Book Reviews

Alisha B. (hogwartzfrog) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 2 more book reviews

Good as all the cat who books are. I am a returning fan and for the first time reading in the order.

Stacy R. (knit2together) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 6 more book reviews

Couldn't get into it so put it back into my pile for someone else.

Kay (jegka) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 97 more book reviews

I got this from the library to preview and there was nothing in it that inspired me to want to keep a copy. No pictures and no recipes that screamed at me to make them right now.

Stacy R. (knit2together) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 6 more book reviews

Really enjoyed reading this book. It was fun, and had a little of everything: knitting, romance, humor, and a real feel good book!

Steven C. (SteveTheDM) - San Jose, CA reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 134 more book reviews

This is a story told from two perspectives: a super-villain, presumably the smartest man in the world (who never seems to get what he wants), and a newly-minted superhero filled with insecurity. Doctor Impossible has escaped from a high-security prison, and threatens, yet again, to take over the world with a new Doomsday Device he dreamt up while in prison. His foes are the recently rejoined "New Champions," a collection of superheroes filled with personal problems of their own.

It's fun in a kind of strange throwback-to-old-comics way, and it's also kind of thought-provoking and sad when we get inside the heads of these people. Their lives, despite the force fields, lasers, and mystical hammers are kind of unsatisfying. It really feels like despite the power everyone demonstrates, there are no winners here.

The start of the book is fantastic, and drew me in quickly. But the excitement kind of wears thin before too long, and the book doesn't end with a bang at all. So the emotional journey the reader takes is not really what you'd expect in a superhero book.

Interesting and enjoyable, but left me wanting something different.

4 of 5 stars.

Nan A. (nanhum) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 2 more book reviews

This is a well researched and well written story about a complicated, fascinating woman. Starting with her childhood and ending with her passing, and using Du Maurier's own correspondence as well as others' writings and recollections, it nicely brings together both the personal and professional aspects of her life. It really brings out how Du Maurier was a product of her time and place. Struggling her entire life with her sexual identity, she no doubt would have been a different person had she been born in a more recent--and broadminded--time. But then would we have been treated to such rich reads had that been so?

Shani B. reviewed on 2/10/2012

I have read this book twice and both times it had me in tears. I think that it is a very good book and Danielle Steel is a very talented writer.

Bonnie A. (ladycholla) - Payson, UT reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 1309 more book reviews

Great book in the Benni Harper Ortiz Series. I enjoyed this one very, very much. As usual wonderful characters, interesting story and facts about quilting, fairs and the San Celina County area. Recommend this book.

Debbie S. reviewed on 2/10/2012

This book was fantastic. It had all kinds of twists and turns that really were very unexpected. Just when you thought you knew where it was headed, it turned again. Absolutely spell binding. I found myself anxious to get my little one in bed so I could get back to reading. I wish that the author had more books with this particular character. I highly recommend it.

Charlene M. (douglasgirl) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 10 more book reviews

I love this book. Haven't finished it yet, but it is a fun read and fills in a lot of my familiarity with historic and diverse Jewish community.

Pat M. reviewed on 2/10/2012

i really enjpoyed the Molly Bearpaw books. Wish she had written more. Am reading the Mitch Bushyhead series now.

Sue B. (nx74defiant) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 15 more book reviews

A pretty good mystery. But if it were not for the slightly advanced technology it could be easily be set today

April B. (pooh3465) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 4 more book reviews

WOW!! this is a great book. I Love it! At first I was kind of iffy but I stuck with it because I was on a Anita Blake Withdrawl LOL (the same thing happened with Anita Blake when I was on my Riley Jensen withdrawl LOL). I am so very glad I gave it a chance. I am loving it and can't wait to get all the books in the series. I am on book two so I should have it done in two more days but it is interesting, compelling, and intriguing! If you are not sure if you should try it or not, I really think you won't be sorry. It's a great book...thanks Karen

Rick B. (bup) - Glenview, IL reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 94 more book reviews

It was a carve-up.

Maybe I approached this book wrong. Not knowing much about it, except it was British and somewhat in the mystery realm, maybe it's my fault that because the first couple of hundred pages it was somewhat realistic, I thought the whole thing was supposed to be.

Yes, many characters were ruthless and without conscience from the get-go, but not unbelievably so. There were also plenty of real elements in the book - it is decidedly and concretely set, with British-relevant events like World War II, Yuri Gagarin's cosmonaut adventures, Margaret Thatcher's tenure as PM, and the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1989 providing the framework against which the plot unfolds.

But the characters aren't characters. Or some of them aren't. They're caricatures. And they run in the same universe as the protagonist and a few other 'normal' people. It didn't work for me.

And then the end came and the whole format switched and I was frankly happy it was all wrapping up.

The writing is clever and funny, so it's not terrible. On the other hand, it's a bit too aware of its cleverness, or something, like the would-be wit who can't extinguish his bratty grin while he delivers his bon mots.

I don't know. Maybe it's a Brit thing. Like those horrible Carry On _________ movies of the 50's and 60's the novel references.

British people are freaky.

GAIL L. (my2luvsemmyandmally) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 215 more book reviews

Another good book by Sophie Hannah!

Bertie W. (bertie0228) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 73 more book reviews

Without a doubt this book was at least a 10. The Book of bright Ideas was funny and good, this book was Fantastic and Great. Don't mess reading this book. It will make you laugh so hard and then when you think you have finally dried the laughing tears, you will start all over again

Yvonne L. reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 426 more book reviews

I either love Lora Leigh (Breed Series) or hate her (Bound Hearts series). The main reason I dislike the Bound Hearts series is because it's boring and the characters are idiots. "Sheila's Passion" falls into the dumb characters catergory. I had to force myself to finish it and now I want the time I wasted back. The story is confusing and doesn't go anywhere. The plot doesn't make sense. Both characters claim they don't play games but that's exactly what they do. They act like teeny boppers, "Well, if you can't figure out what's wrong than you don't deserve to know." On top of that the sex scenes were dull and redundant. Usually Leigh's sex scenes are hot but here I have no idea why they would mistake lust for love.

My review of McCray's "Deadly Dance" is unfair. I developed a hate-on for Adam Boyd after his breakup with Nxy. This story is from her paranormal romance starring Nxy. Adam spent a whole book convincing Nxy that her being different (not human) doesn't matter to him only to break up in the last book because she was too different. This story takes place right afterwards. So it was very hard to sit through how special Keri the ballerina was and how much he loves her when I sat through three books of him saying the exact same thing to Nyx. So I read it with lots of eye-rolling and hating Adam for being a player. Not fair, I know. So it was hard for me to enjoy. If I never read the other books in the series, I probably would think the story was okay.

I've never read Red Gardner before and I probably won't. I just couldn't get into the story. It was kind of slow and dragged a bit for me.

So definitely a waste of time. Avoid it.

Christine H. (solarawynn) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 639 more book reviews

Was good,the story has merit.I enjoyed the growing romance and friendship.

Christine H. (solarawynn) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 639 more book reviews

I found Donna boring,predictable.The story flat and uninteresting.

Vivian M. (vivie) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 2 more book reviews

wonderful recipes,cant wait to start cooking

Rhiannon H. (fivezense) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 3 more book reviews

Amanda Hocking has taken an un tapped world of fantasy and made it into reality with her novel, Switched. Here you've entered a world full of Trylle or as it's coined in the world by most: trolls.

From the moment you meet the protagonist named Wendy Everly, you know her life isn't normal. Her mother tried to kill her before the age of 10 and she ends up moving around to almost 10 different schools by the time she is 15. Her brother Matt and aunt Maggie are what keep her grounded because they love her unconditionally, no matter the mood Wendy is in. Although, throughout the book she was truly just a child in the way she acted which is explained as a trait in those of the Trylle; having a short temper. I did find it annoying at times, but luckily some of the other Trylle were worst in character than Wendy, so she was a sign of relief throughout the novel. I do however love how passionate she is about her family and the bond that was created.

Along the way you meet Finn, mysterious and also comes off at first as arrogant. But once you get to know him, you realize his secret and his ways for this attitude. Behind those brown earthy-tone eyes, lies a someone who has been through a lot and mastered the importance of a strong-will. I admired him for that but at times I kind of wanted to shake the poor boy because he was so convinced he wouldn't let his emotions get in the way of his job. Something that can be hard no just in a fictional world, but in the real world too.

Beyond that, the bond of Wendy and Finn is very much alive in this book. I love how the tension is there, so enriched with fire that keeps on burning through the novel. The love/hate dynamic is engaging for a reader and kept me intrigued. The dialogue interactions between the two was alive and kicking, sometimes kicking: "A foolish man thinks he knows everything. A wise man knows he doesn't," Finn replied absently, still looking down at the book. "That's such a fortune-cookie answer," I said with a laugh, and even he smirked at me. (Hocking, 184)

Then the callus interaction of Kim and Elora with Wendy was tricky. I noticed how cold both were. Kim was frigid and dark, while Elora was intimidating and stoic with the power she had. But the way Elora was described physically in the book made me picture the actress from Revenge, Madeleine Stowe who plays Victoria Grayson, the dark haired beauty of a mother was a cold-hearted way of dealing with people. She is powerful and ruthless, just like Elora. (If there was a movie for this book, I hope someone sends her agent a script to play Elora, because she is perfect!)

This novel has kept me engaged. It's a rare thing and amazing at the same time when this happens and I highly praise books that can do this easily. The world of the Trylle has been very fascinating. From the way the scenery is described to the characters that live in this community, it's no secret that it's filled with magic and adventure.

The real intensity comes in around Chapter 22, when the plot takes on a big twist that later will help lead into an ending that is hard to forget, let alone into the sequel of the trilogy. Hands down this book has been excited, interesting, even fun to read. It took me longer because for two weeks straight I was sick and had a cough that left be unable to read (I once coughed for an hour straight!)

Anyway, all in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves stories about mythological creatures in a new twist and light. The way that Amanda Hocking used trolls and took it to a place that hasn't been tapped into yet for young adult literature is fantastic and really well thought out. I'm excited to read the next installment and the final book in the trilogy as well!

Linda K. (lhasalover) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 108 more book reviews

I am enjoying this book of Nicholas Sparks. It is better than the last one. He seems to have taken a darker turn in his books with characters that are more dangerous. It is a note that I agree with other readers that I don't care for.

Susan M. (susanmiller) reviewed on 2/10/2012

I like Jennifer Chiaverini's writing and am enjoying this quilt series. Her first was very good and I like this one even more. It is nice to be able to find out more about the characters from Bk 1.

Stephen K. (havan) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 31 more book reviews

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." ― Edmund Burke"

In what many consider John Irving's masterwork, we're asked to consider abortion and the rights of society in imposing laws on its citizens. Even the title, The Cider House Rules is an allusion to this idea of rules and the authority to impose them. The Cider House Rules were posted by well intentioned people who didn't live in the cider house and who didn't really understand what life there was like. It's also unclear just exactly what gives them the authority to impose and/or enforce them. One of the nurses working with "Saint Larch" sums it up rather well at one point..."It's because even a good man can't always be right, that we need ... rules."

Even if it were not for these important themes, this is a worthwhile read. The characters are charming, and even the villains are understandable, and for the most part forgivable. The storytelling is first rate, engaging and entertaining. There are even some comedic moments that are overwhelmingly ironic and at the same time laugh out loud funny.

And as to the movie version... Irving did the screen adaptation himself. He made it gentler and more endearing, and though he eliminated several interesting characters to make a simpler, movie friendly plot, I've seen the movie before and after reading the book and it's still eminently watchable. It doesn't feel like it's missing anything too critical. I'm sure that the cameo by Irving as the stationmaster is a salute to one of the characters who was cut though I felt sorrier to see no hint of Melony. However, a book can be more detailed and darker than a movie without losing its audience, and given that the film won Irving an Oscar for best screenplay, apparently the movie community agrees that this adaptation was well done.

John Irving has been called the American Dickens and it's probably because of that that so many Dickens titles were featured in this story but they worked quite well and the quotes that were pulled added to the overall effect quite well.

No matter what your stand on abortion, whether you're pro-life or pro-choice, I'm sure that if you read "the Cider House Rules" you'll be pro-Irving.

Pat W. (3ladybug) reviewed on 2/10/2012 + 65 more book reviews

Book has a wealth of information about horses, behaviors, practices, training, proper care, saddling, riding, games... Book written for the young rider 6-12 yrs or a beginning rider.
An excellent book for anyone wanting to learn about horses and the subjects listed.