WWW Wednesday (17)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

 

01. Currently Reading:
Under an Orange Sun, Some Days are Blue by Irving Belateche. After leukemia takes his daughter, Irving must look for a way to accept what has happened and move on in the world of the living.

02. Recently Finished:
Sleeping Roses by RaShelle Workman. A piece of fiction revolving around a woman who is in an abusive relationship. A good book because of the twists and mystery that Workman created, though it fell a little short on the character-reader connection.

03. Reading Next:
Pulled by A.L. Jackson. A novel that explores how strong love is after tragedy strikes a family. Really looking forward to this one!


Share links to your own WWW post! :) Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday (25)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Under an Orange Sun, Some Days are Blue (p. 11)
      - Irving Belateche

"He had told me the truth before I was ready to hear it and understand it. He'd tried to break through the black cloud of death that enshrouded me."



Should Be Reading @ Wordpress

Sleeping Roses

Sophie married into a lie.

Sick of her dangerous marriage, Sophie leaves her husband, determined to start a new life.

But her husband isn't going to let her go that easily. If he can't have her, no one can.

It's hunter versus hunted.

*May Contain Spoilers*

RaShelle Workman creates a fast paced thriller where the reader is forced to question everything, including reality, in her novel Sleeping Roses. 

Determined to escape her husband's wrath, Sophie leaves David. But if he can't have her, no one can, and Sophie soon learns just how twisted her husband is. His actions throughout the novel are so realistic that David actually becomes a true-to-life villain. He will give readers goose-bumps, chills, and a reason to jump at that strange noise outside. Workman writes David as horrifying and sinister, truly making this novel a thriller from start to finish. 

Sophie, the main character of the novel, is a little naive. And even she can admit it. At times, I was annoyed with just how innocent and nonchalant she could be about David's actions. (I mean, when it's time to call the police, just call them already.) Though the major twist at the end - 'major' being an understatement - explains her naivety, I would have loved a deeper connection with Sophie. The character development was there but the reader-character bond wasn't strong enough. 

The plot that Workman writes is hauntingly believable, and understandable. Readers will be second guessing every character, just as Sophie does. As the paranoia grows within her, it will simultaneously grow within the reader. And the hints that Workman drops throughout the story line are spot on incredible. I just about had everything figured out when when - BAM - everything changes. 

Mostly, I loved how Workman leaves readers wondering if this actually happened to her or a close friend. It's just too believable and surprising to not be based on truth. 

Rating: 3/5 cups

Sleeping Roses (Dead Roses #1)

Golden Lies

Riley McAllister, Paige Hathaway, and Alyssa Chen come from very different worlds. Now this unlikely trio of strangers must come together to follow an elusive trail through the streets of San Francisco from glittering Pacific Heights to colorful Chinatown to trendy South of Market. 

Each will have to make the impossible choice between romantic love and family loyalty, between sheltering lies and revealing truth. Once the door to the past is opened, there is no turning back. . .

*May Contain Spoilers*

When Nan Delaney finds a dragon statue in her attic in Golden Lies by Barbara Freethy, she takes it to the Antique Road Show, neither she nor her grandson, Riley, have any idea that chaos is soon to follow. 

When Paige's father tells her he wants to purchase the dragon statue, she sets up the appointment for an appraisal with no idea that she's about to meet the love of her life. 

Riley and Paige are the two main characters in this novel, though Alyssa Chen does play a significant role. Freethy balances the novel between these characters, giving the reader various viewpoints of the story. 

Riley is a man who has never believed in love. After his mother deserted him, he gave up on the idea of falling in love and living happily ever after. He runs a security business and bicycles the hills of San Francisco. Readers will connect with him through his resistance to relationships and bitterness about the past. Being hurt by someone you love is never easy, though a universal occurrence, and readers will understand Riley better because of this commonality. Paige, the "princess," is the imperfect daughter to a perfect family. Readers will love her honesty, especially when it comes to her feelings for Riley, and her loyalty to her father. She's a very down to earth character, who is stuck in a role she doesn't know how to handle. 

The plot of Golden Lies is artfully crafted. Freethy leaves nothing out as she describes the mystery surrounding the statue and wraps the curse around each character. The curse that three grandfathers brought upon their families. While weaving between the romantic plot line and cracking the mystery of the dragon, Freethy brings readers deep into a story they won't be able to stop reading. The captivation is the best part of this novel. Freethy is an exceptional writer and her words have definite pull. 

The only issue I had with this novel was the turnout of Riley and Paige's relationship. Through the story's progression, Riley was very resistant to Paige's obvious desire for commitment and I wanted more of an evolution from Riley. 

A great end-of-summer or one-more-quick-vacation read, Barbara Freethy once again writes a delectable novel that e-reader owners are now able to purchase. 

Rating: 4/5

Golden Lies

on Amazon

The Hangman's Daughter

A historical thriller set in Germany, 1660: When a dying boy is pulled from the river with a mark crudely tattooed on his shoulder, hangman Jakob Kuisl is called upon to investigate whether witchcraft is at play in his small Bavarian town. Whispers and dark memories of witch trials and the women burned at the stake just seventy years earlier still haunt the streets of Schongau. When more children disappear and an orphan boy is found dead—marked by the same tattoo—the mounting hysteria threatens to erupt into chaos.

Before the unrest forces him to torture and execute the very woman who aided in the birth of his children, Jakob must unravel the truth. With the help of his clever daughter, Magdelena, and Simon, the university-educated son of the town’s physician, Jakob discovers that a devil is indeed loose in Schongau. But it may be too late to prevent bloodshed.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Oliver Pötzsch turns family history into fiction with his novel, The Hangman's Daughter. A murderer is upon the town of Schongau, killing orphan children, and the town clerk is determined to place the blame on the shoulders of a "witch" in order to calm the town in the quickest way possible. While the townspeople accept this notion, two men fight to prove the "witch's" innocence. 

Jakob, the hangman, and Simon, a physician's son, are the two main characters of this novel. The story revolves around them searching for clues to bring the real murderer to justice. Jakob has a rather gentle soul for an executioner, and he's a rather easy character to connect with. He lets his emotions, and gut instincts, lead him through this mystery, satisfied only by the truth he finds. 

Simon, a young man who wants to by a physician himself, turns to Jakob for guidance and instruction. He sees the hangman as a role model who can teach him the ways of a great doctor. He is also in love with Magdelena, the hangman's daughter. Readers will be able to connect with Simon as they will also see Jakob as a role model. 

The love story that goes on between Simon and Magdelena will create another bond between readers and the characters. As everyone in the novel is against them being together, readers will join the fight to see them happily paired. 

The plot that Pötzsch creates is well crafted with twists and turns, leading readers to a number of possible conclusions. It is well organized with so many different factors that readers won't know who to believe, or who to trust. As the town council searches for a scapegoat, the real murderer continues to hunt down the children, and the devil walks among the townspeople. Readers will be drawn in to the story, though it does take a few chapters before the novel starts to evolve. 

Definitely a recommended read for those who love historical fiction and murder mysteries. 

Rating: 3/5 cups

The Hangman's Daughter

on Amazon

WWW Wednesday (16)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

01. Currently Reading:
The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch. A mystery set in the 1600's in which the devil is murdering orphan children while the town tries to place the blame on a midwife, claiming that she's a witch. An interesting novel so far. It hasn't completely captivated my attention, but I am enjoying the mystery. 

02. Recently Finished:
Dangerous Waters by Anne Allen. I really enjoyed reading this novel as it included so many different genres. And the story line was an impressive weaving of detail. 

03. Reading Next:
Golden Lies by Barbara Freethy. "A novel about three remarkable families -- the fifty-year-old promise that once bound them together, the fiery betrayal that tore them apart, and the ancient bronze dragon that could destroy their future ..." - Amazon. Sounds very intriguing. 


What have you been reading? Leave a link to your own WWW post. :) 

Teaser Tuesday (24)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Hangman's Daughter (p.4)
     -Oliver Pötzsch

"But his father had a hard, serious trade that demanded a lot of experience. It was from him that Jakob learned the difficult craft of killing."


Should Be Reading @ Wordpress

Dangerous Waters

'Oh my God, what's happening to me? After all this time, please, not again!'

Jeanne Le Page, gripped by fear and panic, struggles to breathe as the ferry arrives in Guernsey, the island she had fled 15 years before, traumatised by a family tragedy.

Now she has to return after her grandmother's death. Jeanne has inherited her cottage and she plans to sell it before returning to the UK. Unhappy after the recent end of a long-term relationship, she has no desire to pick up her old life on the island.

Suffering traumatic amnesia after being involved in the accident that killed her family, Jeanne has experienced nightmares for years. The return to Guernsey triggers frightening flashbacks and she undergoes hypnosis to recover her memory, reliving the tragedy as the ghosts continue to haunt her. 

But someone on the island does not want her to remember, and she faces danger from an unexpected source . . .

*May Contain Spoilers*

Anne Allen's debut novel, Dangerous Waters, is a combination of understanding loss, facing fears, and finding love. Allen gives the readers an in-depth look at the life of Jeanne, a woman who struggles to accept what's happened to her and a desire to know why. 

Throughout the novel, readers follow Jeanne's story as she moves back to her birth-place, Guernsey, and begins piecing together her past. She's a well-crafted character full of life and love. She trusts easily and shows those around her how much she cares for them. 

The connection between reader and character is slow at first, but picks up towards the middle of the book. As Jeanne begins researching her family's history, readers will see the heart of Jeanne and be able to form a friendship with her. The reaction to her discoveries creates the foundation for making her a real-life character. 

My favorite thing about the novel were the interactions Jeanne had with the people around her. Allen's supporting cast of characters is a melting pot of different personalities, making for a fantastic read. Especially when they all get together. Molly and Peter are my two chosen favorite, as they are always near by for Jeanne, offering support in any way they can. Of course, the two love interests make for an interesting triangle, though readers will choose their sides. (And perhaps switch sides as more information comes to light.) 

The plot of Dangerous Waters was incredibly in-depth. Readers will have no choice but to be impressed at the thorough research Allen has done to make this novel come to life. The various plot lines swirl together to make one hell of a story, it's incredible to see how Allen perfectly crafted them as she didn't seem to leave anything out. It's a novel that crosses the genres of mystery, cook-book, history, and romance. 

Dangerous Waters is a stunning first novel that will leave readers anticipating what Allen will produce next. 

rating: 4/5

Dangerous Waters - Mystery, loss and love on the island of Guernsey

on Amazon

Note of Source: From Author for Review

Sunday Sweep (8/19)

Here are 5 books (currently) under $5 that will have you looking forward to your (reading) week. :)

Forgive Me, Alex - $2.99

A Modern Witch (#1) - $3.99

Forbidden - $0.99

A Job From Hell - $0.99

A Hidden Fire - Free (Orig. $1.99)

I've already downloaded two for myself. Enjoy the deals and happy reading! :)

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening

A deadly love triangle

Elena: beautiful and popular, the girl who can have any guy she wants.

Stefan: brooding and mysterious, desperately trying to resist his desire for Elena . . . for her own good.

Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him.

Elena finds herself drawn to both brothers . . . who will she choose?

*May Contain Spoilers* 

L.J. Smith brings vampires to the small town of Fells Church, Virginia in The Awakening, a novel that focuses on high school queen, Elena Gilbert. Stefan, the new vampire in town, is immediately drawn to her, as she resembles his first love, Katherine. There ensues a struggle to stay away from her - as she's human, but Elena has already made that decision for him.

Elena isn't exactly a likeable character, but she isn't all bad. She's selfish, egotistical, moody, and at times, very uncaring. But those traits can also be described as self-sufficient, confidant, determined, and resistant. The way Elena is portrayed is up the reader. I personally liked Elena because she spiced things up. However, some readers won't look at her this way.

Stefan is ... a hot vampire from Italy who has his own airplane full of baggage. Which is exactly what every teenage girl wants: a romantic boyfriend who she can save, breaking down the walls of his damaged heart so that she will be the one person he feels close to.

As this is a YA novel, I tried to read the book in that mindset, and it works. Smith had me quickly turning pages, reading it in less than a day.

The plot was rather stretched out, as the story doesn't wrap up. At all. The novel simply ends and, I assume, picks up with the next book in the series. The Awakening sets the stage for what will happen in future books. It has it's own plot with mysterious murders, Stefan and Elena, and Stefan's back-story, but it doesn't conclude anything. So read it with the knowledge that you'll have to keep going.

For a quick Vampire-fix, this novel was perfect. It was easy to read, easy to understand, and enjoyable as long as I thought of it from a younger person's point of view. Can't wait to read the second one.

rating: 3/5 cups

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening

on Amazon

WWW-Wednesday (15)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

01. Currently Reading:
The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening by L.J. Smith. I picked up a used copy of this at a local store because I've watched the TV show and wanted to read the books as well. So far, so good. Though it truly is nothing like the show, which is fine with me. Definitely hitting my vampire fix.

02. Recently Finished:
The Seekers' Garden by Isa Ritchie. Wonderful novel that wove together the lives of five different people. It was a great read full of surprises and strong character connections. Highly recommended.

03. Reading Next:
Dangerous Waters by Anne Allen. A novel focusing on returning home after the death of a loved one. Though home for Jeanne means facing the nightmares of her past, which her traumatic amnesia doesn't allow her to remember. Looking forward to this mystery/love story.