Slut Lullabies

Goodreads Summary:
Following her debut novel, My Sister's Continent, Gina Frangello continues her exploration of the power dynamics of gender, class, and sexuality in this collection of diverse, vibrant short fiction. Slut Lullabies is unsettling. Like the experience of reading a private diary, these stories leave one feeling slightly traitorous while also imprinting a deep recognition of truths you did not know you felt.

It is through beauty, horror, humor and chaos that Frangello has managed to pull these ten stories out of her deep understanding of the human experience. A gay Latino man whose pious relatives are boycotting his commitment ceremony' becomes caught up in hypocrisy and splendor when his lover's Waspy mother hires a glitzy wedding coordinator; a precocious girl seduces her teacher in order to blackmail him into funding her young stepmother's escape from their violent home; a wife turns to infidelity and drugs to distract her from chronic pain following an accident; a teenage boy attempts atonement in Amsterdam after having exploited his naive girlfriend at home; and a socialite must confront her dark past as her husband's deterioration from Huntington's Disease destroys both her bank account and social standing.

My Review:
This short story collection was breathtaking. I truly felt both anxious and intrigued as I was reading it. The author clearly understands each of the characters she writes about, and the stories come from a very dark yet likely place. Undoubtably these are all somebodies stories even though this is a work of fiction. I think brining light to such a taboo subject is refreshing and gives humanity to those who have been dehumanized. I would recommend this collection to others.


4/5 stars

What Doesn't Kill Her

Goodreads Summary:
Jordan Rivera is an ordinary kid with an ordinary family, until a vicious killer takes it all away, sparing her, but leaving her broken. The murders of her father, mother and brother destroy something inside Jordan, who spends ten long, mute years in an institution. Catching a glimpse of a news report about another family slaying, Jordan at last breaks her silence. Now she’s out, and she molds herself—body and mind—into an instrument of justice.

While a young detective pursues the case on his own, Jordan teams up with members of her support group, people like her, damaged by violent crime. They have their own stories of pain, heartache, and vengeance denied. With their help, Jordan will track down the killer before he can ravage any more lives. Her life – and her sanity – depend on it.

My Review:
Page turner from the very beginning. The characters were extremely well-developed. The novel felt very realistic as I felt like I was the main character experiencing all that she was experiencing.

This is a story about a serial killer that leaves a victim behind to tell the tale and as the story develops unlikely links between the killings and characters are revealed.

4/5 stars

I'm Back and bookish as ever!

I don’t know how I let this blog falter for almost 2 years. It’s both shocking and disappointing. I miss reading and writing about what I read. The blog makes me accountable in a good way for what I read. It also doesn’t hurt that I get ARC’s for having a book blog.

I plan on making updates to all of my current posts and then diving right into reviewing again. I’ve definitely been reading all this time!!!! I know people probably thought I was swept away to another country or some other equally exciting adventure, but the truth is I just prioritized other things over this, and I shouldn’t have. So now I’m back and hope to bring an updated and exciting blog for you to read!

McGrave

Goodreads Summary:
Los Angeles cop John "Tidal Wave" McGrave is an unstoppable force of nature who always gets his man...even if it means laying waste to everything around him, including his own career...which is exactly what happens in his pursuit of Sebastian Richter, the ruthless leader of an international gang of violent thieves.

When Richter flees to Berlin, McGrave chases after him...even though the cop doesn't know the language, the laws, or the culture. But McGrave doesn't care...he speaks the universal language of knee in the groin and fist in the face...and he won't let anything get in his way.

Hold on tight for a wild, rollicking, action-adventure novella that captures all of the fun, excitement and pure escapist pleasure of the "Dirty Harry," "Lethal Weapon" and "Die Hard" movies...with the humor, sharp dialogue and inventiveness that you've come to expect from Lee Goldberg, bestselling author of "The Walk," "Watch Me Die," "The Dead Man," and fifteen hilarious Adrian Monk mysteries.

"McGrave" is guaranteed to leave you breathless...and with a big smile on your face.

My Review:
The main character, McGrave, is a cop who was visiting his old partner who is now working in the private sector. McGrave turned down a similar job that his old partner offered him and upon leaving realized there was a robbery in progress. Going off of instincts he got involved and tried to stop the break in, which was just enough to swirl him into a new adventure that leads all the way to Berlin, which of course leads to a hot female cop that makes the story even more interesting.

I really enjoyed reading McGrave. It was a gritty, laugh out loud funny, fly by the seat of your pants action adventure. The main character, a cop by the name of McGrave, who does things his own way is a realistic character who the author breathes life into. I found myself laughing out loud in the first paragraph. It felt more like watching a fast paced movie rather than reading a book. I'd highly recommend this one!

4/5 stars

The Dead Man: Kill Them All

Goodreads Summary:
When Matt wanders into a struggling Nevada tourist trap recreation of an "old west" town, he's unaware that he's being trailed by a Special Ops team of professional mercenaries hired by a University desperate to learn the secret behind his resurrection...and that he's put everyone around him in dire jeopardy. The mercenaries have no intention of letting Matt escape...or let any witnesses survive. Matt finds himself in a deadly bind. Somehow he must rally the peaceful citizens into defending themselves against the sadistic, well armed mercenaries...or sacrifice himself to save them from certain death.

My Review:
And thankfully, the series continues...

Matt is on a new adventure in an "Old West" Nevada town. The sex is toned down in this one as Matt truly doesn't have time with all of the action he's partaking in (and really creating himself). I loved this installment and can't wait for the next one. I have to say that this one was far worth the wait. Molotov cocktail in the hands of teens upstairs in a whorehouse anyone? This book was just amazing and action packed from start to finish.

Matt is in search, once again, for Mr. Dark so he may rid the world (and have some peace of mind) from this evil. He finds himself in Nevada and in an attempt to escape the small town he discovers he's being searched for himself.

4/5 stars

The Dead Man: The Blood Mesa

Goodreads Summary:
The fifth book of The Dead Man series. Matt Cahill, the living dead man, confronts Mr. Dark and his evil atop a mesa in New Mexico.

My Review:
It's no surprise to find an excellent novel in The Dead Man series. They seem to be all hits. This one was fast moving and just as unique as the others. This time Matt finds himself at an archaeology dig where some very interesting remains are being unearthed.

As usual, Matt battles with ax-wielding intensity that makes for a non stop, action-packed read.
4/5 stars

Motion to Kill

Goodreads Summary:
Richard Sullivan was at the top of his profession, a rainmaker in a powerful Kansas City law firm until his body washed up on the shores of a Missouri lake. Now questions about his death, and his life, reverberate through a firm that has more to cover up than it ever knew. Dark secrets pit partners against each other and their clients in a desperate struggle to stay alive.

My Review:
This was a great novel that was thoughtfully done and well crafted. Following the main character, Lou Mason, as he tries to find out who murdered his partner makes for a riveting read. Around every corner there seems to be an unexpected surprise and the closer Mason gets to the truth the more danger he is in evidenced by things begin blowing up around him and the dead bodies that keep appearing.

At first Lou is just seeking justice and then he is trying to stay alive on this quick-witted, fast-action thriller. It's different than most in this genre as it's a wonderful blend of police procedural and law. There's money at stake, a big name law partner has died, others may be next, and Lou decides to team up with the Sheriff to expedite things. There is no author to compare Joel Goldman to because this really was so unique and as far as one could get from a stereotypical thriller in any sub genre. And of course the two intelligent, attractive women trying to get Lou into bed just adds to the excitement. Extortion, explosions, murder, FBI, a hot sheriff and hot law partner, and sex. It seems damn perfect to me.
4/5 stars