A Good Day for Chardonnay - Book Review

 

A Good Day for Chardonnay (Sunshine Vicram #2)

by Darynda Jones

What is it about:

Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff--and even fuller-time coffee guzzler--Sunshine Vicram, didn't get that memo.

All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that's about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?)

Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny's got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he's not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She's seen it. Once. Accidentally.

Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn't know when to quit, Sunny's life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.

Yep, definitely a good day for chardonnay.

What did I think of it:

I enjoyed the first book, so immediately ordered the second book after finishing A Bad Day for Sunshine, but it ended up a TBR Orphan if only by a few days before I picked it up.

And this is another very enjoyable read with the same problem as the first book: Levi.

I can't remember reading and finishing a book with a love interest as skeevy and annoying as Pervy Levi. If I didn't enjoy everything else so much I'd have tossed this book. (And don't let me get started on the retconning in this book of an infuriating scene from the first book.)

Levi aside this book was a fun and entertaining read. Even with my misgivings on how all this will turn out where the romance is concerned, I know I'll be getting the next book, because I want more on all the other characters in this series.

Why should you read it:

It's mostly fun and entertaining

Teaser Tuesdays - Salvation Day

 

There was a sharp pop. His head vanished in a pink mist.

(Page 22, Salvation Day by Kali Wallace)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously 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!

The Dead Romantics - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

 

The Dead Romantics

by Ashley Poston

What is it about:

Florence Day is a ghost-writer with one big problem. She’s supposed to be penning swoon-worthy novels for a famous romance author but, after a bad break-up, Florence no longer believes in love. And when her strict (but undeniably hot) new editor, Benji Andor, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye.

Although when tragedy strikes and Florence has to head home, the last thing she expects to see is a ghost at her front door. Not just any ghost, however, but the stern form of her still very hot – yet now unquestionably dead – new editor.

As sparks start to fly between them, Florence tells herself she can’t be falling for a ghost – even an infuriatingly sexy one. But can Benji help Florence to realise love isn’t dead, after all?

If you fell in love with Beach Read, The Love Hypothesis and The Hating Game, this laugh-out-loud romance packed with sizzling chemistry will give you all the feels!

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

I will confess I was a bit apprehensive when I picked this book up. I was hoping for a "Just Like Heaven" kind of romance, but knowing how some people play fast and loose with the term romance I was afraid I might get disappointed.

And let me first say: This is not a romance in my opinion!

I'm not saying this means it has a sad ending, but the romance in this book is not the main storyline! This book is more about grief, letting go of the past, accepting who you are, and family than that it is about romance.

I did enjoy the book, but it certainly isn't the light, romantic comedy I was hoping it would be. So if you're looking for a thoughtful, slightly melancholic story, pick this up. If you're looking for a romance: keep looking,

Why should you read it:

It's thoughtful and slightly paranormal Contemporary Fiction  

Busy Playing Games

 

I promise I'll try to get back into the groove soon and actually start reviewing books again.

Teaser Tuesdays - A Good Day For Chardonnay

 

It wasn't that late when Sun and Quincy got back. Part of her felt bad considering her parents had wanted a date night. But another part, a bigger part, didn't feel the least bit concerned. It was their fault she was sheriff.

(Page 126, A Good Day For Chardonnay by Darynda Jones)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously 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!

Once Upon Stilettos - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

 

Once Upon Stilettos (Enchanted, Inc. #2)

by Shanna Swendson

What is it about:

Katie Chandler’s life is pure magic–literally. As an executive assistant at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., she’s seen more than her share of fantastical occurrences. A mere Manhattan mortal, Katie is no wizard, but she’s a wiz at exposing “hokum” pocus, cloaked lies, and deceptive enchantments. And she’s fallen under the all-too-human spell of attraction to Owen, a hunky wizard and coworker. Owen, however, is preoccupied. Someone has broken into his office and disrupted top-secret files, and it reeks of an inside job. CEO Merlin (yes, the Merlin) taps Katie and her special ability to uncover the magical mole.

Keeping her feelings in check while sleuthing alongside Owen, Katie is shocked to discover that her immunity to magic is waning, putting her in grave danger. Soon she’s surrendering to the charms and enchantments of everyone and everything around her, including a killer pair of red stilettos. Katie must now conjure up her natural instincts to get to the bottom of the break-in, regain her power, and win the wizard of her dreams.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

This book was just as much fun as the first was.

Just when Katie thinks she has the hang of her new job she gets more responsibilities thrust upon her. And there's her crush on Owen, while she's trying to date someone else, and then her family shows up!

So lots of things going on and lots of possibilities for things to go wrong. This book was fun and entertaining. Once I got into the world again I wondered why it took me a while to pickup this book, because this series is relaxing and enjoyable.

It looks like the love triangle/square is shrinking, and I like where it seems to be going, but as there's a lot more books in this series, I will stay wary just a bit longer.

All in all I had a good time with this read and I'll be picking up the third book soon.

Why should you read it:

It's a fun and enjoyable read.

Nothing But Blackened Teeth - Book Review

 

Nothing But Blackened Teeth

by Cassandra Khaw

What is it about:

Cassandra Khaw's Nothing But Blackened Teeth is a gorgeously creepy haunted house tale, steeped in Japanese folklore and full of devastating twists.

A Heian-era mansion stands abandoned, its foundations resting on the bones of a bride and its walls packed with the remains of the girls sacrificed to keep her company.

It’s the perfect wedding venue for a group of thrill-seeking friends.

But a night of food, drinks, and games quickly spirals into a nightmare. For lurking in the shadows is the ghost bride with a black smile and a hungry heart.

And she gets lonely down there in the dirt.

What did I think of it:

I very much enjoyed this book, but I didn't find it particularly creepy.

The writing was stunning, the characters interesting, and I liked the mood, but it wasn't the creepy haunted house mood I expected when picking this up.

More than a creepy horror read this is an emotional read in my opinion. It's more about friendship and how it changes through the years, and how each friend in this story handles that differently. The ghostly apparitions are almost a manifestation of the emotions between the five friends.

At a few points in the story I got a bit lost. the characters would do something I couldn't understand why they did it. For example the main character suddenly drank from a fetid pool. Those few things aside I really liked this novella, creepy or not. It will be a keeper.

Why should you read it:

It's an enjoyable atmospheric read.

Teaser Tuesdays - Nine Goblins

 

It was gruel again for breakfast. It had been gruel for dinner the night before, and it would be gruel sandwiches for lunch, a dish only possible with goblin gruel, which was burnt solid and could be trusted not to ooze off the bread.

(start of chapter one, Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously 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!