Ashley

BLUF: Good guide for those looking for or starting their first job. For those on the job a year or more, you will get a few great tips, but this is a guide, not a self-improvement book.

Pros

- Few great tips including: importance of organization, setting priorities, and managing expectations; phone/email etiquette; research expectations; and FIO (figure it out).
- Her writing is easy to read and she uses personal experience for examples.
- Great foundation for those new to having a career to build from.

- Written with the assumption you are going to be an assistant or secretary.
- Few bad tips including: Knowing your supervisor's friends and favorite restaurants; solving office politics by simply ignoring your frustrations and continuing on in a miserable environment as if it wasn't; telling your coworkers and customers about your next dream job when you're still at your current employer; and showing up first and leaving last aka, revolving around your boss' schedule (Okay advice, but my job is to be efficient. Should I feel obligated to come in at 8:30 like my boss? No, I'm going to kick butt at 6:00. Also, dedicating time off the clock to your employer will often get you in trouble).
- All advice centers on the author. This means that there is a strong chance it's not applicable to you. For example, telling night owls to wake up early because it works for the author is rather counterproductive for the night owls.
- Has a section on how to deal with a difficult boss, but doesn't actually give you any good advice! This would have been the most beneficial section to those of us a year or two into our first jobs
- The last sections on how to schedule your social skills and other personal, non work related was halfbaked.

This is my first “real” review. Please tell me where I go wrong and how I can improve. Thank you!

Six Years, Mystery/Thriller, Harlan Coben

Six Years kicks off with the main character, Jake Fisher, at a wedding. The problem? The wedding is between the love of his life, Natalie Avery, and her old boyfriend, Todd Sanderson. At the wedding, Natalie convinces Jake to promise her that he will leave her and Todd alone. Fast forward Six Years. Jake stumbles across Todd Sanderson's obituary and the repressed emotions towards Natalie are surfaced. Jake decides to attend the funeral from a distance, unsure whether or not he is ready to reconnect with Natalie or, for that matter, if she is even open to it. At the service, Jake strains to find Natalie in the crowd. Jake finally stumbles on the wife, but she's not Natalie. Confused and torn, Jake begins his search for Natalie except the only clues he has to go on are from their summer vacation fling six years ago. To make matters worse, nobody in the town they vacationed at remembers Natalie and the retreat she stayed at supposedly never existed. Jake encounters gunmen also looking for Natalie, which causes him to race to find her before they do her any harm, while Jake's best friend questions whether Natalie, or the gunmen, even exist outside of Jake's mind.

I understand there are many people disappointed with this book. It's the first Harlan Coben book I've read since middle school. So, maybe I don't know better, or maybe I am just simple minded; I found myself hooked on this book from page one. I found the majority of the characters credible, but I did have a hard time with Natalie. My first problem is that if she was involved with Fresh Start, she probably wasn't keying into the events that happened around Jake's life. That said, she could be like Jake's best friend and keep watch, but, even then, she wouldn't have been able to send him an email from an email address that doesn't exist – especially if she's as computer minded as Jake. Yeah, yeah, there are ways to do it. Putting that aside, the likelihood that she was not only in the same place as Jake (at the cabin), but that she was also an expert marksman is pretty weak.

In the end, I really enjoyed this work. Coben kept me guessing and my guesses were often wrong. I would recommend this book to anybody who enjoys a lighter mystery.

BLUF: This book contains well-built characters and a walk through a fantasy world consisting of characters that represent the embodiments of human characteristics. It is bit gloomy at times, but I enjoyed this book.

The Darkness of the Womb weaves our reality with the Internal Landscape, the reality we enter before and after life. In our reality, Marigold and Jeff are down on their luck. Actually, they are barely scraping by on Jeff's salary. Jeff tries hard at work, but his supervisors are out to make the lives of their subordinates miserable. Marigold is unfortunately unemployed and very fortunately pregnant. Jeff and her have been trying, unsuccessfully, for children for a while now. Little do they know, their son wants to be miscarried. It is up to them to venture in the Internal Landscape to save him from himself and bring him into their world.

The Reality
My complaint about the day-to-day portion of this story is that it is filled with negative emotions/occurrences. These correspond with the story and are absolutely supposed to be there, but, as a reader, I don't like to feel depressed by reality. Let's just say that I prefer my reality to be written a little less realistically.

Putting that aside, I enjoyed the main characters here. The more the story uncovers about the lives and characteristics that create the characters, the more you enjoy them. They were real people (well built) and I connected with them quickly. Steve becomes the main character in this realm. He's an odd duck, but very likable.

The Internal Landscape
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the fantasy portion. (Fantasy is far from my preferred genre.) Knight's personification of instinct, logic, purpose, love, and lust is brilliant. The conflicts and confusion between these characters will keep you entertained and intrigued.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It leaves you wondering, “What's next?” without feeling robbed of an ending. (AKA, It's tied up nicely, but leaves room for a sequel.)

I believe I must first disclose that I received this book free through Goodreads First Reads. Also, please forgive me. I am not a writer for good reason, as you will see in the following review.

The book has a familiar, but welcoming storyline. I do agree with some other reviewers that the book lead with a slower start than I prefer. The storyline draws the reader in during the middle of the book and holds them there until the end. The end left me wanting more, not in the sense that the book was inadequate, but in the sense that I wouldn't mind reading a sequel or prequel.

I disagree about the annoyances with typos. Typos happen occasionally throughout the book, but it does not distract from or interrupt the story.

Overall, I rated this book as 3-star. I liked the book. I enjoyed the writing, the typos were few and far between, and the concept was good. At the same time, I could take this book or leave it. While I enjoyed the read and it was a good way to pass the time, it was, overall, just a good book. Perhaps I should have warned at the beginning of my review that my main obsession is thrillers and crime...

I would recommend this book to young adults and those from a younger audience.

By the way, thank you!!

BLUF: Great story with a poor ending.

The premise of this book is pretty simple. Wife goes missing. Husband didn't do it. Police think he did. It's an irresistible storyline.

Which is why you will keep reading even after you realize that the husband is a dope, the wife is likeable but socially ridiculous, and that the story continues despite having nothing interesting to share...

...but then there is a twist. It's wonderful. Even though you don't care about the players, you cannot put this book down. Sorry for the cliche, but it's like watching a car wreck - you just cannot look away, for better or worse.

Which is fortunate because, while it gets better, the ending is not satisfying.

The reason I marked this as a recommended title is because I couldn't stop talking to people about this book after the twist. I rarely share like this.

Genre: Contemporary Satire


BLUF: Good writing, interesting story, but I don't like the genre. If you're into these types of stories, don't let my inability to get past the genre cloud your decision to read this book.


Dan Wilson is a good man who has been worn down by movement to be “Politically Correct”. He never had high goals and is content being a strong, mid-level manager. Dan feels of little to no value to the world, as his employer not only fails to appreciate his good leadership, but also disciplines him for not praising his poor. On top of being undervalued at work, Dan is fighting against charges that he had participated in a hate crime. He didn't. The case is ridiculous. Yet, Dan is just one of “too many white men” and he is set up to be an example against all the other white men. Dan takes us through the ups and downs of the weeks from after the incident through the trial, including his whirlwind romance.


If you like satire, you will enjoy this book. If you like realistic stories, you will enjoy this book. Personally, I enjoy satire and I enjoyed the overall story, but I do not like how realistic this story is. When I say that, I mean that I don't like stories that travel through day-to-day experiences. (I use books to avoid reality.) Because of this, the story dragged for me.


Oh. I'm a little “innocent” when it comes to cursing and offensive language. Dan Wilson's woman is ball of offensiveness.


So, for me, the story could be slow/mundane at times and Dan's woman is offensive, but I enjoyed the overall concept. Like I said, it's not my genre.

BLUF: Satisfying wrap up to a trilogy. (Not a standalone.)

I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review

The concept of this series is amazing. Jane Spears, a former spy, assassin, and master sergeant, is a mind runner. She enters the minds of victims and criminals in order to gain information needed in the real world. It's an emotional job and coming out of a run creates uncertainty in the runner about what is real and what was in the mind. As if this isn't stressful enough, Jane is being swept into a royal wedding – her wedding – to a man whose wealth and social status intimidates her.

I saw this book and its' description on NetGalley and I just had to read it. I didn't realize this was a trilogy until reading the “Acknowledgements” section at the end (d'oh!).

The relationships in this book are well done, and as complicated as they are in life. The only relationship I thought was off was the one between Jane and Dash. I don't understand their relationship at all, which leads me to believe that there are some major events I missed from the first two books.

The mind running performed in this book is (what I assume) a continuation from the second book. It's entertaining, but there are no new cases introduced, criminals put away, or cases solved.

Overall, this book is the completion to a trilogy, not the standalone I mistook it for. It seems to wrap up the series in a fulfilling way, but I couldn't fall in love with the action or characters without reading the first two books.

First published: January 29th, 20152015 Popsugar RC Category: A Book You Own But Have Never ReadMy Star Rating: I won this book through goodread's First Reads programBLUF: Pass! This would make a good movie, but is not a good book. (A movie would likely take away the unnecessary asides and analogies that are on most of the pages of this book.)Plot: Apocalypse Idaho follows a misfit of characters in their fight for survival. Three students, one janitor, and one “better-than-you” movie star wake one morning to find their town deserted and isolated by no electricity or cell service. While determining the best route forward, the group encounters a practically invincible vampire, which they don't kill, but somehow manage to flee from after an intense fight. It's not a question of if, but how long can this group survive?Story: The story itself isn't bad. It's exactly what you would want from an apocalyptic novel. The problem is the characters and the narration.Characters: The two characters which I most hated are one of the students, Nathan, and the movie star, Derek. Nathan does not shut up. He is awkward. His is annoying. What's more, the author didn't mention that he has albino white hair until the last third of the book. (These things are important for my visualization of the book. )Derek, on the other hand, is a total a-hole. He thinks he is better than everybody and has no problem acting the part. He is an unapologetic, egotistical self-centered crazy b. Not my thing.[Spoiler: On top of these two, we have Autumn. Autumn cold-heartedly dumped our janitor for Derek and spends the book hidden safely in Derek's house. After release, she watches the video of her husband about to die and all she thinks is “That's not even where I was, Johnny”.]Narration: The author tries too hard to be funny/satirical/whatever.
“But the darkness doesn't stop her. Julie can see in the blackness. Her last name is Black”“During World War II the factory was converted to fight Nazis somehow, where it undoubtedly helped pave the way for an allied victory.”“It looks Really Really Fucking Big. The underlined capital letters in Derek Darius's voice were audible. It's an inflection point that says, this needs emphasis. One of the vampires is really really fucking big.”“One-Eye creeps forward, past Campbell's tomato soup and well into Progresso territory.”“Still, on the plus side,” Nathan says, “at least we're not in Utah...“
and my favorite:
“Nathan, just because we were attacked by something doesn't mean we're part of a science fiction story. We're a group of Idahoans. You're with real people who care about each other. Yes, we've been through something none of us understand, but we won, and we're still alive. It's over. And even if it's not, even if there are more of those things out there, we can get through this together. If we're strong and we stick together, we can all make it out of this alive.”Nathan's eyes are intent. He's pretty much speechless.“Johnny, are you fucking retarded? ””
On top of this, the constant analogies made me want to throw this book against the wall.
“There are parallels to a hostage negotiation scenario, but the distinct difference is that instead of police trying to rescue hostages there are vampires trying to eat them.”“It seems like the vampires are playing with the group. Nathan saw a documentary once where dolphins did something like this with fish they were eating. They would jump and play and even though they're in the ocean you could almost hear them laughing as they ruthlessly rounded up and massacred the entire school. Fucking evil dolphins.”“It's opinions like these that separate the optimists from the pessimists “There's a 99% chance we're going to die horrible deaths here,” the pessimist might say. “No,” the optimist would disagree. “There's a 1% chance some of us might live.” It's the classic glass half empty half full question, but with probabilities of dying.”
If that's not enough, you have circular reasoning.
“The omnipresent sense of dread is almost absent from Johnny/ Autumn's home. Instead it's replaced with a feeling of familiarity and also of creepiness. In a way, the creepiness is there because of the familiarity.”““If you die while we're out,” he says, “you're going to be dead a long time.””“If Derek Darius is the one who randomly does the expected, then Nathan Montgomery is the one who is expected to be random.”
The narration made it feel like the author was trying for a cult classic and, I'm sorry, it didn't do it for me.Side note: I am one of the 4% on goodreads.com who gave this a 1 star. While I am surprised, I feel like I have to disclose this as I am obviously an outlier with this opinion. 

BLUF: Good for those who enjoy a focus on the relationships in their murder mysteries. (Can be read as a standalone.)

I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review

Dead List follows two stories: the one of the killer and the one of the detectives. The killer, near death, murders out of a need for retribution. She starts as a sincere killer, leaving a calling card at the murder scenes in order to avoid implicating an innocent person, but soon realizes the thrill of killing and a never-ending list of people who deserve death. The detectives, on the other hand, find themselves at odds with changes on the force, new developments in their relationships, and, of course, figuring out who is murdering seemingly random individuals. On top of the murders, there are two young girls missing. Will the detectives be able to save the girls and find the murderer before it's too late?

I'm not a big fan of knowing who the killer is upfront as it takes away any thriller aspect the book may have otherwise have, but it's easy to forgive this novel for it given the motives of the killer and her logic surrounding the kills. Not to mention, the killer is very likeable. (How many times have you said that when reading a murder mystery?)

As for starting the series in the middle, there is always the fear that reader will miss key aspects from the previous books – especially when it comes to the characters and their relationships. In Dead List, this wasn't the case. The character's personalities are well written and their interactions are fluid. I felt like I entered into a new group of friends. They are intriguing, quirky, and digging themselves into holes - just like in real life. I love it.

The downfall of this book is that it emphasizes the characters and their relationships over the murder or the missing girl cases. Given that we know the murderer upfront, this wasn't a problem for me, but I hope that this series moves forward with increasing focus on the murderer(s) over the individual characters.

All-in-all, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the first two books in the series. It was a good, light read.

Side note: The author includes a glossary at the end of the book for those of us who are unfamiliar with British slang. I gave up looking up British slang in other books and am SO thankful for the consideration.

BLUF: I didn't see it coming!

I feel quite opposite from other readers. I thought the story was just okay, but the ending was great.

Our main character, Zoe, is a resident in training at a psych ward, who needs quite a bit of psychological help herself. She's imperfect, impractical, and, well, human. It's not so much her story that is interesting in this book as much as it is the hospital and their patients. Zoe's patient Sofia, a ruthless killer, may be set free if Zoe cannot determine a convincing reason against it!

As we delve more into Zoe's subconscious to find the truth about her childhood, we also take steps to uncover the motives behind Sofia's murders. As promised, the story ends with a twist that will (hopefully) catch you as surprised as I was.

I received this book through GoodRead's First Reads Program

BLUF: Good book for those who like to love their characters and for those who are able to remove their Dean Koontz expectations. (Good book, but not the Dean Koontz most of us adore.)

I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review

My Background: I love Dean Koontz. He is all I read during high school and I kept reading him until Relentless, which I fully believe wasn't written by the bestseller and turned me off enough that I have been fearful to read Dean Koontz since. (Then, after five years, I picked up By the Light of the Moon, which made me even more fearful to revisit the books I absolutely adore from him.) I'm trying to say that, while Koontz is my first love, or relationship has been distant for quite some time now. Yet, I couldn't resist wanting to revisit our relationship.

Plot: Ashley Bell follows the story of Bibi Blair. Bibi (pronounced BeeBee) is a lover of life and an avid writer. Bibi suffers a stroke, which leads to a diagnosis of a very rare, very malicious strain of cancer. Two days and a visit from an unknown being later, and Bibi is inexplicably clear of cancer. As a gift, her parents present her a reading from a psychic, who soon shares that Bibi was spared in order to safe the life of another, Ashley Bell.

Review: Ashley Bell is a good book, but it doesn't live up to the standards we hold for Dean Koontz. Although one could argue that there are too many run-on sentences, Ashley Bell is well written and keeps the reader entranced. The story itself is interesting, but it lacks the suspense, horror, and mystery that we love and have come to expect from Koontz.

Bibi should be a likeable character, but I wasn't a big fan. That said, I can't pinpoint what exactly bothered me. Honestly, it could even be the fact that every character was focused on her and her only. I realize this is stupid of me. Given that we are taken through this book on her thoughts, it's not a surprise and is very realistic that everything is about her, and I understand that. Like I said, I can't quite explain my feeling. I felt that she thought she was smarter than everyone else and that she expected information from other people without offering anything in return (even when they asked). My tweaks aren't likely to be your tweaks though and, which it bothered me in certain portions of the book, it didn't take away from my fondness of the story.

Like I mention above, the story doesn't have the suspense, horror, or mystery that a reader would expect when picking up a book by Dean Koontz. This book isn't a thriller and it won't scare you. There are times were your heart is paused, hoping that the characters will soon know what we know, but overall, there is little suspense. There is mystery in Ashley Bell, but there is nothing for the reader to guess about – we can only continue through the story and be directed through the mystery.

For all these complaints against the “Dean Koontz Standard”, I found the story itself is intriguing. I dreaded the face that I only had an hour or two at a time to read this story – I wanted to finish it all in one sitting. I enjoyed the few twists in the book and, for the most part, I enjoyed the balance between realism and paranormal.

Overall, I think this is a compelling read and good for those who like to love their characters.

I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review

To be completely honest, I picked this book primarily based on its cover and because the plot seemed ok.

I didn't grow any attachment to this book or its characters. I find the characters interesting – the lead character that thinks he's slick (and is somehow irresistible to the ladies?), the gullible sister, the hot older neighbor, the absence of parents – but there wasn't enough action to keep the reader entertained.

I enjoyed the writing and appreciated that the sex wasn't detailed (yes, I'm one of those people!), but, overall, this book lacks excitement and direction.

Thank you to Pen and Picture for the opportunity to read this book through netgalley!

BLUF: Good start to a new series. This book emphasizes character development and the development of the team, but worry not – the murder and mystery mixes well.

I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review

Plot: Dark Murder follows Detective Stephen Greco, a new lead for the team, in the case of a mutilated body found in a canal. Greco is brought in to pull the team together as a functional unit. Between the suspicious circumstances around the murder and the awkward dynamics around leading a new team, Dark Murder is a good start to a new series.The Good: I enjoyed the characters and their interactions: the team has an interesting dynamics and we have insights to the faults of the employees, the family and coworkers of the victims lead to interesting drama, and we gain insight on the killer by seeing through his eyes, although it's a bit disturbing. Another aspect I liked is that we figure out who the killer is around three quarters of the way in, but not the why until ~90%. The Bad: The ending was very quick and anti-climatic.I was very excited when I realized that the main character is not only a side character in another book of Durrant's (Dead List), but also that he was not a well liked character in this other book.

In comparison to Dead List: Dead List was upfront with the murderer, while Dark Murder allows the reader to guess. Dead List was all about the characters and their relationships with each other while Dark Murder has a healthier mix of relationships and murder mystery.

BLUF: I really enjoyed certain aspects of this book, but, as a whole, the book didn't do much for me.

I received this ebook free from storycartel.com in exchange for an honest review

Let's start with the good..

This is one of the first books I have read that tells the story through multiple perspectives. I don't know if this classifies as the omniscient narrator or if it's something entirely different, but it works for this book. I enjoyed knowing what all characters were feeling and thinking and it kept the book interesting to me.

Despite not being thrilled with the story or the characters, I didn't think once about putting the book down.

Now with the bad..

I didn't grow attached to any character in this book and, as a result, wasn't invested in their actions or potential death.

I expected this book to scare me. It didn't.

Lastly... The professor and secondary character decide to go back into the forest again to collect the bodies and find specimens... Really? After everything? That's just ridiculous.

BLUF: Great book for those who enjoy science fiction mixed in with their murder mystery.

I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review

Sirens in the Night follows two individuals: Samantha Ballard and Jack Allyn. Samantha is an experienced detective who is “mentoring” the homicide division rookie. In reality, she faces a need to prove herself as a strong detective and tries to lead the case ahead of her FBI counterparts, while being very impatient and unforgiving towards her rookie. Jack is a radio DJ. Once famous for his on-air personality, Jack now finds himself at the lowest of lows in the business. Unfortunately for Jack, he hits a new low as mummified corpses begin appearing around him.

At first, Samantha seems like your typical police harda** who doesn't care about anyone and doesn't play by the rules. Reading on, she sheds this initial judgment and becomes very likeable (It's interesting how getting to know somebody sheds light on their actions.) She remains too hard on her partner, but it reads well. Usually, I am the first to whine about a character that feels pushed down by the man, but, at the same time, is rude to those around her and shuts her station out. In Samantha's case, these aspects didn't bother me. She doesn't act as a lone wolf and she calls her partner in on all discoveries. For me, her desire to prove herself as a woman detective didn't have a whine to it; it was just a fact of her position.

Jack is likeable from the start. His career is past its' prime and he is unhappy, but he has his routines and a good personality.

As for the murders and investigation in these books, we discover the “who” and the “how” very quickly in this book, but not the “why”. In general, I don't like knowing the “who” upfront, but really, we only see who it is, not know who it is. This allows the book to retain mystery despite knowing our murder's pattern.

The only downfall of this book (unless you count not having a second book!) is that some of the descriptive phrases are reused. That is, one person describes somebody in very specific words and, much later in the book, another character uses the exact same words. It might be purposeful, but it gives the reader a sense of déjà vu and essentially disrupts the current story to reflect on parts of the story that has already passed.

Overall, I enjoyed this very much!

BLUF: Not amazing, but not bad - this book is somewhere in the middle. It can be read as a standalone.

Private London follows two detectives: Kirsty Webb, who works for the police, and Dan Carter, who works for Private's London branch. Kirsty Webb is working to find a serial killer who preys on young women. Dan Carter's current assignments is to watch over and protect the daughter of a wealthy businessman – but when she is abducted, he is in a race against time to save her before she becomes the next victim.

The synopsis wants you to believe that Hannah's abduction could be related to the serial killer, but we are brought into the book so quickly that any notion that these events are connected only lasts briefly. Instead of intertwined cases, these cases are pretty separate. The only work mixture between the two ex-lovers is that the police are working the abduction case at the same time as Dan Carter and consider him to be a suspect. This is a shame as the main characters could be better explored against each other in a connected case more than they were explored working the separate cases. (Come to think of it, Kirsty did not have much interaction with anyone anyways.)There is not much to say about Dan Carter's case. Everything went smoothly. The reader is able to figure out the obvious parts, but there is a tangent that very few readers would have guessed.It was nice to see Kirsty's world, but the case that she was working on was half-baked and had an unsatisfying ending. She had a few emotional moments, but seemed otherwise apathetic. How else could you be satisfied, as a policeman, letting the killer run free and avoiding justice?

Private London has a slow start, but it grew on me. Like the first book in the series, there are an excessive amount of arbitrary chapters. (One conversation spanned over two chapters despite there being no break in conversation!) Unlike the first book, there is not an overwhelming amount of characters. In the end, I found the book amusing and a very quick read.

BLUF: Cute, quick read – great for those who enjoy a little supernatural mixed into their mystery stories.

I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review

Plot: The Witches Protection Program is exactly what you think it's about. It's a witness protection program for witches. After failing his first assignment within a highly regarded federal police branch, Wes Rockville is reassigned to the Witches Protection Program. Although Wes thinks the reassignment is an elaborate joke, (c'mon, witches don't actually exist) Wes has little choice but to play along. Soon enough, and a rude awakening later, Wes finds himself fighting for the survival of humanity.

Okay, okay.. I exaggerate, but the level of action definitely reflects a good vs. evil battle.

Let's start with the good...: The plot wrapped together quite well. Starting from a main character who doesn't believe in the witches he is now hired to protect, continuing to the witches stirring up trouble, and ending with a successful thwarting of plans – the plot ramps up in a way that will keep your attention. Also, I can see this book being a good series – maybe episodic in nature?

... and move to the awkward...: Oh my, awkward relationships. The main relationship between Wes and Morgan was strangely developed. From distrust to sparks of chemistry to making out in inopportune moments to an actual relationship – it just didn't flow naturally. The other awkward relationship was between Alastair and Morgan. Alastair creeps Morgan out for the majority of the book. Then, at the end, she's very excited to be a daughter to him – no questions asked. I did not understand this at all. There were a couple others, but, for the most part, the relationships weren't too questionable.

... and finish with the rest.: I know this doesn't matter, but I am going to vent anyways. The book kept introducing one character as Junie “Baby Fat” Meadows, but, she was consistently referred to as Junie in the text. Why introduce a person with a nickname if you don't use the nickname more than half the time? But.. maybe that was my perception. If not, it's definitely just a pet peeve.

BLUF: I would not recommend this book simply because it is monotonous; however, I enjoyed the (fictional or not) insight into a country much different than our own.

“Ga thought about reminding the dear leader that they lived in a land where people had been trained to accept any reality presented to them. He considered sharing how there was only one penalty, the ultimate one, for questioning reality. How a citizen could fall into great jeopardy for simply noticing that realities had changed.”

I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review

BLUF: Very cute, but predictable read.

Plot: When Jenna Scali, a psychologist's assistant, begins receiving emails at work detailing the emailer's murderous fantasies, she isn't sure what to make of it. Are these emails from a disgruntled patient? a prank? sincere? A coed is murdered close to Jenna's apartment and Jenna realizes that her emailer is legitimate. Curious in nature, Jenna is driven to find the connection between her and the dead girl. As bodies begin to pile up, Jenna finds herself in a race to unmask the killer before he kills his next intended target: her.

Story: This story is very cute, what I would consider cozy (almost, the way the killer attacked the coeds may be a bit too much for cozy). It's a palate cleanser - a good read when you want to unwind and relax.

Characters: Our main players are Jenna and her gay friend Quentin. Jenna is a little headstrong - wanting to solve the case by herself and refusing protection or someone nearby even when she feels she needs it. Quentin is her bff. He's always around and available and happens to be her belly dance teacher. He's a good sidekick, really. I haven't read many books with such a good friendship. (It's a nice change from hard-headed, loner detectives.)

Um... Really? Moments: After learning that somebody delivered a message to Jenna at home, her boss suggests that “Maybe someone heard about these anonymous e-mails and is trying to scare you” and advises her not to go to the police. Um... Really? I get that he's trying to protect his business, but a psychologist (of all people) should have concerns over these types of threats. Tsk Tsk...

BLUF: Well written story that is more about the journey than the destination.

I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review

Plot: The Quality of Silence follows a woman and a daughter who travel to Alaska, with the hopes of persuading her husband to come home. These hopes are soon shattered when she is solemnly informed that the village her husband was staying in was burnt in an accident, with no survivors and all bodies (including her husband) accounted for. Undeterred and hopeful, the woman and he daughter embrace on a trip through Alaska, to the burnt village in search of her husband.

POV: I was terrified when I started this book because the first perspective we are introduced to is the daughter. I can't remember the last time I read a book from a child's point of view, especially one where the child actually speaks from their age, rather than from the POV of an adult. But it was good. Really good. Granted, I may be blinded from the fact that she is deaf – which is another POV I have never read from, but quite appreciated. There are other POVs, but I found the daughter to be the most enjoyable.

Attention to Detail:I'm not knowledgeable on Alaska, sign language, or any of the other concepts in the book, but reading this, it felt as if the author put in the extra effort to make this story as honest as possible. I'm sure I will find out if my feelings on this are true or not, but the effort showed and added to the story.

Plot: I wasn't thrilled for the plot. I was hoping for a murder mystery, but this book was more about the journey across Alaska above everything else. I should have expected this, but, for whatever reason, I didn't. I'm sure this isn't a problem for most of you because you likely read the book's plot synopsis thoroughly, unlike me...

The end is neat and tightly pulled together, but rather abrupt. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but I wanted a little more.

BLUF: Quick read involving heart wrenching emotional decisions. (aka.. What extent would you go to save your loved one(s)?)

I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review

Plot: One to Go follows Tom Booker who, after an accident that would have killed his sister-in-law, daughter, and daughter's three friends, is approached by the devil for a deal.. The lives of those he loves in the van for the lives of five strangers (by his hand), with a deadline of one body every two weeks. Booker tries to find the high road in killing, but naturally, taking one's life isn't easy.

The plus: I love plots like these because they require so much from the main character. There is the moral dilemma of killing a person, there is the heartbreak of having to do so in order to save those you love, and then the combination of these two aspects while training to maintain normalcy of your day-to-day life.

The minus: I wasn't a big fan of the main character, to be honest, but it wasn't so bad that I didn't like the book. He's awkward, only really cared about his daughter after striking the deal, and makes loads of stupid decisions.

The other: Some of this story was a bit harder to believe, even with the general suspension of disbelief you decide to make upon picking the book up. Other parts (um. P-chugging? really?) should have never come to mind.

BLUF: This is a worthwhile read, but contains some odd (but infrequent) sexual content.

I was provided a copy of this book from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review

Plot: The Black Tongue surrounds a neighborhood's urban legend. The story is intertwined around a few different individuals. We follow a young girl who is being introduced to the legend for the first time, an older woman who remembers the story from her childhood and decides to return to her hometown to write about the legend, and an older man (grew up with the woman) who returns to the neighborhood after the death of his father and reminisces on his childhood.

Pre-warning!: The first chapter is told from a teen's point of view and IS NOT reflective on how the book is written. Please, trudge through it – it's worth it.

Let's start with the good...: I can't tell you how good of a job the translator did against the original, but the story here flowed as if it was originally written in English, with the obvious exceptions of Finnish names. I didn't struggle to read through the translation at all.

It's interesting to see how everything ties together. At first, it really makes no sense on why we are following these different people, but it becomes much more complex as the story continues. I adore the story for this.

Another plus is that this book scared me. I'll admit, I am a wimp, but I haven't read a book that scared me in a while. This one did it. I slept with the light on for a couple nights.

...and then the bad: Awkward, awkward sexual moments. I'm not a fan of sexual moments anyways, but the ones in this book were exceptional strange.

Oh, and here is the stuff that doesn't matter, but I'm going to tell you about anyways: The translator changed a few names to be English, but not the majority. I can only assume it is because, at one point, the book refers to Samuel being named after the Bible. It would have made more sense to change all or change none, IMO.

BLUF: The poet has a slow start, but the wait is well worth it.

Jack McEvoy is a news reporter who has a plum job. He is able to make his own hours and chase his own stories. The topic? Death. Mostly, recent murders. The Poet begins with Jack McEvoy being informed that his brother had committed suicide. This news hits Jack hard; Jack cannot believe it. He won't believe it. He maps out the night it occurred in order to try to find where the killer could have been. After some research, he's affirmed. His brother wasn't just murdered, but he was one in a series of murders. Will Jack be able to solve the case? Will the authorities take him seriously? The Poet takes its' readers on a ride to the finish, with a few swift turns on the way.

The Poet had a slow start if you consider it as a standalone novel, but considering that it is the first of the series, it is to be expected. The characters in this novel were relatable and the writing style presented a tone that will keep you interested. Like a true thriller, The Poet kept me guessing and I loved it.

I look forward to continuing this series.

BLUF: Don't read if you're looking for a thriller. Do read if you're looking for a new series to delve into. It's OK as a standalone, but best for those wanting a new series. (Although, I hear it gets pretty sexual later in the series..)

Brief Synopsis: Guilty Pleasures revolves around animator (raiser of the dead) Anita Blake. Anita does not deal with vampires. In fact, she has killed a couple in the past and, currently, would rather have nothing to do with them. Unfortunately for her, the vampires are looking to hire her to solve a crime the police aren't interested in. (See, Vampires aren't fully accepted at this time. Not quite second class citizens, but not first class citizens either.) While Anita refuses, the vampires counter with an offer she cannot resist. (Spoiler alert, part of that offer is “do or die”.) Anita is not the woman to half-ass her work assignments, but is this a crime she can solve?

I enjoyed this book, which is weird because, thinking back on the book, there wasn't very much action in the book. I listened to the unabridged audio version and the speaker is, by far, the best audiobook speaker I have listened to. She changes the tone for each character and maintains a consistent tempo/volume. (She does tend to make all female parts sounds somewhat the same, with the exception of the main two or three females in the book. It didn't bother me, but I feel compelled to be honest.)

The background takes about a third of the book to set. This is mostly unideal but, knowing that this is the start of a series, it's to be expected. I didn't pay much attention to how the characters were built, but felt they were given personalities and written consistently. I enjoyed the character interactions and adored the main character. She is the strong female character I look forward to having in the books I read. I may have connected a bit too much as she can be sarcastic and easily amused.

Two thirds of the way in this book, they kept bringing up new characters. My memory is not that great so I ended up Wikipedia-ing these characters to help remember who they are and why I should already know them. I should have known better, but I truly didn't expect any of these characters to be the killer... I thought I might as well quit reading at that point – after all, I knew who the culprit was, what else was there to the book?

Here's the truth. Knowing who committed these crimes does not take away the climax. The book isn't truly about finding the killer, but as an introduction to the series. It took me until the end to realize this because I was so fixed on figuring out whodunit! This was genius on the author's part. It keeps the reader thoroughly entertained while establishing the back stories to the series.

BLUF: Leave it and please.. don't make this the first Dean Koontz book you read.

Here's the deal. Right now, I spend way too much time at my in-laws' house. Love them dearly, but they never stop arguing, complaining, criticizing, and/or freaking out. I cannot stand it. I listened to By the Light of the Moon as an audiobook; there was over an hour of incessant arguing between the two main characters. It's not the books fault, and I'm sure under other circumstances or for other people this came across as amusing banter, but it drove me up the wall.

The rest of the book was entertaining, but I was disappointed. Dean Koontz was my favorite author during my teen years. I read nothing but his books and even chose this book for the 2015 reading challenge titled “A book from your favorite author that you haven't read yet”. I did not connect with the main characters. I found the female to be rude and absurd and the male to over-think situations and ramble too much about his philosophies on life. I'm sure this happens in real life, but these are not people I'm used or would enjoy (and they aren't my in-laws, so I don't have to).

There are twists in the book, but only one or two of them caught my interest. I'm sorry to say this book just didn't do anything for me.