Dingo - Book Rant

Dingo (Newford #17)
by Charles de Lint

What is it about:
High school senior Miguel's life is turned upside down when he meets new girl Lainey, whose family has just moved from Australia. With her tumbled red-gold hair, her instant understanding of who he is, and her unusual dog a real Australian dingo, she's unforgettable. And, as he quickly learns, she is on the run from an ancient bargain made by her ancestors.

There's no question that Miguel will do whatever he can to help her, but what price will each of them have to pay?

What did I think of it:
This could have been a nice read about two mismatched teenage boys helping two shapeshifting teenage girls escape their destiny, but instead de Lint managed to spoil this whole book for me with just one careless remark.

Our white skinned red-gold haired twins refer to the Aboriginals as 'guests', because our redheaded fair skinned wonder twins the Dingo's were first in Australia...

Seriously!?

You're really going to degrade the Aboriginals - who suffered a lot of really nasty things, and who are still fighting for their rights - to guests who are being tolerated just to fit your own Mythology!? WTF!!!

If this was my first book by de Lint it would have been my last. Having read several others which I really loved, and having more of his books in my TBR pile, I'm going to assume this is a weird (and disrespectful) slip up. It will take me some time to get the bad taste of this book out of my mouth though, so it might be a while before I pick up my next de Lint book.

Why should you read it:
I'd pick one of his other books if I were you.


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Teaser Tuesdays - River of Teeth

How could I resist a book that has man-eating hippos?


He hung in the mouth of the beast, stunned. His left leg hung between the bull's front tusks, the angle wrong. It bled freely, and his blood spilled over the hippo's whiskers.

(page 85, River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey)


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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Foreplay - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Foreplay (The Ivy Chronicles #1)
by Sophie Jordan

What is it about:
Before she goes after the life she’s always wanted, she’s about to find the one she needs.

Pepper has been hopelessly in love with her best friend’s brother, Hunter, for like ever. He’s the key to everything she’s always craved: security, stability, family. But she needs Hunter to notice her as more than just a friend. Even though she’s kissed exactly one guy, she has just the plan to go from novice to rock star in the bedroom—take a few pointers from someone who knows what he’s doing.

Her college roommates have the perfect teacher in mind. But bartender Reece is nothing like the player Pepper expects. Yes, he’s beyond gorgeous, but he’s also dangerous, deep—with a troubled past. Soon what started as lessons in attraction are turning both their worlds around, and showing just what can happen when you go past foreplay and get to what’s real...

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
I was in the mood for more Contemporary Romance and this one sounded like it might be a fun read.

And it is!

Pepper thinks she knows what she's in for: she's going to let the playboy bartender give her lessons in making out, so she can impress the guy she's obsessed about since she was twelve. Little does she know Reece might look as gorgeous as she was told this playboy bartender looks, he's not the playboy bartender she was looking for.

I liked both Pepper and Reece. From the things you learn about Pepper you can really understand why she's so unreasonably obsessed over Hunter that she can't see a good thing when it's kissing her. Reece is intriguing as well, with secrets and troubles of his own.

There are some pretty steamy scenes between the two of them, as well as some really tender and sweet ones. I kept rooting for them to see how perfect they are for each other.

All in all this is a hot and fun New Adult Contemporary Romance. I'm not sure if I'll read the other books in this series. They're about Pepper's friends, and I wasn't impressed by her friends in this book. But maybe they will be awesome in their own book, so I just might give them a chance one day.

Why should you read it:
It's a very enjoyable NA Contemporary Romance


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Shadowland - Book Review

Shadowland (The Mediator #1)
by Meg Cabot

What is this about:
There's a hot guy in Susannah Simon's bedroom. Too bad he's a ghost.

Suze is a mediator - a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living. But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn't seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations.

But the very first day at her new school, Suze realizes it's not that easy. There's a ghost with revenge on her mind... and Suze happens to be in the way.

What did I think of it:
Once again I got hold of an omnibus, so I'll review both books that are combined in this omnibus separately.

I've read several series by Meg Cabot. Some i liked more than others. I will confess that Queen of Babble was a big miss for me for example, while I love the Heather Wells series.

The Mediator series is off to a good start I can tell you.

Suze does remind me of other wacky Cabot heroines, but that's not a bad thing. The writing is breezy and fun, and the events are both funny and suspenseful. Suze makes some cool friends at her new school, and her stepbrothers are a mixed bag that promises lots of future problems for Suze.

This book has both a storyline that starts and ends in this book as a storyline that's clearly going to run throughout the series. This setup makes that I was both satisfied with the conclusion of this book and eager to find out what's next for Suze.

All in all a fun read.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun Paranormal YA read.


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On McPig's Radar - In Evil Times

I loved The High Ground, so I'm really looking forward to the release of In Evil Times.


In Evil Times (Imperials #2)
by Melinda M. Snodgrass

Thracius Tracy Belmanor and the Infanta Mercedes de Arango have graduated from The High Ground and have become officers in the Orden de la Estrella. Tracy s posting aboard a battleship leads him to further doubt the intentions of the Solar League, as he and his comrades are required to assimilate the settlers of a Hidden World. Meanwhile, Mercedes own posting and her difficult marriage to Beauregard Boho Cullen, made to assure her succession of the throne divides her loyalties. In a society where most humans and all aliens are second-class citizens, the two young officers will have difficult choices to make.


Expected publication: July 4th 2017

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Hopcross Jilly - Book Review

Hopcross Jilly
(Mercedes Thompson Graphic Novels)
by Patricia Briggs, Rik Hoskin (Artist), Tom Garcia (Artist)

What is it about:
Mercy is a shapeshifting coyote and honorary member of the Tri-Cities werewolf pack. When the pack stumbles upon the buried bones of numerous dead children, she shapeshifts into a mystery of the legendary fae - a mystery that draws Mercy's stepdaughter Jesse into the fray! The supernatural romance series Mercy Thompson continues in this all-new, original story by New York Times bestselling author, Patricia Briggs, exclusively created for the comic book medium!

This 168 page hardcover collects the six-issue Mercy Thompson comic book series by PATRICIA BRIGGS, RIK HOSKIN, and TOM GARCIA aand features the original script and line art to issue #1, along with character designs and sketches by Tom Garcia.

What did I think of it:
I have a confession to make.

I love graphic novels and comics. I love the Mercy Thompson series. What I do not love: Graphic Novels that tie in with a book series.

Come on! I've read tons of books in this series and have my own idea how everyone looks, and then suddenly their looks are forced upon me by a graphic novel?! And I wouldn't mind that if this story was also available as a novella or something, but no: this story is only available as a graphic novel. So if it wasn't for the fact that my best friend bought this book and let me borrow it, I wouldn't have read it.

That rant over with:

This is a decent graphic novel with a cool story.

The artwork is pretty standard, but nice enough. The story is compelling, although not very surprising. (And I will keep my grumbling on the implied visual detail that goth/alternative = evil confined to this sentence.)

All in all a nice addition to the Mercyverse, although I'd have preferred a short story or novella in text form.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool story that give a bit more insight in the fae.


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Teaser Tuesdays - Dingo

She puts a finger to my lips. "No more," she says. "And please... don't talk about this around Em."

(page 52, Dingo by Charles de Lint)


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---------

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!