Book Review: The Husband (Dean Koontz)

The Husband 

by Dean Koontz

Genre: Murder, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller

With each and every new novel, Dean Koontz raises the stakes--and the pulse rate--higher than any other author. Now, in what may be his most suspenseful and heartfelt novel ever, he brings us the story of an ordinary man whose extraordinary commitment to his wife will take him on a harrowing journey of adventure, sacrifice, and redemption to the mystery of love itself--and to a showdown with the darkness that would destroy it forever. 
What would you do for love? Would you die? Would you kill? 
We have your wife. You can get her back for two million cash. Landscaper Mitchell Rafferty thinks it must be some kind of joke. He was in the middle of planting impatiens in the yard of one of his clients when his cell phone rang. Now he's standing in a normal suburban neighborhood on a bright summer day, having a phone conversation out of his darkest nightmare. 
Whoever is on the other end of the line is dead serious. He has Mitch's wife and he's named the price for her safe return. The caller doesn't care that Mitch runs a small two-man landscaping operation and has no way of raising such a vast sum. He's confident that Mitch will find a way. 
If he loves his wife enough. . . Mitch does love her enough. He loves her more than life itself. He's got seventy-two hours to prove it. He has to find the two million by then. But he'll pay a lot more. He'll pay anything. 
From its tense opening to its shattering climax, The Husband is a thriller that will hold you in its relentless grip for every twist, every shock, every revelation...until it lets you go, unmistakably changed. This is a Dean Koontz novel, after all. And there's no other experience quite like it.




A little cliche, but still a roller-coaster of emotions and suspense. Dean Koontz definitely knows how to keep readers on the edge of their metaphorical seats.

The Husband is a good example of someone who will do anything to save the one they love. Whether it be stealing money, grand theft auto, or murder.

It was difficult to keep up with, sometimes. The characters were constantly moving forward in the plot, but it was good at keeping you interested in what they were doing.

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Book Review: Daddy's Little Girl (Mary Higgins Clark)

Daddy's Little Girl

By Mark Higgins Clark

Genre: Mystery (Crime, Murder), Contemporary, 

Suspense 

Ellie Cavanaugh was only seven years old when her fifteen-year-old sister, Andrea, was murdered near their home in Oldham-on-the-Hudson, a rural village in New York's Westchester County. There were three suspects: Rob Westerfield, nineteen-year-old scion of a wealthy, prominent family, whom Andrea has been secretly dating; Paul Stroebel, a sixteen-year-old schoolmate, who had a crush on Andrea; and Will Nebels, a local handyman in his forties.


It was Ellie who had led her parents to a hideout in which Andrea's body was found -- a secret hideaway in which she met her friends. And it was Ellie who was blamed by her parents for her sister's death for not telling them about this place the night Andrea was missing. It was also Ellie's testimony that led to the conviction of the man she was firmly convinced was the killer. Steadfastly denying his guilt, he spent the next twenty-two years in prison.

When he comes up for parole, Ellie, now an investigative reporter for an Atlanta newspaper, protests his release. Nonetheless, the convicted killer is set free and returns to Oldham. Determined to thwart his attempts to whitewash his reputation, Ellie also returns to Oldham, intent on creating a Website and writing a book that will conclusively prove his guilt. As she delves deeper into her research, however, she uncovers horrifying and heretofore unknown facts that shed new light on her sister's murder. With each discovery, she comes closer to a confrontation with a desperate killer.

Gripping and relentlessly compelling, Daddy's Little Girl, a portrayal of a family shattered by crime, reflects Mary Higgins Clark's uncanny insight into the twisted mind of a killer and is further evidence of why she is America's favorite author of suspense.

The first three or four chapters were boring, you didn't really get any information about anything that was going on. After those, you get down to the nitty-gritty and find out all the details you'd been waiting for.

Once you get down to it,  I thought the book was extremely interesting. It was one of those books that holds your interest; you just don't want to put it down. It was edge-of-your-seat suspenseful toward the end.

Overall, the story really wrapped up nicely. There weren't any loose ends that I could think of. I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone 16+ who enjoys action-packed crime thrillers.

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Book Review: The Marijuana Project (Brian Laslow)

The Marijuana Project

by Brian Laslow

Genres: Mystery, Thriller/Suspense

THE MARIJUANA PROJECT a novel about medicine and morality aka "a security expert’s journey through the ethical weeds." 

Sam Burnett, a savvy security expert, is hiding in the catwalk of a medical marijuana production facility he has been hired to protect, caught in a surveillance plan he never thought he’d face. 

In fact, Sam, a conservative family man who travels the country as a highly sought after security expert, doesn’t even approve of marijuana and wonders why he’s still working there. 

Over the course of two years designing, implementing and operating the entire security program for MedLeaf, Sam faces one moral conflict after another. 

Does he favor using medical marijuana to relieve a variety of physical symptoms, easing anxiety and providing pleasure? 

Or does he see it as an invitation to more serious drug use, mental instability and irresponsible, even dangerous behavior? 

You could call it a security expert’s journey through the ethical weeds. 

At first, Sam realizes that medical marijuana needs to be protected from ending up in the wrong hands and that taking the job means he can be home much more than before. 

But even the positive things Sam learns about medical marijuana are at odds with his religious upbringing and his conservative views about drug use, legal or otherwise. 

When his son’s best friend is killed in a car accident caused by a driver under the influence of medical marijuana, Sam reaches his breaking point and takes matters into his own hands, which leads to a potentially dangerous confrontation with his employers and a group of unknown provocateurs. 

In the end, he must decide if he can personally continue to participate in the protection and perpetuation of this industry. Sam Burnett’s dilemma is similar to that of millions of Americans. His story will resonate for all those struggling to make sense of this changing landscape in our society.

I was intrigued when I initially read this books blurb.  My stand on medical marijuana is the complete opposite of Sam's, and I couldn't wait to envision what it must be like on the other end of the spectrum. 

Sam, a security genius, is a firm believer that marijuana (medical or otherwise) shouldn't be something that is legally sold.  His moral belief is put to the test when he is offered the opportunity to provide security for MedLeaf, a medical marijuana grow facility.  Sam takes us for an unforgettable ride on his moral roller coaster.   

The Marijuana Project was phenomenally written.  Brian Laslow included enough information, to ensure that the readers didn't get lost along the way.  If you're looking for an exciting read, one that shows real moral struggles, then this could possibly be the book for you!
  

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Book Review: Delirium (Lauren Oliver)

Delirium
By: Lauren Oliver
Genres: Romance (Love), Young Adult, Sci-Fi (Dystopia), Adventure

Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't.

Delirium has been on my list for AGES. I even got to the point where I bought the PHYSICAL book....and still, it sat on my desk/shelf for a good two months. I only picked it up because of an EpicReads' post about the best last lines of books. Delirium was obviously on the list/video lol.


I must say, I REALLY wasn't disappointed. Typically, when I hear about how good a book or movie is my expectations go through the roof....and then come crashing back down to earth and are shattered. I flew through the 400 something pages in less than 24 hours...and Sophie was staying with us. Thankfully, she understands my obsession and is basically at home in my house.....She feeds herself, plays Xbox with my brother, goes through my fridge, I mean, it's basically like having a part-time sibling.

Anyway, back to the review.

I loved this book and I can honestly see why it was graced with the pearl-glittery inside cover...It was so great. I can only take the time to read the first one (even though I've gotten the rest of the trilogy) because of a little thing called 'responsibility' and 'my mom is threatening my life if I don't get back on schedule'.  I thought it was fast-paced, but it may just have been the fact that I wanted there to be MORE pages.

While I did guess a big plot detail, I was totally okay with it because this book makes you eager to turn the next page. It makes you skip paragraphs to get to the good parts, and then have to skip back because you missed something. It makes you fall in love and get frustrated and heartbroken and then fall in love again. It gives you hope and scares the crap out of you. It makes you remember why you ever loved reading in the first place. And I really hope that Grace comes back because she's one of my favorite characters.


I'm going to keep this review rather short because it WASN'T a requested book, but really, if you like dystopia/love/romance/Giver-ish books, buy Delirium....You will NOT regret it....

Delirium gave ME the disease. (I'm sorry, that was so cheesy).


A  bit of free advice: Buy this book online. I bought this book IN the Barnes and Noble store FOR TEN FREAKING DOLLARS, but when I was looking for the links for you guys they had it listed in paperback EVERYWHERE FOR SIX DOLLARS OR LESS! For two more dollars that I paid I could have purchased a HARD COVER! Nooo, whyyyy?! Still, #noregrets I loved this book. I shall ask for physical copies for an acceptable holiday.

I have to go before it gets any worse...Keep your noses in the pages and I will blog yeewww laterrr!

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Book Review: Barking Madness (Ryan Hill)

Barking Madness

By:  Ryan Hill

Genres: Coming Of Age, Paranormal, Thriller

RECOMMENDED FOR READERS 17  AND UP DUE TO STRONG LANGUAGE, SEXUAL SITUATIONS, DRUG USE, AND MILD VIOLENCE. 

"My life is crumbling away before my eyes while I do nothing to prevent it. I have visited too many funerals, for too many friends who haunt my dreams. Everybody dies eventually, right? No, everybody dies young when they befriend me. Was I born to die young? I don't think so. I'm the only one here with the nerve to stay alive. I can't be left alone. Not with that hollow man, the one who hides his face. That's what he wants, me to be alone, because once I'm alone he's going to kill me!" 

Seventeen-year-old Rosetta Harper is plagued by nightmares of a masked man. With her father’s new career move, her family has just relocated from Florida to the small New England town of Ashwood. A quiet town and close-knit community where you know your neighbors, and trouble is a word unspoken. But soon after her arrival, her world and the worlds of her classmates come crashing down. 

Michael hates his family and feels alone and unloved. He only finds comfort when he's with his friends, but even they get on his nerves. Everything about Ashwood and his life bores him, until Rosetta Harper moves into town. With her as a new classmate, Michael finally gets the excitement he was looking for, but it may be at too high a cost.

**WE WERE GIVEN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING HONEST REVIEW**

I don't even know where to begin with this book. I guess we should start with the book itself...I found this book to be very stiff. If you've never read a stiff book, then you probably don't know what I'm talking about. A stiff book is one that doesn't really flow properly. Instead of envisioning smooth characters, you see boxy and awkward beings. You could compare it to the first and thirteenth seasons of Family Guy (for example), the first season doesn't look so bad upon first glance, but when you put season one and season 13 beside each other, you realize that season one is really rough looking... It loosens up around 30%, but around 35 the awkward, stiff dialogue and forced story-line make a return. The concept behind the book was good, I mean, who doesn't like a demented monster wold running around in their head?? And that one little twist that confuses you, as well as Rosetta.

Onto the characters; I have a strong dislike for them. Rosetta, the main-main character is my least favorite character, seriously, I borderline hate her guts. She is such a bitch! (I was given permission to use that word, so do not fret) I mean, my GOD, she uses people and has little to no regard for their feelings or the trouble they go to to do what she asks. She is selfish, and mean. Think of her as one of the rude popular girls that turns their noses up at anything nice in the world. And she's a total whore/slut. Sorry, it's true. Where are her parents??

Okay, so, Micheal (a.k.a Mike). I don't understand him. And, quite frankly, I was ready to hate him after he said he 'loved' his dog, but didn't care if she was hit by a car/lived another year. I think that Mike may have not been a very thought out character, because in the beginning of the book he said he was sad to see his dog deteriorating in front of his eyes and was worried that she wouldn't live another year? Am I missing something?

I feel as though I would have liked the book more if I didn't hate the characters. Because of my instant dislike of Rosetta, I had to REALLY focus on the plot/words of the book. If I adored the characters, I don't think it'd have mattered much.

I made it to 49%, I was 13 pages away from 50 (which is half of over 600 pages, so there ya go. I basically read a whole average-sized book). I honestly would have finished the book, because I am genuinely curious about the ending, but this morning was my deadline for this review (set by my mother), so I had to write it.

Anyway, the links to all the things will be below.

Don't let my review stop you, read this book, when you get past all of the bad things (which is very few), it's actually a really interesting book.

Have you guys seen the changes...I mean, you're here, so you must have. What do you think?? Is it too girly? Mom said no, but I dunnooo. And our logo changed, how about that? Why don't you tell me what you guys think in the comments?

Keep your noses in the pages and I'll blog you later, my lovelies.

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Book Review: Undressed to the Nines (Jayden Hunter)

Undressed to the Nines

by: Jayden Hunter

Genre: Thriller

 A missing reporter believes that a congressman is involved in illegal military research.
A political fundraiser for a conservative politician leads to a late night encounter with the daughter of a major donor. Drew Stirling finds herself caught in an intrigue that pushes her to test the limits of her own character as she must decide who to trust, who to run from, and whether or not to break through her own self-imposed boundaries in the world of steam-punk porn, centerfolds, friendship, love, and sex.

**WE WERE GIVEN A FREE COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW**

 

So, we received a review request for Undressed to the Nines....and I almost rejected it.  In fact, another member of the blog had already sent the author a "rejected" email, when I just so happened to go back through all of our rejects to see if anything caught my eye.  Boy am I glad that I did.

The blurb/synopsis wasn't bad....beautiful girl caught up in some sort of illegal military research that leads to a reporter going missing and more than likely a little bit of political involvement/cover up.  I typically shy away from political pleasure reading, but throw in a little sex, love, and controversy and I was more than ready to start reading.

Drew Stirling's character was both sexy and fierce.  She knew what she wanted and walked a fine line between doing all of the things that would make her happy and trying to please her jackass of a father.  I truly felt as though I was right there beside her as she navigated her way through the twists and turns of this suspenseful roller coaster. 

Undressed to the Nines was brilliantly written.  I seriously found myself reading faster than usual, because I NEEDED to get to the next page to see what was about to happen.  I loved thinking that I had everything figured out, only to quickly learn that things really aren't always as they seem. 

Jayden Hunter provided the perfect amount of background information and mastered creating understandable alternating dialogue. He made sure to give his readers the necessary information to perfectly envision the characters, settings, and overall story.  

Bravo!!

(Like always, you can find author and book links below.)

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Book Review: Where Death Is a Hunter (Christopher Stookey)

Where Death Is a Hunter

by:  Christopher Stookey

                                                                      Genres:  Mystery, Thriller

Hannah Fâtier is a thirty-two-year-old physician fresh out of residency training. She’s just started her first job as an anesthesiologist at Deaconess Hospital in San Francisco, she’s bought a new home, and she’s engaged to be married.

In short, life is good for Hannah--until, one morning at work, tragedy strikes. A patient under her care dies unexpectedly during a routine operation. An investigation into the case reveals the cause of death to be a basic medical error committed by Hannah. Wracked with guilt, Hannah falls into a malaise of depression and self-reproach. Yet the more she ponders her alleged “error,” the more she realizes that something about the way her patient died doesn’t add up. Digging deeper into the records of the case, Hannah discovers a number of puzzling inconsistencies. She begins to suspect that someone has framed her for a medical mistake she never made. But who would do such a thing and why? And, more importantly, if there was no medical error, then why did her patient really die that morning on the operating table?
Where Death Is a Hunter is a medical mystery dealing with hospital death, betrayal, one doctor’s self-doubt, and the search for redemption.

**WE WERE GIVEN A COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW**

I am usually not the type to typically enjoy, or even crack open a medical thriller, but I was asked to post a guest review and thought I'd give a new genre a shot.  Although it took a few chapters to really grab my attention this book was well worth reading. After the first few chapters of introduction and build up to the plot, I found my eyes were no longer moving across the words on the pages methodically, but instead I was transported to the world of the main character, Dr. Hannah Fâtier. I found this book to be very well written, and was excited to learn that the author has another book of the same genre. I will definitely be reading it next, and I recommend this one as a must read for anyone, especially those who love a good medical thriller.

The only negative thing I could find about the book is the title, which even after reading the book, still does not seem to fit the story.

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Book Review: Dying for a Living (Kory M. Shrum)

 Dying for a Living

By: Kory M Shrum

Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy (Urban Fantasy, Supernatural), 

Mystery, Horror (Zombies), Romance

 On the morning before her 67th death, it is business as usual for Jesse Sullivan: meet with the mortician, counsel soon-to-be-dead clients, and have coffee while reading the latest regeneration theory. Jesse dies for a living, literally. As a Necronite, she is one of the population’s rare 2% who can serve as a death replacement agent, dying so others don’t have to. Although each death is different, the result is the same: a life is saved, and Jesse resurrects days later with sore muscles, new scars, and another hole in her memory.

But when Jesse is murdered and becomes the sole suspect in a federal investigation, more than her freedom and sanity are at stake. She must catch the killer herself—or die trying.

 Woah, guys! Two reviews from me in under a week? A review everyday?! Woah, guys, what's happening to CommonBookSense?!

Dying for a Living was a book that I actually downloaded on a whim. I was searching for free books to add to my kindle and I came across this one. It'd been on my Kindle for an unknown amount of time and I really wanted something overly fictional. Honestly, this book was exactly what I was looking for.

To call Dying for a Living a Zombie book would be like comparing a Pug to an orange....It's just wrong.
Now, I can't exactly say that I've read Zombie books (I actually have a full-blown phobia of zombies, nightmares and everything), besides that one Walking Dead book that I was forced to read and  was actually really good, but I can almost-confidently say that you can't compare this book to zombies. No brains involved, just, ya know, dying and coming back to life...totally not zombies.

Jesse Sullivan is a Death Replacement agent; she literally dies for people so that they don't have to...the only difference is that she comes back to life. Like with nearly everything that's not mentioned in the bible, the church is heavily against it....who'd have thought?  I guess in the time the author set the book ( I think sometime in the future perhaps), you can compare Necronites to the LGBT community today, you know, how they're treated/how the church sees it?  That ties into the book HUGELY, so remember that, alright? About the church thing...Sorry..possible spoilers, I'll stop now.

The whole basis and idea for this book was so unique and amazing. The characters' views didn't change half way through the book, either. My favorite character in the ENTIRE WORLD WAS WINSTON! HE WAS A PUG! Gah, my baby, Sullie, is a pug! (Not like baby with a capital B, but my fur-covered-dog-baby.) While there WAS a love-triangle, it didn't take up the entire story....The author was going somewhere, and she didn't let a little love triangle stop her! I honestly can't say that I found a single of her characters annoying, which is saying something. AND THE FEMALE LEAD WAS MY FAVORITE KIND! Just yes! She was witty, sarcastic and strong-willed! I loved every single minute of this book! Every character Kory M. Shrum presented, I fell in love with.




Now, I'm going to have to cut this review rather short because, well, I REALLY want to rave on and on and on about this book, but I have another review to write and another book to read! And you guys would NOT appreciate spoilers.  If any of you have read this book, PLEASE email, or message us (through Facebook) so that we can gossip about it! I'd love that. Just be like "Hey, Kailei! I read Dying for a Living! Didn't you, like, love Winston?! He was so cute and your dog is also the cutest omg I'm jealous of how cute Sullie is."
 I mean look at him...>
He's the adorablest.
I shall blog you later, my lovlies.  

Book Review: Dead as a Doornail: book five of the Sookie Stackhouse Series (Charlaine Harris)

Dead as a  Doornail  
By: Charlaine Harris

       Genre: Mystery, Romance, Novel, 
     Fiction (Gothic Fiction), Fantasy Literature 

 

Small-town cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has had more than her share of experience with the supernatural—but now it’s really hitting close to home. When Sookie sees her brother Jason’s eyes start to change, she knows he’s about to turn into a were-panther for the first time—a transformation he embraces more readily than most shapeshifters she knows. But her concern becomes cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population, and Jason’s new panther brethren suspect he may be the shooter. Now, Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who’s behind the attacks—unless the killer decides to find her first…

*Sigh* Sookie, Sookie, Sookie, your fashion sense is still stuck in the eighties. I blame this on the author, who, no doubt, thinks she's writing you up to date. I, myself, did a face-palm when I read about your lipstick matching your red earrings and your red socks with your black work pants.  Questionable fashion aside, I still really enjoy this character. She had some tough times in this book, what, with having no sexual escapades (the first time ever, although it seems like every male in the town is interested in her--must be the red socks), getting shot, and having part of her house burn down. Unfortunately, it was just her back porch and kitchen that burned, so her collection of hair scrunchies were saved. I've also decided that I'm pretty well over the werewolves in this book. Alcide, a character I liked in past books, is kind of a jerk here and the whole head of the pack competition grossed me out. That being said said, I'm happy to read the next in the series.  

    For your Entertainment, 

  Sophie