Quicksilver by R. J. Anderson

Quicksilver is a disappointing sequel to, Ultraviolet. It's best to just shuck the book aside and move on. Seriously, just enjoy the memory of Ultraviolet because, Quicksilver is bad, bad bad. So, your probably asking yourself, then why did she read it? Well .... because I was committed to this series and I had such high hopes.



Unlike, Ultraviolet, Quicksilver focus's on the character of Tori. Tori is interesting enough but her story line just isn't strong enough to carry an entire book. The book is extremely predictable and the entire tone of the books is so different from, Ultraviolet that one would think it was written by a different author.

The pacing is rather slow and the book just doesn't capture your full attention. It's been ages since, it's taken me so long to complete a book due to the lack of interesting material. It will be awhile before, I read a book by Anderson, again.

If you're going to read this .... I recommend you read the first book because it won't stand on its own.

Grade: F

Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality by Jacob Tomsky

Heads in Beds is a light read --- a behind-the-scenes look into the hotel industry. I wanted more insider information. The funny, "dirty" deeds instead of the hustle for the next tip.

This book tends to focus more on the employees rather than the customers, which makes sense since it's written by an employee of the industry. I had a few laugh aloud moments and as someone who has worked in a strong customer service industry before, I could related to, Tomsky on some levels.

Tomsky's personal life, enhances the story and makes for a fun enough read.

Grade: B

Garden of Stones by Sophie Littlefield

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Garden of Stones hits the shelves, February 26, 2013

Garden of Stones is an emotional read that takes place during two distinct time periods. It opens up in the 1970s with a death shrouded in mystery and through flashback readers revisit the 1940s.  Lucy is only 14 years old, when Pearl Harbor is attacked. Shortly thereafter, Lucy and her mother, Miyako are forced to leave their privileged lived. They are sent to, Manzanar --- an interment camp constructed for, Japanese Americans.

Life in the camp is harsh and Miyako will do anything and everything to protect her daughter. The choices, Miyako makes results in a ripple affect, forever changing, Lucy's life. Lucy finally opens up to her daughter and tells her about the abused suffered at the hands of those in charger at, Manzanar.

The images are vivid. The character's are beautifully constructed and Littlefield's story will make your heart ache. I've never read a more moving and realistic novel about the interment camps until now.

Grade: A+

Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy by Emily Bazelon

Sticks and Stones hits the shelves, February 19, 2012.

Sticks and Stones tackles an age long issue --- Bullying. I remember being a young girl and being teased for being small, skinny and quiet and I remember a group of my friends and I picking on a girl who was "odd" for a variety of reasons.

I can't say that, I know anyone who was never, bullied ---- it seems a very common issue and for some individuals the bullying is harsher and the consequences are dire. Sticks and Stones gives a variety of views on bullying and the roles parents, educators, other adults and students play.

There are several chapters that discuss the events surrounding children who were bullied, some of these  made headline news. Bazelon --- has obviously done extensive research and has thus produced a provocative read.

Grade: A

The Reckoning: Book Two of the Taker Trilogy by Alma Katsu

The Reckoning is an exceptional sequel to, Katsu's "The Taker".  The Reckoning takes us deeper into the life of Adair and how he has become the man he is.

Once again --- the transition between present day and the past flow seamlessly. The character's development is at an all time high, the character's created are phenomenal. The story is seductive and entraps you to the very end. You will be left craving the final installment in this trilogy, which comes out later this year.

The end is ---- unexpected and pleasantly wonderful.

Grade: A

Overview [B&N]

Love saved her soul . . . but the shadows of the past condemn her.

With Dr. Luke Findley by her side, Lanore McIlvrae imprisoned her immortal enemy and has embarked on a new life; now all of London is clamoring to see the Victoria and Albert Museum’s “mystery” exhibit— Lanny’s collections of lost nineteenth-century treasures, including the last precious gift given to her by Jonathan, the man who owns her heart for eternity. But the portal to her past opens once more, as Adair, the Taker, crashes into the twenty-first century to hunt down Lanny and exact revenge for her heartless betrayal—the price she must pay for an endless love.

The Taker: Book One of the Taker Trilogy by Alma Katsu

The Taker is an absolutely phenomenal mix of historical fiction and horror. It's also a wonderfully written ---  tragic love story.

Each character is more intriguing than the last. Lanny is tragically in love with, Jonathan. Jonathan is perfection, he is breathtakingly beautiful and desired by many. Adair is handsome, evil and dark.

The hauntingly wicked tale takes you on a journey from the 1800s to present day. This is, Lanny's story, how she became immortal and how immortality is more a curse than a treasure.

This novel is NOT about vampires....which makes it all that more attractive and unique. A page turner that will keep you up into the wee hours of the night.

One of the best starts to a trilogy, yet. I've never been so mesmerize by a book of this nature (and the cover is gorgeous).

Grade: A+

Overview [B&N}

True love can last an eternity . . . but immortality comes at a price..

On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural St. Andrew, Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting a quiet evening. Until a mysterious woman arrives in his ER, escorted by police—Lanore McIlvrae is a murder suspect—and Luke is inexplicably drawn to her. As Lanny tells him her story, an impassioned account of love and betrayal that transcends time and mortality, she changes his life forever. . . . At the turn of the nineteenth century, Lanny was consumed as a child by her love for the son of St. Andrew’s founder, and she will do anything to be with him forever. But the price she pays is steep— an immortal bond that chains her to a terrible fate.

Blog Tour Stop - The Love of my (other) Life by Traci L. Slatton

Welcome to day 8 of, The Love of my (other) Life blog tour stop.

If you are interested in winning a FREE e-book copy, post a comment below.

The Love of my (other) Life, by Traci L. Slatton is a fun and entertaining read. It is full of drama, love and  laugher . Don't judge this book by its cover. It looks like erotic lit but it's actually a romantic novel mixed in with sci-fi.

It's quirky and the character's are awesome.  Tessa Barnum is down on her luck, her love life is in shambles (she just got divorced) and she is about to be evicted from her home and she hasn't painted in over three years. So, when Brian Tennyson approaches her (as a homeless man) and tells her they are married in an alternative universe, she shrugs him off as just another crazy person. Brian is tenacious and won't give up, until he captures her attention. After all he has defied the laws of nature and traveled quite a distance to met up with her.

Tessa finally, allows herself to be drawn into him and his world and their story unfolds....

About the Author:

Traci L. Slatton is a graduate of Yale and Columbia, where she taught freshman composition. She lives in Manhattan, though her love for Renaissance Italy inspired her historical novel Immortal [Bantam Dell], which is currently in film pre-production and reached bestseller status in Italy, Russia and Brazil. Also the author of The Botticelli Affair and the After trilogy (Fallen, Cold Light and Far Shore [forthcoming late spring 2013]), Slatton has published The Art of Life, a photo essay about figurative sculpture; a book of poetry; as well as a non-fiction title on science and spirituality, Piercing Time & Space. Her forthcoming novel, The Mission, is a meaty historical saga set during World War II.

To learn more please visit:  Traci L. Slatton & Parvati Press

*** Giveaway Information***

One FREE, ebook copy will be made available. All you need to do is post a comment below, telling me if you think you've met your soul mate. The drawing will be random and take place on February 14, 2013.  Leave an identifying name and a link back to your blog or email address so I can contact you in the event you win this fab book.

Far From the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity by Andrew Solomon

Far From the Tree is a big, heavy book --- in terms of weight, material and thought process. It made the list for, The 10 best books of 2012 by New York Times . Solomon spent 12 years researching this  thought provoking, interesting and moving novel. It covers are variety of subjects from deafness to schizophrenia.

You absolutely do NOT need to be a parent to grasp the psychology of the subject matter, the subjects themselves and life choices ( I am not a parent). The material itself is so fascinating that, you will easily absorb it.

This is an exceptional book, that might change you views and ideals on certain subject(s). Solomon uses  scientific date and personal stories to engage the reader. His book is unbiased and well researched.

I highly recommend this read.

Grade: A+