The Magician’s Accomplice: A Commander Jana Matinova Investigation
by Michael Genelin
Hardcover
List Price: $25.00
Published in 2010
ISBN-10: 1-56947-626-8

I was very lucky to get a free Kindle copy of this book. I actually turned on the speech function of Kindle so I can listen and drive. This story enthralled me from the start. An impoverish student, masquerading as a guest, sneaked into Savoy hotel in Slovakia to get a free breakfast. He was gunned down as a result. Slovakian police commander Jana Matinova received the call late at night and plunged into this unusual murder case.

I love the setting. When I started reading this book, I had no idea of it’s foreign setting. It’s always fun to know about other countries. Just like when I read Blood of the Wicked by Leighton Gage. I like the journey and the information that I wouldn’t otherwise know. I highly recommend this book. It was free when I downloaded it, but right now, it’s $9.99 as an e-book in Kindle.

About the author:

Michael Genelin, a graduate of UCLA and the UCLA Law School, has served in the LA District Attorney’s Office and the US Department of Justice in Central Europe. He has written for film and has been an adviser to television series. He now lives with his wife and daughter in Paris. (from Fantastic Fiction) More info at the author’s website.

Tags: Michael Genelin

Read about this book here.
Watch a trailer here.

Thanks to C.W. Gortner and Cheryl for my ARC. Since reading The Last Queen, I cannot wait to read this author’s next book. Getting the ARC for The Confessions of Catherine de Medici couldn’t have made me happier.

I know of the name Catherine de Medici, but I don’t know much about her. Reading this book is a wonderful experience for me. I get history, excellent writing, and an engrossing tale. I went though a myriad of feelings and emotions as I read this story. I felt her happiness, sadness, and success as I go through phases of her life.

She’s a strong woman who seem lucky and unlucky all at the same time. She’s tragedy and a triumph, too. Whatever you might feel about her, you can never be a bystander as you read her tale.

This is another winner for C.W. Gortner. I’m looking forward to more works by this author. He’s got a way with words. He’s making me love historical figure like I’ve never love it before.

C.W. Gortner also wrote:
The Secret Lion
The Last Queen

Giveaway:
I’m giving away my treasured ARC to one person. Contest open worldwide. This is a used ARC copy, but it reads just fine. Ends June 20.
Leave a comment, and fill up this form at the same time.
If you like, you can share your favorite historical figure novel with me.

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Tags: C. W. Gortner

Something Borrowed
by Emily Giffin
Published in 2005

About the book from the author’s site:

Something Borrowed tells the story of Rachel, a young attorney living and working in Manhattan. Rachel has always been the consummate good girl—until her thirtieth birthday, when her best friend, Darcy, throws her a party. That night, after too many drinks, Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy’s fiancé.

Although she wakes up determined to put the one-night fling behind her, Rachel is horrified to discover that she has genuine feelings for the one guy she should run from. As the September wedding date nears, Rachel knows she has to make a choice. In doing so, she discovers that the lines between right and wrong can be blurry, endings aren’t always neat, and sometimes you have to risk all to win true happiness.Something Borrowed is a phenomenal debut novel that will have you laughing, crying, and calling your best friend.

My Take:
I am very excited that this book will turn into a movie. Kate Hudson stars.

I think this is a romantic comedy, but it’s got a strong story.  You’ll be exasperated with Rachel, you might even find her a bit selfish, but overall, she’ll make you feel something. You might  find yourself cringing, but it’s  a wonderful read. I’m very excited about the movie coming out!

Giveaway:

Open worldwide. I will pick a winner two weeks from today. Leave a comment, tweet this entry, or blog about it, leave a separate comment for each. E-mail your mailing address (if you haven’t e-mailed it within the last three weeks.).

Tags: Emily Giffin

C. W. Gortner
Hardcover, 416 Pages
Published 2010 by Ballantine Books
ISBN-10: 0-345-50186-1

It’s here! It’s almost here! C.W. Gortner’s The Confessions of Catherine De Medici. Watch the trailer below. Isn’t it irresistible?

DYING GASP
by Leighton Gage
Hardcover: 336 pages
Read an Excerpt from Dying Gasp.

My Review:

For someone who mostly only read romance books exclusively for years, I don’t usually get carried away reading mystery/crime/police procedural books. Then I read Leighton Gage’s BLOOD OF THE WICKED, BURIED STRANGERS, and DYING GASP, and I find myself waiting and anticipating the next Inspector Silva book as much as I anticipate Jennifer Donnelly’s next ‘Rose’ book. Gage’s book literally makes me feel just a tad smarter when I read it. I get to learn a little bit of historical tidbits of Brazil without having to sneeze my way through a dusty history books in my hand. Inspector Silva lives in Brazil, and Leighton Gage does a wonderful job of taking you there.

Brazil is huge! It’s people varied. I’m fascinated how it’s similar to the Philippines in it’s political corruption. At times, I get repulsed by the place. Other times, I am in awe of it. The descriptions of the locales are so vivid, it feels like I’ve taken a journey there myself. I like the characters and their development. The story flows so well, you find yourself sympathizing with the bad guy’s predicament. There are truly evil people in this book, and that makes this extraordinary. I cannot ask for more in a book than to have it entertain me. DYING GASP does all that and more.

About the book (Publisher’s Weekly):
Chief Insp. Mario Silva does battle with not only criminals but also incompetence and corruption within the Brazilian bureaucracy in Gage’s darkly violent third mystery to feature the wry, competent Silva (after 2009′s Buried Strangers). The case of a missing teenage girl normally wouldn’t involve the Brazilian Federal Police, unless the girl, Marta Malan, is the granddaughter of Deputado Roberto Malan, a powerful politician. Marta’s disappearance is tied to a kidnapping and to a vile but lucrative international trade in underage girls, prostitution, and the making and distribution of snuff films. The trail leads to Manaus—the worst city in Brazil for crooked cops, poverty, and crime. While Marta, resourceful and brave, tries to avoid her fate, Silva and his small team of top cops try to ferret out her whereabouts before it’s too late. Ruthless when necessary and under no illusions about the broken system within which he works, Silva is the right man in the right place.

Giveaway:
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Winner will be drawn on February 25.