Review: The Doomsday Box by Herbie Brennan

The Doomsday Box: A Shadow Project Adventure by Herbie Brennan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Released: December 28, 2010
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

When the CIA created a program to research time travel in the 1940s, they never imagined it could lead to a global pandemic decades later. But after an undercover agent, code name Cobra, exploits the time-travel operation to send the black plague into the twenty-first century, the supernatural teen spies of the Shadow Project are recruited to go back in time to Cold War-era Russia and prevent this devastating chain of events from occurring.

There's just one problem: How do four teenagers deter a seasoned CIA agent from his life-or-death mission? Michael, Danny, Opal, and Fuchsia, a new agent with mysterious abilities, will have to use their powers of astral projection—and persuasion—to convince Cobra that what's at stake could hit closer to home than he can imagine. That is, if they can even manage to survive in Moscow in the early 1960s, where the KGB wants them dead. . . .

I received an ARC of this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. I'm very glad I didn't realize this book was the second in a series. If I had, I wouldn't have requested it, and then I would have missed out on a great book! I ordered the first book yesterday, and I'm very excited to read it and then read this one again.

The Doomsday Box is very plot heavy. There is a lot of action, and that is definitely the main focus of the book. I don't feel I missed anything from a plot standpoint having not read The Shadow Project. I did feel at times that with all the attention on the action that the character development and relationships suffered. They were definitely treated as a side dish. I think my feelings on this are probably due to the fact I haven't read the previous book, which I'm hoping contains the depth I'm craving. Brennan's characters seem to have potential, and I'm curious about all of them. He just needs to provide more details and spend more time on them.

Review: Playing the Game by Barbara Taylor Bradford

Playing the Game by Barbara Taylor Bradford

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Released: October 12, 2010
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Annette Remmington, a London art consultant and private dealer, is at the top of her game. She is considered a rising star in the international world of art, and has a roster of wealthy clients who trust her judgment and her business acumen. Her success reaches new heights when a rare and long lost Rembrandt finds its way into her hands, which she restores and sells for top dollar. Called the auction of the year, Annette becomes the most talked about art dealer in the world. 

Annette is married to her mentor and personal champion, the much older Marius Remmington. For twenty years, Marius has groomed her into the international art star that she has become, not to mention saving her from a dark and gritty past. She is his pride and joy, and as her best advisor, it’s with great care that he hand picks only the best journalist possible to do a profile on his beloved wife in a popular London Sunday newspaper. Jack Chalmers is a bit of a celebrity himself, becoming one of the top journalists of his time. Marius believes only he will be able to capture the true brilliance of his lovely wife. But Marius never intends to put his marriage in jeopardy. How could he have known that the connection between Jack and Annette would ignite so many secrets? And how could he know that Jack would uncover a scandal that could ultimately destroy them all?

Barbara Taylor Bradford does it again in this epic novel of seduction, passion and international intrigue. Playing the game has never been so thrilling.

***This review contains spoilers!***

This novel was definitely enjoyable and entertaining, but it was also unrealistically convenient. So convenient it sometimes bordered on annoying. It definitely has something for everyone, with the romance, mystery, great characters, and focus on art. I just had no appreciation for the ease and luck the main characters had as everything was coming to a head. Marius croaked before Annette and Jack had to face him and own up to their actions, and all conflict was avoided. It just seemed too easy. Yes, Marius's age was mentioned many times, but so was his health and strong presence. This just didn't seem to fit. All the other loose ends also tied up too neatly. Everything suddenly became circular, what with Nigel being Jack's father, Annette being Hilda, the forged painting being attributed to Marius and his lovers who happened to be sisters, one of whom was engaged to the uncle of Annette's client, from who he inherited all his art, including the fake paintings. Plus, many of the other fakes belong to a relative of Jack's ex-girlfriend. You see? Just one big circular, convenient mess.

This really was an entertaining read, I just wish the ending had been better.

I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.

Review: The Girl Who Became a Beatle by Greg Taylor

The Girl Who Became a Beatle by Greg Taylor

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Released: February 15, 2011
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah!

When Regina Bloomsbury’s band, the Caverns, breaks up, she thinks it’s all over. And then she makes a wish—

“I wish I could be as famous as the Beatles.”

The Beatles are her music idols. The next day, she gets up to find that the Caverns are not just as famous as the Beatles, they have replaced them in history! Regina is living like a rock star, and loving it. There are talk shows, music videos, and live concerts with thousands of screaming fans. And Regina is the star of it all.

But fame is getting the better of Regina, and she has a decision to make. Does she want to replace the Beatles forever?

Here is a rocking novel about the good and the bad of Hollywood, fame, and rock ’n roll.

I really, really enjoyed this book. I loved Regina and Julian, and Regina and Julian together. I loved Regina's dad and watching their relationship change and grow as she came to appreciate him. I love the book's concept, its message, and Regina's journey, both mentally and physically. I loved that all the details and history of The Beatles were incorporated so naturally into the novel. I loved the catfights. I loved how special and powerful music was in Regina's life. The scene of her last performance was spectacular and very well done. And I absolutely adored Abernathy. Who wouldn't? He was such a great, fun character, and he filled his role perfectly.

The one thing about this book I didn't enjoy was that sometimes Regina didn't sound very much like a teenager. I don't mean I thought that she acted too mature or grown-up, as that's not the case. Regina very much acted like someone her age. But sometimes the way she spoke or thought, the expressions she used or the way she worded things, sounded more like a parent trying to sound cool in front of their kid's friends rather than an actual teenager. There were a few times I cringed and thought, "What? Does anyone actually say that?"

Overall though, this didn't matter. I really did like everything else about this book, and I think it's a great read. The voice did pull me out a few times, but it wasn't really a distraction because I was so involved in everything else going on in the book that I just shrugged and jumped back in.

Even though this book involves an alternate universe, I think it will be especially relatable to teens in several categories. First, it's perfect for anyone with a passion for music. Regina's love for music is really prominent throughout the story, both through her performances and her extensive knowledge. Another area is her relationship with her mother. When parents split up, it's so easy for the kids to get caught in between them, to feel pushed and pulled at by both sides, and to be confused and uncertain about what decisions to make in order to both be happy and to not hurt anyone's feelings. This is depicted very realistically and accurately with Regina.

Finally, I think The Girl Who Became a Beatle is also a great story for anyone who's feeling a little lost or confused about how they fit in with those around them. The teenage identity crisis is universal, and Greg Taylor did a great job of portraying Regina's journey as she learned to accept herself for who she is.


I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.

A-Z Reading Challenge

Stephanie@Thoughts of a Book Junky is hosting an A-Z Reading Challenge for 2011, and I've decided to join. You can learn more by clicking on her button, but basically it's a challenge to read 26 books, one for each letter of the alphabet. She's also including giveaways! You get a prize just for joining!

Here's my tentative list. Right now it includes only books I already own, or that I'm reading for other challenges, too. I'm sure it will undergo massive changes by the end of the year. I'll also cross the titles off as I go.

A- (The) Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor
B- Breach of Trust by David B. Ellis
C- Commuters by Emily Gray Tedrowe
D- (The) Doomsday Box by Herbie Brennan
E- (The) Emerald Atlas by John Stevens
F- Flirt Club by Cathleen Daly
G- (The) Girl Who Became a Beatle by Greg Taylor
H- House of the Star by Caitlin Brennan
I- Indigo Springs by A.M. Dellamonica
J- (The) Julian Game by Adele Griffin
K- Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis
L- Losing Faith by Denise Jaden
M- (The) Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers
N- Need by Carrie Jones
O- Outside Wonderland by Lorna Jane Cook
P- Playing the Game by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Q-
R- Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
S- (The) Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells
T- Tiger's Curse by Collen Houck
U- (The) Unidentified Redhead by Alice Clayton
V- (The) Vyne by Daniel Walls
W- Wither by Lauren DeStefano
X-
Y-
Z-

Hello!

Welcome to my blog, if you've somehow managed to stumbled upon it! I've been considering starting a blog for awhile, so I finally just sat down and did it. I should use it mainly for reviewing books, but I'm sure other topics will pop up frequently. However, it will probably be several months, maybe even over a year, before I really have this up and running and will be posting with any kind of regularity. Right now, I plan to use it only for the reading challenges I'm participating in, and go from there. If something does pique your interest though, I'd love it and very much appreciate it if you became a follower! Feel free to comment and introduce yourself.