Review: My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher

My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher: Book CoverMy Not-S0-Still Life by Liz Gallagher

  • Pub. Date: May 2011
  • Publisher: Random House Children’s Books
  • Format: Hardcover , 192pp
  • Age Range: Young Adult
Synopsis:
Vanessa is wise beyond her years. She’s never really fit in at school, where all the kids act and dress the same. She’s an artist who expresses her talent in the wacky colors she dyes her hair, her makeup and clothes. She’s working on her biggest art project, and counting the days until she’s grown up and can really start living. That adult world seems closer when Vanessa gets her dream job at the art supply store, Palette, where she worships the couple who runs it, Oscar and Maye. And she’s drawn to a mysterious guy named James, who leads her into new, sometimes risky situations. Is she ready for this world, or not?
My Thoughts:
This was a quick read that moved right along and kept my focus and reminded me just how hard it was being a teenager.  Vanessa wants nothing more than to grown up and be out of her teens where she just doesn’t feel like she belongs.  She makes numerous quick and thoughtless decision throughout the course of the book that hunt not only herself but those closest to her.  It is not uncommon but it was nice to find a book that expressed these types of decisions and everyone ends up okay in the end if not better than they were at the beginning.  While yes there was pain and frustration, there was also healing and growth.  the main message don’t rush your youth but enjoy it and those around you.
My Rating:
Well done, Liz Gallagher, you hit the nail on the head and end in a strong positive way!

Review: Men Out Of Uniform

Men Out of Uniform: Three Novellas of Erotic Surrender by Maya Banks: Book CoverMen Out of Uniform by Maya Banks, Karin Tabke and Sylvia Day

This review and book are for those ages 18+.  If you are not of this age, please do not continue reading and move to another review.

  • Pub. Date: October 2011
  • Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
  • Format: Paperback , 336pp
Synopsis:

The hottest thing about a man in uniform is imagining him out of it…

They may enforce the rules, but when men in uniform are off duty and under the covers, they’re experts at breaking them. In this searingly sexy anthology, popular authors Maya Banks, Sylvia Day, and Karin Tabke present men in uniform-unzipped…

My Thoughts:

Okay, lets start with the cover on this one – can anyone say WOW!  If I walked by this on the shelf I don’t think that I could resist picking it out.  Okay, now that is out of my system on to the stories in this anthology.

Soul Possession by Maya Banks

This is the first I have read of Maya Banks and she sure did deliver.  I enjoyed the mix of a real story in with hot and steamy that is the sex in this book!  I will say that I have not read of erotica but this has to be the way to do it.  It was very vivid and descriptive but not in an offensive way.  Just eye opening that made me want to read more!  The story behind this one was very well done as well with a serial killer that Rich and Truitt are trying to hunt down and the barmaid, Jessie,  they have been trying to get into bed for weeks happens to lose her job and end up in bed with both of them since neither wants to allow the other to have her.  All in all, it was just really well done and HOT!  I will say that it left me wanting more and that is probably due to the length of the story.

Wanted by Karin Tabke

I felt like this was a much quicker read with less detail but that was almost a good thing because I was content with the story and I was not left begging for more.  Like with the first story there was a lot of hot scenes but they were still done in a manner that while expressing the heat in detail did not cross any lines.  There was a well developed story line and great character development for the length of the story.

Taking the Heat by Sylvia Day

This was a great way to round out the anthology.  My favorite part of the actually story line in this book is that the two main characters had history and while neither thought the other remembered they both did.  There is a lot of tension and stress that is placed on them since they are basically trying to run and get Layla to testify and then she will end up back in Witness Protection.  Along the way, the strong connection between them continues to grow.  There is a great sexual tension building up to the actual act something that is often difficult to express in writing.  It was well done.

My Rating:

HOT HOT just what you need sometimes!

Okay just going to say it there are many attractive men who are so self assured they might drive you crazy!

Follow Friday

Q: If you could Weicharacters from a book meet and form an epic storyline with characters from a TV series, which characters would you choose and why?

A.  I think that I would want to mix the characters from Castle and the In Death Series by J.D. Robb.  Both are based on crime and police and I just think that there would be a great balance between the two.  Not to mention all of the banter that happen in both.  It would be great fun to see how Castle and Roarke would interact!

“What is your favorite spooky book (i.e. mystery/suspense, thriller, ghostBook Blogger Hop story, etc.)?”

Yea this is so not a great question for me.  I really am not into spooky books.  I will say that at times I will enjoy a good mystery but not if it is going to scare me.  Just not my thing.  I get made fun of but oh well.

Well that is it for me this rainy Friday.  What about you?  Please let me know in the comments.  Also, once I reach 900 follower I will be having a giveaway so help me get there.