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Forevermore by Kristen Calihan -- Release Day!

It's release day for the final book in the Darkest London series! Check out my review, an exclusive review, and a giveaway below!

Title: Foevermore (Darkest London #7)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Forever 2016

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 308

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Popsugar - Published in 2016; Women Authors

Isolated and alone, Sin Evernight is one of the most powerful supernatural creatures in heaven and on earth. As an angel of vengeance, he hunts down the darkest evil, but when his long-lost friend, Layla Starling, needs him, he vows to become her protector. Even though she will be horrified by the man he has become.

Now a famous singer and the toast of London, Layla believes that Sin is only here to guard her from rabid fans and ardent suitors. However, the truth is far more sinister. Desperate to avoid losing Layla a second time, Sin will face a test of all his powers to defeat an unstoppable foe - and win an eternity with the woman he loves.

I received a copy of this soon-to-be-released book from the publisher. I didn't even realize that there was going to be a seventh book, but I'm so glad there is!I have loved Callihan's world building and twist on the paranormal world.  We get to see so many different beings and relationships. This volume wraps up the Darkest London world in a neat little package. We get a fitting ending to all the characters we've met in the previous books. And this one focuses on Sin Evernight. I thought he was an intriguing character in the previous storyline. It was nice to see him get his own story and romance! I sped through this book in one day desperate to see how everything came together. Oh man! I am going to miss this series, but it's a good absence.

An Awesome Excerpt From Forevermore:

One might think being an immortal was a blessing, never grow old, never grow sick, never die. At one time in St. John Evernight’s life, he considered it a blessing too. He would be around long after the simple humans who surrounded him were nothing but dust. They could stare all they liked at his “strange” hair and frosty green eyes. They could gossip and speculate about him until they lost their voices. It didn’t matter. He was untouchable, and they were but fragile sacks of blood and bone.

How naive he’d been. Because living forever merely meant a lack of escape from the desolation of regret and loneliness. He knew now that he could walk down Jermyn Street endlessly, see the sands of time shift and rearrange before him, and never be a part of life.

“Brooding, Mr. Evernight?”

Sin almost jumped at the sudden sound of Augustus’s voice by his side. Damn, the blasted man loved to startle him. He gave Augustus a passing glance. Dressed in conservative brown tweed and a bowler hat, the angel appeared every inch the English gentlemen, save for his dark coloring that marked him to be from Southern climes.

“It’s really quite the trick, popping up like a soap bubble whenever you choose, Augustus. You must teach me how one day.”

The man’s mouth twitched. “With your luck, you’d pop up in the middle of a parliamentary session.”

Yes, Sin had abominable luck. Or perhaps it was more a matter of making abominable choices.

“You’re brooding again,” Augustus remarked.

“I’m not brooding. This is simply my face.”

Augustus snorted but remained silent as they walked along, past Trafalgar Square and down Whitehall.

“Care to tell me why you called me here?” Sin asked, when they came upon the grounds of Westminster. For the past year, Sin had been in Rome, soaking in the warmer temperatures, drinking espresso in cafes along the Piazza della Rotunda, under the shade of the ancient Pantheon. He’d eaten simple but delicious food, and listened to the rapid fire of Italian, and felt…well, not peace, but a measure of contentment.

Until Augustus had sent for him. Returning to England sat like a stone in his gut. But he would obey. Augustus was his mentor, and the man who’d given him salvation. The price was a lifetime of servitude. To be fair, his role was for justice, not evil, which was a nice change of pace.

A massive dray rattled past, kicking up dust and sending a fug of stale manure into the air. They hurried past the cloud and headed for Westminster Abbey. Sin hadn’t planned on visiting today, but here they were all the same. He wondered if Augustus somehow had led him to their usual meeting place or if Sin had merely headed that way because of the man’s sudden arrival.

He’d like to think the latter. It did not sit well with him having another control his actions. Not since a certain evil fae had kept Sin as a blood slave for years. Even now, the memory made his stomach turn.

Not a soul acknowledged them as they walked through the abbey and into the cloisters. Here, a rare bit of sunlight peeked through the constant cloud cover and cast lacy shadows along the walkway. The sound of their boot heels clacked out a steady rhythm as they strolled along.

“Layla returns to London tonight.”

At the mention of her name, Sin’s heart stilled within his breast. He’d tried his best to ward off all finer feelings, to remain numb, detached from life. And yet he could not, for the life of him, remain immune to Layla Starling. His childhood friend. The one woman who could take his breath, his reason, simply by laying eyes upon her.

Stuffing his shaking hands into his trouser pockets, Sin forced himself to keep an even tone. “So then I am to begin watching over her?”

God, but he did not want to. It would be agony, staying so close to her and never being allowed to show his true feelings. And yet a thrum of anticipation went through him at the mere prospect of seeing Layla once more.

“Are you ready?” Augustus asked, though his expression told Sin he fully expected an affirmative answer.

So Sin told him the only truth left to him. “I will not fail her.”

BUY THE BOOK HERE

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AUTHOR INFORMATION

USA Today bestselling author Kristen Callihan is a writer because there is nothing else she'd rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewers' Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book, Firelight, received RT Book Reviews' Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher's Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

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Darkest London Series

  • #0.5 Ember
  • #1 Firelight
  • #2 Moonglow
  • #3 Winterblaze
  • #3.5 Entwined
  • #4 Shadowdance
  • #5 Evernight
  • #6 Soulbound
  • #7 Forevermore

a Rafflecopter giveaway

tags: 5 stars, Kristen Callihan, paranormal, Popsugar, Read My Own Damn Books, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 06.28.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

East of West Vol. 2-4

Title: East of West Volume 2: We Are All One, Volume 3: There is No Us, Volume 4: Who Wants War?

Author: Jonathan Hickman, Nick Dragotta

Publisher: Image

Genre: Comics

Pages: 144; 144; 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel The second volume of the most exciting new book in the industry is here! "We Are All One" follows our cast around the fractured future-scape of America as we learn more about a world that's rapidly coming to a end.

It's the third volume of the Eisner-nominated EAST OF WEST. "There Is No Us" sees the breaking apart of the future-scape of America as the world races forward towards the apocalypse."WHO WANTS WAR?" sees YEAR TWO of the Apocalypse kick into high gear.

I sped through the next three volumes of East of West in one day. They are just so good... I love where Hickman is the taking the story of the apocalypse. We get to see all the different players and their reactions to the actions of the Horsemen and Death. We finally get to see the progress of the Beast and the Prophet Orion. I am very intrigued by Balloon. And I want to hear more about the Endless Nation. Such great volumes. I can't wait to read the fifth volume.

 
tags: 5 stars, graphic novel, Jonathan Hickman
categories: Book Reviews
Sunday 06.26.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla by Lauren Willig

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Title: The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla (Pink Carnation #11)

Author: Lauren Willig

Publisher: Penguin 2014

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 451

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 52 Books - W26

In October of 1806, the Little Season is in full swing, and Sally Fitzhugh has had enough of the endless parties and balls. With a rampant vampire craze sparked by the novel The Convent of Orsino, it seems no one can speak of anything else. But when Sally hears a rumor that the reclusive Duke of Belliston is an actual vampire, she cannot resist the challenge of proving such nonsense false. At a ball in Belliston Square, she ventures across the gardens and encounters the mysterious Duke.

Lucien, Duke of Belliston, is well versed in the trouble gossip can bring. He’s returned home to dispel the rumors of scandal surrounding his parents’ deaths, which hint at everything from treason to dark sorcery. While he searches for the truth, he welcomes his fearsome reputation—until a woman is found dead in Richmond. Her blood drained from her throat.

Lucien and Sally join forces to stop the so-called vampire from killing again. Someone managed to get away with killing the last Duke of Belliston. But they won’t kill this duke—not if Sally has anything to say about it.

So this book was a bit of an odd one for the series. I enjoyed reading it, but it lacked the spy angle from most of the other books. I did enjoy Lucien as a main character. Sally got on my nerves a few times throughout. And I kept thinking of her as a schoolgirl, not a leading lady. I realize time has passed since the beginning of the series, but it was a bit weird. Overall, I enjoyed the book but definitely not my favorite of the series.

Pink Carnation:

  • #1 The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
  • #2 The Masque of the Black Tulip
  • #3 The Deception of the Emerald Ring
  • #4 The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
  • #5 The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
  • #6 The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
  • #7 The Mischief of the Mistletoe
  • #8 The Orchid Affair
  • #8.5 Away in a Manger
  • #8.7 Ivy and Intrigue
  • #9 The Garden Intrigue
  • #10 The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
  • #11 The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
  • #12 The Lure of the Moonflower
tags: 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, historical fiction, Lauren Willig, romance
categories: Book Reviews
Sunday 06.26.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Wytches Vol. 1

Title: Wytches Volume 1

Author: Scott Snyder, Jock

Publisher: Image 2015

Genre: Comics

Pages: 144

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

When the Rooks family moves to the remote town of Litchfield, NH to escape a haunting trauma, they're hopeful about starting over. But something evil is waiting for them in the woods just beyond town. Watching from the trees. Ancient...and hungry. Collects WYTCHES #1-6.

Interesting horror comic. i was on the edge of my seat throughout the six issues. Definitely a very creepy premise full of action and horror. I'm intrigued by the idea that there will be more...

tags: 4 stars, graphic novel, horror, Scott Snyder
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 06.25.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

Title: The Infinite Sea (Fifth Wave #2)

Author: Rick Yancey

Publisher: Putnam 2014

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 300

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series

Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others’ ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race.

Cassie and her friends haven’t seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate.

While waiting for N to finish The 5th Wave so we could watch the movie, I picked up the second in the trilogy. The second volume in the series just felt like a bit of a letdown. It was much shorter and focused on action action action. There was hardly any character development. I would have like to get to know some of the characters more. Instead it's action on every page. After a while, I was tired of the action and wanted things to slow down. Hopefully the conclusion of the trilogy is better...

Fifth Wave:

  • #1 The 5th Wave
  • #2 The Infinite Sea
  • #3 The Last Star
tags: 3 stars, Finishing the Series, Rick Yancey, science fiction, young adult
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 06.21.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Title: The 5th Wave (Fifth Wave #1)

Author: Rick Yancey

Publisher: Putnam 2013

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 457

Rating: 4/5 stars  Movie: 4/5

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - 365 Days of YA; Popsugar - Movie This Year; Book to Movie

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother--or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

So I grabbed this off the library's Lucky Day shelf on a whim. It hadn't been on my TBR shortlist. And yet, I'm glad I picked it up. I was assuming this was going to be a wimpy alien invasions story heavy on the melodrama and sap. Amazingly, it wasn't. I found myself intrigued by Yancey's world building and characters. I thought Cassie would be our only narrator, but thankfully we get to hear from a few other characters. I got so sucked into the story that I finished this in two days. I don't know what got into me, but I only surfaced once I read the last page. And then I was disappointed by the ending until I figured out that this is a trilogy. Guess who just reserved the second novel from the library...

Movie:

Overall, a decent adaptation of the novel. Of course there were changes, but those changes didn't fundamentally alter the story or characters for me. The pace was okay. Lots of the slower moments and conversations were cut for time and pacing. I get it. It's a Hollywood movie. I would have liked to see more character development especially from Ben and Ringer. But I get it. I did like Chloe Grace Moretz as Cassie Sullivan. Good casting there. The actor who played Ben wasn't quite what I had in mind, but oh well. The twins enjoyed the movie. So I guess it was a win for movie night.

Ffith Wave:

  • #1 The 5th Wave
  • #2 The Infinite Sea
  • #3 The Last Star
tags: 365 Days of YA, 4 stars, Book to Movie, perpetual, Popsugar, Rick Yancey, science fiction
categories: Book Reviews, Movies
Tuesday 06.21.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Magician's Land by Lev Grossman

Title: The Magician's Land (Magicians #3)

Author: Lev Grossman

Publisher: Penguin 2015

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 416

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Finishing the Series; 52 Books - W25

Quentin Coldwater has been cast out of Fillory, the secret magical land of his childhood dreams. With nothing left to lose he returns to where his story began, the Brakebills Preparatory College of Magic. But he can’t hide from his past, and it’s not long before it comes looking for him.

Along with Plum, a brilliant young undergraduate with a dark secret of her own, Quentin sets out on a crooked path through a magical demimonde of gray magic and desperate characters. But all roads lead back to Fillory, and his new life takes him to old haunts, like Antarctica, and to buried secrets and old friends he thought were lost forever. He uncovers the key to a sorcery masterwork, a spell that could create magical utopia, a new Fillory—but casting it will set in motion a chain of events that will bring Earth and Fillory crashing together. To save them he will have to risk sacrificing everything.

Finally Finally Finally dove into this one. J read it awhile back and warned me that I should reread the first two before tackling the conclusion. I'm glad I did. There were lots of little things that I forgot about that come back int he third book. But overall, so brilliant! This volume has a much better pace than the first two books. Plus we get some great twists and turns that I totally didn't see coming. And we encounter all the old characters as well as a few new ones. I loved the switching between Quentin's story and Eliot and Janet. It was nice to return to Fillory and see how the storyline ultimately played out. I would have finished the book in 4 days, but the toddler kept stealing my iPad to play games and would subsequently run the battery down. So It took me more like a week and a half.

tags: 5 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, fantasy, Finishing the Series, lev grossman, Read My Own Damn Books
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 06.21.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

East of West Vol. 1

Title: East of West Volume 1: The Promise

Author: Jonathan Hickman, Nick Dragotta

Publisher: Image 2013

Genre: Comics

Pages: 96

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

This is the world. It is not the one we wanted, but it is the one we deserved. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse roam the Earth, signaling the End Times for humanity, and our best hope for life, lies in DEATH!

Of the three random comics I grabbed off the library shelf, this is definitely the best series. I shouldn't be surprised. It's written by Jonathan Hickman who also wrote The Manhattan Projects. Instead of science, we focus on the supernatural embodied in the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I was immediately pulled into the world. Fascinating! An alternate history with some interesting supernatural bits throw in... Must read the next volume.

tags: 5 stars, graphic novel, Jonathan Hickman
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 06.15.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Five Ghosts Vol. 1

Title: Five Ghosts Volume 1: The Haunting of Fabian Gray

Author: Frank Barbiere, Chris Mooneyham

Publisher: Image 2013

Genre: Comics

Pages: 178

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

After a tragic encounter with an artifact known as "The Dreamstone," infamous treasure hunter Fabian Gray is possessed by five literary ghosts and granted access to their unique abilities.

Last library visit I picked up a stack of comics I had never heard of. It seems someone at the library went on a Image Comic buying binge. I appreciate their buying! This was an intriguing first volume. Kind of a cross between League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and something like American Vampire. I thoroughly enjoyed this volume as an after dinner treat. Now hopefully the library gets the next volume...

tags: 4 stars, Frank Barbiere, graphic novel
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 06.15.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick

Title: In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex

Author: Nathaniel Philbrick

Publisher: Viking 2000

Genre: Nonfiction – History

Pages: 301

Rating: 5/5 stars Movie: 3/5

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction; Popsugar - National Book Award Winner; Book to Movie

In 1820, the whaleship Essex was rammed and sunk by an angry sperm whale, leaving the desperate crew to drift for more than ninety days in three tiny boats. Nathaniel Philbrick uses little-known documents and vivid details about the Nantucket whaling tradition to reveal the chilling facts of this infamous maritime disaster.

After reading two of his books, I have to say that Philbrick is my second favorite history author. He doesn't quite beat Eric Larson's wonderful storytelling, but he sure produces some great books. How I have never heard of the whaleship Essex is just crazy! It may have something to do with the fact that I hated Moby Dick and the Essex's story is the inspiration for that book. Thankfully, the real history is a fascinating look at whaling, early 19th century life, and survival. I couldn't put this book down and finished in 2 days. Definitely a must-read. I really should look up Philbrick's other books...

Movie:

Of course Hollywood always has to sensationalize the story. I was not very excited about this movie. It felt like the movie took the real story and crossed it with Moby Dick. The whale continues to pursue the crew even after the ship sinks. Definitely not part of the original story. Plus they made some changes as to the personalities and decisions made by Chase and Pollard. Overall, a disappointing movie.

tags: 5 stars, Book to Movie, Nathaniel Philbrick, nonfiction, Popsugar, U-S- History
categories: Book Reviews, Movies
Wednesday 06.15.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Fantastic Planets, Forbidden Zones, and Lost Continents by Douglas Brode

Title: Fantastic Planets, Forbidden Zones, and Lost Continents: The 100 Greatest Science Fiction Films

Author: Douglas Brode

Publisher: University of Texas Press 2015

Genre: Nonfiction - Movies

Pages: 411

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction; 52 Books - W24

Whether you judge by box office receipts, industry awards, or critical accolades, science fiction films are the most popular movies now being produced and distributed around the world. Nor is this phenomenon new. Sci-fi filmmakers and audiences have been exploring fantastic planets, forbidden zones, and lost continents ever since George Méliès’ 1902 film A Trip to the Moon. In this highly entertaining and knowledgeable book, film historian and pop culture expert Douglas Brode picks the one hundred greatest sci-fi films of all time.

Picked this up from the new books shelf at the library. While J and I debated some of the choices on the Top 100 list, it was a very entertaining read. In reality, we've got into a few debates owing to our fairly extensive scifi movie experience. I loved all the tidbits about how the movie got made, influences, and trivia. Very enjoyable read for the past few days. Plus we've made a list of those movies we've somehow not seen before.

tags: 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Douglas Brode, movies, nonfiction, nonfiction adventure, pertual, science fiction
categories: Book Reviews, Movies
Tuesday 06.14.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart

Title: The Drunken Botanist

Author: Amy Stewart

Publisher: Algonquin Books 2013

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 400

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction; 52 Books - W23

Sake began with a grain of rice. Scotch emerged from barley, tequila from agave, rum from sugarcane, bourbon from corn. Thirsty yet?  In The Drunken Botanist, Amy Stewart explores the dizzying array of herbs, flowers, trees, fruits, and fungi that humans have, through ingenuity, inspiration, and sheer desperation, contrived to transform into alcohol over the centuries.

Of all the extraordinary and obscure plants that have been fermented and distilled, a few are dangerous, some are downright bizarre, and one is as ancient as dinosaurs--but each represents a unique cultural contribution to our global drinking traditions and our history.

This fascinating concoction of biology, chemistry, history, etymology, and mixology--with more than fifty drink recipes and growing tips for gardeners--will make you the most popular guest at any cocktail party.

I grabbed this book off an endcap at the library. I bring it home and J tells me, "oh, I've heard that's really good." It's not often J hears about a book and I don't. Overall, I really enjoyed this deep dive into alcohol and botany. I learned some interesting tidbits. Reading this makes me wish I wasn't pregnant so I could indulge in a few of her featured recipes. Oh well... just a few more months before I can again.

tags: 4 stars, Amy Stewart, nonfiction, nonfiction adventure, perpetual
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 06.10.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Passion of the Purple Plumeria by Lauren Willig

Title: The Passion of the Purple Plumeria (Pink Carnation #10)

Author: Lauren Willig

Publisher: New American Library 2013

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 439

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; 52 Books - W22

Colonel William Reid has returned home from India to retire near his children, who are safely stowed at an academy in Bath. Upon his return to the Isles, however, he finds that one of his daughters has vanished, along with one of her classmates.

Because she served as second-in-command to the Pink Carnation, one of England’s most intrepid spies, it would be impossible for Gwendolyn Meadows to give up the intrigue of Paris for a quiet life in the English countryside—especially when she’s just overheard news of an alliance forming between Napoleon and an Ottoman Sultan. But, when the Pink Carnation’s little sister goes missing from her English boarding school, Gwen reluctantly returns home to investigate the girl’s disappearance.

Thrown together by circumstance, Gwen and William must cooperate to track down the young ladies before others with nefarious intent get their hands on them. But Gwen’s partnership with quick-tongued, roguish William may prove to be even more of an adventure for her than finding the lost girls….

Another super fun and enjoyable volume in the series. It was great to see a story revolve around Gwen who's been a part of the story since the beginning. I loved seeing her open up and get a happy ending. Plus we revisit some other characters including Lizzy and Agnes and especially Colonel Reid. Now I have to get the last two books in the series.

Pink Carnation:

  • #1 The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
  • #2 The Masque of the Black Tulip
  • #3 The Deception of the Emerald Ring
  • #4 The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
  • #5 The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
  • #6 The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
  • #7 The Mischief of the Mistletoe
  • #8 The Orchid Affair
  • #8.5 Away in a Manger
  • #8.7 Ivy and Intrigue
  • #9 The Garden Intrigue
  • #10 The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
  • #11 The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
  • #12 The Lure of the Moonflower
tags: 5 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, historical fiction, Lauren Willig, Read My Own Damn Books, romance
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 06.07.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Who the Devil in Deviled Eggs? by Ann Treistman

Title: Who Put the Devil in Deviled Eggs?

Author: Ann Treistman

Publisher: Skyhorse 2011

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 173

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction;

Who pitted the first cherries and nestled them into pie crust? Was a meatloaf sandwich the result of a late-night refrigerator run? And does anyone really crave green bean casserole, complete with fried onions on top? In this time of hyper-awareness of locality—when every roast chicken needs a pedigree of a free-range home and antibiotic-free past—it’s time to celebrate the very basics of American cooking. The joy of Velveeta and pleasures of Jell-O. In this fun collection, author Ann Treistman takes readers on a journey through a 1950s kitchen, sometimes with surprising results. For example, deviled eggs were first prepared in Ancient Rome, in a slightly different form and without the familiar moniker. The practice of removing the yolks from hard-boiled eggs, mixing it with spices and refilling the shells was fairly common by the 1600s. Why the devil? Well, it’s hot in hell, and by the 18th century, it was all the rage to devil any food with a good dose of spice. Adding mustard or a signature sprinkle of hot paprika turned these eggs into devils.

A slim, yet very enjoyable volume. Some of the entries I already knew about like the chapter on pizza and the one about apple pie. But there were many that contained new-to-me information. J had me read him the one about the reuben as we lived in Omaha where one of the theories puts its inception. A nice afternoon read on this lazy Saturday.

tags: 4 stars, Ann Treistman, nonfiction
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 06.04.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Joy of Books by Eric Burns

Title: The Joy of Books

Author: Eric Burns

Publisher: Prometheus Books 1995

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 207

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction; 52 Books - W21

Burns's compelling yet accessible history of the reading experience rejoices in the diverse motivations and methods in the developing relationship between readers and writers even as he voices concern at the powerful forces of ignorance and censorship that seek to keep them apart.

Ugh! So this was my pick for book club this month and now I'm so disappointed in myself. It's been on my perpetual reading list for years because I've seen it referenced so many times on other literary sites and blogs. And yet, I've found it extremely heavy-handed and boring. The first section about the history of books and reading was fairly interested. I knew 90% of the information included, but enjoyed reading it anyway. And then the focus shifted to a diatribe about how kids these days don't read and our society is going to shit. Burns wrote this book in 1995. Those kids he was speaking of are me. I was 13 in 1995 and exactly in the demographic he was lamenting. I and most of my friends read all the time. We did back in 1995 and we still do. The entire second half of the book angered me. Somehow I made it through to the end, but ugh! I am not impressed.

tags: 2 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Eric Burns, nonfiction, nonfiction adventure, perpetual
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 06.04.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Forevermore by Kristen Callihan

Releasing June 28th, 2016!!!!

Title: Foevermore (Darkest London #7)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Forever 2016

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 308

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Popsugar - Published in 2016; Women Authors

Isolated and alone, Sin Evernight is one of the most powerful supernatural creatures in heaven and on earth. As an angel of vengeance, he hunts down the darkest evil, but when his long-lost friend, Layla Starling, needs him, he vows to become her protector. Even though she will be horrified by the man he has become.

Now a famous singer and the toast of London, Layla believes that Sin is only here to guard her from rabid fans and ardent suitors. However, the truth is far more sinister. Desperate to avoid losing Layla a second time, Sin will face a test of all his powers to defeat an unstoppable foe - and win an eternity with the woman he loves.

I received a copy of this soon-to-be-released book from the publisher. I didn't even realize that there was going to be a seventh book, but I'm so glad there is!I have loved Callihan's world building and twist on the paranormal world.  We get to see so many different beings and relationships. This volume wraps up the Darkest London world in a neat little package. We get a fitting ending to all the characters we've met in the previous books. And this one focuses on Sin Evernight. I thought he was an intriguing character in the previous storyline. It was nice to see him get his own story and romance! I sped through this book in one day desperate to see how everything came together. Oh man! I am going to miss this series, but it's a good absence.

Darkest London

  • #0.5 Ember
  • #1 Firelight
  • #2 Moonglow
  • #3 Winterblaze
  • #3.5 Entwined
  • #4 Shadowdance
  • #5 Evernight
  • #6 Soulbound
  • #7 Forevermore
tags: 5 stars, Kristen Callihan, paranormal, Popsugar, Read My Own Damn Books, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 06.01.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner

Title: In the Shadow of the Banyan

Author: Vaddey Ratner

Publisher: Simon and Schuster 2012

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 310

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsugar -- About an unfamiliar culture; 52 Books -- W20; Women Author

For seven-year-old Raami, the shattering end of childhood begins with the footsteps of her father returning home in the early dawn hours, bringing details of the civil war that has overwhelmed the streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital. Soon the family’s world of carefully guarded royal privilege is swept up in the chaos of revolution and forced exodus. Over the next four years, as the Khmer Rouge attempts to strip the population of every shred of individual identity, Raami clings to the only remaining vestige of her childhood—the mythical legends and poems told to her by her father. In a climate of systematic violence where memory is sickness and justification for execution, Raami fights for her improbable survival. Displaying the author’s extraordinary gift for language, In the Shadow of the Banyan is a brilliantly wrought tale of human resilience.

Our book club selection for June. I was intrigued by the setting and historical events. I wanted to fall into this book and come out knowing more about Cambodia. Unfortunately, I got bored with the book. After some thought, I realize that I'm not a huge fan of Ratney's writing style. The narrative meanders here and there, and the meandering just started to annoy me. I don't mind descriptive writing, but her passages about dragonflies dragged me down. I finished the book but can't say that this one was for me...

tags: 3 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, historical fiction, Popsugar, Vaddey Ratner, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 05.27.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander

Title: And Only to Deceive (Emily Ashton #1)

Author: Tasha Alexander

Publisher: Harper 2005

Genre: Historical Fiction; Mystery

Pages: 321

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My own Damn Books; Popsugar - Takes Place on an Island; Women Authors

For Emily, accepting the proposal of Philip, the Viscount Ashton, was an easy way to escape her overbearing mother, who was set on a grand society match. So when Emily's dashing husband died on safari soon after their wedding, she felt little grief. After all, she barely knew him. Now, nearly two years later, she discovers that Philip was a far different man from the one she had married so cavalierly. His journals reveal him to have been a gentleman scholar and antiquities collector who, to her surprise, was deeply in love with his wife. Emily becomes fascinated with this new image of her dead husband and immerses herself in all things ancient and begins to study Greek.

Our book club selection for May. It was recommended by another member and I can't believe I've never heard of this series before. I love every page of this volume! Emily is a great character full of spark. I loved reading about her increasing interest in history and art and her attempts to puzzle out the mystery of her husband's death. I loved all the twists and turns. Even though I mostly figured out the who-dun-it before the reveal, I was still intrigued and kept reading to the end. I think I will have to pick up the rest of the series to read...

Lady Emily Ashton

  • #1 And Only to Deceive
  • #2 A Poisoned Season
  • #3 A Fatal Waltz
  • #4 Tears of Pearl
  • #5 Dangerous to Know
  • #6 A Crimson Warning
  • #7 Death in the Floating City
  • #8 Behind the Shattered Glass
  • #9 The Counterfeit Heiress
  • #9.5 Star of the East
  • #10 The Adventuress
  • #10.5 That Silent Night
  • #11 A Terrible Beauty
tags: 5 star, historical fiction, Popsugar, Read My Own Damn Books, Tasha Alexander, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Thursday 05.12.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Archives Vol. 1

Title: Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Archives Vol. 1

Author: Tony Lee, Dan McDaid, Tim Hamilton, Mark Buckingham, Matthew Dow Smith

Publisher: Titan Comics 2015

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 336

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

The journey starts here, with the first installment of Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Archives! Join the Doctor, Amy and Rory as they explore the wonders of time and space - where nothing is ever quite as it seems!

Random grab from the library shelves this past week. I love Doctor Who and this was a great collection of side stories featuring Eleven, Rory, and Amy. My favorite story was definitely "The Ripper's Curse." I love it when Doctor Who does history. It was a fun take on the classic Jack the Ripper story. The rest of the volume was alas fun with an appearance from the Sontarans. Definitely a great random pick!

tags: 4 stars, Doctor Who, graphic novel
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 05.10.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Top 10

Title: Top 10

Author: Alan Moore; Gene Ha; Zander Cannon

Publisher: America's Best Comics 2001

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 208

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Written by Alan Moore; Art by Gene Ha and Zander Cannon This is the tale of Neopolis, a modern metropolis with a citizenry made up exclusively of super beings. In a city where everyone is blessed with powers, it takes a unique and powerful police force to protect and serve. In this Eisner Award-winning book, we are introduced to the extremely diverse officers of Precinct Ten; an armored and talking dog, a genetically engineered "perfect woman," a high tech cowboy, an indestructible man, and a rookie with a toy box full of "helpers." Individually they are unique personalities, together they are Neopolis' finest.

So this is no Watchman, but I was still intrigued by the premise and execution. In general, I really enjoy Moore's writing and this wasn't the exception. Unfortunately, the storyline just didn't completely hold my attention. I wasn't excited to flip to the next page. I finished the volume, but definitely not his finest work...

tags: 3 stars, Alan Moore, graphic novel
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 05.10.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 
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