The Job by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

The third installment of The Fox and O'Hare series is a good one.  It's not as complicated as the first two, but it has a solid plot, reappearances of the same crazy team, leaves you hanging in a way that isn't annoying.

I have read several reviews despairing over the "plot-driven" tendencies of this series.  Isn't that the basis of a good story, though?  Whacky characters and crazy antics can take you so far.  Without a decent plot we're left with 350 pages of idiocy and lusting after two guys with very little actually occurring.  Fox and O'Hare are the example that Stephanie Plum needs to follow- fewer shenanigans, more focus on busting bad guys.

The Job by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg: Fun, mysterious, and full of action.  Read it, but not before The Heist and The Chase. Available from booksellers and libraries now.

Infandous by Elana K. Arnold

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Infandous is raw, gripping readers with hideous fairy tales and myths, weaving them into Sephora's life.  Each of these seems unrelated to the overall story, but with each chapter narrated by Sephora, you can see how she is living them, to a degree. 

There are so many angles to this story that pull away layers of love, pain, truth, fear, and acceptance.  It's not a feel-good book that will make you long for the romance of it all.  It is a gritty look at what life is really like sometimes.  Sometimes you have no read choices; sometimes you're thrown into the storm that other people have cast around you and the best thing you can do is try to keep your head above water and get through it.

Arnold gives us an unapologetic look at the dark side of love.  Sephora has secrets that will hurt everyone she loves, but they hurt her most of all.  She can't see a way around the choices she (or anyone else in her life) has made.  And she can't imagine a life for herself that is separate from her mother's.  She does give us the courage to look at horrifying things and hope that they might be overcome, no matter the brusque tone of the narration, or the utter helplessness you feel as more is revealed.  For such a grim book, I was oddly buoyed by it.  I highly recommend you try it.

Infandous by Elana K. Arnold: Fantastic!  Available from booksellers and libraries in March of 2015.

The Ruby Airship by Sharon Gosling

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Ruby Airship gives just as much tension, mystery, and romance as its predecessor, The Diamond Thief. The characters are just as richly drawn, the writing is still excellent, and the plot never has a dull moment.

The best aspect of The Ruby Airship was the additional character development. Remy isn't as quite as worldly as she thought. Thaddeus is overly cautious and meticulous, and forgets that he is also young and capable of missteps. But the real star of the book is J, who takes his passion for gadgetry and learning and shines as a Cockney Nutty Professor.

Gosling has delivered a solid sequel to this series, and I look forward to reading the next.

 

 

 

The Ruby Airship by Sharon Gosling: Awesome!  Available from booksellers and libraries now!

We've Always Got New York by Jill Knapp

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was horribly boring. I read 100 pages and didn't like either narrator. The plot (although I didn't find much of one) was forgettable. The characters were dull. The writing was grammatically correct. Sadly, that's the best compliment I can give to this book.

We've Always Got New York by Jill Knapp: 1 out of 5 stars.  Available from libraries and booksellers now. 

Imitation by Heather Hildenbrand

I received a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. 

Although it raises a few questions that cannot be answered (at least as far is this installment of the story goes), I really liked Imitation. 

The concept of having clones on standby in case of an emergency or medical necessity for important people (think the president or the queen of England) is creepy, and realistic enough to drive the entire plot.  That the clones know this is why they have been created and have been made to study and emulate those they're to possibly replace makes it more frightening. 

There are a few gaps to be found.  For example, we never know if those who are after Raven Rogen are the same people trying to eradicate Ven.  We don't really understand why the people trying to help the imitations escape their life of servitude employ the same tactics as the "bad guys." 

Despite the issues, the story itself was good.  The writing is solid, it flows well, and even though there is the presence of (heaving sigh) an instant love connection, it does promise a riveting sequel. 

Imitation by Heather Hildenbrand: 4 out of 5 Stars.  Available from Amazon (Kindle edition) now. 

Scratch by Rhonda Helms

I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. 

This story fell short for me.  The characters were a little flat, and while the struggles presented could have been riveting they seemed contrived.  I would have liked more development.

I think, more than anything, the writing leaves much to be desired.  It feels awkward, stilted, and forced.  Although given a direct line into Casey's thoughts and feelings, an essential connection is lacking.  I felt badly for her, and I hoped she would come to terms with her past, but I never felt what she was feeling.  I couldn't put myself in her place at all.  Perhaps someone else could have made this story resonate more with me.  It was a quick read, though, and someone  else might enjoy it more than I. 

Scratch by Rhonda Helms: 2 out of 5 stars.  Available from booksellers and libraries now.