TOPSHELF REVIEWS

REVIEWED BY PELICANFREAK

I was actually very bored until about chapter 23, but when it picked up, whoa, it really picked up! Suddenly there was action, betrayal, kidnapping, more things I won’t say here, etc. And … suddenly the previous 23 slow-paced chapters made sense—that bit of backstory & time getting to know certain characters and this world was necessary and made this so much better.

Well played, author.

After that bit, it wasn’t the most fast-paced thing I’ve read, but it did get juicier and a bit mysterious and I enjoyed it. I’d even like to see how the next book unfolds.

Overall, well done. 4 stars.

Audio: Perfection, as usual!!

(Thanks for helping me to discover yet another awesome author!)...

REVIEWED BY PELICANFREAK

You’d think for a 2-hour listen, it’d be more p0rn than plot, but Mint manages to pack in both, for this and the other one I listened to. There’s just enough drama and angst to keep it fun.

The steamy scenes didn’t have the best writing at times, overall they were okay but there were a few lines that didn’t really fit, IMO.

Overall though, the author does a good job of writing characters that I attach to quickly—open to more from this author.

3.5 stars.

Audio: Excellent production—perfection. 5 stars.

REVIEWED BY DEENA RAE

THE NEW YEAR WITH A HEARTBREAKING CASE

In this book of Harry Bosch (Book 8) Bosch starts out the new year with a new case. When a dog on a sleepy cul-de-sac goes off for a run and comes back with a bone Bosch is thrust into a a case that no one has known about for 20 years.

With this visit into the Bosch universe Hieronymus Bosch meets rookie Julia Brasher and it looks like a relationship is just getting started.

While Bosch tries to find out who the victim is he is testing further a relationship with rookie Patrolman Brasher. This budding relationship leads to some expected ribbing about being involved with a female so far below him in rank.

Bosch and Jay Edgar turn over various stones trying to figure out who killed, speaking with a forensic anthropologist to find the tale of the bones tells a sad and horrifying story of prolonged abuse at the hands of someone larger than the young boy.

With the plot twists that are expected of Michael Connelly's books this one is right on par. The plot was amazing the who done it was unexpected and the action jumped off the page. Yes, as with the previous books in the series, plot lines are part of the streaming series, sometimes with minor changed and other times with major changes.

Read the complete review on the EBookBuilders site. https://ebookbuilderspro.com/city-of-bones/

REVIEWED BY DEENA RAE

CARA MIA, IT'S A GREAT READ.

I love reading Ann Charles Deadwood series... Just the perfect balance of laughs with the thriller as the perfect palette cleanser after hard core police thrillers.

We are learning more of the history and backstory of Vi and her family tree with each book in this hilarious paranormal mystery series. These books get better and more intense further into the series and I am loving it.

This book especially had some laugh out loud scenes including a Halloween get together with Nat, Coop, Vi and Doc. So many laughs and just the perfect about of steam to give a break from the mysteries. Cara Mia, it's a great read.

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was asked to review this book from the author's publicist, but I received the digital book via the OverDrive/Libby app from the Harris County or Houston Public Library systems. It was read as a Kindle Book.

I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

REVIEWED BY DEENA RAE

FAST PACED, QUICK READ.

Fast paced, quick read.

Man, what a who done it of a semi legal thriller. Murderous lawyers, myopic cops and more twists than allowed by law An excellent start to a series with the law and lawyers as the main draw.

You have a smart, sarcastic and string heroine in Bennie Rosato. With a murdered ex-boyfriend and legal partner, an unexpected love interest, a homicidal animal rights activist and a lawyer with a deadly addiction, this book had everything.

Ms Scottoline writes smart, strong female lead characters like a master and allows for quirks and insecurities to come through making all the characters fully developed and either likeable or unlikeable.

Disclaimer

I received via the OverDrive/Libby app from the Harris County Library system. It was read as a Kindle Book.

REVIEWED BY DEENA RAE

LOTS OF DESCRIPTIVE, ACTIVE SENTENCES, SOME OVERBLOWN.

Lots of descriptive, active sentences, some overblown. "... because the air itself was permanently imported with terror." Fanciful rather than clinical. So far a crime drama with heart and emotion.

This story seems to focus mainly on Detective Thomas Moore before it slowly starts to favor Det. Jane Rizzoli. Rizzoli is at first abrasive and unlikable but slowly, the reader sees how they male detectives test her because she's a woman and you understand that the abrasiveness is warranted.

While Rizzoli does play a part in the book, although not the main character, Dr. Isles is not in the cast of characters at all, not even mentioned. I did read somewhere that when Ms. Gerritsen started writing the book, she initially had planned on having Rizzoli get killed but as the way with many plans by authors, the character took on a life of her own, completely shifting the storyline. And aren't we glad because we were rewarded with the brash and loveable character in the series and TV medium.

I am excited too read the next book in the series to see if it has more of the feel of the TV series which I loved.

Disclaimer

I received via the OverDrive/Libby app from the Harris County Library system. It was read as a Kindle Book.

REVIEWED BY ROXB

WRONG PLACE, RIGHT TIME

Cindy Davis adds book 11 to the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles with Bliss roaring into town on her motorcycle. The small town embraces the quirky girl with songs in her head that make you tap your feet. Diablo, her fruit-eating toucan, joins Bliss lending a touch of psychic paranormal to this cozy mystery. Upon her return to town, she learns her ex-boyfriend, Brad, was killed and found beneath the bonfire during the town’s Celtic Festival. Even though she has not seen Brad in months, Police Chief Tommy Jager arrests her for the murder. Even the people of Magnolia Bluff seem divided on her guilt versus innocence. Suspense builds when these two threads get superbly interwoven with realistic dialogue between Mari and Derek. These perfectlypaired diverse characters have each other’s back and portray an uncanny sense of one another’s next actions. Derek heads in one direction while Mari takes another, upping the uncertainty with the fast-paced acceleration of this thriller. Each page brings snippets of answers yet creates more questions allowing for dramatic twists and unexpected connections.

The character development in this mystery is superb and a trademark of Ms. Davis. The twists and turns bring readers deep into this story as layer after layer gets peeled back. When Bliss gets released from jail, she hunts for the murderer with cryptic clues delivered by Diablo. Being out of jail could cost her life if she cannot find the culprit....

Read the complete review on the Rox's site. https://roxburkey.com/bad-things-happen-to-good-mice/

REVIEWED BY ROXB

UNEXPECTED TREASURE

Pat Garcia delivers a short story about girlfriends who share everything about their lives. These women enjoy discussing their husbands, children, and dreams. Na-Doo, a nickname for the oldest of the group, didn’t have a forever love in her life. Her professional career keeps her busy and allows her to help children. Her background and passions are perfectly captured, including her resignation that her life dreams may go unrealized.

Daniel Incognito is a new neighbor with seven precocious boys. The youngest child makes her laugh and invites her to his house to cook. The child is irresistible to Na-Doo and his brothers’ plot to win her attention. Daniel enjoys her company perhaps more than she wants. The story is fast-paced and witty, with lines to make you smile or laugh aloud.

Fans of short stories about strong, empowered women will enjoy this late-in-life romance. Ms. Garcia captures readers at page one with rapid page-turning until the end. I highly recommend this for your summer reading.

REVIEWED BY DEENA RAE

OMG, WHAT A LAUGH A MINUTE READ. THIS BOOK HAD ME LAUGHING FROM PAGE ONE.

OMG, what a laugh a minute read. This book had me laughing from page one.

Filled with smexy vampires, wise-cracking fairies, pottymouth angels and all the Prada a fashionista could want, this story is a must-read for those that like heat with their paranormal mysteries.

I found this author when I was reading a book by Ann Charles that had a sneak peek of this book in at the end. I am so glad I went ahead and read the excerpt and immediately went on Libby to see if my library had the books or ebooks.

This is not Twilight vamps and they aren’t Anne Rice’s oh so serious vamps, these aren’t even Sookie’s snarky vamps, these vamps are designer obsessed, snarky, and so funny. With Vamps, Angels, Demons and other mythical beings, this book is a must read.

I am not-so-patiently waiting to read the next book. This book was perfect for switching from hardcore police procedurals to some light hearted escapism.

Disclaimer

I received it via the OverDrive/Libby app from the Harris County Library system. It was read as a Kindle Book.

REVIEWED BY DEENA RAE

GREAT INTRO TO SUPER FOODS AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF EACH LISTED.

70+ recipes of salads. I love salads of all types and many in this book are combos I hadn't tried before. There are also some smoothie recipes, condiments, appetizers, and side dishes.

If you are on a healthy eating journey and want some salad recipes this is a good book to have on hand, mainly because the author gives so much information about superfoods and has taken the time to do some testing of different combinations of the foods. Some recipes were repetitive, but really, when you are dealing with a finite number of ingredients it is not like there is going to be a sudden appearance of a new vegetable.

I had some issues with the layout. Many recipes had photos as well as nutritional tags, but the nutrition facts weren't listed for all of them. The images could have been larger and wider angles. I would have suggested consistency in information - all recipes having images, nutritional breakdown, calorie breakdown, etc. after all it's hard to lose weight if you are not aware of the calorie count to let you know if you are going to be operating at a calorie deficit or not.

Recommend?

A good read for someone who wants some background and information on superfoods.

Disclaimer

I received via Amazon as a Free ebook/Kindle Unlimited. It was read as a Kindle Fire ebook.

REVIEWED BY DEENA RAE

RHYME & SACKS ARE BACK, AND DANGER IS INCHING CLOSER

In this, the 2nd book in the world of Lincoln Rhyme and his crime scene investigation, Rhyme is called in to help catch the Coffin Dancer – an assassin for hire. The Coffin Dancer utilizes multiple killing methods for anyone willing to pay his price. In the past, this assassin was responsible for the death of two of Rhyme’s crime scene techs with a bomb placed in the wastebasket left to obliterate all the trace evidence at a crime scene. Needless to say, Rhyme is personally involved in making sure this killer is caught.

With subterfuge and cunning, the killer stays steps ahead, and as the cops are hunting him, he is hunting them.

As with thrillers, some things made no sense until they did. This book didn’t have the overabundance of technical terms as the first in the series but I was glad that I read it on a Kindle that had easy access to a dictionary and Wikipedia.

Recommend

I recommend this to people who like smart and surprising reads.

Disclaimer

I received via the OverDrive/Libby app from the Harris County or Houston Public Library system. It was read as a Kindle eBook.

REVIEWED BY DEENA RAE

ONCE AGAIN THE BOOK IS BETTER THAN WHAT THE TV EXECUTIVES TRY TO GIVE US

After attempting to watch the television series, I felt the need to re-read this book to cleanse my brain of that monstrosity. Once again, I have had my hopes raised that a movie or series of a particular favorite series of books that I have read will be awesome, I am let down horribly. Television series “based” on the book series? If having characters of the same names okay, other than that I had to give up after the first two episodes. What an absolute waste of what could have been an epic series spanning several years

Okay, now on to the book...I will be reading the entire series even including the Vampire crossovers because I feel that Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches series needs to be treated as the epic masterpiece it is.

So for the first book in the Mayfair Witch Chronicles I have to say this is probably my favorite Anne Rice book.

Ms Rice gives the perfect balance of show and tell with her descriptions. Ms Rice fills the story with descriptions so rich in detail that the reader:

Read the complete review on the Deena Rae's Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3487207704