April Book Binge Results
I’ve been keeping track of all my books for the April Book Binge by posting a review of each one. If you’re interested in the reviews, click on the title, and they link back to my original post. Here’s the short list:
- Vegan Virgin Valentine by Carolyn Mackler
- The Saint by Kathleen O’Brien
- Happily Never After by Kathleen O’Brien
- The Amber Room by Steve Berry
- The Sinner by Kathleen O’Brien
- Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
- Summer at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
- The Stranger by Kathleen O’Brien
- The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
- Roman Mysteries #1: Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence
- Roman Mysteries #2: Secrets of Vesuvius by Caroline Lawrence.
- Roman Mysteries #3, Pirates of Pompeii by Caroline Lawrence.
Here are the lists from the other participants: April Book Binge Results
Looking forward to reading everyone else’s lists! And I hope you’ll all participate in my Presidential Candidate Book Challenge!
book binge books coming of age mystery Roman Mysteries YA: Caroline Lawrence Pirates of Pompeii
by Blabby
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Book #22
(Book Binge book #12) Roman Mysteries #3, Pirates of Pompeii by Caroline Lawrence. This one was awesome! I read it in about an hour. Lots of focus on Nubia - who I love. Jonathan’s sense of humor and leadership qualities stand out. A little more of Lupus’ history is revealed.
Read these books already.
There’s no shame in my game…these books are probably for fifth or sixth graders, but I’m gobbling them up like I was 10 again. Good stories are good stories - no matter how old you are.
ancient Rome book binge books Roman Mysteries suspense YA: Caroline Lawrence Pliny the Elder Secrets of Vesuvius
by Blabby
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Book #21
(Book Binge book #11) Roman Mysteries #2: Secrets of Vesuvius by Caroline Lawrence.
If book 1 moved a little slow, then book #2 flew by! I really liked this one. I started it this morning and finished it this afternoon. While the volcano was erupting, things get so chaotic that I almost couldn’t keep track of everyone, but it’s very exciting. Plus, I love fiction based on real events. It seems that Pliny the Elder was there launching ships during the eruption of the volcano…what a fun way to learn history. But don’t look up the history until after you read this book, because it will be a spoiler for you.
Again, I love Lupus and Nubia. Behold! They are great characters. You’ll have to read these books to see what that behold is all about. On to book #3, then I have to wait for my library to get #4 (very sad.)
ancient Rome book binge books Camulod Chronicles mystery Roman Mysteries suspense YA: Caroline Lawrence Jack Whyte Skystone Thieves of Ostia
by Blabby
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Book #20
(Book Binge book #10) Roman Mysteries #1: Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence. Chosen on recommendation from Bookwitch. Definitely a must for Harry Potter fans. Book 1 introduces the merry band of four friends who solve mysteries in ancient Rome. The group includes a well-bred Roman girl, a Christian boy, an African slave girl, and a Roman orphan boy with no tongue.
This book moved a little slow because of all the introducing, but I still really liked it. The characters are very unique and very smart. I like their individual strengths and their personalities. I especially love Lupus.
One thing that I noticed is that these books aren’t for the faint of heart. There is quite a bit of violence and bloodshed. Both by animals and people. It’s different from the scary parts in a book like Harry Potter because those books are so magical, you can kind of write off the scary stuff as magic too. But the scary stuff in the Roman Mysteries is pretty real. I’m curious to see what some other parents think about what age would be appropriate for their children to read these books.
Anyway, highly recommended, and on to book #2.
One other thing, I’m kind of an ancient Rome junkie. My most favorite series set in that time frame is The Camulod Chronicles by Jack Whyte. (I’m not crazy about his website - his books are MUCH more interesting.) Awesome retelling of the Camelot story (an all time favorite of mine) - includes lots of history, some fantasy elements and excellent writing. Excalibur as you’ve never seen it. Book 1 is The Skystone.
book binge books coming of age romance novels YA: sarah dessen
by Blabby
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Book #19
(Book Binge book #9) The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen. I loved this book! I started it yesterday, and of course, stayed up all night reading it. At first (the first 20 pages), I thought I wasn’t going to like it, and then the catering team was introduced, and I was hooked. What a great cast of broken but wonderful characters! Good job, Sarah!
Highly recommended - for fans of fiction about family, loss, love. Easily could be for a YA or adult audience.
Also, if you’re into controlling your environment like I am, this book is a nice wake up call that a little chaos goes a long way towards improving things.
book binge books harlequin Heroes of Heyday Paula Abdul romance novels RWA suspense: Kathleen O'Brien
by Blabby
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Book #18
(Book Binge book #8) The Stranger, book #3 in the Heroes of Heyday series by Kathleen O’Brien. Here we meet the final and most mysterious of the three McClintock brothers.
I’m noticing a prevalence of whips in Ms. O’Brien’s books :)
I really liked this series. I’m hoping for one more book with Mindy and Roddy’s story, but this one was great. Intrigue, love, small quirky town, bad guys peeing on books…what more could you ask for?
As always, highly recommended. I will say, just so I don’t sound like Paula Abdul, that I enjoyed the Firefly Glen series much more than this one. But I really really loved that one, and I just loved this one, so there you go. Constructive.
book binge books romance novels RWA: Dirty Dancing RITA Susan Wiggs
by Blabby
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Book #17
(Book Binge book #7) Summer at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs. Probably the longest book I’ve read in a little while at 535 pages…it’s kind of funny to go from reading a lot of Harlequins to a mainstream romance novel. You know whats going to happen, but it takes a lot longer to get there.
Not to say this book moved slowly, because it didn’t. And I loved the characters and especially the location - a dreamy Dirty Dancing-esque campground in the Catskills. One character, a film buff, even refers to it as so - which I thought was cool.
- I wanted to live there.
- I wanted to see (as in, invite him to my house) Connor Davis - he sounds lovely :)
- I really loved Olivia - the heroine. She was a complete person, with great (but realistic) strengths and also realistic shortcomings.
I’m looking forward to reading more of Susan Wiggs’ novels. She’s got a huge collection of books under her belt. I happened to stumble onto her blog through the Tag Surfer, and boy am I glad I did. Consequently, she’s also up for a RITA. In a different category than Kathleen O’Brien, so I can cheer for them both!
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by Blabby
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Book #16
(Book Binge book #6) Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen. After about a million recommendations that Sarah Dessen was THE YA author to read, I picked up her first novel. I had originally thought it was part of a two book series, because this book and her next book, That Summer, were the basis of the Mandy Moore movie How To Deal. Anyway, it’s not a series, much to my disappointment.
I loved both Scarlett and Hallie…very touching characters. Sometimes the teen angst of YA novels annoys me, but it was okay in this book. Hallie went through some ups and downs with her mom, but it all seemed very real. The teen pregnancy story line was troubling, but it seemed like Scarlett had a great support system. I would have loved to see what Michael’s parents’ reaction was to the news that they would have a grandchild.
So I really liked this book, but I took the other Sarah Dessen books I had back to the library. I need some intrigue after all these mushy romance and coming-of-age novels. But that will have to wait until book #18.
book binge books harlequin Heroes of Heyday romance novels RWA: Kathleen O'Brien RITA
by Blabby
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Book #15
(Book Binge book #5) The Sinner, book #2 in the Heroes of Heyday series by Kathleen O’Brien. I love a good series, and Ms. O’Brien never disappoints. Book #2 in the Heroes of Heyday series continues the story of a quirky town where zebras run amok owned by three estranged brothers. Brother two, the Sinner Bryce, returns to Heyday after being gone for 14 years to recover from a traumatic experience and get his bearings…and in true Harlequin style, finds love.
I was happy to see what was happening with the main characters from the first book, and glad to know the full story of the second brother. Looking forward to reading about the third brother in The Stranger.
book binge books suspense the amber room WWII fiction: steve berry
by Blabby
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Book #14
(April Book Binge book #4) The Amber Room by Steve Berry. If I had a star ranking system, this would not get the highest marks. But it would get high marks. I love WWII fiction of all kinds. I love thrillers. I love thrillers with a little history thrown in. So since this book is about Nazi looted art still being hunted by treasure seekers and the people hiding all the secrets, it appeals to me. The fact that the Amber Room is (was) real, and still missing, is pretty cool.
I noticed on Amazon that after 84 reviews, this book only had three stars. It did drag a little. Berry throws in a lot of the actual history and theories surrounding the missing Amber Room, and then repeats the info quite a bit. I bet this book is great as an abridged audiobook :)
One review commented on Berry’s sort of unbelievable female lead character. I won’t call her a heroine, because Berry does not let her become that. But she is irritating. I find her resistance to her ex-husband annoying, her weakness towards Knoll annoying, and her mean outbursts annoying. I don’t want to give anything away, so that’s all I’ll say. I did, however, really like Paul, Karol and McCoy.
If you want a lukewarm thriller set against the backdrop of places in Europe like Austria, the Alps, Prague and Germany - with TONS of detail, try this one.
I happened to listen to The Romanov Prophecy last year on audio book, and it was really good. Something about narration by a good reader that makes the details whiz by. Plus, I love all stories about the Tsars. Also, I think this was Berry’s second (and much better) book. I’m off to read his other books…apparently, I’m a glutton for historical detail.
