Thursday, November 28, 2013

Giggle, gobble gobble


Happy Thanksgiving

I wanted to take the time to tell all my US blogging friends Happy Thanksgiving.  Enjoy all the food and family time.

Even though I do not celebrate Thanksgiving, the day always makes me stop and take a moment to think of all the things to be thankful for.

My giggle for the day, I saw this and have ordered immediately.  I seriously cannot stop laughing and look how the chicken is bounded, lmao.




Summary from pdfmagazines

And before long, from unbearably slow drizzling to trussing, Miss Chicken discovers the sheer thrill of becoming the main course. A parody in three acts—“The Novice Bird” (easy recipes for roasters), “Falling to Pieces” (parts perfect for weeknight meals), and “Advanced Techniques” (the climax of cooking)—Fifty Shades of Chicken is a cookbook of fifty irresistible, repertoire-boosting chicken dishes that will leave you hungry for more.

With memorable tips and revealing photographs, Fifty Shades of Chicken will have you dominating dinner.



Sunday, November 24, 2013

Review - November Echo by James Houston Turner




Book Summary from Amazon

Every spy has a beginning, and for Colonel Aleksandr Talanov of the KGB, that moment occurs one summery night in 1985 on the Costa del Sol, at the height of Cold War tensions between the Americans and Soviets.

As a signatory to the Biological Weapons Treaty of 1972, the United States had already destroyed its military stockpiles of weaponized pathogens. The Soviet Union, however, responded differently to the signing of that treaty. They created a network of forty-seven top-secret production facilities spread across Russia. Called Biopreparat, it was the largest biological weapons program in history.

So when a scientist from one of those facilities decides to defect, Talanov has the assigned task of bringing him back. But after tracking the scientist and his family to Spain, Talanov is betrayed and the scientist and his family are murdered.

The only survivor is their teenage daughter, Noya -- short for Noyabŕ -- in English, "November" -- and what happens in an impulsive moment changes the course of Talanov's life by placing him in a desperate race to save Noya from the deadliest and most vicious adversary he will ever encounter: the KGB.

Published - October 2013

My Review - 4

Talanov is one of my favourite characters of all time, intense with a brilliant mind, top notch spy for sure.  This was action packed as his other two books in this series, Department Thirteen and Greco's Game.  Espionage thriller at its best.

I respect James Turner more for always have strong female characters in his books also.  Sophia is Talanov's partner during an undercover job and she wants to prove to Talanov that she is just as good as he is.  The banter between the two is fierce and entertaining.

Every book gives us another side of Talanov.  I was such a fan when I was introduced to him in Department Thirteen, in November Echo we get to see the beginning of Talanov's life and getting into KGB.

These books are similar to Mission Impossible, Bourne Identity types, the perfect gift for men readers.  My only issue with all the stories is Talanov and others seem to have 9 lives, a few impossible moments in my opinion.

As I have said, I am a Talanov fan, very easy to cheer for and love.  At first I wasn't happy with him during this journey, he came across as a pompous ass where I always thought he was humble but superior in every way before. 

I will have to recommend to start with Department Thirteen, brilliant from beginning to end.

My Reviews

Department Thirteen - Favourite thriller of 2012

Greco's Game

Interview with James


 

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Review - The October List by Jeffery Deaver






Book Summary from Amazon

Gabriela waits desperately for news of her abducted daughter.
At last, the door opens.
But it's not the negotiators. It's not the FBI.
It's the kidnapper.
And he has a gun.
How did it come to this?

Two days ago, Gabriela's life was normal. Then, out of the blue, she gets word that her six-year-old daughter has been taken. She's given an ultimatum: pay half a million dollars and find a mysterious document known as the "October List" within 30 hours, or she'll never see her child again.

Published on October 1, 2013

I received this eBook from NetGalley

My Review - 3

Gabriela was an amazing character which in the end I respected and loved even more.  This was the highlight of the book for me.  An added personal author touch was that each chapter opened with photography by Jeffery Deaver.

The main style he tried was writing this novel in reverse, this was not a success. While reading until 80% I wished it was not in reverse, nothing that came up made it shocking or worthwhile and then wham at 80% I was blown away and finally wowed by the creativity but really much to late. And unfortunately, it just felt unfinished, I actually had to read chapter 1 again to feel like it ended. I have read an edgy action packed reverse novel so I did have expectations.

Overall, great suspense, if it was in normal style, I would have gave this 4 stars or more.

Quote from book

I'm going to tell you what I need.  I need someone dead.  Someone who's bad and who's been troublesome and has caused me and other people a great deal of pain.  It's a simple goal - a killing - but there are complications.  A lot of complications.

I would recommend this novel in reverse.  My Review of The 13th Hour  4 1/2