June 28, 2008
Vanish with the Rose by Barbara Michaels, 3 1/2
Book description: Posing as an expert rose gardener, Diana Reed arrives at the Nicholson estate determined to find her missing brother, who had worked there as a caretaker. Distracted by eerie visions and the scent of roses wafting through empty rooms, Diana must confront family secrets that hide the deadly truth.
Review: I liked the mystery in this book and I always find Michaels’ writing to be pleasant. I also liked how I wasn’t sure who Diana was going to end up with until the very end. Unfortunately, the slow pace of the plot interfered with my enjoyment of the book and made it easy to put down. Vanish with the Rose is not my favorite Barbara Michaels book but I’m glad I finished it.
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June 16, 2008
Stitches in Time by Barbara Michaels, 4 1/2
Book description: When an antique bridal quilt appears under mysterious circumstances at the vintage clothing shop where Rachel Grant works, she is fascinated. She has never been able to resist handmade textiles from the past, for she believes that through the ages, women wove protective magic into their fabrics in order to mark the important events of their lives: birth, marriage, and death.
But there is more than good in the quilt's magic power. Day by day Rachel sees and feels the power growing, as she senses the quilt influencing her thoughts and actions. Much as Rachel's logical mind longs to deny the supernatural, the aura of evil coming from the quilt is terrifyingly real, and it seems to carry a sinister legacy into the lives of the people Rachel loves.
Review: Stitches in Time is the best Barbara Michaels book I’ve read so far. It has a great supernatural mystery with a lot of twists that I did not see coming. The romance was really sweet and well done too. I highly recommend this one if you like gothic mysteries.
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September 17, 2007
Heartsick by Chelsea Cain, 5
Book Description: Portland Detective Archie Sheridan spent ten years tracking Gretchen Lowell, a beautiful serial killer, but in the end she caught him. Gretchen kidnapped Archie and tortured him for ten days, then she released him and turned herself in. Now Gretchen is locked away, while Archie is in a prison of another kindaddicted to painkillers, and powerless to erase those ten days from his mind. He visits Gretchen in prison once a week, saying he wants her to confess the whereabouts of more of her victims, but even he knows that the truth is he just cant stay away. When another killer begins snatching teenage girls, Archie knows that he has to pull himself together and investigate the murders. Newspaper reporter Susan Ward begins following Archies investigation, sparking a deadly game between Archie, Susan, the new killer, and even Gretchen. They need to catch a killer, and maybe somehow Archie can now free himself from Gretchen once and for all.
Review: Heartsick is right up there with Silence of the Lambs as the best book of its type I’ve read. The characters are all complicated and completely messed up. Gretchen and Archie have the most screwed up relationship I’ve ever read about. The murder mystery is well done and a total nail biter. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
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April 13, 2007
Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange, 4
Book description: Mr. Darcy's Diary presents the story of the unlikely courtship of Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy from Darcy's point of view--sharing his innermost thoughts and feelings. This graceful imagining and sequel to Price and Prejudice explains Darcy's moodiness and the difficulties of his reluctant relationship as he struggles to avoid falling in love with Miss Bennett. Though seemingly stiff and stubborn at times, Darcy's words prove him also to be quite devoted and endearing qualities that eventually win over Miss Bennett s heart.
Review: Mr. Darcy’s Diary is the most successful Darcy POV book I’ve read. I’m not sure it’s believable as a diary but Darcy’s thoughts were believable and that’s what really matters. Darcy has enough of a life outside of his romance with Elizabeth to be his own person but the bulk of the book are his thoughts on the events in Pride and Prejudice. The way Darcy’s change of behavior is handled is particularly well done. Most Pride and Prejudice fans will enjoy this book. I also plan on reading this author’s take on Mr. Knightly if I ever get around to reading Emma.
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August 21, 2006
Darcy's Story by Janet Aylmer, 2 1/2
Book description: When Elizabeth Bennet first met Mr. Darcy, she found him proud, distant, and rude-despite the other ladies' admiration of his estate in Derbyshire and ten thousand pounds a year. But what was Mr. Darcy thinking?
Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice has long stood among the most beloved novels of all time. The story of Elizabeth Bennet's blossoming romance with "haughty, reserved, and fastidious" Fitzwilliam Darcy has enchanted readers for nearly two centuries. Yet, Mr. Darcy has always remained an intriguing enigma-his thoughts, feelings, and motivations hidden behind a cold, impenetrable exterior . . . until now.
With the utmost respect for Austen's original masterwork, author Janet Aylmer loving retells Pride and Prejudice from a bold new perspective: seeing events as they transpire through the eyes of Darcy himself. One of world's great love stories takes on breathtaking new life, and one of fiction's greatest romantic heroes becomes even more sympathetic, compelling, attractive, and accessible, all through the imagination and artistry of a truly gifted storyteller.
Review: Darcy’s Story is another retelling of Pride and Prejudice from Darcy’s point of view. Unfortunately, this book doesn’t offer a whole lot of insight into Darcy’s character. We learn almost nothing about his daily life. Aylmer does do a decent job explaining Darcy’s change of attitude. (I’m being vague for the two of you that haven’t read Pride and Prejudice yet.) But most of the book just rehashes the romance scenes from the source material. The book is enjoyable as a way to relive the original but most of my enjoyment came from Austin’s writing, not Aylmer’s. I don’t feel like I know Darcy better for having read it. Skip this one and reread Pride and Prejudice instead.
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April 16, 2006
Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty, 3 1/2
Book description: Things are looking up for Jessica Darling. She has finally left her New Jersey hometown/hellhole for Columbia University in New York City; she’s more into her boyfriend, Marcus Flutie, than ever (so what if he’s at a Buddhist college in California?); and she’s making new friends who just might qualify as stand-ins for her beloved best friend, Hope.
But Jessica soon realizes that her bliss might not last. She lands an internship at a snarky Brooklyn-based magazine, but will she fit in with the überhip staff (and will she even want to)? As she and Marcus hit the rocks, will she end up falling for her GOPunk, neoconservative RA . . . or the hot (and married!) Spanish grad student she’s assisting on a summer project . . . or the oh-so-sensitive emo boy down the hall? Will she even make it through college now that her parents have cut her off financially? And what do the cryptic one-word postcards from Marcus really mean?
Review: Charmed Thirds is the third book in the Jessica Darling series. I love the first two books in this series but this one was a let down. A good deal of the book is really depressing and it lacks the humor the first two books had. I didn’t like Jessica too much in this one and I really was trying to like her. The book covers all of Jessica’s summer and winter vacations of her four years of college. As a result, we don’t learn much about her college life and the book felt too condensed in general. All of Jessica’s relationships with people not in the first two books were either rushed or glossed over. It wasn’t that this book wasn’t well written or a natural progression of Jessica’s life, it just wasn’t all that fun to read. Oh well, I’ll probably still read the next book in the series.
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October 15, 2005
An Assembly Such As This by Pamela Aidan, 
Book description: "Ten thousand a year and a large estate in Derbyshire!" That was all Mrs. Bennet desired to know of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy before she began to entertain hopes that one of her daughters would attract his attention. In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen reveals little of her creation's past or present before banishing him for quite two thirds of her book. But, who is Fitzwilliam Darcy?
An Assembly Such as This, the first book of the Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman trilogy, answers that intriguing question by taking the reader into Darcy's world, a world very different from Elizabeth Bennet's. Chronicling Darcy's supervision of his naive friend Charles Bingley and his growing fascination with Elizabeth Bennet, it culminates with the disastrous ball at Netherfield and Darcy's return to London with the express intention of forgetting Elizabeth amidst the dizzying and dangerous whirl of Regency society.
Review: An Assembly Such As This is the first of three books which retell Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Darcy?s point of view. The writing is quite good and Darcy?s voice rings true for the most part. It?s a nice complement to the original. However, it can be boring at times and I?m not overly interested in any of the original characters yet. I?ll definitely be reading the next two books though. It?s always nice to find books like these that don?t read like bad fan fiction.
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June 25, 2005
Journey Of The Mask by Nancy Pettengill, 
Book Description: Erik, the former Phantom Of The Opera, has given up his cellars and malicious games in favor of one last, desperate attempt to find the acceptance he has always sought and never found. No longer alone and with an unfamiliar sensitivity struggling to surface, his efforts to rejoin life above the ground appear outwardly successful until his own past threatens to throw him once more into the fires of hell. His journey to the edge of that hell and back, twisted and strewn with obstacles, tests him in ways he could never have anticipated.
Review: This book is meant to be a squeal to Phantom of the Opera. The first half of it focuses on Erik and Christines’ relationship. This part of the novel isn’t bad. The romance is enjoyable but is marred by Christine’s lack of personality. I also didn’t like how Raoul was conveniently turned into a villain. The second half of the book explores Erik’s activities and mental state as he tries to lead a normal life. This part of the book is uneven and some aspects of it are more absurd than others. All in all, not a bad book if you are looking for a Phantom fix but there are much better options out there
You can read this book online here.
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February 12, 2005
Phantom by Susan Kay, 10
Book Description: A child is born... His mother's only gift is a mask. Precocious and gifted, he will live friendless and alone. taunted and abused, he will flee, only to find himself caged again-as a freak in a Gypsy carnival. A brilliant outcast... the world is his home. Filled with bitter rage, he will kill to escape, becoming a stonemason's apprentice in Rome... a dark magician at the treacherous Persian court... and finally, the genius behind the construction of the Paris Opera House and the labyrinthine world below. Lacking one thing only: A woman's love. Cloaked in secrets, his power complete, he will see the exquisite Christine and for the first time know what it means to love. Obsessed, he will bring her into his eerie subterranean world, driven to posses her heart and soul. Phantom--A haunting story of power and darkness, of magic and murder, of sensuality and betrayal, and ultimately, the unforgettable story of a man and a woman and the eternal quality of love.
Review: Phantom tells the entire life story of the character Erik from The Phantom of the Opera. This is the best book I’ve read in years. Kay does an excellent job expanding upon the few hints about Erik’s life found in The Phantom of the Opera. This book does the complicated character of Erik justice which makes it a must have for all phantom fans. The portion of the book that covers the events at the opera house may be a bit too optimistic for devoted fans of Leroux’s novel but that wasn’t a problem for me. This book is a bit hard to find for a reasonable price but if you are lucky enough to find an affordable copy I suggest you snatch it up.
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April 12, 2004
Battle Royale by Koushun Takami, 9 1/2
Book Description: As part of a ruthless program by the totalitarian government, ninth-grade students are taken to a small isolated island with a map, food, and various weapons. Forced to wear special collars that explode when they break a rule, they must fight each other for three days until only one "winner" remains.
Review: This is possibly one of the most addicting books I've ever read. I could not put it down! The interesting premise was well executed and I found each of the survival scenarios enthralling. You don't have to be an anime fan to enjoy this book. I'm a bit of a jaded anime fan myself and I loved it to pieces.
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February 12, 2004
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, 9
Book Description: This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.
Review: Really good book. It's a collection of letters written by a teenage boy who's kind of afraid to live his life. This is one of those books that really stay with you.
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December 04, 2003
About a Boy by Nick Hornby, 8
Book Description: Nick Hornby's cult fiction debut, the New York Times Notable High Fidelity, was a national bestseller in the United States, and a #1 bestseller in England. Hornby was greeted with standing ovations from The New Yorker (Hornby has established himself as a maestro of the male confessional) to Time (Hornby demonstrates his enviable talent for lucid, laconic writing) to The New York Times Book Review (Hornby captures the loneliness and childishness of adult life with such precision and wit that you'll find yourself nodding and smiling) to GQ (funny, compulsive, and contemporary). About a Boy stars a guy called Will, who doesn't really want any children. He wonders why it bothers people that he lives so happily alone in his fashionable, Lego-free flat, with massive speakers, and an expensive cream-colored rug that no kid has ever thrown up on. Then Will meets Angie. He has never been out with a mom before. And it has to be said that Angie's long blond hair and big blue eyes, are not irrelevant to his sudden reassessment of his attitude toward children. She is truly beautiful. And truly beautiful women do not, traditionally, go out with him. Then it dawns on Will that maybe Angie goes out with him because of the children. Maybe children democratized beautiful, single women.
Review: I loved the movie that was based on this book so I began to feel like an idiot for not read it. I'm glad I did. It has really great characters and is really freaking hilarious. It's also about a group of strangers who form a family together. Being a Joss Whedon fan I've always really liked that theme. I'll definitely be reading more from this author in the future.
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September 21, 2003
Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty, *****
In the sequel to Sloppy Firsts we find Jessica Darling agonizing over both her future and her love life. Jessica finally decides to move on from what happened with Marcus and begins dating her academic rival, Len Levy. But Jessica's feelings for Marcus aren't as buried as she'd like them to be, which doesn't bode well for her and Lens' relationship. Meanwhile, Jessica is determined to make the right choice for college so she isn't miserable for the next four years as well. She has her heart set on Columbia but after the 9/11 attacks she has second thoughts about attending a school in New York.
I liked this book almost as much as the first one which is to say I liked it a whole darn lot. I was happy that the book continued to be realistic instead of descending into teen romance mush. I was satisfied with the ending and it seemed pretty final but I still can't help but want to read about Jessica's college exploits. Anyway, fans of the first book will be happy with this one.
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September 18, 2003
Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty, *****
Jessica Darling's best friend, Hope, has just moved 1000 miles away. Hope was more than just Jessica's best friend, she was the only person keeping her sane. Hope's absence makes dealing with her pseudo friends, the ultra popular "clueless crew," unbearable. Jessica is also having boy trouble. The school's star jock, Scott, wants to date her but Jessica finds herself oddly attracted to Marcus, the school junkie.
This is the best teen novel that I've read in ages. Finally a novel about high school life that hasn't been watered down for younger readers. Jessica's bleak and sarcastic narrative about her fellow classmates will appeal to everyone who was miserable in high school. Daria fans will especially enjoy this series. I recommend this book to everyone, even people who can't stand the thought of reading a teen book.
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March 22, 2003
Dream Boy by Jim Grimsley, ***
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, the main characters are fairly well fleshed out for such a short book. On the other hand, the book does seem a bit directionless. Oh well everyone on amazon seems to love it so maybe I'm missing something. Anyway, If you are looking for a quick slashy read that is touching one minute and terrifying the next then this book is a good pick.
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