The Hancock Boys
Author: Thomas William Simpson
Published By: Bantam
Date Published: February 29, 2000
Genre: Suspense
Pages: 528
Recommended Age: Mature adult
Reviewed By: Me
Rating: A/5
I borrowed this book from the library
Summary:
Two twin brothers at a young age decide to share one life. They share the same career, wife, and family until one starts to lose his sanity.
Theresa's Thoughts:
I really, really loved this novel. Simpson came up with a tale that keeps the reader riveted. I could not put this book down, and when I was finished reading it I just sat in stunned shock. At first, I didn’t like their wife because I couldn’t believe how stupid she was that she didn’t know one twin would come in and pretend to be her husband for periods at a time, but everything comes together in the end, leaving the reader amazed.
I gave this book five stars and a grade of an A+. This book was just off the charts and liked it so much that I wrote the editor and publishers of the book telling them how much I liked it and thought it would make a good move. I loved it that much. I have never written editors or publishers of books before, but I felt compelled to do so on this one. It was that good.
Parents:
Language: swear words
Adult Content: Sexual Content, Adult Subject Matter, Heavy topics
Violence: violent murder and suicides
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Daughter of Deceit
Author: Carrie James Haynes
Published By: N/A
Date Published: N/A
Genre: Historical Suspense
Pages: N/A
Recommended Age: Mature Adults
Rating: C/3
I received this book from Amazon. It was one of Amazon’s free Kindle books they were giving away on a particular day.
Summary:
When Alyce Hythe was a child she was whisked away to the countryside to live in secrecy, shunned from society. All of England says her deceased father was a notorious spy for America. She has now come back to London to prove her father’s innocent and hears strange voices sending warnings before attempts are taken on her life.
Lord Julian Casvelyn has suffered with the guilt since the death of his twin brother who was murdered by Alyce Hythe’s father, but after saving her from an attempt on her life he begins to suspect that there is more to the tale he was told about his brother’s murder. Together they the search for the truth that was kept from them.
My Thoughts:
I found the book very intriguing. I kept wondering whose voice that was calling her warning her to run or wake up before a tragedy happened. Right from the beginning, the reader wonders if she is clairvoyant. Plus, the mystery around why people want her dead when she hasn’t done a thing to another ling creature pulls you. I also sensed a stronger connection between Alyce and Julian that the book just barely hints at it.
I gave the Daughter of Deceit three stars and a grade of C. Carrie James Haynes has a creative way of plotting years of conspiracies that slowly found their way to the surface. Haynes had me running for my life as well; figuratively of course. If you like a book full of suspense with a sprinkle of romance thrown in I recommend Daughter of Deceit.
Parents:
Language: Some swear words
Adult Content: a couple sex scenes
Violence: attempted murder
Death By Facebook
Author: Everett Peacock
Published By: Everett Peacock
Date Published: February 27, 2011
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Pages: 312
Recommended Age: Adults
Rating: B/4
"Watch what you post on Facebook. It may cost you your life."-Theresa
I received this book from Amazon. It was one of Amazon’s free Kindle books they were giving away on a particular day.
Summary:
The story is set in Volcano Village, Hawaii. It’s a story about distorted love, strange friendships that are created, and overall how people in a small community is connected when they do not even realize it. All these people’s lives became entwined because of a post made on a Facebook wall.
My Thoughts:
I like how it's written with a light atmosphere. What I mean by that is it is not really heavy and is easy to read. You know how sometimes you read a book that just seems heavy and hard to read? Well, this book is not like that. Knowing that the social site Facebook plays a role in this book makes it even more interesting, because we can all relate. We post our likes, our dislikes, our dramas, our pictures, our political and religious opinions on our Facebook accounts. It's the Facebook connection that grabbed my attention and made me want to read this book in the first place.
It’s hard to fit this book in a genre. When I started reading it I thought it was going to be a murder mystery, but it is more than that. It also has a slow start, but after the second half it picks up momentum. I was left breathless at some parts and ended staying up late to finish the book.
I gave it only four stars and a grade of “B” because although I really liked it, I cannot fully say “I love it!” If you are looking for a book to read on those summer beach days, I recommend Murder by Facebook.
Parents:
Language: A couple of swear words
Adult Content: Sexual Content, lots of alcohol use, Adult Subject Matter, Heavy topics
Violence: acts of violent murder and suicide
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Author: Bentley Little
The Salem Branch
Parents:
Author: Bentley Little
Published By: Signet
Date Published: September 7, 2010
Genre: Horror, Suspense
Pages: 390
Recommended Age: Mature Adults
Rating: A/5
"Father is coming."---A Homesteader
I borrowed this book from the library
Summary:
Can you imagine being at a festival and finding you and your friends drugged and when you wake up your girlfriend or boyfriend missing? Then the police don’t take you or your friends seriously because every trace of her/his existence has wiped from data bases across the world. S/he has never attended college; her/his Facebook page has been deleted, and the number to his/her parents doesn’t exist. Well, that’s what happened to Gary.
My Thoughts:
I just love loved this book. Bentley has out done himself once again. His creativity always boggles my mind. Every time I read his books I know why he won the Bram Stoker Award. I really liked how the main characters in this novel were college students. Since I just recently graduated from college myself I can relate.
I liked how the character Gary and his friends never gave up finding out what happened to his girl, but I did get annoyed by the fact the police always blew them off. I wanted to crawl into the story line and knock some sense into them, the sign of well-written characters.
I gave ‘The Disappearance’ 5 stars and a grade of A because I loved it so much and I knew I would re-read it again one day like I do with a lot of Bentley’s novels, ‘The Store’, ‘The Ignored’, and ‘The University’ to name a few. If you want a good scare by a genius for horror, I recommend 'The Disappearance.'
Parents:
Language: A lot of swearing
Adult Content: Sex scenes, a lot of Drugs/alcohol use, Adult Subject Matter, Heavy topics
Violence: violent murder and other death scenes
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The Salem Branch
Author: Lara Parker
Published By: Tor Books
Date Published: July 11, 2006
Genre: Paranormal, Vampires, Suspense
Pages: 288
Recommended Age: Mature Adults
Rating: C/3
I bought this as a Kindle book.
Summary:
This is the second book in Lara Parker’s Dark Shadows series, following Angelique’s Descent. Barnabas is no longer suffering the vampire curse that was put on him by Angelique because of Dr. Julia Hoffman’s treatments. Barnabas finds him getting reacquainted with the day-today activities of the living and gets himself engaged to Julia Hoffman, a woman he feels no physical attraction to or romantic love for, just gratitude.
He also finds himself falling in love with a woman named Antoinette. Antoinette is the mysterious woman who has bought The Old House on the Collins property and is restoring it while living in the woods with a bunch of hippies. She also looks like Barnabas’ nemesis Angelique.
Antoinette has a daughter who lives in the nearby mental hospital. She suffers from flashbacks from her previous life as Miranda du Val who was burned as a witch during the Salem witch trials. Barnabas is determined to win Antoinette’s heart and protect her and the town of Collinsport from the newest vampire that has come to town.
My Thoughts:
Being a fellow Dark Shadows fan I could not wait to read this book. I love the way Parker writes. The way she puts words together is beautiful. She can weave a story together like an artist painting a landscape on an easel. I enjoyed the back story of the Salem witch trials, and how Parker had humanized Barnabas. I can see him comparing what he can and cannot do in his new life with what he could and could not do in his life as a vampire. It makes sense that he would miss some of his powerful attributes he had when he was a vampire.
What bothered me were the few scenes that Quentin Collins had. If he’s going to be in the story, I think he should have a bigger part than have a few quarrels with Barnabas and competing over the same girl. I also had a hard time picturing Julia trying to get Barnabas to kiss her and share her bed.
I gave this book three stars and a grade of B, because I liked this book but not as well as the first book. Something seemed to be lacking in this book. I don’t know if it was missing Angelique’s presence or what, but with Parker’s talent I know it could have been somewhat better. If you are a fan of Dark Shadows, or just have an interest in the paranormal and vampires I recommend The Salem Branch.
Parents:
Language: some swear words
Adult Content: Sexual Content, Drugs/alcohol use, Adult Subject Matter, Heavy topics
Violence: brutal attacks
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