Showing posts with label NetGalley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NetGalley. Show all posts

10/15/13

Review THE SOUND AND THE FURRY by SPENCER QUINN @ChettheDog @AtriaBooks

Book Description

 September 10, 2013

In the sixth installment of the brilliant New York Times bestselling mystery series, canine narrator Chet and his human partner P.I. Bernie Little are handed a hard case in the Big Easy.

When Chet and Bernie happen upon a prison work crew that includes Frenchie Boutette, an old criminal pal they sent up the river, getting a new case is the last thing they expect. But Frenchie, who comes from an old Louisiana family full of black sheep, needs help finding his one law-abiding relative, his brother Ralph, a reclusive inventor who has gone missing with his houseboat. Though he’s tempted to take another job (with a big payday) in Alaska, Bernie decides to set course for the bayous of Louisiana, a trip that will introduce Chet to a world of sights, smells, and tastes that are like nothing he’s ever encountered.

Out in bayou country, Chet and Bernie meet the no-good Boutette family and their ancient enemies, the maybe-even-worse Robideaus, and at first it seems as if Ralph’s disappearance is connected to a dispute over a load of stolen shrimp. But when Chet uncovers a buried clue, the investigation heads in a dangerous new direction involving the oil business and an impending environmental catastrophe. The more Chet and Bernie discover about Ralph, the more treacherous the job becomes, and soon they’re fighting not only Big Oil, but also shadowy black ops figures, a violent biker gang from back home, and Iko—a legendary bayou gator with a seemingly insatiable appetite. Meanwhile, deep under the Gulf, the pressure just keeps building.





About the Author
Spencer Quinn is the author of four previous Chet and Bernie mysteries, all of them New York Times bestsellers. He lives on Cape Cod with his dog, Audrey. Visit ChetTheDog.com.


SOURCE: PUBLISHER - NETGALLEY

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Chet and Bernie - ROAD TRIP!
When the pair have a chance encounter with a perp working on a chain gang, they are offered a job near New Orleans to find a missing person.  The guy they are looking for is the only one of a set of brothers that is law-abiding and an inventor, Ralph Boultette.  The cast of characters in this latest installment are right out of central casting. Just before they leave for the Bayou, Bernie is attacked by by a thug on a motorcycle, stitches and a headache later, the two are on their way.  Bernie thinks it is just an isolated incident, but Chet seems to think otherwise.

Once they get to the Bayou, Chet discovers some very interesting smells that belong to creatures he is not at all familiar with.  As Bernie begins his investigation to find Ralph, he follows a lead to the local vet where he encounters several oil-covered birds.  There is also a shrimp theft that is blamed on Ralph but Bernie can't really connect the dots in this case.  Chet, however is connecting some very convincing scents.  There are several moments of cliffhangers like will Chet survive a near-drowning and will Bernie not be hit on the head again.

In the end, Chet leads the charge to find Ralph as well as make new friends and acquire new treats.  These books are just so much fun to read and Quinn really knows how to make a dog have a brilliant personality.  The humans always tend to take a back seat whenever Chet is around.  These books always seem to be released so far apart.  There are two novellas that I just downloaded to carry me over.


Disclosure  I received this book from the publisher at no charge and in no way influenced my review.  If you are considering purchasing this book or anything else from Amazon, please use my link above since I earn a very small percentage of the sale which helps pay for shipping my giveaways!  

5/19/12

REVIEW: Unbreak My Heart by Melissa C. Walker @melissacwalker @bwkids


Book Description

May 22, 2012
Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life. Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now. Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart? Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to.


About the Author

MELISSA WALKER has worked as ELLEgirl Features Editor and Seventeen Prom Editor. She is the author of Small Town Sinners, the Violet on the Runway series, and Lovestruck Summer. Melissa manages the daily e-newsletter, iheartdaily.com and handles blogging for readergirlz.com.www.melissacwalker.com
SOURCE:  PUBLISHER - NETGALLEY

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT


Clementine  has had the worst year ever!  After falling for the same new guy at school that her BFF, Amanda, has claimed for her own, she is ostracized by all of her friends after the two go on a joy ride and don't return for over eight hours.  Suspicions are cast and even though nothing happened, Clem may as well be wearing a scarlet letter for the rest of her life. When her parents decide to spend the summer sailing down the Mississippi, she is almost relieved to be away and cut off from the drama of home life.   Her story is told in flashbacks of the events that lead to her fall out with Amanda.  Feeling sorry for herself, she thinks she is the worst person on earth and that she will never have another romance ever.  Then she meets a boy, James,  that is sailing the same route as her parents.  James has his own sad tale but tries not to let on to anyone  how much he is suffering.  As they meet in ports along the way, the two develop a friendship and Clem becomes less depressed as the trip and relationship progresses while they find renewal and joy in each other. 

SIGH!  What a wonderful slice of teen life that even us adults can relate to and enjoy!  I found myself getting a bit teary while reading about Clem's misunderstanding with Amanda.  Even though they knew each other for years, Amanda takes the side of the guy which I think hurts her even more than the abandonment of their friendship.  No matter how many times Clem tries to explain, she is shut down, although by the end of the book, she has resolved to stick up for herself and let it go.  This story is not something I would normally read, but I am really trying to get out of my comfort zone and I am so glad that I did!  For those of us who have lived through any sort boy drama with your girlfriends, this will ring true.  There is also a bit of comedic relief with Clem's younger sister, Olive, who seems wiser than her years and knows that her big sister is suffering.  Even the parents in the story are believable, something that is missing in a lot of young adult books these days. This is a pretty clean read with just a kiss here and there, maybe one or two bad words and overall a wonderful story I will enjoy recommending. It should really appeal to women of all ages and especially those fans of Sarah Dessen and Jennifer Echols.  




 Details

  • Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  • Hardcover: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens; 1 edition (May 22, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1599905280
  • ISBN-13: 978-1599905280

4/16/12

REVIEW: Whisper by Alyson Noel @mackidsbooks @alysonnoel



Book Description


This time, Riley might really have bitten off more than she’s ready for. After practically begging the Council for a more challenging Soul Catch, she is assigned an actual Roman gladiator—Theocoles, the Pillar of Doom. How is Riley, a skinny twelve-year-old, supposed to get through to him? Then she meets the beautiful Messalina, who convinces her that her only chance is to become part of this world. To accomplish this, Messalina helps Riley through a dramatic, mystical makeover, transforming her into the beautiful and mature teen she’s always wanted to be. Finally, Riley can experience her first boyfriend and her first kiss. With a dream this enchanting, will she ever want to leave?


About the Author

Alyson Noël is the author of Radiance, Shimmer, the Immortals series, and seven previous novels for St. Martin’s Press. She lives in Orange County, California.

alysonnoel.com

immortalsseries.com

SOURCE: NETGALLEY - Publisher

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Riley Bloom is still in the Here and Now and on a new journey to help a soul move on. In this latest installment, Riley's inner most desire almost comes true. After she dies at age twelve, she thinks she will never, ever become a teenager and reach the magical age of thirteen. After Bodhi, leads her to her next challenge, he leaves her and tells her this will be her most challenging case yet. She travels back to ancient Rome in order to help a gladiator named Theocoles move over the bridge. When she is befriended by Messalina, whose uncle owns the gladiator school where Theocoles trains, she finds her innermost wishes suddenly being fulfilled. She now looks like a teenager and actually has her first kiss! There the story takes a strange turn and Messalina forces her to relive the day that Theocoles is killed again and again. It is a wonder that Riley can escape the madness that Messalina has created.

The word whisper plays an important role in this story, where Riley again outwits the souls she is entrusted to help cross over. The world of ancient Rome is seductively described by Noel and you really feel like you are in the Coliseum cheering on the gladiators.   I am so glad I just read that this series will continue for another book.  I so enjoy Riley's adventures.  This is safe for the youngest of teens and is a series that even the most reluctant of readers will get into.  I know since I have recommend this series to several kids who say they hate to read but ask me when the next book will be out!




Details

  • Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Square Fish; First Edition edition (April 24, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312641567
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312641566