Review of Think of a Number by John Verdon and GIVEAWAY

Think of a Number by John Verdon
When Dave Gurney, retired NYPD homicide detective, is contacted by an old college acquaintance about some startling letters he's been receiving, it is at first little more than a diverting but sinister puzzle. Until the acquaintance is brutally killed. Suddenly Gurney finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation that makes no sense.
Paperback, 512 pages
Published August 5th 2010 by Penguin (first published 2010)

My thoughts:
Well, I got up to page 165 or somewhere around there. This book just didn't hold my interest. I tried reading it and read some other books in between. I decided that I really didn't care what happened, and I kind of flipped around and didn't want to waste my time any further with this book when I have so many other good books that I want to read.

1 star

GIVEAWAY!

If anyone would like to read this book, let me know. I am willing to give it away. It does have some good reviews from other people, so who knows, you may like it. The book I have looks different than the picture because it's an advance reader copy that I got from Shelf Awareness.

Review of Fight Fair by Tim Downs

Fight Fair by Tim Downs
From Goodreads:

When couples fight, tempers flare, tongues loosen, and behavior occurs that can cause major damage to the relationship. Tim and Joy Downs have written Fight Fair! to teach couples how to have healthy disagreements. It is a 'rulebook' for married couples to ensure that their conflict is God-honoring and respectful of their partner. Readers will find this book full of helpful, very practical tips they can immediately apply to ensure that future conflicts don't create permanent scars.
Paperback, 192 pages
Published July 1st 2010 by Moody Publishers (first published August 1st 2003)

My Thoughts:

I read this book over the course of several weeks and it did have some valuable information in it. There were a lot of bible references and it seemed a little preachy, but it makes you stop and think about conflicts and how to overcome them. It did make references to marriage being like a game and penalties and fouls and referees. It also had several pages at the end where spouses can go over and write down items that were talked about in the book that pertain to their marriage and how they ...more I read this book over the course of several weeks and it did have some valuable information in it. There were a lot of bible references and it seemed a little preachy, but it makes you stop and think about conflicts and how to overcome them. It did make references to marriage being like a game and penalties and fouls and referees. It also had several pages at the end where spouses can go over and write down items that were talked about in the book that pertain to their marriage and how they can resolve issues. Conflict is ongoing, but we have to learn how to cope with it and resolve our issues.

Here is a good quote from the book (p.118):
"You don't marry one person; you marry three: the person you think they are, the person they are, and the person they are going to become as the result of being married to you." Richard Needham

I received this book from Net Galley

Library Loot - Sept. 25

Here are the latest books that I got from the library. I got a few more than this, but I got it down to what I think I will actually want to read:
====================================
The first two books are by author Richard L. Baldwin. He will be at our local library on October 7 for book signings, so I want to read some of his books before then and go to the book signing!

from the library's facebook page:
Aitkin Memorial District Library Get in the mood for Halloween on Thurs, Oct 7 at 6:30 pm as author Richard Baldwin comes to the Library to speak and sign books. Baldwin is the author of several murder mysteries set in Michigan. His latest book, “Murder in Tip-Up Town” is set in the Houghton Lake area. Other books include “Buried Secrets of Bois Bl...anc: Murder in the Straights of Mackinac,” “Murder at the Ingham County Fair,” and many more.

Murder at the Ingham County Fair by Richard Baldwin
Judge Winston Breckinridge, a Republican candidate for a seat in the Michigan Legislature, is murdered at the Ingham County Fair while manning his party's booth. It seems the judge was not well-liked by many, but who would go to such extremes? Once again, mystery writer Richard Baldwin gives readers what they crave...a good plot, interesting characters, some excitement, an ...more Judge Winston Breckinridge, a Republican candidate for a seat in the Michigan Legislature, is murdered at the Ingham County Fair while manning his party's booth. It seems the judge was not well-liked by many, but who would go to such extremes? Once again, mystery writer Richard Baldwin gives readers what they crave...a good plot, interesting characters, some excitement, and, when all is said and done, justice. (less)
Paperback, 220 pages
Published 2009 by Buttonwood Press

A Final Crossing: Murder on the S.S. Badger (Louis Searing and Margaret McMillan Mysteries) by Richard L. Baldwin
Paperback, 233 pages
Published June 15th 2004 by Buttonwood Press (IL) (first published June 2004)

============================================

I am not sure how I found this book, but I never knew 50 Cent was a writer, so I had to check it out!

Blow by 50 Cent, K'wan
Prince, Killa-E, Daddy-O, and Danny grew up together in the projects, moving crack and cocaine, and answering to Diego, the neighborhood drug lord. They were small-timers playing for low stakes- until Prince is introduced to a heroin connect. Overnight they go from soldiers to bosses, and their crew is held together by loyalty and love. But taking the reins of power comes ...more Prince, Killa-E, Daddy-O, and Danny grew up together in the projects, moving crack and cocaine, and answering to Diego, the neighborhood drug lord. They were small-timers playing for low stakes- until Prince is introduced to a heroin connect. Overnight they go from soldiers to bosses, and their crew is held together by loyalty and love. But taking the reins of power comes at a high price. Now, with Diego at their back and a traitor in their midst, they find themselves between a kilo and a hard place, ready to spill blood to stay on top.

======================================

I liked the last story I read by LaJill Hunt, so I had to check this one out too!

Drama Queen by La Jill Hunt
Kayla Hopkins is young, beautiful and can't win for losing. That's why everyone calls her the Drama Queen. She doesn't go looking for drama, it just happens to her. Take for instance, her love life. Kayla's not satisfied with just one man. She has two-one she's in love with and another whom she's pregnant by. A ready-made formula for disaster, but will Kayla see it before ...more Kayla Hopkins is young, beautiful and can't win for losing. That's why everyone calls her the Drama Queen. She doesn't go looking for drama, it just happens to her. Take for instance, her love life. Kayla's not satisfied with just one man. She has two-one she's in love with and another whom she's pregnant by. A ready-made formula for disaster, but will Kayla see it before everything blows up in her face? Her track records says no, but her friends and family can only hope. Drama Queen is a hilariously funny and fast-paced novel that offers king-size drama and entertainment. Urban Books, a new line of books focusing on the drama and grit of inner-city life, featuring edgy, and exciting new voices-writers who tell it like it is. (less)
Paperback, 300 pages
Published October 1st 2007 by Urban Books (first published 2003)

==================================

I read the first book in this series, so I had to keep going on with it!

Die Trying (Jack Reacher #2) by Lee Child
Television writer Lee Child's otherwise riveting first thriller, Killing Floor, was criticized by some reviewers because of an unconvincing coincidence at its center. Child addresses that problem in his second book--and thumbs his nose at those reviewers--by having his hero, ex-military policeman Jack Reacher, just happen to be walking by a Chicago dry cleaner when an at ...more Television writer Lee Child's otherwise riveting first thriller, Killing Floor, was criticized by some reviewers because of an unconvincing coincidence at its center. Child addresses that problem in his second book--and thumbs his nose at those reviewers--by having his hero, ex-military policeman Jack Reacher, just happen to be walking by a Chicago dry cleaner when an attractive young FBI agent named Holly Johnson comes out carrying nine expensive outfits and a crutch to support her soccer-injured knee. As Holly stumbles, Reacher grabs her and her garments--which gets him kidnapped along with her by a trio of very determined badguys. "He had no problem with how he had gotten grabbed up in the first place," Child writes. "Just a freak of chance had put him alongside Holly Johnson at the exact time the snatch was going down. He was comfortable with that. He understood freak chances. Life was built out of freak chances, however much people would like to pretend otherwise." Lucky for Holly--whose father just happens to be an Army general and current head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, thus making her a tempting target for a bunch of Montana-based extremists--Reacher still has all the skills and strengths associated with his former occupation. And Child still knows how to write scenes of violent action better than virtually anyone else around. --Dick Adler
Hardcover, 374 pages
Published July 20th 1998 by Putnam Adult (first published 1998)

Review of Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Deadly Little Secret (Touch #1)

by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Hardcover, 252 pages
Published December 16th 2008 by Hyperion

From Goodreads:
Up until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. She's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help--but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret.

From the best-selling author of Blue is for Nightmares comes a story of paranormal romance that's sure to be a thrilling and chilling teen favorite.

My thoughts:
I read this with a Pen Pal on Goodreads and we both pretty much had the same thoughts about this book.

The first half of this book reminded me a lot of Twilight, but not near as good as Twilight.

Ben says that Camelia is in danger and everyone thinks that Ben is a danger to her, but he says there is something else. He wants to help her.

This book was a quick book to read. At first I thought it was okay, but when I stop back and think about the book, I kind of draw a blank since it was a few days ago that I read it. So it's a pretty forgettable book.

2 stars out of 5

Review of Around the Way Girls by Dwayne S. Joseph, Angel M. Hunter and La Jill Hunt

Around The Way Girls

by La Jill Hunt, Angel M. Hunter, Dwayne S. Joseph

From Goodreads:
There's a saying in Brooklyn that if you come from my part of town that you're from around the way. Around the Way Girls is a fast paced look at the life of some street smart women who think they know it al,l but are about to get the lessons of their lives.
Paperback, 350 pages
Published March 1st 2007 by Urban Books (first published 2004)

My thoughts:
The first story was by Angel M. Hunter called Busted and Disguster. It is about a stripper named Cream White. She wanted to get out of stripping and came up with a scam to try and get out.

The second story is Southern Comfort by LaJill Hunt. Sydni wanted to get out of Brooklyn and go off on her own, but she needed the money to do it. She had a white guy friend named Byron. He wanted to be more than friends with her. There was also a guy named Darrius who she could not stand. Her ...more The first story was by Angel M. Hunter called Busted and Disguster. It is about a stripper named Cream White. She wanted to get out of stripping and came up with a scam to try and get out.

The second story is Southern Comfort by LaJill Hunt. Sydni wanted to get out of Brooklyn and go off on her own, but she needed the money to do it. She had a white guy friend named Byron. He wanted to be more than friends with her. There was also a guy named Darrius who she could not stand. Her brother Aaron and sister Magic said they think she is in love with Darrius, but she doesn't believe it. Then there is Mr. Joe, who wants to marry their mom, but something about him just doesn't seem right. At the end I was surprised about who was left.

The last story is Played by Dwayne S. Joseph. Angel met this guy Frido. He always seemed like he had business to do, but Angel was not sure what kind of business he was in. She was told his was into dealing drugs. Normally she would have nothing to do with that scene, but she just couldn't but like him. Frido would come and pick her up from work every day, but then things changed. I really hated Frido. He acted like he was all that, but the way he treated Angel toward the end I just couldn't believe.

I loved this book and gave it 5 out of 5 stars!

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday
is hosted by Kathy of Bermudaonion's Weblog (September Host)http://bermudaonion.wordpress.com/
We share what books that we found
in our mailboxes last week.

I received the following two books from Shelf Awareness:



Running the Books: The Adventures of an Accidental Prison Librarian

by Avi Steinberg

From Goodreads:

Avi Steinberg is stumped. After defecting from yeshiva to Harvard, he has only a senior thesis essay on Bugs Bunny to show for his effort. While his friends and classmates advance in the world, he remains stuck at a crossroads, unable to meet the lofty expectations of his Orthodox Jewish upbringing. And his romantic existence as a freelance obituary writer just isn’t cutting it. Seeking direction—and dental insurance—Steinberg takes a job as a librarian in a tough Boston prison.

The prison library counter, his new post, attracts con men, minor prophets, ghosts, and an assortment of quirky regulars searching for the perfect book and a connection to the outside world. There’s an anxious pimp who solicits Steinberg’s help in writing a memoir. A passionate gangster who dreams of hosting a cooking show titled Thug Sizzle. A disgruntled officer who instigates a major feud over a Post-it note. A doomed ex-stripper who asks Steinberg to orchestrate a reunion with her estranged son, himself an inmate. Over time, Steinberg is drawn into the accidental community of outcasts that has formed among his bookshelves — a drama he recounts with heartbreak and humor. But when the struggles of the prison library — between life and death, love and loyalty — become personal, Steinberg is forced to take sides.

Running the Books is a trenchant exploration of prison culture and an entertaining tale of one young man’s earnest attempt to find his place in the world while trying not to get fired in the process. (less)
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published October 19th 2010 by Nan A. Talese

The False Friend by Myla Goldberg

From Goodreads:

From the bestselling author of Bee Season comes an astonishingly complex psychological drama with a simple setup: two eleven-year-old girls, best friends and fierce rivals, go into the woods. Only one comes out . . .

Leaders of a mercurial clique of girls, Celia and Djuna reigned mercilessly over their three followers. One after­noon, they decided to walk home along a forbidden road. Djuna disappeared, and for twenty years Celia blocked out how it happened.

The lie Celia told to conceal her misdeed became the accepted truth: everyone assumed Djuna had been abducted, though neither she nor her abductor was ever found. Celia’s unconscious avoidance of this has meant that while she and her longtime boyfriend, Huck, are professionally successful, they’ve been unable to move forward, their relationship falling into a rut that threatens to bury them both.

Celia returns to her hometown to confess the truth, but her family and childhood friends don’t believe her. Huck wants to be supportive, but his love can’t blind him to all that contra­dicts Celia’s version of the past.

Celia’s desperate search to understand what happened to Djuna has powerful consequences. A deeply resonant and emotionally charged story, The False Friend explores the adults that children become—leading us to question the truths that we accept or reject, as well as the lies to which we succumb. (less)
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published October 5th 2010 by Doubleday

Review of Body of Evidence by Roy Glenn

Body of Evidence by Roy Glenn
Paperback, 300 pages
Published October 1st 2007 by Urban Books

From Goodreads:
Panthea Daniels is stunned and devastated when she learns her husband of seven years is having an affair. She visits attorney Marcus Douglas to begin divorce proceedings, but sparks immediately begin to fly between the two. Things take a dramatic and unexpected turn as the two engage in an illicit affair. After receiving pictures of the woman It s not everyday that you see your husband s mistress. - Panthea is arrested and charged with her rival s murder. The victim, Abril Arrington was involved with several men, and was conning them all out of money- including Panthea s husband Scott. Soon, Marcus is convinced that each man, and not his client turned lover Panthea, have a compelling reason for killing Abril. But as the investigation continues, Marcus is faced with undeniable facts that leave him questioning everything he know he knew, including whether she s capable of murder!

My thoughts:

I can't believe Marcus started a relationship with Panthea when she was accused of murdering Abril Arrington. He should have been more professional, especially since she was married. Yes, her husband was having an affair, but it doesn't mean she needs to go out and have an affair herself. She is bad news.

I got kind of lost sometimes because there were so many different names going around in the book, but it was a good book and had a surprising twist at the end.

Gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Library Loot - September 16

Well, I have had these books for a little while, but now i'm ready to start them. I am only posting half of my library loot for right now:

Here is what I am reading right now:

Body of Evidence
by Roy Glenn

From Goodreads:
Panthea Daniels is stunned and devastated when she learns her husband of seven years is having an affair. She visits attorney Marcus Douglas to begin divorce proceedings, but sparks immediately begin to fly between the two. Things take a dramatic and unexpected turn as the two engage in an illicit affair. After receiving pictures of the woman It s not everyday that you see your husband s mistress. - Panthea is arrested and charged with her rival s murder. The victim, Abril Arrington was involved with several men, and was conning them all out of money- including Panthea s husband Scott. Soon, Marcus is convinced that each man, and not his client turned lover Panthea, have a compelling reason for killing Abril. But as the investigation continues, Marcus is faced with undeniable facts that leave him questioning everything he know he knew, including whether she s capable of murder!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next book is the book I am reading with my pen pal this month!

Deadly Little Secret (Touch #1)
by Laurie Faria Stolarz

From Goodreads:
Up until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No Girl Needs a Husband Seven Days a Week
by Nina Foxx

From Goodreads:
A husband can be good for a number of things:

• Companionship (when he's home)


• Household repairs (if he's handy)


• Good loving (if you're lucky), but . . . no girl needs a husband seven days a week!

Marie needs her "stay-at-home husband" to clean the house and babysit the kids, so she can take care of business coast-to-coast . . . and enjoy some harmless flirting on the side.

Mai's perfectly content to be the perfect wife to a successful corporate superstar—throwing lavish parties and organizing gala charity fundraisers. But it's funny how quickly everything can change with just a single phone call . . . from prison!

And high-powered ad exec Kennedy believes the best husband is no husband at all. Hot encounters with a succession of studs keep her going strong as she climbs to the top of her profession.

A spouse is fine as long as he doesn't screw up the rest of your life. Now three lovely ladies who think they have this "husband" thing all worked out are about to learn that, when it comes to love and marriage, "perfection" can always be improved upon. And it's going to be one wild ride!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Around The Way Girls
by La Jill Hunt, Angel M. Hunter, Dwayne S. Joseph

From Goodreads:
There's a saying in Brooklyn that if you come from my part of town that you're from around the way. Around the Way Girls is a fast paced look at the life of some street smart women who think they know it al,l but are about to get the lessons of their lives.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I heard that this is a good book, and I am looking forward to reading it!

Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Story by Blair Underwood, Steven Barnes, Tananarive Due

From Goodreads:
In this hot and steamy mystery, Tennyson is an actor struggling to hang on to his career and redeem his sex-for-pay history that estranged him from his family---especially his father, a decorated LAPD captain who raised Tennyson to call him "sir." Now, in the wake of his father's sudden stroke, Tennyson has to save himself from taking the fall for a murder. In the process he discovers his hidden talents---the hard way.

Review of Eternal Lover by Hannah Howell, Lynsay Sands, Jackie Kessler, Richelle Mead

Eternal Lover

by Hannah Howell, Lynsay Sands, Jackie Kessler (Goodreads Author), Richelle Mead
Paperback, 352 pages
Published April 1st 2008 by Kensington

Goodreads Description:
Theirs is a world of ancient desires and forbidden pleasures. They are men of mystery and women of seduction, wild creatures with the power to entrance and enchant, tease and tantalize. Enter their secret world, if you dare...

The Yearning by Hannah Howell

Alpin has lived for centuries with a lust that can never be quenched with mere physical pleasure. And then he meets Sophie whose own search for lasting love binds them together in a cloak of shimmering sensuality...


A Hell of a Time by Jackie Kessler

Jesse's immortal life as a soul-stealing succubus is over. And now that she is human, she longs to tempt her lover with all her persuasive powers of total sexual seduction...


City of Demons by Richelle Mead

Seth cannot resist the intense sexual allure of his demon lover Georgina. Yet their love reaches beyond the physical, into a place of complete untamed surrender...


Bitten by Lynsay Sands

Keeran's existence as a vampire has taught him to accept a life without love...until he saves Emily from certain death. And suddenly he discovers the soul-searing passion he thought he'd lost forever...


Note: The Yearning by Hannah Howell and Bitten by Lynsay Sands also appear in the anthology His Immortal Embrace


My thoughts:
I saw a review by another Goodreads member, and I totally agree with her. I read the first story. It was okay. The way they spoke was really strange, but I read it. I started reading the second story and could not get into it at all. I kind of flipped through the rest and said forget it. When I originally got this book through MELCat, I thought it was a different book. I meant to get Lover Eternal. Oh well.

Gave this book 1 out of 5 stars since I didn't finish it.

Mailbox Monday - September 13

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page.
We share what books that we found in our mailboxes last week.

I got this ARC from Shelf Awareness!

Review of Killing Floor by Lee Child

Killing Floor (Jack Reacher #1) by Lee Child
536 Pages
Published 1997

From Goodreads:

From its chilling opening page, you know all is not well in Margrave, Georgia. The sleepy, forgotten town hasn't seen a crime in decades, but within the span of three days it witnesses events that leave everyone stunned. An unidentified man is found beaten and shot to death on a lonely country road. The police chief and his wife are butchered on a quiet Sunday morning. Then a bank executive disappears from his home, leaving his keys on the table and his wife frozen with fear. The easiest suspect is Jack Reacher - an outsider, a man just passing through. But Reacher is not just any drifter. He is a tough ex-military policeman, trained to think fast and act faster. He has lived with and hunted the worst: the hard men of the American military gone bad. When authorities learn the first victim was someone from Reacher's past, and he cannot convince them of his innocence, his patient self-defense becomes a raging crusade of revenge. With two cops who believe in him - a thoughtful black detective and a woman named Roscoe - he closes in on a ruthless conspiracy hiding behind Margrave's rural charm. But closing in on him is a team of killers so careful and efficient they are almost invisible. Step by step, the two teams circle - waiting to see which will be the first to walk onto the killing floor.

My thoughts:
I originally got a newer book from this series, not realizing it was a series, so I brought it back to the library so I could start with the first book. My cousin Mark said he read the whole series and loved it, so I was very optimistic and was not disappointed at all.

Jack Reacher was arrested for murder in the beginning of the book. He was just wandering along and got put in jail. The fingerprint officer at the jail was Roscoe, and she was very nice to Reacher. The man that Reacher was accused of murdering is someone he knows very well.

People were being killed and many people were involved. The murders were very gruesome. My stomach turned after I read what they did. I was surprised what all of the scandal led up to.

It did take me a while to read this book, but there was so much to it. There were many officers involved and a lot of searching and trying to figure out why people were being killed and who all was involved. I have to say that Jack Reacher is quite the character. He really knows what he is doing and does it well.

Gave this book 5 out of 5 stars!

Teaser Tuesdays- Sept. 7

Yahoo, I got this to work. I just had to go under edit html instead of compose.



http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2010/09/07/teaser-tuesdays-sept-7/


TEASER TUESDAYS hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. asks you to:
1.Grab your current read.
2.Open to a random page.
3.Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page.
4.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!)
5.You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given

p180

"Front door was standing open." he said. "Maybe a half inch. It had a bad feel. I went in, found them upstairs in the master bedroom. It was like a butcher's shop.

Trouble

I having been trying to post my Teaser Tuesday, but I cannot copy from previous posts and copy to this post. I cant even copy and paste shortcuts. Did something change?

Review of Gigolos Get Lonely Too by Dwayne S. Joseph, Roy Glenn, and Jihad

Gigolos Get Lonely Too

by Dwayne S. Joseph (Goodreads Author), Roy Glenn (Goodreads Author), Shawn "Jihad" Trump

From Goodreads:
Three men that have a way with the ladies struggle to keep their heads when each finds that love is more important than sex. It's a dream come true for.
Carter's found the woman of his dreams and to keep her, he's all set to change his lifestyle as a gigolo. But all hell breaks loose when he agrees to meet Deanna for what he's decided is going to be his last appointment.
Rick has to find a way to make it out the game, when he falls in April. Now he has to find a way to cut loose, Laura, Yvette and Vanessa.
A threesome with two of the finest women in Atlanta. Forget the fact that he's married, or that the two willing women are his estranged sister-in-law and his wife's best friend. Vernon's just out to get his.

Paperback, 288 pages

Published January 1st 2006 by Urban Books

My thoughts:
This book includes three stories by three different authors. I liked the first story the best which was written by Dwayne S. Joseph. The second story by Roy Glenn was good too. I didn't particularly like the last story by Jihad, that is why I took away one star.

Review of Ace of Hearts by Jean Holloway

Ace of Hearts (DECK of CARDZ, #1)

by Jean Holloway

From Goodreads:
Something sinister is going on... And Love has nothing to do with it. First he seduces them... Then he kills them... What he does next is unspeakable. Detective Shevaughn Robinson gets her first big case, investigating a series of gruesome murders unaware the killer is not only becoming obsessed with death, but also with her.

Paperback, 252 pages

Published July 3rd 2007 by Firefly Publishing & Entertainment

My thoughts:
Well, I found this author on Goodreads. I could not get this book from MELCAT so I went ahead and bought it. I am so glad I did. Once I started reading this book, it was hard for me to put it down when I had to! It was full of murder, suspense, and sex.

Detective Shevaughn Robinson was really a character that I felt like I got to know. She was on the case of the murders and really had a hard time with the gore on the scene of the first murder. Also in the book is Tony O'Brien. He is a reporter for NBS news and he wanted to do a story on Shevaughn since she was a female cop who was a minority. They ended up hanging out quite a bit, but Shevaughn wanted to take it slow with him.

The killer is a really sick person, but he is leading up to something big. I was really surprised by how this book ended, and can't wait to read the next book in this series to see what happens!

Review of As Catch Can by Vincent Zandri

As Catch Can

by Vincent Zandri

From Goodreads:
Just when warden Jack Marconi thinks he has nothing left to lose, a convicted cop killer escapes from prison and Jack learns just how much is at stake.

Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages

Published February 8th 2000 by Dell (first published 1999)

My thoughts:
Jack Macaroni let prisoner Vasquez get transported to a dentist appointment, but he ended up escaping. He had to get to the bottom of what happened.

The author did a great job of making the atmosphere of the prison come to life when describing the different odors and colors of the prison.

I gave this book 2/5 stars.

I plan on reading Mr. Zandri's newer books as soon as I can get them!

Review of 'Til It's Gone by Dwayne S. Joseph

As usual, I was not disappointed by Dwayne Joseph's writing. He has a great way of really making the characters come alive. I also like how he uses brand names to describe what he is talking about, such as page 8 where he describes Danita as wearing Victoria's Secret Very Sexy for her perfum. I happen to wear that too. He always goes in to detail as far as what clothes people are wearing the brands of cars, etc. It really makes everything come alive.

If I was Danita, I probably wo ...more

Til It's Gone

by Dwayne S. Joseph

Paperback, 300 pages

Published August 1st 2008 by Urban Books

Goodreads Description:
Everyone knows it's hard being in a relationship. But have you ever thought about cheating? What would happen if you were ever caught? These are the questions being posed in this dramatic novel by Dwayne S. Joseph.
Danita and Stephen have been together for five years. Things are great between them until an unexpected discovery sends Danita inot a tailspin. With her trust shattered and temptation at her new job, she must decide whether to work things out or move on.
As the boundaries of love and fidelity are tested, can their relationship survive the worst? Or will they not realize what they have until it's gone?

My thoughts:
As usual, I was not disappointed by Dwayne Joseph's writing. He has a great way of really making the characters come alive. I also like how he uses brand names to describe what he is talking about, such as page 8 where he describes Danita as wearing Victoria's Secret Very Sexy for her perfume. I happen to wear that too. He always goes in to detail as far as what clothes people are wearing the brands of cars, etc. It really makes everything come alive.

If I was Danita, I probably would have thought the same thing she did at first, but she shouldn't have gone and did what she thought Stephen did. What happened though from the whole incident was really a blessing in disguise for Stephen.

I have to say that the ending gave me chills when Stephen saw the man leaning against the wall.

5/5 stars

Another New Tattoo!

Well on July 18, I saw this on Goodreads:

Vampire Academy Tattoos!

As promised, something cool today!

At long last, the molnija mark's artist has finally unveiled two of the other much-anticipated tattoos from the Vampire Academy series.

First, the promise mark:

And, the zvezda mark, aka "the battle mark" given to those with too many Strigoi kills to count.

Cool, eh? Zvezda is Russian for star, just as molnija is Russian for lightning. As you can see, VA kind of keeps the naming system simple.

Yes, I loved the Zvezda mark and knew that was going to be my next tattoo. I was a little afraid, because it is located on the neck in the book, so I had to be true to the book. It is quite a prominent place, but I love it! This tattoo actually didn't hurt that bad, not as bad as the butterflies on my back.

So here it is! Got it yesterday!

Teaser Tuesdays - August 31

TEASER TUESDAYS hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. asks you to:

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page.
4. 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!)
5. You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given

Til It's Gone

by Dwayne S. Joseph

P.18
"Danita, that's not mine."
"Oh really? Then who the hell's is it? Or are the pants you came home in not yours either?"