Once Upon a Scandal

Delilah Marvelle

Lady Victoria Jane Emerson left behind her girlish notions of romance when Jonathan deserted her without a backward glance. Now the time has come when she must finally choose a husband, and she has vowed to marry someone who will never break her heart.

Jonathan Pierce Thatcher, Viscount Remington, has returned home, free of all his family's debts. Only to discover that by some miracle he has been chosen to vie for the hand of his beloved Victoria. To convince his only love to once again believe in the magic of love and the promise of desire will be his greatest challenge yet. And one he cannot fail!

My Take:

Do you ever read a romance novel, but the romance moves so quickly, you don't know where the story can go for the rest of the book?  That thought ran across my mind several times in this book, and the author kept taking it in a random direction I wasn't expecting, so kudos to her for that.  The book itself was not too bad, but it felt a little disjointed at times and I didn't love all of the characters.  I enjoyed the love interest, Remington.  He was flawed but wonderful and stubborn and romantic.  Victoria on the other hand was a big ol' pain in the butt and I didn't really get why Remington was hopelessly in love with her.  Several times I just wanted to smack her and tell her to get over herself and chill out.  She was super cold and unfeeling, but of course her handsome love warmed her up by the end, it is a cheesy historical romance after all.  Like I said before, the book took some unexpected twists, which was good, but some of them I think felt a bit out of place.  The villain of the book was referenced throughout, but not an actual character or threat until the very end, and his storyline ended quickly and easily.  Once Upon a Scandal was a quick and easy read you'll enjoy well enough, but you won't remember it very far into the future. With all this in mind I rate it a 4, Borrow from a Friend.

Tell me what you think!  Have you read this book?  Did you enjoy it?  Did it feel disjointed at all to you, or was that all me?  Hit the comments!

If Once Upon a Scandal was a movie it would likely be rated R for brief but strong language and sexual content.

***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 Once Upon a Scandal, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon links, thank you!

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Stone Kissed

Keri Stevens

When Delia Forrest talks to statues, they talk back. She is, after all, the last of the Steward witches.

After an arsonist torches her ancestral home with her estranged father still inside, Delia is forced to sell the estate to pay his medical bills. Her childhood crush, Grant Wolverton, makes a handsome offer for Steward House, vowing to return it to its former glory. Delia agrees, as long as he'll allow her to oversee the restoration.
Working so closely with Grant, Delia finds it difficult to hide her unique talent—especially when their growing passion fuels her abilities.

But someone else lusts after both her man and the raw power contained in the Steward land. Soon Delia finds herself fighting not just for Grant's love, but for both their lives...

My Take:

This was a weird one for me to rate.  I absolutely loved the main character's totally random ability to communicate with statues, but there were many, less wow-y aspects of the book to consider.  I'll get what I didn't love over with in the beginning, then we'll end on a positive note:)  The antagonist of the book wasn't all that great.  I mean, she was some weirdo succubus chick who totally creeped me out, but she wasn't really all that much of a threat to the main character, and after all, isn't that the point of an antagonist?  It almost felt like she belonged in a different book altogether.  Now, the other thing I didn't love: Grant, the love interest.  The reason I don't care for him isn't so much the fact that he's a bit of a d-bag, because let's face it, romance novel love interests are full of 'em, but more the fact that he was dumb enough to agree to marry a girl he thought to be a full on lunatic/liar.  Now of course, we omniscient readers know she isn't but he doesn't!  Why on earth would you want to saddle yourself to a lifetime of that???  If you really believe a girl to be a lunatic/liar, you really want to raising your children, etc?  Didn't make sense to me, but whatever, I was still glad they got together in the end.  Now to the good stuff.  I absolutely loved Delia's interaction with the statues all around her.  They all had fun and interesting personalities and I felt that Delia was a great character.  If you like either paranormal or romance, check this one out.  It is just one of those fun dinky romances I love so much, but since it isn't the sort of thing that you will want to read over and over, I rate it a 4, Borrow from a Friend.

Tell me what you think!  Have you read this book?  What did you think of the antagonist?  What did you think of Grant?  What do you think about the fact that the main character can talk to statues?  Do you find that interesting or not?  Hit the comments!

If Stone Kissed was a movie it would likely be rated R for violence and sexual content

***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***

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The Mysterious Lady Law

Robert Appleton

In a time of grand airships and steam-powered cars, the death of a penniless young maid will hardly make the front page. But part-time airship waitress and music hall dancer Julia Bairstow is shattered by her sister's murder. When Lady Law, the most notorious private detective in Britain, offers to investigate the case pro bono, Julia jumps at the chance—even against the advice of Constable Al Grant, who takes her protection surprisingly to heart.

Lady Law puts Scotland Yard to shame. She's apprehended Jack the Ripper and solved countless other cold-case crimes. No one knows how she does it, but it's brought her fortune, renown and even a title. But is she really what she claims to be—a genius at deducing? Or is Al right and she is not be trusted? 

Julia is determined to find out the truth, even if it means turning sleuth herself—and turning the tables on Lady Law...

My Take:

"Eh." "S'Okay."  Such were my considerably underwhelmed reactions at the conclusion of this little steam punk novella. Parts of the book I thought were totally random and downright weird (and not in a fun way, but in a huh? way) and the ending was just so so.  But there were aspects I really enjoyed.  I thought the main character (not the titular character Lady Law, she, I didn't care for) Julia, was interesting and her love interest, while nothing to write home about, was engaging.  The whodunit mystery at the center of the book was not all that mysterious, but the means by which  Lady Law solves mysterious (and whether or not she is a good guy) proves to be the far more interesting question.  Now, while I didn't find the novella to be all that gratifying overall, to be fair, I must say that I didn't expect the twist at the end and overall the story was quite a page turner (or clicker, since I read it on my Kindle:)  It is a fun and quick read, if you like steam punk, or light mysteries, you will probably enjoy this book, I'm just saying don't expect it to rock your world. 4, Borrow from a friend

I'd love to hear your opinion!  Have you read this book?  If so, what did you think of it?  Do you enjoy the steam punk genre?  What do you think the twist ending is (if you've read the book don't spoil it!)?  Hit the comments!

If The Mysterious Lady Law was a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13 for some violence and brief strong sexual content 

***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 The Mysterious Lady Law, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Probability Angels

Joseph Devon

Matthew Huntington's problems seem to keep growing.  Not only is he seeing things in garbage cans but his mentor doesn't think he's working up to his full potential, his best friend can't offer any solace but drunken confusion and his wife is dying in Central Park.  Of course, the fact that Matthew himself died over two decades ago isn't helping things.

Join Matthew as he steps into a new world with a little help from a two-thousand year old Roman Slave and discover how the summit of Mount Everest, a Japanese ronin and the far side of Mercury all fit together.

My Take:

Well, I didn't think it possible for a book to be both tedious and interesting at the same time, but Probability Angels sure was.  I was extremely intrigued at the start of the book, but had a hard time moving through the pages.  Unfortunately while the book started out equal parts tedium and entertainment, as it went on the balance began to shift.  I found myself getting very restless and speed reading just to get through it.  I just don't think a book can survive solely on a fascinating concept, the reading experience, "the journey", if you'll indulge me one cheesy/cliche metaphor, must be an enjoyable one.   I was entertained at beginning and end, not from beginning to end.  Another aspect that didn't work for me (and I stress for me, because this is a very distinct style of writing many people love, but I personally just don't care for) is the vagueness.  I really don't like those fuzzy ambiguous scene changes.  Angels fading from this location to that without any notice or explanation drives me nuts!  This is something I am finding bothers me with a lot of book s that deal with the hereafter and angels and such, things just aren't clear and my OCD brain is bothered by that.  Don't get me wrong, I don't always want an author to hit me over the head with obvious descriptions and dumbed down writing, I just like to know what it going on scene wise.  Now to end this on a positive note, I enjoyed the fact that this book made me think, it wasn't a book you read to fall asleep at night, but instead stimulates and encourages deeper thinking.  Probability Angels is definitely what self publishing is meant for, to get a book out there that is solidly written, but very different, and mainstream readers might not get it or like it.  So while I did get it, but did not necessarily like it, I am excited to get the word out on this book for other independent thinkers to enjoy!    4, Borrow from a Friend

Tell me your opinion! Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  What impression do you get from the cover of this book and the description?  Do you think you'd enjoy this book?  What is your take on the writing style I talked about? Hit the comments!

If Probability Angels was a movie it would likely be rated R for strong language

***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 Probability Angels, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon links, thank you!

       Paperback                                Kindle
 

The Vespertine

Saundra Mitchell

The summer of 1889 is the one between childhood and womanhood for Amelia van den Broek-and thankfully, she’s not spending it at home in rural Maine. She’s been sent to Baltimore to stay with her stylish cousin, Zora, who will show her all the pleasures of city life and help her find a suitable man to marry.

Archery in the park, dazzling balls and hints of forbidden romance-Victorian Baltimore is more exciting than Amelia imagined. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset-visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. Newly dubbed “Maine’s Own Mystic”, Amelia is suddenly quite in demand.

However, her attraction to Nathaniel, an artist who is decidedly outside of Zora’s circle, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own- still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him. And while she has no trouble seeing the futures of others, she cannot predict whether Nathaniel will remain in hers.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

My Take:

I was really excited to read this "Victorian Gothic" novel, but found myself disappointed upon completion of something quite silly and, to me, unappealing.  The story had some great elements I find interesting: historical setting, romance, creepy undertones and a bit of paranormal mixed in.  However, put together in this particular combo didn't float my boat.  Half the book felt like a regular historical fiction, then all of a sudden it got very paranormal and creepy culminating in the absolutely silly ending.  Just because a book is paranormal or fantasy doesn't mean you can suspend reality completely.  The characters' emotions and reactions should be anchored in realism and logic, but alas, it was not to be.  I hate to use this word, because I think it is pretentiously overused in the world of critique, but in this case, I think it is warranted.  The word is: contrived.  The plot didn't feel like an authentic turn of events and I found myself giggling (not a good giggle) as I finished it. The writing in general however was not without merit.  I think the author is a good writer, but maybe not so strong at the story spinning aspect of writing a book.  With a better plot, I believe the author would put out a good book.  While it wasn't the worst book I've ever read, I also wasn't able to get into it  and therefore must assign it a rating of  4, Borrow from a Friend. But hey, just because the book didn't work for me doesn't mean you can't enjoy it, if it looks interesting to you, check it out!

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 Vespertine was a movie it would likely be rated PG for some violence disturbing imagery.

***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 Vespertine, 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 Only Thing I See

Jessica Barksdale Inclan

Annabelle Cousins loves being a wedding photographer. But around the time of her own engagement, she starts to see the future of the couples through the lens. With the help from her Tarot card reading mother and her best friend, she seeks out the truth behind what she sees. After meeting the couple Robert and Nadine she discovers that the life she has might not be the one she wants after all

My Take:

It seems that every romance reader is looking for something different.  Some are looking for trashy drama and cliched story lines involving a highlander or a duke or some sort of tamed rogue.  Some are looking for stories about jilted women trying to find themselves whilst traipsing from one exotic location to another eating everything in sight.  Some are looking to read about a woman who has been torn apart by tragedy in some form or another and finds her solace in accepting God's hand in her life and finding true love.  Sometimes, a person is just looking to read a mellow little story about a heartbroken woman (but not earth shatteringly so) realistically trying to find her way through the dating world. No humongous drama, just a sweet and engaging story.  I personally love all of the above, but the book at hand, The Only Thing I See, happens to be the last option.  It isn't going to change your life, it isn't all that dramatic and it is predictable (what romance isn't) but it is a page turner none the less.  Yes, the book coulda done with a smidge more oomph in my opinion, but it is one I'd recommend to readers who like a sweet mellow read.  The writing in The Only Thing I See is solid, the pacing is great and the added element of possible paranormal was cool.  It didn't seem to me if the question of whether the main character actually had visions, or if she was just projecting was ever fully answered, but that wasn't the point.  I think you were supposed to make up your own mind.  I enjoyed this book, but I can't say it rocked my world.  It is definitely worth a read though!  4, Borrow from a Friend

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 Only Thing I See was a movie it would likely be rated PG-13 for sexual references throughout 

***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 The Only Thing I See, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Don't Die, Dragonfly

Linda Joy Singleton

After getting kicked out of school and sent to live with her grandmother, Sabine Rose is determined to become a "normal" teenage girl. She hides her psychic powers from everyone, even from her grandmother Nona, who also has "the gift." Having a job at the school newspaper and friends like Penny-Love, a popular cheerleader, have helped Sabine fit in at her new school. She has even managed to catch the eye of the adorable Josh DeMarco. Yet, Sabine can't seem to get the bossy voice of Opal, her spirit guide, out of her head . . . or the disturbing images of a girl with a dragonfly tattoo. Suspected of a crime she didn't commit, Sabine must find the strength to defend herself and, later, save a friend from certain danger.

My Take:  

Describe this book in one word, you ask?  Lackluster.  Nothing particularly special or memorable about this book, but nothing absolutely horrible either.  Pretty much all the characters were flat, except for one, Dominic, a boy the main character is none too fond of.  I found him interesting, but his character was completely unexplored.  I was really annoyed with all the typos (this was not an ARC, when I get an advanced copy I don't mention typos, but this was a final version on Amazon) and overall I just couldn't get into the book.  The book had a ton of questions and potentially interesting plot lines to follow, but the conclusion of the book was abrupt and only gave closure to what seemed to me to be the most boring subplot.  There were about half a billion questions left unanswered at the end of the book.  There is a very fine line an author must tread to achieve the perfect balance of answered/unanswered questions at the end of the first book in a series.  You have to give the reader a little so they feel fulfilled but leave them wanting more.  This book left me unfulfilled and not interested in reading the other books, just annoyed.  Because I hate being a negative Debbie Downer, I will say that the book had some interesting ideas, the cover is great (I'm a sucker for purple) and the pacing wasn't bad but overall I've got to give it a rating of 4 Borrow from a Friend

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 Don't Die, Dragonfly was a movie, it would likely be rated PG for some mild language and some violence

If you are interested in purchasing Don't Die, Dragonfly, 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 Cutting Edge

Darcia Helle

My name is Skye Summers. I'm a hairstylist and I can't stop fantasizing about killing my clients. Not all of them, of course. I only want to kill the ones who irritate me, which, if I'm being honest, is most of them. My occasional fantasies have turned into chronic daydreams. They're bloody and vivid, like watching a slice-and-dice movie on IMAX. I also want to kill my husband's ex-girlfriend. She's not a client but she tops my list. Eighteen years ago, she gave birth to his daughter and she has tormented him ever since. I should be troubled by this growing desire to use my surgically sharpened shears for more than a haircut. Instead, I wonder how I can get away with it.

My Take:

This book took a while for me to get into.  At first, all it really seemed like was a hair dresser whining and whining and whining about how much she hates whiners!  After a while, you get used to her complaining and the mystery aspect of the book picks up and the whole thing becomes quite engrossing.  Speaking of engrossing, more specifically the "gross" in engrossing, the serial killer in this book really grossed me out.  It honestly wasn't too gory, but icky.  I don't really have an iron stomach for violence and overall yucky stuff in books.  In real life I can handle anything, I went to school to be a EMT, and I've seen a lot of sickening stuff, which doesn't bother me, but put it in a book or  movie and I don't do so well.  Anyway, back to the book at hand, it rotates between two perspectives:  that of a hairdresser who hates her clients, fantasises about killing them (which leads her to wonder if she needs help) and the perspective of an actual serial killer who latches onto said hairdresser.  The final confrontation was more tame than I was expecting (thankfully) and though I wasn't sure throughout, by the end I felt I enjoyed the book, but my enjoyment was underwhelming.  From the description, I was hoping the book would have a bit more bite and substance than it did.  I felt like half the book could have been cut out and I wouldn't have missed much. Overall the book was not bad, not great.  With this in mind, I rate it a 4, Borrow from a Friend

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 Cutting Edge was a movie, it would likely be rated R for some violence, sexuality and frightening adult situations

***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 Cutting Edge, 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 Space Between Trees

Katie Williams

This story was supposed to be about Evie how she hasn't made a friend in years, how she tends to stretch the truth (especially about her so-called relationship with college drop-out Jonah Luks), and how she finally comes into her own once she learns to just be herself but it isn't. Because when her classmate Elizabeth "Zabet" McCabe's murdered body is found in the woods, everything changes and Evie's life is never the same again. 

 

My Take: 

I don't know if I am every going to stop judging a book by its cover!!!  Maybe because I am such a visual person, I can't help it.  I had such high hopes for this book because it had such a cool cover, and the book started out so strong, but fizzled so quickly.  At first, the main character, Evie, is strange and some of the things she does and says are cringe worthy, but she is earnest and I liked her despite her oddities.  Her character evolution was not one I enjoyed.  After she is traumatized by her presence when a classmate's murdered body is discovered, she embarks on a series of creepy relationships.  The first being with the dad of the dead girl, I'm not a big fan of this, even though it was portrayed as totally okay for a teenage girl to be having dinner alone at an adult man's house, who for all anyone knew could have been his daughter's killer, I didn't think it was okay!  The next creepy relationship was with the self destructive best friend of the murdered girl.  After Evie forms these friendships, not a lot happens, for a loooooong time.  I found myself skipping pages, but it didn't really improve.  The killer was revealed and it was very anticlimactic.  For all the things I did not like about this book however, I must say that the writing was very good, and I will probably check this author out again, but this book was not doing it for me.  It was super creepy and not in a way I enjoyed and the language was completely inappropriate for the intended audience (14 and up), which irked me a lot.  I think I'm going to have to give this book a rating of 4, Borrow from a Friend

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 Space Between Trees was a movie, it would likely be rated R for strong language, specifically, at least 9 F words, and copious use of strong language in general, drug references, adult situations and 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 Space Between Trees, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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Burned

P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Things have turned black at the House of Night.  Zoey Redbird's soul has shattered.  With everything she's ever stood for falling apart, and a broken heart making her want to stay in the Otherworld forever, Zoey's fading fast.  It's seemingly more and more doubtful that she will be able to pull herself back together in time to rejoin her friends and set the world to rights.  As the only living person who can reach her, Stark must find a way to get to her.  But how?  He will have to die to do so, the Vampyre High Council stipulates.  And then Zoey will give up for sure.  There are only seven days left.

Enter BFF Stevie Rae.  She wants to help Z, but she has massive problems of her own.  The rogue Red Fledglings are acting up, and this time not even Stevie Rae can protect them from the consequences.  Her kinda boyfriend Dallas, is sweet but too nosey for his own good.  The truth is, Stevie Rae's hiding a secret that might be the key to getting Zoey home--but it also threatens to explode her own world.

In the middle of the whole mess is Aphrodite: ex-Fledgling, trust-fund baby, total hag (and proud of it).  She's always been blessed (if you could call it that) with visions that can reveal the future, but now it seems that Nyx has decided to speak through her with the goddess's own voice. whether Aphrodite wants it or not.  Aphrodite's loyalty can swing a lot of different ways, but right now Zoey's fate hangs in the balance.

Three girls...playing with fire...if they don't watch out, everyone will get Burned.

My Take:

First off, a warning:  I've never really been a huge fan of this series, so if you are, remember to take my review with a grain of salt.  Now, on to the review.  Do you remember how in elementary school, swearing was very taboo, and if some kid did utter a swear word, a whole chorus of "oooooohs" and "ummmmms" and "I'm gunna tell teacher!" would erupt?  Then you go into middle school and the kids start realizing their parents don't know about their language at school, so all of a sudden all the kids are trying out curse words at every possible turn?  This is what Burned felt like to me, the characters were immature and the language sounded like a kid trying to sound cool.  The book really felt like it was trying too hard to be edgy, but it came off very inauthentic.  I also felt like the dialogue was not all that great, and didn't sound like how teenagers talk, but more an out of the loop adult's perception of teenspeak.  I've never really cared for Zoey, the main character, I feel like she is a self absorbed girl you just can't root for, so I did like that she wasn't the focus of the book.  With the ongoing vampire saturation of pop culture right now, a series really needs to be special to stand out, and for me, I just don't think this one makes the cut.  4, Borrow from a Friend.

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 Burned were a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13, for adult content

***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 Burned, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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Guest House

Barbara K. Richardson

On a summer afternoon, Melba Burns witnesses a nightmare collision. The unknown bicyclist dies in her arms, ending Melba's desire for success at any cost. She settles into her boxy old farmhouse trying to find a simpler peace. But Melba's stunning new roommate JoLee Garry only magnetizes messes and trouble-she brings a series of unexpected guests who transform Melba's fruitful solo life into something different, darker, and better.

My Take:

I really feel like the odd man out on this one, all reviews I've come across on this book are absolutely glowing, but it just did not float my boat.  I'll be perfectly honest, my opinion may very well be tainted, because there were a few jabs at my religion that made me a little uncomfortable throughout.  While I absolutely respect the fact that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, it just left me with a bad taste in my mouth.  I feel like the author is a very talented writer.  The plot and dialogue all flowed quite well, but I didn't connect with the characters, so I was a little bummed on that front.  For example, the main character literally giving up everything in her life just because she saw a horrific accident?  Yes it is sad (I'm an EMT I've seen it all) but I just wanted to shout at her to get on with her life!  I was also constantly frustrated and furious with one of the main characters who was a horribly neglectful mom with an entitlement complex.  Again, I felt like the writing of this book was solid, and I'll probably read her stuff in the future, but as for the characters in this book, they just totally turned me off. 4, Borrow from a Friend

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 this book were a movie it would be rated R for strong language and sexual content

***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 Guest House, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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Heart's Desire

Jessica Coulter Smith

Morgan Raines transferred his senior year.  Starting over doesn't bother him.  But finding his mate pinned to her locker by her Neanderthal ex-boyfriend does...  From day one, Morgan and Skye are inseparable.  But will that change when she realizes he turns into a panther every time the moon is full?

My Take:

I know that the Twilight books are very polarizing, so I may lose some people when I say I enjoyed them.  I definitely don't think they were earth shattering like every teen girl on the planet, and I'm not in love with a Cullen (though I do love the name Jasper) but I thought they were entertaining.  I am a big believer in reading and enjoying books for what they are, and Twilight is just meant to be fun teen fluff.  I'm not going to analyze it the same way I would a classic romance such as Pride and Prejudice.  Anyway, I felt like Heart's Desire had a similar formula, but without the pizazz. Too hot to be true boy with a paranormal secret falls in love with incongruously average girl, boy and girl fall passionately in love in an oddly short amount of time, girl doesn't even blink when paranormal secret is revealed, boy is overly protective because he has a hard time harnessing his paranormal/feral instincts.  I think that if the book had been a little longer, maybe taken more time to develop the characters, it would have been immensely more enjoyable.  The conflict wasn't very exciting, and it tied itself up very neatly and quickly, maybe too quick.  I think this book shows promise, the characters had a good start and the boy's paranormal secret is definitely different than most, which is good, but truth be told, it all felt quite juvenile.  I think you can write a teen romance with authentic heart and soul, but this book missed the mark  Overall I give Heart's Desire a 4, Borrow from a Friend, if you are a fan of this genre.  If you aren't you will not like this book at all.

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 this book were a movie, it would be rated a mild PG-13 for adult situations, sexual references and some language.

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

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The Icing on the Cupcake: A Novel

Jennifer Ross

In Ansley Waller's world of Southern belles and gentlemen, getting a diamond ring isn't just important--it's the ultimate goal.  So when her fiance, Parish, unceremoniously kicks her to the curb and cancels their upcoming wedding, Ansley is so ashamed that she decided to leave Dallas and make a fresh start.  In a surprise move, she heads to New York City to live with her recently widowed grandmother, Vivian, whom she's never met.  In turn, Vivian gives Ansley a no-nonsense ultimatum:  Rather than wallow in misery, either get a job or go home.  

The Waller women have a tradition of baking their way out of sorrow. So Ansley mixes batch after batch of creative cupcakes--Black Bottom Heartache, Moving Blues Banana Caramel, Tres Leches Made Small.  Before long, she's opening up her own cupcake shop and even trying her hand at dating.  But the way of Manhattan's eligible bachelors are altogether different from their Southern counterparts, and Ansley's nearly fail-safe tactics fall flat.  And worse, someone's got a half-baked scheme to sabotage Ansley's new life.  It'll take a cup of courage and a dash of Southern charm, plus a few secret ingredients, if Ansley hopes to pull off her recipe for success.

My Take:

Nooooooo!  Why Jennifer Ross??  Why did you throw in a completely ridiculous plot twist in the end?  And worse, why did you have your characters respond implausibly cavalier about a MURDER attempt.  This book is the perfect example of how a bad ending can ruin an otherwise perfectly good book.  The beginning was fun, you didn't like the main character, but you weren't supposed to because the book was about her evolution as a person.  The book starts out with Ansley getting (rightfully) dumped for being a big ol' "B word" all the time.  I enjoyed her development through several healthy doses of much needed humility.  There are no sinister undertones whatsoever throughout the book, so when the sabotage and murder attempt go down, the reader feels broadsided and even betrayed.  The tone of the book goes from chic lit to James Patterson/Mary Higgins Clark wannabe back to chic lit in less than 50 pages at the end.  Honestly, this book was super fun to read until page 267, but I wish I hadn't read any more.  To end on a positive note however, the book is chalk full of yummy recipes and descriptions of delicious food and baked goods.  This is a great book for foodies (unless you are a foodie annoyed by pointless plot twists thrown in purely for the sake of plot twisting) and I don't recommend reading while hungry, it'll be torture :)  I wish I could rate the bulk of the book separate from the end, but I can't, and thusly, I rate The Icing on the Cupcake a 4, Borrow from a Friend.  (The recipes alone saved it from the ratings Siberia that is a 5, Don't even bother)

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

If this book were a movie it would be rated PG-13 for sexual content and very brief but very 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 The Icing on the Cupcake, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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Werelove: Dusk Conspiracy

Lakisha Spletzer

Laylah Le Croix has everything and nothing. After an attempted kidnapping, she is rescued by Donil. Angry at her life, she makes a defiant choice that plunges her into the heart of a conspiracy.

My Take:

At this particular moment, popular culture is completely awash in paranormal excitement.  Right now vampires are all the rage, but thanks to Taylor Lautner from Twilight, the werewolf is becoming the trendy mystical creature.  I enjoyed Werelove: Dusk Conspiracy because it was a fresh spin on this new werewolf craze.  Honestly, I'd say the book was definitely more futuristic sci fi than paranormal.  All in all I think this book was a worthy effort.  All aspects were pretty good.  The pacing, the characters and the plot were pretty good.  I can't really rave about the book because I wasn't sucked in wanting to devour it, and I can't bag on it either because honestly, there weren't really any specific things I disliked.  I did particularly like the main character, Laylah.  She was extraordinarily meek due to her sheltered upbringing.  I always love when the wimpy person stands up in the end and gets things done.  Laylah had some really neat character development that I really related to.  I grew up a quiet shy bookworm, but when I needed to defend someone I loved, I'd step up to the plate, as most people do.  Overall the book wasn't bad, worth a read but won't rock your world.  I'm caught between a 3 and a 4, but I think I've got to go with a 4, Borrow from a Friend.

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 this book were a movie it would likely be rated PG-13 for some language and violence

***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 this book, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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Tales from Gundarland

Hank Quense

 Gundarland is populated by humans, dwarfs, elves and other races; it's the backdrop for unique adventures, brilliant heroes and cunning villains.
There are six short stories and two novellas in here. All are new. You'll meet some of Shakespeare's most famous characters, a warrior-cook, vigilantes, a trio of beautiful, lusty princesses to mention just a few of the memorable characters in the stories.

 My Take:

Satire is a difficult genre to pull off successfully.  If it isn't done just right, it can seem forced and just doesn't feel right.  I'm not quite sure if Tales of Gundarland pulled off a seamless satire, some of the stories seemed very rushed, so you didn't always get a full image of what the author was trying to put out there.  The writing itself was mostly funny, and the characters were quite quirky, but I don't think it completely pulled of what it set out to accomplish.  This book contained a number of stories, some I enjoyed, other, not so much.  Some of the stories were not original, but retellings of famous tales.  One of the retellings was of Romeo and Juliet, and I didn't really care for it.  An author needs to be very careful when revamping a classic, especially one written by one of the greatest writers of all time.  You've got to make sure that your retelling is absolutely mind blowing, or it will fall totally flat.  I enjoyed the stories that had more original subject matter immensely as the writing was humorous and engaging and I wasn't too busy comparing it to the original (which is inevitable with a retelling).  I think my favorite part of the book was the very beginning, when the reader is introduced to Gundarland.  It started the book out on a very original foot.  4, Borrow from a Friend 

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 this book were a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13 for sexual references

***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 Tales from Gundarland, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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His Lady Mistress

Elizabeth Rolls

DOWNTRODDEN SERVANT OR GRACIOUS LADY?

When Max, Earl Blakehurst, meets Verity he sees a downtrodden servant. He doesn't recognize her as the daughter of a colonel under whom he used to serve, the girl he'd once helped years before. The life Verity is now living is unbearable. So he proposes a shocking solution--he will set her up as his mistress.

It is only once that Verity has finally agreed, once Max is beginning to lose his heart to her, that he discovers her true identity. Max is taken aback; he would never have suggested this lady become his mistress. Now, to avoid scandal, they'll have to marry!

My Take:

The romance genre is drama.  A great romance writer, such as Nora Roberts, knows just how much drama goes into making a great, artful romance.  Now, before I hear highbrow poo pooing of Nora Roberts or the romance genre in general as not being "real literature" (be sure to say "real literature" with a highborn British accent to get the full effect:), let me say that knowing just how much intrigue, miscommunication, misunderstanding, pride, missed opportunities, or any other element of drama to put into the equation takes a great amount of skill.  I would even label it as art in some cases (Pride and Prejudice for example).  ANYWAY, I'm jumping off my soapbox now, a great romance can be ruined by just too much drama.  This was the case is His Lady Mistress.  The beginning was awesome, then it started to go downhill and quick.  I'm going to describe the whole book for you, in general terms for you to get the gist of what I'm saying, without giving away any important spoilers.  It starts out as "wow, these characters are so cool and interesting!  The book is so delightfully scandalous.  Alright, now we are moving on to the drama and loss. Drama ensues...okay that was an acceptable amount of heartache, now we move into the middle of the book, the guy freaks out, then calms down, the girl freaks out then calms down, the guy freaks out then calms down, the girl freaks out and calms down, on and on and on for about 2/3 of the book, oh wait, I think they have reached the last of their last straws with each other... no wait, there's another freak out, moving on, oh wow what a cool ending!  And they all lived happily ever after."  That's it.  That's the book.  I got it for free on my Kindle so I can't complain too much.  I wouldn't say it is a waste of time, but would be a waste of money.  Therefore I rate it a 4, Borrow from a friend.

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 this book were a movie it would likely be rated PG-13 for sexual content.

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

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The Virtuous Woman

Lori Finnila

A fictional story of a sheltered young woman who strays into the unknown life of violence and lust through jealousy as a victim to find full circle the meaning of herself and her life.

My Take:

This book left me with so many mixed reactions, I just can't make up my mind about it!  First off, I appreciate the message of this book.  The author is trying to bring attention to the scary topic of domestic abuse, and this book definitely grabs your attention.  I was really torn on the writing style itself.  It was very vague and I was never 100% sure of what was going on.  There was almost no background on any of the characters, and the transitions from event to event were unclear.  I was not able to tell if the vagueness was done on purpose y the author, and this left me feeling slightly confused.  Some people really enjoy a story with a lot of ambiguity, and if that is you, go ahead and check this book out.  Also, I think the fact that I have not been a victim of domestic abuse makes the story and emotions less accessible to me.  There were a few events in the story that as a former EMT I had a hard time swallowing.  Again, I think the message of this book, and the purpose behind it are great, I'm just not sure about how much I personally liked the work.  If you have been a victim of abuse, I may suggest this book.  4, Borrow from a Friend

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 this book were a movie it would likely be rated PG-13 for violence and sexuality throughout

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

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Adult Children of Divorce: Confused Love Seekers

Geraldine K. Piorkowski

Making wise partner choices--finding and keeping romantic love--is not magic, nor is the storybook love the stuff of real life.  Romantic love is often an elusive, fragile, and tenuous state, difficult to maintain across years.  The rates of divorce, re-divorce, relationship violence, and abuse today attest to the fact that Americans are failing at romantic love.  For teenaged and adult children of divorce, romantic love is especially elusive.  Because they have no road map of a satisfying, stable romantic relationship derived from their own parents, they are confused about what love is and tend to make poor partner choices.  Borrowing heavily from popular culture for the unrealistic standards regarding love, they become disillusioned when their all-too-ordinary lovers don't measure up.  Especially vulnerable to the problems their parents had, they tend to overreact in a similarly negative fashion and are all too ready to consider divorce when unhappiness strikes.  In trying to halt intergenerational transmission of divorce, psychologist Piorkowski points out how American popular culture presents an over sexualized, explosive, and superficial version of romantic love that can't last.  With this book, adult children of divorce can begin to recognize how they have been affected by familial experiences and develop a new, realistic map to provide directions for more fulfilling and enduring romantic relationships.

**This was difficult book for me to review, as I am not an adult child of divorce, my parents have been happily married for 35 years.  In order to gain a better perspective on the book, I had a dear friend of mine, and also an adult child of divorce, write a guest review.  The review of this book will include both of our perspectives***

My Take: 

I had a tough time with this book.  The author has obviously devoted a lot of time and research on this topic, and I think some of her insights are quite valid, however, some of her core beliefs, I question.  For example I think she significantly over demonized fairy tale romance, almost as if she is saying that a romantic relationship to have any romance or magic at all is totally and completely unrealistic.  Again, I was lucky to have a great example of what marriage should be, and I think this is why my opinion on the book just doesn't cut it because I am not the intended audience whatsoever.  With this in mind, let's hear from a person who is the intended audience, my friend, Jessie...

Jessie's Take:

Dr. Piorkowski addresses this book to the adult children of divorce as a way to shed light on why they have a difficult time finding a satisfying love relationship. However, in reading the text, this book should have been written for all men and women seeking such a relationship. She spends several sections of the book addressing “romantic love,” which she often uses interchangeably with “love.” However, as she also clearly states, these two terms are very different. She addresses the problem adult children of divorce have with looking at love as it is in the movies, overly romanticized and unrealistic. I feel that this is a problem that all of society has, not just a problem that adult children of divorce have. Her biggest problem in her book is that all of her arguments for adult children of divorce being unable to find a satisfying love are arguments that could easily refer to the rest of the world, even those with happily married parents. In fact, some could argue that those with divorced parents could choose a life partner easier and with more satisfaction that one with happily married parents because they know and have observed how love and marriage is a fragile thing and without work it can fall apart. Those with married parents have only seen it work and possibly take that connection for granted and not realize how much work their parents put into their marriage to continue to make it last. One factor I wish Dr. Piorkowski would have addressed in all of her statistics and theories is how different it is for these adult children of divorce to find a satisfying love when abstaining from having sex until after marriage. Do they find their partner and marriage to be more fulfilling than those who did not wait? I think that is a major factor that should have been addressed, especially with the amount of time she spent writing about lack of intimacy. Another issue that I had was that the entire contents of the book was summarized by chapter in the introduction, making it difficult for one to want to continue to read the rest of the book. Overall, Dr. Piorkowski’s Adult Children of Divorce: Confused Love Seekers is a very intelligently written book (possibly more so than the average person would like) but her research seems a little contradictory and is obviously skewed to address her topic.  After reading this book, I would rate it a 4, Borrow from a Friend. 

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

Rated PG-13 more for the fact of who the intended audience is rather than actual content

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the author in exchange for a fair review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own (and in this case Jessie's own too)***

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

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Merryll Manning Series

John Howard Reid

Merryll Manning: Trapped on Mystery Island

The first of a series of mystery thrillers, featuring Police Sergeant Merryll Manning of the Paradise Police Department. (Paradise is the author's fictional capital city of Florida, and is not based on Miami). The action takes place on an otherwise deserted island in the Florida Keys, where a number of guests assemble in an old Dominican Priory for a "mystery weekend". 

 

My Take: 

Trapped on Mystery Island took a while to get going, but once the story got rolling, it wasn't bad.  If you've ever seen the movie Clue with Tim Curry, Christopher Lloyd and Madeline Khan, you will have an idea of the vibe of this book, it's sort of a Clue meets And Then There Were None.  There are a lot of characters, none of which are honest, and it was a bit tough to keep them all straight between their aliases and who are in cahoots, etc.  At the beginning, I didn't find the main characters, Merryll and Susan, to be very engaging or likable, but I think by the end, Merryll Manning was a character that you root for, even if you don't particularly like him.  The action was slow to start, as I said before, and it was dry for about 100 pages.  After the first real murder on the island, the action really picked up and was quite a page turner until the end.  Trapped on Mystery Island was not the most original whodunit I've ever read, but it is definitely worth a peek.  It had a very retro vibe to it, as it seemed to take it's time, rather than hitting you over the head with mystery on the first page, sort of like old black and white movies, but it didn't quite have that snappy dialogue that usually accompanies such a movie.  Overall, I rate Trapped on Mystery Island a 4, Borrow from a Friend.  If you are in the mood for a relaxing mystery, this is a book for you.

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 this book were a movie, it would likely be rated PG-13 for strong language, some sexuality, and violence

A few words with the author, John Howard Reid:

The Book Buff: Why did you begin writing?

John Howard Reid: I was the Chief Editor for...Rastar Press. The firm had signed a well-known British author to write a series of mystery novels. The author reneged on his contract...[and] I told the directors that I could fill the void myself. They gave me the go-ahead and I did just that with "Merryll Manning: Trapped on Mystery Island", followed by "Merryll Manning: The Health Farm Murders".

TBB: How did you come up with the title, Merryll Manning: Trapped on Mystery Island?

JHR: So-called "Mystery Weekends" were all the rage at the time. These were usually held at remote locations, such as islands and mountain resorts.

TBB: What books have most influenced your life?

JHR: Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, And Then There Were None and Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

TBB: Do you have any advice for other writers?

JHR: Read! The sad fact is that most writers don't read books. They write in a vacuum, and usually they produce something that has already been done to death by authors ten times as skilled.

TBB: What is the interview question you always dread being asked?  

JHR: How did I choose the name, Merryll Manning, for my hero? It's a unique name, I'll agree. There's only one Merryll Manning in the world. But how did I choose it? I don't know. It just suddenly occurred to me. That seems like a stupid answer for a very reasonable question, but that's it.

If you are interested in learning more about John Howard Reid, The Merryll Manning Series, or his upcoming projects, check out his page on Author's Den: http://www.authorsden.com/johnhowardreid

***FTC Disclosure:  These books were 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 this book, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Coming Soon:  The Reviews of...

  

 Merryll Manning: The Heath Farm Murders

  

 Merryll Manning: Beachfront "Holiday"