea what color my hair is and I never intend to find out") to the Facebook campaign that helped persuade her to host "Saturday Night Live" despite her having declined the hosting job three times already. 


This was a perfect read after the heavily themed books I have been immersed in as of late.  Is it too stalker-ish to say...I LOVE BETTY!!!  I have been a fan of hers since the mid 70's.  Of course, back then she was simply known as the funny lady.  Through the decades she has become THAT funny lady, to Rose and finally to her own self...Ms. Betty White.
I simply adore how she carries herself, strong, unwavering in her beliefs and yet never seems to take life too seriously.  She looks like she enjoys life and the people she finds there. She also expresses her gratitude for the good fortune she has had during her career and for the opportunities this has allowed her to pursue.  Her love of animals and devotion to working with organizations for their protection and care is impressive and admirable. But it is the way that she speaks of her own pets over the years and her descriptions of her personal encounters with animals that tugs at my heartstrings and makes me want to adopt her.

This is a light read that I  finished in two hours. I found Ms. White's style soothing and reassuring.  I hope to have even one quarter of the goodness, understanding and graciousness that she displays.  If you are a fan of Betty White, from any generation, pick up this, or another of her books.  It is like having a conversation with her over tea or while sitting next to her on a plane ride - a momentary gift that will enhance your day.

Favourite quotes from If You Ask Me:

“Animals don’t lie. Animals don’t criticize. If animals have moody days, they handle them better than humans do.”

"Bets, you can lie to anyone in the world and even get away with it, perhaps, but when you are alone and look into your own eyes in the mirror, you can't sidestep the truth. Always be sure you can meet those eyes directly. Otherwise, it's big trouble, my girl."

Betty White is an entertainment icon who has playing starring roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls, and Hot in Cleveland, hosted Saturday Night Live (as the result of a fan-driven Facebook campaign), and spoken out on behalf of animals for many years.

36. The Word Made Flesh: Literary Tattoos from Bookworms Worldwide by Eva Talmadge

The Word Made Flesh: Literary Tattoos from Bookworms Worldwideis a guide to the emerging subculture of literary tattoos?a collection of more than 150 full-color photographs of human epidermis indelibly adorned with quotations and illustrations from Dickinson to Pynchon, from Shakespeare to Plath. With beloved lines of verse, literary portraits, and illustrations?and statements from the bearers on their tattoos'' history and the personal significance of the chosen literary work?The Word Made Flesh is part collection of photographs and part literary anthology written on skin.






Fans of the written word are memorialising their favourite passages or sometimes just a phrase or even a single word in a different type of ink.  The book is a photo essay showing tattoos from literary sources: quotations, images of book art and illustrations, character and author portraits, even definitions and syntax marks.  And just like other tattoos, it's so interesting to see what words and images spoke to someone so profoundly that they felt the need to imprint them on themselves, sometimes as a badge, a memorial or perhaps as a personal mantra. Some of the stories behind their choices are fascinating and inspiring.

The concept of literary tattoos bring me to thoughts of Fahrenheit 451.  The ideas and words within books can change people, sometimes profoundly. Perhaps the literary tattoo is merely the physical evidence of that change, a reminder of our personal evolution. Books introduce us to new ideas, show us how do view life differently, examine the lives of characters and often, in turn, our own.  Literature judges, defends, convicts and frees us.  It educates and challenges and as a result of reading, we change.

35. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

“ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

I adore the framing if this novel. I felt as though I had stumbled upon and old chest in the attic filled with the hearts and beings of a wonderful group of people.  Each member of the Society is a person unto themselves, not written to build up the main character or to simply convey a plot.  Amelia, Isola, Dawsey, Booker and Eben are fully their own.  Through their letters, Juliet and us readers become confidants to a dear little island community, are invited to witness the battery, survival and triumph of the human soul during wartime, and to feel that swelling of the heart at the very moment our heroine rushes out to claim her own personal hero.  This is more than the telling of history, more than a book club. My own hero in the book was the humanity and friendship of the characters.


The generosity of books to heal a broken spirit and the inspiration literature provides to the rebuilding and reclaiming of life is shared. That letters arranged just-so upon a page can bring light to ones being, a fact all readers are aware of at some level, is stated gently, as though reminding us that we are more than our daily tasks.

That's what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a book, and that tiny thing will lead you onto another book, and another bit there will lead you onto a third book.  It's geometrically progressive - all with no ending in sight, and all for no other reason than sheer enjoyment.

Original.  Charming.  Unflinching. Engaging.  Heartbreaking. Captivating. Uniquely lovely.  This book written in letters is high on the list of my top 5 books. My only regret occurred as I turned the last page.  I will just have to read it again!

34. Savor the Danger by Lori Foster

Another caveman romance...

She may be aloof, and more pretty than gorgeous, but Alani Rivers is the kind of woman a hot-blooded mercenary can't forget, no matter how hard he tries. So when Jackson Savor wakes up next to the naked, sleeping beauty—with no memory of what happened—he knows he's been drugged… even if Alani doesn't.

Okay.  I may need to vary my selection a bit more to avoid being hit over the head and dragged into yet another caveman romance.  While I love reading about a take charge hero with great one-liners, I think I need a break.  I didn't enjoy this instalment of the Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series as much as the others and I think I know why.  Jackson was just to heavy handed for my liking, and Alani was too innocent and wide eyed.  If you can accept this dynamic a little better than I did, you are in for some great verbal comebacks and enjoyable banter.  Foster's heroes are definitely appealing and usually I would have devoured this  up.  This was the third in the series and the final volume will star two characters introduced via Jackson: Arizona and Spencer.  


Some of my favourite scenes / lines:


After a morning of shopping to ease the hurt of her first night with Jackson, Alani returns home to find him lounging on her front porch, seemingly unaware.  Watching him, she remembers their intimacy: 

Breathing fast, Alani studied him. His continued stillness suggested sleep. Even when she shifted her bags and inched closer  he didn't move....Even now, so tranquil, he looked impressive...Alani licked her lips and started to slowly, silently, retreat.
"Don't make me chase you darlin'!"

Jackson, desperate for more close contact with Alani, is trying his darnedest to pull her attention away from the dangerous situation they are in and towards him...all of him:

"We have to figure this out, Jackson, so leash the lust.”His chin went up as he stared down at her. “Woman, you ask the impossible.”“Do it anyway!" 

33. Wicked Appetite. Janet Evanovich fans...right this way

Stephanie Plum Lizzy Tucker gets a superpower!


The first book of a new series centered on Diesel, a handsome, mysterious fellow with unusual talents, who is on a quest to find the Seven Stones of Power.

Life in Marblehead has had a pleasant predictability, until Diesel arrives. Rumor has it that a collection of priceless ancient relics representing the Seven Deadly Sins have made their way to Boston’s North Shore. Partnered with pastry chef Lizzy Tucker, Diesel bullies and charms his way through historic Salem to track them down—and his criminal mastermind cousin Gerewulf Grimorie. The black-haired, black-hearted Wulf is on the hunt for the relic representing gluttony. Caught in a race against time, Diesel and Lizzy soon find out that more isn’t always better, as they battle Wulf and the first of the deadly sins.


Giving it the benefit of the doubt due to my great enjoyment of the Stephanie Plum series, I found this first instalment of the Lizzy and Diesel series, well....okay.
Written with a  paranormal twist, it is very similar to the Stephanie Plum series.  The cast of characters includes Lizzy Tucker, a sometimes uncoordinated, unlucky in love, quirky pastry chef who finds herself out of her depth in a supernatural treasure hunt. Perhaps in an intentional bid to attract fans from that other series, Evanovich has written Lizzy to be not-so-different from the more well known Stephanie.  If the formula is working, why mess with it?
Cue the entrance of  a tall, built-like-a-tank sexy heartthrob with a killer smile, a doctorate in flirting and the less than subtle name of Diesel.  Diesel, as in strong, tough, and hot!  Add in the quirky, spell-casting sidekick, a mysterious pet cat and a town full of odd characters and you have successfully moved from Stephanie's 'the burb' to Lizzy's Salem, Mass.

art by Jesse Vital… V1TAL

Wulf turned his head toward Diesel and looked amused but didn't go so far as a smile. His features were sharper than Diesel's.  Diesel's eyebrows were fierce, and Wulf's eyebrows were raven wings.  Wulf's nose was straight, his mouth was not as wide as Diesel's but oddly sensuous, his skin was ghostly pale.
...Wulf glanced at my hand. "you're hanging out with a woman wearing my brand."
"Cows get branded," Diesel said. "Women, no. And she's with me."
"for now, cousin."
"Forever."
"We'll see," Wulf said.
His eyes locked onto mine, and for a long moment, I was held captive with no clue to his thoughts.What I knew for certain was that I saw power and passion.  I stepped back into Diesel, relieved when I felt him pressed into my back, his hand at my waist.
"I should be moving along," I said, making an effort not to gasp for air, praying that my voice wasn't shaking. "The monkey is waiting."
Omigod, I thought. Did I just say the monkey is waiting to the liege lord of evil? I'm such a dork!

Parallels to her earlier series aside - and there are many - I did enjoy Evanovich's Wicked Appetite.  She continues to deliver laugh out loud moments and a tasty mental image of the Diesel character.

My only real criticism is that it seems, overall, to be a weaker novel.  This may be due to how quickly Lizzy accepts what is happening around her: two strange men show up and start telling her what to do, they seem to have magical abilities, and she jumps right into following one of them around pursuing their, now mutual, quest for could-end-the-world-if-in-the-wrong-hands stones.  Oh there is plenty of protesting and thoughts filled with doubt, but it feels like obligatory posturing rather than a true WTF is happening reaction.  We readers know that Lizzy is going to join forces with Diesel and that her wacky entourage will be along for the ride.  I felt like I missed a chapter at the beginning of the novel, before all the spell casting, mystical abilities and poofing out of sight villains were accepted as part of everyday life.

That said, yes, I WILL be picking up the next in the series.  After all, I like a book that can make me laugh out loud and  has a six foot tall hero with a wry sense of humour.  Plus there's a one-eyed cat...although, I could do without the monkey.

32. Obsession by John Douglas and Mark Olsaker

Published 1998

Special Agent John Douglas, a legendary figure in law enforcement and the model for the Scott Glenn character in The Silence of the Lambs. (He was also the original choice to play the role.) As chief of the FBI’s Investigative Support Unit — the team that tackles the most baffling and senseless of unsolved violent crimes — Douglas is the man who ushered in a new age in behavioral science and criminal profiling. Now, after 25 years of service, he has retired and can finally tell his unique and compelling story.

Offering insights into the minds of criminals and their prey, John Douglas focuses on sexual predators and their victims. Among others, he uses as horrifying examples the cases of Ronnie Shelton, the serial rapist who terrorized Cleveland, and New York's infamous Preppie Murder. Douglas’s commitment to and compassion for the victims of such crimes is evident throughout, as he teaches us how common these crimes are, why we should never blame the victim, and how we might protect ourselves from danger.

I started reading this not realizing how little the actual cases would be focused on.  As the subtitle states, the great focus is on  identifying types of offenders and offering advice for victims post-crime and tips on surviving these crimes and on how lessen the chances of becoming a victim.  Douglas conveys his advocacy for victims with a passion that hints at the heartbreak he has seen after contact with victims and the family of victims.  The  author talks about his opinions on victim advocacy and the need for 'others' to not judge how a victim chooses (in as much as they can given these dire circumstances) to react.  It's all about survival, as Douglas states, that is where the first victory lies.    Years ago  I had read Mindhunter, also written by this duo.  This time around I felt as though I had read parts of it before.  Perhaps there is some repetition from Mindhunter or the similarities in subject from the same authors simply felt that way.  Some of the sections felt odd next to the others, such as the one on how the Silence of the Lambs killer, Hannibal, came to be written.  
This book is focuses more on the theory and classification of offenders with brief examples from real cases.  As I read I found I had more questions about those cases than this book would answer.  


With the prevalence of books, films and TV shows about profilers, serial killers and rapists, forensics and the psychology of it all over the last 15 years, Obsession is still relevant but it's style feels a bit behind the times.

50 Book Challenge update books # 30+

and we continue...in to week 40. 

30.  Charmed (paranormal romance collection)
31.  Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
32.  Obsession by John Douglas and Mark Olsaker
33.  Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich
34. Savor the Danger by Lori Foster

The Guersney Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman


Only 7 books behind schedule.  Good thing a week of vacation is coming up!

31. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

The book the world is talking about.

I finally caved and read the book the world, it seems, is talking about.  At first there were whispered conversations: did you hear about, the BOOK? The there were furtive glances and the quick passing of a copy under the patio table at the coffee house. Soon it was mentioned on the radio, then on daytime talk shows, then, it was everywhere.

When literature student Anastasia Steele is drafted to interview the successful young entrepreneur Christian Grey for her campus magazine, she finds him attractive, enigmatic and intimidating. Convinced their meeting went badly, she tries to put Grey out of her mind - until he happens to turn up at the out-of-town hardware store where she works part-time. 
The unworldly, innocent Ana is shocked to realize she wants this man, and when he warns her to keep her distance it only makes her more desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her - but on his own terms. 
Shocked yet thrilled by Grey's singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success – his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving adoptive family – Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a passionate, physical and daring affair, Ana learns more about her own dark desires, as well as the Christian Grey hidden away from public scrutiny.

Why, oh why, is this book so popular? I can see how it became a trend, but the most amazing book ever?  no.  really, no. The writing was not exactly award winning and the "heroine" was a wee bit [read massivly] unreal. very Bella-ish.  ohh...a bad boy.  Her reactions were quite comical at times..at least the synopsis said it was amusing.  Not quite in the way they meant, I suspect.  if you have read the rest of the trilogy can you give me a BRIEF synopsos lol.  Like Twilight, I am embarrased to  to admit I want to know what happens once she graduates emotional middle school.

The eloquent ladies over at the Smart Bitches, Trashy Books blog answer this question the way I want to:

I have a few theories as to why this book is popular. It has a secrecy element, for example, similar to some paranormal romances and their avid fanbases. It's also not at all surprising that 50 Shades and Twilight share a few plot themes, specifically that secrecy and the temptation inherent in the world of both narratives, and the alpha male who is opulently, ridiculously wealthy, Volvos optional. Plus, Edward, as I wrote a few years ago, and in many similar ways (again, surprise surprise) Christian are both very much old-skool-style romance heroes. 50 Shades (and Twilight, obviously) are also told from the heroine's POV, a very deep, first person, detail-heavy point of view, and the narrative is also akin to reading a diary, adding to that sense of illicit secrecy.

Sparking so much attention, those creative types were sure to have some fun with this book. Check out these spoofs/tributes to 50 Shades!

30. Charmed, only not-so-much (paranormal romance collection)

A romance anthology of 4 stories:

1. Bridal Jitters by Jayne Castle (pseudonym for Jayne Ann Krentz)

2. Man in the Mirror by Julie Beard

3. Tangled Dreams by Lori Foster 
4. Pandora's Bottle by Eileen Wilks

A grouping of four short stories linked by a Halloween theme, or so it claimed. The concepts for all four stories sounded promising but I am not sure that the Halloween theme was the right link for this collection. In most of the stories, the inclusion of Halloween seemed forced and not at all necessary. 

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The first story, Bridal Jitters, felt overly edited.  

 Virginia Burch, a psychic archaeologist, can't believe her luck when she meets Sam Gage, a ghost-hunter and owner of prime real estate. He offers her his space to live and start up her business. What follows is an even more intriguing proposal--to become his wife. Strictly for professional reasons, of course...Their marriage of convenience would lead to a very lucrative business partnership, Gage & Burch Consulting. Until something throws a wrench into the plan: the undeniably sensual energy that exists between them--and a love so strong it could wake the ghosts below...  

Well, this reader did not see much of that energy and felt lost throughout most of the book.  The setting was not explained very well and led to some confusion throughout the story. 1 star out of 5.

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The Man In The Mirror by Julie Beard tells the tale of a shy young woman who finds her man and her destiny in the past! Through a bizarre series of events, Katie Montgomery is transported back to old England in the time of King Arthur and Merlin! She rescues and falls in love with Tristan of Ilchester. To her enormous surprise, Tristan tells her that Merlin foretold her arrival! What Katie learns about herself and her capacity to love stands her in good stead for her adventures in this far-off age; and when she finally returns through the mirror to her own time she brings with her knowledge that will enable her to change her life forever.

Man in the Mirror has been done before but this version felt rather thin. So far I was not at all impressed with this collection of stories. 1.5 stars out of 5.

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Finally, in the third story entitled Tangled Dreams, I didn't feel like I was completely wasting my time. There was some value and depth and entertainment in the writing. For a short story, it was okay. 3 out of 5 stars. I am becoming a fan of Lori Foster and would love to read a reworking of this novella. And while the synopsis below talks about Halloween, it was a pretty weak link. Still this was the best in the collection.

Chase Winston is stunned when he realizes he can hear every thought in shy little Allison Barrow's head and most of them revolve around her incredibly erotic fantasies of him!  He's hot, hard and can't wait to get Allison alone. Of course he has to negotiate some pretty strange territory on his way to Allison's bed, but once he's vanquished villains, settled some restless spirits and made wild and sensual love to Allison, future Halloweens are going to look pretty tame!  

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The final story, Pandora's Bottle has some real promise with it's story line, but I felt ultimately failed to deliver in the ending. I didn't feel any passion between these two characters.  This djinn should have stayed in the bottle.    2 out of 5 stars.

In a world where magic is real and it's users often discriminated against, a romance between practical John Raven and logical Dora Kitlock runs into some problems.  Both have a secret. Before he asks her to marry him, John has to take Dora to his home tell her his secret. Will magic reign? Or will logic rule over the Halloween.

Based upon the synopsis, I certainly had higher hopes for this collection and found I was quite disappointed with the actual stories.  The concepts for each of the stories had quite a bit of promise but the results were lacking.