Connected Hearts: Danice Akiyoshi

I am sharing this because a friend of mine, from back when I was in college wrote this book.....  Personally, I am skeptical, because I do not normally read Romance novels.... 

But as I received the following note from the author, Danice, I figured I might as well give it a go: 

"Dearest K,

I wanted to let you know that my first book, CONNECTED HEARTS, is now available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

It's a spicy romance novel that centers around SISTERHOOD and friendship. Your influence in my life is splashed across the pages, and I want to say thank you for being such a good friend as we were growing up together.

I do not have the courage to make a broad announcement on facebook yet, but I wanted to let you know."

The fact that she wrote about me, is amazing... we use to have so much fun doing "stupid" stuff, that being a "Good Girl" I'd never have done otherwise!

Stay tune for a review.....

Please Join Us: Shelfari Groups

You mayn't know that I'm on Shelfari, as Auntie Nanuuq and I am an Administrator of two different groups:

Book Chat & Historical Mysteries.  Both groups are "open" groups and you'll need no invitation to join.

In Book Chat: https://www.facebook.com/events/211987512286509/  
we read most everything and anything.  We have no limitations and everyone** is welcome. We have several ongoing threads: the monthly What We Are Reading, Hello My Name Is, and What Makes You Happy.

At the current time (June & July) we have a challenge: TBR (To Be Read). We are taking one book from several members TBR or Wish List and we are reading & rating them.  Some of the more ambitious members (such as myself) are adding reviews as well. There will be prizes at the end of the challenge.

In April & May we had a "Scavenger Hunt": this was much more grueling, we had a long list of words (each w/ varying amount of points) and cover images to locate in the books we were reading.  At the end there were also prizes.

Also in May we had a Historical Mystery challenge: the person reading, rating, & reviewing the most Historical Mysteries won a historical mystery.

In Historical Mysteries:  http://www.shelfari.com/groups/34192/about
we focus on reading Historical Mysteries, but we also have a thread for What Else We Are Reading.

We have similar threads to those in Book Chat and a "Buddy Read" where we take turns picking an author or Historical Mystery series and then read, rate & review those books as well.  We are currently reading the Benjamin January series & Abigail Adams series by Barbara Hambly/Hamilton.

We just finished an Agatha Christie challenge: the winner received a copy of one of Christie's favorite books, "Crooked House", the 2nd & 3rd place runner ups won handmade bookmarks.

Our goal in both groups it to promote the enjoyment of reading, sharing what we've read, and  make new acquaintances & friends.

** In both groups we welcome Authors who are actively taking a part in the group. If you are there merely to promote your book, don't bother to join, we consider joining us for the sole purpose of promoting yourself & your book as "Spam", and we take steps to remove offenders from the group...

So, please drop by, peruse our groups, and feel free to join us!

Her Royal Spyness: Prequel

Masked Ball at Broxley Manor, Rhys Bowen

★ ★     

This is a very short story which is suppose to be the prequel to Her Royal Spyness series....  We meet Lady Georgiana 34th in line to the Crown, Prince Otto of Prussia; Georgie's cousin David (Windsor); his soon to be whore, Wallace Simpson; Georgie's brother, Binky; her sour sister-in-law, Fig; and the dashing Darcy O'Mara.

All this is, is an introduction to a cast of characters that are featured in the other books in the series, there is no real story, no murders, no spying.... really nothing. I was hoping this would be more substantial...... Honestly, most all of us who have read the series, will find this too late in coming to be of reading necessity, since we already know the characters.

Since it is only available via Kindle (thank-you Annapi) I suggest that you pass it up, unless you really are intent on reading it. It really isn't worth paying for, and it is not available via overdrive.

With the exception of "Royal Blood", which was a late arrival on the much over-killed subject of vampires (pun intended), I much preferred the other books in the series:

"Her Royal Spyness"
★ ★ ★ ★
"A Royal Pain"
★ ★ ★ ★
"Royal Flush"
★ ★ ★
"Naughty in Nice"
★ ★ ★
"Royal Blood"
★ ★
"The Twelve Clues of Christmas"
★ ★ ★ ★
"Murder at Broxley Manor"
★ ★
"Heirs and Graces" (August 2013)

What Reader Species Are You?

We all live in the Domain of Readers—but what species of book reader are you? This fun, appropriately wordy infographic is my homage to the classic Linnaean classification charts of plants and living things. In this case, we’re describing and classifying close to 50 reader species—from the folks who see books as precious display objects to those who sort of hate reading. You’ll definitely see yourself (The Kindle Convert?) and a few of your friends (The Book Thief? The Bathroom Reader?) on this chart. And don’t be surprised if you find you’re a cross-species mutt—true book lovers are very wide-ranging in their genetic makeup!

http://www.laura-e-kelly.com/creative-work/infographics/reader-species/


 

Lucia, Lucia

Lucia, Lucia, Adriana Trigiani
 
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ♥

I had this on my TBR, removed it, and gave it back to the booksale.....Well thanks to this challenge & Anita, I took the time to read this and I am so very glad that I did.

What a beautiful story, well written, easy to read, believable & compelling.
The story begins w/ a young woman, who is a neighbor of Lucia's being invited to Lucia's for tea. During tea, we get to know the story of Lucia's life. We get to know her family, about her job and friends at B.Altman's in New York as a premier seamstress, her relationships w/ the men who love her, her joys & sorrows.....

Lucia is basically a very happy & independent young woman, who we see mature in to a happier & stronger woman. She isn't willing to back down from what she knows in her heart to be right. When she loves, she follows through despite the fact she knows deep within that she is headed for a crash landing. She supports her family but remains true to herself.....

These quotes from the book resonate deeply with me, as are very typical of my life: 

"....But I wish for you the same things I wish for my sons: to work and live a good life. That means you will always be able to take care of yourself" --Lucia's Father

"There isn't a man who can come along and buy me anything that I cannot earn myself." --Lucia

"My biggest problem with the opposite sex is, that I know how to be happy on my own." --Lucia

The End of Sookie!

Dead Ever After, Charlaine Harris

★ ★ ★ ★

IMONSHO this last Sookie Stackhouse book was a good ending to the series. But "Golly Sgt. Carter...." there sure were a lot of people trying to get her.
*********POSSIBLE SPOILERS: Basic Synopsis w/out the Ending***********

A "Devil" is out and about making deals for souls.... a few of these souls want revenge on Sookie.
Amelia's (Sookie's witch friend) father wants the cluvial dor in order to control Amelia's life, but when he finds out from the Devil that it is useless he wants revenge on Sookie. 

The preacher from the Sun Temple also wants revenge on Sookie and teams up w/ a bad guy from Rhodes to get revenge. 

Arlene is popped from jail and is sent to mess w/ Sookie.

Sam is alive & not so well.... coming back from being dead takes an adjustment, and Sookie is the one who has to remind Sam about Janalynn.

Eric and his new consort are leaving town for good, but he makes sure to "take care" of Sookie.... 

The Demon Lawyer & his Demon helper are back.....

And... Sookie's land is awash w/ life.... Niall has put a blessing on the land and it is fruitful....

***************************************************************************************
There were a few surprises...... There was one small line that tied up a loose end from another Supe. Home Repair anthology..... It was about enlarging Tara's home to make a larger room for the babies.

Overall this was a well written ending to a series. I'm not sad the series is over but it will be interesting to see what the author has to offer next.

But this was supposed to be the last one and now I see there is actually one more? "After Dead: What Came Next in the World of Sookie Stackhouse"

Honestly? I am just as happy not knowing.......

************************************************************************

Other Books in the Series Are:

"Dead Until Dark" 

 ★ ★ ★ ★

"Living Dead in Dallas" 

 ★ ★ ★ ★

"Club Dead"
★ ★ ★ ★

"Dead to the World"
★ ★ ★ ★

"Dead as a Doornail"
★ ★ ★ ★

"Definitely Dead" 
★ ★ ★

"All Together Dead"                        

★ ★ ★ ★

"From Dead to Worse"
★ ★ ★ ★

"Dead and Gone"
★ ★ 

"Dead in the Family"
★ ★ ★ ★

"Dead Reckoning"
★ ★ 

"Deadlocked"
★ ★ ★ ★

Sookie also shows up in several "Supe." Anthologies:

"Sookie Stackhouse Companion"
★ ★ ★ ★

"Touch of Dead"
★ ★ ★ ★

Wolfsbane and Mistletoe"
★ ★ ★ ★

"Many Bloody Returns"
★ ★ ★ ★

"Home Improvement: Undead Edition"
★ ★ ★ ★

"Power of Detection"

"Bite"

"Unusual Suspects"

"Between the Dark and the Daylight"

"Deaths Excellent Vacation"
★ ★ 

"Crimes by Moonlight"
★ ★ ★ ★

"Playing Possum" Brilliance Audio only

"The Uninvited Guests" Whoa!

"The Uninvited Guests"  Sadie Jones    

* * * 1/2

Whoa! You want a weird, ugly, & dark ghost story w/ a happy romantic ending? Well, then, This Is The Book For You!

Let's see: it is Emerald's birthday, she is having a dinner party for old friends, family (mother, brother & baby sister), & neighbors.  Step-father is off to town trying to secure a loan, so that they might stay in their family home, rather than move to a smaller one which he can afford on his own.

So after he leaves, there is a train wreck and the people from the train  (The Uninvited Guests) arrive unannounced to find shelter until all is cleared up.  Unfortunately another more evil man from Mother's past shows up and plays ugly games and causes havoc....

The part I liked (which gave this the 1/2 &#9733) was the baby sister: she brings the pets up to her room and holds them against her wall, and draws the outlines of their bodies on her wall w/ charcoal......  But in the midst of the ensuing chaos, she brings her Pony up to her room in order to do the same!

Otherwise this was too creepy for me and a part of it offended my sensibilities.