Review: Skin Game

Skin Game by Jim Butcher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Wow! Oh, my wow!



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Review: Edge of Shadows

Edge of Shadows by Cege Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Drew me and had me wanting to read more. I am most certainly going to pick up the next book. There were some points however that felt odd. The way a few of the sentences were written felt almost amateurish. It is hard to describe. This only happened a few times and perhaps it was just how it sounded in my head.



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Review: Mirror Sight

Mirror Sight by Kristen Britain

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Not what I had expected. Great, wonderful, on some levels but… But it felt as if Britain had discovered herself off course and need a book, this book, to get back on course. Perhaps the next book will have more of an explanation as to why this book was needed.

As for the actual book. It drew me in and I wish that I hadn't had so many other things that needed my attention.



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Review: Tempting Danger

Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It got knocked down a star because in the first half of the book I felt a bit lost and confused on some of what was happening. I felt that there were somethings that could have been explained earlier, though I do understand why they weren't. The momentum felt right for this book, didn't bog down nor did things move too quickly. Alright, the romance moved fairly quickly, but there is an explaination for that, sort of.



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Review: Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Interesting, and enjoyable but somewhat predictable. I knew where it was heading and why, just not the how. Of course the factions have become corrupt so to speak, that is what happens when a trait is pursued to the extant that it was. Eventually the reason and purpose behind the trait is forgotten and only the paragon of the trait is remembered and strived for. Further, there was never any free will in this set up. Free will would threaten such tightly controlled adherence to the faction.

I found the romance a bit annoying, well written, but it felt as if it should have been allowed to evolve from friendly to what it is now over several books. As is, it feels a little hmmm… fake because of the speed. Too much first moment I knew type of thing. Too much confusing physical attraction, which is there alright, with love. They haven't been together long enough to feel that way. But then again, their life is not an easy one.




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Review: The Lake House

The Lake House by James Patterson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I've heard Patterson's name every once in a while over the years but never got around to reading one of his books. Last week my husband and I went by a thrift store to drop off some yarn and I checked out their books. Saw this book, thought it sounded interesting, and thought, "Why not?"

Ever watched a movie or a read a book where at the end you ask, "Why didn't the protagonist just do (fill in the blank) in the beginning?" Yep, this is pretty much one of those. If Frannie, Kit, and the 6 children had just done a few things differently in the beginning the book would've been much different, and better. There were decisions made that were just not that smart, perhaps not dumb, but there were smarter options available.

The book also felt cliché. Mad scientist, doctor with ego the size of the planet, said doctor has clones of himself and a Stepford Wife, FBI without a sense of humor, clueless parents, a teen girl who falls in love, women melting into mens arms, so on. The oldies are sometimes not that great.

I do hope this is not the best example of his writing.


Hmmm… Not bored so far. There are a few things I take issue with. There was an experiment done where bird DNA was put together with human DNA. The children were put into women who were unaware of the type of fertilize egg being implanted. At around 8 months these women were then told that there was something wrong with the pregnancy and an emergency C-section would have to be done. Afterward the parents were then told that the child died.

In the previous book this was all uncovered. The children are now back with their biological parents. The woman and man who had rescued the children sued for custody, and lost. This first part deals with the hearing.

The issue I take is the arguments used in the hearing are pretty bad. The lawyer on the side of the bio parents use the unmarried, no children status of the individual suing for custody as reasons why they make bad parents. Ha, that could easily be dismissed. The individuals suing for custody know that the children would do much better in her care because the children have imprinted on her and the man, but this is never bought up.

The proceeding seemed overly simplified. It felt as if Patterson had to write it but didn't want to bother with fleshing it out and giving it some meat.

Part 2: Flying Lessons

Not catching me really. Nothing wrong with it but… Just not getting into it. The writing is good though, so I may look into some of Patterson's other books. This does feel like it is written for a younger audience.

As far as I can tell, the parents of the children are idiots. Frannie and Kit (the two who tried for custody) have gone their separate ways and neither have attempted visiting any of the children. That is what I don't get. Just because they didn't get custody doesn't mean they can't be friends with they children.

No one is calling child abuse on the way the bio parents excessively push reporters onto these children. I'm also puzzled as to how a judge can come to the conclusion that splitting up 6 children that have been together ranging from 4-12 years in the best interest for the children.

Part 3: House Calls

The Stepford Wife crap? Really! Sure it fits this guys personality but is rather a silly thing to add in my opinion. Stereotypical. This book seems to rely heavily on stereotypes. The evil genius doctor, the courts siding with married bio parents simply because they are bio and married, the FBI agent who sides with the FBI over his feelings for the children, parents are all into using the children as money makers. It feels as if this book is full of stereotypes and has a dearth of personalities.

As for flying the coop? I personally wonder what took them so long. It's not like living with bio parents was actually providing them with anything but an awkward attempt at normalcy.

Part 4: Yellow Brick Road

Not certain why this part is named as it is. Finally things seem to be moving along. No more reading about moping kids, sad adults, or gerk offs. Now something is actually happening. Of course we get to witness the stereotypical woman melting into a man's arms, twice. I do wonder why the Doctor waited so long to move on the kids.

Part 5: The Hospital

So, Frannie and Kit decide it would be a good idea to leave 6 children who are being hunted alone? Really? Seriously? Not only that, they head off to talk to somebody in a hospital that they think is The Hospital and it never occurs to them that by doing so they could very well be warning the person who is having these children hunted down. Wow! Good job there, smart! *eye roll* And the clone thing is just silly as well.

Part 6: A Brand New Day & Epilogue

Too bad Oz had to die. I skimmed most of this, was ready for another read..




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Review: Exposure: A Virals Novel

Exposure: A Virals Novel by Kathy Reichs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



As enjoyable as the others. The ending did not surprise me though. I knew that it would happen eventually, about time really.

There was one thing that did bother me a bit. All that class skipping. Perhaps it is different with other schools, but the one I went to for high school it was a pain to get off campus. You couldn't just up and take off. Nor could you just wonder in after the start of school without someone noticing. Perhaps things are different now.



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