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Showing posts with label Harper Voyager Publishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harper Voyager Publishing. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Contest Winner - Vicki Pettersson
I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for Nima’s review of THE TAKEN by Vicki Petterrson. I also want to give a special thanks to the publisher, Harper Collins, for sponsoring the giveaway of Vicki’s latest release.
Every person that commented was entered into the contest - one entry per person. The winner were selected using random.org.
The Winner is:
mrsworldwidewebb
CONGRATULATIONS!!
I am emailing the winner. Please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with your full name and mailing address so that the publisher may send you the book. If I do not hear from the winner by Sunday June 24, 2012 by the end of the day, I will select another winner.
Thank you all so much for stopping by and Happy Reading!
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Friday, June 15, 2012
Review & Giveaway: The Taken by Vicki Pettersson
The Taken
Author: Vicki Pettersson
Release Date: June 12, 2012
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Series: The Celestial Blues #1
ISBN: #978-0062064649
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): paperback, e-book, audio
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Griffin Shaw used to be a private investigator, but that was back when gumshoes hoofed the streets . . . and he was still alive. Fifty years later, he's an angel, but that doesn't make him a saint. One small mistake has altered fate, and now he's been dumped back onto the mortal mudflat to collect another soul—Katherine "Kit" Craig, a journalist whose latest investigation is about to get her clipped.
Bucking heavenly orders, Grif refuses to let the sable-haired siren come to harm. Besides, protecting her offers a chance to solve the mystery of his own unsolved murder—and dole out some overdue payback for the death of his beloved wife, Evie.
Joining forces, Kit and Grif's search for answers leads beyond the blinding lights of the Strip into the dark heart of an evil conspiracy. But a ruthless killer determined to destroy them isn't Grif's biggest threat. His growing attraction to Kit could cost them both their lives, along with the answer to the haunting question of his long afterlife...
What Nima’s talking about:
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The Taken is the first book by Vicki Pettersson I’ve read. Without prior experience with this author, I had no expectations going in. I appreciate fantasy because it makes me think; it’s like exercise for my brain to willfully suspend my disbelief and embrace the world created for me on its own terms. I haven’t read a lot of urban fantasy, preferring to keep my vampires, changelings and werewolves in alternate universes, but I think it’s appropriate for religious characters like angels to cross over into contemporary scenarios.
Pettersson introduces us first to Griffin “Grif” Shaw. He’s dead. Not something I expected in the first two pages. Ok, I’m tentatively hooked. Grif is a low level angel tasked with the job of “taking” or escorting those who have died a violent death to the Everlast where their worldly worries, cares, and even bad memories are wiped away. The first chapter describes the violent death of Nicole Rockwell; she is Grif’s Take. It is during this Take that he does something against the rules and seals the fate of Nicole’s best friend, Kathryn “Kit” Craig. As punishment for what he has done, Kit is Grif’s next Take. We further discover in that first chapter that Kit and Nicole have been investigating a possible prostitution ring. Having messed up already, Grif takes advantage of his punishment to investigate the circumstances of his own death and that of his beloved wife, Evie. To do this, he works to keep Kit alive and away from the untimely death his actions ensured.
The Taken is deeply philosophical in many ways, not shying away from religious topics within the context of the narrative. Various levels of angels, God, the nature of paradise, and even the host of a third which was cast out of God’s presence are all fair game. Pettersson chose to use dated stereotypes of the Latter-day Saint (Mormon) community to advance the storyline, but probably could have used any large, religious body with a hierarchical system of administration. Being relatively uncommon in mainstream literature doesn’t make them exempt from literary speculation. Catholics, Jews, and Muslims have long been fodder for the likes of Dan Brown, Orson Scott Card, Robert Heinlein—the list is extensive. It’s too bad she didn’t take on the challenge of using more current archetypes to still create something thought-provoking.
I personally like her writing style. I like her word choice and phrasing. It’s not a quick read. It’s a sit-and-chew-and-stew read. As such, after an intriguing opening chapter, the story slowed a bit for me. Main character Grif is easy to like in spite of his gruff exterior. He’s loyal, protective and likes to think things through. One of my favorite lines from him was, “What was it about this generation that they needed to be so connected? Wasn’t there something to be said for autonomy? For holding court in your own head?” The whole book is an ode to that thought. Kit, the extroverted reporter who should have been easy to like was harder. I think this is most likely because she is a hardcore Rockabilly, intentionally dressing in and embracing the 1950’s era from her home décor, the music she plays, to the car she drives. While it makes her an easy romantic match for Grif, who died in 1960, it makes it harder for the modern reader to relate to her. I have to say, however, that I laughed aloud when she described her ex-husband, “The only bone in my body he ever loved was his.”
This is more crime novel than romance. Even though there is a defined romantic element, there’s nothing fluffy about it. “Intense” is the word I would use to describe this book, including the solitary sex scene. Rest assured that if you invest your time, the book does have a happy ending after a horrific climax. Many questions are left open for books in the series to come. I’ll be curious to see if Pettersson picks up again with Grif and Kit or moves on to focus on a new set of characters.
Nima’s Rating:
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Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
GIVEAWAY: I have one (1) copy of The Taken to giveaway here at That’s What I’m Talking About. Thank you to the publisher, Harper Collins, for sponsoring the giveaway of Vicki Pettersson’s latest release. To enter, please leave a comment and include your email address if it is not part of your profile. Winners restricted to US mailing addresses only. Contest open until June 19, 2012 at 9:00 PM EDT. The winner will be selected from the comment entries using random.org. The prize will be mailed to the winner by the publisher.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Review: The Janus Affair by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
The Janus Affair
Author: Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
Release Date: May 29, 2012
Publisher: Harper Voyager
The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Series #2
ISBN: #978-0062049780
Genre: Steampunk
Format(s): Paperback (432 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher - Edelweiss
About the book:
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Certainly no strangers to peculiar occurrences, agents Wellington Books and Eliza Braun are nonetheless stunned to observe a fellow passenger aboard Britain’s latest hyper steam train suddenly vanish in a dazzling bolt of lightning. They soon discover this is not the only such disappearance… with each case going inexplicably unexamined by the Crown.
The fate of England is once again in the hands of an ingenious archivist paired with a beautiful, fearless lady of adventure. And though their foe be fiendishly clever, so then is Mr. Books…and Miss Braun still has a number of useful and unusual devices hidden beneath her petticoats.
What I’m talking about:
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The story opens with our wonderful agents, Eliza Braun and Wellington Books, on their way home from Scotland. While on the train, they witness a bizarre incident where a woman is snatched up in a ball of energy and just disappears. This truly is a Peculiar Occurrence, but since Ms. Braun and Mr. Books have been relegated to the Archives (and after making a bit of a mess taking down the House of Usher in the last story, Phoenix Rising), the investigation is left to the bumbling traitor, Bruce Campbell. Of course, since we are talking about Ms. Braun and Mr. Books, and after personal intercession from Eliza’s past, have no fear... they are secretly on the case.
After being blow away by the first book of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, I could not wait to get my hands on The Janus Affair, and once again, I am enamored. The action begins right from the start and doesn’t slow down until we solve the mystery. One does not need to have read the first book in this series to enjoy The Janus Affair, but it is an excellent book and gives marvelous backstory - it is truly worth while.
The first thing I noted and was excited about was the deepening relationship between Eliza and Welly. The two have become comfortable with one another - almost like best friends. But as the books moves forward and we gain perspective from Wellington’s point of view, we realize that he is truly smitten with Eliza. It is sweet and endearing and makes the book that much more enjoyable. Welly is crushing big time on Eliza, but she remains obtuse despite the small signs. A wrench is tossed into the duo’s potential romance when Eliza’s first love, Douglas, comes to visit from their homeland of New Zealand. Not only do a multitude of emotions spring forth in Eliza, but it also serves to remind her that she can never return home to see her family.
Douglas arrives on the scene escorting his mother, Kate Sheppard, who is a suffragist leader from New Zealand. She is in England to garner support for the cause, but instead is fearful for her life as one-by-one the suffragist leaders are being kidnapped in the ball of energy. Kate asks for Eliza to help investigate and stop the abductions. Douglas wants to pick up where he and Eliza left off, and Eliza isn’t certain what to think or do. With their arrival, we discover though suggestions and innuendo that Eliza’s expulsion from her homeland was related to an incident involving Kate.
I did not care for Douglas and felt he was up to something the whole time I read the book. I even wondered if he was directly involved in the abductions (spoiler-free here!). His garish behavior - especially in front of Wellington - along with his constant interfering with Eliza’s work infuriated me, but Eliza handles herself just like she should! Kuddos to the authors for creating a character that I love to hate!
In my note taking, I have flagged so many wonderful passages - most of which are dialogue between Eliza and Wellington. The pair work so well together, despite the circumstances and pressures. Secrets are unraveled and the pair learn to get past it all.
As Eliza and Wellington work behind-the-scenes (with help from the wonderful “Ministry Seven” - a group of vagabond children with many mischievous “skills”), we are interrupted from time-to-time with short “Interludes” which detail a much larger story arc. The nefarious and mysterious Maestro returns to the scene in his continued efforts to bring down the Ministry and its director, Doctor Sound, but what his plans are remains unknown. He has enlisted the help of Peter Lawson, Duke of Sussex, who in turn has an “inside” man in agent Bruce Campbell. Also continuing in her roll as master thief and trouble-maker is the lovely Sophia del Morte. The whole sequence of events gives much to the content of the story without detracting from the plot. I want to know so much more.... what is Doctor Sound up to?
If it seems like there is a lot going on, it’s because there truly is. However, the plot is fairly seamless and the story is so engrossing, that one hardly notices. There were a few times I felt lost, but it never was cause for a re-read.
Overall, The Janus Affair is an excellent story. Although I got a little lost in the words at times, the descriptive settings were exquisite (and for steampunk fans, the contraptions are wonderful!). The madcap schemes and intricate plots are on par with classic whodunit mysteries. The story has amazing humor, non-stop adventure and action, and yes... romance! The addition of the romance sweetened the story without cheapening it. Welly's smitten behavior and the introduction of Douglas added a new dimension to the fabulous series. I am still trying to figure out the overall story arc and look forward to finding out more... hopefully sooner than later.
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
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