RAISED BY WOLVES by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I generally read books for the purpose of considering them for film or television adaptation. I'm a little on the fence with this one. I liked the idea of the book and most of the execution, but I felt there were a lot slow dragging moments, even for a book. I keep fluctuating between starring this as 'it's okay' and 'liked it.' I guess if I could give it 3.5 stars I would.

Once Bryn and Chase start to interact, the story gets interesting. I wish there was more fighting, maybe problems with the other pack members doing things to her, I don't know. But I try to view everything as if I was watching it on a screen and this one seemed like it would be slightly interesting to watch, but not exciting enough.

I like how Ali is fiercely loyal and maternal to Bryn, to the point of leaving her husband and home when the fail to protect Bryn. I think I would have liked a little more conflict with Devon when Bryn starts to be so connected to Chase. Devon almost seems gay, but knowing he bristles when Chase touches Bryn, I know he's not. It's like Devon is her best friend, but seemed to wish it could have been more, then easily gives up the idea once she connects with Chase.

I like the idea of her form her own pack and hope there is another book that could bring more drama, intrigue and fighting into the story.



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ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY by Heather Webber

Absolutely, Positively by Heather Webber

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As usual, Heather Webber has written a fun story with Lucy Valentine, her cooky family and her budding romance with the P.I., Sean. Lucy is tasked with finding a former teenage love with a history the likes of Romeo and Juliet. Unfortunately, Tristan turns out to be more of a Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. When Tristan is accused of murder, Lucy's client, Meaghan will do anything to prove his innocence.

At the same time, Dovie's old friend and budding romantic interest goes missing under mysterious circumstances. And there is a man, the news papers have nicknamed The Lone Ranger, who's throwing money away in the streets and Preston is determined to find out who he is.

Lucy has to contend with her parents dating again, her concerns over her future with Sean, Preston trying to find out the family secret and trying to get Aiden and Em together.

The book isn't as funny as the previous two, nor does Lucy put herself in the same dangers as the other books, but the writing is solid. Heather does justice to a growing character with adult issues.



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XVI by Julia Karr

XVI by Julia Karr

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I liked it but felt like it was just short of being really good or great. I always felt there was something missing. That it could have been that much more exciting.

**Spoiler Alert**

Nina's mother tell her something on her deathbed and she immediately goes off and tells her grandparents as well as friends, old and new. He mother's been keeping this secret for 16 years. Being brutalized by a man who's looking for answers, and Nina tells 7 people in a matter of days.

Sandy is a self involved airhead and Nina giving her any information into their plans and what they are doing was ludicrous. All the girl can think or talk about is being part of the FeLS. Knowing that Ed beat Nina's mother and is threatening her, Sandy still asks Nina to help her with Ed and being Chosen. So when Nina tells Sandy what's going on with the book, I'm flabbergasted. Knowing she has no filter and says whatever is at the top of her head just make me think the author is trying to push the story along.

I understand that Nina's mother was undercover for all those years, but being beaten by a man and your daughter seeing the results. What could be worth that? I understand they were trying to show a government run conspiracy, but the author never lets you know if all of it paid off. Yes, Nina knows the truth, but we never know if her father got the information, how it was used or if it even changed anything.

The only reason I say it was okay is because there was a cornel of a good idea there. I kept expecting more, but it just didn't deliver.

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BETRAYAL (The Haunting of Emma Knightly) by Lee Nichols

Betrayal (Haunting Emma #2) by Lee Nichols

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It was good. Not as good as the first. I seemed to have forgotten a few things, because I wasn't clear on a couple of things that were happening. I didn't like how Bennett was so absent in this book, how the parents seemed to creep in for a moment or the brother sent a cryptic message that barely warned of anything. If you're going to help her, help her. I felt like all of it was to drag the story on. With no real result at the end.




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DESIRES OF THE DEAD by Kimberly Derting

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I like this character of Violet and I want to like the story more than I did. I have to say that I was increasingly upset that Violet wouldn't tell someone what she was up to.

****Possible Spoiler****
Not that someone who said they were from the FBI was trying to contact her, not that someone was stalking her, nothing. I get that she was concerned for her family and friends because they were caught up in her last encounter with using her ability to find a serial killer. But this makes no sense. Her Uncle is the sheriff who would know who to call or how to protect her.

She's technically a minor and should have been approached by an adult who claimed to be with the FBI, or continued to meet this person without alerting someone.

I get that her ability compels her to seek out the dead thing that's calling to her, but she continues to put herself in danger by not letting someone know what she's doing. The term "half-cocked" applies here. She continually goes off half-cocked.

I like the idea that she may ultimately end up working for an organization with other who have differing abilities.

I even can say I liked the story though she frustrated me with how she handled things. Quick and fun read.



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Day 4 - Exercise

So I've run/walked 4 days straight. I've read before that if you stop doing something for 15 days you can break a habit. I'm trying the same thing in reverse for starting a habit. I plan on doing a 1 mile run every day for a minimum of 15 day then 2 miles then back to 3-5 miles. so I can get back in shape and start running every day but Sunday again.

First 15 days straight at 1 mile, then a5 days straight at 2 miles then 15 days straight at 3 miles. Cross your fingers for me.

Today was a hard day. I really wanted to sleep in. I forced myself up and didn't push myself like I did the first three days. But I'm glad I did it.

Thirteenth Chime

I don't usually blog about a book I haven't read yet. Actually I haven't had time to blog about any of the books I've read in the past few month. But, I'm doing this because I'm trying to win a copy of the book in a contest. I have met many author on line and have communicated a bit with Emma and would greatly like to take a look at this book.

As I'm a producer and forming new relationships every day, this seems like a piece that would garner a lot of attention in Hollywood, and I would like to be the one to bring it to the big screen. If its a good piece of material. The only way to find that out is to read it. Hopefully, somehow I can get a copy of this intriguing book.

You can follow the contest at: http://mesmerix.blogspot.com/2010/09/special-contest-thirteenth-chime.html

Here's hoping I can win a copy of the book.

BLEEDING VIOLET by Dia Reeves

Hanna, half black and half Finnish arrives on her mothers doorstep with a few peculiarities. She talks to her dead Poppa and has hit her Aunt Ulla over the head with a rolling pen. Turns out she's manic depressive with bouts of hallucinations. But when she arrives in Portero, Texas, she's no the strangest thing around anymore. Turns out the sect of people called the Mortmaines, who protect the weak from monsters and spirits that would like to do them harm.

Hannah's mother, Rosalee, isn't happy to see her. Seems she immune to the mother daughter bond. Rosalee tells's Hanna that if she can't make friends or fit in in two weeks, she must leave and go back to her Aunt. Her Aunt who uses every opportunity to have Hanna committed.

This book was all over the place to me. I just couldn't find a place in the storyline that was interesting to me. Rosalee was crazy and so was Hannah.

LUST, LOATHING AND A LITTLE LIP GLOSS by Kyra Davis

I loved Kyra's first Sophie Katz Mystery (SEX, MURDER AND A DOUBLE LATTE), and this one didn't disappoint. Kyra has an amazing way of having her character say exactly what we'd all like to say to friends, enemies, and others, but she does it in a way that seriously fun and entertaining. I love her quirky yet extremely loyal friends, Marcus and Dena. But Dena was as prevalent in this book. Marcus was hysterical as the protective sidekick ready to do battle with a hair-spray can.

Sophie seems to have a talent for finding dead bodies or people who want to kill her. In this installment she finds both. Due to some family history, she's not even aware of, her ex-husband pulls her into a group a people who believe in ghosts, all to get the house of her dreams. When the house's owner is found dead by Sophie and her ex-husband, Shopie decides she will do anything the new owner, Kane Crammer, asks in order to keep the house. That includes becoming a lifetime member of the Specter Society. When a member is found dead again, by Shopie, her strapping Russian P.I. boyfriend Anatoly and the dead mans' soon to be ex-wife Maria, Sophie is relieved to find out she's not a suspect this time. But Kane seems to be more and more obsessed with Sophie and she's determined to find out why, against the wishes of Anatoly, who's also very jealous of Sophie's ex-husband being back in the picture.

Everyone tries to talk Sophie into giving up the house, but she knows if she can just get to the bottom of the deaths and Kane's fascination with her, she can live peacefully, and probably with Anatoly, in the house of her dreams at a bargain basement price.

There's a goth teen, a slimy ex-husband with a threatening new girlfriend, obsessions with ghosts and a disturbing family history. All the things that make a funny mystery adventure.

I thought this book was so cute. I laughed out loud many times.

BLOOD by K. J. Wignall

Interesting premise, but starts off slow and doesn't take off until almost midway through the book. An eight hundred and sixty-four year-old (fourteen year-old) vampire comes out of hibernation, only to drink the blood of a man with a prophecy for him. The girl needs him and he needs her. When he first notices the girl from the sketching on the man's wall and in the book he left behind, Will is ready to let it go until he realizes, forces beyond his control are throwing them together. Eloise is homeless, by choice, which is an odd circumstance at best. But she easily gets over the fact that Will is an "un-dead" and quickly trusts him with her life. She seems to trust easily.

The reader can tell from this book it's intended to be a series, as it ends with Mark, a young man we meet early in the story becoming part of what is to come. But I just didn't fall for how easily things fell into place. People were too easy to trust, information was too easily found and the relationships were too easily formed.

I wanted to like it and towards the end, I was fascinated by what may come, but not enough to buy the sequel.

DROWNTOWN by Robbie Morrison, art by Jim Murray

This is a graphic novel by Robbie Morrison (JUDGE DREDD, SPIDERMAN, DANTÉ, WHITE DEATH) and artist Jim Murray (HOLOCAUST 12, BATMAN DEMON). Although I really like where I thought the story was going, I'm not sure about some of the characters. They come across as too juvenile for an adult themed graphic novel. There's love, intrigue and mystery, and I believe the childlike circumstances could easily be wiped out. I can't say too much about it because it's a very early view. But I like where it's going if they get rid of the Ratatouille storyline.

Day 3 - Exercise

6559 steps
5397 moderate steps in 40 minutes
247 kcal
2.77 miles

I got up and it was raining, so I didn't really feel like power walking. But I had to go to the post office, so I walked there. Once I was out, I decided to keep going, at least for a little while, since the post office doesn't open until 9:30 am. I think I got out of the house by something like 10:30 am. So it was later than I would usually like to go. The rain had stopped and the air was cool even though the sun was trying to come out. Didn't go as long or as hard, because I'm usually home working by then. But I want to try to be more consistent. Let's hope I can keep it going tomorrow. I'm already up too late as it is.

Day 2 - Exercise

6923 steps
5688 Moderate steps 43 minutes
274 kcal
3 miles

I got right up and went for a power walk. I hope I can continue the process. Really need to lose the weight.

THE DARK DIVINE by Bree Despain

The story of the Divine Family and most notably, seventeen year old daughter Grace and her brother Jude. When former family friend Daniel arrives back in town after disappearing three years ago, Jude goes from choir boy to vengefully aggressor. Daniel lived with the family to escape his abusive father before being returned to his mother and then disappearing for three years. Grace's mother and Jude, specifically want Grace to stay away from him, but no one will tell her why. Daniel is very different from the blonde haired boy he was when he lived with them. He's dark, edgy and brooding, but Grace can't seem to stay away from him.

I usually like books that give me a spark of excitement in what's to come early on and this book doesn't do that. This story is very slowly and methodically told from Grace's point of view. The daughter of a Pastor in the suburbs of Minnesota, Grace is always careful to do the right thing to behave in the proper manner. Though I have to say it's intriguing in the way Bree writes the characters. You can't help but keep reading as the layers of this family and this secret slowly unravel.

For religious people, they are remarkably unforgiving and intolerant of the one person who my need them the most. More concerned about what people think of them than their actual actions of forgiveness and compassion, which I personally find true of many overly religious people.

Though written well, I found the story too slow in getting to the point and way too slow to finish. I knew after baby James was taken that something was very wrong with Jude. It was just too predictable. It just seemed that Grace was so stuck in her own musings and world that she couldn't figure out that Pete was a schmuck. It was evident to me from how hard he was trying to get her attention. I also didn't like how Don's story ends. The author does leave it open for a possible sequel, with Grace as the powerful one. Not sure if that will work. But who knows... I'm not a teen girl.

CAPTIVATE by Carrie Jones

I was very disappointed by this book. I really enjoyed NEED, the first in the series. But this book fell short for many reasons for me. I read an advance reading copy, which had many grammatical, structural and spelling errors. I can only hope that whomever edits the book has caught these glaring issues and had the author fix them.

Early in the book, Zara is in the presence of her real father and calls him "Dad." But later in the book she calls him "Dad" and the character contemplates to herself that this is the first times she's called him that, which isn't true. There is also a moment where Zara, Nick, Devyn and Issie are in Issie's car with Nick driving. They had pulled over on the side of the road so Nick could confront Zara about something she's done and didn't tell him. After they sort of clear the air, they all say let's go home, but don't say which home. You assume to Zara's since most things happen there. Then the book says they "pull into "his" driveway." Which his, Nick or Devyns, and how can it be Devyn's as its a big story point that Zara has never been to his house? Which, although there's an explanation about the reason, it's really lame. Then the story proceeds with Nick putting the keys in his pockets. On the next page, as they continue to talk five lines later, they are now "drive along." I was so confused as to what they were doing and where they were going, I had to reread it to figure out if I had missed something. I hadn't missed anything.

There are also a few other things that happen that just don't make the story flow well. Without giving away story points, as the book isn't on the shelves yet, I can't and won't say what happens. But I will say that the story takes a decidedly different turn from the first book with an explanation as to what's happened to the Pixies that they locked in the house, where they go from there and what happens to some of the characters. I find that they move on quickly from major emotional upheaval and time doesn't flow well. One minute they are fighting pixies and concerned for the plight of one friend, the next they are planning to go to a party. Zara tries to call for help and everyone hangs up on her because they are doing something else and she's not upset with any of them for what happens from them not taking her calls.

Like I said, I really enjoyed the first book. So much that I've recommended it to a few places with which I work. But I can't recommend the second book as it is.

This is my first review pointing out all the reasons I don't like something with no real positive side. Once the book is out, I may come back to add specifics. I just don't want to blow it for anyone who wants to read it no matter what.

Sorry!