Book Review: Wicked Charms by Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton

Wicked Charms is wickedly funny. It’s a good book to just sit back, relax, and unwind with after a hard day at the office.

Wicked Charms by Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton is the third book of the Lizzy & Diesel series. You may know Diesel if you have read the Stephanie Plum books; he’s branched out and is working with Lizzy now to collect the seven Saligia Stones. Each stone represents a different deadly sin; the stone they are after in this story is the stone representing greed.

Similar to how Diesel has a special ability to open any lock, Lizzy has a special ability to sense empowered objects, like the Saligia stones. A monkey named Carl also moves around with the group, he doesn’t have any special abilities, just basically gives everyone the finger.

There’s also Wulf who is Diesel’s cousin, and wants the stones to use for himself. Helping him is Hatchet, who thinks he is in medieval times. When you put this crazy group of characters together, you get a few laughs at their expense.

This story also adds a guy that thinks he is a demon, who needs the stone to be reborn fully as the demon. There is also his faithful butler, who likes to laugh. The guy who thinks he’s a demon is obviously crazy, right? Demons don’t really exist; I mean sure Diesel, Lizzy, and a few others they meet have these special abilities but surely this guy isn’t really a demon. Is he?

While you can read this book without reading the first two books of the series, Wicked Appetite and Wicked Business, I at least recommend Wicked Appetite so you can be appropriately introduced to the characters, and you’ll get a few more laughs out of the book if you know their background.

So, who gets the stone of greed? Does the crazy guy really become a demon? I’m not going to tell you. You’ll just have to read the book yourself to find out, and see what crazy funny trouble Lizzy and Diesel can get themselves into.

Check out this and other books in the series at Amazon.

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*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The President's Shadow by Brad Meltzer

The President's Shadow by Brad Meltzer, is a jaw-dropping, show stopping, heart pumping thriller.

An arm is found in the Rose Garden by the President's wife. Just an arm, no body, just the arm. In it is a flattened penny that has something to do with a terrible past, and a terrible secret that has been kept by our government.

This story is filled with twists, interesting facts, and heart pounding, heart stopping moments.

Beecher White is a member of the Culper Ring, and is called in by the President himself to keep his family safe. Someone has gotten through the tightest security and now Beecher must use his knowledge and get some help from close friends to get to the bottom of this.

I did have to turn away a few times, as I have a weak stomach and the torture scenes described are so vivid, they made me sick. This is not meant as a turn off for anyone, but just goes to show the details provided, but they don't take away from the story. Just pieces snuck into the dialogue, you don't even realize are there.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. Go to your local bookstore, or library and see what secrets The President's Shadow by Brad Meltzer holds.

*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.



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Uploading My First Booktube Video

You can now find me on YouTube! Oh man that was stressful. I've recorded my next video already, and, it's going to take some getting used to being in front of a camera. I'm much more used to being behind the scenes, maybe writing the lines. 

I do think for my third video, I'm going to try thinking it out better. I'm thinking I may even try making a PowerPoint presentation, not that you'll know if you watch because I'm planning to use it more like cue cards. Or maybe you will know because I won't seem so nervous.

It took...I don't even remember how many takes to just get through the questions. And even then while editing - I just used Microsoft Live Movie Maker - I'm sitting here going, "what I should have said is," or "I could have expanded on that with...". So I'm hoping the PowerPoint next time will help...maybe. I'd also like to try YouTube's video editor, and see what tools it has; I didn't even know until I had uploaded my video and was choosing the title, and thumbnail that YouTube even had an editor.

Speaking of thumbnails; I had some fun and verified my account to add my own thumbnail. I took a screen print of one of the scenes, I forgot to do some footage of posing for this, so I found where I'm talking but look like I'm smiling and my eyes are open, then I just used Paint - the program, not the art supply - and added a title to the picture. That is my thumbnail.

I still hope to add more to my repertoire. But it's slow going. I am having trouble finding time outside of working at my office job. Plus, June has been a busy month for family events - Graduation parties, my sister running in a track meet for her work, Father's Day gathering, Baby Showers...the list goes on. So stay tuned for more BookTube videos, and I'm hoping to throw in something new here on the blog before the end of the year. (I don't want to get too ambitious that I end up overworking myself, and the year is basically half over already.)

Until next time, check out my first Booktube video:

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I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Book Review: Netherworld The Chronicles of Koa

Netherworld by K N Lee is slow to get going, but it gets faster and becomes seriously hard to put down. There were times I wished I didn't have an office job, so I could have more time to read the book.

The story follows Koa, who works to register Vampires and make sure they don't kill any humans. If they are unwilling to register and change their ways, Koa introduces them to the sharp end of her sword. Her father was murdered, and her mother was cursed and is living as a cat who can talk.

Demons, vampires and other otherworld creatures are threatening the human realm. Koa is their only hope, with some help from friends she forgot about.

This story was slow at the start, at times it felt choppy, but like a roller coaster reaching the top of that first hill, the story takes off and you're wanting more when the ride comes to a stop. Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. I'm planning on reading the next book in the series real soon.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

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Book Review: Cherringham, A Cosy Crime Series, The Last Puzzle

I gave Cherringham, The Last Puzzle by Matthew Costello and Noel Richards 4 out of 5 stars because it was so well written, it just draws you in and makes you wonder that pressing question - Who did it?

The story is about Sarah and David who are asked to be witnesses to a reading of a will for a man they didn't know. Sarah's father was a friend of this gentleman though. Turns out, this guy wrote the crossword puzzles for The New York Times, and for one of his potential heirs to gain their fortune, they must complete a crossword relating to the town of Cherringham.

It is Sarah and David's job to make sure none of the four potential heirs work with one another. They are to figure the answers to the crossword by themselves. At first Sarah and David are a bit, "okay, this is new, and different, why a crossword?" Then, when David goes through the deceased's home, he finds his heart pills on a table across the room from the chair where his body was found. This sets off all kinds of alarms because he always kept his pills in arms reach so he could take one to save his life.

This starts David and Sarah on another mystery. The killer left no evidence of their crime, so they have to get creative to catch them red handed. There are no life or death stand offs, but the story doesn't need them.

I found this story entertaining, and I couldn't help but reminisce back to the Agatha Christie books I would borrow from my mother. I was in love with Hercule Poirot. The writing makes me think of how Christie would wind a story and you would lucky to solve the mystery before the great Poirot. This book did exactly that, it drew me in and I did not get lucky and was surprised when the killer was revealed. I also liked the 'show' that was put on to catch them.

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June TBR & Summer Reading Fun

For this first week of June, 1st through the 7th, I am partaking in the #AYearAThon read-a-thon where the theme is to finish or catch up on a series. I happened to have been reading two different series as of June 1, I just finished the audio book for The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater this morning. I am also reading Wings of Fire, The Lost Heir Series by Tui T. Sutherland which is a physical book (I know, you're shocked) I checked out of my local library.

I'm also planning on participating in the Hooked on Books 24 hour read-a-thon taking place on June 27th. I'm hoping to do a little better than my last 24 hour read-a-thon.

Through my local library, this summer I am participating in a reading program called Connect Your Summer, or #cysisawsome. By completing events or tasks, such as reading a book about mythical creatures, you can earn badges. I'm kind of competitive so, when you can earn badges for something, I'm usually all over it.

I have a few books I've requested from my library that I hope to read this month, such as A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas, but there are a few people ahead of me so I may have to wait until next month.

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