I have finally read my first James Patterson book. Every once and a while, I like to mix it up and try something new. Sometimes, I discover a new author and sometimes I don't. In this instance, I have discovered an okay author.
I read "Sail" by James Patterson and Howard Roughan. It is a suspense novel about a family taking a vacation two years after the death of the father. They are trying to patch up the family after this tragedy and the mother's remarriage. Within the first chapter, we know that something terrible has happened to them. The rest of the novel describes what happened and how they survived and who wanted to hurt them.
It is a very quick read. The chapters are wonderfully short. The pace is maintained and it flows properly. There are a lot of characters, but little description about them. There is no in-depth analysis of their motives, their desires or their feelings. It was clearly not written by a female author. I thought that a little romance between the Coast Guard and FBI agent would have been a nice addition to the story. But, then again, I love a good romance :)
All in all, I would read James Patterson again if the book is given to me or really cheap, but I would not necessarily buy one of his books. Don't get me wrong, it is a great vacation read, but I could not read a steady diet of him.
Until next time!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Resto Review: Madisons
One of our go to places is Madisons NY grill and bar. We have never had a disappointing meal there. We prefer to sit in the bar area, because children are not allowed there and surprisingly, it is much quieter even with the TV's.
We went a few days ago for supper as neither one of us wanted to cook :) I decided to do something I have never done at Madisons before. I ordered completely from the appetizer menu. I usually order the Madisons burger or the prime rib (I love beef!), but this time I was craving fried calamari. I love fried calamari and not every place does it properly. They do. It has a crunchy exterior and the calamari is chewy but tender. It is a little greasy, but I like it that way. They serve it with a tomato dipping sauce, lemon wedges and spicy pickled peppers. Yum!
We also ordered the chicken tenders and ceasar salads from the appetizer menu. We also got a side order of onion rings as hubby was hungry. The tenders are crispy and served with their creamy dijonnaise dip. The ceasar salads have lots of dressing and the bacon bits are real! The onion rings are crispy and flavorful and also come with the dijonnaise dip.
A word to the wise, the chicken tenders come with fries. It is not on the menu, but it should be, otherwise we would not have ordered the onion rings. Oh, and the appetizer size salad is pretty big. One is ample to share between two people. We had enough french fries & onion rings leftover to get a doggy bag.
I will definitely order exclusively from the appetizer menu again and share it with hubby. I tried something new and I enjoyed it, which is what the new year is all about!
Here is the website if you want to check it out: http://www.madisonsnyc.com/
We went a few days ago for supper as neither one of us wanted to cook :) I decided to do something I have never done at Madisons before. I ordered completely from the appetizer menu. I usually order the Madisons burger or the prime rib (I love beef!), but this time I was craving fried calamari. I love fried calamari and not every place does it properly. They do. It has a crunchy exterior and the calamari is chewy but tender. It is a little greasy, but I like it that way. They serve it with a tomato dipping sauce, lemon wedges and spicy pickled peppers. Yum!
We also ordered the chicken tenders and ceasar salads from the appetizer menu. We also got a side order of onion rings as hubby was hungry. The tenders are crispy and served with their creamy dijonnaise dip. The ceasar salads have lots of dressing and the bacon bits are real! The onion rings are crispy and flavorful and also come with the dijonnaise dip.
A word to the wise, the chicken tenders come with fries. It is not on the menu, but it should be, otherwise we would not have ordered the onion rings. Oh, and the appetizer size salad is pretty big. One is ample to share between two people. We had enough french fries & onion rings leftover to get a doggy bag.
I will definitely order exclusively from the appetizer menu again and share it with hubby. I tried something new and I enjoyed it, which is what the new year is all about!
Here is the website if you want to check it out: http://www.madisonsnyc.com/
Book Review: Rees
I downloaded a novel from Ellora's Cave and I finally found some time to read it. It is called "Rees" by Allyson James. It is the first book in her "Tales of the Shareem" series.
The Shareem are men that were created in a lab for the pleasure of women, as the men from the planet were almost eradicated in a war. This story is about a celibate young woman who is about to commit her life to intellectual pursuits, when she sees a Shareem make enter a hologram suite and she follows him into the room. She is curious about the Shareem on an intellectual level and after meeting, she is stimulated on a physical level. She convinces her guardian to get him for her, and so begins her sexual adventure with a special Shareem.
It is a quick tale and it moves at an nice, steady pace. It rarely lags and the dialog is not too flowery. It sets up the world effectively as it is the first book in the series. Hopefully, the next books won't have as much description in them, which can detract from the characters. I enjoyed it. Will I get the other books in the series? Only if they go on sale. I liked the story but was not riveted by it.
Here is the link to her website, if you want to check her out: http://www.allysonjames.com/index.html
The Shareem are men that were created in a lab for the pleasure of women, as the men from the planet were almost eradicated in a war. This story is about a celibate young woman who is about to commit her life to intellectual pursuits, when she sees a Shareem make enter a hologram suite and she follows him into the room. She is curious about the Shareem on an intellectual level and after meeting, she is stimulated on a physical level. She convinces her guardian to get him for her, and so begins her sexual adventure with a special Shareem.
It is a quick tale and it moves at an nice, steady pace. It rarely lags and the dialog is not too flowery. It sets up the world effectively as it is the first book in the series. Hopefully, the next books won't have as much description in them, which can detract from the characters. I enjoyed it. Will I get the other books in the series? Only if they go on sale. I liked the story but was not riveted by it.
Here is the link to her website, if you want to check her out: http://www.allysonjames.com/index.html
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Resto Review: Carlos & Pepes
Hubby and I went out for dinner a few days ago and we decided that we were in the mood for Mexican food. We rarely have a chance to have it as there are no Mexican restaurants in our neighborhood.
We went to Carlos & Pepes in downtown Montreal. We were seated right away (which I love), and got the complimentary nacho chips and salsa. I have been there before and the salsa was mildly spicy and flavorful. This time is was sweet and flavorless. It was quite disappointing.
As usual, I ordered a strawberry daiquiri (non-alcoholic as I was driving), Mexican restos are the only places that you can get a decent daiquiri or margarita. It was delicious, but too big! I was unable to finish it :(
I ordered the roasted vegetable quesadillas and hubby ordered the beef chimichanga. They both came with a green salad and Mexican rice. The plates are huge! The vegetables in my quesadilla were not roasted. There was no char on them and they were very moist. The rest of the meal was enjoyable. Hubby enjoyed his chimichanga. It was flavored properly. He was unable to finish it though as he does not have my appetite and the plates are huge.
They would do well to reduce the portion size a little and reduce the prices in accordance. They would have a lot less waste and save money on the take-out packages.
Here is the website, if you want to check it out: http://www.carlosandpepes.com/en/
Until next time!
We went to Carlos & Pepes in downtown Montreal. We were seated right away (which I love), and got the complimentary nacho chips and salsa. I have been there before and the salsa was mildly spicy and flavorful. This time is was sweet and flavorless. It was quite disappointing.
As usual, I ordered a strawberry daiquiri (non-alcoholic as I was driving), Mexican restos are the only places that you can get a decent daiquiri or margarita. It was delicious, but too big! I was unable to finish it :(
I ordered the roasted vegetable quesadillas and hubby ordered the beef chimichanga. They both came with a green salad and Mexican rice. The plates are huge! The vegetables in my quesadilla were not roasted. There was no char on them and they were very moist. The rest of the meal was enjoyable. Hubby enjoyed his chimichanga. It was flavored properly. He was unable to finish it though as he does not have my appetite and the plates are huge.
They would do well to reduce the portion size a little and reduce the prices in accordance. They would have a lot less waste and save money on the take-out packages.
Here is the website, if you want to check it out: http://www.carlosandpepes.com/en/
Until next time!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Resto Review: Aristo
At the bottom of our street is a small restaurant. We often order take-out from this place. The food is always good, hot and reasonably prices. Three of my favorite things when it comes to food :)
In this instance, we decided to walk down there for my mother's b-day. We were six people and we did make reservations. They are more of a take-out place, then a sit down diner. But on this day, we should have called ahead. They were packed! This is great for them, but I was not happy as we could not sit together. Luckily, a couple of people left and we were able to move a couple of tables together before we ordered.
I decided to order my usual: the pork souvlaki pita plate. I love Greek food. It was perfectly cooked and I ate the whole thing as usual. If I did not like, then I would not keep ordering it, now would I? Hubby was not as lucky. He ordered the pizza-ghetti, but he got the all-dressed pizza. The pizza was very good as usual, but he was pissed because he did not get what he ordered. To be fair, our waitress had a head cold and left for home after serving us our meals. But, because of this error, hubby has boycotted them for a little while.
We will go back to them as they are down the street from us. But for now, they will lose our business due to this mistake.
Until next time!
In this instance, we decided to walk down there for my mother's b-day. We were six people and we did make reservations. They are more of a take-out place, then a sit down diner. But on this day, we should have called ahead. They were packed! This is great for them, but I was not happy as we could not sit together. Luckily, a couple of people left and we were able to move a couple of tables together before we ordered.
I decided to order my usual: the pork souvlaki pita plate. I love Greek food. It was perfectly cooked and I ate the whole thing as usual. If I did not like, then I would not keep ordering it, now would I? Hubby was not as lucky. He ordered the pizza-ghetti, but he got the all-dressed pizza. The pizza was very good as usual, but he was pissed because he did not get what he ordered. To be fair, our waitress had a head cold and left for home after serving us our meals. But, because of this error, hubby has boycotted them for a little while.
We will go back to them as they are down the street from us. But for now, they will lose our business due to this mistake.
Until next time!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Book Review: Caleb
I got a bunch of books for Christmas! I have been busy plowing through them :) I finished reading "Caleb" by Sarah McCarty. It is the first book in her paranormal western series called "The Shadow Wranglers". There are four books in the series (so far), each one about a different brother in the Johnson clan.
The series starts with Caleb, the eldest brother in a family of vampires. He was turned about 250 years ago and has not completely adjusted to the modern world, especially modern women. The woman that he is attracted to is attacked by werewolves, and he attacks them to defend her. He is injured and she manages to bring him to his ranch. This is where all the action takes place.
The story starts out well. It has all the elements that I enjoy in a paranormal romance. There is a strong chemistry between the main characters, the dialogue is witty, and there is humor. The story itself lags after the heroine brings Caleb to the ranch. Which is barely a third of the way into the book. Every time something happens, in order to shut her up, he has sex with her. I like sex in my books as much as the next person, but this was a little overboard. You lose track of the story and all the various details that she throws in during the sex scenes. And, she throws in a lot of details , without any warming (or foreshadowing) at all. It is very distracting.
I will probably reads the rest of the series, but I will wait until the rest of the books come out in mass market paperback format, they are not worth buying in trade paperback format.
Here is the link for her website if you want to check it out: http://www.sarahmccarty.net/
Until next time!
The series starts with Caleb, the eldest brother in a family of vampires. He was turned about 250 years ago and has not completely adjusted to the modern world, especially modern women. The woman that he is attracted to is attacked by werewolves, and he attacks them to defend her. He is injured and she manages to bring him to his ranch. This is where all the action takes place.
The story starts out well. It has all the elements that I enjoy in a paranormal romance. There is a strong chemistry between the main characters, the dialogue is witty, and there is humor. The story itself lags after the heroine brings Caleb to the ranch. Which is barely a third of the way into the book. Every time something happens, in order to shut her up, he has sex with her. I like sex in my books as much as the next person, but this was a little overboard. You lose track of the story and all the various details that she throws in during the sex scenes. And, she throws in a lot of details , without any warming (or foreshadowing) at all. It is very distracting.
I will probably reads the rest of the series, but I will wait until the rest of the books come out in mass market paperback format, they are not worth buying in trade paperback format.
Here is the link for her website if you want to check it out: http://www.sarahmccarty.net/
Until next time!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Book Review: Kitty and the Midnight Hour
Once again my sister has introduced me to a new writer. I just finished reading "Kitty and the Midnight Hour" by Carrie Vaughn. I read it in a day. It is a fun, quick read, but well written.
The story is about a DJ that accidentally starts a talk radio show for the supernatural community in Denver. She herself is a werewolf going through an identity crisis, which causes mayhem in her pack. Throw in a conspiracy, a serial killer and a bounty hunter and you have an entertaining read.
The plot is dense with characters. You can feel that the author wanted the characters to go in one direction, but they themselves took her in another one. Luckily, she managed to rein them in and create a cohesive story. The novel is well plotted and the dialog flows properly and is believable (not stilted like some authors).
This is the first book in the series, and I can tell you that I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
If you want to check out her website site, here it is: http://www.carrievaughn.com/
Until next time!
The story is about a DJ that accidentally starts a talk radio show for the supernatural community in Denver. She herself is a werewolf going through an identity crisis, which causes mayhem in her pack. Throw in a conspiracy, a serial killer and a bounty hunter and you have an entertaining read.
The plot is dense with characters. You can feel that the author wanted the characters to go in one direction, but they themselves took her in another one. Luckily, she managed to rein them in and create a cohesive story. The novel is well plotted and the dialog flows properly and is believable (not stilted like some authors).
This is the first book in the series, and I can tell you that I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
If you want to check out her website site, here it is: http://www.carrievaughn.com/
Until next time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)