Lock and Mori: Mind Games by Heather Petty
Picking up almost exactly where the last book left off, we find Lock and Mori in a little bit of a pickle. Mori's father is in jail for crimes he committed, but there are people who believe he is innocent and are trying to blame Mori. It's a mess. People trying to kidnap her brothers, he father making threats, people showing up dead on her doorstep, people attacking her in her own home, etc.
Needless to say, there was a ton of action going on in this. And the end! Holy cow! How am I supposed to wait a year for the next one? Way to leave me hanging.
Sorry this is short, but I can't in good conscience go into too much detail without giving away what happens in this book as well as its predecessor. Just read them!
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Saturday, December 24, 2016
A Modern Take on a Classic Detective Team, I Think
Lock and Mori by Heather W. Petty
This is one of two books I received in my December Lit-Cube, the theme of which was Sherlocked. As best I can tell, this is a modern take on the Sherlock Holmes books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but as I have yet to read any of those, I can't be 100% sure on that. A little Googling helped me to make some sense of characters besides Holmes and Watson, the latter of whom doesn't play much of a part.
Our protagonist in this case is one James "Mori" Moriarity, who is the daughter of a police detective in London. Roughly six months prior to the events in this book, Mori's mother passes away from cancer. This is important because Mori's dad has taken her death hard, and lashes out, to put it mildly, on his four children. The other police turn a blind eye to this, which I have a huge problem with, for the record.
One day, during a fire drill, Mori is asked to summon Sherlock "Lock" Holmes from his basement lab at school during a fire drill. A rather awkward meeting occurred, but something clicked because they became fast friends. Not long after this, a man is murdered in Regency Park, and Lock feels that the local law enforcement are inept, so he and Mori decide to solve the crime.
At first, Mori thinks this is just a game, but as time goes on, she finds that it is much more than that, and she is involved, whether she wants to be or not. Mori uncovers some secrets that may be best left hidden that involve her mother. Luckily, she knows what she has to do with them.
Going into this book, I really didn't know what to expect. I am reasonably familiar with Sherlock Holmes, even though I haven't read the books, but I wasn't sure if I would need to have read the original material to enjoy this one. As it turns out, I didn't. This was a fun read, and I can't wait to dive into the second book I received in that box, as it is a sequel to this one. Should I like it as well, and there are more books in the series, I will have to make efforts to obtain them.
This is one of two books I received in my December Lit-Cube, the theme of which was Sherlocked. As best I can tell, this is a modern take on the Sherlock Holmes books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but as I have yet to read any of those, I can't be 100% sure on that. A little Googling helped me to make some sense of characters besides Holmes and Watson, the latter of whom doesn't play much of a part.
Our protagonist in this case is one James "Mori" Moriarity, who is the daughter of a police detective in London. Roughly six months prior to the events in this book, Mori's mother passes away from cancer. This is important because Mori's dad has taken her death hard, and lashes out, to put it mildly, on his four children. The other police turn a blind eye to this, which I have a huge problem with, for the record.
One day, during a fire drill, Mori is asked to summon Sherlock "Lock" Holmes from his basement lab at school during a fire drill. A rather awkward meeting occurred, but something clicked because they became fast friends. Not long after this, a man is murdered in Regency Park, and Lock feels that the local law enforcement are inept, so he and Mori decide to solve the crime.
At first, Mori thinks this is just a game, but as time goes on, she finds that it is much more than that, and she is involved, whether she wants to be or not. Mori uncovers some secrets that may be best left hidden that involve her mother. Luckily, she knows what she has to do with them.
Going into this book, I really didn't know what to expect. I am reasonably familiar with Sherlock Holmes, even though I haven't read the books, but I wasn't sure if I would need to have read the original material to enjoy this one. As it turns out, I didn't. This was a fun read, and I can't wait to dive into the second book I received in that box, as it is a sequel to this one. Should I like it as well, and there are more books in the series, I will have to make efforts to obtain them.
Sunday, December 18, 2016
A Quick Revisit
James Patterson Bookshots: Cross Kill
I was at CVS the other day, waiting for a prescription to be filled. While waiting, I took a look at their pathetic reading section. This novella caught my attention. Patterson has been doing the bookshots for several months now, but I haven't bothered with them until now. I was an avid reader of Patterson until about two years ago. This was the first of his that I have read in ages.
I was drawn to this bookshot because it was about Alex Cross, my favorite Patterson character. It also revisits some of Patterson's earlier Cross books.
In this novella, Alex and his best friend and partner, John Sampson, are working at a soup kitchen that Alex's NanaMama endowed with some lottery winnings. While there, shots are fired. When Cross and Sampson go to investigate, Cross is shot in the chest and Sampson in the head by a man that looks like Gary Soneji, an earlier criminal that Cross saw die.
Cross was wearing a bulletproof vest which saved his life. Sampson wasn't so lucky, and ended up in the ICU, in a medically induced coma. Cross is working to find out who shot Sampson, as Soneji has been dead ten years. This is really messing with Cross.
Cross finds out there are several Soneji fans who'd like to see him dead, but Cross is able to solve the case, like only he can.
I was at CVS the other day, waiting for a prescription to be filled. While waiting, I took a look at their pathetic reading section. This novella caught my attention. Patterson has been doing the bookshots for several months now, but I haven't bothered with them until now. I was an avid reader of Patterson until about two years ago. This was the first of his that I have read in ages.
I was drawn to this bookshot because it was about Alex Cross, my favorite Patterson character. It also revisits some of Patterson's earlier Cross books.
In this novella, Alex and his best friend and partner, John Sampson, are working at a soup kitchen that Alex's NanaMama endowed with some lottery winnings. While there, shots are fired. When Cross and Sampson go to investigate, Cross is shot in the chest and Sampson in the head by a man that looks like Gary Soneji, an earlier criminal that Cross saw die.
Cross was wearing a bulletproof vest which saved his life. Sampson wasn't so lucky, and ended up in the ICU, in a medically induced coma. Cross is working to find out who shot Sampson, as Soneji has been dead ten years. This is really messing with Cross.
Cross finds out there are several Soneji fans who'd like to see him dead, but Cross is able to solve the case, like only he can.
TAYSHAS #11
Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
The TAYSHAS list was released on December 1, and it turns out that ten of the books I read this past summer made the list. This one I had on hold on Overdrive for a week or so, but when I saw it at Target, I decided I was tired of waiting my turn, and just bought it.
I really wanted to read this because the description said it was for fans of Girl, Interrupted and The Bell Jar, two books I enjoyed immensely. This did not disappoint.
Charlotte "Charlie" Davis is a cutter. At the beginning of the book, she is in a mental facility. She tried to kill herself while living in a sex house, and a couple of her friends found her. This is a girl who lived on the streets after her mother kicked her out, and had a rough life. The mental facility saved her. She was there for a few weeks, but then the money ran out, so she was released to her mother's custody.
Unfortunately, Charlie's mother didn't want her to come home, so she gave her some money, and Charlie moves to Arizona to be with one of her friends, a guy named Mikey. Charlie has feelings for Mikey, which he does not return.
Charlie finds a job washing dishes at a coffee shop, as well as a room to let. She is managing to keep from cutting. She meets a man who is all wrong for her, who mostly uses her to buy him drugs. He is the beginning of her undoing.
I am fascinated by "broken" people, so this book was right up my alley. I found myself just wanting to grab Charlie and hug her. I wanted to help her to be better. This one was so worth my time.
The TAYSHAS list was released on December 1, and it turns out that ten of the books I read this past summer made the list. This one I had on hold on Overdrive for a week or so, but when I saw it at Target, I decided I was tired of waiting my turn, and just bought it.
I really wanted to read this because the description said it was for fans of Girl, Interrupted and The Bell Jar, two books I enjoyed immensely. This did not disappoint.
Charlotte "Charlie" Davis is a cutter. At the beginning of the book, she is in a mental facility. She tried to kill herself while living in a sex house, and a couple of her friends found her. This is a girl who lived on the streets after her mother kicked her out, and had a rough life. The mental facility saved her. She was there for a few weeks, but then the money ran out, so she was released to her mother's custody.
Unfortunately, Charlie's mother didn't want her to come home, so she gave her some money, and Charlie moves to Arizona to be with one of her friends, a guy named Mikey. Charlie has feelings for Mikey, which he does not return.
Charlie finds a job washing dishes at a coffee shop, as well as a room to let. She is managing to keep from cutting. She meets a man who is all wrong for her, who mostly uses her to buy him drugs. He is the beginning of her undoing.
I am fascinated by "broken" people, so this book was right up my alley. I found myself just wanting to grab Charlie and hug her. I wanted to help her to be better. This one was so worth my time.
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
A Sequel Jane Austen Would Have Loved
The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet by Kate Rorick and Rachel Kiley
As I've said many times before, I love Austen's Pride and Prejudice. What I don't usually mention is how much I dislike Mrs. Bennet and Lydia Bennet in Austen's story. This book certainly redeems Lydia for me.
I bought this because I adored The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet. I wasn't ready to leave the world of these modern day Bennets, and I didn't have to.
Lydia is the youngest Bennet daughter. She's flighty, doesn't always think things through, and spends more time having fun than focusing on real life. Because of this, it's not really a surprise that she was duped by George Wickham. But Lydia is trying to come back from this.
She is seeing a counselor, and this has made her think that psychology would be a good major for her. So, the plan is for her to take the last two classes of her associate's degree, then move to San Francisco with cousin, Mary, so she can transfer to a four year college. Too bad Lydia gets in the way of Lydia.
But, Lydia is not down and out. She is finding a way to find herself, this time, without her big sisters there to help her every step of the way. I think this is why I loved Lydia--because she was forced to grow up and find herself.
Do yourself a favor, and read this.
As I've said many times before, I love Austen's Pride and Prejudice. What I don't usually mention is how much I dislike Mrs. Bennet and Lydia Bennet in Austen's story. This book certainly redeems Lydia for me.
I bought this because I adored The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet. I wasn't ready to leave the world of these modern day Bennets, and I didn't have to.
Lydia is the youngest Bennet daughter. She's flighty, doesn't always think things through, and spends more time having fun than focusing on real life. Because of this, it's not really a surprise that she was duped by George Wickham. But Lydia is trying to come back from this.
She is seeing a counselor, and this has made her think that psychology would be a good major for her. So, the plan is for her to take the last two classes of her associate's degree, then move to San Francisco with cousin, Mary, so she can transfer to a four year college. Too bad Lydia gets in the way of Lydia.
But, Lydia is not down and out. She is finding a way to find herself, this time, without her big sisters there to help her every step of the way. I think this is why I loved Lydia--because she was forced to grow up and find herself.
Do yourself a favor, and read this.
Not Quite Up to Par with Unwind
Unstrung: an Unwind Story by Neal Schusterman
I read this because it indicated that it told the story of Lev between his adventures with CyFy and when he shows up at the airplane graveyard. Technically, this is true, but this is not so much about Lev as it is about Wil.
Lev ends up on a reservation. He becomes friends with Wil, a guy about his age who has an amazing gift for music. Wil is tasked with playing the music for his grandfather to die to. He doesn't want to, but he does it anyway.
One day, some bad dudes come onto the reservation to kidnap kids of age to be unwound. These people, the Native Americans, don't believe in unwinding, so there's now a bounty on the head of these kids. To save his friends, Wil volunteers. He becomes unwound. Lev is sad. The end.
Seriously, this happened in less than fifty pages. I wish I'd left well enough alone.
I read this because it indicated that it told the story of Lev between his adventures with CyFy and when he shows up at the airplane graveyard. Technically, this is true, but this is not so much about Lev as it is about Wil.
Lev ends up on a reservation. He becomes friends with Wil, a guy about his age who has an amazing gift for music. Wil is tasked with playing the music for his grandfather to die to. He doesn't want to, but he does it anyway.
One day, some bad dudes come onto the reservation to kidnap kids of age to be unwound. These people, the Native Americans, don't believe in unwinding, so there's now a bounty on the head of these kids. To save his friends, Wil volunteers. He becomes unwound. Lev is sad. The end.
Seriously, this happened in less than fifty pages. I wish I'd left well enough alone.
Should've Stayed an Ebook
Beauty-Everland Ever After by Caroline Lee
This was in my October Lit-Cube. We were supposed to be thrilled that this book was printed just for subscribers. However, like the title of this post indicates, it should have stayed as ebook. It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, set in Wyoming.
Arabella is twice widowed, with a ten year old son named Eddie. She runs the bookstore/library. A new, mysterious man moves to town. He is missing his eyes, and is scarred. Arabella sets quite a store on beauty, and Vincenzo, aka new guy in town, doesn't think she will ever see beyond that.
However, Vincenzo realizes some things, and rather than try for happiness, decides to leave town. He doesn't.
Boring as all get out.
I was so disappointed by this book. Belle is my favorite Disney princess, and this retelling makes her shallow. I just couldn't reconcile myself to this.
This was in my October Lit-Cube. We were supposed to be thrilled that this book was printed just for subscribers. However, like the title of this post indicates, it should have stayed as ebook. It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, set in Wyoming.
Arabella is twice widowed, with a ten year old son named Eddie. She runs the bookstore/library. A new, mysterious man moves to town. He is missing his eyes, and is scarred. Arabella sets quite a store on beauty, and Vincenzo, aka new guy in town, doesn't think she will ever see beyond that.
However, Vincenzo realizes some things, and rather than try for happiness, decides to leave town. He doesn't.
Boring as all get out.
I was so disappointed by this book. Belle is my favorite Disney princess, and this retelling makes her shallow. I just couldn't reconcile myself to this.
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