Shadow Game (GhostWalkers #1) and Dark Prince (Dark #1) by Christine Feehan

Amy's Ratings and Reviews

Shadow Game  

Dark Prince      

I do enjoy a good romance now and then and had heard great things about Christine Feehan so I decided to give her a try.  I liked these novels for the most part, but ended up disappointed due to high expectations that were not met.

Shadow Game is a science-fiction/fantasy romance where the characters have special telepathic powers, soldiers are being used as guinea pigs for experimentation, there is a murder, and a hunt for the killer.  The storyline had lots of potential but fell flat for me.

Dark Prince is a vampire romance. Oy. Another one.  If I'd known, I probably would have selected a different novel. The most powerful vampire finally finds his mate and pursues her while trying to keep his people safe. Nothing overly original.  But the storytelling was better in this one....until it got repetitive about 3/4 of the way through.

Both audio book narrators were alright but nothing special.  I give Tom Stechschulte a B+ and Juanita Parker a B.  

So, I don't plan to rush out and read more of her novels but am glad I gave her a try.

Intant-Pot Cookbook Reviews

I recently got an Instant Pot and while there are a plethora of recipes for it online, I decided to see what could be found in a more formal cookbook. Like most cookbooks, results are mixed, but I did find some really interesting ideas.  
 

 -Lynnie

Pressure Cooker Perfection by America's Test Kitchen 

America's Test Kitchen always has solid recipes so it's not surprise that this is a good collection, but it is clearly geared more toward traditional pressure cookers than electric ones. There are adjustments included for electric pressure cookers, however, so you can still use the recipes included. I got some interesting ideas & will try a few of the recipes.  
 

Instant Pot Miracle by the editors at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 

A nice collection of IP recipes, and one of the better books I tried. I found several recipes that I’m looking forward to trying. Most recipes call for fresh ingredients rather than canned goods or pre-made ingredients, which appeals to me and the book includes meals for all times of day as well as sauces & side dishes. There's a lot in here to like and the recipes are easy to understand.  

The Ultimate Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Cookbook by Ella Sanders

This cookbook had some of the most unique recipes I've found for the instant pot, but I didn't find many that I actually want to make (though there are certainly a few). Still, if you're looking for ideas that you haven't seen on every other blog or book, The Ultimate Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Cookbook is not only a mouthful to say, but looks like a good investment.

BUT, I found that some of the recipes were not written clearly. Sanders uses the Instant Pot's Manual mode in most recipes, which is fine, but she doesn't specify whether to use high or low pressure (I assume high, but what if I'm wrong?). There are also instances where I think she's talking about using the Saute mode, but she doesn't specify & in fact a few times it sounded like she wanted the pot set up for pressure cooking, but to leave the lid off. Perhaps this was written for a specific version of the IP? I don't know because she isn't specific, but reader beware that there will be some reading between the lines & interpretation on these recipes.

City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

Amy  

young adult, action/suspense, mystery

City of Saints & Thieves is a fast-paced, suspenseful novel. I ate it up. Tina is a thief in a busy city in Africa. She has had to learn to survive after her mother was murdered. She joins a gang and learns to be a thief. Then, when she’s so close to finally getting revenge on the man she suspects of murdering her mother, she is caught in the act.

While the computer skills of her friend seem exaggerated and the agreement to be a sleuth while seeking out the “real” killer seems far-fetched, it all worked. I was hooked and enjoyed every opportunity to read these pages. The characters seemed genuine, the settings were well-described, and the action was terrific. I can definitely see this one being made into a movie. I enjoyed reading about the African cities and villages and lifestyles, as depressing as much of it was. I appreciated the view into a new part of the world about which I don’t know very much.

This was Natalie C. Anderson’s first novel and it is a great debut! Very impressive! I’ll look forward to more novels from her.

 

The Opposite of Everyone by Joshilyn Jackson

Lynnie     
Amy        

contemporary fiction

The Opposite of Everyone revolves around Paula/Kali- a badass divorce lawyer who has overcome her complicated and often difficult childhood to create a successful life for herself. Estranged from her mother, Kai, Paula's world gets turned upside down when she gets a cryptic note from Kai that reopens old wounds and festers with new secrets to be discovered. Jumping back and forth between her childhood and the present, the story weaves itself seamlessly, revealing just enough information to propel the story and point you forward.

Lynnie's Review

It's been a while since I've read a Joshilyn Jackson book (2011!) and I have no idea why because I really enjoy her writing. Her characters have a way of endearing themselves as their circumstances and stories weave their way through your mind. The Opposite of Everyone is no different and may be my favorite book of hers yet (though Between, Georgia is right up there).

There are a few things in the book that made me roll my eyes, but overall I adored Paula and the other characters more than those moments.  I definitely recommend this book, especially to take along on a nice vacation. 

Amy's Review

This story was unique, engaging, and authentic. I really enjoyed it! It had several layers which I always enjoy in a well-crafted novel like this. As with Joshilyn Jackson’s other novel I read, her characters are fun and lovable. This one didn’t have as much humor as the other but the tone was perfect. I cared about the characters and wanted to know how things would turn out. I wonder if Jackson is an artist because both novels I’ve read have had a character that is a terrific artist.  This is also the second story centered on a broken family with largely absent parents. And the second story tackling some racial issues. However, the tales are very different.

Joshilyn Jackson is one of the best author narrators I’ve heard.  In fact, she might be the best—even better than my other favorite, Neil Gaiman.  She has a variety of voices and accents, her voice acting is perfect (of course, she should know how to interpret her characters better than anyone), and her pacing is great.  A+ all the way!