Shoulder Bags and Shootings by Dorothy Howell

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SHOULDER BAGS & SHOOTINGS
Author: Dorothy Howell
Source: FSB Media
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Kensington (July 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0758223781
  • ISBN-13: 978-0758223784

SYNOPSIS:

Fashionista and amateur sleuth Haley Randolph is in hot pursuit of the season’s newest must- have handbag. But soon she’s also in hot pursuit of a killer — when she discovers the corpse of none other than her designer purse party rival . . .

Life is beyond fabulous at the moment for Haley Randolph. She just spent two amazing weeks in Europe with her boyfriend Ty Cameron, owner of Holt’s Department Store where Haley works. And now Ty’s grandmother, Ada, is letting Haley drive her way-cool Mercedes. Things would be perfect if she could just get her hands on her latest fashion obsession: the new Sinful handbag.

Every store in town is out of stock, and Haley would rather die than buy a knockoff. But when she finds the body of her nemesis, Tiffany Markham, in the trunk of Ada’s Mercedes, she’s not so sure she wants to trade places after all . . .

Topping the list of suspects, Haley doesn’t deny seeing red when Tiffany and her business partner not only stole her purse party idea, but also made more money. But Haley wasn’t jealous enough to commit murder. Now she’ll have to solve this mystery quickly — and find that Sinful bag — before she becomes a killer’s next fashion fatality . . .

SPECIAL FEATURE:

My mom wanted to read and review this book as well. So here is my moms review–

If you need a book to read quickly, without having to think too much, this is the book for you.  The lead character, Haley Randolph, has eyes for only two things in life: her new love and boss Ty Cameron, and snagging an authentic new Sinful handbag.  While obsessing over these two desires, she finds herself in the middle of a mess when a body is found in the trunk of the car she is using.  The corpse belongs to her rival, Tiffany.  Can she find the handbag, hang onto her man and solve the murder before she becomes the next victim?

This book would probably have been more interesting if I got to know Haley a little better.  I didn’t read the two previous Haley Randolph novels, and many references are made to them.  Haley seems to be too flighty and self-obsessed to worry about murder. I suggest reading the series in the order the were written. With a little more depth to the character, I would enjoy it more.  This book would be suited to taking on vacation or to the beach .  

MY THOUGHTS:

I agree with my mother’s review of this book. I had not read the previous books either and was left scratching my head at some of the references the author makes. Haley does come across flaky and aloof. She cares more about the bag than anything.  The repetitiveness and failed humor was a huge turn off for me in the book.  A good beach read if you read it as a series and not a stand alone book, but one that I would consider carefully before spending your money on it.


MY RATING:

 
I did not enjoy this book! 1 STAR

COUNTESS OF SCANDAL by Laurel McKee

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COUNTESS OF SCANDAL
Author: Laurel McKee
Source: Hachette Book Group
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Forever; Original edition (February 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0446544787
  • ISBN-13: 978-0446544788
SYNOPSIS:
As children, Eliza Blacknall and William Denton ran wild over the fields of southern Ireland and swore they would be friends forever. Then fate took Will away to England, while Eliza stayed behind to become a proper Irish countess.


Years later, Will finally makes his way home-as an English soldier sent to crush the Irish uprising. When he spies the lovely Eliza, he is captivated by the passionate woman she has become. But Eliza’s passions have led her to join the Irish rebel cause, and Will and Eliza now find themselves on opposite sides of a dangerous conflict.


When Ireland explodes in bloody rebellion, Will’s regiment is ordered to the front lines, and he is forced to choose between his duty to the English king and his love for Eliza and their Irish homeland.
MY THOUGHTS:
There were so many things that I didn’t like about this book.  One, I hear enough about politics in real life, I don’t want to read an over abundance of it in my reading.  Especially when the author is also trying to capture a romance on the pages.  It made it hard for me to even attempt to like the romance between Eliza and Will. They never seemed to click for me.  I felt like I was getting a history lesson instead of a romance. 
The only part that I did like about this book is the cover. I loved the richness of purple used and the jewelry on the woman was beautiful.  Like I have said before, I am very picky with my historical romance books because I am not a big fan of reading about past years unless the romance can grab me from the get go.  With that being said, it is just my personal opinion on this book because of being so picky and such. If you are a regular reader of historical romance, then please, try the book.  It just might be to your liking.
MY RATING:

 
I did not enjoy this book! 1 STAR

THE TURNING: WHAT CURIOSITY KILLS by Helen Ellis

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THE TURNING: WHAT CURIOSITY KILLS
Book One
Author: Helen Ellis
Source: Sourcebooks Fire
* I received this copy free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Hardcover: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire (May 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402238614
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402238611
SYNOPSIS:

Plucked from foster care, Mary Richards hit the jackpot with a loving family, an apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and a spot in the elite Purser-Lilley Academy.  But she might lose it all if people find out about the turning.

Something not human is inside Mary.  Her mind is reeling and her body is rebelling.  She succumbs to urges and desires she never imagined.  And then there’s the bizarre physical transformation.

Struggling with her metamorphosis, Mary is sought out by two boys who share her secret.  Will she reject the destiny they swear is hers? Or will she find our what curiosity kills?

You only get one chance to decide if you’ll never turn again.

MY THOUGHTS:
When I received this book, I was in a hurry to read it! The cover, in my opinion, is amazing with one cat eye on the girl.  According to the synopsis it was going to be a paranormal book about changing into cats. So it was something different than the normal paranormal of werewolves and vampires.

I so desperately wanted to love this book. To tell you the truth though, the cover was about the only thing I liked about it.  I had to force myself to even finish the book.  There was too much detailing and not enough dialogue.  It didn’t flow easy and the story was all over the place at times.  The characters had no appeal to me as I read through the book. There seemed to be alot of product pushing in the book as to what all the characters were wearing each time we read about them, the characters were dull instead of having life on a page. 

While the idea for the book would have been great, it just didn’t come across as a great book.  I am still on the fence about wanting to read the next book in the series for now.  If the author can rework some of the bad points, then I might be interested in the next one just to see if it does turn out better.

MY RATING:

 
I did not enjoy this book!

SEXAHOLICS by Pynk

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SEXAHOLICS
Author: Pynk
Source: Publisher
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1 edition (March 23, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0446179582
  • ISBN-13: 978-0446179584
SYNOPSIS:
Miki, Valencia, Teela Raye, and Brandi share one thing…they are all addicted to sex. United through Sexaholics Anonymous, these women try to recover from their dependence on wild, spontaneous, and even sometimes, dangerous sex. From whips and chains, to sex in public, they have done it all! Led by Dr. Rachel Cummings, each woman takes the first step to recovery by sharing her biggest sexual act with the group. SEXAHOLICS takes readers through the outrageous experiences of four women on their long path to success.
MY THOUGHTS:
Wow. Ahem.  I am a fan of erotica reads, but this book went beyond that.  I will say that the author took a chance with this book.  It is going to be a hard read for some, including fans of this genre.  The characters of the book never captured my attention.  It could be because the book had more sex in it than a porn movie.  There comes a point when enough is enough, and this book reached it early on.  If you are looking for romance to go along with your erotica, then don’t read this.  This book was more about the down and dirty part of sex instead of the romantic sex you usually read about.  This is definitely a book for adults only.
MY RATING:


 
I did not enjoy this book.

 

LIGHT BENEATH FERNS by Anne Spollen (Blog Tour)

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LIGHT BENEATH FERNS
Author: Anne Spollen
Source: Blog Tour hosted by Cleverly Inked
* I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*
  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Paperback: 216 pages
  • Publisher: Flux (February 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0738715425
  • ISBN-13: 978-0738715421
SYNOPSIS:
I have this strange sense that my silence is preparing me for something I can’t name . . .
 
Elizah Rayne is nothing like other fourteen-year-old girls. More interested in bird bones than people, she wraps herself in silence. Trying to escape the shadow of her gambler father, Elizah and her mother move into an old house that borders a cemetery. All her mother wants is for them to have “normal” lives. But that becomes impossible for Elizah when she finds a human jawbone by the river and meets Nathaniel, a strangely hypnotic boy who draws Elizah into his dreamlike and mysterious world.
Only by forgetting everything she knows can Elizah understand the truth about Nathaniel—and discover an unimaginable secret. 
MY THOUGHTS:
I was lucky enough to participate in a blog tour of the novel Light Beneath Ferns by Anne Spollen, hosted by Liz from Cleverly Inked. 
In the first chapter of the book, the author does a wonderful job of sucking you into her world.  She sets up the book with great lines and makes you think outside the box.  I was excited to start reading it. 
Yet, after that first chapter, my interest slid downhill.  For the first half of the book it is all about Elizah’s depression and how she can be helped into finding new friends.  It got to be boring and repetitive. I did love the witty dialogue though that comes out of Elizah.  She has a mouth like a typical young adult and she uses it as much as possible.  
From then on the plot is all over and I couldn’t find myself interested in any of it. I did finish it though, so I did stick it out to the end.  The questions get answered, but not as much as they should. The characters never seemed to click for me.  While I am happy to have been included in the blog tour, this is one book I don’t think I would be buying.  This is one of those books that I recommend checking out from the library, and if it is a good book to you, then purchase it for yourself.
Next stop on the blog tour will come from Jenn at Book-Crazy
MY RATING:

 
I did not enjoy this book.