Magel's Ghost by Nancy Baker

Brilliant!

This book is the sequel to Magel's Daughter.  In the first book, we meet Karin Olina and her Norwegian family.  Karin is plagued by the ghosts of her ancestors, but is she crazy or blessed with a sight most of us don't have?  In Magel's Ghost, we take up about a year after the ending of the last book.  Karin is causing trouble and it's up to her cousin, Marit, to put a stop to it. 

This just doesn't even begin to cover what's happening!  Nancy is a genius!  This is one seriously disturbed family.  The way that Nancy writes it, I still can't tell if they're all crazy from inbreeding or if they're the only sane ones on the planet.  This was a captivating, fascinating read that I couldn't put down.  I even devoured the sex scenes!  For those of you who read my reviews, you know that's unusual!  Each one is important to the plot and executed in such a way as to add to the story instead of pulling the reader on an erotic side road. 

If you're faint of heart and can't handle gruesome events, you might want to be careful.  Though everything is executed with clinical accuracy, i think it would be a bit much for some people to handle.  As for me, I can't get enough!  I was enthralled with the knowledge contained in this book.  Though I'd never do these things myself, I found myself wondering if that would really work and being impressed by the cleverness of the characters as well as the writer. 

This book has everything!  Humor, romance, intrigue and a healthy dose of the unimaginable will keep you suspended through page after page.  For those of you who can't drive by a train wreck without craning your neck, this is a definite must read!  This is your chance to see the very essence of evil in the human soul from the safety of your own living room.

Uncommon Grounds by Sandra Balzo Review

Meet Maggie Thorsen.  She's a divorcee with a son in college, just trying to get her life back together.  On the day that she and two friends have the grand opening for their new business, a coffee shop, she walks in to find one of her friends laying murdered on the floor.  Maggie can't keep her nose out of the mystery and has to figure out who has killed her friend.

As a cozy mystery series, this was a great beginning.  We start off in the beginning with the murder, so immediately you're sucked in.  We have a larger sized small town full of interesting, yet suspicious, people.  Sandra is a great storyteller who's created a wonderful setting for her mysteries to take place.  As a main character, Maggie is witty and bright, with a penchant for getting into trouble.  Just a hint of romantic suspense definitely adds to this story and I can't wait to see where Balzo goes with the romance line to the story. 

So, what makes this different from every other cozy mystery series out there and sets it apart from the rest?  That's a simple answer, as far as I'm concerned.  I didn't solve the mystery.  I went through the entire book, mentally filing away each suspect.  I added motive and opportunity and calculated who was the most likely.  Then I factored in the writer's ability to make the least likely suspect be the murderer.  Then I took a few moments to think about the back stories in an attempt to find someone's 'fatal flaw'.  Still, at the end of the book when everything starts wrapping up, I was shocked!  I've read a lot of mysteries and I'm sold on any book where the characters figure out what's going on before I do.

Cozy mystery lovers won't want to miss this one.  There are even a few 'laugh out loud' moments in the book.  Watch for reviews of the next two books in the series, Grounds for Murder and Bean There Done That. 

The Return of Black Douglas by Elaine Coffman Review

Magical time travel romance.

Isobella and Elizabeth are visiting Scotland whhen Isobella wishes she had her 'Mr. Darcy'.  When she touches a painting of Black Douglas, all three of them disappear and reappear in the year 1515.  Each of the sisters are 'picked up' by warring clans.  Will they be able to find each other, let alone their way back home?

Ah so much fun!  I love time travel and this one has such a great twist!  The ghost of Black Douglas transports them back and then decides to stick around and drive the girls crazy throughout the book.  Our ghost adds a much-needed humor element.

The romance portion of the story involves Isobella and Alysandir.  Thankfully, Isobella has done her homework, so she knows how to behave and what to expect of the time period.  Of course, they have the more than typical romance issues in coming together.  The romance portion is excellent with just enough of that 'I'm a high school kid and this is my first love' feel to keep you tingling all over.  There are a few sex sections, but they're easy enough to skip over if you like.  I didn't find anything spectacular about them.

What I loved most about this book is the phrasing.  There were some parts where I actually stopped and reread a section several times because it just sounded so beautiful in my head.  In places the characters make profound comments that are absolutely lyrical.  I've never read Elaine's work before, but if this is typical of her writing, I'm definitely a fan.  Most of the book is a fun, quick, and quirky read, but once you hit these choice morsels you realize that you've really hit upon something special.  I'm thankful the entire book isn't written this way, as I would never actually finish it (because I kept rereading so often!), but there's just enough in there to keep me coming back for more.

Recovery by Alexandrea Weis Review

Strong romance, suspense!

Set against the backdrop of recovering Louisiana, turned writer Nicci finds that her beloved David was murdered by someone in her background, not his.  An important figure from David's past turns up to ask Nicci to help uncover the murderer, along with the help of one of David's old friends. 

Let's get the bad stuff out of the way first.  I don't like the main character, Nicci.  I find her flat and annoying and not someone that I would ever in a billion years want to be friends, or even acquaintances, with.  Also, you all know how I feel about editing.  Though it's not rampant with errors, it definitely became distracting in a few areas.

Though I haven't read the first book in the Nicci series, To My Senses, it really isn't necessary for this second installment.  Dallas, the hero in our book, is amazing, as are the rest of the cast of characters.  Weis has a real talent for creating strong, romantic heroes as well as outlandish and vibrant surrounding characters. 

There's a strong blend of romance, intrigue and a healthy dose of giggling.  I didn't solve the mystery until the end, along with the characters.  I was captivated by the story as well as the characters and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Currently, Weis's screenplay, Blood Will Tell, is in pre-production in the movie industry and rights are being sought to produce a movie for recovery.  I'd keep an eye on this author, as she has a definite flair for storytelling and with a few minor adjustments, could become a huge hit.

Bullet Work by Steve O'Brien Review

Oh Steve, how I adore you!

You all heard me rave about Elijah's Coin, now I get to rave about Bullet Work.  O'Brien is probably my favorite new author of the year.  His writing sucks you in, regardless of the material.  The characters are heartfelt and true.  Best of all, there's a life moral in each work of art he creates that makes your subconscious sit up and take notice.  Steve produces an entertaining read and uses it to help you change your life for the better.  I can't wait until he publishes more.  Get busy, Steve!

In Bullet Work, we're on the race track circuit.  Our main character is Dan, an owner as well as lawyer.  Someone is attacking horses in the backyard and charging $20 per head (horse head, that is)  for 'protection'.  Those that don't pay the fee, are winding up with injured and dead horses.  When Dan's horse and his friend are attacked, he decides it's time to step up and do something about the problem.

I hate horses.  I'm terrified of them because they have no soul.  Feel free to argue with me!  Everyone does!  I know (knew)  absolutely nothing about horse racing or betting or the tracks or anything of that ilk.  I'm not a cowgirl at heart.  None of that mattered.  I was sucked into the horse racing world and became a part of it, and I didn't even fight it.  I was right there brushing down horses and cheering them on.  Not being a fan of horses didn't change how I feel about this book at all.  I think most horse lovers would be even more drawn to this book than I am.

You all know that I'm especially tough on mystery books.  I hate when I figure out who the culprit is before the characters and if the ride isn't interesting enough, then I don't even care.  As expected, Steve surpassed my expectations.  Dan and I were right in sync.  I figured it out at almost the exact same moment he did and waited right along with him until we had the proof.  The ride was definitely interesting enough.  Even if I hadn't had the mystery to keep me busy, the background kept me enthralled. 

Normally, I don't like to pick out characters and zoom in on them, but I can't help it here.  There's a character named AJ.  He's a sweet boy of about 20 that some of the other guys bully.  AJ is an autistic boy who has focused on horses.  We don't find out until the end more about him, but it doesn't matter.  All of the signs are there throughout the book and you can't help but sympathize with this boy.  I saw so much of my own son in him that it was heart breaking for me.  There were a few points in the book where tears streamed down my face because I just couldn't help it.

I strongly suggest this book for everyone.  Even if it isn't your normal cup of tea, I really think you'll find something valuable in it. 

showmecables.com Review

My dog eats everything!  What he doesn't eat, I lose :)  Recently, I needed a new camera cable and so I started the normal internet browsing to see if I could find the right one for the right price.  I ended up ordering one from showmecables.com.   The price was comparable with other places on the internet and the shipping fees were low.  I didn't have to register as a member or anything.  I simply told them what I wanted and gave them the shipping and payment information.

My cable arrived within three days.  Quick!  It was packaged nicely and in perfectly wonderful condition.  Best of all, it was exactly what I'd ordered!  Some of you internet shoppers know that mistakes do happen!  The icing on the cake for me, though, was a sweet little bag that thanked me for ordering from them with a few pieces of candy in it :)  Way to go showmecables!  Candy is the way to a girl's heart!  Any cables I need from now on will be ordered through them!

Alice in Zombieland by Lewis Carroll and Nickolas Cook

Ah, sweet deviant writing!  From Dusk til Dawn meets Alice in Wonderland!

As Alice falls down the grave hole, we expect to find much the same story as when she fell down the rabbit hole to Wonderland.  What's better, it is the same story!  Of course, the white rabbit has become a black rat.  Instead of a cast of interesting characters, we have a cast of interesting undead characters. 

Most of this read felt like I was reading Alice in Wonderland all over again, with a few twists and turns added.  Those twists and turns, slight though some of them were, definitely made this an entirely different story.  Cook's wording is fabulously matching to that of Carroll, so if you don't know the original Alice inside and out, you may not know where one begins and the other ends.  Even if you do know your Alice, you'll find yourself trying to remember if that was original or newly added. 

I'd like to say this book was full of whimsy, and it some parts it was, but mostly I found myself disturbed.  I love horror and gore and the more the better!  I have no problem imagining  playing croquet with a wriggling undead foot.  There are lines that shouldn't be crossed though and I found a few areas where it was just a little too unsettling for me.  Most of this book was a joy ride for a nightmare lover, but once we get to hacked up baby parts in a stew, I'm ready to exit. 

If you can handle the extreme, this is a great read.  I love it just as much as all the other classics I've read that have been remade into horror.  I can guarantee you that you've never read anything like this, and aren't likely to again. 

Final note:  The end is EXQUISITE!  The entire book I was wondering how a zombie Alice is going to wake up as if it were all a dream...and I was not disappointed!  The ending was better than anything I'd imagined and it was totally worth the stewed baby parts to get to it!  (As long as I keep reminding myself it's not real, anyway!)