RSS

Monthly Archives: August 2011

Review: Pirate King by Laurie R. King

31 Aug

Pirate King by Laurie R. King (Mary Russell #11)My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I feel like I need to write two different reviews for Pirate King– one directed towards those new to Mary Russell, and one for fans of the series (I am decidedly part of the latter group).

Summary via Goodreads.com:

In England’s young silent-film industry, the megalomaniacal Randolph Fflytte is king. Nevertheless, at the request of Scotland Yard, Mary Russell is dispatched to investigate rumors of criminal activities that swirl around Fflytte’s popular movie studio. So Russell is traveling undercover to Portugal, along with the film crew that is gearing up to shoot a cinematic extravaganza, Pirate King. Based on Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, the project will either set the standard for moviemaking for a generation . . . or sink a boatload of careers.

Nothing seems amiss until the enormous company starts rehearsals in Lisbon, where the thirteen blond-haired, blue-eyed actresses whom Mary is bemusedly chaperoning meet the swarm of real buccaneers Fflytte has recruited to provide authenticity. But when the crew embarks for Morocco and the actual filming, Russell feels a building storm of trouble: a derelict boat, a film crew with secrets, ominous currents between the pirates, decks awash with budding romance—and now the pirates are ignoring Fflytte and answering only to their dangerous outlaw leader. Plus, there’s a spy on board. Where can Sherlock Holmes be? As movie make-believe becomes true terror, Russell and Holmes themselves may experience a final fadeout.

I’m generally a proponent of reading series in order, and that does stand for the Mary Russell books. That said, most (but not all) of them can stand alone fairly well, and this one is relies on the books that came before even less than the rest.

In other words, if this book intrigues you, go ahead and stick your toes in here. You may well want to fill in the earlier books when you finish, but don’t worry about that right now.

This is a really fun read. It isn’t so much a funny book as a comic one, and it never takes itself too seriously. I loved the pirates, the movie people, the crazy poet/translator, but most of all, I loved Mary Russell in the middle of it all.

This book is less about the mystery than it is about dealing with a rather ridiculous situation with a straight face, solving the problems that arise without ever letting on exactly how odd the overall picture really is. The mystery is there to hold the book together. This book is much lighter on the character development than the usual Laurie R. King book, but the cast of characters are well put together and fun to read.

For those looking at this book having read others in the series, I have a few other notes to share. First, while Russell and Holmes don’t develop significantly in this book, they are behaving in character. I was a little worried about that, but I needn’t have been. Yes, Holmes and Russell do spend more of the book apart than together, but that isn’t really a surprise at this point, is it?

Although there are moments of humor in most (if not all) of the other books in the series, this has a decidedly different overall tone. It works quite well as a contrast to the previous 3 books, which were getting progressively darker. I don’t mind if the series goes that way as a whole, but this is a nice break.

I don’t think this will ever be one of my favorite Mary Russell books, but I suspect I’ll always approach it with a smile, in anticipation of a very enjoyable read.

I received this book for advance review via the Library Thing Early Reviewer Program.

 
6 Comments

Posted by on August 31, 2011 in books, reviews

 

Tags: , , , ,

Review: Fun and Games by Duane Swierczynski

30 Aug

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really fun, exciting read.

Summary via Goodreads:

Charlie Hardie, an ex-cop still reeling from the revenge killing of his former partner’s entire family, fears one thing above all else: that he’ll suffer the same fate.

Languishing in self-imposed exile, Hardie has become a glorified house sitter. His latest gig comes replete with an illegally squatting B-movie actress who rants about hit men who specialize in making deaths look like accidents. Unfortunately, it’s the real deal. Hardie finds himself squared off against a small army of the most lethal men in the world: The Accident People.

It’s nothing personal-the girl just happens to be the next name on their list. For Hardie, though, it’s intensely personal. He’s not about to let more innocent people die. Not on his watch.

There was running, chasing, exploding, shooting, bombing, and so on. The only breaks from the action are the brief bits where there is an attempt to figure out the reasons behind the chasing, shooting, etc.

It was important not to think too hard while reading– characters kept getting into situations that should have been fatal, and then they almost magically kept going.  This applied to good guys and bad guys alike.

The characters are interesting (but don’t get too attached to anyone other than Charlie, even with the superhuman survival power on display, the bodies stack up). There’s definitely more backstory to discover in future books, but this isn’t a character study. It’s an adventure, and it works very, very well on those terms.

I received this book for review from the publisher.  Thank you to Mulholland Books!  I have the next book  (Hell & Gone) and I’m looking forward to reading it soon.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on August 30, 2011 in reviews

 

Tags: , , ,

Review: Domestic Violets by Matthew Norman

24 Aug

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Domestic Violets is a book which is simultaneously very odd and very down to earth.  I can see why people are adding it to their best of 2011 lists.

Summary via Goodreads.com:

Tom Violet always thought that by the time he turned thirty-five, he’d have everything going for him. Fame. Fortune. A beautiful wife. A satisfying career as a successful novelist. A happy dog to greet him at the end of the day.

The reality, though, is far different. He’s got a wife, but their problems are bigger than he can even imagine. And he’s written a novel, but the manuscript he’s slaved over for years is currently hidden in his desk drawer while his father, an actual famous writer, just won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. His career, such that it is, involves mind-numbing corporate buzzwords, his pretentious archnemesis Gregory, and a hopeless, completely inappropriate crush on his favorite coworker. Oh . . . and his dog, according to the vet, is suffering from acute anxiety.

Tom’s life is crushing his soul, but he’s decided to do something about it. (Really.) Domestic Violets is the brilliant and beguiling story of a man finally taking control of his own happiness—even if it means making a complete idiot of himself along the way.

When Domestic Violets started off with the main character talking about his erectile dysfunction, I knew this wasn’t going to be like anything else I’d read. It took me a little longer to decide if this was a good thing.

It was, largely because Tom Violet was such a great character– someone that wasn’t at all like me, but who had me very interested in his life none-the-less. I ended up reading it in a single day.

If I didn’t have much in common with Tom, I recognize my world in his.

I loved his skewed view of how to handle office politics. I’d hate to work with him, but I loved to read about his strategies at work, both before and after he makes his big decision there.

On a different note, I really appreciated the handling of the strained relationship between him and his wife. Not that I’d want to be in that relationship, but although the details are different, I recognize the kind of stress that happens in a marriage after some number of years have past.

I even appreciated the handling of the paths that can lead to adultery, even in people who really don’t think it could happen to them.

Tom has an entire network of interesting relationships– with his parents, his wife, his daughter, coworkers and friends.  Each was well written, adding to the picture of Tom as a person.

Beyond work and his relationships, Tom is dealing with the questions that many of us face in middle age: Who am I? Who do I want to be?  There are no easy answers for Tom, but what fun would it be if there were?

In the end, Domestic Violets features a funny guy facing the challenges of modern life, and I’m really glad I saw the world through his eyes for a little while.

Domestic Violets would make a great book club read, particularly for clubs that end up reading a lot of books from a female perspective.

I read Domestic Violets for a TLC Book Tour.  Thank you to TLC and Harper Perennial for providing me with a copy of the book and allowing me to take part in the tour.

TLC Book ToursFor other views of the book, check out the other tour stops:

 
9 Comments

Posted by on August 24, 2011 in books, reviews, tour

 

Tags: , , , , ,

Mailbox Monday

21 Aug

My mailbox looks a little like this one!Welcome to Mailbox Monday!

Mailbox Monday is a place to share all the wonderful books that have come to live in your home– including paper books, e-books and audio books.

Mailbox Monday was started by Marcia, who is now blogging at A girl and her books. When Marcia was ready to move on from being the weekly host, she was kind enough to set up the Mailbox Monday Blog Tour, August’s host is Staci at Life in the Thumb.

As for my mailbox:

Books for review:

UnderDogs by Markus Zusak

(I looked for a better description, but couldn’t find one anywhere.  This one is on the cover flap, the Scholastic web site, Goodreads, and so on)

Before THE BOOK THIEF, Markus Zusak wrote a trilogy of gritty, funny, and at times heart-breaking novels about the Wolfe brothers: THE UNDERDOG, FIGHTING RUBEN WOLFE, and GETTING THE GIRL. We’re proud to present these novels together in one volume for the first time, and to be introducing American readers to THE UNDERDOG, never before published in the United States. Fans of THE BOOK THIEF won’t want to miss reading the novels that launched Markus Zusak’s stellar career.

The Exquisite Corpse Adventure by National Children’s Book & Literacy Alliance

With Jon Scieszka, Katherine Paterson, Shannon Hale (Goodreads Author), Gregory Maguire, Lemony Snicket, Kate DiCamillo, Natalie Babbitt, Susan Cooper , M.T. Anderson, Megan McDonald, Linda Sue Park, Patricia McKissack, Fredrick McKissack, Steven Kellogg, Nikki Grimes, Jack Gantos

(Audiobook from Brilliance Audio)

It all starts with a train rushing through the night. . . . Well, actually, it starts when Jon Scieszka, former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, writes a cliff-hanger episode and passes it on to the next member of a cast of celebrated writers and illustrators, who continues the story and passes it on. And what happens between episodes one and twenty-seven? Think werewolves and mad scientists, a talking pig, plenty of explosions, a blue Star Wars lunchbox, two meatballs, a whole army of villains and varmints, and one just plain bad egg. Not to mention our heroes, eleven-year-old twins Nancy and Joe, raised in a circus, who must find the pieces of a Top-Secret Robot in order to rescue their parents before . . . tick, tick, tick!

This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel

(Audiobook from Brilliance Audio)

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein. They are nearly inseparable. Growing up, their lives are filled with imaginary adventures…until the day their adventures turn all too real.

They stumble upon The Dark Library, and secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies are discovered. Father forbids that they ever enter the room again, but this only peaks Victor’s curiosity more. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is not be satisfied with the various doctors his parents have called in to help. He is drawn back to The Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. Elizabeth, Henry, and Victor immediately set out to find assistance in a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help create the formula.

Determination and the unthinkable outcome of losing his brother spur Victor on in the quest for the three ingredients that will save Konrads life. After scaling the highest trees in the Strumwald, diving into the deepest lake caves, and sacrificing one’s own body part, the three fearless friends risk their lives to save another.

Your turn

What came in your mailbox this week? Let me know, then go to Life in the Thumb to check out others!

 
8 Comments

Posted by on August 21, 2011 in books, meme

 

Tags: ,

Review: I Think I Love You by Allison Pearson (with audio and book club notes)

19 Aug

I Think I Love YouMy rating: 3 of 5 stars

A light book that might appeal more to those that remember their teen crushes, I didn’t like the first part at all, and found the second half enjoyable but not memorable.

Description via Random House:

Petra and Sharon, two thirteen-year-old girls, are both desperately in love with a world-famous pop star. Together they pore over his photos, read his fan club letters, and even enter a contest whose winners will meet him in person.

Twenty years later, Petra is pushing forty, on the brink of divorce, and fighting with her own thirteen-year-old daughter when she is given the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to meet the teen idol she loved so long ago. A moving tale of friendship and celebrity, I Think I Love You perfectly captures the intensity of first love—a love that never entirely goes away.

This book did not start out well for me. If I hadn’t been reading it for book club, I would abandoned it somewhere around a third of the way in

The first half of the book takes place when Petra and her friends are young teens, obsessed with David Cassidy, and having the sort of problems that girls in books (and real life) often seem to have– bullying, friendship issues, parental problems…

Since the David Cassidy connection didn’t speak to me, it just felt like a book I’d read before, with characters that I didn’t particularly want to spend time with.

I think this is a book where listening to the audio really got in the way for me.

First, the narrator’s voice was not that of a young teen (the Petra sections were first person), which isn’t a showstopper, but it didn’t help, either.

Second, the book moves between Petra’s story, that of Bill (a young journalist writing for the David Cassidy magazine that Petra and her friends obsess over), and excerpts from the David Cassidy magazine. Looking at the printed book, I think this would have broken up the experience more– I would have felt the “Bill” sections gave me more of a break if I hadn’t still been hearing Petra’s voice. The magazine excerpts had a completely different look, which also would have served as a chance to take a breath, away from Petra and her friends.

I don’t think I would have loved this first part in print, but I also don’t think I would have been longing to stop reading.

Luckily, the second half worked much better for me. I found it a pleasant enough read, and the narrator’s voice fit the adult Petra much better (although since it is no longer first person, it isn’t such an issue).

I enjoyed Petra’s escape from her life as she gets a chance to meet her childhood crush, reconnects with her childhood friend, and gets a chance to move on from her more recent hurts in her life.

Bill was actually my favorite character in both halves of the book, but even he isn’t particularly memorable.

I’m glad it improved for me, but it still won’t be one of my favorite books of the year.

Audio Notes

Sound Bytes @ Devourer of Books

For more audiobook reviews, check out Sound Bytes

Narrator:  Sian Thomas has a very pleasant voice, and did a good job with the second section of the book, but I wish she’d been able to do different voices for the different characters.  Her voice was not a match for young Petra, and since those sections were first person, I do think that was needed there.

Audio Production: I don’t remember any actual problems, but I think this is a book that cried out for multiple narrators– one for the young Petra chapters, one for the Bill chapters, and one for the adult Petra chapters.

Print vs. Audio:  I would have enjoyed this much more in print, I think, for the reasons outlined in my review.

Book Club Notes

I read I Think I Love You with one of my book clubs. When I was about a third of the way in, I sent out mail about meeting logistics, and when no one had replied after a few hours, I found myself hoping no one would, so that I could just abandon the book. No such luck, although at least the book improved for me.

We had a decent discussion around the book, although not so much about the book itself.

I don’t think anyone at the meeting really loved the book, and the only one the seemed to like it was only about a third of the way in. Several people were OK with it, with at least one that disliked it even more than I did (she didn’t feel the second part was a significant improvement over the first).

People did like the look into the music world (or at least the music journalism world).

The book got us discussing our teen crushes, if we had them, and how they differed between those of us of different ages (we cover about a 10 year span), and the differences we see between the celebrity crushes of our childhoods and those today (many of us in the group have 13 year old children).

It still wouldn’t be a top book club pick for me, but it didn’t go as badly as I had been afraid it would.

 
1 Comment

Posted by on August 19, 2011 in books, reviews

 

Tags: , , , ,

Review: Deed to Death by D. B. Henson

17 Aug

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not a bad mystery, but I found the writing a bit rough. It wasn’t terrible, but it could have been better.

Summary via Goodreads.com:

AT TWENTY-NINE, TONI MATTHEWS IS ON THE CUSP OF HAVING IT ALL—a successful career as one of the top real estate agents in Nashville, great friends, and the partner and family she’d always longed for in her fiancé, architect Scott Chadwick.

But just days before their planned nuptials, Scott plummets to his death at one of his construction sites and Toni is forced to bury her fiancé on their wedding day. Now living all alone in their new, custom-made dream house, dealing with her loss becomes even harder when the police rule his death a suicide. Yet Toni refuses to believe that it could be anything other than a tragic accident.

When she learns that Scott’s estranged brother, Brian, is contesting the will, threatening to take away her home, Toni starts to suspect that it may not have been a mere accident but something more sinister. Without the cooperation of the police, and in spite of her friends’ growing concern that she’s in denial and not dealing with her grief, Toni begins investigating on her own. As she crisscrosses Nashville on a mission to prove to herself and the world that Scott wouldn’t try to escape this life, Toni can’t shake the sinking feeling that something is off, that she’s being followed—and that her search for truth may have deadly consequences.

The plot itself was well done– lots and lots of twists and turns, so that neither the reader nor Toni were ever quite sure where things stood. This was by far the strength of the book, and if that’s why you read mysteries, check this one out.

My biggest problem with Deed to Death was related to all of the twists and turns of the plot. I never felt I got to know any of the secondary characters, because there was always something coming between Toni and even her best friends. The situation kept changing, and Toni was once again on her own.

With all of that happening, I should have felt I knew Toni well, but I didn’t. Her character felt flat, and without the excuse of the twists and turns interfering with my perceptions of her.  The outline of her character was interesting, but never felt fully filled in.

And this takes me to the writing. I don’t read for the writing, but the writing has to deliver the story and the characters. While this isn’t the kind of writing that interfered with the story, it also never really delivered the kind of flow that would sweep me into the world of the book.

In the end, I liked the book, but not as much as I’d hoped.

I received Deed To Death from Simon & Schuster for review.  Thank you for this opportunity.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on August 17, 2011 in books, reviews

 

Tags: , , , ,

Mailbox Monday

14 Aug

My mailbox looks a little like this one!Welcome to Mailbox Monday!

Mailbox Monday is a place to share all the wonderful books that have come to live in your home– including paper books, e-books and audio books.

Mailbox Monday was started by Marcia, who is now blogging at A girl and her books. When Marcia was ready to move on from being the weekly host, she was kind enough to set up the Mailbox Monday Blog Tour, August’s host is Staci at Life in the Thumb.

As for my mailbox:

Books from the publisher:

Close Your Eyes by Amanda Eyre Ward

I was on Twitter a couple of weeks ago when @atrandom started teasing us with news of their Secret Read, an upcoming book that had them delighted.  When we gave in and asked for details, they wouldn’t tell us, but would send us a copy!

For most of her life, Lauren Mahdian has been certain of two things: that her mother is dead, and that her father is a murderer.

Before the horrific tragedy, Lauren led a sheltered life in a wealthy corner of America, in a town outside Manhattan on the banks of Long Island Sound, a haven of luxurious homes, manicured lawns, and seemingly perfect families. Here Lauren and her older brother, Alex, thought they were safe.

But one morning, six-year-old Lauren and eight-year-old Alex awoke after a night spent in their tree house to discover their mother’s body and their beloved father arrested for the murder.

Years later, Lauren is surrounded by uncertainty. Her one constant is Alex, always her protector, still trying to understand the unraveling of his idyllic childhood. But Lauren feels even more alone when Alex reveals that he’s been in contact over the years with their imprisoned father—and that he believes he and his sister have yet to learn the full story of their mother’s death.

Then Alex disappears.

As Lauren is forced to peek under the floorboards of her carefully constructed memories, she comes to question the version of her history that she has clung to so fiercely. Lauren’s search for the truth about what happened on that fateful night so many years ago is a riveting tale that will keep readers feverishly turning pages.

The Gap Year by Sarah Bird

Each month, TLC Books hosts a Book Club of the Month Contest, where one (or more) book clubs can win up to 10 copies of an upcoming book for their members.  (Sign up to get the monthly e-mails).  I thought this book looked interesting to me and the members of one of my clubs, so I entered– and one!  I have 8 copies, waiting to distribute.

Cam Lightsey, lactation consultant, is a single mom, a suburban misfit who’s given up her rebel dreams to set her only child on an upward path.

Aubrey Lightsey, a pretty, shy girl who plays clarinet, is ready to explode from wanting her “real” life to begin.

When Aubrey meets Tyler Moldenhauer, football idol of students and teachers alike, the fuse is lit. Aubrey metastasizes into Cam’s worst teen nightmare: full of secrets and silences, uninterested in college. Worse, on the sly she’s in touch with her father, who left when she was two to join NEXT!—a celebrity-ridden cult—where he’s a headline grabber. As the novel unfolds—with emotional fireworks, humor, and edge-of-your-seat suspense—the dreams of daughter, mother, and father chart an inevitable, but perhaps not fatal, collision . . .

 

Your turn

What came in your mailbox this week? Let me know, then go to Life in the Thumb to check out others!

 
19 Comments

Posted by on August 14, 2011 in books, meme

 

Tags: ,

Sourcebooks Sale on Georgette Heyer’s books

13 Aug

Bath Tangle by Georgette HeyerI greatly enjoyed the Georgette Heyer book (Bath Tangle) that I recently read (via Sourcebooks).  If the author was still alive, next Tuesday (August 16) would be her birthday (she’d be 109!).    To celebrate, Sourcebooks has a sale on the eBook editions of all 46 of her books that they currently have available– regency romance, mystery, historical fiction and non-fiction.  They will all be available for $1.99 each!

This sale runs from August 15-August 21 (Monday through Sunday), and should be available from all the usual eBook retailers, although experience says some may be slow to update their prices.  A list of the titles, complete with covers and links to descriptions, is available on the Sourcebooks web site.

So, I have two questions:

  1. Which books should I buy?  I’m thinking I’ll get five or so, probably split between romance and mystery.
  2. Are posts like this useful to you?  I don’t get anything from Sourcebooks for posting them, and I can shop from the sales whether or not I say anything here.  I thought this one was fun, but I don’t want to seem spammy, so let me know what you think.
 
Leave a comment

Posted by on August 13, 2011 in books

 

Tags: , , ,

Review: Grace Interrupted by Julie Hyzy

11 Aug

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Grace Interrupted was a very enjoyable cozy mystery.

Summary via the Penguin Website:

On the grounds of Marshfield Manor, Civil War re-enactors have set up camp. And what a dedicated troupe! One of them has really been killed…

It continues with the characters from Grace Under Pressure (also a pleasant read), but knowledge of the events there isn’t necessary for understanding this book. I did like the continuing process of getting to know Grace and the other characters, and that’s where I would have missed up if I’d jumped straight to this book.

As with most cozies, the emphasis is character first, setting second, mystery third, but all three are strong here, and all have improved since the first book.

I liked the behind the scenes look at the world of Civil War re-enactors. The passion, the politics, the continuing friction between those that believe in the details vs. the spirit of the experience… all of these rang true for me.

Grace’s personal relationships are moving along slowly. That’s fine for now– I like some caution– but I’ll need to see some progress (forward or back) within a couple more books.

And the mystery? It wasn’t all that compelling, except as it gave reasons for the characters to interact, but it was competent. Clues were laid down and picked up, plausible motives were explored. I was happy with the arc of the story.

Beyond everything mentioned here, Grace Interrupted was simply pleasant to read, and that’s why I’ll be thrilled to pick up the next book in the series.

I received Grace Interrupted from Berkeley Prime Crime for review.  Thank you!

 
3 Comments

Posted by on August 11, 2011 in books, reviews

 

Tags: , , ,

Review: Money Can’t Buy Love by Connie Briscoe

09 Aug

Money Can't Buy LoveMy rating: 2 of 5 stars

Summary via Goodreads.com:

Lenora Stone used to say if she didn’t have bad luck, she wouldn’t have any luck at all. At age thirty-eight, instead of socializing with Baltimore’s A-list, she photographs them for Baltimore Scene, a glossy magazine filled with beautiful people who, unlike Lenora, never have to worry about car trouble and overdue bills. As much as she’d love to slam the door on her overbearing boss, quitting isn’t an option. She’s barely making her mortgage payments and, though her condo might not be a palace, it’s hers. Lately even things with her boyfriend Gerald haven’t been right. They’ve been together for three years but he can’t seem to ask the one question she’s been waiting for. But what Lenora doesn’t know is that her luck is about to change…

Just when she thinks things can’t get worse, Lenora wins the jackpot in the Maryland lottery. In a heartbeat, all her dreams become possible. She quits her job and indulges her every desire-starting with a shiny, silver BMW and a million-dollar mansion. Gerald is finally ready to put a ring on her finger and the city’s most exclusive women’s group is dying for her to join, officially moving Lenora from behind the lens, into the limelight. But in Lenora’s lavish new world, all that glitters definitely isn’t gold. Her old friend’s are concerned about her sudden changes, and Ray, a sexy, young landscaper Lenora covered for the magazine is looking for more than a purely professional relationship.

As her life starts to come together, the things Lenora holds dear begin to fall apart. Has her world really changed for the better, or does fortune come with a heavy price?

I’ve been thinking about this book for several days now, and I’m starting to think I’m missing something about it.

Books that pick up to read and don’t end up enjoying tend to fall a few categories:

  1. The book isn’t for me. I can see why others would like it, and I can appreciate aspects of it, but we’re not a good match.  A recent example of this would be The Book of Lies by Mary Horlock.
  2. The book isn’t well written. Honestly, this doesn’t happen all that often with professionally published books– my minimum standards aren’t all that high, and a publisher doesn’t often release a book that’s bad enough to be an actual problem for me, and make me really not enjoy a book with an interesting concept.
  3. I just don’t get the book. I’m missing some vital thing about it that would explain why it was worth spending my time reading it. The Finkler Question fell in this category for me.

I think Money Can’t Buy Love falls into category 3, simply because it doesn’t seem to belong in either of the other two.

It isn’t badly written in any general sense. The words flow well, the characters behave consistently, their voices fit with their actions.

But even with that said, I’m missing why I’d want to read this book, other than the description sounding promising (which is why I asked to read it in the first place. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t have finished reading it if I didn’t commit to this tour).

On the one hand, what was missing for me in this book was the fun. I just didn’t want to spend any more time with the main character who made one bad decision after another, and not even in an entertaining sort of way.  I admit,

I’d have given a character in her teens or early 20s a little more leeway, but by her late 30s, I’d expect a woman to be making better choices– making mistakes is fine, but Lenora isn’t doing well in her behavior with her job, her friends, her love life or her finances at the beginning of the book.  After she wins the lottery, her decisions go even further downhill, and I didn’t enjoy watching it.

On the other hand, I didn’t feel that her mistakes were giving me any insight into myself or the world around me, so it didn’t even seem like something that I didn’t have to enjoy, because it was good for me.

So in the end, I’m sitting here thinking I missed something.

If you read and enjoyed this book, I’d love to hear why. Now that I’m done writing this, I’ll spend some time reading other reviews, to see if I can find what they appreciated about it..

I read Money Can’t Buy Love as part of a TLC Book Tour. Thank you to TLC Books and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a review copy and allowing me to participate. For other opinions on this book, check out the other tour stops:
TLC Book Tours

 
2 Comments

Posted by on August 9, 2011 in books, reviews, tour

 

Tags: , , , , ,

← Older posts
 
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 111 other followers