Review: Ashen Winter

Ashen Winter by Mike Mullin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



A worthy sequel to Ashfall. Not quite as strong, but it is obviously a 2nd book in a trilogy, and they are usually the weakest. Even so I read it in one day. Well drawn scenarios, with believable three dimensional characters. Compelling reading. I marked it down one star because it wasn't quite as good as the first and I have a feeling the next one will be even better. The set-up was wonderful. i will buy the next one as soon as it is out. Read the set!



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Review: Taking Chances

Taking Chances by Molly McAdams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This book suckered me but good. I'd seen so many people talking this up, but nearly halfway through it it seemed to be nothing more than a boilerplate love triangle book with two bad boys. I was sure one of them would of course turn out to have a heart of gold. Then all hell broke loose and this book was nothing like what I expected. I cannot talk about any of it without giving good stuff away, so just go get it and read it. What a great book. Bring Kleenex!



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Review: Die Trying

Die Trying by Lee Child

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



My second of the Jack Reacher novels. I liked it as much as the first. good action, scary bad guys, hit babes, strong heroes. Nothing ground breaking but an enjoyable ride.



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Review: The Education of Hailey Kendrick

The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I enjoyed this book even more than Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood. It was another quick and easy read, but it had real heart, a little darkness, and s touch of romance. There is something about Ms Cook that I just really enjoy. Nothing tough or hard to digest, but wonderful little snacks for the brain.



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Review: Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood

Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This was a fun and easy read, clearly meant for a lower age group than a lot of what I have been reading lately. It also suffers from coming AFTER books by Colleen Hoover and Abbi Glines on my read list. Clearly based on The Count of Monte Cristo (the author even acknowledges this in the end) so nothing groundbreaking. But to anyone that has ever been betrayed or ostracised this will be fun.



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Review: Hopeless

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Okay, up front let me just say, Colleen Hoover is a goddess. She has no written 3 of the best 4 books I read last year. Considering she only wrote 3 books, not a bad track record!!

This book had me bawling my eyes out, wanting to ravish my wife, wanting me to choke someone, and wanting me to hug someone sometimes all in a chapter or two. I love this book, it is easily one of the best novels I have ever read in any genre.

I'm not going to ruin anything by telling you anything, but I have a huge book crush on Sky, and cannot wait until Colleen writes her next book. Promise us you will never stop writing!



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Review: Fallen Too Far

Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



this book is a perfect example of why Abbi Glines is on my must read list. I don;t even need to see a cover. I do not need to know a plot synopsis. Abbi has a new book out? I am buying it as soon as it is live. This book was super steamy, and though I hated the cliffhanger, I loved the cliffhanger. LOL Did I mention this book was steamy? There were a couple of scenes that were like crushing up and snorting Viagra!

Great plot, well drawn complex characters, realistic problems, and did I mention it was steamy? LOL



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Review: Killing Floor

Killing Floor by Lee Child

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



several of my friends were shocked to learn I had never read any Lee Child books. i see why. this was really well done, taunt action, believable, good hero, bad villains, plausible story-line and enough to keep you turning pages when you should be in bed. Got the rest of the series on my TBR now!



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Review: Always You

Always You by Kirsty Moseley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I enjoyed this book a great deal, not as good IMHO as her book The Boy Who Climbs In My Bedroom Window, but still well worth the read. My one complaint though is something that suddenly seems to be a convention in YA lit, the idea that parents let teenage boys sleep in the beds of their teenage girls because they were friends from childhood,. As the father of daughters, one a teen, this just is not going to happen, period. In fact as the father of daughters who owns many guns, this would be a one time mistake for the boys. LOL



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Review: In the Band

In the Band by Jean Haus

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



My friend Sunny told me I should read this book. Boy was she right n the mark. I loved this book from first word to last. Having spent time in the music business in my youth the author nailed band politics and drama right on the mark. The other issues were believable and real world. I hope this author writes a lot more books, I just plain loved this.



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Review: Because I am Furniture

Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



A very interesting writing style. Short poems. A good story, and in short bursts a very dysfunctional family was drawn well, and the awakening of the protagonist was believable and strong. I enjoyed this a great deal, and will bee looking for more by this author.



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Review: Mutant 59: The Plastic-Eaters

Mutant 59: The Plastic-Eaters by Kit Pedler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I loved this book back in the day. A form of bacteria mutates and begins to eat plastic, leaving the world an ever worsening mess. this is one of the books that started my love of the apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic genre. Filled with action and chaos. Lots of fun.



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Review: Scars

Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I thought this was a phenomenal book. Though I suspected who the abuser was, I was never completely sure. Taunt, scary, sad, and triumphant in turns. This was a quality read. My teen daughter recommend it to me after she read it, and I am glad she did.



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David Horowitz then grabs my camera . . . | Lansing Online News

Police State Tactics at Michigan State Capitol!

David Horowitz then grabs my camera . . . | Lansing Online News

Review: Breaking Beautiful

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



An amazingly taunt and raw book. I was sorry I had chosen to read this in a week I was working a lot of hours. Once started it is hard to put down. Painful at time, uplifting at others. This will surely be on my Top-10 reads of 2012 list. So much I would like to say, but I cannot without revealing important facts about the book. Richly drawn characters inhabit a very real world small town. For those of us who have spent time in a small town the reality of what that is like are stark and utterly believable. If you never have this book will make you understand. My highest recommendation.



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Review: Snowed Over

Snowed Over by Angie Stanton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I read this in one sitting. Was going to read a little then go to bed, read the whole thing. fun, charming, realistic, scary and gripping at times even. I had been keeping it till Christmas eve to read, but it kept calling to me from my Kindle and I ate it up. Like a wonderful Christmas cookie of a story. romantic and fun. I hope to see more of our two main characters in the future sometime. Ms Stanton is another of the writers I have found this year whose books I just consume with satisfaction, but am always left hungry for another treat. She is on my "Must Buy" list.



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Review: Relatively Famous

Relatively Famous by Jessica Park

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I love Jessica Park. Her books are quirky, fun, realistic and filled with people you'd like to know. While this, her first book, is not as outstanding at Flat Out Love (But then seriously, few are) it is still a great fun read. This book was like a box of Godiva Chocolates when you are depressed and hungry, you just cannot leave it alone till it is done!



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Review: The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor

The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by Jake Tapper

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is one of the most important books I have read n years. EVERYBODY in the USA needs to read this book and see what is being done in our name. The waste of the sacrifice and heroism of our front line troops becasue they are put in ridiculous untenable situations. the absurdity of trying to force pur political system and values on people who find them abhorrent. There is so much going on in this book you need to know. Yet it is written with a gripping and fast paced narrative that makes it an easy read, other than the fact you will get so angry sometimes you have to put it down and walk away.

If you honor our troops, you owe it to them and their families to read this book and see what is being done to them in our name.



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Goodreads | Best Books 2012 — Goodreads Choice Awards

 
Goodreads  Best Books 2012 — Goodreads Choice Awards

Goodreads | Best Books 2012 — Goodreads Choice Awards

Review: The Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window

The Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moseley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



A phenomenal book. Full of angst, pain, love, pain, redemption. I have no idea what you would want in a book that is not here. Tender, erotic, humor, a little of everything. There are so many things I want to say, but that will give away good things. I so feel for "Angel" the main female protagonist. I just wanted to give her a hug. Read this book, you will not be sorry.



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Review: My Beautiful Failure

My Beautiful Failure by Janet Ruth Young

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I liked this book, but not as much as I expected too. I'd read some rave reviews so I had high expectations. I guess my main markdown comes from the fact I thought the protagonist was a gigantic douche. The story itself was well written, and the theme was different and important. I do recommend it, but I guess I didn't experience the transcendent emotions some others have said they did. I did not feel so much for the protagonist because I thought him such a douche.



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The Bush White House Was Deaf to 9/11 Warnings - NYTimes.com

  Stunning revelations on the intentional blindness and incompetence in the Bush administration that lead to thousands of dead citizens on US soil.  The current GOP is fixated on Benghazi while covering this up?  treasonous scum all of them.


The Bush White House Was Deaf to 9/11 Warnings - NYTimes.com

Review: Speechless

Speechless by Hannah Harrington

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I got this book because I loved Ms Harrington's first book, SAVING JUNE. I was a little worried that this would be a letdown because JUNE was such a great book. Much to my surprise I thought this book was significantly better even. This book had it all, tragedy, triumph, life lessons, love and anger. Believable characters dealing with problems you'd see in today's headlines. Wisdom and stupidity warring in the heads of teens, as they did in mine when I was teen. This book would make a superb movie. I cannot wait for Ms Harrington's next book!



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Review: A Toast to the Good Times

A Toast to the Good Times by Steph Campbell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Just what I expected here again. A wonderful, can't put it down story of loss, love, redemption and the like told with style. Richly drawn characters with depth, people with both great strengths, and deep flaws like most real people. I had been planning on not reading this until X-mas eve due to its story-line but it kept shouting, "READ ME!" from my Kindle. Steph and Liz have written a masterpiece feel good holiday read. I'd love to see this made into a movie actually.



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Review: Dizzy

Dizzy by Nyrae Dawn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This was one of those books that was EXACTLY what i expected it to be. A great story filled with wonderful and believable characters overcoming problems to let love win in the end. both Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry have entered by all time favorite author list. Separately they are each great. together they was even more. I'd not read a single twin POV book before this year, and now it is a favorite thing. especially when you have two people like this who create deep, complex, deformed by life, but ultimately believable characters.

I will buy anything they write, separately or together. If you don't you are denying yourself a great pleasure of life.



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Review: The Third Wheel

The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Still having fun with the Wimpy Kid. The books are quick, fun reads and work from tween to senior citizen.



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Review: Cabin Fever

Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The series continues as funny as it has ever been. these are great quick fun reads.



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Review: The Ugly Truth

The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



No surprises, but still having fun with the series.



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Review: Dog Days

Dog Days by Jeff Kinney

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Continuing fun memories from this series.



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Review: The Last Straw

The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The series continues with more of the same, but still funny and hard to put down.



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Review: Rodrick Rules

Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



More great memories viewed through the skewed and funny lens of the wimpy kid.



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Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was a lot of fun, if you were ever a kid, this book will make you remember the horrible middle school years. Only they will come back more as comedy than tragedy.



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Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



An interesting and fun read, but with a serious edge. Equal parts sad, funny, hopeful and tragic. No real heroes here, no real villains. Just a lot of flawed people doing the best they can in bad situations. I'll be looking forward to the second book from this author. An unusual writing style gave the book a real believable feeling and authenticity.



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Review: Belong to Me

Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This book is a sequel to LOVED WALKED IN, which I just loved. This is one of this very rare cases where the sequel to a book I loved was even better than the first book.

Full of heart, emotion, love, birth, death, life, and all manner of life changes that rinc as true as your own life. filled with characters you love like family. all this wrapped up in Ms de los Santo's quirky style of writing that is just plain fun to read.

Get these two books and settle in for some great emotional roller coastering!



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So Much for a Graceful Exit | Liberals Unite

  The whining and the overt racism is appalling.

So Much for a Graceful Exit | Liberals Unite

Review: Under Her Skin

Under Her Skin by Alexis Lauren

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



This book started with an interesting idea, one I thought I would like. However the author needs to work on her craft quite a bit. First off, I lost count of the cliche phrases in the first few dozen pages. Lots and lots of cliche phrases lifted from other stories. Also, every plot-line punch was so well telegraphed that it was hardly worth trudging through the cliche swamp to get there. Interestingly as the book went on the cliches lessened and the punches were less telegraphed.

This is an author I think that with a good editor, and with some practice might turn out some good stuff. so far it needs a lot of work. The skeleton of the story was quality, but the workmanship in telling it left a lot to be desired.



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Review: Night Sky

Night Sky by Jolene Perry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Another terrific book by Ms Perry. Of all her books I think the female lead in this one is the one I'd most like to know. This book was sad, funny, triumphant, and very real. As is her usual habit the characters in Ms Perry's books are well rounded and complex. Her good guys have some bad parts, her bad guys have good parts. Well there is one total douchebag in this book, but it is one we have all known.

Ms Perry has entered that short list I have where I will buy her next book knowing nothing more than that she wrote it. She is that good, and wroth the read always.



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Review: Dark Water

Dark Water by Laura McNeal

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I had the good luck to win this book in an online contest, and am so glad I did. this was an amazing book. Dark, tragic, occasionally uncomfortable, real, and unforgettable.

The protagonist Pearl has entered my world of unforgettable characters, I felt so strongly for her I wanted to reach into the pages of the book and give her a hug. She will be in my mind for a long time to come.

There is so much more I want to say. but I cannot without giving away important things, and I have my no spoilers, no details rule to maintain.

Suffice it to say, you should read this book.



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Review: Love Walked In

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was a charming and slightly strange book. Ms de los Santos writes with the oddest of cadences, and yet it fitted this book perfectly. The book almost read in my head in a sing-song, and was always as if I was glancing at it askance rather than looking dead on. Yet it would have been less of a story had it been told in a more conventional way.

I loved this book, it has a huge beating heart that drove it, and showed what I have long known, that love is never what you expect, where you expect it, or whom you expect, but love changes everything. I'm looking for more by this author and recommend you read this.



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Are Conservative Media Only Hurting Conservatives?

Are Conservative Media Only Hurting Conservatives?

Cry Babies And Sore Losers | Liberals Unite

‎"I’m seeing Americans post photos of our Flag hung upside down because the President won reelection. They’re defending this action as a “Naval sign of distress”. Let me tell you something: you are not on a battleship, you are a manager at McDonalds in Follansbee, WV, and you are in fact, a lunatic."

Cry Babies And Sore Losers | Liberals Unite

Review: The Other Boleyn Girl

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Call this a guilty pleasure. Though it wasn't all that close to historically accurate it was still a whole lot of fun to read.
I also enjoyed the movie but then I have a thing for Natile Portman. Want a good brain twinkie that is a lot of fun set in a past historical period, this is a fun one.



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Review: Falling

Falling by Jolene Perry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I think this might be my favorite Jolene Perry book. Not exactly what I expected, not sure why, but real, and full of deep feelings. There were a couple of moments I cannot go into without spoiling them, that were amazing. One in particular that made me fall totally for our female lead here.

One of the things I really like about Ms Perry is her good guys/gals have faults. Even the bad guys and gals have some redeeming features. In short realistic and complex human beings. No cardboard cutouts, no stock characters pulled out of central casting to fill space.

She has become one of my must reads.



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Mitt Romney's Campaign Cancels Staffers Credit Cards In The Middle Of The Night - Forbes

Mitt Romney's Campaign Cancels Staffers Credit Cards In The Middle Of The Night - Forbes


No class

Mitt's Camp Publishes Victory Site - The Daily Beast

Mitt's Camp Publishes Victory Site - The Daily Beast

  What a douche.

Review: The Cartel

The Cartel by A.K. Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Jessica Park was giving away copies of this and said it was really good, I have complete respect for her opinion so I entered the running for one of the copies. Boy am I glad I got one of the copies, really good is a huge understatement.

This was a book filled with both really good character development, and a lot of VERY believable action. Every time I thought I had figured out where it was going, it took an unexpected, but utterly believable turn. the end was nothing at all like I expected, but still very real, and very satisfying to the reader. I am looking for more by this author. I loved every single page from the first to the last.



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Review: Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This book took me by surprise. I'd read several of the Alex Cross books, and picked this up at a rummage sale. I did not expect such a moving, an dramatic novel. If you can read this and not feel, deeply, you have no heart.



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Nate Silver, listen to him.

Twitter / cosentino: For the Nate-haters, here’s ...

Election Forecasts - FiveThirtyEight Blog - NYTimes.com

  Nate Silver calling it for Obama.

Election Forecasts - FiveThirtyEight Blog - NYTimes.com

Mitt Romney's Bailout Bonanza | The Nation

  This guy made millions out of the US auto bailout.  At the expense of taxpayers.

Mitt Romney's Bailout Bonanza | The Nation

Review: All Creatures Great and Small

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



A classic book, the first in a series of 4 classic books that tell the story through humorous anecdotes of a new veterinarian learning his craft under the tutelage of a crusty older vet in the fields and dales of Yorkshire.

Funny, touching, life affirming. Read all 4.



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Romney staff refusing to let frostbitten voters leave PA rally

Romney staff refusing to let frostbitten voters leave PA rally

Review: Just for Now

Just for Now by Abbi Glines

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Another visit to Sea Breeze, and as always a fun and satisfying one. This fictional little town has become almost as real to me as places I vacationed in as a child. Each book lets us get to know the characters who inhabit it a little better.

This time the story is Amanda and Preston whom he have already met, and now we get to know their story. As always some roadblocks are thrown up and overcome, some lies need to be found out, some deeper truths understood. Ms Glines does this very well. This one had a couple of surprises in it that made it even better, but I will not tell you so you can e surprised.

I'm left with the same feeling I have been left with after each of the Sea Breeze books: Hey, that was fun and fulfilling, I cannot wait for the next one.



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Romney: Elect Me Or House GOP Will Wreck The Economy | TPM2012

That's it? That's the big "closing argument"? "Elect me, or my party will tank the economy again." Wow. Why doesn't he just threaten to kidnap our kids, roll grandma down a hill in her wheelchair, or maybe drown a puppy? And the wing nuts accuse Obama of being a secret "terrorist." 

Romney: Elect Me Or House GOP Will Wreck The Economy | TPM2012

Chris Christy owns Rush Limbaugh

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