REVIEW OF LONG GONE by ALAFAIR BURKE

Long Gone started off as what I thought would be a great suspense novel by an author whose work I truly enjoy reading.
Half-way through, I was so drawn in, my head was spinning. By the very end, I was speechless.
The major plot of this novel, which is the first "stand alone" novel by author Alafair Burke, revolves around Alice Humphrey, who having been out of work for a while, lands a dream job managing an art gallery in Manhattan's Meatpacking District.
Alice knows nothing about the gallery owner,but Drew Campbell, the man who offers Alice the job, assures her that the owner prefers to remain anonymous and will let Alice handle running the gallery as if it were her own. It sounds too good to be true, but Alice is excited for the opportunity to not have to look for any financial support from her famous Hollywood director father.
All is working out well with the gallery until the morning after the gallery's opening night,when Alice arrives to find Drew dead and everything missing from the gallery. Police are questioning Alice and she cannot give them any answers. She has never met or even seen a photo of the artist who's work was displayed, she has no idea who the owner is and it turns out the man she knew as Drew Campbell was using fake identity.
Meanwhile, across the Hudson in New Jersey, a young girl is missing and it is looking like there may be links between her and the gallery. Alice begins to see signs that someone is setting her up and as she digs deeper for answers, more and more secrets are revealed, including ones involving Alice's own family.
I have enjoyed Alafair Burke's past novels, and when I found out she was releasing her first stand-alone, I was eager to read it because I consider her to be one of the finest the suspense authors whose books I have read.
This novel not only lived up to my expectations, it exceeded them way beyond what any suspense novel has in recent time. Intertwining murder, a missing girl, and lots of secrets, the twists and turns kept on coming from all directions. It kept me guessing and just when I thought I had it all figured out-another another twist hit me. I was literally gasping out loud!
This may be Alafair Burke's first stand-alone, but I sure hope it's not her last.
Note: this book was received by me from the Amazon Vine review program. You can find out more about it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/vine/help

E's blog: Hollyweird Tuesday Trivia Summer Challenge

E's blog: Hollyweird Tuesday Trivia Summer Challenge: Today is the first day of summer and E. Van Lowe has a NEW Hollyweird Tuesday Trivia Challenge. Head to the link above and take your chances at guessing the correct answer.
 E. thinks he has been making these challenges too easy for us, so he has tried to "stump"us this time. I emaled my answer in already!
Also, E has a new YA novel (BOYFRIEND FROM HELL )coming out in September , but meanwhile, you can order his other novel NEVER SLOW DANCE WITH A ZOMBIE which you can order from amazon either in paperback here:
 http://www.amazon.com/Never-Slow-Dance-Zombie-Lowe/dp/0765320401/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1308673090&sr=1-1#_


or for Kindle here:
http://www.amazon.com/Never-Slow-Dance-Zombie-ebook/dp/B003H3IOPK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1308673090&sr=1-1

5 STAR REVIEWS

It's been a while since I have posted to this blog. This is mainly because a) I have been working at my full-time job-well, er-full time, b) I have been busy catching up on my reading and c) because I have been too lazy to do it. (mainly c)

My friends know that I am an avid reader, and also that I like to give my opinion on just about everything whenever possible, so from time to time they will ask my advice on what books are good to read.
 I ,of course, am more than willing to offer up my (not so) humble opinion.

Since I have recently been on, as one friend calls it, a "reading frenzy" and have read more than my usual amount of books in the past month or so, I have decided to post my most recently read books that I consider the cream of the crop for 2011.

And so, in no particular order, I present:

               LISA MASON'S 5 STAR BOOKS OF SUMMER 2011


1. SUMMER'S ROAD by KELLY MORAN http://lasergirl70.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-review-of-author-kelly-morans.html

2. STORIES I ONLY TELL MY FRIENDS: an autobiography by ROB LOWE

3. FRAGILE by LISA UNGER http://lasergirl70.blogspot.com/2010/08/fragile-by-lisa-unger.html
(ok, so Fragile is not a new book, but Lisa Unger's follow-up, DARKNESS, MY OLD FRIEND, will be out this summer, so you MUST read Fragile now!)


4. NEVER KNOWING by CHEVY STEVENS http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/149248601

5. BREAKING SILENCE (Kate Burkholder #3) by LINDA CASTILLO http://www.amazon.com/review/RT1OC4UZKXWGD/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Why only 5, you ask? Because these are the most recent and I am working my way to hopefully expand up to at least 10.
 As of this posting, I am currently deep into James Patterson's latetest from his Women's Murder Club series, 10TH ANNIVERSARY, a book I have been anticipating for several months.

Happy Friday!
Happy Reading!


Lisa

E's blog: Free ARCs & A New Trivia Challenge

E Van Lowe has a new Tuesday Hollyweird Movie Trivia challenge. You could win a $10.00 amazon gift card. All you have to do is go to his blog, read the trivia question and email the answer.
He's love it if you followedhis blog and Twitter account as well!Also, if you comment on his blog, he just might choose you to get an ARC of his upcoming YA novel BOYFRIEND FROM HELL.
But hurry because he;s giving away three copies and I am hoping one of them comes to me!

E. Van Lowe has a new challenge for YOU!

Author, E. Van Lowe is back with his Hollyweird Trivia Challenge, and this time is is tackling Romantic Comedies.
You don't have to enter today-you have 6 days, so that's plenty of time to figure out the anawer (Although I guarantee it's an easy one) winner gets a$10 amazon Gift Card!
 All you have to do to enter is visit his blog.(E's blog) the direct link belowto the post is here: http://vanlowe.blogspot.com/2011/02/hollyweird-tuesday-trivia-challenge-6.html
it also helps if you spread the word: blog about it, Tweet, shout it from thr rooftops (well, ok, you don;t have to do THAT one)
and the trivia question? well, you wil have to visit E.'s blog for that.
Good Luck!!
Lasergirl Lisa

REVIEW of NIGHTSHADE by MICHELLE ROWEN

I love Michelle Rowen. Well, her writing that is. So, because of my love for her novels, any chance I get to read and review books of hers for Night Owl Reviews, I jump at. If you have ever read her work, you know why.
Her latest novel, NIGHTSHADE, is first in a new series. I recently had the opportunity to review it before it's release date. (yay!)

Here is my initial review:

NIGHTSHADE by MICHELLE ROWEN

Do you believe in vampires?

Jillian Conrad didn’t believe in vampires.  But one day,out to grab a cup of coffee, she is grabbed against her will and injected with a serum. A serum that is supposed to be deadly to vampires. But wait-vampires aren’t real, right? Now she is being held by Declan Reyes, a vamire hunter ,who claims to be a dhampyr (half human,half vampire) and he has told her the poison running through her veins may kill her. He tells her if they can get to his father, they may be able to save her.

Not knowing what to believe , Jillian has no choice but to trust Declan. Because  Declan is not the only one out for Jillian’s blood. Vampires and their human “blood slaves” are after the serum as well so they can destroy it. Now Jillian is pushed into a world she never knew existed and her blood has become irresistable to vampires, including Declan. But is it just her blood he craves?

Michelle Rowen is no stranger to vampires. She is the author of the wildly successful series: “Immortality Bites”. As a fan of Ms Rowen, I was looking forward to reading this new novel, which is set in a much darker world than the lighter previous works I have read by her.

Nightshade was exciting,sexy and suspenseful. An excellent addition to the genre of paranormal romance and the first of what looks to be a promising new series.

(as previously noted, this review will appear on  the website: Night Owl Reviews )

My Latest Book Reviews

Because I am a book lover, I am rarely NOT in the middle of reading some book, sometimes 2 at a time. I slo love to tell people about good books I have read, so when the opportunity arose to become a reviewer for Night Owl Reviews, I jumped at the chance.
I recently finished a few and decided I would also post the reviews here. Just as an FYI, these reviews originally were written for Night Owl Reviews  http://www.nightowlreviews.com/ and do still appear on the site. I have also included the links for the reviews.
Here they are:
SOMETHING WICKED by MICHELLE ROWEN

Something Wicked is book two in Michelle Rowen's newest paranormal romance series: Living In Eden.
In book two, Eden Riley is still possessed by the sexy demon, Darrak (well, sexy when in his HUMAN form , that is) and now because of the possession, has become armed with some magic of her own. Determined to find someone who can help them break the curse that is on Darrak, so he can be once again be free in his own body and Eden can cleanse her ever-darkening soul, they seem to keep hitting obstacles.
Eden and Darrak must fight the still-present attraction between the two of them because it could only make Eden's situation even worse. If that wasn't hard enough, now Ben, the cute detective that Eden once had a major crush on, is part of a group out to rid the world of demons and their kind. He says he wants to help Eden, but other members of the group are not so concerned with Eden's safety. Then there is Theo, Darrak's demon friend. He says he can help, but he has a plan of his own that involves Darrak's help. That mixed with Eden finding out secrets about herself she never knew and a mysterious new neighbor make for lots roadblocks.
Something Wicked is written with that dash of humor I have come to love from Michelle Rowen. She can make a story seem quite serious, but yet there are moments you just have to giggle.
This novel is written well enough to be read on its own, but I highly recommend picking up the first book, The Demon In Me, first if you haven't read it yet. If not for the background information thought, but for the sheer enjoyment of reading another of Michelle's fabulous paranormal romances. I am looking forward to the next novel in the series, titled That Old Black Magic.
http://www.nightowlromance.com/nor/Reviews/Lisa-reviews-Something-Wicked-by-Michelle-Rowen.aspx


UNHOLY ALLIANCE by TOM OLBERT

When Chris was just 5 years old, his parents and sister, Karen, were killed by vampires. A man named Kenny took Chris in. Kenny raised him like his own and taught him how to hunt vampires. Now eleven years later, during a hunt, Kenny is killed and Chris meets Sara, a young vampire. Chris is instantly attracted to Sara, but knows it is wrong for him to feel anything for someone who kills and drinks the blood of humans. Chris and Sara end up teaming up together when they realize they can work together to fight against a common enemy. But can a human vampire hunter truly be happy with someone he has been trained his whole life to battle against?
Though a short story, Unholy Alliance is packed with action. I would have liked to see it written as a longer novel, so I could read more of the story of Chris and Sara. Still, it was quite entertaining, although quite violent as well. A good, easy read for lovers of vampire fiction.
http://www.nightowlromance.com/nor/Reviews/Lisa-reviews-Unholy-Alliance-by-Tom-Olbert.aspx

SECRETS OF THE DEMON by DIANA ROWLAND

Kara Gillian is a homicide detective with the Beaulac, Louisiana Police Department. She also happens to have a special talent for detecting anything "arcane" in our world. Not to mention she can summon demons in her basement.
Kara is currently assigned to a special task force along with FBI agents Ryan Krystoff and Zack Garner. Right now they are assigned to investigate murders linked to a rock band. But these murders are definitely looking like the work of someone or something "otherworldly".
Readers of books one and two in Diana Rowland's series will definitely not be disappointed by this third installment. Rowland once again writes the perfect blend of police procedural and paranormal fantasy. So whether you are a fan of either genre or both, you will be sure to enjoy this riveting novel.
I really liked how Ms. Rowland gave some more info (although just a few hints) into the background of agents Garner and Krystoff. And speaking about the sexy Agent Ryan Krystoff (in my mind he is sexy) I am dying to know where his and Kara's relationship will go. Does he want friendship-or something more?
Also explored is the relationship between Kara and the demon Lord , Rhyzkahl, who she is now bound to and must summon once a month so he can "explore" our world. Sure Kara gets to ask him three questions, but asking questions of a demon lord must have a price, right?
Diana Rowland has worn many hats in her life including a street cop, detective, crime scene investigator, computer forensics expert and morgue assistant (among many others) and I can see where she uses her expertise in these fields to add to her research for the Kara Gillian series.
I really enjoyed Secrets of The Demon and highly anticipate book four from Ms. Rowland.
http://www.nightowlparanormal.com/nor/Reviews/Lisa-reviews-Secrets-Of-The-Demon-by-Diana-Rowland.aspx


THE GALLERY by DAVID D. LANDRUM

Martin Rollins is a musician who has fallen for the beautiful artist, Sioban O'Conner. Siobhan paints portraits of goddesses, but she also suffers from partial amnesia due to a past accident.
When a strange man starts showing up around Siobhan, Martin is worried about her safety. Who is this mysterious man? What does he want with Siobhan? Martin begins to get curious and finds out the man knows a lot more about Siobhan than he is letting on. He doesn't want her to sell her paintings and it seems he wil not give up until he gets his way.
Overall, this is a good short story, although I must admit I found myself wishing it were longer. It seemed to grab me in just as the author was starting to near the end and that left me feeling a little disappointed.
I did like the way the author included bits about the different goddesses in Siobhan's paintings.
This would definitely make a good entry in a collection of other paranormal romance with similar themes. I would like to see more of Martin and Siobhan, as I feel there definitely could be more to the story of Siobhan's past.
http://www.nightowlparanormal.com/nor/Reviews/Lisa-reviews-The-Gallery-by-David-D-Landrum.aspx


PRESUMED DEAD by SHIRLEY WELLS

Thirteen years ago, Anita Champion went out for a night on the town and never came home. Most people including the local police figured she just took off, either with a man, or just to get away. But not the daughter she left behind at age 11. Holly Champion is now 25 an she wants answers. So she hires ex cop Dylan Scott who is now a PI to take the case. Dylan has problems of his own. He was kicked off the police force due to his 5 month incarceration for assualt, his wife kicked him out and his mother just moved in. Maybe this case is just the diversion he needs.
So what DID happen to Anita? She had been known to take off before, sometimes for up to a week. Or was foul play involved? One thing is for sure, not many people are talking and Dylan has his work cut out for him.
This book has everything to make a good mystery. A missing woman, a known criminal who may or may not have connections to Anita, lots of people who look like they know something, but aren't willing to talk, My only complaints were the book's title, because to me it seemed most of the people presumed Anita was ALIVE and just took off. Also, I would not catergorize it as romantic suspense, since there really wasn't any "romance" involved, unless you count Dylan hoping his wife would take him back. I found the pace a little slow in the beginning, but once I got into the "thick" of it, I couldn't stop reading. There were a lot of suspicious characters and I really had no guesses as to what really happened to Anita. Fans of mystery'suspense will enjoy this read
http://www.nightowlsuspense.com/nor/Reviews/Lisa-reviews-Presumed-Dead-by-Shirley-Wells.aspx