Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 134 - Fire Bound by Christine Freehan, White Trash Zombie Unchained by Diana Rowland, Dead Ringer by B.J. Daniels

Fire Bound by Christine Feehan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another sister finds her HEA but not without encountering a lot of danger along the way. Lisa Piner and Casimir Prakenskii have a common goal and neither expect to survive. They plan to kill the family looking for the Prakenskii brothers. When they meet they find they have other goals as well. Look for some well planned ops, a lot of sex (at least 2 CDs worth) and a unexpected romance. This is par for the course for Freehan's book but it was fun to see what and how Lisa and Casimir planned and pulled everything off.

White Trash Zombie Unchained by Diana Rowland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Zombies are real and Angel Crawford knows because she is one. Angel is such a great characters. I have watched her change from someone who was a loser to someone who works at her job, got her GED and is now going to community college. This time she is trying to stop a epidemic of strange zombies who are the mindless killing kind. What is fun is watching Angel take care of the people around her as she offers new views into what is happening and how to find a cure. She also ends up with some very interesting pets. This series just keeps getting better and better. According to Rowland's web site this could be the last book in the series but I hope I get to visit with Angel in future books.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.



Dead Ringer by B.J. Daniels
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Abby Pierce and Ledger McGraw have a history. Abby is a battered wife and this time she was nearly killed because of something she overheard. Ledger comes to her rescue. Abby's secret and the return of one of the kidnapped McGraw twins are the two elements that drive the story. Along the way both arrive at their HEA. There is still a mystery to be solved and one McGraw brother left to get an HEA. A nice story with predictable action but fun to read.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Book Beginnings and The Friday 56 - December 16, 2016

I'm linking up with Rose City Reader for Book Beginnings and Freda's Voice for Page 56. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Pick the closest book on your book stack and join the fun.

The Beginning:

"The demon was little more than a mist of fog and teeth, barely visible to normal sight."

Page 56:

"That demon. I don't think he's my best bro anymore. He is so not getting an invite to my next Super Bowl party."

From Blood of the Demon by Diana Rowland. This is another book I purchased when visiting my library's used book store to donate books. I choose this on because I read Rowland's Zombie book and inspire of the covers really like them so though I would give series a try.

Musing Mondays, July 14, 2014

TC is in the sun musing about the chipmunk she sees out the window.
Hopefully that is all she does.  So far this month she has presented me
 with two chipmunks - one alive and one dead but both in my bedroom.

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week.…Musing Mondays is sponsored by Should Be Reading.

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it! 
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

Do you ever wonder why you just can’t get enough of a character?  That question came up this week when I read How the White Trash Zombie got her Groove Back.  I love Angel Crawford.  She is smarter than she thinks, is loyal to her friends, keeps doing things to improve her life and is a zombie who eats human brains.  That last one should be a real turn off but it is not.  So why do I love her character?  I really don’t know.

Stacking the Shelves, July 12, 2014

Books Stacked on My Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their 

shelves.

How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back by Diana Rowland

The Rebel Cowboy's Quadruplets by Tina Leonard

For Review:

As Long As You Love Me by Ann Aguirre

In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins

Yesterday's Kin by Nancy Kress

The Line by J.D. Horn

The Chaplain's War by Brad R. Torgerson

What else I read in June, 2014

Here are the other books I read or listened to in June.

Books:

Pia Saves the Day (Elder Race 6.6) by Thea Harrison -Pia Saves the Day is a must read for any fan of the Elder Races books.  This follows the action in Dragos Takes a Holiday and is part of a three novella series. Dragos is in an accident and loses his memory.  Only Pia can help him get it back.  Watching the interaction between a Dragos who does not remember his past and Pia who only wants to help him is the heart of the story.  There is tension and danger as well as romance.  Look for a surprise from Liam that leads up to the next novella in this series.

Riding Hard by Vicki Lewis Thompson – Drake really did his best

friend wrong and even when he is forgiven he is at loose ends.  He does not want to go back to the life he was living so he decides to stick around.  When he meets Tracy Gibbons she helps him come to a decision about what he wants.  They also fall in love.  Tracy does not make it easy on Drake and it is fun seeing how he has to work to win first her trust and then her love.  Riding Hard is another great short fun love story in the Sons of Chance series.  Everything happens in a very short time period but Riding Hard does tell a complete story. This is part of a series but works well as a stand-alone.  If you are looking for fun reading set in the modern west pick this book up and prepare to enjoy.

Riding Home by Vicki Lewis Thompson - The series started with Regan who caught his fiancée Jeannette in bed with his best friend Drake.  Regan (Riding High) fled to Last Chance Ranch, Drake (Riding Hard) followed looking for forgiveness, then invited Jeannette to see if all three could be friends again.  In their books Reagan and Dayton found true love.  In Riding Home it is Jeannette turn to find love and a new direction in her life.  Again all of the action takes place in a very short time span.  Zach Powell and Jeanette click as soon as they meet.  They know they are in love but Zack has some issues to come to terms with before they can be together.  That is the some tension but in the end everything works out.  I did love how strong Jeanette was and how she knew what was best of Zach even though he was in denial.  I have really enjoyed this part of the Sons of Chance series.  Riding Home is a really nice short love story that held my attention to the end. 

Million Dollar Maverick by Christine Rimmer - Million Dollar Maverick is the first time I have read a Christine Rimmer book and now I am hooked on what she writes.  I love books that start and end in the same place.  In Million Dollar Maverick the book begins as Nate Crawford stops to help when Callie Kennedy runs out of gas and it ends as he finds what he really wants to do after wrecking his truck at the same place he stopped to help months ago.  Nate is trying to recover from two things.  Fear of loving again (It has been seven years since his wife died) and the dirty trick he pulled last year when he ran for mayor (he lost and the dirty trick backfired).  I loved Callie and how she stood up for what she believed and I respected Nate as he acknowledged how he tried to wrong his opponent in the election. The title – Nate won a very large powerball jackpot and is keeping it secret while doing good deeds for Rust Creek Falls, Montana.  Nate and Callie are two great characters who have a very interesting journey to their HEA.  I recommend this for anyone who likes small town and western romances.  This is part of a long running series but works very well as a stand-alone.

Unmasking Juliet by Teri Wilson - Cute sweet story is a bit of a play on the theme.  The book is about two people who make their living creating amazing chocolate treats.  It is also a play on Romeo and Juliet.  No unhappy ending though.  Leo (Romeo) and Juliet (Juliet) are not teenagers, they are adults.  Their families are feuding.  Juliet just does not see how it can work and Leo does not see the problem.  He has been gone for years and has not bought into the feud.  I liked the story.  It had a lot of tension, one big surprise and a great HEA for Leo and Juliet.

Traitor's Blade by Sebastien De Castell - I had to sit on this one for several days before I wrote the review.  I had mixed feelings about the book.  It would catch me, lose me and then catch me again.  It is the first in a series and required a lot of world building, back story, and character development.  The author used flashbacks for much of the backstory.  It worked but did interfere with the flow of the story.  The story itself was slow to build but did come to a interesting conclusion that set up the next book.  There is a lot of sword fighting (I skimmed that part) that kept the action moving.  While I just gave it a three I did like it enough that I will try the next book in the series when it comes out.

White Trash Zombie Apocalypse by Diana Rowland – Book three kept the tension and danger going.  There is everything from a zombie movie with some real zombies to an unexpected flood.  Angel Crawford continues to carry the series as she studies for her GED and faces more danger. I love seeing how her character continues to grow and flourish.  Loved the story and am waiting on book #4.  Still don't really like the covers but do like what is in between them.

The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride by Victoria Alexander - Delilah, the very proper widowed Lady Hargate, and Samuel Russell, the groom's friend, are just great fun to be around. Their dialog really shows the personality of each. For most of the book they spar but then it get serious. Delilah just does not want her heart broken again and refuses to take a chance on love. Sam almost gives up on her. That is the part that is not fun. This is another great Millworth Manor story. Book 3 in the series but works well as a stand alone.


Otherwise Engaged by Amanda Quick - Amity Doncaster saves Benedict Stanbridge's life and then finds hers in danger.  This is another great mystery/romance interesting characters and a wonderful story line.  Amity is another strong female charater with something in her past that sent her traveling around the world.  Benedict is great as the male who she saves and who is interested in Amity.  This is not part of a series but it does have a hook that could produce a related book set in the present.

Audio Books:

Hidden Summit by Robyn Carr - Leslie Petruso is new to Virgin River and so is Conner Danson.  Both are through with love so of course we all know what is going to happen.  There is a big element of suspense and danger for Conner.  He is hiding out until the trial of the man he commit murder.  Another great set of characters, a visits with some from previous books and a wonderful story to go with all of that.  I read the book but still enjoyed the recording.  I picked it up because I did not see anything else that interested me.

Spirits From Beyond by Simon Green - I keep meeting JC, Melody and Happy in audio books.  So far I have listened to the entire series.  I liked this one.  Happy is back on the pills, Kim is back, Melody feels like she has failed Happy and JC is the same as always.  I love listening to the dialog and how they once again they succeed in their task.  However, Kim keeps telling them there are things she cannot share and the last scene is Kim at the Carnacki Institute and you just know something big is coming up in the next book. 

Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues by Diana Rowland

Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

From Goodreads:

Angel Crawford is finally starting to get used to life as a brain-eating zombie, but her problems are far from over. Her felony record is coming back to haunt her, more zombie hunters are popping up, and she’s beginning to wonder if her hunky cop-boyfriend is involved with the zombie mafia. Yeah, that’s right--the zombie mafia.

Throw in a secret lab and a lot of conspiracy, and Angel’s going to need all of her brainpower--and maybe a brain smoothie as well--in order to get through it without falling apart.

This is a series I never expected to read and one I would not have picked up on my own.  Instead I had a free copy of My Life As a White Trash Zombie in my bag at World Con last year and in a break when I had nothing else to read so I started it.  Imagine my surprise when I really liked the story and the main character.  Angel Crawford is what makes the story.  She has had a tough life and has made some really bad choices.  When she is turned into a zombie she starts to change.  It is fun to watch her think and realize she can make her life better.  In Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues she changes and grows even more.  That is what makes the stories so great.  There is a great cast of secondary characters who add to the story.  Some become Angel’s friends and some are her enemies.  They all help keep the story moving and filled with excitement.

If you like the paranormal and urban fantasy give the White Trash Zombie books a try.  You may be as hooked as I am.  I have already read White Trash Zombie Apocalypse and have the next book How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back on pre-order.

DAW Fantasy published Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues by Diana Rowland in 2012.

P.S. The cover on the first book was a big turn off for me and this one is not that much better.  If you feel the same ignore the cover and look at what is inside.

Stacking the Shelves, June 14, 2014

Books Stacked on My Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their 

shelves.

Purchased:  

Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues by Diana Rowland

White Trash Zombie Apocalypse by Diana Rowland

For Review:

Poison Promise by Jennifer Estep

How the Scoundrel Seduces by Sabrina Jeffries

Trial by Fire by Charles E. Gannon

Wood Sprites by Wen Spencer

Heroes Are My Weakness Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Book Beginning andThe Friday 56, June13 - Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues by Diana Rowland

I'm linking up with Rose City Reader for Book Beginnings and Freda's Voice for Page 56.

 Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Pick the closest book on your book stack and

Come Join us!

The Beginning:

""So you hiding a body in here or sumthin?"

Page 56:

"He set the beer down, scowled at me. "Where's you learn to fight so dirty?"

The Book - Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues by Diana Rowland. I thought it would be appropriate for Friday the 13th. I got the first book My Life as a White Trash Zombie free at World Con last September. I didn't think I would like it but was waiting for another panel and started reading. I found it really entertaining and decided I would read any other books that came out in the series. So - I got a 20% off coupon to Barnes and Noble and saw that the third book was out. I had not read book two. They had book two in stock so I made the purchase.

I do think the covers are awful but the fit the book.

Book Beginnings on Friday, September 6, 2013

Book Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading.

My books beginning today if from a book I never expected to read.  I didn't buy the book.  They put out free copies at World Con when I was there last week.  I picked one up and when I had time between programs I decided to read a little to see what it was like.  What a surprise.  I ended up finishing the book.  What is the book?  My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland.  Here is the beginning:

"You should be dead," the ER nurse stated as she adjusted something on my IV."

If you want to know more here is what Goodreads says:


"Angel Crawford is a loser.

Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana, she's a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who's been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken.

That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in an horrible car crash, but she doesn't have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there's a job waiting for her at the parish morgue—and that it's an offer she doesn't dare refuse.

Before she knows it she's dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with the victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey—just when she's hungriest!

Angel's going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because if she doesn't, she's dead meat."

There are even two sequels; Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues and White Trash Zombie Apocalypse.