If you are a regular reader of THE HOOK, LINE and STINKER, then you know I am not the best at updating my blog. I try, I really do. And I keep a journal of all my reads so that when an opportunity like this presents itself, I can update effortlessly. With work and life responsibilities, it is not always easy for me to get on here and do what I need to do. But I refuse to give up and become a dead blog. FYI, today I posted 17 books, the entire month of November and December and the last book posted I finished this morning so I am officially caught up! Yay!
I hope to do better for you in 2009. But if I lag behind, please do not give up on me because I am not giving up on this blog. I promise.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
December #8 - IF I AM MISSING OR DEAD
Title: If I am missing or dead: a sister's story of love, murder and liberation
Author: Janine Latus
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Copyright: 2007
ISBN: 978-0-7432-9653-3
Series or stand-alone: Stand-alone
Genre: Memoir, True Crime
Setting: Michigan, Missouri, Florida, Tennesee
1st Sentence:
July 9, 2002
Two months ago I left my husband, and now, for the first time in years, I am neither scared nor angry.
Surlygirl's Quick Comments:
This book is a true account of one family's cycle of abuse with a tragic ending. Early in her life, Janine suffered several episodes of abuse which influenced her view of what a relationship is, should be and what is "acceptable". This skewed perception only led to more abuse including physical, emotional and psychological abuse. Her younger sister Amy had the same schooling so it was no surprise that she ended up in the dysfunctional relationships that she did and while Janine was encouraging Amy to leave her abusive relationships, she was frightened to do so with her own. When Janine finally gets the courage to leave her husband, Amy goes missing and her relationship with Ron Ball did not have a happy ending. In fact, he strangled her in July of 2002. This book is about abusive relationships and a family's denial that led to far worse things. It is a compelling story that will probably resonate with every woman if they were to look back over their relationships in their lives. You either are one or you know one. And you are not alone.
December #7 - THE PAGAN STONE
Title: The Pagan Stone
Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: Jove Books
Copyright: 2008
ISBN: 978-1-60751-485-5
Series or stand-alone: #3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Setting: Hawkins Hollow, MD
1st Sentence:
Prologue
Mazatlan, Mexico
April 2001
Sun streaked pearly pink across the sky, splashed onto blue, blue water that rolled against white sand as Gage Turner walked the beach.
Surlygirl's Quick Comments:
Finally I have come to the third book in the trilogy and it did not disappoint. This book focuses on Gage and his relationship with Cybil while the six members of the "team" continue to and ending the fight with the demon, Twisse, of the Pagan Stone. Although the first book started out slowly for me, the last two I sped through and enjoyed tremendously.
December #6 - TRIAL BY JOURNAL
Title: Trial by
Author: Kate Klise
Publisher: Harper Trophy
Copyright: 2001
ISBN: 0-380-81672-5
Series or stand-alone: Stand-alone
Genre: Youth Fiction, mystery
Setting: Tyleville, MO
1st Sentence:
November 3
Mr. & Mrs. Watson
221 Baker Street
Tyleville, Missouri
As of today, your daughter, Lily, has missed six full weeks of school during the first nine-week quarter.
Surlygirl's Quick Comments:
Lily Watson, a precocious child, is chosen to sit on the jury of Bob White, a man accused of killing her classmate Perry Keet. Her teacher instructs her to keep a journal about her experience and that is what she does, hoping to use it as a research paper and to avoid attending summer school. Told in journal form, with sidenotes, ticket stubs, newspaper clippings, letters, maps and dry cleaning slips, Lily lays out the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! Upon doing some sleuthing of her own, since she is sequestered and bored, she is bound to find out what really happened.
December #5 - ECLIPSE
Title: Eclipse
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Copyright: 2007
ISBN: 978-0-316-16020-9
Series or stand-alone: #3
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Setting: Forks, WA
1st Sentence:
Preface
All our attempts at subterfuge had been in vain.
Surlygirl's Quick Comments:
The third book in this series is a continuation of Bella and Edward's relationship, Bella and Jacob's relationship and Bella's journey to make the choice that is right for her when presented with all of the choices. Good book, I'm looking to the last one written thus far.
December #4 - THE DANGEROUS DAYS OF DANIEL X
Title: The dangerous days of Daniel X
Author: James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Copyright: 2008
ISBN: 978-0-316-00292-9
Series or stand-alone: #1
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Setting: Portland,OR -Los Angeles, CA - Glendale High School - Alpar Nok (Daniel's Home Planet)
1st Sentence:
True Confessions
If this were a movie instead of real life, this would be the part where in a strange, ominous voice I'd say, "Take me to your leader."
Surlygirl's Quick Comments:
This book is the first about Daniel X, alien hunter. When Prayer, an alien, kills Daniel X's family when he is three years old, it leaves him to grow up alone and continue his family's work. Daniel has the ability to shape-shift and create things and people just by thinking of them. On the hunt for #6 he is captured and is taken to him home planet where he must fight the big nasty to ensure survival of his people.
Okay, first the good. This is a clean book for teens, the writing is very basic and it is with Patterson's short chapters that make for quick reading. However, I did not like this book at all and judging from the end pages, there are scheduled to be at least 2 more, which I will not be reading. I like several of Patterson's series, but this is not one of them and I really can't explain why...I just didn't like it.
December #3 - THE HOLLOW
Title: The hollow
Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: Penguin Group
Copyright: 2008
ISBN: 978-0-7394-9587-2
Series or stand-alone: #2
Genre: Supernatural Romance
Setting: Hawkins Hollow, MD
1st Sentence:
Prologue
Hawkins Hollow
June 1994
On a bright summer morning, a teacup poodle drowned in the Bestlers' backyard swimming pool.
Surlygirl's Quick Comments:
This book is the second in a trilogy with the six main characters still fighting the demon of the Pagan Stone. This book focuses more on Fox and Layla's relationship and ends with the knowledge that the story will not be resolved until book #3. That's the thing about known trilogies: you know you won't find out all the answers until the end.
December #2 - KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
Title: Kitty and the Midnight Hour
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Publisher: Warner Books
Copyright: 2005
ISBN: 0-446-61641-9
Series or stand-alone: #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Setting: Denver, CO
1st Sentence:
I tossed my backpack in a corner of the studio and high-fived Rodney on his way out.
Surlygirl's Quick Comments:
Kitty Norville works as a DJ for KNOB in Denver. She is also a werewolf. One night, while bored with the playlist, she opens the airwaves to discuss problems that plague the supernatural - and it becomes a huge success! However, there is someone who doesn't want the show, or Kitty, to continue and at the same time she is having struggles with the internal order of her pack. Can't a girl get a break?
This was a fun first book with both werewolves, vampires and a vampire hunter who becomes Kitty's friend and I have already started collecting the rest in the series to read at some time.
December #1 - BLOOD TIES, BOOK FOUR: ALL SOUL'S NIGHT
Title: Blood Ties Book Four: All Soul's Night
Author: Jennifer Armintrout
Publisher: Mira
Copyright: 2008
ISBN: 978-0-7783-2537-6
Series or stand-alone: #4
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Setting: Grand Rapids, MI
1st Sentence:
Prologue:Daymare
Some days, I dream of the time that I spent in Marianne's soul.
Surlygirl's Quick Comments:
This was the final book of the Blood Ties series and I have to admit that I liked it much better than #2 and #3 but I still liked the first book the best. I won't write much because there are a lot of things that could be classified as spoilers, but I will say that if you are a fan of authors like Kelley Armstrong, Charlaine Harris, Mary Janice Davidson and others who write vampire books, these should not be missed. Another thing that I really liked was that the ending of the book does leave it open to continue the story if Armintrout so desires. I've read reviews where the reviewer hated the ending but I found it to be satisfying and complete with just a little out for continuation. I hope there is more but if there is not, I am content.
November #9 - NEW MOON
Title: New Moon
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Copyright: 2006
ISBN: 978-0-316-02496-9
Series or stand-alone: #2
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Setting: Forks, WA
1st Sentence:
Preface
I felt like I was trapped in one of those terrifying nightmares, the one where you have to run, run till your lungs burst, but you can't make your body move fast enough.
Surlygirl's Quick Comments:
Once again, I'm not sure of many people who haven't read or heard about these books. In NEW MOON, Bella's relationship with Jacob Black develops deeper until he alienates her. In addition, Victoria is still hunting Bella from the first book. When a miscommunication happens and Edward thinks Bella has killed herself, he goes to Italy to die. Bella joins up with Alice to save him but promises are made that may be hard to keep. I actually liked this book better than the first one but I think only because I was familiar with the characters and I liked the further development of the relationships. Have you read these books? Are you a fan of Edward or Jacob? There seems to be a very apparent split between readers.
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