Initiated to Kill by Sharlene Almond

★★★☆☆  I was sent a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

First off, some general rambling.  I love the cover of this book.  It is intriguing and I found myself going back to the cover to look at it again and again.  I think missing the covers of books is the biggest downfall to using eReaders.  Anyway, on to the review.

The book is surrounded by a mystery of Jack the Ripper, the Freemasons and a deaf woman, Anabella.  Anabella’s roommate, Celestina, disappears after a night out of partying and becomes involved with the case due to her supreme ability to read people’s body language.  The police, the teachers at Anabella’s school, Celestina’s co-workers, Annbella’s Aunt and Uncle all bring their own interesting stories to the book.  The “feeling” of the book as I read it was dark and beautiful simultaneously.  The symbolism is throughout the novel and I was glad to read the book.

The prologue begins to describe a scene that includes the Freemasons, which is always an interesting topic for mystery.  As I read the first several pages of the book I was lost.  I didn’t know who story teller was.  It changes from a character calling for “Mummy”, to descriptions of Easter celebration in Seville.   This and the editorial issues with the book were a bit frustrating but do not despair and keep reading! 

I have added Sharlene's Journey in Little Paradise to my "To Read" shelf on Goodreads.

Love (funny romance novel) by Beth Boyd

3 stars

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Love, ah.  The title says it all.  Do you know what is going to happen when Karen is volunteered to go to the country and watch her Grandmother’s cottage?  Of course you do.  The author’s story follows the old age flow of a love story.  We know the end, but we don’t care because we love the characters.  This story is no different.  Karen is likable and genuine with a few female insecurities mixed in.  She hangs out with a friendly and energetic Jack Russell named Humphrey when she isn’t painting and drawing.  She’s still has a crush on Adam her teenage object of desire and her greatest desire is to be independent and successful artist.  If she were real, I’d be her best friend.

The antagonist characters have the qualities that always seem to be well, anagonists.  Morgan is Adam’s editor, beautiful, petty and plain mean spirited.  Nick, the local real estate broker, is a player and has a personality that is all about him.  You will be glad to see them go.

Give it a read.  It is a quick, delightful love story.

Sick by Brett Battles

3 Stars

Blake Crouch sold me on this book.  I fell hook, line and sinker while reading his introduction.  The fear of terrible things happening to your children while you stand there helpless to save them has been my biggest fear since I became a parent.  Daniel Ash is the unfortunate parent that wakes up to the cries of his daughter.

This book has three elements that make it a good read.  First, the characters are well developed and I found myself talking to them. “Don’t do that!”  Don’t trust him!”  I wanted them to succeed and bring the bad guys down.  If I could just figure out who the bad guys were.  Second, the story didn’t repeat itself over and over as some books do.  I find that in some books the author assumes the reader cannot remember what happened two chapters previously so they summarize again and again.  Three, the characters do not know who to trust.  They cannot seem to figure out who is trying to kill them or why.

The anxiety is the main feeling I had when I was reading this book.  I must say that Dr. Karp’s demise was quite satisfying.