The Icing on the Cake

Title: The Icing on the Cake by Alison Kent
Genre: Non-fiction, Romance
Rating: 5/5

Michelle Snow was happy with the path her life was taking when her friends convinced her to try Match.com. Unwilling to settle for anyone but the man who would complete her, finding Todd Bracken's profile within her first set of matches seemed too good to be true. Will their love survive their unconventional meeting and the many obstacles that stand in their way?

The Icing on the Cake is a wonderful love story and a testament to how dreams can be realized with a little help and encouragement. And as the second of two good reads I've received from True Vows, it's leading me to expect great things from this line.

I really enjoyed Alison Kent's writing. It was extremely smooth, with minimal disruption at point-of-view changes. Even the emails were so expertly woven with the surrounding story that you weren't jolted out of the narrative. And her descriptions of Michelle's fabulous creations and of the treats she tries on the bakery tour were mouth-watering. I've never craved cupcakes as much as I did while reading this book.

And I loved the characterizations of Michelle and Todd immediately. They were interesting, complicated and balanced; there was none of the flatness that can be found in other biographical works.

The only thing I found disappointing was the lack of any overwhelming drama. Don't get me wrong, horrible things happened to both Michelle and Todd - she lost her job and he had to deal with his father's illness - but nothing truly seemed to threaten their relationship, the way relationships are threatened in fictional romances.

A wonderful and heartening book, The Icing on the Cake is a must-read for all romance fans. And True Vows is a line to watch in the future for talented writing and moving stories.

Thanks to Health Communications, Inc. for the review copy of The Icing on the Cake. The views expressed above are my own. For more information on The Icing on the Cake, check out the True Vows website.

The Man with the Golden Torc

Title: The Man with the Golden Torc by Simon R. Green
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery
Rating: 4/5

The Drood family has been protecting humanity from the things that go bump in the night for centuries upon centuries. Eddie Drood, the family's black sheep, is one of the best until a mission proves to be a deadly trap. Declared rogue, Eddie must team up with the wild witch, Molly Metcalf, in order to find out who's trying to kill him and what horrid secret is at the heart of the family's power.

I really enjoyed The Man with the Golden Torc, though I found Green to be a bit long-winded with descriptions at points. Or maybe it was just that some of the descriptions seemed a little unnecessary. But since it's the first book in the series and he's setting everything up, I suppose I can forgive that. One thing I did love though was the chapter titles. Normally I don't pay much attention to them in books (since they're often quite boring and self-evident) but most of these were witty and fitting. I also liked the variety in the supernatural/science fiction/horror elements: all the elves, demon cars, aliens, robots and serial killers. It doesn't seem like it would work, but it does.

I really enjoyed Eddie as a character, he seemed pretty well-rounded with some faults but generally a good guy who does what he thinks is right. And Molly was fantastic. I thought she was going to be a little too much or too perfect at first but her naivete when it came to some of her friends and associates kept her realistic. And I loved Mr. Stab (aka Jack the Ripper). I always find it interesting to see how authors deal with people or characters that the reader is already familiar with.

I definitely recommend this book to other readers. And I'll be giving the next book in the series a try; it'll be interesting to see how Eddie deals with how things are left off in this book.

The Radleys

Title: The Radleys by Matt Haig
Genre: Fiction, Paranormal
Rating: 3/5

The Radleys appear to be your average family in a small, quiet English village. But they have a secret, one that not even their son and daughter know. They're vampires, abstaining from their dark desires so that their children can lead safe and normal lives. Until the shocking events of one horrifying night make it all impossible.

I found it really interesting that Haig took the idea of vegetarian vampires (a popular concept thanks to Twilight) to a whole new level by having the Radleys abstain from blood completely. I especially enjoyed the side effects he attributed to their lack of blood; Clara's poor sight and ill health and Rowan's terrible rash. But as a complement to this twist on the regular vampire story, Haig's kept a lot of the other parts of the mythology; the weakness to direct sunlight, garlic and stakes through the heart.

I also really enjoyed the notion that the community bottles vampire blood like wine so that they no longer need to hunt humans like they once did. And I found the quotes from the Abstainer's Handbook hilarious. They seem to be advising vampires to not only act human but to become the most boring individuals imaginable. Only don't imagine anything because that road leads to temptation.

I did find that there was a little too much going on, and not all of the storylines that popped up seem to develop or conclude. In particular, the flirtation and possibility of an affair between Peter and the wife next door felt unnecessary and didn't really seem to go anywhere.

The Radleys is an extremely quick and easy read (most of the chapters are only a couple pages long) and one that many will enjoy.

Thanks to Free Press for the review copy of The Radleys. The views expressed above are my own. For more information on The Radleys, check out the Simon & Schuster website.

Meet Me in Manhattan

Title: Meet Me in Manhattan by Judith Arnold
Genre: Non-fiction, Romance
Rating: 4/5

Ted and Erika were high-school sweethearts but had very different dreams for their futures. Fifteen years later, they're both living in Manhattan when their paths cross again. Can their love overcome the obstacles this time around?

Meet Me in Manhattan is part of a new line of reality-based romances from Health Communications, Inc. As a fan of Harlequin and other fictional romances, I was intrigued by the True Vows line and immediately requested a review copy.

I thought that Meet Me in Manhattan was really well-written. Arnold's style was smooth and the story she told was compelling. Choosing to start the book with the scene of Ted and Erika's reunion, before circling back to tell of their original relationship was a fantastic decision. Erika's nervousness at seeing Ted again and her sorrow after they part ways, really hooked me and made me curious as to what went wrong the first time.

My main complaint with the book were the sections written in the second-person point of view. The change distracted from the overall story and most of the information could probably have been worked into the rest of the book without losing anything important.

The characterizations of Erika and Ted were interesting, though admittedly I have no idea how they compare to the real Erika and Ted (or how the story compares as a whole). They were well-rounded, with talents and flaws and insecurities. They seemed more real than a lot of characters in your run-of-the-mill romance novels, which makes sense as Arnold was trying to stay true to the actual individuals. And while this story seems a little less dramatic than many of those other romances, you've got to love a story where people not only get a second chance, but true love wins out in the end.

Overall, I really enjoyed Meet Me in Manhattan and I think it's a lovely and quick read that any romance fan would appreciate. Or anyone who loves a happy ending.

Thanks to Health Communications, Inc. for the review copy of Meet Me in Manhattan. The views expressed above are my own. For more information on Meet Me in Manhattan, check out the True Vows website.

Stuart: A Life Backwards

Title: Stuart: A Life Backwards by Alexander Masters

Genre: Non-fiction, Biography

Rating: 4/5

Alexander Masters, author, first met Stuart Shorter, homeless ex-con, as Stuart was begging by a rough sleepers' day centre in Cambridge, England. What followed was an extraordinary friendship and the winding and chaotic revelation of the events that transformed Stuart from a happy child to the suicidal, homeless drug addict that he became.

I picked up a copy of Stuart: A Life Backwards after realizing that the film starring Tom Hardy and Benedict Cumberbatch was actually based on a memoir. It's one of the most interesting biographies, frankly one of the more interesting books, I've ever read. Stuart's story is at times absolutely hilarious and at others so heartbreaking that it moved me to tears. Masters' incredible writing talent paints a vivid and empathetic portrait of Stuart. Though there is the odd dull moment (not uncommon in even the best of books), in the end, I think Masters accomplished what Stuart asked and created "something what people will read." As well, I loved the cartoons and maps; they're unpolished, just like Stuart was. I definitely recommend Stuart, even if biographies and memoirs aren't your thing. Fair warning, though, there are some dark topics involved.

Call Me Mrs. Miracle

Title: Call Me Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber
Genre: Fiction, Romance
Rating: 4/5

Mrs. Miracle is back and this Christmas she's working her magic in the toy department of Finley's department store in New York. Unfortunately, Christmas has been ruined for her boss, Jake Finley, since the death of his mother and sister decades ago and this year the store's in need of a miracle to stay open. Meanwhile, Holly Larson, who's been looking after her nephew while her brother is stationed overseas, is in need of her own miracle in order to purchase the perfect gift despite her financial troubles. Can Mrs. Miracle help make this the perfect Christmas for them both?

Call Me Mrs. Miracle is a wonderful read, guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit. The sequel to Macomber's successful Mrs. Miracle, I had high hopes for this book and it didn't disappoint.

Mrs. Miracle is just as brilliant and wonderful this time around, refusing to take any gruff from anyone, even J.R. Finley, the store owner and Jake's grumpy father. Each chapter begins with words of wisdom from her or one of her friends. And Gabe, Holly's nephew, is adorable. He's a strong boy, who obviously misses his father and is dealing with this major life change as best he can.

Macomber's writing is as delightful as ever, but I was a little disappointed by the story itself. While a heartwarming read, it's not as complex and intricate a tale as Macomber normally weaves. The secondary storylines aren't as drawn out as they could be and seem to be too easily resolved. And admittedly the conclusion is a bit predictable to anyone familiar with her writing or romances in general. However, she does a beautiful job of setting the scene and it's easy to feel like you're in New York at Christmas with the characters. Plus, there's a couple of delicious-sounding recipes throughout, which seems to be Macomber's signature.

Regardless, I'd definitely recommend Call Me Mrs. Miracle to anyone looking for an uplifting, holiday story or a little bit of romance. It may not be Macomber's strongest book, but it's still a fantastic read. And keep an eye out for the movie this Christmas from Hallmark.

Thanks to MIRA Books for the Advance Reading Copy of Call Me Mrs. Miracle. The views expressed above are my own. For more information on Call Me Mrs. Miracle, check out the Harlequin website.

Warlord

Title: Warlord by Ted Bell
Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery
Rating: 4/5

For months, Alex Hawke has given up on life, drinking away his grief over the death of the woman he loved and ignoring the concerns of his closest friends. But when a madman threatens the British royal family, Alex answers the call of duty (and HRH himself) and becomes entangled in a conspiracy that stretches far beyond what he imagines.

Warlord by Ted Bell is an action-packed and engaging read, in the style of Clive Cussler and Robert Ludlum.

I really enjoyed the fictional portrayal of Prince Charles, Lord Mountbatten, and the rest of the royals. Most of the novels I read depicting royalty focus on historical figures like Henry VIII, so these contemporary portraits were a nice change. And I'm curious about how Bell developed these portraits, whether research and interviews were involved or if they're completely fictional. I also found Bell's use of actual events (Mountbatten's assassination and Diana's death) as major plot points fascinating. It brings a realistic element to Warlord that a lot of thrillers are missing.

As for Bell's writing style, although I found the changes in point of view a little distracting at points, his use of flashbacks to relate events that occurred before the novel's start worked far better to maintain the pace of the story and keep the readers intrigued than a long recitation from a character would have. As well, some of the chapters from other points of view were like snapshots of the horror the terrorists were inflicting. Unfortunately, because we only meet the characters for them to die, the scenes don't quite hit the emotional note. However, in the end, the stories weave together for a powerful climax.

My main complaint about the book is that it's a little too long. As I sadly haven't read the rest of the series yet, I'm not sure how Warlord compares in terms of length, but I think that it could have been trimmed down just a bit. For example, the little injections of trivia/research were interesting but interrupted the flow of the action.

Overall, Warlord is a great book for anyone looking for an entertaining read. Personally, I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Thanks to William Morrow for the Advance Reader's Edition of Warlord. The views expressed above are my own. For more information on Warlord, check out the HarperCollins' website.