Violets are Blue by James Patterson

I never thought James Patterson would go the vampire route. I was wrong. Now, that being said, they aren’t REAL vampires. They are folks who call themselves vampires and drink blood. But nonetheless…. Vampires.

In the last book, Roses Are Red, we discover who the Mastermind is, but he isn’t found out by Alex Cross yet. He makes a reappearance in this novel and wreaks more havoc on Cross.

While trying to solve the mysterious vampire killers’ spree that is sweeping across the United States, Cross also has to deal with tauntings from the Mastermind and has to either push his worry aside or act to try to find out who this mad man is.

It was a thrilling read with a lot of twists and turns, and it was hard to put down.

I think the biggest twist was that there was no epilogue at the end! I don’t think I have read a Patterson book without one. At least not an Alex Cross or Womens Murder Club book. I was shocked when it just ended without one.

5/5 not a dull moment, and very easy to get through. 

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Read ahead for spoilers!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I suppose I could have read this cult-classic book many years ago. But, I didn’t. So here I am in 2013 reading a book most people have already read and loved so much that it was made into a movie! Better late than never, right? I thought so, too ;)

Perks is told from the viewpoint of the main character Charlie. It is told through letters that he is writing to an unknown friend about his life going into High school. It is a coming of age story that I believe every reader can take something out of.

Charlie makes friends with two older high school students, Sam and Patrick. They let him hang around even though he is younger and not the popular type. They help him adjust to life in high school as well as helping him make some more friends along the way.

I think everyone can see a little bit of themselves in Charlie. Even if you were nothing like him. Just the way that he feels about certain things and the way he expresses his emotions.

I loved the way this book was written- through the letters. It made it really interesting to read and very relatable. It felt like you were going through someone’s journal. I can see why it is so well liked.

5/5 stars. Not much else to say. If you haven’t read this book yet, put it on your to-read list.  

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Down and Out In Manhattan by J.R Locke

I am not sure what I was expecting out of this book, but once I began reading it, it was not what I expected it to be. I was very pleasantly surprised with this book. The story, the writing, and it even has a pretty big twist at the end.

 This book takes you through the rise and fall of Jack Cole’s career in corporate business. It uncovers some business practices that in some cases are probably not so far from the truth.

The Frenchman is on the loose. He cuts off the hands of his victims and no one knows who he is. Will he get to Jack, before he is caught?

When jack gets tangled up in a sketchy business deal, everything starts to go wrong. People begin dying, and he goes through a moral dilemma. Does he do the right thing, or does he go to the authorities and put his job and life at risk?

The one bright spot in Jack’s life is the love of his life Lisa. She has had a rough past, but once she and Jack find each other again, everything seems to be perfect. On phone call could ruin everything, though.

This is a fast-paced story about the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of corporate jobs. It will keep you hanging on until the very last page.

5/5 stars. I was pretty stunned by the reveal of the Frenchman at the end. And as a whole, this book was a pretty realistic read that touched on a number of topics. For it being pretty short, it was done very well. 

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Demon Inhibitions by Gary Starta

Have you ever thought about there being someone out there in the world (or a different world) that looked just like you and was your alternate self?

Well, in this novel, Caitlin Diggs does not have to wonder about this. She is forced to confront this notion.

Caitlin is a former FBI agent that left the force because she came into having some supernatural powers. 

When a case calls for her to hunt down a truly evil demon and try to bring him to justice, her life is changed forever.

From discovering a world where demons are as common as humans, to evolving into a goddess herself, Caitlin must reevaluate all of her previous thoughts about everything mystical and paranormal to fit into this world and do the job that put her there in the first place.

There isn't much else to say about this one other than: READ IT. It is exciting and keeps you hooked from the very beginning.

5/5 stars It was pretty hard to put this one down. I don’t normally read books about demons, vampires, etc. But this one was really good!

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Roses Are Red by James Patterson

The sixth installment in the heart-racing Alex Cross series.

I don’t know if I am sweating because it is hot in my house and I am drinking coffee, or if it is because of the emotional roller coaster that this book just sent me on.

I am guessing the latter.

This is probably one of the best suspense/thriller novels I have read in a long time. Probably since the second book in this series Kiss the Girls.

Alex Cross is put on a disturbing case involving multiple bank robberies and murders.

The problem – They are all organized by one person, The Mastermind.

Who is the Mastermind? He is an intelligent person that has access to all of the information he would ever need. How is this possible? Is this man someone inside of the FBI, the police force, or does he just have the best resources anyone could imagine? Well, you will just have to read it to find out…

We meet a new character in this one – Betsey. She is the head of the investigation from the FBI’s side. She is smart, witty, and an overall good person.

I really enjoyed how she and Alex worked together.

This was one of the most interesting cases I think. Just because we don’t figure out who is behind it until the end, so it is a mystery. It was mysterious, it was disturbing, and it takes you on a wild ride.

5/5 stars for sure. If I could choose one book out of all that I have read to receive a full 5/5 rating, this one would be it. It is a must read. But do yourself a favor and read the previous 5 Alex Cross books before diving into this one. It isn’t necessary, but just trust me on that.

Just…. WOW.

It is going to take me awhile to recover from this one.

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Read ahead for spoilers!

Pop Goes the Weasel by James Patterson

Alex Cross stars in this crazy novel Pop Goes the Weasel.

He encounters one of the craziest and unpredictable serial killers yet. Will this case prove to be too much for Cross to handle. Will they ever find the killer?

When Alex’s lover goes missing, his whole life is turned upside down, and his motivation to solve the case goes through the roof. He is taunted by The Weasel and can’t stand the thought that Christine may be dead.

In a case that has more victims than the police have answers, this turns out to be one of Cross’s worst cases yet.

Will he catch the Weasel once and for all? You have to read to find out!

One thing I really liked about this one is that we got a lot of insight into what was going on in the killer’s mind. It made it more interesting!

4/5 stars. It was a great read, but there were some parts in the middle that seemed to drag on a little long. Otherwise, it kept me captivated by wondering if they would find Christine alive. 

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Dog Park by Deena Marie Kaylee

Dog Park is a book to read if you want a feel-good story.

It is all centered around the love of pets and the importance of pets in life. And more than that, it is also a religious story as well.

As an animal lover myself, I really it make it enjoyed how the dogs took the main stage at different parts in this book, and it made it fun to read.

Bamboo and Brutus were the stars of this books just as love was in the stars for their owners.

It is a cute love story where two members and workers of a church come together by chance at a dog park, and their lives are never the same after that.

It brings comedy to the notion that first impressions are very important, but also shows how relationships can change when two people get to know eachother.

5/5 stars. It was short and sweet, and there were plenty of adorable doggy scenes!

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Black Book Part 2: Out of Time by Dylan Jones

Sherriff Jack is back!

This installment of Black Book was more confusing than the first.

There were two different story-lines that were being shared, and the one with the President lost me after they were placed into Pods.

It seemed like they were aliens… or facing aliens. I am not really sure.

Then there was the story line that was centered around Jack. I think he was travelling back in time? Then he ends up with an old man that knows him, but he doesn’t know the old man.

It was intriguing, maybe because I was trying to figure out what was going on.

I am looking forward to reading the 3^rd installment, and maybe some of it will be cleared up.

2/5 stars. I just could not figure out what was going on half of the time, but it left off as a cliff hanger, and I want to know what happens next. 

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Snow Day by Dan Maurer

Snow day is a novella that is told like a spooky campfire story told to children. It also reads like it could be a child’s nightmare.

I really enjoyed the writing of this novella. Mr. Maurer did a wonderful job of setting the tone of the story. It was spooky throughout the whole story and had a hint of doom around each corner.

It tells the story of one snow day. Usually snow days are days that children love more than none other. What could beat getting out of school for the day and being able to play in the snow? Not much!

But when things go in a horribly wrong direction that leaves the main character haunted for life, snow days aren’t something to be excited over anymore.

Some parts are a little silly, and some parts are very gorey (the ending for sure!). But, there is just something about this story that keeps you holding on until the very end. It captivates your mind by drawing very explicit mental images, and I think that is where the skill of the writer comes in.

If you are into spooky and somewhat unsettling novellas, this one is for you!

5/5 stars. Kept me hanging on until the end, and Dan Maurer did a wonderful job with descriptive writing. 

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12th of Never by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

It is that time of year again --

My person is back! Lindsay Boxer and the rest of the Women’s Murder Club is back for the 12^th installment!

And as always, Mr. Patterson does not disappoint!

Lindsay has just become a mother, but she doesn’t get any time off. After having baby Julie, she is thrown right back into the hectic mess that is investigating homicides in San Francisco.

Claire’s job is on the line when a high-profile murder victim’s body disappears.

Cindy and Rich’s relationship hits a bump in the road.

And Yuki has the court case from hell!

One of the many things I loved about this novel was how many story lines were all intertwined with each other. Yet, in classic Patterson form, it doesn’t get confusing and all flows together.

Once a book series starts getting up in the double digits, you may expect the books to start getting worse, but it hasn’t happened yet here. This novel was just as exciting as 1-11 and it was hard to put down.

This is my favorite book series, and I was really excited when my pre-order copy came in the mail. The fact that the quality of the book still matches the earlier installments just reinforces why Patterson is my favorite author.

5/5 Stars. It lived up to all expectations, and of course…. Leaves you begging for the next book. 

Click to purchase! Really... click it!

Women's Murder Club Series

Read ahead for spoilers!

F in Exams by Richard Benson

Now that my finals week is over, and others are going through the stress as I am writing this. I thought I would bring this little book of comedic relief.

F in Exams brings laughs from reading what students write when they are clueless on exams.

It is something to keep your mind at ease if only for the little time that it takes to read it.

It is a short book, so don’t worry about it cutting into study time. Everyone needs a break every now and then, right?

Take a break from the stress in life and pick this up. It’s sure to make you laugh!

5/5 stars

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Black Book Part 1: The Devil's Blood by Dylan Jones

Warning: If you don’t like gore, this may not be for you.

This short story is just part one of a larger series involving the protagonist, Sheriff Jack.

It introduces Jack coming face-to-face with evil, even the Devil himself.

It lays down a good beginning character arc for the Sheriff to introduce you to this character and understand the tone of the series.

Sheriff Jack is the bad-ass protagonist that you want in any action series, and when you finish part one, you will not be disappointes.

I enjoyed the feel and tone of this story. It is dark and mysterious. It is also full of action and gore.

5/5 – This series has a lot of potential, stay tuned for more!

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The Last Judges by Jedi Gong

This book has elements of survival, war, and is semi-apocalyptic. And even more than than that, it is spiritual and paranormal. It offers a little bit of everything, and there is even some romance near the end.

This is a book that starts out by telling the stories of strangers that are all experiencing the weird natural disasters that are popping up all over the country.

Then, it turns into a book about destiny.

These individuals come together and learn how to survive these crazy events with limited resources, ...and a psychic.

It will take you on a crazy ride, and an emotional one at that. You will hate some characters and you will love others, but you will end up rooting for this group of strangers in the end.

It takes the story of the anti-christ and the mark of the beast to a whole new level.  With witches and warlocks, mysterious twins, and a gun-happy girl with two pups, there is never a dull moment in this book. It will keep you hanging on until the very last page.

I enjoyed how every character had their own distinct personality. It made reading this fun because you got to know the characters along the way.

There are also two badass female characters, so that was fun as well!

I would give this a 4.5 just because of one highly uncomfortable moment which I will place in he spoiler section.

Other than that, it was well written. I felt a connection to the characters and was rooting for this group the whole way through.

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Read ahead for spoilers

Last Regress by Rachael Thorne

This book is a wonderful combination of paranormal, Sci-fi, and romance. These are three different genres (though paranormal and sci-fi can sometimes go hand in hand), but the way they are woven together makes this story captivating.

The main character, Alyssa, works for a company that investigates the paranormal. She is interested in cases that are unusual and go unsolved.

When she opens the case file of the deceased Cain Andrews, her life is changed forever. Whether that is for better or worse is up to the reader to decide after finishing the book!

The story of Alyssa and Cain is wonderful, tragic, heart-breaking, and scary all wrapped up in one. You get a dose of everything.

There is also Alyssa’s best friend, Greg, He doesn’t believe anything Alyssa is going through, and after a while, as the reader, he begins to put doubt in your mind as well.

This book is written beautifully; the characters all have a wonderful story arc, and are completely developed. You have a sense of each of their personalities and feel as if you know them personally.

5/5 stars. Beautiful story, Wonderfully written.

It also leaves open the possibility for a sequel!

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Supernatural Freak by Louisa Klein

The title of this book is very fitting. That is exactly what it is about, a supernatural freak. The main character is Robyn. She has abilities that no human has, and abilities that many people that do have supernatural abilities don’t have, and that makes her a target.

Many strange things happen around her that she has no explanation for, so she enlists the help of her wizard and witch friends, and also the ghost that conveniently lives in her attic.

This book is packed with action, but is also packed with tons of humor and wit, with a dash of romance... just a dash!

I find books a lot more enjoyable to read when there are good characters. That was the case with this one. I enjoyed all of the characters. They all had their own unique personalities, and they meshed well together to make this book exciting to read. You never knew what was going to come out of their mouths next.

Also, I wish I had an awesome ghost that lived in my attic.

5/5 This was thoroughly enjoyable. It was hilarious, it was suspenseful, and it was full of action! AND the characters were awesome!

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Capella Bright by Tara McCausland

The end of this book is TERRIBL…….Y SUSPENSEFUL!

My jaw dropped as I read the last line.

If you like cliff hangers, don’t even read the rest of this review, just go directly to the link and purchase this book! I promise, you won’t regret it!

But I shall continue this… even though the top part should convince you right away to get it.

Moving on…

This book is geared toward young adults and features romance, family drama (that can be very relatable to some), and….. aliens again? Common theme here in February I see!

Actually, this book was fun to read after the last one I had read because they were both so DIFFERENT! It was kinda cool to compare the way the “others” were portrayed.

Anyways, the main character is Capella Maggie Hart. She meets the new kid in town, Alex, and there is a bond between them right away. One that neither of them could have possibly predicted the outcome of.

Maggie’s best friend has instant interest and is lusting over Alex. But he wants nothing from her. He is more interested in Maggie, quite to her surprise.

As they grow closer, the truth about who Alex really is comes out, and the rest of the book is a wild adventure involving Hunters, Pods, and strange guns.

Will Maggie and Alex be able to grow their budding relationship? Youll just have to read it to find out J

5/5 stars The character development was great. I grew super attached to them, and the story was just as good!

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Alien Tears by Darren Rogers

This novel by Darren Rogers has a little bit of everything. Romance, violence, drama, and …… aliens?

When I began this novel the first thing I noticed was how long it was! But, once I began reading on, that was the furthest thing from my mind.

Alien Tears is centered (for the most part) around an individual named Mark. Mark seems like a typical teenage boy and starts falling heavily for a young lady named Tonya.

There is more to Mark than what you may think.

 -    -      -

The aliens begin taking over Earth after one of their own is killed off by the government.

No one knows how to react, the president resigns, and people are dying by the bunches. The whole world is in chaos.

Would you know how to survive an alien invasion?

All they wanted was to make society better, but society rebelled and brought destruction upon themselves.

This novel reminded me almost of a modern day War of the Worlds.

It was an intense journey. One of happiness, sadness, and some… intimate moments as well.

4/5 stars There were a few grammatical errors that were distracting at times, but if you look past that (there may be a revised version out now), the story is great and will keep you hanging on until the end!

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Read ahead for spoilers

Chief Complaint: Brain Tumor by John Kerastas

Fun and enlightening with a side of emotion

I just want to start by saying this is one of the most humorous books that I have read in a while.

(this could be due to the fact that I usually read  crime novels/thrillers… but moving on..)

John has a unique way of dealing with his diagnosis of a brain tumor. He uses humor.

He takes you through his diagnosis and procedures dealing with his tumor and makes it an interesting experience.

This book is great for anyone looking for a memoir of someone going through a similar experience or for family members as well. Whats great about it is that is also great for the average reader.

John has a great writing style that keeps you hanging on throughout the whole book. It is short as well, it only took me a few hours to read.

Clear an afternoon and pick up a copy. You will not regret it.

5/5 stars. I loved John’s sense of humor and his ability to tell his story through this.

Also, it takes place in Chicago, so I liked it even more… haha. 

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Read ahead for spoilers

This Möbius Strip of Ifs by Mathias Freese

This Möbius Strip of Ifs is not a book for those who do not wish to think a lot while reading.

This is a collection of short essays and memoirs by the author Mathias Freese. It is a very intellectual writing with a hint of emotion as well.

I found each different essay to be interesting in its own ways. Reading through each one was thoroughly enjoyable.  

I find it hard to review books of this sort because they are all different. The writing styles are different, the subjects are different, and so on.

So, I will say this. If you want to pick up a book that reads sort of like an intellectual diary, I would pick this up.

Note that when I say diary, I am not lessening the effect of what Mathias has to say. I mean it in the way that he is the man behind each of these essays saying how he feels about different topics.

Overall 4/5 stars I really enjoyed it, but a few of the essays lost me. Bound to happen I supposed. 

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Oil, The 4th Renewable Resource by Shawn Alli

This book is in direct contrast with the one I just read in the way that it is really short! So much so that I got through it in only a few hours – with taking breaks as well.

Shawn Alli argues in his book the legitimacy of the oil shortage scare.

He provides many examples as well as in-depth research to further his arguments.

I feel like this book is very eye-opening. It is short, and easy to read. I believe it is a book that anyone interested in the topic or wanted to know more should pick up.

It should also be a side read in Universities, but Im not sure they would change their curriculum that easily. Maybe some day.

5/5 stars. For a book all about oil and fossil fuels (not a topic I enjoy TOO much), it was really interesting and kept my attention.  

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Crochet Saved My Life by Kathryn Vercillo

My first impression of this book – Wow, this is long!

Now, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sometime books must be long to achieve its goal. I feel like this one could have been condensed though. There were times where I felt that what I was reading was a bit redundant.

That being said, it was a very interesting book. I was wondering how a book completely about crochet could be interesting all the way through, but it was.

Kathryn explores many different mental and physical ailments that can be helped by the use of crochet. I didn’t know something so simple could help many symptoms of these complicated disorders. It was interesting to read each different section.

She gives a brief description of each disorder and then explains how the use of crochet helps different symptoms. She shares her own persona stories as well as stories of other individuals. I think this is what keeps the book interesting and not feeling like a text book.

Anyone who needs a new hobby, something to help a disorder you are suffering from, or if you already enjoy crochet, I would say you should pick this up and at least read the sections that pertain to you. Or you can just read it the whole way through.

3.5/5 stars. A bit redundant at times, and long – but, overall, it was very interesting. 

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Not a book review

I know this isn't a book review but I have to post about it anyways. 
The NHL and NHLPA have finally agreed to a tentative deal to end the NHL lockout!!
I am so excited. I just want my hockey back and my Blackhawks back out on the ice!

Sorry I just had to share this excitement!
-Courtney 

The Life of a Stripper: 50 Exotic Dancers Confess Their Personal Experiences in the Adult Entertainment Industry by Romana Van Lissum

As the title suggests, this book is a compilation of stories about Exotic Dancers’ experiences with their jobs. 

Some are current dancers, and some are retired. No matter the age, they all have their set of stories.

Al of their stories seemed to be a little similar, but they were all different as well. It was interesting to read about the different circumstances that led them to joining this field of work as well as their good and bad experiences.

I feel like this book could be an eye-opener for those who think dancers are just drug-users and prostitutes. It is way beyond that. These are just girls that either need the money, or genuinely enjoy dancing. That’s why I feel this is a good book. It shows both sides of that.

I also feel like any aspiring dancer should read this just to see the experiences of other ladies.

Over all, I this was a really good book. It was really interesting.

5/5 stars

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Sons of Suicide by Dan Andrews

Sons of Suicide is a non-fiction novel told through the eyes of the author, Dan Andrews.

This book is the story of him as a young boy having to deal with the loss of his mother. She had committed suicide, and his life was never the same.

This tragedy made his childhood rough, but as he began to grow older and mature, he found a way to turn his pain into a positive thing. He decided that he wants to help others, whether through this book or by coaching in a gym.

Dan’s story is very real. It is one that not many people experience, but at the same time, too many people experience it. The pages of this book are filled with emotion that you may not find in many other writings. It was truly written very well.

Sons of Suicide is not a sob story. Dan isn't trying to get the world to feel sorry for him. It is quite the opposite. He is opening up and sharing his experience to show that it is possible to get through tragedy. You will always have the scar, but you can turn your life around and become a better person.

This is a great read, I loved every bit of it. It was emotional, sad, and happy as well.

5/5 stars. The writing was great, the purpose of the writing was even better. 

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