by: Todd Robinson
From the Back Cover:
Boo Malone lost everything when he was sent to St. Gabriel’s Home for Boys. There, he picked up a few key survival skills; a wee bit of an anger management problem; and his best friend for life, Junior. Now adults, Boo and Junior have a combined weight of 470 pounds (mostly Boo’s), about ten grand in tattoos (mostly Junior’s), and a talent for wise-cracking banter. Together, they provide security for the Cellar, a Boston nightclub where the bartending Audrey doles out hugs and scoldings for her favorite misfits, and the night porter, Luke, expects them to watch their language. At last Boo has found a family.
But when Boo and Junior are hired to find Cassandra, a well-to-do runaway slumming among the authority-shy street kids, Boo sees in the girl his own long-lost younger sister. And as the case deepens with evidence that Cassie is being sexually exploited, Boo’s blind desire for justice begins to push his surrogate family’s loyalty to the breaking point. Cassie’s life depends on Boo’s determination to see the case through, but that same determination just might finally drive him and Junior apart. What’s looking like an easy payday is turning into a hard bounce—for everyone.
My Two Cents:
So, I cried through the entire book; some were tears for the pain Boo and Junior had suffered throughout their childhood, or for Cassandra and her life on the run, as well as her return to her father. Most of the tears, however, were from laughing. The dialogue between Boo and Junior had me cracking up; I had to put the book down a couple of times to get myself under control.
This is a very well-written book. All of the characters came to life, were believable and real, with very little sugar-coating. Every single character in this book has flaws, serious flaws. It not only blurred the line between “good guys” and “bad guys,” the line was snuffed out like the still burning butt of one of Boo’s cigarettes.
There were some places where there were odd exchanges with the reader, as if the narrator was addressed the reader personally. My only analogy is when a character in a movie turns to the camera and addresses the viewer. Either I failed to notice it throughout the entirety of the book, or it only occurred at the beginning; but whatever the case, it was very minor and did not detract from the story, or the overall flow.
By the end of the book, I wanted to know more about what happened to Boo and Junior, which is always the mark of a great story. I look forward to reading more from Mr. Robinson, and give this
and a 
TRUE
by: Erin McCarthy
This book will be available on May 7, 2013.
From the Back of the Book:
When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.
Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…
Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…
My Two Cents:
Smart, nerdy Rory falls for understated-intelligent, bad boy Tyler. Who does not love this story line? Just about all girls, at some point in their lives, want the sexy bad boy to take notice of her, and woo her (among other things). If you want to relive your young adulthood – with a happy ending to it – read this book.
McCarthy makes the disparate lives of Rory and Tyler, along with the other prominent sub-characters, come to life on the pages. I half expected the typical “good girl fixes bad boy and makes him good” plot; but was happily mistaken. McCarthy provided both characters with flaws, and made it possible for them to not only ‘fix’ each other, but also learn to live and love within the flaws that cannot be fixed. The break-up ripped my heart out (yes, I had tears). The sub-plot of the brothers also greatly enhanced the story, and I fell in love with “U” and Easton. McCarthy developed the characters so completely, including the sub-characters, it is easy to become totally invested in all of them. An easy, weekend read.
I give it and a 
The Lion Triumphant
From the Back Cover:
Played out against the seething rivalry between Inquisition-torn Spain and Elizabethan England, The Lion Triumphant traces the linked fates of strong-willed Catherine Farland and Captain Jake Pennlyon
Called “The Lion,” Captain Jake Pennlyon is a fearsome and virile plunderer who takes what he wants, and his sights are set on Catherine Farland. Blackmailed into wedlock and haunted by memories of the gentle boy she was forbidden to wed, Cat vows to escape. Fate intervenes when she’s taken prisoner aboard a Spanish galleon . . . unaware that she’s a pawn in one man’s long-awaited revenge. Beginning as Elizabeth takes the throne of England, and spanning the years until the legendary defeat of the Spanish Armada, The Lion Triumphant follows Cat’s journey from the thrill of a first passion to the ferocity of a mother’s love. Despite the twists of history, her fortunes—and her heart—will remain tied to one seductive buccaneer.
My Two Cents Worth:
This is the second book in Philippa Carr’s series, The Daughters of England
This is a beautifully written historical romantic thriller. It challenged me in more ways than one, but kept me turning the page, struck not only by the violence of the Spanish Inquisition and the reversion to Protestant rule under the reign of Queen Elizabeth in England; but also main character, Catherine’s, life during this period. It is a gripping novel that delves into the barbarism of people who murder, rape, and seek revenge under the guise of religious doctrine and superiority. Following Cat through her tumultuous life, finding love, losing love, and not appreciating love until it was taken from her, was a difficult process at times. It seemed that no one person could go through the trials and tribulations of life, and continue to fight while remaining sane.
The most disturbing part personally was the total dislike of the two “leading men” in Cat’s life; Don Felipe and Jake. I hated them both. Then I loved them both, which was unsettling. Both men were so dissimilar in their mannerisms, upbringing, and religious beliefs; yet, they mirrored each other in their quests for revenge, and ability to justify their evil, immoral actions through misguided reasoning. Both were excessively arrogant, and believed they alone made the rules and decisions in their lives, and dictated events around them to achieve their desires. They also both loved a woman who fought back vehemently; and despite her hatred of the men, she grew to admire and love those parts of each of them that were redeeming and worthy.
Ms. Carr’s knowledge of the violent history of this period creates a feeling of almost two novels in one, providing an amazing setting to explore the strength of women during a time when women had no authority and very little worth past producing heirs. An exciting tale that had me glued to the page, and eager to read the next book in the series.
I give it and a 
