Turnabout's Fair Play by Kaye Dacus

Title:         Turnabout's Fair Play Publisher:     Barbour Publishing, Inc. Pub Date:     11/01/2011 ISBN:         9781602609914 Author:     Kaye Dacus The Matchmaker Has Met Her Match. . . Jamie O’Connor knows his grandmother Maureen has matchmaking on the mind when she starts inviting him to events where single women are present. Realizing she’s somewhat smitten with an older gentleman, Jamie decides to turn the tables on Maureen by agreeing to meet Kirby McNeill’s granddaughter Flannery at dinner—with both grandparents there. Flan is thrilled that her widowed grandfather is now attending church. So when he invites her to meet a grandson of a woman from his single seniors’ group, she agrees to go along—only to encourage her grandfather. Then Flan winds up conspiring with Jamie to play matchmaker, too, and soon wonders how she’ll be able to tolerate spending so much time with Jamie and his over-inflated ego. As the juniors scheme to bring the seniors together, a hilarious tumult of mayhem and misconceptions ensues. . .but will it end in romance?

It is a light-hearted and easy read. The story is heart warming and sweet. And I like the sense of humour that author has blended into the story, which make the story more alive. I was laughing, smiling and giggling all the way. 

The story is quite realistic too. I get to see the not-so-perfect hero and heroine. I also like the religious element in the story. The plot is simple. The author has done a brilliant job on the way how Jamie and Flannery were brought together; how they interacted with each other; and how Jamie respected Flan. Their relationship was developed naturally. Majority of the story is about Jamie and Flan. Although there was not much about the sub characters, they play an important role to Jamie and Flan, especially Flan. Friendship is the main component in the story.

I enjoy reading this book very much. If you are looking for something light and funny, this is the book for you. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.


Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Black Stiletto by Raymond Benson

Title:         The Black Stiletto Publisher:  Oceanview Publishing Pub Date:  09/05/2011 ISBN:       9781608090204 Author:     Raymond Benson “My mother was the masked vigilante known as The Black Stiletto.” Was Martin Talbot’s elderly, Alzheimer’s-stricken mother really the Black Stiletto? When he discovers several hidden volumes of her diaries, he is stunned beyond all imagination. In them, Judy Talbot claims to be the renowned underground heroine who operated in late 1950s New York City, battled Communist spies, took on the Mafia, and stalked common crooks. In a fascinating story that alternates between past and present, the Black Stiletto’s legend unfolds. What caused her to begin her quest for justice? Why did she decide to act outside the law? What are the facts behind her feats as the infamous and feared crime-fighter? As Talbot struggles with shocking revelations, the reappearance of one of the Stiletto’s old enemies with a thirst for merciless revenge threatens to jeopardize his mother’s closely-guarded secret—and her life.

The story is written in first POV, switching between Martin, Judy and Roberto (Stiletto’s old enemies). However majority of the story is from Judy's diaries. She wrote down her background, what happened to her, how she becomes Black Stiletto, and the adventures after that. It is actions packed, and details fight scenes allow you to imagine the fights visually. Some parts are quite emotional too.

At first I thought reading a journal is boring but I was wrong. It was beautifully written and made me just want to keep on reading and reading. I actually enjoy the part on Judy's diaries the most. I was actually sweat for her on her very first appearance as Black Stiletto. No matter how good was her, there were times she got injured too.

Judy has few diaries and this book only covers one of the diaries. So I guess there will be more books on this series. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.


Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.


Book Trailer




Additional info

The Black Stiletto was a legend in her own time, an underground heroine who made a name for herself during the late Eisenhower years and early Kennedy years as a New York City vigilante. Although she was wanted by the law and would have been arrested had she been caught or had her secret identity been revealed, the Black Stiletto was a competent and successful crime-fighter. A feminist before the term was in everyday vernacular, she battled common crooks, Communist spies, the mafia, and worse—and was responsible for their capture and, in some cases, their deaths. But the Stiletto disappeared midway through the sixties and was never heard from again. Most people thought she had died, and no one ever knew her identity. Like pinup queen Bettie Page, her mythical image resurfaced in comics and other media during the 1980s and 90s. Millions of dollars were made by others exploiting her likeness and persona. Today, the questions remain. Who was she? Is she still alive? If so, where is she now?

The answers can be found in THE BLACK STILETTO, by internationally-known New York Times best-selling author Raymond Benson.

The July 2011 issue of Library Journal calls THE BLACK STILETTO "a mashup of the work of Gloria Steinem, Ian Fleming, and Mario Puzo, all under the editorship of Stan Lee."

Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins

Title:         Until There Was You Publisher:  Harlequin Imprint:     HQNBooks Pub Date: 10/25/2011 ISBN:       9780373776115 Author:     Kristan Higgins She’s having serious prom-night déjà vu… Posey Osterhagen can’t complain. She owns a successful architectural salvaging company, she’s surrounded by her lovable, if off-center, family and she has a boyfriend—sort of. Still, something’s missing. Something tall, brooding and criminally good-looking… something like Liam Murphy. When Posey was sixteen, the bad boy of Bellsford, New Hampshire, broke her heart. But now he’s back, sending Posey’s traitorous schoolgirl heart into overdrive once again. She should be giving him a wide berth, but it seems fate has other ideas…

I love My One and Only written by Kristan Higgins. So as soon as I saw her next book become available, I could not help not to read it.

Unlike My One and Only, this book is written in third person POV, for both hero and heroine. The story is about Posey was love at first sight with the bad boy Liam since they met 20 years ago in their high school. Liam was working in Posey's parents' restaurant at that time. And seeing he was a bad boy, Liam had kept his distant with Posey. And then later he fell in love with a popular girl at school, Emma and they got married and moved to California.

Liam and Emma had a daughter Nicole. 2 years ago Emma had died from leukaemia and Liam had decided to move back to Posey's hometown (which is also Emma's hometown) so that Nicole could get closer with the grandparents. And from a bad boy, Liam had become a protective and responsible father, but still attractive and sexy and women started throw themselves at him. Except Posey, who wanted to protect her heart from getting hurt again. And Liam, just wanted to give the best to his beloved daughter and not thinking about getting into any relationship. But fate seems say otherwise.

I did not fall in love with this book right away. I feel the style is slightly different with her last book that I have read. Nonetheless, she did not disappoint me. Again, it is full of emotion in the story: Friendship, family, love, anger, jealousy, heartbreak. The story is very realistic and in depth. And the characters, both main and secondary characters are vivid with clearly defined role.

In overall, I enjoy reading this book though I prefer My One and Only. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Seers by Heather Frost

Title:         Seers Publisher:  Cedar Fort Imprint:     Sweetwater Pub Date:  10/03/2011 ISBN:       9781599557922 Author:      Heather Frost When Kate Bennett survived the horrificcar accident that claimed her parents' lives, she knew her worldwould be forever changed. But she never could have imagined howdramatic these changes would be. Feeling like a freak, Kate tries tohide her unwelcome new ability to see people's auras – that is,until she meets Patrick O'Donnell, who seems to be able to disappearat will. When Kate and her remaining family begin to be haunted by Demons, her only hope is to stay close to Patrick and other Guardianslike him. Somehow, Patrick lies at the center of the mystery, and Kate soon realizes that both she and her heart are in big-time trouble. Caught up in a war she barely understands, with enemies onlyshe can discern, Kate quickly learns that in war everybody loses something...or someone. About the Author Heather Frost was born in Sandy, Utah, and raised in a small Northern Utah town. She is the second oldest of ten children, and she loves her family very much. She is especially grateful to her wonderful parents for their decision to homeschool their children. She graduated from Snow College with an associate of science, and is currently majoring in English. Heather has always been an avid reader, and reading and writing are among her most favorite things to do. She also enjoys playing the flute, listening to all types of music, and watching a wide variety of movies. Ever since she wrote her first story--at the age of four--she has dreamed of one day becoming an author. Seers is her first published novel.

I was attracted by the synopsis of this book. The story is quite interesting. Majority part of the story is written in Kate's POV. However there are few parts towards the end of the book that are suddenly jump to Patrick being the first person POV. This at first confuses me for a little while before I realize that the subject has changed. Same for the epilogue, I don't think it is necessary to write the whole story in first person POV and without telling who that person is.

I have a mixed feeling on this book actually. Although the story is quite interesting, I found myself fancy none of the characters in the story. Not even Kate or Patrick. I have neutral feeling on Patrick. While I do not hate Kate but I don't quite agree with her behaviour to her boyfriend. To me, she had been dishonest with her boyfriend, not on keeping her special ability as a secret, but on her feelings with him. I wonder if Patrick does not exist, what will happen to them. Will she make the same decision? However she was just a teenager, I suppose I should not expect she acts like a mature adult.

In summary the book is not really that bad actually. It's quite an easy read (if you don't mind the first person POV). The pace is not very fast despite some actions.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.


Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee

Title:         Forbidden
Publisher:  Hachette Book Group
Imprint:     Center Street
Pub Date:  09/13/2011
ISBN:       9781599953540
Author:      Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee




What will it be like when all of us are emotionless except fear? Imagine no love, no passion, no happiness, and thus no sadness, no tears too. Why there is fear? Because with fear, we will follow rules. And thus the world will be peaceful without war. But is it really as what it seems? Or are we just a living corpse walking around the earth?

Rom was an artist. One day on the way going home, Rom met with an old man who claimed to know his father and told him a shocking news that his father was being murdered and not died from illness. This old man also gave him a vial of blood and asked him to go look for this man called Book who was detained in the Citadel. According to the rules, Rom was supposed to turn himself in and hand over the vial of blood to the Orders. However seeing the old man being killed by the citadel guard, Rom was freak out and he ran away. Due to this, his life was totally changed. He became fugitive. And yet he needed to stay around for the answers. He had a mission to complete.

This is my first book by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee. And it is very well written. Fast pace, unpredictable, full of actions and adventures that made me can't stop turning the pages. The thoughts and emotion of the main characters are presented very well. The story plot is good and things always happen out of my anticipation. Even though this book is categorized under Thriller, however it is not scary or creepy at all. Rom was fearful but he's smart and intelligent too. The promise that he had made and his determination to protect his loved one made him to continue his mission. You can also find sacrifice, passion, love and loyalty from this book. I could not get enough and I'm looking forward for the next book in this series.

This is a wonderful book and I enjoy reading it very much. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.


Book Description:

A terrible truth has been revealed to one man: the entire human race has been drained of every emotion except one-- fear. To bring life back to the world, Rom must embark on a journey that will end either in his own demise or a reawakening of humanity.  But to bring love and passion back into existence will also threaten the powers of the world with the revolution and anarchy that had nearly destroyed them previously.

After happening upon a journal through strange circumstance,  Rom's world is shattered. He learns that humanity long ago ceased to "live," that it exists today in a living death of emotions. In a terrible risk, Rom exposes himself to the vial of blood folded into the old leather of the journal. His change is fearful and fraught with mind-bending emotion. A once-pious observer of the Order's passionless statues, he is filled with uncontrollable impulses. He is filled with love.

He is undone, terrified, and alone in the desolate world.


ABOUT THE AUTHORS

TED DEKKER is a New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty novels with a total of more than 5 million books in print.   He is known for thrillers that combine adrenaline-laced plots with incredible confrontations between good and evil.

TOSCA LEE left her position working with Fortune 500 Companies as a Senior Consultant for the Gallup Organization to pursue her first love: writing. She is the critically-acclaimed author of Demon and Havah and is best known for her humanizing portraits of maligned characters. She makes her home in the Midwest.



Note: I receive the ARC of this book from the publisher via Net Gallery. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.