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.

Key Lime Pie by Josi S. Kilpack

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Mar 022011
 

Key Lime Pie

Author: Josi S. Kilpack

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published: 2010

Softcover: 345 pages

Genre: Mystery/Suspense

ISBN-13: 978-1-60641-813-0

FTC FYI- I purchased my own copy

Hello, all!  Don’t adjust your computer screen.  It’s me!  I am taking over Wednesday’s.

Key Lime Pie is book four in the Sadie Hoffmiller mystery series.

While planting flowers for her required community service (see Devil’s Food Cake), Sadie Hoffmiller’s new friend Eric comes to say hi, and to flirt. Sadie can’t deny that she likes Eric, but she is dating Pete. While Pete and Sadie have never defined their relationship, she is torn with her feelings for both men. Eric takes a phone call. His daughter, Megan, has been missing for three years and the phone call was informing Eric that they found a body and need him to come to Florida right away. Sadie and Pete go on their date, but Sadie can’t get Eric and his situation out of her mind.  After her dinner, armed with cookies, she goes to Eric’s and asks what she can do to help, Eric asks Sadie to come to Florida with him, she says no.  They say goodbye and Eric is on his way. The next day, Sadie gets a call from Eric. He needs her to clean out a trailer so he can sell it right away and he also needs a box of Megan’s items sent to Florida right away. She rushes over to the house, finds the box, but can’t fight her natural “busy-bodiness”. She opens the box, and with the items inside, she can’t figure out why they would be of such importance. Because she is too curious, Sadie makes the decision to go to Florida herself to deliver it. When she gets there, however, things don’t go as planned.  We meet Layla, Megan’s mother and Larry, Layla’s second ex-husband.  And they have secrets of their own.

I loved this book. Josi’s stories are so expertly detailed and very well written. I was surprised with the turn that Key Lime Pie took, and was happy that I didn’t figure it out. Sadie has gotten herself in some pickles before, but this was by far the most suspenseful. Although she is very curious and a self-described busy body, Sadie genuinely cares about the people she is helping and is very resourceful. I really enjoyed the ending, and felt she made a very good decision about the men in the life.

Would I:

  • Recommend this book?  Absolutely.  It reads very fast, and is very exciting.  The ending surprised me too.
  • Read it again?  Yes!  Excited to read the next in the series Blackberry Crumble.

4 stars out of 5

Why there is no review today

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Feb 242011
 

Sunday night I got a surprise package in the shape of a broken collar bone. My youngest daughter failed miserably at her attempted handstand. It’s been a rough week with pain and slings, but she went to school Wednesday and said she had a great day. I’ll be back next week!

Luck of the Draw by Rachael Renee Anderson

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Feb 172011
 

Luck of the Draw

Author: Rachael Renee Anderson

Publisher: Bonneville/Cedar Fort

Published: 2010

Softcover: 214 pages

ISBN: 978-1-599-55-443-3

FYC FYI- Borrowed from the library

Brighton Andrews lives with his three roommates at BYU-Idaho, and not one of them likes to do laundry. In order to avoid it, the one holding the toy rat needs to ask out a stranger and take her on a date. Brighton is challenged to go out with three girls, who happen to be roommates and they can’t know they are dating the same guy. If he wins, no laundry for a month. Challenge accepted. His first conquest is Katherine Buzzner, a gorgeous, fun girl he met at the school library, but rushing around he “crashes” into Dani Collins, Katherine’s roommate, who does all she can to avoid him. The third is an obnoxious opera star, and Brighton sits through many “performances”. As great as Katherine is, Brighton can’t get Dani out of his mind. He even takes snowboarding lessons from her to try to get another date. He is really starting to like her. Brighton, who calls himself Jeff to Dani, really turns on the charm, but Dani is hesitant. Mainly because Jeff is going to med school when he graduates. Instant turn-off for Dani. Her father is a doctor, and felt her parents weren’t there for her growing up. They were more interested in the next social event instead of being parents. Luckily Dani had her Nana who kept her grounded, and showed her the life she knows she wants.

What I liked most is, what happens next. Of course, Brighton will get caught (sorry to spoil, but it was inevitable right). I enjoyed how it all came about, and where Dani and Brighton go from there.

I really enjoyed this book. The turn it took really surprised me, I’m glad there was more to what the back cover read. My favorite was Dani, she is a great character. A smart girl who has a strong testimony, and a strong head on her shoulders. She knows what she wants, but also learns to bend at end. I laughed and cried.

4 1/2 stars of out 5. Rachael has also written Divinely Designed, which I have not read, but will very soon. Congrats to Rachael, Luck of the Draw is a finalist for a 2010 Whitney Award in the Romance category. Here’s the link to Rachael’s blog.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Feb 102011
 


The Wednesday Wars

Gary D. Schmidt

Publisher: Clarion Books

Published: 2007

2008 Newberry Medal and Honor Book

FTC FYI- I borrowed it from a friend who borrowed it from the library

Holling Hoodhood has a problem. He is neither Jewish or Catholic, so he is the only student in his class who doesn’t go to church school on Wednesdays. That means he is stuck with Mrs. Baker, who hates him. Of course any seventh grade boy is going to think that of his teacher, especially when she rolls her eyes and crosses her arms all the time. The year is 1967. Holling lives in Long Island with his parents and sister. Father is an architect, mother is a house wife and closet smoker. His sister is a flower-child, which his father “can not stand for in his house.”  Through these characters we are witness to many important events that happened around this time: Martin Luther King, The Beatles, Bobby Kennedy, Mickey Mantle, Vietnam War, Shakespeare… Wait, Shakespeare, that doesn’t happen in 1967. Just wait.

At first Wednesday are hard for Holling because he is only asked to do menial chores: cleaning erasers and running errands, mostly. One of the funniest parts is when Holling is cleaning out the rat cage. In his time with Mrs. Baker, she decides that Holling should learn Shakespeare. Which leads to a very funny problem with yellow tights, feathers and all. Holling learns things about himself, his family, and along the way finds a friendship. My favorite part though, was near the end when we find out what his sister’s name is.

5 stars out of 5. I loved this book. It is so funny, I was laughing out loud. It’s also very sweet, I got teary in a few spots.

Gary D. Schmidt has written more books. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy won the American Library Assocation and Newberry Honor in 2005.

Queen in Exile by Donna Hatch

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Feb 032011
 


Queen in Exile

Donna Hatch

Publisher: Walnut Springs Press

Published: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-935-217-63-3

FYC FYI- I received a free copy, which did not affect my review.

Jeniah is a princess with a secret, she can do magic. She keeps it to herself because she feels like an outcast in her royal family, and magic brings trouble. Jeniah’s power is a blurring power, she can hide herself anyway she wants. Jeniah doesn’t feel important, just a princess that will be married off at her father’s convenience. Her only enjoyment is riding her duocorn. One afternoon on a ride, she meets her destined chayim (a magical creature with power). They are bounded immediately, now deep down she realizes she is special, if this creature choose her. A knight from a distant country, Kai, on his way to her country, thinks she in trouble, and kills the great beast. The two don’t start off on the right foot, but gradually their relationship grows. Later, Jeniah is promised to the Hanoran prince. This troubles her because of the rumors of the gruesome king, dark magic, and torture. Alas, she accepts her fate. Before she is sent off, her country is invaded. She escapes with Kai, and along their journey, Jeniah discovers things about herself, her magic, and her family that change her destiny.

I LOVED this book. The romantic tension between Kai and Jeniah was awesome. There was so much action and suspense, I couldn’t get enough. I read it so fast because I wanted to see what was happening next, but I didn’t want to finish because then it would be over…

5 stars of out of 5. I would read it again, and have recommend it many friends. It was also nominated for a 2010 Whitney Award.

Donna Hatch has written many books. Find out more about her here. I am also looking forward to reading her others books as well.

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