Book Review: The Night Manager by John le Carré

August 25, 2016 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

In the shadowy recesses of Whitehall and Washington an unholy alliance operates between the intelligence community and the secret arms trade. Jonathan Pine is ready to stand up and be counted in the fight against this ultimate heart of darkness. His mission takes him from the cliffs of west Cornwall, via northern Quebec and the Caribbean, to the jungles of post-Noriega Panama. His quarry is the worst man in the world.

If you are a fan of spy books this one will be right up your alley. The Night Manager is an intense and great read for fans of the genre. Jonathan Pine is a curious character and one I found hard to peg until closer to the end of the book. A seemingly regular kind of Night Manager until he meets Sophie and reads the paperwork, then of course everything gets turned on its head. Jonathan gets sent down a rabbit hole of revenge and leaves Cairo for much cooler climate to start with. I don’t want to give to much of the complex plot away but if you like spy novels you will likely enjoy this one. If you don’t you just might not. It does get complex and weaves along interestingly. If you would rather have the cliffs notes you can always watch BBC’s very good mini series event with Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston.

My Gemstone Rating:

Book Review: The Martian (The Martian #1) by Andy Weir

July 15, 2016 - Ambrosia 2 Comments

A mission to Mars.
A freak accident.
One man’s struggle to survive.

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate the planet while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded on Mars’ surface, completely alone, with no way to signal Earth that he’s alive. And even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone years before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, Mark won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first.

But Mark’s not ready to quit. Armed with nothing but his ingenuity and his engineering skills—and a gallows sense of humor that proves to be his greatest source of strength–he embarks on a dogged quest to stay alive, using his botany expertise to grow food and even hatching a mad plan to contact NASA back on Earth.

As he overcomes one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next, Mark begins to let himself believe he might make it off the planet alive.

But Mars has plenty of surprises in store for him yet.

Grounded in real, present-day science from the first page to the last, yet propelled by a brilliantly ingenious plot that surprises the reader again and again, The Martian is a truly remarkable thriller: an impossible-to-put-down suspense novel that manages to read like a real-life survival tale.

I decided to read the Martian, because the movie got my attention and as those who know me know, I like to read the book before I watch the film. This book was fantastic and I don’t usually go for these kind of space odyssey books. The main character Mark Watney is such a hoot you can’t help but love him and root for him and hope that he gets out of the situation that he is in. Can you imagine how much mental strength let alone the rest that it takes in order to live and survive on Mars completely alone? No one to talk to, no human interaction at all. It is a wonder that he did not fully lose his mind. He did a little bit of course, but that is to be perfectly expected.

This book really is enjoyable. Now if you do not like a whole lot of very well explained scientific data you may not like this book. As much as I loved the book I can admit that occasionally I wanted to have a little bit of a snooze fest during these parts. However, everything else about this book was a win for me. If you have seen the movie and want more read the book. If you haven’t seen the movie still read the book because it is a truly amazing story.

My Gemstone Rating:

Book Review: Cerulean Sins (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #11) (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #11) by Laurell K. Hamilton

May 27, 2016 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

A book review of:

Cerulean Sins, the eleventh entry in the hugely-popular Anita Blake series, finds everyone’s favorite vampire hunter keeping house and kicking butt.

Anita Blake is trying to get her life back to “normal” after a break-up with her werewolf lover. She has settled into a pattern of domesticity, which means that the new man in her life, the leopard shapeshifter Micah, has no problem sharing her with Jean-Claude, Master Vampire of the City. Things are as peaceful as they ever get for someone who raises the dead, when Jean-Claude receives an unexpected and unwelcome visitor: Musette, the very beautiful, very twisted representative of the European Council of Vampires. Anita soon finds herself caught up in a dangerous game of vampire power politics.

To add to her troubles, she is asked to consult on a series of brutal killings, which seem to be the work of something un-human. The investigation leads her to Cerulean Sins, a vampire-run establishment that deals in erotic videos, videos that cater to very specific tastes. Anita knows one creature of the night who has such interests — Jean-Claude’s visitor. But if Anita brings Musette down, the repercussions could cost her everything she holds dear.

Once a sworn enemy of all monsters, Anita is now the human consort of both Master Vampire Jean Claude and leopard shapeshifter Micah. When a centuries-old vampire hits St. Louis, Anita finds herself needing all the dark forces her passion can muster to save the ones she loves.

Anita Blake returns to find hell hath no fury like a vampire scorned.

Back into the world of Anita Blake and I am sadly starting to ask myself why I am still reading. It is not that the book is completely bad, it isn’t, but there is starting to be a pretty clear pattern emerging and I am left wanting to smack Anita when I am reading and when I sit down to write my book review.

We once again have an ubber strong vampire visiting from out of town, who wants to control Anita and surprise, surprise tests her knowing full well how she is going to react anyways. Anita of course pisses off super bad vampire and breaks rules, funny super bad vampire broke rules anyways. Anita sleeps with some more people, and then has a boo hoo fit over it. Also, she still won’t let the multiple boyfriends be with anyone else. Hypocrite much?

So the basic theme of this book is vampire violence and a lot of sex. I am not a prude or really one who minds violence in books, but at this point it is becoming repetitive and Anita needs to grow up. So why three stars instead of less? Asher is what saved this book for me from getting totally bombed and being a DNF, I have loved Asher since he first showed up in the series and getting to finally know a little bit more about him and his story made me feel better. I still wanted to slap Anita for not allowing Jean Claude to be with Asher since she has a billion boy toys, but Asher really has my heart at this point. So if I am reading further into the series after this book review, it will be because of him and not so much Anita. Unless we get our kicking ass and taking names girl back.

My Gemstone Rating:

Book review: When Calls the Heart (Canadian West #1) by Janette Oke

May 1, 2016 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

Nothing in her cultured East Coast upbringing prepared Elizabeth for a teaching position on the Canadian frontier. Yet, despite the constant hardships, she loves the children in her care. Determined to do the best job she can and fighting to survive the harsh land, Elizabeth is surprised to find her heart softening towards a certain member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Book 1 of the bestselling Canadian West series.

I was encouraged by the Hallmark Movie and then the series When calls the heart to pick up the books they were based on. After all most of the time the book is better then the movie right? I think in this case they are both very good. When calls the heart is a read that I really enjoyed. While I am not be of the same faith as Elizabeth and her lovely Mounty I can understand and respect the faith they have. When you embark on a new adventure no matter what you believe in you have to have some kind of faith to really believe you can do it. I plan on reading more in the series this book was full of enjoyable characters who you really feel like you can embrace yourself in. There is nothing quite as great when it comes to books as a cast of characters you feel you really know, characters you feel you could be sitting next to and eating with.

My Gemstone Rating:

Book Review: The Temptation of the Night Jasmine (Pink Carnation #5) by Lauren Willig

February 12, 2016 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

A New York Times extended list bestseller and the exciting fifth book in the national bestselling Pink Carnation series.

After years abroad, Robert, Duke of Dovedale, has returned to England to avenge the murder of his mentor. To uncover the murderer’s identity, he must infiltrate the infamous, secret Hellfire Club. But the Duke has no idea that an even more difficult challenge awaits him-in a mistaken, romantic-minded young lady.

Charlotte Lansdowne wistfully remembers the Robert of her childhood as a valiant hero among men. Too aware of his own flaws, Robert tries to dissuade Charlotte from her delusions, even as he finds himself drawn to her. When Charlotte takes up a bit of espionage-investigating a plot to kidnap the King-Robert soon realizes that she is more than the perfect partner in crime.

Caught in a dangerous game full of deadly spies and secret rites, Robert and Charlotte must work together to reveal the villain…and confront their true love.

Another solid installment of the Pink Carnation series with the Night Jasmine and another enjoyable read. While for me this one started off a little bit slow it picked up the pace and became really enjoyable. Robert Duke of Dovedale is the kind of character I could conjure up a true image in my head of. I really liked him and even though some of his actions ticked me off (why couldn’t he just tell Lady Charolotte the truth?!) I also understood why he did them. He thought he was protecting her and that is of course how these books work.

While the spy craft is still around in this book it does focus a little bit more on the love and fairy tale aspect of a historical romance which to me made this one a little bit more light and fun. There is still the spy side and a little bit of danger to keep it spicy. Then there is the modern side of the story as we always have that bit to play with as well and this time we saw Eloise thinking that Miles was a spy. This lead to some very comical situations and then eventually he had to confront her.

Bottom line enjoyable and I look forward to reading the next installment.

My Gemstone Rating:

Book Review: The Witches: Salem, 1692 by Stacy Schiff

January 29, 2016 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Cleopatra, the #1 national bestseller, unpacks the mystery of the Salem Witch Trials.

It began in 1692, over an exceptionally raw Massachusetts winter, when a minister’s daughter began to scream and convulse. It ended less than a year later, but not before 19 men and women had been hanged and an elderly man crushed to death.

The panic spread quickly, involving the most educated men and prominent politicians in the colony. Neighbors accused neighbors, parents and children each other. Aside from suffrage, the Salem Witch Trials represent the only moment when women played the central role in American history. In curious ways, the trials would shape the future republic.

As psychologically thrilling as it is historically seminal, THE WITCHES is Stacy Schiff’s account of this fantastical story-the first great American mystery unveiled fully for the first time by one of our most acclaimed historian

I know non-fiction books can be dryer then fiction but this one is just something else. The author is acclaimed and many people loved her Cleopatra book but this is just way to dry. I hate that because the Salem Witch trials are a fantastic time to write about. This book was a slog from page one to page end. It had a fair amount of good details but everything was just so flat and dry history does not have to be that way.

The worst part of it for me I think was that while she gave good facts but everything was just left not connected and details that would have been interesting were cut. It feels like the author just cut all the good juicy meat off the bone and left the leanest most boring cut to be read. Not the worst book ever but it is a massive slog. You have to really be dedicated to make it through.

My Gemstone Rating:

Book Review: At the King’s Pleasure (Secrets of the Tudor Court #4) by Kate Emerson

January 6, 2016 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

At the King’s Pleasure is the fourth novel in Kate Emerson’s well-reviewed series set in Tudor England—based on a real life member of the royal court of Henry VIII.

Following the acclaimed By Royal Decree, Pleasure Palace, and Between Two Queens, Kate Emerson again plucks a real figure from history in this lushly detailed tale featuring Lady Anne Stafford—who is torn between her husband and another man.

History remembers Lady Anne Stafford as the woman who cheated on her husband with both King Henry VIII and his companion, Sir William Compton. Lady Anne was indeed in love with two men at the same time….but the king wasn’t one of them. Lady Anne’s complex and heart-wrenching romantic relationships are at the core of this riveting tale that masterfully blends romance, drama, and historical detail as only Kate Emerson can.

A new year and finally finishing up a book that I started last year. For some reason I just could not get attached to this one last year in 2015. I got through it pretty fast this time around and I think I was having so much trouble before because it just was not as engaging as the other reads. Now with that said it was not a bad read at all.

Once again, you are in the court of a Young King Henry. This time the story revolves around the younger versions of key players to come out at court later, like the Boleyn’s and others. The main character is Lady Anne Stafford, the infamous adulterer who cuckolded her Husband with both the King himself and his boon companion Sir William Compton. The characters were fun, but some of the dialogue for me fell a little flat. Things came across as more vapid than in other books and I am not sure if this was on purpose or just how things came across but I didn’t like it.

The characters seemed to fly off the handle and have toddler tantrums more in this book than others as well. It was dramatic, of course, but sometimes a little off putting. Aside from all of that I did enjoy the book on a whole. It is once again a different look at the history of things and gives us a different side of everything that went on. Yes of course it is fiction, but it is very plausible fiction. I felt for Lady Anne and she did get dealt a bad hand on many occasions. Overall this is a good read and I am happy that I read it, overall it fits in well with the series so far.

My Gemstone Rating:

New Year new challenges

January 1, 2016 - Ambrosia Leave a comment

I admit the end of the year got very busy for me. So I did not even go through and tally how I did on my challenges for last year. Bottom line is I know I did not complete some but when prepping for my 2016 I saw I did complete more then I first thought. I am okay with that. I still read quite a bit and I had other things that I got done. I did not get many reviews written though so THAT is something that I wish to be better at. So that will be my biggest goal for 2016 to make sure my reviews for the books I have read are written. I also plan on back tracking for the 2015 books that need to be reviewed.

Without further waiting however, here are my challenges for 2016 hopefully I do better on them this year.