Review: The Curse of Van Gogh by Paul Hoppe

The Curse of Van Gogh by Paul Hoppe 344 pages, Paperback Published July 2014, SparksPress
Source: from publisher for review, BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge
About the Book

Tyler Sears, art thief, just released from a Federal prison, vows never again. 

He slides into a simple life bartending in NYC until one day an invitation arrives to the hottest art event of the season, where Tyler meets Komate Imasu, famed art collector. Suddenly Tyler's vows of abstinence slip away as Imasu uses threats against Tyler's family. Tyler quickly learns that gambling against a ruthless billionaire is never a good idea. 

Forgetting his own safety, Tyler plunges headfirst into a world of art forgers, hit men, Yakuza, a femme fatale named Chanel N°5, and the hideous curse of van Gogh, in order to pull off...the greatest art heist in history.

My Review
For some reason I thought this was going to be a historical fiction. The name through me off. Was I surprised to find this to be a thriller and a good one. It was full of intrigue, interesting characters and a ridiculously impossible art heist. This isn't the sleek and luxurious art world of The Thomas Crown Affair. It is a very real, dirty and dangerous world that Hoppe gives us and I really liked it. It is a very fast and entertaining read and I really enjoyed getting lost in it. The action is non stop from beginning to end. I was totally immersed and invested in seeing Ty and his family make it safely to the end of the book.  And, I guess, I maybe could call it historical fiction. It takes place in 1999 in NYC leading up to the start of the new Millennium... Okay, maybe not.  
About the Author

Paul Hoppe worked as a lobbyist in Washington DC, a stockbroker on Wall Street, and a screenwriter in Hollywood before writing his first novel. He has lived on four different continents and currently splits his time between the High Sierras and the beaches of Australia.

Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Review: Queen of Hearts, Vol 2 by Colleen Oakes

Queen of Hearts, Volume Two by Colleen Oakes Publishing Date: July 22, 2014 by SparksPress Source: from publisher in exchange for review

An Exiled Princess. An Ancient Tribe. A Dangerous Stranger with Unknown Loyalties. 

This book starts off exactly where Volume one left off. Dinah is on her own in the forest running for her life. She has only her father's large horse-like beast for company and her supplies are running low. She is a princess after all, and is finding it hard to imagine that she will survive much longer on her own. The surprise arrival of a Spade and his offer to help is suspicious, but what chance does she have without him? With him she learns to survive, who to trust and who to fear. 
The beginning moves a little slow but once she is found by Sir Gorrann, and makes her way to the Yurkei, the action begins and the story continues. The last half of the book reads quickly and is thoroughly entertaining. Dinah becomes stronger. Fiercer. She prepares herself for the inevitable confrontation with the king and fight for her crown.

About the author:

Colleen Oakes is the author of the Elly in Bloom series and the YA fantasy Queen of Hearts Saga, both published via SparkPress, a BookSparks imprint. She lives in North Denver with her husband and son. When not writing, Colleen enjoys swimming, traveling, and immersing herself in nerdy pop culture. She is currently at work on the last Elly novel and her second YA fantasy series, Wendy Darling.

Connect with the author:

·       Facebook:  http://on.fb.me/1hJGIL6

·       Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColleenBlooms

·       Website: http://colleenoakes.net  

·       Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1jl5CvV

Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Review: The Revealed by Jessica Hickam

The Revealed by Jessica Hickam Paperback, 314 pages Published June 17, 2014, SparkPress
Source: sent by publisher for review, BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge 
Lily Atwood is the daughter of a presidential nominee in a US devastated and changed by a major war. In this new world people fear a group known as The Revealed who come and kidnap eighteen year olds. No one knows the reason for the disappearances and do all they can to keep their children from being taken. Lily is now 18 and hates not being able to leave her home, and rebels and pushes against the walls. 
Of course, being who she is, you know things are not going to be what they seem.
I enjoyed this book. It started off strong, grabbing my attention with the black notes and the constant escape attempts. And it kept my interest to the end. There is a love interest in here that I, personally, feel was unnecessary. I always like when the female protagonist doesn't need a boy. May be just me. I bet others will like Kai and feel Lily's affections for him are real. Her constant longing for him after being with him maybe a week seemed forced. She was lonely, I guess.  I am looking forward to reading the next book. I like how this chapter ended.  Some story lines were brought to an end, some were left open. All in all, a fun entertaining summer read.

Buy the book:

·       Amazon for paperback: http://amzn.to/1mVJbo3

About the author:

After graduating from Arizona State University in 2011, Jessica relocated to Los Angeles where she now works in the film industry. From acting to assisting on the Paramount feature Star Trek: Into Darkness, her experiences have only reinforced her love for living in other worlds – whether they be from her own imagination or someone else’s. The Revealed is her first novel.

Connect with the author:

·       Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1hSZuJa

·       Twitter: https://twitter.com/JHickam

·       Website: http://jessicahickam.com/

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1hSZBoi

Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Review: The One and Only by Emily Giffin

The One and Only by Emily Giffin 432 pages, Hardcover Ballantine Books, May 20, 2014 Source: provided by publisher for review and BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge
Texas and football. 
If you have never lived there, you can't possibly understand it. You would probably read about Shea and think she can't possibly be real. No girl is this obsessed with her college football team years after having graduated. 
Oh, she is real. I know this girl. I have many friends back in Austin that are so similar to Shea. Of course, they are all Longhorn fans and maybe one or two Aggie fans. As you can imagine, I loved this book. 
I have really missed the craziness of college football season since leaving Texas. It just isn't the same in California. 
Anyway, about the book. 
Shea loves her Walker football team and the man at the helm, Coach Carr, has a special place in her heart. He's Coach, father of her best friend, and a mentor/father figure of sorts. So it comes as quite a surprise when feelings begin to arise after the death of his wife. How will they and their families deal with this?
I enjoyed the football and the progression of the love story. It is not always an obvious attraction, what with the other relationships Shea has, her connections to the team and family and the reactions sure to arise if anything happens. Shea and Coach Carr are not typical romantic leads, but it was really quite refreshing and it was fun to cheer them on. 
About the Author
Emily Giffin is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law. After practicing litigation at a Manhattan firm for several years, she moved to London to write full time. The author of six New York Times best-selling novels, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof, Love the One You're With, Heart of The Matter and Where We Belong, she lives in Atlanta with her husband and three young children.
For more info about the book and author visit her WEBSITE.
Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge

  

I am taking part in the BookSparks 2014 Summer Reading Challenge. I didn't think I could read all 15 books, but I will be reading one each month. 

First up for May, The One and Only by Emily Giffin. 

Very excited to be participating. There are some great books and some really great prizes, including a Kindle every Friday!

For the full Summer Reading Challenge lineup, click HERE!