Reviews by Teen Blogger Ella!

Resident teen blogger Ella stops by today to offer her thoughts on some recent reads!

Fair Game, by Patricia Briggs

"Not a YA series, but TOO FABULOUS not to mention. Patricia has me eating out of her hand at this point. If she writes it, I will read it. Fair Game does not disappoint!!!!! The ending was AMAZING. I have not shrieked that loudly at a surprise twist for many moons. It's the 3rd instalment in her Alpha and Omega series, which happens side-by-side her Mercy Thompson series (also amazing). Werewolves and kin are the main protagonists, but fae, vampires, witches, etc also feature. Too big a universe to go into more detail: suffice to say it's a staple of the urban fantasy genre for a reason. YA authors should take note of the graceful way Patricia Briggs writes excellent, believable romances for her characters without stooping to overly angsty, drawn-out love triangles. Monogamy is okay, guys! Just because it worked for Stephenie Meyer does not mean One True Love is out." Read an excerpt of Fair Game.

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

"To be honest, I pretty much skipped the middle of this book. I wasn't overly attached to this series for the first 3, so my attempt for number 4 was half-hearted. Spoilers for the first 3: Megan Chase, Prince Ash's true love, has become the Queen of the Iron Kingdom, restoring the balance of the fairy world. Iron is deadly to all fairies, though, which throws a wrench in their happy ending (Ash is a fairy). Basically, this is the story of Ash's quest to find a way to be with Megan.

If you were a fan of The Iron King, The Iron Daughter and The Iron Queen, then you'll probably really like it. I'm actually okay with Ultimate Noble Sacrifice endings, as Julie calls them in the Q&A, so I was satisfied with the ending in The Iron Queen. I just couldn't really care about Ash's quest. Most of the same characters were in it, so it felt kind of overdone. On the plus side, my copy had a sneak peek to her next series in it, Blood of Eden, which is apparently coming out April 24th: looks like evil vampires, nice and gory. Yay vampire apocalypse!" Read an excerpt of The Iron Knight.

As always Ella, thank you - your reviews are always entertaining!

More Like Her - Liza Palmer

I reviewed Liza Palmer's previous book A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents a few years ago and really enjoyed it. (review can be found here) So, I was quite looking forward to reading her latest book More Like Her (releases today)

From the cover, I was expecting a 'chick lit' type of read, but the opening prologue is a 911 call detailing a shooting at the Markham School. We then meet Frannie in the opening chapter. She's a teacher at the Markham School. She's also just come through a nasty breakup with her boyfriend, also a teacher at the school. We're introduced to Jill and Lisa, Frannie's sidekicks. Palmer provides lots of light hearted banter and situations to open the novel. But underneath it all is Frannie's desire to be what's she's not, to have what she doesn't. Just like Emma, the new director of the school, who seems to have it all. Frannie laments..."I'm not the girl men choose."But it turns out that Emma's life is not all that perfect.

Palmer explores lots of areas in More Like Her - bullying, domestic abuse, marriage and self searching. As Frannie puts it - the search for the Real Me.

I enjoyed the interaction between the main characters (although I thought Lisa became a 'bestie' awfully quick)  Funnily enough, the character I enjoyed the most was Sam - the object of Frannie's desire. I found Frannie to be a bit exhausting. You might know her  - she's the one who has to slice, dice and dissect every last situation and detail, wringing nuance from inflections, tones and glances and discussing them over and over again.  I enjoyed Frannie's  introspective look at finding her real self, but found myself growing tired of the repetition. I wish there had been more focus on Emma and her situation.

Those looking for a traditional chick lit book won't find it here. But, those looking for a contemporary women's fiction read that explores the green grass on the other side of fence will. Read an excerpt of  More Like Her.

Liza Palmer is the author of the international bestsellerConversations with the Fat Girl, as well as Seeing Me Naked and A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents. She lives in Los Angeles, California, and is hard at work on her next novel in addition to several film and television projects.

You can find Liza Palmer on Twitter and on Facebook.

See what others on the TLC book tour thought. Full schedule can be found here.

White Horse - Alex Adams

My secret passion is dystopian fiction. I usually indulge myself with young adult offerings, but the opening lines of Alex Adams' adult debut novel White Horse drew in and had me settled into my favourite reading nook (for a very long time)

"When I wake, the world is still gone. Only fragments remain. Pieces of places and people who were once whole."

I am always intrigued by what authors imagine our future might be.

Our protagonist is Zoe - a young widow who works as a cleaner at Pope Pharmaceuticals. Zoe's story is literally told in a Then and Now fashion. (which really worked for me)  We start at the beginning with a mysterious jar appearing in her apartment, then cut to Zoe already on the move, trying to get to what she believes will be a safe place. The narrative cuts back and forth, from people getting sick, sicker and the world we know slowly disintegrating to almost two years in the future as Zoe makes her way across a world hardly recognizable. Ninety percent of the population is wiped out, five percent are mutating in horrific ways and the remaining five percent seem to be immune. Zoe has no idea why she hasn't succumbed to the plague, named White Horse - a reference to one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse.

White Horse was a very different read. I was horrified, yet mesmerized, repelled, yet drawn in by Adams' tale. She paints a brutal, raw picture with her prose. But those prose completely capture a world turned upside down. Fair warning to gentle readers - there are scenes and descriptions that may offend some.

I'm still not quite sure how I feel about Zoe.  She comes across as a very strong character, both physically and mentally and we know that she will survive. I applaud her efforts to try and hang on to her humanity and ideals in this new world. While I find her a strong lead character, I never felt fully engaged with her, despite cheering for her to beat the odds. I'll have a chance to bond with her in future books - this is the first in a planned trilogy. I want to see where Adams takes Zoe next - the last line in White Horse is a gotcha.

White Horse is a strong debut from a new author and was definitely an addicting read for me. A reading group guide is available. You can find Adams on Twitter and on Facebook.

Winner - Blogiversary Box o' Books!

Congratulations to:


 Pam (I write in books)!


She's the lucky winner of the Blogiversary Box o' Books giveaway! I've contacted you by email for your mailing address. Thanks to all who entered and for reading my blog!On to year five! Cheers!

Winner - Gone Reading

And the lucky winner of the products of their choice ($20.00 value) from Gone Reading is:

Jennifer!

Congratulations! I've contacted you by email for your mailing address. Please respond within 72 hours.

Calico Joe - John Grisham

John Grisham is one of the most recognizable names in fiction today. He is well known for his legal thrillers, but has also written a number of novels outside of that genre. His latest - Calico Joe - fall into that category.

Paul Tracey gets a call one day - Warren, the father he hasn't seen in years, is dying. Paul's reaction? "After a few minutes, I admit the truth - life without Warren will be the same as life with him."

But this call does stir up old hurts, memories and unfinished business. We're taken back to Paul's childhood for the beginning of the tale. Warren made it to the big leagues - he was a pitcher for the Mets in 1973. He was also a womanizer, a hard drinker, a man with a temper and a man with a family who was happy to not have him home. Paul loved baseball as well. He played himself and could cite the stats on any team. When a young phenom named Joe from Calico Rock, Arkansas is called up to play for the Cubs, he takes the country (and young Paul) by storm. Never before has there been such a player.  And then the Mets and the Cubs face off...

Yes, Calico Joe is a sports story, but it's much more than that. It's the story of a father and son and redemption.  I played ball when I was younger, so the sports stats didn't throw me at all and won't detract from the story for non sports readers. They really set the scene for the emotional strings that Grisham deftly pulls as he carefully builds the story of Calico Joe, young Paul and his father.

Calico Joe is listed as a novel, but I thought of it more as story telling. I could picture myself listening to this one over the radio in days gone by or sitting listening to a retired player sharing a tale from the old days. As one character in the book says "But it doesn't matter: he loves to talk and tell stories....I am delighted to be here and happy to listen."

As was I. A one sitting read and another home run from Grisham. Read an excerpt of Calico Joe. You can find Grisham on Facebook

Over the Counter #105

What book caught my eye this week as it passed over my library counter and under the scanner? Boring Postcards USA edited by Martin Parr. Actually, I found them kind of fascinating!

From the publisher Phaidon:

" A companion to Martin Parr's fascinating and extremely funny Boring Postcards, this collection brings together 160 of the dullest postcards of 1950s, 1960s and 1970s America.

Hilarious views of quintessentially ordinary America, including motels, shopping malls, truck stops and interstate highways.

Reveals poignant insights into postwar American social, cultural and architectural values."

(Over the Counter is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World. I've sadly come the realization that I cannot physically read every book that catches my interest as it crosses over my counter at the library. But... I can mention them and maybe one of them will catch your eye as well. See if your local library has them on their shelves!)

Ashes to Dust - Yrsa Sigurdardottir

I've been reading a number of Nordic mystery/thriller authors lately, but Yrsa Sigurdardottir was the first Icelandic author I've read. Indeed, she is known as 'Iceland's Crime Queen.'

Yrsa's recurring character is lawyer Thora Gudmundsdottir. In Ashes to Dust, the third book in the series, Thora is employed by a former resident of Heimaey Island in  The Westman Islands. This fishing village was covered by a volcanic eruption in 1973 and only now (2007) is her client's former childhood home being uncovered. The government owns the houses and contents, but Markus insists on going to the basement ahead of the archaeologists to recover a box, before he signs off on the waiver. (I found the setting fascinating and ended up reading all about the Westman Islands online)

He swears he has no idea what's in the box - a friend left it in the basement and she is the one who desperately wants it back he says. But when the archaeologists go down after him, what they discover changes the game - three bodies nicely laid out. And the box? It contains a head. Yes, a head. Thora's case has taken a completely different turn.

Thora is a wonderfully different protagonist. She is a grandmother with a young child still at home, divorced, hoping that her long distance romance will work out. She's very, very determined and undertakes to prove her client's innocence. I found this different from North American practices - the lawyer pursuing clues and the truth rather than an investigator. I loved that she took along her secretary - again another character that's a square peg in a round hole. Interspersed with Thora's investigations are chapters from other characters that we know must somehow be related to the case.

Sigurdardottir has created a winding plot that takes us down many avenues, exploring familial relationships as well as those of a small close knit village. There are no great surprises (many of the clues are plainly laid out) and some of the story seems superfluous. At times, I wanted to hurry the tellin along - it seemed it could have been done in about eighty pages less.

I did enjoy the descriptions of Iceland's culture, lifestyle and scenery. But, Ashes to Dust felt a little wooden in parts. I'm not sure if this is in the original text or a result of the translation. It was an entertaining tale, but comparisons to Steig Larsson may be a bit too ambitious.

You can find Yrsa on Facebook. Read an excerpt of Ashes to Dust.

The Land of Decoration - Grace McCleen

Every year there seems to be a book that stays with me long after I've turned the last page. And when someone asks me for a good book recommendation, it's the first one that comes to mind. The Land of Decoration - a debut novel by Grace McCleen is one of those books.

Ten year old Judith McPherson lives in England with her father, her mother having passed away.  She attends school, but is bullied and isolated, primarily because of the religious beliefs that she and her father follow.

And sometimes Judith escapes into her own little world - one she has created in her room from rubbish.

"There is a world in my room. It is made from things no one else wanted and it is made with things that were my mother's, that she left to me, and it has taken most of my life to make."

She calls this world The Land of Decoration. She has taken this name from the book of Ezekiel  - the land of milk and honey, a paradise for the faithful in the afterlife -  The Promised Land. For Judith, it is where she will see her mother again.

When Judith transforms her Land of Decoration into a snow covered blizzard and it happens in reality, she believes she is responsible. " Miracles happen because someone made them and because someone, somewhere, had faith." And she's doubly sure she's responsible as God told her she was.

The bullying amplifies, as does the unrest at the factory Judith's father works at. And so does Judith's belief that she has the power to create miracles and change things. And God's voice is getting louder.

I was so mesmerized by this book. I couldn't read it straight through, but had to put it down and come back later as my emotions were in a turmoil.  Judith's voice was heartbreaking in so many ways. McCleen has created a character in Judith that just grabbed me and wouldn't let go. I found myself stopping to ponder many of her views. I wanted so badly to help her as she faced so much more than a ten year old should.  McCleen's depictions of the other main players are just as well done. Judith's father is another poignant portrayal that was difficult to accept and read at times.

McCleen's books explores so many themes - love, hate, tolerance, persecution, belief, faith and more, but ultimately is about the love between a parent and child.

I wonder how much of Judith's story is Grace's story. She was raised in a fundamentalist religious environment and has a strong interest in miniatures as well. I think readers are either going to love or hate McCleen's book, much like Emma Donoghue's Room. This reader loved it. (so did Emma Donoghue)  Read an excerpt of The Land of Decoration.

Guest Post & Giveaway - Rainbow Rowell - Attachments

I reviewed Rainbow Rowell's debut novel Attachments last year and adored it. (see review here) The softcover is newly released and I'm lucky enough to have a copy to giveaway. I think that Attachments would make a great rom/com movie, so I'm even luckier to have Rainbow stop by with her thoughts on who would star in a movie version.

But first to catch you up if you haven't yet had a chance to read the book. From the publisher, Plume:

"Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you . . . "

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.

Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.

When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.

By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.

What would he say . . . ? "

And now for Rainbow's casting call.....

"It’s tricky to think about casting the book because most actors and actresses are far too beautiful to play my characters. I’d love it if Attachments were made into a movie! There is a producer attached to it, so you never you know . . . maybe someday.

I imagined Lincoln and Beth as maybe the most attractive people in the room – not the most attractive people in the whole world.

Generally, I don’t care if actors look exactly the way characters are described in books – but I do think that whoever played Lincoln would have to be big. That’s such a key part of his personality – the way he feels heavy and clumsy. His gentle giant vibe.

There are two actors I like for Lincoln, and they’re both very different from each other:

Cory Monteith. The guy who plays Finn on Glee. He’s actually the perfect age, 29, and even though he looks pretty on Glee, I think they could dress him down – let his eyebrows go, put him in a pair of cargo pants. Monteith plays a shy guy on Glee, he does a good job of quietly expressing deep feelings. There’s something vulnerable about him. Vulnerability and sincerity are Lincoln’s key characteristics. Also, I like the way Monteith seems a little too big for his body. He walks like a big guy. When he puts on a suit, his proportions seem a little off, like his arms and chest kept growing after the rest of him stopped.

Chris Pratt. Andy from Parks and Recreation. Okay, I know he plays a dufus on Parks and Rec, but Chris Prett looks perfect, I think. Big and exactly the right kind of handsome. Manly. Solid. I always imagined Lincoln as the kind of guy who could look really normal/unnoticeable some days and really adorable others. Which is totally Chris Pratt. And again, very vulnerable and sincere. I think he could rein in the goofiness to play Lincoln.

For Beth, I think the most important characteristic is funny. It would have to be an actress who can be authentically funny. Good-natured. Confident, but not arrogant.

My first choice for Beth would be Kat Dennings, from Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist and Two Broke Girls. SHE IS PERFECT! She’s genuinely hilarious and genuinely genuine. Sometimes when actresses are funny, they come off hard. Closed off. Beth isn’t closed off – she’s funny and smart, but she’s still a romantic. And I just think Kat Dennings could inhabit her, make her seem like the kind of girl you could fall in love with before you ever met her.

I also like Laura Prepon for Beth. Prepon played Donna on That ‘70s Show. She comes off funny and likable and cool. Also, she’s not teeny-tiny. Beth is described as tall with broad shoulders. Laura Prepon is 5-foot-10.

For Jennifer, I like Mindy Kaling  who plays Kelly on The Office. She can be neurotic and bitter, yet still really funny and likable. Actually, I think Mindy Kaling could pull off either Beth or Jennifer – and I’d love to see her star in her own romantic comedy – but I can practically hear her saying Jennifer’s lines. She would plus the whole character."

Great choices Rainbow! Thank you so much for stopping by!

And readers, if you'd like a chance to win a copy of Attachments, simply leave a comment! Ends April 26. Open to US and Canada.

Happy Easter!



The Anatomist's Apprentice - Tessa Harris

The Anatomist's Apprentice is the first (and debut) book in Tessa Harris's new series featuring Dr. Thomas Silkstone.

I initially picked up the book based on the description - 18th century, London, England, mystery, early forensic detection, as it seemed to fall into one of my favourite genres - historical mysteries.

Lady Lydia Farrell's brother dies a horrible death in his own bed. Was he the victim of some unknown condition? Or was helped along the way to his Maker - by her husband? She seeks the advice of a well known anatomist - Dr. Silkstone - hoping he can shed light on what really happened to her brother. Silkstone uses his medical skills, but also seems to have a keen eye and ear for ferreting out details about situations and people that may reveal the truth.

The Anatomist's Apprentice is a period piece and as such, it does move at a more leisurely pace in terms of plot, development and language. I sometimes wanted to hurry things along. Harris's historical research was very well done and showed in the details. Where the book fell down for me was the whole romantic entanglement between Silkstone and Lady Lydia. It started to fall into bodice ripper territory for me  (a place I try not to go). Once I found out who the publisher was - Kensington Books - it made sense.

Harris does deliver a good twist at the end. She has two further books planned for Silkstone. This will appeal to readers who would enjoy, in the words of the author "...a cracking yarn interwoven with a love story, set against a fascinating historical backdrop."

Read an excerpt of The Anatomist's Apprentice.  You can find Harris on Twitter

Over the Counter #104

What book caught my eye this week as it passed over my library counter and under my scanner? Crap at my Parents' House by Joel Dovev. 

From the publisher Abrams Books:

"Crap at My Parents’ House is a laugh-out-loud celebration of all the weird, odd, and unfathomably tacky stuff that our moms and dads accumulate without our knowledge or consent. Comedian Joel Dovev has compiled and commented upon the best (or would that be worst?) items submitted by folks from around the globe in a very funny—but fair—way, revealing all those dirty secrets that range from deer hoof bottle openers and plush Oscar Meyer Wienermobiles to soccer-playing Jesus ceramics and grizzly bear toilet paper holders. Whether you’re 15 or 65 and still shaking your head at your mom and dad’s decorating choices, Crap at My Parents’ House is a reason to be thankful for parents being so unintentionally hilarious."

(Over the Counter is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World. I've sadly come the realization that I cannot physically read every book that catches my interest as it crosses over my counter at the library. But... I can mention them and maybe one of them will catch your eye as well. See if your local library has them on their shelves!)

Phantom - Jo Nesbo

Harry Hole returns in Jo Nesbo's latest North American release - Phantom. If this is a new to you series, I wouldn't recommend starting with Phantom. To truly appreciate Harry, you need to hop on at the beginning of the series - and get ready for a heck of a ride. If you've been following this series, then it's one you definitely don't want to miss.

Harry Hole is one of the most tortured, conflicted, complicated protagonists in crime fiction. He's been away from Norway for the last three years in an attempt to clean himself up and step away from his relationship with Rakel. But what brings him back is murder, of course. Rakel's son Oleg has been charged with the murder of Gusto, a known drugs pusher. The evidence is damning, but Harry knows that the gentle little boy he watched grow could not be guilty of such a crime. Harry approaches his old department, but they have no interest in either reopening the case or having Harry back on board. So, Harry being Harry, he decides to investigate on his own. His inquiries catch the eye of the drug trade, in particular the mysterious Dubai, who runs an insidious new product called Violin. Corrupt individuals on the police force and in the political theatre aren't happy with Harry's investigation either. Harry is creating problems and needs to be eliminated. It's just a matter of who gets him first.......

" You can't stop this Harry. It's all happened. It has to run its course. If you get in the way, more will die....It's too big, Harry. It'll swallow you up, swallow everyone up."

Phantom is a stark, bleak tale.  Drugs and the resulting carnage wreaked on individuals and society figures prominently. Nesbo's prose conjure up a bleak, barren wasteland where need trumps everything.

We learn the story behind Gusto's death and Oleg's involvement in interspersed chapters, as Gusto lays dying. The more Harry learns, the more he refuses to be stopped, seemingly on a mission to save both Oleg and himself.

"A curse lay over it. Over him. But it wouldn't have made any difference. He had been cursed long before the knife appeared. And the curse was worse than any knife. It said that his love was a plague he carried around with him...all those who had allowed themselves to be loved by Harry had been made to pay."

Nesbo explores relationships in Phantom, giving us another glimpse into this tormented protagonist. Nesbo has crafted a complex plot that kept me guessing right up to the end - the explosive, didn't see it coming, OMG ending....

Read an excerpt of Phantom. You can find Jo Nesbo on Facebook.

Giveaway - The Day the World Ends - Ethan Coen

April is National Poetry Month! And to celebrate, I have Ethan Coen's new book of poetry - The Day the World Ends - to giveaway. Ethan Coen? Isn't he that movie director.....?

From the publisher Broadway Books:

"From one of the most inventive and celebrated filmmakers of the twentieth century, and co-creator of such classics as Fargo, No Country for Old Men, and True Grit, a collection of poems that offers humor and insight into an artist who has always pushed the boundaries of his craft.

Ethan Coen's screenplays have surprised and delighted international audiences with their hilarious vision and bizarrely profound understanding of human nature. This eccentric genius is revealed again in The Day the World Ends, a remarkable range of poems that are as funny, ribald, provocative, raw, and often touching as the brilliant films that have made the Coen brothers cult legends.

Short, accessible, and nearly the same price as a movie ticket, this new poetry collection is a perfect treat for Coen’s legions of fans.  

When not writing plays, poetry, or short stories, Ethan Coen makes movies with his brother, Joel Coen. After thirteen films, the Coen brothers have one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed bodies of work in the history of cinema."

Curious aren't you? To be entered, simply leave a comment. Or a poem if you're so inclined. Open to US and Canada, ends April 22.

Winner - Girl Unmoored

And the lucky winner of a copy of

Girl Unmoored by Jennifer Gooch Hummer

is:

AmandaSue!

Congratulations! I've contacted you by email for your mailing address. Please respond within 72 hours.

Giveaway Winner - Embrace

And the lucky winner of a copy of a copy

of Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

is:

Martha Lawson!

Congratulations!

I've contacted you by email for your mailing address. Please respond within 72 hours.

The Professionals - Owen Laukkanen

There's been lots of buzz surrounding Owen Laukkanen's debut novel The Professionals, so I was really eager to read it. Oh boy, seriously - run, don't walk to grab your copy - it releases today. Yes, it's that good. Crime, suspense and thriller fans, you're going to love it. (So did Lee Child, John Sandford and more!)

A four person kidnap crew has been touring the country, snatching affluent men and holding them for ransom. Why? Well, it's the economy. Their university degrees are practically worthless. What started out as an offhand comment has mushroomed. Now they're working the Pender Method - nothing too big - sixty grand - enough that the family can easily raise the funds and won't call the cops. In and out clean - very professional. A few more and they can retire to somewhere nice and warm. Next stop - Minnesota.

Minnesota - where Kirk Stevens has worked for the BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) for ten years. "He caught his reflection in the patrol car';s rear window as he waited and he stared at it a moment, a forty-three-year-old career cop with thinning hair and a paunch, his tired eyes betraying a mounting fatigue....Another botched robbery, Stevens thought to himself. Another day in the glamorous life." Just another professional on the job.

Until the crew hits the wrong man in Minnesota - a husband with connections to organized crime. And his wife sends in her professionals to track down the crew. Stevens is now on the case and it balloons. Then the FBI sends in Agent Carla Windermere and Stevens is called up to help these professionals.

And where things go from there is a non stop, action packed, read 'til your eyeballs hurt ride. (Really, I had the day off, couldn't put it down and finished it by that night) You would never guess that this is a first novel. You'd think that Laukkanen is a professional. The writing is smooth, the dialogue flows so easily and the characters hooked me from the beginning. The plot? Well, the plot is just freakin' fantastic. The kidnappers owned this book, but Laukkanen has plans for another book featuring Stevens and Windermere. I look forward to seeing what he has in store for book two!

Read an excerpt of The Professionals. You can find Owen Laukkanen on Facebook and on Twitter. ( and oh yeah - he's Canadian eh!)

An alumnus of the University of British Columbia's Creative Writing BFA program, Laukkanen spent three years in the world of professional poker, traveling to high-stakes tournaments across the globe as a writer for a poker website. A commercial fisherman when he's not writing, Laukkanen divides his time between Vancouver and Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Over the Counter #103

What caught my eye this week as it passed over my library counter and under the scanner? Mail-Order Mysteries by Kirk Demarais. Seriously, who didn't want to order all those cool things from the back of comic books? Spy scopes and sea monkeys!

From the publisher Insight Editions:

"Rediscover your sense of wonder!

Mail-Order Mysteries reveals the amazing truths (and agonizing exaggerations) about the actual products marketed to kids in the 60s,70s, and 80s. Pop-culture historian Kirk Demarais shares his astonishing collection, including: 100 Toy Soldiers in a Footlocker, Count Dante's World's Deadliest Fighting Secrets, GRIT, Life-Size Monsters and many more!

With more than 150 extraordinary, peculiar, and downright fraudulent collectibles, Mail-Order Mysteries is a must-have book comic book fans everywhere. Trust us."

(Over the Counter is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World. I've sadly come the realization that I cannot physically read every book that catches my interest as it crosses over my counter at the library. But... I can mention them and maybe one of them will catch your eye as well. See if your local library has them on their shelves!)

Blue Monday - Nicci French

Blue Monday marks the start of a new series from bestselling husband and wife team Nicci French.

Frieda Klein is a psychotherapist in London, England. She is a private person, who keeps her own emotions and life tightly in check.

One of her latest patients has been having dreams . Dreams where he 'obtains' a son - a red haired little boy that he describes in great detail.

"She thought of all the secrets she had been told over the years, all those illicit thoughts, desires, fears that people gave to her for safe keeping. ...she had always carried them with a sense of privilege, that people allowed her to see their fears, allowed her to be their light."

But when little red headed Matthew Farraday goes missing and the details are eerily like her patient described,  Frieda feels she has no choice but to go to the police with her concerns.

Detective Chief Inspector Malcolm Karlsson is the other protagonist in this series. He's a bit all over the map, but is a likable character who will grow into his role I believe.

I found the opening of this book to be a bit slow. Indeed, I started it, read about 50 pages and put it down. It was only on picking it up a second time, that it really got good for me. I did found it hard to believe that Josef, a carpenter who falls through Frieda's office ceiling becomes such an important and trusted confidante in her life. On the other hand, it does speak volumes about her personal life. Other characters, such as her niece Chloe, don't overly add to the story, but seem to have been to lay the background for further books.

French has crafted an excellent plot. I don't want to give  any of it away, but it truly was unique. The chapters written from Matthew's point of view in captivity were, as to be expected, hard to read.

I always like being able to get in on the ground floor and read the first novel in a new series. I think this will be an interesting series, focusing on more of the psychological aspects of the crimes and characters versus a 'gritty' crime series. Now that the stage has been set and the players introduced, I'm sure further books will be a bit 'smoother' and we'll get to know Frieda and Malcolm a little better.

Read an excerpt of Blue Monday. A reading group guide is also available. You can find Nicci French on Twitter.

Force of Nature - C.J. Box

Last year about this time, I picked up the latest C.J. Box novel and reminded myself how much I enjoyed Box's Joe Pickett series. Cold Wind  left me wanting to know more about the mysterious Nate Romanowski....

"The secondary storyline involving Joe's friend Nate Romanowski totally grabbed me. Nate is a master falconer and fugitive. He has gone off the grid and underground in the hills of Wyoming. There are those that want him dead. More Nate please! (Fans of Joe Pike and Jack Reacher would like this character)"

Well, I got my wish. Force of Nature picks up the story of Nate. Nate knows who's after him - Nemecek - his old commander and falconry mentor from his time in a clandestine special forces unit in '95. Nate has knowledge that Nemecek doesn't want revealed and he'll say and do anything he can to find and kill Nate. Nate goes underground again, but Nemecek has no compunction at 'questioning' those Nate cares about - including the Pickett clan.

Recurring characters return - the incompetent local sheriff, up for re election, the one deputy that Joe does trust, Joe's wife Marybeth, a strong character on her own, and Joe's daughters. I have to say though, I am getting tired of foster daughter April's attitude, despite her personal tragedy. Joe has his hands full with a Luke, a new trainee game warden, as well.

Joe Pickett is a straight talking, stick to your principles, follow the high road kind of man. "But I really do believe there's nothing wrong with doing your best and doing the right thing." But in Force of Nature, Joe is walking a thin line between honouring friendship and respecting the law.

You might be saying how is a game warden involved in hunt for a killer? "We don't have a lot of law enforcement bodies around this county. When something major happens, everybody gets pressed into the effort. Highway patrol, local cops, brand inspectors. And game wardens."

Box writes what he knows - he lives in Wyoming and is an avid outdoorsman. His setting descriptions paint vivid pictures. He's a family man as well and his scenes with Joe, Marybeth and his family all ring true.

Force of Nature does have mystery elements that kept me guessing (who are the moles working with the killer?), but for the most part it is very much action based. I enjoyed getting Nate's back story. The only false note for me was Nate's feelings for Haley, although she was integral to the plot. I thought Box did a great job incorporating falconry and it's imagery into the story. I did find the final reveal of Nemecek's secret a bit anti-climatic, but this in no way detracted from a really good read.

Settling in with the latest C.J. Box novel is like sitting down with an old friend, who has a really great story to tell you. I can't wait for the next installment with the eminently likable Joe Pickett. Read an excerpt of Force of Nature. You can find Box on Twitter and on Facebook.

Winner - Being Flynn

And the lucky winner of

 a copy of Being Flynn

 and $25.00 from Fandango is:

BermudaOnion!!

Congratulations!

I've contacted you by email for your mailing address.

Please respond within 48 hours.

Pandemonium - Lauren Oliver

Resident teen blogger Ella is back to school after March Break, but she got in a lot of 'not school related' reading last week! Here's one of her picks....

"Pandemonium is the sequel to Delirium, a dystopian novel about a girl falling in illicit love with a hot guy who's of limits because the Man's iron, dictatorial fist and wacky rules are keeping them down. If this sounds familiar, you've either read Delirium or one of the multitude of other dystopian books with the same essential plot. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Delirium: the idea of treating love like a disease to be hated, feared and operated away is pretty cool. Still, I wasn't particularly blown away by it. When I picked up Pandemonium, I was expecting your typical middle-of-a-trilogy YA book: as good as or worse than the first one, mostly filler, love triangle, blah, blah, blah. I was very pleasantly surprised to find myself really liking it.

The book picks up really randomly, with Lena (the heroine) pretending to be a cured girl in a New York City school. The next chapter is a flashback to immediately after Delirium, with Lena joining the resistance in the Wilds, the unregulated country between the cities where people who oppose the cure have escaped to. The story continues like that, Lena's present with the past six months explained every other chapter. All lot of others have tried this in books I've been reading recently, but Oliver pulled it off really well. Amazing pacing and character development. I was really impressed with the way she dealt with the growth of Lena's character. In Delirium, she felt kind of average, but she gets really cool in Pandemonium. Grief can be a tough one to write in a dystopian YA book, but Lena's was flawless, as was her healing process. As she grows stronger, both physically and emotionally, it never stopped being believable. There's a new male protagonist, Julian, and her feelings for him were spot on, as was her loyalty and love for Alex, her first love, who is presumed dead. He's on the enemy's side, but their relationship never enters the irritating realm of star-crossed-lover cliches. My favourite part, though, was that Lena gets tough. She's strong physically, but more than that she's self-contained, independent. She can think for and take care of herself, but knows when to accept help. A lot of heroines try for this, but don't quite meet the mark. Yay Lena!

The requisite shocking-twist-ending/hook-to-leave-you-with-bated-breath was predictable, but shocking enough to Lena that I gasped along with her. All in all, a solid read.

I would definitely suggest it to any dystopian fan! I think you could probably read it as a stand alone, but reading Delirium first might be a good idea. Nice job Lauren Oliver!"

And nice job to you too Ella! I always enjoy your refreshing take on books.

Read an excerpt of Pandemonium. You can find Lauren Oliver on Facebook and on Twitter and at her blog.

Over the Counter #102

What book caught my eye this week as it passed over my library counter and under my scanner? Unlikely Friendships by Jennifer S. Holland. Who doesn't love a good animal story?

From the publisher Workman Books:

"It is exactly like Isaiah 11:6: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid . . . ” Written by National Geographic magazine writer Jennifer Holland, Unlikely Friendships documents one heartwarming tale after another of animals who, with nothing else in common, bond in the most unexpected ways. A cat and a bird. A mare and a fawn. An elephant and a sheep. A snake and a hamster. The well-documented stories of Koko the gorilla and All Ball the kitten; and the hippo Owen and the tortoise Mzee. And almost inexplicable stories of predators befriending prey—an Indian leopard slips into a village every night to sleep with a calf. A lioness mothers a baby oryx. Ms. Holland narrates the details and arc of each story, and also offers insights into why—how the young leopard, probably motherless, sought maternal comfort with the calf, and how a baby oryx inspired the same mothering instinct in the lioness. Or, in the story of Kizzy, a nervous retired Greyhound, and Murphy, a red tabby, how cats and dogs actually understand each other’s body language. With Murphy’s friendship and support, Kizzy recovered from life as a racing dog and became a confident, loyal family pet."

These are the most amazing friendships between species, collected from around the world and documented in a selection of full-color candid photographs."

(Over the Counter is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World. I've sadly come the realization that I cannot physically read every book that catches my interest as it crosses over my counter at the library. But... I can mention them and maybe one of them will catch your eye as well. See if your local library has them on their shelves!)

Giveaway - Gone Reading

I don't usually promote products or organizations on my blog at all, but Gone Reading is a bit different.....They donate 100% of the after-tax profits to help fund libraries and reading programs - world wide.  You can read their full philanthropic statement here.

To help get the word out about this wonderful organization, Brad is offering a 25% discount (excepting book ends, ends Apr 15) to anyone purchasing some of their great book related items such as:

Designer bookmarks, book journals, bookplates and book lights for e-readers and printed books. Even  games about books (there's a Pride and Prejudice trivia game!)  And their popular book shirts. Simply enter BOOKWORM25 at checkout.

And Brad has also offered up a giveaway-  $20.00 worth of product from the store and they'll ship to you! Most of their items are under $20.00 so there's lots to choose from.

Simply leave a comment with what you would choose from Gone Reading to be entered. Ends April 14.

Me?- I like the dog charm bookmark and the Check it Out tee shirt - featuring a library!

Prime Suspect Series - Lynda La Plante

British television series are incredibly popular at the library. I was familiar with Lynda La Plante's name as she is responsible for many of the much watched series check outs - including the first three episodes of the hit Prime Suspect. (originally starring Helen Mirren) I jumped at the chance to read the books.

The Prime Suspect books were all written in the early 1990's when high ranking policewomen were not the norm. Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison debuted in Prime Suspect.

Tennison has risen through the ranks, but has hit a brick wall (or a glass ceiling). She's on the homicide squad, but has yet to lead an investigation - until the Della Mornay case. Della is a sex trade worker, found stabbed to death by her landlady. Jane is determined to find the killer and prove that she is just as good as any man at the job. And indeed she is - or better. But the 'old boys' club is just as determined to keep her 'in her place.' Jane is not a character I immediately warmed to. Her ambition drives her at all costs, including her personal life.  She comes across as impersonal and cold at work, but it's necessary to try and gain the respect of the men she is leading. La Plante has created some particularly nasty cops for Tennison to lead - especially Otley. He does anything and everything to thwart her, including hiding evidence, sending her on wild goose chases and trash talking her. But I found myself warming up to her as the book progressed and respecting her determination to solve the cases. I preferred this persona to the personal glimpses of home life. La Plante's plotting is excellent; the mystery was believable. Once the 'prime suspect' is identified, the race is on to prove the case. Read an excerpt.

I was eager to see where Jane was in the second book Prime Suspect 2: A Face in the Crowd. Jane has earned the respect of her immediate squad, but the politicos still don't want her in charge. When a body is found buried in a backyard in a poor district in London, tension ratchets up. The residents of the district are predominantly black and the police don't have a good record with them. This time round Jane must battle not just the higher ups that want things hushed up, but the racism that rears it's ugly head in the squad room. Jane is still attempting to have a bit of a personal life, but it backfires on her with serious consequences. Again, excellent plotting. The characters are all well drawn, like them or not and Jane is starting to grow on me. The dialogue and situations spring to life, reading easily. Read an excerpt.

Prime Suspect 3: Silent Victims finds Jane in charge of the Vice Squad. A 'rent boy' is found burned to death in the apartment of a drag queen nightclub star. But this time when Jane identifies her 'prime suspect', she's in dangerous waters. A powerful public figure is the man behind the killings of young male prostitutes. And no change, the higher ups want this one hushed up at all costs. And the price could be very high this time - all Jane has worked for is on the line. Does she choose ambition or justice? La Plante excels at creating situations and characters that just make you want to shout out loud. Read an excerpt.


Now that I've read the books, I think I'll be the next patron checking out the DVD series. I want to see Mirren's portrayal of Jane Tennison. My opinion of Jane changed from book one to book three. She still isn't likable and really, it wouldn't work if she was. But her intellect and her sense of justice shine through, despite her unwavering ambition. These are the first La Plante books I've read and I really quite enjoyed them. La Plante has a number of other series - the Anna Travis books look good. See what others on the TLC tour thought - full schedule here.

Helsinkini White - James Thompson

I devoured the first two books in James Thompson's Inspector Vaara series. and was eager to pick up the latest - Helsinki White.

Vaara has never been a follow the rules kind of cop - instead he bends them, but only to see that justice was served.

But, in Helsinki White, Vaara has become the leader of a 'black-ops' unit, comprised of himself, Milo and Sweetness, his two odd, but lethal associates. All this is done at the request of his immediate superior. The idea is to fight crime with crime, with an eye to the good. But that isn't the way it's turned out...

"I run a heist gang. I'm a police inspector, shakedown artist, strong-arm specialist and enforcer. Three months ago, I was an honest cop. I'm not sure I care how or why, but I reflect on how I could have undergone such a drastic change in such a short time."

And I'm not sure either. Vaara has undergone surgery for a brain tumour. One of the side effects is that he no longer feels emotion. Perhaps this is a contributing factor? But from the second book to this one, Vaara is a radically different character. And I'm not too sure what I think of him now....

In Snow Angels, Vaara pursues a case that is racially charged - the murder of a Somali woman. In Helsinki White, the issue of racial intolerance, prejudice and hate is a tangible, ugly truth. The racist rhetoric made me feel sick.  Thompson has borrowed from headlines in Finland to create a multi layered plot involving extreme xenophobia, political corruption at the highest levels and more. Vaara pursues justice, but it is obtained by vicious and selective means.

The tone of Helsinki White is very dark and noir. The violence and situations are extreme. The characters are of course, Thompson's to manipulate, but I have to be honest, I didn't like where he took them. Vaara's American wife Kate has agreed to Vaara heading the black ops group. But, she is aware of the escalating violence, is present for some of it, all while toting along her three month old baby.

Vaara's tumour has left him without emotion and operating on a base level....

"I don't seem to care about what I do, either. My existence is binary. Want/don't want. Like/don't like. Will/won't. I have no shades of gray."

...and the writing seems to echo that - the prose are short and terse. Except for the long descriptions of the guns and equipment obtained by Milo, that I found myself skimming.

I applaud Thompson's tackling of a very real issue, but Vaara's solutions makes him no better than those he is pursuing. Will I read the next in the series? Yes, I want to where Thompson takes Vaara, but it won't be at the top of the pile.

Read an excerpt of Helsinki White. You can find Thompson on Facebook and on Twitter.

Winner - The Beggar's Opera

The lucky winner of a copy of

The Beggar's Opera

by  Peggy Blair,

courtesy of Penguin Canada

is:

Zara!

Congratulations! I've contacted you by email for your mailing address.

 Please respond within 72 hours.

Happy Blogiversary Box o' Books Giveaway!!

Woohoo! It's the 4th Blogiversary of A Bookworm's World! Thank you to every reader who has helped me share my love of reading over the last four years!

And to say thanks - it's the Happy Blogiversary Box o' Books! Yes, one lucky winner will receive a mystery selection of brand new, never read, current titles!

Simply leave a comment telling me how you follow A Bookworm's World. GFC? Email? Subscribe? Twitter (@LuanneO) Facebook?  Ends April 15/12. Open internationally!