News you won't use

Why is it that Starbucks isn't happy just selling coffee? I mean, seriously, that seems like a pretty good business to me! Just the fact that there is such a thing as a "Starbucks Entertainment Division" is crackhead crazy.


Book Reviews? Do you really care what someone, who you don't even know, says about a book? I've always been curious about that. I love reading book reviews, but it doesn't impact whether or not I'll read the book for myself. I take that back.....I may decide to read a book based on a book review because, after reading the review, the subject matter sounds interesting. But, I've never decided NOT to read a book based on a review.

Review: Family Tree

Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a book that had been on my shelves for almost a year before I finally got around to it. The premise is a lot like the Kate Chopin short story Desiree's Baby So, I won't rehash the plot.



There were moments in this book where I wanted to shake every character in this book (except the baby) within an inch of their lives. But, reality says that people sometimes do very stupid things, even if they know better. So, in that way, I suppose the characters were very realistic.



I think Delinsky goes wrong here by trying to do too much. The plot with the baby and the plot with the main character's long lost father is enough. Delinsky adds in other sub-plots and it just becomes a muddled mess of secrets that really detract from the story. I think the book worked, it told a good story, but it could have been so much better. I would recommend it to people, but I wouldn't be surprised if they came back with complaints.


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Review: Sex and the Single Braddock

Sex And The Single Braddock by Robyn Amos

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a quick read. A very quick read. But, it was entertaining. Kind of like cotton candy, which I love. But, I couldn't eat it everyday.



What did I like about this book? I liked the characters. I thought they were believeable and interesting. I thought they were three dimensional, even given how short the book was, and how much plot she had to work in. Secondary characters in this book were cardboard cutouts, even the main secondaries like the ex girlfriend, the roommate, and the overbearing father. They had a bit more heft to them, but no real depth.



I also liked how it seemed very authentic. When the ex girlfriend pulls her stunt, and all is revealed at the end, there is no instantaneous "all is forgiven" moment. Hell no, all ain't forgiven. I started to roll my eyes a bit at the white guy likes hip hop, black chick likes country element thrown in, but Amos makes it make sense. Why wouldn't she like country music, born and raised a Texan? And white guys liking hip hop isn't even unusual enough to mention, so it worked. I like how she called him out on the hip hop only to have him not even understand why she'd think it was unusual. It all seemed very realistic to me.



I liked the fact that the race issue got a passing mention and that was it. If this is a trend in interracial romance books, I like it! It got a mention because it isn't completely a non-issue in Texas oil baron social society and/or political circles. But, it was hardly the focus of the story. I don't even think it was the focus of the paragraph where it got a mention. Perfect. It was almost a throwaway line, and that's exactly where it should be.



The ending was good. Almost tips the scale of believability, but then it all falls into place. The only thing I wish was that this book was longer and Amos had more time to develop these characters properly. And, when you want more of the book, that is always a good thing!



P.S. Oh yeah, and the sex was HAWT!


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