Stacy’s Book Reviews

Paperback: 356 Pages
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Thriller
Series: Dirk & Steele: Book 5

“Eye of Heaven”

by Marjorie M. Liu

Book Five: Dirk & Steele Series

“Liu’s screenplay-worthy dialogue, vivid action and gift for the punchy, unexpected metaphor rockets her tale high above the pack. Readers of early Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris and the best thrillers out there should try Liu now and catch a rising star.”

—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

Back Cover Summary:

Dirk & Steele had a creed: Protect the innocent in secrecy. No member of the Agency was “normal”. Each was an outcast, a pariah, a beneficent shadow living under the sun but rarely in its warmth. “Blue” Perrineau was no different. And now, when it was clear that darker shadows existed in the world–people who followed no rule under heaven–every secret was a liability. Blue would soon see.

They came from all over the world to observe Iris’s lithe, catlike body and her affintiy for wild creatures. But beyond the celebrity of the Las Vegas footlghts, a blackness grew. All eyes were upon her, seeking, judging… coveting. But one gaze was that of a savior, a man of electricity and mystery–a mystery as deep and convoluted as her own. And together, they might yet see the dawn.

Excerpt:

“You always like to spy on girls while they sleep?” Iris asked the darkness. The shadow moved and walked toward the pen.

“I’m sorry,” said the man, quiet. “But I was only trying to help. You shouldn’t be here. Not like this.”

“And you’re my protector?” Iris tilted her head. “I can take care of myself.”

She thought he smiled. “I guess that means you’re bulletproof, then. Nice talent to have.”

“Yeah,” she replied, standing. “I’m remarkable that way.”

He was lean, with broad shoulders and narrow hips, garbed in clothers with dark clean lines that looked highly tailored and expensive. Good taste, if nothing else. A man who was primed and ready for a night in a high-end yuppie club, a martini–shaken, not stirred–in his large elegant hand.

Stacy’s Review:

This is the first of Marjorie M. Liu’s books that I have read; and even though I read this “Dirk & Steele” series out of sequence, I didn’t feel as though I missed a thing.

“When Blue, an electrokinetic and a member of the Dirk & Steele detective agency, is sent to Las Vegas to track down his half-brother, he finds himself embroiled in an organ smuggling plot—and protecting a young beauty who is more than she appears.”
–http://www.marjoriemliu.com/books.html

Liu grabbed me in and held my attention from the very first page. I did not want to put this one down until I had read the entire thing. It was that amazing! I love the way she writes: flawless rhythm, wonderful imagery, excitement, intrigue, and terrific dialogue! The action scenes are ‘on-the-edge-of-your-seat’ good. No. They’re outstanding! What a rush! I nearly forgot that I was reading a romance, and let me tell you… Marjorie M. Liu knows how to build the tension in that department as well.

Everything about “Eye of Heaven” was well worth the read, exceptionally entertaining with an original, interesting plot. Her characters come to life on the pages and will stay with you in your memories for some time to come. I have to say that I enjoyed this book immensely, and can’t hardly wait to read the rest in the Dirk & Steele series.

Heck! I want to read every single book that Marjorie M. Liu has written. I really like this author!

Technorati Tags: Paranormal Romantic Thriller, Eye of Heaven, Marjorie M. Liu, Book Five, Dirk & Steele Series, Review

Paperback: 544 Pages
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: The Saga of Recluse: Book Two

“The Towers of the Sunset”

by, L.E. Modesitt, Jr.

“A complex world based on a plausible system of magic.”
–Publishers Weekly

Summary

With the founding of the world of the Recluse and the rise in the discipline of Order Magic, battling wizards, love, and politics mix in a tale that climaxes in a final battle on land and sea.

Stacy’s Review

First of all, I have to say this: L.E. Modesitt, Jr. is a master at creating numerous descriptives for a smile. I had no idea there were so many different ways to do so.

The main character, Creslin, lives in a Matriarchal society high in the northern mountains of Westwinds, aptly named the Roof of the World. He is the male descendant of the last Marshall of the Westwinds. Poor Creslin is naught but a mere man, who’s only destiny, (it seems), is to suffer the fate of an arranged marriage–an arrangement made in the hopes of keeping the white Chaos wizards from ruling the world–errr, or the whole of the continent, that is.

Not willing to accept “becoming little more than a prize stud”, Creslin devises a plan to escape his fate. His journey of self discovery transforms into an all out tale of fascinating magic, high adventure, fantastic imagery, a splash of romance, compelling intrigue, life lessons, and lots of awesome, kick-the-bad-guys-ass moments! Creslin is killer with a sword! {grin}

But that’s not all. In becoming his own man, Creslin realizes his full potential as a powerful weather mage. He learns how to be a true leader of his people, a good friend, and a–

Oh, wait! I can’t tell ya that part, it’s a spoiler!

In conclusion: Although there were a couple of slow areas, all-in-all I truly enjoyed reading this book. Modesitt cares about his characters, and thusly, you’ll find yourself drawn into the story of their lives. An engrossing and fully entertaining read!

Technorati Tags: Epic, Fantasy, The Saga of Recluse, Book Two, The Towers of the Sunset, L.E. Modesitt, Jr.

Paperback: 240 Pages
Genre: Reference, Humor
Series: N/A

“ZOUNDS!”
“A Browser’s Dictionary of Interjections”

by Mark Dunn.

Back Cover Summary:

Often thought of as unnecessary verbal fringe or simply linguistic decoration, interjections (ahem, howdy, mamma mia, pshaw, tally-ho, whoop-de-do) may well be the most overlooked part of speech in the English language. ZOUNDS! A Browser’s Dictionary of Interjections focuses the spotlight on this most deserving (and sometimes most demented) grammatical group. A lighthearted look at more than five hundred interjections, ZOUNDS! explores the origins of these essential words and highlights the contributions of these previously unheralded parts of speech.

Perfect for both word lovers and the casual reader, ZOUNDS! brings together the linguistic talents of Mark Dunn, author of the award-winning novel ‘Ella Minnow Pea’, and the graphic hilarity of Sergio Aragonés, the legendary cartoonist and contributor to Mad Magazine, for a delightful romp through grammar, culture, and the English language.

Excerpts:

imbars bidbib

This has got to be one of the strangest interjections I have encountered. It was used by British soldiers during World War II, and is acronymic for “I may be a rotten sod, but I don’t believe in bullshit.” One would be foolish to risk insubordination by uttering the phrase in the presence of military superiors (especially the ones dishing the bullshit); otherwise, the interjection was expressed freely.

hell’s bells!

This interjection, which connotes impatience and irritation, has nautical origins. Back in the 1800’s it was part of the even more lustrous seaman’s imprecation hell’s bells and bucket of blood! Lost to us is what any of this meant at the time, although it is possible that the phrase simply sprung totally uncogitated from the lips of some very ticked-off sailor. Whereas pirates are generally limited to the growly gar and argh when displeased, legitimate seamen have always exercised a respectable command of the King’s English, notwithstanding their preference for sauce and color. Hell’s bells! is a fine example.

But how the expression got from salty sailor to salty-tongued irascible old ladies, I do not know.

Stacy’s Review:

From bah to en garde! and Gadzooks! Oy, veh! To Shalom, shanté and zoinks! This book shows you interjections like nothing I’ve ever read before!

There are “hip-hop” interjections, such as; fa’ cho, sho-nuff, and work it. A few family Southernisms, including; saints preserve us and lawzy mussy. Interjections by celebrities the likes of Fozzie Bear and Charlie Brown have also been listed; auggh!, good grief, rats, and wocka wocka. Then too, there is Mork from Ork’s nanoo nanoo and one of my personal favorites … shazbot!

There are plenty of well-known, oft used interjections, and quite a few that I had never heard of before. All complete with definition and history shorts. It’s 204 pages full of ‘em!

I absolutely love this book! {big-goofy-grin} If you are of mind to be silly like me, then you definitely need to add this book to your library! It’s great for writers too! Even if they’re not silly.

Technorati Tags: Reference, Humor, ZOUNDS!”
“A Browser’s Dictionary of Interjections, Mark Dunn., interjections, Sergio Aragonés, writers

Paperback: 413 Pages
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Malory: Book 5

“Say You Love Me”

by Johanna Lindsey

Book Five: Malory Series

“A very romantic story to sigh over.”
–Heartland Critiques

Side note: I am covering the “Malory” series in proper sequence. To read the reviews for books one (1) through four (4), please click on the links below:
Malory Novel #1 - ‘Love Only Once’
Malory Novel #2 - ‘Tender Rebel’
Malory Novel #3 - ‘Gentle Rogue’
Malory Novel #4 - ‘The Magic of You’

Back Cover Summary:

Left penniless after her parents’ deaths, Kelsey Langton must now take responsibility for the well-being of her younger sister, Jean. But when circumstance and human frailty conspire to leave them homeless as well, Kelsey is forced to resort to drastic measures. Only by allowing herself to be sold at auction can she rescue her sister’s future–and so Kelsey enters the infamous House of Eros, resigned to becoming the plaything of some well-heeled gentleman.

Lord Derek Malory is the highest bidder for Kelsey’s charms–a dashing rakehell from a family of charming London rogues who draws the sensuous dark-haired maiden into a world of unparalleled pleasures and dangerous rivalries. But Kelsey must scrupulously guard the secret of her highborn past–even as her grace, wit, spirit and beauty entice her new “master” to renounce his scandalous ways …and take a chance on ture love, the most perilous and rewarding gamble of all.

Stacy’s Review:

First off, I have to say that, while I thoroughly enjoy every Malory novel, this one had a couple of different elements that I found quite refreshing. The hero and heroine are both gentle souls. Sure, their passion can heat up the pages, but all-in-all this was a sweet, romantic story that had me pleasantly entertained. Each time I write up my own review, I do a bit of research on what other reviewers have had to say. And sadly, in my opinion, I’ve noticed that some people have missed the true magic of this endearing story.

In “Say You Love Me”, Lindsey has given us a chivalrous hero with undeniable gallantry. Derek Malory has a gentle strength, coupled with a protective nature; thoughtful, romantic and caring. I would have liked for Lindsey to give us more of this character’s depth. But, of what she did offer, I would have to say that Derek Malory is definitely worth sighing over. {smile}

The heroine, Kelsey Langton, seemed to be the major focus of this novel, which put the rest of the characters, (including our hero), into the position of set dressing, (in my opinion). And here we have the portion of this story that spoke to me … Kelsey Langton, while naïve, was not foolishly so. She has an incredible inner strength, coupled with a kind-hearted, gentle nature; a sweet, witty, resourceful and intelligent heroine … very likeable indeed.

And now we come to the villain: Lord David Ashton is a sadistic woman-hater. His heart is as black as coal and his deeds against women are horrific. I think it was quite brilliant of Lindsey to throw this wickedly, sick cretin into the midst of such a sweet, romantic tale. It’s a dash of thrills amidst the romance.

Oh, and of course, we have plenty of humor too as Derek calls upon his uncles to assist him–the ever-witty James and Anthony Malory. Ya gotta love those two! If you don’t, then there’s something seriously wrong with your funny bone, mate.

I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it–especially to fans of Lindsey’s Malory series.

Technorati Tags: Historical Romance, Say You Love Me, Johanna Lindsey, Malory Series, Kelsey Langton, Derek Malory

“The Chronicles of Narnia:
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe”

by C.S. Lewis
Movie by “Walt Disney Pictures”

Review by BEN @ “The Path Less Traveled”

Excerpt:

… it’s definitely worth seeing. It’s definitely worth enjoying. It’s even appropriate for younger children, since the gore and blood is nearly non-existant. (There’s even a famous point in the book where Aslan instructs Peter to clean the blood from his sword on the skin of the wolf he just killed. In the movie, this scene is played out, but we never see the blood, never see the sword and never, indeed, do we see the dead wolf. Only after the blood is cleaned off the blade do we see the sword again.) …

Click Here to read Ben’s full review.

Technorati Tags: The Chronicles of Narnia, Walt Disney

“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”

Review by BEN @ “The Path Less Traveled”

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Excerpt:

… This book really changes the world. Without revealing some of the secrets, let’s just say that the world is a completely different place by the end of the book. The characters acknowledge it, the writer gives some description of it, the movie overlooks most of it. But, by the end of this book, there is no doubt that the world and everything in it will be changing. Sides are being drawn up on a huge battlefield. You can feel it …

Click Here to read Ben’s full review.

He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
from The Apostles’ Creed

In the truest sense of the phrase, there is an urban myth about disenfranchised souls that are caught somewhere between life and death. They roam the concrete canyons of our major cities; searching for something that they can not identify. Some city-dwellers call them sailors; most of us out here in the boondocks call them teenagers.

Dan’s book is about a sailor (he calls them the Quick) named Jimmy Miles, who is a detective for hire. At a Hollywood MENSA party (Wow! A triple oxymoron!), a woman named Jean Kantke, claims that her father was convicted of murdering her mother a couple of decades ago, and she is just now getting around to finding out whether he was truly guilty. How did this woman ever get into MENSA?

Our hero, Jimmy, drifts through the story, spending a great deal of time and energy feeling absolutely nothing. No righteous anger, no brooding guilt, no affected apathy – nothing. Jimmy Miles is a poster-boy for genuine apathy. He feels nothing, and we in turn feel nothing for him. During the brief and sporadic moments when any other literary gumshoe would be reveling in passion or exercising his outrage, Jimmy’s involvement leaves the reader flatter than a beat-cop’s arches. This novel is remarkable in its ability to tell an entire story without a flicker of emotion.

Vining tries to build a counter-culture around the myth of the sailors, but the insights he offers into their world are sporadic and out of context. Whereas most writers will use this tool to develop suspense and interest in a certain environment, in this book each revelation is met with a resounding “Huh?” And the reader is left with a puzzle piece that seems to have gotten into the wrong box. Vining fails to build on previous flashes into the world of the Quick. Instead of slowly climbing a mountain of discovery, we are left picking up debris that has fallen to the ground.

The investigation is pretty lack-luster. It seems that Vining could not decide whether to tell an urban myth or a detective story, and ended up failing at both. I would love to describe exactly how pedantic his investigation is, but I don’t want to include any spoilers just in case there are still some masochists out there who still want to read this doorstop.

If the reader has enough hope and/or endurance, he/she will discover the truth about Mr. Kantke’s guilt or innocence, but no one cares; least of all, the reader. Instead, we are treated to ‘The Big Show’ in the world of the Quick. And again, nothing is resolved, but that is okay because, again, no one cares.

If I could sum up my opinion of this book in ten words or less, it would be something to the effect of, “What the hell was that all about?”

Review by BEN @ “The Path Less Traveled”

******

Excerpt:

Primal Leadership should be required reading for every person who wishes to complete a business degree. It is the essence of how to be an effective leader.

Effective leadership is not authoritative. Effective leadership is not about control. Effective leadership is about finding resonant energy in those you lead, to infuse your people with enthusiasm and energy to produce on their own …

Click Here to read Ben’s full review.

”In the course of this life I have had a great many encounters with a great many people who have been concerned with matters of consequence. I have lived a great deal among grown-ups. I have seen them intimately, close at hand. And that hasn’t much improved my opinion of them.”
-The Little Prince

Sidenote: This synopsis, (followed by my review), contains spoilers.

SYNOPSIS:

A little prince from outer space, believing that he has been spurned by his rose, leaves to travel to neighboring planets. He eventually lands on Earth where he wanders through the desert in search of humans, and eventually is found by a fox. The fox teaches the little prince his secret, and the little prince realizes the value of his rose. Whereupon, the prince then meets a pilot (narrator) who has crashed in the Sahara desert. He passes along the fox’s instructions, and is then sent back to the heavens by the bite of a snake.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

The Little Prince

The Little Prince is a pure and innocent traveler from outer space whom the narrator encounters in the Sahara desert. Before the little prince lands on Earth, Saint-Exupéry contrasts the prince’s childlike character with different adult characters by having the prince hop from one neighboring planet to another. On each planet, the prince meets a different type of adult and reveals that character’s frivolities and weaknesses. Once on Earth, however, the little prince becomes a student as well as a teacher. From his friend the fox, the little prince learns what love entails, and in turn he passes on those lessons to the narrator.

The little prince has few of the glaring flaws evident in the other characters, and he is immediately shown to be a character of high caliber by his ability to recognize the narrator’s Drawing Number One as a picture of a boa constrictor that has eaten a snake. Nevertheless, the prince’s fear as he prepares to be sent back to his planet by a snakebite shows that he is susceptible to the same emotions as the rest of us. Most notably, the prince is bound by his love for the rose he has left on his home planet. His constant questioning also indicates that one’s search for answers can be more important than the answers themselves.

The Narrator

The narrator of The Little Prince is an adult in years, but he explains that he was rejuvenated six years earlier after he crashed his plane in the desert. He was an imaginative child whose first drawing was a cryptic interpretation of a boa constrictor that had swallowed an elephant. Eventually, he abandoned art for the grown-up profession of pilot, and he lives a lonely life until he encounters the little prince. He serves as the prince’s confidant and relays the prince’s story to us, but the narrator also undergoes transformations of his own. After listening to the prince’s story about the knowledge the prince has learned from the fox, the narrator himself learns the fox’s lessons about what makes things important when he searches for water in the desert. The narrator’s search for the well indicates that lessons must be learned through personal exploration and not only from books or others’ teachings.

Both the narrator and the prince are protagonists of the story, but they differ in significant ways. Whereas the prince is mystical and supernatural, the pilot is a human being who grows and develops over time. When the narrator first encounters the prince, he cannot grasp the subtle truths that the prince presents to him, whereas the prince is able to comprehend instantly the lessons his explorations teach him. This shortcoming on the narrator’s part makes him a character we can relate to as human beings more easily than we can relate to the otherworldly, extraordinarily perceptive little prince.

The Rose

Although the rose appears only in a couple of chapters, she is crucial to the novel as a whole because her melodramatic, proud nature is what causes the prince to leave his planet and begin his explorations. Also, the prince’s memory of his rose is what prompts his desire to return. As a character who gains significance because of how much time and effort the prince has invested in caring for her, the rose embodies the fox’s statement that love comes from investing in other people. Although the rose is, for the most part, vain and naïve, the prince still loves her deeply because of the time he has spent watering and caring for her.

Much has been written comparing the little prince’s relationship with his rose to the relationship between Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and his wife, Consuelo, but the rose can also be read as a symbol of universal love. In literature, the rose has long served as a symbol of the beloved, and Saint-Exupéry takes that image in good stride, giving the prince’s flower human characteristics, both good and bad. Because of the rose, the prince learns that what is most essential is invisible, that time away from one’s beloved causes a person to better appreciate that love, and that love engenders responsibility—all of which are broad morals that obviously extend beyond the author’s personal history.

The Fox

The fox appears quite suddenly and inexplicably while the prince is mourning the ordinariness of his rose after having come across the rose garden. When the fox immediately sets about establishing a friendship between himself and the prince, it seems that instruction is the fox’s sole purpose. Yet when he begs the little prince to tame him, the fox appears to be the little prince’s pupil as well as his instructor. In his lessons about taming, the fox argues for the importance of ceremonies and rituals, showing that such tools are important even outside the strict world of grown-ups.

In his final encounter with the prince, the fox facilitates the prince’s departure by making sure the prince understands why his rose is so important to him. This encounter displays an ideal type of friendship because even though the prince’s departure causes the fox great pain; the fox behaves unselfishly, encouraging the prince to act in his own best interest.

The Snake

Even though the snake the little prince encounters in the desert speaks in riddles, he demands less interpretation than the other symbolic figures in the novel. The snake also has less to learn than many of the other characters. The grown-ups on the various planets are too narrow-minded for their own good, and the prince and the narrator edge closer to enlightenment, but the serpent does not require answers or even ask questions. In fact, the snake is so confident he has mastered life’s mysteries that he tells the prince he speaks only in riddles because he can solve all riddles. In a story about mysteries, the snake is the only absolute. His poisonous bite and biblical allusion indicate that he represents the unavoidable phenomenon of death.

“The Little Prince” is a fantastic story that leaves a lasting impression within your soul. Your heart will be forever touched by this thought provoking journey of love, loneliness, friendship, innocence, imagination, and life lessons to be learned. Through the Prince and his tales you will learn much about the dangers of narrow-mindedness, enlightenment through exploration, and about how relationships teach responsibility; (love and friendship). This little book, (barely over a hundred pages), is difficult to define. It requires a child-like faith to comprehend; to fully grasp the importance of perspective…

“Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is exhausting for children to have to provide explanations over and over again. … That’s the way they are. You must not hold it against them. Children should be very understanding of grown-ups.”

That being said, (and as grown-ups tend to have a thing for facts and numbers), this next paragraph may hold a bit of interest for them. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry first published The Little Prince in 1943, only a year before his Lockheed P-38 vanished over the Mediterranean during a reconnaissance mission. His body was never found. This is Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s most famous work; it is also one of the most successful and best-selling titles in the world. It is filled with delightful prose, rich imagery, and wonderful illustrations. It is quite simple, yet profound. More than a half century later, this fable continues to teach little nuggets of wisdom; matters of great consequence and what is truly important in life…

“One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.”

More than likely, I have failed in my attempt to relate the wondrous beauty of this incredible tale, for mere words cannot express the depth of emotion delivered within the pages of “The Little Prince”. This book will make you smile, as well as bring tears to your eyes. It will cause you to rethink your views on living and life, and perhaps, it will bring you to reminisce on the miracle of friendship…

“And when you’re consoled (everyone is eventually consoled), you’ll be glad you’ve known me. You’ll always be my friend. You’ll feel like laughing with me. And you’ll open your windows sometimes just for the fun of it… And your friends will be amazed to see you laughing while you’re looking up at the sky. Then you’ll tell them, ‘Yes, it’s the stars. They always make me laugh!”

Like a dear friend, “The little Prince” is a priceless treasure that will forever remain in your heart.

******

To view this novel online, click here: “The Little Prince”

Review by BEN @ “The Path Less Traveled”

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Excerpt:

Prisoner of Azkaban begins with Harry believing he is going to be expelled from wizarding school. He runs away from home and encounters his first of what will be a theme for the whole book—the Grim. A large, dark dog, lurking in the background …

Click Here to read the full review.