Fiction

Sneak Peek Review: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

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aaaaa***This novel will be released in the USA May 27, 2014***

This was a stellar first novel. Hayes did a superb job. I gave this my highest rating, but after thinking about it for a day or two I have to knock it down just a bit….I will get the messy parts of what I didn’t like out-of-the-way first….

This is a story about a “retired” government agency director…well we all realise that there is no such thing as retirement when it comes to this type of thing….So “The Pilgrim” is born…and must go into Turkey to try to stop a “clean skin”, someone who has no history in any of the databases of the world….The “clean skin” or “The Saracen” has set out to commit biological warfare on American soil and Pilgrim has very little time or information to stop him.

Okay, the problems….The novel felt disjointed at times…as Pilgrim is telling the story, I was not sure if he was talking about the present or current events. He would be investigating a murder in current time and jump back to previous events….but because the entire story was told after the fact, you weren’t sure if his musings were at the present time period, the past or at a near future time. The other thing that flummoxed me was the fact that a murder investigation that started in NYC, totally unrelated to the Saracen’s evil plan to destroy America, is related to a murder in the exact same location that Pilgrim has to go track the Saracen. It was just too convenient and far-fetched. Somehow, Hayes expected us to believe that all of the unrelated events and characters meet up and interact within a small Turkey city….

I haven’t figured out how Hayes could have avoided this…but it lays within my mind that just a few simple changes or additions to the novel could have cleaned all of this up. I blame it all on the author’s previous television experience. Seriously….stop laughing at me! Telly viewers seem able to suspend disbelief and logic for short periods of times. Readers expect the author to have thought out all of the logic and have it laid out just right for their readers. If the author is unable to do so, at the very least his fine editor should be able to correct it…..

Having said this, I still really enjoyed this novel. There are plot twists that seem outrageous after the fact, but they seem perfectly logical as the story is being told. This is a hard book to review, because some of the twists are so outrageous. It will be hard to explain to someone why it’s such a great novel, without them looking at you and saying….”riiiighhhtttt”…..but they are the best parts of the book! They don’t *read* outrageous. I think any reader would be hard pressed to figure out all of the clues and timing. Yet, as I sometimes do, I did not feel cheated or that the writer was pushing too hard. This didn’t read like a modern-day thriller that is a best seller because it was written by a famous author that is relying on his name and not his skill to sell a book….This is a book that should sell and make a bestseller simply because it’s written with a plot that is scary and very real. It’s hard to put down…not because you want to hurry up and finish it….but because you’re gripped in fear and your heart is racing and you have very little choice but to carry on…scared or not, you must not let go….Like a roller coaster ride, you are secretly thrilled by your terror…..This book is real….this type of thing is what any Country needs to be looking out for….not nuclear war heads…but little glass vials….I just hope that there are many “Pilgrims” out there in the real world. There is little doubt that “I Am Pilgrim” is the start of a great new series….Since it is Terry Hayes first book, I have great hopes that the series and the author both grow and mature over time…I look forward to seeing if Pilgrim is able to accept that he is deserving of the things he wants in life. That he, too, is entitled to a little bit of happiness….Terry Hayes has a great opportunity to take a very conflicted hero and grow him into a household name…

Until next time….

Urania xx

Buy it now I Am Pilgrim

Review: Room for Love by Sophie Pembroke

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20140515-225338.jpg Well, I have never met a sweeter hero! Nate is the gardener, sure, but he’s also at innkeeper Carrie’s beck and call when her inheritance – The Avalon – endures some hilarious emergencies. He is just determined to do right by Carrie and her grandmother’s legacy, even if Carrie doesn’t appreciate him.

This guy figures out how to get exotic purple roses the day before a wedding! He takes care of the drunk and hungover stag party friends, the elderly friends of the inn, the gardens, and most importantly, Carrie. He doesn’t want anything in return, either. Well, he WANTS, he just doesn’t EXPECT. 🙂

Carrie is a workaholic, out trying to prove she can do anything, do it herself, and do it well. She can, of course…. but the handsome gardener decides to help. And that, my friends, is the start of something beautiful… Funny, crazy, nostalgic, and beautiful.

-Calliope
buy ROOM FOR LOVE

Review – The First Patient, by Michael Palmer.

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1577458This week, I decided to try a book in a genre, or sub-genre I should say, that I’ve not tried before: a Medical Thriller. I did some research, and Michael Palmer seemed a popular choice. So I went to the library, and picked up The First Patient. This story looks at what happens when the White House doctor mysteriously disappears and the President asks Gabe, his old college roommate, to take over the role. When Gabe gets to the White House, it is not long before the President starts exhibiting bizarre symptoms that could end his presidency, or even worse, result in his death. It is up to Gabe and a host of supporting players to try and figure out the mystery illness and the reasons behind the disappearance of the previous doctor, before it’s too late.
As I’m in that frame of mind, I’d love to find a good book (fiction, or possibly non-fiction that isn’t too technical) that revolves around an organization such as the CDC, or something to do with a major virus/illness. I’m looking for a story that focuses more on the people trying to solve/prevent the catastrophe, than the actual effects of the illness. If any of my lovely readers could suggest a book to me, then next week I shall randomly pick a name and send you a yet to be determined prize!
Anyway, back to the review…

The First Patient is a fairly fun read. It keeps you guessing, and the pace is good. The characterization isn’t necessarily all that, but then what can you expect from a book, and indeed genre, that is purely plot driven? Dialogue and characters aside, it is a fun and easy read. I will definitely read another Palmer book as he is a doctor, and so in theory, knows what he is talking about. Maybe he has more medical medical thrillers (rather than political medical thrillers like this one is), which might be a better read. With all this strange flip flop weather we are all having, it might be an idea to curl up on the sofa with a nice easy read like this!
Remember to comment on the post (either via FB, Twitter, or the blog) for your chance to win a nice little prize!

Much love,

Pegasus.

The First Patient

Review: The Deep End of the Sea, by Heather Lyons

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01deep Because you have to sink, to the deep end of the sea, in order to rise.

WOW! This book has left me speechless. I am completely shocked with what this book held between it’s covers.

This story is about Medusa. Now I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking Clash of the Titans or Percy Jackson. Well, you couldn’t be more wrong. But I’ll admit, part of me thought that way though. But this is about love and reinventing yourself. This book is about taking control of your life and not letting all the bad things hold you back.

Medusa lives alone on an island, away from everyone. She is cursed, for something she had no control over, and is to remain there for all of her life. She has scales all over her skin, snakes on her head and her eyes are the deadliest part of her. With just on look, and you’ll become a statue forevermore.

“I am a monster. The worst kind of monster. The kind that people have told stories about for thousands of year.”

But what you don’t know is that she hates being a monster. She never wanted this. She has compassion and cries for those who see her eyes. Medusa cares for those who catch her off guard. When she turns someone, her heart breaks for them. But she cares for them, the best she can.

If it wasn’t for her friend, Hermes, Son of Zeus, I don’t think she would’ve remained sane after being secluded all these years. Even though she keeps her eyes covered, he risks death every time he visits her. Hermes was the sweetest and most caring person. He would do anything to help her rid herself of this curse.

After a stroke of luck, and with help from a few gods, her curse is reversed, and she is thrust back into the land of the living. She must become stronger and learn to rely on others to help her. She is no longer alone. And soon she realizes that Hermes is no longer just a friend. Watching them fall for each other was so sweet. Medusa has no idea how to feel about her best friend. She is overwhelmed with crazy feelings and is shocked to find out that he feels the same way.

“I’m afraid I fell in love with you shortly after we met. I told you last night you fascinated me from the very beginning. The more I got to know you, the more I found myself falling…”

And just when things seemed all calm, the past turns up and is ready to destroy everything she has worked so hard for. Again, she must learn to rely on herself and her new friends to help her through is horrible time. Dusa must be strong and remember that the past does not shape her future. She can be strong and take control of her life.

“…Violence is not picky when it comes to victims…We are part of a group no sane person wants to join, and yet we are members anyway…There is no way to exit the group once we’ve joined; all we can do is try not to let it define us.”

I will admit, the last 20% of the book had me reeling. My emotions were all over the place. The love story devastated me. And then there was a twist I never saw coming, but it made the story even more beautifully tragic. I struggled with finding the right words to use to describe this book. Nothing seemed right. This was another post that I should have just written, “Read it.” This was definitely not your usual Greek Mythology story. It was so much better than that.

~Melpomene

Buy The Deep End of the Sea

Review: The Child Thief by Brom

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The Child ThiefHave you heard of Peter Pan? Of course you have! But Have you read Peter Pan? If you have…well have you ever stopped and thought about the story? Have you really thought about Tinkerbell? Wendy? Peter?

At the end of the novel, Brom quotes from the original Peter Pan

The boys on the island vary, of course, in numbers, according as they get killed and so on; and when they seem to be growing up, which is against the rules, Peter thins them out; but at this time there were six of them, counting the twins.

Lines like this were the inspiration for Brom to write this book. Trust me….once you read this novel you will never….ever….look at Peter Pan the same again….

I don’t even know where to start…there is no way I can do this justice with my mere words. I am so disturbed by this book. Yet I loved every single minute of it…It is fairy-tale, myth, legend and nightmare all rolled up into one huge story that can not be contained between the simple covers of a book. It seeps into you. It is indeed like a mist. It surrounds you. It pulls you in and changes your reality. It makes you believe in the impossible and confuses your senses. Do you love Peter or do you detest him? Do you want to run and play with him or run and hide? All I know for sure is I couldn’t wait for it to end…and I hated for it to end….Brom is now up there with my must read authors….and although I read often, there are too many great authors out there to have very many MUST reads, but Brom just earned a spot….peter…peter….peter….oh my…..

As an afterthought Gerald Brom got his start as an American gothic artist and illustrator….and just so you know, the artwork in this book is insane!!!!!

Until next time….

Urania xx

Buy it now The Child Thief by Brom

Review – Waiting For Wednesday, by Nicci French

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17987216Up until a few years ago, Nicci French was one of my go-to authors when I want something relaxing and fun to read. Recently, I decided to try one of their (Nicci French is actually a husband and wife team that writes the books together) newer books, Waiting for Wednesday. This is the third book in a new sub series that they have created, however, it can also be read as a standalone.

Like I said above, the stories written by Nicci French aren’t necessarily hard to follow, and they keep you moving along at a decent pace. The character development is quite good for a book in the thriller genre, with a good ratio of time spent on plot and character interaction.

The premise follows Frieda Kleine, a psychologist that works with the police on particularly hard crimes. A seemingly innocent woman is murdered, in what appears to be a random attack. Frieda is once again called into help, and whilst battling her own demons from past events, she helps to investigate the grisly murder.
This book is definitely a good choice for a casual read, or when you are in a book hangover. If however, you don’t want to start on the 3rd book in a series, I can personally recommend any of French’s previous novels, particularly, Secret Smile. Well worth the read.

~ Pegasus
Waiting for Wednesday: Waiting for Wednesday: A Frieda Klein Mystery (Freida Klein)

Secret Smile: Secret Smile (French, Nicci)

Review: Always on My Mind by Bella Andre

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20140424-153424.jpg Always on My Mind is such a fun read! Totally unrealistic, a bit far-fetched, and full of too-convenient resolutions… but so, so fun.

Lori is a dancer who was betrayed by her dancer boyfriend. Grayson is a widower avoiding his grief. The meet-cute is on Grayson’s farm with Lori in her sequined dance costume.

Their relationship starts off as lusty hate, moves through predictable mishaps, misunderstandings and forgiveness, and ends up a happily ever after. Reeeeealllllly straightforward, but the sparks between Lori and Grayson are so hot that you’re really not so concerned with the depth of the plot. Chemistry and sexual tension abound. Lori and Grayson love it and I did too. 😉

Although the story is devoid of subplots, Andre gives Lori’s Sullivan siblings plenty of appearance time. It’s always fun to remember which Sullivan just got married or had a baby or bought a home. Most of the story is really about Lori and Grayson, but the love of family is ever-present, and the Sullivans all come together at the end.

–Calliope

Buy ALWAYS ON MY MIND

Review: In The Mirror by Kaira Rouda

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in the mirrorThis review is dedicated to my father, Donald O Epp, Jr who lost his battle to lung cancer last week. RIP, Pops and fly high….I love you…always…xx

So here we have a book about a young woman with cancer. There’s no secret that this is a book designed to tug on your heart strings. And it does exactly that. Despite that, I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written. The main character does some really questionable things. She makes some unwise decisions, almost to the point of being over the top. As a reader, I was starting to question what was going on. The author reins it all in and handles it beautifully. A layman in the story provides answers to any misunderstandings or wrong feelings the reader might feel as well by explaining some of the feelings and thought processes a cancer patient might feel.

At the end there is one small part that I feel could have been left out entirely from the book, and in my case, it would have made the book even better. Having said that, I understand that not everyone in the world can handle story-lines that don’t have a solid wrapped up finish to them. I *do* understand why the author threw this little bit in, but again, I wish she hadn’t. It did take a bit away from the story from me instead of adding to it like it probably did for others. Overall I still really enjoyed this book. I found myself seeking it out and in a hurry to return to it when I did set it aside. If I had started this book on a weekday instead of a weekend, I’m pretty sure I would have finished it all in one day. I enjoyed it that much.

On a more personal note, I might have been moved so much with this book because I recently was told my father has stage 4 cancer. That’s a tough thing to hear as a family member. Let alone for the patient. It’s also awful because I just happen to be on a totally different continent and can’t be near him. It’s hard to even write that….let alone acknowledge it.

I enjoyed this book so much because just as all of us must ask questions and wonder, “why me…why us”, these characters do as well. They struggle with feelings of inadequacy. Of guilt. Selfishness. Resentment. Thankfulness. The list goes on and on. It never ends and day in and day out they struggle with the roller-coaster ride that is cancer and the emotions that they have to struggle with. Seeking answers where some may never be found. Of what it means to be sick. Of what it means to want to go back to happier times. Of wishing it was someone else instead. Of seeing others enjoying life as if nothing has happened. Of survivor’s guilt…Wishing that a loved one did not have to go through this, but so thankful that you’re not the one that has it…of feeling guilty that you’re healthy and happy and someone you love is not…I appreciated this. I think everyone, regardless of where they are in life can do the same if they read this book. Something such as this will always be felt most by the patient. That goes without saying. But cancer is horrible enough that it doesn’t just scar the victim. It effects those all around them as well. Who doesn’t want to save the world? Let alone their child, or their lover, or a parent, or their best friend…..yet, somethings are not ours to decide…they are just ours to deal with….

That’s a tough pill to swallow…..

Until next time…

Urania xx

ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review

Review: Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

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20140422-185107.jpgI was intrigued by this one from the moment I heard about it. The title, the cover, the description…all these things came together in a perfect storm of literary anticipation.

Dear Kurt Cobain…When Laurel is asked to write a letter to a dead person as part of an English assignment, she picks Kurt Cobain. He’s the closest connection she has to her dead sister, May. You see, Laurel is having a hard time moving past the sudden death of her beloved older sister. She’s moved to a new school hoping to get a fresh start. But her memories follow her everywhere. And people are still talking about “that girl who died”. So Laurel digs in and takes her writing assignment to the next level. Not only does she write to Kurt, but also Judy Garland, Janis Joplin, Amelia Earhart, Amy Winehouse, River Phoenix, and Heath Ledger among others. These aren’t just random dead people but instead those she feels some kind of connection to. Throughout the course of the story Laurel writes about starting a new school, making new friends, falling in love, coming to grips with her shattered family, and trying to move past May’s death.

I wondered several times throughout the story why Laurel didn’t just write to her sister instead of this menagerie of famous dead people. Wouldn’t it have been simpler than pouring her heart out to the voice of Mr. Ed? Of course, but then she’d have to confront a plethora of emotions about May and her death. Anger, regret, guilt…you name it and it’s there. So instead she puts her heart and soul into writing to those who can never read her words. And so her letters become a time capsule of her life after May, evidence of her life moving forward after a few stumbles. It’s her journey from being May’s adoring little sister to standing on her own and finding her way in life.

So did the book live up to my expectations? Beyond a doubt! While the characters and story itself are good enough to stand alone, the beauty is in the language of Laurel’s letters. I love stories that are written in a different style such as this one. Laurel’s inner dialogue with herself and what she wishes she could say to May plays out entirely in the form of her letters. The story flows easily from one letter to the next with no break in Laurel’s thinking. The character development is excellent and believable. This first novel from Ava Dellaira shows just how powerful and beautiful words can be if put together the right way. Five stars all the way for me!

~Thalia

Buy it Now: Love Letters to the Dead

Review: Silver Bay by JoJo Moyes

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20140427-162223.jpgI tend to stay away from books that are labeled “romance” as this one was in several other reviews. But, because the writer is the amazing JoJo Moyes, I had to add it to my list of books read. An older publication, this story centers mostly around Liza, along with daughter Hannah and aunt Kathleen as well as many other supporting characters. Living on the coast of Australia and running an inn as well as conducting whale watching tours, Liza lives a content life although there’s an air of tragedy around her. When a development company begins to make plans to build a modern, massive resort community in their little corner of paradise, Liza’s peace of mind is threatened. The love interest comes in the form of Mike, one of the major planners of the resort. Loads of drama follows along with several nice little twists that keep the story going. I’m not going to lie, this one wasn’t nearly as good as other books by Moyes that I’ve read. It doesn’t quite reach the level of Me Before You or The Girl You Left Behind. But it’s important to remember that this one has been on the shelves for many years. It’s not really fair to compare novels written so many years apart. Part of being an author is experiencing that growth that comes naturally over time. Being a huge fan of JoJo Moyes, I’m really glad I took the time to read this one.

~Thalia

Buy it Now: Silver Bay: A Novel