Lindsay Downs - A Collie Rescue & Interview!

Publisher: Astraea Press

ISBN:

My rating: 4/5



Former Army Sergeant Sandi Charleston, diagnosed with PTSD and homeless barely survives day to day. By a miracle of fate, she meets Taz, a uniquely special collie, who helps turn her life around. It's only through him she finds the courage to go head to head with her worst enemy-terrorists bent on mass destruction.

Bound by a special love to help and protect each other, side by side these two unlikely partners willingly march forward into battle. A fight to the death neither is sure can be won, but fighting as one, they will try.

Kidnapped and forced to reveal what she knows, Sandi realizes there is only one individual who can save her. It's not the government, but her new best buddy. Together they defeat the enemy proving once again that battle buddies come in all shapes and breeds. (www.astraeapress.com)


My thoughts

Dakota's slowly becoming part of my must-read routine, like Rex is to my must-watch TV program - Yet, there's no Dakota in this one ! Very disappointed :-)

Anyway, the good news is, that instead of four or five short stories, Lindsay Downs delivered one novel length story and it's just as fast paced as all of the previous ones. The story is interesting and believable. The dialogue feels real, and the friendship amongst the characters makes you want to be part of it!

Well done. I can't wait for the next one ... in hope Dakota will return ;-)


For all the Dakota fans out there, the beautiful Collie was kind enough to give me a spare 5 mins to answer some of my questions. Thanks Dakota!

Hey, Dakota ... I’ve missed you in this story! What happened?
Dakota: Sorry you missed me, I was back home at Fort Del Gue with Emily. We had a big case to work on and I couldn’t get away.

Will you be back in the next book?
Dakota: Yes I will, along with the gang: Jackie, Wallie, Sven, and Brett. Patches and Mary will also be in the book.

I like it that some of the proceeds will go to the Pet Fund ... are you able to tell us a bit about it?
Dakota: I asked my good friend Opal Campbell to answer this question.
Opal: www.thepetfund.com Basically what they do is take donations to help companion animals who are in need of veterinary care but their owners are having trouble paying for it.

Sandra Brown - Tomorrow's Promise

Publisher(s): Mira Books 1993, 2000, 2008; Harlequin 1983

ISBN of current print edition: 978-0778327202

My rating: 2/5


It happened the way attraction happens best: suddenly, passionately, uncontrollably and unforgettably.Thousands of feet above the ground on a crowded flight to Washington, D.C., radio personality Keely Williams felt the irresistible pull of handsome congressman Dax Devereaux. They were speaking at the same congressional hearing about Vietnam soldiers listed as MIA. Tragically, Keely’s husband was among the missing soldiers. He had been her childhood sweetheart, her future, her love—:and then the unanswered question Keely dedicated her life to solving.Until there was Dax. And the possibility of a new future. But could Keely allow herself to love again, and still honor the man of her past?   (www.amazon.com)


My thoughts

This story, if I may call it that, was just going on and on and on ... without anything really happening. And then something came up that made me check the blurb on the back cover and found out the book is almost thirty years old!

I've got to admit I didn't like the story. I think even placed into the "now" time, it'd be boring and at places close to unbelievable with so many coincidences.

Keely's soldier-husband has been missing in action for twelve years. She doesn't know whether he's dead or alive. On her way to Washington she meets Dex and falls in love with him, but her conscious doesn't allow for her to "live" her feelings - and he's such a wonderful hero! And she isn't. I just couldn't warm up to Keely, to the point when Dex and Nicole (her best friend) in a moment of rage told her what they thought of her, I went like "yeah!".

Glad I finally finished it, it was a real struggle!

Cassandra Clare - City of Bones

 

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

 

ISBN13: 9781416914280

 

My rating: n.a.

 

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder — much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.
Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon.
But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know.... (www.shadowhunter.com)

 

 

My thoughts

 

My friend recommended this book, so I happily read it. You see that I haven't rated it - it was not my kind of book and it wouldn't be fair to drop the average rating just because I picked up a book which isn't my cup-of-tea!

 

It's all about Clary Fray finding out she's a Shadowhunter (warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons - I mean, really?) ... anyway, she finds out after meeting Jace, Isabelle and Alec. From this moment on, her life changes; a search for her mum leads to finding out so many more things about her family and her past.

 

This is a YA books, so I was obviously not the "target audience" when it was written, but lordy help me if young kids read something like this.

 

What I did like was Clare's writing style ... I loved her imaginary description, though at times a tad too much.