The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams

 

The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams

Pseudonym for Stephen Coonts

St. Martin's Press

Published in 2005

ISBN 0312323638

338 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

2 out of 5



When Sam Neely graduates from State Police academy, he is assigned to the small village of Eden with the population of 47. He has been thinking that it is just a dull little town with nothing going on, but things suddenly get interesting when Ed Harris finds his wife in bed with his best friend, Hayden Elkins. Afterwords, Ed gives Hayden his wife and tells him that he now has two wives, but it then more things spin out of control. Can the community come together and bring peace back to their little town?

What can I say about this book? Hmmm... it was... ummm... odd --- in the good way, I guess. Though, I really don't know what genre to put on this book. It's mostly about life in the village of Eden, which has a population of 47, and how the community can come together through mostly gossip and trouble. So, I guess, it's mostly a slice of life genre. >.>"

The writing was almost like a diary telling the life of people in the village of Eden --- missing on some details, skipping some parts that would make it more interesting, and a lot of gossip things. ^^; It is told through the point of view of several characters --- Sam Neely, Ed Harris, Anne Harris, Hayden Elkins, Junior Grimes, Diamond Ice, and many more. :| For me, the book would have been better if it was told through the point of view of a couple of them. Though, through telling it through several characters, they were almost like real life people and very believable, and at times, sort of funny. So it has a good point and a bad point --- you got to know the personalities and descriptions through different eyes, but there were so many that it skipped some things that could have made the book better. :(

Also, I like the descriptions and details that the author used, and it seemed liked there was enough, but it could have been more enjoyable. It felt like the author skipped some major scenes that would have made the ending have more sense. It feels like he was trying to write it as a way to understand women since they were pretty much the focus of the books --- but it didn't succeed much. :| Even though some people won't believe that a spouse wouldn't take their other half back after they cheat, I believe it because it happened with my parents. :D Though, I don't think they pretend it never happened --- like the characters do in the book. Though, since I'm their kid (no matter how old I am), they won't discuss things like that with me ;)

So I like how he put the forgiveness in there, despite on how unbelievable it is. The author makes the characters seem human and not hold a grudge, but we all know that isn't likely in real life. Everyone holds a grudge against something --- whether it's another human, country, animal, etc --- sad, but mostly true. So, the no holding grudges and forgiving everything is not like real life, but kind of like utopia. Amazing thought, but with humans being unpredictable, it won't happen anytime soon. :)

Things I didn't like were the fast paced events, which didn't really satisfy you, the off topic things, and kept on adding new problems instead of focusing on just one and build on that (and then add more problems), the amount of God in there --- it's mentioned, then it goes poof, then it appears again (like the author couldn't decide really to add God in the solution of the problems), and how the author made the women's personalities --- gossips, cheaters, nagging, etc.

I will only rate it a two star because it was an enjoyable read, but no higher because of the problems above, which irritate me the most. :| It is pretty much a good summer read since it won't take that much time to finish it.

Oh, just a warning, there are some sex (smut) scenes, but they aren't describe in that much details. ;)

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Stephen Coonts
Goodreads: The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams
Library Thing: The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

INSATIABLE SERIES BOOK 01

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

William Morrow (Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers)

Published in 2010

ISBN 9780061735066

454 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Hardcover)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

3 out of 5



Meena Harper writes the dialogue for the popular drama, Insatiable, but when her bosses tell her that the drama she writes for will change to something she hates, vampires, she goes crazy. Although Meena is not unfamiliar with supernatural things, since she can tell how people will die, she still doesn't like it. Though, even with her small ability to tell a small part of the future, she still has problems with her love life because of her so-called "gift". However, that is, until she meets Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince from Romania. They both feel in love at first sight, but is Meena in love with him or with the fact she can't see his death? Also, does Lucien have any dark secrets that he is keeping from Meena?

A vampire romance book. Oh, goody, but don't worry it is kind of different from most vampire romance books out there.

Another vampire romance book, is it me, or are these vampire romance novels getting tiresome? In most of these novels, the women are wimpy and fall head over heels with the vampire. This book isn't any different in that aspect, in fact, it is worse in that area. Several times while reading how Meena reacted to Lucien, I wanted to go into the book and smack her several times. Not only is Meena's personality similar to other books featuring supernatural things, but so were the rest of the characters of the book. *SIGH* They were too stereotypical for me to really enjoy the characters. I kind of wish she ended up with Wulf, instead of no one.

Also, although the details are kind of okay, the book isn't really that enjoyable. Well, except the short parts of comedy that are in the book, which was kind of made the book a little bit more enjoyable. However, despite the fact I really didn't like the book, the ending is unexpected for a vampire romance novel. Anyways, I don't suggest reading if you don't like the stereotypical characters in supernatural books.

*SIGHS* Such disappointment. I like her young adult series The Mediator, but this book was kind of URGH.

I rated it a 3 star because of the funny parts and the unexpected ending. >.>"

Oh, I forgot to mention why it has the smut label. There isn't detailed sex scenes, like most vampire romance books, however, there are scenes leading up to sexual intercourse. The actual sex parts are not mentioned, only the parts where it leads up to sex. >.<

I just looked up information about this book, and apparently, there will be a sequel in July 2011 named Overbite. *URGH*

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Meg Cabot
Goodreads: Insatiable by Meg Cabot
Library Thing: Insatiable by Meg Cabot
Stiletto Storytime: Review: Insatiable by Meg Cabot
All the Books I Can Read: Insatiable by Meg Cabot
Words, Words, Words: Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Chosen by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

THE HOUSE OF NIGHT SERIES BOOK 03

Chosen by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
St. Martin's Griffin
Published in 2008
ISBN 9780312360306
307 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

4 out of 5



Zoey's life takes a turn for the worse, when her friends turn their backs on her because she lied to them. But not only that, but her best friend, Stevie Rae, is struggling to keep her humanity, and adult vampryes are turning up dead on the House of Night campus. How will she overcome these new problems, especially when her friends turn their backs on her?

Been a couple of months since I have read it, so I’ll try to remember what I was going to say about it. :( Oh, yeah, vampires again, so watch out for spoilers. :D

In the third book of the House of Night, Zoey is faced with more challenges (as usual): Having 3 boyfriends, Stevie Rae losing her humanity, friends are becoming enemies, enemies becoming friends, and adult vampyres turning up dead on campus. Okay, a little bit more high school drama in this book, and there are about the same amount of things that are supernatural. Yay! The high school drama is the only real thing that annoys me in this, but at least they act kind of like real teenagers, unlike another book I know.

After you skip over the high school drama, this book is pretty good, but the book should be a little longer. The author kind of squishes everything in a less than 400 page book, which doesn’t do that much, when it comes to descriptions of events and people. If there were some more description in it (like the first book) AND a little bit less high school drama, I would most likely like this series better. Also, Zoey is kind of annoying in this book. *SIGHS*

Though, this series is good, if you don’t want that much description put into your books --- it had about the average amount put into it, not as much as the first book in the series. Other than the high school drama, this book is great for a quick read. Though, it is kind of turning a little boring with all of the high school drama. ^^ Just a warning, there is a gay character in the book, and they talk about sex, kissing, and things like that a couple of times. Oh, there is also a sex scene, but the act isn't mentioned --- it just leads up to it with heavy kissing and then cuddling after. ^^

Other Reviews/Author Site:

P.C. and Kristin Cast
House of Night Series
Goodreads: Chosen by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Library Thing: Chosen by P.C. and Kristin Cast
What to Read After Twilight: Chosen by P.C. and Kristin Cast

and Able by Lucy Monroe

MERCENARY SERIES BOOK 03
[LAST BOOK IN MERCENARY]

and Able by Lucy Monroe

Kensington Books

Published in 2006

ISBN 0758211767

352 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM: 

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

5 out of 5



Claire Sharpe has trouble trusting and relying on others, but after her life is threatened, she must learn how to rely on Brett Adams, an ex-mercenary, to protect her. Though, with this protection, something more might come from it...

Not a supernatural book, but that will change pretty soon. :)

This book is really good, and I can't really review it without giving away some things in the book. So, I'll just tell you to read it and be done with it.

There is nothing I really didn't like about, but I like the book because 1) smut, 2) action without being to gory, 3) it's interesting, and 4) I just like it because it appeals to me. ;)

Warning though, there are sexual themes and maybe themes that are not for sensitive people like people who have been stalk before or something.

This is the last book in this series, however, there are some connected stories. The connected stories are not apart of this series time-line, but they do mention the characters in this series a little bit. The connected stories are here.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Lucy Monroe
Goodreads: and Able by Lucy Monroe
Library Thing: and Able by Lucy Monroe
Once Upon a Chapter: and Able by Lucy Monroe

Willing by Lucy Monroe

MERCENARY SERIES BOOK 02

Willing by Lucy Monroe
Kensington Books
Published in 2006
ISBN 0758208758
320 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback V2)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

5 out of 5



Josie McCall has never really wanted to be a solider, or mercenary, but she was raised as a mercenary by her father. After she leaves the mercenary world and her father's mercenary school, she goes to school for a job in computers. However, now that someone blew up her dad's mercenary school and her dad is missing, she goes back to her mercenary roots to find out who blew up the school and took her dad. And her dad's new partner, Daniel Black Eagle, stays to protect her. However, there is just one little thing that might keep his mind off of his new mission --- Josie. Will they be able to figure out everything before or after their passion ignites?

Not a supernatural book, but that will change pretty soon. :)

This book is really good, and I can't really review it without giving away some things in the book. So, I'll just tell you to read it and be done with it.

There is nothing I really didn't like about, but I like the book because 1) smut, 2) action without being to gory, 3) it's interesting, and 4) I just like it because it appeals to me. ;)

Warning though, there are sexual themes and maybe themes that are not for sensitive people.

This is the second book in this series, however, there are some connected stories. The connected stories are not apart of this series time-line, but they do mention the characters in this series a little bit. The connected stories are here.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Lucy Monroe
Goodreads: Willing by Lucy Monroe
Library Thing: Willing by Lucy Monroe
Once Upon a Chapter: Willing by Lucy Monroe

Ready by Lucy Monroe

MERCENARY SERIES BOOK 01

Ready by Lucy Monroe

Kensington Books

Published in 2005

ISBN 0758208642

304 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Barnes & Noble (Paperback)
Amazon (Paperback V2)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

5 out of 5



Lise Barton was an ordinary author, that is, until someone seems to be stalking her. But when that person escalates, she moves from Texas to Seattle. However, the threats start up again and are worse --- this time the stalker threatens her own family that is in Texas. After the threat, Lise cancels her Thanksgiving trip back to Texas, but someone visits her that she didn't except to show up. Joshua Watt comes to Seattle to drag her to spend Thanksgiving with the family, but once he knows about someone stalking Lise, he is ready to protect her no matter what she feels about it.There's just one thing --- he has personal feelings for Lise, so how will he be able to work without thinking about having sex with her...?

Not a supernatural book, but that will change sooner of later. ;)

This book is really good, and I can't really review it without giving away some things in the book. So, I'll just tell you to read it and be done with it.

There is nothing I really didn't like about, but I like the book because 1) smut, 2) action without being to gory, 3) it's interesting, and 4) I just like it because it appeals to me. ;)

Warning though, there are sexual themes and maybe themes that are not for sensitive people like people who have been stalk before or something.

This is the first book in this series, however, there are some connected stories. The connected stories are not apart of this series time-line, but they do mention the characters in this series a little bit. The connected stories are here.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Lucy Monroe
Goodreads: Ready by Lucy Monroe
Library Thing: Ready by Lucy Monroe
Once Upon a Chapter: Ready by Lucy Monroe

Betrayed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

THE HOUSE OF NIGHT SERIES BOOK 02

Betrayed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
St. Martin's Griffin
Published in 2007
ISBN 9780312360283
310 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (E-book)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

4 out of 5



Zoey Redbird has finally managed to feel like she belongs at the House of Night and as the Leader of the Dark Daughters, but now she has to juggle not one boyfriend, but three boyfriends. And everything was going great until humans Zoey knows are being killed, fledglings dying more often than before, and a betrayal from someone close to her. However, will this betrayal break her or strengthen her?

Been a couple of days since I have read it, so I'll try to remember what I was going to say about it. :( Oh, yeah, vampires again, so watch out for spoilers. :P

In the second book of the House of Night, Zoey is faced with more challenges: Falling in love with two or three guys, humans from Zoey's human life dying, the death of a lot of fledglings in a short period of time (one of whom is Zoey's best friend), her powers growing, seeing the "ghosts" of the dead fledglings, and a betrayal of someone close and dear to her.

Okay, a little bit less high school drama in this book, and there are a lot more things that are supernatural. Yay! :) The high school drama is the only real thing that annoys me in this, but at least they act kind of like real teenagers, unlike another book I know. :(

After you skip over the high school drama, this book is pretty good, but the book should be a little longer. The author kind of squishes everything in a less than 400 page book, which doesn't do that much, when it comes to descriptions of events and people. :( If there were some more description in it, I would most likely like this series better.

Though, this series is good, if you don't want that much description put into your books - it had a little bit less than the first one. Other than the high school drama and not that much (about average amount) description, this book is great for a quick read. It only took me about 10 hours total to finish all of it. :) Just a warning, there is a gay character in the book, and they talk about sex, kissing, and things like that a couple of times.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

P.C. and Kristin Cast
House of Night Series
Goodreads: Betrayed by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Library Thing: Betrayed by P.C. and Kristin Cast
What to Read After Twilight: Betrayed by P.C. and Kristin Cast

Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

THE HOUSE OF NIGHT SERIES BOOK 01

Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

St. Martin's Griffin

Published in 2007

ISBN 9780312360269

306 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Barnes & Noble (Paperback)
Amazon (Paperback)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

4 out of 5



Zoey Redbird was just an ordinary teenage girl, that is, until a Tracker Marks her as a fledgling vampyre. Now, she has to join the House of Night, a school that helps fledgling vampyres grow into adult vampyres. At the House of Night, she discovers that she is the chosen one of the vamprye Gooddess, Nyx. When she discovers she has powers that a fledgling shouldn't have, like bloodlust, Imprinting, and other things, she will have to go head to head with others who use their powers for themselves? Worst yet, will she be able to survive the change into an adult vampyre?

Okay, I know, another vampire-like book. I love vampire books, so get use to it. :) I read this in 10 hours, and I fell asleep after reading it, so this review might not be that good. :(

For this series (The House of Night), it starts out pretty good by letting us kind of know about how her life is really like before she is Marked and how much people are jerks after she is Marked by the Tracker. Then it goes through the problems she goes through as a teenager (blah, blah, blah) and her family history. Those parts are kind of (actually very) boring, though. :(

Then, when she goes to the House of Night, after an accident leaves her mark filled in and making her even more different than the other kids at the school, she discovers that it is not as bad as what humans make it out to be. Basically, then, it is same as regular high school, but only with powers, bloodlust, and things like that added in it. :( Other than that, it was a pretty good book. I don't really like how the high school drama part was most of the book. Too many things that are school and normal related than supernatural related things. :(

Hopefully, the second book is much better than this one. Also, there are a lot of descriptions and details about places, events, and the characters, which I really like and make the story a lot more enjoyable. Just a warning, there is a gay character in the book, and they talk about sex, kissing, and things like that a couple of times.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

P.C. and Kristin Cast
House of Night Series
Goodreads: Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Library Thing: Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast
A Bookaholic's Review: Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast
What to Read After Twilight: Marked by P.C. and Kristin Cast