Books by the Banks 2016!

This past Saturday I had the great pleasure of going to Books By The Banks! This is an amazing free book festival in Cincinnati. I've never been able to go before, since I was always working that day. But I made sure to take a vacation day so I can enjoy it for the first time ever! And it was even better than I imagined.

I went with several book-loving friends, and we started by visiting the Kids Center because Little Critter was there! My friend got her picture taken with him, while I got my picture taken with the mascot of a nearby library system.

Next we moved on to the Teen Scene, and this was the best! We participated in Author Speed Dating. We sat at a table, and every six minutes a new author would sit down with us and chat. Everyone I met was so incredibly nice, and I ended up buying a lot of books because they did an excellent job with their book talks. We were about to leave to check out everything else when author Kurt Dinan told us we couldn't leave because he was able to play Heads Up, and we needed to be there to join him. After telling us a hilarious story, he convinced us to stick around. The game was fun, and I got to meet even more amazing teen authors.

After leaving the Teen Scene, we browsed the sponsor tables. I found out Cincinnati has a calligraphy guild, and one of the members wrote my name in gold ink on a bookmark for me - and it's so beautiful! Following that, we slid into a panel with Jim Obergefell, author of Love Wins: The Lovers and Lawyers Who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality. It was an amazing talk, and I will admit to tearing up more than a few times. After that panel was one with Jenny Lawson. And let me tell you - she is absolutely hilarious in person. I knew she was funny in her books, but she's just as amazingly ridiculous in the flesh. I loved getting to meet her and have her sign my book later.

After the panels, we visited with the young adult authors in the author pavilion. I'll admit it - I spent 140 dollars on books. But it was so worth it!

I had a fantastic time, and I cannot wait for next year!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Review: WICKED CHARMS by Janet Evanovich!

Release Date: June 23rd, 2015

Type: Fiction, Series, Mystery, Humor, Paranormal, Lizzy is a lot of Stephanie Plum, Diesel is still the best!, Maybe Carl

About the Book: Murdered and mummified more than ninety years ago, bootlegger Collier “Peg Leg” Dazzle once found and re-hid a famous pirate’s treasure somewhere along the coast of New England. A vast collection of gold and silver coins and precious gems, the bounty also contains the Stone of Avarice — the very item reluctant treasure seeker, Lizzy Tucker, and her partner, Diesel, have been enlisted to find. While Lizzy would just like to live a quiet, semi-normal life, Diesel is all about the hunt. And this hunt is going to require a genuine treasure map and a ship worthy of sailing the seven seas . . . or at least getting them from Salem Harbor to Maine.

Greed is eternal and insatiable, and Lizzy and Diesel aren’t the only ones searching for the lost pirate’s chest. There are people who have dedicated their entire lives to finding it, and are willing to commit murder or make a deal with the devil, just to hold the fortune in their hands. One of those people may even be Wulf, Diesel’s deceptively charming and enigmatic cousin. Wulf desires the Stone of Avarice. He also desires Lizzy. It’s hard to say how far he’s willing to go to gain either one.

It’s a swashbuckling adventure full of raiders, monkeys, minions, and mayhem. Lizzy and Diesel are going to have to do everything they can to keep their heads above water and hope they are living a charmed life. [Description from Goodreads.com]

My Review: I started reading Janet Evanovich years ago when I picked up her Stephanie Plum series, because I wanted something mystery-ish without being too heavy. I stopped reading at book 17 because it got to the point where there was absolutely no character growth from book 1 to 17. But the paranormal and science fiction lover in me couldn't help but love the Plum holiday stories, featuring Diesel. And I jumped for joy when he was going to get his own series. Unfortunately, Lizzy is very Stephanie Plum-like, but at least Lizzy has some talents, and some sense. But the hijinks are fun, and still feel fresh, compared to the author's other long-running series.

I call this type of book a "mind break." These books are ones I pick up purely for the chuckles. They're not the best written book, and if you want high class literature, you best look elsewhere. But what they are is fun. Wicked Charms is no exception to this fun-ness. I chuckled my way through this book, and once I got two chapters in, I was hooked and didn't want to put it down. So rating this book on fun factor, I'm giving it a four. Because I enjoyed the heck out of it.

Cover Lovin': Good cover. A little plain, maybe, but it fits in with the rest of the series.

Recommendation: You need to start from book one to understand Lizzy and Diesel's mission, and where Wulf and Hatchet fit in, but this is one of those fun, silly reads that are good to cleanse your mind from heavier stuff.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5). I can't help myself. I just really enjoy this series. Sure, it's simple, but it's great fun. And everyone needs a little fun in their reading schedule from time to time.

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Snow day February 21, 2015 - READATHON!

This morning, bright and early as I was getting ready for work, I got the call a librarian always hopes for in winter - SNOW DAY!

SO! Since I have an unexpected day off, I decided to do something new (for me) and fun - a READATHON!

I have some books I need to review for Romance Reviews Today, some books from the library, and some review books for here to go through, so I will be mixing and matching all day. Breaks will be taken, of course - food and stretching are of the up most importance during a strenuous readathon day. Plus I will probably take the time to jot down some notes after each review book, so I don't forget my initial thoughts. 

Anyone interested in joining in is welcome to it! If so, comment with your blog link talking about your own readathon updates, or maybe link to your Goodreads account (but don't be surprised if I start following you!).

I'll post every so often with updates. 

UPDATE 10:15 A.M.: I've read 80-some pages of PLAYING DIRTY by HelenKay Dimon - Caught somewhere between really liking the storyline, and really disliking how it's done.

UPDATE 12:52 A.M.: Took a break from PLAYING DIRTY to read THE SCULPTOR by Scott McLoud. Holy cow was it amazing! Definitely a four if not FIVE star read! Highly recommended to fans of graphic novels, specifically sci-fi or speculative fiction readers (think Neil Gaiman).

UPDATE 4:37 P.M.: Well, the weather took a turn for the worse, so I crawled into bed to read. Unfortunately, this meant that I was snuggly warm, and soon fell asleep - I lost an hour and a half! Not including my half hour for lunch earlier. Oh well. Next up, I have started on IN SEARCH OF LOST DRAGONS. This is a sort of graphic novel, or maybe a fictional journal with pictures? It reminds me a lot of the Memoirs of Lady Trent series. Just when I got to a third of the way in - Low battery warning! ARGH! So another break for me, this time to do dishes (Alas, I am completely out of spoons, and of course - now all I can think about is soup). 

UPDATE 9:08 P.M.: So my readathon is winding down. After dishes (aka "food laundry") and dinner, I got myself to the halfway mark of PLAYING DIRTY, and read SHELL GAME, a short story by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, part of the Fox and O'Hare series.. which happens to be my guilty pleasure.

I'd like to thank everyone that left comments here, on Goodreads, or via Twitter. I hope you have a wonderful day, and stay warm!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~

REVIEW: "Love Game" by Elise Sax

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Type: Contemporary, Mystery, Romance-y, Book 3, Small Town, Matchmaking and Murder

About the Book: Perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich, Jennifer Crusie, and Katie MacAlister, Elise Sax’s wickedly funny Matchmaker series proves that the road to love comes with a few dead ends.

Five months have passed since Gladie Burger came to Cannes, California, to join her eccentric Grandma Zelda in the family matchmaking business, and Gladie is quickly mastering the rules of attraction. Her latest fix-up is still going strong and Gladie’s bank account is back in the black—until a rival matchmaker arrives in town and has both Gladie and Zelda seeing red.

Not only is self-proclaimed psychic Luanda Laughing-Eagle stealing Grandma Zelda’s clients, but Zelda is convinced that Luanda’s ESP is total BS. She tasks Gladie with exposing Luanda as a fraud, but Gladie’s attention is diverted when murder comes a-calling. Spencer Bolton, the gorgeous chief of police and Gladie’s on-again, off-again flame, wants her to stay out of the investigation—and away from the deliciously chiseled detective who also aims to win Gladie’s heart. But the one thing Gladie’s learned is that in business, love and murder . . . it’s always personal.

My Review: When I added this book to my Goodreads' "currently reading" shelf, I happened to glance at other reviews mentioning the fact that this book is more mystery than romance, so I was prepared. I think I would have felt let down if I hadn't prepared myself for a mystery. Don't get me wrong, the book is good, and I enjoyed it immensely, but despite what the book itself and the cover might tell you, this is no fun romp of a romance. 

I always thought the highest praise you could give an author's characterization is that their characters feel real - and "Love Game" fits that bill. I've known some seriously grumpy old ladies, and I can imagine Ruth fitting right in with them. Heck, I've known a few Spencer and Luandas in my time, for that matter. Each character had their flaws and problems, and I loved them for it. I already want more of the series and more of the characters, but there is no notion of a fourth book in our future.

While mystery is not my top genre, I thought the mystery in "Love Game" was solid, and worked out well. Gladie clearly has a gift for getting into trouble, but she also has a gift for getting them all out of it. She may stumble into the mess, but she's bright and plucky, and she can figure out how to solve whatever problem is looming. 

Cover Lovin': I like this cover. I think this would be a great cover... for a different book. This cover implies a fun, contemporary romance. And while Gladie has her share of romantic feelings in this book, "Love Game" is essentially a mystery novel with some relationship issues thrown in. The rest of the covers in the series are about the same - more love than mystery.

Recommendation: For fans of Stephanie Plum that want a bit more of a modern take. For mystery lovers that love that small-town dynamic, with a bit of spicy romance included. For readers who understand that love is complicated and sometimes you just can't figure out what you want. 

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5). I couldn't put it down, I'm eagerly looking up the first two books in the series to read, and I instantly searched for any news about another book.. all signs of a 4/5 level book.

My plea to the author: Please please please write more of this series! I want to know what happens now with that little ending snafu. Release it e-book only, email me possible spoilers, whatever it takes - I just need to know!

Find the author at her website for more information.

The Series So Far:
Book 1: An Affair to Dismember

Book 2: Matchpoint

Book 3: Love Game

How positively snarky! REVIEW of "The Kensei" by Jon F. Merz

 Why this book?: Librarything sent it to me for review. Why did I request it? For the awesome vampireness of course!

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Type: Series, Vampires, Interesting Vampire Creation Myths, Enough Romance to Keep Me Interested, Excellent Villain, I love a quippy hero, Vamps got skillz

About the book: Lawson has decided to take a break. Work as a Fixer can wear on ones soul, so some time off, away from normal life seems to be the way to go. However, even when on vacation, things don't go well. He's not in Japan for more than an hour before he's in an altercation. While Lawson is incredibly excited to see his girlfriend, she brings along another problem. Will Lawson ever be able to take a break? And more importantly, will he be able to survive the mysterious and feared Kensei?

My Review: "The Kensei" is several novels into the Lawson Vampire series, and despite this fact, I had absolutely no trouble getting into the story. Lawson, his relationship, and his job were extremely well explained so there was no confusion. But beware, after finishing The Kensei you will definitely want to read the rest of the series if you haven't already. I also quite enjoyed the vampire mythos and the origins of the vampires and humans. This book didn't go into great detail, but I look forward to learning a little more when I read the previous novels, since I know Lawson had to explain vampirism to his girlfriend.

Lawson is a very loveable, plucky character. I absolutely loved his interactions with everyone, the bad guys especially. He always has a snarky comment to make, and it amused me to no end. I also enjoyed seeing the darker side of Japan through Lawson's eyes. The author is clearly knowledgeable about the country, and it definitely shows through in his work. And speaking of what the author knows, the weapons and action/fight seens were amazingly well done. Jon Merz wrote some amazing battle scenes in The Kensei, all excellently descriptive. But then again, considering the author and his background, that isn't too surprising.

Cover Loving: Oh yeah. This is an excellent cover. I think it fits Lawson and this story very well.

Recommendation: Definitely recommended for fans of Urban Fantasy. Lawson is a great hero and I loved reading about him. I know I definitely plan to pick up the rest of the series - you should too!

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE (4/5). A truly great, thrilling read. Lawson added just the right amount of humor and fun to the story.

Have you read "The Kensei" or any of the Lawson Vampire novels by Jon F. Merz? If so, tell me your thoughts in the comments! Would you like to read it? Pick up your copy at Amazon.com!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda~!~

Back! With cool (maybe) new stuff!

Whoa, sorry everyone for taking all of last week off, instead of the few days I intended. I ended up getting sick, and I was so tired I just said "blegh" and went to bed. But I'm back! Still sick, but back! Despite all the sleeping and work (which is mostly what I've been doing), I did manage to read a little, and reviews will resume tomorrow. But for today, I have fun stuff!

First off, other bloggers have posted about this - KB for instance ( linkity ) - but I'm sharing it here as well.

A desk made of books! If only my library/work was this cool.

Speaking of books... do you guys like my new background? I got bored and fiddled with some settings, and voila, books. I know, I know, nothing fancy. But considering how blog-challenged I am, it's the best I can do!

Next up in exciting news for me.. I GOT BOOKS IN THE MAIL! An entire box of them. And what are they? Books 1 - 7 in the Morganville Vampire series. I read these ages ago, and have been wanting to re-read them.. and finally I broke down and bid for them on ebay. The books are in good condition, and are currently sitting at there, begging me to read them.

Well, that's it for today, folks! Come back tomorrow for my review of "Wicked Appetite" by Janet Evanovich. And then on deck is my review of "Ghost Hunter" by Lori Brighton. Plenty going on this week, and in the near future - my humble little blog will be a stop on several upcoming blog tours, and I'm sure excited.

Until next time - Keep your feet propped up and your nose in a book - Doctors (okay, Librarian's) orders!
~!~ Morning Glow