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Ahsoka
Ahsoka
E.K. Johnston | 2016 | Young Adult (YA)
7
6.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
I've been wanting to read this novel for a long time, as Ahsoka Tano is my favorite character from the Clone Wars cartoon, and second-favorite in the entire Star Wars series. (Because General Leia exists.) I picked the book up at a used book store in Oregon when we went home from the holidays, but I've just had so many other things to read. I finally read it for May 4th, Star Wars Day.

I didn't like it as much as I wanted to. I've read another book by Johnston, That Inevitable Victorian Thing, which I enjoyed but thought was too fluffy. And comparing this to the last Star Wars book I read - Phasma - this tilts that way too. It's not as fluffy as TIVT - people die, and the Empire is the ever-looming possible doom that it always is - but it just didn't feel as gritty as Phasma did. Perhaps it shouldn't; Phasma is a villain, and her backstory is suitably dark. And Ahsoka, here, is floundering a little in the wake of Order 66, and being alive when none of her compatriots, to her knowledge, are.

I did enjoy learning how she got her lightsabers back, and the story should lead well into the Rebels cartoon, which I have yet to watch.

So I don't know. It was an entertaining book, and it was effective at furthering Ahsoka's story, it just...wasn't quite what I wanted.

You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
  
Midnight Alley (The Morganville Vampires #3)
Midnight Alley (The Morganville Vampires #3)
Rachel Caine | 2009 | Horror
8
8.6 (14 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is my favorite book in the series so far because the plot FINALLY focuses on Claire's schooling. When her schedule got replaced with harder classes, I went just a bit green with envy - I'm a nerd at heart, even though I haven't been to school in years. I also love that we get more background information about the town of Morganville, such as its purpose and an explanation of the more mystical aspects of the town. Myrnin was quite a fascinating character, and I would not have minded if the text spent more time on Claire's studies with him, as well as her advanced class studies. (And yes, my favorite parts of the Harry Potter series was the classroom stuff.)
I didn't like that this book did not have Eve's journal entries at the end like previous books have done. Those previously gave me clues into her mind and her relationship with Michael, as well as a taste of what happens in the next book, so I was rather disappointed when I realized it was missing.
I'm hoping that future books go into more detail about what the journals cover as well as what exactly the red crystals are and how they affected Claire. I'm hoping that the drama with Eve's brother Jason gets resolved quickly as I find him just plain annoying and obnoxious. The ending had me exclaiming out loud, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series, Feast of Fools (Morganville Vampires, Book 4).
  
easy recipes using normal, every-day ingredients you would have in your house
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Since I am hypoglycemic, I am always looking for new low-carb recipes. The New 500 Low-Carb Recipes: 500 Updated Recipes for Doing Low-Carb Better and More Deliciously by Dana Carpender was just the book I was looking for. There were several recipes that I wanted to try immediately. Some of them include: Skillet Chicken Florentine, Lo-Carl Clam Chowder, Polynesian Pork, Country Sausage Skillet Supper, Teriyaki Steak, Green Bean Spaghetti, Skillet Stroganoff, Ellen's Noodleless Lasagne, Parmesan Shrimp, Cheese Grits, and Shrimp Alfredo. I tried to narrow it down to my favorite 5 recipes but I struggled narrowing down to just 10.

My favorite is "Joe". It is a one-dish skillet supper with ground chuck, frozen spinach, onions, garlic, and eggs.

I do not enjoy cooking but I do it. I prefer someone else to cook for me or to go out to eat. However, these recipes were easy enough for me to make and do not use a lot of ingredients. They also often use normal, every-day ingredients you would have in your house. I found that to be extremely helpful because I really do not like when I have to buy an ingredient that I would probably not use again.


Review published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 2/23/19.
  
Connections In Death (In Death #48)
Connections In Death (In Death #48)
J.D. Robb | 2019 | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
10
9.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
I've said it before and I'll say it again: the In Death series is hands down my favorite series from any author in any genre. Terrific, well-written characters in a not-so-distant future NYC; the series manages to be both familiar and fresh, even after 48 installments. That's saying something.

The very first line of the very first chapter made me laugh out loud, and is so perfectly Eve Dallas:
"The legalized torture of socializing lined right up to premeditated murder when you added the requirement of fancy shoes."

Beginning with a cocktail party during which Eve and Roarke and other recurring characters are socializing and being generally hilarious, this installment was in my opinion a bit more "fun" than the previous installment. That's not to say that there aren't plenty of serious moments, of course, but I found a bit more levity throughout. For example, Eve's complete bewilderment when Roarke shows her the progress on the farm in Nebraska which he purchased on a bet between the two of them. This may have been one of my favorite moments.

The case Eve is working is gang-related, and much easier to navigate than the convoluted case at the center of #47. Crack's new girlfriend, Rochelle - who is also Roarke's top pick to run An Didean - loses her recovered addict/gangbanger brother in a gang hit, and we go from there. It was nice seeing Crack in a different light, as well, and I enjoy him with Rochelle.

Overall, a worthy installment. Can't wait for #49!
  
Never Tell (Detective D.D. Warren #10)
Never Tell (Detective D.D. Warren #10)
Lisa Gardner | 2019 | Mystery, Thriller
8
7.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Includes Detective D.D. Warren, Flora Dane, and FBI Special Agent Kimberly Quincy (1 more)
Can stand alone
A stand-alone, multi POV novel and the 10th novel in the Detective D.D. Warren series.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

I was not my parents' favorite child. I was not even the favorite daughter. Let me say my family has a strange sense of humor so my dad bought me Lisa Gardner's novel "The Other Daughter". I laughed and let the book sit for a few years. When I eventually read it, I knew I found an author I would definitely read again.

Never Tell by Lisa Gardner can stand alone. The multi POV thriller is the 10th novel in her Detective D.D. Warren series. It includes Flora Dane who was first introduced in Find Her, the 8th novel in her Detective D.D. Warren series.

In Find Her, Dane was kidnapped while on spring break and held for 472 days. Since then, she in now working as Warren's unpaid Confidential Informant). The agent who was instrumental in rescuing Dane was FBI Special Agent Kimberly Quincy, daughter of FBI Profiler Pierce Quincy, a main character in Gardner's FBI Profiler series. Kimberly Quincy also returns to assist with Warren's case.

It might be difficult to understand the connections I mentioned if you have not read prior books. The book does stand alone and will make you want to go read the others.


Review published on Philomathinphila.com on 3/27/19.