I have to admit, as I didn’t start reading the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer until after all the major hype began for the series, I went into reading the first book, Twilight, with high expectations. To be honest, I’m not at all sure those expectations were met.

First of all, we have Bella who states at the beginning of the book that she is “exiling” herself to the town her father Charlie lives in, Forks, WA. She doesn’t say why she is doing so at that point, and really, when asked later why she moved to Forks, her answer doesn’t actually give the impression of an exile. It gives the impression of a teenager who simply doesn’t want to stay at home alone.

Plus, we don’t really get any background information other than Bella’s mother hated Forks as to why she left and took Bella. Did she hate Bella’s father? Did she fall out of love with him? There were questions about why they’d actually split up that made me wonder the entire time, but that never were answered. Call me strange but I like to see some background and back story on characters.

Then we have Edward Cullen and his family. We first meet Edward at school when Bella appears fascinated with the group of four students who keep to themselves. Then Edward’s strange reaction at having to share a class and also be a lab partner for Bella leaves you wondering what’s up. Edward does explain why he reacted the way he did later, but still, it leaves you wondering about it.

The back story on Edward and his family is lacking. There simply wasn’t enough back story on the family. The most back story you get is on Carlisle and even then, it doesn’t begin to cover all the years that have passed from when each vampire was created. And Alice’s lack of past strikes me as an easy way out of not having any idea what to use for her background.

The biggest thing that bothered me however, was that there was an entire section I felt was missing from the book. It goes, literally, from Bella being in trouble, to Bella now being saved, with absolutely no record of what happened between her passing out and her waking up. I realize the book is mostly told from Bella’s point of view, but honestly, that would have been a great scene and I’d have loved to have read about the battle between Edward and whats-his-name. A very forgettable character in my opinion as you can see.

All in all, the book was good, a bit draggy in places, but could have used a bit more background and could definitely have used a better ending to the book. I have New Moon coming as soon as BOMC2 ships it, so I’m hoping that the books get better with each coming book. So far, I must say, I can’t see what the hype is all about.

Tags: book review, Stephenie Meyer, Twilight, Twilight Series

Ok, so book 3 is finished and I need to obtain copies of books 4 & 5. Right now that’s going to have to wait, as I’m out of $$ and out of credits at Paperback Swap. In any case, “A Faint Cold Fear” is just as much of a thrill ride as the first two books in the series.

Start out with an apparent suicide, which bring tragedy to Sara Linton and her family when her sister is attacked near the scene of the crime. Then another apparent suicide turns up, causing Jeffrey and Sara to question whether there is a murderer on the loose. Add to this former detective Lena Adams, who is now a security guard at the college and yet another murder - this time on the college staff. Plus, it appears that Lena’s getting involved with someone and that the someone in question might not be the best person for her.

I couldn’t bear to put this book down and I can’t wait to get a copy of the next book, Indelible.

Another 5 star book - and number 3 in the RIP III Challenge.

Tags: book review, Karin Slaughter

Ok, so I finished the 2nd book in the Grant County Series by Karin Slaughter called “Kisscut.” Another absolutely awesome read. Yet another “can’t put it down” book. And believe me, I’m almost finished with book 3 and it’s the same way.

When a teenager is killed in the local skating rink parking lot, pediatrician and part-time medical examiner Sara Linton makes some horrifying discoveries during the autopsy. There are things that just don’t add up and it’s up to Sara, Jeffrey, and Lena to figure them out. What they find will horrify you, but you just won’t be able to put that book down. You’ll have to find out what happens next.

This book takes twists and turns and keeps you guessing the entire time you’re reading it. Believe me when I say that you will most definitely be begging for more, and will go looking for the next book in the series as soon as you finish “Kisscut.”

Another 5 star book from Karin Slaughter, this is my final book in the 28 in 20008 challenge and book 2 in the R.I.P. Challenge.

Tags: book review, Karin Slaughter

Holy. Cow. That book was awesome. It was fast paced, you never knew what was going to happen next and I hated, and I mean hated to put it down. It was a book recommended by my friend Jessy at work. She has the whole series so far, and promised to bring me the other books as well. I can’t wait to get them.

Blindsighted is a suspense genre book and let me tell you, there is plenty of it! When a murder is committed in a small town, pediatrician/medical examiner Sara Linton is pulled into the thick of it. The murder is quite grisly and unfortunately won’t be the last one. The murder seems to have a religious bent to it, and frankly, adding to the mystery is a postcard Sara receives in the mail with a haunting Bible verse on it.

Of course, you can’t forget the fact that the first murder victim’s twin sister is a detective on the town’s police force, or that the police chief is Sara’s ex-husband. And the murderer? You’d never expect who it turns out to be!

The book does a very good job at hinting around at ghosts in the past and then later, when the time is right, revealing exactly what they are. Not like some books which either hint at it and then tell you right away what happened, leaving no room for excitement or hinting at it but never actually telling you what happened, leaving you feeling confused as to why it’s important.

I have to give this book 5 stars. This is book # 27 of my 28 in 2008, and is book # 1 in the RIP III challenge.

Tags: 28 in 2008, book review, Karin Slaughter, RIP III Challenge

I finished “On The Edge” by Pamela Britton last night at work. I have to say, this installment in her NASCAR series of books was, as always, a great read. Now I have to admit, I never realized it was a series until I realized that I kept seeing the same characters. Duh. LOL I have all but one of the books and I ordered the one I’m missing from PaperBackSwap last night, so I’ll have it in a couple of weeks.

“On The Edge” is the story of Becca Newman and Adam Drake. It’s the third book in the series, with “Dangerous Curves” being the first book, although “Dangerous Curves” is not a part of the NASCAR Library Collection. Becca Newman is the widow of five-time Nextel Cup Series champion Randy Newman. She heads up her late husband’s one-car race team. When 10-year-old Lindsey Drake makes her way, on her own and without her dad’s knowledge, to Mooresville, NC to speak with Becca about giving her dad, Adam, a chance to drive for Newman Motorsports, Becca just can’t find it in her heart to refuse.

This book keeps you wondering what will happen next as Lindsey makes some very obvious attempts at matchmaking. You’ll definitely laugh, and at one point, I even had to wipe tears away during a scene towards the end of the book, because it was one of those sad/happy moments. You’d just have to read the book to understand.

If you are a NASCAR fan and a romance fan, I highly suggest you get started on the NASCAR Library Series books by Pamela Britton. In order they are - “Dangerous Curves” (not officially a part of the NASCAR Library but first in the series), “In The Groove,” “On The Edge,” “To The Limit,” “Total Control,” and “On The Move.” The next book, according to Ms. Britton’s website, is an untitled book that comes out in late 2009. There is a story in “A NASCAR Holiday 2″ that I believe also goes somewhere in the series, probably between “Total Control” and “On The Move” but I’m not certain. I’ll have to find the book and read the story again.

All in all this book gets 5 stars and I definitely recommend it to any NASCAR fans out there!

Tags: book review, NASCAR Library Collection, Pamela Britton

I recently finished “Shadow Game” by Christine Feehan. I’ve had the book for a couple of years now, but had never actually sat down and read it. I remember getting “Mind Game” first and then finding out it was the 2nd in a series and putting it down. “Shadow Game” is the first book in that series - the GhostWalker Series.

As per usual, this one was a masterpiece. If you’ve ever wondered what you’d get if you matched up 2 people who have psychic abilities, such as telepathy, look no further. This book has it all, love, betrayal, military espionage.

When a group of men from the Special Forces divisions of the military and even some special task groups of the civilian law enforcement are brought together for an experiment in psychic abilities, someone decides that these secrets are too good to keep to themselves. When people start dying over it though, that’s when Dr. Lily Whitney, the daughter of the doctor conducting the experiment and Ryland Miller, the leader of that group of men realize they need to do something about it. Our villains want the secrets they believe Lily possesses and they want them now!

It’s up to Lily, her most trusted associates, Ryland, and his men to save the day and to help Ryland and his men to be able to function in the world with their newly enhanced psychic talents. Along the way, they discover some shocking things - which you’ll just have to read the book to find out about.

As I said, this was an awesome book and I give it 5 stars easily.

Tags: book review, Christine Feehan, GhostWalkers

I just finished “The Devil’s Labyrinth” by John Saul. As with most of his books, it involved evil possessing a child or teenager. This time it involves a teenage boy named Ryan who got beat up at his high school and ended up being sent to the private St. Isaac’s Preparatory Academy. There he meets up with Father Sebastian Sloane, a Catholic priest who has had some “success” in helping troubled teens. This priest has been noticed by the Vatican for his successes.

The only problem is, he uses “exorcism” that isn’t really an exorcism and the Pope has noticed. He arranges for a visit to the Boston school but he’s about to get more than he bargained for. Father Sebastian isn’t all he seems. Luckily, Ryan, with a little help from his deceased father and a gift his father left for him, can help foil the plot.

The only disappointing thing was that the book’s “climax” came at the very end and frankly, wasn’t all that great. The book was great and I could hardly put it down, but it just didn’t have the same thrilling climax that John Saul’s books usually have. Now I’m not sure if it’s because he’s written 34 novels (more actually because there’s at least one more after this book) and he’s running out of steam, or if it was just a fluke. Of course, every writer has at least one book that doesn’t live up to expectations, so I guess this one was it.

I give it four stars.

Tags: book review, John Saul

Ok, here is the first of the three book reviews I need to catch up on. This one is for Revenant by Carolyn Haines. I finished this book in January which tells you how behind I am.

This one was a great thriller. Just enough romance to keep things going, but not enough to make me want to barf because of it. No, I am not too fond of sappy books. This one had some romance, but not the sappy stuff. For this, I am entirely grateful.

On the flip side, it’s an awesome book to read, and I had a very difficult time putting it down. A reporter who spends most of her time drunk gets caught up in a mystery when a serial killer starts killing again after a twenty-five year break. You have to read this one to believe it. I was skeptical at first, but a few pages in, I was hooked. It’s on my list to pass along on paperbackswap, and I happen to have a second copy as well, so if you want it, I’d look for it. My nickname at PBS is Charli.

Tags: book review