A good writing week again: four book reviews, two fiction sessions, two lessons in Maggie Stiefvater’s class, and I started writing the Chasing Shadows revision.
Happy writing!
Author: tamaramorning
Book Review: Peril in the Park, by Barbara Venkataraman
Title: Peril in the Park
Author: Barbara Venkataraman
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5
There’s big trouble in the park system. Someone is making life difficult for Jamie Quinn’s boyfriend, Kip Simons, the new director of Broward County parks. Was it the angry supervisor passed over for promotion? The disgruntled employee Kip recently fired? Or someone with a bigger ax to grind? If Jamie can’t figure it out soon, she may be looking for a new boyfriend because there’s a dead guy in the park and Kip has gone missing! With the help of her favorite P.I., Duke Broussard, Jamie must race the clock to find Kip before it’s too late
This is another fun, quick read in the Jamie Quinn Mystery series. A little bit of snark (from Jamie), a little bit of drama, and a few laughs, as well. Some of it seemed a little too easy, but it’s an easy read and as always, a bit of an adventure. The Renaissance Fair was fun, although I’ve never quite figured out just why renaissance fairs have elephants…but that’s a whole other topic.
Barbara Venkataraman is a lawyer and mediator. Peril in the Park is the third book in the Jamie Quinn Mystery series.
(Galley courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.)
Book Review: Scandalous Secrets, by Synithia Williams
Title: Scandalous Secrets
Author: Synithia Williams
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5
Senatorial candidate Byron Robidoux always does the right thing. And, after years of focus and dedication, his life and campaign are going exactly to plan—until a blackmailer jeopardizes everything. No one is supposed to know that thirteen years ago, Byron told a lie to protect a college friend. And now that lie could destroy his career…and threaten the woman he never stopped loving.
Zoe Hammond hardly recognizes the refined and handsome politician Byron has become. The last time she saw him, he was the friend who saved her life by claiming to be the father of her unborn baby. For that, she’d do anything for him. Except Byron’s world of wealth, reputation and deceit isn’t a place where Zoe or her daughter belong. But when a menace from the past comes calling again, staying with Byron is best for them all. And, as the searing attraction between them builds, they soon realize some things are worth fighting for…especially love.
This was a solid read. Zoe was a strong character, although she took her independence a little too far at times, and she always thought Byron was at fault in everything, without waiting to hear his side of things (like his campaign manager releasing their photos, and Zoe had already decided Byron was the guilty culprit). This made her come across as pretty judge-y and a bit close-minded.
I loved the dynamics with the Robidoux family, although their father was a bit much. Byron himself was conflicted and contradictory. He was perfectly willing to marry someone who was the “right” choice—even though he didn’t love her—and years ago, he’d wanted to marry Zoe, even when his family thought she was wrong for him.
Synithia Williams has loved romance novels since she was 13. Scandalous Secrets is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/HQN in exchange for an honest review.)
Book Review: The Case of the Killer Divorce, by Barbara Venkataraman
Title: The Case of the Killer Divorce
Author: Barbara Venkataraman
Genre: Fiction, humor
Rating: 4 out of 5
Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, has returned to her family law practice after a hiatus due to the death of her mother. It’s business as usual until a bitter divorce case turns into a murder investigation, and Jamie’s client becomes the prime suspect. When she can’t untangle truth from lies, Jamie enlists the help of Duke Broussard, her favorite private investigator, to try to clear her client’s name. And she’s hoping that, in his spare time, he can help her find her long-lost father.
This is another solid, quick read in this series, with bits of humor and some mystery to keep it interesting. Duke is again over-the-top but lovable, and Jamie is dealing with a mystery of her own: finding her father, as well as a new love interest. If you’re looking for just a fun read without a big time commitment, this is a good pick.
Barbara Venkataraman is a lawyer and mediator. The Case of the Killer Divorce is the second book in the Jamie Quinn Mystery series.
(Galley courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.)
Book Review: Into a Canyon Deep, by James Lindholm
Title: Into a Canyon Deep
Author: James Lindholm
Genre: Fiction, thriller
Rating: 3.0 out of 5
Returning from a research dive off the coast of picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea, marine biologist Chris Black is attacked viciously. No stranger to physical altercations, Chris is able to defend himself and hold one of his assailants captive. He learns that the goon has been sent to intimidate him: Stop diving or else…
Not one to respond well to threats, Chris and his childhood friends Mac Johnson, a former Navy SEAL, and Jase Hamilton, investigator with the Monterey County Sheriff, dive a little deeper. What is it that Chris and his graduate students might have seen on the ocean floor? Is it related to the body that washed up on shore? And how does whatever might be buried under the sea connect to the rich and famous who fund Chris Black’s research projects?
This seemed pretty clichéd to me, mixed with a healthy dose of vicarious living/wishful thinking. The criminals are dumb: “hiding” toxic waste within sight of the shore when it’s well-known marine research takes place there? Not to mention their fondness for smash-and-grab threats with zero subtlety or finesse. Lots of empty rambling and pointless—and poorly concealed—violence. The reader can’t really be expected to believe that criminals this dumb have thrived for decades without a hint of their existence.
Chris himself is likable enough, but I felt like he was based on a bad 80s movie/TV show like Miami Vice: why does a random marine biologist know martial arts and have the ability to take out criminals? Not believable, and the “explanation” was clunky at best—more in the vein of as-you-know-Bob than in believable backstory.
James Lindholm lives in California. Into a Canyon Deep is his newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of CamCat Publishing in exchange for an honest review.)
Book Review and Blog Tour: Where Dreams Descend, by Janella Angeles
Title: Where Dreams Descend
Author: Janella Angeles
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
In a city covered in ice and ruin, a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus, only to find themselves under the threat of an unseen danger striking behind the scenes.
As each act becomes more and more risky and the number of missing magicians piles up, three are forced to reckon with their secrets before the darkness comes for them next.
The Star: Kallia, a powerful showgirl out to prove she’s the best no matter the cost.
The Master: Jack, the enigmatic keeper of the club, and more than one lie told.
The Magician: Demarco, the brooding judge with a dark past he can no longer hide.
I was engrossed in this tale from the very beginning. The dark, dreamy world where Kallia and the Master live is magical, but not happy, and nothing is as it seems. There are so many tangled layers in this story—many of them sprouting thorns or teeth—and I was never sure what was real and what wasn’t, which made for a captivating read.
Kallia is so brash and determined, of course I wanted her to succeed. Even the “secondary” characters—the Circus—were bright and larger than life, and I was fascinated by everyone. I can’t wait to read the second book!
Janella Angeles lives in Massachusetts. Where Dreams Descend is the debut novel in her Kingdom of Cards duology.
(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)
The Wrong Mr. Darcy, by Evelyn Lozada, Holly Lörincz
Title: The Wrong Mr. Darcy
Author: Evelyn Lozada, Holly Lörincz
Genre: fiction
Rating: 2 out of 5
Hara Isari has big ambitions and they won’t be sidetracked by her mother’s insisting that she settle down soon. She dreams of leaving her small-town newspaper behind, as well as her felon father, and building a career as a sports writer, so when she is chosen to exclusively interview a basketball superstar, she jumps at the chance. It’s time to show the bigwigs what she’s truly made of.
At the same time, she meets a rookie on the rise, Derek Darcy. Darcy is incredibly handsome, obnoxiously proud, and has a major chip on his shoulder. Hara can’t think of a man more arrogant and infuriating. However, fate keeps bringing them together—from locker rooms to elegant parties, to the storm of the century—and what begins as a clash might just be more complicated than Hara anticipated. When she begins to see Darcy in a new light, Hara is not quite sure if she should drop the ball or play the love game.
Comparing this in any way to Pride and Prejudice is a travesty. None of the characters in this book are likable: they are all horrible people. Comparing Derek to Mr. Darcy because he’s awkward around people is ridiculous. Hara is nothing at all like Elizabeth, she knows nothing at about her cultural/family history, and all she cares about is making a name for herself. Everything was so overdone and melodramatic, making this like watching a bad telenovela.
Evelyn Lozada is a TV personality. The Wrong Mr. Darcy is her new novel.
(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Griffin in exchange for an honest review.)
Book Review: Death by Didgeridoo, by Barbara Venkataraman
Title: Death by Didgeridoo
Author: Barbara Venkataraman
Genre: Fiction, humor
Rating: 4 out of 5
Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, still reeling from the death of her mother, is pulled into a game of deception, jealousy, and vengeance when her cousin, Adam, is wrongfully accused of murder. It’s up to Jamie to find the real murderer before it’s too late. It doesn’t help that the victim is a former rock star with more enemies than friends, or that Adam confessed to a murder he didn’t commit.
I enjoyed this cozy mystery. Jamie Quinn has a wry sense of humor—and she’s not afraid to poke fun at herself, always letting the reader be in on the joke. This wasn’t full of legal terms or tiny details to get bogged down on, settling instead on the broader picture and getting to know the characters.
Grace, Jamie’s best friend, was a lot of fun, but Duke was probably my favorite character. He’s a PI with a penchant for drinking and over-the-top flirting, and he really made me laugh.
Barbara Venkataraman is a lawyer and mediator. Death by Didgeridoo is the first book in the Jamie Quinn Mystery series.
(Galley courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.)
Sundays are for Writing #85
Cheers for another solid writing week: four book reviews, two fiction-writing sessions, two lessons in the Stiefvater class, and a brief brainstorming session on the revision of Chasing Shadows. (Think I’m going to just bite the bullet and start this, so I don’t get too bogged down in procrastination.)
I hope everyone had a good writing week!
Book Review: A Life Once Dreamed, by Rachel Fordham
Title: A Life Once Dreamed
Author: Rachel Fordham
Genre: Historical Fiction, romance
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Six years ago, a shocking secret sent Agnes Pratt running in search of a new start. She found it in Penance, a rugged town of miners and lumberjacks in the Dakota Territory, where she became Miss Aggie, respected schoolteacher and confirmed old maid. But the past has a way of catching up with people.
When childhood friend and former sweetheart James Harris accepts a position as the town doctor, Aggie’s pleasantly predictable days suddenly become anything but. James wants to know why Agnes left behind the life they had dreamed of creating for themselves–but he is the one person who can never know.
In the shadows of the Black Hills, can a healing light be shed on the past? Or will the secret Agnes can’t seem to outrun destroy her chance at happiness?
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! I liked seeing how Aggie went from the life she had before—just the brief glimpse we had was enough to give an idea of her well-to-do background—to the challenging life on the frontier. I enjoyed the simple small-town life and Aggie’s interactions with the children and the townspeople.
James was a lot of fun, too, as he kept slipping aback into his old teasing ways from childhood, interspersed with his Doctor personality. This was sweet and refreshing, like a drink of sweet iced tea on a summer day.
Rachel Fordham lives in Washington state. A life Once Dreamed is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of Revell in exchange for an honest review.)
Tomorrow Is Another Day 