Book Reviews | Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

A BETTER WORLD by Marcus Sakey

February 11, 2016

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The Brilliance Trilogy #2

From the publisher:

The brilliants changed everything. Since 1980, one percent of the world has been born with gifts we’d only dreamed of. The ability to sense a person’s most intimate secrets, or predict the stock market, or move virtually unseen. For thirty years the world has struggled with a growing divide between the exceptional…and the rest of us.

Now a terrorist network led by brilliants has crippled three cities. Supermarket shelves stand empty. 911 calls go unanswered. Fanatics are burning people alive. Nick Cooper has always fought to make the world better for his children. As both a brilliant and an advisor to the president of the United States, he’s against everything the terrorists represent. But as America slides toward a devastating civil war, Cooper is forced to play a game he dares not lose—because his opponents have their own vision of a better world.

Jack says: Book two of the series was a bit disappointing – too much effort in re-stating the basics of book one for the benefit of those who had not read book one. Moved pretty well after all the re-capping.

Also see Paul Lane’s review.

2/16 Jack Quick

A BETTER WORLD by Marcus Sakey. Thomas & Mercer (June 17, 2014). ISBN 978-1477823941. 390p.

2 Comments | Book Reviews, Crime Fiction, Fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy | Tagged: Thriller | Permalink
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LAST PROPHECY OF ROME by Iain King

February 9, 2016

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Myles Munro Action Thriller Series # 1

This is the second novel featuring Myles Munro, a history professor, first introduced in the book, Secrets of the Last Nazi.

In the opening section, Myles is on vacation in New York with his American journalist girl friend, Helen Bridle, when a delivery truck moving through the financial district of New York blows up. Myles finds a reference sent via the truck’s burning frame that the U.S embassy in Rome will shortly be destroyed – and the person who will make this happen is an African warlord named “Juma.”

Next in the series of events is the capturing of a US senator. Myles is forced to race through Iraq, Turkey and finally to Rome to rescue the senator and save the US from Juma’s plot to destroy it.

The 18th century “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” is researched by Myles and Helen as describing the method of destruction. The thesis of that tome was that Rome was never conquered, but fell due to the corruption within. Analogies are brought comparing Rome’s fall with events in today’s America. Not naming names, King’s descriptions bring to mind today’s US government, the lack of real patriotism on the part of many officials, plus a reference to a bad president.

The fault I find with King’s writing is the haste he uses in going from one crisis to the next and solutions drawn without leading up them logically. The book takes its place with other espionage novels but does not do very much to distinguish itself to them. A fast read but one that does not leave the reader with real interest in getting King’s next book.

2/16 Paul Lane

THE LAST PROPHECY OF ROME by Iain King. Bookouture (January 27, 2016). ISBN 978-1910751756. 438p.

Kindle

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BRILLIANCE by Marcus Sakey

February 8, 2016

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From the publisher:

In Wyoming, a little girl reads people’s darkest secrets by the way they fold their arms. In New York, a man sensing patterns in the stock market racks up $300 billion. In Chicago, a woman can go invisible by being where no one is looking.

They’re called “brilliants,” and since 1980, one percent of people have been born this way. Nick Cooper is among them; a federal agent, Cooper has gifts rendering him exceptional at hunting terrorists. His latest target may be the most dangerous man alive, a brilliant drenched in blood and intent on provoking civil war. But to catch him, Cooper will have to violate everything he believes in—and betray his own kind.

Jack says: Following in the tone of Hunger Games and Divergent, fast but interesting read. First of a three part series.

2/16 Jack Quick

BRILLIANCE by Marcus Sakey. Thomas & Mercer (July 16, 2013). ISBN 978-1611099690. 439p.

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ANYTHING FOR YOU by Kristan Higgins

February 6, 2016

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The Blue Heron Series

Jess Dunn is a young woman with a past – and everyone in this small town knows all about her alcoholic parents, her mother’s death, her father’s disappearance, her younger brother with fetal alcohol sydrome and her nickname, “Jessica Does.” Jess was the high school slut, but she had good reasons for sleeping around; all the boys she slept with helped protect her brother.

As an adult, she’s managed to turn her life around. She has a good job in marketing at a small, prestigious winery and works a second job as a waitress at the town’s swankiest restaurant. When the restaurant owner wants to send her for a wine class to help her upsell her customers wine, she reluctantly agrees. But when she gets to class, the teacher is none other than Connor O’Rourke.

Jess met Connor as a child, and when her dog attacked and almost killed him, the dog had to be put down. Connor felt terrible, and they basically fell in love with each other at age 12, but never pursued it or even acknowledged it. But the time had come, and after Connor spends the night with her, he accidentally blurts out the dreaded nickname – Jessica Does.

Their relationship is off to a rocky start, and over a ten year period they are on again, off again more times than anyone even knows. But eventually things come to a head and decisions have to be made.

I loved these characters and although their relationship was ridiculously overrun with obstacles, most of their own making, I couldn’t help but root for this couple. I also loved the small town setting, the vineyard beautifully brought to life, and the inside look at a passionate chef’s first restaurant.

This was my first Kristan Higgins book, which I picked up after seeing several stellar reviews, and I have to agree. I loved it. This is the fifth book in the series, so happily, I have some catching up to do.

2/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

ANYTHING FOR YOU by Kristan Higgins. HQN Books (December 29, 2015). ISBN 978-0373789085. 416p.

Kindle

4 Comments | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance | Tagged: chick-lit | Permalink
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THE LANGUAGE OF SECRETS by Ausma Zehanat Khan

February 4, 2016

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Rachel Getty and Esa Khattak Novels (Book 2)

This is the follow up to The Unquiet Dead, and features Canada’s Community Policing Section Detectives Esa Khattak and Rachel Getty.

Canada’s federal intelligence agency, INSET (Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams,) wants Khattak to help solve the murder of Mohsin Dar, an undercover agent who had infiltrated a local terrorist cell and was killed in a supposed hunting accident. It turns out the terrorist training ground is deep in the woods frequented by hunters.

INSET knows a major terrorist attack is planned for New Year’s Day, so the timeline is tight. Getty is sent to the small Toronto mosque that is home to the cell, which she easily infiltrates. INSET doesn’t want their involvement known, but the detectives are more intent on finding the murderer than keeping INSET secrets.

As Getty learns more about the terrorists, the motives for murder seem almost boundless. To further complicate the story, Khattak’s sister, Ruksh, has become engaged to the main suspect, one of the radicals.

Khan explores the Muslim faith and culture, making this an excellent study of diversity in these times of uncertainty and attacks.

2/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE LANGUAGE OF SECRETS by Ausma Zehanat Khan. Minotaur Books (February 2, 2016). ISBN 978-1250055125. 336p.

Kindle

Audiobook

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OPENING BELLE by Maureen Sherry

February 2, 2016

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I love me a good play on words, and the title here really fits the bill. Set in 2008 just prior to the housing and credit bubble bursting, Isabelle – Belle to everyone – is a young woman living the dream. She’s a top trader at a small, prestigious brokerage house, married with three children, living on the upper West Side of New York City. Her kids are in the best private school money can buy, and her husband is a stay at home dad.

Belle works a lot of hours and there is some resentment that her husband doesn’t work and doesn’t take care of things the way she would like, but for the most part she seems happy, at least when she has a minute to think about it, which is pretty much never. Then Henry pops back into her life.

Henry is her former fiancé, who unceremoniously dumped her when she caught him cheating. He is now working for her biggest customer, and their day to day contact has him working overtime to get her back, but on his terms.

Belle’s work place is like a frat party on steroids. It would be hard to believe that in the 21st century women are still objectified in a work environment, but I know a woman in a similar situation – maybe not so much grabbing going on, but a definite boys club, with no girls allowed.

As the market heads towards its inexecrable crash, so does Belle’s world – her marriage, her job, everything she has been juggling for so long. But she is a not a professional for nothing, and her strong backbone stands her in good stead.

Interesting characters and a compelling situation make this a terrific read, with enough humor to lighten the load. I enjoyed this fast paced story immensely.

2/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

OPENING BELLE by Maureen Sherry. Simon & Schuster (February 2, 2016). ISBN 978-1501110627. 352p.

Kindle

2 Comments | Book Reviews, Fiction, Women's Fiction | Permalink
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THE FORGOTTEN ROOM by Karen White, Beatriz Williams & Lauren Willig

January 30, 2016

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Olive Van Alan, Lucy Young, and Kate Schuyler – three generations of women all connected to one grand mansion and a mystery that stretches through decades of war and change.

In 1892, Olive Van Alan takes a position working in the grand Pratt mansion. Olive, the daughter of the very architect who designed the building, is on a mission that involves finding evidence that her father was cheated out of his pay and career by the Pratts. But then Olive begins to fall for the youngest member of the Pratt dynasty. THE FORGOTTEN ROOM by Karen White, Beatriz Williams & Lauren Willig

In 1920, Lucy Young rents an attic room in Stornaway House. But Lucy knows the building as her mother did, as the Pratt mansion. Lucy doesn’t know her mother’s exact connection to the home, but taking a position at the law office of Cromwell, Polk, and Moore brings her one step closer to the answers she seeks.

In 1944, Kate Schuyler is a doctor working in Stornaway Hospital when young Captain Ravenel is brought in as a patient. Ravenel immediately recognizes Kate, or seems to, though Kate has never laid eyes on the man. What’s more, he calls her Victorine.

The connections between these three women and the stories that have led each of them to their current positions are all part of the tale, and it’s one that the three authors have woven together almost seamlessly. I’m impressed at how fluidly the narrative works – chapters alternate between the three women and I can only assume that each of the authors handled a particular character/story line a piece. And while each character had their own voice and personality, at no point did it feel as though the story had been penned by three different authors.

The Forgotten Room is highly enjoyable and definitely one I’d recommend to fans of historical fiction, WWII historical fiction in particular considering it’s Kate who kicks off the tale.

1/16 Becky LeJeune

THE FORGOTTEN ROOM by Karen White, Beatriz Williams & Lauren Willig. NAL (January 19, 2016). ISBN 978-0451474629. 384p.

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SHADE ME by Jennifer Brown

January 29, 2016

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Merriam-Webster defines synesthesia as: a concomitant sensation; especially : a subjective sensation or image of a sense (as of color) other than the one (as of sound) being stimulated

For Nikki Kill, her synesthesia manifests not only in the form of colors associated with numbers and letters, but with feelings as well. In other words, it makes her something of an emotional barometer for those around her. Not that she always understood that, though. And it certainly has made it hard to concentrate all her life, making her a not so great student. It’s while she’s supposed to be studying that she receives two strange phone calls. The first, from an unknown number, ends shortly after the caller says her name. The second is from the hospital where an unidentified teen with just Nikki’s number in her cell has been brought in after being found beaten unconscious.

The girl is Peyton Hollis, daughter of a famous Hollywood figure and his gorgeous wife. Not a friend of Nikki’s at all. In fact, the only thing they have in common is that they attend the same school. Nikki can’t possibly imagine why Peyton would have called her or why hers would be the only number Peyton has in her phone. But she soon realizes that Peyton seemed to have expected something of this sort to happen. And she’d been leaving clues for some time. Clues only someone like Nikki would be able to recognize. Nikki has no idea where the clues will lead her, but she’s driven to find out why Peyton singled her out and determined to solve the mystery of her assault no matter what.

Synesthesia may be rare but it is quite real. And it’s fascinating how it manifests in different people. They can see sound, feel or hear color, or, as is Nikki’s case, see colors associated with numbers and letters. Hers is a double whammy in that she gets to also see colors associated with the emotions of those around her. So she’s quick to realize that Peyton’s tattoo, photography, and even paraphernalia left behind in the wake of her injury are meant to spark a reaction from a synesthete. And since Nikki was the last person Peyton mysteriously reached out to, it’s obvious the synesthete in question is Nikki herself.

The clues introduce Nikki to the dark underbelly of her town. It’s a town full of elites and Hollywood types, but one not immune to crime and the list of suspects who could have attacked Peyton grows with every discovery. Turns out the teen had quite a few enemies ranging from her band mates, friends, family, and beyond.

Shade Me unfolded in a way that kind of surprised me. I couldn’t have guessed at the beginning how the story would end. Nor did I realize it’s the first in a projected series. It’ll be interesting to see just how Nikki’s story continues to play out, but this first outing is a great start for sure.

1/16 Becky LeJeune

SHADE ME by Jennifer Brown. Katherine Tegen Books (January 19, 2016). ISBN 978-0062324436. 448p.

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THE OUTLANDISH COMPANION by Diana Gabaldon

January 28, 2016

Several Outlandish Reviews

The Outlandish Companion: Companion to Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, and Drums of Autumn. In Which Much is Revealed Regarding Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, and Drums of Autumn (and Their Author), Including Detailed Synopses, Commentary, Controversy, Glossaries, Bibliographies, and Genealogies, TV Shows, and Other Useful Information.

AND

The Outlandish Companion Volume Two: The Companion to The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, and Written in My Own Heart’s Blood. In Which Much More is Revealed Regarding The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, and Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, Including Detailed Synopses, Maps, Medical Procedures, Chronologies and Highly Opinionated Essays by the Author.

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I had the first one, so I was thrilled to learn that the original Outlandish Companion has been revised and updated. If you are a fan of the books, or the Starz TV series, and like me, both (!) then you need to buy these books. There is a ton of information and I have to say, I enjoy every page. But then again, I’m slightly obsessed.

I’ve read all the books more than once. I’ve also listened to the audio books, which I highly recommend. The reader, Davina Porter, is fantastic. Listening to a good audio book narrator truly enhances the book, and I got that with Jim Dale and the Harry Potter books. I am happy to say that Porter also does that, and I enjoyed listening almost more than reading them myself. To hear all the names pronounced correctly, and hear the Gaelic the way it actually sounds instead of how it sounds in my head, is a gift.

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Finally, I wanted to mention that there is now a beautiful Outlander Coloring Book! For all you adult coloring fiends, break out your colored pencils and get busy.

Book 1:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Diana Gabaldon has captivated millions of readers with her critically acclaimed Outlander novels, the inspiration for the Starz original series. From the moment Claire Randall stepped through a standing stone circle and was thrown back in time to the year 1743—and into a world that threatens life, limb, loyalty, heart, soul, and everything else Claire has—readers have been hungry to know everything about this world and its inhabitants, particularly a Scottish soldier named Jamie Fraser.

In this beautifully illustrated compendium of all things Outlandish, Gabaldon covers the first four novels of the main series, including:

• full synopses of Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, and Drums of Autumn
• a complete listing of the characters (fictional and historical) in the first four novels in the series, as well as family trees and genealogical notes
• a comprehensive glossary and pronunciation guide to Gaelic terms and usage
• The Gabaldon Theory of Time Travel, explained
• frequently asked questions to the author and her (sometimes surprising) answers
• an annotated bibliography
• essays about medicine and magic in the eighteenth century, researching historical fiction, creating characters, and more
• professionally cast horoscopes for Jamie and Claire
• the making of the TV series: how we got there from here, and what happened next (including “My Brief Career as a TV Actor”)
• behind-the-scenes photos from the Outlander TV series set

For anyone who wants to spend more time with the Outlander characters and the world they inhabit, Diana Gabaldon here opens a door through the standing stones and offers a guided tour of what lies within.

Book 2:

More than a decade ago, #1 New York Times bestselling author Diana Gabaldon delighted her legions of fans with The Outlandish Companion, an indispensable guide to all the Outlander books at the time. But that edition was just a taste of things to come. Since that publication, there have been four more Outlander novels, a side series, assorted novellas, and one smash-hit Starz original television series. Now Gabaldon serves up The Outlandish Companion, Volume Two, an all-new guide to the latest books in the series.

Written with Gabaldon’s signature wit and intelligence, this compendium is bursting with generous commentary and juicy insider details, including

• a complete chronology of the series thus far
• full synopses of A Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, andWritten in My Own Heart’s Blood
• recaps of the Lord John Grey novels: Lord John and the Private Matter, Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, Lord John and the Hand of Devils, and The Scottish Prisoner
• a who’s who of the cast of Outlander characters, cross-referenced by book
• detailed maps and floor plans
• a bibliographic guide to research sources
• essays on subjects as wide ranging as Outlandish controversies regarding sex and violence, the unique responsibilities of a writer of historical fiction, and Gabaldon’s writing process
• a guided tour of the clothes, food, and music of the eighteenth century
• a Scottish glossary and pronunciation guide
• personal photos from the author taken on the set of the Starz Outlander series

As entertaining, sweeping, and addictive as the series itself, this second volume of The Outlandish Companion is a one (or two)-of-a-kind gift from an incomparable author.

1 Comment | Book Reviews, Nonfiction | Permalink
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THE PIONEER WOMAN COOKS: DINNERTIME by Ree Drummond

January 26, 2016

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Comfort Classics, Freezer Food, 16-Minute Meals, and Other Delicious Ways to Solve Supper!

I love Ree Drummond. I love her story (read The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels–a Love Story) and her Food Network series. Her cookbooks are hugely popular; in 2015, she pulled ahead of mega bestselling cookbook author Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, with three of the top ten best selling cookbooks. According to Publisher’s Weekly, Drummond sold about 750,000 cookbooks in 2015! Life must be good on the ranch.

Dinnertime is her latest. Filled with more than 125 of her signature easy, step by step recipes and lots of pictures, this is sure to be another winner. The table of contents:

Breakfast for Dinner
Salad for Dinner
Soup for Dinner
Freezer Food
16-Minute Meals (take that. Rachael Ray!)
Pasta Pronto
Comfort Classics
New Favorites
Veggie Sides
Starchy Sides
Quick Desserts

Drummond also includes prep tips, conversion guides, shopping tips, and other helpful ideas. I noticed there were actual pictures of brand name pantry items, so I’m guessing product placement is now a lucrative sideline.

What’s wonderful about her recipes are the step-by-step pictures that she includes. So when you make Greek Yogurt Pancakes, you don’t have to guess at the consistency of the batter, you can see it. Not sure how big to make Ready-to-Go Freezer Meatballs? Just check out the size in the palm of her hand. Afraid of Chipotle and want to make your own Burrito Bowls? There are 19 pictures to help you out – plus one more of her dog swimming. Lots of ranch photos are interspersed, just in case you forget whose cookbook you are reading.

Most of the recipes include variations you can try, and it seems like most make a lot of food, about 8 servings or more. I tend to cut her recipes in half for my family of 3, and that is still plenty. My friend Judy swears by her Cajun Chicken Pasta, but I wasn’t thrilled. I am not a fan of opening jars and bottles, so that leaves out a lot of her recipes. She also favors adding sugar to a lot of recipes, and with a diabetic husband, I avoid that, too.

While I am not enamored of this cookbook, I can certainly understand why so many people are. The Los Angeles Times selected it as one of 27 best cookbooks of 2015, and it was the Goodreads 2015 Choice Award Winner in cookbooks.

1/16 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE PIONEER WOMAN COOKS: DINNERTIME by Ree Drummond. William Morrow Cookbooks; First Edition edition (October 20, 2015). ISBN 978-0062225245. 400p.

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