Pepper Winters - The Son and his Hope

“Things you should know about me from the very beginning:
I was born to true love, witnessed the destruction it causes, and vowed never to let such agony happen to me. I am not a story-teller like my father. I am not a writer like my mother. I am just a son—their son.
I am happy being alone.
And that is all I ever want to be.”
 
JACOB
The day he was born, Jacob learned his hardest and longest lesson.
It wasn’t a lesson a boy should learn so young, but from his earliest memories he knew where happiness lives, so does tragedy. Where love exists, so does heartbreak. And where hope resides, so does sorrow.
That lesson carved him from the kid to the teen to the man.
And nothing and no one could change his mind.
 
HOPE
I first met him when he was fourteen at a movie premiere of all places. A movie based on his parent’s life.
He was stoic, strong, suspicious, and secretive.
I was only ten, but I felt something for him. A strange kind of sorrow that made me want to hug and heal him.
I was the daughter of the actor hired to play his father.
We shared similarities.
I recognized parts of him because they were parts of me.
But no matter how many times we met. No matter how many times I tried.
He stayed true to his vow to never fall.

Review

4 stars

I was really looking forward to this book. Jacob's parents books hit me emotionally and I loved them so much I bought the double trade paperback for my "keeper" shelf. 

But.........

I didn't absolutely love Jacob's story. Honestly Part 1 was a slow painful path I forced myself thru (3 stars). Part 2 was better, we get more movement of the story (3.5 stars). More emotional attachment. Part 3 was the 4 star portion of the story for me, the resolution to the life of the Wild family. This is where I actually got attached to Hope and Jacob and enjoyed how their path was converging. 

Maybe it was because all of Jacob's issues were emotional in comparison to his parents where theirs started out as a survival to live. Jacob and Hope started their lives not having to worry about food or shelter, they had a whole different set of problems. Both had lost a parent, so everything was emotional. And Jacob was such a stubborn character thru most of the book. And at times, it all felt a little too predictable. 

Still happy I read it, not a keeper for me, but I still enjoyed the ending to the Wild family.

Ker Dukey - Lust (The Elite Seven #1)

The Elite Seven. 

Lust:

I was born with wealth, athletic ability, and looks that could melt the panties off a nun.
I had a clear path to success. 
Until fate dealt me a cruel blow, leaving me empty and in need of purpose. 
My only focus now is to become part of The Elite—a secret society in one of the most prestigious colleges in the world. 
But everything comes at a price, and with The Elite, you have to earn your place.
Lucky for me, being sinful is in my DNA. 
The only obstacle to full initiation is my task: seduce the un-seducible, the forbidden, and lure her with the sins of the flesh.
Easy for a man like me…in theory. 
She started as my task, but what happens when the lines between lust and love blur, and the need for power rages war with the need for her? 
Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks given to earn your place are not for the weak—they’re for The Elite. 
This is my life, my chance, my legacy.
I am Rhett Masters.
I am Lust.

Review

4 Stars

There are 7 stories in this series. And I say stories not books, because there are 7 deadly sins, 7 men set to join the Elite, each with their own story.

This story was not what I was expecting. It's starts out by capturing your attention in a horrific, emotional way. Then the grief that follows "Lust" thru the end of his high school career. I thought it would be much more cut throat brutal thru the whole story, but I was happily surprised when we got the emotional sub story going. And thru it all the 7 other Elite are playing their parts and teasing us about their stories. 


So much mystery and intrigue woven in. I really liked it and can't wait to read the remaining 6.

Darynda Jones - Summoned to the Thirteenth Grave (Charley Davidson series #13)

Grim Reaper Charley Davidson is back in the final installment of Darynda Jones’ New York Times bestselling paranormal series!

Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper extraordinaire, is pissed. She’s been kicked off the earthly plain for eternity – which is the appropriate amount of time to make a person starkraving mad. But someone’s looking out for her, and she’s allowed to return after a mere hundred years in exile. Is it too much to hope for that not much has changed? Apparently it is. Bummer.

She’s missed Reyes and her daughter, Beep, but now that she’s back on earth, it’s time to put to rest burning questions that need answers. What happened to her mother? How did she really die? Who killed her? And are cupcakes or coffee the best medicine? It all comes to a head in an epic showdown between good and evil in this final smart and hilarious novel. 

Review

5 Stars

We have come to the end. On one hand you never want a series to outlive it's storyline and become repetitive and boring. But when you have a really great writer who makes each and every book outstanding then it's hard to say goodbye. 

We had 13 books, with 13+ cases, more than 13 new "family" members to the group, and way more than 13 memories of a spellbinding series. It's been a funny, amazing ride with Charley, Reyes, Cookie and the ever expanding gang. Darynda Jones always had us laughing and in awe of Charley and Reyes (Cookie's antics), and still managed to weave a story in amongst the peripheral view. The supernatural aspect just fit in perfectly with the everyday "case" solving and you didn't even notice how far you strayed from the everyday life into the "celestial" one. 

I'm going to miss the gang so much, but I'm really crossing my fingers that the ending was a clue to a new series.

I'm back...........

after much thought, and truly just the lack of time to commit to a whole website. I've decided to come back to the google blog page for the simplicity of just posting reviews of the books I love. So I hope you join me in my reading journey.

Much love, Texas Reader