Review: Stillhouse Lake

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a book that kept me tied to it. I couldn't wait to finish work, or hurried up and did everything around the house that I needed to do, just so I could get back to the book. This book is the first one I've read from this author and I will be reading more from her.

Stillhouse Lake was a thrilling, intriguing, exciting, book. There is something that seemed familiar to me and I finally figured it out. It reminded me of the Kevin Bacon show "The Following", however I didn't care for that show, but I did enjoy this book so much more. Another thing that I liked is that it starts out in a town and state that I was born in. Wichita, Kansas. You really never hear of anything taking place there or a setting for a book, that pleased me, so a course had to give a major star just for that.

Parts of the book I understood why she did this, why she did that, some of it was predictable, and other parts shocked me to my core. There is a sequal to this book and I can't wait to read it.

Gwen and Melvin are married living in Wichita, Kansas, they have two children, and seem to be living the life. Until one day when Gwen comes home from picking up her children from school, she see's a lot of police cars and ambulance at her house. A drunk driver has ran into the side of her garage, exposing some of the brick. Inside the police find a dead body. Gwen is arrested also with her husband.

The book then jumps four years ahead and Gwen and the children have changed their names and location to Stillhouse Lake Tennessee. This is where the story takes off. It seems there are people who believe in Melvin and are after Gwen and the children. She keeps everything on the download, and watches daily for more followers and sites that support Melvin, and come after her and her children.



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Review: The Jewels of Tessa Kent

The Jewels of Tessa Kent by Judith Krantz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of Judith Krantz’s finest books! Like many of her books, this one didn’t disappoint in the least. The characters were well developed, the plot was good, the story moved along at a nice pace, it was entertaining, and an overall great read. Please be aware, this is MY review of the book, it’s what I thought was good, we all don’t have the same taste in books, and that’s fine. I happened to really enjoy reading this book.
Tessa becomes pregnant in her teens; her parents have decided to move away until the baby is born to hid the shame of what their daughter has done. When Tessa has the baby, her parents take the child and raise it as their own.
Tessa goes on and becomes a famous movie star, with leading parts one after the other. Maggie Tessa’s sister finds out that Tessa isn’t really her sister but her mother. Like any child that finds out shocking news as sorts, Maggie wants nothing more to do with Tessa. Until one day Tessa receives some news, and now she decides to sell her jewels, she needs Maggie more than ever to help her with this, and hopefully mend some broken fences.
This book takes you from childhood of Tessa all the way through her life, that is brought before you as if you’re watching her journey right before your eyes.


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Review: Gwendy's Button Box

Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For people who don't like Stephen King's scary stories, or if they're children are wanting to read a Stephen King book, this is the book for both of you. However due keep in mind, it is a novella, but it reads like a full length novel.

We first meet Gwendy Peterson running up the "suicide stairs" in her small town of Castle Rock, Main. She's getting ready to start junior high and although she's a little chubby, she's been running up these long steps to lose weight so her nickname, good-year, short for good year blimp doesn't follow her into a new school year.

One day as she reaches the top of the stairs she meet a man in black who asks her to sit with him on the bench. They talk for awhile and then he hands her this box. He explains that if you push this button you'll receive a chocolate candy, this button will cause devastation, so on and so on. Gwendy accepts this box and hides it to where her parents won't find it.

Gwendy's life starts changing here, she's losing the weight, going out for sports and excelling in them, she's popular in school, her parents stop drinking, the world is changing and sometimes, she's visit's the box. Her best friend Olivia see's the change in her and soon they have a falling out, Gwendy does nothing to mend their friendship. Gwendy feels that the box that she caring for has sort of magical powers but can never prove it.



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Review: Blood Magick

Blood Magick by Nora Roberts
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I loved the first two books in this trilogy, and I was sure I would love this one as well, but sad to say, it just sort of was just another book I read. This story continues on from where it left off, but should of focused more on Branna and Fin, but it seemed like it focused on Branna cleaning and cooking. Of course there planning Christmas, and Iona and Boyle's wedding in the Spring and Conner and Meara's in the Summer, also they are planning on how to finish Cabhan once and for all.

The book moved much more slower than the other two books did and there was more story with the other two than with Branna. It seemed like this was a slap the book together and finish it up so that the author could move on to her next book or series. I've read several Nora Roberts books and this was just didn't appeal to me, specially after the first two. My attention wasn't held with the this one, nor was it very entertaining. I don't mean to give a bad review of this one, but I'm glad this was the last book in the series instead of the first one.

One thing I did like about the book was the fact that the first three chapters were about the three dark witches from the first book and how they were traveling to meet Branna, Conner, Iona and of course Fin in their timeline. I think those were the most exciting chapters in the book, and it was nice to hear more about them again.

I would of give this a two star review but I through in an extra one just because it was the final book in the series.


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Review: Big Little Lies

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the best books that I've read this year. The cast of character, plot, mystery, kept me glued to the book. However I would say that some of the pages could of been taken out of the book and it would of still kept the integrity of the story without taking anything away.

The book starts with the children going back to school. Madelyn, has a fourteen year old daughter by her previous husband, who left them, but now is remarried to a yoga instructor, who five year old daughter is in the same class as Madelyn is remarried and has five year old daughter starting school. Madelyn is very quick wit and mouth offs a lot especially when she's hurt, it's her way of showing everyone that she's tough as nails, when really on the inside she's hurting.

Jane is a young single mother who's new to the town. She doesn't know the name of her son's father as he was conceived by a one night stand. But the one night stand has scared Jane something happened during that encounter that has stayed with her ever since. When her son is accused of hurting another girl in his class, little do they know that it's more of her mother that starts the ball rolling on Jane's son Ziggy for taking the heat on every thing that happens. Jane stands up for her son, and she has to realize that it's not just children bullying children, but it's mother bullying her child as well as herself.

Celeste has twin boys who are also five and in class with the other children. She is married to a man who dotes on his children and wife. He's a good father, loves his wife, and is so afraid of losing her to someone else. Celeste would describe her marriage as complicated, as she harbors a secret.

The three women become friends and stand up for Jane and her son against Renata, the mom leader of the bullying. Little do the three friends know that come trivia night at the school, there whole world as they know it will start to unravel and secrets will come.

This book talks about domestic abuse, but not to the point that the read shy's away from it, it's done in as tasteful way that it can be present, but does bring awareness that it happens behind close doors even to the closest of friends.


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Review: Looking for Mr. Good Witch

Looking for Mr. Good Witch by Joyce Lavene
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second installment of the Retired Witches Mystery. This book picks up six months after the first one ends. The Main characters, Molly, Dorothy, Elise, and Olivia remind me of The Golden Girls. With some quick wit, entertaining, fun, enjoyable read.

The witches Spell Book is still missing and there trying to find it, but right now it has to be put on the back burner, due to the fact, there's a witch going around killing all the young male witches. Also there's another story that plays into this one. Molly has been seeing the Bone Man in her shop, around her house, in her dreams. She decides to go and see him, only to find out he wants her to find his wife and bring her to him. The only problem with that is he doesn't tell Molly who she is, but he does promise to keep her husband and son who aren't witches safe from the witches counsel.



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Review: Mind Game

Mind Game by Iris Johansen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off I’d like to thank the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Jane MacGuire is haunted in her dream by girl who she doesn’t know but seems familiar to her. While visiting Eve, Joe, and Michael, Jane tells Eve about these dreams. Of course this hasn’t happened since she dreamt of Cira, which has led her to live in Scotland for the past several years, to help find her lost treasure. Eve encourages Jane to draw out her dreams in hopes that it will shed some light into what this person is asking of Jane. But Jane does know who this woman is, she’s the sister of Seth Caleb, a man who can turn her insides to mush and irritate her at the same time. Seth needs Janes help to find his sister before it’s too late.

Enthralling, entertaining, completely satisfying, and a small amount of paranormal. Just like all the other books before, this will take you on a thrill ride that you didn’t expect. With its fast pace, story line that will keep you reading to the wee hours of the morning, to the connections of the characters, and the descriptions that are brought to live that make you feel like you’re actually in Scotland, this is a great book to read. However, if your needing your Eve fix, you won’t get much of her in this installment, this book is centered around her daughter and Seth.


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