Graham Parke - A Gomessy New Year: Random Acts of Senseless Kindness

31. A Gomessy New Year: Random Acts of Senseless Kindness by Graham Parke (2010)
Gomez! Book 2
Length: 26 pages
Genre: Short Story
Started / Finished: 26 December 2010
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Graham for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 25 December 2010
Why do I have it? I have always been interested in contemporary mysteries and Graham Parke is a new author for me.

Gomez Porter is at a loose end - he just recently inherited an antiques store after his parents had an accident, his girlfriend is acting strangely and he hasn't been invited to any New Year's parties. Add in a suspicious homeless man who seems to be testing him and it all adds up to quite a New Year for Gomez.

I have never read Mr. Parke's No Hope For Gomez!, so I think I missed some characters relationships but I did enjoy this short story. I give it an A!

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Kathryn Meyer Griffith - The Last Vampire

30, The Last Vampire by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (1992) (Revised Author's Edition 2010)
Length: 259 pages
Genre: Horror
Started: 17 December 2010
Finished: 20 December 2010
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Kathryn Meyer Griffith for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 October 2010
Why do I have it? I like horror and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

Emma Bloodworth had survived the earthquake which took her husband and children and left the world clinging to life. The apocalypse had started a year earlier with plague, starvation, war and death. Emma tries desperately to locate the rest of her family in Maine, and along the way struggles to keep alive.

When a calamity befalls Emma and she is initiated into a frightening new world, she still struggles to survive what she has become. It becomes more and more difficult to hide what she is from Matthew Whitefeather, a Cherokee Indian who has lost his wife and daughter to the plague. As they grow closer to each other, Emma must make a choice, to fulfill a promise she made to herself - a human promise - or succumb to what she is.

I truly enjoyed this story and give it an A! I would definitely recommend Ms. Griffith's books to anyone who likes horror with a little romance woven in as well.

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Amanda Wolfe - Secrets of the Black Box

29. Secrets of the Black Box by Amanda Wolfe (2010)
Beneath the Silver Lining Series Book 1
Length: 382 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction
Started: 7 December 2010
Finished: 17 December 2010
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Tracee at Pump up Your Book for sending me a copy of this book to read
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 August 2010
Why do I have it? I like autobiographies and Amanda Wolfe is a new author for me.


Amanda Wolfe writes about overcoming her abusive childhood in this gripping trilogy. Secrets of the Black Box starts out by introducing the reader to nine-year-old Amanda, who was born in Ottawa, Canada and first dealt with parental neglect which grew into sexual and physical abuse by her father and grandfather. Her spirit and spunk shines through this book continually and, in my opinion, this is a book that needs to be read even though it is truly difficult to read. I give it an A!

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Michael Sheahan - The Roof Top Hop

28. The Roof Top Hop by Michael Sheahan (2010)
The Mr Holidays Presents Series Book 1
Length: 32 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Started/Finished: 16 December 2010
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Anita from Daly Communications for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 December 2010
Why do I have it? I received a copy of this book to give away on the radio


This is going to be a different kind of review for me. You see, Anita Daly is involved with sending Rosefire and me Irish CDs to play on our Irish Radio Show. As I have said before, I don't usually tell anyone outside my family that I have a blog. Ms Daly doesn't know that I have a blog, either but I thought that since I recieved this book from her, I would review it here. Anyway, on to the book. It's a beautifully illustrated children's book with a four-song CD and a DVD that teaches children 'The Roof Top Hop' - a dance that Santa does every Christmas while delivering presents. The book is rather simple but fun for children. I give it an A!

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Tim Slover - The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus

27. The Christmas Chronicles: The Legend of Santa Claus by Tim Slover (2010)
Length: 160 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Started: 3 December 2010
Finished: 13 December 2010
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Tracee at Pump up Your Book
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 5 November 2010
Why do I have it? I like fantasy and Tim Slover is a new author for me.

This is a wonderfully new Christmas story that is destined to become a Christmas classic. In 1343, orphaned Klaus is adopted by the Craftsmen Guild to become a master woodcarver with a true gift for making toys for children. He meets Anna, the woman who will become his wife. But it's not all snowflakes and candy canes: envious Rolf Eckhof shadows Klaus ready to subvert him at every turn. In the end, it's a battle between good and evil fought under snowy skies which unleashes Santa's true magic to the world.This is truly a sweet Christmas story which I loved for its portrayal of Santa Claus. I give it an A+! It's very like A Christmas Carol in its portrayal of the Christmas spirit. A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite holiday stories.

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Monica M. Brinkman - The Turn of the Karmic Wheel

26. The Turn of the Karmic Wheel by Monica M. Brinkman (2010)
Length: 214 pages
Genre: Horror
Started: 19 November 2010
Finished: 29 November 2010
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Monica for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 10 October 2010
Why do I have it? I like horror and Monica M. Brinkman is a new author for me.


When the residents of Raleigh, Missouri begin to hear music and voices that aren't there, and to receive frightening messages to do things from no discernable source, it soon becomes apparent that their lives and very souls must - and will - change drastically. This book is very interesting because of the characters' intertwined relationships and the touch of the supernatural. I give it an A!

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Patrizia Murray - Justine's Auction

25. Justine's Auction by Patrizia Murray (2010)
Length: 132 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Started: 10 November 2010
Finished: 13 November 2010
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Patrizia for sending me a copy of this book to read
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 10 October 2010
Why do I have it? I like contemporary romance and Patrizia Murray is a new author for me

Ryan is helping his cancer-stricken sister Leah by being auctioned off as a bachelor in a breast cancer charity auction. Justine is roped in by her best friend Marda in honor of her grandmother's and mother's battle with the disease to be auctioned off in the auction as well. Both Ryan and Justine are shocked at themselves spending ten thousand dollars on dates with each other.

The dates go like a dream for each of them, but suddenly, Ryan gets cold feet and breaks up with Justine two months into their relationship. Now Ryan's sister, Leah, must discover why Ryan is acting so strangely and find out whether this auction "date" really means the world to Justine and Ryan's happiness. I really enjoyed this story and give it a B+!

B+! - (89-94%)

May you read well and often