When Kate is offered an internship at a top fashion mag Tasty, everyone tells her she’s the luckiest girl alive. But Kate’s not so sure. Her fellow interns are bitchy, her superiors are backstabbing, and she’s constantly getting it in the neck from her boss.
Then people start to go missing, and Kate starts to really worry. Why is everyone condescending, black clad and emaciated? Doesn’t anyone sleep? What’s with the sharp teeth? Are they…vampires?
Armed with a stake, a crucifix, and James the cute photo assistant, Kate sets off for a showdown – only to realise that she’s more out of her depth than a homeless person in Hermès. Starting your first job may be difficult, but working at Tasty is draining. Literally…
Vampire chic-lit.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Abduction by Robin Cook
Perry Berg is president of Benthic Marine and a passenger aboard The Benthic Explorer, a 450-foot research ship endeavoring to drill into, and sample for the first time, the earth's magma core. Also onboard are the lovely Dr. Suzanne Newell; ex-navy commander and present submersible skipper Donald Fuller; and navy-cum-Neanderthal divers Richard Adams and Michael Donaghue. It is this cast of characters who, with the reluctant Perry, dive to the stilled drill site in order to make repairs. En route, they are sucked (or suckered) into a defunct undersea volcano and deposited into an otherworldly wonderland. That takes about 75 pages of fairly cogent spadework. The next 375 pages sprout some of the looniest, most derivative, made-for-TV-movie science fiction imaginable. Our heroes, you see, have been abducted to Interterra, an undersea world of staggering beauty and unheard of technologies--intergalactic travel and eternal life, for starters--populated by stunningly beautiful, toga-wearing, first-generation humans.
First-generation? They were here first, see, and had been doing very nicely until their scientists realized that the earth was about to be "showered with planetesimal collisions, just as had happened in its primordial state," and that they had better start digging. While the Interterrans prospered and thrived undersea, we, the second generation, began hauling our single-celled bodies up by our ooze-straps and started all over again.
And that's about it. People with names like Arak and Sufa speak strangely, giggle at the primitive second-generationists, recoil at the very thought of violence, press their palms together to have sex, and direct "worker clones" to do the dishes while the second generation does its stereotypical best to, in turns, exemplify, define, and defile humankind.
Entertaining light read.
First-generation? They were here first, see, and had been doing very nicely until their scientists realized that the earth was about to be "showered with planetesimal collisions, just as had happened in its primordial state," and that they had better start digging. While the Interterrans prospered and thrived undersea, we, the second generation, began hauling our single-celled bodies up by our ooze-straps and started all over again.
And that's about it. People with names like Arak and Sufa speak strangely, giggle at the primitive second-generationists, recoil at the very thought of violence, press their palms together to have sex, and direct "worker clones" to do the dishes while the second generation does its stereotypical best to, in turns, exemplify, define, and defile humankind.
Entertaining light read.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Master by Jean Johnson
Dominor has been kidnapped from Nightfall Island. When his kidnappers are captured and sold into slavery by their enemies, Dominor is sold as well.
Serina is one of the most powerful Mages in the land. She needs a male Mage to help her complete a spell that will end a long war between rival countries. Noticing that Dominor's captors had to use 5 spell- blocking shackles to disable his magic, she realizes that he is a very gifted Mage. She gladly pays a high price to win ownership of him at the slave auction. Detesting slavery in general, she plans to have him help her with the war spell, then she will set him free.
Dominor quickly becomes interested Serina. Many things about her suggest to him that she may be his Destiny. He is more than ready to fall in love and find happiness. Over the next couple months of working side by side, Dominor and Serina learn that they enjoy leaning on one anothers strengths. There is a secret Serina is keeping from Dominor. The spell requires Serina to become pregnant by him. She is afraid he will not want to be a father. Little does she know, it is one of things he will come to want most.
Plenty of romance, humor, intense love scenes, and a unique plot. I loved the fact that both the hero and heroine were strong, independent, and intelligent... but accepted that they needed each other. When it was clear that one was stronger in a certain way, the other was willing to defer without resentment. All together, these things made the total story a true delight.
Serina is one of the most powerful Mages in the land. She needs a male Mage to help her complete a spell that will end a long war between rival countries. Noticing that Dominor's captors had to use 5 spell- blocking shackles to disable his magic, she realizes that he is a very gifted Mage. She gladly pays a high price to win ownership of him at the slave auction. Detesting slavery in general, she plans to have him help her with the war spell, then she will set him free.
Dominor quickly becomes interested Serina. Many things about her suggest to him that she may be his Destiny. He is more than ready to fall in love and find happiness. Over the next couple months of working side by side, Dominor and Serina learn that they enjoy leaning on one anothers strengths. There is a secret Serina is keeping from Dominor. The spell requires Serina to become pregnant by him. She is afraid he will not want to be a father. Little does she know, it is one of things he will come to want most.
Plenty of romance, humor, intense love scenes, and a unique plot. I loved the fact that both the hero and heroine were strong, independent, and intelligent... but accepted that they needed each other. When it was clear that one was stronger in a certain way, the other was willing to defer without resentment. All together, these things made the total story a true delight.
Monday, February 21, 2011
The Lacemakers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri
The story opens in Ireland, where Kate has come to lick her wounds after the death of her mother and being dumped by her boyfriend. She chose Ireland as this is where she was planning on coming with her mother to explore the land of their ancestors.
Taking her time, Kate wanders around the country with no fixed destination in mind. She ends up in the remote seaside village of Glenmara on market day where she meets the women of a local lace-making society. Bernie is one of those women, and a widow. She recognizes a lost soul and offers Kate a bed for the night, which turns out to be longer, and Kate joins the lace-making circle to learn the craft.
The women of the circle are a diverse group. Bernie is lonely, missing her husband with a passion; Aileen has low self-esteem and a rebellious daughter; Moira is being abused by her husband but won’t complain about him, Oona is a breast cancer survivor who no longer feels lovely, and Colleen is a fisherman’s wife who cannot relax until her husband is safely home.Kate convinces the women to use their lace-making skills to embellish plain underwear to create exquisite lingerie. The lingerie ends up with beautiful lace flowers, fish, fairies, and even skulls and bones, worked into the pattern. As each lady completes her piece the reader is drawn into their life, magic is weaved, souls soothed, and the difficulties that each of them face are overcome. Although some of the difficulties are harder to solve than others, new love unfolds, relationships are mended, and friendships deepen.
You will need a hanky – but you will laugh as well. Support cast is very good with the misguided Catholic priest Father Dominic Byrne who thinks the lace-maker’s work is evil, the enigmatic traveler William, and the angst-ridden artist, Deane Sullivan all playing their parts in the plot well. The main and support characters are all people you want to meet, and some you wouldn’t. Overall, the book is easy to read, gentle in its delivery and covers some tough topics.
WOW!! I loved this book, didn't want to stop reading it.
Taking her time, Kate wanders around the country with no fixed destination in mind. She ends up in the remote seaside village of Glenmara on market day where she meets the women of a local lace-making society. Bernie is one of those women, and a widow. She recognizes a lost soul and offers Kate a bed for the night, which turns out to be longer, and Kate joins the lace-making circle to learn the craft.
The women of the circle are a diverse group. Bernie is lonely, missing her husband with a passion; Aileen has low self-esteem and a rebellious daughter; Moira is being abused by her husband but won’t complain about him, Oona is a breast cancer survivor who no longer feels lovely, and Colleen is a fisherman’s wife who cannot relax until her husband is safely home.Kate convinces the women to use their lace-making skills to embellish plain underwear to create exquisite lingerie. The lingerie ends up with beautiful lace flowers, fish, fairies, and even skulls and bones, worked into the pattern. As each lady completes her piece the reader is drawn into their life, magic is weaved, souls soothed, and the difficulties that each of them face are overcome. Although some of the difficulties are harder to solve than others, new love unfolds, relationships are mended, and friendships deepen.
You will need a hanky – but you will laugh as well. Support cast is very good with the misguided Catholic priest Father Dominic Byrne who thinks the lace-maker’s work is evil, the enigmatic traveler William, and the angst-ridden artist, Deane Sullivan all playing their parts in the plot well. The main and support characters are all people you want to meet, and some you wouldn’t. Overall, the book is easy to read, gentle in its delivery and covers some tough topics.
WOW!! I loved this book, didn't want to stop reading it.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Restoration by Rose Tremain
Robert Merivel, who has studied to be a physician, is appointed, ironically, to be veterinarian for the spaniels of King Charles II, who has recently been restored to the throne following the death of Oliver Cromwell. Merivel enjoys the gaiety and frivolity of court life, and, a bit of a fool, he entertains the king. The king's decision to placate one of his lovers by marrying off his favorite mistress to Robert Merivel, spells the beginning of the end for Merivel's tenuous fortunes. Warned not to fall in love with his wife, Celia Clemence, since the king intends to continue seeing her, Merivel cannot help himself, and he is cast out, losing not only the king's affection, but also his house and, of course his wife.
Joining a group of men who work at an asylum for the insane, Merivel learns that there are deeper concerns in life than the hedonism of his life at court, and he develops genuine affection for several of the kindly Quaker men with whom he works. When he transgresses the society's rules, however, he is cast out from there, too, ending up in London at the time of the Great Plague and eventually the Great London Fire.
This story is rich in period detail and has a main character that I came to like more as the story went on.
As always with Rose Tremain this is beautifully written.
Joining a group of men who work at an asylum for the insane, Merivel learns that there are deeper concerns in life than the hedonism of his life at court, and he develops genuine affection for several of the kindly Quaker men with whom he works. When he transgresses the society's rules, however, he is cast out from there, too, ending up in London at the time of the Great Plague and eventually the Great London Fire.
This story is rich in period detail and has a main character that I came to like more as the story went on.
As always with Rose Tremain this is beautifully written.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
The Bargain by Julia Templeton
HE SAW...
Saxon beauty Aleysia Cawdor is willing to do anything to protect her dear twin brother during a conquest that could strip her of her everything. Her last resort is to enter into a sensual bargain with her worst enemy, and submit to his brutish ways.
HE CONQUERED...
Love-starved Norman knight Renaud de Wulf is eager to again feel the touch of flesh. He's going to take what's coming to him-the vulnerable woman who's been waiting to fulfill her obligation in the most intimate way imaginable. Body and soul.
HE CAME...
Never would de Wulf guess the true motives for Aleysia's submission-or where their heated nights would take them.
I wouldn't call it erotica, but a nice enough light read to keep me distracted through Cyclone Carlos.
Saxon beauty Aleysia Cawdor is willing to do anything to protect her dear twin brother during a conquest that could strip her of her everything. Her last resort is to enter into a sensual bargain with her worst enemy, and submit to his brutish ways.
HE CONQUERED...
Love-starved Norman knight Renaud de Wulf is eager to again feel the touch of flesh. He's going to take what's coming to him-the vulnerable woman who's been waiting to fulfill her obligation in the most intimate way imaginable. Body and soul.
HE CAME...
Never would de Wulf guess the true motives for Aleysia's submission-or where their heated nights would take them.
I wouldn't call it erotica, but a nice enough light read to keep me distracted through Cyclone Carlos.
Monday, February 14, 2011
An Unsuitable Job For A Woman by PD James
An attractive young woman in her early twenties, Cordelia has inherited a detective agency from her partner Bernie Pryde, and she intends to keep it running, make it profitable, and create a career for herself. Polite and at ease in elegant circumstances, Cordelia is also willing to take chances and do all the dirty work--and carry a gun.
On her first case following the death of Bernie Pryde, Cordelia is hired by famed environmentalist Sir Ronald Callender of Garforth House, to find out why his son Mark has hanged himself. Sir Ronald has had little interest in or affection for his son during his lifetime but now seems determined to understand the reasons for his son's shocking suicide. Cordelia soon learns that just prior to his death, Mark dropped out of college and found work as a gardener, severing relations with his father from whom he declared he would accept no money or support. Further investigation leads Cordelia to believe that Mark was murdered.
The characters, though "thin" and somewhat stereotypical, are quirky and memorable enough to keep the reader interested in their behavior--Mark's friends, who know more than they are willing to reveal; Sir Ronald's household, including Elizabeth Leaming, his secretary, formerly a student of literature; Miss Markland, the sad single mother who once lived in the cottage where Mark's body was found; and Christopher Lunn, assistant to Sir Ronald at the scientific foundation where they both work. Soon an attempt is made on Cordelia's life, and three more deaths occur before Mark's murderer and motive are revealed.
Quirky, memorable characters help to make up for a not very mysterious mystery.
On her first case following the death of Bernie Pryde, Cordelia is hired by famed environmentalist Sir Ronald Callender of Garforth House, to find out why his son Mark has hanged himself. Sir Ronald has had little interest in or affection for his son during his lifetime but now seems determined to understand the reasons for his son's shocking suicide. Cordelia soon learns that just prior to his death, Mark dropped out of college and found work as a gardener, severing relations with his father from whom he declared he would accept no money or support. Further investigation leads Cordelia to believe that Mark was murdered.
The characters, though "thin" and somewhat stereotypical, are quirky and memorable enough to keep the reader interested in their behavior--Mark's friends, who know more than they are willing to reveal; Sir Ronald's household, including Elizabeth Leaming, his secretary, formerly a student of literature; Miss Markland, the sad single mother who once lived in the cottage where Mark's body was found; and Christopher Lunn, assistant to Sir Ronald at the scientific foundation where they both work. Soon an attempt is made on Cordelia's life, and three more deaths occur before Mark's murderer and motive are revealed.
Quirky, memorable characters help to make up for a not very mysterious mystery.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
