Next Up: The Secret of Ka by Christopher Pike

I have never been one to read just one book at a time.  I have books-in-progress all over the house, the car, and at work.  So here is another I am working on right now.  I was a big Pike fan when I was younger - I hope this one lives up to the memories!

The Secret of Ka by Christopher Pike

From the electronic description:  One minute Sara's bored on vacation in Istanbul.  The next, she's unearthed a flying carpet that cleverly drags her to the mysterious Island of the Djinn - or genies.  By her side is Amesh, a cute guy she has a crush on but doesn't yet trust.  When Amesh learns the secret of invoking djinn, he loses control.  He swears he'll call upon only one djinn and make one wish.  The plan sounds safe enough.  But neither Sara nor Amesh are any match for the monster that swells before the.  It hypnotizes Amesh, compelling him to steal Sara's flying carpet and leave her stranded on the island.

Discovering the carpet has sparked a new path for Sara, one that will lead her to battle creatures even deadlier than djinn.  In this fight, Sara can save mankind, herself or the boy she cares for.  Who will she be forced to sacrifice?

Book Review: Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

Infinite Days (Vampire Queen) by Rebecca Maizel

Many of us wonder what it would be like to be a vampire....but how many vampires strike to be like us? Lenah has been a vampire for hundreds of year, but she yearns to return to her human life. Rhode - a vampire willing to die for Lenah to have her wish - succeeds in returning her to a mortal life in today's world.

But mortal life is not what she expected. She is enrolled in an exclusive high school and must adapt to life in a new era. As she makes new friends and finds a new life, she must be careful not to let her past catch up to her...because it is hunting her, and everything she has grown to love could be destroyed if it catches up.

4/5

Book Review: The Clouds Beneath the Sun by Mackenzie Ford

The Clouds Beneath the Sun: A Novel by Mackenzie Ford

You can find quite an interesting group of people at an archeological dig in Kenya in 1961. This is where Natalie Nelson finds herself as part of a remote dig site in the Serengeti. Things are going great until the team runs into grave robbing and a murder that Natalie becomes a key witness of. But of course, that is not all. Natalie finds herself in a battle between two brothers - a competition that has been around for their entire lives.

I don't think anything I say can really do justice to this book. I feel as I was in Kenya, I felt the heat, I heard the animals, I smelled the Serengeti. There was a lot going on in Kenya in the early 60's and I was able to experience a little bit of all of it by reading this book.

The characters were engaging and dynamic, the setting was beautiful. My only complaint is that the author lingered over the political aspects of what was going on in the country in a way that I didn't understand at first.

4/5

Next Up: Allegra Fairweather: Paranormal Investigatory by Janni Nell

So, since I am so horrible about keeping up with the Weekly Finds idea I though it would fit me a bit better to just let you know when I pick up a new book instead.  So here is the first "Next Up" post.  Hopefully many more to follow!


Allegra Fairweather: Paranormal Investigator by Janni Nell

From the electronic description:  Allegra Fairweather here. Paranormal investigator. Got problems with specters? Shapeshifters? I'm the woman to call. Just don't call me a Ghostbuster. The last guy who did that ended up flat on his back with my boot at his throat.

With my 99.5% success rate, solving the mystery of a bleeding rose that has sprung up on the shores of Loch Furness should have been an easy gig. But already I've heard the shriek of the local banshee, discovered two bodies (and then lost two bodies), and had a near-death encounter with a three-hundred-year-old ghost. And perhaps most dangerous of all, the hot pub owner who hired me now wants to show me exactly what's under his kilt.

Luckily, I'm ably assisted by my very own guardian angel. I'm grateful for his help-but he's also drop-dead gorgeous. A bit distracting when I've got a mystery to solve, and the clock is ticking...

Book Review: The Pather's Lair by Esmerelda Bishop

The Panther's Lair by Esmerelda Bishop

Sydney Chase has sworn off all relationships after her most recent disaster of a now-ex-boyfriend. She decides that a one night stand will keep her going for a bit and finds herself in the mysterious Raimond Decoudreau's nightclub, The Panther's Lair.

Raimond is dark, mysterious, handsome, all that you would expect a romance hero to be. But he is also hiding a secret. A secret that he is not sure she will accept.

Another quick steamy book. It helped me pass by a long afternoon.

3/5

Alien Revealed by Lilly Cain

Alien Revealed by Lilly Cain

Alinna is an alien (very human like) that has been sent to scout the earth and decide if they would be good allies for her people. She is instructed to stay out of sight and out of the way. Fate has other plans when her small craft crashed near an Earth space base. She is retrieved by Major David Brown who assumes she is a doctor he has been waiting to show up, but he soon realizes she may not be who he thinks she is.

Whoa Nelly! Talk about a short but very hot romance. The short little book had me blushing like you wouldn't believe. Alinna and David manage to somehow overcome their initial distrust and sparks go flying - perhaps fireworks would be more appropriate. All that aside, the story was cute and entertaining. It ended quite abruptly and seemed almost unfinished though.

2.5/5

Book Review: Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Anna has been best friends with Frankie and her older brother Matt for as long as she can remember. They go and do everything together until one awful day when the unthinkable happens. There is an accident and Matt dies, while Anna and Frankie live. As the girls and their families mourn and try to move on with their lives, Frankie has an idea. When they go on vacation, they make every effort to have a summer fling - to have fun and leave their sadness at home for a few weeks.

Anna reluctantly agrees. In their search for a summer fling they become different people. They lie and sneak around not only from other people but from themselves. Both have secrets they struggle to keep hidden. 

While this was a touching story with some lively characters, much of it seemed disjointed or overly stereotyped. An enjoyable read, but could have been better.

3/5