There is a Monster At the End of This Book

This is a cute book. I remember reading it as a kid and I still enjoyed it. Not too much to say about it. The title says it all.

Brown

Living on the Edge

I so like Romance novels, but under one condition: no gratuitous sex. Yeah, I know they'll be having sex sometime, but it needs to fit into the story. And yes there needs to be a story. I looked up Shannon Butcher, not knowing the genre she writes, because she will be attending Conquest in KC (she's also from the area, how cool is that!?).

Living on the Edge is a Romance Thriller. Lucas is trying to get Sloane back into the states for her father. Sloane is trying to rescue her friend from danger in Colombia.

I really liked this story. It was well written with promises of hidden depths. Since it is a series I'm okay that certain things weren't wrapped up, but I hope that this theme continues through the series, because I want to know what is going on. For me the characters were believable. Even down to reactions from injuries and what a pregnant woman going through a miscarriage can do (not that I have had the experience myself). If you enjoy romances with stories you'll like this book.

Brown

The Lost Gate

I've always been interested in characters that are needing to learn something that is being hidden from them. In fact one of my own WIP's follows this storyline. So, when one of my readers suggested I read The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card, I followed his suggestion. (Besides the fact that he always gives excellent book advice).

The Lost Gate takes us into the world of the ex-gods. Those who once had great power and were worshipped by those with none. At least their families did. But all that changed when a gatefather closed the gates connecting them to their Westil. Now they have no way to increase their power and it's dwindling through interbreeding too much. All of the ancient families have decided that gatemages are evil and should be destroyed. ?

We follow Danny North, a gatemage with incredible power who has been told since he was little that he is a drekka (non magical) and thus is worthless and should be killed. And oh, yeah, they really do want to kill him. Then he discovers the secret that they've been keeping from him. With knowledge comes increasing danger and Danny runs. Except not all is as it seems.

The characters are entertaining. They are realistic, especially in how they act when they are hurt or angry. And hurt and angry are normal characteristics for these characters. I hope there is a sequel, because I want more of this story.

Brown

Across the Great Barrier

Across the Great Barrier is the sequel to Thirteenth Child, where we continue following Eff Rothmer as she chooses her own path in life, still working with the animals in the menagerie. Then Eff is given an opportunity to help with a survey of plants and animals with Professor Torgeson, the newest professor. Eff takes this opportunity to be able to see what is out across the Great Barrier.

I love this alternate world story. Especially, because Patricia Wrede hasn't only changed one aspect of the world, but many. The event that changed this world's history is way back in it's past, but there were similar events. For example, there was still the war to end slavery, called in our world the Civil War, called there the Secession War. Instead of being from the United States, they are from New Columbia and are thus Columbians.
Wrede makes this all believable which I feel is essential in world creating.

Brown

Term Limits

If you know only a little about me, you know that I love fantasy and science fiction. What most people don't realize is that my reading interests are more diverse than that. I like historical fiction, autobiographies, biographies, personality books, name books :), and thrillers.

Term Limits by Vince Flynn was a suggestion. When I began to read it I was hooked. Assassins take upon them the responsibility to keep the United States Government from going further down the drain that it has been. Also, there is a little bit of revenge. Also the play on words with the title is awesome!

Flynn uses multiple view points to tell this story, giving the reader the whole picture and in the end the desire to change our government as well. Maybe nothing as drastic as killing corrupt politicians... but maybe being more realistic about it if it did happen...

It was a great read and I look forward to reading more books by Vince Flynn.

Brown