Category Archives: BOOK REVIEWS
[e-Book Review] DNF Reviews
Sometimes I started reading books that are good, but not my type. I like to try different genres and books with compelling summaries. Unfortunately, I don’t finish them all the time due to different reasons. The two books below are great examples. Both are well written and developed, but I did not feel like knowing more about the characters or the events happening. Therefore, I will give my opinion solely on the chapters I had read.
An Apple for Zoe
The City of San Francisco is locked in a grip of fear. A series of occult murders has led, Inspector Thomas James, to a crime scene similar to a murder committed 90 years ago in the once grand Aleris Hotel. A place where power barons of the early 20th Century engaged in witchcraft. And silent film stars indulged in the most wicked of sins.
Author: Thomas Amo
Length: 197 pages (estimated)
Published: February 2011
Format: e-book
Source: Amazon (http://amzn.to/H8apjp)
Read: 65% of the e-book
Rate: 4 out of 5
Short Review
I really enjoyed the beginning of the book, but had trouble moving forward due to some of the events in the story. The author did a great job describing the settings, characters and integrating the real stories with the fictional events. Each chapter ends with a clue to the next chapter that helps the plot in the following one.
If you are a mystery/suspense reader this will be your book. You will definitely get a well written & research book full of interesting stories turned into one.
~ 0000 ~
Tempted by Blood
He might be known for his effortless charm, but Guardian Jackson Foss is hiding a terrible secret. For months, he has battled the emergence of his dark nature—deadly urges that threaten to consume him. And those cravings only intensify when he meets Arianna Wells, the human he’s been assigned to protect. Smart and perceptive, Arianna doesn’t seem like a dangerous temptress. Yet she awakens in Jackson an unstoppable need that, if left unchecked, will brand him a traitor…a crime punishable by death.
Author: Laurie London
Length: 383 pages
Published: March 2012
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley (http://amzn.to/H6NSlf)
Read: 15% of the e-book
Rate: 4 out of 5
Short Review
I only read the first three chapters of this book, but I was not disappointed. I just cannot relate to the female main character. I had some trouble pinpointing the character’s age in relation to the events and visualizing some of the settings. All these issues affected me as a reader, but did not interfere with the story development. The author presents a new spin to vampires, paranormal and romance without going overboard. It is a great read for all those that enjoy spicy books.
I previously reviewed Hidden by Blood – a short story by the same author. You can see the 5 out of 5 review here http://wp.me/pAHhC-sU.
* All synopsis taken from Amazon
[Book Review] The Lucky One
U.S. Marine Logan Thibault carries a picture of a woman he’s never met because it brings him good luck. But when he sets out to find the woman, he is met with unexpected circumstances surrounding his new love and his shrouded past.
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Length: 336
Published: September 2008
Format: Paperback
Source: Gift
My view
As I mentioned before, it took me several tries to finish this book. The first 50 pages on the book are not that great and pretty slow. If this book was from a different author, I would probably stop reading it right there. I love most of Nicholas Sparks earlier books, but mostly his more recent books.
As always, the book is well written and structured. The story is simple and the characters evolved slowly, but surely. As a reader, I was disappointed with the ending and lack of depth in the last chapters. As a writer, I understand the ending, but would have taken a different route. There is nothing else I can say about this without reveling too much.
The movie is currently in the works and should be available April 20, 2012 (http://imdb.to/yVIF9V). I am not too sure about Zac Efron playing the main character, since I would love to see an older actor on this role. Anyway, I am sure it would be good .
What I liked the most
I really enjoy the simplicity of the relationships. The book has only the necessary amount of characters and connections.
I wanted more of
I wanted to know more about Keith Clayton, a secondary narrator and main character on the book.
Who should read it
Any one that loves Nicholas Sparks books.
Rate
4 out of 5 (3 if it was a different author, I know I am bias)
