AJ’s Review

Up Close and Personal by Fern Michaels

I had a literary agent ask me whose books do my novels seem most similar to? I stuttered and came up with The DaVinci Code and National Treasure—as if! So on my search for contemporary romantic suspense with murder, mystery and history, I picked up Fern Michaels’ Up Close and Personal. It has a bit of family history in it, but that’s as close as it gets. However, it was fun to read.

Romances are generally written from the male and female protagonists’ points of view. Not here. Ms. Michaels introduces us to several characters, including the smart, but eccentric, Mitzi, Jake’s—the hero—aunt, and his two-timing father. She even lets you into the head of the “villain” in the book, who might be the heroine’s mother, though that’s part of the suspense.

Though definitely a romance, the book is not much of a suspense; it’s actually more comedy. Mitzi’s menagerie of animals and her geriatric club add much of the humor, though the scene where Jake loses his shorts (and isn’t wearing underwear) is also particularly funny and romantic.

Though it didn’t line up with what I write, I think I’ll keep an eye out for Fern Michaels’ books. I appreciate an author who gets away with breaking the rules and makes me laugh while she does it.

Past Reviews by AJ

Oh.My.Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs here.

Paper, Scissors, Death by Joanna Campbell Slan (Midnight Ink, 2008) here.

Beneath Bone Lake by Colleen Thompson here.

Highland Dragon by Kimerbly Killion here.

Melanie’s Rev iew

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

The year was 1893, the town Chicago, and the splendid book detailing the parallel paths of the men who planned the Chicago World’s Fair and the psychopath who murdered countless young women around that time is “The Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson.

If I was under any quaint illusions that a serial killer in the 1800’s was more genteel and humane than his modern day counterparts, they were shattered by this retelling of H.H. Holmes’ life and deeds. His methods were creative and barbaric, and with an entrepreneurial spirit not usually seen in serial killers, he had a knack for making money off the deceased. Ironically, it wasn’t his habit of being the last person to see his victims that eventually caused his downfall, but his attempt to collect life insurance off one of them. Score one for insurance investigators!

Woven into this tale of madness was the story of the architects who dreamed of bringing fame and honor to Chicago. Though I knew they pulled this grand feat off by the title of the book, I still found myself biting my fingernails over the compressed timeline, human vanity, and various acts of nature these men overcame. It’s nothing short of a miracle that they achieved the dazzling heights of a successful World’s Fair considering all the obstacles.

Though I rarely read non-fiction, and even less regularly read “true crime” type books, I still enjoyed “The Devil in the White City.” It was meticulously researched and needed no embellishment to enhance the grand accomplishments by a handful of men, nor the chilling depravity of one. This novel will make you appreciate all the modern conveniences we take for granted, while reminding you that evil remains the same.

Past Reviews by Melanie

This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper here.

The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox here.

She Flew the Coop by Michael Lee West here.

Good Grief by Lolly Winston here.

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood here.

Sloan’s Review

Atlantis Unmasked by Alyssa Day

It was no surprise that I loved the book.  Her Warriors of Poseidon books are adventurous, action-packed, and mystical.  Atlantis Unmasked is the story about Alexios, one of the seven sworn to serve and protect the ruler of Atlantis.  He helps the humans protect against the scourge that is Anubisa, the vampiress who scares everyone, even her own species.  Alexios was captured and held by Anubisa and tortured for two years before she released him.  He is sent by the Prince Conlan on a dangerous mission to find the Vampire’s Bane.

Grace Havilland is a descendant of Diana and with her bow her aim is always true.  She fights with the rebellion against the otherworldly creatures trying to take over the world, and for the humans who don’t understand that they are losing the war.
Together they take a stand to fight and hunt down the Vampire’s Bane along with trying to find out what Vonos (vamp), the newly appointed Primator is planning.  With the help of some human friends, shapeshifters, and much to their surprise the Fae, Grace and Alexios jump into the fight.  The difficulties come when both realize they have feelings for each other and the denials begin. 

I have read several of Ms. Day’s Warriors of Poseidon books and enjoy them all. 
It gets a 9 on the McBride Moxy Meter.

Past Reviews by Sloan

Unleashing the Storm by Sydney Croft here.

Stay the Night by Lynn Viehl here.

Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward here.

Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon here.