S.E.C.R.E.T. Shared by L. Marie Adeline
Publisher: Broadway Books
Release Date: October 15, 2013
My rating: 4 .5 of 5 stars
S.E.C.R.C.R.E.T. Shared is the second book in the S.E.C.R.E.T. trilogy and this review may have spoilers for the first book, S.E.C.R.E.T.
Publisher’s Description:
Still wounded from a recent heartbreak over her boss and lover, Will, Cassie Robichaud throws herself into service with S.E.C.R.E.T., the mysterious organization that changed her forever by bringing her deepest sexual fantasies to life, one step at a time. Now, it’s Cassie’s turn to guide the group’s newest candidate, Dauphine Mason, recruiting men to execute a new set of fantasies.
At thirty-one, Dauphine is the proprietor of a New Orleans vintage clothing store. She’s been harboring a crush on Mark Drury, a local rock star, but is too shy to put herself out there with him. She turns to S.E.C.R.E.T. to reignite her sexual flame and find the confidence to risk her heart again with another man.
As Cassie worries that the right time will never come for her and Will, she finds inspiration helping Dauphine in S.E.C.R.E.T. Both women navigate the rocky path between their hearts and their passions, hoping to discover what they truly want in life and in love.
Like S.E.C.R.E.T., this book had an engaging plot. There were plenty of sex scenes but a sturdy plot held the story together. The first book left Cassie and Will hanging in the balance so I was glad to find out what happened to them. I really liked the new character, Dauphine. She’s plus sized but that doesn’t hold her back once she starts S.E.C.R.E.T. She’s still sexy and has great sex. It’s nice to see a real woman in this type of book.
In my review of the first book, I noted that the descriptions of sex organs was pretty vague. I think the author read my review because that was not a problem in this book! I was glad for the change but fainter hearted readers may want to proceed with caution.
My only complaint about this book is that the word “drama” was overused. I may be over-sensitive to that since I find the word irritating in general. But on the whole I think there are better words that can be used to describe conflict. A minor quibble but I thought I would mention it since the author obviously reads my reviews and will take care to avoid that word in the final book, S.E.C.R.E.T. Revealed, which comes out in May.
If you are an erotica reader who also appreciates a great story then you should definitely check out the S.E.C.R.E.T. trilogy.
(I received this book courtesy of Amazon Vine.)
March 25th, 2014 in
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Last week, I reviewed the book Divergent by Veronica Roth. Today’s review is of Divergent, the movie based on the book.
I have mixed feelings about the movie. To avoid spoiling the book or movie, I’ll have to be somewhat vague. While the movie followed the basic outline of the book’s plot, there were some key scenes either condensed or left out all together. For instance, the ferris wheel scene was truncated and I feel like that scene is important to developing Four’s character and his interaction with Tris in that scene is important too.
At the same time, I understand why the changes were made. Since the book is written from Tris’s first person point of view, a lot of the story is told in her head, revealed in her thoughts about people and the action. Unless a voice-over narration is used, which it wasn’t, what Tris is thinking has to be shown in her actions and in other people’s reactions to her.
Also, the book is almost five-hundred pages long so condensing the story somewhat was necessary to make the movie a reasonable length, I’m sure. In doing this, the action was made more “Hollywood”, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
If I hadn’t read the book, I think I would have enjoyed this movie more. In and of itself, it’s fun and action packed. The directing of the fight scenes was impressive as well. I was pleasantly surprised with how well Shailene Woodley played Tris. She acted a lot more tough than I thought she could. And her physicality in the fight scenes was impressive. I still think of her as Amy from The Secret Life of the American Teenager but she’s clearly come a long way since that show.
I think my expectations for this movie were too high. If you’ve read the book, go into it with your expectations in check and just enjoy the ride.
March 24th, 2014 in
Movie Reviews |
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Free Four: Tobias Tells the Story by Veronica Roth
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 2012
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I know you have probably read my rants about how annoying it is when authors/publishers release extra e-books that are part of a series. I mean, I’m glad to have more content for the series I love. But on the other hand, it seems like a ploy to get another dollar or two out of loyal readers. Also, it’s so hard to keep track of the e-book only add-ons to various series. The only way I find out about them is through tracking all the series I read on Fict Fact – which is a great site by the way, you should check it out.
I loved Divergent so much that I gave myself permission to purchase the e-booklet Free Four for 99 cents. It’s a 13 page rewrite of the knife throwing scene from Divergent told from Four’s point of view. I ended up being glad that I shoved my inner cynic aside and bought it. Four is kind of a mysterious guy and I liked getting into his head a bit.
By the way, Veronica Roth is coming out with a four-story compilation that is a prequel to Divergent. It appears that it’s about Four’s back-story before and during his initiation into Dauntless. It’s supposed to be released in July. You can find more information on Veronica’s blog.
March 21st, 2014 in
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Divergent B&n Edition by Veronica Roth
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books, an imprint of HarperCollins
Release Date: 2011
My rating: 4.5of 5 stars
Publisher’s Description:
In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
I know I am the last among fans of YA dystopian fiction to read this book. I like to wait to read trilogies until after all three books have been released so I don’t have to wait months between books. With the movie adaptation of Divergent coming out this week, I decided it was time to dive into this series.
I am pleased to report that Divergent lived up to the hype that has surrounded it in the years since it was first released. I thought the idea of grouping people in separate factions according to their personality traits was a fresh take on dystopian world building. I was confused about how kids choose which faction to join though and that’s why I docked this book half a star. The kids are given aptitude tests when they turn 16 to determine which faction they belong in but then they are allowed to choose to join a different faction than the one they tested into if they want. So what was the point of the testing? I know that it was to set Tris up as being Divergent but I think that could have been set up in a way that would have made more sense.
Once that part was over, I was all in. I loved Tris and how introspective she was about how she was changing during the initiation process. Roth does a fantastic job with descriptive language throughout the book. I loved the metaphors she used. Usually in a book with a lot of action scenes, I have trouble picturing the choreography of the action while I’m reading it but that wasn’t usually a problem while reading this book.
Roth also does a wonderful job of building tension between Tris and her love interest. The relationship is fairly chaste but still so fraught with emotion. Roth just writes so beautifully, whether she’s describing action or interaction between people.
The edition of Divergent that I bought has bonus materials that include a Q&A with Veronica Roth, discussion guide, faction manifestos and more. I loved it because the bonus pieces gave me even more insight into how Divergent came together.
Needless to say, I loved this book and I can’t wait to see the movie!
Come back here tomorrow – I’ll have a mini-review of the e-pamphlet Free Four, which is the knife-throwing scene in Divergent as told from Four’s point of few.
March 20th, 2014 in
Books |
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Tuesday, I reviewed the book Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. Today’s review is of the 2005 movie Because of Winn Dixie which is based on the book.
I have to start out by saying that when I saw Dave Matthews’ name in the opening credits I was kind of shocked. I thought what the heck is he doing in a kids’ movie?! He played Otis and I was pleasantly surprised at how well he can act. And of course he also sang and played guitar in the movie as Otis did in the book. It turning out to be great casting, even if it did make me feel old that a musician that I was a fan of in college is now being cast in films for children! This movie actually has some great casting all around. Jeff Daniels is Opal’s dad, Cicely Tyson is Gloria Dump, Eva Marie Saint is Miss Fanny the librarian and little Elle Fanning plays Sweetie Pie .
The movie was not as melancholy as the book. A bumbling sheriff and a grumpy old landlord that were trying to get Winn Dixie to the pound were added. I have a feeling it was not only for comic effect but also to make the movie longer since the book is fairly short. I’m not a big fan of physical or screwball comedy but my children loved watching those two characters and thought they were hilarious. I think it was good comedic relief and kept the movie from getting to heavy for little kids. My son West, who is seven years old, did cry at the end of the movie. Opal saves up to buy Winn Dixie a red collar and although she does end up getting it, the movie doesn’t show her actually putting it on Winn Dixie. For some reason, this really upset West. I’m fairly certain that it won’t phase other kids.
Overall, I think this a great movie for a family movie night – both parents and kids will be entertained.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Publisher: Candlewick (2009 reprint)
Original Release Date: 2000
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Publisher’s Description:
When 10 year-old India Opal Buloni moves to Naomi, Florida with her father, she doesn’t know what to expect – least of all that she’ll adopt Winn-Dixie, a dog she names after the supermarket where they meet. With such an usually friendly dog at her side, Opal soon finds herself making more than a few unusual friends. And soon, Opal and her father realize – with a little help from Winn-Dixie, – of course – that they while they’ve both tasted a bit of melancholy in their lives, they still have a whole lot to be thankful for.
This book was a selection for the intergenerational book club that my nine-year old son and I are in together. I really like Southern literature for adults and I found this to be a very charming example of middle-grade Southern fiction. Part of our book club discussion was trying to figure out in what time period the book is set in. Some of us thought the 1950s or 60s while others thought maybe as long ago as the 1920s. That the time period is left vague serves to make this book timeless and one that present day children can relate too as well as children in the future.
The characters in Winn-Dixie were each very well developed, especially considering this book is narrated in first person by a child of around 10 years old. Her narration was authentic for a child of that age and still so descriptive. Each character served to teach Opal some sort of moral lesson but it wasn’t heavy handed or preachy. The ensemble cast of varied characters in a small town reminded me of the Fannie Flagg novels (for grown-ups) I read and she’s one of my favorite authors.
Everyone in the book club agreed that this is a great book.
Side note: We try to have snacks at our meetings that are tied in some way to the book we have read. For the discussion of this book we had a big jar of pickles and a bag of Werther’s Original candy. You’ll have to read the book to find out why!
For more reviews of books for children and teens, check out Booking Mama’s feature, Kid Konnection, posted on Saturdays. If you’d like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children’s books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, you can go to her site to leave a comment and your link .
March 11th, 2014 in
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Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: September 24, 2013
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Publisher’s Description:
Teenage Lynn has been taught to defend her pond against every threat: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most important, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty or doesn’t leave at all.
Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. But when strangers appear, the mysterious footprints by the pond, the nighttime threats, and the gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it. . . .
I thought this book was a great offering in the wide, wide world of YA dystopian fiction. One thing that made it unique in terms of the dystopian YA books that I’ve read is that I could easily imagine a water shortage like this happening at some point in the future. Maybe even in the not-so-distant future.
I would have liked to see more world building in this book. It’s never really explained what caused the water shortage. Also, there is some talk of a city – I would have liked the author to have delved more into what the city was like and more of its rules for the people who lived there. What would be fantastic is if Ms. McGinnis wrote a prequel about the lives of some people from the city that Lynn encounters. (If you read the book, you’ll know which characters to which I’m referring.)
I liked how well developed the characters were – no one seemed like a stereotype. Lynn was the tough girl but she had depth as well. And I loved that she was stronger and more capable than some of the men in the story.
I’m looking forward to reading whatever Ms. McGinnis comes up with next.
(I received this book courtesy of the Amazon Vine program.)
March 10th, 2014 in
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Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: October 2011
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Publisher’s Description:
From Brian Selznick, the creator of the Caldecott Medal winner THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET, comes another breathtaking tour de force.
Playing with the form he created in his trailblazing debut novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick once again sails into uncharted territory and takes readers on an awe-inspiring journey.
Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother’s room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.
Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories–Ben’s told in words, Rose’s in pictures–weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful–with over 460 pages of original artwork–Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.
I found Wonderstruck to be utterly fascinating and unique. Ben’s story is told in words while Rose’s story is told in pictures. I don’t want to spoil anything, but telling Rose’s story in pictures helps the reader understand Rose’s life at a level that words cannot convey.
I think it’s pretty clear that Rose and Ben’s story will eventually come together somehow but I was completely surprised by how this happened.
Do not let the thickness of the this book turn you off. More than half of it is marvelous full -page illustrations. It only took me a couple of hours to read. The detail in the illustrations is amazing and the emotion each one conveys to the reader is breathtaking.
I read this story because it was a pick for the intergenerational book club my oldest son and I are a part of. This book was thoroughly enjoyed by the adults and kids alike. I highly recommend Wonderstruck.
For more reviews of books for children and teens, check out Booking Mama’s feature, Kid Konnection, posted on Saturdays. If you’d like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children’s books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, you can go to her site to leave a comment and your link .
March 4th, 2014 in
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Last week I reviewed the book 12 Years A Slave. This weekend I saw the movie adaptation of the book, also titled 12 Years A Slave. Unless you live under a rock, I’m sure you’ve heard of the movie and that it’s been nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Chiwetel Ejiofor for Best Actor, Michael Fassbender for Best Supporting Actor, Lupita Nyong’o for Best Supporting Actress and Steve McQueen for Best Director.
I found the movie to be a great adaptation of the book. Some things were condensed or not explained in as much detail as they were in the book but the overall sense of the dreadful life of a slave was still there. The story is told in a non-linear fashion with flashbacks to Solomon’s life before he was kidnapped into slavery. The one thing that really bothered me was the opening scene in which Solomon is having sex with another slave. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that in the book, Solomon is faithful to his wife during his entire time in slavery. I’m not really sure what the purpose of the sex scene was supposed to be. If you have an idea of why it was included, please tell me!
The movie is produced by Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B. I found it funny that Brad Pitt cast himself as the one truly good guy in the South, even though it’s a very small role. His character is originally from Canada but had a southern accent. Did Canadians speak with the accent they have now – aboot for about and the like – back in the 1800s? I would have liked him to speak that way. Ejiofor, who plays Solomon was phenomenal. At times, the camera would just stay on a silent close-up of his face for several seconds and his agony was palpable. That’s a testament to McQeen’s great directing as well.
Fassbender was really good, but there’s no way he’ll beat Jared Leto of Dallas Buyer’s Club for Best Supporting Actor. Nyong’o was fabulous and she had some of the hardest, most emotional scenes of the movie. I think she deserves to win Best Supporting Actress for sure.
This was a hard but wonderful movie. I think that if you read the book first, you’ll have a more in depth understanding of events but even without having read the book, I think you’ll find the movie fantastic.
February 18th, 2014 in
Movie Reviews |
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After I’m Gone: A Novel by Laura Lippman
Publisher: William Morrow
February 11, 2014
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Publisher’s Description:
When Felix Brewer meets Bernadette “Bambi” Gottschalk at a Valentine’s Dance in 1959, he charms her with wild promises, some of which he actually keeps. Thanks to his lucrative—if not all legal—businesses, she and their three little girls live in luxury. But on the Fourth of July, 1976, Bambi’s comfortable world implodes when Felix, newly convicted and facing prison, mysteriously vanishes.
Though Bambi has no idea where her husband—or his money—might be, she suspects one woman does: his mistress, Julie. When Julie disappears ten years to the day that Felix went on the lam, everyone assumes she’s left to join her old lover—until her remains are eventually found.
Now, twenty-six years after Julie went missing, Roberto “Sandy” Sanchez, a retired Baltimore detective working cold cases for some extra cash, is investigating her murder. What he discovers is a tangled web stretching over three decades that connects five intriguing women. And at the center is the missing man Felix Brewer.
Somewhere between the secrets and lies connecting past and present, Sandy will find the truth. And when he does, no one will ever be the same.
This book is classified as a mystery/crime novel but in reality it is fascinating character study of the five women in Felix Brewer’s life – his wife, three daughters and mistress. I was most intrigued by Bambi’s story. It really made me think how hard it would be to be wealthy one minute and have it all suddenly taken away. She goes from a mentor to some of the newer mobster wives to being pitied by them. All of the characters are wonderfully layered and developed like Bambi. Because this IS a crime novel and written by Ms. Lippman, it has surprising twists and turns as well. I enjoyed this book on many levels. I love this author and her style and I am thrilled with her latest release.
(I received this book courtesy of the Amazon Vine program.)
Another book I’ve reviewed by Laura Lippman:
I’d Know You Anywhere
February 11th, 2014 in
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