A big step forward for Kaehler's writing
938204
Race car driver Kate Reilly finds herself in California for multiple reasons.  Before she can even begin her official duties, the police ask her to identify a body since her card was in the victims pocket.  Her hated cousin Billy has been murdered.  The police ask her to make inquiries and find out what she can about Billys death.  Kate agrees since the race organizers and sponsors want her to be sure racings name is kept clean.

A week before the Long Beach Grand Prix, Kate is coaching a celebrity driver who will race with other celebrity drivers the following week.  Kate enjoys sharing her knowledge with the gorgeous movie star she is paired with.  Kate also visits her on the set and finds herself attracted to Hollywoods most eligible bachelor.  The two date and are hounded by paparazzi, with Kate finding her photo in the tabloids the next day.  Via her experiences in Hollywood, Kate learns much more about how to handle to paparazzi and national media attention.

Kate also meets up with the FBI agent introduced in the last book  Avoiding Contact  and the two also go out to dinner.  On the way to meet him, Kate is driving by the headquarters for Frame Savings, her fathers bank, and in the slow traffic watches a young woman douse herself with gasoline and begin lighting matches.  Kate jumps out of her car and knocks them away before the woman can light the gas.  As she does, the womans sister arrives, explaining to Kate the harassment her sister has put up with while working for Frame Savings only to be fired by the people Kate dislikes most  Billy, cousin Holden, his father, and her fathers brother Edward.  Kates father is shocked to hear the allegations.

Kate runs into her father often as she goes from Sony Studios to Venice Beach to Rodeo Drive to the Hollywood Hills attending parties, shopping, and being treated to a spa experience.  Kate also attends several sponsor meetings where she lines up a continuing contract with Beaute, the breast cancer Research Center, and Frame Savings as well.  They sponsor an Indy car test drive, and all are in agreement that she will drive the Indy 500 the next year, followed by NASCAR.  Kate is chosen to drive an Indy Lights car this race weekend since the original driver cannot get out of Europe.

Everything coalesces on race weekend as Kate drives the Corvette C7 race car number 28, drives the Indy Lights car, plus coaches her celebrity driver.  Outside the track she reveals whom she feels murdered Billy, and soon discovers she was wrong when the actual killer sets their sights on Kate.

I felt this entry in the series was a big step forward for Tammy Kaehlers writing.  I found the multiple plotlines woven together at several venues enhanced the race commentary a great deal.  Much of the time Kate was racing or pursuing her career and dreams in racing yet she has a personal life which she trusts the reader to share.  RED FLAGS was a greatly enhanced story rounding out Kates full life.
4150664
This book is much larger, longer, and heavier than I originally envisioned. It's a significant piece of work with tons of small blurbs about even the most esoteric of characters
4611382
I've kept going with series because it has some interesting concepts. In this book, there is the kind of improvement I've been hoping for. This book, simply, feels more substantive: deeper characterization, interesting new plot lines, better description of crucial pieces of the action.
Looking forward to book 4.
2417678
As most sequels go, I was not expecting much from Keith Ablow's  "Projection". The first novel "Denial" was poorly written and I found very little of any value. "Projection" however is much better in every way shape and form. Ablow has a sharp nightmarish voice in this novel. He is slowly becoming like Thomas Harris with his ability to keep people up late into the night reading to find out what will happen next.
"Projection" picks up right where "Denial" left off.
This novel is much more well rounded and the last half of the novel will fly by. Clevender is still a main character that is very hard to like, due to his past and present demons tormenting him. Some of the chapters contain graphic acts of violence not suitable for every reader. Ablow has shown that he has grown a little as an author and should find some great new success in future novels.
4101736
After reading and not really enjoying 'Stone of Tears', I had large doubts about Mr Goodkinds ability to write quality fiction. 'Blood of the Fold' however made me reconsider my harsh verdict on him as an author, with the book turning out to quite an improvement on the 1st and especially the 2nd novels he has written.
'Blood of the Fold' is barely half the length of 'Stone of Tears' yet advances and explains the story of Richard and Kahlan much clearer and better, with the storyline building on those of the two previous books to begin to create an epic fantasy scenario in the traditions of Robert Jordan and David Eddings. The story is pretty much a direct continuation of the last book with most of the characters and plotlines introduced in 'Stone of Tears' continued and developed. In particular 'Blood of the Fold' sees the characteristics and nature of the Imperial order, The Blood of the Fold and the Mrswith explained and developed a lot more, with Mr Goodkind taking the time to give us a bit more of an description of where these enemies come from and their place in the grand scheme of his world (something he neglected and was very fuzzy about in his previous books).
Indeed in general 'Blood of the Fold' is a much better book than the previous two with a better quality of writing and narrative, a faster pace and more meaningful action, better development of the background of his world and a more comphrehensible plot. In particular 'Blood of the Fold' has less of the meaningless fat and waffle that was in 'Stone of Tears', with Goodkind (or his editors) showing much better planning in the writing of this book, with the consequence that the pace and purpose of this book is a lot quicker and more meaningful.
This all serves to make 'Blood of the Fold' a much better book than the previous ones and shows that Mr Goodkind is improving significantly as an author as he gains more experience, thus I would recomend it too anyone who is not really sure whether to keep reading his books after the 1st two novels. However I still feel that Mr Goodkind still puts in too much explicity sadistic violence (though significantly less than S of T), and too lttle work into developing the texture and background of his fantasy world. This combined with the relative unoriginality of some of his ideas and story elements makes me feel that his books do not really compare favorably to those of other big series fantasy authors such as Robert Jordan, George R.R Martin, David Eddings or even Raymond E. Feist. Still a good book and a series worth reading.
861404
I'm happy to say I liked this one. I've been a loyal reader of Terry's for fifteen years now, and to be honest over the last few years I've been a little worried. I was worried after "Law of Nines" and "The Omen Machine," which I felt were pretty bad missteps in Terry's writing, but this book was a vast improvement. Not a total improvement, but it showed a significant rise in quality from the previous two books. For example, he still suffers from repeating information or phrases too often. I could sure go without reading the phrase "occult conjuring" EVER again after this book, but the story was good, the tension was well built, the characters seemed like the characters I've come to know and love over 12 books (something I cannot say for "The Omen Machine") and the new characters (Samantha in particular) were interesting and engaging. But the repetition is nowhere NEAR as bad as it was in "Omen Machine."

It's probably still not up to par with his first three or four books (which I still feel are his strongest entries, especially "Stone of Tears" - my all time favorite), but it is certainly heading in that direction and has regained important ground.

We've got a clearer picture of the threat (which was only hinted at in the previous volume) and I now feel this thing is going somewhere. Hannis Arc and his interesting new partner (no spoilers, I promise) make an interesting team and provide a good and serious threat to Richard and Co. PLUS there is a well done moment of heartbreak that leaves some interesting implications for the next volume. I can't say what it is, but if you're a long time fan, you'll know it when you see it.

The best praise I can give for any book can probably be said for this one: I wish I didn't have to wait for the next one!
1269864
A great look into the early writing of one of my favorite authors. Metrophage is a very West Coast 1980s cyberpunk novel. Whether you're a fan of Kadrey or of early 80s apocalyptic fiction you'll probably enjoy this. His later work is much more a reflection of his own voice than this but it shows the early seeds of his later development. Recommended.
1786359
He brings some of his trademark character flaws into this new genre with all the lessons learned from his earlier writing efforts.  Mr. Watson is, in my opinion, an up and coming writer who will join the ranks of hallowed sci-fi and fantasy authors that so delight us all.  So many seem to 'write them all the same' while his trademark bad-ass female characters are in this one, he's brought a new level of refinement that makes them markedly different from his earlier work.  Read this. You'll become a fan.  I am not a paid reviewer, sooooo many reviews these days are either from a free book provided in hopes of a positive review  or by some egotistical wannabe editor with a useless English degree working at home on their etsy business, pithy and wordy.  I'm a reader, no degree, no claimable expertise in the literary world. I paid full price for this, and I'd do it again.  If you liked Michael Williamsons's "Freehold". You'll love this.
2914555
Now to answer the three questions asked by Amazon; I would offer up this title to any Knootz fan but any other lover of thrillers. It's a good shift in direction for a loved writer. The story takes on a huge evil so you know the first book will only scratch the surface. We have much to look forward to. I'm one of those fans that read and liked everything the author has written so take my opinion with a grain of salt but I'm confident you'll love it too. It's sharp, quick and offers a story that isn't too far from believable which makes it just a bit scary.
2898544
Here again is Mahfouz sunk in the depth of this new phase of his, the phase that started with "The Theif and The Dogs" followed by "Autumn Grocer Quail," non of which I liked that much.

In this one, I think, Mahfouz mastered this new writing disciplin of his. Now he knows what he wants to do and what to say, and he pretty much did a good job.

This story, I feel, combines elements from this and the previous phases (The privious phase was the one ending with the Trilogy). It is a romance, and is a deep study of the psychology of Egyptians.

The story starts with a prostitute/pimp mother revealing to her son that his father was still alife and is a wealthy man. Then she dies. The boy starts "The Search" for his father, which is the title of the novel. The real Arabic title was "The Road." The story from this point on takes a different turn. You would think that the story is only conserned with the search for the father. I think what Mahfouz wants is the search for the identity.

I think this is a story of how a man can be both a villain and a magnanimous. How a man can both enjoy a platonic love and indulge in an animalistic sexual relationship in the same time.

Mahfouz does a great job describing the feelings of a suspicious man, and how this might lead him to a point from where he cannot return. How a man can hate the same person he used to love, or on whom his life depended.

The story is worth reading, and is one of the best I read. If you already like it, why don't you try "Midaq Alley" and "The Trilogy." For more reviews about Mahfouz's books, please strike the blue "a_mathematician" below the title of this review, and enjoy.
3878087
Kim Karr brings readers a stand-a-lone novel about a young woman facing the grief of brother's death and a family curse. This is something new and different from Kim Karr's, Connections series. In The 27 Club, Karr introduces her fans to a new hero and heroine, in Zoey and Nate, that will quickly grab their attention and hold on. This is a book about secrets. Secrets involving the death of Zoey's brother Zach. Secrets about Nate's past. Secrets, secrets and more secrets. Kim Karr fans will love it!

I have been a pretty big fan of Kim Karr's previous books in the Connections series, but The 27 Club is something different and unexpected. Karr once again gives readers a devastatingly perfect hero. Nate makes a wonderful bad boy hero that is a little dominant, but also a little bit sweet. The perfect combination. After River and Ben, I wasn't sure she could come close to writing another great hero, but she outdid herself with Nate and I think readers will be swept away by him and captivated as much as Zoey is.

Zoey wasn't what I expected. At first she seems grief stricken and vulnerable, even a little bit scared that she to will die in her 27th year. I wanted to like her, I really did. Dahlia was such a pulsing heroine in the Connections series that I wanted to feel that for Zoey in this book, but I just didn't. She annoyed me a little bit. If I thought for a second that there was that possibility that I might die young, I wouldn't resign myself to that fact, nor would it take a man or a relationship to give me to will to fight against it. So, I guess I felt like she needed a little more backbone. I wanted her to take charge of her life and own it, for whatever time she had and I didn't feel like I got that here.

The relationship between Zoey and Nate was dependent on so many secrets that it was hard to focus on their connection with each other, when it was missing this kind of basic honesty. Nate knew that Zach wouldn't want him with his sister. Nate knew what Zach's life was really like, but telling Zoey might change her entire perspective of her brother. He was in a tight situation for sure. I felt the heat between them, but it didn't seem like the forever kind of heat.

Bottom Line:

I love Kim Karr's writing and I thought the premise of this book was pretty intriguing. I loved Nate, he was a great hero and I think readers will fall hard for him, but Zoey was a bit lacking for me. I hope that I wasn't just comparing her to Karr's other heroine's so much that I didn't give her a chance, but I don't really think that was it. I just didn't like her. I got her, but I didn't like her. Probably, just a personal thing, read it and let me know what you think.
479769
This book, the follow-up to Sachar's blockbuster Holes, is a major departure from the first novel. It's not exactly a sequel, but rather a new story about two of the minor characters from the earlier book. (Folks holping to find out what happened to Stanley or Zero will be disappointed -- they're not even mentioned in this book, except for Armpit referencing that "Sploosh" was invented by the father of someone he was at Camp Green Lake with). Set two years after the earlier novel, Armpit is now trying to graduate from High School, working and staying on the straight and narrow. Until his old buddy X-Ray shows up with a way to make him some real money... just some old-fashioned ticket scalping.

Like I said, this is VERY different from Holes. That book was part mystery, part generational novel, even part western. This is more of a straightforward story -- no mystery, a hint of crime drama. While Holes dealt with some heavy issues, such as race relations and juvenile detention, this book goes even further, dealing with drug issues, cerebral palsy and even (briefly) sex. None of this is intended as a criticism, but it is important that parents getting this book for their children realize how much more mature this book is than the earlier novel.

That said, this is a really strong book. Armpit and X-Ray were mostly placeholder characters in the first book. Here they're fleshed out very well and joined by other strong characters. You find out why they were in jail in the first place (and unlike Stanley in the first book, they were not falsely accused), and you see that good people can do stupid things sometimes. The ending is more bittersweet than Holes as well, but it leaves you with a real sense of hope at the same time.

It's hard to believe this is the same Louis Sachar who once gave us Sideways Stories From Wayside School, and while at times he tries a little too hard to be "relevant," he's really emerging as a strong, intelligent writer, one who gives young readers a lot more to think about than most writers out there. I'll be anxious to see what he gives us next.
3166022
Maybe it's just me, but Ms. Huber's books seem to get better with each subsequent title. With her typical cliffhanger at the end, I am now anxiously awaiting the next volume to find out what happens to Kiera and Mr. Gage. The mystery was gripping and the protagonist's personal life is also continuing to develop and change. I found it hard to decide if I was more interested in the "who-done-it" or if Kiera would ever get her dance with Gage! Ms. Huber seems to grow more confident in this book and the added length also allows more time to fully develop the various plot lines. I sincerely hope she is hard at work on the next in the series as I cannot wait until it comes out!
3961442
It is true that only 2 characters from the previous 4 books are carried over here, Trull Senger and the Crippled God, and while that can be daunting to learn of a whole new set of characters and realms in another 1000+ book, this was was a welcome change for a number of reasons.
First of all I laughed at the irony and quirky sense of humor often. He built upon the humorous attempts in House of Chains. This humor is coupled with a rich view of Tiste Edur and the Letheri. I have seen some people complain about introducing all of these new peoples, but he had to do something about the Edur, because he mentioned them in Deadhouse Gates ( the ship with decapitated oarsmen). And the scenes on that ship with the crazy water and the dragon in the sky seemed to need more explanation.
He has started to unravel more of the mysteries, he actually tried to explain the concept of warrens a bit better ( the scifi reader in me tried to map them to a worm hole of course)
For good or bad he injects his philosophy about capitalism versus other forms of economies as well, and I found several quotable passages.
His treatment of Rhulad, the brat who becomes emperor was powerful, you do see both sides of the cruelty imposed by the crippled god, and the consequent horrid behavior from Rhulad.
There are very few flaws in this book, but I wish he would have made it easier to understand how far in the past these events occurred relative to the other books. His ironic twists and keen observations and immersion have earned him a 5 star this time.
3643922
The story is clearer in this second volume, and Kazzie's writing seems crisper and cleaner in this installment.  The addition of new characters also improve the flow and increases the reader's interest.  Volumes 3 & 4 are eagerly awaited!
4738320
I've read some of Faltot's other published work and enjoyed them, so I greatly looked forward to reading his first full length fiction novel.

He did not disappoint.

I consider myself an avid reader. When I first started reading I had the same feeling I got when reading Stephen King's Bauchman books- the "this is the writing of a new writer" feeling. Which is not bad, by any means. Just something I noticed.

It started off and I was curious. By the middle, I was looking forward to where it was going. By the end, I was cursing Faltot for writing something that was keeping me up late at night because I wanted to know what happened next.  (By the way... about the last three chapters, my jaw dropped a couple times. Was not expecting some of that!)

King turned into an author that I adore... if Faltot keeps writing like this and grows in his experience... I'll own every one of his books, too.

Cannot wait for the rest of this trilogy!
1907226
Based on Kate Atkinson's previous novels, I was looking forward to reading When Will There Be Good News.  However, unlike those previous novels, which were hard to put down, When Will There Be Good News was hard to keep picking up.

One of the innovative features of Atkinson's mystery novels has been how she deftly weaves several different stories together and has them seamlessly join in the end.  Another strength of her writing is her detailed exploration of characters and their thoughts.  In previous novels, the technique has been brilliant; in this novel, it comes across as a jumble.  The coalescing of the plot seems forced, and characters are written as if they suffer from ADHD.

Devoted fans of Atkinson will appreciate the character sketches, the edginess, the humor, and the chance to peer a wee bit more into the lives of Jackson Brodie and Louise Monroe.  However, new readers will get a better introduction to Atkinson's gifts by visiting her earlier novels.

I hope that When Will There Be Good News is a bump along the literary road.