Book Review Archives

Book Review: MOON HUNT by W. Michael & Kathleen O’Neal Gear

December 1, 2017 by Ariana Leave a Comment

The Gears ratchet up the tension and the stakes for Cahokia in the third book of the People of Cahokia series MOON HUNT. Like the two other books in the series it’s filled with political intrigue, mysticism, convoluted relationships, and characters who I enjoy reading about.

First, I’m constantly amazed how the Gears bring to life ancient cultures. Not only do you get archeological details of an ancient people and their way of life, but a story of suspense and adventure. There were so many things I liked about the MOON HUNT:

Book Review: LOVE YOU MORE by Lisa Gardner

November 24, 2017 by Ariana 2 Comments

LOVE YOU MORE is my favorite book so far by Lisa Gardner and the reason is because of Tessa Leoni. I know this is a D.D Warren book but Tessa stole the spotlight from her.

There are so many things I loved about this story and I’ll start with Tessa. Talk about a sympathetic character you want to root for. Gardner did a brilliant job creating a character who drew you into her private world and made you wondered what the hell happened. Did she really kill her husband? What happened to her child? What is she hiding? Is she guilty or innocent? At the first everything seems deceptively simple, but then we are dealing with Lisa Gardner, and nothing is simple but it is deceptive. Tessa is strong willed, resourceful, clever, and damn tough and the hell she goes through the whole book, well you’ll see why she’s an awesome protagonist.

Book Review: BREAKING POINT by C.J. Box

November 14, 2017 by Ariana Leave a Comment

You know a story is damn good when it emotionally moves you, and let me say C.J. Box’s BREAKING POINT had my blood roiling.

BREAKING POINT hits upon a sensitive nerve that many Americans feel, government agencies and the bureaucrats who misuse their powers and positions for personal gain. The story revolves around Butch Robertson and how the EPA pushed and broke the man to his breaking point where everything goes to hell in a hand basket. Box did a great job showing how self serving bureaucrats wreaked havoc on Butch and his family by enforcing outrageous regulations. Seriously as I read what that family had to deal with, I was gripping the book with anger. However Joe Pickett gets involved and I knew that he would do what ever it takes to solve this problem and make it right.

Book Review: THE QUEEN OF THE BLOOD by Sarah Beth Durst

November 7, 2017 by Ariana Leave a Comment

THE QUEEN OF THE BLOOD by Sarah Beth Durst was one of the best books I have read this year. It enjoyed it so much that I finished the book in two days, instead of my usual one or two week time.

A mediocre student and a disgraced champion is the sum of this book for me, and I loved it. Daleina is one of the best protagonists I have met in long time. I love she is not this all powerful, perfect, most gifted, etc character we usually see in books. She is mediocre but driven by a personal agenda, a quest to be the best—even though she knows at her core she will never be as good as her competition. Even through the self doubts that whisper from her mind, there is a core of steel and determination, and thread of stubbornness within her that I admire. It was easy to root for her and follow her story.

I also love that Mrs. Durst added so much female friendship in the book, even though the women were competitors for the same prize. The author also had me guessing how Dalenia would win the ultimate prize. Let me say that I was surprised by the end of the book how it was done. I wanted to stand up and give the author a standing ovation for doing a great job.

THE QUEEN OF THE BLOOD is filled with unusual but unique world building, action, and a touch of darkness. I can’t wait to the read the sequel.

Book Review: THE BADLANDS by C.J. Box

November 7, 2017 by Ariana Leave a Comment

I enjoyed reading C.J. Box’s THE BADLANDS. I loved that Cassie Dewell is your everyday woman: middle aged, concerned about the extra weight she carries, single mother, has issues, and too busy to worry about the right clothes or haircut. On top of that she’s sharp, tough, good at her job, and yet has a soft maternal core. She’s a character I could relate to and like. However the character that really drew me in was 12 year old Kyle. There were scenes in Kyle’s POV that actually had me a little misty eye at times.

THE BADLANDS has an interesting world, an Old West feeling, and I enjoyed reading the tidbits Box showed us of gritty Grimstad, ND. The story is filled with interesting, well developed characters, dark suspense, and at its core a boy’s quest to take care of his mother.The was my first C.J. Box novel and I was impressed. Now I definitely have to read the first 2 books in this series and see what all fuss is about the Joe Pickett series, since all of Box’s fans love that character.

Book Review: The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker

October 15, 2017 by Ariana Leave a Comment

With the FOURTH MONKEY (and The Forsaken), J.D. Barker has officially made it to my must read, no matter what they write list of authors. I’m placing him up there with Karen Slaughter, Tess Gerritsen, and Lisa Gardner. Barker knows how to write a story that captures your attention and fill it with great characters.

There was so much I enjoyed about this book. The first thing that really stood out is Baker’s originality and putting his own twist on serial killers and the law enforcement officers who pursue them. 4MK starts out with the death of a serial killer and trying to find his last victim before it becomes too late to save her. The second thing I loved was reading the entries into the serial killer’s diary. It was decadently dark, gory, and like driving by a horrendous car week the you can’t help but stare at. Barker is the king when it comes to writing diaries; check out his FORSAKEN novel and you’ll understand.

Book Review: The Witch of Painted Sorrows by M.J. Rose

October 12, 2017 by Ariana Leave a Comment

M.J. Rose’s THE WITCH OF PAINTED SORROWS is a tale filled with witchcraft, romance, possession, history, underground occults, and courtesans. This was my first book by M.J Rose, and after reading it I wondered why I haven’t discovered her sooner.

Rose writes with eloquence as she pulls you into New York socialite Sandrine Salome’s world and slowly reveals it’s darker side.The words on the pages seduce you by its evocative prose and you can’t help but be lured into the story. Sandrine was an interesting protagonist. I admired that she left her husband, who she believed was responsible for her father’s suicide, and fled to Paris during a time when it was unthinkable or acceptable for a woman to do. I enjoyed her journey of trying to find her own path, pursing her passions, and finding a way to be independent; all before women’s suffrage began.

Book Review: LIVE TO TELL by Lisa Gardner

September 22, 2017 by Ariana Leave a Comment

There is a reason I enjoy reading Lisa Gardner’s novels, I always learn something about the darker side of human nature or humanity. In LIVE TO TELL (4th book in the Detective D.D. Warren series) the subject was children struggling with mental illness caused by a mental or chemical imbalance or abuse and it’s tragic consequences. The following line from the book hit me hard: ”Parents think the worst thing that can happen to their five-year-old is cancer. They’re wrong; the worst thing that can happen to their five-year-old is mental illness.” Was I prepared to read about such a delicate subject?

Book Review: The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter

September 19, 2017 by Ariana Leave a Comment

THE GOOD DAUGHTER by Karin Slaughter was a visceral, psychological thriller about lies, guilt, dark secrets, and the repercussions that tragedy can afflict on the lives of a family years later.

Karin Slaughter, as usual, writes a complex character driven story revolving around two sisters, Samantha and Charlie. These two women were intelligent, independent, filled with emotional damage but yet had an inner core of strength that I admired. I was sucked into their world and wanted to learn more about these two women. Slaughter slowly reveals the struggles and dark secrets Samantha and Charlie face each day of their lives, opening up wounds from what happened to them 28 years ago and making them face their demons.