Review - "Dust" by Susan Berliner

Book Description:

While unloading groceries in her Rock Haven condo, Karen McKay notices a strange swirl of red, green, and blue dust. The swirl follows her inside, lifts a porcelain ballerina from her wall unit, twirls it in the air, and throws it to the floor, shattering it into pieces.

The following evening, Karen hears her neighbor's dog barking loudly. Upon investigation, she finds her neighbor, Marion, at the bottom of the stairs—dead. At the top of the stairs, a colorful whirlpool of dust circles ominously.

Now the feisty librarian must consider the unthinkable: Could the dust be responsible for her neighbor's death and, if so, would it kill again? Karen turns to her ex-husband, Jerry, for help and together they bravely confront the mysterious dust. But will their daring actions cost them their lives?

Review:

"Dust" is the first novel for writer Susan Berliner of Yorktown Heights, NY.

The story is simply written and has strong characters in Karen and Jerry. The creation of the 'dust' as the antagonist piqued my curiosity. The numerous 'accidents' that the 'dust' creates are inventive at first, but after the fifth one, it seemed a bit monotonous. The interactions between Karen and her ex-husband Jerry added some good humor to the story that I liked. For being a suspense type of book, I didn't feel any real climatic ending that scared or surprised me...it just kind of ended.

Overall, I think as a first novel the outline of the story was good. I just think a bit more intrigue/suspense was needed to really keep me interested in the story.

Give the book a read...see what you think!!

Support first time novelists!!!!

Rating: 3/5

This book is part of the Pump Up the Book Virtual Tour for "Dust"

Thank you to Tracee at Pump Up The Book Promotions and Susan Berliner the author for sending me a review copy of this book to use for the review.

I'm in...are you?? Shelf Discover Challenge...

Need something to do the next 6 months??? hahaha..well, I just found my first book challenge and you can join too..Booking Mama's blog has all the details...but here is some of the information:

The challenge is based on Lizzie Skurnick's new book Shelf Discovery: The Teen Classics We Never Stopped Reading.

Details:

The Shelf Discovery Challenge will run for six months (November 1, 2009 - April 30, 2010). To join me in this challenge, all you need to do is grab a copy of SHELF DISCOVERY and pick out what six books you want to read (of course, you can read more than six!) Then, after you read a book, just write a "book report" to share your thoughts with others!

Sign Up:

Grab the challenge button at the top of this page and write a post detailing what six Shelf Discovery books you are going to read within the next six months (you always have the option to change your original list -- I'm flexible like that!) Once you have posted your Shelf Discovery challenge post, go to Booking Mama and click on Mr. Linky. Please leave your name and link directly to your introductory post (not just to your blog’s home page.) If you don’t have a blog, no worries -- you can just leave a comment on this post telling me you want to participate.

Ok, since I don't have the book, I am choosing my books from other bloggers choices and I will probably run to the bookstore to sneak a peek at a book..so my choices may change!!

Here are my 6 books:

1. Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume
2. An Old Fashioned Girl, by Louisa May Alcott
3. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
4. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott Dell
5. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
6. Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

Extra if have time:
7. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle


Good luck everyone!!!!

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Review - The Treasures of Venice

Description on back of book:

He's a charming Irish Rogue who never met a lock he couldn't pick...

Keirnan Fitzgerald is desperate to locate the missing Jewels of the Madonna. With danger at every corner and time running out, he must use whatever means possible to uncover the stolen jewels in time to save his sister's life....

She's simply in Venice to relax and heal her broken heart...

Samantha Lewis is shocked when a dashing stranger approaches her in a Venecian cafe' pretending to know her. She's ready for something new and exciting in her life, so she throws caution to the wind and accompanies the Irish charmer into his dangerous world of intrigue, theft and betrayal...

As the centuries-old story behind the Jewels' disappearance is revealed, Samantha must decide
whether the man she's so compellingly drawn to is her soul mate from a previous life, or if they are merely pawns in a relentless quest for a priceless treasure....

Review:

By the 'chance' meeting of an American girl and an Irish boy, they work together against the ticking clock of finding the "Jewels of the Madonna" to save someone's life...and maybe their own too!

Loucinda McGary, author of "The Wild Sight" that I reviewed previously, has done it once again in writing an emotional romance that thrives on the thrills of mystery and intrigue. She blends together some of my favorite themes of story writing and makes it come together to make me feel like I am physically there watching the story transpire!

Of course, my favorite is the Irish man character, Kiernan. Ms. McGary describes him in such heartfelt details, you can feel your heart pumping at this man's charisma. Also, I love how the author flips between two time periods in the story without it getting confusing: 15th century Venice with Serifino and Nino and modern Venice with Samantha and Kiernan. You're kept wondering until the end of the book whether these couples have an interlocking relationship through time!

The mysterious dark Venice streets and paranormal aspects of the story keep you turning the pages of this adventure. The descriptions of Venice, old and modern are so well used by the author that I would love the chance to see the city myself someday!!

Even though this is noted as a 'romance book,' I would not shy away from reading it if you're not in to romance. It has just the right balance of mystery, suspense, and paranormal, with a little romance thrown in between the characters (which is more like 'opposites attract' than 'sultry lust' romance).

I would 'highly' recommend this book to read, along with 'The Wild Sight.'


Rated 5/5

Thank you to Danielle at Sourcebook.com for the complementary copy to use for this review!






Glad to be a part of:

Book Review - "Love at First Flight"

Love at First Flight

Book Description:

What if the guy in the airplane seat next to you turned out to be the love of your life?

Juliana isn't looking for Love...When she meets Michael, sitting next to her on the plane, Juliana's been dating Jeremy for ten years. But he's hedging about marriage, and Michael promises to give her everything she's ever wanted in a relationship.

Michael's supposed to be getting married....But he's drawn to Juliana in a way he never was to his beautiful but manipulative fiancee...

When they get off the plane, Michael and Juliana can't tear themselves apart. But with desperate exes who won't let go, love at first sight is tested beyond endurance....


Review:

If you've ever wondered if you could meet and fall for someone you just met at the mall, airport or business meeting...take a few hours to read Marie Force's latest novel "Love at First Flight." I loved reading this story of two very different people meeting under unusual circumstances and overcoming obstacles.

The build-up of the characters Juliana and Michael is so well written and believable, that the story seemed to fly off the pages. The author is really good at mixing romance, suspense and humor to keep you involved throughout the whole book. You really don't know whether the two will stay together of not with the twists in the story!!

The book makes you think at the end about relationships and what truly is a 'normal' relationship? I guess that is what we all have to figure out!!!

I would definitely recommend this book!! Don't get the wrong impression of this book with the bare chest on the cover...it is a lot more than just a 'chick' book...there is much more to learn!!!


Rating: 4 out of 5

Thank you to Danielle at Sourcebooks, Inc. for the reviewer copy of the books. She is the BEST!!

Released June 2009



This review is part of :


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