PassionReads

Russell Brooks “Chill Run”

ms.tiptress — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:23:44 +0000

From GoodReads:

You know a publicity stunt has backfired when someone dies.
Starving author Eddie Barrow, Jr., will do anything to get a book deal with a NYC publisher. Even if it means getting caught by the media while engaging in S&M with a female celebrity as a publicity stunt. What Eddie gets instead are details of a billion dollar fraud scheme from a suicidal client who’s fatally shot minutes later. Now on the run from the law and the killers, Eddie seeks help from two unlikely friends—an alcoholic and a dominatrix.
With few resources, Eddie races to clear his name, unveil the fraud scheme, and expose the killers before he becomes their next victim

Expected publication: December 1st 2011

My Thoughts: Raise your hand if you are tired of seeing celebrities become Authors! Me Me Me Me Me!! I thought this was a very funny and cleverly written story. It was very creative something I never thought of.

A upcoming author (Eddie) is trying to break into the world of bestsellers and they only way he thinks he can is by coming up with his own way to become famous.. I laughed out loud throughout this whole story with Eddie’s quirky and comical personality. And bringing him together with his best friend who has his problems makes this one funny read you can’t put down.

It was a quick and fast paced read that kept me on my toes with action. Although it was a good story I feel like it was a bit rushed like I’m not sure how Serge’s name came up to Eddie and Corey. And it seemed like everyone was in on the scheme. It was hard to figure out how wasn’t. But the shock factor of it all was awesome.. I was guessing and guessing until the end.

There were minor editing issues that jumped off the pages and I think there are more ways then one to describe how a character gets from one location or idea to another one.. The writing style could use just a bit of twerking…

The hardest part of the story was seeing Eddie so hurt by his family not supporting him. Eddie is a strong character to want to push through that. He knew what he wanted and went after it with all the power that he had in him. It brought tears to my eyes to see his family act in such a way.

Each character had their own personalities, strengths and weaknesses and I liked the fact that with their backgrounds of Carribean descent. My favorite of all was Corey. He mad such a huge transformation which showed his strong characteristics.. Go Corey!!! Woot, Woot!

All in all, I give this story 4 Chocolate strawberries. Job well done. This was a very creative way to becoming a bestselling author and you will almost double over with laughter…

This book was provided by the author Russell Brooks. Thanks for giving me the oppurtuinty to read your work.

Sidney Sheldon “If Tomorrow Comes”

ms.tiptress — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 17:50:13 +0000

From GoodReads:

Paperback, 592 pages

Published April 4th 2005 by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (first published February 18th 1969)

ISBN 0006479677 (ISBN13: 9780006479673)

Having been framed into a fifteen-year sentence in an escape-proof penitentiary, Tracy Whitney fights back to destroy the untouchable crime that puts her there.

My Thoughts: Although this is not one of my favorites from Sidney Sheldon, Tracey is now my favorite character. This story lacked the surprise and mystery to it. I felt like I knew the whole way throughout the book what was going to happen.

What kept this book from failing is Tracey. She is an awesome character. Sidney is known for his heroic women characters. She stood up for what she believed in and when the world tried to turn its back on her she went after it. Taking what is rightfully her’s. I absolutely loved her. She was strong, intelligent, witty and full of life (even though society tried to take it from her)

But the whole chase around the country trying to steal it all back. And the lone crazed detective that was after her.. This ended up falling into the very cliche read.

It was fast paced and keep me own my toes.. But overall I give it 3 Chocolate strawberries. This was not one of Sidney’s best.

Leonard Hilley “Game of Pawns”

ms.tiptress — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:26:05 +0000

From GoodReads:

EPUB Version

ISBN 978161766

Published 2010 by Outskirts Press, Inc

Darkness Series #3

Twelve execution style murders have occured in Newark, New Jersey, in less than a week. Each murder has a calling card- a red pawn on each corpse. Kat Gaddis and Lucian investigate the homicides and discover the last four victims were employed by GenTech, a company that recently merged with Mech Cybernetics. After FBI director Mike Carpenter shares evidence with Kat, they soon discover political ties and corruptions that place Kat’s life in direct danger. New players emerge and what seems like serial murders suddenly becomes a struggle for biotech knowledge and power. Kat is thrust into their game-The Game of Pawns.

Read reviews of Predators of darkness: Aftermath and Beyond the Darkness

My Thoughts:

I loved this story. This again was an awesome AWESOME read. I could not put it down and did not want to put it down. I almost died when I had to put it down.. LOL.

It is almost like Resident Evil but these “undead soliders” are so complex. To me they are more complex then the zombies in Resident Evil. I have always asked myself “Why do you have to knock off their head to kill them” And then Hilley answered it! Ah, he is such an amazing and vividly imaginable author.

The ends leaves you grabbing for more. I didn’t even know I was toward the end when I got there. I was like OMG, I have only 30 more pages to go.. NONONONONO!! I wanted to know what was going to happen I was feigning for more.

Lydia, is my Favorite character. She is kick-ass bad-ass, I can picture her as a strong sexy woman who has a heart as big as Texas. I love her. Even though she was not in this story to often as the last I couldn’t wait for her part to start kicking butt! Lucas’s and Lydia’s complicated relationship is what makes it more fun. Because she is so hard-core and then she has this husband and she can kick his ass to.. Lol. I love it!

Kat and Lucien are climbing up my ladder to.. Kat is wonderful, she is just as hard core. I am so happy she stayed along in the store and with Lucien.. Hm that’s a team you can’t find to often. You would think it is a bit cliche how things went down between them but… it was funny to watch Kat squirm.

This was a really great story. Very easy and quick read. It was full of action and every time you turned the page you were running from something else or toward something majorly destructible. It keep me on my toes.

I Recommend to everyone who loves the zombie world. That’s it. I’m a zombie girl no vamps for me! I would read it again, and again, and again. I am honored to be given the chance to read Hilley’s stories..

Each one of the characters were so well thought out, and the plot thickened. It wasn’t watered down and the characters were so real. Nothing fake about them. They all had thier own battles. Each were so defined and had different personailties.. Gosh!! I just loved this book..

I can’t wait for this book to hit mainstream into a movie.. I will be the first one running to it!!!!

5 chocolate Strawberries!

This book was provided by the author himself. Thank you so much for allowing me to read your work. It was awesome.

Catch up with Leonard Hilley

Deimosweb (His Blog)

Goodreads Author

E book Obsessed

ms.tiptress — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:57:25 +0000

I have to admit, I was the one yelling from the top of my lungs how I was so against E-Books… And now Im ashamed but yet excited to say I AM ADDICTED. I just finished searching Amazon’s Kindle App Ebook store for all the free ebooks I can get.. ( I had been searching for almost 5 hours now)

This tablet, I got for writing a few papers for my mother, has brought so much joy to me. I can’t put it down. It does way more then ebooks, it has a video camera, hdmi inputs, the andriod market, AND and ethernet connection… This tablet is packed down..

Its called a Fly Touch 3 and I got it at lightinthebox for half the price of all those other tablets out there.. It packs a punch.. (look at me sounds like Im trying to sell the thing)

It’s funny cause Mom, laughed at me the other day saying, ” I told you, you will get addicted” I have found a way to incorporate my love for holding physical books and my love for this new E-Reading thing… Since I love to shop I’m hitting up every Thrift Store I find to buy used books… It saves on the money..

As for e-books most self-published authors offer e-books for you to read some free and some for about .99 cents.. Now that’s a saver to.. I get to learn about new authors for half the price and still get my other books..

The one thing I can never do is turn my back on the printed word. SO printed word you are safe with me, I still have my yearly membership with Barnes and Nobles.. AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING COMPARED TO A FRESH NEW BOOK NEVER OPENED, SMELLS FRESH OF THE PRITNER BOOK..

Just had to get that out…

Carlton Smith “Dying for Daddy”

ms.tiptress — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 17:17:33 +0000

From GoodReads

One By One They Begin To Die

On a picturesque street in Sacramento County, California, three healthy saplings stand side by side. But what they symbolize are the deaths of three innocent people-two of them children. And the man who allegedly took their lives, then eerily planted trees in their honor…was their own husband and father.

Shockingly, Mysteriously…

Hearts went out to Jack Barron when his wife Irene died mysteriously in her sleep. Soon after, when his two young children were also found dead in their beds, suspicions were aroused about Barron. Then, when his fifty-two-year-old mother died, also of asphyxiation in her sleep, the four deaths seemed too coincidental to ignore.

Were They All Dying For Daddy?

Was this “devoted” husband and father really a cold-blooded murderer who smothered his loved ones while they slept? Was he the victim of a bizarre syndrome, whereby a parent kills a child to gain sympathy and attention? With first-hand interviews and exclusive inside information, bestselling portrait of a man who may have been driven beyond his control to commit the most unspeakable of acts.

My Thoughts: And I have officially finished my first “True Crime” read. I can say that I enjoyed.. well, to a certain extent. The writing style seemed so formal. I thought that it would have some type of narration or story behind the true evidence.

It was boring. But the crime kept me entertained. The author seemed to be a bit biased at times. I felt like he wanted to make my mind up for me, not for me to view the evidence and see what happened. As far as I’m concerned He did it, but did he?

Back to the story at hand, I couldn’t believe that “Jack” would go to the extent that he did to kill his family. His own family. For some odd reason it is becoming an epidemic to kill one’s family. The sad part is that they did not have evidence against him which leaves me to believe it is a possibility that he may not have killed his wife and kids.

This was a very hard story to read. It was sad to see the kids die in such a horrible way, and then what the wife’s side of the family went throught… ah It was a horrible, horrible, and unspeakable crime. He deserves to be locked up.

But all in all I gave it 3 chocolate strawberries, I wish the story had a plot or narration to follow. I wanted to read what Jack was thinking, the reactions of his wife and kids, not just the evidence that no one seemed to have. There were only a few people who even spoke or were quoted throughout the story. Um, I guess True Crimes are not really my cup of tea.

Sidney Sheldon “Mistress of the Game”

ms.tiptress — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:14:29 +0000

From GoodReads:

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published June 22nd 2010 by HarperCollins Canada / Fiction (first published 2009)

ISBN 0061728381 (ISBN13: 9780061728389)

Beloved number one internationally bestselling author Sidney Sheldon introduced the glamorous, scheming Blackwell family and its unforgettable matriarch, Kate Blackwell, in his worldwide bestsellerMaster of the Game. Now a generation has passed, and as the world has changed, so too has America’s own royal family.

My Thoughts: I had been waiting so long to finally read this book. I kept putting it off because I knew it was going to be a wonderful story and I wanted the feeling to last.. lol.. And yes it was a wonderful story.

Tilly did a wonderful job bringing those old characters to life. It was an astonishing storyline, filled with sudden excitement and an engaging plot.

This family company, you would think, should have lasted.. But with all the corruption going on it was horrible. Some incest situations mixed in with family hatred and you have another story that you absolutely can not put down.

Eve is back with a vengeance and her son is thier to carry on the hatred.. Alex, poor alex, she seems to never be able to win.. And then the ones that were birthed from those two.. good gosh, they are scary…

I loved this book. Tilly put an amazing twist on Sidney’s writing and it turned out to be as good if not better then the first, Master of the game.. 5 chocolate strawberries smothered in sprinkles… One of my favorites.

James Patterson “Kiss the Girls”

ms.tiptress — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:55:09 +0000

From GoodReads:

Paperback, 458 pages

Published July 28th 2000 by Warner Books (first published 1995)

ISBN 0446677388 (ISBN13: 9780446677387)

Kiss the Girls (Alex Cross, #2)

My Thoughts: It is a nice thrilling ride from coast to coast. Absolutely loved the criminal situation( its so hard to give tips without giving spoilers) But the chase to catch the killers was fast-paced and exciting.

My favorite parts are the gruesome killings. Patterson’s story’s can be so diabolical and menacing . This had all the great features of a good ole’ rainy day thriller read. (make sure to read it when there is lots of thunder and lighting).

But the part I don’t like is Cross. He is so one-dimensional. Because of him I am afraid to continue reading the series. Here is how it goes…

1. gruesome murder 2. Cross is the brilliant one on the case 3. A woman enters the picture. 4. The two hit it off and fall head over heels. 3. And then he doesn’t get the girl..

I know I’m only in the second read but I didn’t like it in the first book. I hope something a little more exciting is with Dr. Cross. I have to admit though that he is one brilliant doctor. He is always solving the case and that part is admirable (We all want to get the bad guys right, and life is nothing like that) His insight is so intriguing, I only wish that I could accompany Dr. Cross into one of his sessions. I have always had a love for criminal psychology.

Besides all that this is another one that had me on my toes and it was filled with horror. The action, and gruesomeness (if that is a word) sums it up here. This is something that will keep you guessing right up until the end and once you found out who did it… it is explosive… I was shocked!

Overall, I give this 3.5 chocolate strawberries. I just wish there was so much more to Dr. Cross but I just can’t put this series down. The criminal psychology part of it is amazing!!

Here is the trailer for the movie. Which I thought was awesome but the book was way better.. It had a more exciting and twisted ending.

Eric Jerome Dickey “Pleasure”

ms.tiptress — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:51:18 +0000

From GoodReads:

Published 2008

ISBN 0739494457 (ISBN13: 9780739494455)

How realistic is it to believe that one lover can satisfy a woman’s every fantasy?

Nia Simone Bijou is a woman who has it all – and is driven by the desire for more. Born in Trinidad, reared in Los Angeles, living in Atlanta, Nia is a writer, a thinker, and a woman in conflict. She’s dealing with two sides of her Gemini self, feeling as if there are two women living inside her, both struggling for domination. One side of Nia is a logical yet heartbroken person who has never let go of an old pain, while the other side is a sensual woman who will not let her rest, desiring intimacy and sexual freedom, demanding Pleasure.

In the sweltering heat of July, loneliness, desire, and a struggle with both the sensual self and fantasy inspire Nia to become sexually adventurous, meeting lovers who arouse her in diverse ways, lovers who give her unimaginable experiences, generous lovers who desire to please her as much as she desires to satisfy them. Fantasies spiral out of control, and with her life on the line, Nia discovers that Pleasure does not come without pain.

Filled with passion, populated with characters that are sexually uninhibited, Pleasure is an unforgettable journey into a free-spirited world.

My Thoughts: I did not like this book. I couldn’t get pass the first 200 pages. It was horrifying nothing I expected from EJD. He usually writes so wonderful with characters filled with promise and meaning.. This is by far one of the worst books I have read this year.

I liked the style of writing. THAT’S IT! It had a nice poetic feel to it. It started out really sexy, and very open. There were parts where I could feel just a tiny bit of pleasure.

And Then…

It got dirty. The sex was no longer erotic or sexy, it was dirty and nasty. Reading it made me feel uncomfortable at times and I thought that I would eventually throw up! (That is how disgusting it is)

And no, its not because I’m gay, I have read plenty other erotic books that were straight people. It was just plain out nasty! I’m so far in and I still have not picked up the meaning or moral to this story.

There is no action, no plan, no storyline…. nothing.

Absolutely 1 Chocolate strawberry, Not quite a throw it away book, because of the writing style, but something I can’t and won’t ever try to read again. This was my second and last time.

I never finished it… Good luck to you, whoever shall read it.

James Patterson “Alomg came a Spider”

ms.tiptress — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:14:24 +0000

From GoodReads:

Published October 1st 2009 by Little, Brown & Company(first published 1992)

ISBN 0594223415 (ISBN13: 9780594223412)

The first Alex Cross novel, Along Came a Spider, immediately made James Patterson a household name. Cross — a black Washington, D.C., police detective with a solid background in psychology — finds love and a whole heap of trouble as a deadly psychopath holds two kidnapped children under his razor-sharp blade. Along Came a Spider hit the silver screen in April 2001, with Morgan Freeman revisiting the role of Alex Cross.

My Thoughts: So I was a little skeptical about reading this book due to the movie was so good. And you know sometimes how that works out, the books is usually not good.

This was different. In the beginning it was a little drab lacking the action I thought it was to have. But towards the middle it picked up speed. I truly enjoyed the mastermind of “”The son of Lindbergh” I have noticed even in true life that the “criminals” are really intelligent. Something I don’t understand but it is true.

I loved how Patterson captured the truth in his disturbed character. And Cross himself is an alright character. He had life and love, and he is very very intelligen, but there was just something lacking with him. Can’t put my finger on it.

The psychological perspective is what grabbed me into this book. It does a minor in depth diagnosis of the different criminals that are presented. It’s almost like the show “Criminal Minds” but its Dr. Cross doing the digging.

Also, the graphic detail of the kidnappings and murders. Oh that is the best part. Patterson wasn’t afriad to take it to the level with children. I know that some people are very uptight about that but others, I like reading the thrills and chills. And this one sends the chill right up your spine. Its horrible, graphic, disgusting and all the other bad words…. But I loved it.

The only thing I didn’t care to much for was Jezzie’s character, a little repetitive. But the good thing was the twist to the story. If not for the twist with Jezze’s character I would have not liked this book. Every Time Jezzie came up I was so bored, yawing and all.

All in all, it was a good read, nothing that Im losing sleep over but nice all-together. It had its share of twists and turns, ones expected and not but it gets 3.5 Chocolate strawberries from me, I hope the series gets better and better.

My Fav Quote: ” I have striven not to laugh at human actions, not to weep at them, nor to hate them, but to understand them.”

Watch the Movie Trailer:

Sidney Sheldon “Master of the Game”

ms.tiptress — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 16:56:39 +0000

From GoodReads:

Paperback, 448 pages

Published January 3rd 2005 by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (first published 1982)

ISBN 0006472613 (ISBN13: 9780006472612)

One of Sidney Sheldon’s most popular and bestselling titles, repackaged and reissued for a new generation of fans. Kate Blackwell is one of the richest and most powerful women in the world. She is an enigma, a woman surrounded by a thousand unanswered questions. Her father was a diamond prospector who struck it rich beyond his wildest dreams. Her mother was the daughter of a crooked Afrikaaner merchant. Her conception was itself an act of hate-filled vengeance. At the extravagent celebrations of her ninetieth birthday, there are toasts from a Supreme Court Judge and a telegram from the White House. And for Kate there are ghosts, ghosts of absent friends and of enemies. Ghosts from a life of blackmail and murder. Ghosts from an empire spawned by naked ambition! Sidney Sheldon is one of the most popular storytellers in the world. This is one of his best-loved novels, a compulsively readable thriller, packed with suspense, intrigue and passion. It will recruit a new generation of fans to his writing.

My Thoughts: Another job well done by Sidney.. When does he ever not deliver. I could see why this one is one of the best of all times. If you have never read Sidney before, this should be the first one that you pick up.

Every character (not all but most) in here had their devious ways of making things happen. This just shows how with one bad seed could spawn more bad seeds.

Kate is by far the most powerful women in the century. What she wants she gets. Some of the things she has done were uncalled for and beyond me. How could someone do that to their own flesh and blood. She cared for no one but herself, but I adore her attitude towards making sure she has the money and her company staying on top. What better way to live, but it destroyed her as a person.

This story was action packed from beginning to the end and there was no way I could put it down. The biggest factor is money. Money is makes the world go round and without it where would we be? Sidney showed you exactly what a world full of riches could do to you. I loved it!

Every single character in this story I enjoyed. No one or nothing was out of place and Sidney left nothing to your imagination, no rock un-turned. He told you straight up how it was going down. There were so many twists and turns and you just didn’t know whose life was next to be destroyed. It kept you on your toes. The characters came to life on these pages and the plot thickened with each one. The situations were so real, so touching.. There was nothing lame about this one.

I loved how it started from the beginning with everyone’s life and took you through to the end. I can’t wait to read the sequel to see what happened to the twins.. especially Eve, gosh I know she is mad! but it seems.. everyone in here got what they deserved, and not at all predictable.

Awesome story 5 Chocolate Strawberries, Sidney delivers yet again and again.