The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - What's In the Book?

Pros: Interesting idea.

Cons: Weak storyline.

 

The Bottom Line: Some might enjoy. Me? No thank you.

 

Sometimes I wonder if I must be missing something when it comes to some of the books I read.  I enjoyed Hyperion while everyone around me went nuts trying to read it.  American Gods grated endlessly on my nerves while others raved about it.  I guess in the end it just depends upon your taste in books.  Guess that's why I seem to be the odd man out when it comes to The Graveyard Book.

I'm a fan of Neil Gaiman - I adore Coraline and will happily watch Mirrormask any day of the week.  So I was excited with the idea of a live boy being raised by ghosts in The Graveyard Book.  And while the book was entertaining, on the whole it was a letdown.

The main drive of the story is that Nobody Owens - Bod for short - was a baby when he came to the graveyard.  If he leaves, the man Jack will find him and kill him.  We don't know why Jack wants to kill him or who Jack is even working for.  Bod dutifully remains on the graveyard grounds as he grows, having several adventures along the way and remaining under the watchful eye of his guardian, Silas.

But all we get is the top layer of the story.  There is something beneath the surface, something deadly serious going on, yet we never get to know about it.  I know that even if I were a kid again and reading this, I'd feel the exact same way as I do now.  Frustrated and wanting my questions answered.  The book is essentially full of snippets of "a day in the life of Nobody Owens."  Each chapter is like a vignette, a brief adventure that Bod has.  He meets many interesting creatures and ventures to some dark places, and it's fun to go with him but eventually you want something interesting to happen, and by the time said interesting thing does happen, it's over.  Most of the time it's Silas doing all the work for Bod.

I want to know why Bod was so special (ok, so they kind of say, but then again, who the heck are "they?").  I want to know what the Sleer was.  I want to know what Silas and his two companions were fighting ("they" but again, what made them so tough and dangerous and what the heck is their goal?).  Very poor plot drive.  You just sort of keep reading, waiting for something important to happen, but instead are just mildly entertained by a series of situations and trial-and-error moments Bod gets himself into.

It won the Newberry Award, and I guess if they don't count plot as a bit point in the book and just writing and ideas, then sure, I understand.  After all, it is well-written and has some neat ideas going on (I do love the Hounds of God idea).  However, if I had to do it all over again, I'd skip this and read something else.

 

Weak recommendation; read if you're curious.  It won't take very long and Dave McKean's illustrations are always interesting.

NT

Notes from the playlist: "Peter Gunn" by Henry Mancini

Recommended for Soup Connoisseurs

The Soup Bible by Debra Mayhew

I have a semi-love/hate relationship with the Bargain section of the store. I'm not a fan of it because I can never find anything (ok, I do, but it always seems to take forever). Yet at the same time, I've found a number of complete and utter gems in this section. Almost makes me wonder if I should add a "bargain" label for this blog so you can find them easier.

I'd seen The Soup Bible a few years before, and lamented at the time that I didn't have the money to spare on such a fantastic-looking book. Later when I found it again, I promptly snatched it up. I love soup. Soup makes my tummy happy. Anyone I know could tell you that. And the soups in this book? While some of them may take some time to make, they're tasty and heavens, the pictures are gorgeous. There are over 200 recipes, and for people who love to see the recipe in its finished form (I know I do!), you'll get all sorts of excited over these pictures. They're simply stunning. Each soup gives you step-by-step instructions, as well as plenty of information beforehand about stocks, garnishes, and more. Pure soup goodness.


Notes from the playlist: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers

Recommended for Bird Watchers

Birds of Missouri by Stan Tekiela

I'd tried to work at B&N in Illinois. I managed to finally do it after we moved to Pennsylvania. I got lucky and continued to work there once we moved to Missouri.

With each and every move, my mother would buy one of these little field guides. All of them are by Stan Tekiela, who must have done some crazy research since he's the mind behind virtually every state. And I do mean every state. I haven't seen Hawaii yet, but if you search for "Birds of [insert your state here] field guide," you're bound to find it. Florida, Colorado, Wisconsin, Maine, you name it. Best part is that these books are small, color coded, and filled with all the pertinent information one might want to know about the birds you happen to see in your binoculars. They're easy, really handy, and great for anyone doing casual bird watching.

Notes from the playlist: "Horsey" by Hem

Recommended for Kids

Tarra & Bella by Carol Buckley

The other day I was in the kids section sprucing up when I came across a small promotion at the end of an isle. Dogs and Cats. Not only was the totally adorable Nubs up there, but also this book - which I promptly read.

I know, I'm at work, and I'm reading, but I can't help it. I'm a fast reader anyway. Tarra is an elephant, retired from being in the circus to wander freely in the Elephant Sanctuary at Tennessee. But she wasn't bonding with the other elephants very well. That's when a few stray dogs popped up and Bella, as the dog was later named, became best buds with Tarra. There are all sorts of photos in here of fluffy Bella trotting alongside Tarra and the two hanging out together. It's so strange and yet at the same time, so cute. The people who run the Sanctuary put out food for Bella as well as Tarra and when Bella got hurt one day, Tarra stood right by her until Bella received help and got better. I'm a sucker for this sort of thing, and if I had kids, I would buy this book for them in a heartbeat.

Notes from the playlist: "Sway" by Michael Bublé

Recently Finished (and Recommended)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I remember when this book came out. In hardcover. Two years ago. It's still in hardcover, even though the paperback is finally here. Normally in the book world, that just doesn't happen. Typically it's 6 months to a year, then it comes out in paperback. But when a book is good--as in, selling well--the publishers wait longer. Harry Potter. 13 Reasons Why. I decided I really needed to read this book when 1.) I realized it was still in hardcover, 2.) such a fuss was being made over the final book coming out, and 3.) even my managers were discussing it with excitement. So? Let's just say when I started on this book, at 1:30 am I had to force myself to stop and was 2/3 through it. If the book weren't broken up into 3 parts and I hadn't hit that third break, I might not have.

People killing each other Gladiator style is not new. Even teens being forced to kill each other is not new (Battle Royale by Koushun Takami). But Collins takes it to a different level. The whole reason behind the Hunger Games is scary and intriguing. The world she paints is a post-apocalyptic one done up in creepy Big Brother style with fake freedom and amazing advances. What's more, Collins is a good writer. You can see everything without a ton of description being shoved in your face. This is the story of Katniss, a girl who is pitted against 23 other kids, and only one can be left standing. It's about survival, politics, unrequited love, strategy, and more survival. Looks like I'll be reading the second one, Catching Fire, very soon. I hope the Capitol falls in the future...

Notes from the playlist: "Lyin' Eyes" by the Eagles

Currently Reading

Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison

Like Zoo Story, we received this book (and the second, Shadow Fall) as an ARC (Advance Reader Copy). When I first saw it in the breakroom, I didn't give it too much thought. I was already reading oodles of Karen Marie Moning, so more urban fantasy with romance involved would sort of make my cup spill over. That and I admit, I'm not too fond of specialized institutes (government or otherwise) that seek to root out/understand/destroy strange things in our world. I've seen plenty of those.

But when I saw that Jessica Faust, agent for BookEnds LLC, was representing this book, I had to go back and get it. Why? I'm also a writer, and I want an agent, and what better way to understand agents than to understand what books they represent? No offense to Erin Kellison. After all, since I'm working my way toward the middle of the book now, I enjoy her character Talia and her intersting powers. I hope to see more of the strange world of Twilight (no, not that one), and see how all things end up connecting - and just what the hell happened to Custo for him to get his own book after this one. We shall see...

Read the Epinions review here!


Notes from the playlist: "Cry Little Sister" by Gerard McMann

Recommended for Sunday Comic Readers

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Honestly, I should have saved the money I intended to use on all 10 of my Calvin & Hobbes books and bought the huge massive all-inclusive set they have now. But what's done is done and I don't have any regrets anyway. I love Calvin & Hobbes. Even if when I was a kid I didn't always understand what the heck Watterson/Calvin was talking about. Hah. Still, I loved Calvin's imagination - Spaceman Spiff, T-rex dinosaurs flying fighter jets, his mother's cooking trying to eat him, among other things - and how much fun he and Hobbes had together. I once even tried to recreate Calvinball but it didn't really work. My books are all dog-eared and have been read over and over. It's hard not to smile when Calvin & Hobbes are around.

Maybe someday I'll buy the fancy complete version...

Notes from the playlist: "One Last Message" by Andrew Lockington

Recently Finished

Kiss of the Highlander, The Dark Highlander, The Immortal Highlander, Spell of the Highlander

All by Karen Marie Moning

I didn't actually finish all of these that recently, per se, but within the last month I finally tackled the remaining four of the series. I've been reading the Fever Series, and since characters in this series are involved in that one, I want all the pieces of the puzzle. For the record, I don't think that Jericho Barrons is Adam Black. Aside from that, it's neat because you can see how Moning's writing improves, and I think some of the stories get better. If you like big, brawny (and practically perfect) men (I prefer them a little leaner and no one is perfect), these books are definitely for you. That's also true if you like magic, romance, some serious sexual tension, and a good story, then try this series. Moning is busy finishing up the Fever Series right now, but has no intentions of stopping with the Highlander series. Will I keep reading it? Sure, if I'm in the mood for a romantic romp.

Read the Epinions reviews!

#4 here

#5 here

#6 here

#7 here

Notes from the playlist: "The Secret Wedding" by James Horner

Old Man's War by John Scalzi - Award Winning for a Reason

Pros: A fantastic mix of story, comedy, and somberness
Cons: None

The Bottom Line: This novel surprised me in many ways and I enjoyed every second of it.

I shouldn't, I really shouldn't, but I have an image in my mind of what a science fiction novel includes. I'm a total moron for thinking that, but at least I know it. Suffice to say, I expected something completely different when I finally got around to reading Old Man's War by John Scalzi. I'd been told to read it several times and it's been on my reading list f o r e v e r, but I've only just finished it a few days ago.

What a chump I've been.

In a nutshell, protagonist John Perry has decided to join up with the Colonial Defense Forces, and once he's 75, he's ready to go. They want people to be older for a reason, but you don't stay old once you're up there. You never get to come back to Earth, and you have to fight anywhere from two to ten years, but you get to be younger and you get to live happily ever after on a new planet. That is, if you live that long. And what's out there waiting for Perry? Just about everything he can imagine - and everything he can't.

While it is a little Starship Troopers, that's fine with me. Scalzi got this down, ace in the hole. From what I can tell, his science is solid and his military goodies are believable (though you can pretty much make up anything you want once you've escaped Earth rules).

Honestly, what I didn't expect in the least was the humor. Never in a million years did I ever expect this book to be funny. The protagonist tells his story in first person and he's just a guy. That's it. He's not super special or anything, he's just a guy who misses his dead wife and is tired of being old. I laughed out loud several times during the first half of this book, before they head off into battles with strange beings and with souped up technology and hardware I half wish existed now (the other half of me is glad it doesn't).

I mean, I had a really good time reading this. I liked Perry a lot. I wanted all his friends to survive, even if just for his sake, and even though I knew they wouldn't. Scalzi threw me for a loop numerous times too, from the number of creatures the CDF soldiers have to fight to the sneaky science he uses near the end to what Perry finds out there in all that black space. The second half of the book focuses on the battles and Perry dealing with the fighting, but it never loses it's edge, it never slows down, and even though you won't be laughing out loud anymore, you'll probably crack a grin or two because Perry just can't stop himself from making snarky jokes.

The battles are well thought out, fairly easy to visualize, and in some ways, I wondered if maybe James Cameron read this book and used bits of it to influence his Avatar movie (though considering time tables, probably not). Another thing that truly surprised me was how new this book is. Ok, so it was published back in 2005, but for some reason I was under the impression that it was much older, as in before 2000. I look at that actually and think that maybe my story has hope.

But if you enjoy science fiction and don't want it to be too hard (as in, too much science dumped in your face), you'll find this to be a good balance. It's got humor, friendship, fierce battles in space and on the ground, strange planets with strange creatures, loss, and the shock of finding something you'd never thought you'd find again. I read this in a day and know that in the future I'll probably have to read it again.

NT

Originally posted on Epinions.com


Notes from the playlist: "Invincible" by Adelitas Way

Recommended for Kids and People Who Appreciate Meticulous Detail

I Spy Treasure Hunt by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick


Yay! More I Spy books! This one takes you from one place to another as you hunt for treasure and look for all sorts of little goodies along the way. From shiny coins to shadows on the walls, you never know what you'll have to look for, and you never know where it might be. I think there's at least one thing I have yet to find in this book. And I've found everything in all the other books, but for the life of me, I cannot find...


...the lady in The Cave. I just found it. Haha. I love these books.


Read the Epinions review here!



Notes from the playlist: "The Kraken" by Hans Zimmer

Currently Reading

Zoo Story by Thomas French

One of the great things about working at a bookstore are the ARCs. ARC stands for Advance Reading Copy. These books aren't proofed, don't always have the same covers, and may have other tweaks that the publisher will adjust before shipping out the final product. Frankly, I kind of like the cover on the copy I have better than this one. Hah. The point of these is so booksellers like me will read it, enjoy it, and then talk people up about it to help sell the book. Sometimes it works. A book like Zoo Story is one I would be comfortable telling people they ought to read. French uses his journalistic skills to bring out the dichotomy of the zoo to the reader as well as the lives (human and animal alike) within the zoo. It's a fascinating read so far, and one I don't doubt will end up in a Staff Recommends spot in the store.


Notes from the playlist: "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas

War for the Oaks by Emma Bull

Pros: Very unique, fun times, phouka!

Cons: I wanted just a little more?

The Bottom Line: If it can happen in Minneapolis, then by golly, it can happen anywhere.

I’m looking into publishing a book of mine in the fantasy genre. Naturally I have to look for suitable publishers. On my search I found Windstorm Creative – but they have very specific guidelines. One of the requirements is the writer of a possible submission must read two books from their list of suggestions in order to get a feel for what they publish. War for the Oaks by Emma Bull is one of them.

I got an old copy (the cover is nothing like the picture) from my library and read with great interest. After all, it’s not often you find a book set in Minneapolis, Minnesota with faeries and brownies running around.

Eddi plays guitar in a band; it’s what she’s known most of her life. But the band pretty much sucks. So it’s quite early on in the book when Eddi leaves the band (and subsequently her boyfriend and previous band leader Stuart). She’s on her way home when she finds herself being chased by a man…or a large black dog…or both. It’s not long before she finds herself caught by him. The “him” turns out to be both man and dog, or at least has the ability to shift between one and the other. He’s a phouka and he’s sought Eddi out for a very special reason. Those of faerie are about to have a war; the Seelie Court vs. the Unseelie Court. The problem is that they’re all immortal so a war is pretty much useless. To solve that problem, Eddi is to grace the battlefield with her presence – and mortality, thus allowing death to seep into things.

Eddi, however, is not too thrilled. Being the mortal for the Seelie Court isn’t something she’s too keen on doing. The people of the Seelie Court are all high and mighty and don’t seem to be much different from the bad guys, the phouka is constantly on her heels being annoying, and members of the Unseelie Court are highly interested in killing her. But with her good friend Carla on her side, the phouka’s protection, and the friendship found in the formation of a new band lead by Eddi, it is her courage, love, and power in music that may save them all.

Good times kiddos. The pull of this book for me was the simple fact that it was set in Minneapolis. Now honestly, how often do you come across books set there? The second pull was Eddi and the fact that she was all rockin’ with her guitar and singing. Not a likely hero in most places – I like unlikely heroes (and I mean somewhat abstract, not “You’re the descendent of the king/sorcerer/etc.” or the stable boy who has untapped hidden strengths). No, Eddi loves music, and the phouka mentions how artists sort of stand on both sides of things; our world and the Faerie world. Makes sense to me! It engaged me and whenever they were playing and lyrics appeared on the pages, I always tried to make my own tune to them and sing in my head, picturing Eddi rocking out with her band. And it’s ironic, but the descriptions were good enough that I had the right music popping into my head for the right time – the book was published in 1987.

The writing is very good. The dialogue was great and I absolutely loved the phouka. Loved the phouka. The things he kept calling her, “my heart,” “my primrose” and all casually, they fit him so well. He wore some neat clothes too – from casual suits to ruffled collars and heeled boots. Sha-zam. Snazzy puppy. There was a lot of description so I always knew what he was wearing.

…In fact I pretty much knew what everyone was wearing – all the time. True, I’m a fan of description, but sometimes I started to think Emma Bull was going a tad bit overboard with the clothing descriptions. I basically got a wardrobe every day, and sometimes I don’t think it was entirely necessary. On the note of descriptions, there were a few times when there was a lot of action going on and I seemed to be unable to quite follow it. However, I do admit that may be partly my fault as I get excited and my eyes tend to jump ahead before I’m done with a particular sentence.

Another problem I had was that I felt like the book was a little anti-climatic. I guess it was because of the bargain that was made – one party won and that was that. The real climax would probably be in the actual music (if there were any to hear) and then maybe I’d be happy, but after one character died after all that was done, I felt like there should have been more, maybe a celebration or some kind, I don’t know. I was just left itching for a little something extra.

I do give Emma Bull credit for doing something I have a hard time doing – killing off characters you know the audience will like (and you probably do too). Still, don’t let that discourage you. It’s a good book and even if you don’t like dogs, you’ll love the phouka, you’ll want a brownie to visit your house, and start wondering if there are fey folk looking at you right now...

NT

Originally published on Epinions.com.

Notes from the playlist: "Black Roses Red" by Alana Grace

Recommended for Mystery Buffs

Heartsick by Chelsea Cain

If you liked Hannibal Lecter, then you might like this little reversal. Gretchen Lowell is a serial killer. She's a beautiful woman, but she's poison through and through. After years of chasing her, cop Archie Sheridan is caught in her clutches - and miraculously escapes. Now, chasing a new serial killer, he has to do a little quid pro quo with Gretchen. This was good, no doubt, and quite frankly, a bit distrubing. Gretchen is a fascinating character being that you don't often see women as the calm collected killer like she is. The relationship she has with Archie is twisted, and it's their interactions that held me more than the actual mystery. However, I don't normally read mysteries like this one (more serious), and often avoid them simply because it's often young girls being murdered by some wack job, as it is here. So while I'd like to move on to Sweetheart and then maybe Evil at Heart, I can't yet bring myself to do it. But I definitely know people out there that will dig this series (one of my managers is one of them!)


Notes from the playlist: "Waterpipe Angels" by Matthew Sabol

Recommended for Writers (who need inspiration)

Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Bud Gardener

I discovered this book one day while in the library looking up writerly things. This was actually years and years ago when I was just beginning to look up how to get published. I never knew they made a Chicken Soup book for writers and thought it was grand. I borrowed it, read it, and then went out and bought it. This book has been a great way to keep my spirits up whenever I get bummed about rejection. Positive stories remind me that everyone has gone through the same process. It is possible to get accepted somewhere. Writing is both a pain and a joy. Frankly, I think this book helped me even more to handle rejection. I already knew it was going to be a fact of life when it comes to writing, but this made it much easier.

So for any writers that need a boost or are feeling burnt out, try a bowl of Chicken Soup and see if that doesn't make you feel better.


Notes from the playlist: "Becoming One of the People/Becoming One with Neytiri" by James Horner

Recently Finished

4 Bodies and a Funeral, 5 Bodies to Die For, 6 Killer Bodies by Stephanie Bond

Well, I finished off the series - thusfar anyway. There are to be at least two more books in Stephanie Bond's Body Movers series, but right now they're on hold because a TV thing might happen. The last several books were a lot more fun, and I easily polished each of these off in a single day. One right after the other pretty much. So while I wasn't jazzed with the first few books, if you're willing to get past them for the sake of the subplots (which are interesting) and the boys (who are also interesting - and yummy), then you should be able to enjoy some mystery, some drama, excitement, and a relatively good time.

P.S. It's kind of scary how well the song below fits these books...

Read the Epinions reviews for books four, five, and six!

Notes from the playlist: "Lights Out" by Breaking Benjamin

Recommended for Kids and Fans of Heartwarming True Tales

Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle by Brian Dennis

Today is my other sister's birthday, and since I bought her DVDs instead, I know she would approve of a book that puts our soldiers back in mind...

This is one of those books I end up reading and then can't believe I've neglected to put it in my recommended reading list here. This is the kind of story that can bring a tear to your eye, or at the very least make you say, "Awww!" Nubs is a scrawny dog that lives in Iraq. He was part of a pack of wild dogs, but a special bond formed between him and Marine Major Brian Dennis. Dennis gave Nubs (naming him due to his clipped ears - likely due to a cruel/stupid person) food and affection. But eventually after coming and going and always meeting with Nubs, Dennis and his men had to relocate 70 miles away. As if that's going to stop Nubs. That dog actually followed them the entire 70 miles through the desert to arrive at the fort exhausted. When ordered to get rid of the dog, Dennis and his guys raised the money and sent Nubs to San Diego to his family where eventually the two reunited with a great happily ever after ending.

This is such a great book. You literally have to have a heart of stone not to appreciate this special story.

Notes from the playlist: "Melodies of Life" by Nobuo Uematsu

BREAKING NEWS!!

The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith is NOW AVAILABLE!

WHOO! You may remember me recommending this trilogy last year. Much to my dismay it was still out of print, despite the fact that everything else Smith has written had reappeared due to the Twilight phenom. But I just discovered yesterday that on June 8th it was released once again and is now available in bookstores, all three books in one volume! YAHOO! Though I'm still sort of not too sure about the girl on the cover, I'm already handselling this book to people that get too close to me. Haha. Honestly, I've enjoyed books before, but I've never tried to handsell them like I want to with this one. While I believe that Smith's work is infinitely better than Stephenie Meyer's, I do have to at least give Meyer some credit - Steph, if you hadn't published Twilight, this trilogy might have never seen the light of day again. So kudos (but I'm still not recommending or going to handsell your book, sorry).

Read the Epinions reviews for books one, two, and three!!

**I would like to add that the last two times I've worked once discovering this, I've sold at least one book per day and I'm happy to see them selling well on their own. I knew I was right about it being a good idea to re-release this trilogy!


Notes from the playlist: "Sweet Sacrifice" by Evanescence

Purchased for My Sister

The Last Hunt by Bruce Coville

For the longest time it seems, Bruce Coville has been working on the Unicorn Chronicles. My sister was young when she started them, now she's older, but there's nothing like finishing what you've started. Today, as it happens, is my sister's birthday. Lucky me (and her), this book came out June 1st. Originally it was going to come out a year (or was it two?) back, but Coville announced on his blog that the story was just too big, and therefore had to be split up.

I haven't read the third book yet (which reminds me, I ought to recommend the first one), but I thought I would wait until this book came out. While sis reads her new birthday gift, I intend to go back, start from the beginning, and then go all the way until the end. Hooray for unicorns!


Notes from the playlist: "Alice Reprise #5" by Danny Elfman

Recommended for Kids (and Wolf Lovers!)

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas and Helen Oxenbury

I have been waiting to post this book ever since I found it. I don't know why it took me so long. It's a truly delightful switcheroo on the traditional tale; here the pig is the mean one and the wolves are the good guys. The second I discovered this book at work, I read it, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love that the wolves are just minding their own business (like they do in real life, thankyouverymuch) when a big, mean ole pig comes along and messes things up. It's so cute! And yes, I admit, I'm a huge fan of wolves. I love them to pieces. So it really is nice seeing the wolves be the good guys for once instead of always trying to eat kids and pigs and the like. Honestly, my parents are still astonished I didn't go off into the woods to study wolves.

Whatever your take on wolves, pigs, and fairy tales, it's a cute story (a big huzzah for Trivizas!) and illustrations are just as adorable thanks to the popular Helen Oxenbury. A kids book you can't go wrong with.


Notes from the playlist: "Only A Dream" by Danny Elfman

Recently Finished

2 Bodies for the Price of 1 and 3 Men and a Body by Stephanie Bond

Well, since I muscled through the first book, Body Movers, I decided to continue on to the second and third books. I went through these much faster. I think it's because Carlotta wasn't as dumb this time around. There's some hot n' spicy stuff going on, another sticky situation that Carlotta finds herself in, and an attempt to draw in her parents (who've been on the lam for the last ten years). Though Carlotta and her brother are still totally stupid when it comes to money (and I mean painfully stupid), I was able to read both of these without as much eye rolling or a desire to throw it across the room. Though I don't recommend this series, I myself do intend to continue on. Why? I like the trio of guys (Peter is trying, Coop is squeal-worthy, and Jack is a smart ass cop), I'm curious about the parent thing, and I'd like to think that somehow both Carlotta and Wesley will wise up at some point.

I think we're getting there.

Read the Epinions review to book #2 here!


Notes from the playlist: "Brazil" by Django Reinhardt