Mindy

Intrinsical by Lani Woodland

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
May 112011
 

Intrinsical

Author: Lani Woodland

Publisher: Pendrell Publishing

Hardcover: 304 pages

ISBN: 9780982729700

FTC FYI: I purchased my own copy

“Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something slide past me.  Curious, I turned to find something shimmering in the air, almost like a fine mist–but it was unlike any mist I had ever seen.  Instead of a transparent white, it was a deep charcoal gray, almost black.  It brought to mind a dark rain cloud, one that promised a terrible storm… The mist wound around one student, then another, releasing each before moving on, still searching.  Then, abruptly, it paused, circling tightly around a boy with sable hair.” Intrinsical pages 1-2

Yara Silva knows that ghosts are around her.  In fact, she is a Waker.  Being a Waker she can see and communicate with ghosts.  Yara’s grandmother was also one, but she was taunted by her ability.  Yara didn’t want that for herself.  When she starts school at Pendrell Academy, Yara was hoping just to attend school, and not have her ability be “awakened”.  Little did Yara know, Pendrell Academy is surrounded by mystery.  Yara grandmother encourages her to attend, even though Pendrell has been loosing students to suicide.  So, right away, she realizes her ability has been lying dormant all this time, until she is needed in a moments notice.

I really enjoyed this book.  Something huge happens to Yara, earlier then I was excepting, and I really love what the author did with it.  There are so many cools twists and turns that Yara takes, and where she ends up at the end is impressive.  There are so many likable characters in this book too.  Besides Yara, Brent was my favorite, a guy who has many of his own complications.

I recently met Lani Woodland at a book club discussion and instantly loved her.  She is so fun and sweet.  Lani got the idea for Intrinsical by doing a fan fiction story for her favorite show The X Files–it’s a cool story.  I also got to spend time with her at last weekend’s LDStorymakers Conference.  In a podcast interview that Sheila and I had with her, I was excited to learn that book two, Indelible will be released later this year.  Find out more about Lani here.

4 stars out of 5.  Great story, I will even let my teenage daughter read this, and I haven’t been saying that very often.  I will definitely read Book 2, and will read Intrinsical again.

I Don’t Want to Kill You by Dan Wells

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Apr 272011
 

I Don’t Want to Kill You

Author: Dan Wells

Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

Published: April 2011

ISBN: 978-0-7653-2249-4

Hardcover: 320 pages

First of all this will be a short review. I can not say much about this book that won’t give anything away in the other two. If you haven’t read I Am Not a Serial Killer or Mr. Monster then you need to read those before this one.  I admit I was seriously freaked out to read these books, (see my review) but I wanted to finish my Whitney reading.  Yes, they are scary, a bit gory, and nothing I’ve ever read before.  But, that is what makes them as good as they are and unique.  I love reading a book and after awhile, taking a break, then realizing that my mouth has been hanging open for who knows how long.  That’s what it was like to read this final book.

**Possible Spoiler Alert**

John has been through a lot in the past few months.  Killing and speaking to demons is almost like brushing his teeth.  More mysterious things are happening in town that he and a friend try to figure out.  Young girls are killing themselves and local public figures are being killed.  John suspects everyone, but what he gets he wasn’t expecting.

**Spoiler Over**

This is was my favorite book of the series.  John really comes to terms with himself and learns a lot, not only about himself, but the people in his life.  Some shocking things happen, a couple things I anticipated, one huge thing I didn’t.

4 1/2 stars out of 5.

Wrong Number by Rachelle J. Christensen

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Apr 132011
 

Wrong Number

Rachelle J. Christensen

Publisher: Bonneville Books/Cedar Fort

Published: 2010

Softcover: 198 pages

ISBN: 978-1-59955-364-1

FTC: Borrowed from library

“Aubree dug through a pile of papers on the kitchen counter, searching for her cell phone. She finally notices the familiar silver gleam under a stack of bills. She grabbed the phone, flipped it open, and groaned. The battery was dead.
“My cell phone is dead again!” Aubrey yelled up the stairs. She heard Devin muttering as he climbed out of bed. Plugging the phone in, she watched the empty battery image flash red and frowned. “I can’t wait for it to charge.” (page 1)

Aubree Stewart is happily married and expecting her first baby. This morning she is rushing off to work, and needs to borrow her husbands cell phone. On her way, she receives a strange call from a voice she doesn’t recognize, and a voice she has a hard time forgetting. He mentions where a body is hidden, something about green, and an intruder. Aubree tells him he has the wrong number and hangs up. All day she feels funny about this phone call, and tries to call her husband, with no luck. She calls the police and it starts a chain of events that include the FBI, witness protection, and fleeing for her life. To top it off, she’s worried about her unborn child. Will the police think she is suspect, and why can’t she get a hold of her husband? Most importantly, who can she trust?

4 out of 5 stars.  I really enjoyed this book. It is very exciting, and thrilling. I read it very fast, my attention was held the whole time, and I had nervous knots! Aubree is a character that grows a lot throughout. She is smart and has the ability to cope in a really tough situation. I enjoyed the turn the story took.

Wrong Number is Rachelle J. Christensen’s first novel and it is a finalist for a 2010 Whitney Award in the mystery category.

The Legend of Shannonderry by Carol Warburton

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Mar 302011
 

The Legend of Shannonderry

Author: Carol Warburton

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published: September 2010

Softcover: 254 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1-59811-902-2

FTC FYI: I borrowed from the library

I think the first thing that grabbed me about this book was the cover.  The girl is beautiful, and who doesn’t love horses?  The Legend of Shannonderry is a finalist for a 2010 Whitney award in the romance category.

Moira Donahue lives at Shannonderry.  A once beautiful estate in Ireland, famous for it’s stallions many years ago.  Shannonderry is falling apart, and is in need of a miracle.  Moira knows her daughter, Dierdre, died in childbirth and had a child.  She summons a trusted neighbor Cormac D’Arcy to go to England, find her grandchild, and see if she would like to come live with her at Shannonderry.  Cormac was worried, he didn’t want the old woman hurt.  What if she didn’t want to come?

Gwyneth Beddows was born in England in 1788.  When her mother, Dierdre, died in childbirth there was a controversy surrounding her.  As Gwyneth grows up, her father does not treat her well.  Gwyneth raised a feisty stallion, Toryn, and he is the only thing that brings her joy.  He is fast and beautiful, but will only let a few people around him.  One day when a stranger comes from Ireland with an offer to take her from Yorkshire to Shannonderry, she eagerly accepts.  There may be a catch.  They have to sneak away.  When Gwyneth arrives in Ireland she is immediately accepted by her grandmother.  Her nanny, Kate, that was sent away years ago by her father, is also there.  It is a happy reunion.  But, there is a lot more to this story. As it progresses the “legend of Shannonderry” is told and things happen that prove the difficult relationship with the English and Irish.

4 out of 5 stars.  I really enjoyed this book.  I loved the developing relationship between Gwyneth and Cormac, and with Gwyneth and her grandmother as well.

Carol Warburton has written four other books.  On a personal note… I was thrilled when I read the acknowledgments.  She is in a writing group with my dear aunt, Dorothy M. Keddington.

City of Angels by Sheralyn Pratt

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Mar 232011
 

City of Angels

Author: Sheralyn Pratt

Publisher: Cedar Fort/Bonneville Books

Published: 2010 (originally published in 2003 as Spies, Lies, and a Pair of Ties)

Paperback: 215 pages

ISBN: 978-1-59955-404-4

FTC FYI: I borrowed from the library

“A joyful sob mingled with the happy chatter of birds in the outdoor restuarant. “Yes!” the woman three tables down on my right cried out, just before leaning to drop a kiss on the man kneeling before her.  The proposal and acceptance earned a gentle clap from older couples at surrounding tables.

… And my date was late” (page 1)

Rhea Jensen is my kind of girl.  Spunky, fun, smart, and real smart alec.  City of Angels starts off fast and never lets go.

Rhea is on a case.  Her date is late, so she practices trying to get out a handcuffs with a special device she’s made.  She seats herself in a secluded corner in the restaurant and “tags” her best friend/reporter Kaye.  Rhea is trying to stop a serial date rapist by posing as one of his dates, even down to faking being drugged by a tainted drink.  While pretending to bob her head, she pulls out her cop-style cuffs and hides them under the table.  Date man shows up, thinking she is out of it, and what he gets is the surprise of his life.

Rhea is a private investigator, one of the best.  Her boss Elliott, has another case for her.  A big shot at Jock Stock, Stephan Martel, is suspected of embezzling from his company, but here’s the catch.  The amount of money, isn’t a lot to shake a stick at, 200k.  But enough to land him in jail.  Martel is sure he knows who is it, but once she takes the case, Rhea has her own suspicions.

Of course, I’m paraphrasing.  Lots of things happen. I haven’t mentioned her crazy roommates that drive her nuts, Ben, (who needs a couple paragraphs to explain their relationship) and Kaye.  And oh yeah, LDS missionaries.

What I like most about Sheralyn’s books is the action.  But also, she has a perfect way of adding things that you’ll care about and want for Rhea.  How it’s added in, is great.  Especially the missionaries part.

4 out of 5 stars.  I have also read book 2 in this series, Welcome to Stalk Lake City.  I would give that one 4.5 stars out of five.  There are two more books: City Limits and Kay’sville. Kay’sville was nominated for a 2010 Whitney.  On a personal note, Sheralyn is a great gal, and an awesome author.  I picture her as Rhea as I’m reading.  She is awesome to be around, very spunky, and fun!

I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Mar 162011
 

I Am Not A Serial Killer

Dan Wells

Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

Published: April 2010

Hardcover: 271 pages

ISBN: 978-0-7653-2247-0

FTC FYI: I borrowed from the library

Mr. Monster

Dan Wells

Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

Published: October 2010

Paperback: 287 pages

ISBN: 978-0-7653-2790-1

FYC FYI: Borrowed from the library

This review of mine will in no way replace Hillary’s brilliant review from last year. I just wanted to let people know what I thought. I had been scared to read these books for awhile. I even told the author that when I met him last year. But with Mr. Monster up for a Whitney this year, I knew it was time to break down and read them. I read them both in just a couple days. Yes, they are scary, gory, and disturbing. That being said, they are also fascinating and very well written. I am shocked to say that I am looking forward to book three, I Don’t Want to Kill You, which comes out March 29, 2011.

In I Am Not A Serial Killer, we meet John Wayne Cleaver, a 15 years old who lives above a mortuary, who is obsessed with serial killers, dead bodies, and fires.  Oh, and is also a sociopath. John works at the mortuary with mother and aunt Margaret.  He even ties serial killers into reports he writes for school about “historical events”.  Because of one of those reports, he is sent to Dr. Neblin, a physciatrist .  John goes every week to his appointments and tell Dr. Neblin about his rules.

  1. I will not hurt animals
  2. I will not burn things
  3. When I think bad thought about someone, I will push the thoughts away and say something nice about that person
  4. I will not call people “it”
  5. If I start to follow someone, I will ignore them as much as possible for a full week
  6. I will not threaten people, even implicitly
  7. If people threaten me, I will leave the situation

Things in town start to get exciting for John, dead bodies show up around town with pieces missing.  He is even more excited when they come to the mortuary.  Don’t get me wrong, John has issues.  Serious issues.  But, he really doesn’t want to hurt anyone.  He finds things out about the murderer, and oh boy, hold on for a nail biting, crazy ride.

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT:

I really liked what the author does with killer.  Instead of making the killer life-like, he goes a different way and I was really relieved about that.  I know relieved is a weird word, but it was nice to not have the killer too real.

As for Mr. Monster, I can’t give too many details about this book because it will give too much away.  This is one is just as scary, and even more murderous.  Just as well written as the first.

I Am Not a Serial Killer tied for Best Novel at the 2009 Whitney Awards.

4/5 stars for both.

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