The Forbidden (A Good sequel)

While I'd never say I was as eclectic a reader as my dear friend Jenny, I do have to wonder at my tastes sometimes; in the past 3 days, I've gone from Elvis (thank you very much) to Christian fiction (Amish country) to historical romance (Hugh and Bess). I like what I like.

I've always been fascinated by the Amish; the fact that in today's world of modern conveniences they still cling to their principles based on religion is amazing to me. Beverly Lewis, while definitely a Christian author, does an excellent job of bringing the sometimes secretive world to life. I admit to not being quite as enamored of the first book in this series (The Parting), but with The Forbidden, Lewis has begun to tie some threads together and bring relationships forward. While there is still some preachiness, there are far fewer fanatical leanings in this sequel (a good thing, IMHO). I enjoyed this entry so much that I've preordered the final book in the trilogy from amazon so I can see how it will all end up. That's always a good sign.

You can find my amazon review at http://tinyurl.com/5elu2k. "Denki" for looking.

~taminator40

Me and a Guy Named Elvis

Well, not ME personally, lol, but the book by Jerry Schilling that details his life as a member of the Memphis Mafia throughout the 60s and 70s. Schilling seems like a very decent guy; he gives insight into Elvis's life inside a fishbowl, a life most of us could only imagine living. While there are some details missing, I thought Schilling did an excellent job giving us an insider's view into a surreal time. I'm not a major Elvis fan, but I have visited Graceland (twice! both times on school field trips with my daughters) and I can't begin to imagine the daily life that went on. This is an easy, intriguing book that serves to bring me closer to the King and made me smile on many occasions. Who'd have thought that Elvis was a big Monty Python fan? Good stuff.

Here's my amazon review link: http://www.amazon.com/review/R218U6RVARCD75/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

~taminator40

Not So Nice Vamps

Well, you knew it had to happen...I've met a vampire I didn't like. Actually, several...in fact, I only sort liked Willie (Willie the vampire, hee hee) and Jean-Claude. All the rest? They made me understand why Anita Blake (our heroine) was a vampire hunter (as well as an animator, meaning she raises the dead).

This series came very highly recommended to me, and while I can't say I hated it, I didn't fall in love, either. Anita seems to spend an awful lot of time dithering around trying to decide what to do, and her background is very secretive. I need more information! And the gore? Repetitive and plentiful. I'm not squeamish but sometimes torture for torture's sake is more than I need. I'm going to have to give this some thought before I go on to the next book (if I do)...I see potential but I wasn't blown away.

My amazon review is at http://tinyurl.com/4hoa6f. Apparently I'm in the minority as to not totally loving it.

~taminator40

The Lady Elizabeth

Having just finished Alison Weir's The Lady Elizabeth, I can happily say that it's indeed well worth the time of anyone interested in historical fiction. Weir admits to taking liberties with some of the facts, yet the way in which she does so is so seamless that they seem plausible. While the book had a bit of a slow start for me, it picked up steam nicely around the time Henry VIII dies and was tension and fear filled for the rest of the novel. Check out my amazon review at http://tinyurl.com/3vdmfo for a much more in-depth look at this better than average historical novel.

~taminator40

Forged in the Fire

Forged in the Fire by Ann Turnbull is an excellent sequel to No Shame, No Fear. Set in 1665, we pick up the story of Quakers Will and Susanna and the path to marriage for them amid the plague, persecution, and the Great Fire of London in 1666. While in some respects this novel is a romance, it's also a credible look at how Quakers were treated. Ms. Turnbull weaves her story around actual events of the period, and her characters are very realistic. The pages fairly flew; my only complaint is the rather overly tidy ending. You can find my review on amazon at http://tinyurl.com/4onvao.

~taminator40

Chosen by P.C. Cast

Chosen is the third book in the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. I was a little apprehensive about it as the second book, Betrayed, was a letdown. However, I was pleasantly surprised with this installment. While Zoey's still not thinking rationally most of the time, she is a teenager who has been entrusted with incredible vampyre powers, and the situations she finds herself in would try anyone's nerves. She's led by her hormones; she's keeping secrets from friends; she's trying to save her best undead dead friend Stevie Rae; she's got to make peace with a sworn enemy. What's a vamp in training to do? Sure, she screws up, but somehow that makes her more realistic. I'm going to be looking for the fourth book, Untamed, when it comes out in September. Good fun, but definitely for the more mature teen due to violence, language, and sexual situations. My amazon review is found at http://tinyurl.com/6gfohm.

~taminator40

Molokai

Sometimes you read a book and it just crawls right inside you from the beginning. Molokai by Alan Brennert is such a book. Following the life of seven year old Rachel Kalama as she is sentenced to the Leper Colony on Molokai simply for having the disease, we see her indomitable spirit as she not only makes friends, falls in love, experiences incredible losses, but survives. I need more words, somehow, to describe how much this book has touched my soul. You can find my amazon review at http://tinyurl.com/53k3u7.



~taminator40

Betrayed by P.C. Cast

This second book in the House of Night series started fairly slowly but picked up steam nicely around 50 pages in. I've outlined my disappointments in my amazon review found at http://tinyurl.com/65nbz5. All that said, I'm sure I'll pick up the next in the series. It is a bit addicting.

~taminator40

Healing Water Review

I recently reviewed the young adult novel, Healing Water by Joyce Moyer Hofstetter for the Historical Novel Society. Now that the review has been published, I am posting a link to an amazon review here. This is young adult fiction and it's wonderful. After a slightly slow start, I learned quite a good deal about the leprosy colony of Molokai. Well done overall.

The link for the amazon review is http://www.amazon.com/review/ROLUWC5AUNVFP/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm.

~taminator40