Review: The Gallows Curse by Karen Maitland

"The thirteenth century is just begun and King John has fallen out with the Pope, leaving babies to lie unbaptized int heir cradles and corpses in unconsecrated ground.  Across a fear-ravaged England, the people are dying in sin.

And into the Norfolk village of Gastmere comes a new Lord of the Manor - the cruel and bloodthirsty Osborn, not long returned from crusading.  Spying treachery at every turn, he is prepared on the slightest pretext to damn anyone to hell and the scaffold.

So when Elena, a servant girl, is falsely accused of murdering her child, she is convinced she will be next.  But there are others who will defy Osborn's brutal regime to save a girl who once took part in the secrets and strange rituals of the manor..." (back cover description)

My Take:

This is going to sound super lame but sometimes when I'm having trouble getting a review started, I like to do some word association, and this will get my creativity flowing.  I never include the word association in my review, but since it failed to get me going this time, here it is.  This may give you an idea of my feeling about this book, which are as mixed as a Berry Best Frozen Custard Avalanche (I just got finished eating my Turtle Sundae from BRC's Frozen Custard, so be prepared, there may be many dairy based metaphors in this post.  My apologies to the lactose intolerant.)

(Photo used under creative commons from Sirsnapsalot)

Plot: Interesting...Depressing...Unique...Semi-meandering...

Characters: Eh....Meh...Vienna Boy's Choir candidate...zzzzzz.....

Historical Content: Rich...Detailed...Folklore-ful (yeah, I like to make up a lot of words when I do word association)

Writing Quality: A+...solid...pro...

Did that give you any idea about the book?  No?  Let's dig into the review and maybe...hopefully...I'll circle around to a coherent thought or two :)  

Plot:  The plot was very very interesting, as I said in the association, but also like I said, it was super depressing.  As in depressing like each copy sold should come with a prescription for Prozac.  

(Photo used under creative commons from Carsten Schertzer)

 

These sorts of books, where basically nothing goes right for anyone, aren't usually my thing, but the other positives in the book kept me reading.  For example, the unique narrator kept me riveted.  The narrator was a mandrake root.  A shriveled, gnarly and amoral plant. Intrigued?  You should be.  As for the plot being semi-meandering, I think labyrinthine is more the word I'm searching for.  In the end, the way all the different plot points came together wasn't a big enough payoff to make the work it took to follow everything worth it.

Characters:  I've got to say, I didn't really love any of them.  The main girl, Elena, was weak, annoyingly blinded by love and a bit on the snoozy side (hence the Eh, Meh and zzzzzzz)  Now her unwanted savior is a bit more interesting, he is a fierce eunuch chomping at the bit to get his revenge and save the fair (and boring) maiden with whom he is in love.  I think most of the villains are a little flat, I wanted more layers, maybe some back story to make them more complex.  They felt a little mustache twirling, "I'm evil just because I'm evil" and I'm gunna tie you to a railroad just because I can.  

(Photo used under creative commons from mpeake)

Moving on...

Historical Content:  Awesome.  I wouldn't say accurate, because in the book, the supernatural is very much a real force, but as far as the day to day life, work, clothing, customs, etc., it's pretty spot on.  I loved how this book really brought to life the time period in which the church had left these people.  When you hear about it in history books, you think so what, but this book really made you realize it's a whole lotta what!  These people were genuinely terrified for their souls, and you really get that int he book.  A+.

Writing Quality:  The quality is not on trial here.  It is engaging, natural and down right fascinating.

So there you have my feelings on the book broken down, but what about as a whole?  Well.....

All in all, it was  just too twisted for me.  The dark stuff was too dark.  It had too many of the depressing elements of medieval Europe.  I can usually take it when a book focuses on one thing, but with all of the curses (which are real in the book) the hangings, the child prostitution, the dead baby spirits, the evil evil evil Aristocracy, murders of Monks, etc, it was too much for me.  If you love a good dark novel and don't get squeamish, check it out.  If you are a bit more sensitive, steer way clear of this book.  It'll haunt the crap out of you!  I think I'm going to have to give this book a rating of 3, Find a Used Book Store.  I have  to say that while this book isn't really my favorite, I am very interested in reading more from this author.

Tell me what you think!  

Are you into dark historical novels?

What is your favorite?

How do you feel about this author?

Is this her best work?  

Sound off in the comments!

If this book were a movie it would be rated R for disturbing images, sexual content and violence.

***FTC Disclosure:  The Gallows Curse was provided free of charge by the publishers in exchange for an honest opinions.  No other compensation was given, all opinions are my own and not influenced by any author, publisher, publicist or blogger***

Here Lies Bridget

Paige Harbison

Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don't worship as attentively, teachers don't fall for her wide-eyed "who me?" look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she's always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she's wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she's inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget's about to learn that, sometimes, saying you're sorry just isn't enough….

My Take:

I love reading about good juicy villains.  You know, the ones you looooooove to hate, whether they be the school's horrid yet mesmerizing queen bee such as Regina George from Mean Girls, or the freakin crazy anarchist out to destroy just for fun a la Heath Ledger's The Joker.  Then of course you have your Heathcliffs (yes, I consider him a villain, get over it :), your Voldemorts, your Prince Humperdinks, the list goes on.  Unfortunately, Bridget is not one who, in my opinion, can be counted among the ranks of the delicious juicy villains.  She's just a big old beeyotch that you can barely stomach!  I didn't blame her friends for hating her or her boyfriend for leaving her even a tiny bit.  Yes Bridget, you are sad inside.  Yes Bridget, you have problems, your dad isn't around as much as he should be, you feel abandoned, blah blah blah.  I just wanted to take the character by the shoulders shake her and tell her to get over herself, we all have problems!!! **pants from overdoing the rant**  Anyway, despite the fact that I hated the main character (which you were supposed to, to a certain extent) I actually enjoyed the book overall.  I enjoyed the modern day Scroogey feel, and by the end, I found Bridget to be a character I no longer wanted to smack right in the face.  This book is definitely worth a read, just don't expect to enjoy Bridget until she's had a few dozen servings of humble pie shoved quite forcefully down her throat!  I really enjoyed a lot of the secondary characters, as they felt a bit more realistic, and I REALLY felt for Bridget's not so wicked step mother. I think I'm going to give Here Lies Bridget a middle of the road rating, solid, but not overly impressive: 3, Find a Used Book Store

Tell me what you think!  Who is your favorite juicy villain?  Have you read Here Lies Bridget?  If so, what did you think of it, and specifically of Bridget?  Hit the comments!

If Here Lies Bridget was a movie it would likely be rated PG for some material not suited for young ones (underage drinking etc)

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Here Lies Bridget, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon links, thank you!

Paperback:                         Kindle:

The Dangerous Edge of Things

Tina Whittle

Tai Randolph thinks inheriting a Confederate-themed gun shop is her biggest headache — until she finds a murdered corpse in her brother's driveway. Even worse, her supposedly respectable brother begins behaving in decidedly non-innocent ways, like fleeing to the Bahamas and leaving her with both a homicide in her lap and the pointed suspicions of the Atlanta PD directed her way. Suddenly, she has to worry about clearing her own name, not just that of her wayward sibling.

Complicating her search for answers is Trey Seaver, field agent for Phoenix, an exclusive corporate security firm hired to investigate the crime. Trey is fearless, focused, and — much to Tai's dismay — utterly impervious to bribes, threats and clever deceptions. Still in recovery from the car accident that left him cognitively and emotionally damaged, Trey has constructed a world of certainty and routine. He has powerful people to answer to, and the last thing he wants is an unpredictable stranger "detecting" on Phoenix turf.

Tai's inquiry leads her from the cold-eyed glamour of Atlanta's adult entertainment scene to the gilded treachery of Tuxedo Road. Potential suspects abound, including violent stalkers, vengeful sisters, and a paparazzo with a taste for meth. But it takes another murder — and threats to her own life — to make Tai realize that to solve this crime, she has to trust the most dangerous man she's ever met.

My Take:

I seem to be in the minority on this one, I didn't really find this book all that great.  It was competently written, I can't say there was really anything bad about it specifically, it just lacked a certain pizazz.  I didn't love Tai, I wasn't all that intrigued about the mystery and the dialogue didn't wow me.  The one bright shining light of the book was Tai's partner, Trey.  After a head injury, he is left with a severe lack of social skills, which combined with his deadly training makes him a very volatile, and interesting, character.  Of course, he was hot, he is the love interest after all, he's quirky and downright off, which I love.  Probably due to the fact that I myself am more than a little bit off, normal characters just don't do it for me.  I'd love to see him as the main character of series.  Like I said before, the book isn't bad, and neither is Tai. I'm just not interested in finding out what makes her tick.  I definitely appreciated the fact that she wasn't a wimpy southern bell, and the fact that she owned a gun shop, but didn't ascribe herself to any particular stereotype.  Growing up in rural Nevada certainly left me with a healthy appreciation for the second amendment, so I always love some good firepower in an action book :)  The book is worth a read, but didn't rock my world, give it a try and let me know what you think! 3, Find a Used Book Store

I'd love to hear your opinion!  Did you enjoy this book?  If you've read the book, who was your favorite character?  Do you enjoy reading about people that are a little off, or do you like more straight-edge characters?  Hit the comments!

If The Dangerous Edge of Things was a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13 for some sexual content and violence

***FTC Disclosure: The Dangerous Edge of Things was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own*** 

If you are interested in purchasing The Dangerous Edge of Things, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Stealing Time

Elisa Paige

It wasn't that she wanted to live forever. She just didn't want to die.

When artist James Wesley realizes Evie Reed is dying, he is so moved by the beautiful reporter's determination to live that he makes her immortal—a vampire, like him. She's the woman he's been waiting over 150 years for. Though initially shocked by the change, Evie quickly embraces her second chance at life, and love.

Just as James and Evie begin to define eternity together, a zealot breaks an ancient treaty, threatening a peace between humans and vampires that has stood for a thousand years. And when he focuses his hatred on Evie, the immortal lovers find themselves swept up in a deadly supernatural war...

My Take: 

I have to admit, I am suffering a bit from vampire overload and fatigue.  However in spite of said fatigue, I found that I did in fact enjoy Stealing Time.  It is tough to stand out when there are so many good hearted vampires who feel torn between their blood lust and compassion, but stand out, classic tall dark and handsome recluse artist by day/compassionate, vampire James Wesley did.  Thankfully, while the romance between the two main characters was sweet (albeit typical) the whole story wasn't about them staring into each other's disgustingly perfect eyes.  There were other romances blossoming all around (tension filled love triangle alert! but thankfully not between the main two characters), there was an interesting cast of characters and a cool take on vampire lore.  If you are a vampire fan, definitely check this one out.  If you aren't, you might want to take a peek anyway, because there is a lot more to this book than meets the eye.  Pretty much all elements of the story have been done before, but the way they are put together in this book, combined with the author's voice (which I very much enjoyed by the way) make this a stand out book.  Also, something else I enjoyed: I'm always a fan of random pairings, I don't know if I've read a book with vampires and Fae together.  Its always vampires and demons, or vampires and werewolves, or Fae and some mythological creature, or whatever, but having the Fae randomly pop in and out of this vampire centric book was fun :)  I enjoyed Stealing Time, and I flew through it in a very short period of time, but unfortunately it is missing that elusive and all important (at least to me) element of resonance.  I wasn't thinking about this book all night after I finished it, which is what it really takes to bump a book up into the upper ratings for me.  With that I give it a good solid rating of a 3, Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Stealing Time was a movie it would likely be rated R for sexual content and violence

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Stealing Time, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Solid

Shelley Workinger

Eighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except for the living, breathing, human products of his work.

Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed "open-book" military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes, its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air 'athletes'; 'indies' as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance.

While exploring her own special ability, forging new friendships and embarking on first love, Clio also stumbles onto information indicating that the military may not have been entirely forthcoming with them and that all may not be as it seems...

My Take:

I enjoy YA books, I enjoy paranormal/fantasy books, I enjoy YA paranormal/fantasy books.  But sometimes in the sea of vampires, werewolves, angels, faeries and demons a person can feel like they are drowning.  It was nice to get a life preserver thrown to me in the form of Solid.  The concept was different, it almost had an X-Men vibe to it with the genetic mutation and super abilities aspect.  The idea that a rogue government scientist was secretly treating pregnant women to cause their unborn children to have said super abilities just added a nice extra little layer of spice and intrigue.    I really enjoyed the pacing of the first half of the book.  It was setting up the storyline very nicely, but unfortunately, the second half felt very rushed and the conclusion was quite abrupt.  So while the ending didn't really float my boat, I am still looking forward to the next books in the series.  I like the characters a lot and I am invested emotionally in their relationships.  Solid was a quick and entertaining read and I'd recommend it to YA fans.  Its not going to change your life, but its a great way to kill some free time.  I think I'll give it a rating of a 3, Find a Used Book Store.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Solid was a movie it would likely be rated PG for some violence and references to sexual content, but no actual content beyond "making out"

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Solid, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!  Below you will find a link to both the paperback and the Kindle Edition:

Wedding of the Season

Laura Lee Guhrke

Abandoned at the altar . . .
Lady Beatrix Danbury had always known she would marry William Mallory. She'd loved him forever and she'd never doubted he loved her, too. But when she made him choose between their life together or his lifelong dream, Will chose the latter . . . and left two weeks before their wedding.

Return of the duke . . .
Will has no illusions that Beatrix would welcome him back with open arms, but six years did not dim his love or desire for her. The only problem is, she's about to marry someone else. Someone safe and predictable . . . the complete opposite of Will. But can he stop the wedding of the season and win Beatrix back, or is it just too late?

My Take:  

Don't let the cover fool you, this book doesn't take place in the 1980s as you might expect, but instead takes place in turn of the century England. The storyline follows a pretty classic romance novel storyline: boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl separate, girl moves on, boy returns, girl feels torn between safe new love and exciting old love.  We all know what happens at the end of these books, but just in case you don't know, I won't spoil it for you here, but you'll learn after you get a few dozen romance novels under your belt.  Like I said, we all know what will happen at the end of romances, but that isn't really the point, romances are all about he journey and the characters.  The journey and the characters in Wedding of the Season aren't half bad.  The two love interests are a little whitebread  (the book needed a good villain, or something to spice it up a bit) but still good semi-interesting people you can root for.  The setting of coastal England was gorgeous, further fueling my Anglophile status.  The book was solidly written, so if you are looking for a quick sweet read, you won't be disappointed.  Was this the greatest love story ever written?  Nope.  Did I enjoy it?  Absolutely.  With that I rate Wedding of the Season a 3 Find a Used Book Store  I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author, and I am very interested in learning the fates of the rest of the characters in the book, as this was the first in a series.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Wedding of the Season was a movie it would be rated PG-13 for sexual content

**FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Wedding of the Season, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

The Paris Secret

Angela Henry

Less than twenty-four hours after fleeing to Paris, Maya Sinclair is the prime suspect in a brutal murder—and targeted by the real killer. When she's viciously attacked in the gardens of Versailles, Maya barely escapes with her life thanks to sexy French journalist Simon Girard.

Simon has been investigating the mysterious death of his brother, an art forger with ties to the woman Maya is suspected of killing. Still healing from heartbreak of his own, Simon reluctantly joins forces with Maya, who has awakened feelings within him he thought long dead.

Their search for answers uncovers the existence of a secret society, and puts them on a quest to find a missing crucifix rumored to hold the key to everlasting life. Together, Maya and Simon race through Paris one step ahead of a killer who will do anything to ensure some secrets remain buried forever...

My Take:  

What started out as a "my fiance cheated on/dumped me and now I'm off to find myself in an exotic city" chiclit turned seamlessly into an Indiana Jones/DaVinci Code hybrid with just a pinch of Sister Act tossed in.  Odd combo, yes, but it works.  A lot of stuff is thrown at you in this book, but it is all introduced in a way that you aren't lost at all.  It is easy to follow and very exciting.  I am really really good at predicting twist endings, and I didn't totally predict how this book played out, so kudos to Angela Henry.  I also think Angela Henry did a great job of creating a wonderful setting and mood.  I have to say, Paris has never been a place I've ever really been interested in visiting.  I don't know why, but it just doesn't float my boat like say maybe London or Venice.  But the sights, sounds and smells of Paris in The Paris Secret have most definitely piqued my interest in The City of Love.  I'd recommend this book to just about anyone who likes a good mystery/thriller.  It is fast paced, there's a touch of romance and history, the characters are solid and there are not a few twists.  Really, the only thing the book lacked was resonance.  That intangible something that keeps you thinking about it long after you've finished, but it was definitely a page turner (or clicker since I read it on my Kindle :).  I really enjoyed The Paris Secret, and am therefore giving it a rating of a good solid 3, Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If The Paris Secret was a movie it would likely be rated R for violence, sexual content, and language

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Paris Secret, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Letters from Wheatfield

Patrick Shannon

What do you do for fun if you live in a small rural town, dauntingly far from the nearest city's plentiful amusements?  Upon what resources do you draw to spice up your existence?  Letters from Wheatfield provides the answer-and it isn't always pretty.

The fictitious town of Wheatfield is a tiny island in a vast sea of wheat fields and cattle ranges.  Its nearest neighboring towns, similarly small, are well over the horizon.  But its isolation has no effect on its inhabitants.  Theirs is a society of mirthful, blithe, spritely wags-a condition abetted by the presence of not a few eccentric individuals.

In Letters from Wheatfield, two transplants from Manhattan write to a cousin back home about the remarkable community that has assimilated and transmuted them-much to their amazement and great pleasure.

My Take:

If you come from a small town, you probably look back on said town in one of two ways: 1.) Complete and utter happy nostalgia.  To you, nothing compares to a small town where everyone knows everyone, and everyone is always willing to lend a helping hand.  There is no road rage and the pace of life is happily slower than the big cities. You believe this simple and innocent environment is the perfect place to raise a child.  You don't mind your towns folk's eccentricities, in fact, you enjoy them. OR!!!!! 2.) You hate the fact that everyone knows everyone because it means people can't mind their own dang business.  The small town rumor mill is always running in overdrive.  There is nothing to do and that is why 60% of the girls in your graduating class matriculated with a bun in the oven.  Now, if your thoughts tend to run with the first option, you'll probably enjoy this book a lot more than the second option.  See I come from a small town, but I moved away when I was about 13, keeping my disdain over my town at bay.  However, hearing stories from my older sisters and remembering seeing my mom so upset over how spiteful that particular towns gossips were definitely left me with a bad taste in my mouth.  So my thoughts, while not as strong, tend to run with the second option.  Unfortunately the enjoyment I got from reading Letters from Wheatfield was diminished because the whole time I was thinking about a certain rotten Nevada mining town (in all fairness to the town, I've heard its gotten better in the decade I've been gone).  

Anyway...I did get more than a few chuckles out of the book despite myself.  The writing itself was fabulous-it was subtle and extremely funny.  The pacing was great and the characters were very eccentric yet very real.  The book was a very quick read and overall, I found I did enjoy it quite a bit.  So many of the silly and arbitrary important, nay--essential rules such as the art of the proper wave when passing a car (do you wave with 2 fingers with the heel of your hand of the wheel or a full on  lift your hand completely off the wheel and wave?) are brought to life which made me sigh a knowing sigh and shake my head.  If you are looking for a quick and funny read, and small towns don't leave a very bitter taste in your mouth, definitely take a look at Letters from Wheatfield.  If you do have distaste for that small town you grew up in, maybe read this book when you are at a standstill for 2 hours in rush hour gridlock, it might at least make you fondly remember small town traffic :) 3, Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Letters from Wheatfield was a movie, it would likely be rated PG

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Letters from Wheatfield, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Trouble in Paradise

Jennifer Greene

 From blind date...
He's divorced, eleven years older and the father of three. Not exactly every girl's Ideal Man. But as soon as reserved bookstore owner Susan meets charismatic Griff Anderson, she's smitten—and just three passion-filled months later, she's his wife.

To instant family...
Their idyllic honeymoon spent restoring a majestic Victorian is cut short when the newlyweds happily—but unexpectedly—find themselves with full custody of his children. Now, instead of enjoying passionate nights and lazy mornings-after with Griff, Susan finds herself thrust into the role of Mom to Tom, Barbara and Tiger. And quarreling with her husband over how to handle the drama that comes with a house full of tweens and teens.
When pet problems, party crashers and pregnancy scares threaten their happiness, Susan can't help but wonder what Griff really wanted: a wife, or a mother for his children?

My Take:

I love when a book focuses on what happens after the "and they all lived happily ever after" line.  Refreshingly, Trouble in Paradise glossed over the initial romance in a few flash backs and instead focused on the very real trials of a not wicked step mother trying to carve out a place in her new family.  It was nice to see the two main characters sort of refalling in love after the very short honeymoon ended and they had to scrape a family together.  While I did enjoy this book, I would not say say that it was something to write home about.  The story was  good (though predictable) the characters were good and the writing was good, but none of these elements were really special or very memorable.  When I was done I said to myself, well that was nice, now what should I read next?  I thought the characters of the book were well fleshed out, not caricatures, as often portrayed in romances.  I especially enjoyed the main character, Susan.  It was fun to see marriage really bring her out of her shell, which is something that I personally related to very much.  Griff was an okay character but again, nothing really special.  If you are looking for a quick read with an endearing and realistic romance, definitely give this book a look.  With all of this in mind, I rate Trouble in Paradise a 3, Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Trouble in Paradise was a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13 for sexual content and mild language

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Trouble in Paradise, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Butterfly Swords

Jeannie Lin

During China's infamous Tang Dynasty, a time awash with luxury yet littered with deadly intrigues and fallen royalty, betrayed Princess Ai Li flees before her wedding.

Miles from home, with only her delicate butterfly swords for defense, she enlists the reluctant protection of a blue-eyed warrior….

Battle-scarred, embittered Ryam has always held his own life at cheap value. Ai Li's innocent trust in him and honorable, stubborn nature make him desperate to protect her—which means not seducing the first woman he has ever truly wanted….

My Take:

If you are even remotely familiar with my blog, you probably already know that romances are my guilty pleasure.  Is the setting an English Castle?  Is the castle home to a Duke (feel free to sub in Prince, Baron, whatever...any ol' nobleman will do) who swore he'd never fall in love for whatever reason?  Is the heroine a sassy and remarkably beautiful girl who is the only person who can call said Duke out on his crap?  Do all events miraculously lead up to wedded bliss no matter how unlikely the circumstances?  If the answer is yes to any of these questions, I will probably love the book.  I'm a sucker for 'em, I can't help it.  I do love intellectually stimulating books, but something about these dinky romances just gets to me.  

Well, now for the book at hand--Butterfly Swords.  There were quite a few changes made to the romance formula which made me love the book.  First off, the girl is a Chinese Princess quite proficient in ripping a man to shreds with her Butterfly Swords.  The man is a blond hair blued eyed former soldier, current wanderer from a vague "somewhere over there" in Europe.  This interracial couple makes for an especially interesting story when you add in the fact that the story happened about a thousand years ago and the girl is engaged to the second most powerful man in the empire.  They are then, of course, put in life or death situations where they can barely fight their attraction to one another--chaos ensues.  If you are a romance lover, you'll really enjoy this book.  The heroine is strong, the setting is gorgeous, the pacing is pretty good and the ending is surprising (not shocking by any means, but not what I expected)  I loved the fact that the book was set in China, as much as I love my English Dukes, it was nice to escape the stuffy castles into the refreshing Chinese countryside. I had a hard time rating this book, as I enjoyed everything about it.  However, the one missing factor is resonance.  After I finished the book, I was ready to move on to the next book without so much as a backward glance.  For a book to be rated in those upper ratings, I've got to be up all night thinking about the characters.  With this in mind, I think I'll give Butterfly Swords a solid 3, Find a Used Book Store. 

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you,, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Butterfly Swords was a movie, it would likely be rated a strong PG-13 for brief but strong sexuality and some violence

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Butterfly Swords, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you! 

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Always the Baker Never the Bride

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Sandra D. Bricker

When diabetic Emma Rae Travis wins the prestigious Passionate Palate Award for her innovative crème brûlée wedding cake, she is thrilled to be offered the position of pastry chef by the new proprietors of the Tanglewood Inn, an Atlanta institution being renovated into a five-star wedding-destination hotel. She is also attracted to its CEO. But Jackson Drake is still mourning his beloved wife’s untimely passing and is unable to reconcile his burgeoning feelings for Emma Rae with his loyalty to Desirée’s memory. Although both consider themselves blessed with supportive family and friends, Emma Rae and Jackson would rather be spared the well-meaning efforts at convincing them to return to their childhood faith. And when Emma Rae’s unappreciative former boss and her ex-boyfriend—the cad and his fiancée are about to become the Tanglewood’s first wedding clients—both suddenly want her back, Bricker’s contemporary inspirational romance really heats up! Topical recipes, menus, and how-to tips entice the reader with an insider’s perspective on the lucrative business surrounding all things bridal.

My Take:

Sometimes I am in the mood for a dinky little romance to escape into, and Always the Baker Never the Bride fit the bill. Was the book extraordinary?  Not really, but it was a sweet little page turner that got me through a stressful couple of days.  The characters were typical, but sweet and endearing.  I enjoyed the male love interest, because I am a sucker for widowers that have a hard time letting their wives go.  I always find them tragic and so dang lovable!  I think one of my favorite aspects of the book was that it appealed to the foodie in me.  The main character's love of baking really shined through the pages, and a time or two my stomach started growling for want of the food I found described within the pages.  This leads me to distribute a warning to the reader:  DO NOT READ WHILE HUNGRY!  This book will give you a sweet tooth, so beware :)  There are quite a few yummy recipes littered throughout the book, and I actually tried a few to find they were  quite scrumptious.  If you a hopeless romantic foodie, you will definitely enjoy this book, but it won't necessarily change your life.  With this in mind, I'm going to rate this book a 3, Find a Used Book Store.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Always the Baker, Never the Bride was a movie, it would likely be rated PG

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own.  Also, post  sponsorships have no bearing on the content of the posts they sponsor***

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Sugar Tower

Jessica Dee Rohm

Set in today's Manhattan, Sugar Tower is a sharp and funny tale of a woman forced to reinvent herself as the platforms she built her life upon are dissolving beneath her feet. With uncanny perceptiveness, this novel delves into societal shifts that impact us all - the real estate bubble, the decline of feminism, the obsolescence of print journalism - in the context of a murder mystery that titillates and dazzles from beginning to end. 

My Take:  

First off, my compliments to the author.  I generally find just about anything to do with real estate akin to a sleeping pill.  I understand it is important to have a basic knowledge of how it all works, which I do, but I find it all to be a fast track ticket to snoozeville.  I did however keep my mind open to the possibility of enjoying this book, and I'm glad I was open to it, because I found it very interesting indeed.  I actually learned a lot about the business, but it was intermingled so well with the intriguing storyline and characters that I found myself excitedly moving from one page to another.  One thing I was bummed about was that I pegged the killer, motive and method basically right away.  I think that is due to the fact that I have a million cops in my family and I have watched (WAAAAAAY too many) hours of CSI (Vegas only, I'm a native Las Vegan so I'm a purist that way), Law and Order SVU, Castle, Bones, Mentalist, you name it.  I have a freaky talent for picking the bad guy the second he or she is introduced before they even say a word.  Though I had it pegged right away, I still enjoyed seeing it all unfold.  I really enjoyed the characters in this book, except I don't think I loved the protagonist as much as I was supposed to, but oh well, to each his own, right?  Overall I thought this book was a fascinating real estate/murder mystery hybrid and I will absolutely be reading more by this author.  The writing style was smart and funny pulling together an extremely entertaining read.  For me personally, it isn't a keep on your bookshelf forever type of book, but still pretty dang good and rate it a 3 Find a Used Book Store.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Sugar Tower was a movie, it would be rated R for sporadic but strong language

 

***FTC Disclosure: This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Sugar Tower, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

If you enjoyed this review, feel free to leave The Book Buff a tip in "Kate's Tip Jar" located on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect any of my reviews, thanks a ton!

The Missionary

William Carmichael and David Lambert

Yesterday he was an American missionary serving the poor.  Today he's an international fugitive.

David Eller and his wife, Christie, work to help rescue impoverished children in Caracas, Venezuela.  But for David, that isn't enough.  The supply of homeless children is endless because of massive poverty and the oppressive policies of the Venezuelan government.

When he is given an opportunity to do something more--to heal the disease rather than working on the symptoms--David decides to go for it.  But little by little, he falls into an unimaginable nightmare of espionage, ending in a desperate, life-or-death gamble to flee the country with his wife and son.

My Take:

Imagine if Tom Clancy was assigned the task of writing an ad for the Feed the Children network.  This book, The Missionary, would be the result.  It's an exciting political thriller with a bit of a Christian twist and a hefty dose of guilt that you are sitting in your comfortable air conditioned living room reading about people who gave up their careers and lives to help starving children in Venezuela, instead of helping the kids yourself (though the book isn't preachy, so don't let that deter you)  I really enjoyed the twists and turns as you accompany everyman David Heller as he attempts to negotiate his way around a South American coup.  He is easy to identify with as he quite clumsily tries to do the right thing and gets in way over his head.  The action is fast paced, but not dizzyingly so, and the writing is concise and engaging.  Was The Missionary the most fantastic thriller I ever read?  Nah, but it was a solidly written book, very entertaining and all in all a pretty great way to spend my free time.  3, Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If The Missionary was a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13 for some violence

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Missionary, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

If you enjoyed this review, feel free to leave The Book Buff a tip in "Kate's Tip Jar" located on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect any of my reviews, thanks a ton!

The Spurned Viscountess

Shelley Munro

Cursed with the sight and rumors of witchcraft, Rosalind's only chance at an ordinary life is marriage to Lucien, Viscount Hastings. She doesn't expect love, only security and children of her own. Determined to go through with the wedding, she allows nothing she encounters at the gloomy Castle St. Clare to dissuade her.

Recently returned from the Continent, Lucien has no time for the English mouse his family has arranged for him to marry—not when he's plotting to avenge the murder of his beloved Francesca. He has no intention of bedding Rosalind, not even to sire an heir.

 Though spurned by her bridegroom, Rosalind turns to him for protection when she is plagued by a series of mysterious accidents and haunted by terrifying visions. Forced to keep Rosalind close—and tempted into passionate kisses—Lucien soon finds himself in grave danger of falling in love with his own wife . . .

My Take:

I read this book right smack dab in the middle of two very heavy and depressing books that I didn't really love, so The Spurned Viscountess was a very welcome relief.  Sometimes, do you just want to read a fun romance that may not be the most prolific book you ever read, but just gives you a break from your stressful life?  This is just the book.  The was some mystery and murder, but not emotionally heart wrenching.  The mystery element was more cozy mystery that heart pumping thriller, which was good, since the book was mostly about the romance, you didn't want the mystery to drown it out.  I loved the overall creepy atmosphere of the castle in the book, with the secret passageways and spy holes everywhere.  This set a nice contrast for the sweet and innocent main character to fall in love with her gruff widower of a husband.  I really liked the love interest, Lucien, I totally dig that gruff and manly vibe.  Imagine, if Mr Darcy from (my favorite book ever) Pride and Prejudice had a big huge imposing scar down the front of his face and was bitter because his beloved Elizabeth Bennett had been murdered and died in his arms, this will give you a hint as to Lucien's personality.  I love Mr Darcy, so if a love interest is mentioned to be tall dark and handsome, I always find some way to relate him to my beloved Mr D, which I admit, I have up waaaay too high on a pedestal.  Anyway, if you are in the mood for a fun romance, this is a great one.  Is this book going to be the greatest romance you ever read?  Nope.  But it has all the earmarks of a fun story, well paced plot, good characters and an exciting ending. 3 Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If The Spurned Viscountess were a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13 for sexual content and a little violence

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Spurned Viscountess, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

If you enjoyed the review, feel free to leave a "tip" in  Kate's Tip Jar found on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect my reviews, thanks!

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The Lipstick Laws

Amy Holder

At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life as easily as snapping her perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her.

For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. With zero friends and nothing close to a boyfriend, April is so unpopular, kids don't know she exists. That is, until Britney notices her. One lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity.

But Britney's friendship comes with a price tag.

How much is April willing to pay?

My Take: 

Have you ever seen (one of my favorite movies) Mean Girls?  You know, before Lindsay Lohan was a total wreck?  Or maybe you've read the book the movie was based on, Queen Bees and Wannabes?  Well, if you are familiar with that plot line, you will also be familiar with The Lipstick Laws:  Popular girls with arbitrary yet strict rules take the new girl  under their wing and slowly get her to move away from her true friend.  True friend of new girl is the bitter ex-best friend of the Queen Bee and reasons for the fallout are mysterious.  New girl becomes just as bad as the popular girls, humiliation and boyfriend stealing ensues.  The Lipstick Laws is a much tamer  version, which is neither good nor bad, but the book was good in its own right regardless of the fact that the storyline has been done to death.  I thought the book was actually cute and enjoyable.  As with most books written for this age group, the main character learns the classic lessons: popularity isn't everything, finding true friendship, treat others as you would have them treat you, etc.  I enjoyed the main character and her self proclaimed "addiction" to stuffing her bra, which is fodder for most of the comedy in the book.  This book was fun, but I couldn't help comparing it to other versions with more accurate and biting commentary and insight into the jungle that is high school.  This is definitely a book a young teen would enjoy, but as they get older, they would probably not want to read it again because it has a lot of fluff and not enough substance.  Though it may not be a book you'd want to read over and over, it is a sweet feel good story and it is absolutely entertaining and worth that initial read.  3, Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If The Lipstick Laws was a movie, it would likely be rated PG for some adult references

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Lipstick Laws, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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The Affluenza Antidote

James V. D'Amico 

Can affluent parents resist the pressures to make their children's lives too easy -- thereby ruining their work ethic? This book says "yes" -- but it's not easy. Read about a few wealthy families who are bucking the tide to raise the kind of purposeful young citizens our society so desperately needs. Learn what psychologists, educators, researchers and wealth counselors say about the traditional practices and values that help bolster a family's immunity to our society's destructive obsessions. The Affluenza Antidote is intended to stimulate awareness of the damaging effects of too much money and too little tough love, and to encourage younger parents to help restore the values that made previous generations great. A portion of proceeds from the sales of this book will benefit not-for-profit organizations that support families and children.

My Take:

I can only wish that my current financial situation made this book 100% applicable to my life in the here and now, but alas, I'm broke, so I don't need this book--yet.  But I'm hopeful :)  Anyway, I really enjoyed reading through this book, because, all joking aside, I think this book actually can be used for any parent wanting their child to grow up unspoiled and instilled with strong values.  So many teenagers, both wealthy and not, have a complete sense of entitlement, and this book can give you tools to knock sense into them!  The author draws insight from many experts on the subject, and puts all the info together into a compact and straightforward book.  The author discusses the importance of simple family rituals and setting an example, as well as the hows and whys of creating a strong work ethic within your child.  That is really, I think, the biggest message in the book.  Teach your kids to work, even if they will get a huge inheritance, even if they won't, they're lives will absolutely not be fulfilling if they don't learn to work.  My final word on this book is the honesty in which it discusses the reality in which you find yourself.  This book isn't saying that if you read it and follow it, your kids will be perfect.  There is a section toward the back called "No Magic Bullets".  It talks about how there is no foolproof recipe for success, external influences, societal pressures, tragedy, trauma, DNA and birth order all have influence in each child's life, there is no escaping it.  The Affluenza Antidote is merely trying to provide the reader with as much info on the topic as possible so that you as a parent glean from it what you will and do your best.  I really enjoyed this honest and straightforward book,  3 Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review, do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

The Affluenza Antidote is rated G, appropriate for all audiences 

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own*** 

If you are interested in purchasing The Affluenza Antidote, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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Valeria's Cross

Kathi Macias & Susan Wales

In the 3rd century, pampered Roman princess Valeria falls in love with Mauritius, captain of the Theban Legion. She sends him off to battle, where he suffers under the schemes of a notorious pagan general with an ambition for power and a lust for Valeria. In a scene based on true events, the evil Galerius kills Mauritius and his entire legion for their Christian faith. And in a shocking turn of events, the grieving Valeria is forced to become Galerius’ wife against her will. Never has a marriage been set up for such failure. Valeria loathes her new husband, but he seems to undergo a change of heart, adopting a child for her and giving her power and authority, and even love. She struggles with the commitment she knows she must keep, and the love she knows she will never find again.

My Take:

This is a tough book to talk about.  I was so completed riveted throughout the book, but I was also completely depressed.  In a book that is almost nothing but sad events, I always like the sadness to be broken up a little bit here and there with something.  That something can be romance (there was some but it was all at the beginning), humor, whatever, but Valeria's Cross didn't let up, there was practically no time to catch a breath.  It was depressing from almost the beginning and didn't get much happier.  So many people died, and I just wasn't ready for all of that.  I didn't know that the book was based on actual events, and had I known ahead of time the events of the story, it might have taken the sting out.  Usually knowing what's going to happen will ruin a story, but with this one, I would have liked to know.  The end felt like a gut punch to me, and not a cool surprise twist kind of way, but in a truly sad I wanna cry my eyes out kind of way.  Now all that being said, this book is good!  That's why I feel so torn, I found it so depressing, but the events and characters so riveting.  I'm still thinking about the book a ton, and I finished it over a week ago.  I have read 3 or 4 books since, but my thoughts continue to stray to Valeria.  The struggles she went through, and the brave woman she became have just stuck with me.  I loved Valeria's strong mother, Prisca, and I even found a soft spot for her sometimes evil, sometimes loving husband Galerius.  This book is a doozy, and I highly recommend it if you aren't afraid of a very heavy historical story. 3, Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Valeria's Cross were a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13 for some violence and adult situations

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Valeria's Cross, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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