Contemporary Fiction

Book Eight - 8 (The Dresden Files series) - The Dresden Files
Book Eight - 8 (The Dresden Files series) - The Dresden Files

Review:In the continuing saga of Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, the reader seldom sees what is coming next. W elearn more about Harry's back story as well as watch him protect his apprentice from the White Council and herself. Read more

The First Alex Verus Novel from the New Master of Magical London
The First Alex Verus Novel from the New Master of Magical London

Review:... but a good detective series either has a relatively interesting but static main character presented with interesting challenges and secondary characters in each entry, or a set of similar but escalating challenges in sequential books which drive the lead character to evolve and grow in character. Or both.

While the first book was quite enjoyable, the later entries... don't really go anywhere. We're treated to new characters so indistinct that they can't even be described without ref... Read more

An Urban Fantasy Novel (The Ruby Callaway Trilogy Book 1)
An Urban Fantasy Novel (The Ruby Callaway Trilogy Book 1)

Review:I enjoyed the struggles that the characters had to work on throughout the story. It built sympathy and connection to the characters. I would recommend reading the prequel first. I will definitely be reading the next book. Read more

Skinny Me (A New Start Book 1)
Skinny Me (A New Start Book 1)

Review:You'd think I'd learn not to trust the reviews for a free book on Amazon, but here we are. This book is horrible. It reads like it was written by someone who just despises overweight people. The main character is... well, a caricature. She's a bumbling, sloppy, and gluttonous loser with an utter lack of self control. Her only defining character trait is being jealous of thin women. She is completely ignorant about wellness and nutrition until someone shows her the way. Once she stops stuffing he... Read more

A spellbinding paranormal romance novel (Lords of the Underworld)
A spellbinding paranormal romance novel (Lords of the Underworld)

Review:Finally, Torin, finds happiness and a woman that's just as awesome as him. Great story, good plot line; you really get to know the characters and feel for them. They make me laughed, cried, and didn't want to put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone; who wants to read an awesome book. Read more

After Dark
After Dark

Review:First off, to address the (vanishing) elephant in the room, "After Dark" is not Murakami Haruki's best novel to date. And I say that as someone who habitually enjoys Murakami's fiction, and as someone who liked this latest novel of his well enough. It is not nearly as excellent as the hyper-laudatory critical blurbs planted strategically all over the surface of the book tell you. But then again, it is not nearly as bad as the knowingly harsh naysayers claim, either. If it's a rather lukewarmly a... Read more

Kafka On The Shore (Vintage Magic)
Kafka On The Shore (Vintage Magic)

Review:The vocal narration of this book was excellent, even though a twenty-something young man was made to sound like a scruffy old man. You'll have to get over the idea that Japanese people can sound British, because it goes along with which side of the road on which to drive, I guess.
Some of the symbolism and metaphors were interesting, some of the images mesmerizing, and a couple of the scenes had a poetic tempo that felt almost hypnotic. This I enjoyed about about Murakami's writing and I migh... Read more

Wind/ Pinball: Two Novels
Wind/ Pinball: Two Novels

Review:Having read a lot of Murakami's novels I was really interested to read the prologue about his past, his method and how he got into writing in the first place. It was nice to finally understand who "The Rat" was since he was mentioned in "A Wild Sheep Chase" without any explanation and to read the history of the main character from "Sheep Chase" and "Dance, Dance, Dance." I enjoyed the book/stories but his writing definitely improved in later books. If you are new to Murakami I would recommend ... Read more

The Summer of Good Intentions: A Novel
The Summer of Good Intentions: A Novel

Review:The Summer Of Good Intentions
Wendy Francis
Simon & Schuster, Jul 7 2015, $15.00
ISBN: 9781451666427

Summer on Cape Cod has always been a great get together for the Herrington family. However, this year is different as the patriarch Arthur and matriarch Gloria divorced after almost five decades of marriage. Tensions are tropospheric even before the three sisters, accompanied by their husbands/significant other and children, and Arthur arrive at the family cottage. At the l... Read more

Crave (Bonds Book 1)
Crave (Bonds Book 1)

Review:This book was very good. It was an intense love story that sucked me in and held on to me until the very end. All the characters were interesting and some quirky. However, Reece and Sarah from beginning to end I was rooting for them to find their way back to each other. The question was never did they belong together it was always can they find a way to live with a love so intense that it can only exist with the other. Can they find forgiveness in a situation that has both of them scared.
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