Top 5 Non Romance of 2012
1. Miss peregrine's home of peculiar children by Ransom Riggs
2. Ready player one by Ernest Cline
3. Salvage the bones by Jesmyn Ward
4. Defending Jacob by William Landay
5. The glass castle by Jeannette walls
Honorable mention
6. Crooked letter, crooked letter by Tom Franklin
7. The lock artist by Steve Hamilton
8. The family fang by Kevin Wilson
Cheers,
Dr. Books
TOP 5 NON ROMANCE of 2012
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Ignite (Midnight fire series) BOOK REVIEW
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Ignite (Midnight Fire Series)
BY: Kaitlyn Davis
Good Reads Description:
“With one last look, one final search of the lines of his face for some sign, Kira turned and ran away from the sound of the man she loved laughing in the face of her death."
When Kira Dawson moves to South Carolina, she meets Luke, a blond goofball who quickly becomes her best friend, and Tristan, a mysterious bad boy who sends shivers down her spine. Kira knows they're keeping secrets, but when she discovers Tristan's lust for blood and her own dormant mystical powers, Kira is forced to fight for her life and make the heartbreaking decision between the familiar comfort of friendship and the fiery passion of love.
When Kira Dawson moves to South Carolina, she meets Luke, a blond goofball who quickly becomes her best friend, and Tristan, a mysterious bad boy who sends shivers down her spine. Kira knows they're keeping secrets, but when she discovers Tristan's lust for blood and her own dormant mystical powers, Kira is forced to fight for her life and make the heartbreaking decision between the familiar comfort of friendship and the fiery passion of love.
Book Review:
When I was looking for another good paranormal series to read I got plenty of Recommendations for this book/series. You guys know how much I love a good love triangle, so when this book was starting out I was thinking “OH YA”!!! However, the deeper into it I got I realized there was so much more to this book. As I read the more secrets, battles, PLEDGES OF LOVE and building of unlikely friendships happened. This book started out a little slow for me, but OH BOY did it ever pick up as the story progressed.
In the beginning of this book we are introduced to Kira. She is a young girl who has lived in NYC at boarding school until her family could no longer afford it. She moves back to Charleston, South Carolina to finish out her senior year. Little does she know her life is about to be turned upside down. Kira's best friend in this book is Luke, A PROTECTOR. As this book plays out Kira finds out she is a Conduit of Sunlight (Killer of Vampires), and if that wasn’t enough she finds out she’s the only one of a SPECIAL KIND (Nope not giving it away). With all of her new found information Luke is there by her side through it all. Watching their friendship blossom throughout this book was heartfelt. In the beginning I was excited thinking once again Love Triangle but my goodness at the end heart clinching moment (Again nope not giving it away).
Well who do you ask completes this triangle? Tristan ( The hot bad boy Vampire)..... His affect on Kira is WOW. When you get shivers up your spine just when this man enters the room you know it’s serious. Tristan and his crew are not liked by many. However, Kira sees something in Tristan know one else does and her faith in him is unbelievable. At certain points in this book I was screaming YOU GO GIRL because despite their LOVE being forbidden, she fought for her man to make him see what they had was worth it (SIGH)!
This book had a little of everything from downright bloody/broken limb battles, declarations of love and SACRIFICE. I enjoyed this book. It was not the usual play on vampires you typically read which was rather refreshing. As I said before it did start out slow for me but when it picked up boy did it ever. This was a good start to the series but I wished Kira/Tristan's story would have been more (yes hopeless romantic). Also thank GOODNESS for the Epilogue… GEEZ, lol.
GOOD JOB Mrs. DAVIS. I look forward to reading the rest of your series.
Cheers,
Dr. Books
BOOK RATING: B/4 Stars
http://kaitlyndavisbooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Ignite-Midnight-Fire-Series-ebook/dp/B005U8GQT6
http://www.amazon.com/Ignite-Midnight-Fire-Series-ebook/dp/B005U8GQT6
Schooled by Deena Bright BOOK REVIEW
Monday, January 14, 2013
Schooled
BY: Deena Bright
Amazon Description:
(Think: Chelsea
Handler MEETS Fifty Shades of Grey)
The horrifying shock of witnessing her husband banging his skank-whore secretary spurred this ever-wholesome and rule-following teacher to seek some new lessons of her own. A young teacher learns about sexuality, pleasure, and satisfaction from rather unlikely and forbidden teachers, her former students, now recent college graduates. Not only does she get “schooled” by the beautifully-built all-American football player who struggled to pass her class, but she also learns a few tricks from the innocent, well-read, and thoroughly sexy bookworm. Both men teach her that not all curricula worth learning comes from a book.
Go through the journey Janelle Garrity-Flowers faces after discovering her husband’s infidelity. Growing up, she followed the rules, but now, she wants to defy the norms and play by her own rules. Janelle explores her own sexuality, searching for pleasure beyond her wildest dreams. However, despite this callow teacher’s “lesson plan” of forgoing the rules and not letting emotion get involved, the teacher must decide between the athlete, the scholar, and the career she loves. But what or who does she love and want more?
The horrifying shock of witnessing her husband banging his skank-whore secretary spurred this ever-wholesome and rule-following teacher to seek some new lessons of her own. A young teacher learns about sexuality, pleasure, and satisfaction from rather unlikely and forbidden teachers, her former students, now recent college graduates. Not only does she get “schooled” by the beautifully-built all-American football player who struggled to pass her class, but she also learns a few tricks from the innocent, well-read, and thoroughly sexy bookworm. Both men teach her that not all curricula worth learning comes from a book.
Go through the journey Janelle Garrity-Flowers faces after discovering her husband’s infidelity. Growing up, she followed the rules, but now, she wants to defy the norms and play by her own rules. Janelle explores her own sexuality, searching for pleasure beyond her wildest dreams. However, despite this callow teacher’s “lesson plan” of forgoing the rules and not letting emotion get involved, the teacher must decide between the athlete, the scholar, and the career she loves. But what or who does she love and want more?
BOOK
REVIEW
This book was a fun,
funny, VERY SEXY, a quick read….. AND when I say Very sexy, I mean VERY SEXY lol
(fanning self moment). This book has one
of the best love triangles I've read in a while. The story begins with us
meeting Janelle Flowers, a high school teacher who at the present moment is
having intimacy problems in her marriage.
“It been 82 days” –Janelle
Well, on her way home
EARLY from her end of the year school function she comes home to find her
husband having SEX with his secretary in their bed. In shock she just turns
around and leaves (YES I said she just left, not a word, not a fight….this was
my first WTH moment).
Thinking alcohol is
always the answer in situations like this, she goes to a bar an stumbles in to
non other then BRIGGS ALEXANDER (her old student). Let me take this moment to describe
this man to you, Biracial (skin color of mocha), ex football star (THE OHIO
STATE), soon to be ESPN show host and oh ya BLUE EYES….YUMMY! Briggs is hot and
trust me he knows it. BUT we also learn there is more to him then most people
think. The chemistry between Janelle and
Briggs is WOW! Everything from the infamous “BABY FOOTED PAJAMAS” to sexy
TEACHER lingerie scenes (yes I actually mean it has pictures of rulers/chalk on
it) happen between these two.
“Blue eyes on a black man are panty-creamers.”--Briggs (Wait…. did he really just say that)
Well needless to say after the whole bar thing,
Janelle needs to regroup and figure out her life. So who does she call non
other then her supporting cast her sister, her brother, and her crazy best
friend. I mean seriously crazy but I LOVE HER…..Lets just say a certain scene
involving Janelle’s husband, water, a lighter and pubic hair made me fall in love
lol. To her shock non of them are surprised instead they hand her a folder……Whats
in the folder you say (nope not giving it away But There are actually two
folders hehe)? Not wanting to go back to her house she moves in to her brother
pool house in an attempt to get her life back in ORDER!
Oh boy little did she know the road ahead for her held anything BUT ORDER. Oh the day curse the day her brother says
you owe me a landscaper make a call. Who does she call, none other then one
of the sweetest and smartest kids she every taught, LEO (now a CPA). What can I say about LEO.
He was that smarty sweet nerdy kid with braces in high school. Oh BUT NOW lets
just say he’s Tan, funny, caring, chiseled body (thank you rowing in college), and
WELL READ. Ok this man has read books on the human anatomy/female sexuality to
help him better please a women, SCHOLAR! Also he even went as far as to read
twilight and the hunger games series (I’m soooo not kidding!) The chemistry between Leo and Janelle is HOT.
BUT what about BRIGSS you say??? Oh ya Janelle has herself in a serious pickle!
As this book plays out we start by seeing Janelle
falling victim to her on STRICT RULE OF WOMEN….. “Women are blind to the flaws of the men in there lives, until the fateful
day when they can finally see…..It doesn't matter what anyone says or what
anyone can prove. All that matters is what she can see when she finally chooses
to see.”—Janelle
How does she recover? Well
lets just say the two HOT old students of her’s are keeping her pretty
preoccupied these days. This is a story of a woman who as a teacher always had
the perfect set of lesson plans/rules BUT what happens when you throw out the
rule book?....A HOT LOVE TRIANGLE….Janelle finds herself still in a teaching role at times but in so many ways she has also become the Pupil. This
Lesson of Love isn't an easy one for any involved but the real question is who
will she choose in the end?
RATING: A/5 stars
The flow of this book was
great. It kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what is going to
happen next. I can’t wait for book #2 to
be released. GOOD JOB Mrs. Bright!
Cheers,
Dr. Books
The Siren (The Original Sinners) BOOK REVIEW
Sunday, January 13, 2013
The Siren (The
Original Sinners) Book Review
By: Tiffany Reisz
Amazon Description:
Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica,
each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more
serious, more personal—and she's sure it'll be her breakout book…if it ever
sees the light of day.
Zachary
Easton holds Nora's fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British
editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire
novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it's no deal.
Nora's grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining…and
shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is
more torturous—staying away from him…or returning to his bed?
Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your
limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.
BOOK REVIEW
I actually finished this book
earlier this weekend. With that being said this book left with a I have no idea
what to say moment. I seriously needed to take a day to regroup and think about
the words on the pages I just read. Let
me apologize if as you read this review and its all over the place.That’s because
this book was all over the place LOL! The first thing I will say is this book
is NOT for the FAINT OF HEART. Honestly
going into this book I was expecting a BDSM, funny, romance…… BOY WAS I WRONG!!
What I got instead was PURE RAW EMOTION!
In the words of the book
itself….. “This is not a romance novel”…”
Zach
Nora one of the main
characters in this book is an erotic best selling author by day and a
Dominatrix by night. Despite being a best selling author already she wants to
be taken seriously in the world of writing and she has just the story for it. A
Story of a submissive/vanilla female and a DOM….BUT whose story is it she
trying to tell you ask??? (yup boy did I ever ask myself that). OK I assumed
the female character was her but who the heck was the male one!..... AND this is
were the twist and turns of this book begin.
OK let me slow down I'm getting
ahead of myself. Nora is a funny, chaotic/ life of the party, I like making you
feel uncomfortable type of girl. BUT on the inside as this book progresses we see Nora is BROKEN! Well she finally gets a
publishing company to take her new book seriously only the editor she got stuck
with is "THE LONDON FOG " (not making that up that's what they really call him at
work). Zach is a brilliant editor. He is
cranky and will rip your manuscript to pieces BUT he produces best sellers!
Zach only works with SERIOUS WRITERS so needless to say he isn't thrilled about
working with Nora. Zach as we soon see
has his on story hidden in the pieces of this book. He is separated from his wife Grace back in London
One of the supporting
characters in this book is Wesley (I LOVED HIM). He is Nora’s 18 year old live in
intern. This Boy is PURE i'm waiting until I get married/for the ONE, VANILLA! As this book continues to play out we learn his ONE is NORA. The cat
and mouse games these two sometimes play down right made me feel uncomfortable at times (seriously, no even joking). Wes knows about Nora’s
night job and it doesn't sit well with him. So needless to say the not so
subtle advances she makes towards him are met with THE HAND (as in back off). OH
Wesley the heart is a fragile thing, BUT the young heart oh man… (head
shakes!!).
Finally lets talk about
SOREN. This is the man that has BROKEN Nora in some many ways and
I mean BROKEN Literally. One word comes to mind when I think of him, BASTARD! Ok let me just say right now there were many
disturbing parts in this book to me (On so many Levels). Ok ill give you an
example…Soren was Nora’s Master/Dom since she was 15 (yes I said 15 and keep in
mind he’s older). While still being her DOM in all things DOM he made her wait
5 YEARS before they actually became LOVERS! His mind games with her were sometime down
right brutal to even read and some of the session/love scenes were down right
made me CRINGE (Literally). Despite, the mental and ya I’m going to say
physical abuse/punishment (whatever you want to call it) the LOVE Nora HAS for this man
is UNREAL! “Hurting Her Was His Privilege Alone”- NORA (my heart hurt for her so
many times)
This book showed the pure RAW
emotions of a BROKEN women and the BROKEN people that surrounded her in her
life. At times I liked this book and at times I Really didn't. I don’t think a
book has ever made me CRINGE until now. The BDSM lifestyle this book portrayed at
some times hit that blurry line of down right abuse in my mind (YUP CRINGE
MOMENTS)! The writing in this book was Good, hidden DEEP with in the pages of
this book you did get the sense of UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. However, this book was just
a little to DARK for me.
Cheers,
Dr. Books
Book Rating:
The Writing B/ 4 maybe even 4.5
OVERALL: C/3.5
The Boots My Mother Gave Me Book Review
Saturday, January 12, 2013
The Boots My Mother Gave Me
BY: Brooklyn James
Amazon Description:
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk through life in
someone else's shoes?
Strong-willed tomboy Harley LeBeau puts you in the boots her mother gave her, as she takes you along her journey of escape from an abusive childhood and the desire to find herself as she comes of age. Made to feel a burden to her father simply by her gender, Harley is determined to prove her worth and independence, leaving the small town she grew up in and the one boy who gave her a soft place to fall, Jeremiah Johnson. Torn between saving herself and abandoning her mother and younger sister, Harley chooses her own life in hopes they will choose theirs, too.
A mature, candid read for everyone. A must for women. The Boots My Mother Gave Me explores the dynamics of abuse and dysfunction, the courage to overcome, the strength in sisterhood, and the ongoing conflict and unconditional love between mothers and daughters.
Climb into Charlene the Chevelle for a fast-paced story about a girl who is tough enough to survive and tender enough to learn to trust in love.
Strong-willed tomboy Harley LeBeau puts you in the boots her mother gave her, as she takes you along her journey of escape from an abusive childhood and the desire to find herself as she comes of age. Made to feel a burden to her father simply by her gender, Harley is determined to prove her worth and independence, leaving the small town she grew up in and the one boy who gave her a soft place to fall, Jeremiah Johnson. Torn between saving herself and abandoning her mother and younger sister, Harley chooses her own life in hopes they will choose theirs, too.
A mature, candid read for everyone. A must for women. The Boots My Mother Gave Me explores the dynamics of abuse and dysfunction, the courage to overcome, the strength in sisterhood, and the ongoing conflict and unconditional love between mothers and daughters.
Climb into Charlene the Chevelle for a fast-paced story about a girl who is tough enough to survive and tender enough to learn to trust in love.
Book Review:
Were to even begin….
This book was a pretty powerful and emotional read. The book tells the
life story of Harley LaBeau as she struggles to find what her purpose is in
life. AND trust me this girl has some serious struggles. Harley is a singing/
song writing, high school basketball playing, tom boy, loving
daughter/sister/granddaughter and oh yeah LOVER from the small town of Georgia , Pennsylvania
As we follow Harley's story we watch her constant struggle to deal with mental and physical abuse from her father
(Soooo my least favorite character…...this man has some serious demons). What do
you think it would be like to have some one tell you your whole life “You are
Worthless to me” and not just you but your mother/little sister as well
(Heart TUG moment)? As the situation at
home got worse Harley manages to get kicked out of the house before graduating
high school. Thank goodness she had loving friends who were there for her in
this time of need. She packs her things and moves into a tiny apartment above
the garage she works at (OH ya I forgot to add Mechanic to her résumé lol).
The supporting characters in this book were interesting and I loved them
each for what life’s lessons/experiences they brought to the table. Mich
While I really like this book I would have LOVED to see Harley and Mich
While researching this book I found out this was a semi-autobiographical book of the life of Brooklyn
James herself. This did nothing more than cause me to like this book even more.
Below I am attaching a link to an audio interview Mrs. James gave discussing her life and her book. GIVE IT
A LISTEN!
SHOUT OUT TO KAZI BOOK REVIEW!
GOOD JOB MRS. JAMES!!
CHEERS,
Dr. Books
BOOK RATING: A/4.5 Stars
The Tale of Lucia Grandi BOOK REVIEW
Thursday, January 10, 2013
The Tale of Lucia Grandi, The early
years
By Susan Speranza
Amazon Description:
When an old
woman is asked to tell the story of her life, she tells an intense and poignant
tale about growing up in and surviving a warring suburban family during the 1950s and '60s.
Written as a memoir, each chapter describes a particular incident in Lucia's life which shows the constant struggle between her parents and the perverse effect it has on her and her family. From her complicated and unwanted birth, to her witnessing a suicide at age 3, to her stint as a runaway at age 14, the story progresses to the final crisis where as a young woman she is turned out of her house and banished from her family forever.
Told in breathtakingly beautiful prose, this is a powerful and timeless story of a dying woman's courageous attempt to come to terms with her past and the troubled family that dominated it.
This book (under its former title of "My Life in Dogs, the Early Years") was a Quarter finalist in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. It was also on the short list of finalists in the 2012 Faulkner-Wisdom Writing Competition.
Written as a memoir, each chapter describes a particular incident in Lucia's life which shows the constant struggle between her parents and the perverse effect it has on her and her family. From her complicated and unwanted birth, to her witnessing a suicide at age 3, to her stint as a runaway at age 14, the story progresses to the final crisis where as a young woman she is turned out of her house and banished from her family forever.
Told in breathtakingly beautiful prose, this is a powerful and timeless story of a dying woman's courageous attempt to come to terms with her past and the troubled family that dominated it.
This book (under its former title of "My Life in Dogs, the Early Years") was a Quarter finalist in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. It was also on the short list of finalists in the 2012 Faulkner-Wisdom Writing Competition.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Book
Review:
First let me
start by saying it has been a while since I have read a book from a memoir
perspective. With that being said as I read I honestly felt like I was
traveling with back in time/seeing things through her eyes as she told her
story. The story begins with Lucia now 110 Years old (WOW!!) asked to tell her
life’s story by a young woman writing her dissertation. Lucia tells her story of growing up in the
1950’s and 1960’s as the second born child in a dysfunctional family (Seriously
her parents have some ISSUES! = UNHAPPY MARRIAGE). In this book you witness Lucia’s emotional stresses , sibling rivalry’s and
even some physical abuse.
Each chapter
in this book is a different event (Life Lesson if you will) Lucia has had to
deal with. As tragic events continue to unfold in her life we witness a young
women not fold but gain strength in the face of adversity. Once the book is approaching
its end a situation occurs were Lucia is forced to LEAVE home. I remember
thinking at this point despite the situation maybe she will finally be able to
find the happiness and love she deserves!
This book
for me was a hard read. In the beginning I was drawn in but as the middle of
the book approached my ATTENTION SPAN wasn't all there. Through this whole book
I just wanted Lucia to FEEL LOVED. Her grandfather had to be one of my favorite
characters because he loved her and she loved him.
“ Perhaps I could accept the fact
that my parents did not love me, because I had the love of the one person who
had come to mean everything to me in life. My Grandfather.” – Lucia
If I had to
think of one thing that I really like about this book it would have to be the
historical points Mrs. Speranza used.
Though this is a work of fiction how she made them fit together in this
book was really good (Nope Sorry not giving any away !!!)
This book is
a pretty LENGTHY read. But the journey Lucia takes you on through her life growing
up is one not easily forgotten. At some Points in this book I found myself
Thankful/BLESSED for the life I have and the LOVE surrounding me as I grew up.
Rating: C+/3.5 Stars
***NOTE: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
***NOTE: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
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FORBIDDEN Book Review
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Forbidden
By: Tabitha Suzuma
Amazon Book Description:
Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. The stress of their lives has brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love, and as the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.
********************************************************************I want to start off by saying this book has left me an EMOTIONAL WRECK. Even now as I write this after taking a breather and trying to absorb what I just read. This book touches on some serious and important topics, social anxiety, incest, mental/psychological abuse, and suicide. Some parts of this book had me smiling as I read, others had me down right SOBBING (yes you need Kleenex on hand), and in the end I can say I was HEARTBROKEN for the children of Whitely family.
This book is told from two POV's Lochen and Maya, the two older siblings of the Whitely family. Lochen and Maya assume the role of care takers/ parents to there younger siblings because there mother to put it simply is a DEADBEAT/ALCOHOLIC trying to re live her glory years (ya she was my least favorite character). Lochen has assumed the role of man/father of the house since his father left them when he was not even a teenager. As if having missing out on being a kid and having to raise your siblings isn't sad enough he also suffers from severe SOCIAL ANXIETY (As in he has a panic attack just by having to possibly talk/answer in class). Maya like Lochen has pretty much missed out on a childhood as well by helping her brother raise her younger siblings. She is in every way the Woman/Mother of the house.
Lochen and Maya over the years have worked together to do everything possible to keep there family from falling apart. As they fought over the years to keep there family intact, there love for each other continued to grow as well (Yup you guessed it let the Romantic journey begin!). This is the first book I have read that has dealt with the topic of INCEST. As their romance continued to develop through out this book my emotions were all over the place. Words like appalled, understanding, Scared and eventually being heartbroken for them come to mind just to name a few.
The supporting Characters in this book the younger siblings (Kit, Tiffan, and Willia) I LOVED! Although Kit had that middle child/black sheep of the family thing going on, I swear you just wanted to shake some sense into him sometimes. As the end of this book approached I cried the last few chapters and I got the GUT FEELING that a TRAGIC end was approaching. Let me just say I really hoped that gut feeling was wrong, but it wasn't (THEN THE SOBBING BEGAN!)
This book of Forbidden love between two siblings and the lengths they go to save one another is a story I will never forget.
Mrs. Suzuma let me just say JOB WELL DONE!!!!
A+/5 HEART BREAKING STARS
CHEERS,
Dr. Books
http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-ebook/dp/B004A90A9I/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1357698983&sr=1-3&keywords=forbidden
http://www.facebook.com/tabitha.suzuma
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