Bitsy Bling Books

Much like the Tudors, the Borgias have been overdone in recent releases of historical fiction. However, The Malice of Fortune provides a new perspective by creatively using the well-known history and incorporating it into a mystery/murder plot. By using lesser known players in the Borgia game, author Michael Ennis brings a fresh twist to a popular scheme. You certainly don't have to know the Borgia family history to read and enjoy the book, but for those readers who are familiar, you'll get more than a repeat telling. I've read several Borgia books and was pleased that I knew enough to add to my base knowledge, but wasn't bored or forced to re-read loads of already much published facts about the events. I did not need pages of background, and I think the way this book is set up, no one really would. However, some key information about the 'players' is listed in the front of the book, which is a helpful reference, but I don't think it is too difficult to keep up with the historical timeline or characters. For those readers who are thinking about expanding into historical fiction, this is a good one to start with because it is more palatable than most. Without upsetting the academic critics, this novel harmonizes mystery, intrigue, murder and history without becoming dry as day old toast. It's a bit of a chunker due to the packed content, but despite the average page count, The Malice of Fortune is an attention-span friendly book especially for this genre. Ennis effectively manages to maintain a brilliant balance between intellectual fiction and entertainment, which will widen the general appeal and audience. Need a quick pitch-line to help you make up your mind? Okay, here it 'tis! A well-crafted, pre-packaged paced Three Musketeers meets The Man in the Iron Mask for the European bound traveler. A tad heavy for the beach and shorter trip, but good for a cabin getaway or longer flight.

What appealed to me about this particular book was learning about two things I never heard of before, mainly: Xeroderma Pigmentosum and Parkour. Mitchard takes you into another world where kids with a lethal allergy to sunlight live. The loneliness and fatalism of this infliction are as isolating as the darkness. A commonality of existence bonds the three teens and their families in a unique place, a town that provides a clinic specializing in research. Besides that, there is not much else to do in the town, so the trio takes up stunt-sporting to fill the hours. We all know that weird things happen at night and our imaginations can get the better of us. During one of their outings, Allie is witness to something terrible. Here is where the mystery and murkiness begin. If you're hoping for a light to shine through to illuminate what is going on, you're going to be disappointed. From here on out I felt like I was feeling my way through the pages blindfolded. Now, this is an interesting style and concept, and I've given a lot of thought to my appreciation or hope of its purposeful intention. With that said, I was uncomfortably lost at times and felt like too much was hidden from me as the reader. I kept thinking I was missing pages or paragraphs. Nevertheless, I read along hoping that I'd be rewarded with a tight wrap-up or 'a-ha' moment. As I neared the end, I was left with missing pieces, more questions and not really sure of what the hell happened. In reflection, this story reminds me a bit of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. If you enjoyed that style and mysterious story-telling, you'll probably also like Mitchard's approach. Lastly, the story ends, but the mystery doesn't. The reader is left with a confrontation, a bold exclamation followed by the lead-in to the next story in the series. All in all, I wandered around a bit too much in the dark for my liking, but I do appreciate the creative concept and reflection the story provoked. I keep going back, wondering how much was intentional by the author. I'm going to lean toward the optimistic side of this one and chalk it up to creative license and experimentation. However, some readers may feel frustrated with the lack of insight provided, feeling as I did at many points in the story, that either I totally missed something, or pieces and connections were neglected.

Bravo! Part way through this novel I had to pause to contact the author (which I rarely do) to let her know just how much I was loving it! So, what exactly turned me into a fan girl? Being an enthusiast of southern culture, I naturally gravitated to Haddix's desire to preserve and pass along Appalachian lore. What is unique in the telling of Firefly Hollowis it is first and foremost a historical romance, which happens to include paranormal elements. Currently, most paranormal books involving shape-shifters center on the event and present some hero form using their ability. In Firefly Hollow, the supernatural is an element, but is presented in a matter-of-fact way that is passed on like any other recessive gene. I won't spoil the moments, but Owen's character is relatable in terms that he struggles with a hereditary infliction that is misunderstood. If you're not a reader ready to jump into the hardcore underworld of shape-shifters, wolves and so on...but, rather seek mythology, with a great historical love story that shares the unbelievable and forces you to trust what logic says we shouldn't, then this is the book for you! I completely fell for Owen and I truly missed the characters after I turned the last page. The courtship is sweet without being naive. It's the perfect combination of love, desire and intimacy without crudeness. My use of 'sweet' shouldn't be misinterpreted as 'prude.' This book certainly is not that, but it causes tingly goodness rather than conjures up the 'Eww factor.' I'm grateful that the dime store, formulaic love scenes were absent and replaced by something deeper with meaning and more truthful. The awkwardness, the gentleness, eagerness and nervousness were all present, which melted my icy, cynical heart. Haddix communicates this relationship expertly and beautifully. My only criticism was that Sarah cried easily, until I realized that I had cried twice. I had to laugh at myself for that! This isn't a heart-wrenching sob, but rather a mix of happy, tingling tears that makes you long for the best and believe in true love. I'm not a hopeless romantic, in fact, I avoid most books that gush about such silliness, but this story is different where nothing is cheapened or soured by the hope for a happily-ever after. Comparatively, the chemistry is much like Colleen Hoover's, Slammed, another book that brought me to tears. Okay, maybe I do have a romantic bone in my body after all! I adored this story and will continue to read other books by T.L. Haddix. If you haven't yet, I recommend picking up this book. I still think about Sarah and Owen. I want more and wish I could go back to their place in the world. I also applaud Haddix for sharing stories from the Appalachian region, a rich and unique culture within the states. Absolutely FANTASTIC!!!

4.5 starsMost books don't live up to the cover claims or blurbs, but I must agree, if you're a fan of the Coen brothers' films, specifically, Fargo, you'll likely enjoy Jamie Mason's Three Graves Full. Murder, bullying, detectives and a strange tangle of ironic twists, will only enhance a person's belief in the sixth degrees of separation theory. Shrouded in dark humor, this mash up, smash up, bumbling slippery, slimy mess keeps rolling all the way to the very end. Each character is designed, revealed and made believable by the slight imperfections that are easily relatable. No one believes they could find themselves wrapped in such a cluster of bad luck, but Mason presents it in such a way that even the deadly mishaps coated with morbid humor are believable. Betting on human sympathy, Mason makes it hard to blame anyone specifically, and even though there are some clear-lined bad individuals, it's difficult to determine who is the master and the puppet. All actions have consequences and even the worst imaginable might just be justifiable. In the end, you'll be wondering if Jason Getty is just another poor sap that got what he deserved.

A Pimp's Notes contains the classic murky veil of noir, but in this case, there is not a traditional lead detective, but rather features, Bravo, the castrated pimp who is forced to unravel his own mystery. Where some readers might find Faletti's approach lethargic for a suspense novel, I'd argue that his style enriches the genre, making a unique piece of work that firstly, is literary and secondarily, suspenseful noir. Even though, by developing the characters and backgrounds slows down the plot and action, in the end, it is worth it and lends to all the twists that come. You might think you know where this story is going, but there are a few surprises that make sense without being revealed too early. The plot-line is web-like verses the straight-line plot format. As a reader, I enjoy this design much more and will take a bit of pacing to get the ultimate pay off of thematic depth. Several aspects can be discussed and are thought-provoking from Bravo's love of puzzles, to mutilation verse traditional beauty, sexuality, gender, politics, corruption, exploitation, social status, power struggles, occupation in society, what defines a person and on and on...On top of it, you get a well-constructed mystery plot with murder, mayhem, confusion and escape. A Pimp's Notes is a novel to be read, not rushed. A thinking reader's suspense novel that ups the ante by pulling you underground to a place that is long gone, but also presently relevant. I read the translated version and feel that it was excellent. However, I would have no idea of something was lost in the conversion since my Italian is shamefully lacking.

Strap on the life vest because we're going fishing! Morey puts the spin in detective mystery with colorful characters, fast-paced action, strange banter and a dollop of humor. This treasure hunting comedy/mystery flies across the page taking you through a cast of characters so entangled that it's bound to end with only a few left standing. Morey's story hinges on the bizarro, but with enough mainstream crime mystery dashed with real events, in this case the mystery of the Jesuit treasure, to ground them, which will broaden the appeal to a wider readership. Even though the convenient store cast of characters are far from cookie cutter, Morey does it without unnecessary raunchy language, explicit crudeness or ridiculous sexism. This is why Morey's stories appeal to me when compared to other authors who write in a similar genre. It just proves writing can be bizarre, humorous and down-right weird without crossing lines that will alienate an audience. Atticus Fish stories are a cross-over between Christopher Moore and Austin Powers without too much nasty. If you're ready for mule-riding expatriates, a germophobe strip club owner and a fumbling hit man that gets his ears chewed off, then this is the read for you! Park yourself in a lounger, slap on some sunscreen and soak up the crazy.

Broken is not a re-telling of the original in modern time, but rather a reflection of a favored classic. A.E. Rought uses elements and themes set forth by Shelley to create this sci-fi young adult Frankenstein-ish novel. What works is the spin, making it fresh and interesting. Fortunately, this contemporary take incorporates the lyrical prose of the Gothic tradition. This enriches the tale, making it a complete work of fiction, rather than simply a story with a cool theme. The young love, torn heart and strong familiar bonds is skin-tingling delicious. It will make your heart ache and race at the same time. Even though the characters are young, the love has an authentic feel that runs old, similar to that of Bronte, Austen and Shelley's characterization. It is ethereal, eternal and believable in the sense that it comes from a place that transcends age. What cements the overwhelming depiction is the daily, modern functions of family and school routines, such as friendship, homework and dinner time. With that praise said, I should mention that I did waver on my rating because I felt there were a few drawbacks to the overall depiction. First, the 'hazel eye' factor becomes annoying. I'm not big on repetitive reminders of eye color. In the book's defense, it actually does provide significance, but it is mentioned, discussed, referred to so much (even in the synopsis) that it had me ready to scream aloud, "I got it! Enough already, Geez!" Nevertheless, the beautifully constructed lyric proses out-weighted this nuisance. Next, the setting of Michigan really is not intrinsically relevant. The story could take place in any location that had a beach nearby. There was very little that specifically made this place uniquely Muskegon, Michigan. The reader can look at the generalization as a message that the story could happen anywhere, but if wishing to stick with the Gothic detailing, and importance of setting as it applies to Shelley's Frankenstein, this fails and may disappoint. For me, I can forgive the overall portrait because the incorporation of the graveyard and historical estate provide enough imagery to steady this contemporary young adult version. Lastly, the reader will feel much smarter than poor Emma because they'll likely be way ahead of her in figuring out the puzzle. Emma is painfully clueless mid-way, even when the obvious is practically bashing her over the head with clues. Don't expect a surprise twist because you'll likely see it all coming before our heroine. To my relief, some things do happen that save the story and pick up the plot, climax, and speed. It's not a huge OMG moment, but it thematically works. Frankly, it satisfied my expectations and restored my faith in the text. Overall, I truly loved the work and think it is a book that must be read all the way through to the finish to get the entire understanding. It will linger long after the last page is turned.

I normally do not focus or point out typos in any book because I completely understand the edit process, digital formatting and how things can just slip through the cracks despite all the effort. However, I had to share this one because it made me laugh in a good way. It didn't determine my rating or enjoyment of the story, I just thought it was awesome.The best typo quote! "...even if it meant staying outside in the horrible heat all day and getting bitten by misquotes."Despite the typo, Bound still feels like it is in the first drafts based on content development. Although, the reader gets a clear picture of the estate and the characters, a few issues remain. Unfortunately, none of the characters are very likable. Arelia has moments, but her redundant rants and huge chip on the shoulder gets old and demonstrates a lack of growth. We are supposed to believe she is chosen for a reason we cannot yet see. In time, the reader should be provided with a glimpse of change. This should arrive near the end if we are to be drawn towards the second book in the series. I found myself disliking Arelia even more and losing faith in her so called strength. Although excuses are given for her close friendship with Sabrina, this girl is absolutely unappealing as a side-kick. She's downright mean and if this is friendship, Arelia needs more than magic, she needs therapy. A doormat often does not inspire sympathy, but rather pity. She talks a good game through her angry outbursts, but has no apparent resilience or backbone. The history of Darkwood is the meat of the plot, but yet it is told through surface and tour-guided stories. This is the place where the story can really take a deeper turn and provide dimension and meaning. It was frustrating to skim along with such a rich opportunity presented. Lasty, the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory reference was odd and basing the guests on similar characters was insultingly obvious. Instead of being clever thematically, it just raised an eyebrow in lameness. I apologize for being so direct, but sometimes these techniques can be a hit or miss. In this case, a total miss for me.

I reviewed each story individually. Bitsy Bling Books

This is very punk rock and not in the candy-coated nostalgia sense, but in the dirty, dye-stained world of vaseline and aqua net. Even though this is set in 1980, it easily could range into the mid 90's. The club scene, drug addiction, music and underground hipness of punk rock influence reached over a decade. The only thing missing, intravenous HIV inflections and a groupie gang of junkie strippers. Engaged in high risk behavior, this fortunate teen escapes battered but not dead, which is an accomplishment considering the atmosphere. Live and learn, or at least hope so. Some characters get their happy ending, while others have a REALLY bad day! The novel reads like a memoir, which helps strengthen the reader's attachment to the lead female character J.J. Those who have never had similar experiences will get to experiment vicariously through her and the tribe of poser dwarves. I literally got goose bumps and tingles towards the end of the book -- this was brought on by pure emotional attachment. Being a product of the Underground in Seattle during the early 90's, I can relate to the club scene and the drug influence. I watched a fair share of lives be destroyed, talent wasted and dreams crumpled in the trash. However, some people like J.J. came out the other side. The good, the bad and ugly make us what we are and trust me, although this is fiction, it is not in the least bit far-fetched. Every scene in a big city is just a group of small town hopefuls and running into each other with the aid of the six degrees of separation is strangely realistic. If you don't believe me, just ask anyone hanging with the band members of Pearl Jam, Sound Garden, Alice in Chains, Sky Cries Mary, Tad and Nirvana at the Croc in Seattle back in the day of grunge. True Story.

This was my favorite story in the collection! I wish it would have been put first. Yes, there are the formulaic sex scenes toward the end, but at least I was more emotionally invested in the characters and cared about their intimate relationship. This is the first book in the Seasons of Invention Series, Broken Promises is #2. The spy premise is what hooked me and I will be reading the next story to see what becomes of Jasper and Callie. In comparison, the kick off to this series reminds me a little of Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series, but with a Steampunk edge. Readers who like Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series will likely enjoy this one too. Tension, suspense, action, romance...it does have it all.

This one was promising and didn't have the tacky sex scene. I was liking it all the way up until the end? I use a question mark because the story just sort of, stopped. I literally flipped forward and backwards to see if I skipped a page or something. Then, I wondered if there was some glitch in the electronic version. It really felt like the ending was missing. I'm not sure what to think? If this is not a format problem and is truly how the story was written, then it clearly has no ending and is not finished. It wouldn't take much to make it less jarring and provide a more satisfying conclusion. I want to give it a higher rating, but the ending was just too...well, incomplete.

The premise behind the story is interesting and the detailing very good, but what turned me off (ironically) was the formulaic love scenes. I'm beginning to see a pattern of mechanical writing. It's as if a number of intimate scenes are required and no matter what is going on, somehow they need to be jammed in the short story. I didn't find it romantic, but rather distracting and disturbing. Again, the descriptions resonated with modern romance novels and not altogether fitting with the time period. It just didn't seem to mesh for me. I found myself merely scanning and then flipping through to get back to the plot of the story. More of an 'ew' than an 'oh.'

This is a plot driven mystery within the workings of a Victorian Steampunk setting. The imagery is fantastic. Following in the Victorian tradition of story telling, there is a orphan-like character, turned thief and a wealthy foe turned benefactor. The savior of moral choice is deep within, but also influenced with a slight push from the outside world. Although this is Steampunk, which obviously allows for a creative splintering from the typical restraints of the era, I still had a difficult time with aspects of the language used and also, the depiction and thoughts (mostly wording) when it came to intimacy. I just didn't care for the word choice coupled with the era, i.e. 'hard,' it just didn't work for me in a Victorian set story.

This is a mature contemporary novel that pulls you in and makes you care. What I mean by mature is not in the explicit terms, but in the construction and development of complexity. This is a read to pick up when you want to slow down. Sometimes a person can grow tired of fast-paced, or what I term, 'bam, bam, bam' reads that come at you like tennis balls out of a machine. Don't mistake my use of 'slow-paced' as boring. Nope, not at all. This is a book with complicated events mixed into complicated lives, all entangled and messy. There is always something melancholy that comes through in Irish writings, that underlying understanding that lingers beneath a shade of gray reality. Deceptions will not disappoint on this aspect of cultural influence with a splash of sainthood. There is an honest hope, not one tied up with a bright bow, but with a personal realization and growth that warms the heart and saddens it at the same time. Given all that happens in the book, you'd think the reader would be depressed, but Elliot has a way of never letting the reader get over-burdened, but manages to stroke the worst with a glimmer of optimism. Lorraine is a strong lead character that is stripped down and vulnerable. She has moments, regrets, flaws, insecurities, but also a strength that is reassuring. I'm glad she never turns pathetic, even though many a character might in her situation. On the flip side, she isn't cold, callous or bitter either, which makes her likable. Unlike her daughter, who I found to be the most annoying character. Ooh, how I wanted to slap that girl! Coupled with the sociopathic best friend, I'm shocked she was able to maintain her sanity! A lesser women would be wearing an orange jumpsuit with a prison number stitched across her chest. This book will grow on you as it deepens, if you give it a chance!

Commencement is a prequel novella starring the empathic character, Emma Jane Hellsbane. Releasing a prequel has its advantages and disadvantages. It's a great way to set up a series and also, for the reader, to get more than a synopsis to see if they'll like the storyline and writing style. However, on the other hand, it is shorter than the average book, this one being 50 pages, and some might feel a bit ripped on page length, but hey, it's free over at Amazon Kindle, so what do you have to lose? I prefer to think of it as a genius showcasing of an upcoming series. You get more than a back cover blurb to base your decision on. How awesome is that? I must also mention that Cuccaro provides the full meal deal with this gem. It truly is a compact story, as well as, a thorough buzz for the series. And yep, when I was finished, I went right to the Kindle Store to get the first book. Got me hook, line and sinker! Thankfully, there was no big cliff hanger that left me clinging by my fingernails, but rather an ending with an obvious continuation that begged for me to read more. I felt like I was just getting to know Emma and I can't wait to see what comes next!