Negative Image By Vicki Delany

Negative Image: A Constable Molly Smith Novel
Paperback 250 pgs
Poisenwood Press
Netgalley Edition













Amazon Blurb -

As the mountain town of Trafalgar, British Columbia, shakes off a long hard winter, famous photographer Rudolph Steiner arrives to do a feature on mountain tourism. Steiner is accompanied by his assistant and sexy young wife, but he has another reason for the visit: to reconnect with the woman who left him twenty-five years ago to marry another man.

Twenty-five years ago she was young, beautiful, naïve, and an internationally known supermodel. Today Eliza Winters is no longer young, and definitely not naïve, but still beautiful and married to Trafalgar City Police Sergeant John Winters.

When Steiner is found dead in his luxury hotel room, shot once in the back of the head, suspicion falls upon Eliza. John Winters is forced into the most difficult decision of his life: loyalty to his job or to his wife. As the RCMP dig into the secrets of both Steiner and Eliza, John Winters slowly comes to realize that he doesn’t know the woman to whom he has been married for twenty-five years as well as he thought he did.

Unable to help the Sergeant, Constable Molly Smith has her own troubles: a series of B&Es has the peaceful town in an uproar, her overprotective Mountie boyfriend is fighting with her colleagues, and a vengeful stalker is watching her every move. When tragedy strikes at the heart of her own family, Molly can’t even turn to her mother, Lucky, for help.

**********

A murder has taken place in this picturesque quiet town and Sgt. John Winters wife of over 20 years, Eliza is the prime suspect.  Why?  The victim was a fashion photographer and she was a supermodel at one time,  once engaged to him, and possibly one of the last people to see him alive.  John gets ripped off the case due to conflict of interest, and just handles the whole situation with his wife terribly.  You really feel bad for her because of his behavior.  The special team is called in and Mountie Sgt. Dick Madison is a real s.o.b just going right after Eliza without considering the significantly younger new wife, nor the disgruntled assistant.  Sadly he has an agenda stemming from his own personal drama which clouds his own views.   In the meantime there is a string of break ins happening and Sgt. Winters along with Molly Smith tag team on that front.  Molly isn't too happy with having to go over this detail, feeling re-questioning neighbors is a waste of time.  She's also dealing with her father in the hospital awaiting surgery for his hip that he broke in a fall, and the harassment of an abuser.  Her boyfriend Adam got into a fight with a retired cop who was badmouthing her and she isn't to happy with any of that either.  Meredith Morgenstern is a reporter with dreams of the big time and she views this murder as her ticket to the big show.  She enjoys getting under the skin of the police trying to get her break.  Her maneuvering and pushiness gives the story a nice zing.  I was truly guessing all the way to the end, and I love that in a mystery!

Let me  say I liked the book.  It has great bones.  The first chapter hooks you right out of the gate.  The characters are very likable, with a wonderful supporting cast, side characters and your resident haters.  It is an easy mystery, meaning there isn't horrific violence or gore, which was fine for me even though  I do enjoy it a bit on the rough side.  Ms. Delany kept the pace up so there was no boredom.  All very big pluses.

The down side.  It's called Constable Molly Smith novel, and I have to be honest, I thought Sgt. John Winters was the lead.  Just did not get the vibe that Molly was the protagonist here.  She comes off as a supporting character along with Detective Ray Lopez.  The blurb states Molly is unable to help Sgt. Winters, I think she's way to green to even come close to a murder case. I also had a hard time with way too many side stories happening at one time.  While I feel for Molly dealing with her dad, her boyfriend and the harassment, it was all way to much at once.  If this is how the author is trying to make her the lead, it didn't work.   At every turn there was another story going on.  Snippets of Molly's mom thinking about the dad, some town drama, the robberies, the murder, it was a hodgepodge of events pinging off of each other.

That said,  I did enjoy reading it and I'll give it 3 cannoli's

We're Hoppin And A Followin

Eternal Kiss Of Darkness Book Discussion ?'s, join in if you'd like!


Authors By Alphabet Book Club, check it out : )
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This Hop is hosted by Jennifer from Crazy-For-Books, and it runs through the weekend, so if you can't today, hop on tomorrow!  Just remember, go to her site, follow the rules, visit some of the blogs and get to know em, if you start to follow tell em you met them through the hop!

This weeks ? -

Do you use a rating system for your books and why?

I do, and it's one of my most fave Italian pastries, the cannoli.  Why, because I think it helps a reader of the review get a real clear picture of how much I enjoyed the book : )

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host @ Parajunkee and anyone else you want to follow on the list
2. Follow our Featured Bloggers- http://bookge3k.blogspot.com/
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post! 

Eternal Kiss Of Darkness Discussion ?'s

Here are the discussion questions.  Copy and paste the ?'s on your blog, if you don't have a blog just answer in the comments, then link back in your post so we can see your impressions.  Then please leave a comment here as well on how you feel after reading what others think : )

1. Which character did you like the most and why?  The least and why?
2. If you could change something about the book what would it be and why?
3. Name a favorite thing overall about the book.  Your least favorite? 
4. A favorite quote?
5. Describe what you liked or disliked about the writers style.

My answers -

1. Which character did you like the most and why?  The least and why?

I wound up really liking Mencheres.  In all  the Night Huntress books I had no feelings for him.  Reading his story I actually felt sad.  I can't imagine how tired you must get living so long and alone.  Of course I didn't like the bad guy, Radjedef, that's a given.  His hatred of Mencheres was astounding.  Finding out he was Mencheres' uncle made it even worse.  When someone becomes power obsessed I guess they no longer care. I liked Kira, she wasn't a mamby, yet she wasn't this overly tough chick either.  Frost struck a nice medium with her character.

2. If you could change something about the book what would it be and why?

I gotta say it would be her ending.  I know a book has to wind down, but it just stops in my opinion.  I found this to be in FDOC too.  I feel like she isn't tying up the book enough.  But hey that's just me.

3. Name a favorite thing overall about the book.  Your least favorite?
Duh the love scenes are awesome!  Nah, not just that.  Mencheres finally accepting that there is someone who can fulfill him and that feels the same about him. Finding out that he isn't this cold-hearted thing that doesn't care about others.  It was very apparent that his flock was a top concern for him.  There really wasn't any one thing that rubbed me the wrong way.

4. A favorite quote?
Actually none.

5. Describe what you liked or disliked about the writers style.
I love Jeaniene Frost's writing.  She doesn't get overly weighted down with unnecessary details.  That is a big plus in my book.  Her characters are well described so you can really picture them which I love.   She has become one of my favorite authors.  I love looking for what she has coming next in the Night Huntress World!
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All in all I am  hoping the Ms. Frost delights us with Ian's story.  He was missing from this one and I like him better than Vlad.  There is something about those unapologetic bad boys!

Authors By The Alphabet Book Choice!

If you'd like to join us go *HERE*

Ok girls since it seems to be the one you all want to read we'll go with -





The Godmother
Carrie Adams
Paperback 496
Avon













I'm looking forward to this!  Again, I went a little on the light side, for me anyway.  Please feel free to get as rough or raunchy as you'd like.  I'm really looking at this as an opportunity to discover new authors and genre's I might not ever touch.  If I could read the drivel Eat Pray Love for my sis-in-laws book club I can read anything!

Oh and if any of you want to join my 500 pg challenge, this would work, I'm not picky over a few pages ; )

Julie, about the 2nd week in Sept I'd guess, just email me or post a comment on 3 books your thinking of and I'll post it so we all can say whether we've read any of them and then you decide which : )

**UPDATE**

On the 29th or 30 of each month I will list the discussion questions for us to answer.

Eternal Kiss Of Darkness By Jeaniene Frost

  Eternal Kiss Of Darkness
  Jeaniene Frost
  Paperback 384 pgs
  Avon













Amazon's blurb -

An immortal war has been brewing in the darkness...and now one woman has stumbled into the shadows.

Chicago

private investigator Kira Graceling should have just kept on walking. But her sense of duty refused to let her ignore the moans of pain coming from inside a warehouse just before dawn. Suddenly she finds herself in a world she's only imagined in her worst nightmares.


At the center is Mencheres, a breathtaking Master vampire who thought he'd seen it all. Then Kira appears - this fearless, beautiful....human who braved death to rescue him. Though her burns for her, keeping Kira in his world means risking her life. Yet sending her away is unthinkable.


But with danger closing in, Mencheres must choose either the woman he craves, or embracing the darkest magic to defeat an enemy bent on his eternal destruction. (added by author)
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This was a really good book.  Having "met" Mencheres in the Night Huntress series, I really didn't think one way or the other about him.  Now that he's been fleshed out by Ms. Frost, I found him a great character.  He is so lonely and desolate after living for over 3000 yrs, and you just feel he's tired.  Kira comes to his aid and he is quite astonished that this mortal woman has courage, spunk, and risks herself to help him.  He battles with himself since he doesn't want to involve her in his life, yet his feelings for her start to flourish.


Of course there is an evil protagonist, his Uncle, Radjedef.  He is one of the Law Guardians, you should know, every vampire tale has a judicial system they follow and this is theirs.  Using his position of power, Radjedef is out to get Mencheres once and for all, feeling slighted all those hundreds of years ago before they were even vampires.  Wow, that is a reeeeeally long time to hold a darn grudge, ya know!


Needless to say, Mencheres does not want Kira caught in the cross-fire of this mess and he tries to keep her away.  His "grandchild" Bones wants to help and all Mencheres wants is for Bones to take care of the flock.  Here is were we see that there is a heart in him.  His worry for his followers is evident.  We also meet  Vlad again, as he assists Mencheres as best as he can.  You find out just how powerful Mencheres really is.  He is the Grand Pooba of all vamps being so darn ancient and that becomes quite evident as the story progresses.


There's a part where he allows himself to sink to the bottom of the pool and just has silence.  What thoughts must go through such an ancient mind must be staggering and he does this to escape.


There is plenty of suspense, a bit of a twist that I really didn't expect at all, a nice introduction to Kira, and it all getts tied up in a pretty bow.  Fast easy reading, a bit of suspense, just what I like. Jeaniene Frost does not disappoint!  I can't wait for #5 in the Night Huntress series and I sure hope she gives Ian his due in a book of his own.


I'll give this book 3 1/2 cannolis

Grave Sight By Charlaine Harris

Grave Sight
Charlaine Harris
Paperback 293
Berkley












Amazon blurb -

Ever since Harper Connelly survived a zap from a lightning bolt, she's been able to find dead people, a skill that makes the protagonist in the first installment of Harris's new series a tad more bizarre than the mind-reading heroine of the author's Sookie Stackhouse books (Dead as a Doornail, etc.). Harper travels to the Ozark town of Sarne, Ark., to find a missing teenage girl's body, accompanied by her stepbrother, Tolliver, who acts as her manager and bodyguard and with whom she shares a thinly disguised physical attraction that they manage to keep at bay by engaging in casual sex with various partners. Finding the body takes no time at all, but leaving town afterward isn't so easy. When Harper's life is threatened and Tolliver ends up in jail on trumped-up charges, it quickly becomes apparent that something sinister is going on in Sarne. Harris delivers a knuckle-gnawing tale populated with well-developed, albeit edgy characters. A nifty puzzle toward the end will challenge the most jaded mystery buffs.
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I really really liked this book.  Very quick, easy, light,  yet not boring or simple.  Harper Connelly has a "gift" of being able to "hear" how people have died.  They call to her and she literally vibrates with the energy of them.  When she is near their bodies, she will actually see how their last moments on this earth were.  She can't see who did them harm if that was the case, but she does feel what they felt.  Her step-brother Tolliver is her side kick and he is ultra protective of her.  I loved seeing how they interact together.  Harper gets very frightened in storms, that's how she got her gift - being struck by lightening.  He comes to her side immediately and that was very touching.

Many doubt  her gift thinking she's a phony, and many are angry to pay her for her service, and this aggravates both her and Tolliver.   Understandable as she tries to explain this to a young 16 yr old Mary Nell whose brother Harper has freed from the suspicion of suicide, that she would expect to be paid if she were a therapist. 

As their stay in the town gets more convoluted with more of the dead piping up to poor Harper, it seems someone in the town does not want her there anymore and some very nasty things start happening.  This takes place in a somewhat backwards small and small minded southern town where they think she is evil.  The suspense is building all the way to someone actually shooting at her!  I had my suspicions as to the who, but it didn't take away from the fun of this book.

Miss Charlaine is just a great author in my opinion.  She crafts great characters that you really want to know better.  When I can breeze through a book and feel really good reading it, that author is aces for me.  I will most definitely continue on with the next in this series Grave Surprise.

My Rating - 3 1/2 cannolis

Wednesday's Weekly Question...Hhhhhmmm

Maybe a meme, maybe not...anyway, just out of curiosity -


Is there a book that is your absolute favorite ever?

There are so many books that rank up there as my all time favorites.  I don't think I can say just one book is it for me.  A few that have really struck a chord and that I just loved -




This book really was fantastic in my opinion.  I know some don't like Ann Rice, but I loved this book









One of my most favorite Stephen King books ever!









As I read, I would put the book in my lap and just breathe.  This book touched me so very much, so far it really is my favorite of the series, the others haven't been able to quite match up.  Not that they aren't good, but not like this.  My review is *HERE*





As a mother of 6, I've come across a few childrens books that I just love and can read over and over to my kids -



This book makes me cry, at first it was very hard to read this, but I love it so.









I LOVE Olivia!!!  And so do my kids, we have a few of hers and we love to read them.  For Dr. Suess' birthday at the kid's school, parents read books to the class, I always bring Olivia and we just laugh.









How can you not, this one is just too cute!








My daughter MaryAnn, who is now in the 7th grade had one of the best kindergarten teachers I have ever encountered.  She gave each child this book and it is a fave to read to them.

Waiting On Wednesday

 Check out Authors By The Alphabet Book Club and join!


This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.  This is a great way to find out about books that are coming out that you may not have heard of.  And we all need bigger TBR's right ; )



I am just so excited for this latest in the series and the cover and step-back is gorgeous!!

Look at it!!!  Doesn't Cat look great! Originally titled The Other Side Of The Grave, Jeaniene has changed it.

Here's a quick blurb, and if you've read Eternal Kiss Of Darkness there was a snippet included in that -

Danger waits on both sides of the grave… 
Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they’ve triumphed over the latest battle, Cat’s new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance… 
With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing.  A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous “ally”—the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war. …to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.

Here's the step-back

Look at Bones!!  His tattoo is different than what is discribed in the books but the author said it wouldn't be seen then.  These 2 are just a great couple!!  There's  no youtube trailer....yet ; )








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In the meantime I'm reading and really liking Grave Sight.  Miss Charlaine is not disappointing me so far!  What a difference from the last read.  I love feeling emotion when I read, but not disgust and clench and grind your teeth agitation!

Teaser Tuesday!

Authors By The Alphabet Book Club - Check it out!


This is such a fun meme hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading.  Here are the rules -

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share 2 teaser sentences from that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers!  Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away, we don't want to ruin the book for others.
• Share the title and author so that other TT's can add the book to their TBR if they'd like.

  Grave Sight
  Charlaine Harris
  Paperback 310 pgs
  Berkley














My Teaser -

My own mother had forgotten how old I was, after she'd started chasing the drugs with alcohol.  She'd decided I was much older and needed a boyfriend.  She picked a doping buddy of hers who was willing to give her free samples for the privilege of being my first "date".
pg. 106

Three, I know, but makes it much more powerful.  I'm liking this book so far, though I am only 60 pgs in.  The story is moving at a nice clip, and Miss Charlaine crafts characters you want to know better.

Authors By The Alphabet Book Club Choices

If  you'd like to join go *HERE*

*I will post the book for the month on my side bar so ya'll will know!*

Ok girls, I did some research and came up with a few books for September.  I hope none have read them yet, but please check in and let me know.  Once all have chimed in, I'll pick the book.  Oh and for future books we'll just go in order of the sign up, so October's book, who's author's last name will start with a B will be picked by -

Julie from Reading Without Restraint!

Julie if you could let us know by the 2nd week of September, this way we have time to either put a hold at the library or buy it or however we are going to get our book : )  Obviously all are going to have to check back to these posts to see what the new choice will be.  I'll be sure to put up the new book announcement so none get lost.

Now for September's choices, and I went a bit light to get us up and running, please feel free to pick whatever book you really would like to read when it's your turn -



The Sex On The Beach Book Club
Jennifer Apodaca
Amazon blurb-
Holly Hillbay is a kick-ass rule breaker with an 80's jacket-sized chip on her sexy shoulder. Want a piece of her? Get in line, pal. What Holly loves most is her job as a P.I. Bringing in pond scum who cheat on their wives makes her day. Like this guy, Wes Brockman, owner of Books on the Beach. Apparently, he's slipping between the covers with another man's wife. Joining Wes' cozy book club is the perfect way to get close to him and expose him for the lying, cheating, pseudo-intellectual creep that he is. He probably wears a turtleneck and a beret. Or not...Problem numero uno: Wes Brockman is one seriously sexy hunk of man who fires up Holly's dormant libido faster than she can say, "I'll take this in hardcover." The guy should come in a home game version. Plus, he's made it clear that Holly's in-your-face attitude is a total turn on. Gulp. Holly doesn't think Wes is having an affair - not yet, at least (note to self:

bikini wax...) - but she's pretty sure the mysterious, dangerous vibe he gives off is no act. He's hiding something, and she intends to find out exactly what it is...especially when one of the book club members is found dead in the store's meeting room. Now, with a page opened to secret identities, blackmail, betrayal, murder, and sex on the beach (the drink) and, well, sex on the beach (not the drink), Holly's into a case that is anything but by-the-book and one that's riskier, hotter, and more delicious than she ever dreamed possible...

Dating Can Be Murder (Samantha Shaw Mystery book 1)
Jennifer Apodaca
Amazon blurb -
After the sudden death of her rotten husband, Trent, southern California suburban housewife and soccer mom Samantha Shaw, the heroine of Apodaca's delightful debut cozy, seeks revenge big time. When cleaning out her husband's treasured 1964 Mustang convertible, Sam finds a bag of panties (not hers), each with a Post-it attached rating its owner's performance. Hurt and enraged, Samantha has her breasts done, dyes her hair blond and trades in her

long skirts and sneakers for minis and stiletto heels. A reviewer of romance fiction and a firm believer in true love, she buys Heart Mates, a dating service, determined to make it, and romance, succeed. When a thug threatens her life and demands that she give him money, she suspects Trent was into more than extramarital sex. The thug's murder and the discovery that her condom salesman husband was also selling drugs give Sam good cause to worry for the safety of her sons and grandfather. Luckily, she can turn for help to hunky ex-cop Gabe Pulizzi. As the suspect list grows, Sam's new persona is tested in ways she never imagined at the PTA. Fast-paced and witty, this sparkling cozy offers a hair-raising climax and a believable cast of supporting characters, except for a relentless mother who's too keen on having her daughter become a realtor. In the best romance tradition, Sam dares to face the things that frighten her most. Surely one can almost hear Miss Marple saying, "You go, girl!"

The Godmother
Carrie Adams
Amazon blurb -
While 30-something Londoner Tessa King questions her no-strings-attached lifestyle, she also witnesses her friends' difficulties in marriage and parenthood while playing godmother to their broods. Nick and Francesca battle to keep their sullen teenager out of serious trouble; Billy, a

single mom, can't break ties to her now remarried ex-; Helen and Neil, fairy tale parents to twin boys, are hiding something; successful Claudia and Al struggle to conceive; and Ben and Sasha have no plans to have children. But Ben also happens to be Tessa's best friend, and perhaps the love of her life. When tragedy eventually strikes the group, bonds are tested, and Tessa is forced to re-examine what she thinks will really make her happy. A painful look into the fears, doubts and desires that make and break marriages, this debut novel from Londoner Adams is notches up from the usual chick and mom lit fare.

Again, if you all would let me know if you've read any of these and then I'll pick one ; )

It's Monday What Are You Reading?

This meme is hosted by Shelia at Book Journey

Hi everyone – it’s that time again when we all get to share what books are making our current reads…. what’s coming up, and what maybe we wish we would have passed on….:D

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I love being a part of this and I hope you do too!  As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme.  I offer a weekly contest for those who visit 10 or more of the Monday Meme participants and leave a comment.  You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.


Eat Pray Love is what I just finished and boy do I wish I could've passed.  You can read my blistering review *HERE*








Grave Sight is what I just started.  I'm only 10 pgs in, but I'm happy since I've been wanting to read it for a while now.

Immortal In Death is up next.  I'm in an In Death Challenge, and while there is no way I'll complete it (there are over 30 I'm up to 4), I'm loving it.  The characters are great!