Thalia

Review: The Book of Bunny Suicides: Little Fluffy Rabbits Who Just Don’t Want to Live Any More by Andy Riley

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imageHow could I resist a book that is endorsed by Richard Curtis (writer/director of Love Actually), Elton John and Hugh Grant?

This a book of cartoons showing depressed bunnies on the verge of death or already dead. These cute bunnies may be depressed but they sure are inventive. Forms of suicide include being beheaded by a revolving door, being sliced into many bunny sections by a helicopter blade while jumping on a trampoline and getting run over on a luge track. There was an attempt that involved a seesaw, bowling ball and a colander that failed the first time but succeeded the second.

There are many cultural references in these cartoons too. There’s a bunny death with an Abba record. There’s one directly from a scene of The Wicker Man. Another involves Noah’s Ark and a game of Asteroids. Best of all, there’s a death inspired by Fatal Attraction.

If you like your humor a little dark, a little sick, you will love this book.

~Thalia

Buy It Now The Book of Bunny Suicides

Buy Its Sequel The Return of the Bunny Suicides

An Early Look: Review: Cake by Lauren Dane

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imageARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.

This novella is part of the Harlequin’s new Cosmo Red-Hot Reads line. (The first one, by Sylvia Day, will be released tomorrow). It definitely lives up to name of the line.

Gregori is a successful multi-media artist. He’s also very, very hot with his tattoos, nipple rings and beard. Wren, currently attending art school, is working hard to get her graphic novel published. Her job as a bike messenger helps pays the bills. Wren has been delivering packages and paperwork for Gregori for a year now.

They have slowly developed a friendship in that year. She always makes her deliveries to him last so that they can chat about his work or her art school. He provides her with scrumptious treats and hot tea.

Underlining the friendship is a super-charged attraction. When they do finally have sex, it is scorching. It scares Gregori how amazing the sex is and how at ease it is to be with Wren. He’s divorced and very wary of being in a relationship. He is the first to back away.

Wren is a fabulous, take-charge heroine. She sees that Gregori is skittish and scared but doesn’t back down from what she wants and doesn’t let Gregori push her aside. She shows him in every way that their relationship will be different than the marriage he had.

“I came here to get some distance between us. To cool things off.” She stepped closer. “I know. I came here to put an end to such silliness.”

Although, this is a short read, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything in the story. I belived in Wren and Gregori’s HEA. Wren is a fierce heroine. I adored her. She never let Gregori give in to his insecurities about their relationship.

This novella will be out Monday, September 15. Go and pre-order this! You won’t regret it!

~Thalia

Pre-order It Now Cake

Review: Rush by Maya Banks

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imageThe book opens with Gabe Hamilton mentally lusting after one of his best friend’s (much younger) sister at the grand opening of his hotel. Mia Crestwell is attracted to Gabe as well. They end up making out at this party. They stop and he tells her to meet him at his office the next day.

Gabe offers Mia a job as his personal assistant. She’s naturally confused. He explains, “The purpose of your working for me is so you’d be at my side at all times. And I’d have you when I want & how I want.” Let me backtrack a little to mention that Mia is a recent college graduate. Gabe is 13 yrs. older than her AND the sister of one of his dearest friends & business partner. This is his proposition to her. It gets worse. She accepts! It gets much worse. He hands her a contract to read stating the terms of their relationship.

The contract states that Mia will “cede power to him not only in the bedroom, but in all aspects of their relationship as well.” Gabe’s end of the contract is “that all her needs would be met, physically and financially. There was nothing at all about emotional needs.” Does Mia sign this contract? Of course, she does, otherwise there wouldn’t be a book. I wish there wasn’t a book. And I wish this was not the first book I won on Goodreads. 😦

The rest of book book lives up to the horrible premise of the book. A lot of excuses are made about why Gabe behaves the way he does. None are valid enough to justify his treatment of Mia. I gave this book 2 stars because I did like his friends, especially the sarcastic Ash.

I won this book though the First Reads giveaway on Goodreads.

~Thalia

Buy It Now Rush (The Breathless Trilogy)

Review: It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis

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imageAli Winters is having a rough day. She discovers that her boyfriend is cheating. Said boyfriend dumps her before she can dump him. She was living with her now ex-boyfriend, who didn’t renew the lease on the house, which now leaves her homeless.

Luke Hanover is not having a good day himself. He was in charge of the investigation of multiple murders, with the prime suspect being a prominent senator. The case ended with the death of the senator’s aide and the senator killing himself. Luke is using all of his vacation time to return home to Lucky Harbor and to be left alone.

Unfortunately, Ali is still at his house when he goes home. Feeling bad for her situation, he allows her to stay. Soon, he is helping her investigate who stole the 50K that Ali is accused of stealing. Also, he is dragged into investigating smaller crimes that his grandpa’s friends need help solving.

It is always fun to visit the small but lively town of Lucky Harbor. I enjoyed watching Ali and Luke circle each other and eventually give in to their lust. I liked seeing that lust develop into something more. Ali and Luke both have some baggage involving their families that they must overcome.

The outcome of the books in this sweet, funny and sometimes sexy series is always predictable but thoroughly enjoyable to read. There is sequel bait with Luke’s two friends, Jack, the firefighter and the mysterious, unseen, military man, Ben. I look forward to their stories and revisiting Lucky Harbor.

This is the 7th book in the Lucky Harbor series but it can definitely be read as a standalone. It’s a great entry to the series because it’s the start of a trilogy within the series. The next book features Jack and Ali’s friend, Leah.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.

~Thalia

Buy It Now It Had to Be You (Lucky Harbor)

Review: Married by Morning Lisa Kleypas

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image“Was this some new level of depravity? Had he developed a spinster fetish?”

Lisa Kleypas has created one of her most captivating heroes in Leo Hathaway. As a young man, Leo lost his fiancée to scarlet fever. This tragedy turned him into a hedonistic, sarcastic scoundrel. A very funny one.

“Oh, I have a very pure soul. It’s only my private parts that have gotten me into trouble.”

“Tell me about our legal issues. And use small words. I don’t like to think at this hour of the morning. It hurts.”

Catherine Marks is the one lady who can match wits with him. As they banter back and forth, they acknowledge that beneath that hatred is a mutual attraction. They go from trying to find the worst on each to learning about the best in each other.

It was a pleasure to watch them fall in love. The Hathaway family is there along with a mischevious ferret named Dodger to help Leo and Marks through their courtship. One of Kleypas’ funniest books punctuated by sweet memorable moments.

This is the fourth book in the Hathaways series. This book can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading the previous books. Marks and Leo’s relationship develops through the series and you can see the attraction building.

~Thalia

Buy It Now Married By Morning (Hathaways)

Review: Tested on Orphans by David Mamet

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imageDavid Mamet is a Pulitzer Prize and Tony winning playwright. He is also an author, screenwriter and director. His multitude of works include Glengarry Glen Ross, The Verdict, The Postman Always Rings Twice and this little gem of cartoons.

Part visual commentary, part satire, part down right grown-inducing with some puns, the cartoons include ideas on movie sequels like Ghandi II famous first drafts and bumper stickers. As the book title suggests, this book can be offensive, so, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

When you open the book, a letter written by Mamet’s close friend Shel Silverstein is attached. Silverstein comments on Mamet’s potential as a cartoonist.

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Unfortunately, this book is out-of-print. I hope that everyone takes the time to find this hilarious book. Below is a link to help you.

~Thalia

Buy It Now Tested on Orphans: Cartoons by David Mamet

Review: Sweet Revenge by Zöe Archer

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image“Oh, aye,” he said, bitter. “I’m a goddamn hero.” “I never said that.” Her mouth curved into a soft, bittersweet smile. “But maybe someday you’ll become one.”

Jack Dalton has a gun held to his head. On the other end of the gun is Eva Warrick. She and her companions are part of a private organization called Nemesis Unlimited. Nemesis’ mission is to help those in the lower social classes. Their current client is a merchant’s daughter. She was seduced and abandoned by Lord Rockley. Eva and her fellow agents believe that Rockley is also involved in some illegal activities. They want to expose him and thus bring retribution for the merchant’s daughter.

Jack just wants to kill Rockley. Jack’s sister was a prostitute. Rockley had rough sex with her and caused her death. He escaped prison to kill Rockley. Eva threatens to bring him back to prison if he doesn’t help her.Jack is the only person who left Rockley’s employ and is still alive. They need him to track Rockley’s activities as well as his business associates. Jack has no choice but to help Eva and her partners.

Jack and Eva are immediately attracted to each other when they first meet. The romance slowly develops as they work together. They learn of each other’s past. Jack’s is painful, of course, as he is riddled with guilt over his sister’s deaths.

This an exciting and entertaining, action-packed first book in the series with a kick-ass heroine. The tv shows Leverage and Burn Notice inspired Zoë Archer to create this series. I eagerly look forward to the next book. Hopefully, Simon will be the hero.

~Thalia

Buy It Now Sweet Revenge: A Nemesis Unlimited Novel

Review: The Gashlycrumb Tinies: or, After the Outing by Edward Gorey

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imageThis delightful mock children’s alphabet book tells the story of twenty-six children and how they died. It is told in rhyming couplets, accompanied by illustrations of their demise.

Edward Gorey is a writer and illustrator, famous for his whimsical, macabre humor and distinctive pen and ink drawings. Amongst his many works is the animated opening and closing segments for PBS’ Mystery.

If you have never read Gorey, start with this one. You will be laughing at death. Wouldn’t that be a great reply to someone’s question of “How was your day?/How are you doing?” “Wonderful/ Excellent/ Marvelous,” you will say. “I looked at death and laughed today.”

In closing, life is short. We don’t know how many years we have on this earth or how we are going to die. I do know that I do not want to suffer the fate of Neville.

“M is for Maude who was tossed out to sea”
“N is for Neville who died of ennui”

~Thalia

Buy It Now The Gashlycrumb Tinies

Buy The Compilation Amphigorey: Fifteen Books

Review: A Woman Entangled by Cecelia Grant

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imageKate’s father married her mother, an actress. Her grandfather, an earl, disassociated himself from her father. She has written letters to her aunt in effort to re-connect. She hopes that her aunt will help her attain her goal of marrying well and thus improve her and her sisters’ standing in society.

“I’ve pinned all of my hopes on making a good marriage.”
“You have stringent ideas of what constitutes a good marriage. Myself, I know of no better union than the one to which you owe your existence.”
“My parents have a happy marriage. That’s not the same thing.”

Nick’s brother, Will, married a courtesan. He had to distance himself from his brother so that he pursue his political ambitions. A baron, a former soldier, hires him to help him be a better speaker in Parliament. His association with the baron can help him repair the damaged reputation caused by his brother’s marriage.

“Will and his wife, after all, probably had a happy marriage. That didn’t make it a good one.”

Three years ago, Nick had hopes of courting Kate, who refused. It was a painful and memorable scene in the book as Nick recounts the event.

This a sumptuous tale of two people trying to overcome bad family connections to have better standing in society. It’s difficult for me to describe this author’s elegant writing. She makes each word a joy to read as we Nick and Kate with what they think they want and what they really want.

This is the third book in the series but it is not necessary to read the the two previous books to understand and enjoy this one. Go read this one to experience what a great historical romance is all about.

Thalia

Buy It Now A Woman Entangled

Review: Own the Wind: A Chaos Novel by Kristen Ashley

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imagePrior to this one, the only Kristen Ashley book that I have read was Motorcycle Man. I was curious about Shy & Tabby, which prompted me to request this book.

What I liked about this book:
1) No rambling sentences that inhibited my ability to understand what was going. Thank you, KA’s editor!
2) The romance between Shy & Tabby after they declared their love for each other. For me, the book really took off at this point. You just knew no matter what happened, they had each other. There was a great combination of sweet & sexy moments.
3) The way Shy & Tabby handled the club’s reaction to them. Also, when Shy had an opportunity to be promoted in Chaos, I liked the choice he made and his decision behind it.

What I didn’t like:
1) The time jumps in the beginning. It hindered my ability to connect w/ Shy & Tabby.
2) I wanted to see more of the development of them being friends.
3) The liberal use of the word “bitch.” It was used 60 times, as an adjective, a verb & a noun.
4) Tyra was also called Ty-Ty & Cherry. Sometimes she was called two of those names in the same paragraph. It became confusing.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I think it’s helpful that you read Motorcycle Man, but I think there’s enough information given to read this book as a standalone. The paperback is less than $6. The Kindle book is less than $4. It’s worth the risk to venture into this motorcycle club.

Thalia

Buy It Now Own the Wind: A Chaos Novel