Book Nook Club: 4.5 Stars

Showing posts with label 4.5 Stars. Show all posts

March 18, 2012

Paydirt by Paul Levine

I always have trouble finding my husband a birthday gift, but I found the perfect present in Paul Levine’s novel, “Paydirt.” If you have a brother, father, or son who loves to read an upbeat novel revolving around football, then “Paydirt” is for you! In Part One, the reader meets Bobby Gallagher, a man who seems to have everything a man could want: a high-paying job, a beautiful, loyal wife, and a son who worships Bobby. Working with his father-in-law as a lawyer for the pro-football team, the Dallas Mustangs, Bobby protects the players from prison by employing not so ethical practices. While Bobby seems content, eventually one day he loses everything: his job, his wife, and his son.

Not wanting to reveal exactly what happens in Bobby, I can tell you that his solution to winning his old life back involves fixing the Super Bowl. Yep, the biggest football game of the year! Working with bookies, attempting to escape a gangster who wants his body floating in the Gulf of Mexico, and trying to hold on to custody of his son, Bobby knows that the chances of him getting out of his situation alive is slim. Fortunately, one of the teams playing in the championship is the Dallas Mustangs, a team he happens to know everything about. Having the inside scoop to this team allows Bobby to have a glimmer of hope of fixing this game and preserving his life and family.

Amidst the drama, Levine fills “Paydirt” with quotes from famous coaches, players, and sports commentators and focuses on one of the basics of football: the players. Levine allows Bobby to represent a man with a high moral code, who will stop at nothing to preserve this characteristic within him. Fighting against his crooked father-in-law, Martin Kingsley, Bobby represents the antithesis of any lawyer stereotype. Mixing football with drama, Levine creates a book that any man would love to have on his bookshelf.

4.5 stars

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March 9, 2012

Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble

It's 1887 and Lucy's just been let go from her job and gotten news that she is being evicted from the home she's known for ten years. And she's being followed by a strange man she's never seen.

All she's ever wanted to do was take care of her 3-year sister Eileen and 12-year old brother Jeb, especially since their father died a few months ago. But now it looks like she's running out of options until Henry knocks on her door and says that he's a friend of her father's and feels like he was sent by God to find her to be a wife to his son. In any other circumstances Lucy would have sent him away without a second though but with the danger and no way to take care of her siblings, she takes his offer and moves to Texas where she meets her new husband, Nate, who is very surprised and annoyed to hear that his father married him off without his consent.

What follows is the story of Lucy and Nate learning how to adjust to their new "family," how to trust one another, and how to protect their little family in the face of both physical and moral danger. I read this book in one night and I really enjoyed it. I loved all of the main characters and especially the connection and relationship between Lucy and Nate as they learned that marriage isn't about changing to earn someone's love but rather about learning to love someone for who they are.

I've never read a book by Colleen Coble but after this heartfelt and well written one, I will definitely be picking up another one. My only complaint about the book has nothing to do with the content, but that the copy I got had a number of pages that were bound out of order, which was really annoying since it was at an important point in the book and kept breaking my concentration as I tried to find the correct page. Other than that, great read and highly recommended. 4.5 stars.

Want a copy of Blue Moon Promise for yourself? Buy it here. How about a new Kindle Fire? See below for details on how to win great prizes as part of a Blue Moon Promise chat party.

Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble is the first book in her new series, Under Texas Stars! To CELEBRATE, Colleen is hosting a fabulous "Blue Moon Promise" Author Chat Party and giving away a Kindle Fire and a fun Texas sized gift basket! Click for details and don’t miss the fun. Prizes, chat with Colleen, sneak peek at the next book in the series, and so much more! Don't miss a moment of the fun. Come chat w/ @colleencoble at a Blue Moon Promise FB Party – u could win a Kindle Fire and more! RSVP here!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for my honest opinion. This is it.
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February 29, 2012

What Stays in Vegas by Beth Labonte

Tessa Golden embodies the typical life of a “Bridget Jones” administrative assistant. She hates the cold yet works in Massachusetts, her only friend works alongside her and they fill the day by making fun of their boss, and the love of her life works only a couple of feet away. However, he is married to a beautiful woman and Tessa is stuck in an endless cycle of pining over Nick, the untouchable married man who rules her heart. Oh, and her company’s biggest client is The Jiggly Kitty, a national strip club chain. Skilled in strip club lingo, Tessa feels her life suddenly going nowhere.

When Tessa is offered a three-month job in Las Vegas filling in for a woman leaving for maternity leave, she jumps at the chance. Not only is it warmer in Las Vegas, but this move will also give her a chance to get her mind off of Nick. Tessa suddenly finds herself consoling her boss, who’s husband just left her for a younger woman, and along the way discovers a new chapter in her life. She continues to dabble in her art and bonds with a handsome co-worker, Chris. But as Nick begins to admit some buried feelings, Tessa finds herself in the middle of a love triangle. Who will she choose and what sort of trouble happens to her in Las Vegas? You will have to pick up a copy of Beth Labonte’s “What Stays in Vegas” to find out!

Confined to my house on a rainy, windy day, I could not put this book down! Tessa truly resonated with me and I could relate to her love problems. I mean, every woman has wanted someone we knew was completely unavailable. Labonte creates a realistic woman, who has faults and talents, yet desires love above all else. She struggles to balance her need for a stable job with her love for art. Playing the sidekick, Tessa’s boss, Kendra is truly my favorite character. She spins out of control but you can’t help but feel sorry for this woman and hate the man who broke her heart.

Certainly a book that you can curl up to on a cold, rainy day, “What Stays in Vegas” will give you plenty to laugh and smile about.

4.5 stars

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February 28, 2012

Promise Me Eternity by Ian Fox

In Ian Fox’s “Promise Me Eternity,” Dr. Simon Patterson seems to live a normal life: he enjoys a successful career as a neurosurgeon at Central Hospital, has been married for 15 years, and he spends his free time performing research in his basement. Unfortunately, things are not that simple. Simon’s wife, Helen, is obsessed with spending money they do not have and constantly argues with him about her unhappiness, causing him to retreat even farther into his basement laboratory.

Simon’s world is suddenly turned upside down after he saves the life of a powerful and deadly mob boss, Carlo Vucci. Not realizing this man’s deadly and widespread circle of power, Simon agrees to dinner with Carlo and his wife, Christine. Arriving at their ornate mansion, Simon realizes that Carlo is not just involved in real estate. As he discovers more about his patient, he begins to understand the danger him and his wife have suddenly found themselves in. As events begin to unfold, Simon finds himself encountering jealous colleagues, extramarital affairs, and being accused of first-degree murder.

Not knowing the solution to this mysterious murder drives the reader to keep turning the pages of this enticing novel. As several storylines proceed throughout the novel, Fox keeps the reader guessing and certainly surprises everyone at the end with the answer. Fox successfully transforms a classic whodunit novel and adds sex and complicated plotlines. Everyone seems to have a motive in this novel, except for the confused Dr. Simon Patterson. Poor Simon trusts the wrong people and has a naïve view of the world. This character flaw forces the reader to seek justice for Simon.

The beginning of the novel is dedicated to character development, where the reader grasps an understanding of how mundane Simon’s life really has become. However, Fox adds other characters and their problems to keep the story moving along. Jerry Duncan, a jealous assistant surgeon, Dr. Miner, the plastic surgeon obsessed with getting beat by women, and Christine Vucci, an unhappy mob wife, all add more spice to this mystery novel. Compared to these people, Simon seems ordinary and incapable of murder. But if Simon did not commit the crime, who did? As the reader follows Simon in his quest to clear his name, Fox promises that the ending will be filled with nothing but shock and unbelievable twists.

4.5 stars

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February 20, 2012

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns) by Mindy Kaling

I loved this book. I want to be Mindy's BFF. She's funny, she's honest, she's just a bit over-dramatic, and she's a goody-goody at heart who still loves to hang out with her parents--she's just my type of lady.

She has a great chapter on how she had a photo shoot and all of the available dresses were size 0, and how awful she felt that she couldn't fit into any of them. The chapter that made me laugh the most was a short one about how ridiculously long it takes for men to put on shoes. Seriously, it takes my husband forever (I don't even sit down when I put on shoes!)

The biggest negative about the book is that the narrative flow of the chapters isn't the greatest. It tends to jump from one topic to another. But as I enjoyed everything that she had to say, it didn't bother me that much. It's also very much a "girl" book--most of the humor revolves around things that men may not find that funny.

I read Tiny Fey's Bossypants shortly after reading this, and I have to say that I enjoyed this one a little more. Mindy seems like a real person with insecurities and flaws. I can relate to her.

Four and half stars
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February 9, 2012

GIVEAWAY: Hot Chocolate by Dawn Ireland (Closed)

This giveaway is closed and the lucky winner is....Margaret at singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com.

Chocolate, mystery, and murder…what else could a reader want from a book? Well, Dawn Ireland delivers that and more in her most recent book, “Hot Chocolate.” Centering on the Alcott daughters, heirs to the Alcott Chocolate fortune, “Hot Chocolate” begins as the sisters agree to move their 92-year-old father to a senior assisted living facility. They also agree to fire his nurse, Bambi, who resembles a hooker more than a caregiver. While Bambi departs without a fuss and graciously accepts her severance package, her husband, Jimmy Ray, does not go so quietly.

Demanding they sue the Alcott family, Jimmy Ray believes they have a slam-dunk case. However, the judge sees through their greed and quickly dismisses the frivolous suit. While the Alcotts celebrate their good fortune, some mysterious individual murders Jimmy Ray at his bowling alley. Bambi deals with her grief, and the Alcott sisters try to digest the latest discovery in Jimmy Ray’s murder: the murder weapon was a prized fork belonging to Dorothea Alcott.

As the murderer’s identity comes closer to being revealed, the reader is kept guessing along with the Alcotts at what will happen next. All the while, delicious dishes, such as Lila Mae’s famous café mocha and Amelia’s (Lila Mae’s housekeeper) chicken and corn gumbo, make appearances at pivotal moments in the plot. Ireland cleverly places all of these yummy recipes at the end of “Hot Chocolate” so that the reader can fully immerse themselves in the interesting world of the Alcotts. Certain to not disappoint, the Alcott sisters act as any siblings would: fighting, joking, and working together, with unique personalities and quirks. The mystery of Jimmy Rae’s murder will keep the reader guessing until the very end and certainly will provide laughs and gasps along the way.

Want to delve into the book and discover the murderer as well as try the scrumptious recipes? Reply to this post by midnight EST on Thursday, February 16 to win a free eBook copy of “Hot Chocolate.”

4.5 stars

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January 28, 2012

Superbia by Bernard Schaffer

Superbia by Bernard Schaffer is a super fast pasted, adrenaline laced story about the life of a cop.

Frank O'Brian is a newbie in a relatively small town that basically only handles misdemeanors. After only being on the job for a few short years, he was injured in a robbery gone wrong arrest. When he got back from recovery, he was placed in the unit's Detectives team... that consisted of just one lonely hard ass, Vic. Together Vic and Frank work on a few cases that come into the station... one a drug bust, the other a molestation charge. The cases wear down on them. It affects their personal lives, their family lives and their sanity.

This book goes into the dark, behind the scenes evils that cops have to deal with on a daily basis... and it's not pretty. I really appreciated how Vic and Frank were real people. They were't super hero cops... they weren't pompous or over righteous. They were messed up! The job got under their skin, as I'm sure it does in real life. It's clear that Schaffer is/was a cop... the details about the job and the politics within are too close to home to not be real.

I read this book in just 3 days... leisurely. I had no intention to rush, but it was too good to put down. Schaffer's writing is top notch. He is funny, dark and tortured throughout. I was laughing at one page and then crying at the very next. The dialogue and relationship that blossoms between Vic and Frank is both rich and deep. My only complaint would have to be that it ended too suddenly. I would have liked a little more... but maybe that's just me being greedy?

Overall, Superbia offers a very interesting look behind the dark and gory curtain of life as a cop.
4.5 stars

I was offered a complementary copy of this book in return for my honest review.

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December 24, 2011

The First Rule of Ten: A Tenzing Norbu Mystery- By Gay Hendricks and Tinker Lindsay

Usually books with co-authors completely turn me off, their disjointed thoughts trying to come together to create one cohesive story that usually falls short of anything creative and interesting. Gay Hendricks and Tinker Lindsay elevate this writing concept to the level where it was intended to reside. Combining Lindsay’s screenwriting talents and love of yoga and meditation with Hendricks’ contributions in the body-mind therapy field, the Tenzing Norbu mystery novels were born.

The first book in this series, “The First Rule of Ten” introduces the reader to the main protagonist, Tenzing Norbu. With a background ranging from a former Tibetan Buddhist monk to a LAPD police officer in the Robbery/Homicide division, Tenzing is not your normal private detective. After quitting his job as a police officer, Tenzing begins to ponder where his life is headed. Enter Barbara, the drug-reformed ex-girlfriend of Tenzing’s former landlord. After a bizarre conversation where she reveals she escaped a religious cult, Barbara turns up in a park dead, and Tenzing gains his first client as a detective, even though she cannot pay him.

While investigating Barbara’s murder, Tenzing meets a host of characters including a sexy chef who he cannot get enough of, a group of religious cult members, shady insurance salesmen, and John D, an almond farmer. Discovering connections between all of these characters, Tenzing slowly begins to uncover a plot that involves more than just Barbara’s murder.

“The First Rule of Ten” starts off a bit slow, as Hendricks and Lindsay develop Tenzing’s persona, which proves crucial toward the end of the novel. Tenzing is a flawed character, in that he clearly has issues with his parents and analyzes his issues with intimacy after one date. However, these flaws, while some seem unrealistic and forced, add to the bizarreness of this character. How often do you find a Buddhist monk who owns a Wilson Combat .38 Supergrade gun and drives a 1965 Shelby Mustang? Tenzing holds on to his spirituality and love for simplicity as his navigates through this labyrinth.

As a lover of mystery novels, this book certainly had some twists that had me speeding through the pages. I was waiting for the different aspects of the story to connect, and I felt that Tenzing was waiting for the same thing. Combining spiritual faith with logic, he serves as the modern Sherlock Holmes. Quirky and a loner, Tenzing takes the reader on a journey as the clues start to fit together, revealing an intricate web of lies, corruption, and death.

Released in January 2012, “The First Rule of Ten” will have you waiting for Hendricks and Lindsay’s sequel, “The Second Rule of Ten.” I recommend this book to readers who want a detective novel that brings Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s hero to the modern age.

4.5 stars

**I received a free copy of this book from Hay House Publishers.

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November 12, 2011

Persuade Me by Juliet Archer

Juliet Archer has recreated Jane Austen’s classic novels in her “Darcy & Friends” series. While I have not had the pleasure of reading the other book in this series, Archer instantly hooked me after the first few chapters in “Persuade Me,” the second book in the sequence. Based on Austen’s “Persuasion,” Archer recreates the scenes of Bath, Lyme Regis, and the luxurious Kellynch estate, while transforming the central characters into relatable individuals in today’s age.

The novel revolves around Anna Elliot, a Russian Literature professor, and her past lover, Rick Wentworth. After falling madly in love in France, Anna’s wealthy family forces her to sever ties with Rick after deeming his simple beginnings as unfit for a woman from the Kellynch estate. Years later, after publishing a bestseller book on the sexual activities of marine animals and pursuing a seven-week book tour, Rick reenters Anna’s life with one purpose: to put the past behind him. Armed with moderate wealth, swooning fans, and a supermodel girlfriend, Rick wants to show Anna how much she gave up all those years ago. However, as the two characters meet for the first time in ten years, things become complicated. Between Anna’s sisters-in-law vying for Rick’s attention, the mysterious masseuse Cléopatra Clé warming up to Anna’s wealthy father, and her sister’s, Mona, complicated marriage, Archer keeps the reader guessing what will happen next.

Even if you are not familiar with Jane Austen’s “Persuasion,” Archer draws the reader into her world of undying love and family issues. The book presents the viewpoints of both Rick and Anna, allowing the reader to delve into the psyches of both characters and discovering how simple misunderstandings lead to humorous and entertaining plot turns. I found this novel impossible to put down and highly recommend it to any reader who enjoys the complexity of Jane Austen’s novels or just wants a good romance novel to curl up with. I will certainly be on the lookout for Archer’s next novel and wondering which characters she will chose next to introduce to the twenty-first century.

Four and a half stars.

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March 18, 2012

Paydirt by Paul Levine

March 9, 2012

Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble

February 29, 2012

What Stays in Vegas by Beth Labonte

February 28, 2012

Promise Me Eternity by Ian Fox

February 20, 2012

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns) by Mindy Kaling

February 9, 2012

GIVEAWAY: Hot Chocolate by Dawn Ireland (Closed)

January 28, 2012

Superbia by Bernard Schaffer

December 24, 2011

The First Rule of Ten: A Tenzing Norbu Mystery- By Gay Hendricks and Tinker Lindsay

November 12, 2011

Persuade Me by Juliet Archer

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