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Net Galley
Monthly Archives: June 2015
A story filled with characters and meaning that will stay with me
The Second Sister
By: Marie Bostwick
Rating: 5 of 5
“The Second Sister” is a touching story about a young woman who has lost her way and the road she takes in order to find home again. It is the first book I have read by Marie Bostwick though it is her tenth full length novel.
I was entranced by the author’s use of language – she is able to paint a visual scene just by use of letters on a page. I could see the town of Nilson’s Bay though I have never been to that part of the country. I could envision each of the individuals as if I had met them. The image of the town and the inhabitants will stay with me for a long time, I am sure.
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Fast-paced murder mystery set in Seattle
Fixed in Blood: A Justice Novel
By: T. E. Woods
Rating: 5 of 5
“Fixed in Blood” was a high speed mystery thriller of a read. It turns out that it is the fourth in a series; however, it is the first book that I have read by T. E. Woods. I often read books out of series to see if they can be read as a stand-alone book. This one is easily read by itself; however, it is so well-written that you, like me, will probably want to read the whole series. It does contain information that can probably be construed as plot spoilers for the first books. I skimmed over those portions as I fully intend the read the prior three books. As soon as I finished reading “Fixed In Blood”, I purchased the three-book bundle which is available for the Kindle.
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Great fast-paced murder mystery thriller
Chilling Effect (An Aroostine Higgins Novel Book 2)
By: Melissa F. Miller
Rating: 4.5 of 5
“Chilling Effect” is the second book in the new Aroostine Higgins series by Melissa F. Miller. The character seems to have been introduced in a previous series by the author but I have yet to read that series. I did read the first book in this series, “Critical Vulnerability”. While I enjoyed the first book and I believe that it enhanced my reading of this book, I don’t think it is necessary to read the books in order to enjoy this story. There is enough background information given in this book to have it make sense and while there is information about the first book, I don’t consider the information to be a “spoiler” problem.
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Fantastic book of amigurumi Fairy Tale characters
Once Upon a Time . . . in Crochet: 30 Amigurumi Characters from Your Favorite Fairytales
By: Lynne Rowe
Rating: 5 of 5
I had been looking for a great book of amigurumi fairy tale characters when I came across “Once Upon a Time in Crochet” by Lynne Rowe. I pre-ordered it a month or two ago and when it arrived, I was thrilled with both the selection and the imagination used to create the characters.
To start with, the cast of characters: The Princess and the Pea (including bed and blankets), The Ugly Duckling, Three Billy Goats Gruff (and troll), Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Puss in Boots, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Little Red Riding Hood (and standing wolf), The Three Little Pigs (and sitting wolf), The Frog Prince, Hansel and Gretel (and witch), and to finish, Rapunzel (and her castle.)
Posted in Needlework/Arts/Crafts
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Good beginning to a legal thriller series
Critical Vulnerability (An Aroostine Higgins Novel Book 1)
By: Melissa F. Miller
Rating: 4 of 5
“Critical Vulnerability” is the first book I have read by Melissa F. Miller. While it appears to be the first in a new series of books featuring Aroostine Higgins, it also seems that Aroostine and her husband Joe have been characters in a previous series of books by Ms. Miller. It did not seem necessary to have read that series to enjoy this new one but there are enough hooks in the story that to make me think that, as I enjoyed this book, I would also enjoy going back and reading the previous legal series featuring a character named Sasha McCandless.
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Engrossing read for an afternoon
The Bones of You
By: Debbie Howells
Rating: 4.5 of 5
This is an engrossing psychological murder mystery by an author I have not read before. After having read the book and enjoyed it, I still do not understand the meaning of the title “The Bones of You.” I may be having a dense moment as I am definitely in the middle of a bad cold but it just doesn’t mean anything to me as there were no bones found. Apart from that, I was able to connect and appreciate the story and the story telling of the book.
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Murder mystery with compelling characters
Little Pretty Things
By: Lori Rader-Day
Rating: 5 of 5
“Little Pretty Things” is a murder mystery and much more. The story revolves around two runners, Maddy and Juliet, who were track stars on their high school team ten years before. Maddy, who was always first and the superstar, moved away from their little town and seemed to have gotten things together in a big way. Juliet, always second to Maddy, ended up leaving college when her father passed away and is stuck in the town and in a job that she can’t stand with a mother who can’t get beyond her husband’s death.
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Interesting thriller that intertwines YA and Adult Thriller
Take Another Look
By: Rosalind Noonan
Rating: 3.5 of 5
“Take Another Look” is a psychological thriller that asks whether or not evil is genetic or whether it is a product of environment.
Jane is a young woman, just out of college, when she meets Frank. At first, the police officer seems to be a dream guy but very soon, Jane realizes the dream is really a nightmare. She escapes from him when he tries to force her into an abortion. She runs away from her old life and finds that she is going to have twins. She can’t afford both children, so she gives one up for adoption, Louisa and keeps the other, Harper.
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Entertaining weekend read
London From My Windows
By: Mary Carter
Rating: 4.5 of 5
“London From My Windows” is the story of a young woman, Ava, who suffers from acute agoraphobia. It starts when, as a ten year old, her father trips and falls to the ground and dies. She feels guilty for not having saved him and pulls away and hides from the world as she lets the sadness and the fear consume her.
We fast forward almost twenty years and she has almost completely encapsulated herself from the outside world. She knows a few people, her mother, her therapist Diana, and her policeman boyfriend Cliff. She has a job as a police sketch artist but works only from her home. To the extent possible, she has pushed away the rest of the world. Going outside brings on horrific panic attacks. She is forced to the police station to do a sketch and her world melts down.
Posted in Fiction/Literature
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Vanessa Michael Munroe is, once again, ready for battle
The Mask: A Vanessa Michael Munroe Novel
By: Taylor Stevens
Rating: 5 of 5
I have read all of the stories in the Vanessa Michael Munroe series by Taylor Stevens. As a character, Munroe is a bit of a puzzle. She is a woman who has horribly abused in the past. It has taught her to strike before being struck. To kill before being killed. Both her body and her mind are covered in scars but she is trying to find her way to a life where she doesn’t have to be on guard at all times. She has become an expert with knives – a real killing machine. She has also picked up martial arts street fighting skills that put her at an advantage in most fights.
Posted in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
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