Red Mojo Mama

Title: RED MOJO MAMA

Author: Kathy Lynn Hall

Kindle edition

March 2011

RED MOJO MAMA Synopsis from Goodreads:

 Lydia “Red” Talbot has lost her mojo after three years of mourning for her husband, but not for long. She’s inherited a valuable mobile home park in the Gold Country of California, filled with a cast of eccentric characters. Her plans to sell it and take a world cruise are threatened by a hot handyman, a sizzling story in the rapidly growing town of Nuggetville and the appearance of her husband’s ghost, who has decided to hang around awhile as he searches for his next life.
Boredom sets in as she waits for her fortune to materialize, so she takes a part-time job as a reporter. Fancying herself the community newspaper equivalent of Christiane Amanpour, Lydia uncovers some shady doings by the City Council and a slick land developer. Citizens are bullied and her life is threatened, as she struggles to both expose the crooks and stay emotionally independent of the community of crazies she has been left by her beloved Aunt Esther.
Red is a spunky, smart-alecky thirty-something with more heart than she’d like others to see. She’s absolutely fearless and too honest for her own good sometimes. She’s also torn between love for her dead husband, Mac, and the new man in her life, Joe - handyman and chef.

I definitely love Red :) Oooh.. I suddenly miss my red hair!

Lydia "Red" Talbot got spunk... she's sassy, fierce, dedicated and intuitive. I have learned to love her mobile home as time progressed, especially after I got to meet Joe the Chef.

Red may have mourned three long years after her husband's death, but boy, what a reprieve it was when Joe came along. Sure, Mac (the dead hubby) made his appearances (as a ghost), but Red soon moved on.

Having Joe on her side, she discovered what life has to offer in The Spring, where she inherited a mobile home from her aunt. The place crawled with interesting characters and places you would love to hang out on.

I applaud Ms. Kathy Lynn Hall for a superb book. I am always pleased after reading a well-written story. Sure, I knew beforehand that someone from the higher ranks in the City Council had something to do with her aunt's death, but still, the mystery kept me hooked. I will definitely read the next in the Red Talbot series.

My rating for Red Mojo Mama: 4 stars! ;-)

Sophie's Secret

Sophie's Secret (Whispers #1)
Author: Tara West
Kindle Edition
Published November 16th 2011

After shedding 30 pounds of baby fat, Sophie Sinora has grown into a pretty, but insecure, teen in bloom. To make her life more complicated, Sophie can sometimes read minds. Sophie's BFFs, AJ and Krysta, are also 'gifted' with paranormal abilities. Keeping their gifts secret proves difficult, as their powers are strengthening, making them feel more and more like freaks. When Sophie falls for Jacob, she hopes he'll ask her out to the Freshman Formal. But when she's forced to cheat and lie for him, she wonders how far she'll have to go to make him like her. Add to her growing list of problems - her teacher's suicidal thoughts, a locker bully who wants to kick her butt, the hot school flirt who won't stop teasing her, her pregnant sister who boots Sophie out of her room, and the growing tension between Sophie and her best friends. Sophie's got issues. Hopefully, she can fix them in time to save her teacher's life and her social life.

Sophie's got a secret. You have to read her mind if you want to know it.. Or, is it the other way around?

Yes, Sophie can read minds. And this  gift is getting stronger while she gets older. She's got friends who also have hidden abilities: AJ can see visions and Krysta gets visits from the dead. Together, they get on with their everyday lives, crushing on boys, harboring hidden anger on their moms, pretending that life is rich and glorious like those in Cosmo magazine.


Surprisingly, I enjoyed the book; it was a quick read. But I noticed, at first, there wasn't much characterization and depth on the story. I would have loved to know more how the three girls got their powers. And why their abilities were not fully used. Why was Summer always picking on Sophie and how did Frankie got his "ladies man" reputation when he clearly got his eyes on Sophie alone.

But as I went through the whole book, I was pleased to know that this coming-of-age story is every bit exciting. I liked Sophie's new friend Lara and the ever-loving teacher, Mrs. Stein. I liked how Sophie and her sister finally realized what a dumb@ss their choice of men was. Well, evidently, the author Tara West got my attention with her book. In her next story, I would like to read more about Sophie's other sister and Jacob's fate with Summer. But I don't think I'll get much further with that because Book 2 is about AJ. Yes, I would love to understand AJ and her family more. I'm sure I'll have a good time reading another West story :)

Maximum Ride Series

Currently reading Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, the first book in the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson.

The book is set in the near future and centers around the ‘flock’, a group of human-avian hybrids (98% human, 2% bird) on the run from the scientists who created them. It focuses on Maximum Ride (Max), the leader of the ‘flock’, with Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel—they are just like ordinary kids—only they have wings and can fly.

It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time…like when Angel, the youngest member of the flock, is kidnapped and taken back to the “School” where she and the others were experimented on by a crew of scientists.

World Book Night

It's #WorldBookNight and early today, I gave my Michael Palmer collections to two new friends & readers, Kareen Marzan & Mika David.

And to celebrate this occasion, I am reading James Patterson's Maximum Ride Book 1: The Angel Experiment.

 Question: What is World Book Night?

 World Book Night is a celebration of reading and books which sees tens of thousands of passionate volunteers gift specially chosen and printed books in their communities to share their love of reading. World Book Night is celebrated on April 23. In 2013 it is being celebrated in the UK, Ireland and the USA.

 World Book Night is about giving books and encouraging reading in those who don’t regularly do so. But it is also about more than that: it’s about people, communities and connections, about reaching out to others and touching lives in the simplest of ways, through the sharing of stories.

Friday Finds (April 19)

Thank Goodness, It's Friday I'm In love...


Welcome to another edition of Friday Finds sponsored by MizB from Should Be Reading.

FRIDAY FINDS showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

Here are my Friday Finds for this week:

Attempting ELizabeth by Jessica Grey

The Gathering Dark by Christine Johnson

Josiah Trenchard (Part One) : The Might of Fortitude

by Jonathon Fletcher

Storm Dancer by Rayne Hall

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

by Claudia Carroll

Faefever by Karen Marie Moning

Dead and Gone

by Charlaine Harris

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Happy Weekend to everyone :)

The Sin Collector

Title: The Sin Collector

Author: Jessica Fortunato

147 pages, Kindle edition

Published February 2012

“The Sin Collector” follows the life of Liliana, a born Sin Collector. She has spent over 100 years absorbing people’s sins so they may rest in peace come death. However when she meets another Collector, one who insists everything she has been taught is a lie, Liliana must make her way from Sunny L.A. all the way to the streets of Madrid. Searching for answers to a question we all share. Why are we here? The friends and enemies she makes along the way only seem to blur the line between right and wrong. Can Liliana fight the Castus, an organization bent on killing off every Sin-Eater? Should she trust her head or her heart when the two most important men in her life are fighting alongside her?
Then there is the worst question of all, who will be left when the dust settles."

This book has been sitting on my To-B-Read shelf for sometime now. During the Holy Week (Lent), I decided to read and contemplate. I thought, at first, Liliana was an angel who absorbs the sins of mankind. But as the story progressed, I was incredibly mistaken.

The truth is: I haven’t read any book that tells me about Sin Eaters or sin collectors. SO I went on researching for it through Wikipedia and this is what I got: The term sin-eater refers to a person who, through ritual means, would take on by means of food and drink the sins of a household, often because of a recent death, thus absolving the soul and allowing that person to rest in peace.

So, within 24 hours, I immersed myself in this Jessica Fortunato book and I exclaimed in the end: “The Sin Collector is Groundbreaking!”

The story follows Liliana, a sin collector who is already a hundred years old. Back when she was a child, she was mentored by Olexander and thought her how she wad going to be a sin collector.  Collectors, as they were called, stop aging when they reach 20. Soon her mentor left her, as it is impossible for Collectors to be near each other. They would feel excruciating pain when this happens. So Liliana had been on her own since then.

Her life as a librarian may not have been as exciting nor fulfilling, added to the fact that her boss is kind of jerk, but she enjoyed her solitary life. She gained friends like Sophie and George. One day, an old friend (really old, as in a century old)  showed up and then her boss was murdered. Coincidence? Not really. To unravel the mystery, she had to accompany her friend, Billy all the way to Ireland. Soon she went on a journey that led her to the knowledge that her fellow Collectors were being murdered by an organization called The Castus. There she also saw her former mentor and was shocked when there was no more pain felt while they were together.

Jessica Fortunato did a fantastic job with The Sin Collector.  The prologue immediately got my attention and it made me want to read more. Although the book was fairly short, I was not disappointed at all. The story itself was action-packed, fast-paced, and brilliantly executed. The characters were easy to relate with. They”re really not as complicated as you think. The twist revolving one Collector was a welcomed surprise. Truly, in this world full of sinners, you can never trust anyone, even your own kind.

I would love to read more about the future that was waiting for Liliana and her companions. The little girl, Julia proved to be a special innocent child who could turn into an amazing woman when her time comes. I can’t wait to get my hands on Book 2!

I’m pleased to rate The Sin Collector with 4 stars. Looking forward to reading Thomas, soon. Truly a tour de force!

Letting Go

A poem I have written sometime ago (during my college years, 2000)

Letting GO

Sometimes, I wish we'd never met...
sometimes, i wish, things were easy to forget..
i wish i had to look the other way,
i wish i knew then what to say...

why did our paths have to meet?
why did you have to be so sweet?
why did my feelings have to grow?
and now, why do i have to let it go..

i hate myself for always thinking of you,
i hate myself for longing to be with you,
i hate myself for dreaming of things
which would never come true,
and i hate myself for suppressing this feeling for you...

you don't seem to see the little things i do,
and it only leaves me feeling blue..
you leave me hanging in the air,
trying to figure out if you really cared...

i'm not sure how you feel,
and i don't know if what you show is real,
sadly i realize, magic spells aren't true, you see..
and miracles never did happen to me...

So 'd rather take my heart back
while it is still beating
and save my heartbeats while i still can
before it finally gets out of hand..

so please don't blame me for the way i act,
i guess i haven't accepted the fact...
i know now that it's silly to wish you near,
but i wish you would have known,
that my emotions were real..

thanks for the time, thanks for the attention,
thanks for the things that i thought was affection,
i hope you remember me once in a while,
and wherever you go, always show your smile..

to let you go is not easy but i can try
but to say, i can forget you is a big big lie,
for no matter what i say,
and no matter what i do,
i know that i have to let you go,
even if i don't want to.

Friday Finds

It's TGIFriday ... Happy Weekend to everyone :)

Here's another edition of Friday Finds hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading.

Here are my Friday Finds for this week..

Sophie's Wheels by Debora Pearson

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

by Aimee Bender

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet 

by David Mitchell

A Visit from the Goon Squad

by Jennifer Egan

Lost and Found 

by Nicole Williams

eleanor and park

by Rainbow Rowell

The Dating Game

Title: The Dating Game
Author: Susan Buchanan
Kindle Edition
Published October 29th 2012

The Dating Game on Amazon.com

Workaholic recruitment consultant, Gill McFadden, is sick of her friends trying to match-make for her. Up until now her love life has been a disaster and she’s going through a drier spell than the Sahara desert. 

She realizes she has to act, as work keeps piling up and at this rate she will have retired before she has time for a relationship.

Seeing an ad on a bus one day, she decides to visit Happy Ever After dating agency. She quickly discovers men are like buses. They all come along at once. Unsure what her type is, Gill decides to keep her options open. Soon she has problems juggling her social life as well as her work diary. Will she ever strike the right balance?

Before long she is experiencing laughs, lust and… could it be love? But like everything in Gill’s life, nothing is straightforward and she ends up wondering exactly who she can trust.

Let me just say that I had always been curious how dating services worked. The last book I've read about an upscale dating service was Champagne For Two by Patrice Wilton. With Susan Buchanan's book, I finally learned more about it.

Gill McFadden had been unlucky in love. So her friends tried to help her find the one. But even her matchmaker pals' attempt with blind dates were major fails.  Then she found herself signing up for a dating services named Happy Ever After. Soon, a string of gorgeous men were vying for attention and date with her. There was Charlie, Anton, Sean, Gary, among others.

Things started up well with her first two dates. Charlie was charming and Anton was adorable. But the interesting dates soon stopped when she was unceremoniously embarrassed by a drunk Sean and got her trousers split while on a date with Gary. Oh my, those disaster dates were really disconcerting!

To distract herself, Gill and her girlfriends went to Barcelona for a much needed vacation. I have read stories about Spain's tourist attractions and a dear friend of mine had actually sent me a postcard of Sagrada Familia. Learning more about its design and history in the book was a big plus! (I had always wanted to visit Barcelona, mind!)


A mugging incident in Spain soon turned into a chance encounter when Gill went back to work. Liam became the apple of her eye. She decided to end things with Sean after a painful bowling incident and she ended her friendship with Gary after a wedding fluke. And she dumped Chancer Charlie after an encounter with his wife. Whoa!

But with Liam, everything went smoothly with their relationship, until someone appeared again in her life. A few months after their last romantic night, Anton came back and explained his side. What would Gill do? Would she forgive him, even listen to him? Would she continue her relationship with Liam?

I loved Susan Buchanan's characterisation of Gill and her friends and dates. The laughter, banter and pieces of advice that her friends gave her were vital to the story. I suddenly missed my circle of friends! awww... The way Angela, Debbie and Lisa show their support was overwhelming, even though there were times when they want to cut each other's throats. Reading the male's  point of view was also a bonus. At least I was able to see what were on their minds while they were on a date with Gill.

The ending was somewhat a big surprise to me. I was really rooting for the other guy but Gill chose the other one. Who was who, you might ask.. Well, I'm not spilling any beans..

But let me share my favorite scenes from the book: 1) When Gill split her trousers and Gary had to accompany her to her home. 2) When Gill's mother open her bedroom door and saw her with daughter with a man in bed. 3) When Lisa came back from the restroom, only to find out that the two gorgeous men she previously saw were actually gay. 4) When Gill made a fool of herself in front of a child while throwing pins in a bowling alley.... and so much more.

In the end, I finally conceded and accepted Gill's decision and I was happy for her and her man. Her tumultuous journey of finding The One was really an exciting one and I say, Kudos to Susan for a job well done! :)

Top Ten Tuesday

This is the first time I am joining Top Ten Tuesday.

This meme is about listing the Top Ten Things that the hosts from The Broke and The Bookish are asking every week.

Yes, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the awesome people at The Broke and the Bookish

This week’s topic is: Top Ten Favorite Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger

It was year 2003 when I began blogging through Diaryland.com. Then I moved to blogger in 2006 and started my personal blog. Year 2009 however was the year that I officially created this book review blog to air my comments and share my opinions about the stories I've read.

Here were the Top Ten Favorites I read before I became a blogger.

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling

Like every other reader, this is definitely on the top of my list. I am a PotterHead!

I collected all of JK Rowling's HP books and I'm gonna pass it on to my kids one day.

Harry Potter is the greatest wizard of all.. (that's just me!)

(Read: 2004)

2. If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon

My favorite Author of all time!

Sidney Sheldon is the Master of the Game. His books always leave me hanging breathless.

 If Tomorrow Comes was the first, and the best, of any Sidney Sheldon books I ever read. (1999)

After this book came my collection of other SS masterpieces like Morning Noon and Night, Rage of Angels, Doomsday Conspiracy and more.

3. The Client by John Grisham

Who wouldn't love John Grisham? Perhaps he is one of the best lawyer-author there is.

His books are always page-turners and you'll find it very hard to pause only for a while.

The Client is my favorite Grisham book. (read: 1999)

4. Message in A Bottle by Nicholas Sparks

I loved the film.. I loved the book.. and I really loved Nicholas Sparks.

This was a definite tear-jerker, a book that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride with Sparks's famed star-crossed love story.

The first Sparks book I've read. (2000)

Classic!

5. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

One of the first among many of inspirational Paulo Coelho books I've ever read. (2001)

'Nuff said!

6. Brazen Virtue by Nora Roberts

I've read it sometime in 2004 and re-read it last year.
This is not the best Roberts book I've read, but definitely my first NR book.

The story opened my eyes about the evolution of phone-s3x. A Classic Nora Roberts story.

For me, Nora Roberts is One of the greatest authors of all time!

She is my second favorite (next to Sheldon, of course!)

7. Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas 's by James Patterson

I've read this one during summer of 2005.

This is a heart-breaking yet amazing love story, which I was able to finish within 24 hours.

8. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

I was curious about dinosaurs. SO when Booksale had this, I grabbed it immediately.

NO regrets. My very first Micahel Crichton book. Superb! (1996)

9. Lucky by Jackie Collins

This book was given to me by my college friend. Lucky is the second Santangelo book in a series.

Jackie Collins wowed me with her writing. She definitely introduced me to sensual reads.  (1999)

10. The Lord of The Ring: Fellowship of The Ring

by J.R.R. Tolkien

I have a confession to make. I didn't know about The Lord of the Rings until I saw the movie in 2001. Goodness!

Right after I went gaga over Frodo and Legolas, I have saved up to collect the three books.

It was an awesome experience. JRR Tolkien is the best storyteller ever!

Transfusion (Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter)

Transfusion (Volume I)
Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter

Author: Nikki Jefford
Kindle Edition
Published November 2012

If there is one thing eighteen-year-old Aurora Sky wants, it’s to get off the iceberg she calls home. Being kissed before she graduates wouldn’t hurt either.

Then a near-fatal car wreck changes everything. Government agents step in and save Aurora’s life in exchange for her services as a vampire hunter. In Alaska. Basically she’s a glorified chew toy. All thanks to her rare blood type, which sends a vampire into temporary paralysis right before she has to finish the job… by hand. 

Now Aurora’s only friends are groupies of the undead and the only boy she can think about may very well be a vampire. And if he’s a vampire, will she be forced to kill him?

Watch out Buffy. There's a new Vampire slayer in town. Hmmm.. In Alaska, that is!

Aurora thought her life couldn't get more boring,  especially when she had always been at the sidelines, unluckily dodging an incoming volleyball, or witnessing a couple making out and kissing behind lockers.

Then the unexpected happened. Aurora almost died from a car crash. A team of government agents did everything to revive her, even replaced her other body organs, just to secure her survival.

All seemed OK. Until Agents Melcher and Crist told her she had a very special blood which they injected with "modified organisms and viruses making her a deadly powerful weapon against the demonic beings that plague the earth."  What tough luck she got there!

Soon, Aurora learned the true nature of her being. Her special blood had the unique ability to paralyze the vampire who bit her, and then finish the creature using a stake.

That being said, Aurora was soon sent to an orientation. She was tasked to kill a vampire by letting it bit her neck and suck her blood. Did she have a choice? Of course she did. She actually had 3. Comply, Be a vampire or Die. Hmmm.. Not much of a choice, isn't it?

Well, the upside of the situation is: Aurora now have confidence with her life. She became carefree, almost carelessly carefree, and soon accomplished most on her short bucketlist: kill first vampire, get drunk, kiss a boy, lose virginity. Ooohh, what an experience those had been!

At school, she became friends with vampire lover Noel. Oh, and there's another misfit vampire hunter in town: Dante, which Aurora's mom very much approved of (as her daughter's boyfriend). Together, they ventured out to kill vampires and even made friends with their informants.

When Aurora learned that her boyfriend, Fane might be a vampire, she did a double-take. Until she realized that her mortal enemy Valerie had her clutches on him! Would Aurora continue to hide her ex-lover's identity from the Agency, or would she kill Fane with her own hands?

Transfusion is the first in this thrilling Vampire Hunter series, penned by the bestseller author, Nikki Jefford. As usual, Ms. Jefford blew me away with her wit and talent. In this era of vampire and shape-shifters, other people may not appreciate "yet another vampire slayer" story. Personally, I've grown tired and weary of vampires and the likes. When I picked Transfusion for my Kindle, I tried hard to forget about Buffy and Spike, Edward and Bella, and even Damon and Elena.

Good move! Because Transfusion is very much and entirely different from Twilight and The Vampire Diaries. The author created likeable characters (Aurora, Fane, Noel, even Valerie). And the story is fast-paced... Not boring at all! Sure, some parts are predictable, but there is still the mystery factor which continually gagged me until today. Like, how did Noel become friends with Marcus? Why was Aurora's father always absent in her life? Is there a chance that Valerie and Aurora could become allies instead of foes? Who are the other vampires to watch out for? Who is the real face behind the Agency? And sooo much more!

So I will definitely be on the lookout when the second book comes out. For sure, it is going to be another hit!

Caution: There are some scenes in the book thqt are nit suitable for younger bookworms. But the book is definitely recommended to all New & Young Adults ;) Transfusion deserves a 4.5 bookmark ratings.

Friday Finds for April

It's TGIFriday ... Happy Weekend greetings to all you folks :)

Friday Finds is hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading.

Here's my Friday Finds edition for this week..

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

A Dance With Dragons:

1. Dreams and Dust

2. After the Feast

By George R. R. Martin

Just Between Us by Cathy Kelly

Watermelon by Marian Keyes

MILA 2.0

By Debra Driza

The Land of Stories

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell is a children's fiction novel written by actor Chris Colfer. It was released on July 17, 2012.

According to Wikipedia:

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell is described by Colfer as a "modern day fairytale," following twins Alex and Conner Bailey as they fall from the real world into a world full of fairytales they have only ever read about before. But after run-ins with trolls, goblins, wolves, and witches, getting home might be more difficult than they previously thought.

Hmmm. Sounds like the male version of Alice in Wonderland, with mythical characters to boot. I'm gonna look for this in our nearrst bookstore this weekend. My kids would surely love this ;)

And here's what I got from National Bookstore:

Glee star Chris Colfer (@chriscolfer) is set to release “The Enchantress Returns,” the sequel to “The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell,” on August 6. 

Alex and Conner Bailey have not been back to the magical Land of Stories since their adventures in The Wishing Spell ended. But one night, they learn the famed Enchantress has kidnapped their mother. Against the will of their grandmother (the one and only Fairy Godmother), the twins must find their own way into the Land of Stories to rescue their mother and save the fairy tale world from the greatest threat it’s ever faced.

Date already set on my Calendar/Planner. See you soon, Alex and Conner Bailey!